Variable appearances of the mission at Nain and Okkak--more
favourable at Hopedale.--Death of Benjamin.--Spirit of love
among the converted.--Happy communion and close of the
year.--Providential escape of the Resolution.--New epoch in
Labrador.--A remarkable awakening commences at
Hopedale--meetings--schools.--Letter from a converted Esquimaux
to his teacher.--Industry of the awakened.--Declension of
religion at Nain, and Okkak.--State of the children at
Hopedale.--Progress of the adults in knowledge, love, and
zeal--instances.--Striking conversion of two young Esquimaux,
its effects upon their countrymen.--Awakening spreads to Nain
and to Okkak.--Zeal of the converts towards the heathen--rouses
backsliders.--Behaviour of the awakened in sickness, and the
prospect of death.--Remarkable accessions from the heathen.--The
son of a sorcerer.
Chequered as life is with joy and grief, there is perhaps no section
of it so much so as that of the missionary. Those in Labrador had, for
thirty years, been going forth weeping and bearing the precious seed;
they were now to perceive it beginning to spring, and to rejoice in
the prospect of bringing back their sheaves. The concern about eternal
things which had been observed the former year at Hopedale, continued
to increase, and appeared evidently a work of Divine grace. At first
only a few individuals found their minds stirred up to seek their
salvation; but in the beginning of the year 1801, a fresh and general
awakening took place. Those who had shewn the greatest enmity to the
gospel now began to form the serious resolution of being converted to
Jesus. In February 1802, a noted sorcerer, Siksigak, and two women,
were admitted candidates for baptism at Nain; and on March 4th, a man
was baptized, and named Isaac.--"This transaction," say the
missionaries, "was distinguished by a most encouraging perception of
the presence of God among us." At Okkak they believed that the Saviour
had granted a particular blessing to their feeble testimony of his
love to sinners, in preaching the word of his cross.
They had at these two last stations, however, much cause for mingling
grief with their joy; for several of those of whom they hoped well
drew back, and some of the baptized even forsook them and returned to
the heathen. "We compare," say they in one of their letters, "our
Esquimaux congregations to an infirmary, in which patients of all
descriptions are to be met with. However, we can plainly discover the
power of God manifested among our people, and upon the whole we have
had more cause for joy than grief. Whoever is acquainted with this
people in their natural and unconverted state, and sees them met
together at the church, attentively listening to the word of God,
tears flowing down the cheeks of many, or beholds a company of
converted Esquimaux surrounding the table of the Lord, and favoured to
enjoy his body and blood sacramentally, under a deep and comfortable
sense of his gracious presence, must stand astonished at the power of
Jesus' love, which is able to melt the hardest heart, and make them
partake of heavenly blessings." 1803 was a year of trial at Okkak;
several of their members were seduced to go south among the heathen,
and the arrival of some Europeans who came to hunt, and took up their
habitation within the bounds of the settlement, caused the brethren
many a heavy hour. An epidemic distemper visited them; but although
many in the time of sickness promised to love the Saviour and seek to
know him, no permanent effect followed; yet they attended the daily
meetings during the passion-week to hear of his sufferings, and seemed
attentive to what they heard, which somewhat encouraged their
teachers, who thus wrote to England, "We do not despair. We believe
that the agonies of Jesus are not in vain, and that the Esquimaux
shall share in the merits of his passion." Nain was similarly
situated--their wine also was mixed with water.
But at Hopedale the work of the Lord went steadily forward; several
were added to the church, and those who departed gave good evidence
that they went to the Saviour, particularly Benjamin, who died of an
inflammatory fever in the month of February. From the first he was
convinced that his dissolution was at hand. Being asked whether he
thought he should go to Jesus, he cheerfully answered in the
affirmative. After some conversation on the subject, the missionary
present sung that verse:--
"The Saviour's blood and righteousness
My beauty are--my glorious dress;"
and others of the same import, in which he joined with great fervency
of devotion. He then, of his own accord, began to sing other hymns,
"Christ my rock, my sure defence" "Jesus my Redeemer liveth" "No, my
soul he cannot leave" "Thy blood, thy blood, the deed hath wrought."
Before his departure he was frequently delirious; but even during
this period of his illness, we, and the Esquimaux who visited him,
were delighted and greatly affected by the subjects his spirit seemed
always engaged in. His thoughts were occupied with nothing but Jesus
Christ his Saviour; and he kept repeating the most beautiful and
appropriate texts of Scripture: "This is a true and faithful saying,
and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners." "The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
cleanseth us from all sin;" never failing to add, "Yes! on account of
_my_ sins he shed his blood." He often pronounced with great
earnestness, "Little children abide in Him, that when he shall appear
we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His
appearing." 1 John ii 28. Nor did he cease, in the midst of his
greatest sufferings, to speak of the love of the Saviour, till he drew
his last breath. He was 40 years of age, and left a widow and two
young children. He had sometimes fallen into deviations, which
occasioned the missionaries many fears and much anxiety about his
perseverance in the faith; but his last illness fully satisfied and
comforted them respecting the state of his soul. And it made a deep
and salutary impression upon the Esquimaux at the station, who
expressed themselves, when speaking of his happy departure, in a
manner which proved it had been sanctified for their real spiritual
benefit and instruction.
