SECOND PART

A Few Letters

Of the Two Pastors in Ebenezer

I.
Letter from Mr. Gronau to Professor Francke in Halle, 28th of March, 1735, from Ebenezer.

“In the Lord Jesus, Who has loved us till death, and therewith gained for us a true, steadfast, and eternal consolation.” Very Beloved and Esteemed Professor,

I cannot do otherwise than to render especially heartfelt thanks to you for the transmitted edifying demise of the dear departed Pastor Mischke. Through the grace of our dear Lord this report has been also so edifying to my soul, that I have been awakened through it to look at the departure of this brave fighter in Jesus Christ and true servant of God, and to follow him in his faith. Especially may the Lord Jesus, Who has been so great with His grace in the blessed man, also be my One and All. For I, in my small part, have come to know well that nothing can give more repose and certain consolation to the soul than the knowledge of the superabundant grace in Christ. Yes, nothing else can awaken a man more properly than this, to say good night to the world and sin and to offer up himself entirely to his dear Lord.

When I was in Purysburg eight days ago, and our dear Lord gave me grace to speak something about the sweetness of the love of Jesus and His grace, I have observed how it has not remained unblest. A certain person there, with whom I privately have had especially much inspiration, told me how there were also various servants of God at the place where he was who befittingly hold together to diminish the Devil’s realm and to extend the realm of our Jesus. To be sure, the Devil opposed them, but he could accomplish nothing but was confounded. He wished nothing more than that the Germans in Purysburg also might have someone who would help them as a good shepherd. There is, to be sure, already a pastor there in Purysburg, but he preaches only in French: hence the Germans are in a bad way. The harvest is great in America, and in Carolina, too, but the labourers are few. Therefore, all who wish the realm of our Crucified Saviour extended in the whole world will most earnestly implore the Lord of the harvest that He will also send true labourers here.

When it was necessary for me to travel to Charleston a few weeks ago and to stay there a few days, what misery I saw there in matters of Christianity. Oh, how long the time was for me there! Oh, I thought, if only I were in Ebenezer again with the dear Salzburgers! I would rather put up with salt and bread and be in community with the dear Salzburgers than to live permanently in such a place where everything is abundant, unless it were the explicit will of our dear Father. I cite this only as an illustration, for it appears thus at several places. Shall not therefore labourers be needful? Shall not therefore our dear fathers and brothers at other places be the more encouraged to pray right ardently for us poor ones and for this whole country? The Lord Jesus, the eternal God of Mercy, Who has led me up to now and has thus done what the blessed Pastor Mischke wished for me and my dear colleague on the way, (with the words: YOUR MERCIFUL GOD WILL LEAD THEM), will further assist me and not only grant me more diligence in my Christian guidance, but also grant me increased wisdom and fidelity in my conduct of this important office.

Will you, dear Professor, pray diligently for me, so that I may contribute to the glory of my Saviour and not be as an entirely unfruitful tree in the world. You have already bestowed much good upon me physically and spiritually, and may the Lord reward you richly for it and show Himself greater and more magnificent to others both in you and through you. May He also bestow on those dear benefactors who have sent us some linen superabundant richness of His grace and solace for the earnest creation of their bliss. May He lead you according to His counsel and finally receive you with glory. Herewith I commend myself to your fatherly affection, etc.

Israel Christian Gronau

II.
Another Letter to the Same (Gotthilf August Francke), 6th of February, old style, 1735, from Ebenezer. from Pastors Boltzius and Gronau jointly signed

Contrary to expectations our dear God has given us the pleasure of seeing a new transport of Salzburgers arrive in Savannah on December 30th of last year. On the 13th they came to our place, with much praise of God on both sides. It also brought along a few letters from Your Grace of August 30th, September 22nd, and October 8th in one cover. Once again we were powerfully convinced of Your Grace’s ever continuing fatherly affection to us through your communication and through the books you have sent us; and we thank our dear God sincerely for that. May He Himself be a rich remunerator and again awaken by word and deed good hearts who will aid you and the dear Orphanage with help and counsel, just as He, according to His eternally enduring grace, has never failed to supply you with His spiritual and physical blessing, as we have learned from your letters. May He humbly be praised for that, and may the good report of the increase of His realm at your and other places serve to awaken all of us here to continue working on ourselves and on our dear members with prayer, struggle, and tears. It will not be in vain. For the Lord observes it and hears it, and a memorandum has been written before Him for those who fear the Lord and think on His name.

