CHAPTER V.ToC

[F]This refers to them making their nets for catching salmon-trout, of which there are immense numbers. In 1798, in six nights, 5000 were taken, and in 1799 they got 1800 at one haul.

[G]The Brethren's Society in London, now undertook to supply the missions, and relieved the merchants from a losing concern; they built the brig Harmony of 133 tons, which made her first voyage, 1787, under Captain James Fraser, and continued to sail in safety till 1802, when she was laid aside, and the Resolution was employed.

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 hadbeen 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 descriptionsare 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, whichsomewhat 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 righteousnessMy 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 hewas 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 ofmysins 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 impressionupon 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 withan 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 theyhad 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 thefollowing 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 maywell 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, awakenedfrom 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 everyone; 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 wasa 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 amabsent 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 poorJonathan. 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 wererejoicing 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 ratherto 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 grossand 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 downwith 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 beenpreserved 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, hassoloved me! When we are assembled, I will everpray 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 stillpersisted 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 thoughtsome 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 atthe 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 thebegun 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 praisedGod 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 Jesuswho 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 ourbrethren and sisters in Labrador, on account of the conversion of the Esquimaux nation, began, afterthirty-fouryears, 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 HopedaleEsquimaux 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, andto 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 toembrace 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 uponthe 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 delightingin 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!"

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