FROM COLLEGE TO MISSION FIELD.
In the little town of Sonnenburg, in the Electorate of Brandenburg,
as it was then called, was born on the 8th October, 1726, a little
boy, Christian Frederick Schwartz. Little is known of his home and
parents; his father, however, seems to have occupied a respectable
position in life, and, what is of much more consequence, he was a
devout and godly man. His mother, like so many of the mothers of
missionaries, was a woman of consistent piety, and her child was from
the very threshold of life dedicated by her to God and His service.
She was not spared to see her son grow up--even in his boyhood he
was motherless--but before she passed away she solemnly left him to
the care of his father and the pastor of their church, to be trained
up like Samuel as a servant of God, and as her natural and devout
ambition was that he might one day become a minister she made them
promise that they would in every possible way encourage and help her
boy to that end. There is no evidence to show that these guardians
were in any way unfaithful to this solemn charge. At the early age
of eight years we find the boy a scholar in the principal Grammar
School of his native place, and in Herr Helm, the rector, he had a
guide and adviser who trained his pupils well. His boys were not only
given a good education, with a special eye to the classics, but they
were taught to pray and commit all their needs to the care of their
Heavenly Father. The boy Schwartz was evidently of a thoughtful
disposition. Like Henry Martyn he was wont to steal away from the
playground to read a book; probably his love of retirement at this
period was also due to a lack of the physical robustness of the average
school boy. From his earliest years he had a sensitive soul which felt
instinctively any act of wrong-doing, however simple it might appear,
and he could never rest until in the solitude of his room or in a walk
in the woods he had poured forth his confession to God and regained
the peace of forgiveness. He seems to have been singularly fortunate
in having a wise and sympathetic teacher in Herr Helm, and the boy
was ripening under his training when a change came, a new headmaster
being appointed, who perhaps did his part well as an educationalist,
but lacked the moral and religious tone of his predecessor. None are
so quick to catch the change of temperature in moral training as
boys, and the young Schwartz seems to have soon abandoned many of his
religious habits and grown cold and indifferent towards higher things.
In the ordinary course, however, he was confirmed with other scholars
according to Lutheran usage at the school, but it is recorded that his
preparation for this solemn occasion was hardly more than superficial
and that the clergyman who performed this office scarcely impressed
this candidate, at any rate, with the necessity of a real consecration
of his heart and life to God. He partook of Holy Communion with some
little religious emotion but this soon passed away.
The time now came for him to be removed to a better school, to complete
the knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew which he had up to a point
acquired. Schwartz was now in his sixteenth year and his father
took him to the adjoining town of Cüstrin, where he might at a more
advanced academy prepare himself for the University course. It is
clear that this wise parent foresaw the risks which lie in wait for a
youth away from home, and as he walked with his boy, giving him many
admonitions, he also told him that he must exercise self-denial, live
a life of economy and simplicity, fear God, and not forget his father.
He showed his wisdom in giving him only a limited supply of pocket
money, which would at any rate be a safeguard against luxury and its
many temptations, to which some of his fellow-students soon fell an
easy prey. When he came home for his first vacation his father took him
aside and gave him again some excellent advice. “My dear Frederick,”
he said, “you may perhaps have sometimes repined on comparing your
homely food and clothing with that of others, and possibly you may
have thought that your father did not love you so much as the parents
of some of your friends, but I trust that your own good sense and
the painful example of their failure will have led you to perceive
my reason for inuring you to hardships and never encouraging you to
self-indulgence. I may now justly hope that in whatsoever situation it
may please God to place you, you will be qualified to sustain it.”
We have no clue to the character of his new headmaster at Cüstrin,
but the parish clergyman, named Stegmann, was undoubtedly an earnest
and devout preacher and awakened in the young student a desire for
spiritual progress. But while outwardly living a life which did not
discredit his father’s counsels and being diligent and successful in
his studies, he had not yet fulfilled his confirmation vows. To someone
who urged him to be a whole-hearted Christian he excused himself on the
ground that it was difficult, if not impossible, to be over-religious
amid the conditions of life at Cüstrin. He had yet to learn that in
circumstances adverse to a deep spiritual experience there is the
greater and urgent need for making a definite stand for God. His
studies were, however, interrupted by two severe attacks of illness,
which were not without profit to him, for we can generally correct our
estimate of the real value of things from the standpoint of a sick bed.
