acquainted with this
people in their natural and unconverted state, and sees them met
together at the church, attentively listening to the word of God,
tears flowing down the cheeks of many, or beholds a company of
converted Esquimaux surrounding the table of the Lord, and favoured to
enjoy his body and blood sacramentally, under a deep and comfortable
sense of his gracious presence, must stand astonished at the power of
Jesus' love, which is able to melt the hardest heart, and make them
partake of heavenly blessings." 1803 was a year of trial at Okkak;
several of their members were seduced to go south among the heathen,
and the arrival of some Europeans who came to hunt, and took up their
habitation within the bounds of the settlement, caused the brethren
many a heavy hour. An epidemic distemper visited them; but although
many in the time of sickness promised to love the Saviour and seek to
know him, no permanent effect followed; yet they attended the daily
meetings during the passion-week to hear of his sufferings, and seemed
attentive to what they heard, which somewhat encouraged their
teachers, who thus wrote to England, "We do not despair. We believe
that the agonies of Jesus are not in vain, and that the Esquimaux
shall share in the merits of his passion." Nain was similarly
situated--their wine also was mixed with water.

But at Hopedale the work of the Lord went steadily forward; several
were added to the church, and those who departed gave good evidence
that they went to the Saviour, particularly Benjamin, who died of an
inflammatory fever in the month of February. From the first he was
convinced that his dissolution was at hand. Being asked whether he
thought he should go to Jesus, he cheerfully answered in the
affirmative. After some conversation on the subject, the missionary
present sung that verse:--

"The Saviour's blood and righteousness
My beauty are--my glorious dress;"

and others of the same import, in which he joined with great fervency
of devotion. He then, of his own accord, began to sing other hymns,
"Christ my rock, my sure defence" "Jesus my Redeemer liveth" "No, my
soul he cannot leave" "Thy blood, thy blood, the deed hath wrought."
Before his departure he was frequently delirious; but even during
this period of his illness, we, and the Esquimaux who visited him,
were delighted and greatly affected by the subjects his spirit seemed
always engaged in. His thoughts were occupied with