JOURNAL.

No. III..

FROM AUGUST 12, 1738, TO NOVEMBER 1, 1739.

SATURDAY, August 12, about seven in the evening, we came to

Neu-Kirche, a town about twenty-four miles from Hernhuth. Mr. Schneider, the minister of it, who had desired us to take his house in our way, was not at home; but we found one Mr. Manatius there, the minister of a neighbouring town, who walked with us in the morning ten miles, to Hauswalde, where he lived. He told us, "That the Lutherans, as well as the Papists, were irreconcilable enemies to the Brethren of Hernhuth: that the generality of the Lutheran clergy were as bitter against them as the Jesuits themselves: that none of his neighbours durst go thither, unless by stealth, being sure of suffering for it, if discovered: that to prevent any of Hernhuth from coming to them, the Elector had forbid, under a severe penalty, any number of persons, exceeding three, to meet together on a religious account; and that he himself, for having a little society in his own parish, had been summoned to appear before the consistory at Dresden." Yea, let the kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed! He that sitteth in Heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision.

We left Hauswalde in the afternoon, and in the evening came to Dresden. But the officer at the gate would not suffer us to come in ; so that we were obliged to go on to the next village: which leaving early in the morning, on Thursday, in the afternoon, we came to Leipsig.

We were now kept only an hour at the gate, and then conducted to Mr. Arnold's, who had invited us, when we were in the town before, to make his house our home. A few we found here too, who desire to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And from them we had letters to Halle, whither we came on Friday 18. But the King of Prussia's tall men, who kept the gates, would not suffer Mr. Brown to come in. Me they admitted, in honour of my profession, after I had waited about two hours: and one of them went with me to the Prince of Hesse, who, after a few questions, gave me leave to lodge in the city. Thence he shewed me to Mr. Gotschalck's lodgings, to whom I had letters from Leipsig. He read them, and said, "My brother, what you find here, you will use as And if you want any thing else, tell us, and

your own. have it."

VOL. I.

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I told them, my companion was without the gate. They soon procured admittance for him. And we were indeed as at home; for I have hardly seen such little children as these, even at Hernhuth.

Saturday 19, I waited on Professor Francke, who behaved with the utmost humanity; and afterwards on Professor Knappe, to whom also I am indebted for his open, friendly behaviour. Between ten and eleven, seven of the brethren set out with us, one of whom went with us two days journey. It was the dusk of the evening on Sunday 20, when, wet and weary, we reached Jena.

Monday 21, We visited the schools there; the rise of which, as we were informed, was occasioned thus:

About the year 1704, Mr. Stoltius, a student at Jena, began to speak of faith in Christ; which he continued to do, until he took his master's degree, and read public lectures. About twelve or fifteen students were awakened, and joined with him in prayer, and building up one another. At this, after various calumnies spread abroad, and divers persecutions occasioned thereby, the consistory was offended, and issued out a commission to examine him. In consequence of the report made to the consistory by these commissioners, he was forbid to read any public lectures, or to hold any meetings with his friends. Not long after, an order was given, by which he was excluded from the Holy Communion. He was also to have been expelled the university; but this he prevented by a voluntary retirement. Yet one of the commissioners, who had been sent by the Duke of Weymar, one of the lords of Jena, informed the Duke, that according to his judgment, Stoltius was an innocent, and holy man. On this the Duke sent for him to Weymar, and fixed him in a living there. There likewise he awakened many, and met with them to pray and read the Scriptures together. But it was not long that the city could bear him. For he boldly rebuked all vice, and that in all persons, neither sparing the courtiers, nor the Duke himself. Consequently, his enemies every where increased, and many persecutions followed. In fine, he was forbid to have any private meetings, and was to have been deposed from the ministry; when God calling him to himself, took him away from the evil to come.

