4. I am more concerned for their “¹Despising and decrying self-denial:” for their “²extending Christian liberty beyond all warrant of holy writ;” for their “³Want of zeal for good works;” and above all for their supposing, that “³we may, on some accounts use guile:” in consequence of which they do “⁴use guile or dissimulation in many cases.” “⁵Nay, in many of them I have found” (not in all, nor in most) “much subtlety, much evasion and disguise; so _becoming all things to all men_, as to take the colour and shape of any that were near them.”
¹ Journal, page 80.
² Page 80.
³ Page 21.
⁴ Page 111.
⁵ Page 104.
I can neither defend nor excuse those among the _Moravians_, whom I have found guilty of this. But neither can I condemn _all_ for the sake of _some_. _Every man shall give an account of himself to God._
But you say, ¹_Your protesting against some of their opinions, is not sufficient to discharge you――――Have you not prepared the way for these_ Moravians, _by――――countenancing and commending them: and by still speaking of them as if they were in the main the best Christians in the world, and only deluded or mistaken in a few points?_
¹ Remarks, pages 11, 12.
I cannot speak of them otherwise than I think. And I still think 1. That God has some thousands in our own church, who have the faith and love which is among them, without those errors either of judgment or practice; 2. That next to these, _the body_ of the _Moravian_ church, however _mistaken some of them_ are, are _in the main_, of all whom I have seen, the _best Christians_ in the world.
5. Because I am continually charged with inconsistency herein, even by the _Moravians_ themselves, it may be “needful to give a short account of what has occurred between us from the beginning.”
“¹My first acquaintance with the _Moravian_ brethren began in my voyage to _Georgia_. Being then with many of them in the same ship, I narrowly observed their whole behaviour. And I greatly approved of all I saw.” (The particulars are related in the first journal.)
¹ These are the words of the 4th journal, page 109, &c.
“From _February 14, 1735_, to _December 2, 1737_, being with them (except when I went to _Frederica_ or _Carolina_) twice or thrice every day, I loved and esteemed them more and more. _Yet a few things I could not approve of._ These I mentioned to them from time to time, and then commended the cause to God.”
“In _February_ following I met with _Peter Bohler_. My heart clave to him as soon as he spoke. And the more we conversed, so much the more did I esteem, both him and the _Moravian_ church. So that I had no rest in my spirit, till I executed the design, which I had formed long before; till after a short stay in _Holland_, I hastened forward, first to _Marienbourn_, and then to _Hernhuth_.”
It may be observed, that I had before seen _a few things_ in the _Moravians which I could not approve of_. In this journey I saw _a few more_, in the midst of many excellent things: in consequence whereof,
“In _September 1738_, soon after my return to _England_, I began the following letter to the _Moravian_ church. But being fearful of trusting my own judgment, I determined, to wait yet a little longer, and so laid it by unfinished,”
“My Dear Brethren,
“I Cannot but rejoice in your stedfast faith, in your love to our blessed Redeemer, your deadness to the world, your meekness, temperance, chastity, and love of one another. I greatly approve of your conferences and ¹bands, of your methods of instructing children; and in general, of your great care of the souls committed to your charge.
¹ The band society in London, began May 1, some time before I set out for Germany.
“But of some other things I stand in doubt, which I will mention in love and meekness. And I wish that, in order to remove those doubts, you would, on each of those heads, first, plainly answer, whether the fact be as I suppose; and if so, secondly, consider, whether it be right?
“Is not the Count all in all among you?
“Do you not magnify your own church too much?
“Do you not use guile and dissimulation in many cases?
“Are you not of a close, dark, reserved temper and behaviour?”――――
“It may easily be seen, that my objections then were nearly the same as now.” (Only with this difference; I was not then assured, that the facts were as I supposed.) “Yet I cannot say my affection was lessened at all, (for I did not dare to determine any thing.) But from _November 1_, I could not but see more and more things which I could not reconcile with the gospel.”