terial change has taken place in the doctrines of these Lutheran christians. Hitherto their opinions of the value and authority of the word of God, had been sound; but now a clergyman in Copenhagen who had long been the champion of evangelical christianity against Rationalism, and as such, was held by them in high estimation, brought forward the doctrine, that the so called apostolic creed was older than the new testament, and more important than the scriptures; that it was exclusively the word of God, the foundation on which the christian church was built; the rule of faith, on which all must rest their hopes for eternity; and ought, as the Daabs Pagt, or baptismal covenant in baptism, to constitute the sole ground of admission into the christian church. In order to advance this new baptismal covenant, the sacred scriptures were in every way depreciated in their publications, by Grundtwig, the author of the doctrine, and by his followers. It was maintained that they were only intended for the extension of religious knowledge, and more for the clergy than the people, who were unable to read them in the languages in which they were given. Doubts of the entire genuineness of the new testament were admitted, and the impossibility of any one's being spiritually awakened by reading the bible, or any other books or tracts, was strongly asserted. It was only by the word audibly proclaimed, and especially by listening to the before mentioned creed, or to parts of it, from the lips of ordained priests, that faith could be attained; and that all books, without exception, were a dead letter. Such were the opinions promulgated, and by degrees the greater part of the "new sect" became infected with them.

In the summer of 1839, at the suggestion of br. Oncken, I undertook a journey into Denmark, in order to establish a connection with these awakened Danes, and to attempt the introduction amongst them of sound scriptural views in relation to baptism and the constitution of a christian church. On this journey I succeeded in forming a friendly acquaintance with many believers, and held numerous well at tended meetings; but the doctrine of adult baptism, as opposed to the sprinkling of children, found little acceptance with them. They clung to the latter with much greater firmness than is generally the case in Germany.

It

happened one evening that a discussion arose on this subject between myself and a countryman of the name of Rasmus Ottesen, a man endowed with considerable natural abilities, and held in great esteem among his fellow believers. He attacked me with violence, directed against me all the force of his wit, and in his heat advised me to go to Mönster in Copenhagen, where I should find people of my own stamp and similar sentiments. This hostile intimation proved to be the means appointed by God for the formation of the present Baptist church in Denmark, Hurt by the bitterness of my opponent, I became silent, and thus terminated the conversation. The thought then occurred to me that the intimation he had given might be of service, and I determined immediately to act upon it. I therefore altered my route, and proceeded to Copenhagen, which I had not intended to visit. Here I found a small spot that God himself had prepared, into which, with trembling hands, I endeavored to cast the seed of divine truth. A small band of believing friends had already gathered around a man by the name of Mönster, and with him had examined the doctrines of Grundtwig by the light of truth, and had rejected them. They had searched the scriptures diligently, and had arrived at the conclusion, that the baptism of children was an erroneous practice, and ought to be given up; and that it would be better again to substitute immersion for sprinkling, They however were of opinion, that those who had been sprinkled in infancy should be considered as baptized. Of the existence of other christians besides themselves, who rejected infant baptism, they were ignorant, never having heard of Baptists and their opinions. I imparted to them the knowledge that God had bestowed on me, and then left them to the care of Him who careth for his own people.

On my return home, I kept up a correspondence with these friends, for whom I had conceived a strong attachment, and had thus an opportunity of observing the struggle it cost them to be the first in Denmark openly to separate themselves from the errors of the established church. At length, however, some of their number broke through every obstacle, and desired to be baptized. When a man has determined on obedience to God, joy takes possession of his heart; one of them whose name is Rüding, has given vent

Persecution.

Br. Oncken and myself now set out for Copenhagen, where we baptized eleven believing disciples of Jesus, with whom we spent several most delightful days.* A letter, from which the following are extracts, was received some time after our return home. It is from br. Mönster, whom the little church had chosen for their overseer, and is dated Copenhagen, 9th Dec., 1839.

"The mercy of the Lord is new every morning. I cannot thank him as I ought for the great grace and love he shows us. Our meetings are numerously attended, particularly by strangers; for most of our former brethren will not venture themselves under the same roof with us. Persecution continues on every hand, both with the pen and with the tongue; and on the side of the police, it appears to be assuming a rather serious character. On the 30th Nov. I was summoned before the authorities, and the examination to which I was subjected lasted from 6 to 9 o'clock in the evening. I had to give an historical account of the causes that had led to my separation from the state church, and the manner in which it had been effected, together with a statement of our doctrines. In the course of this examination, the good will of the magistrate was gained, so that he evidently endeavored to place the affair in the most favorable light. From the manner of his procedure in this examination, and his personal kindness to us, I am led to suppose that he himself may have been a subject of the renewing grace of God.

