When the Moravian missionaries went to Greenland, in 1733, they thought that the most rational way of instructing the heathen was to speak first of the existence and perfections of God, and to enforce obedience to the divine law; and they hoped by these means gradually to prepare -their minds for the reception of the gospel. But this proved wholly ineffectual. For five years they labored in this style, and could scarcely obtain a patient hearing from the savages. But circumstances, unexpected and uncontrived by themselves, led to an entire change of procedure.

In the beginning of June, 1738, Bro. Beck, one of the missionaries, was copying a translation of a portion of the Gospels. He read a few sentences to the heathen; and after some conversation with them, he gave them an account of the creation of the world, the fall of man, and his salvation by Christ. In speaking of the redemption of man, he enlarged with more than usual energy on the sufferings and death of our Saviour, and exhorted his hearers seriously to consider the vast expense at which Jesus had ransomed the souls of His people. He then read to them out of the New Testament the history of our Saviour's agony in the garden. Upon this, the Lord opened the heart of one of the company whose name was Kayarnak, who, stepping to the table, in an earnest manner exclaimed,"How was that? tell me that once more; for I too desire to be saved." These words, which were such as had never before been uttered by a Greenlander, penetrated the soul of Bro. Beck, who, with great emotion, gave them a fuller account of the life and death of our Saviour, and the scheme of salvation through Him. Some of the pagans laid their hands on their mouth (which is their usual custom when struck with amazement).On Kayarnak an impression was made that was not transient, but had taken deep root in his heart. By means of his conversation his family, or those who lived in the same tent with him, were brought under conviction; and before the end of the month three large families came with all their property and pitched their tents near the dwelling of the missionaries, in order, as they said, to hear the joyful news of man's redemption. Kayarnak became eminently serviceable to the mission as a teacher of his countrymen, and adorned his Christian profession until his death. The missionaries now understood the divine mode of reaching and changing the heart of savage or of civilized. They began to preach at once Christ, and Him crucified. And no sooner did they declare to the Greenlanders "the word of reconciliation" in its native simplicity than they beheld its converting and saving power. This reached the hearts of their audience, and produced the most astonishing effects. It opened a way to their consciences, and illuminated their understandings. They remained no longer the stupid and brutish creatures they had once been:they felt they were sinners, and trembled at their danger:they rejoiced in the Saviour, and were rendered capable of sublimer pleasures than those arising from plenty of seals, and the low gratification of sensual appetites. A sure foundation being thus laid in the knowledge of a crucified Redeemer, the missionaries soon found that this supplied their young converts with a powerful motive to the abhorrence of sin and the performance of every moral duty towards God and their neighbor. It taught them to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world; animated them with the glorious hope of life and immortality; and gave them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as the Creator and Saviour of men. The missionaries themselves derived benefit from this. The doctrines of the cross of Christ warmed and enlivened their own souls in so powerful a manner that they could address the heathen with uncommon liberty and fervor, and were often astonished at each other's power of utterance.

And is this to be wondered at ? Is it not that which the apostle Paul taught of old:"The Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:but we preach Christ crucified ; unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness ; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (i Cor. 1:22-24) ? The Christian ministry is one of "reconciliation," and its great theme is "that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." It was this "word of reconciliation" that the apostles addressed to the hearts and consciences of men to bring them back to God. "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him " (2 Cor. 5:19-21). The death of Christ in man's stead is the only basis of reconciliation between the offended God and the offending creature; the announcement of it is the only means by which the heart of the offender can be subdued and won back to loyalty; and the belief of it the only means by which his conscience can be freed from the burden of guilt.

Selected.