Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - II. Meddelanden och aktstycken - Brev från C. O. Rosenius till Amerika, av Gunnar Westin
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250
MEDDELANDEN OCH AKTSTYCKEN
In provinces, towns, and parishes, where general darkness and spiritual
death have been prevailing during many years, there are now
awakenings among the people—a searching and reading in the word of God,
which occasions much uneasiness among those who wish to sleep. The
Lord has used many means to this end. The great political agitations
that have shaken the world, have, undoubtedly, opened the eyes of
many. The Temperance and Missionary work have rendered many a
minister more practical, and prepared many a listener for his own
conversion. The year 1850 was particularly a very useful one for
Stockholm. A minister, sincere in the cause of Christ, denounced by
the world as a " reader," (which appellation, I think, I have before
explained to you to be equivalent to that of Pietist used in Germany,)
was appointed by the king Assistant Preacher in one of the principal
churches here. The king was immediately looked upon as a patron of
the " readers." The question of the Home Mission came next, for
which the zealous and talented Dr. W[ieselgren] spoke warmly and
perseveringly. Even many persons of high dignity in the State
supported is cause. But the plurality understood and explained the Home
Mission thus: "Are we looked on as Pagans that want Missionaires
among them ?" This was difficult to digest, but brought many to think
more about the matter. The idolized Jenny Lind arrived in Stockholm
at the same time, and threw a shadow over the most beloved of the
" innocent enjoyments " of the world, by refusing to make her
appearance on the stage, and showing her love for religion and her wish to
promote its cause. She was denounced as a " reader." All this was
bitter to the world’s taste, but brought many to deeper consideration.
The minister already mentioned has no distinguished talents; his
language is plain and simple, his sermons contain nothing gratifying
to the ear or the taste, still the church is full when he preaches of a
Sunday evening, even during fine weather, when the inhabitants of
Stockholm find great entertainment in taking walks into the country.
Everything indicates a longing for the word of God. This is a brief
view of the state of things in general.
Even more joyful it is to perceive the special work of God’s
Spirit on individual souls. There is seldom a day that I am not
consulted on such matters. Some days I have several visits of this kind.
My religious meetings on Sunday evenings were so crowded last autumn,
though brother A—, at the same hour, read and explained the Bible in
another part of the town, that I found myself obliged to hold my
meetings only on week-days, and on Sunday mornings before church
service. Another reason was, that brother S— preaches every Sunday
afternoon, when we all have an opportunity of hearing the word of God.
Brother A[hnfelt]’s gifts and calling seem to be thöse of a
travelling Missionary. Those who do not mind hearing the word of God
which he sets forth, like to hear the pleasing spiritual songs which he
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