My Heart's Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 8
The Grace Of God
The grace of God hath appeared bringing salvation to all men. Titus 2. 11.
''Grace'' is one of the richest words in the Bible. It includes in its meaning many other wonderful words such as love, mercy, patience, and salvation. It is one of the key words that introduce us to God. Without it we would be in total darkness.
''Grace'' is God's love poured out upon undeserving sinners. Such a statement should arouse the attention of any sinner. If any individual thinks he deserves God's love, he can not touch the grace of God, for grace is something that comes entirely from God, and is given as an outright gift to undeserving people. "For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, that no man should glory'' (Ephesians 2. 8-9).
God's grace comes to us through Jesus Christ. "The law was given through Moses: grace and truth came through Jesus Christ'' (John 1. 17). God's grace and Jesus Christ can not be separated, for they are one and the same thing. God's grace is all bound up in Christ. Therefore our text reads, "The grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all Men." Our text could also have read, "Jesus Christ hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men."
"For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him (Christ) should all the fulness dwell'' (Colossians 1. 19). It was God's plan to reveal His grace in a very attractive way. No one who comes in touch with Jesus eve: needs to doubt God's love for him.
Even the vilest sinner felt drawn to Christ. Children as well as grown people felt welcome in His presence. Come then, "Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need'' (Hebrews 4. 16).
God's grace can not be exhausted. It is like an endless river that never runs dry. "For of his fullness we all received, and grace for grace'' (John 1. 16). "Grace for grace'' can also be translated "grace upon grace." It is as a river that has water upon water-grace upon grace. Drink as often and as much as you desire, but you can not drink this river dry. Some stricken sinners are tempted to believe they have exhausted God's grace. Nothing could be farther from the truth than that. God's own word should forever remove such doubt. "But where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly'' (Romans 5. 20). Where sin is great, grace is even greater. "God is able to make all grace abound unto you'' (2 Corinthians 9. 8). Never for one moment entertain the thought that there is not sufficient grace for you, for "He giveth more grace'' (James 4. 6). God's river of grace is still overflowing its banks. Stoop down, thirsty one, and drink of it, for "the river of God is full of water'' (Psalm 65. 9).
God's grace can not be exhausted, but it can be rejected. A sinner is never lost because God's grace is not sufficient, but rather because God's grace is rejected. Christ "came to his own, and they that were his own received him not, but as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God'' (John 1. 11-12). It is possible for a man to die of thirst on the barks of a river if he refuses to drink. There have been cases where people have gone on hunger strikes and actually died for lack of food, not because there was no food, but rather because they refused to partake of it. We can not find one case in the Bible where Christ rejected a sinner because His grace was exhausted. Rather, we find Him weeping over sinful Jerusalem, which was in dire need of His grace; because they rejected the grace He came to give. The great problem is not that there is not sufficient grace to forgive sinners, but rather that sinners reject or neglect the grace God offers them.
Grace is for "all Men." No amount of work can earn it. It is given to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. "Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we also have our access by faith unto his grace wherein we stand'' (Romans 5. 1).
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe;
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
JULIA H. JOHNSTON.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
7. The Shepherd's Rod
My Hearts Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 7
The Shepherd's Rod
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23. 4.
What significant words: "Rod, staff, and comfort''! The staff is used to gently guide the sheep and is a symbol of the shepherd's presence. The rod, on the other hand, is used to discipline the sheep, in order to get them to go where they belong. It is easy to see how the Psalmist could find comfort in the shepherd's staff. But notice, he says that the rod also gives comfort. He even mentions that first. If he had said, "Thy rod I have learned to endure, and thy staff comforts me," his words would better fit the experience of many.
Notice the setting of this testimony. It is a continuation of the verse that has brought strength to many a dying saint, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Even when entering the shadow of death, the rod of God can be a comfort. Many are the children of God who suffer and go through real testings at such a time. Friend, if you have already entered that valley, may you not misunderstand the Good Shepherd if He uses the rod now for the last time. The valley may seem long and dark, but take courage, and say with the Psalmist, "Thou art with me." The very fact that you are conscious of the rod proves His presence, ''for whom the Lord Loveth he chasteneth'' (Hebrews 12. 6). Wherefore, "Regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art reproved of Him." Rather, pray for grace to say with the Psalmist, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." The rod can either cause you to faint, or be a means of giving you comfort.
The rod never feels like comfort. It is easy to misunderstand our Lord when He uses it. It provides a good opportunity for the devil to whisper wrong interpretations. But a Christian must live by faith, and not by feelings. "All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness'' (Hebrews 12. 11). Notice it says, "all chastening.'' If we walk by feelings at a time of chastening we are undone, for no chastening seems joyous. Then, mark the word "seemeth." To frail human beings, prone to walk by feelings and not by faith, chastening seems grievous. At such a time let us not squirm and complain and ask, "Why did this have to happen to me? God promises an "afterward" when "peaceable fruit of righteousness'' is borne. If we trust Him when He uses the rod, we will later have this harvest of peaceable fruit.
What then should be our attitude toward the rod? First of all, thank God for it. "Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience'' (James 1. 2-3). Remember, "If ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons'' (Hebrews 12. 8). If we reverence our earthly fathers who punished us, shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12. 9). May the three words, "be in subjection," be our guiding motto in times of darkness. Then we shall be able to say with the Psalmist, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 7
The Shepherd's Rod
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23. 4.
What significant words: "Rod, staff, and comfort''! The staff is used to gently guide the sheep and is a symbol of the shepherd's presence. The rod, on the other hand, is used to discipline the sheep, in order to get them to go where they belong. It is easy to see how the Psalmist could find comfort in the shepherd's staff. But notice, he says that the rod also gives comfort. He even mentions that first. If he had said, "Thy rod I have learned to endure, and thy staff comforts me," his words would better fit the experience of many.
Notice the setting of this testimony. It is a continuation of the verse that has brought strength to many a dying saint, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Even when entering the shadow of death, the rod of God can be a comfort. Many are the children of God who suffer and go through real testings at such a time. Friend, if you have already entered that valley, may you not misunderstand the Good Shepherd if He uses the rod now for the last time. The valley may seem long and dark, but take courage, and say with the Psalmist, "Thou art with me." The very fact that you are conscious of the rod proves His presence, ''for whom the Lord Loveth he chasteneth'' (Hebrews 12. 6). Wherefore, "Regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art reproved of Him." Rather, pray for grace to say with the Psalmist, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." The rod can either cause you to faint, or be a means of giving you comfort.
The rod never feels like comfort. It is easy to misunderstand our Lord when He uses it. It provides a good opportunity for the devil to whisper wrong interpretations. But a Christian must live by faith, and not by feelings. "All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness'' (Hebrews 12. 11). Notice it says, "all chastening.'' If we walk by feelings at a time of chastening we are undone, for no chastening seems joyous. Then, mark the word "seemeth." To frail human beings, prone to walk by feelings and not by faith, chastening seems grievous. At such a time let us not squirm and complain and ask, "Why did this have to happen to me? God promises an "afterward" when "peaceable fruit of righteousness'' is borne. If we trust Him when He uses the rod, we will later have this harvest of peaceable fruit.
What then should be our attitude toward the rod? First of all, thank God for it. "Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience'' (James 1. 2-3). Remember, "If ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons'' (Hebrews 12. 8). If we reverence our earthly fathers who punished us, shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12. 9). May the three words, "be in subjection," be our guiding motto in times of darkness. Then we shall be able to say with the Psalmist, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."
Saturday, July 25, 2009
6. Are There Few That Be Saved?
My Heart's Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 6
Are There Few That Be Saved?
Luke 13:23
The question was once asked Jesus, "Are there few that be saved?'' This is one of the most solemn questions ever asked. Only Jesus is qualified to give the correct answer. He answered the question by saying, strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able'' (Luke 18:24). Perhaps the one who asked the question remembered that out of the great population at the time of the Flood only eight people were saved. Perhaps he also remembered that out of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah only three people escaped destruction. Therefore the question, "Are there few that be saved?''
From Jesus' answer, we are told, that the lost are referred to as "many" "Many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able." God's people have always been in the minority. Once Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom'' (Luke 12:32). Again He said, "Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straightened the way that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it'' (Matthew 7. 13-14). Notice, Jesus makes it clear that many are on the road to destruction, and few enter the gate that leads unto life. How sad that Jesus had to answer the question as He did!
We also notice that many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able. These are religious people who know about the Lord, for the day will come that they will cry out "Lord, open to us'' (v. 25). They address Him as Lord. They will even say "We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets.'' To this pitiful cry the only answer will be, "I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me'' (v. 27). These lost souls had heard the pure preaching of God's Word. They even knew the door that leads to eternal life, for they came and knocked there. They did not openly despise the Lord, but rather sought "to enter in" They had the head knowledge, but lacked a heart experience. They had been fellowshipping with real Christians, and had tried to imitate them to the best of their ability. Perhaps others thought they were real Christians. There was a concern in their heart for eternal things, but they never got beyond the class of the seekers.
This group that numbered "many" never took care of the sin problem in their lives. They never got to the place where with the Psalmist they could joyfully testify, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity'' (Psalm 32:1). When they claimed entrance to heaven, not a word was said about the blood of Christ. There was no "broken and contrite heart'' in them. Rather, they had lofty thoughts of themselves, for their cry was, "Lord, open to us.'' Their emphasis was not on "Lord," but rather on "us." They had been able to "get by'' with their sins until they stood at the judgment seat. There they learned the truth of the verse, "Be sure your sin will find you out'' (Numbers 32. 23). What a terrible time to be caught with sin!
Jesus' answer still holds true for our day. "Many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able." In this age also there are few that are saved. That is not God's fault, for He would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth'' (1 Timothy 2:4). Christ "died for all'' (2 Corinthians 5:15), and He said, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out'' (John 6:37). This, then, is the day for seekers to become finders. This is the time to cry out in the words of the Psalmist, "Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin'' (Psalm 51:1-2).
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 6
Are There Few That Be Saved?
Luke 13:23
The question was once asked Jesus, "Are there few that be saved?'' This is one of the most solemn questions ever asked. Only Jesus is qualified to give the correct answer. He answered the question by saying, strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able'' (Luke 18:24). Perhaps the one who asked the question remembered that out of the great population at the time of the Flood only eight people were saved. Perhaps he also remembered that out of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah only three people escaped destruction. Therefore the question, "Are there few that be saved?''
From Jesus' answer, we are told, that the lost are referred to as "many" "Many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able." God's people have always been in the minority. Once Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom'' (Luke 12:32). Again He said, "Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straightened the way that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it'' (Matthew 7. 13-14). Notice, Jesus makes it clear that many are on the road to destruction, and few enter the gate that leads unto life. How sad that Jesus had to answer the question as He did!
We also notice that many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able. These are religious people who know about the Lord, for the day will come that they will cry out "Lord, open to us'' (v. 25). They address Him as Lord. They will even say "We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets.'' To this pitiful cry the only answer will be, "I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me'' (v. 27). These lost souls had heard the pure preaching of God's Word. They even knew the door that leads to eternal life, for they came and knocked there. They did not openly despise the Lord, but rather sought "to enter in" They had the head knowledge, but lacked a heart experience. They had been fellowshipping with real Christians, and had tried to imitate them to the best of their ability. Perhaps others thought they were real Christians. There was a concern in their heart for eternal things, but they never got beyond the class of the seekers.
This group that numbered "many" never took care of the sin problem in their lives. They never got to the place where with the Psalmist they could joyfully testify, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity'' (Psalm 32:1). When they claimed entrance to heaven, not a word was said about the blood of Christ. There was no "broken and contrite heart'' in them. Rather, they had lofty thoughts of themselves, for their cry was, "Lord, open to us.'' Their emphasis was not on "Lord," but rather on "us." They had been able to "get by'' with their sins until they stood at the judgment seat. There they learned the truth of the verse, "Be sure your sin will find you out'' (Numbers 32. 23). What a terrible time to be caught with sin!
Jesus' answer still holds true for our day. "Many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able." In this age also there are few that are saved. That is not God's fault, for He would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth'' (1 Timothy 2:4). Christ "died for all'' (2 Corinthians 5:15), and He said, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out'' (John 6:37). This, then, is the day for seekers to become finders. This is the time to cry out in the words of the Psalmist, "Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin'' (Psalm 51:1-2).
Thursday, July 23, 2009
5. A Glimpse Into Heaven
My Heart's Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 5
A Glimpse Into Heaven
There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary are at rest. There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the 'voice of the task- master. The small and the great are there: and the servant is free from his master. Job 3: 17-19.
When Job's testing became unbearable he found comfort by looking heavenward. He knew the balm for troubled hearts. As he peered with longing eye, he described what he saw.
"The wicked cease from troubling''-the days of trouble are past. Where can you find such a place on this earth? Here wicked people and wickedness surround us on all sides, and troubles of one kind or another come as regularly as the day. Our entire pilgrimage is a warfare, with Satan inspiring wicked people to trouble the saints. But that day of troubling will soon be over. Jesus said in one of His last messages to His disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. . . I go to prepare a place for you. . . . I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also'' (John 14: 1-3). This is medicine for a weary Christian. The day will soon dawn when the wicked shall cease from troubling.
"There the weary are at rest." That is exactly what Jesus promised when He said: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest'' (Matthew 11: 28). What a sight to see all those who were once weary and tired, now refreshed and happy, with struggles and trials forever past ! Now they have perfect rest, rest that will last through all the ages of eternity. When the apostle Paul peered heavenward he, too, had "the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better'' (Philippians 1. 23). For a saved soul "to die is gain," for there the weary are at rest.
"There the prisoners are at ease together.'' How good to see those who were once prisoners now released! Satan's prisons have been opened, and many haggard, starved, restless prisoners are free. They are more than free; they are at ease, perfectly relaxed. No longer in lonely cells, where Satan had them isolated, but now together in glorious fellowship. People who were once guilty of all types of crimes make up this heavenly population. They are now at ease, for there is no guilty conscience to hound them, and no regrets of failures and shortcomings. They are here because of Jesus. These are the ones to whom Jesus referred when He said, "He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives'' (Luke 4: 18).
"They hear not the voice of the taskmaster.'' The taskmaster Satan, who had such a far-reaching voice on earth, is now forever silenced. He who drove his slaves from early morning until late at night and shouted his demands into every nook of human life is heard no more. He who was known as "the accuser of the brethren'' can no longer be heard even in a whisper He who once came "as an angel of light'' and imitated the Holy Spirit, can never deceive these saved souls again, for they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.
"The small and the great are there." There is no distinction now. We expected that the great would be there, but did you notice that the small are present, too? Does that not encourage you? The small, who were hardly recognized on earth are known in heaven. Job even mentions them first. The prophecy of Jesus, "the last shall be first," has been fulfilled. Jesus has always had His eyes on the small. He has always taken their side. Once He said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom'' (Luke 12: 32).
"The servant is free from his master." There are no class distinctions in heaven, nor any labor disputes. Social inequality is gone forever; the caste system is a thing of the past. "God is no respecter of persons'' (Acts 10: 34).
Thus we have been listening to Job as he peered into heaven and saw the redeemed. We could well wish he had told us more. We would like to linger, but our journey calls for more marching. With these beautiful glimpses of that land to which we are going we move on with renewed hope, longing for the day when we will be there.
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 5
A Glimpse Into Heaven
There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary are at rest. There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the 'voice of the task- master. The small and the great are there: and the servant is free from his master. Job 3: 17-19.