But in the providence of God the discipline of sickness was assisted by
the kindly interest of a friend. He had been in the habit of visiting a
gentleman who was a man of study, much respected by the Professors at
the Halle University. The daughter of this good man, a girl of great
piety, became much interested in the young student. She tried her best
to persuade him to commit himself wholly to the mercy and care of God
and lent him books from her father’s library to help him. One of these
greatly took his fancy; it was the story of the founding of the Orphan
House at Glaucha, near Halle, entitled “Demonstrations of the Footsteps
of a Divine Being yet in the World,” by that famous divine and
philanthropist, Augustus Hermann Francke. This book much inspired him;
the faith of such a patient and persistent worker, the difficulties he
overcame and the gladness of achievement, all made a deep impression
upon the mind of young Schwartz. It gave him an increased desire to
visit the scene of such a noble labour and probably awoke in his heart
the first stirrings towards his future life work. Indeed, on leaving
Cüstrin he made his way at once to Halle with the intention of entering
the Grammar School at the Orphan House. He was being led on step by
step. Before taking this course he was influenced greatly by the advice
of Benjamin Schultze, who, as we have seen, had recently returned from
the Madras Mission invalided. What communications they had and how
far the old missionary fired the zeal of his young friend we have no
evidence, but this we know, that upon the advice of Schultze he entered
at once the University of Halle, being now in his twentieth year. His
thirst for knowledge was shown by the way in which he made the most of
his opportunities, attending lectures under his professors, Baumgarten,
Michaelis, Knapp, and Freylinghausen. While studying at the University
he lived at the Orphan House and thereby was brought into daily contact
with its venerable founder, Professor Francke, whose influence over
young Schwartz at this time was the means of bringing him to a decision
for Christ and His service. The fact that he was associated with a
University famous for its missionary interests and also lived in the
atmosphere of godliness at the Orphan House, contributed to his full
determination to devote himself to service in the foreign field and the
well-being of his fellow-men.
He became preceptor in the Latin School of the Orphan House and it
was his duty in that capacity to gather the scholars and the servants
of the establishment together every morning for family prayers and
at the same time to give them an exposition of some portion of Holy
Scripture. This was also a preparation for his future sphere of work.
The principal of the Orphan House, G. P. Weiss, took a lively interest
in him, and he also received much benefit from the Divinity lectures
delivered by Dr. Francke, the son of the founder of the work. Here
then, under excellent auspices, he was able to practise habits of
self-denial and thrift and to live that simple life which was so much
impressed upon him by his father.
A special opportunity presented itself after Schwartz had completed
three years of his term at the University. It was in the mind of the
old missionary, Schultze, to prepare a new and corrected edition of the
Holy Scriptures in the Tamil language, and also a tract in the same
tongue to be sent out for distribution among the natives of India.
Young Schwartz was asked to qualify himself to help in the preparation
of these by studying Tamil and for some months this new engagement
occupied much of his time. While he was still working at this the call
came for him to devote himself henceforward to a missionary life and
service.
[Illustration:
A
MAP OF INDIA
TO ILLUSTRATE
THE LIFE OF C.F. SCHWARTZ.
1750-1800
]
At this time the work in India was passing through anxious times;
the French had captured Madras, and Fabricius was compelled to fly with
his little flock, leaving behind the devastated mission buildings.
But afterwards, when the British troops had turned the tide of war,
the Lutheran missionary was invited to take charge of the church
buildings at Vepery, from which the Romanists had been ejected for
their treason. The call for fresh helpers was urgent and Fabricius
pleaded for reinforcements. In response Professor Francke was asked to
select some fit men in the University to go out and take up this work,
and it is not surprising that Schwartz should have been selected and
recommended. He was evidently prepared for this and readily consented,
but stipulated that his father’s permission must be obtained. After
much prayer, for he felt the turning point in his life had come,
Schwartz hastened homeward to his native Sonnenburg. At first his
reception was by no means favourable. He was the eldest son, and the
whole family were looking forward to his advancement as a Lutheran
clergyman at home, and even his father quite naturally hoped that, as
he was getting into years, this worthy son of his would take his proper
place as head of the family. It was a crisis, one which has occurred
in the life of many a young missionary on the threshold of his career
of divine service. At such a time we often extend to the young son
a deep sympathy, which, however, in justice ought to be shared with
his parent. In the case of Schwartz’s father, the decision involved
so much that he took three days to consider his duty, and when this
time of waiting had expired the family expected that their own views
on the subject would be promptly confirmed. But the old man had taken
counsel of God, and he was ready, like Abraham, to make any sacrifice
in obedience thereto. He came downstairs and laid his hand upon the
shoulder of his expectant son, bidding him God-speed and granting him
his blessing and approval, asking him never to forget his own country
and his father’s house, but to go in God’s name to win many souls for
Christ. The brave old man little thought how much he was giving for the
welfare of the world.
