all the churches. The manner of their preaching Christ crucified to the poor perishing heathen is worthy the imitation, not only of those who go forth into distant lands to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, but also of every man who is engaged in the important work of the Christian ministry. The following extract from Spangenberg's "Account of the manner in which the United Brethren carry on their Missions among the Heathen," which I read some months ago with peculiar pleasure, is sent at the request of several friends; and should you deem it proper for the Magazine, its early insertion will oblige, Dear Sir, Your's, respectfully, Hall, Nov. 30, 1815. "The method of the brethren to bring the heathen to Christ, was, in the beginning of their attempts, particularly in Greenland, nearly as follows: they proved to the heathen that there is a God, and spoke to them of his attributes and perfections. In the next place, they spoke upon the creation; how God had made man after his own image, which, however, was soon lost by the fall. They then made the heathen acquainted with the laws which God gave by his servant Moses. Hence they proved to them that they were sinners, and had deserved temporal and eternal punishment. And from this they drew the consequence, that there must be one who reconciled them to God, &c. This method of teaching they continued for a long time, but without any success, for the heathen became tired of such discourses. If it be asked, bow happened it that the brethren fell upon the said method, I must confess that I am apprehensive I was myself the cause of it. The first brethren who were destined for Greenland, went to Copenhagen by way of Halle, where I at that time lived. They tarried a few days with me, and conversed with me relative to their intentions. Upon this, I gave them a book to read, (for I knew no better at that time,) in which a certain divine treated, among the rest, of the method to convince and to bring the heathen to Christ. The good man had probably never seen an heathen in all his life, much less converted any; but yet he imagined be could give directions how to set about it The brethren followed them, but without success. Meanwhile, it pleased the Lord our Saviour to give the congregation at Hernhut, more insight into the word of atonement through the offering of Jesus. Nor were the brethren wanting in declaring to those in Greenland, that they must preach Jesus Christ, if they meant to produce any blessing among the heathen. Upon this, the brethren began to translate some parts of the gospel, espe cially what relates to the sufferings and death of Jesus, and read that to the heathen. This gave an opportunity to speak with them farther on that head. Then God opened their hearts that they attended to the word, and it proved to them also the power of God: they became desirous of hearing more about it, and the fire which had been kindled in them by the Holy Ghost, spread farther and farther. And thus many were converted to God; since which time the brethren were frequently asked by the heathen, why they did not preach to them sooner of Jesus; that they had been quite tired of hearing the discourses about God, and the two first parents, &c. "Above thirty years ago, when I lived in North America, I sometimes got the brethren that were used occasionally in the service of our Lord, to come together, in order that I might converse with them about their labours. Johannes, an Indian of the Mahileander nation, who had formerly been a very wicked man, but was now thoroughly converted, and was our fellow-labourer in the congregation, gathered from among the heathens at that time dwelling in Chekomekah, happened to be just then on a visit to us, and also came to our little meeting. He was a man that had excellent gifts, was a bold confessor of what he knew to be true, and understood the German language so as to express himself with sufficient clearness. As we were speaking with one another about the heathen, he said, among other things, Brethren, I have been an heathen, and am grown old among them; I know, therefore, very well how it is with the heathen. A preacher came once to us, desiring to instruct us, and began by proving to us that there was a God; on which we said to him, Well, and dost thou think we are ignorant of that? now go again whence thou camest. Another preacher came another time, and would instruct us, saying, Ye must not steal, not drink too much, not lie, &c. We answered him, Fool, that thou art! dost thou think that we do not know that? go and learn it first thyself, and teach the people thou belongest to not to do these things. For who are greater drunkards, or thieves, or liars, than thine own people? Thus we sent him away also. Some time after this, Christian Henry, one of the brethren, came to me into my hut, and sat down by me. The contents of his discourse to me were nearly these: I come to thee in the name of the Lord of heaven and earth. He acquaints thee that he would gladly save thee, and rescue thee from the miserable state in which thou liest. To this end he POETRY. became a man, hath given his life for mankind, and shed his blood for them, &c. Upon this, he lay down upon a board in my hut and fell asleep, being fatigued with his journey. I thought within myself, what manner of man is this? there he lies and sleeps so sweetly: I might kill him immediately, and throw him out into the forest, who would care for it? but he is unconcerned. However, I could not get rid of his words; they continually recurred to me; and though I went to sleep, yet I dreamed of the blood which Christ shed for us. I thought -this is very strange, and went to interpret to the other Indians the words which Christian Henry spake farther to us. Thus, through the grace of God, the awakening among us took place. I tell you therefore, brethren, preach to the heathen Christ and his blood, and his death, if ye would wish to produce a blessing among them.' Such was the exhortation of Johannes, the Mahileander, to us. "But the brethren were already, before that time, convinced that Jesus Christ must be the marrow and substance of the preaching of the gospel among the hea then, even as he is in general called, with justice, the marrow and substance of the whole Bible. The ground of this position is contained in section 9, and following, where we treated of the apostles' labour among the Gentiles. Nor shall we do amiss if we follow the method of the apostles, who, in their office, were under the peculiar leadings of the Holy Spirit, as far as it is applicable to us. Hence what Paul writes to the Corinthians-I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified,' is a firmly established rule for us in preaching to the heathen." POETRY. HYMN FOR THE NEW YEAR. Which sav'd me from each threat'ning snare, Content, if in thy courts above, At last I sing thy guardian Love. HERE AND THERE; L. Or, This World and the Next: being suitable HERE bliss is short, imperfect, insincere, In a weak, sinful body here I dwell, Here disappointments my best schemes destroy, my fond heart is fasten'd on some friend, Whose kindness may, whose life must have an end: But there no failure can I ever prove, Here error clouds the will, and dims the sight, If blest myself, I mourn some others' fate. The joy of every saint shall there be mine. Printed at the Conference-Office, 14, City-Road, London: T. CORDEUX, Agent. THE METHODIST MAGAZINE, FOR FEBRUARY, 1816. BIOGRAPHY. A BRIEF MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN HEAP,* BY MR. CHARLES ATMORE. MR. JOHN HEAP, the subject of the following Memoir, was brought to a saving acquaintance with divine truth about the 26th year of his age: prior to that time, though moral and of general good report, yet he was a total stranger to the vital power of godliness. The Rev. John Crosse, A. M. now the venerable Vicar of Bradford, but then minister of Todmorden and Cross Stone, was the honoured instrument, in the hand of God, of awakening him to a deep sense of his fallen condition. He was made sensibly to feel the plague of his own heart, and was penetrated with a consciousness of his awful state, as a sinner before God. He was brought into deep anguish and distress, and sorrowed after a godly sort. His distress was often so great, that he literally forgot to eat his bread, he mingled his drink with weeping, and watered his couch with his tears: he sometimes continued whole nights on his knees in earnest prayer and fervent supplications to God: thus he offered up "strong cries and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and he was heard." The Lord, whom he thus earnestly sought, came to the temple of his heart, and there displayed the saving virtue of his name; and he was soon enabled to testify of redemption found. His evidence was strong and clear as the sun shining in his strength; and he could no more doubt of his acceptance through the Beloved, or of his adoption into the family of God, than of his own existence. It was from his own We are sorry that, in consequence of being disappointed in our expectation of receiving an additional part of the Memoir of Mr. MAYER in time for this Num ber, we are obliged to postpone the continuance of it till the next month. VOL. XXXIX. FEBRUARY, 1816. *L* |