the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第31章
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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
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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 and forty miles〃 to see his friend； a fact that
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seems to have touched Toeltschig deeply； and arranged to go with him to
Herrnhut； as they had often planned while still in Georgia。John Wesley
joined them； and the three young men sailed on June 24th； landing at
Rotterdam two days later。 Wesley's Journal does not mention Toeltschig by
name； but on leaving Rotterdam he says； 〃we were eight in all； five
English and three Germans；〃 and there is no doubt that Toeltschig went
with them to Marienborn to report to Count Zinzendorf； who was living
there during his temporary exile from Herrnhut。
In Rotterdam； Dr。 Koker showed the party much kindness； while at
Baron von Watteville's in Ysselstein； they were received 〃as at home〃。At
Amsterdam； they joined in the meeting of the 〃societies〃 established under
Moravian influences； and from there proceeded to Cologne； and up the
Rhine to Frankfort。Having neglected to supply themselves with passports；
they experienced much difficulty whenever they reached a walled city；
sometimes being refused admittance altogether； and at other times being
allowed to enter only after much delay； which caused Wesley to 〃greatly
wonder that common sense and common humanity do not put an end to
this senseless； inhuman usage of strangers。〃 When any of their number had
an acquaintance in the city to which they had come they sent in a note to
him； and he would arrange for their entrance； and at Frankfort they applied
to Peter Boehler's father； who entertained them 〃in the most friendly
manner。〃
On Tuesday； July 15th； they reached Marienborn； where Wesley
remained for fifteen days； and Ingham for about seven weeks。
From Marienborn； Wesley went to Herrnhut； stopping at Erfurt；
Weimar； Jena； Halle； Leipsig and Dresden on the way。He remained at
Herrnhut twelve days； and then returned by the same route to Marienborn；
and to England。
This trip to Germany has been given as the beginning of the breach
between Wesley and the Moravians； but it is doubtful whether such was
really the case。In the 〃Memoirs of James Hutton〃 it is stated that Wesley
was offended because Ingham was admitted to the Communion at
Marienborn； while permission was refused him； and that he secretly
brooded over the injury； but Wesley himself does not mention the
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occurrence； and refers to Marienborn as a place where he met what he
〃sought for； viz。：living proofs of the power of faith；〃 and where he stayed
twelve days longer than he at first intended。 The tone of his account of
Herrnhut is also distinctly friendly； though he did not unreservedly accept
two or three theological statements made to him； but the long
conversations he records prove his joy at finding sympathy； and
confirmation of what he wanted to believe concerning justification by faith；
and the fact that a weak faith was still a real faith； and as such should be
cherished and strengthened； not despised。He could not have been greatly
influenced against the Moravians by his visit to Halle； for each time he
stayed but one night； and on the first occasion Professor Francke was not
at home； nor were their arguments new to him； that they should have
impressed him deeply。
It frequently happens that when a controversy has arisen between
friends； both parties look backward and read into former words and deeds
a meaning they did not have at the time they transpired； and most probably
this is what has happened in regard to the trip to Germany and its effect on
Wesley。
Immediately on his return to England； Wesley began an active
religious campaign； drawing such crowds of all kinds of people that the
various churches in turn closed their doors upon him； and eight months
later he followed Whitefield into open air preaching； after consultation
with the Fetter Lane Society。This Society had been organized at the time
of Boehler's visit to London； and was composed of members of the earlier
Methodist societies； Germans residing in London； and English who had
been interested in salvation by Zinzendorf and the Moravian companies
bound for Georgia。 It had met in the home of James Hutton until it
outgrew the rooms； and was then transferred to the Chapel at 32 Fetter
Lane。 It was an independent Society； with no organic connection with the
Moravian Church； and the religious work was carried on under the
leadership of John Wesley； and； in his frequent absences； by James Hutton
and others who leaned strongly toward the Moravians； some of whose
customs had been adopted by the Society。 The Hutton 〃Memoirs〃 state
that Wesley made an effort to break off intercourse between the Society
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and the Moravians soon after his return from Germany； but failed； and
matters continued to move smoothly until about the time that Wesley
began his field preaching。During the subsequent months disputes arose
among the members； largely on account of views introduced by Philip
Henry Molther； who at that time had a tendency toward