Up to now we have worked in our little congregation with heartfelt pleasure and, it is to be hoped, also not without all blessing. And we believe with certainty, that our God, in Whom we hope, will strengthen us poor tools further according to the abundance of His grace to contribute to the praise of His Name among the presently growing congregation, for which purpose we, like Your Grace, have been fortified by the ardent intercession of many other upright servants and children of God. A sincere and lasting prayer is the best means to stand firm in all trials and to come nearer His goal in the performance of one’s office, and also to stand up in armour against all the power of darkness and sundry temptations of the Tempter.

The love and affection of your praiseworthy Society towards us is most extraordinary, as has been freshly proved to us upon the arrival of the Salzburgers. In addition to our salary and also a handsome gift, our apothecary has received many salves and herbs belonging to his profession; and the dear people who have just arrived have been likewise overwhelmed with benefactions, partly in London and partly on the sea journey. May God be praised for everything, and may He crown you for that with grace as with a shield in time and eternity. Even though our worthy benefactors in London make it their business to serve the best interests of the Salzburgers, it still pleases the allwise Ruler of all things to lead these dear people from one trial and tribulation into another. To be sure, He means it in a fatherly way; and we will learn, I hope, to realize better and better His holy and salutary guidance the longer we let ourselves practice the Ways of the Cross.

A goodly number of our first little congregation, namely eleven persons, have already been saved from all misery by a timely and, it is to be hoped, a blessed death. We have yet to see what the Lord has resolved concerning the life and death of the remainder. From time to time there is no lack of bodily weaknesses; and it can not be otherwise because of the unfamiliar country, the unaccustomed food, and the extraordinary hardships. That we both are still fresh and sound in body is a singular blessing of God, etc.

Johann Martin Boltzius
Israel Christian Gronau

III.
Extract from the Letter of Pastor Boltzius to the Same (Gotthilf August Francke), in his and Pastor Gronau’s name, the 28th of March, old style, 1735.

We shall remain steadfast in faith to the One Who has said: I SHALL NOT FORSAKE YOU, etc. We are well satisfied with our Father and His saving guidance. Even if our physical circumstances are not always just as the constitution of our body would like, He still sends us and our dear congregation all the more delight and refreshment from His Word, as Your Grace will find traces thereof in our DIARY. Most of the members of our congregation are truly dear souls who love the Lord Jesus with all their hearts and honor Him with godly conduct. Also outwardly everything is proceeding in an entirely orderly and Christian way. And even though Satan sometimes wishes to sow his tares of discord, they resist him and follow the counsel we impart to them from God’s Word. They regularly attend the public divine service on Sundays and the daily evening prayer meetings and pay close attention during the preaching of God’s Word, that we have become not a little encouraged by that and consider ourselves unworthy of the grace which God has shown us in our calling.

Up to now we have concerned ourselves, among other things, with guarding our congregation from the opere operato and always leading them from those external ceremonies and exercises (which, in so far as they are edifying, we use carefully) into the cardinal substance in Christianity. Therefore, we prepare for the public divine service, Holy Communion, and its preparatory training as simply and edifyingly as God’s grace grants us to. Also, we accomplish much good with the hymn book of beloved Pastor Freylinghausen.¹⁰⁶ We endeavor from time to time to read an edifying hymn aloud from it, according to the nature of the expounded material, or to give it to them for individual perusal on the way home, which is very profitable for them, as they themselves acknowledge. Now and then we sing unknown melodies in school so that we can easily impart them to the whole congregation later, as a result of which, I hope, the hymns in this book can be gradually utilized to greater edification. A few people are not yet supplied with such hymn books; but we have given them hope, because we hope that our congregation will in the future be presented with some copies of the first part. Likewise, we would welcome the continuation of the Building of the Kingdom of God,¹⁰⁷ which I already mentioned in previous letters, and also the Halle News.¹⁰⁸

Up to now we have both been well, God be praised. Even though we have been occasionally taken ill, it still has not hindered us in our official duties or in the school. At this time we can report nothing remarkable or strange. Because of the Spaniards, whose nearest neighbors we are, some people in this colony are a bit concerned and in some fear. In this case we can rely on almost no human aid, because we are stuck in the middle of the country and communication with Savannah and Purysburg is distant and inconvenient. May the Lord further hold His hand over us. We lack the time to write because of the nearing Easter celebration, but we shall seize the first opportunity to do so in the hope our very worthy fathers in Christ will not tire of encouraging us by their replies to more and more earnestness in our ministry and to advise us in this and that. This we especially expect of Your Grace. We entrust you to the grace of our Lord Jesus, etc.

Johann Martin Boltzius
Israel Christian Gronau

Postscript, dated April 1st, old style, 1735.

