AMID WAR’S ALARMS.

During these early days of the mission of Schwartz, in the middle of the eighteenth century, while he was peacefully preaching the Gospel and instructing the native children, the fate of India in the struggle of conquest was being sealed. Doubtless there came to his ears the distant alarms of war. Rival Rajahs fought against each other for supremacy, and it taxed the utmost tact, diplomacy, and resources of the Company to hold their own, when a new element of disorder appeared in the person of the French General Dupleix, which threatened the very existence of the English in that land. Securing powerful allies among the native chieftains he carried all before him, with his military genius and valour. But another star was arriving, and Clive, still more brilliant and not less brave, fought the French and beat them, saving India by the splendid defence of Arcot and the victory of Plassey.

Honours were freely bestowed upon him, for he was statesman as well as warrior, and in the history of India his name will never die. But the fate of Dupleix was far different. Battling against failure and seeking to retrieve the fortunes of his flag he was ignominiously recalled by his ungrateful country and died in direst poverty of a broken heart.

These were then some of the darkest days of Indian history, the time of the tragedy of the Black Hole of Calcutta, of wanton treachery, of pitiless hate and massacre, and all the miseries of a bloody war. In the midst of these stormy conflicts, Schwartz was much concerned with the indifference which existed in the minds of the natives towards the claims of the Christian religion. Thankful as he felt for the marks of success on many hands, he realized increasingly, as all thoughtful workers must do, the darkness of the heathen mind and how little after all was accomplished. Schwartz was no pessimist; indeed, a careful study of his character gives the refreshing idea of a man of vivacity and hopefulness, strong of faith in God and ultimate victory, comforting himself with the promise of Holy Scripture whenever the difficulties were more than usually severe. With it all, there is the revelation of the sense of self-abasement, the condemnation of the slightest risings of pride and satisfaction which we find in the lowliness of spirit of Thomas à Kempis and other mystics. The mind of the man, too, is manifested so clearly in his letters, which are like little windows enabling us to look into this brave heart. He is writing under date 17th October, 1755, to his old friend and guide, Professor Francke at Halle, and breaks forth into a strain of praise and thanksgiving: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of all true consolation, salvation, and life, who mercifully and gloriously helpeth us in all trouble! He is a God that delighteth in our life, a God that humbleth that he may exalt us, that maketh us to feel our wretchedness that he may thoroughly save us from it. My soul doth magnify the Lord!

“The distress of the Christian congregation and the insensibility of the heathen to the word of God often greviously afflict my soul, which is not yet experienced in the ways of truth. However, I strive, as well as I am enabled by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, to cast this burden upon Him that is mighty to help and delights to bow down to us in mercy that we may not remain and sink in trouble. The words of Christ from Isaiah xlix. 4 often occur to my mind: ‘Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain, yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God!’ But, indeed, the following verse ought to allay all my grief and to bind the sorrowful heart to the word of the divine promise. The unwearied patience and mercy of God is working upon my own soul also greatly comforting me, when He saith unto me, ‘Tell it once more—go announce it to both Christians and heathens, for thou also wert sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, and yet in that most corrupt condition, deserving wrath and death, a merciful God hath wrought in thee for Christ’s sake and waited for thy conversion, not a few but many years. Now learn thou also to wait patiently in hope.’ Now my heart, mind, thoughts, desires, designs, and all my will be offered up to the will of my heavenly Father. Not my will but Thine be done. Yea, let Thy Kingdom come in India also to myself and others!

“As to outward circumstances, a gracious God hath paternally preserved me and amidst bodily weakness mightily supported me. Let my God only give me that which Paul was enabled cheerfully to say, 2 Cor. v. 1: ‘We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens!’”

In the following year the missionaries gathered together and commemorated with gratitude the jubilee of the work, for it was on the 9th July, 1706, that Ziegenbalg and Plütschau landed, as the first Protestant missionaries at Tranquebar. They recalled the lowliness of those two faithful pioneers, how they were rebuffed and insulted by the European and civil authorities, chilled by the attitude of the clergy and made to feel unwelcome by their own countrymen in the presence of the heathen. But in those intervening years what had God wrought! They sang their song of praise and gladness, though at that very moment the native Christians were passing through much persecution. For it was the misfortune of the mission that, wherever French interest and power were in the ascendancy, the Romish priests and Jesuits brought trouble upon the converts of the Protestant mission, and this often showed itself by the malignity of the native rulers, who became too easily the allies of the enemies of English rule. In this respect the fortunes of the mission appeared to be the shuttlecock of the contending parties in the game of war. Besides all this the representatives of the great religions of India, especially the jealous Brahmins and the vindictive Mohammedans, were always standing ready to strike a blow at the new religion of Jesus Christ, which they foresaw would threaten the existence of their own.