Before Stoltius left Jena, Boddæus also began to preach the real Gospel, as did Christius soon after; whereby some awakening, continued till the year 1724. A few of the townsmen then agreed to maintain a student, to be a school-master for some poor children. They afterwards kept several school-masters: but about 1728, all of them going away, the school was broke up, and the children quite neglected. Professor Bodæus being informed of this, earnestly recommended the consideration of it to the students in his house; and about ten of them, among whom was Mr. Spangenberg, took upon themselves the care of those children. Their number soon increased, which gave great offence to the other school-masters in the town; and not long after, to the magistrates of the town, and to the senate of the university. The offence soon spread to the pastors, the professors, the consistory, and the princes who are lords of Jena. But it pleased God to move one of them, the prince of Eisenach, who

had the chief power there, to stop the open persecution, by forbidding either the senate or consistory to molest them. He likewise wholly exempted them from the jurisdiction of both, ordering that all complaints against them for the time to come should be cognizable only by himself. But during the persecution, the number of schools was increased from one to three, (one in each suburb of the city), the number of teachers to above thirty, and of children to above three hundred.

There are now thirty-one constant teachers, ten in each school, and three or four supernumeraries, to supply accidental defects. Four of the masters are appointed to punish, who are affixt to no one school. Each of the schools being divided into two classes, and taught five hours a day, every one of the thirty masters has one hour in a day to teach. All the masters have a conference about the schools every Monday. They have a second meeting on Thursday, chiefly for prayer; and a third every Saturday.

Once in half a year they meet to fill up the places of those masters who are gone away. And the number has never decreased; fresh ones still offering themselves, as the former leave the university.

The present method wherein they teach is this:

There are always two classes in each school. In the lower, children from six to ten or twelve years old are taught to read. They are then removed to the other class, in which are taught, the Holy Scriptures, arithmetic, and whatever else it may be useful for children to learn.

In the morning from eight to nine, they are all catechised, and instructed in the first principles of Christianity, either from Luther's smaller catechism or from some texts of holy Scripture..

From nine to ten, the younger children are taught their letters and syllables; and the elder read the Bible. From ten to eleven, those in in the lower class learn and repeat some select verses of Holy Scripture, chiefly relating to the foundation of the faith. Meanwhile, those in the upper, learn arithmetic.

In the afternoon, from one to two, all the children are employed as from nine to ten in the morning. From two to three, the younger children learn and repeat Luther's smaller catechism, while the elder are taught to write.

Every Sunday there is a public catechising on some texts of Scripture; at which all persons who desire it may be present.

In the afternoon we left Jena, several of the brethren accompanying us out of town. At five having just passed through Weymar, we met Mr. Ingham going for Hernhuth. We all turned aside to a neighbouring village, where having spent a comfortable evening together, in the morning we commended each other to the Grace of God, and went on our several ways.

We breakfasted at Erfurt with Mr. Reinhart, spent the evening with some brethren at Saxe Gotha, and by long journeys came to Marienborn on Friday, August 25.

Monday 28, I took my leave of the Countess (the Count being gone to Jena), and setting out early the next morning, came about three in

the afternoon to Franckfort. From Mr. Bohler's we went to the society, where one of the brethren from Marienborn offered free redemption, through the blood of Christ, to sixty or seventy persons.

Wednesday 30, In the afternoon we came to Mentz, and agreed for our passage to Colin by water, for a florin per head; which was but half what we gave before, though, it seems, twice as much as we ought to have given.

Thursday 31, We spent half an hour in the great church, a huge heap of irregular building, full of altars, adorned, or loaded rather, with abundance of gold and silver. In going out we observed a paper on the door, which was of so extraordinary a nature, that I thought it would not be labour lost to transcribe it. The words were as follow:

"Volkommener Ablass fur die arme Seelen im Feg-feur.

"Seine Pabliche Heiligkeit, Clemens der 12te, haben in diesem jahr 1738, den 7 Augusti, die Pfarr Kirche des Sancti Christophori in Mentz gnadigstem privilegirt, dass ein jeder Priester, so wohl Secular als Regularischen stands, der am aller Seelen-tag, wie auch an enim jedem tag in derselben Octav; so dann am zwien vom Ordinario tagen einer jeden woch das jahr hindurch, fur die seel eine Christglaubigen verstorbenen an zum Altar Mess lesen wird, jedesmahl eine Seel aus dem Feg-feur erlosen konne.