Contrary to expectations we have been very overjoyed by a letter from Your Grace, written on December 13th of last year. The report, however, of the unexpected death of the beloved servant of God, the late Pastor Mischke, humbles us very much, especially when we recall the divine blessing which God placed on our relations with him and on the very edifying example he set for us. May our eternally gracious God let His blessing be upon the demise of this righteous man in Halle and other places for many years; and, may He place his spirit, his uncommon love for Christ and for the Saviour of souls, his ardor in prayer, etc. in rich measure upon others of His servants, especially upon all those dear labourers in the work of the Lord in Halle.

People often learn only after the departure of upright teachers to recognize and highly treasure that which has been taken away from them. Oh, may our Father in heaven therefore grant that all students of theology and praeceptors at the Orphanage, likewise others, learn to recognize what God has done in His Divine plan. My heart aches when I recall that I have been acquainted with some who not only failed to recognize the remarkable gift of this blessed man and therefore did not want to make use of his catechising instruction and good counsel, but also judged him disdainfully as the world’s reward for the service and faithfulness of sincere teachers. The methods which the blessed man had, not only in his public instruction of the divine Word but also in his private relations with both old and young, were of such a nature that it is quite possible something real can be accomplished through them to the honor of Jesus Christ and for the salvation of sinners. This we are learning to recognize now more than before.

Should anyone bring his school-methods and human skills, be they ever so brilliant, before the congregation and to the children in the school or in catechism, he might well find some applause but little blessing. It is to be deplored exceedingly, and it does no little harm to the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus, that so few Studiosi wish to turn back and become like children. Many desist from their impudent conduct and become more moderate. Some also reveal in themselves much good that is not hypocrisy. But, since they do not let themselves be brought to the childlike and simple being in Christ, to the correct zeal of love for His glory and for the souls of mankind, etc., no real blessing follows, even though they sometimes carry forward, to be sure, the best truths, even at times with edification to the congregation. It is quite a great advantage in the ministry if a teacher in the school of Christ has learned from this good Saviour to be meek and humble of heart, to follow after Him by renouncing his emotional states and everything earthly. The living impression which we have received anew from the late Pastor Mischke shall stimulate us more into prayer to beg God for those gifts which we perceived in him, and which we still lack in our ministry. May the Lord have mercy upon us and let the prayer of His servants for us poor ones be yea and amen. May He also hear our feeble prayer for you and for the dear Francke Foundation, so that there will never be a lack of such men there who are prepared to help others in a right apostolic and God-pleasing manner for the great harvest in all parts of the world, etc.

Johann Martin Boltzius
Israel Christian Gronau

A Letter from Pastor Gronau to Professor Francke, from Savannah, on the 6th of July, 1735.

The captain was delayed here with his ship longer than we had expected; therefore we have relayed various parts of the DIARY and letters by him. Because I have to travel to Savannah for the sake of necessary business matters and will meet him there, I have written a few more lines in haste to Your Grace and want to forward the last part of the DIARY, which I brought along in any case. Again, there are noted all kinds of things in it which have occurred among us, so that benefactors and friends may gain some conception of the nature of our circumstances and be able to help us with their intercession and good counsel. In it there are many footprints of divine blessing, aid, and deliverance, because of which the name of the Lord will also be praised where you are.

For a considerable time both of us have experienced various bodily weaknesses; however, our faithful God has let us recover so well that we have had no special hindrance in our ministry. Only my dear colleague seems to suffer certain conditions and attacks again that he had to bear for a good long while a few years ago, as is known to professor Juncker, who demonstrated at that time more than fatherly-faithfulness to him, as his expression frequently goes. He takes care of his health as best he can and commends the remainder to the will of our heavenly Father, Who will cause it to turn out well. I must confess that if our dear God takes him from us or only lets him remain in sickly circumstances, it would not be a good sign. For what he means to me and our congregation is best known to the Lord, and we experience it more and more from time to time.

We have made much use of the last received medicines: and because we again used them to assist a few members of the congregation at their request, some of our medicines are almost completely exhausted. What kind of a blessing the dear God has placed on the use of these, is partly written down in the DIARY. Meanwhile, we wish once more humbly to entreat Your Grace to let us experience such a great benefaction again. God will be very much praised for that; and we believe He, according to His great kindness will also let his love redound as a thousandfold blessing to the dear Orphanage and to its directors.