In some cases, especially where no outside influences had perverted their judgment, Schwartz found these Rajahs and native chiefs were quite open to receive the truth. A leading Hindu, the minister of state of the Rajah of Tanjore, was ready and willing to acknowledge that there is but one true God and that the images and idols they ignorantly worship were only worthy of being thrown into the sea. But while this was a step in advance the opinion of this man does not seem to have carried him very much farther, and his master, the Rajah, was also so superstitious that he was prepared to make a sacrifice of five hundred human beings in order to obtain some imaginary hidden treasure which the evil spirits would not relinquish except on that awful condition.

As Schwartz had acquired a fluent knowledge of Portuguese he found many opportunities of speaking to that large class of people who spoke the language, and where there were signs of a real concern he could lead them on by careful instruction in spiritual progress. As he looked wistfully into the faces of these young people, the children of the Portuguese who many years before founded the colony and inter-married with native women, his soul yearned to bring them to a fuller knowledge of Jesus Christ, for it must be to them the heathen would look for evidence that Christianity was the gracious power it professed to be. It was a work of patience and he did not undertake it lightly or with any self-confidence. Here is an expression of his mind at this time in a letter written home to Europe:

“This is certain and I have it daily, that neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. He who, although despairing of himself and his own strength, goes out in all humility with prayer and supplication, seeks that which was lost and then waits for the former and the latter rain from the Lord, he receiveth blessing of God and is preserved from much disquietude. And although the blessing is not instantly visible, yet God awakeneth the heart and enableth us to say, ‘At Thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done they enclosed a great multitude of fishes.’ This text I remember frequently, especially as it is that on which I preached my first sermon at the University, and by means of which God has produced in me purity of spirit and at the same time a filial reliance on His word. May He teach it me more and more and inculcate it by His Spirit.”

The visit of Schwartz and Kohlhoff to Negapatam enabled them to give the European community there some excellent advice as to their duty as representing a Christian nation in their behaviour before the people. This had such a good result that the Governor promised to build a church for the use of the native Christians. Schwartz certainly was an example of the truths he taught, for wherever he went the greatest respect was shown to him. The natives were eager to wait on him, and sufficiently rewarded by his courteous acknowledgment. A high caste Brahmin who had been listening to one of his addresses said to Schwartz, in bidding him farewell, “You are a universal priest”—a significant compliment.

While Schwartz and his fellow missionaries were quietly conducting their work at Tranquebar their brethren in the Madras mission were passing through trying experiences. The French were determined at all costs to gain the paramount position as rulers of India, and on the night of 28th April, 1758, they landed troops near Fort St. David and ravaged the country in a lawless and cruel way, which would not be likely to increase any respect for Christianity in the minds of the natives. It was a reign of terror, and large numbers of Roman Catholic natives sought refuge in the walls of their own church close to the Governor’s house, but a false report was circulated that these fugitives were Protestant missionaries with their converts and on that assumption they were massacred in the sacred building, which was afterwards entirely demolished. On the approach of these soldiers, excited by their success, to Cuddalore, the frightened inhabitants brought their treasures into the mission house, and when the capitulation was arranged, the French General, Count Lally, assured the missionaries that they had nothing to fear, and it is a curious fact that a German officer who had heard Mr. Kohlhoff preach at Seringapatam was with the troops and gave orders to his men to take care of the mission premises, while another regiment under the French flag was almost entirely Irish and were on their part most friendly. This providential incident saved the mission, and the brethren were not slow in showing their gratitude by giving refreshment to the officers and soldiers and making them welcome to their doors. Afterwards the French General visited the mission and had long conversations with the missionaries in English, making many inquiries about their doctrines, and how they made their converts. He gave them a free passport to leave, which they did in two country boats, collecting their little flock and bidding them farewell. It was absolutely necessary for them to take this step, because under present circumstances they would be compelled to take an oath of allegiance to the French Government. In due time they arrived at Tranquebar and were welcomed by Schwartz and the brethren of the mission. Through the instrumentality of Hüttemann, the colleague of Schwartz who had come out with him, a Pandaram of the highest caste was converted to Christianity. On the 21st November, 1760, great interest was awakened at Tranquebar by the funeral of an aged Christian woman, one of the first five converts admitted by baptism in the days of Ziegenbalg and Plütschau in 1707. Her life had been blameless and her testimony as a former Mohammedan was always very profitable to her friends.

