第 25 节
作者:一半儿      更新:2021-02-20 18:38      字数:9322
  English coast; but now; with Bishop Nitschmann to preside; they were able
  to   partake   together;   finding   much   blessing   therein。  They   resolved   in   the
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  future to commune every two weeks; but soon formed the habit; perhaps
  under Wesley's influence; of coming to the Lord's Table every Sunday。
  When   Spangenberg         returned    to  them;   a  conference     was    held   each
  evening;   and   on   Sunday  they   had   a   Lovefeast;   especially   for   those   who
  had   been selected to superintend   the   material   and   spiritual   affairs   of   the
  Congregation。
  On the 1st of March; John and Charles Wesley called on them; and on
  the 6th; Charles Wesley came again; and 〃opened his heart〃 to them。 The
  Diary  calls him  〃an   awakened   but   flighty  man;〃   who   had   come   as   Gov。
  Oglethorpe's secretary; and was now about to go to Frederica as pastor of
  that turbulent flock。From him Spangenberg learned of Oglethorpe's return
  from Altamaha;   and   accompanied   by   Nitschmann   went   with   him   to   the
  ship;    where    the  Wesleys     were   still  living。  Two    days   were    spent   with
  Oglethorpe; who promised to give them ground containing a good bed of
  clay; where they could make brick; which should be sold to the Trustees'
  agent   at   15   shillings   per   1;000;   two…thirds   of   the   price  to   be   applied   on
  their debt; and one…third to be paid them in cash。Moreover several English
  boys should be apprenticed to them to learn the trade。Hemp and flax seed
  should also be given them; and he urged them to weave the linen; for they
  had men who understood the art; and cloth was scarce and dear in Georgia。
  He also advised them to buy oxen to use in cultivating their land; and said
  that   they   should   have   one…third   of   the   grape…vines   he   had   brought   over
  with him; another portion was to be given to Tomochichi; the remainder to
  be planted in his own garden。
  On the 8th; Spangenberg and Nitschmann returned to Savannah; and
  with Andrew Dober and John Wesley; (who had now moved from the ship;)
  proceeded      up   the  river   to  Mrs。   Musgrove's;      about   five   miles   distant。
  Wesley  wished   to   select   a site   for   a   small   house;  which   Oglethorpe   had
  promised to build for him; where he and his companions might live while
  they were studying the Indian language; under Mrs。 Musgrove's direction。
  Nitschmann wanted to visit and talk with the Indian 〃King〃; Tomochichi;
  and Dober was trying to find some clay suitable for pottery。 The following
  day they returned to Savannah; and Mr。 Wesley and Mr。 Delamotte took up
  their   abode   with   the   Moravians;   as   Mr。   Quincy;   Wesley's   predecessor   in
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  the Savannah pastorate; had not yet vacated his house。 Wesley writes; 〃We
  had     now     an   opportunity;      day   by    day;   of   observing      their   whole
  behaviour。For   we   were   in   one   room   with   them   from   morning   to   night;
  unless for the little time I spent in walking。 They were always employed;
  always cheerful themselves; and in good humor with one another; they had
  put away all anger; and strife; and wrath; and bitterness; and clamor; and
  evil   speaking;   they  walked   worthy  of   the  vocation   wherewith   they  were
  called; and adorned the Gospel of our Lord in all things。〃The impression
  thus made upon John Wesley was lasting; and even during the subsequent
  years in England; when differences of every kind arose between him and
  the Moravians; and his Journal is full of bitter denunciations of doctrines
  and practices which he did not understand; and with which he was not in
  sympathy; he now and again interrupts himself to declare; 〃I can not speak
  of   them   but   with   tender   affection;   were   it   only   for   the   benefits   I   have
  received from them。〃
  An event which occurred on March 10th; is of more than local interest;
  in   that   it   is   the   first   unquestioned   instance   of   the   exercise   of   episcopal
  functions in the United States。Prior to this; and for a number of years later;