Israel Christian Gronau

V.
A Letter from Pastor Boltzius to Professor Francke, from Ebenezer, on the 1st of September, old style, 1735.

Once again it has been a thoroughly great pleasure for us to receive some written encouragements and inspirations from Your Grace, as occurred this time abundantly through your letters of February 24th, March 9th, 11th, and 14th and, God be praised!, with much profit. May our heavenly Father be praised, Who has filled the heart of our beloved professor with such uncommon love for us and ours, which we recognized to our mutual joy and praise of God in almost all the lines of the letters we have received and also have indeed experienced the effect of them now as previously. So far we have suffered no want; and, even if it has not been just what the Old Adam would like to have or what would have been beneficial to our weak nature, we recognize, nevertheless, a posteriori, that it has harmed neither soul nor body. On the contrary, the remembrance of the trials we have undergone often gives us so much joy now that we sincerely praise God for it.

The God Who has blest Elijah’s roasted bread and water and given the scantiest fare to His other children of the Old and New Testaments, so that they therewith could advance further than others with elegant treatments, Daniel 1:12 following, has also so blest our bread that we can carry out our ministry unhindered to the astonishment of ourselves and our dear congregation. We hope, therefore, that our dear fathers, brothers, and friends will apply the reports of our circumstances, which have sometimes been miserable, especially in the first period, only to the purpose for which they have been written down. We have begged forgiveness from our dear Father for whatever there was of disbelief or of little faith therein, and we wish to let it serve for the good through His bestowal of grace.

We believe that, even if there is some external suffering, all hardships will become much lightened if one becomes convinced of the gracious presence of God and of His fatherly goodwill through the experience of the spiritual blessing which God places upon the congregation through ministerial guidance. Yes, a teacher who suffers or has formerly suffered poverty, contempt, and all kinds of discomforts along with his congregation according to divine will can comfort the members much more emphatically and with far better effect and direct their hearts, despite all their external misery, to joy in the grace dearly won for us by Christ as the only consolation of Christians. This he will do better if he live a good life with rich subsistence and comfort and without trials and tribulation, which, to be sure, true servants of God never lack. There is always a reproach in weak souls: Yes, you can well talk, you are experiencing no hardships, if you were in our place, etc. Oh, may God grant that we may rightly struggle in the spirit of Moses and Paul, Hebrews 11:24-27, Philippians 3:7, 8 so that we may be useful in all ways to our members and other souls.

Our dear members now also know how to put up with everything better than at the beginning: and even if their sandy and not entirely productive land shall not be changed, and they must remain here according to divine will, they will not fret, since through the continuous use of the means of salvation they will remain in the Christian frame of mind in which, God be praised! they, for the most part, are. The previous presentations which have been made in our letters to our benefactors in London have had such an effect that those various things which were previously burdensome for the Salzburgers have been alleviated. Mr. Causton in Savannah, upon order of the Trustees and of the praiseworthy Society, does so much good for them that we could hardly desire more without sinning, as each of us recognizes clearly and thanks God.

The affairs of our congregation require me to be present almost all the time. And our hearts are so bound together that it is really a painful separation whenever we do not see and hear each other for one or two days. I am by no means worthy of the grace which God has bestowed upon me in so powerfully attracting the hearts of all the Salzburgers to me as well as to my dear colleague, and our hearts to them, that one cannot exist without the other. Whoever knows details of this considers this no exaggeration but praises, with us, the Father of all mercy for such unspeakable grace which contributes very much to external good order, yes, to the sweetening of our toilsome life. The Lord does it, why shall I be silent.

From time to time it has occurred to me that my health, which was quite frail in Germany, would not endure long in this hot and unaccustomed land and with the previously unfamiliar diet. After many trials of divine pleasure, this could perhaps have caused me to return to Germany, as I had promised my widowed old mother in a letter before my departure. However, I am now fully assured that the Lord brought me to Ebenezer to this congregation; and the most unusual love which I, wretched worm and dead dog, enjoy from old and young is seal and testimony enough that the Lord decided to place a blessing on my ministry. Consequently I, with my very worthy colleague (as I must acknowledge to the praise of the Supreme Shepherd), have so far not worked entirely in vain.

And I have also fully resolved in my heart to await in America whatever God’s loving counsel might perchance have in store for us. And so that I might have some aid, relief, and advancement in some bodily and official matters in this miserable life, I decided, in the name of God, to marry the sister of my dear colleague’s wife, a pious Salzburger adorned by God with all kinds of good endowments. This occurred on the 5th of August, old style, of this year.¹⁰⁹ This event brought forth much joy and praise of God in the entire congregation and especially in those who recognized in it the counsel of God. Therefore I do not doubt that Christian friends in Germany who wish me well will also rejoice and thank God that He has done befittingly therein.