The young man had made his resolve, his father’s blessing had been
obtained, and he forthwith burnt his boats by handing over to his
brothers and sisters the portion which would have fallen to him, and
hastened back to Halle with a light heart, full of thankfulness for the
past and plans for the future. His choice was soon tested by the offer
of a lucrative appointment in the ministry of his Church at home, but
his mind was fully made up and henceforward his face was steadfastly
set towards the foreign mission field. The claims of India were laid
upon his heart, and he longed to be going where he felt sure God had
called him. Two other young men had also been selected for the work
by Dr. Francke; David Poltzenhagen of Willin in Pomerania, and George
Henry Hüttemann of Minden in Westphalia. On the 8th August, 1749, the
three arrived at Copenhagen to receive Holy Orders. A month later they
were prepared for this sacred office by the counsels and instruction
of Dr. Hersleb, Bishop of Zealand and Primate of Denmark, and in due
time, on the 17th September, they were ordained by Bishop Horreboa to
the office of ministers. It only remained for them to bid farewell to
their families and friends, and Schwartz parted from his aged father,
never to see his face again, and received many good wishes from the
old comrades and professors at Halle University. It was thought better
for the party to go to India by an English vessel, so they embarked at
Helvoetsluys and arrived at Harwich on the 6th December, 1749, and so
on through Colchester to London. Their stay in the great city was only
about six weeks and they were comfortably lodged in Kensington. From
the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge the young missionaries
received a hearty welcome, and every possible arrangement for their
comfort and travelling requirements was made by that Society. In the
Royal chaplain, the Rev. W. Ziegenhagen, they found a wise and helpful
friend, and one of the pleasant memories which Schwartz carried away
with him from our English shores was the kindness which he and the
other out-going missionaries received from this good man. They were
able to get a little practice in English during their stay and also had
the opportunity of preaching in our pulpits. Arrangements were made
for them to embark on the “Lynn” under Captain Egerton, the directors
of the East India Company having kindly granted them a free passage.
Writing from Deal, where he was awaiting the vessel’s arrival, Schwartz
expresses his grateful thanks in a letter written to Dr. Francke on
24th February, 1750, and also in another previously written from
Kensington on the 18th of the preceding month. The following extracts
in the order in which they were penned, are full of interest:
“God hath ordered all things well on the voyage. Our hearts (more
especially mine) were very cheerful during the storming and raging of
the sea; and I have frequently reminded myself of the 46th Psalm with
great joy. Praised be God! This ought to be the beginning, middle and
end of my letter. If God maketh this only to resound in our hearts,
that the Jehovah, our sun and shield, is with us, we can then not only
be tranquil but cheerful.
“Our occupations here have been of singular use and a great refreshment
to us. In every difficulty we could have recourse to the Rev. Mr.
Ziegenhagen, the venerable chaplain of His Majesty, who has behaved to
us with paternal kindness and has given us such plain directions as
we, like inexperienced children, stood in need of. This was our daily
occupation, to take lessons and receive instructions. Then we had also
to preach a few sermons; I twice, namely, once in the Royal Chapel on
the first day of Nativity and afterwards for the Rev. Mr. Pittins at
the Savoy; Mr. Poltzenhagen four times and Mr. Hüttemann three. May God
bless what has been spoken in great weakness.”
