It is not recorded in this letter, but it is worthy of note, that the vessel from which they were landed at Cuddalore was quite shipwrecked on her departure at the mouth of the river.
Schwartz was now at what he had called the destined end of his travels and the appointed beginning of his life work. He saw at once that a knowledge of Tamil was the first necessity of his work, and, therefore, with a native catechist who could also speak German, he laboured hard to qualify himself. So successful was he that in less than four months after his arrival in India he was able to preach his first sermon in Tamil from Matthew xi. 25-30, with its true missionary appeal. “Come unto me, all ye that labour end are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” in the New Jerusalem Church where Ziegenbalg used to preach. It was his first word for his Master and Lord, possibly uttered with much humility and some misgivings of his own fitness but full of the abundant grace which is ready to fulfil the promise to every creature. Of this discourse some brief outlines are preserved. It was a very earnest appeal to these people, facing him for the first time with their dark faces and hearts full of shadows from superstition and ignorance. He began at once by pointing out the one and only hope for humanity and begged them to take advantage of the gracious offer of salvation. This was the key note of his life work, and it has been well pointed out that in an age when theological controversies and contention were the characteristic of the Church, it is a cheering fact that the faith of Schwartz preserved its simplicity, and that he preached the great essential verities of the Evangel of God to a sinful world.
CHAPTER IV.
IN TOUCH WITH THE BRAHMINS.
The early experiences of a missionary on arriving in his field of work abroad will sometimes dissipate a little of the romance which fancy had gathered about his outlook, and will instead reveal quite unexpected difficulties to try his faith, forcing him to a fuller dependence on God. On the other hand, all that is best in him of inspiration and devotion is deepened by the fact of his seeing as never before the unutterable need of his message and recognising his clear call to give that in the name of his Master. And seeing that the highest summits of success can only be attained by simple and persevering steps, he will apply himself with prayerful fidelity to these necessary details of his new position. His call was instant, his fitness for it must be attained by hard work and patient application.
All this was true of Schwartz. He faced the difficulty of language, seeing that unless he could speak to the people in their own tongue it was of no use his coming so far to be a missionary in India. It will be seen that he found that from the native children there was much to be learnt in this direction, and his easy access to their hearts, for he was particularly fond of young people, was very useful as an open door to future usefulness. Not only did he exercise his gift as a linguist in gaining a knowledge of the native languages, but he learnt Portuguese, because amongst his hearers were many of that nationality. It was also his aim to know not only the language but the people themselves, to know how they lived, what were their difficulties, and as regards their present religion how they stood in respect to Christianity. He began his work with an unshaken confidence in his right and authority to be where he was and do the will of his God according to his abilities. On this point, from the very beginning, he never had a shadow of doubt. Very humbly and sincerely he wrote: “It is a sweet comfort to my heart that I am enabled to say, ‘It is thou, O my God, who hast conducted me to these parts, I have not run hither of my own accord but would rather have declined the call, if Thine unseen hand had not retained me. O therefore help and bestow upon me all necessary wisdom, grace, and strength for this office!’
“My gracious God has already manifested so many proofs of His paternal love towards me that I cannot but remember the word of the Lord Jesus which He spoke to upright Nathanael, ‘Thou shalt see greater things than these.’ May the Lord give me grace that like Nathanael I may use the proofs of divine goodness and mercy which I have hitherto experienced, and as a solid foundation and confirmation of my faith. If henceforth I do not behold the glory of God then verily unbelief will be the cause of it. At Nazareth my Saviour did not many mighty works because of their unbelief. Now Lord grant faith, and that lively faith!...
“I humbly praise God that during the year I have been here He, notwithstanding all my imperfections, hath borne with me with great patience and forbearance; hath been daily nigh unto my soul and hath kindly refreshed me. If I have not had the same enjoyments daily, the fault was on my own side. Now this goodness, long suffering and patience of our Lord, I shall account my Salvation, according to St. Peter’s exhortation.
“As to external things, God has given me life and health and has made the climate and the heat supportable, so that though my breathing was sometimes oppressive yet I have not been induced to complain. Praised be His name also for this special help! Whoever always reposes in the good and holy will of God saves himself much trouble, and makes that supportable which an impatient and unsubdued self-will renders intolerable. May the Lord subdue this self-will more and more by the power of the Cross of Christ!”
He looks back with thankfulness on his Tamil studies at the University of Halle. He discovers that after preaching in that language conversation becomes much easier. He starts a catechetical class in the Tamil or Malabar School and “with the youngest lambs, I thus learned to stammer.” From time to time he makes excursions into the district round Tranquebar and discusses points of doctrine and difficulty which are presented to him by inquirers. Here we see the tact of Schwartz, his readiness to reply to any question, and at the same time, while giving a clear statement of the claims of the Gospel, he would not offend or hurt the religious feelings of his listeners. It was also necessary to exercise great care in testing the reality and sincerity of those who presented themselves for baptism. Schwartz was not satisfied with a superficial adhesion to the Christian faith; he felt that the work would be hindered so much by the instability or inconsistency of those professing Christianity. While much of his work lay among the lowest caste natives, he frequently met and conversed with thoughtful and inquiring Hindus of the higher grade.