I know how foreign wives who are not Salzburgers have caused trouble in the congregation and how slightingly they have treated these simple and God-fearing little people. If such a person in whom the people could have no trust should now come into my own house and into close union with me, without doubt the trust of the good people towards me would diminish and various troubles would arise. Also, it befits a teacher not to look down on his congregation in such circumstances. Since he must often present the Gospel truth, that God is no respecter of persons and that for Him a beggar is dearer and more worthy than a godless man with all his magnificence, I think it behooves a teacher to demonstrate this precious truth by his own example and show that, even with a change in his status, he still has God in mind.

I dare not be ashamed of my helpmate; for in choosing her I have well tested and recognized the will of God. She loves the Lord Jesus with all her heart and seeks nothing else but what I seek; she also has as much natural endowment from God as is necessary to help me in my external circumstances. I shall mention nothing more now but will merely ask God to endow Your Grace further with bodily health and all gifts of grace to promote the glory of our magnificent and beloved Redeemer Jesus Christ in your and in other places. Then may He not let such effective and loyal tools be lacking for promoting the work of the Lord either at the University (Halle) or in the dear Francke Foundation, to which I particularly owe thanks for so much physical and spiritual good, etc.

Johann Martin Boltzius

A Letter from Pastor Gronau to Professor Francke, from Ebenezer, the 1st of September, 1735.

To Your Worthy Grace I am highly indebted that you deemed my petty writing of December 10th of last year worthy of a special answer. Our dear Father in heaven has already blessed it according to His mercy and through it encouraged me to be greatly comforted and not lose courage. He will continue to do so. His ways, which He had previously let me traverse, are, to be sure, often strange, but have been at all times blest; whenever I have been in greatest need His help has been nearest, and that oftentimes so unexpected that I could not imagine it. My disposition is, to be sure, more on the sad than cheerful side; but I frequently see how my dear Saviour has thus lead me according to His great wisdom with the blessed aim above all of lowering me more and more as a little worm in His grace and to draw me into His blessed communion where alone I am happy. Therefore, I am comforted and wish to be led blindly by Him as the wise Saviour. He, as the God of Mercy, will lead me well. The hymn: COME UNTO ME, ALL YE WHO ARE WEARY AND HEAVY LADEN, I SHALL SO SWEETLY REFRESH YOU, etc., has restored me very much. When I read it aloud recently to a certain Salzburger whom the dear God especially leads, it made such an impression on him that he took note of it.

In our relations with the dear Salzburgers, with whom one can associate right simply, our dear God grants much edification. I consider it a great benefaction of God that He has brought me here to the dear Salzburgers. My change¹¹⁰ has not disturbed me in the least in my brotherly union with the most esteemed Pastor Boltzius, and now that our dear Father has bound us in a wonderful manner so closely in an outward way, He will also bind our hearts closer and closer for the praise of His name and to the benefit of our dear congregation. For me the most comforting thing about the change of my dear brother, Pastor Boltzius, is that no human being contributed anything, but God has done all. I was just at that time in Savannah, and before I departed he had not thought about it in the least, but our dear God directed his spirit to it in my absence.

Concerning my external circumstances, our Father has helped me so far and will also do so henceworth: because that is the easiest for Him. Since He has given me the greater, why shall He not also give me the lesser? If I only have Him and His grace, I am satisfied. He will strengthen me in such understanding and not let me lack divine comfort and help in circumstances which I dare say to no one but to Him alone; and I shall, through His grace, especially make note of the words as they are written in Habakkuk: 2:3, 4: We have a Redeemer, Hallelujah! May the Holy Spirit testify more and more to this in the heart of Your Grace so that you may likewise be able to bear witness of Him, etc.

Israel Christian Gronau

VII.
A Letter from the Same Writer (Pastor Gronau) to a Good Friend in Halle, from Ebenezer, the 1st of September, 1735.

Your esteemed letter of March 9th pleased me thoroughly, and our dear God will let it serve me, as He already has done, for much good and especially for my restoration, strengthening, and consolation. God be praised! we have a Saviour Who can help where no one is able to help, Who says there in Isaiah 51:12. I, EVEN I AM HE THAT COMFORTETH YOU: WHO ART THOU, THAT THOU SHOULDEST BE AFRAID OF A MAN THAT SHALL DIE, AND OF THE SON OF MAN WHICH SHALL BE MADE AS GRASS? Yes, He not only says this, but He truly proves Himself as such to all who give themselves up to Him completely. He will also prove His identity still further in the dear Orphanage so that it shall vex all their enemies. And even if at times He appears to withdraw His comfort and help, He only does it so that He can reveal the same more majestically afterwards so that one may praise Him all the more. He will also single out again such a man who can replace the deceased Pastor Mischke, whose edifying departure brought great benefit and blessing to me and to others to whom I read aloud about it.

