第 38 节
作者:一半儿      更新:2021-02-20 18:39      字数:9320
  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
  128
  … Page 129…
  The Moravians in Georgia
  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
  129
  … Page 130…
  The Moravians in Georgia
  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
  130
  … Page 131…
  The Moravians in Georgia
  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     〃Quietism〃。
  Molther was detained for some time in England; waiting for a ship to take
  him to Pennsylvania; he having received a call to labor in the Moravian
  Churches there; and being a fluent speaker he learned English rapidly and
  made a deep impression on many hearers。
  Wesley was much hurt by the dissensions in his Society; and entirely
  opposed       to  Molther's    views;    and    after  several    efforts   to  bring   all  the
  members        back   to   his  own    position;    he;   on   Sunday;     July   31st;   1740;
  solemnly   and   definitely   condemned   the   〃errors〃   and   withdrew   from   the
  Fetter   Lane   Society;   adding   〃You   that   are   of   the   same   judgment;   follow
  me。〃About twenty…five of the men and 〃seven or eight and forty likewise
  of the fifty women that were in the band〃 accepted his invitation; and with
  them he organized the 〃Foundry Society〃。Into the Foundry Society and the
  many others organized among his converts; Wesley introduced lovefeasts