Blue Skies
Two years from the period of the Bible Society’s suppression had scarcely passed, before the darkness, which then threatened to close in upon all evangelical efforts in the country, began to clear away, and to disclose a field of exertion somewhat proportioned to Mr. KnilFs large desires and irrepressible energy. Such a blessing could have come only to the watchfulness and patience of true faith. The haste of an indevout zeal would have been fatal to its approach; for, while the law had not forbidden the circulation of existing copies of the Scriptures in any language, a premature activity would have excited alarm and opposition. When the right time came, the prison doors were opened as by the touch of an angel. Mr. Knill’s review of the circumstances is as follows
“After the departure of my honoured friends, n 13 (193)
Drs. Paterson, Pinkertoii, and Henderson, the Bible Society’s house was transferred to other hands, and tens of thousands of precious books were shut up in warehouses; a small depot being kept open, and a poor monk put in charge to sell them. Few persons seemed to have courage to ask for a book; but God, who is ‘wonderful in counsel and excellent in working,’ at last raised up an instrumentality to bring out the buried treasure. There is a small island in the Baltic called Hogland, containing a few hundred inhabitants, who subsist chiefly by fishing. They speak the Finnish language, and belong, nominally, to the Lutheran Church. They had neither doctor nor minister among them, when a pious young Lutheran clergyman, hearing of their situation, hired a small vessel in order to visit them. As the little bark neared the island, the adults came to the landing-place, to see what he wanted. ‘I want,’ said he, ’ to see all the grown-up people in the island; call them, for I have a message to deliver.’ The people collected, and he preached to them, for about an hour, on the words, ‘Behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord, The people were astonished and delighted, and, at the close of his address, said — ‘This is an angel. Oh! will you stay among us, and be our pastor? If you will, we shall give you fish, and oil, and candles, which is all we have.
“He was not a little pleased with his ’ entrance in unto them,’ but replied, ‘I cannot live upon what you kindly offer, but I will go to St. Petersburg and see if I can get a few friends to help me, and, if I succeed, I will come back to you.’ He then took leave, and started for St. Petersburg; told his story to Madam Gotzen, the widow of an admiral, who often attended my ministry, and asked, ‘Will you support me?’ The lady said, ‘Mr. Knill is often speaking on such subjects to his congregation, and I think, if I call and inform him about it, his people will stand by you.’ * Yes,’ I replied, when she came to me, ‘I know they will; I know my men, and I never applied in vain.’ The admiral’s widow went to
encourage the missionary, and I set off to my pious and devoted friends. They immediately subscribed what was needful, and he sailed soon for the island, leaving two boxes in my possession, which I was to send by a vessel a few weeks after. I was preparing his boxes, putting in clothes, medicines, and other needfuls, and, on the top, some Finnish Bibles, with which Mrs. Mirrielees had furnished me. Now came the memorable moment. Just as the Bibles were passing through my hands, a milkmaid from a village called with milk. As she passed me, I said, ‘Good woman, can you read V ‘Yes, sir, in my own language.” What language is it?’” ‘The Finnish.’
“‘Oh, here is a Finnish Bible; read the 23d Psalm.’
“She read very fluently until she came to the words, ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,’ and then her voice faltered; she began to weep, and returned to me the book. ‘Have you a Bible?’ I inquired.
“‘No, sir; I never had money enough to buy one/
“‘How much money have you now V
” ‘Only a ruble’ (lOd.)
“‘Then give me, I said, ’ the ruble, and I will give you the book.’
She looked at me with astonishment, but I said I meant what I told her, when sh’e fumbled in her dress for the ruble, and gave it to me, and I handed her the Bible. The ecstasy of the woman cannot be described. She looked at it, opened it, shut it, and looked again, then pressed it to her heart, kissed it, and burst into tears. Seeing her so delighted, I said — * Have your neighbours any Bibles?’
“‘I believe not,’ she replied; ‘I never saw one among them.’