If I should report something about how it looks among us in Ebenezer, then I must write: the Lord is with us and is fulfilling His promise, which He has given to His dear disciples and to all believers: LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. As long as He is, and remains, among us, it shall go well: righteousness, peace, and joy will flourish in the Holy Spirit, and all those who are powerless will have strength enough to overcome the devil and all enemies and be comforted in all peril. Therefore we can, and must, confess the praise of our strong Immanuel, that up to now He has revealed Himself as such among us.

Among other things in your esteemed letter I was also glad to hear that you would like to come to us and impart economical advice in our circumstances and, since this cannot be, that you would pray for us all the more sincerely. I thank you affectionately for the assurance of such love, which you further wish to bear towards me, a poor soul, and my dear colleague. The Lord will not scorn such a prayer but rather it will penetrate the clouds and the Almighty will look down upon it. This I can write to the praise of the Lord, that, even though I have had to take up an entirely different way of living in this land than I had in Germany, it has not injured my health so far. Even though this and that has befallen me, it has not lasted long. For now I shall abandon myself to Him further, He shall make it good, I believe that, Hallelujah, etc.

Israel Christian Gronau

VIII.
A Letter Written Jointly from Pastors Boltzius and Gronau to Professor Francke, from Ebenezer, the 8th of January, old style, 1736.

Since the 1st of September, old style, of last year, when a considerable bundle of letters from us and the Salzburgers, together with our DIARY, was sent to England and Germany, we have likewise addressed our DIARY to Court-Pastor Ziegenhagen approximately at the end of October, all of which, I hope, will come into the proper hands through the direction of our heavenly Father, to Whom we most safely entrust the delivery of our letters in prayer and faith. Moreover, Your Grace has formerly written down many edifying and salutary thoughts, which have occurred to you while perusing our letters and DIARIES. We beg you to continue this in the future, because it is certainly necessary and useful and shall be received by us with gratitude. Also, we shall heed fatherly reprimands for our mistakes, which, despite good intentions and design, occur for lack of enough experience, and we shall praise God for them as for a great benefit.

The reports and observations given us by teachers who are upright and experienced in the ways of the Lord have made a deep and lasting impression upon our souls and give us no little help in the conduct of our ministry. In this wilderness we often get into situations where good counsel is dear and we hardly know where we shall set our foot most securely. Therefore, we have learned more and more to appreciate what a cherished benefit it is to be able to avail ourselves of instruction and good advice from experienced teachers, both publicly and privately. Generally, however, one does not use this benefit in the right way when the opportunity is there. One is betrayed by one’s own reason and imagined self-cleverness at the time; and then, when it is missing and no longer to be had, one sighs over the loss and over his own stupidity and must humble himself before God as an unfaithful steward. What our compassionate Father in heaven has done for us and our congregation and how we are faring spiritually and physically, you will see rather clearly from the DIARIES we have sent you. The Lord hears prayers favorably and abandons no one in need, that we can say from experience to the praise of our merciful God. He has already helped us out of many spiritual and physical troubles and has strengthened us in faith and trust in His further help.

With regard to the heathens in the country we do nothing better now than to pray for them sincerely, to set them a good example, and to show them true love as best we can when they come to our place, which, however, seldom happens. Should one of us, according to the will of God and our benefactors, learn the Indian language, he would probably have to be relieved of his ordinary ministerial duties in Ebenezer so that he could not only devote himself seriously to the language, but later also be able to travel further up among those heathens who live together in cities. Although the Indian men there also go hunting for many weeks, even for months, their wives and children are said to stay at home, so schools and other institutes aimed at their salvation could be set up for them. Men, women, and children wander around in the woods here and, to be sure, in as miserable circumstances as the Gypsies in Germany. At the same time, there is no end to the swilling of whiskey and to the dissolute life for which the Christians here in the land give them the opportunity. But if someone had a personal calling further up there among the heathens and had a devout schoolmaster as helper, then perhaps something could be accomplished little by little with divine help.

Now may our faithful and loving God and Father spread His blessings like a cloud of dew over Your Grace, over the dear Foundation and the entire work of the Lord in Halle, and may His faithful servants never lack courage and joy to accomplish their duty uprightly and to prepare, through divine blessing, the many youths studying under them as labourers in the great harvest. May He bless you for all the love and care you bear towards us and grant us soon the pleasure of learning something of your well-being and of the progress of the work of the Lord, etc.