"A full Release for the poor Souls in Purgatory.

"His Papal Holiness, Clement the XIIth, hath this year 1738, on the seventh of August, most graciously privileged the cathedral church of St. Christopher in Mentz, so that every priest, as well secular as regular, who will read mass at an altar for the soul of a Christian departed, on any holiday, or on any day within the octave thereof, or on two extraordinary days, to be appointed by the ordinary, of any week in the year, may each time deliver a soul out of the fire of purgatory." Now I desire to know, whether any Romanist of common sense, can either defend or approve of this?

At eight we took boat, and on Saturday, September 2, about eleven came to Colen, which we left at one; and between seven and eight reached a village, an hour short of Neus. Here we overtook a large number of Switzers, men, women, and children, singing, dancing, and making merry, being all going to make their fortunes in Geor gia. Looking upon them as delivered into my hands by God, I plainly told them what manner of place it was. If they now leap into the fire with open eyes, their blood is on their own heads.

We

Monday 4, Before noon we came to Cleves, and to Nimwegen in the evening. The next night we lay at a little village near Tiel; which leaving early in the morning, we walked by the side of many pleasant orchards, and in the afternoon came to Ysselstein. stayed only one night with the brethren, (in the new house, called Herndyke, an English mile from the town), and hasting forward, came the next afternoon to Dr. Koker's, at Rotterdam.

I cannot but acknowledge the civility of this friendly man, all the time we staid in his house. In the morning, Friday 8, we went to the English episcopal church, which is a large, handsome, convenient building. The minister read prayers seriously and distinctly, to a small, well-behaved congregation. Being informed our ship was to sail the next day (Saturday), we took leave of our generous friend, and went to an inn close to the key, that we might be ready when called to go abroad. Having waited till past four in the afternoon, we stepped into the Jews' synagogue, which lies near the waterside. I do not wonder that so many Jews, especially those who have any reflection, utterly abjure all religion. My spirit was moved within me, at that horrid, senseless pageantry, that mockery of God, which they call public worship. Lord, do not Thou yet cast off thy people! But in Abraham's seed let them also be blessed!

The ship lingering still, I had time to exhort several English, whom we met with at our inn, to pursue inward religion; the renewal of their souls in righteousness and true holiness. In the morning, a daughter of affliction came to see me, who teaches a school at Rotterdam. She had been for some time under deep convictions; but could find none to instruct or comfort her. After much conversation, we joined in prayer, and her spirit a little revived. Between nine and ten we went on board. In the afternoon I read prayers, and preached in the great cabin. The wind being contrary, we did not get out of the river until Wednesday; nor to London until Saturday night.

Sunday, September 17, I began again to declare in my own country the glad tidings of salvation, preaching three times, and afterwards expounding the Holy Scripture to a large company in the Minories. On Monday, I rejoiced to meet with our little society, which now consisted of thirty-two persons. The next day I went to the condemned felons in Newgate, and offered them free salvation. In the evening, I went to a society in Bear-yard, and preached repentance and remission of sins. The next evening I spoke the truth in love at a society in Aldersgate-street. Some contradicted at first; but not long: so that nothing but love appeared at our parting.

Thursday 21, I went to a society in Gutter-lane; but I could not declare the mighty works of God there, as I did afterwards at the Savoy in all simplicity. And the Word did not return empty.

Finding abundance of people greatly exasperated by gross misre presentations of the words I had spoken, I went to as many of them in private, as my time would permit. God gave me much love towards them all. Some were convinced they had been mistaken. And who knoweth but God will soon return to the rest, and leave a blessing behind him?

On Saturday 23, I was enabled to speak strong words both at Newgate and at Mr. E.'s society; and the next day at St. Anne's, and twice at St. John's, Clerkenwell; so that I fear they will bear me there no longer.

Tuesday 26, I declared the Gospel of Peace to a small company at Windsor. The next evening Mr. H. preached to the societies at