When the people returned from their summer occupations, 1803, --4, the
missionaries spoke with each of them, both baptized and unbaptized,
and had the pleasure to find that during their absence, they had been
preserved from falling a prey to the seductions and wicked practices
of the heathen, with whom they had been forced to associate. The
communicants they conversed with, previous to their partaking of the
Lord's supper, afforded them much satisfaction; while they, on the
other hand, expressed their thankfulness for their exhortations, by
which they had been led to forgive and forget old injuries and
quarrels, and to speak freely with each other in love. On this point
their tenderness of conscience was strikingly in contrast with that of
the promiscuous multitudes who rush to the table of the Lord, in the
professing congregations of more civilized lands. Peter observed, that
his mind was not quite at ease respecting the subjects in dispute
between him and others, and that he had better not go to the table of
the Lord with an unreconciled heart. He at the same time spoke humbly
of himself; and added, that he did not wish to grieve the Spirit of
God by indulging anger. One of the women, Brigitta, said, that she was
not quite sure whether she dared approach the Lord's table, feeling
still much uneasiness and displeasure in her mind; but that she would
once more in prayer cry unto our Saviour to help her, and take away
those evil things that separated her from Him. On the day following
she came again to the missionaries, and, with many tears, declared her
thanks to the Lord, that he had delivered her from her perplexing
thoughts, and granted to her his peace in her soul, and therefore
begged to be admitted to the holy communion. On the 3d of December
they partook of this heavenly feast; and it proved a time of
refreshing to them all. The season of Christmas was celebrated with
much blessing, and they rejoiced with thanksgiving in the incarnation
of God our Saviour, this amazing proof of his infinite love to the
lost human race! Again, on the 31st, they were strengthened anew by
participating in the sacred ordinance together, and closed the year
with praise and prayer, thankful to the Lord for the numberless
favours they had experienced, and particularly for his mercy to the
Esquimaux congregation.
This year the brethren had another proof of the kind and watchful
providence of God--their vessel which, on her return home, usually
took advantage of the Hudson Bay ships' convoy from the Orknies to
London, left Hopedale on the 11th of October, and in sixteen days was
within three days' sail of these islands, when strong easterly gales
drove her back and kept her three weeks longer at sea. But these
apparently adverse storms proved, by God's great mercy, the very means
of the hallowed barque's deliverance from the enemy. On the 18th
November she was chased by a French frigate, brought to, and forced to
keep her company; but the sea ran so high that it was impossible for
the frigate to get out a boat to board the Resolution, and continued
so during that night and the following day. The second night proving
extremely dark and boisterous, the Captain set as much sail as the
ship could carry, and before morning was out of sight of the frigate.
But two days after he had the mortification to meet her again, and to
be brought to a second time. Again the Lord interposed in his behalf,
the wind was so violent that the Frenchman could not put out a boat,
and during the following night, the Captain, crowding all sail,
escaped, and saw no more of the enemy.
A new epoch in the Labrador mission commenced in 1804. Amid all the
cheering realities and promising appearances which had hitherto
sustained the spirits of the missionaries, there had been much
hypocrisy, cold-heartedness, self-deceit, backsliding, and apostasy,
among those who formed their congregations; and what was painful
almost beyond conception, even in their church. But now the Lord
appeared in their behalf, and in his adorable procedure, the most
unlikely were the first objects of his awakening grace; and that
station, which for many years had been so barren, that the brethren at
one time had contemplated giving it up as hopeless, was that to which,
in his inscrutable sovereignty, he chose to give the precedence in his
gracious visitation. The beginning of the year had proved very
unfavourable, and the Esquimaux at Hopedale had experienced
considerable distress for want of provisions; but amid all their
difficulties they attended church with cheerful countenances, and some
of them would say, "If we only feel in our hearts the presence of our
Saviour, who has loved us so much, and died and shed his blood that
our sins might be forgiven, we may well be cheerful and contented,
though our outward circumstances are difficult, and we have not much
to eat, for we trust he will care for us in that respect, and we look
to him for help." The behaviour of the people during this time of
trial gave the missionaries much pleasure and encouragement. There was
a general and powerful awakening among them, which first began to be
perceived among some women who were baptized the winter before, but
who appeared to have become cold and lifeless. These were led by the
Spirit of truth, in a particular manner, to a knowledge of their
sinful and depraved hearts. An earnest desire was at the same time
created within them, not only to experience the forgiveness of all
their sins, but to know the crucified Saviour, so often described to
them as their reconciler; and by the testimony of their own hearts and
consciences, to be assured of their interest in Him and his atonement.