Johann Martin Boltzius
Israel Christian Gronau

IX.
A Letter from Pastor Boltzius to One of his Cousins, Written from Ebenezer, on the 2nd of April, 1735.

I was much gratified by the news of your bodily and spiritual well-being, and that of your family, in your pleasant letter of the 30th of November, new style, of last year. May our dear Lord further reveal to you the proofs of His unspeakable love which He bears in Christ the Beloved for all people, and especially for His dear children, so that you may glorify His miracle in your place and I in mine. I, for my part, must acknowledge to the praise of God, that, up to now, He has done much for me in this strange land. The constant bodily health which I have had up to now is a very great blessing of the heavenly Father: but the grace, which He grants me in my own Christianity and to my dear congregation, is so super-abundant that I lack words to describe it adequately. The knowledge of this divine goodness holding sway over me has so shackled my heart that I want very much to offer up all the strength of my body and soul, yes, all moments of my life, to the honor of my Creator, Saviour, and merciful God.

Our dear Lord let me come to a congregation in which I have the opportunity not to expend my energies in vain, but to apply them according to God’s will. In return I enjoy from each and every member a love of which I consider myself unworthy and for which I praise God fervently. Now just as I have never regretted having gone to America with the Salzburgers who were scorned by the world, so I hope that I shall never have the longing to turn back again to Germany. If I wanted to consider things which are pleasing to the flesh, then other preachers might well have an advantage over me and my worthy colleague, Pastor Gronau. However, we both praise our merciful God, Who has taught us in His school to see through everything visible and transitory, and to see the eternal, and Who lets us experience daily for our own good the advantage we have over many in the conduct of our ministry.

I have misgivings in reporting details from here, because not everyone can comprehend everything; also the most necessary items concerning the condition of our congregation and our conduct of the ministry have been made known through the press, as we have seen from a few letters received. May God let it suffice only to the glorification of His great name and to the edification of many people. Such being the case, I shall comply with your request to report a few such things from which, I hope, you and those with whom you choose to communicate your letters will receive some edification. Otherwise, I hope that you have already learned the rest. What is most extraordinary is the love that the English nation, and especially the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, shows not only to the Salzburgers but also to us. One must marvel at the details of all the expenses they have applied to us. And this little fountain still flows uninterruptedly. They have advisedly appointed two pastors for these dear Salzburgers so that if one departs in death the congregation will not be as sheep without shepherds.

Because the way is so far and because one can not anticipate the many difficulties and hazardous circumstances to which new colonists are subjected in a previously uninhabited land; things have, to be sure, often turned out differently than the good intentions of our dear benefactors. Meanwhile, each of us is convinced that their single concern is to help those dear Salzburgers to a more comfortable life after the sufferings they have endured, and especially to the free and unhindered exercise of religion. And just as you succeeded through divine blessing in many respects, I surely believe that God will further enable you to help the dear people to the best of your ability in their present circumstances, since difficulties still abide here and there.

As far as my dear colleague and myself are concerned, the affection of the aforementioned Society and the other distinguished benefactors towards us is so great that they have provided, and still provide, as much as possible for our physical subsistence and give us the liberty to report frankly about all the hardships that befall us. Therefore, we must not be in the least bit burdensome to our members, but have so far been well able to give a helping hand in their circumstances with what God has bestowed upon us. We hope, too, that divine Providence will often grant us the pleasure of serving our sincerely loved members not only spiritually but also physically, which is splendidly beneficial to both old and young.

After an esteemed teacher in London learned a short time ago about our Institute, namely, that we were starting to collect some money in a box for the aid of a few needy members in the congregation, he not only approved this project but also sent over for this purpose on the most recent ship, to the great joy of our members, ten pounds sterling, which is over fifty Reichstaler in German money. To be sure, here in Ebenezer God does not let us want for many kinds of trials, but His consolation from the sweet Gospel is also exceedingly great, and the eager desire of the dear people for it is so uncommon that one can testify to them that they have had no other goal in leaving their fatherland than to share in the pure Word of God. Not only do we find edification together three times on Sundays, but they also assemble every evening after their work in my house for singing, praying, and brief edification from God’s Word, during which we are not disturbed by anyone.