When Job's testing became unbearable he found comfort by looking heavenward. He knew the balm for troubled hearts. As he peered with longing eye, he described what he saw.
"The wicked cease from troubling''-the days of trouble are past. Where can you find such a place on this earth? Here wicked people and wickedness surround us on all sides, and troubles of one kind or another come as regularly as the day. Our entire pilgrimage is a warfare, with Satan inspiring wicked people to trouble the saints. But that day of troubling will soon be over. Jesus said in one of His last messages to His disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. . . I go to prepare a place for you. . . . I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also'' (John 14: 1-3). This is medicine for a weary Christian. The day will soon dawn when the wicked shall cease from troubling.
"There the weary are at rest." That is exactly what Jesus promised when He said: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest'' (Matthew 11: 28). What a sight to see all those who were once weary and tired, now refreshed and happy, with struggles and trials forever past ! Now they have perfect rest, rest that will last through all the ages of eternity. When the apostle Paul peered heavenward he, too, had "the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better'' (Philippians 1. 23). For a saved soul "to die is gain," for there the weary are at rest.
"There the prisoners are at ease together.'' How good to see those who were once prisoners now released! Satan's prisons have been opened, and many haggard, starved, restless prisoners are free. They are more than free; they are at ease, perfectly relaxed. No longer in lonely cells, where Satan had them isolated, but now together in glorious fellowship. People who were once guilty of all types of crimes make up this heavenly population. They are now at ease, for there is no guilty conscience to hound them, and no regrets of failures and shortcomings. They are here because of Jesus. These are the ones to whom Jesus referred when He said, "He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives'' (Luke 4: 18).
"They hear not the voice of the taskmaster.'' The taskmaster Satan, who had such a far-reaching voice on earth, is now forever silenced. He who drove his slaves from early morning until late at night and shouted his demands into every nook of human life is heard no more. He who was known as "the accuser of the brethren'' can no longer be heard even in a whisper He who once came "as an angel of light'' and imitated the Holy Spirit, can never deceive these saved souls again, for they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.
"The small and the great are there." There is no distinction now. We expected that the great would be there, but did you notice that the small are present, too? Does that not encourage you? The small, who were hardly recognized on earth are known in heaven. Job even mentions them first. The prophecy of Jesus, "the last shall be first," has been fulfilled. Jesus has always had His eyes on the small. He has always taken their side. Once He said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom'' (Luke 12: 32).
"The servant is free from his master." There are no class distinctions in heaven, nor any labor disputes. Social inequality is gone forever; the caste system is a thing of the past. "God is no respecter of persons'' (Acts 10: 34).
Thus we have been listening to Job as he peered into heaven and saw the redeemed. We could well wish he had told us more. We would like to linger, but our journey calls for more marching. With these beautiful glimpses of that land to which we are going we move on with renewed hope, longing for the day when we will be there.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
4.The Cloudy and Dark Day
My Heart's Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 4
The Cloudy and Dark Day
I will seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. Ezekiel 34:12.
There have been many "cloudy and dark days'' on this earth. The first one came when Adam fell into sin. Since then they have come in rapid and quick succession. Whenever anyone turns away from God, it is a ''cloudy and dark day'' for him. The "cloudy day" is a time of threatening, one never knows how bad it may become. It may soon become a "dark day" when all visibility is gone. Then the night of hell with its eternal blackness follows quickly.
The sheep were ''scattered'' in "the cloudy and dark day." When visibility is poor it is easy to get lost. On cloudy days only those sheep who stay close to the shepherd remain with the flock. It is the sheep who follow "afar off" that get scattered. Being "afar off," they may in a moment of carelessness lose sight of the shepherd and go their own way.
For a while these wandering sheep find the going easy enough. Then comes the darkness and they realize they are "scattered." Once a sheep loses sight of the shepherd he is an easy victim for the wolf. Satan, the wolf that is always after God's sheep, has feasted on many a "scattered" one. Now he has nothing to fear for there is no shepherd to protect them. The sheep themselves have no strength to ward off such a beast.
The places where these sheep are scattered vary. Lost sheep run anywhere for they have lost their sense of direction and have no shepherd to guide them. Satan can drive such wanderers wherever he may desire. Many he has driven into despair, discouragement, selfishness, unhappiness, grief, and hopelessness. Some are even tempted to end their own lives because they see no reason for continuing to live. They remember the happy days while they were in the flock of God, but now everything is so different. Surely the cloudy day can become dark. Oftentimes it becomes dark at noontide when it should be brightest. Many lives become dark and purposeless when they should be bright and hopeful.
Our God does not forsake His sheep in the dark and cloudy day. We are still living in the day of grace. Therefore He offers to "deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered.'' We are sometimes tempted to believe our God loves only the sheep He has in the flock and not those who have wandered away. But the very word of God we are now considering makes it clear that He is after the scattered sheep. Notice, He does not say He will deliver them out of most places, but out of all places. No sheep has wandered so far away, that He does not stand ready to deliver it. He does not chide His sheep for being scattered, but rather comes to deliver them. "Deliver" is the opposite of "scatter." The one spells hope; the other spells doom. Our Lord comes to give hope to the hopeless.
Our God has promised to go for the sheep Himself. "I will seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." The angels are not entrusted with this mission, for our God will Himself do the task. He will be the Good Shepherd. His all-seeing eye can locate all lost souls. He will seek them out individually. Surely no wandering sheep can long resist such love. Listen to Christ, the Sheep Finder, as He cries out "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. . . .And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd'' (John 10:11,16).
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 4
The Cloudy and Dark Day
I will seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. Ezekiel 34:12.
There have been many "cloudy and dark days'' on this earth. The first one came when Adam fell into sin. Since then they have come in rapid and quick succession. Whenever anyone turns away from God, it is a ''cloudy and dark day'' for him. The "cloudy day" is a time of threatening, one never knows how bad it may become. It may soon become a "dark day" when all visibility is gone. Then the night of hell with its eternal blackness follows quickly.
The sheep were ''scattered'' in "the cloudy and dark day." When visibility is poor it is easy to get lost. On cloudy days only those sheep who stay close to the shepherd remain with the flock. It is the sheep who follow "afar off" that get scattered. Being "afar off," they may in a moment of carelessness lose sight of the shepherd and go their own way.
For a while these wandering sheep find the going easy enough. Then comes the darkness and they realize they are "scattered." Once a sheep loses sight of the shepherd he is an easy victim for the wolf. Satan, the wolf that is always after God's sheep, has feasted on many a "scattered" one. Now he has nothing to fear for there is no shepherd to protect them. The sheep themselves have no strength to ward off such a beast.
The places where these sheep are scattered vary. Lost sheep run anywhere for they have lost their sense of direction and have no shepherd to guide them. Satan can drive such wanderers wherever he may desire. Many he has driven into despair, discouragement, selfishness, unhappiness, grief, and hopelessness. Some are even tempted to end their own lives because they see no reason for continuing to live. They remember the happy days while they were in the flock of God, but now everything is so different. Surely the cloudy day can become dark. Oftentimes it becomes dark at noontide when it should be brightest. Many lives become dark and purposeless when they should be bright and hopeful.
Our God does not forsake His sheep in the dark and cloudy day. We are still living in the day of grace. Therefore He offers to "deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered.'' We are sometimes tempted to believe our God loves only the sheep He has in the flock and not those who have wandered away. But the very word of God we are now considering makes it clear that He is after the scattered sheep. Notice, He does not say He will deliver them out of most places, but out of all places. No sheep has wandered so far away, that He does not stand ready to deliver it. He does not chide His sheep for being scattered, but rather comes to deliver them. "Deliver" is the opposite of "scatter." The one spells hope; the other spells doom. Our Lord comes to give hope to the hopeless.
Our God has promised to go for the sheep Himself. "I will seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." The angels are not entrusted with this mission, for our God will Himself do the task. He will be the Good Shepherd. His all-seeing eye can locate all lost souls. He will seek them out individually. Surely no wandering sheep can long resist such love. Listen to Christ, the Sheep Finder, as He cries out "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. . . .And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd'' (John 10:11,16).
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
3. The God of All Comfort
My Heart's Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 3
The God of All Comfort
Blessed be the . . . God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4.
The name ''God of all comfort'' is a wonderful introduction to God. It is a personal introduction made especially for our benefit.
God wants it known that He is "the God of all comfort." How sweeping this statement is! It means He has comfort enough for any situation in which we might find ourselves. It is foolish, then, to seek comfort elsewhere. Oh, for grace never to forget that our God is the "God of all comfort''! This truth is one that is hard to retain. It seems that in a time of testing, the very atmosphere is charged with forgetfulness. Clouds form that dim the majestic presence of our God. But as clouds can never remove the mountains, although they may hide them for the time being, so neither can clouds of sorrow remove the "God of all comfort." They merely hide Him for a time.
He "comforteth us in all our affliction." The apostle Paul had experienced this comfort. He could testify, "I am filled with comfort; I overflow with joy in all our affliction'' (2 Corinthians 7: 4). Can this be possible? Of course it can, for "God is able to make, all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work'' (2 Corinthians 9.8). How sad that so few people believe in the promises of God! Not only does He make these great promises, but He adds, "I watch over my word to perform it'' (Jeremiah 1. 12). He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think'' (Ephesians 3. 20). Therefore, when He offers us comfort, we may know that He can bestow it.
Our God "comforteth us in all our affliction." Let us take special notice of the little word "us"-- "comforteth us." It is one of the smallest of words, and yet big enough to include all who read these lines. Then, too, note the word ''all''-"in all our affliction." That includes any testing that may come our way. It would be a waste of words for our God to enumerate all the various afflictions in which He can give comfort. He merely includes them all in that one inclusive statement, "comforteth us in all our affliction." Then if there is any affliction in which we have not yet received comfort, it is because we have not turned ourselves over to the "God of all comfort." At times of intense testing, it is hard to believe that God can comfort us. We imagine our sorrow greater than the comfort that He may have. These thoughts are from the evil one, for they are contrary to the Word of God.
God comforts us so that we in turn "may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction." This we can only do when the cure is complete. Who would ever recommend to another medicine that failed to bring the desired results to himself? But how joyful it is to pass on a cure that works! The comfort cure from God is so complete that those who have experienced it are in a position to help them that are in ''any affliction." "Any affliction" includes all needs which call for comfort. This then is God's "cure-all," and should be quickly passed on to those in need. His messengers are those who have first been cured themselves.
Dear friend, you who feel your need of comfort, look to God. You are invited to "taste and see that Jehovah is good: blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him'' (Psalm 34.8). One of the names given to the Holy Spirit is "Comforter.'' The ''God of all comfort'' stands ready to handle your case. He alone can give you help. He has given us this introduction of Himself, that through the ''comfort of the scriptures we might have hope'' (Romans 15. 4).
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 3
The God of All Comfort
Blessed be the . . . God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4.
The name ''God of all comfort'' is a wonderful introduction to God. It is a personal introduction made especially for our benefit.
God wants it known that He is "the God of all comfort." How sweeping this statement is! It means He has comfort enough for any situation in which we might find ourselves. It is foolish, then, to seek comfort elsewhere. Oh, for grace never to forget that our God is the "God of all comfort''! This truth is one that is hard to retain. It seems that in a time of testing, the very atmosphere is charged with forgetfulness. Clouds form that dim the majestic presence of our God. But as clouds can never remove the mountains, although they may hide them for the time being, so neither can clouds of sorrow remove the "God of all comfort." They merely hide Him for a time.
He "comforteth us in all our affliction." The apostle Paul had experienced this comfort. He could testify, "I am filled with comfort; I overflow with joy in all our affliction'' (2 Corinthians 7: 4). Can this be possible? Of course it can, for "God is able to make, all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work'' (2 Corinthians 9.8). How sad that so few people believe in the promises of God! Not only does He make these great promises, but He adds, "I watch over my word to perform it'' (Jeremiah 1. 12). He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think'' (Ephesians 3. 20). Therefore, when He offers us comfort, we may know that He can bestow it.
Our God "comforteth us in all our affliction." Let us take special notice of the little word "us"-- "comforteth us." It is one of the smallest of words, and yet big enough to include all who read these lines. Then, too, note the word ''all''-"in all our affliction." That includes any testing that may come our way. It would be a waste of words for our God to enumerate all the various afflictions in which He can give comfort. He merely includes them all in that one inclusive statement, "comforteth us in all our affliction." Then if there is any affliction in which we have not yet received comfort, it is because we have not turned ourselves over to the "God of all comfort." At times of intense testing, it is hard to believe that God can comfort us. We imagine our sorrow greater than the comfort that He may have. These thoughts are from the evil one, for they are contrary to the Word of God.
God comforts us so that we in turn "may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction." This we can only do when the cure is complete. Who would ever recommend to another medicine that failed to bring the desired results to himself? But how joyful it is to pass on a cure that works! The comfort cure from God is so complete that those who have experienced it are in a position to help them that are in ''any affliction." "Any affliction" includes all needs which call for comfort. This then is God's "cure-all," and should be quickly passed on to those in need. His messengers are those who have first been cured themselves.
Dear friend, you who feel your need of comfort, look to God. You are invited to "taste and see that Jehovah is good: blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him'' (Psalm 34.8). One of the names given to the Holy Spirit is "Comforter.'' The ''God of all comfort'' stands ready to handle your case. He alone can give you help. He has given us this introduction of Himself, that through the ''comfort of the scriptures we might have hope'' (Romans 15. 4).
Monday, July 20, 2009
2. Burdens
Burdens (From "My Hearts Desire" by Maynard Force)
Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee. Psalm 55: 22.
Burdens are common to all. If an average group of people were asked to jot down their burdens, we would have a long and varied list. The young as well as the old would be represented. Suppose you were asked, what would you put down?
One burden differs from another. It may be some sin you committed in the past which is now pressing heavily on your conscience. It may be some worry that has lodged in your mind for which you can find no relief. Perhaps it is a fear of something that may come in the future. It may be some disappointment in life that has caused you bitterness. It may be a sorrow that overwhelms you. It may be something unique that bothers you, something unknown to any one else. It may even be some small, insignificant thing that you are ashamed to mention. It does not take much of a weight, if it presses in a sensitive place, to become a burden. A burden, then, can be anything that you are carrying that depresses you.
There are many different ways in which people seek to get rid of burdens, for no one wants to carry a load that causes him grief. Many have found temporary relief in keeping themselves feverishly busy with all kinds of things. Some avoid being alone, for then their burden becomes unbearable. Others seek to lighten their load by indulging in worldly pleasures, hoping that relief will come that way. Still others turn to alcohol or drugs, for while they are under their influence, their burdens seem to lighten. Others, again, break down under their burdens and become sick and despondent in body, mind, and soul. Then there are those who can not stand the pressure of their burdens, and hope to find escape by committing suicide. None of these methods effects cure. The poor burdened individual is far worse off after trying them than he was before.
Our text tells us to cast thy burden upon the Lord. This is the only remedy for troubled hearts. It is simple and free to all. People of all walks of life who have tried it can vouch for its effectiveness. Millions upon millions of people are carrying burdens they never should carry. It was never the Lord's plan that any soul should carry even one burden, for even the smallest burden is too much. If you are carrying one burden, it is one too many.
The Lord has given us many invitations to come directly to Him with our burdens. One such invitation is 1 Peter 5:7: "Casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you." There can be no doubt that the Lord is inviting all burdened people to come directly to Him with their troubles.
