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in the vain hope that, at the end, God will give them repentance. If our hearts resist the Spirit of God today, have we not reason to believe that they will do the same twenty years hence? And let it be recollected, that these poor heathen, like the labourers hired into the vineyard in the eleventh hour, could reply to the question, "Why stand ye here all the day idle? No man hath hired us."

But the Lord also called some early in the morning of life into his service: indeed, the poor children often shewed more desire for instruction in the ways of the Lord than their parents. We subjoin some instances.

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May. During this month, many heathen visited us; and, on the 21st, a boat filled with them arrived, and related that, being in a great hurry to get to the North, they had intended to pass by, but that a little girl, six years old, had not ceased with tears to beg that they would call here, as she had a great desire to see us; they therefore could not resist the child's intreaties. When the little girl was told what the children here had learned during the winter, and what they had heard of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and how pleasant it had been to them,—and when we shewed her their little books, the poor child was greatly affected, and stood, with eyes full of tears, as it were in deep meditation. On the contrary, the conduct of the old people was marked with indifference, and nothing seemed to make the least impression on them.

"On the 23d, we spoke with all our children, and had much pleasure in perceiving that they increase in the knowledge and love of Jesus, as a friend of children. A mother related, that, whenever her little boy awoke in the morning, he exclaimed, Jesus is my Saviour-he alone is worth loving.'

"On Christmas-eve, a hundred and five children met, and sung Hosanna with cheerful voices: young and old joined, with heart and voice, in the song of the heavenly host-Glory to God in the highest; peace on earth, good will towards men.' All were decently and cleanly clothed; and we were delighted to hear them sound forth the praises of their incarnate God and Saviour.

"April 11th. A child, four years old, called Fabea,

departed this life. She suffered extreme pain from an internal complaint, but her joy in the experience of the love of our Saviour was remarkably great; and, whenever she had any ease, she sang praises to Him, the friend of children. Her mother gave us the most edifying account of her latter end.”

It should never be forgotten, that the ultimate object of the atoning sufferings of Christ was, that he might purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. How clearly and practically the poor heathen collected at Fredericksthall understood this intent and use of the Redeemer's sufferings, will appear from their own declarations.

"On the 8th, the assistant Nathaniel delivered an impressive discourse in the morning-meeting, in which he described the sufferings and death of our Saviour in a remarkably striking manner. He concluded thus: 'Behold the man-be this said to all of us. Let us behold Him daily, and remember what he has suffered to save us: let us never forget, that he has brought us together to this place, that we may forsake the service of sin, and shew forth his death in our lives and conversations.'

On another occasion, one of the Greenland brethren said, "If strange thoughts enter into my heart, I turn away from them to our Saviour; for I think, from whom do I receive peace and happiness? assuredly from Him alone." Another expressed himself thus: "I am naturally of a fiery temper; and, though my anger does not last long, I am ashamed of myself, for I know that a true believer ought not to yield to his passion."

"On the 25th, the assistant Nathaniel spoke, in the morning-meeting, as follows: We ought, my brethren, to be very thankful to our Saviour, that he has sent to us teachers of his word, for it is said, Man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that cometh from the mouth of God.' This word of God our Saviour is daily proclaimed to us by our teachers; and I, too, have heard it as the word of life, proceeding from the mouth of God. You know that I was a heathen, and committed many sins; but when I turned to Jesus, and with many tears confessed my sins to

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him, he said to me, Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee,' but sin no more. This command I wish to follow. Do ye the same, my brethren; then, even my poor words will be words of life to you: speaking of dress, and of eating and drinking, will not feed our souls.'

We also find these poor people using the doctrine of the cross for their comfort under trials. Thus Nathaniel expressed the feelings and thoughts with which his mind had been exercised, during a painful and dangerous illness: "I have been very ill, and never felt so much pain; but I have examined my heart, and found that I deserve it, for I love God my Saviour too little, and am often indifferent towards him. This I felt with much repentance, and when, on Good Friday, I suffered most pain, I thought, that is my own desert; but what must Jesus have felt, when he suffered on the cross, and bore the guilt of the whole world?"