On our frequent visits to these upright souls in their homes, we have often received more edification from them than they have from us. The Lord Jesus and His so dearly won grace is the All in All for most of them, and they can speak about this in such an artless manner that one can recognize undeniable proofs and signs of the good basis and condition of their hearts and experience by several examples, of which Saint Paul says: THE KINGDOM OF GOD CONSISTS NOT IN WORDS BUT IN POWER. To be sure, a few people have tried to frighten us, as if we in Ebenezer would be exposed first and worst to the attacks of the Indians who are allied with the Spaniards: but we have so fortified ourselves in our Almighty, Merciful God that they will probably have to leave us go untouched or unharmed, unless our commander-in-chief, Jesus Christ, wishes to grant such an enemy an external advantage over us and to let the kingdom of darkness be besieged and overcome through suffering and to draw us all the more sincerely with our souls into His wounds as into our sanctuary and firm fortress. Hebrews 13.6.

The local Indians live with the English in very good friendship and enjoy very many bodily benefits from them. Yes, one aim of the Trustees and of the Society in settling this colony is to provide this miserable people little by little with an ever increasing opportunity to know of our Saviour. In what measure our dear God will bless all those well conceived plans for this purpose may be cleared up little by little and better and better. Now there are still many obstacles and difficulties in the way, therefore all honor will be due God alone if something can be accomplished with these poor people and wretched heathens, etc.

Johann Martin Boltzius

X.
Extract from a Letter of the Same (Boltzius) to His Mother, from Ebenezer, on the 1st of September, 1735.

In The Lord Jesus Dearly Beloved Mother,

Whatever you hear from me, dear mother, let it serve you to thank our dear God sincerely for all the grace shown unto me up to now and to pray all the more zealously for me, that my ministry as an Evangelical pastor may be accomplished justly and faithfully. For eternity is drawing nigh, where each shall receive according to the way he has acted in the life of the body, be it good or bad. How little, how absolutely little do human beings consider that they are created for eternity, and that either a blessed or an unblest and horrible eternity waits for them according to the state of their hearts. Oh, remind your family often that eternity is coming and that all of us then, whoever we are, must give an exact accounting for thoughts, words, and deeds. The all-knowing Judge, the Lord Jesus, will see in particular whether a person has let himself be brought in the time of grace to true conversion and change of heart and to the loving belief in Him, the Saviour of the world.

Oh, my best loved mother, I have experienced well how much it costs to tear the heart asunder from the sin and substance of this world and to wander in the footsteps of Christ, denying everything earthly to the very end. But let it cost what it will, this is still the only way to heaven and no other leads us to eternal rest in the heavenly Jerusalem, to the multitude of many thousands of angels and chosen ones to God, to the Judge over all, and to the Mediator of the New Testament, Jesus, in a word, to eternal blessedness. I wanted so very much to have all my loved ones with me in heaven, in the blessed place of joy. And the sincere desire for their salvation urges me to write this, especially since I know how easy it is to go to hell and how many people, who should not have erred, are already in it. Our heart is very insidious, it takes a lot of false comfort from Christ and His merits and also from the external acts of the divine service, and wants no part in true conversion and the withdrawing from sin and the world. May God guide you all more and more through His spirit into the only narrow path which will certainly bring us together one day in the house of the heavenly Father, even if we do not meet again in this life.

If you wish to know something of my physical circumstances, then I must confess, to the praise of God, that I am now entirely well and am working with true heavenly joy in my dear, yes, most beloved congregation. Never in my life have I had such pleasure and refreshment as the heavenly Father is sending me in my present circumstances. The people, young and old, love me so very much that I realize I am entirely unworthy of such love, yet I praise God sincerely for it. For good and fundamental reasons, and especially out of love for my congregation, I was married on the 5th of August, 1735. If you had seen and heard all the emotions, tears, and wishes of all my members, including the children, on the day when I and my helpmate published banns and likewise on our wedding day, your motherly heart would have been happy and praised the dear heavenly Father for the grace of God which I have experienced again.

My dear marriage partner is, to be sure, poor and, like me, born of humble people scorned by the world; but she fears God and is a spiritual bride of the Lord Jesus and, therefore, is dearer to me than a person dressed in gold and silver or adorned with all the transitory splendor of this life. Her name is Gertrude, née Kroher. God has given her so much natural aptitude and such physical and spiritual gifts that she, along with her devout mother, whom I also have with me, will be very useful to me in my affairs and edifying to the whole congregation. You can understand to some extent, if you picture a married couple who seeks nothing in this life than the Lord Jesus, and are entirely of one mind about this, what God has bestowed upon us up to now in the way of spiritual joy, as long as we are together through His direction, and how He has joined our hearts through the bond of divine love. My transformation has certainly occurred through the Lord, and He will also let us participate in His divine blessing as He did in the beginning. May God be your solace and aid in your widowed state, etc.

Johann Martin Boltzius