PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY REV. C. F. SEIDEL. Hope, I-Joseph Reed, Joseph Holder, for 1852. Subscribers wishing to obtain Title pages to the 1st and 2d Vol. of the Miscellany, may be furnished with such, by applying to Rev. Charles F. Seidel, Bethlehem, Pa. All Communications and Remittances for the "MISCELLANY" to be directed, for the present, to Rev. Charles F. Seidel, Bethlehem, Pa. THE Moravian Church Miscellany. NO. 1. JANUARY, 1852. VOL. 3. Memoirs of Br. Theodore Shultz, who departed this life at Salem, North Carolina, August 4th, 1850. (Written by himself.) I was born December 17th, 1770, in the town of Gerdauen, in East Prussia. My father, Godfrey Henry Shultz, and my mother, Anna Christina, whose family name was August, spared no pains to educate me carefully as pious members of the Lutheran Church. As a child I already expressed a desire, to become a minister of the gospel, and I recollect distinctly, how, in my 5th year, by placing chairs together, I would construct a pulpit, from which I would of an evening declaim with great earnestness, reciting such Christmas-hymns, as: "Rise, my soul, shake off all sadness, etc." before the people of the house, who were expected to listen in profound silence. In my 12th year, my father, who was esteemed as a magistrate of the town, departed this life in peace. Shortly before his dissolution, he assembled his three surviving children aronnd his dying bed, and exhorted us in a most impressive manner, to love God, and be faithful to him, our Maker and our Savior, whom he commended to us as our best friend and protector, and to whom, he added, he had often prayed, that he would never forsake us. The deep impression, which these words made upon my mind, could never be effaced. The schools of my native place I attended daily from my 6th year, learning my lessons with eagerness and delight. Being intended by my friends for an academical course, and cherishing in my own mind a predilection for study, I availed myself of the advantage of attending the gymnasium of our town. This resolution, to enter upon a collegiate course, I entertained, until I had arrived at the age of fifteen years. But soon after, paying a visit to Koenigsberg, I had an op portunity to discover the threatening danger to their souls, incurred by the youth studying at the university; which filled my mind with dismay. My brother, John Henry, who was awakened by the Spirit of God, and had formed an acquaintance with the Brethren's congregation, was then employed as book-keeper and clerk on the estates of Count Lehndorf, at Steinort. Having called to see him, I imbibed a taste for the same business. After being solemnly confirmed in my baptismal covenant, the beginning of August 1785, and admitted to the holy communion in the Lutheran church, not without a deep and blessed impression upon my heart, I soon, by a remarkable direction of Providence, obtained a situation in the same office of Count Lehndorf at Steinort. Here, besides my own brother, I found a faithful friend and spiritual adviser in the person of the inspector, William Andrew Rhenius, who was in connection with the Brethren's society at Koenigsberg, and afforded me the opportunity of attending their morning and evening devotions. The Spirit of God soon convinced me of my sinful and depraved state, and my need of a Savior. I fled to Jesus without delay, and to my comfort and unspeakable joy, I found him exceedingly precious and all-sufficient, as the physician of needy, sin-sick souls. Br. Staehly, who was then in charge of the Brethren's society at Koenigsberg, cheerfully granted my request, to have access to the manuscript accounts received from various parts of the Brethren's Cburch; this I esteemed a great privilege, and the perusal of these narratives was truly refreshing to my heart, which was hungering after spiritual food. The reading also of the printed works, published by the brethren, greatly promoted my growth in grace, and enlarged my acquaintance with the Brethren's Unity, and the extensive work committed to them in christian and heathen lands. On the 9th of Sept., 1786, I had the misfortune, in the act of cutting the cord of a sack filled with grain, to pierce my right eye with a pointed knife. In the midst of my pain and fright, I soon tried to compose myself, by thinking: Who knows, what good purpose this may answer? I found abundant occasion to reflect upon myself, and my heedlessness, but also, after three months' treatment, to bless the Lord, that my eye was healed without extraordinary sufferings, although the sight of that eye was never restored. Having in 1788 completed my term in the above office, I in the course of the same year entered the service of the Counsellor of war, de Fahrenheid, at that time the wealthiest agricultural house in East Prussia, and was employed on his Angerapp estates near Darkehmen. Here, in externals, I was as favorably situated, as I could have desired; but the danger to my soul was great, as I had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the world, and of enjoying its vanities in full measure, while I was deprived of the society of my Breth ren, and debarred from the privilege of reading the accounts received from the Brethrens' congregations. To the latter privation, my cheerful disposition soon reconciled me, and the world gradually captivated me by its apparent charms