“‘Well, tell them of this, and inform them they may have a Bible for a ruble too.’
“‘May I?’ she exclaimed, and away she went.
“It happened to be market-day, when great crowds assemble. She rushed in amono the people, and holding up her book, cried, ‘A Bible!’ ‘Where did you get it?’ came from 17^
numerous voices. ‘From a foreign pastor.’ ‘What cost it?’ ‘X ruble.’ ‘Impossible!’ * No,’ said the milkmaid, ’ for the man told me to say that, if you wished for one, you may have it at the same price.’ On hearing that, they took her Bible from her, and gave her two rubles, saying, ‘Get two Bibles for these two rubles, and we will give your Bible back again, and something for your trouble; but if not, we will keep this, because you have deceived us.’
“The poor creature came back to me, weeping, to relate the story. But I gave her the two books, and said, ‘Continue to tell your neighbours of it.’ She did so, and the news flew on the wings of the wind. The people went home that day with a new story, and my house was soon beset with customers. Persons who had to travel fifty versts (thirty-three miles) were at my house at the break of day, to make sure of a copy.”
The emotions which this work awoke are indicated in many sentences of the Journal, such as these: —
‘’October 25, 1828. — Ordered another hundred copies of Finnish Bibles. The glad tidings are spreading, and the people welcome the joyful sound. Lord, bless the precious Word, and make it a guide to heaven to every one who possesses it! Several of my friends begin to help me in this benevolent work.”
“21th. — Wrote to Dr. Pinkerton to request him to send me £10 to help forward the glorious work. Two hundred Bibles are sold this week.”
Noveviiber 10. — Sent for one hundred Bibles. This has been a remarkable week. The Lord has blessed me with many mercies; at present, that which appears to me the chief mercy, is the privilege of circulating the Holy Word. To whom can I go for aid, but to the friends of the Bible? Lord, incline their hearts to help me, and crown the whole with thy blessing! I am now in the seventh hundred, and they are nearly gone. More than seventy have been sold to-day.”
“— Bought another hundred Bibles. Preached in the evening from Psalm 116, ‘What shall I render to the Lord for all his mercies towards me! ‘”
19^/?. — The poor Fins arc still coming in great numbers for Bibles; but there are no more. Oh, how grievous to see them go away without the blessed book! My God and Father, I bless Thee for enabling me to circulate so many. Sanctify Thine own “Word, 0 Lord!
His faith had often been put to the test. “One day,” he says,” there had been a great run, and I was at a loss what to do. I went to my wife and said I was in trouble.
“‘AVhat is the matter?’
“‘I can never meet the demands of the Fins at the rate I have fixed, for they are coming upon us like bees. But if I do not fulfil my promise, I am undone.’
“She very calmly replied, * It is God’s book and God’s work, and, depend upon it. He will help us. Go on.’
“Being thus encouraged, I put a hundred rubles in my pocket, and was on my way for more Bibles, when the thought struck me that fifty rubles would be enough for me in the circumstances, and with the claims of my family. At that moment, passing the end of a street, 1 lifted up my eyes, and saw a funeral. It was enough. That funeral preached me a sermon from the text, ‘Whatsoever thy hand fmdeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work nor device in the grave, whither thou goest.’ I felt ashamed and humbled at the thought which had been working in my breast, and went off, and invested my money in the Bibles. Then I drew up a short letter, and sent it round to my friends, to ask their cooperation, when the Lord did help us, for in a short time the money came in, and in six weeks I sold 800 volumes.”
