27. Hauge's Second Trip To Bergen

HAUGE’S SECOND TRIP TO BERGEN.

The friends in Bergen longed for Hauge and wrote him several times, asking him to visit them again. After he had stayed home for three days he again set out on a journey. He obtained passport from Burgomaster Strøm in Bragernes and went toward Eker. Here he was arrested by Sheriff Gram, where he had to stay three days while they procured a warrant from the county. Then the sheriff brought him under strong guard to Bailiff Collett in Kongsbcrg, who discharged him on the order from the county, after having seen his passport.

Hauge went from here to Numedal and over the parishes to Hardanger and from there to Bergen. Everywhere he went he talked with people both in public and private about the one thing needful.

He stayed in Bergen for some time and strengthened his friends with edification, admonition and comfort in the supreme good.

During this time the persecution of the Christians in the southeastern parts broke loose, and several were imprisoned and sentenced to hard labor. When Hauge received information about this, he wrote thus: “I grieve over those who do the evil --who do not know the things which belong unto their peace, and rejoice with those who suffer for the sake of the good. My wish is that there now were many true Christians; if the evil ones will keep this up, then they should not only get their houses of correction filled, but God should also have the necessary workers in His great harvest.”

The friends in Bergen wanted Hauge to settle there, and Maren Boes would give him her considerable possessions if he would settle there. But Hauge would not or could not do so, even if they would give him all of Bergen. He soon went northward through Søndfjord, Nordfjord and Søndmøre. From here he went to Nordmøre and came into Surendalen. One Sunday morning he was found sitting in the farmyard on the farm named Harang. He had walked all night to reach Rindal church where there were services that day. He went along with the farm people to the church.

After the services he talked with people outside the church, and had already gathered a good many people on a farm in order to speak the Word of God to them, but when a deacon brought word from the minister that he was not allowed to talk to people about God, the speech came to nothing. As he went, he patted the deacon on the shoulder and said: “We might meet again here; if not then we will meet on the big day, and then it will be found out that it was the spirit of truth which spoke through me.”

To Be Continued....