  clergymen       of  the   Church     of  England;     and   English…speaking       Catholic
  priests;   were    ordained     in  the  Old   World;    before    coming     to  the  New;
  remaining under the control of the Bishop and of the Vicar Apostolic of
  London; while the Spanish Catholics were under the Suffragan of Santiago
  de Cuba; and the French Catholics under the Bishop of Quebec。Tradition
  mentions the secret   consecration   of   two   Bishops   of   Pennsylvania   before
  this time; but its authenticity is doubted; and the two men did not exercise
  any    episcopal     powers。     Therefore     when     Bishop    Nitschmann       came     to
  Georgia; and in the presence of the Moravian Congregation at Savannah
  ordained   one   of   their   number   to   be   their   pastor;   he   was   unconsciously
  doing one of the 〃first things〃 which are so interesting to every lover of
  history。
  Whenever it was possible the Moravians spent Saturday afternoon and
  evening in rest; prayer; and conference; and on this occasion four services
  were held at short intervals。
  At the first service the singing of a hymn was followed by the reading
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  of Psalm 84; a discourse thereon; and prayer。 The second was devoted to
  reading letters from Germany; and some discussion as to Hermsdorf and
  his relation to the Congregation。 The third service was the important one;
  and    the   following     account     was   recorded     in  the   Diary。〃When       we   re…
  assembled the question:   ‘Must not our   Congregation have   a   Chief   Elder
  (Aeltester)?'   was   presented   for   discussion。All   thought   it   necessary;   and
  were unanimous in their choice of Anton Seifert; and no other was even
  suggested。While   his   name   was   being   considered;   he   was   sent   from   the
  room; and when he had been recalled; we sang a hymn; and Nitschmann
  and     Toeltschig     led   the   Congregation       in   most    earnest    prayer。    Then
  Nitschmann delivered an earnest charge; setting before him the importance
  of his office; which made him the foremost member of the Congregation;
  especially in times of danger; for in the early Church; as well as   among
  our forefathers in Moravia; the bishops were ever the first victims。He was
  asked      if  he   would     freely   and    willingly     give   up    his   life  for   the
  Congregation        and    the  Lord    Jesus。He     answered;      ‘Yes。'   Then    he   was
  reminded of   the  evil   which   arose  when bishops;  seeing   their  power  in   a
  Congregation;   began   to   exalt   themselves;   and   to   make   outward   show   of
  their   pre…eminence。He   was   asked   whether   he   would   recognize   as   evil;
  abjure; and at once suppress any inclination he might feel toward pride in
  his   position   as   Chief   Elder;   and   his   larger   authority。He   answered   with   a
  grave     and    thoughtful     ‘Yes。'  Then     our   Nitschmann       prayed     over   him
  earnestly;     and    ordained     him     to  his   office    with    the   laying    on   of
  hands。Nitschmann was uncommonly aroused and happy; but Anton Seifert
  was   very   humble   and   quiet。〃John   Wesley;   who   was   present;   wrote   〃The
  great simplicity; as well as solemnity; of the whole; almost made me forget
  the seventeen hundred years between; and imagine myself in one of those
  assemblies   where   form   and   state   were   not;   but   Paul   the   tent…maker;   or
  Peter the fisherman; presided; yet with the demonstration of the Spirit and
  of power。〃
  Both   Wesley   and   Benjamin   Ingham   refer   to   Seifert   as   a   〃bishop〃;
  which     is  a  mistake;     though    a  natural    one。Wesley      was   present    at  the
  ordination; and heard the charge; with example and warning drawn from
  the actions of earlier bishops; while Ingham; in the course of several long
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  conversations   with   Toeltschig   concerning   the   Moravian   Episcopate   and
  Seifert's ordination; asked 〃is Anton a bishop?〃 and was answered; 〃yes;
  FOR OUR CONGREGATION。〃 This was in view of the fact that Bishop
  Nitschmann; in ordaining Seifert; had empowered him to delegate another
  member        to  hold    th