And now from Deal:
“The 10th of January, according to the old style, which is yet used
here, or the 21st according to the new, was the day on which we left
Kensington, where God bestowed so much grace upon us. On the preceding
evening we were from seven till ten with His Majesty’s chaplain, who
said many things to the awakening of our hearts. He gave us the 121st
Psalm for meditation on our voyage, ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the
hills from whence cometh my help’. Whatever could in any way constitute
to our comfort and encouragement, that he did. On New Year’s Day also
he addressed us publicly from the pulpit from these words, ‘Be not
afraid, only believe’ (Mark v. 36). At the same time he exhorted the
congregation to pray for us. On the same evening he prayed again with
us, commended us to the mercy of God and gave us some copies of his
lately published ‘Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer’. He then dismissed
us with the cordial admonition not to allow our brotherly love to cool.
May God write all that we have heard deeply in our hearts!
“Thus we departed on the 21st January, N.S., in the Name of Jesus,
accompanied by that trusty German, Matthieson, who has conducted all
the missionaries from Mr. Walther until now. On the 23rd we arrived at
Deal, in perfect health and spirits. Here we lodged in a house which
is only a few paces from the shore, so that from our windows we see
nothing but the sea. My heart is filled with cheerful confidence, being
convinced that as God has taken us under His paternal care during our
late travels so will He likewise continue to be our Protector. If we
will only cleave steadfastly to Him, He will most certainly be with us
and be our faithful God. And He will graciously hear the prayers with
which we know so many of His children and servants accompany us. Now,
therefore, we go forth in the Name of the Lord Who hath called us to be
His servants and messengers among the heathen, Who will also guide and
bring us to the destined place.”
A few days more and the ship, with her three missionary passengers,
stood out to sea. Not yet out of sight of land, they would watch the
lessening shores and hills of England as they sailed down channel.
Some favourable winds had sprung up, but they could not take advantage
of them because the boat which was to victual the ship for their long
voyage had not arrived. So they lay off the Isle of Wight, and Schwartz
takes advantage of the delay to send some very interesting details in
letters to his friend, the Chaplain Ziegenhagen, under dates 1st and
3rd February, 1750.
“There comes a ship to bring us provisions by which I send you a
few lines. On the 29th of January we left Deal. God hath given us a
favourable wind, with which we have already sailed past Portsmouth.
Praised be His name we are all well. Our cabin is below that of the
captain. We are alone, for which we have thankfully to acknowledge
the goodness of God. We are as conveniently accommodated as can be
expected on board ship. God be praised for it! The captain is a good,
plain dealing man, and the other passengers show us much kindness. We
talk English as yet very badly but they all encourage us to speak and
no one laughs at our blunders. Several of them know a little Latin
and use their utmost endeavours to explain to us whatever we do not
understand. We return hearty thanks to God for having brought us to
this ship. Hitherto He hath graciously preserved us, that no one has
sustained any hurt, except that last night a sailor fell into the
water; however, he was saved. The number of persons on board is about
a hundred and a few passengers. We pass our time in reading the Holy
Scriptures in the original language and other good books, and practise
reading and writing English, according to your kind instruction. There
are persons on board who go to India for pleasure. One of them goes for
the fifth time and says it is a very pleasant voyage. There are also
many children on board who learn navigation. Now this I have written in
haste. May Jesus bless you abundantly and hear your prayers and those
of other children and servants of God for us! O the Lord is faithful
and never yet forsook His people.”
The delay in receiving the expected provisions kept them back and we
find Schwartz again sending a few more lines to his friend in England.
“Filial love requires us to make use of this opportunity of informing
you of our circumstances. When we last wrote to you we were off the
Isle of Wight and had a most favourable wind but we were obliged to lay
to for more than half a day, before the things which the ship brought
us from Deal were taken on board. Towards evening we sailed and by
Monday came already close to the Bay of Biscay. In the morning the wind
veered about and the captain found himself compelled to return to some
harbour. Here the motion of the ship was so violent that I experienced
something of sea sickness but only for a few minutes. That day about
four we arrived off Falmouth. We were met by two pilots and the captain
engaged him who came first to the ship, but the other, on coming up,
expressed his great dissatisfaction, not so much because he had not
been engaged, as because the other had not conducted us aright. He
disputed so long that the first was obliged to go away. This morning we
found that the man had just grounds for his displeasure. For when it
was ebb tide our ship had not sufficient water but struck frequently
against the ground with such a crash as if a gun was fired. At the
same time there was a great storm so that we might have sustained much
injury if God had not preserved us. Now we praise Him that we were
forced to return, for in this storm we should have been in the greatest
danger off the Spanish coast. Thus we daily perceive that His goodness
preserves us. O that we might always look only to Him, rest in His
will and filially resign ourselves to it! Our captain shows us great
kindness. For the rest I pray God daily that He would purify my heart
more and more from all dross and by His Spirit fit me for the important
office for which, unworthy as I am, He has out of mere grace ordained
me.”
