第 5 节
作者:一半儿      更新:2021-02-20 18:38      字数:9321
  matured。A town was to be built by his colonists; where they should have
  all privileges for the free exercise of their religion; they; as thrifty citizens;
  were to assist in the upbuilding of Georgia; they were to preach the gospel
  to the heathen; they were NOT to bear arms; but in case of war to pay a
  double tax。His careful avoidance of the plea of religious persecution was
  caused      by   the  fact   that   his  own    King     had   ordered     the  exile   of   the
  Schwenkfelders;   for   Zinzendorf   all   his   life   sought   to   pay   due   respect   to
  those in authority; and even when his conscience forced him to differ with
  them it was done with perfect courtesy; giving equal weight to all parts of
  the commandment 〃Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor
  the King。〃
  The   proposals   of   the   Count   were   forwarded   through   Herr   von   Pfeil;
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  The Moravians in Georgia
  and   were   presented   to   the   Trustees   of   the   Colony   of   Georgia   by   a   Mr。
  Lorenz。 Who this gentleman was does not appear; but a man bearing that
  name was one of the Germans; living in London; who in 1737 formed a
  society     for   religious     improvement        under    the   influence     of   Count
  Zinzendorf。
  Through the same channel the answer of the Trustees was returned:
  〃Mr。 Lorenz;
  The proposals sent by Baron Pfeil from Ratisbon (Regensberg) to the
  Trustees of Georgia have been read at their meeting; but as they see that
  the    gentleman      asks    pecuniary     assistance     for   the   establishment      he
  contemplates; they answer that they have absolutely no fund from which
  to defray  such   expenses;   but   that   in   case   the   gentleman   who   suggests   it
  wishes   to   undertake   the   enterprise   at   his   own   cost   they   will   be   able   to
  grant him land in Georgia on conditions to which no one could object; and
  which he may learn as soon as the Trustees have been informed that he has
  decided to go at his own expense。 You will have the kindness to forward
  this to Baron Pfeil; and oblige;your most humbleservant J。 Vernon。〃
  Whether      this  plea   of  〃no   fund〃   was   prompted      by   indifference;   or
  whether they really considered the money appropriated by Parliament as
  intended   for   the   Salzburgers   alone;   is   immaterial。   Perhaps   Zinzendorf's
  very proposals to consider any assistance as a loan made them think him
  able to finance the scheme himself。
  The Schwenkfelders; being under orders to expatriate themselves; left
  Berthelsdorf       on   the   26th    of   May;    1734;    under    the   leadership     of
  Christopher Wiegner (sometimes called George in Moravian MSS。) and at
  their request George Boehnisch; one of the Herrnhut Moravians; went with
  them。Their   plan   was   to   go   through   Holland   to   England;   and   thence   to
  Georgia; but in the former country they changed their minds and sailed for
  Pennsylvania。In        December       of   the   same    year    Spangenberg       was    in
  Rotterdam; where he lodged with a Dr。 Koker; from whom he learned the
  reason for their; until then; unexplained behavior。 Dr。 Koker belonged to a
  Society   calling   themselves   the   〃Collegiants〃;   the   membership   of   which
  was drawn from the Reformed; Lutheran; and various other churches。Their
  cardinal principles were freedom of speech; freedom of belief; and liberty
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  The Moravians in Georgia
  to   retain   membership       in  their  own    denominations       if  they  desired。The
  Society was really an offshoot of the Baptist Church; differing; however;
  in its non…insistance upon a particular form of baptism。 Twice a year the
  members met in the Lord's Supper; to which all were welcomed whose life
  was beyond reproach。In Holland they enjoyed the same privileges as other
  sects;   and   had   a   following   in Amsterdam;   Haarlem;   Rotterdam;   Leyden;
  etc。
  It appeared that the Schwenkfelders had first addressed themselves to
  these   Collegiants;     especially   to   Cornelius     van   Putten   in  Haarlem;     and
  Pieter Koker in Rotterdam; but when their need grew more pressing they