Their declarations on this occasion were such, that the missionaries
were quite surprised at the knowledge they had already gained by the
Spirit's light, and not by the instruction of man; and with fervent
thanksgivings to the Saviour they joined frequent prayer, that he
would grant them grace and wisdom to lead these souls, awakened from
death unto life, according to their measure, and in the best manner,
so as to farther their progress on the way to everlasting life.
The first person with whom this delightful and amazing work of grace
began, was a female, and such an atrocious sinner, that she was
abhorred even of the heathen. Hearing a discourse from these words,
"The son of man came to seek and save that which was lost," she was
much struck with it, and asked herself, "Can this be true, that the
Saviour came to save such sinners as me? ah! there are none so wicked
as I!" Wholly absorbed in these thoughts, she remained in the
meeting-hall when the others had left it, unconscious that she was
alone. Then suddenly starting up, she ran to a solitary mountain to
give vent to her full heart, where, falling down upon her knees, she
cried, "O! Jesus, I have heard that thou camest to save the wicked--is
that true? make me also to know it. See I am the most wicked of all,
let me also be delivered and saved--O! forgive me all my sins!" While
she continued fervently praying, she experienced a peace in her heart
she had never felt before, and returned from this exercise so
completely altered that it was evident to every one; her mouth now
overflowed with praises for what her Saviour had done for her soul.
Her change made a deep impression on a moral, intelligent, but
self-righteous unbaptized woman. She could not comprehend how one so
wicked and debased could speak of Jesus with so much joy and praise,
when she, who was so very superior a character, felt nothing of the
kind. On this she became unhappy; she began to perceive her hitherto
supposed righteousness was only a filthy garment, and in an agony, ran
to her she had formerly despised as a sinner, to ask how she could
obtain forgiveness of sin, and love to Jesus. The latter took her by
the hand, and both went to a solitary place, where she prayed that the
Saviour might also shew mercy to her; and now these women got rest to
their souls, and with one mouth declared what great things the Lord
had done for them. Shortly after, two other women joined them, and
these four were of one heart and one mind. Their uncommon spirituality
attracted the notice of the congregation, and they were honoured by
the formalists among them, with the epithet of "enthusiasts," but soon
the Spirit of God was shed abroad on them also, and new life was
infused into the members of the church, and throughout the
settlement.
In the meetings an extraordinary degree of eagerness and devotion was
perceived--they no longer went to church merely for form's sake, but
from the impulse of their hearts, and to find comfort and enjoyment;
and after the meetings, many came into the house to express their
thankfulness that they now experienced the truth of what was spoken,
and could bear witness of its power; or to request an explanation of
what they yet but partly understood. The schools were diligently
attended, and many of them, especially the men, showed a great desire
to learn to write. Some proceeded so far, though with but little
instruction, as to be able to write a pretty legible hand; a few
copied out the collection of hymns, and several seemed to take a
particular delight in letter writing, of which the following, from
Jonathan to William Turner, formerly a missionary in Labrador, but
then residing at the brethren's settlement at Fulneck in Yorkshire,
may serve as a specimen--Jonathan and his wife Sibylla were the first
Esquimaux baptized at Hopedale. It was dated October 1804----"My
beloved William, First I will tell you, that since we two travelled
together in a boat, and you then spake so much to me about the state
of my soul, I have never forgot your words of instruction. I was a
very bad man at that time, and also when you lived here I walked in
darkness, and continually did that which was bad. After I was baptized
I was not much better, and when I went with you to the holy communion
while you lived here, I had many bad thoughts, of which I very much
repent. But since you left us, I have turned with my whole heart to
Jesus, and all my thoughts and desires are drawn towards him.--Now
that I begin to be old, the feeling of his forgiveness is my only
comfort, and I have nothing which I so much desire after as Him, and
to enjoy His peace in my heart. I will never more leave my teachers. I
can be satisfied no longer with anything but my loved Jesus, therefore
I wish I loved my Saviour more than I do. He loves me much, that I
feel and know, but I am a poor human creature, and know by experience,
that I can do nothing of myself, no, not even love him as I would. I
pray constantly that he would keep me and instruct me, and my heart
feels that when I go daily to him and crave his help, he hears me, and
lets me experience that he is a loving Saviour, ready and willing to
help. I do not forget him when I am in my usual occupations, but my
mind is always craving after Jesus; when I go about with my boat, and
am absent from my brethren, still my soul is taken up with Him. My
wish is, also, that I may have a pleasant grave for my body when I
die," meaning that he might be with believers in their burying ground.