Our burdens are to be "cast" upon Jehovah, even as a stone that is cast into the depths of the sea. If the stone falls into the sea, it is gone forever, as far as we are concerned. The Lord invites men and women to treat their burdens in the same way. He wants them, in simple confession, to unload them on Him, and He in turn has promised that He ''will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea'' (Micah 7: 19). This is God's way of dealing with the burdens which are causing us so much grief and unhappiness.
There is no better time to deal with burdens than right now. Now is the time to transfer them to the Lord. He has asked for them, so let us honor His request. This is one time we can give Him something He actually desires. Pause as long as you must, but make the transaction. Remember it is a one-way affair - from you to the Lord. Don't let Satan tempt you to believe your burdens are not safe there. If you do, you will soon be doing as so many have done in the past-you will pick them up again and be no better off. When you are thus tempted, remember what you have given to the Lord no longer belongs to you. Each time you are tempted to retrace your steps, pray for grace to trust the Lord. Then the temptation can be turned into a blessing. You will be able to say with the Psalmist,
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, even the God who is our salvation'' (Psalm 68: 19).
To be continued.....
Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee. Psalm 55: 22.
Burdens are common to all. If an average group of people were asked to jot down their burdens, we would have a long and varied list. The young as well as the old would be represented. Suppose you were asked, what would you put down?
One burden differs from another. It may be some sin you committed in the past which is now pressing heavily on your conscience. It may be some worry that has lodged in your mind for which you can find no relief. Perhaps it is a fear of something that may come in the future. It may be some disappointment in life that has caused you bitterness. It may be a sorrow that overwhelms you. It may be something unique that bothers you, something unknown to any one else. It may even be some small, insignificant thing that you are ashamed to mention. It does not take much of a weight, if it presses in a sensitive place, to become a burden. A burden, then, can be anything that you are carrying that depresses you.
There are many different ways in which people seek to get rid of burdens, for no one wants to carry a load that causes him grief. Many have found temporary relief in keeping themselves feverishly busy with all kinds of things. Some avoid being alone, for then their burden becomes unbearable. Others seek to lighten their load by indulging in worldly pleasures, hoping that relief will come that way. Still others turn to alcohol or drugs, for while they are under their influence, their burdens seem to lighten. Others, again, break down under their burdens and become sick and despondent in body, mind, and soul. Then there are those who can not stand the pressure of their burdens, and hope to find escape by committing suicide. None of these methods effects cure. The poor burdened individual is far worse off after trying them than he was before.
Our text tells us to cast thy burden upon the Lord. This is the only remedy for troubled hearts. It is simple and free to all. People of all walks of life who have tried it can vouch for its effectiveness. Millions upon millions of people are carrying burdens they never should carry. It was never the Lord's plan that any soul should carry even one burden, for even the smallest burden is too much. If you are carrying one burden, it is one too many.
The Lord has given us many invitations to come directly to Him with our burdens. One such invitation is 1 Peter 5:7: "Casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you." There can be no doubt that the Lord is inviting all burdened people to come directly to Him with their troubles.
Our burdens are to be "cast" upon Jehovah, even as a stone that is cast into the depths of the sea. If the stone falls into the sea, it is gone forever, as far as we are concerned. The Lord invites men and women to treat their burdens in the same way. He wants them, in simple confession, to unload them on Him, and He in turn has promised that He ''will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea'' (Micah 7: 19). This is God's way of dealing with the burdens which are causing us so much grief and unhappiness.
There is no better time to deal with burdens than right now. Now is the time to transfer them to the Lord. He has asked for them, so let us honor His request. This is one time we can give Him something He actually desires. Pause as long as you must, but make the transaction. Remember it is a one-way affair - from you to the Lord. Don't let Satan tempt you to believe your burdens are not safe there. If you do, you will soon be doing as so many have done in the past-you will pick them up again and be no better off. When you are thus tempted, remember what you have given to the Lord no longer belongs to you. Each time you are tempted to retrace your steps, pray for grace to trust the Lord. Then the temptation can be turned into a blessing. You will be able to say with the Psalmist,
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, even the God who is our salvation'' (Psalm 68: 19).
To be continued.....
Saturday, July 18, 2009
1. My Hearts Desire
My Heart's Desire
Meditations
on
Scripture Truths
By
MAYNARD A. FORCE
AUGUSTANA BOOK CONCERN
Rock Island, Illinois
Copyright, 1949
by
Augustans Book Concern
(To the best of my knowledge this book is in the public domain. WMA)
Chapter One
My Heart's Desire
Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. Romans 10: 1.
In these words Paul revealed his heart's desire. He yearned for the salvation of his people. He not only said this, but his entire life proved it. He was willing to pay any price to accomplish this end.
No desire is stronger than our "heart's desire." It takes first place in our lives, leads the way, and pulls with it our entire being. Like the prodigal son, we "will gather all together'' and set out in pursuit of our heart's desire. It becomes the ruling force of our lives, and we make ourselves its willing slaves. If it is the Lord we seek, we will be well rewarded, for His promise is, "Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart'' (Jeremiah 29: 13). However, if the desire of our hearts is to satisfy our own selfish nature we are doomed to eternal destruction. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye must die'' (Romans 8: 13).
The Lord always looks at the desires of our hearts. "For Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearances, but Jehovah looketh on the heart'' (1 Samuel 16: 7). The Lord is never deceived by a false appearance, for He knows us as we are. Jesus exposed a group of hypocrites in His day who were trying to hide their heart's desire. He said of them, "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me'' (Mark 7: 6). If our lips and our heart do not correspond, our Lord always goes by the heart. That is why the prophet Joel cried, "Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God'' (Joel 2: 13). It is indeed timely that we check on the desires of our hearts.
The Lord can give us the right kind of a "heart's desire." He has promised, "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am Jehovah: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God; for they shall return unto me with their whole heart'' (Jeremiah 24: 7). Here, then, is our starting place. If you realize that your heart's desire is not what it should be, confess it to the Lord, and claim this promise. "Delight thyself also in Jehovah; and he will give thee the desires of thy heart'' (Psalm 37: 4).
We should not be satisfied until our heart's desire is also for others, "that they may be saved.'' So few, so very few, have such a heart's desire in our day. This accounts for the feeble efforts being made to win the lost. Surely if we have the heart of Christ we, too, will long for the sheep "which are not of this fold'' (John 10: 16). We will want to do all within our power to win them before it is too late. Our heart's desire will be included in our "supplication to God.'' Then some day it can be said to God concerning us, "Thou hast given him his heart's desire'' (Psalm 21: 2).
34. The Morning Star & The Uncertainty of Life
THE MORNING STAR.
Shine, you morning star, bright!
Shine as beacon in dark night!
Or the boat may get lost;
The Lord has placed you there for that.
Shine for God’s dear friends too,
The Lord Jesus soon arrives,
Soon we should with Him be;
Soon the trumpet sounds clearly.
Those who don’t belong in this world,
Wander, guided by your light,
Even in the deep waters of sorrow,
Homeward to their Father’s house!
Towards the east we happily look;
There a star shines brightly,
Everything seems to herald:
The Lord Jesus soon arrives.
Brethren I pray leave the world!
You may easily get burned;
Sinful is its life and doings.
Think: imagine what a risk!
From the camp we turn and early
The Cross’ banner manifest
The Cross the Christians’ honor is.
The Lord Jesus soon arrives.
But we call to one another:
“Brother, are you now prepared?”
Would that in love we journey,
Even yet hold out a while!
May we seek the salvation of many !
-The precious time so quickly passes-
Greet those with this message:
The Lord Jesus soon arrives.
THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE.
The time vanishes as quickly as a dream,
Year after year speeds away.
The life flows away like a gushing stream,
Hurries and hastens so quick.
Days that went will never come back,
This dictates the interchange;
It won’t be forgotten what we have done,
No, that is put down with God.
To be born and live and finally die,
All is but fuss and struggle;
Oh, but how soon the life’s lamp is put out,
Short is our journey and time.
Children are snatched from parents and play,
The young man lies cold and dead;
The maiden lies on the bier so pale.
Just now she was flowering red.
The father dies and leaves children so small,
The mother follows so soon.
The death-angel calls, and then we must go
In through eternity’s door.
Oh, people, remember how time does fly,
Come unto Jesus just now!
Time of mercy is here, ev’ry hour counts, -
Think of God as the righteous judge.
Let not the world captivate your soul;
No, go to Jesus today!
This, oh soul, means your eternal welfare, --
And also the Father’s will.
Jesus, please bless us in life and in death.
Please be our way and our life,
Souls who sleep to the life regenerate,
The crown of glory us give!
The End
You can go to http://www.haugean.com/page24.php
To read or download book in PDF format
Shine, you morning star, bright!
Shine as beacon in dark night!
Or the boat may get lost;
The Lord has placed you there for that.
Shine for God’s dear friends too,
The Lord Jesus soon arrives,
Soon we should with Him be;
Soon the trumpet sounds clearly.
Those who don’t belong in this world,
Wander, guided by your light,
Even in the deep waters of sorrow,
Homeward to their Father’s house!
Towards the east we happily look;
There a star shines brightly,
Everything seems to herald:
The Lord Jesus soon arrives.
Brethren I pray leave the world!
You may easily get burned;
Sinful is its life and doings.
Think: imagine what a risk!
From the camp we turn and early
The Cross’ banner manifest
The Cross the Christians’ honor is.
The Lord Jesus soon arrives.
But we call to one another:
“Brother, are you now prepared?”
Would that in love we journey,
Even yet hold out a while!
May we seek the salvation of many !
-The precious time so quickly passes-
Greet those with this message:
The Lord Jesus soon arrives.
THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE.
The time vanishes as quickly as a dream,
Year after year speeds away.
The life flows away like a gushing stream,
Hurries and hastens so quick.
Days that went will never come back,
This dictates the interchange;
It won’t be forgotten what we have done,
No, that is put down with God.
To be born and live and finally die,
All is but fuss and struggle;
Oh, but how soon the life’s lamp is put out,
Short is our journey and time.
Children are snatched from parents and play,
The young man lies cold and dead;
The maiden lies on the bier so pale.
Just now she was flowering red.
The father dies and leaves children so small,
The mother follows so soon.
The death-angel calls, and then we must go
In through eternity’s door.
Oh, people, remember how time does fly,
Come unto Jesus just now!
Time of mercy is here, ev’ry hour counts, -
Think of God as the righteous judge.
Let not the world captivate your soul;
No, go to Jesus today!
This, oh soul, means your eternal welfare, --
And also the Father’s will.
Jesus, please bless us in life and in death.
Please be our way and our life,
Souls who sleep to the life regenerate,
The crown of glory us give!
The End
You can go to http://www.haugean.com/page24.php
To read or download book in PDF format
33. Hans Nielsen Hauge's Testament To His Friends
HANS NIELSEN HAUGE'S TESTAMENT TO HIS FRIENDS
As it may happen soon that my hour-glass runs empty, especially may this be expected because I am so very weakened from the great exertions and many sufferings, mainly physical:
Therefore I have decided, in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, with prayer for His enlightenment and leadership, to set forth here my last will, which you friends with friendship, confidence and love you have reciprocated, herewith earnestly are asked and admonished to execute after my death.
1) That spirit of grace and holiness, which has rested upon me, and which you have received, may that spirit still rest upon you and upon all those who hereafter receive Him and believe God's holy Word. {I apply here by memory Elisa works with Elias: For that one needed this one and would not leave him, therefore he received two parts of his spirit also.}
2) The holy God’s Word: Jesus’ teachings first, then the writings of the apostles and the prophets, inasmuch as they concern the soul’s entity, faith and morale, be for you the most holy treasure above all other things in this world.
3) All other writings which have knitted together the contents of the Holy Scripture, also your Catechism and the many you have tested and accepted as good, these you read with an open and believing heart; other untested writings you read with certain reserve, so you don’t set your heart’s confidence in them before you accurately have tested them. This test shouldn’t be done with rumination, nor by imagination, but by prayer to God for the enlightenment of the Holy Ghost, also by concord with all of the sacred Scripture, especially in these points: About those who teach the true belief in Jesus Christ, which redeems from sin, death and the kingdom of Satan, so that they who believe do not live in the kingdom of sin and Satan, but serve God righteously, innocently and blessed. They are not, then, their own, but are His people, and who from their love for Him are very assiduous to good deeds. Also that they in the instruction do not overlook, but teach about the Father and the Holy Ghost and also about the on, so that none of the triune entity is left out or one put higher than the other, for all three are one. Go in for the true doctrine and acknowledge deeply our sin; also about conversion or regeneration, about to love God and your neighbor as yourself (to salvation), so that one renounces oneself to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
Finally, instruct them like Jesus about the narrow gate and the straight road, about temptations and patience to suffer always, as long as we are living here, stay awake, pray and have a degree of fear of falling, if we learned, we stand up, that we work for our salvation with fear and trembling. Never to imagine we have grasped it perfectly, but always hasten forward on the pilgrimage through life, that we shall use violence upon the Kingdom of God, and those who use violence, take it by force. Safety and half- heartedness are regarded as big sins. Also that it is the duty of every Christian to confess the name of God in words and deeds, according to each one’s talent and vigor, so that all endeavor to gather to God’s congregation.
These books which have the above-mentioned points united with the many God’s Word, and do not strive against the order of God in the realm of nature, but instruct correctly to use the spiritual and physical gift with thanksgiving, guard against the scruples of reason, which destroy the spiritual-and for conceited mystery, which will instruct about spiritual things, which they themselves do not understand, or let their teaching rise above the light they are given from God, therefore it gets dark for them and indistinct.
4) None among you yourselves write and have printed your own or anyone else’s writings, nor recommend any new or unknown books, before they are tested in the congregation by the elders. Should any of our fellow-confessionists act against this, then the elders join with the younger who have received the light of God; test the published books; if you find them beneficial, then talk to the one who has published it, and ask why he does not take council with you, and you do not recommend them and otherwise do not help him to profit thereby; however, use the good God’s Word to the enlightenment of others. On the other hand, if you find the published books bad, then not only talk to the publisher about it, but inform also those who might have obtained the books, about their bad teachings, also write to others that they do not have anything to do with it. {If anybody should deem this too hard a censorship, then I think that if a mean or bad person would deceive a spiritual friend in physical things that this one was duty bound to reveal the deception and if possible hinder it. Now, shouldn’t this too be a duty in the spiritual?}
5) You know, friends, that to this day we have absolutely held to the evangelical in accordance with the legitimate Augsburg Confession or the state’s religion; that some have called us a separate denomination, which they absolutely do not have any occasion for, but that we should be called sect, for we have loathed the vices with which many have dishonored the Christian church, and on the other hand applied ourselves to all good virtues in accordance with the Word of God. If we should be called a sect, then let us show in our lives that we ought to be called the virtuous sect or indeed the godly sect, and show in spiritual and temporal acts that these are like the virtues of Jesus. Therefore it is my last will that you hereafter as hitherto fully hold yourselves to our state religion, so that you receive from the official teachers all that pertain to their office. You will then attend church, receive the sacraments, be married by the minister, and at funerals let them officiate in conformity with good order. {The 5th paragraph could have been omitted, as we have never been given to sectarian thoughts or to turn away from the religion of the land, but some outside of our circle have feared that after my passing, you would leave the order of the state, which I do not believe. In any case, this now is a warning.}
6) I am specifically mindful of two things which I have feared, a fear which will rest heavy upon me to my last day, namely: if lukewarmness, confidence and discord should sneak in among the faithful. Therefore it is my fervent admonition that you above all things will guard against these dangerous enemies, so they do not gain access, as they have their roots in other sins. Feeling of confidence stems from pride and imagination of being perfect. Lukewarmness is nourished partly by the unstable mind which gets tired from the pure Word of God, which do not appeal to the senses, partly that oneself does not receive enough of esteem and honor, partly from their lazy nature, the world or the love of the flesh, which does not like to do the will of God. Discord is mainly nourished by pride, that one will not admit one’s sin, but rule over one’s fellow men;
--secondly, in jealousy against those who are better; thirdly, from a singular hate against men, and partly because one demands much from others and little or nothing from oneself, beholdest the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in one’s own eye.
