The Moravians in Labrador eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 249 pages of information about The Moravians in Labrador.

The Moravians in Labrador eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 249 pages of information about The Moravians in Labrador.
they ought to believe and acknowledge themselves sinners, confess and repent of their sins, and flee to Jesus for pardon and deliverance from the power of sin; for without this, all, so called conversion, was ineffectual, and no fruits of righteousness would appear.  Some of the baptized received their exhortations in the true spirit of the Pharisees of old, and in a rage upbraided them, saying, “Ye wicked and abandoned fellows, will ye speak to us?” “That we are wicked we well know,” was the meek reply; “but yonder, in Hopedale, we learned that there is a Jesus who came to die for sinners, who receives such even as we, and saves them.”

Their old acquaintance heard them with astonishment—­some mocked, and others hated them for it; but several, who had been admitted members of the congregation, became gradually convinced, and began to doubt whether their cold formal Christianity were of the right kind, and whether they had not been deceiving themselves and others.  They came spontaneously to their teachers, and with tears, and in a manner the latter had never before witnessed, confessed their sins, wept on account of the deceit they had so often practised; and declared that the more they were led to consider their former life, the more deeply they were convinced of the treachery of their own hearts.  The sensations of the missionaries are thus described by themselves.  “Though we could not but feel pain on account of their former hypocrisy, our grief was counterbalanced by the joy we felt at the amazing power of our Saviour’s grace, by which their hearts were thus broken and melted.  Our faith and courage, which in some of us was indeed very weak, revived; and we saw clearly, that with God, nothing is impossible.  Thus the many prayers offered up, and tears shed by our brethren and sisters in Labrador, on account of the conversion of the Esquimaux nation, began, after thirty-four years, to shew their fruit.  And we now often encourage each other to pray our Saviour to give us the needful grace, strength, and gifts to declare the gospel unto them; and so to fill our hearts with his love, that we may lead and serve those, his sheep, so as to promote their growth in grace, and in his love and knowledge.”  The awakening here, as at Hopedale, extended to the children.  The frequent visits of the Hopedale Esquimaux were made very useful to the congregation at Nain; many of whom moved to Hopedale, among whom were Siksigak and Kapik, who wished to reside where they had been so powerfully laid hold of by the grace of Jesus; “and,” to use their own expressions, “be there thoroughly converted to Him”—­hoping to receive much advice and assistance from the believers at Hopedale; and being afraid that their old heathen associates might hinder their progress at Nain; nor could they bear the thought of remaining longer at a place where they had spent their former lives in sin, and might again be led into temptation.

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The Moravians in Labrador from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.