INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIAN SIMPLICITY.
By Eld. S. N. Haskell
In October, 1755, John and Charles Wesley sailed from London as missionaries to America. There was on board the same vessel a company of Moravians with their pastor. Under the influence of the Wesleys, the ship at once became a bethel church and a seminary, or, as one writer expresses it, it was Epworth rectory and Susanna Wesley's discipline afloat on the Atlantic. Every hour had its appointed work of devotional exercises, reading, teaching the children, etc.; but the great event of the voyage was the illustration of genuine religion which the little band of Moravian passengers gave during a perilous storm. John Wesley had observed, with deep interest, their humble piety and the absence of pride, anger, and revenge among them, and now in the terrific storm which occasioned a great outcry and alarm among the English, they quietly continued the service of song in which they were engaged, as though nothing unusual had occurred. "Were you not afraid?" he asked of one of them. "I thank God, No," was the reply. "But were not your women and children afraid?" "No, our women and children are not afraid to die." Wesley felt that he had not so learned Christ, and he retired to lay the lesson to heart. On arriving in America he thought to consult one of the Moravian pastors respecting the best plan of ministerial labor. "My brother," said the Moravian, "I must first ask you one or two questions. Have you the witness within yourself? Does the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?" Wesley was surprised, and knew not what to answer. Observing his embarrassment, the Moravian continued: "Do you know Jesus Christ?" "I know that he is the Saviour of the world," replied Wesley. "True," rejoined the other, "but do you know that he has saved you?" "I hope he has died to save me." "Do you know for yourself?" "I do," responded Wesley, but he writes, "I fear they were mere words." The Wesleys were disappointed in their main design in visiting America, but by this means they learned important lessons for the future. The charm of mystical writers which still hung about them was to be dispelled in the wilds of America. Unable to labor among the Indians, they turned their attention to the colonies, but although they labored earnestly and indefatigably, their ascetic habits and severe formalism rendered their efforts ineffectual. The forms of the church enforced with repetition and rigor soon wearied the people and they recoiled from the earnest but erring missionaries. The brothers both denied themselves not only the luxuries, but many of the ordinary conveniences of life. They slept on the ground rather than in beds, refused all food but bread and water, and John even went bare-footed, that he might encourage the poor boys of his school. In less than two years they both returned to England. As John approached his native land he wrote in his diary as follows: "I went to America to convert the Indians, but O! who shall convert me? Who is he who will deliver me from this evil heart of unbelief. I have a fair summer religion, and can talk well; but let death look me in the face and my spirit is troubled." As he again placed his foot upon English soil, he related with profound contrition the record of his inward struggles. "I left my native country," says he, to teach the Georgian Indians the nature of Christianity; but what have I learned myself, meantime? Why, what I least of all suspected, that I who went to America to convert others was never myself converted to God. I speak the words of truth and soberness, if haply, some of those who still dream may awake, and see that as I am so are they. Are they read in philosophy," he continues, in "language, ancient and modern tongues? Are they versed in the science of divinity? So also am I. Are they plenteous in alms? Have they given their labor as well as their substance? Are they willing to suffer for their brethren? Behold I have thrown aside my friends, reputation, ease, country; I have taken my life in my hands, wandered in strange lands, given my body to be devoured by the deep, parched with the heat, and overcome by toil and weariness. But does all this, be it more or less, make me acceptable to God? If the word of God is true, all these things when ennobled by faith in Christ are holy, just, and good, but without it they are but dross." John Wesley had learned in anguish the preparatory lessons for his useful career. His good works, his ascetism, his ritualism had failed him. From the Moravians he had learned much. His unavailing ascetism had been rebuked by their more cheerful, practical piety; his unsuccessful, because defective preaching, by their evangelical and useful labors. After their return to England, the Wesleys were both brought among this people, from whom Methodism received its vital element.