“In distributing the Bible among strangers,’^ he remarks in a letter,” it is not likely we shall know much of the effects produced by them while we remain in the present world; but a few happy instances have occurred within my own circle, which may be considered a fair specimen of what others may have observed. One of the most efficient of my numerous helpers is a young officer, who spends almost every holiday among the poor in the distant villages. To these poor people he carries New Testaments and tracts, and sometimes travels fifty,
eighty, or even a hundred vcrsts a day in his labours of love. In one of his excursions he met with a very pious Fin. My young friend said to hira, ‘I rejoice to hear and see these things in this little cottage; pray, how long have you been a partaker of this felicity!” 0 sir,’ said the cottager, ‘I am only a young Christian. Once I was addicted to drunkenness — the common sin of our people. But last year I heard of Bibles selling at a cheap rate at Pastor Knill’s. Wishing to have a Bible as well as my neighbours, I bought the book, and God has blessed it to my soul, yea, and to my wife’s also. There is no intemperance in our house now, sir.’
“Again. A man, whose birthplace is far distant, came hither in the spring, and, calling at my house, bought a New Testament, which he took to his lodgings, where thirty other men boarded and lodged. Last week he called again to purchase more books. He said to Mrs. Knill, ‘You have no idea of the blessing that book has been which I bought in the spring. At that time every night was spent at cards, and in drunkenness; but now the scene is completely changed. We assemble every night around the man who reads the Word of God, and cards and drink are shut out of the place.’
“We do all we can,”’ he adds, in the letter in which these facts are mentioned, “to promote this blessed work in a quiet and unofficial manner. The wisdom of the serpent is needed, as well as the innocence of the dove. Pray for us, that the Word of God may run and be glorified, ‘even as it is with you.’”
This busy and prosperous year closes, and another opens with the following entries: —
“December 31, 1828. — 0 my God and Father, all these things concur to increase my debt of gratitude! By Thy grace I am what I am. Thy bounty feeds and clothes me, and every good and perfect gift cometh down from Thee. I feel, 0 Lord, that in every thing I am deficient. I end the year lamenting over my cold and selfish heart, yet adoring Thy rich, free, and sovereign love. Hallelujah.
JamiavT/ 1, IS’29. — Xew-year’s Day. The goodness of God to me is very great. Few among the human race have so much reason
for gratitude. Lord, liavc mercy upon me, and help me to honour Thee! Let my services be acceptable in Thy sight, through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Make this year peculiarly useful in the conversion of sinners; the increase of piety among true believers; the zeal of the Church; the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and other good books, and the prosperity of all things connected -^-ith Thy cause. Oil, prosper the work of our hands upon us — the work of our hands. Lord, prosper Thou it!”
The circulation of Bibles in the languages of the foreign populations of the empire was followed by a blessing still less anticipated in the dispersion of the Russian Testaments lying buried under the guardianship of the Holy Synod. Though no edict forbade the purchase of these books, the old monk left in charge of them held but a nominal office. His peace was invaded in the following manner:
“A young person in my congregation, who was converted to God, and threw a great deal of energy into her religion, one morning called on me, and said, ‘Next week is my name’s day,
and our servants will expect a present. They can all read, and what can I give them so good as a Russian Testament?” Nothing, I replied.
‘Well, will you please to get some Russian Testaments for me? ’
“‘I will try,’ I responded; and set off with a light heart to the dear old Bible House.
‘Can I have some Russian Testaments? ‘I inquired, cautiously.
“‘Yes, said the keeper; ’ you can have 10,000 this week, and 10,000 next week, if you please. The damp is rotting and the moth devouring them.’
“Alas! I thought on my way home, this is dreadful! Oh, that I could indeed get out 10,000! It soon occurred to me that we had one warm friend in Scotland, who had taken an interest especially in the Jewish children of the schools, and had written in a way which convinced me she had much love to God. This, I thought, is the friend to apply to in this emergency. I gave her an account of what we had been doing, and what we wished to do, and said that, if she could set us agoing with XI 0,
we should not, when once in motion, soon stop.”