"I love my wife as I ought. When you was here, I was always leading
her into bad things, but now we often speak together, that we will fix
our minds only upon Jesus, and both live only for him, loving and
following him. I am your poor JONATHAN. William! I salute you and your
wife."
The awakened Esquimaux were also examples of industry to their
countrymen, and in the years of scarcity, the brethren remarked with
pleasure, that they had a sufficiency, while the heathen were
starving; for with their Christianity, they had not only learned
diligence, but economy and foresight. Nor did they now, as formerly,
depend upon the stores of the missionaries, or tease them for food
after they had wasted their own; but rather suffered hunger, or were
contented with a very scanty meal, while they showed a readiness to
assist them in all their undertakings, in cutting wood, building
houses, or making roads which were found necessary for the convenience
of the station.
While the missionaries in Hopedale were rejoicing in the great mercy
shown to their beloved Esquimaux, the brethren at Nain were mourning
over the sore backslidings of many of their congregation. "We are
sorry to say," are the lamentations of their letter, "that most of our
Esquimaux flock seem to fall very far short of what we might expect,
and the craft and power of Satan is but too often visibly exerted to
pluck up and to destroy the good seed sown into their hearts. We
discovered grievous deviations into which some had fallen last summer,
during their absence from us; and we perceived with pain, that in
difficult occurrences, or in sickness, they are too hasty to listen to
the sorcerers, and take refuge to their legerdemain tricks for help,
rather than call upon our Saviour, and trust to him. Some, however,
are of a different description, and give us good hopes of their being
faithful."
The brethren at Okkak likewise hung their harps upon the willows. "Our
baptized brethren have not," say they sorrowfully, "been as steady as
they ought. When we spoke with individuals after their return to us,
concerning their spiritual condition, we discovered, to our great
grief, among some of them, offences and wicked practices which had
long been kept secret. We were obliged to advise several rather to
leave us quietly than serve sin in secret, and attempt to deceive us
by their untruths and hypocrisy. With some this produced repentance
and reflection, and they begged to be forgiven and borne with; but two
persons were dismissed, and two excluded from the communion. In
general there was great lukewarmness of heart observed among the
people, and we had but few instances of genuine conversion." They were
also invited by their heathen friends in the north to come and eat
whale-flesh, and all our remonstrances were in vain, for they
answered, "that if they stayed at Okkak they must suffer hunger." An
epidemic disease again visited this settlement, and carried off seven
individuals very suddenly, which struck such terror among the people,
that the greater part of them fled from the place to escape the
contagion; but the missionaries remarked, that neither upon the sick
or the dying, nor upon the healthy, was any salutary effect produced.
The dogs too were attacked with a similar disorder, and many died
along the coast--a serious loss to the Esquimaux.
Meanwhile the awakening at Hopedale continued to go forward, and early
in the summer extended itself to the children. The young, as well as
the old, had been addicted to a gross and loathsome sensuality,
which, although both they and their parents considered as trivial, yet
they kept it carefully concealed from the missionaries. It happened
now, however, that a grandmother, who herself perceived the iniquity
of these depraved practices, caught her grand-daughter repeating some
of the acts for which she had formerly chastised her; but instead of
beating her, she carried her to the missionary to whom she was ordered
to confess every thing. Surprised and horror-struck at the disclosure,
the missionaries immediately spoke to the parents and children, and
with great earnestness and plainness represented to them the
criminality of such doings. To their inexpressible grief they found
that the corruption had extended even to the youngest, and that some
of the parents had concealed, and even now excused their conduct; they
therefore held a special meeting with the parents and children, and
addressing them according to their capacities, warned them in the most
forcible manner of the frightful consequences of these secret sins,
and exhorted all earnestly and affectionately to flee to the
Saviour--throw themselves at his feet--implore his mercy and
forgiveness, and pray to be delivered from the slavery of sin and
Satan. Then kneeling down with the whole company, they entreated the
Saviour to heal the deep wounds they had inflicted on their souls, and
the injury they had done to his cause. Their prayers were heard. A
pungent sorrow for their former sinful lives, was felt and expressed
by old and young; this was followed by a general awakening among the
children, which again had a powerful effect in stirring up the more
advanced to seek a closer union with Christ, and to strive more
earnestly after holiness. Children were now observed to retire to
mountains and to vallies, where, on their knees alone, and in groupes,
they besought the Saviour with tears to have mercy on them, forgive
their sins, and receive them into the number of his children: and many
of the unbaptized little ones showed a great anxiety to be favoured
with that ordinance.--It was a blessed time--all hearts were opened to
attend to the instructions and exhortations brought from the word of
God--all were inflamed with the love of Jesus, and the eagerness to
hear more and more of Him who was the friend of sinners, was
indescribable.