They appear to have been weatherbound at Falmouth for over a month but
the delay was not lost upon Schwartz and his colleagues. They had a
little unexpected quiet in which to prosecute their studies, and, as
will be seen by the letter which Schwartz wrote on their arrival at
Tranquebar, they were enabled to keep in touch with England a little
longer and felt the pulse of that throbbing wave of revival of religion
which under the Wesleys and Whitefield was passing over the people. It
is evident that during their brief stay in London this had not affected
them; being so much in the company of the Royal chaplain, and not
having time or inclination to visit any parts of the country, they had
missed this stimulus to their faith. But in the little world of their
life on board during this long voyage of four months from their leaving
the shelter of Falmouth Harbour, they had many experiences to record,
which awakened a spirit of thankfulness, and as this was the first time
they had made a voyage the incidents related by Schwartz in his letter
of 8th October, 1750, are well worth preserving. They give us a side
light of his character and how step by step and day by day God was
preparing him for the great work which was awaiting him at Tranquebar.
“We can now,” says he, “joyfully relate how graciously God hath heard
your supplications in His goodness to us. With undeserved grace and
mercy He hath brought us, hath graciously averted all perils on our
long voyage, mightily refreshed us during the course of it both in soul
and body, and caused us to reach the end of it in four months and four
days. We could scarcely have imagined that He would so paternally and
graciously guide us. His Name be humbly praised and glorified now and
in eternity!
“In order to give you, reverend Sir, a somewhat detailed account of
this gracious guidance of our God, that you may magnify His name with
us, I shall briefly relate the most important particulars from our
diary, not having yet found time to copy the diary itself, which your
Reverence will kindly excuse.
“How God conducted us into Falmouth Harbour and what we there noticed
to His praise, you will have observed from the short letter which we
wrote on the day of our departure. On the 12th March God gave us a
good wind, and everything was prepared for sailing. But the tide being
then at ebb, we were obliged to wait till the evening as we could not
otherwise get safely out of the harbour. In the afternoon an inhabitant
of the town came on board who had been powerfully awakened by Mr
Whitefield. This man related to us many things, particularly of the
minister of Falmouth--how zealous he was in the discharge of his duty.
We regretted that we had not visited him, but as the stranger intimated
that he would salute him from us we sent the minister Professor
Zimmermann’s treatise on the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ,
translated into Latin, in which we wrote a few lines.
“About seven in the evening we sailed, in the name of God, out of the
harbour, with a man-of-war, which we thought was to escort us, but the
next day we learned that she was to escort the ‘Norfolk.’ With this
Divine dispensation we were well satisfied, believing that we should
not need that convoy if we could only say with David (Psalm xlvi. 7):
‘The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.’ If
the Lord be for us who or what can be against us? We met a Dutch ship
from Smyrna to Rotterdam, the captain of which informed us that he had
suffered much from the late severe storms, whilst we were quietly in
the harbour. On the 16th we were met by two ships which exhibited a sad
spectacle. One of them had sprung a large leak and drew several feet
of water, so that she lay very deep and rolled from side to side. Our
captain backed the sails and sent the carpenter with an officer and
some others to see whether they could assist, but on their return they
declared that the vessel must sink. The other ship therefore kept quite
close to the damaged one that the people might save themselves.”
The health of Schwartz had by this time been re-established and,
although subject to the delicacy which is common to people of sedentary
habit who have not developed their physical capacities by exercise,
the young missionary appears to have started his voyage without much
discomfort except a little sea-sickness. But we find him suddenly laid
aside.
“On the 21st March I had a fever, which continued till the 10th April.