Journal. — ‘January 31, 1829. — To the glory of God be it recorded, that I this dayreceived a letter from dear Miss Ross of Edinburgh, in answer to mine of the 17th of Npvember, authorizing me to draw for .£50 to carry on the delightful work of circulating the Holy Scriptures. 0 my soul, never forget this loving kindness; let it encourage thee and stimulate thee to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the blessed Master’s work, nothing doubting that He will raise up friends to aid His own cause.”
“I asked you,” he writes to this lady, for <£10, and you sent me £50, which made me feel in a very remarkable manner that the Lord was with me. I knelt down and adored Him, and entreated blessings for you and for the friends who might have helped you to send so large a sum. I soon communicated the glad tidings to those excellent friends who are my coadjutors in every good work, and they have assisted me in giving an extensive circulation to the precious Word. About thirty copies a-day for the last two weeks has been the average demand. I have sold forty to-day with my own hands.”
“Among many pleasing instances of usefulness, one is that of a Russian servant in my own house. When she first came to us, she could read a little, and my wife encouraged her to persevere, and for this purpose a Psalter and Testament were given to her. She seemed to take great delight in reading, and we were gratified to perceive how she improved every spare -moment for this sacred employ. The first time she evinced any emotion was one evening when she had been reading the history of Cornelius. She came to my wife with an anxious and inquiring look, and said, ‘Please to explain this to me: Cornelius fasted, prayed to God always, and gave much alms to the people; yet he was commanded to send for Peter to obtain information what he ought to do. Pray, how is this? What could he do more? Is any more required of us than to pray, give alms, and keep the fast V
“Mrs. Knill answered, ‘If something more had not been necessary, the angel would not
have commanded it; therefore, proceed with the narrative, and mark what Peter said.’ She proceeded; and when she read these words, ‘To him gave all the prophets witness, that through His name, whosoever believeth on Him shall have remission of sins,’ the poor young creature was overcome. She burst into a flood of tears, and soon exclaimed, ‘Now, I see it; it is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ that we obtain forgiveness of sins.’ From that day to this her delight has been in the Scriptures. Her diligence in business, and her zeal for the salvation of her relatives, makes her very highly esteemed by us; and, as far as we can judge, she adorns the doctrine of God her Saviour in all tilings. Erena, which was the name of this young woman, proved a great treasure to Mr. Knill’s family.
As no funds existed for the supply of Bibles, sold considerably under the cost price, Mr. Knill was obliged to add to the labour of distribution that of an extensive correspondence. In the following letter to Joseph Nunneley, - Esq., of Leicester, a general view is given of his position on the 21st May, 1829: — A delightful work is going on amongst us, far, very far beyond what I ever anticipated. The Word of the Lord is spreading extensively amongst people who had not possessed a copy of the Divine volume before, many of whom had scarcely ever heard of it, and who, a few years ago, were unable to read. During the reign of the Emperor Alexander, the education of the lower orders became an object of consideration, and tens of thousands were taught to read. This was a notable feature in the reign of xilexander, and it is an animating thought that his majesty the Emperor Nicholas is carrying on the great work on an enlarged and improved scale. By this means, books will be more and more called for, and what more important than the Book of God? Blessed, for ever blessed be His holy name for giving us the means, the disposition, and the opportunity of circulating it!
“In my last to you, I stated that 800 Bibles had been sold, since which time I have circulated above 2,200 other books, some Bibles, chiefly New Testaments, and a few hundred Psalters. These are not confined to any par- 18* U
ticular language, but embrace the Sclavouian, German, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Esthonian, French, and English. I have now entered on the sale of the fourth thousand, and, by the help of the Lord and His people, shall not cease to attempt thousand upon thousand until I can work no longer. Please to accept my grateful acknowledgments for your liberal assistance. I trust the Lord will bless it to the good of many a poor sinner. It was a timely aid; for though I wrote eighteen letters, I received an answer only from you and three others — the Tract Society, Mr. Lewis of Islington, and a lady of Edinburgh; but I have great hopes that many other friends have by this time sent me something, though I have not yet heard from them. The British and Foreign Bible Society, with their usual generosity, offered me 500 copies of the Finnish Testament, but I have declined receiving hooks; it might be dangerous. Here are books in abundance, sanctioned and authorized to be sold; so that, in circulating them, I violate no law. But strange books from other countries might be viewed in a different light. I hope, however, they will grant me pecuniary aid, for I shall soon exhaust the bounty of private friends. At present I am about £30 in advance, which a dear friend here has lent me, and I am proceeding with the work. I cannot relax, for surely the Lord will send us help; He began the work, and hitherto He has carried it on. Will He now permit it to cease? I think not.