* For an interesting account of this visit and its result, see a letter of Mr. Oncken in the May number of the Magazine, 1840, p. 105.

and to Him we have commended the good cause. Thus much, however, is certain, that the party of the orthodox established clergy exercises a decided influence over the new court, and will not neglect any opportunity of doing us harm. Of this we have the most indubitable proofs, so that to all human appearance, our prospects are not the best."

Soon afterwards, (24th of Dec.) we received from br. Mönster another letter, from which we give the following

Examination before the police.

"Honor belongs to God only !in Him only is our trust. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! It is painful to the old man to find ourselves in every way persecuted and reviled, not only by the unbelieving world, but by our fellow Christians. Yet the new man within us, rejoices in the Lord; for if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him. He even bids us rejoice when men say all manner of evil against us falsely, for his name's sake, for then great is our reward in heaven. The magistrates, indeed, treat us with more humanity, but appear at the same time, disposed to view the affair in a serious light. To-day the whole church has been summoned, and will probably be required to give an explicit answer, whether they will return to the state church or not; and this, accompanied with the decided intimation, that, in the latter case, they cannot be permitted to remain in the country.

"We all appeared before the tribunal, and the inquisitor, as he had been commanded, employed all his eloquence with each one separately, in order to convince us of the danger of resisting the magistrate, and the con

sequences that might result to ourselves from it. But the Lord was strong in the feeble, and no one could be induced to enter into any conditions, but they were unanimous in demanding to be acknowledged as an existing church. The inquisitor now assured us that he had entered upon the duty imposed on him with great reluctance, expecting to have to do with a company of deluded enthusiasts and fanatics. He thanked us in the kindest terms, that we had acted with so much circumspection, in regard to truth and christian temper, by which we had acquired in a high degree his esteem and confidence, and had rendered this examination the most agreeable of any he had conducted, during the many years of his official career. He added, that what he had represent ed to, and enforced upon us, was only in the fulfilment of his official duties. The affair will now be transferred, for decision, to the Department of State; the result however, is in the hands of God.

"Our assemblies continue to be more and more numerously attended, particularly by strangers, and, God be praised! all has hitherto gone off well; but He alone knows how long we shall be tolerated. I have daily occasion to rejoice over our little church; the most fervent love, founded on truth aud justice, prevails amongst us. May the Lord regard us in mercy, and continue his favor!

After a silence of fifteen weeks, br. Mönster wrote us as follows, under date of 11th April, 1840.

Sentence of prohibition-Its effect-Increase of the church.

"Matters have at length assumed a very threatening aspect with us. We were yesterday summoned before the police director to receive the ultimatum of the government, which he read to us, and which is to the following effect: We are commanded to give up our meetings, of whatever kind they may be, and care will be taken to prevent their being publicly held. We are to abstain from the administration of the Lord's supper, and from whatever has reference to re-baptism (as it is called). The police is enjoined to keep a watchful eye upon us, and to punish according to law, every violation of these injunctions. But none of us were induced into any engagements; on the contrary, I for my part declared at once, that I had no inten

tion of conforming to these injunctions in any one point; that while I would endeavor to render unto Cæsar the things which are Caesar's, I would not forget to render unto God the things that are God's. The police director now intimated that they should find means of keeping from the country the people who were propagators of our sentiments in regard to baptism. To which I replied, that the attempt to root out and banish from the country what was so evidently the work of God, would, with His blessing upon us, afford him enough to do for the remainder of his life."

Such are the barriers that have been raised to interrupt in its commencement, the work of God in Denmark; yet the infant church has not only continued to this day, but has become trebled! The meetings have been continued almost without interruption, and are still, (Nov. 1840), very numerously attended.

So early as the end of July, there were again many in Copenhagen who longed for the sacred ordinance of baptism, and brother Oncken and myself were once more called thither. On this occasion ten were baptized; and the church having chosen br. Mönster as their teacher, he was ordained by br. Oncken. Amongst the persons baptized, was a teacher, who has resigned an appointment in a seminary, that he might be at liberty to act upon his convictions of truth and duty. He now supports himself and a numerous family in other laborious ways; but his letters are full of the praises of His goodness, who has imparted to himself and now also to his wife, his brother, half sister, and best friend, the treasures of divine truth. A student of theology, Mönster's brother, has also renounced all prospect of bread and preferment in the church, and has been enabled by great grace to yield to his convictions of duty. He was baptized here in Hamburg, a short time before we set out.

In conclusion, the present teacher of the Copenhagen church informs us, with childlike joyfulness of heart, that he has since baptized twelve new converts; that the church now consists of 32 members, and is in the enjoyment of brotherly love, and the peace of God.

The church in Langeland. On my journey into Denmark, in the summer of 1839, I visited Langeland,