You must therefore always keep watch over yourselves and keep an eye on others, so the enemies of your salvation shall not break in. Bear in mind that where two become divided, there the one pulls to his part, and very soon can destroy the glory with which the rays of God’s grace now adorn you. If you notice, any discord or estrangement against each other, which most often comes out in an unreasonable and groundless blame, aspersion and slander in a greater or lesser degree, then sacrifice everything in order to get hold of these yourself or with the help of others, whom you think better qualified than yourself to do so. Point out to those who dispute, the big evil they commit against God and their neighbor as well as themselves, investigate if they both are equally guilty, then punish both equally without distinction. If one has more guilt, then punish him harder and admonish to agreement, but enjoin on the less guilty or (which seldom happens) the innocent, that he forgives, and employ all means to harmony; for of the one who is the better of them one demands most also here, and yet the truth must not suffer by the liar. {For the unclean one could or would rather censure discord and come to harmony with the clean one, which this one must not be instructed to do, but rather stimulated to abstain from.} Will the one or both not listen to your admonition and appeal, then regard them both as infidels or like those whom you regard as not being of your own faith, and don’t want any association with, all in accordance with the word of Jesus in Matthew 18:7; also you make efforts to awaken the lukewarm and let those who feel safe confess their sins.
You know, fellow believers, that occasional discords no doubt have appeared during these 25 years. But, by the grace of God, they have been quelled, and most of them adjusted; at least they have never led to parties who have left the path and voice Jesus has let us hear. For either the guilty one has admitted and regretted his sin, or he has fallen to vices and then left us. But many have feared with me that when I with this tool of mine: my tongue, pen and deed, leave you, then indeed discords might appear, so the one will go hither, the other thither. Guard against this; for nothing is more important than unity.
7) We have never had any ordered church discipline among us, just as we have never kept any record, so neither I nor any of you know how many there really are who profess the faith, the disposition and mutual friendship, although we through communications and those who visit each other can know about both the places where there are few or many, and also know personally the names of many, especially of those who are outstanding in godly practice. You also know that we have absolutely no signs or ceremonies mutually; for only through conversations, actions, partly also through recommendations, do we become intimate with each other.
Those things we ought not to concern ourselves in especially hereafter either; but we have had one by many unnoticed church discipline; for all those who have practiced any vice and not soon repented and mended their ways, they are reduced in our esteem and confidence; if their vices have prevailed with them for a longer time, we have had nothing to do with them, but they themselves have felt they are separated from us and have partly avoided us. Such church discipline will we also keep up hereafter, though in such a way that when the fallen ones repent their sins and will hear the Word of God, then receive them according to their circumstances.
8) In the apostle Paul’s parting with the Ephesians we read in Acts 20:29-30: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things.” Although I hope better at this time, I will anyway warn you with the 31st verse: Watch! For I have known some among us who have made several remarks which are not in accordance with the teaching of Jesus, and have had their own aspirations and ideas. Still worse, there might arise either false ones, who indeed might have great intellect, but use it with wiliness to lead astray the wretched ones, so they impel the control over the Lord’s inheritance, that is to say, they pursue their own honor and advantage and dominance; they want to be loved without loving God and in Him their fellow men; such people will lead you to obedience to them through technicalities of wisdom and instruction which do not give nourishment to your soul. Others step forward in conceit, will affect importance by their spirituality, talk about their feelings; these practice speaking of their inward condition mingled with imagination and qualms of reason, so they in the first affect experience, but soon one can perceive that their words are empty sounds; they have not life and presence of the spirit, they daze but do not shine, for they pursue higher things than are given them, or they have once walked on truth’s path, but have gone off it; still they can speak of what they at that time experienced and now falsely make their own. Some go broken-hearted by hypocrisy, speak with broken voice, others are cheerful. Both borrow from the Scripture words which they according to their knowledge and gift of nature teach others without paying attention to their own hearts, and without having made any conversion themselves. For they are recognized by the fruits and by their inexperience in spiritual things, also that they do not unite all the words of God in their teaching. Be, on your guard against all such people.
I have reason to hope that as long as you eldest or true children of God live, that you won’t let debauchers have free command, but that you convince them and punish them and also warn the simple-minded people against their debauchment. You know, the blind cannot lead the blind, for then they both fall in the ditch; therefore you must advise everyone, especially those who will instruct others, that they themselves must in their hearts first be converted. I will also utter my heartfelt admonition in the name of the Lord that you true fellow believers, especially the oldest and most gifted in each place, keep a sharp eye on those who will edify others; for it behooves those people to demonstrate in a superior way their faith in a godly life and good deeds, and that he has a firm knowledge of the Word of God, so that it may be understood that he is strengthened by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus to lead a life of a sound and clean doctrine. If you should be informed to the contrary, then admonish him in private; if that is of no avail, then let two more listen to it; if the deviating person will not correct himself, then tell him of his aberration in the presence of as many with whom he gathers. If you yourselves have not strength enough to do this in the place where he is, then ask for help from others who are more strengthened in Christ, or who have received more gifts than you. If he leaves you, then find out where he went, write thither or try to visit those others in order to stop the one who deceives the hearts of the simple minded, who are not wicked, but neither have received enough strength from God to stop the deceivers. {If it seems to someone that I have spoken with too much authority then don’t resent, and consider the truth. It is my intention that this testament should not be much known before I rest in the grave, and then my authority at this time can not harm anyone.} The person who shall teach or instruct others, especially one who travels on such errands, ought not to have become a believer just recently himself, yet this might be done under the watchfulness of the eldest; but none ought to instruct others unless it is proved that he himself is indeed converted, and has shown in his life the worthy fruits of the conversion, and still he is subjected to the eldest’s supervision and close test, that he daily descends into himself so he feels deeply not only his sins but also his own impotence, that he is also tried in temptations and considerable distress, has good foundation and explanation in the Word of God, so nothing contradictory comes up.
Where several are together of those who have received talents to edify others, then after agreement or according to the eldest’s decision only two or three of them, one after the other, speak, and that so no offense happens. If someone goes astray, or it is something to censure in some person’s speech or behavior, convince them as you have been told before about those who will edify others and not walk the straight and narrow path themselves. If he does not correct himself tell it to the congregation and call him an unbeliever, according to Jesus’ word, Matt. 18.
The eldest{By eldest is not meant how many years have gone by since they were awakened, but each such person who has walked in the faith, been active in good deeds; so it doesn’t matter about the years, but it depends on their faith, love, righteousness and experience in spiritual things, also great wisdom.} must not shut their eyes to the vices of their fellow eldest in any ‘kind of vice, but punish them properly as well as every one who has acquired the respect of the faithful and wants to be good Christians; you ought to watch closely such persons, don’t let them get used to flattery and softness, but endure even sharp admonition or solid food.
A person once converted from darkness to light, who later on has been attracted to darkness and done wrong to someone by injustice comes about other people’s property, if such person later has come to repentance and will return to the faithful, but doesn’t right his wrong-doings, then he ought not to be accepted among the faithful or given your heart’s confidence, much less allow him to confess the name of God, speak at edification for others before he has fully amended and indemnified the injured part.
10) Those with whom you have no acquaintance, or those who have conceived other ideas about religion than you, you should bear with and judge as lenient as the verity according to the manifest Word of God permits. For many may have been brought up in an austere, perfunctory concept, and also been charmed by an incorrect exhortation of the Word of. God, yet believe and seek for truth, as God can have many who you don’t know, who love Him. Bear in mind the Lord’s answer to Elijah and this one’s opinion. Therefore deal you kindly with every person; demonstrate willingness to serve and hospitality according to your ability, or just so God’s truth doesn’t suffer in so doing.
You fellow believers, take these points into consideration, and also those which the daily experience teaches you. Then you shall see by the gracious assistance of God, the wicked and insincere, like the self-deceived people, can do nothing against you, but you, through the power of God, our Savior, obtain through your word and example many souls to His Kingdom, to the multiplication of the fruits of your own faith and glorified gladness, and in common praise to the Triune God.
This is my wish, my prayer and only desire, that you will aspire to so infinitely glorious grace, which I feel assured that God our Father through His Son Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit will bestow upon us, who remain faithful to the end, the supreme good, finally, at the end of time to gather in the eternal happiness. Amen.
To be Continued....
As it may happen soon that my hour-glass runs empty, especially may this be expected because I am so very weakened from the great exertions and many sufferings, mainly physical:
Therefore I have decided, in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, with prayer for His enlightenment and leadership, to set forth here my last will, which you friends with friendship, confidence and love you have reciprocated, herewith earnestly are asked and admonished to execute after my death.
1) That spirit of grace and holiness, which has rested upon me, and which you have received, may that spirit still rest upon you and upon all those who hereafter receive Him and believe God's holy Word. {I apply here by memory Elisa works with Elias: For that one needed this one and would not leave him, therefore he received two parts of his spirit also.}
2) The holy God’s Word: Jesus’ teachings first, then the writings of the apostles and the prophets, inasmuch as they concern the soul’s entity, faith and morale, be for you the most holy treasure above all other things in this world.
3) All other writings which have knitted together the contents of the Holy Scripture, also your Catechism and the many you have tested and accepted as good, these you read with an open and believing heart; other untested writings you read with certain reserve, so you don’t set your heart’s confidence in them before you accurately have tested them. This test shouldn’t be done with rumination, nor by imagination, but by prayer to God for the enlightenment of the Holy Ghost, also by concord with all of the sacred Scripture, especially in these points: About those who teach the true belief in Jesus Christ, which redeems from sin, death and the kingdom of Satan, so that they who believe do not live in the kingdom of sin and Satan, but serve God righteously, innocently and blessed. They are not, then, their own, but are His people, and who from their love for Him are very assiduous to good deeds. Also that they in the instruction do not overlook, but teach about the Father and the Holy Ghost and also about the on, so that none of the triune entity is left out or one put higher than the other, for all three are one. Go in for the true doctrine and acknowledge deeply our sin; also about conversion or regeneration, about to love God and your neighbor as yourself (to salvation), so that one renounces oneself to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
Finally, instruct them like Jesus about the narrow gate and the straight road, about temptations and patience to suffer always, as long as we are living here, stay awake, pray and have a degree of fear of falling, if we learned, we stand up, that we work for our salvation with fear and trembling. Never to imagine we have grasped it perfectly, but always hasten forward on the pilgrimage through life, that we shall use violence upon the Kingdom of God, and those who use violence, take it by force. Safety and half- heartedness are regarded as big sins. Also that it is the duty of every Christian to confess the name of God in words and deeds, according to each one’s talent and vigor, so that all endeavor to gather to God’s congregation.
These books which have the above-mentioned points united with the many God’s Word, and do not strive against the order of God in the realm of nature, but instruct correctly to use the spiritual and physical gift with thanksgiving, guard against the scruples of reason, which destroy the spiritual-and for conceited mystery, which will instruct about spiritual things, which they themselves do not understand, or let their teaching rise above the light they are given from God, therefore it gets dark for them and indistinct.
4) None among you yourselves write and have printed your own or anyone else’s writings, nor recommend any new or unknown books, before they are tested in the congregation by the elders. Should any of our fellow-confessionists act against this, then the elders join with the younger who have received the light of God; test the published books; if you find them beneficial, then talk to the one who has published it, and ask why he does not take council with you, and you do not recommend them and otherwise do not help him to profit thereby; however, use the good God’s Word to the enlightenment of others. On the other hand, if you find the published books bad, then not only talk to the publisher about it, but inform also those who might have obtained the books, about their bad teachings, also write to others that they do not have anything to do with it. {If anybody should deem this too hard a censorship, then I think that if a mean or bad person would deceive a spiritual friend in physical things that this one was duty bound to reveal the deception and if possible hinder it. Now, shouldn’t this too be a duty in the spiritual?}
5) You know, friends, that to this day we have absolutely held to the evangelical in accordance with the legitimate Augsburg Confession or the state’s religion; that some have called us a separate denomination, which they absolutely do not have any occasion for, but that we should be called sect, for we have loathed the vices with which many have dishonored the Christian church, and on the other hand applied ourselves to all good virtues in accordance with the Word of God. If we should be called a sect, then let us show in our lives that we ought to be called the virtuous sect or indeed the godly sect, and show in spiritual and temporal acts that these are like the virtues of Jesus. Therefore it is my last will that you hereafter as hitherto fully hold yourselves to our state religion, so that you receive from the official teachers all that pertain to their office. You will then attend church, receive the sacraments, be married by the minister, and at funerals let them officiate in conformity with good order. {The 5th paragraph could have been omitted, as we have never been given to sectarian thoughts or to turn away from the religion of the land, but some outside of our circle have feared that after my passing, you would leave the order of the state, which I do not believe. In any case, this now is a warning.}
6) I am specifically mindful of two things which I have feared, a fear which will rest heavy upon me to my last day, namely: if lukewarmness, confidence and discord should sneak in among the faithful. Therefore it is my fervent admonition that you above all things will guard against these dangerous enemies, so they do not gain access, as they have their roots in other sins. Feeling of confidence stems from pride and imagination of being perfect. Lukewarmness is nourished partly by the unstable mind which gets tired from the pure Word of God, which do not appeal to the senses, partly that oneself does not receive enough of esteem and honor, partly from their lazy nature, the world or the love of the flesh, which does not like to do the will of God. Discord is mainly nourished by pride, that one will not admit one’s sin, but rule over one’s fellow men;
--secondly, in jealousy against those who are better; thirdly, from a singular hate against men, and partly because one demands much from others and little or nothing from oneself, beholdest the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in one’s own eye.
You must therefore always keep watch over yourselves and keep an eye on others, so the enemies of your salvation shall not break in. Bear in mind that where two become divided, there the one pulls to his part, and very soon can destroy the glory with which the rays of God’s grace now adorn you. If you notice, any discord or estrangement against each other, which most often comes out in an unreasonable and groundless blame, aspersion and slander in a greater or lesser degree, then sacrifice everything in order to get hold of these yourself or with the help of others, whom you think better qualified than yourself to do so. Point out to those who dispute, the big evil they commit against God and their neighbor as well as themselves, investigate if they both are equally guilty, then punish both equally without distinction. If one has more guilt, then punish him harder and admonish to agreement, but enjoin on the less guilty or (which seldom happens) the innocent, that he forgives, and employ all means to harmony; for of the one who is the better of them one demands most also here, and yet the truth must not suffer by the liar. {For the unclean one could or would rather censure discord and come to harmony with the clean one, which this one must not be instructed to do, but rather stimulated to abstain from.} Will the one or both not listen to your admonition and appeal, then regard them both as infidels or like those whom you regard as not being of your own faith, and don’t want any association with, all in accordance with the word of Jesus in Matthew 18:7; also you make efforts to awaken the lukewarm and let those who feel safe confess their sins.
You know, fellow believers, that occasional discords no doubt have appeared during these 25 years. But, by the grace of God, they have been quelled, and most of them adjusted; at least they have never led to parties who have left the path and voice Jesus has let us hear. For either the guilty one has admitted and regretted his sin, or he has fallen to vices and then left us. But many have feared with me that when I with this tool of mine: my tongue, pen and deed, leave you, then indeed discords might appear, so the one will go hither, the other thither. Guard against this; for nothing is more important than unity.
