EXTRACTS OF DIARIES RECEIVED FROM THE BRETHREN'S SETTLEMENTS ON THE COAST OF LABRADOR. From Hopedale. ANUARY 6th, 1806. Proofs of the JANUARY 6th, 1806. pel in the hearts of our dear Esquimaux multiply upon us, and we are bowed down with thankfulness to our merciful Saviour for them. The celebration of Epiphany was a true festival to our whole congregation, a day which the Lord had made. In the afternoon two youths, a widow, and a married woman received Holy Baptism. No words can express the powerful sense we had on this solemn occasion of the presence of God our Saviour. The whole assembly was in tears; the candidates were filled with humble joy and gladness of heart, confessed themselves most unworthy of such heavenly privileges, and declared, that they most gladly renounced the devil and all his works, and surrendered themselves with soul and body to Him who had redeemed them with His own most precious blood. The two youths were more particularly overcome with gratitude, and came of their own accord to declare their determination, by the grace of our Saviour, to belong to Him for ever. 8th. Judith, Abel's wife, departed this life. She came hither with her former husband, the well-known William Tuglavina, and always conducted herself with great propriety. After his death, she married Abel in 1801, and with him came to live at Hopedale in 1804. By occasion of the awakening which took place in this settlement, she was greatly enlivened, Mm 66 enlivened, but, like most of the old baptized people, who thought themselves converted already, having also some knowledge and a fluent way of expressing themselves in religious affairs, she did not at first show much of the divine life in her soul, till by the powerful work of the Holy Ghost she was brought to see and acknowledge herself an unworthy sinner, and no better than those who were just now alarmed and brought from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan to the living God. Before the last Lord's Supper she expressed herself thus: "I perceive now, that I "am a great sinner, and am so ashamed, that I hardly dare open my lips, for it is clear to me, that I am far behind "others in love to our Saviour. It appears even, as if He and "I were yet strangers to each other, and I can do nothing "but weep for Him." She afterwards became quiet, lowly in heart, and earnestly desirous of enjoying communion with God. During her last illness, however, she showed much uneasiness of mind, as if something disturbed that peaceful expectation of her exit out of this life, which we wished to see in her. Brother Kohlmeister visited her very faithfully, encouraging her to look up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and on one occasion particularly, offered up a most fervent prayer to the Lord, that He would remove all her doubts by a full assurance, that her sins were forgiven through the merits of His precious blood: during which the poor patient, and all present melted into tears, and felt that their prayer was heard and answered. She wished afterwards to speak with her teacher, and confessed that she had hitherto hidden from our knowledge some deviations, which burdened her conscience, and which she must make known to us before she departed. She then declared her firm trust that God her Saviour would wash away all her sins and remember them no more, after which she exclaimed: "Now I am ready, and will "go to Jesus. He will receive me in mercy just as I am, for "He "He has died for me." She now lay still, in the joyful hope of being soon released. Both the Missionaries' wives, and the Esquimaux sisters visited her frequently, to whom she declared the happiness of her soul; and in the night previous to her departure, conversed in a most edifying manner with those that watched with her, of the near prospect she had of seeing her Saviour face to face. She then entreated her husband to bring her clean white dress, which she always wore at the Lord's Supper, and to dress her in it after her decease. Her two youngest children she earnestly recommended to his care, and that they might be instructed in the ways of the Lord, and sent a message, as her last will, to the two eldest, who live at Nain, that they should remain with the congregation, and devote their whole hearts to Jesus. When the sisters took leave of her with a kiss, she exclaimed with joy in her countenance; " I shall now go to Jesus and kiss His "feet, adoring Him, for all His love to me, and that He has "redeemed me also, a vile sinner, and called me to eternal "life!" The simple, artless declarations of our communicants, on speaking with them previous to the Lord's Supper, filled us with thankfulness to our Saviour. Luke said: "I am * struck with astonishment, when I reflect, that Jesus can "and does receive such abominable creatures as I am. In"deed I am one of the worst, but His love is infinite. He "bled and died for me, that I might be saved. Ah! how "often have I crucified Him afresh with my sins, and bid "defiance to his mercy. But now He has forgiven me, and granted me to hunger and thirst after Him. I pray to Him continually, that He would not forsake me, for I can do nothing of myself as I ought. The Holy Communion is, "every time I enjoy it, more valuable to me, because I feel * the power of my Saviour's death, more than I can express ** in words." Mm 2 Jonas Jonas said: "I have now only one object, and that is "Jesus. May I never more part with Him. Since I have "had the favour to partake of His holy body and blood in "the Sacrament, I continually cry to Him to keep me under "His direction, and to preserve me from the evil one, for "I am indeed too weak; He alone is my strength and re"fuge!" February. In the beginning of the month our people suffered much for want of fresh meat, though they exerted themselves with great diligence. Their summer stock was consumed, and several would have experienced the severest hunger, had not our gracious heavenly Father, when their distress was at its height, unexpectedly sent relief by a supply of reindeer or otherwise. We were occupied in cutting firewood, but the weather was unfavourable, and storms raged with unusual violence. March 5th. Some of our people brought us letters, with pleasing accounts from our fellow-labourers at Nain. 9th. A man and two women were baptized, and on the 10th, two women, baptized as children, being born of Christian parents, were solemnly received into the congregation. We wish sometimes that our Brethren and friends in Europe might be witnesses of the grace prevailing among us, through the unbounded mercy of our Saviour, on such occasions. The celebration of the Passion-Week and Easter were seasons of great blessing unto us all. We noticed the fixed attention and heart's devotion, with which our people heard the affecting history of our Saviour's sufferings and death, with great thankfulness, and seemed to sit with them beneath His cross, feeling the power of His death and resurrection. the Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday an Esquimaux Sister, being previously confirmed, partook for the first time. Easter-day was a day of joy and gladness. We met early to pray the Litany, and in the afternoon had a love-feast with At the the whole congregation. Several of our people began now to set off for their provision-places, and in our family-meetings we read the minutes of the last Minister's conference at Herrnhut with much edification. April 13th. All those, who had been either baptized or admitted to the Lord's Supper since Easter last year, had a separate meeting, in which they were exhorted to walk worthy of the grace conferred upon them, and in fervent prayer. commended to the grace and preservation of the Lord. Twenty of our communicants were present with us at the Lord's Supper on the 19th. 20th. Aulak and Joanna's infant son was baptized. The mother had departed this life yesterday morning, after her delivery. She came last autumn hither as a wild, ignorant heathen, from the neighbourhood of Okkak, and, on her first arrival, showed no disposition whatever to be converted. But soon after, the power of God's grace was made manifest upon her. She learnt to know what true conversion of heart means, and would not rest satisfied with any thing of a superficial nature. She cried to the Lord for mercy, and obtained real, saving faith; it was surprising to observe how well she comprehended the meaning of the gospel, and in how clear a light the mystery of the cross of Christ was revealed to her soul, insomuch that she could apply to herself the sufferings of Jesus as meritorious and all-sufficient for the remission of sin and the sanctification of soul and body. She adored the crucified Jesus in truth as her Redeemer, and nothing was so delightful to her, as to hear of Him and all he had done and suffered to save her from sin and death. She sought Him with earnestness, and found rest for her soul, and full salvation in His wounds and death. Her whole walk and conversation testified of the new birth which had taken place within her, and of a total change of heart and sentiment, particularly after her baptism, on the 10th of last February. Immediately after her delivery, |