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....