“I assure you, dear sir, it was a great relief to my mind to see this door of usefulness opening to me; for my congregation is very small, and most of them, thanks be to God, are pious. I felt, therefore, that something was needful to afford useful occupation, and now we have it. Several of my little flock are most actively evAployed in disposing of the sacred volume; they have tasted its sweetness, and they are a? thankful as I am to have the present opportunity.’’
The committee of the Bible Society, recognizing the propriety of Mr. Knill’s unwillingness to introduce books from abroad, very liberally came to his aid with money. A correct estimate, indeed, cannot be formed of this
work, without keeping in view the peculiar union of boldness and caution, of energy and self-control, which it demanded, and which was graciously given from on high. A few lines, enclosing letters from Siberia, addressed to the Rev. William Orme, on the 12th May, 1830, will illustrate this:
“It is well known to Dr. Henderson, and he can explain it much better than can be done in a short letter, that missionaries in this country must always stand on very precarious ground. No certainty can be attached to their stay for an hour. People who have never lived here, can hardly form an idea of the state of our feelings at times, though I acknowledge with gratitude that I have never experienced anything but kindness since my arrival here, nor, I think, is it otherwise with the brethren in Siberia; still our situation is what is stated, uncertain.
“Two of the most excellent nnd intelligent young men I have ever seen — an officer in the Russian service, and an English physician — both members of my little church, were lately apprehended for circulating New Testaments and tracts. The former was imprisoned, and the latter was sent across the frontier, banished from the realm, in the depth of winter, at twenty-four hours’ notice. This so alarmed us, that we did not know what to do; my name was associated with the afiair in a certain degree, as I had supplied them with the Scriptures, and they belonged to my congregation. This they stated at their examination. I therefore expected to be seized every hour, and prepared for the event. But, blessed be God, I am permitted to remain; and although there was an interruption for some time, we have circulated 2000 Testaments and Psalters during the last three months, and tracts and school-books in great numbers. 1 cannot but mark the care and kindness of my adorable Redeemer in this matter. Oh, for a more entire devotedness to Him
In the review of this period, Mr. Knill could easily have replied to the arguments of some who questioned the necessity of two English congregations in St. Petersburg, and who could appreciate only palpable facts, such as he here enumerates.
“October 28, 1829. — Is it asked, Have you a Bible Society? I answer. We distributed about 6000 Bibles, Psalters, and New Testaments last year. Is it asked. Have you a Missionary Society? I answer. We support six native teachers in India, and one missionary printer in Georgia, besides sending 100 rubles annually, for general missionary purposes, to the London Missionary Society. Is it asked. Have you a School Society? Several of my congregation keep schools, and have upwards of 200 children under their tuition. Is it asked. Have you a Tract Society? I answer, We distribute many tracts in various languages, and have more than 50,000 on hand for distribution. Is it asked. Have you a School-book Society? I answer, We furnish hundreds of people with the authorized school-books of the country at a low price. Is it asked. Do you provide clothes for the poor? I answer. We have a Dorcas Society, by which hundreds are clothed. Is it asked, Do you take care of the sick? I answer. We have two pious doctors, besides other friends, who give every possible attention to these. — 0 God, the author of every good and perfect gift, what shall I render to Thee for all these mercies, and all these favours? How blessed is the man who lives among so devoted and loving a people 1”