His hands were full but his work was the very joy of his heart. One thought stirs him continually, the need of these poor heathen and the sufficiency of Christ for it all. He rejoices that in the midst of all his labours he has such a measure of good health and he has signs on every hand that he has not laboured in vain. “Affliction, both from without and from within, has not failed us but God has been our helper” is his testimony. He finds that the natives are not ready to show the same respect to his catechists as to Europeans, so here is opportunity for encouraging the weak and he stands by his native helpers like the strong good man he was. He thanks God for Europeans, military and civil, who have been led to make a stand for Christ, specially of one young visitor. “He visited me several evenings and acknowledged that he was stirred up to greater concern for his salvation. I testified my joy but observed that he was at present trusting to the sandy foundation of his own righteousness, from which he could derive neither rest nor power. He received all that I said in good part and began to read his New Testament better; that is with prayer. Shortly afterwards he was invited to a gay party but declined it, which had a good effect on others. He soon learned how the Gospel becomes saving and communicates to man more power unto salvation than any considerations derived merely from the law. He went boldly forth, and when many were displeased that a young man should speak so freely, he gladly bore the cross and his example has been a blessing to others.”
CHAPTER VIII.
IN FIRST TOUCH WITH TANJORE.
This ancient kingdom, adjoining that of the Nabob of Arcot on the southern side, was at this time under the rule of Rajah Tulsi, otherwise called Tuljajee. It was described by Schwartz as “a well watered garden upon which a large population managed to live, though oppressed and robbed in the most unscrupulous manner. If the ground yields one hundred bushels of rice the King takes seventy and in time of war the whole is seized without compunction. Therefore it was a proverb with the people ‘Without stealing we cannot live.’” To this place Schwartz was destined to bring the later years of his life, with his ripe experience, wisdom, tact and unquenched enthusiasm.
After some delays, caused by the incessant warfare in the district, he started on his journey inland to Tanjore, and arrived there on the 20th April, 1769. His first duty was to visit the mission stations and schools and then he sent word that he would like to interview the King or Rajah. This was readily complied with and he tells us how favourably impressed he was with one who, though naturally much under the influence of the Brahmins, had an open and intelligent mind toward religion. Tuljajee was by no means an ordinary Indian despot; he was a good Sanscrit scholar and had indeed written some poems in that classic language; with a desire for information and of a natural dignity of manner, this ruler, then in the prime of life, was quite worthy of that special interest which Schwartz was destined to have in him. That he was fond of ease and sought any means to indulge his fancies might be expected. At five o’clock in the afternoon of the 30th April, 1769, Schwartz was ushered into his presence, finding him seated on a magnificent couch suspended from pillars and surrounded by his high officers of state. The missionary was invited to take the seat provided before him and a good feeling was established when in Persian the visitor spoke to the King, who said immediately that he had received a good report of him. Schwartz thanked him warmly for these kind expressions and trusted that God might enrich him with every blessing. As the interpreter had not fully delivered this statement, one standing by said, “He wishes you a blessing.” The King was pleased. “He is a priest,” he said, and was still further impressed when Schwartz, to enable him to understand more easily, began to speak in Tamil.
He had many inquiries to make of the missionary. Evidently he had noticed or been told something of the worship in the Roman Catholic churches, for he asked how it was that some European Christians worshipped God with images and others without them. The answer was explicit, pointing out that the worship of images was expressly forbidden by the word of God and that this corrupt practice was because the Holy Scriptures had been disregarded and taken away from the people. In answer to questions as to the Christian religion, Schwartz with the King’s permission very slowly and distinctly instructed him in the word of God and warmly condemned the use of idols, which, he said, the Europeans also worshipped before Christianity came. The King laughed at this and said, “He speaks plain!” Then followed the story of how man has fallen and deliverance has come through the death of Christ, finishing up his discourse with that matchless parable of the Prodigal Son.
Sweetmeats were brought in, and before eating Schwartz asked permission to thank God for His goodness, and then with fearless tact and simplicity he sang to the King some verses of a Lutheran hymn beginning:
“My God, to thee this heart I bring,”
which had been translated into Tamil by Fabricius, and departed. “I withdrew,” said he, “repeating my good wishes for his happiness.”
The result of this favourable interview was the urgent request of the King that he should remain in Tanjore, and therefore, after consulting the brethren at Tranquebar, Cuddalore and Madras, he returned and was soon again in the presence of the King. “I explained to him,” he writes, “the command of God relative to the consecration of the Sabbath and His merciful intention in giving it, namely, to make us holy and happy, by devoting it to the concerns of our souls. He then inquired why we Christians did not anoint ourselves as they did. I replied that the heathen thought they were thereby purified from sin, but we knew that sin could not be thus removed—that God had provided a more effectual remedy, by sending a mighty Saviour who had taken away our sins by the sacrifice of Himself, and that we must seek forgiveness through faith in this Redeemer.