15. Hauge and the Story of the Conversion of Tauler.

HAUGE AND THE STORY OF THE CONVERSION OF TAULER.

A little book, which describes the conversion of a learned man by a layman’s testimony, made a deep impression on Hauge. The learned man was Johan Tauler and the layman’s name was Nikolaus of Basel. This story of conversion threw a somewhat new light over Hauge’s call and strengthened in him this purpose, above all to be the Lord’s witness among his people. In said layman’s behavior Hauge found an ecclesiastical model for his own mission. As Nikolaus of Basel had been called by God to become an instrument of the conversion of the learned but spiritually dead Tauler, so Hauge from the same God had received the mission to preach conversion to the spiritually dead people of Norway. It was the layman’s office of admonition he had received, the office of servant to give the Lord’s people their food in due season.

Developed and prepared in this manner Hauge was ready in earnest to start his important day’s work. He was now a man in the prime of his life. “He was about 65 inches tall, with broad shoulders, broad chest and stout of limbs, had a mild countenance, light brown hair and eyebrows.” - He had with him a rich inner disposition, a heart filled with God’s love, which with marvelous power attracted people, a deep intuition, delicate and tenderly susceptible of the influence of sin, and elevated at the feeling of the heavenly mercy. But above all Hauge was a man of action, the man with the stern will, the ardent active power. On all points is this character destined by his fervent life in God; as for the relation to him, that was above all the main thing for Hauge. And even so he had at the same time an open eye both for the beauty in nature and for the importance of the temporal duties. His conduct was quiet and gentle, such as the conduct of the one becomes who lives under the discipline of the Spirit. And still none could with more earnestness than he reprove “the many who use mournful voice, bowed head, humble gestures and speech, who with their months profess to be poor sinners and show themselves humble, but are hypocrites just the same, and do it in order to win the praise of the people.” In his personal association Hauge is supposed to have been very amiable, that is why his friends with great fervency and love were so attached to him.

To Be Continued...