7) We have never had any ordered church discipline among us, just as we have never kept any record, so neither I nor any of you know how many there really are who profess the faith, the disposition and mutual friendship, although we through communications and those who visit each other can know about both the places where there are few or many, and also know personally the names of many, especially of those who are outstanding in godly practice. You also know that we have absolutely no signs or ceremonies mutually; for only through conversations, actions, partly also through recommendations, do we become intimate with each other.
Those things we ought not to concern ourselves in especially hereafter either; but we have had one by many unnoticed church discipline; for all those who have practiced any vice and not soon repented and mended their ways, they are reduced in our esteem and confidence; if their vices have prevailed with them for a longer time, we have had nothing to do with them, but they themselves have felt they are separated from us and have partly avoided us. Such church discipline will we also keep up hereafter, though in such a way that when the fallen ones repent their sins and will hear the Word of God, then receive them according to their circumstances.
8) In the apostle Paul’s parting with the Ephesians we read in Acts 20:29-30: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things.” Although I hope better at this time, I will anyway warn you with the 31st verse: Watch! For I have known some among us who have made several remarks which are not in accordance with the teaching of Jesus, and have had their own aspirations and ideas. Still worse, there might arise either false ones, who indeed might have great intellect, but use it with wiliness to lead astray the wretched ones, so they impel the control over the Lord’s inheritance, that is to say, they pursue their own honor and advantage and dominance; they want to be loved without loving God and in Him their fellow men; such people will lead you to obedience to them through technicalities of wisdom and instruction which do not give nourishment to your soul. Others step forward in conceit, will affect importance by their spirituality, talk about their feelings; these practice speaking of their inward condition mingled with imagination and qualms of reason, so they in the first affect experience, but soon one can perceive that their words are empty sounds; they have not life and presence of the spirit, they daze but do not shine, for they pursue higher things than are given them, or they have once walked on truth’s path, but have gone off it; still they can speak of what they at that time experienced and now falsely make their own. Some go broken-hearted by hypocrisy, speak with broken voice, others are cheerful. Both borrow from the Scripture words which they according to their knowledge and gift of nature teach others without paying attention to their own hearts, and without having made any conversion themselves. For they are recognized by the fruits and by their inexperience in spiritual things, also that they do not unite all the words of God in their teaching. Be, on your guard against all such people.
I have reason to hope that as long as you eldest or true children of God live, that you won’t let debauchers have free command, but that you convince them and punish them and also warn the simple-minded people against their debauchment. You know, the blind cannot lead the blind, for then they both fall in the ditch; therefore you must advise everyone, especially those who will instruct others, that they themselves must in their hearts first be converted. I will also utter my heartfelt admonition in the name of the Lord that you true fellow believers, especially the oldest and most gifted in each place, keep a sharp eye on those who will edify others; for it behooves those people to demonstrate in a superior way their faith in a godly life and good deeds, and that he has a firm knowledge of the Word of God, so that it may be understood that he is strengthened by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus to lead a life of a sound and clean doctrine. If you should be informed to the contrary, then admonish him in private; if that is of no avail, then let two more listen to it; if the deviating person will not correct himself, then tell him of his aberration in the presence of as many with whom he gathers. If you yourselves have not strength enough to do this in the place where he is, then ask for help from others who are more strengthened in Christ, or who have received more gifts than you. If he leaves you, then find out where he went, write thither or try to visit those others in order to stop the one who deceives the hearts of the simple minded, who are not wicked, but neither have received enough strength from God to stop the deceivers. {If it seems to someone that I have spoken with too much authority then don’t resent, and consider the truth. It is my intention that this testament should not be much known before I rest in the grave, and then my authority at this time can not harm anyone.} The person who shall teach or instruct others, especially one who travels on such errands, ought not to have become a believer just recently himself, yet this might be done under the watchfulness of the eldest; but none ought to instruct others unless it is proved that he himself is indeed converted, and has shown in his life the worthy fruits of the conversion, and still he is subjected to the eldest’s supervision and close test, that he daily descends into himself so he feels deeply not only his sins but also his own impotence, that he is also tried in temptations and considerable distress, has good foundation and explanation in the Word of God, so nothing contradictory comes up.
Where several are together of those who have received talents to edify others, then after agreement or according to the eldest’s decision only two or three of them, one after the other, speak, and that so no offense happens. If someone goes astray, or it is something to censure in some person’s speech or behavior, convince them as you have been told before about those who will edify others and not walk the straight and narrow path themselves. If he does not correct himself tell it to the congregation and call him an unbeliever, according to Jesus’ word, Matt. 18.
The eldest{By eldest is not meant how many years have gone by since they were awakened, but each such person who has walked in the faith, been active in good deeds; so it doesn’t matter about the years, but it depends on their faith, love, righteousness and experience in spiritual things, also great wisdom.} must not shut their eyes to the vices of their fellow eldest in any ‘kind of vice, but punish them properly as well as every one who has acquired the respect of the faithful and wants to be good Christians; you ought to watch closely such persons, don’t let them get used to flattery and softness, but endure even sharp admonition or solid food.
A person once converted from darkness to light, who later on has been attracted to darkness and done wrong to someone by injustice comes about other people’s property, if such person later has come to repentance and will return to the faithful, but doesn’t right his wrong-doings, then he ought not to be accepted among the faithful or given your heart’s confidence, much less allow him to confess the name of God, speak at edification for others before he has fully amended and indemnified the injured part.
10) Those with whom you have no acquaintance, or those who have conceived other ideas about religion than you, you should bear with and judge as lenient as the verity according to the manifest Word of God permits. For many may have been brought up in an austere, perfunctory concept, and also been charmed by an incorrect exhortation of the Word of. God, yet believe and seek for truth, as God can have many who you don’t know, who love Him. Bear in mind the Lord’s answer to Elijah and this one’s opinion. Therefore deal you kindly with every person; demonstrate willingness to serve and hospitality according to your ability, or just so God’s truth doesn’t suffer in so doing.
You fellow believers, take these points into consideration, and also those which the daily experience teaches you. Then you shall see by the gracious assistance of God, the wicked and insincere, like the self-deceived people, can do nothing against you, but you, through the power of God, our Savior, obtain through your word and example many souls to His Kingdom, to the multiplication of the fruits of your own faith and glorified gladness, and in common praise to the Triune God.
This is my wish, my prayer and only desire, that you will aspire to so infinitely glorious grace, which I feel assured that God our Father through His Son Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit will bestow upon us, who remain faithful to the end, the supreme good, finally, at the end of time to gather in the eternal happiness. Amen.
To be Continued....
32. The Haugians
THE HAUGIANS.
Noiseless and with bare head you tread
Here into the farmer’s loghouse,
Where in stillness and with the spirit’s flame
The Lord a holy people prepares.
On high stands the preacher; no minister,
Consecrated by the congregation’s prayer,
Has at this simple church fete
The Word’s service among the sons of the valley;
It is one of the people, one of those
Who in daily struggle with life’s distress,
Raised in a pious but poor home,
Ponders lonely over sin and death,
Sees the evil’s power in his inner self,
Finds at last, though, a road to peace,
And who now, from sheer love,
With his riches others’ need will ease.
He is not on wrong track; he has not
By himself solved life’s puzzle;
Through the Word he found a way to salvation,
The law disciplined him to the grace of God!!
Therefore he now stands before the people,
No doubt a layman, though a faithful preacher
Of God’s counsel to salvation for those
Who in the faith their sins repent.
See, how the spirit shines in his eye,
See, how mildly he the Lord’s pain interprets,
See, how he presses faithfully to his heart
The rich treasure he received!
For each he has a word;
For so endless deep is the spring of mercy,
That if we even would eternally draw,
Its riches from the depth were just as great.
Pauper in the sick-bed ponders
With his longing to take his leave,
Today a message he received from Jesus Christ
That God will soon his prayer answer.
The maiden, bent in a stream of tears,
Though still a child at mother’s side,
Wakens from her sweet childhood dream
And understands that she, too, will suffer.
Can you see the farmer in his log chair,
Broad chested and brown from sun and wind,
Proudly as his old royal relatives -
Can you see how he today his hands are folding?
Can you see him, the secret sinner,
Who his dismal gaze turns to the earth,
While the handsome young boy blessed stands,
With each word which the grace proclaims him.
Oh, it can be seen the Lord is here,
That not the smallest word here goes to waste,
The seed which he today puts down
Will grow, earlier or later.-
Don’t you believe, though, that this doubting man,
Who rests his cheeks upon his hands,
Long can hold his stand against the Word,
Before he falls before his conqueror!
The neighbor behind him, with the high forehead,
The arms crossed over his chest
Doubt not that he from now on will confirm,
The Word--the Lord’s Word-has emphasis and might!
Mind the grey-haired and his old wife,
The patriarchs at the high table:
They gave up many things in their lives;
What they kept, though, was the Bible.
It is there; while the grey-haired listens,
His wife looks at him with sharpened gaze;
For a self-made teaching he exchanges
Not the God’s Word he from the Lord obtained.
Well done, old man! Tell it to the young,
Handsome swain, who sits there near you,
Gazing at him, whose blazing fire
Throw upon himself the radiant light!
Tell him he shall test well and weigh
The spirits, if they, too, are of God;
Many call themselves His messengers
Though they own no part in Him at all,
This one is of God; a source of life
Streams from him with blessed comfort,
Even to the sinner who so quietly
Presses her child to her breast.
Yes-in this beautiful landscape
Is placed a holy, ideal World.
The Word of the Deity in its perfect might
Among Norway’s mountains here are presented.
Oh, then you are yourself, oh, art a power
Who with the Word in sister-pact stands:
The Word creates it all by the lord’s spirit,
You portray it with master-hand;
Oh, so we rightly the mission of both understood!
The art is the power of the beauty on earth,
But the truth’s power is in God’s Word.
Each are forms of the eternal good.
Noiseless and with bare head you tread
Here into the farmer’s loghouse,
Where in stillness and with the spirit’s flame
The Lord a holy people prepares.
On high stands the preacher; no minister,
Consecrated by the congregation’s prayer,
Has at this simple church fete
The Word’s service among the sons of the valley;
It is one of the people, one of those
Who in daily struggle with life’s distress,
Raised in a pious but poor home,
Ponders lonely over sin and death,
Sees the evil’s power in his inner self,
Finds at last, though, a road to peace,
And who now, from sheer love,
With his riches others’ need will ease.
He is not on wrong track; he has not
By himself solved life’s puzzle;
Through the Word he found a way to salvation,
The law disciplined him to the grace of God!!
Therefore he now stands before the people,
No doubt a layman, though a faithful preacher
Of God’s counsel to salvation for those
Who in the faith their sins repent.
See, how the spirit shines in his eye,
See, how mildly he the Lord’s pain interprets,
See, how he presses faithfully to his heart
The rich treasure he received!
For each he has a word;
For so endless deep is the spring of mercy,
That if we even would eternally draw,
Its riches from the depth were just as great.
Pauper in the sick-bed ponders
With his longing to take his leave,
Today a message he received from Jesus Christ
That God will soon his prayer answer.
The maiden, bent in a stream of tears,
Though still a child at mother’s side,
Wakens from her sweet childhood dream
And understands that she, too, will suffer.
Can you see the farmer in his log chair,
Broad chested and brown from sun and wind,
Proudly as his old royal relatives -
Can you see how he today his hands are folding?
Can you see him, the secret sinner,
Who his dismal gaze turns to the earth,
While the handsome young boy blessed stands,
With each word which the grace proclaims him.
Oh, it can be seen the Lord is here,
That not the smallest word here goes to waste,
The seed which he today puts down
Will grow, earlier or later.-
Don’t you believe, though, that this doubting man,
Who rests his cheeks upon his hands,
Long can hold his stand against the Word,
Before he falls before his conqueror!
The neighbor behind him, with the high forehead,
The arms crossed over his chest
Doubt not that he from now on will confirm,
The Word--the Lord’s Word-has emphasis and might!
Mind the grey-haired and his old wife,
The patriarchs at the high table:
They gave up many things in their lives;
What they kept, though, was the Bible.
It is there; while the grey-haired listens,
His wife looks at him with sharpened gaze;
For a self-made teaching he exchanges
Not the God’s Word he from the Lord obtained.
Well done, old man! Tell it to the young,
Handsome swain, who sits there near you,
Gazing at him, whose blazing fire
Throw upon himself the radiant light!
Tell him he shall test well and weigh
The spirits, if they, too, are of God;
Many call themselves His messengers
Though they own no part in Him at all,
This one is of God; a source of life
Streams from him with blessed comfort,
Even to the sinner who so quietly
Presses her child to her breast.
Yes-in this beautiful landscape
Is placed a holy, ideal World.
The Word of the Deity in its perfect might
Among Norway’s mountains here are presented.
Oh, then you are yourself, oh, art a power
Who with the Word in sister-pact stands:
The Word creates it all by the lord’s spirit,
You portray it with master-hand;
Oh, so we rightly the mission of both understood!
The art is the power of the beauty on earth,
But the truth’s power is in God’s Word.
Each are forms of the eternal good.
P. A. JENSEN
To Be Continued....
Thursday, July 9, 2009
31. An Edification
AN EDIFICATION.
It was in a farm house. The preacher was a plain, straightforward farmer. First they sang an old hymn, then one offered a prayer, and then the speaker arose, ripened the Bible and read a portion of the prophets. This he applied metaphorically and started his speech from this point, but didn’t, however, keep to the text.
The speech was an earnest, loving admonition to seek the salvation of their souls; each admonition be supported with a scriptural sentence; he was remarkably
well acquainted in his Bible. The words streamed quickly and with warmth from his lips, and he concluded thus:
“And now you aged, you who are on the verge of the grave, oh, consider your souls’ salvation! The young one may die, but the old ones must die. Perhaps there are only a few days between you and the grave; you can yet save your soul, today is the time of grace, but it may soon be too late.
“Too late, oh, that is a terrible word. There was a man who often had had a calling from God, but he didn’t obey. Then death came. Then he cried in despair: Too late, too late! and with that he died. Friends, friends, it is terrible to be thrust into the eternal fire. Repent while it is still time.
“You fathers and mothers, who perhaps have a flock of thriving children around you, who have men and women servants, have you considered that you shall have to give an account of those souls? Imagine, you mother, if your child on that day shall step forward against you and say: ‘Now I suffer in the eternal fire because you, mother, didn’t show me the way.’ Imagine if the child you love some day should talk to you like that. Bear that in mind, you fathers and mothers, seek salvation for your own souls, that you also might save those who are entrusted to you, so you on that day may step forward and say: ‘Lord, here I am and those you gave me.’
“And so, you young people, you dear, dear young people, oh, how my heart burns for you. Don’t let the world and the vanity’s pleasures entice you! It is a severe slavery, the slavery of Satan. I have also in my youth been his obedient servant, but I was not comfortable. Do you know how I fared? I would not listen to God’s Word, but my wife loved the Lord. She asked me to go along to edification. I did so because I loved her, and there the Lord found me. Oh, if it would be likewise with you, my dear young people! You could also be found and be won; it is blessed to belong to Him, and do you know whether even you may lie cold and pale tomorrow. ‘Seek the Lord while He is to be found, call on Him when He is near.’ ‘Today is the time of grace. Today you may find God.’ Amen.”
