solved to spend the winter in Upper Sandusky, and quickly built small log houses to secure themselves against the cold; for the savages had even robbed them of their bedding and blankets. The scarcity of provisions in these parts was so great, that many of the Indians had to travel back to the desolate towns, in order to bring corn from thence. Shortly after their arrival, our late brother, together with the three missionaries and four national assistants, had to repair to Fort Detroit, at the request of the English governor there, because many complaints had been lodged against them, as though they had kept up a correspondence with the Americans prejudicial to the British government. At a judicial examination, however, their innocence was proved and acknowledged. Upon this desirable issue of the affair, they were treated in a friendly manner by the governor, and thereupon returned to Sandusky. At the commencement of the year 1782, the Indian congregation and their teachers had to suffer exceedingly from hunger and cold. It likewise became more and more apparent, that the design of the brethrens' enemies was forcibly to put a stop to the preaching of the gospel in the Indian country, and to disperse the united Indian congregations. The governor at Detroit found it impracticable to make good the promise he had made the missionaries, that they should be enabled to prosecute their labours among the Indians without molestation, since the enemies of the brethren continually besieged him. In March the missionaries were informed that they were to be brought as prisoners of war to Detroit. The separation from his dear flock grieved brother Zeisberger inexpressibly, and he exhorted them, at parting, with paternal tenderness, now their teachers were taken from them, to cleave the more firmly to their Saviour. On their way to Detroit, the missionaries received the heart-rending news of the melancholy occurrence on the Muskingum, when 96 Christian Indians, (62 adults and 34 children) who were gone from Sandusky to Salem and Gnadenhûtten, to fetch corn from thence, had been cruelly murdered by a band of Americans.

The governor of Detroit thought to render a service to the missionaries if he had them safely conducted to Bethlehem. Brother Zeisberger, however, gave him full information concerning the instructions he and his assistants had received in reference to their calling, and at the same time represented, that if even any of the missionaries were prevented from labouring among the Indians, the directors of the brethrens' church would not on that account neglect the missionary cause, since it was a divine injunction to preach the gospel to the heathen. In process of time this noble-minded gentleman, by his intercession, prevailed on the Chippeways to permit the Christian Indians to settle on their territory on the river Huron, about 25 miles from Detroit. At this new missionary station, (New-Gnadenhûtten,) brother Zeisberger and several other missionaries removed, until the spring

of 1786, when the unfriendly disposition of the Chippeways compelled the inhabitants to seek another place of abode. Peace having been concluded between England and the United States, it was proposed that the Indian congregation should once more return to their former dwelling places on the Muskingum. In this year, however, they could not proceed further than Cajahaga. Hard labour, and want of provisions, occasioned many distempers, and our late brother too was affected by them. In this trying situation, a letter from his old acquaintance Bishop John De Watteville, who had arrived at Bethlehem on a visitation of the North American congregations, greatly revived his spirits.

In the spring of 1787, the travelling congregation was expected to arrive at their place of destination; but another war threatening to break out between the savages and the United States, they received a forewarning of its approach from both parties. Hereupon, Zeisberger, with his assistants, collected a flourishing congregation at Pettquotting, in about four years, which proved a great encouragement to him. But various outrages being committed in the mean time, by each of the above parties against the other, which more and more damped the expectation of a general peace, the hostile Indians at last unanimously resolved to associate together in one body, and thus to measure their strength with that of the United States. First, however, all those Indians that refused to go to war were to be drawn together, and brought to a certain spot on the river Miami, there to be under the protection of the belligerent nations. Zeisberger, who was well aware that such a measure was intended to compel the Christian Indians to participate in the conflict, could not consent to it. He therefore sent brother Edwards, in March, 1791, with some Indian brethren to Detroit, to look out for a place of security for the Indian congregation till the storm should be over. They found the same in 1792, near the outlet of the river Detroit. Here brother Zeisberger and his wife met with a remarkable preservation, having very nigh found a watery grave. In the following year the Indian congregation were permitted to settle on the river Retrench, afterwards called Thames, in the British territory. This new station was called Fairfield, and there Zeisberger staid till in the fall of 1798, when he moved with a part of this congregation, and his assistant, brother Benjamin Mortimer, to the Muskingum, where he began the missionary station at Goshen. This was the 13th Christian Indian town that he laid out, and here he spent the last 10 years of his life without any molestation. from without, and in a continued state of activity. Still he was not wanting in a variety of afflictions, and most of all he was grieved by those moral defects in the Indian congregation which appeared from time to time, and which, probably, for the greater part, arose from the long protracted Indian wars. This often

caused him to sigh, and daily he lifted up his heart in prayer to that Saviour from whom alone he expected help. Whenever the conversation turned upon the former happy state of the Indian congregation he seemed to be quite revived, and expressed the joyful hope that the Saviour would, in his own due time, graciously visit and revive them.

As for his character, he was naturally of a sedate turn of mind; and by reason of his travelling and residing so much and so long without company, this disposition took a still deeper root; for this reason, also, the converse with his invisible Friend was quite a habit with him. He weighed every consideration most maturely; never would be overhurried, and never gave his opinion till, as he used to say, he was quite clear in the matter. Experience, also, invariably confirmed the correctness of his judgment. His firmness, and the assurance with which he looked into futurity, made him courageous and undaunted. And as all his fellow-labourers, as well as all the members of the congregation, placed a high degree of confidence in him, they had a particular regard to his decisions, and among all perplexities they were content if he encouraged and condoled with them. But then he much regretted it when the times compelled him to drop the correspondence with his superiors at Bethlehem; and when, in intricate cases, he had to advise exclusively with himself. He was always much edified by the perusal of the church accounts and printed works of the brethren. He also took a lively share in the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, both at home and abroad.