When the Esquimaux returned from their summer places, and settled at
Hopedale for the winter 1804-5, their teachers found, to their great
comfort, that they had not only been preserved from sinful practices,
but that the work of the Holy Ghost, so manifest during the foregoing
winter, especially in the hearts of some of the women, had made
farther progress. They had become better acquainted with the natural
depravity of their own hearts, and the wretched state of a soul
without Christ, which made them cry to him for mercy; and they had
truly experienced grace and the forgiveness of sin in his precious
blood, by which their hearts were filled with joy and comfort in
believing. Out of the abundance of their hearts, therefore, their
mouths spake of the love and power of Jesus, by which a very serious
impression was made on the whole inhabitants of the settlement, and
all longed to be partakers of the same grace. This spark of the Lord's
own kindling spread rapidly; and the missionaries had daily visits,
either from inquirers crying out, what shall we do to be saved? or
from those who had obtained peace, to tell them what the Lord had done
for them. A widow, in reference to a conversation she had with one of
the missionaries the day before, expressed herself thus: "Now I
rejoice that I can again visit the meetings, where I hear of Him who,
notwithstanding all my worthlessness, has _so_ loved me! When we are
assembled, I will ever pray to Jesus that he would put such words in
your mouth as will speak to my heart." Another said, "I am often moved
to tears when I consider what God my Saviour has done for me. I start
back with terror when I reflect upon my former wicked life. I have
been an abominable sinner; and that Jesus should have received me in
mercy, and granted me to believe that his blood can wash away all my
sins, and deliver me from the power of evil, is a favour so great that
I am amazed at it, and sink down with shame and gratitude. I can do
nothing but look to him. I am as one walking upon a smooth sheet of
ice, and obliged at every step to guard against falling. He must
uphold me, and for this my heart is constantly lifted up in prayer to
him." The observation of a third was, "I am convinced that I have
hitherto failed in truly hungering and thirsting after the love of the
Saviour; since my baptism I have been as one standing where the road
is divided." Several others made similar declarations.
While this heavenly flame was in full blaze at Hopedale, two young
Esquimaux, Siksigak and Kapik, arrived there from Nain, February 1805.
Their parents were both baptized; they were as wild as the wildest of
the heathen. The former had separated from his wife, who was
baptized, for some time and meant to convey her back to her mother, to
get rid of an incumbrance, intending to marry another at Nain, who
promised to second him better in his heathenish abominations--to leave
the believers altogether, and along with his companion, to enjoy his
freedom, and live with him in the gratification of every evil lust.
But they were both arrested by the power of the Lord. Siksigak, as
soon as they reached Hopedale, took his wife, Benigna, to her mother,
the widow Rachel's, and pushing her in said, "Never come more in my
sight." He then went to his own mother's house, on entering which he
found the Esquimaux engaged in prayer, as was their custom before they
went to rest; for she had been converted, joined the church, and was
married to a second husband. The family did not allow themselves to be
disturbed by his arrival, and he sat down quite astonished at what he
saw and heard, till prayer was ended, when he informed them for what
purpose he had come. The whole company then began to entreat him most
earnestly not to part from his wife, but rather to turn with his whole
heart to Jesus. The missionaries likewise added their exhortations,
but without avail; he still persisted in his determination. His
relations perceiving that he was immoveably fixed, resorted to prayer;
and, on the following day, they all assembled around him in his
mother's house, kneeled down, and cried unto our Saviour that he would
convert him. The mother expressed herself thus, "O! my Lord Jesus!
behold this is my child, I now give him up to thee! O accept of him,
and suffer him not to be lost forever!"
Such a scene, so unprecedented and so unexpected, had an immediate
effect on the young man; he was filled with concern for his soul's
salvation. He burst from them, and in the greatest distress ran to
brother Kohlmeister's, where Kapik was waiting for him with the
greatest impatience.
Provisions being placed before them, Kohlmeister sat down to write at
a table with his back turned to them. While attempting to eat,
Siksigak repeatedly sighed deeply, and at length began bitterly to
lament his wretched state in disjointed exclamations: "O! how
agonizing the thought! I am so wicked! I am lost!" "What is it? what
do you want?" asked his companion in a rude and angry tone. "O! I am
so wicked! I am lost!" replied the tortured Siksigak. Kohlmeister, who
thought some accident had befallen him, turned round in an
indifferent manner and asked him what is your name? Kapik, supposing
the question addressed to him, answered, "Kapik." "And will you always
continue to be Kapik?" said Kohlmeister. "I will always be Kapik,"
returned the other.[H] "Wilt thou go away then and be quiet?" said the
missionary, sharply. Meanwhile, he was observing Siksigak, who, in his
agony and confusion, was turning the spoon in his hand, and bringing
it to his mouth empty, apparently without knowing what he was about.