  appealed to Count Zinzendorf。When he was not able to obtain for them all
  they wanted; they turned again to the Collegiants; and were in conference
  with them in Rotterdam。The Collegiants were very much opposed to the
  Georgia      Colony;      〃the  Dutch    intensely   disliked     anything    that  would
  connect them with England;〃  and although Thomas Coram; one of the
  Trustees; who happened to be in Rotterdam; promised the Schwenkfelders
  free   transportation   (which had   been   refused   Zinzendorf); the   Collegiants
  persuaded   them   not   to   go   to   Georgia。Their   chief   argument   was   that   the
  English Government sent its convicts to Georgia; a proof that it was not a
  good     land;   and   the   Schwenkfelders        were    also  told   that   the  English
  intended to use them as slaves。
  Disturbed   by   this   view   of   the   case;   the   Schwenkfelders   accepted   an
  offer of free transportation to Pennsylvania; where they arrived in safety
  on the 22nd of September。
  Spangenberg had wished to serve as their pastor in Georgia; thinking it
  would   give   him   opportunity   to   carry   out   his   cherished   wish   to   bear   the
  gospel message to the heathen; and he felt himself still in a measure bound
  to them; despite their change of purpose; and at a somewhat later time did
  visit them in their new home。There was some idea of then taking them to
  Georgia;   but   it   did   not   materialize;   and   they   remained   permanently   in
  Pennsylvania;        settling   in   the   counties     of   Montgomery;        Berks    and
  Lehigh。Their descendents there preserve the customs of their fathers; and
  are   the   only   representatives   of   the   Schwenkfelder   form   of   doctrine;   the
  sect having become extinct in Europe。
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  The Moravians in Georgia
  Preliminary Steps。
  While the exile of the Schwenkfelders was the immediate cause which
  led   Zinzendorf   to   open   negotiations   with   the   Trustees   of   the   Colony   of
  Georgia;  the   impulse   which   prompted   him  involved   far   more   than   mere
  assistance   to   them。Foreign   Missions;   in   the   modern   sense   of   the   word;
  were almost unknown in Zinzendorf's boyhood; yet from his earliest days
  his   thoughts   turned   often   to   those   who   lay   beyond   the   reach   of   gospel
  light。In 1730; while on a visit to Copenhagen; he heard that the Lutheran
  Missionary Hans Egede; who for years had been laboring single handed to
  convert     the   Eskimos     of   Greenland;     was    sorely   in  need    of  help;   and
  Anthony;   the   negro   body…servant   of   a   Count   Laurwig;   gave   him   a   most
  pathetic   description   of   the   condition   of   the   negro   slaves   in   the   Danish
  West Indies。
  Filled with enthusiasm;  Zinzendorf  returned to Herrnhut; and poured
  the two stories into willing ears; for ever since the great revival of 1727
  the Moravian emigrants had been scanning the field; anxious to carry the
  〃good news〃 abroad; and held back only by the apparent impossibility of
  going forward。Who were they; without influence; without means; without
  a country even; that they should take such an office upon themselves? But
  the    desire   remained;     and    at  this  summons       they    prepared    to   do   the
  impossible。In August; 1732; two men started for St。 Thomas;  in April;
  1733; three  more sailed   for Greenland;  and   in the  face of hardships   that
  would   have   daunted   men   of   less   than   heroic   mold;   successful   missions
  were established at both places。
  But   this   was   not   enough。〃My   passionate   desire;〃   wrote   Zinzendorf
  from   Herrnhut   in   January;   1735;   〃my   passionate   desire   to   make   Jesus
  known       among     the   heathen     has   found    a   satisfaction    in   the  blessed
  Greenland; St。 Thomas and Lapp work; but without appeasing my hunger。
  I therefore look into every opportunity which presents itself; seeking that
  the kingdom of my Redeemer may be strengthened among men。〃
  Nor did he lack ready assistants; for the Moravians were as eager as he。
  〃When       we   in  Herrnhut     heard    of  Georgia;    of   which    much    was    being
  published   in   the   newspapers;   and   when   we   realized   the   opportunity   it