To the foregoing narrative, brother Benjamin Mortimer, his junior assistant, subjoined the following remarks:

Our late brother Zeisberger was sure of his divine calling to preach the gospel among the heathen; to this he sacrificed every convenience and comfort in the world, persevered in the work to which he was appointed, in humble faith and dependence on the blessing and assistance of that LORD whom he served with cheerfulness and constancy amidst reproach and shame, menaces and difficulties, hunger, and dangers of almost every description, and accomplished this work in spite of all opposition. He was never happier than when he had reason to believe that the gospel which he had preached, had taken effect; when he saw how sinners, who had been labouring under a religious concern, had obtained grace and peace, and that now they were enabled cordially to rejoice in their Saviour. Then he would participate in their joy, as though he had himself obtained the summit of his wishes. Neither can that joy be described which pervaded his breast when a lost sinner bewailed his miserable state, and returned to the good Shepherd of souls. He seemed never to forget, throughout his ministry, that he had to combat that prince who worketh in the children of disobedience-that GoD, however, was on his

side, who would give him a constant victory. And he truly overcame Satan, in a signal manner, by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of his testimony.

In other respects, too, he was a distinguished servant of God. No one, during the last century, had preached the gospel among the Indians for so long a series of years, and among such a multiplicity of trials as he did. He laboured among them upwards of 60 years. During the last 40 years, he was not, altogether, absent six months from his Indian congregation; and during all this time he was but three times on a visit to the American mother congregations.

Beginning, for several years past, to feel the complaints of old age creeping on apace, he was eagerly bent on finishing his works in the Delaware language. He composed that printed hymn book which is still in use. Moreover, he translated the harmony of the four gospels, besides several small tracts, which have in part been published, and partly are reserved in manuscript. He published a second, enlarged edition of his Delaware Spelling Book, which had been printed about 30 years before. He has besides left a valuable Delaware grammar behind him.

This faithful servant of the Lord, seeing his end approaching, surveyed all the circumstances connected with it, with a serenity and presence of mind peculiar to himself. About three weeks previous to his departure, (in October, 1808,) he testified that he was easy, and comforted about all his concerns, the religious course of the Indian brethren and sisters excepted. Being apprized of this, they all came to him separately, asked his forgiveness concerning all about which they had grieved him, and promised anew (some of them with tears) to surrender their hearts entirely to the Saviour, and live solely to Him. He received them in the most affectionate manner, with earnestness and love, which in his conversation with them, he all along so well knew how to combine: he testified unto them his tender concern for their welfare, and seriously cautioned them against indulging their propensity to drunkenness, a sin which they are but too prone to commit. Finally, he exhorted them to love and to obey brother Mortimer, their surviving teacher. Thus to his end, he evinced an exemplary fidelity in the discharge of his ministry.

On the 5th of November, he expressed himself to brother Mortimer in the following terms: "My strength is daily decreasing, I believe that our Saviour intends to make this sickness the occasion of my dissolution. I have pondered on the whole of my past life before Him, and found abundant reason to crave His forgiveness. I rely upon His blood to cleanse me from all sin; I know that I am His, and that He, with all his merits, is mine. Some brethren and sisters leave this world in triumph, but that is not my case. I go home with the feelings of a poor sinner.

My spirit the Saviour will take to himself; my sinful part I leave behind!"

For a considerable time past, he had frequently testified his longing desire to rest from all labour, and be at home with the Lord. If then we would assure him that we should be very happy; if the Lord should please to spare him a few years more to us, and restore his health to him, he would generally make this reply:"What do I here? I am no longer of any service." The more his strength wasted away, the more did his desire to depart increase. On the 12th of November (five days previous to his departure,) he was so weak that he could no longer sit up. On that day, the cholic, from which he had sustained frequent attacks before, returned with great violence, and weakened him to such a degree, that it plainly appeared this would hasten his dissolution. On the following day, he took an affectionate leave of his wife, thanking her most cordially for all the kindness she had shown to him. He next took leave of brother Mortimer's family, and gave to each member of the same his paternal blessing. He likewise remembered, in cordial affection, many of his absent friends. Towards midnight his end appeared to be approaching, and he desired that the last blessing might be conferred upon him. This favour was bestowed upon him by brother Mortimer, who, in a fervent prayer, thanked our dear Lord for the grace, election, and blessed ministry of this His faithful servant; and further intreated Him to cause that Spirit which had rested upon him to be imparted unto us. Nothing did so effectually comfort and quiet the patient, in the height of his sufferings, as the singing of hymns at his bed-side, and those in particular which he had composed for the dying Indians. Our Indian brethren and sisters therefore, when they visited him, or sat up with him at night, frequently entertained him with singing. Often was he found engaged in secret prayer. Sometimes he broke out into this audible ejaculation: "Lord Jesus, I pray thee come and receive my spirit!" At one time, being in great pain, he prayed with fervency-" Thou never yet didst forsake me in any distress whatsoever, neither wilt thou forsake me now ;" and soon after he exclaimed, as though he were sure that his prayer was heard-"The Saviour is near; perhaps He will soon come and take me home!" Although he so ardently desired to be divested of this earthly tabernacle, still he evinced not the least sign of impatience, but remained wholly resigned to the will of the Lord. That childlike faith, and that firm reliance upon the Saviour, whereby his life was so eminently distinguished, and which carried him safely through every trial and difficulty; even now, when death was approaching, bore away the palm of vicory; and the enjoyment of the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, kept his heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

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