Kapik, still more distracted than his companion, threw his spoon from
him and rushed out of the house. He was met at the door by another
missionary who, seeing his wild appearance, asked him, "Will you never
change your life--never be converted?" "I know nothing about
conversion," replied Kapik, and went off in a rage. Coming to his
cousin's where he was to sleep, he found the whole family engaged in
their evening worship, and at the instant he entered, he heard his
relative praying for his conversion. That night he retired silently to
bed.
Siksigak, so soon as his companion was gone, broke out, and like one
in despair, paced the room with quick and hurried steps, tearing his
clothes and his hair, and crying aloud, "O! unhappy man! I am so
wicked! I am lost! I am lost!" Kohlmeister now asked him
affectionately who told him that he was so wicked and must be lost?
Siksigak related what had taken place at his mother's, and how her
words had pierced him; and with much compunction ingenuously confessed
the abominations of which he had been guilty, and the sins in which he
had still intended to indulge. The missionary then asked him, whether
he sincerely resolved to amend his life? and being answered in the
affirmative, told him, he had put away his wife, that was a great sin,
wholly contrary to the will of God; and if he would be delivered from
his present agony, he must, in the first place, openly take her back.
"That," cried out Siksigak, "I will gladly do; my wife is good, but I
am bad! very bad!" Immediately he ran to his mother and told her all;
and with such humility, that his countenance indicated the change that
had taken place in his mind, and the begun answer to her prayer. They
then proceeded together to his wife, of whom he begged forgiveness for
all the ill usage she had received from him, and promised, by the
assistance of God, never more to give her cause to complain, if she
would consent to come and live again with him. Agreeably surprised at
so sudden and unlooked for a change, she cheerfully and readily agreed
to return. Siksigak having given this proof of his sincerity, went to
the missionary--for still he had got no rest to his soul; and he
preached to him the Saviour who receiveth sinners, and called upon him
to turn to Jesus and pray to him, though he could say nothing else
but, "Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy upon me!" He followed this
counsel, and that same night was delivered from all his distress, and
could believe that his sins were forgiven.
Kapik had spent the same night restless and almost hopeless--convinced
that he deserved, and afraid that he would be everlastingly lost. Ere
the morning had scarcely broken he came to Kohlmeister, who presented
to him the same Saviour and Redeemer, who would not reject him, and in
whom he shortly found peace to his soul.
These two now joyfully thanked and praised God their Saviour, who had
redeemed them; and, filled with life and spirit, set out on their
return to Nain, where they testified with boldness of what they had
heard, seen, and experienced at Hopedale. They related to the
missionaries with an ingenuousness and sincerity, which the latter say
they had never before known among Esquimaux, how the Almighty power of
Jesus had awakened them, by giving them a proper sense of the
wickedness of their ways, and caused them to resolve to turn to Him in
truth as their Saviour. Now they began earnestly to declare to their
countrymen the necessity of a thorough conversion of heart,
representing how they ought to believe and acknowledge themselves
sinners, confess and repent of their sins, and flee to Jesus for
pardon and deliverance from the power of sin; for without this, all,
so called conversion, was ineffectual, and no fruits of righteousness
would appear. Some of the baptized received their exhortations in the
true spirit of the Pharisees of old, and in a rage upbraided them,
saying, "Ye wicked and abandoned fellows, will ye speak to us?" "That
we are wicked we well know," was the meek reply; "but yonder, in
Hopedale, we learned that there is a Jesus who came to die for
sinners, who receives such even as we, and saves them."
Their old acquaintance heard them with astonishment--some mocked, and
others hated them for it; but several, who had been admitted members
of the congregation, became gradually convinced, and began to doubt
whether their cold formal Christianity were of the right kind, and
whether they had not been deceiving themselves and others. They came
spontaneously to their teachers, and with tears, and in a manner the
latter had never before witnessed, confessed their sins, wept on
account of the deceit they had so often practised; and declared that
the more they were led to consider their former life, the more deeply
they were convinced of the treachery of their own hearts. The
sensations of the missionaries are thus described by themselves.