On another occasion, a Greenland brother, whose life was endangered by a seal which he had struck in a violent storm, thus opened his mind to the Missionaries: "As I was covered with the waves, and the spray of the sea flew about me like smoke, I cried to the Lord with tears for help, repeating that verse,

My soul before thee prostrate lies;
To thee, O Lord, my spirit flies'-

upon which I found such peace and comfort in my heart, that, with a loud voice, I praised Him for my deliverance. The storm abated, and I came safe to shore. He still walks upon the sea, and commands the winds and the waves." He concluded his narrative by saying, "Since I know Jesus as my Saviour, and he always hears my prayers, I will always turn to him in distress."

Thus, by the effectual teaching of the blessed Spirit, were these poor heathen enabled to glorify Christ in their lives; and, in the trying hour of sickness and death, many of them gave evident proof, that in them the word of the Lord by his prophet had been fulfilled: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be thy plagues! O grave, I will be thy destruction !"

We

close this chapter with two instances, extracted from the diary of the Missionaries.

"On the 26th, a widower, named Abia, departed this life. He, with his wife and eight children, joined us in this place, in company of thirty-nine heathen Greenlanders. He was baptized on the 19th of December, 1824, and walked worthy of the grace he received. As a heathen, he had distinguished himself by an extremely frolicsome temper, but after his baptism he grew serious, quiet, and very modest. Having, as a heathen, led a very loose life, we sometimes could not help fearing, and cautioning him against a relapse into his former habits. He replied, I have found true happiness in communion with our Saviour, and that I will not by any means forego.' To this resolution he remained faithful to his end. When Brother Kleinschmidt visited him on his death-bed, weak as he was, he lifted himself up, and said, Pray sing that hymn,' pointing to one which shewed that his heart was in communion with the Lord.

"He was followed, on the 5th of November, by Seth, a communicant, and a very aged man; for some of his children were already far advanced in years, by whom he was well nursed and cared for. He came to live here soon after we settled in this place. After his conversion, it was edifying to see how cheerful and happy he was in his soul, and how attentive to all instruction, public and private, as if he were determined to make up for lost time. Whenever we spoke to him of the love of Jesus to sinners, and especially to his people, his whole countenance seemed lighted up, and by various signs he confirmed every word. He was, indeed, an instance of what the grace of God can effect, even in one long buried in heathenism; and, if his spiritual enjoyments were so great on earth, what will they be, now that he is with the Lord for ever? Yes, indeed! if we have to travel ever so far through snow and ice, to gain one soul for Christ, such a decided proof of his power would be a sufficient reward."

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CHAPTER X.

Mr. Kleinschmidt appointed to translate the whole New Testament-Manner of conducting the work-Mr. Kleinschmidt's feelings while engaged in it-The translation printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society-Letters from two Greenlanders-Concluding remarks-Inefficacy of secondary causes illustrated in the history of Greenland Missions-Christian devotedness the fruit of faith-Self-denial of the Moravian Missionaries, worthy of imitation.

THERE is one most important work, connected with the Moravian Missions in Greenland, which must not be passed by unnoticed; and from the connection of the individual who was the principal instrument of accomplishing that work with the last mentioned settlement, this seems to be the most proper place for introducing the account of it. The great work to which we allude is, the translation of the whole of the New Testament into the Greenlandish tongue.

When Mr. Kleinschmidt visited Europe in 1813, being the greatest proficient in the language of Greenland, he received a commission to translate the whole New Testament. By the Divine blessing upon his persevering application, he was enabled, notwithstanding his many other occupations, and various difficulties, to finish the work in about three years. It was then sent to the other Missionaries for revision, and, to ensure its being intelligible to the Greenlanders, it was also submitted to the inspection of four of the ablest native assistants, of whose observations the translator duly availed himself.

Mr. Kleinschmidt's feelings, while engaged in this work, will appear to most advantage in his own words. "During this work," he writes, "I have been convinced that I could do nothing without the grace and