When he had finished, the whole crowd wept; many were deeply touched. The words came so fresh, warm and simple from the heart and could not help but go to the heart. Thereafter prayer was offered by a third layman, and a hymn was sung. The crowd did not arise, however. People remained seated as though they expected something more. Then the lay preacher arose, went down among the listeners and said:
“I must still talk a little with you. I knew some women; when they gathered together they used to have so much to tell each other about their husbands, how bad they were and how they themselves suffered. Then they were converted to God, and afterwards when they met they had so much to tell each other about how God mercifully had led them, and all they did was to give praise to God. When you get together, dear women, what do you have to talk about? Is it praise and thanks to God you bring to each other? Oh, what a blessing you could be to each other when your conversation would consist of praise to God for His mercy.”
He held some tracts in his hand. He read: “On which road do you walk?” as he handed the tract to a young boy. “Take this and ask yourself the question, on which way do you walk? Do you love me? Thus Jesus speaks to you.” He laid his hand on the shoulder of a young girl: “Do you love Jesus? He loves you. He wants your heart now.” Thus he continued to distribute tracts and talk with the individuals, and these directly addressed words seemed to make an impression on them. Finally he said: “Is there one among you women who will sing a song for us before we part?’ From the midst of the crowd a voice was heard:
Today comes tidings from God in heaven
That sleeping souls must awaken,
Hasten to adorn yourself as the bride
Wants to look when the bridegroom arrives.
Oh, sinners, what are you thinking of,
Who still will sleep on burning straw.
Oh, wake up, before death calls you.
After the song was sung most of the people left, while some intimate friends stayed to have supper with the strangers. They went across the hall into a side room, and here the private conversation about God’s Word and spiritual experiences continued. Here are a couple of samples:
“How is it, is there still fighting?” the layman asked of one of those present. ‘Yes, each day new struggle,” was the answer.
“But every day new grace, isn’t it? Is this a sister?” he asked as he turned to a young girl.
“Yes, she is.”
“God bless you on your way. But, dear sister, begun is not fulfilled. He who laid his hand on the plow should not take it back again. It is important to fight forward.”
To Be Continued.
It was in a farm house. The preacher was a plain, straightforward farmer. First they sang an old hymn, then one offered a prayer, and then the speaker arose, ripened the Bible and read a portion of the prophets. This he applied metaphorically and started his speech from this point, but didn’t, however, keep to the text.
The speech was an earnest, loving admonition to seek the salvation of their souls; each admonition be supported with a scriptural sentence; he was remarkably
well acquainted in his Bible. The words streamed quickly and with warmth from his lips, and he concluded thus:
“And now you aged, you who are on the verge of the grave, oh, consider your souls’ salvation! The young one may die, but the old ones must die. Perhaps there are only a few days between you and the grave; you can yet save your soul, today is the time of grace, but it may soon be too late.
“Too late, oh, that is a terrible word. There was a man who often had had a calling from God, but he didn’t obey. Then death came. Then he cried in despair: Too late, too late! and with that he died. Friends, friends, it is terrible to be thrust into the eternal fire. Repent while it is still time.
“You fathers and mothers, who perhaps have a flock of thriving children around you, who have men and women servants, have you considered that you shall have to give an account of those souls? Imagine, you mother, if your child on that day shall step forward against you and say: ‘Now I suffer in the eternal fire because you, mother, didn’t show me the way.’ Imagine if the child you love some day should talk to you like that. Bear that in mind, you fathers and mothers, seek salvation for your own souls, that you also might save those who are entrusted to you, so you on that day may step forward and say: ‘Lord, here I am and those you gave me.’
“And so, you young people, you dear, dear young people, oh, how my heart burns for you. Don’t let the world and the vanity’s pleasures entice you! It is a severe slavery, the slavery of Satan. I have also in my youth been his obedient servant, but I was not comfortable. Do you know how I fared? I would not listen to God’s Word, but my wife loved the Lord. She asked me to go along to edification. I did so because I loved her, and there the Lord found me. Oh, if it would be likewise with you, my dear young people! You could also be found and be won; it is blessed to belong to Him, and do you know whether even you may lie cold and pale tomorrow. ‘Seek the Lord while He is to be found, call on Him when He is near.’ ‘Today is the time of grace. Today you may find God.’ Amen.”
When he had finished, the whole crowd wept; many were deeply touched. The words came so fresh, warm and simple from the heart and could not help but go to the heart. Thereafter prayer was offered by a third layman, and a hymn was sung. The crowd did not arise, however. People remained seated as though they expected something more. Then the lay preacher arose, went down among the listeners and said:
“I must still talk a little with you. I knew some women; when they gathered together they used to have so much to tell each other about their husbands, how bad they were and how they themselves suffered. Then they were converted to God, and afterwards when they met they had so much to tell each other about how God mercifully had led them, and all they did was to give praise to God. When you get together, dear women, what do you have to talk about? Is it praise and thanks to God you bring to each other? Oh, what a blessing you could be to each other when your conversation would consist of praise to God for His mercy.”
He held some tracts in his hand. He read: “On which road do you walk?” as he handed the tract to a young boy. “Take this and ask yourself the question, on which way do you walk? Do you love me? Thus Jesus speaks to you.” He laid his hand on the shoulder of a young girl: “Do you love Jesus? He loves you. He wants your heart now.” Thus he continued to distribute tracts and talk with the individuals, and these directly addressed words seemed to make an impression on them. Finally he said: “Is there one among you women who will sing a song for us before we part?’ From the midst of the crowd a voice was heard:
Today comes tidings from God in heaven
That sleeping souls must awaken,
Hasten to adorn yourself as the bride
Wants to look when the bridegroom arrives.
Oh, sinners, what are you thinking of,
Who still will sleep on burning straw.
Oh, wake up, before death calls you.
After the song was sung most of the people left, while some intimate friends stayed to have supper with the strangers. They went across the hall into a side room, and here the private conversation about God’s Word and spiritual experiences continued. Here are a couple of samples:
“How is it, is there still fighting?” the layman asked of one of those present. ‘Yes, each day new struggle,” was the answer.
“But every day new grace, isn’t it? Is this a sister?” he asked as he turned to a young girl.
“Yes, she is.”
“God bless you on your way. But, dear sister, begun is not fulfilled. He who laid his hand on the plow should not take it back again. It is important to fight forward.”
To Be Continued.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
30. Hauge's Practical Sense & Eker Paper Mill
HAUGE’S PRACTICAL SENSE.
Also in temporal respects Hauge was of great benefit to his compatriots. His activity brought about a whole movement in the life of the people. Farmers went to towns and established business houses, poor people moved to places where it was easier to procure arable land, etc.
EKER PAPER MILL
One of the largest constructions which was brought about by Hauge’s initiative, was Eker Paper Mill. He had received the idea for this construction in Copenhagen. In the vicinity he had seen one and had familiarized himself with similar arrangements. Several had shares in this enterprise, and Hauge helped with word and deed. Forty people worked here. Besides the paper mill they also operated a stamping mill, a bone-grinding machine, a flour and fanning mill and a tannery. The owners maintained joint housekeeping; workers and employers felt like a big family; they ate in fellowship at a long table which reached from wall to wall in a large room. According to the desire of the heart one prayed before the meal, and another offered the thanks after the meal. Here was practical devotion and an unusual hospitality. Here the friends sought refuge, and not the least during the years of distress was “the mill” a true resting place for the tired. A wonderful strong Christian life flourished at Eker Paper Mill and the Communion of Saints revealed itself in a very lovely manner.
Hauge traveled around over almost the whole of Norway, preached, spread devotional books and won friends and made enemies. In temporal respects he also, as mentioned before, was to great advantage and benefit to his people. But in the fall of 1804 the magistrate laid his hand upon him and stopped his useful and beneficial activity. He was arrested and put in a penitentiary in the capital, where he languished in a dismal prison for 10 years. It was the clergy who were his worst enemies, and they rejoiced when they had him imprisoned, that they got rid of this “troublemaker.” Bishop Hansen was the worst of all to accuse the good man, misrepresent established truths and put everything in the worst light.
The conduct of those churchmen against Hauge is reminiscent of the Catholic church’s treatment of the noble martyrs in the dark medieval ages. But in the light of eternity it will look quite different; then we shall find these tormentors in hell, while those whom they have tormented rest with God. Then this truth will tell to full advantage: “Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things and be the evil things, but now he is comforted, and thou are tormented.”
This imprisonment brings to a conclusion Hauge’s activity as revival preacher in the Norwegian church. And who has brought about that Hauge was imprisoned? None other than the said Bishop Hansen. He submitted a complaint against Hauge and his friends to one of the royal chancellery in Copenhagen, and in this he even compared these quiet men of peace with revolutionary Muhamedan Abdul Vechab!
This complaint had its effect. It brought about a writ from the chancellery, which obtained the largest, distribution, each and all of the legal and ecclesiastical officers were set in motion, partly to give new information about Hauge’s dangerous activity, partly to suggest, suitable means to counteract and check the same. For more than a year superior and inferior officers around the whole country racked their brains and pondered over how the “Haugian poison” again could be rendered harmless among the people. The reports on this case, which are lodged with the National Archive, give an unusually distressing picture of this time, especially concerning the rude mode of thought, which prevailed in the so-called cultured circles, and of the disposition of the clergy who eagerly seized the opportunity to pour out their bile over this tormentor and in all ways they exaggerated the produced charges against him, which had its foundation in the most scandalous, loose rumors. Also the books of the persecuted were searched for all over, and not only sale, but also possession was prohibited, and if any were found they were seized and in several places destroyed. People still will tell about some of Hauge’s books, which neither fire nor water was able to ruin.
It should not be forgotten that many of these from all sides who gathered evidences of the accused layman, also gave the truth honor, and blessed Hauge and the activity he had conducted, yes, made it a duty for the magistrate to stop the many impious gatherings instead of the Haugian. It is known that not few of those pastors who were inclined towards Herrnhutism, praised Hauge’s genuine evangelical zeal, without thinking of the difference in the teaching. But especially Bishop Brun gave Hauge and his followers a fine testimony for piety, decency and an industrious life, and censured sharply the injustices, which often were committed against them. Only the “mercantile enterprises and purchase of property...” which he erroneously presumed, was derived from a community of property-he feels he must recommend to the attention of the magistrate, so that these or those should not have to suffer a loss!
As to the means which the great majority recommended against the enthusiasm, they were such as one might expect from people with a rationalistic conception; one should especially apply the penal law in its full severity against the lay preachers and not the proper weapon of the spirit to conviction and guidance.
We will again turn our eyes to the man on whom state and church used every effort to render harmless. Several of the richest men in the county, where Hauge was arrested, asked the bailiff to set him free right away on bail, but in vain. The imprisoned man himself, however, reported at once to his friends what had taken place, in a communication which from beginning to end gives evidence of a spirit who rests in God, and whose strength is the Lord. He wished that “the chains which he carried for the love he bore to them, would stimulate them to seek the Lord still more keenly and become living limbs on the body of Christ. He was prepared to suffer to the utmost: God would grant him strength, when he contemplated the love of Christ and thought of what he had to suffer for us; some day the sufferings of all Christians will be converted to great glory and eternal freedom.”
For more than a month he was imprisoned in Haugesund; he was now in the fullest sense alone with his God, whose work he had faithfully carried out. At that time originated “Prayer for the Christian Church,” which he had written. It does not carry a trace of bitterness, but is much more suffused of the warmest love.
At last there came a warrant to transport the "most dangerous fanatic Hauge" to Christiania. In a short letter the layman bids adieu to his friends, admonishes them earnestly to let all carnal zeal drop and expresses the hope to meet them again in the eternal life.
The 24th of November, 1804, he was committed to the jail of the police office in Christiania, which, according to the opinion of the contemporaries, was the old police office of Christiania, in Raadhusgaten No.7.
He was sternly forbidden any association with others. On the 16th of November, 1804, it had been decided that a committee of investigation composed of two officials should be appointed. But both resigned as soon as possible, and new men had to step in. Months went by before an official inquiry over the pursued person began, and the numerous witnesses were summoned. The record of evidence, which still is preserved, shows that they proceeded anything but kindly against the prisoner. The questions started according to the most ordinary and weak assumptions. The different authorities around the whole country were also forwarded questions to be answered, and requested to hold special examinations. These reports came in slowly in the course of a year, and contained partly such pure inventions that a writer of history says: “Many of the officials deserve to sit in prison, and not Hauge.” Only after the layman had breathed in Christiania prison air and suffered much for over three years, was the main inquiry concluded the 8th of January, 1808. Another year passed before the government in the midst of this time of war gave signs of life. The 5th of May, 1809, the same men who had conducted the inquiries, and who beforehand were Hauge’s opponents, were appointed as legitimate judges to investigate and settle his case. They should have with them a public prosecutor and a counsel for the defense. The latter felt induced to set on foot new inquiries in the counties. The evidence now incoming reads almost invariably very favorable about Hauge’s friends as about himself.
Some expressed, however, their fear that this movement might prove harmful in civil life. Gradually, though, a better spirit prevailed. The time passed with production of evidence and inquiry until the beginning of 1813. Then more than 600 witnesses were examined, and not until the 4th of December of the last mentioned year the commissioned assembled to the preliminary judgment conference. Although he was acquitted from all moral accusations, Hauge was, however, sentenced to two years of hard labor and also to pay all costs of the proceedings:
1) Because he had held conventicles (edification gatherings).
2) Because of opposing the rationalistic clergy (in a general sense).
3) Because he had brought people into religious brooding.
But when his case in the latter part of the year 1814 was handed over to the judgment of the superior court of justice, this court acquitted Hauge on all points after his ten years in prison. For the before-mentioned opposition against the clergy he was only to pay a fine.
Ten years imprisonment, mostly in deep solitude, were behind him. About all this time he was removed from the outer world. Years went by, but no one was allowed to talk to him except the magistrate. It is told that one of his friends from the Bergen diocese, right after his imprisonment, went to Christiania to talk to him, his spiritual father, but this was denied him. Distressed he stood outside the house of detention and stared in. Then Hauge happened to see him and stepped over to the window and lighted a candle, held it up and trimmed it, so it could shine brighter. It was a silent and still expressive greeting to the friend and a sign to let the light shine for the people and cleanse the temporal desires. The traveler felt himself exalted in a high degree by this sign language and went home happy. Another time when Hauge saw one of his friends walk up and down outside the prison, he sang this hymn out through the prison bars: “Watchful Jesus without slumber, with much labor, strife and grief,” etc. Thus some words and signs made their way out of the prison anyway. Later Count Moltke allowed one of Hauge’s brothers and another of his nearest to visit him, though only in the presence of the jailer. It is outrageous how they treated him. That he for five shillings a day had to keep himself with food, laundry, etc., was the least. Worse it was that this man, who was used to motion and activity, had to spend days and nights within narrow walls. The first year he sat in the cellar of the prison; several of his teeth loosened and fell out, and he caught a host of diseases, which already in the course of the first year ruined his previously strong health. But the most terrible of all was, however, that it seemed that they would kill his soul also. No work, no book, no stationery should gladden him. How, then, could the distress of mind fail to appear?