"Though we could not but feel pain on account of their former
hypocrisy, our grief was counterbalanced by the joy we felt at the
amazing power of our Saviour's grace, by which their hearts were thus
broken and melted. Our faith and courage, which in some of us was
indeed very weak, revived; and we saw clearly, that with God, nothing
is impossible. Thus the many prayers offered up, and tears shed by
our brethren and sisters in Labrador, on account of the conversion of
the Esquimaux nation, began, after _thirty-four_ years, to shew their
fruit. And we now often encourage each other to pray our Saviour to
give us the needful grace, strength, and gifts to declare the gospel
unto them; and so to fill our hearts with his love, that we may lead
and serve those, his sheep, so as to promote their growth in grace,
and in his love and knowledge." The awakening here, as at Hopedale,
extended to the children. The frequent visits of the Hopedale
Esquimaux were made very useful to the congregation at Nain; many of
whom moved to Hopedale, among whom were Siksigak and Kapik, who wished
to reside where they had been so powerfully laid hold of by the grace
of Jesus; "and," to use their own expressions, "be there thoroughly
converted to Him"--hoping to receive much advice and assistance from
the believers at Hopedale; and being afraid that their old heathen
associates might hinder their progress at Nain; nor could they bear
the thought of remaining longer at a place where they had spent their
former lives in sin, and might again be led into temptation.
By means of these two converts the report of the awakening among the
Hopedale Esquimaux spread to Okkak, and even farther north, creating
a very considerable sensation among the heathen, three families of
whom arrived at that settlement with the avowed determination of
becoming obedient to the gospel, and turning to Jesus with their whole
heart. The schools were also attended with the blessing of God, and
both children and adults made good progress in their learning; and the
missionaries remark, "That it was very edifying to hear them
exercising themselves in their own dwellings, in reading and singing
hymns." Morning and evening prayer, ere the close of the year, had
been set up in every family; and while the melody of praise ascended
from every dwelling, tears of holy gratitude mingled with the
brethren's prayers for the stability and increase of the Redeemer's
kingdom among the Esquimaux. The intercourse between the settlements
became now more frequent, interesting, and profitable; the converted
natives, particularly the sisters, when on these visits, showed such
an ardent desire to describe to their countrymen the love and mercy of
God, which they themselves had so savingly experienced, that they went
about from tent to tent, and particularly to their own sex spoke so
powerfully and movingly of the compassion of Jesus, and his desire to
save them from sin and perdition, that many were convinced of their
dangerous state, and earnestly inquired what they should do to be
saved? The zeal of the newly baptized had often likewise a powerful
effect on the old, in rekindling the dying embers of their profession.
Several of these expressed their surprise at their former
indifference, and seemed to doubt if they had ever truly given
themselves to Jesus; and old and young now declared, weeping, that
their only desire was to obtain peace and rest in their souls, and to
be enabled to live in the undisturbed enjoyment of the Saviour. With
their emotions of love were mixed deep shame and abasement, that they
had not before perceived their true happiness; but by their lifeless
profession, and inconsistent conduct, had crucified the Saviour
afresh, and put him to open shame.
Nor were they less assiduous with the heathen who visited the
settlements, and their love for the truth was manifested in the
gladness they expressed at every new accession to the congregation
from among them, the kindness they showed, and the eagerness with
which they endeavoured to retain them. Some of these new comers, at
Hopedale, having expressed their desire to receive the gospel, and to
submit to the rules of the place, young and old instantly ran to help
them with their baggage, to arrange their little affairs, and
cheerfully built new winter houses for their reception. Another party,
however, refusing to stop, left a man with his wife and child, who
were disinclined to go, wishing, as he said, to be converted. He had
pitched his tent at some distance, but no sooner did the baptized
Esquimaux learn his determination, than they immediately went, took it
down, and set it up in the midst of their own dwellings, with such
demonstrations of welcome, that he exclaimed, he had never met with
any thing like it before; nor could he understand why they should shew
such disinterested love to him, a stranger. In visiting the sick, the
missionaries had much satisfaction; there was now no horror at the
thought of death--no disposition to return to their sorcerers; but
calm, peaceful resignation to the Divine will, or holy joy in the
prospect of soon seeing their Redeemer, face to face. Magdalene, in
the view of departure, said, "I weep not over the pain I feel, though
that is very great, but for joy that my Saviour is near my heart. O
would but Jesus come and take me to himself! I long to go to him, as a
child longs for its parent, to behold him, and to embrace his feet. I
feel no gloom; my heart is filled with joy in believing on him."
Benigna, upon her recovery from a dangerous illness, thus expressed
herself: "I think that it pleased the Lord to afflict so many in our
house with illness, and to restore them again, that he might prove us,
to know whether we could place all our hopes in him, even in
perplexity and pain; and I have now found that he is able, not only to
bring us safe through the most distressing circumstances, but to
establish us more and more in full reliance upon his help alone.
