“If I become a Christian,” asked one of the natives standing by, “how shall I be maintained?” A justifiable question in India where the profession of the faith meant so much loss. Schwartz replied, “Work and pray,” handing to the man the open Gospel of St. Matthew in Tamil, and the words upon which his eyes lighted were from the sixth chapter and verses thirty-one to thirty-three: “Take no thought, saying, what shall we eat and what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek, for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”
About this time he received tidings of serious reverses which had befallen his home at Sonnenburg. A disastrous fire which had broken out in the little town had burnt down his father’s house and in his letter of the 8th October, 1753, he expresses his desire to help all he can. Although so far away he is anxious to sustain his father in these new difficulties.
“I have been thinking,” he writes, “of some means of performing my duty as a son, in sending home some little assistance. I have a watch given me in England and request that you will sell it to some watchmaker and send the proceeds to my father.”
The capacity which Schwartz displayed and his increasing influence amongst the converts as well as upon the natives who gathered to listen to his message so impressed the brethren of the mission that they gladly handed over to him the oversight of the branches and schools south of the river Cavery. This entailed upon him a good deal of travelling, and on one occasion he went with his colleague, Mr. Kohlhoff, to visit Cuddalore. The journey had to be made on foot, and when they rested their time was occupied in reading the Hebrew Psalms to each other and whenever opportunity offered they preached the Gospel to the crowds which gathered round. In some cases the message was not well received, as when their boatmen who were taking them across the Coleroon refused to hear what they had to say about Christianity. But pulling up by a wood the party got out of the boat and soon found a number of Hindus, Mohammedans and a Roman Catholic native to whom they preached, and the Romanist afterwards spoke to them in private, asking for advice and instruction. It was then the practice to punish a man guilty of stealing by cutting off a limb and one of these mutilated robbers came to Schwartz and begged for a plaster to heal the wound where his foot had been amputated. This help was given him, but while his bodily pain was being treated he was directed to the great Physician who was alone able to save his soul. One man said, as a tract was offered him, “We follow our rulers.” “Then,” replied the missionary, “follow God, He is the Supreme Ruler of us all.”
When they arrived at Cuddalore the brethren in the mission received them with thankfulness, and during their short stay they took part in the weekly conference which was founded by Ziegenbalg. He had established it upon lines of simple and practical wisdom with these words:
“The weekly conference which we hold every Friday with all the labourers is of the greatest utility in keeping the mission work in order. For on that day, in the forenoon, we pray to God for wisdom and counsel and each relates how he has been employed or what has occurred in the congregations and schools and in the printing and bookbinding offices and in the private houses. Here everything that might occasion disorder or detriment is adjusted and those means are adopted which may best promote the general good. The conference being over the Portuguese and Tamil assistants make a report of their labours and of whatever may be wanting, that as far as possible it may be supplied.”
It is interesting to note that this excellent arrangement continued for about a hundred years after the death of Ziegenbalg, a testimony to his wise administration. In addition to this meeting Schwartz held what they called a “colloquium biblicum,” reading together those striking verses in the tenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles where St. Peter declares the great missionary mandate that “God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him.” There was something very Apostolic about the visit of Schwartz and his companion to this mission station, the gatherings together for prayer and exposition of the Scriptures, the gracious influence which broke down all barriers and cheered every heart in mutual love, then finally the solemn covenant before God to bear one another’s burdens and preach the Gospel to the heathen around. Schwartz with his hands outstretched gave them his blessing: “Now the Lord has heard what we have spoken before Him. May He give us life, strength, and prosperity!”
The brethren accompany their visitors a little way on their road back and then bid them farewell.
They journey homewards with thankful spirits for all they have seen and been permitted to do and in due time come within sight of Tranquebar, where one of the brethren hastens forward to bid them welcome home. As they get near to the mission house the Tamil school children come slowly forward singing the metrical version of Ecclesiasticus l. 22-24: “Now let us praise the Lord,” their sweet childish voices bringing a smile to the faces of the returning missionaries. Then the other brethren come forward and the Danish soldiers stationed at the place join in the welcome. Schwartz lifts up his voice in prayer and praise.
“Praised be Thy name, O Lord, in profound humility, for all the grace, protection, and blessing during the whole of our journey Thou hast graciously bestowed upon us of Thine undeserved mercy for the sake of Christ, our Mediator! May the seed of Thy word, which we Thy poor servants have sowed on our journey, spring up and produce abundant fruits that we and those who have received the word in their hearts, may praise and adore Thy goodness to all eternity! May the mission with our brethren at Cuddalore, which has been renewed afresh in Thy sacred presence, be productive of abundant blessing! Our supplications, which we have jointly brought before Thy footstool, with regard to ourselves and the flock entrusted to us, vouchsafe graciously to hear and let us perceive it for the strengthening of our faith. And thus begin anew to bless us and to prosper the work of our hands. Yes, prosper thou our handiwork, O Lord, for the sake of Christ and of His bitter sufferings and death! Amen.”