Trouble now broke out afresh in Madras, for the French were again investing the town, and the missionaries at Vepery gathered together in prayer for the safety and success of the British arms. During an assault on the town the native horsemen who were assisting the French troops swept down on to the mission buildings and robbed the Christian men, women, and children who were in the church for security. It is surprising that there was no bloodshed, but, as one of the missionaries said, “Our gracious God, however, without whose permission not a hair falls from our heads, mercifully preserved his servants, so that their persons were not touched and, with the exception of being plundered, no one sustained the slightest injury.” After getting some protection from the French officers, Mr. Fabricius went back to his dismantled station at Vepery, where everything was in confusion and only a few manuscripts and books were left by the fierce Mohammedan troops. For some time it seemed as if the English in the fort would not be able to hold out, but at the critical moment their fleet appeared before Madras and not only was the siege abandoned but in several subsequent battles the French power was, as regards India, broken for ever.

The visit of Schwartz to the island of Ceylon was in response to an appeal by the Dutch missionary there, and on his arrival he received a very respectful and kind welcome from the brethren and also the Dutch commandant. The missionaries were converted Tamils, and it was a great delight to them to receive the instructions and advice of Schwartz in their own language. With unwearied zeal he travelled from place to place, visiting the hospitals, preaching in the churches, and, at the Governor’s request, administering Holy Communion. But here his health broke down; what was the nature of his sickness does not appear, but for a whole month he was laid aside and the only record we have is the gratitude of his heart when he was sufficiently recovered to begin work again. At the end of his visit, on his way to India, the ship lost sight of land and the Mohammedan sailors implored him to tell them about Jesus Christ, and when he did so they listened with respect. Schwartz was one of those men of whom it may be said they are never off duty, not only in his ministrations as a preacher, but continually from quite unexpected quarters and at frequent times an opportunity came or someone would open a conversation with him, asking his help and advice. While he was at Jaffna, for instance, a well educated and serious native, who viewed religion as other matters from a scientific standpoint, wanted him to relieve his mind of many doubts on the subject of revelation. A long conversation followed in which Schwartz tried to lead him from his doubts one by one to a position of faith and liberty. The closing advice exhibits the far-seeing judgment of the missionary and is just as applicable to the case to-day as then.

“It is very right to endeavour,” said Schwartz, “by sound reasoning and argument to become convinced of the truth of divine revelation, but this is not sufficient. The chief cause of your unbelief is your own perverse will and inclination. You wish that the word of God may prove untrue for no other reason than this, that you may be allowed to live undisturbed in sin, but I declare to you that your understanding is convinced of the truth—your heart and will must be changed. Turn therefore with full purpose of heart to the living God and endeavour to obtain grace and pardon through the blood of his atonement; and watch and pray and you will find help. You must enter upon this most important business with great zeal and with a holy importunity.” It is stated that this advice was evidently put to some good test, for the listener went home greatly impressed, sent for one of his neighbours who was an enemy and freely forgave him, making reconciliation where there had been enmity and strife.

One of his public services while in Ceylon was at Point Pedro at a spot which had become historic, for under an ancient tree there the famous Dutch evangelist Baldeus had first preached the Gospel to the natives in the seventeenth century. Schwartz was deeply impressed as he stood under the boughs of that old tree and proclaimed the same saving truths to the people.

His letters are so full of interest and so self-revealing that from one written to his friend, Dr. Francke, dated 16th October, 1760, an extract must be given, giving his impressions of Ceylon.

“May I never forget the good I have received at the hands of God; and may the remembrance of His great and unmerited kindness strengthen me to do His will, and to walk in the way of His commandments! I know indeed from experience that after God has comforted the heart with the assurance of His grace and pardoning love, there will be also found readiness and strength faithfully to discharge our general and relative duties. May a merciful God glorify Christ in my soul, as my adorable Mediator and Redeemer, that I may taste and see how gracious He is. I was much troubled and even somewhat impeded in the discharge of my duty by a dry cough in January and February last, which always greatly increased whenever I attempted to remain for any length of time in the open air, during the presence of northerly winds, on which account an opportunity of taking a voyage to Ceylon was particularly welcome to me. When I reflect how God has condescended to humble and purify me by means of an illness with which I was visited at Colombo, I am constrained to praise Him in silence! ‘All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,’ even when it would seem as if He had visited us no longer and contrary to the assurance which His word contains. I have reason to think that the seed of the word sown at Colombo has been productive, in some instances, of real and lasting good. The Commanding Officer at Galle, a member of the Reformed Church, appeared much affected and said to the Lutherans, ‘I suppose you would be glad to receive a similar visit once a year.’ And on my taking leave he thanked me most feelingly for the edification he had received and begged me to come again. The word of God being so scarce in this island I assure you that the divine service was conducted in a very solemn and edifying manner. Indeed my inmost soul was moved by it.”