During this illness, the Lord has given me to feel his presence so
sweetly, that if it had been his will, I should have rejoiced to go
and be with him for ever; but since it has pleased him to restore me
to health, my heart is filled with gratitude towards him." Among the
strangers, the power of God was no less wonderfully displayed in
awakening them from the deep sleep of sin and death: they came and
confessed their sins and their crimes, which, though formerly deemed
light matters, now heavily burdened their consciences. "Human nature
shudders and starts back," says the missionary diary, "on hearing the
horrid detail of the abominations practised among the heathen;" and
they themselves would often exclaim, "O! how shocking the way in
which we lived in sin; but we were quite blind, and chained down by
the fetters of Satan; we will serve him no longer, but belong only to
Jesus."
One instance deserves more particular notice, that of a young man
named Angukualak, the son of a most noted sorcerer, Uiverunna. His
parents had instructed him in all the secrets of their art, and his
confession gives at least plausibility to the opinion, that the
influence of Satan is permitted to be sometimes visibly exercised, in
the dark places of the earth, though, while the effects of that
influence are palpable in the perpetration of the grossest vices and
most barbarous cruelty, it is very immaterial whether it assumes a
perceptible form, or merely acts upon the imagination. His own account
to the missionaries, was as follows: "My parents told me, that their
familiar spirit, or Torngak, lived in the water; if I wished to
consult him, I must call upon him, as the spirit of my parents, to
come forth out of the water, and remember this token, that I should
observe, in some part of the house, a vapour ascending, soon after
which, the spirit would appear, and grant what I asked. Some years
ago, when my little brother was very ill, I tried this method for the
first time, and called upon the Torngak, when I really thought I saw
a small vapour arising, and shortly after, the appearance of a man in
a watery habit stood before me. I was filled with horror, my whole
frame shook with fear, and I covered my face with my hands."
His brother recovered, and the impression of this strange occurrence
appears to have been forgotten, when a terrible dream overwhelmed his
mind with anguish and terror. "I thought," to resume his own language,
"I thought I saw a very deep, dark cavern, the descent to which was a
narrow, steep chasm. In this horrible place, I discovered my mother,
my relations, and many others whom I had known, and who had led a very
wicked life upon earth, sitting in great torments, and exhibiting a
dreadful appearance. I was already with my feet slipping down the
chasm; and it seemed as if somebody said to me, 'Unto that dark place
thou must likewise depart!' From that moment I found no rest anywhere,
but having heard that true believers lived at Hopedale, I resolved to
come hither, and with my whole family to be converted to Jesus, that I
may not likewise descend into the place of torment, and be lost for
ever. But alas! I know not how to get released from evil, for I still
feel as if I was bound with the chains of sin."
To this account, the brethren added the following pertinent remark:
"We often hear the Esquimaux relate dreams; and certain it is, that
several of our Esquimaux have been led to very serious reflections, by
occasion of a remarkable, and, perhaps, terrifying dream, and been
convinced of their lost and wretched state. We do not encourage a
belief in the fulfilment of dreams, nor pay any regard to them in
general; but yet we find the words of Scripture true, Job xxxiii.
14-17. 'God speaketh once, yea, twice, but man perceiveth it not. In a
dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men; in
slumberings upon the bed: then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth
their instruction, that he may withdraw them from their purpose.'"
Towards the end of this remarkable year, the missionaries, in their
diary, thus exultingly break forth: "O! that we were able, by words,
to convey to our dear brethren and sisters, some faint idea of our
sensations, and of the joy and gratitude we feel in beholding this
work of the Lord among our dear Esquimaux. Could they but see the
marvellous change wrought in the minds and conduct of some of these
people, who were lately such avowed enemies of the truth, led captive
by Satan at his will, and delighting in the most filthy and
outrageous practices, they would mingle their tears of joy with us. We
now hear backsliders as well as heathen, those who have long heard,
but never believed in the gospel, speaking the same language as those
who have never, till now, heard of a Saviour; all confess themselves
most vile and unworthy, weep over their sins, and cry for mercy
through the atonement of Jesus. Thus, in Labrador also, the word of
the cross is the power of God unto salvation. We regard this gracious
work of the Saviour, as the blossoming of a precious plant, which has
been long germinating in the earth, and on whose growth we have been
waiting with the utmost anxiety;--now that it has at last sprung up,
and is bearing beautiful flowers, may He cause it to prosper and bring
forth fruit unto eternal life!"
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote H: The Esquimaux always receive a new name at baptism, and
most of them have such an abhorrence at the recollection of their
early life as heathens, that it sickens them when any one calls them
by their old Esquimaux names. They regard the days past, in which they
fulfilled the lusts of the flesh, as almost literally a state of
death.]