In a letter, addressed to the congregation, while on a journey, he writes: “I praise our Almighty Saviour, who gives you the victory over those enemies, which lurk in your own bosoms, and who makes you more expert in subduing the crafty wiles of the destroyer of our spiritual fellowship. Suffer not yourselves to be moved from your steadfastness by the powers of darkness. May every one of you strive to exhibit to the world some likeness to our Saviour; that being conformed to His image you may, without words, preach to one another by your works. Show that you are strong in the spirit, whenever the necessities of the congregation require the exercise of wisdom, patience, long-suffering, and love. O! my beloved, why do any halt between two opinions? Do ye not see, that those who have only the form of godliness, torment themselves, and never have any pleasure in their work? If you do not experience, that the strength of the Lord is made perfect in your weakness, you have cause to examine yourselves, whether you implore his aid with a contrite and sincere heart, or pray only from custom. Grieve not the holy Spirit, by causing sorrow to those, who labour among you, for that is not profitable for you. Redeem the time, which the Lord grants you, for your days on earth may be few. May our Lord Jesus Christ subdue all hardness of heart, by the might of his Spirit, that you may have confidence on the day of his appearing. By the grace of our faithful Saviour, may we all be one in him, and may the bond of unfeigned brotherly love be more closely knit. May strangers, who visit us, be living epistles, that we are a work of God's own hand, &c."

To a professor of divinity in one of the German universities, and who, in company with some others, had visited Herrnhut, he writes: "Glory be to our mighty Deliverer, who hath subdued the spirit of self in us, and purified our hearts, that he may dwell and rule and govern there. How happy is he, who, wearied with the yoke of the law, is born again by the Spirit, and obtains power cheerfully to obey the law of God according to the inward man; then the fire of the Lord consumes the hardness of the heart, and the reality of the change, in the renewed man, evidences itself in love, meekness, and patience.

O how blessed are the ways in which our Saviour leads us! Let us then follow him like good children, for he is our All and in all. Nothing, therefore, should hinder us to magnify the Lord, with deep reverence day and night, to resign ourselves unreservedly to Him, that he may lead us according to his will, and finally give us the victory. The Lord is our shield; and thereby we may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one; and gratefully proclaim, that Jesus is worthy to receive blessing, and honor, and glory, and thanksgiving, and power, and might. From him flow streams of love into our hearts. gives us a constant hunger after him; He alone is that food which can strengthen and vivify our spirits. May the Lord confirm you in his love, that his truth may appear in you, to the glory of God at all times."

He

We add one more extract, as exemplifying the Christian plainness, with which he warned those, whose conduct dishonored their profession. It is taken from a letter written to a brother, who took offence at the faults of others. He thus addresses him: "I perceive you are beginning again to hold a parley with the enemy. Do you wish to be entangled in his net, and to have your mind darkened? Your taking offence at others becomes sin in you, The reason why a Christian takes notice of his brethren is, that he may assist them with good offices. This an unconverted man cannot do; he looks at others for the sole purpose, of observing their faults, that his own may appear less. As long as you do this, I think very little of your conversion. If you seriously examine yourself, you will find enough to take offence at; you will discover your own sins and misery, and that will be more profitable for you, &c."

These extracts are sufficient to show both the doctrines taught at Herrnhut, and their influence on the inhabitants. It is very evident, that the doctrine of the atonement of Jesus was made the sole foundation of the faith and practice of the Brethren. To the sacrifice of Christ alone, they looked for pardon and justification; but their views of sanctification were not as clear and evangelical, as they afterwards became. With the gospel, which points to the blood of Christ as the only source, both of pardon and cleansing from sin, they mixed some

mystical notions. Much was also spoken of the noble dignity of the human soul. They were agreed on the necessity of an entire devotedness of the heart unto God, and its renewal in righteousness but the manner, in which many endeavoured to attain to this mark of true Christianity, was not in all respects purely evangelical. They showed great earnestness in fasting and prayer, in watching against every temptation to sin, and striving to be delivered from the effects of natural corruption. The discourses, addressed to the congregation, were doctrinal and instructive, but too diffuse, often lasting two and three hours, as it was thought necessary to enter into elaborate proofs of the doctrines, and refute every possible objection, which might be made.

This want of clearness in evangelical doctrine is not much to be wondered at, when it is recollected, that most of the inhabitants of Herrnhut had just escaped from the land of spiritual darkness, where the light of divine truth was not only obscured, but almost extinguished by human traditions. And even in Protestant Germany the native simplicity of the gospel had lost some of its lustre, by the introduction of scholastic divinity. Light is progressive; and so it was in the Church of the Brethren. Those, whom God honoured to be instrumental in its renewal, were true to their knowledge, and faithfully improved the light they had received. That light gradually increased, and even before the termination of this period of their history, they attained a clear insight into the doctrine of the atonement. By the illumination of God's Spirit they discovered the efficacy of this doctrine, when truly believed, to furnish them thoroughly unto all good works. It became to them the source, whence they looked for the pardon of their sins and acceptance with God, and derived both the will and the power to resist temptation, subdue the strength of innate depravity, and follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. They learned to rely for salvation solely on the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and from love to him to be fruitful in good works, as ordained by God, that we should walk in them.

Thus within the space of about fifteen years since the revival

of their Church, the Brethren had, by the grace of God, come to a mutual and unanimous understanding on the fundamental principles of their constitution, the essential doctrines of Christianity and their application to all the necessities of the sinner. Hereby they were prepared to be instruments in the hand of God for extending and building up His Church on earth, by successfully preaching CHRIST CRUCIFIED to Christians and Heathens.

CHAP. II.

FROM THE ORDINATION OF THE FIRST BISHOPS TO THE DEATH OF COUNT FROM THE YEAR 1736, TO 1760.

ZINZENDORF.

SECTION I.

Occurrences in HERRNHUT-Missionary Institution—Building of HERRNHAAG-Arrival of the first Emigrants from BOHEMIA-A party of them retire to GERLACHSHEIM, and connect themselves with the Brethren's Church-JOHN GILECK.

SCARCELY had the important work of organizing the congregation at Herrnhut, and forming its ecclesiastical constitution on the model of the ancient Brethren's Church, been completed, before a storm gathered against it, which threatened its extirpation, before it had taken root and gained strength. The old accusation against the Brethren, and especially against count Zinzendorf, of inveigling people to emigrate from Bohemia and Moravia, was revived, and so strenuously supported by some of the count's personal enemies, that the

* One of his bitterest enemies was a nobleman, who resided not far from Herrnhut. Count Zinzendorf endeavoured to obtain an interview with him; and, when he failed in this, he wrote him a very conciliatory letter, accompanied with a pamphlet, entitled, "Christian conversation." This was sent back unread, together with an answer couched in very unkind terms. After the lapse of several years this nobleman's eyes were opened, and he saw the injustice done to count Zinzendorf. He was confirmed in this conviction by the following occurrence.

A