A Missionary Field
Copenhagen seems like Athens in Paul’s day. The pursuit of wealth
and pleasure engrosses the attention of the people. Atheism is popular.
Eating and drinking, dancing and merry-making, are the subjects of
thought and conversation. There are many large and beautiful churches;
but the people, like some of the Athenians, are worshiping an unknown
God. There is no lack of doctors of divinity, of learned preachers, but
they are ignorant of Bible religion.
The teachers in the State Church are looked up to by the people as
unquestionable authority in matters of religion. They appear upon the
street in a long clerical robe reaching to their feet, with a stiff, quilled
ruffle of white linen, nearly a quarter of a yard in width, about the neck.
As they pass, men take off their hats and make a low obeisance, and
women courtesy, with an air of the greatest reverence. As I saw them,
I could not but think of the words of Christ,—and the words apply to
these priests as truly as to the ancient rabbis,—“All their works they do
for to be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge
the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts,
and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets,
and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.”
It seems a difficult matter to awaken an interest in religious things
in these large cities; and yet there are many honest souls in them who
will yet accept the light and reflect its rays to others. Copenhagen
is sending missionaries to convert the heathen in far-off lands, when
there are multitudes of her people who are as truly ignorant of God
and his word. Men with the spirit of Paul are needed to preach Christ
and him crucified.
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