As I fell away so much the doctor was alarmed, but God helped me
graciously and soon restored me my bodily health. I must also confess
to His praise that this sickness has been of great service to me. On
the 22nd March we had for the first time Divine service on board our
ship, which afforded us great pleasure. On the 29th we passed the
tropic of Cancer and on the 18th April we crossed the line for the
first time. There was great joy on board that we had not been detained
longer. On the 22nd we were in the bight of Ascension. The 30th God
visibly preserved a youth from death, who had entered on board to
learn navigation. A thick cable fell down from above, exactly on the
spot where he was standing but before it reached him he perceived it
and narrowly escaped. Towards evening a ship was seen. We rejoiced
at first, hoping for an opportunity of sending letters, but our joy
had nearly been changed to fear, as our people began to think that
they might be enemies and made preparations for defence. Early next
morning we looked out for her but in vain. On the 5th May we passed
the tropic of Capricorn and thus left the torrid zone. As soon as
the trade wind ceased we were favoured with a delightful breeze from
E.N.E. If we attend to the different changes of wind, we may observe
agreeable traces of the admirable wisdom of God. On the 7th we saw a
French vessel and on our captain firing a signal gun, to desire them
to wait, they did so and we came up with her towards evening. The
captains conversed with each other on their observations and ours
agreed pretty well with theirs. It was a great advantage that we could
observe so well in our ship for even in hazy weather the sun appeared
a little about noon. The chief mate requested us to communicate the
observations contained in our diaries, particularly with regard to the
variation of the compass. We did so and he gratefully acknowledged it
by giving us a fine large Cheshire cheese. The 11th May we had a very
high wind, and the next day a calm. While we spoke of it in the evening
and sighed to God that He would have pity on us, as before, suddenly
there arose a very favourable breeze. Thus God fulfilled us what He
had promised--‘Before they call I will answer and while they are yet
speaking I will hear.’ So that we could praise God with joyful hearts.
On the 17th May we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost and heartily
besought God that by His Spirit, whom Jesus has obtained, He would fit
us for the important office to which He has called us. The 12th May
our dear brother Hüttemann was seized with alarming sickness but God
most graciously blessed the use of the medicines out of the travelling
chest which you gave us, so that he was fully restored to us in a few
days. On the 23rd we had an unusually brisk gale, the vessel inclined
so much that it shipped water which we had not hitherto seen. However,
it passed over without damage. On the 27th we had a complete calm so
that the captain and the chief mate went out in a boat to shoot birds,
but on the following night arose a real storm, which, as it came
unexpectedly, tore all the sails. When we came upon deck in the morning
they all hung in rags, and we had only one small sail hoisted. We did
not, however, yield to anxious or desponding thoughts. So faithful is
God! In need He refresheth and comforteth abundantly. The 30th May we
had very pleasant weather, which was a great relief after the storm.
On the 31st we saw a Dutch ship. We all wished it might approach us
but were disappointed as it passed us at a considerable distance, but
in the afternoon our joy was greater, as we caught sight of the Cape.
The mountains presented themselves at a distance like clouds, but as
we came nearer we could see them distinctly. We praised God heartily,
the more so as we had on this very day been powerfully impressed
in meditating on the words (1 Cor. xv. 58): ‘Therefore, my blessed
brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the Work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour shall not be in vain in
the Lord.’”
From these incidents recorded by Schwartz it is easy to recall the
difficulties of navigation at a time when the ship was absolutely
dependent upon the winds and tides. These fine old East Indiamen
vessels, which were far more picturesque than are the steamships of
to-day, had in his time the double risk to contend with of great and
fierce storms in the eastern seas and the prospect of capture, or at
any rate injury, by the French Navy, with which nation we were then
at war. For these and other reasons the missionaries began to hope
anxiously for their journey’s end.
“From this time we began to look out for India, and thought we had
now left the worst behind. But on the 17th June, in the night, we had
a most furious storm, in which all declared we were in great danger.
