16. Hauge's Activity

HAUGE’S ACTIVITY

For a closer understanding of Hauge’s activity and how a man in so short a time could accomplish so much, we must first emphasize his conversations with the individuals.

As mentioned before, Hauge began his activity with individual conversations, and this was also very essential in his mission. Hauge must have been especially gifted in this respect. He had great spiritual experience and his spiritual vision was penetrating. His speech was lively, and he made everything intelligible by examples, illustrations and pictures. His words seemed to carry the weight of eternity, even when he spoke only a couple of words in passing, so it is exemplified that a few words from him stayed in the souls of some for 40 to 60 years without losing their power, and above all he had a glowing, burning love, which pervaded his heart, and against this his quiet, strong love could almost no weapon hold its own. There are examples also that he with almost magic strength held his most enraged opponent only by a friendly word or a kind pat on the shoulder.

He generally started his conversation with worldly-minded people about temporal things and went from there easily over to the spiritual. In entering a house his first words were as a rule: “Do you live well here?” a question which often awoke earnest thoughts. Time and again he talked to the individual like this: “Will you become a brother in Christ?” or he laid his hand on the person’s head and asked: “Will you love God?” etc.

This aspect of Hauge’s activity also found its application when he conversed with those who gathered around him in larger and smaller groups, partly before, partly after the edification speeches and partly also on the roads, by the churches, etc. It was rather strange to hear how he replied to objections, brought deriders to fall silent, helped one who faltered on to frankness and answered the inquirer.

His friends often came from afar to talk with him, and they always found guidance and consolation with him in the Word of God. One writes about this: “As I arrived at the said place, I talked with the man whom I a long time had wanted to meet. I became much confirmed in his edification, as he knew both in teaching and in living how to lead the weak and convince the recalcitrant.” Another says: “The Word of God bore testimony to me that be spoke the truth, and I felt I absolutely could not resist, and he was also very friendly towards everybody, even the lowliest, so that clearly gave evidence that he must have Christ’s disposition, as I never before had seen such a person.”

Too Be Continued...