It was also a deep grief for the noble man to be convinced that also the highest authorities of the country were his opponents, yes opposed even the Lord. Then there arose a doubt within him, if God really was on his side when his king was against him! The consciousness of his inner calling was deeply shaken, and as he had to be without any brotherly encouragement, his soul suffered beyond expression. For two years they gave him books to read, to be sure, but what kind of books were they? Yes, it was publications of mockery and rationalistic books, which should cleanse his conceptions of religion and instill into him the eulogized education of the time! In his depressed loneliness he reached for everything which was offered him. He swallowed translations of Voltaire’s publications with a quantity of other productions of the spirit of the age, of moral, philosophical and legal contents. Later he himself has publicly confessed that although the disbelieving books did not blind him, still in those years his inner life declined considerably. “I preserved in my soul that light, which originated with the pint of God, and the Word and the power from above.” His phraseology became no doubt considerably more exact, but the contents lost much; he used words and expressions which reminded one strongly of the rationalistic books he read.
His confinement was in a remarkable way interrupted for about nine months. From February to October, 1809, he was in consequence of higher orders a free man. During the time of the war the coast of Norway was namely blockaded by English battleships, and the supply of provisions was therewith stopped. Chiefly the lack of salt became very serious. Then Hauge offered to help the government which so shamefully had locked him up, and, as no one else was able to render timely help, they were impudent enough to accept the offer. They knew that he, with his exceedingly practical aptitude, also could help and was able to promote the domestic salt making, so they in this respect could be independent of foreign countries. Thereafter this man, tormented by prison and sickness, was released on 1000 “riksdaler” bail, and furnished with those aids he deemed necessary for his undertaking. He then examined the water at the coast, and due to his knowledge and energy several saltworks were established, and with the best results. When he had finished, in appreciation of his devoted and generous work for the good of his country, he was again put in prison. Such treatment can be called by only one name-and that is-barbarism. However, from this time on his treatment in prison became considerably better, through the influence of a protector. In order to strengthen his health, he was permitted from now on to take several short trips, and among others to visit his old parents, whom he then saw for the last time. He also obtained much more liberty and could in a “rapid” in Akerselven even constrnct a flour mill which is still in operation and was to great benefit for many.
Just as in his outer position, there occurred also in the last years of his imprisonment a joyful change in his inner life. Many circumstances contributed to that. The memory of the revival’s flourishing period was refreshing and cheery to him. In the fall of 1810 he became ill and felt near death. This merciful visit contributed much to again strengthen his spiritual life and anew excite the fervency of the spirit. And after the sacred Scriptures again had become the daily nourishment for his soul, the inner fountain also began to gush anew to awakening and edification for others. Of this some faithful Christmas, Passion and Easter songs, which he wrote during this time, bear testimony.
It was in the morning of the 23rd day of December, 1814, that Hauge, with a calm and resigned mind went from Bakkehaugen at Sagene down to Christiania to receive that sentence which is unique in the Norwegian history of law. “What good are those many papers now, on which many worked themselves tired and bothered me with about 600 questions and examined just as many witnesses in the hope to be able to establish a case of penal vices on me? God be eternally praised, who has preserved me from vices, an consequently they found nothing but the practice in God’s Word and those books I had written, to which my own witness was enough, as I said I had written them. In my anxiety, when the opponents roared over me and I was at their mercy, I prayed that the Lord would take care of my mission. I promised to praise Him when I was saved, and this 1 would do; He Himself would give me grace for that purpose. Igreet thee in Jesus’ name and pray that thou may live well in all eternity, remaining the friend in the Lord.” This he wrote in a circular letter to his friends. His venerable father should not see the day of his son’s discharge. He passed away in the faith January 10th, 1813.
Hauge, who before had been a strong and healthy man, left the prison sick in his body, whose many aches and pains stayed with him to his dying day. That he himself became a ruined man, and that his honestly acquired possessions were lost, grieved him less than that his friends had also suffered considerable losses.
Until the year 1817 he lived at Bakkehaugen, which his brother had left him to leasehold. Here he constructed several buildings and. made useful improvements which are still there, and gained rapidly in wealth. During the years of war he gave maintenance to hundreds and put many to work. He went assiduously among them and spoke the Word of Life to them.
In the year 1817 he bought near the farm Bredtvedt near Christiania, where he stayed the last years of his life. Here he lived very quietly, but was commonly respected and loved both for his practical ability and Christian zeal. Because of his broken health he could not take longer journeys, but worked anyway in many ways to the blessing of many.
In the year 1815 he married an orphaned girl who had been awakened through him several years before. This union was of short duration, however, for before the year was out she departed in the faith from this life. She left a son, Andreas Hauge, who was the warm mission friend and zealous minister in Skien.
In the year 1817 he married again. This union was blessed with three children, all of whom died young.
Hauge is supposed to have had a singular power over people’s disposition in his last years. There were told many stories of how he, with characteristic mixing of friendliness and seriousness, had drawn several of his servants into the Christian routine of his house, so they enjoyed prayer and work equally well.
Meanwhile, he had become an esteemed man in the upper circle of society, and tradition has kept remembrance of visits from many prominent men. It is of far greater consequence, however, that the farm, Bredtvedt, became the center for the Christian life in Norway. Numerous letters were sent from here all over the country. What influence Hauge’s “religious letters” had upon the people at that time, one can at the present day hardly imagine. And large crowds poured in to Bredtvedt year in and year out. The old ones, who once through the admonishing words of Hauge became changed people, would see the spiritual father once more, fathers in Christ, who in former days had worked with him for the propagation of the Kingdom of God, wanted their sons to hear an admonishing word from him whose testimony had had such a wonderful power. Traveling lay-preachers also went there as often as possible. Even when Hauge was sick in bed, they could hear a word which was of great worth to them, like gold and silver. But hen he was fairly well, he always performed devotions for those present. After Hauge came out of prison he expanded a considerable authorship. And these publications from his last years achieve distinction above the older works by the clarity of thought and expression.
The ten years’ imprisonment gave plenty occasion for self-examination and quiet contemplation, combined with the Christian books he read during this time, strengthened and mellowed him in several ways. These works of his have the character of an experienced, tranquil and level-headed man, who from year to year grew in regard to the inner man. On the other hand, one seeks in vain both the bubbling life which is peculiar in his earlier publications, and the prominent fighting grit and that intense fervency of the spirit, which characterized his youthful work.
It was great joy for him to live to see that over most of the counties in Norway there blew a blessed pentecostal wind which swept away the miserable wisdom of rationalism. At the young university the sound Lutheran teaching was recited with life and warmth, and gradually there proceeded from this group of young churchmen who testified with life and energy of the salvation in Christ for the Norwegian people around the whole country.
When Hauge was not bedridden he lived outdoors. One could often see this stoop-shouldered figure with the yellowish pale face wander over the fields at Bredtvedt. Then he usually had his little son with him and showed him the flowers and talked to him about God’s virtue and love. And many who saw how he suffered first from one illness, and then from another, said to themselves: “This you have suffered and suffer for Christ’s sake.”
However, his last years were somewhat darkened by the thought that many a discord would break out among his old friends after his departure, chiefly concerning the relation to the state church ‘whose patient and faithful servant he had always been.
Gradually his health became so poor that he seldom could leave the bed. He felt the end was near; therefore he wrote his “Testament to his friends,” which was reprinted several times and received wide circulation. It is rich in advice and guidance for his friend and has a sound, Lutheran and ecclesiastical impression. His time of redemption grew nearer. In the spring of 1824 he stayed in bed continually for 14 days. One Sunday morning he had such a violent spasm in his chest that he could not talk at all the whole day and the following night. But it seemed as though he wanted to say something to those around, so his wife cried out: “Oh, if I only could understand you!” And in a clear voice the dying man said: “Follow Jesus!” And right thereafter he called out joyfully: “Oh, you eternally loving God!” When his wife said: “Now He will surely soon take you unto Him,” he said: “Yes! pray with me!” Then the Lord came and took his faithful and tired servant with Him. He died Monday, the 24th of March, 1824, t 5 o’clock in the morning, only 55 years old. His grave is in “Gamle Aker” cemetery, where his friends have erected a memorial stone over him. Around the whole country thousands mourned; they had in the deceased lost a spiritual father, brother and friend.
But the ecclesiastical history in times to come will not be able to omit this farmer boy and the great revival which he had caused, and which brought about a spiritual spring with new life after the dark and cold winter of rationalism. It could now also be said about the Norwegian church: “The old is gone, see everything has become new.” Thinking of Hauge, we will finally be reminded of the following text in Scripture:
“The base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
To Be Continued.....
Also in temporal respects Hauge was of great benefit to his compatriots. His activity brought about a whole movement in the life of the people. Farmers went to towns and established business houses, poor people moved to places where it was easier to procure arable land, etc.
EKER PAPER MILL
One of the largest constructions which was brought about by Hauge’s initiative, was Eker Paper Mill. He had received the idea for this construction in Copenhagen. In the vicinity he had seen one and had familiarized himself with similar arrangements. Several had shares in this enterprise, and Hauge helped with word and deed. Forty people worked here. Besides the paper mill they also operated a stamping mill, a bone-grinding machine, a flour and fanning mill and a tannery. The owners maintained joint housekeeping; workers and employers felt like a big family; they ate in fellowship at a long table which reached from wall to wall in a large room. According to the desire of the heart one prayed before the meal, and another offered the thanks after the meal. Here was practical devotion and an unusual hospitality. Here the friends sought refuge, and not the least during the years of distress was “the mill” a true resting place for the tired. A wonderful strong Christian life flourished at Eker Paper Mill and the Communion of Saints revealed itself in a very lovely manner.
Hauge traveled around over almost the whole of Norway, preached, spread devotional books and won friends and made enemies. In temporal respects he also, as mentioned before, was to great advantage and benefit to his people. But in the fall of 1804 the magistrate laid his hand upon him and stopped his useful and beneficial activity. He was arrested and put in a penitentiary in the capital, where he languished in a dismal prison for 10 years. It was the clergy who were his worst enemies, and they rejoiced when they had him imprisoned, that they got rid of this “troublemaker.” Bishop Hansen was the worst of all to accuse the good man, misrepresent established truths and put everything in the worst light.
The conduct of those churchmen against Hauge is reminiscent of the Catholic church’s treatment of the noble martyrs in the dark medieval ages. But in the light of eternity it will look quite different; then we shall find these tormentors in hell, while those whom they have tormented rest with God. Then this truth will tell to full advantage: “Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things and be the evil things, but now he is comforted, and thou are tormented.”
This imprisonment brings to a conclusion Hauge’s activity as revival preacher in the Norwegian church. And who has brought about that Hauge was imprisoned? None other than the said Bishop Hansen. He submitted a complaint against Hauge and his friends to one of the royal chancellery in Copenhagen, and in this he even compared these quiet men of peace with revolutionary Muhamedan Abdul Vechab!
This complaint had its effect. It brought about a writ from the chancellery, which obtained the largest, distribution, each and all of the legal and ecclesiastical officers were set in motion, partly to give new information about Hauge’s dangerous activity, partly to suggest, suitable means to counteract and check the same. For more than a year superior and inferior officers around the whole country racked their brains and pondered over how the “Haugian poison” again could be rendered harmless among the people. The reports on this case, which are lodged with the National Archive, give an unusually distressing picture of this time, especially concerning the rude mode of thought, which prevailed in the so-called cultured circles, and of the disposition of the clergy who eagerly seized the opportunity to pour out their bile over this tormentor and in all ways they exaggerated the produced charges against him, which had its foundation in the most scandalous, loose rumors. Also the books of the persecuted were searched for all over, and not only sale, but also possession was prohibited, and if any were found they were seized and in several places destroyed. People still will tell about some of Hauge’s books, which neither fire nor water was able to ruin.
It should not be forgotten that many of these from all sides who gathered evidences of the accused layman, also gave the truth honor, and blessed Hauge and the activity he had conducted, yes, made it a duty for the magistrate to stop the many impious gatherings instead of the Haugian. It is known that not few of those pastors who were inclined towards Herrnhutism, praised Hauge’s genuine evangelical zeal, without thinking of the difference in the teaching. But especially Bishop Brun gave Hauge and his followers a fine testimony for piety, decency and an industrious life, and censured sharply the injustices, which often were committed against them. Only the “mercantile enterprises and purchase of property...” which he erroneously presumed, was derived from a community of property-he feels he must recommend to the attention of the magistrate, so that these or those should not have to suffer a loss!
As to the means which the great majority recommended against the enthusiasm, they were such as one might expect from people with a rationalistic conception; one should especially apply the penal law in its full severity against the lay preachers and not the proper weapon of the spirit to conviction and guidance.
We will again turn our eyes to the man on whom state and church used every effort to render harmless. Several of the richest men in the county, where Hauge was arrested, asked the bailiff to set him free right away on bail, but in vain. The imprisoned man himself, however, reported at once to his friends what had taken place, in a communication which from beginning to end gives evidence of a spirit who rests in God, and whose strength is the Lord. He wished that “the chains which he carried for the love he bore to them, would stimulate them to seek the Lord still more keenly and become living limbs on the body of Christ. He was prepared to suffer to the utmost: God would grant him strength, when he contemplated the love of Christ and thought of what he had to suffer for us; some day the sufferings of all Christians will be converted to great glory and eternal freedom.”
For more than a month he was imprisoned in Haugesund; he was now in the fullest sense alone with his God, whose work he had faithfully carried out. At that time originated “Prayer for the Christian Church,” which he had written. It does not carry a trace of bitterness, but is much more suffused of the warmest love.
At last there came a warrant to transport the "most dangerous fanatic Hauge" to Christiania. In a short letter the layman bids adieu to his friends, admonishes them earnestly to let all carnal zeal drop and expresses the hope to meet them again in the eternal life.
The 24th of November, 1804, he was committed to the jail of the police office in Christiania, which, according to the opinion of the contemporaries, was the old police office of Christiania, in Raadhusgaten No.7.
He was sternly forbidden any association with others. On the 16th of November, 1804, it had been decided that a committee of investigation composed of two officials should be appointed. But both resigned as soon as possible, and new men had to step in. Months went by before an official inquiry over the pursued person began, and the numerous witnesses were summoned. The record of evidence, which still is preserved, shows that they proceeded anything but kindly against the prisoner. The questions started according to the most ordinary and weak assumptions. The different authorities around the whole country were also forwarded questions to be answered, and requested to hold special examinations. These reports came in slowly in the course of a year, and contained partly such pure inventions that a writer of history says: “Many of the officials deserve to sit in prison, and not Hauge.” Only after the layman had breathed in Christiania prison air and suffered much for over three years, was the main inquiry concluded the 8th of January, 1808. Another year passed before the government in the midst of this time of war gave signs of life. The 5th of May, 1809, the same men who had conducted the inquiries, and who beforehand were Hauge’s opponents, were appointed as legitimate judges to investigate and settle his case. They should have with them a public prosecutor and a counsel for the defense. The latter felt induced to set on foot new inquiries in the counties. The evidence now incoming reads almost invariably very favorable about Hauge’s friends as about himself.
Some expressed, however, their fear that this movement might prove harmful in civil life. Gradually, though, a better spirit prevailed. The time passed with production of evidence and inquiry until the beginning of 1813. Then more than 600 witnesses were examined, and not until the 4th of December of the last mentioned year the commissioned assembled to the preliminary judgment conference. Although he was acquitted from all moral accusations, Hauge was, however, sentenced to two years of hard labor and also to pay all costs of the proceedings:
1) Because he had held conventicles (edification gatherings).
2) Because of opposing the rationalistic clergy (in a general sense).
3) Because he had brought people into religious brooding.
But when his case in the latter part of the year 1814 was handed over to the judgment of the superior court of justice, this court acquitted Hauge on all points after his ten years in prison. For the before-mentioned opposition against the clergy he was only to pay a fine.