Even the next day it was frightful to behold and it was much heightened
by the heavy rain which accompanied the wind. Meanwhile, when the
tempest was at the highest, we slept in peace and quiet, a gracious
God had hidden the danger from us. On the 19th there was a pretty
strong breeze. A rope, with which a sail was belayed, happened to
break, which caused the ship to heel a little, and all at once we lay
on our side. The captain called out to the man at the helm to put the
ship about, but they could not accomplish it. The vessel had inclined
altogether to one side, and was, moreover, quite wet from the rain, so
that the people fell as they attempted to walk on the deck. However,
the storm at length subsided and we sustained no material injury. In
how many distresses hath not our gracious God covered us, as it were,
with His wings! On the 30th of June we passed the tropic of Capricorn
a second time. Now we came again into a pleasant climate, hitherto
we had sometimes very cold weather. On the 4th July the rope of the
helm broke, and as the wind happened to blow fresh, the ship fell into
some disorder. On the 10th we again crossed the line. The 13th was a
most agreeable day for we then came in sight of Ceylon. The chief mate
discovered it about nine in the morning. The joy which this produced
on board is hardly to be described, since the greater number scarcely
expected that we should make it so directly. We said, ‘This hath God
done! O how great is His goodness and how graciously doth He hear our
prayers! May the kindness which He hath showed us in this instance
serve to strengthen us in filial confidence!’
“This day and the following we enjoyed the delightful smell of
cinnamon. At the same time we had a most favourable wind so that during
the day we passed at a good distance by the rocks of Ceylon. On the
16th of July we were approaching the coast of Coromandel; everyone
therefore looked out eagerly for land but the night drew on and we
could see none. About nine we found a bottom at fifteen fathoms, and
it was remarkable that as soon as it was found, the wind ceased. We
therefore dropped the anchor. In the morning when we looked out, we not
only beheld the coast but found ourselves right opposite to Cuddalore.
We praised the name of the Lord for this paternal guidance, and
whosoever delights in the traces of His gracious providence will, on
hearing it, exalt His name together.
“After we had cast anchor the natives immediately came on board. The
sight of these poor people, who sit in darkness and the shadow of
death, deeply affected our hearts, and we awakened ourselves cheerfully
to work at their conversion and to recommend to them the salvation
of the Gospel. Now the Lord vouchsafe to give us wisdom, grace, and
strength to accomplish this purpose, since we are most unworthy to be
unto them ‘a savour of life unto life.’
“We informed the Rev. Mr. Kiernander of our arrival and he sent in the
afternoon a country boat to fetch us. There we took our leave of the
officers and passengers who had shown us every kindness. They were much
moved at parting and wished us every blessing in our future ministry.
May the Lord do good abundantly to them all! In the evening dear Mr.
Kiernander received us and praised the name of the Lord for all the
mercy He had shown us....
“On the 24th of July the Rev. Senior of the Danish missionaries, Mr.
Wiedebroeck, came from Tranquebar to fetch us. He joined us in hearty
praises to God for all His mercies. After having therefore visited
several English gentlemen, we departed on the 28th from Cuddalore. Dear
Mr. Kiernander accompanied us as far as the first river and there took
leave of us. On the 30th we arrived at Tranquebar in perfect health and
were most paternally received by our dear brethren. Now hitherto the
Lord hath helped us. To Him be glory for ever and ever.”
It is not recorded in this letter, but it is worthy of note, that the
vessel from which they were landed at Cuddalore was quite shipwrecked
on her departure at the mouth of the river.
Schwartz was now at what he had called the destined end of his travels
and the appointed beginning of his life work. He saw at once that a
knowledge of Tamil was the first necessity of his work, and, therefore,
with a native catechist who could also speak German, he laboured hard
to qualify himself. So successful was he that in less than four months
after his arrival in India he was able to preach his first sermon in
Tamil from Matthew xi. 25-30, with its true missionary appeal. “Come
unto me, all ye that labour end are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest,” in the New Jerusalem Church where Ziegenbalg used to preach.
It was his first word for his Master and Lord, possibly uttered with
much humility and some misgivings of his own fitness but full of the
abundant grace which is ready to fulfil the promise to every creature.
Of this discourse some brief outlines are preserved. It was a very
earnest appeal to these people, facing him for the first time with
their dark faces and hearts full of shadows from superstition and
ignorance. He began at once by pointing out the one and only hope for
humanity and begged them to take advantage of the gracious offer of
salvation. This was the key note of his life work, and it has been
well pointed out that in an age when theological controversies and
contention were the characteristic of the Church, it is a cheering
fact that the faith of Schwartz preserved its simplicity, and that he
preached the great essential verities of the Evangel of God to a sinful
world.