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the moravians in georgia-第39章

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 opened; and the Moravian efforts were thereafter given to the upbuilding of other commonwealths。

In the latter part of January; 1738; eight more of the Moravian colonists left Savannah;  Gotthard Demuth and his wife; George Waschke; his wife and mother; Augustin Neisser; Gottlieb Demuth; and David Jag; those who remained giving them money and provisions for their journey to Pennsylvania。  Gotthard Demuth and wife settled in Germantown; later moving to Bethlehem and joining in the organization of that Congregation。  In 1743 they were again living at Germantown; where Gotthard died the following year。  Regina subsequently married David Tanneberger and moved once more to Bethlehem。 Gottlieb Demuth lived at several places; but finally married; and settled in the Moravian Congregation at Schoeneck。 Jag; who located at Goshenhopper; and the Waschkes and Augustin Neisser who went to Germantown; never rejoined the Church。

On the 28th of January; the Moravians in Savannah received an unlooked…for addition to their number。  Toeltschig wrote to Spangenberg; 〃Yesterday two boys; who belong to Herrnhut; came unexpectedly to our house。 They ran away from the Brethren in Ysselstein and went to Mr。 Oglethorpe in London; begging him to send them to the Brethren in Georgia。  He did so; but we will have to pay their transportation。  One is Zeisberger's son David; about 17 years old; and the other John Michael Schober; about 15 years old。 Both are bad boys。〃  It appears that when Zeisberger's parents went to Georgia he was left in Herrnhut to finish his education。  From there Count Zinzendorf took him to a Moravian settlement near Utrecht; Holland; where he was employed as errand boy in a shop。  He was treated with well…meant but ill…judged severity; and finally after a particularly trying and undeserved piece of harshness in October; 1737; he and his friend Schober decided to try and make their way to his parents in Georgia。  In this they succeeded; and though their story was received with disapprobation; they soon made a place for themselves。 Schober did not live very long; but Zeisberger; from the 〃bad boy〃 of Toeltschig's letter; became the assistant of Peter Boehler in South Carolina; and later the great 〃apostle to the Indians〃。

During this Spring the Moravians strained every nerve to do an amount of work sufficient to balance their account with the Trustees。 It took a little longer than they expected; but at last Toeltschig was ready for his journey to England; the lot having previously decided that he should go as soon as financial affairs made it proper。 His wife remained in Savannah; it being uncertain whether he would stay in Germany or return to America。  John Regnier took his place as financial agent of the Moravians。

On March 12th; Toeltschig went aboard a ship; bound for Charlestown; sailing from Tybee two days later。  On the 18th; he reached Charlestown; whence he sailed April 1st; bearing with him the record of their account with the Trustees; and commissioned to tell the authorities at Herrnhut all about the Georgia colony。  On the 30th of May; the vessel touched at Cowes; where Toeltschig landed; making his way overland to London which he reached on the 2nd of June。

On the 11th of June; Toeltschig; accompanied by Richter; went to present the account to the Trustees。  They asked him many questions concerning Georgia; all of which he answered frankly; receiving most courteous attention。  Three days later a settlement was reached。  The written accounts showed that the Moravians were short 3 Pounds 5 Shillings 5 Pence; which Toeltschig offered to pay in cash; but the Trustees said they realized that the supplies provided for in the second bond had been rated at a higher price in Georgia than in England; and they were content to consider the obligations as fully discharged; interest included。 Toeltschig answered 〃I am VERY glad;〃 a short sentence which spoke volumes!


  Wesley; Ingham and Toeltschig。

During the days which elapsed between his arrival in London and the meeting of the Trustees; Toeltschig had many interviews with those who had been 〃awakened〃 by the two companies of Moravian colonists; by Count Zinzendorf; and by Peter Boehler and George Schulius。 The last two were even then at Portsmouth; on their way to America; and the interest caused by their visit was very manifest。

John and Charles Wesley had been particularly attracted to Boehler; the former especially finding great relief in laying his many spiritual perplexities before him。  Wesley complained that when he conversed with Spangenberg in Georgia; and they could not agree on any point; Spangenberg would drop the subject and refuse to discuss it further; but in Boehler he found a clearness of argument; and power of persuasion which convinced without irritating him。

Having passed through many stages with the guidance; sympathy; and encouragement of Boehler; Wesley at last found the assurance of salvation he had sought for so many years; and three weeks after Boehler left London; he records that at a meeting of their society 〃I felt I did trust in Christ; Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins; even mine; and saved me from the law of sin and death。〃  A few days previously his brother Charles had made the same happy experience; and this gave to their religious life the warmth and fervor which; added to the zeal; industry and enthusiasm that had always characterized them; made their labors of so much value to England; and founded the denomination which has grown so rapidly in America; still bearing the name once given in derision to the little group of Oxford 〃Methodists〃。

But Wesley's mind was not one of those which can rest contentedly upon one vital truth; he must needs run the whole gamut of emotion; and resolve every point raised by himself or others into a definite negative or affirmative in his own life。 Once settled in a position to his entire satisfaction; he was as immovable as a mountain; and this was at once the source of his power and his weakness; for thousands gladly followed the resolute man; and found their own salvation therein; while on the other hand the will which would never bend clashed hopelessly with those who wished sometimes to take their turn in leading。 So he became an outcast from the Church of England; alienated from Ingham; Whitefield; and other friends of his youth; estranged from the Moravians; even while he was one of the greatest religious leaders England has ever produced。

At the time of Toeltschig's sojourn in London; however; he was in the early; troubled stage of his experience; rejoicing in what he had attained through Boehler's influence; but beset with doubts and fears。  And so; as he records in his Journal; he determined 〃to retire for a short time into Germany; where he hoped the conversing with those holy men who were themselves living witnesses of the full power of faith; and yet able to bear with those that are weak; would be a means; under God; of so establishing his soul; that he might go on from faith to faith; and from strength to strength。〃

Ingham; meanwhile; informed of Toeltschig's arrival in London; had hastened 〃over one hundred a
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