atonement of Jesus, by which they might obtain forgiveness of sins, and be made willing and able henceforth not to live to themselves, but to the Lord Jesus, for "without this" he used to say, "we must perish with the world, notwithstanding the correctness of our scriptural knowledge." In far advanced age he married a second time, and God blessed this union with a son, born on the 27th of September 1700. He named him Michael, and from his earliest infancy endeavoured to impress him with a sense of the love of God in Christ Jesus. Feeling that his end was fast approaching he sent for this his little son, his grand-children and their families. When they were assembled round his bed, he imparted to them his farewell benediction. With paternal affection he earnestly exhorted them, to remain faithful unto death to the Lord Jesus, and to the grace they had received, to cleave to him with all their heart and with all their soul; adding, that they would obtain great deliverance, for the Lord would certainly hear the prayer of his elect, who cry unto him day and night. He closed his address nearly in these words: "It is true, our liberty is taken from us, the majority of the descendants of our Church follow the spirit of the world and are swallowed up by popery; and it even has the appearance as though the cause of the Brethren was ruined for ever. But you, my dear children, will live to see a day of deliverance for the remnant that is left; whether here in Moravia, or whether you will have to come out of Babylon, I know not, but of this I am certain, that your deliverance is not far distant. I almost think, that you will have to emigrate into another country, where the Lord will prepare you a place, where you may serve him without fear, according to his holy Word. When that time arrives, then be you ready, and take care, that you be not among the last, or remain at home. Remember, what I have told you." Then, pointing to his infant son, he added: "This my son shall also be the property of Jesus. I commend him to you: take good care of him, and when you emigrate, see to it, that he be not left behind." Having with imposition of hands, and while the tears rolled down his venerable cheeks, imparted his last blessing to his son and all his grand-children, he fell asleep in Jesus, and entered into the joy of his Lord, at the advanced age of eighty three years, in the year 1707. The hope, expressed with his dying lips, that the Brethren's Church would speedily be revived, began to receive its accomplishment fifteen years after his death, by the arrival of his lineal descendants and other emigrants from Moravia, at the place now called HERRNHUT. |