Ten years imprisonment, mostly in deep solitude, were behind him. About all this time he was removed from the outer world. Years went by, but no one was allowed to talk to him except the magistrate. It is told that one of his friends from the Bergen diocese, right after his imprisonment, went to Christiania to talk to him, his spiritual father, but this was denied him. Distressed he stood outside the house of detention and stared in. Then Hauge happened to see him and stepped over to the window and lighted a candle, held it up and trimmed it, so it could shine brighter. It was a silent and still expressive greeting to the friend and a sign to let the light shine for the people and cleanse the temporal desires. The traveler felt himself exalted in a high degree by this sign language and went home happy. Another time when Hauge saw one of his friends walk up and down outside the prison, he sang this hymn out through the prison bars: “Watchful Jesus without slumber, with much labor, strife and grief,” etc. Thus some words and signs made their way out of the prison anyway. Later Count Moltke allowed one of Hauge’s brothers and another of his nearest to visit him, though only in the presence of the jailer. It is outrageous how they treated him. That he for five shillings a day had to keep himself with food, laundry, etc., was the least. Worse it was that this man, who was used to motion and activity, had to spend days and nights within narrow walls. The first year he sat in the cellar of the prison; several of his teeth loosened and fell out, and he caught a host of diseases, which already in the course of the first year ruined his previously strong health. But the most terrible of all was, however, that it seemed that they would kill his soul also. No work, no book, no stationery should gladden him. How, then, could the distress of mind fail to appear?
It was also a deep grief for the noble man to be convinced that also the highest authorities of the country were his opponents, yes opposed even the Lord. Then there arose a doubt within him, if God really was on his side when his king was against him! The consciousness of his inner calling was deeply shaken, and as he had to be without any brotherly encouragement, his soul suffered beyond expression. For two years they gave him books to read, to be sure, but what kind of books were they? Yes, it was publications of mockery and rationalistic books, which should cleanse his conceptions of religion and instill into him the eulogized education of the time! In his depressed loneliness he reached for everything which was offered him. He swallowed translations of Voltaire’s publications with a quantity of other productions of the spirit of the age, of moral, philosophical and legal contents. Later he himself has publicly confessed that although the disbelieving books did not blind him, still in those years his inner life declined considerably. “I preserved in my soul that light, which originated with the pint of God, and the Word and the power from above.” His phraseology became no doubt considerably more exact, but the contents lost much; he used words and expressions which reminded one strongly of the rationalistic books he read.
His confinement was in a remarkable way interrupted for about nine months. From February to October, 1809, he was in consequence of higher orders a free man. During the time of the war the coast of Norway was namely blockaded by English battleships, and the supply of provisions was therewith stopped. Chiefly the lack of salt became very serious. Then Hauge offered to help the government which so shamefully had locked him up, and, as no one else was able to render timely help, they were impudent enough to accept the offer. They knew that he, with his exceedingly practical aptitude, also could help and was able to promote the domestic salt making, so they in this respect could be independent of foreign countries. Thereafter this man, tormented by prison and sickness, was released on 1000 “riksdaler” bail, and furnished with those aids he deemed necessary for his undertaking. He then examined the water at the coast, and due to his knowledge and energy several saltworks were established, and with the best results. When he had finished, in appreciation of his devoted and generous work for the good of his country, he was again put in prison. Such treatment can be called by only one name-and that is-barbarism. However, from this time on his treatment in prison became considerably better, through the influence of a protector. In order to strengthen his health, he was permitted from now on to take several short trips, and among others to visit his old parents, whom he then saw for the last time. He also obtained much more liberty and could in a “rapid” in Akerselven even constrnct a flour mill which is still in operation and was to great benefit for many.
Just as in his outer position, there occurred also in the last years of his imprisonment a joyful change in his inner life. Many circumstances contributed to that. The memory of the revival’s flourishing period was refreshing and cheery to him. In the fall of 1810 he became ill and felt near death. This merciful visit contributed much to again strengthen his spiritual life and anew excite the fervency of the spirit. And after the sacred Scriptures again had become the daily nourishment for his soul, the inner fountain also began to gush anew to awakening and edification for others. Of this some faithful Christmas, Passion and Easter songs, which he wrote during this time, bear testimony.
It was in the morning of the 23rd day of December, 1814, that Hauge, with a calm and resigned mind went from Bakkehaugen at Sagene down to Christiania to receive that sentence which is unique in the Norwegian history of law. “What good are those many papers now, on which many worked themselves tired and bothered me with about 600 questions and examined just as many witnesses in the hope to be able to establish a case of penal vices on me? God be eternally praised, who has preserved me from vices, an consequently they found nothing but the practice in God’s Word and those books I had written, to which my own witness was enough, as I said I had written them. In my anxiety, when the opponents roared over me and I was at their mercy, I prayed that the Lord would take care of my mission. I promised to praise Him when I was saved, and this 1 would do; He Himself would give me grace for that purpose. Igreet thee in Jesus’ name and pray that thou may live well in all eternity, remaining the friend in the Lord.” This he wrote in a circular letter to his friends. His venerable father should not see the day of his son’s discharge. He passed away in the faith January 10th, 1813.
Hauge, who before had been a strong and healthy man, left the prison sick in his body, whose many aches and pains stayed with him to his dying day. That he himself became a ruined man, and that his honestly acquired possessions were lost, grieved him less than that his friends had also suffered considerable losses.
Until the year 1817 he lived at Bakkehaugen, which his brother had left him to leasehold. Here he constructed several buildings and. made useful improvements which are still there, and gained rapidly in wealth. During the years of war he gave maintenance to hundreds and put many to work. He went assiduously among them and spoke the Word of Life to them.
In the year 1817 he bought near the farm Bredtvedt near Christiania, where he stayed the last years of his life. Here he lived very quietly, but was commonly respected and loved both for his practical ability and Christian zeal. Because of his broken health he could not take longer journeys, but worked anyway in many ways to the blessing of many.
In the year 1815 he married an orphaned girl who had been awakened through him several years before. This union was of short duration, however, for before the year was out she departed in the faith from this life. She left a son, Andreas Hauge, who was the warm mission friend and zealous minister in Skien.
In the year 1817 he married again. This union was blessed with three children, all of whom died young.
Hauge is supposed to have had a singular power over people’s disposition in his last years. There were told many stories of how he, with characteristic mixing of friendliness and seriousness, had drawn several of his servants into the Christian routine of his house, so they enjoyed prayer and work equally well.
Meanwhile, he had become an esteemed man in the upper circle of society, and tradition has kept remembrance of visits from many prominent men. It is of far greater consequence, however, that the farm, Bredtvedt, became the center for the Christian life in Norway. Numerous letters were sent from here all over the country. What influence Hauge’s “religious letters” had upon the people at that time, one can at the present day hardly imagine. And large crowds poured in to Bredtvedt year in and year out. The old ones, who once through the admonishing words of Hauge became changed people, would see the spiritual father once more, fathers in Christ, who in former days had worked with him for the propagation of the Kingdom of God, wanted their sons to hear an admonishing word from him whose testimony had had such a wonderful power. Traveling lay-preachers also went there as often as possible. Even when Hauge was sick in bed, they could hear a word which was of great worth to them, like gold and silver. But hen he was fairly well, he always performed devotions for those present. After Hauge came out of prison he expanded a considerable authorship. And these publications from his last years achieve distinction above the older works by the clarity of thought and expression.
The ten years’ imprisonment gave plenty occasion for self-examination and quiet contemplation, combined with the Christian books he read during this time, strengthened and mellowed him in several ways. These works of his have the character of an experienced, tranquil and level-headed man, who from year to year grew in regard to the inner man. On the other hand, one seeks in vain both the bubbling life which is peculiar in his earlier publications, and the prominent fighting grit and that intense fervency of the spirit, which characterized his youthful work.
It was great joy for him to live to see that over most of the counties in Norway there blew a blessed pentecostal wind which swept away the miserable wisdom of rationalism. At the young university the sound Lutheran teaching was recited with life and warmth, and gradually there proceeded from this group of young churchmen who testified with life and energy of the salvation in Christ for the Norwegian people around the whole country.
When Hauge was not bedridden he lived outdoors. One could often see this stoop-shouldered figure with the yellowish pale face wander over the fields at Bredtvedt. Then he usually had his little son with him and showed him the flowers and talked to him about God’s virtue and love. And many who saw how he suffered first from one illness, and then from another, said to themselves: “This you have suffered and suffer for Christ’s sake.”
However, his last years were somewhat darkened by the thought that many a discord would break out among his old friends after his departure, chiefly concerning the relation to the state church ‘whose patient and faithful servant he had always been.
Gradually his health became so poor that he seldom could leave the bed. He felt the end was near; therefore he wrote his “Testament to his friends,” which was reprinted several times and received wide circulation. It is rich in advice and guidance for his friend and has a sound, Lutheran and ecclesiastical impression. His time of redemption grew nearer. In the spring of 1824 he stayed in bed continually for 14 days. One Sunday morning he had such a violent spasm in his chest that he could not talk at all the whole day and the following night. But it seemed as though he wanted to say something to those around, so his wife cried out: “Oh, if I only could understand you!” And in a clear voice the dying man said: “Follow Jesus!” And right thereafter he called out joyfully: “Oh, you eternally loving God!” When his wife said: “Now He will surely soon take you unto Him,” he said: “Yes! pray with me!” Then the Lord came and took his faithful and tired servant with Him. He died Monday, the 24th of March, 1824, t 5 o’clock in the morning, only 55 years old. His grave is in “Gamle Aker” cemetery, where his friends have erected a memorial stone over him. Around the whole country thousands mourned; they had in the deceased lost a spiritual father, brother and friend.
But the ecclesiastical history in times to come will not be able to omit this farmer boy and the great revival which he had caused, and which brought about a spiritual spring with new life after the dark and cold winter of rationalism. It could now also be said about the Norwegian church: “The old is gone, see everything has become new.” Thinking of Hauge, we will finally be reminded of the following text in Scripture:
“The base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
To Be Continued.....
29. Voyage to Copenhagen
VOYAGE TO COPENHAGEN
After some time Hauge and a friend went to Copenhagen, Denmark. Partly he wanted to have more of his books published, partly he wanted to find out what the government’s attitude actually was towards his activity. Norway was at that time a subject under Denmark, and all affairs in Norway were controlled and arranged by the government at Copenhagen.
That the book business of Hauge was grand one can understand from the fact that five printing houses in Copenhagen worked for him, one of them even for four months. Most of the printed books were sent to Norway to be sold.
Hauge thought that the government was too good to persecute him, as he had his mission from God. He was overlooked by those in power and could work in peace with his books. They looked upon his books as some nonsense which only amused them, and they didn’t think that such things could be of any effect to the enlightened people. But Hauge soon learned that the “good” government was anything but amicably disposed to him and his activity.
When Hauge was home from Denmark he continued his round trips and preached the Word of God to his countrymen. In Biri he was arrested. While he sat in the sheriff's home, Samnæs, the old mother of the sheriff happened to see him, and said to him: “It is too bad that you, who are such a young and nice man, should disgrace yourself and become a spectacle for all people.”
Hauge answered: “It seems to me it is worse with you, mother, who are so old and still are so dark an infidel.”
In Hallingdal Hauge met an old parish clerk who said with an angry mind to him: “You have torn down everything which I have built up in forty years.”
Hauge answered: “How have you built, then, if it so quickly could fall? Your building has certainly not stood on the Rock.”
In AaI Hauge was arrested anew. The sheriff was a rude fellow. He would have fun with Hauge. First he sent a lewd woman into the prison to Hauge. She was to outrage him with unchaste words and gestures; but she soon came out from him weeping. He had talked to her of the love of Christ, and the sinner’s heart was melted.
As this didn’t help, the sheriff gathered quite a few vulgar youths who with a musician went into the jail in order to make fun of Hauge. The sheriff and his fat wife were also along. The musician started to play, and the dancing started lustily. Then the sheriff's wife came and took Hauge by the hand amidst the general jubilation and asked him for a dance.
“Yes, that you shall have,” said Hauge, “if only the musician will play the tune I wish.” As he now turned to the musician and said: “Play now after, such as I begin,” he intuned the verse:
‘No more ought sin to rule us And scare us with its frown; Nor with temptation fool us, But daily be cast down.” It was as though an electric shock had passed through the crowd; the sheriff's wife let go of Hauge’s hand; all were spiritually paralyzed. But now Hauge took the floor and spoke to those who were gathered in the jail, in a way that penetrated to every bone in their bodies, and as they went out some of them expressed their regret over the way he was dealt with, while others wept and wished they were as he. So ended the sheriff's fun with the serious man. Hauge was conducted to the bailiff, but the honest bailiff released Hauge and gave him passport. On this he traveled over the counties, everywhere proclaiming the Lord’s virtues, and came to Bergen in the middle of March, 1801.
To Be Continued....
After some time Hauge and a friend went to Copenhagen, Denmark. Partly he wanted to have more of his books published, partly he wanted to find out what the government’s attitude actually was towards his activity. Norway was at that time a subject under Denmark, and all affairs in Norway were controlled and arranged by the government at Copenhagen.
That the book business of Hauge was grand one can understand from the fact that five printing houses in Copenhagen worked for him, one of them even for four months. Most of the printed books were sent to Norway to be sold.
Hauge thought that the government was too good to persecute him, as he had his mission from God. He was overlooked by those in power and could work in peace with his books. They looked upon his books as some nonsense which only amused them, and they didn’t think that such things could be of any effect to the enlightened people. But Hauge soon learned that the “good” government was anything but amicably disposed to him and his activity.
When Hauge was home from Denmark he continued his round trips and preached the Word of God to his countrymen. In Biri he was arrested. While he sat in the sheriff's home, Samnæs, the old mother of the sheriff happened to see him, and said to him: “It is too bad that you, who are such a young and nice man, should disgrace yourself and become a spectacle for all people.”
Hauge answered: “It seems to me it is worse with you, mother, who are so old and still are so dark an infidel.”
In Hallingdal Hauge met an old parish clerk who said with an angry mind to him: “You have torn down everything which I have built up in forty years.”
Hauge answered: “How have you built, then, if it so quickly could fall? Your building has certainly not stood on the Rock.”
In AaI Hauge was arrested anew. The sheriff was a rude fellow. He would have fun with Hauge. First he sent a lewd woman into the prison to Hauge. She was to outrage him with unchaste words and gestures; but she soon came out from him weeping. He had talked to her of the love of Christ, and the sinner’s heart was melted.
As this didn’t help, the sheriff gathered quite a few vulgar youths who with a musician went into the jail in order to make fun of Hauge. The sheriff and his fat wife were also along. The musician started to play, and the dancing started lustily. Then the sheriff's wife came and took Hauge by the hand amidst the general jubilation and asked him for a dance.
“Yes, that you shall have,” said Hauge, “if only the musician will play the tune I wish.” As he now turned to the musician and said: “Play now after, such as I begin,” he intuned the verse:
‘No more ought sin to rule us And scare us with its frown; Nor with temptation fool us, But daily be cast down.” It was as though an electric shock had passed through the crowd; the sheriff's wife let go of Hauge’s hand; all were spiritually paralyzed. But now Hauge took the floor and spoke to those who were gathered in the jail, in a way that penetrated to every bone in their bodies, and as they went out some of them expressed their regret over the way he was dealt with, while others wept and wished they were as he. So ended the sheriff's fun with the serious man. Hauge was conducted to the bailiff, but the honest bailiff released Hauge and gave him passport. On this he traveled over the counties, everywhere proclaiming the Lord’s virtues, and came to Bergen in the middle of March, 1801.
To Be Continued....
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