A GLIMPSE OF THE MAN HIMSELF.
The time occupied by a missionary in mastering the language of the people to whom he ministers is always well spent. To some this task presents difficulties which make the process arduous and prolonged, to others, happy in a natural facility for learning another tongue, success is more easily and quickly achieved. There is no doubt that Schwartz had very remarkable linguistic capacities. To him one language more or less did not seem to matter; we have seen how he was fully at home with Tamil, and he discovered that as Persian was the language of the Mohammedans’ Court he ought to know it, and that Hindustani would also be of service in speaking in the presence of the Nabobs and high Indian officials, so he must learn that too. So on his way he had a word for everybody, the door of opportunity was the tongue of the people, and each in his own language heard the word of God. Whatever the station or caste, it was just the same, their questions were respectfully answered, and they felt that in this missionary a friend was speaking to them and also one who knew more than they.
Schwartz and his friend walking by the sea-shore sit down to talk with a group of fishermen. One of them answers with the bitterness of conscious poverty, “You are not in want and are therefore not prevented from serving God,” but Schwartz points to the mighty deep with its inexhaustible treasures and tells of the mercy of God. A passing Brahmin asks why they have come hither. “From Tranquebar,” answers Schwartz, “for the purpose of addressing to you the tidings of salvation.” For a few moments the message was given, how the Lord of Heaven called upon them to enjoy peace and happiness in another world. “What would you have us to do?” The answer came simple and clear: “We earnestly exhort you to repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ.” “We do worship God,” they replied, “and He being omnipresent we may as well worship Him under the form of a stone.” Schwartz then pointed out that there was no likeness of the living God, either in heaven above or in this earth beneath, and that therefore it was dishonouring Him to worship Him in the form of anything corruptible.
He overtakes a young Brahmin carrying the idol Ramen on a bench of wood and as he walks with him for some distance the opportunity is given of opening up the Scriptures and pointing out that idolatry can never help and only Christ can redeem us from our sin. Sometimes inquirers come to him, drawn by curiosity as to what this Christian religion really means.
One day as he sat under a shady tree reading an English tract on the parable of the Prodigal Son an old Hindu, who had often refused to listen to his Christian sermons, now came with others and begged to know what he was reading. Schwartz told him that it was a narrative of the truly paternal conduct of God towards us and of our refusal to render due obedience to His kind and gentle government, thus abusing His mercies and bringing upon ourselves distress and misery. Notwithstanding this, there was, he went on to say, a way opened by which we might return to our justly offended Maker and become partakers of His grace and benediction. The old man being pleased with this parable, he proceeded to relate to him that of the Sower, telling him why the seed did not everywhere bring forth good fruit. He comprehended this also perfectly and asked whether God is not omnipresent. “Yes,” replied the missionary, “He sees everything that passes on earth whether it is good or evil but His omnipresence is formidable to the wicked.” The Hindu then said, “In my heart inwardly I worship God.” “If that is the case,” answered Schwartz, “your outward conduct must prove the reverence you profess to entertain in your heart towards the Almighty. What would you think of a man who reproached and even struck you, while he contended that he had cordial love for you in his heart?” The Hindu confessed that he could not value such love. “Neither,” Schwartz concluded, “can God accept the homage which you profess to feel inwardly for Him, while in your words and conduct you deny and dishonour Him.”
It is very curious to observe how these Hindus and Brahmins constantly took up the ground that they were already worshipping God and did not need to change their faith to please Him. When Schwartz was visiting Caroor, twelve miles from Trichinopoly, he made a special effort to reach these high caste men with the Gospel. He says of them:—
“They listened with great attention to all that I told them of the supreme excellence of the true God and of the redemption of mankind from their fallen state by His Son Jesus Christ. The next day I assembled a number of natives under a tree and explained to them the Christian doctrine. They felt how vain and irrational it was to worship their numerous deities and fully approved of the doctrine of one God, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I also visited a Brahmin, who was considered the richest inhabitant of the place; he allowed me without interruption to expose the folly of idolatry and then said, ‘I also worship God.’ We were interrupted by the arrival of a Hindu who fell on his face before him. The Brahmin took some ashes, which he spread over the poor man. I told him how wrong he acted in accepting honours which were due to God alone. Enraged at this reproach he exclaimed, ‘Prove that there is only one God.’ This I did by directing his attention to the great works of Creation. He dismissed me by saying, ‘In the same way that we bow before the body of a man and yet mean to pay respect to his soul, we bow before images and intend to worship God,’ a plausible excuse which has been argued in favour of idolatry in all ages, but which is at once derogatory to the majesty of the Supreme Being and destructive of all true and acceptable worship.”
In a letter written about this time Schwartz opens his heart to his friend at Halle on his own spiritual experience, and from this we can gather how simple was his faith in God.
“With respect to my present circumstances I feel constrained to bless God for the manifold mercies showered down in the past year upon me, the least of His servants, through Christ’s atonement and intercessions. He has supported me day by day in the most gracious manner, He has instructed and reproved me by His Spirit, He has never left me without consolation—there my soul does magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Indeed, I have the greatest cause for gratitude, for the Lord has regarded the low estate of His servant, my joy is not extravagant but calm and abiding, and my great aim is to know that I am the Lord’s through Christ, that I have found grace in His sight, that His peace rests upon me, that I can confidently approach Him in prayer and have a certain hope of Eternal life; so that even days of sickness cannot deprive me of these consolations.
“Many of the Roman Catholics in this place acknowledge the superior advantages which the pure Gospel has over the confused doctrines and traditions of men; which instead of relieving, only oppress the conscience. When I visit them in their houses they listen to me gladly, and I affectionately invite them to convince themselves of the full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction made by Christ for the sins of the whole world as the foundation of their faith; and that, believing this, they may enjoy peace of conscience and become partakers of the precious blessings obtained for them by His sufferings and death upon the Cross. I point out to them what Jesus Christ Himself has taught respecting the way which leadeth unto life and how much the Romish Church has deviated from the pure doctrine of the Gospel. Father let Thy kingdom come! O send forth faithful labourers into Thy harvest!”