MORAVIAN MISSIONS. 



201 



four days' continuance, preceded by a total 

 eclipse of the sun, drove them back more than 

 sixty leagues. May 20th, they cast anchor in 

 Ball's River, after a voyage of six weeks ; and 

 joyfully welcomed the snowy cliffs and savage 

 inhabitants of a country which had so long been, 

 the chief object of their wishes. The word of 

 the day was, The peace of God, which passeth 

 all understanding, shall keep your hearts and 

 minds through Jesus Christ. By this they were 

 frequently encouraged to a peaceful and be- 

 lieving perseverance, during the first ensuing 

 years, amidst all the oppositions which they 

 met with, and the slender prospect they enter- 

 tained of the conversion of the heathen. 



The sight of the first Greenlanders, though 

 they could not speak a word to them, was ac- 

 companied with sensations of lively pleasure ; 

 their pitiable condition pierced them to the 

 heart, and they prayed the Lord, the Light to 

 enlighten the gentiles, that he would grant them 

 grace, wisdom, and power, to bring some of 

 them at least out of darkness into His marvel- 

 lous light. Immediately on their landing they 

 repaired to Mr. Egede. He gave them a cordial 

 reception, congratulated them on their under- 

 taking, and promised them his assistance in 

 learning the language. They next fixed on a 