and vain enjoyments. Still, a secret restlessness and anxiety of heart remained, which caused me to shed many tears, and cry unto Jesus for mercy. In his own good time, my gracious Lord and Savior so over-ruled events, that I was requested to return to my favorite Steinort, where, in the year 1791, I entered the service as clerk, after a discipline of three years, which proved beneficial both for my business and my heart. I had obtained deeper views of the depravity of human nature, and was humbled under the conviction, that in me dwelt no good thing; I felt and acknowledged myself as the vilest of sinners, and wept day and night for mercy and pardon of all my numberless short-comings and offences. Nor did my faithful Savior keep me waiting a long time, but met me with his unchanging love, pardoned, comforted and blessed me with a sense of his peace and nearness. so that for joy and thankfulness, my eyes were scarcely ever dry, and I could again with all my heart claim him as mine, and call myself his own. The experience of this year 1791 I can never forget, in which the Savior had mercy upon me again, drew my soul to himself anew as with cords of love, and led me, through grace, into that path of peace and humility, where my longing heart found comfort and refreshment in communion with him; and, in the midst of my numerous and diversified avocations, and on my frequently arduous and perilous journeys, his smiling countenance strengthened, cheered and upheld me. Well knowing my weakness, the Spirit of God led me to fix the eye of faith more and more firmly on Jesus, while at the same time I called myself to a strict account for every deviation, and Christ appeared to me more and more indispensable, as "the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely." The more I grew in the knowledge of myself and in love to my Redeemer, the more ardently I desired to belong to that people, whose acquaintance was so precious to me; and I hoped to love and to serve the Savior more quietly and uninterruptedly in the midst of the Brethren's Congregation. In the mean time, I attended to my business, with satisfaction and relish, committed every thing to the Lord's faithful care, and in the most difficult emergencies experienced in a powerful manner his gracious aid. Often God delivered me from imminent dangers, to which I exposed myself by my hardihood; of which I will relate but a single instance, when, on the 22d of December, 1792, in the midst of a deep lake, I with a horse and sled broke through the ice, and was yet wonderfully preserved alive. My ardent desire, to be united with the Brethren's Church, 1* which I continued to cherish, and often in a childlike manner, presented to the Savior in prayer, He was pleased in due time to fulfil, when in the year 1795 the proposal was unexpectedly made to me by a friend, to undertake a journey to Nisky with the Baron de Kleist from Courland, in the capacity of his travelling companion. I thankfully accepted this offer, and having succeeded in disengaging myself from business, I on the 1st of July in the above mentioned year left my favorite abode at Steinort, and my beloved brother Henry, (who hoped to follow me shortly,) and set out on my journey, after having taken an affectionate leave of my only sister, still residing at my native place. During this visit to my home, I once more maturely considered my purpose of joining the Brethren, and fervently entreated the Savior, that he would himself direct me, provide a place for me in the bosom of that little church, and through grace grant me the resolution and preserve it to me under all circumstances, though it be in the deepest poverty, with only bread and water for my support, to live and to die in the midst of the congregation. Before my departure, opening my text-book, I obtained this promise: "I will guide thee with mine eye." Ps. 32. 8. 66 On the 26th of September, we arrived safely at Nisky, where I should have been pleased to remain, but I followed the advice of several of the dear brethren, to proceed to Herrnhut, in the company of our widowed brother, Henry, count Reuss. There I requested permission to stay, and be admitted as a member of the congregation. I was glad to meet with some employment in the counting-house and factory of Abr. Duerninger and Co., feeling happy and at home, as I here found what I had sought and expected. Gladly wonld I have tarried here, but could not receive permission, which proved a severe trial to my weak faith. The fatherly counsel of the aged br. Gambs, then at the head of the above firm, greatly encouraged me and going to church in the evening, when br. Verbeek opened the service with the hymn: "Give me thy heart, my son, thus saith the Lord; give me thy heart, and listen to my word; observe my ways, walk in the path of grace; in following my direction, I'll grant thee my protection"-these words penetrated my fainting soul; I was melted to tears, and afterwards sought a retired spot, where I gave myself up with soul and body to the Savior, to be henceforth guided entirely by his gracious will. The 24th of January 1796, was the happy day, on which, to my great joy, I received the long wished-for permission to unite with the Brethren's Church, and to reside in the congregation at Gnadenfrey. On receiving these tidings, I could scarcely make any reply, but, deeply bowed before the Lord, I sought retirement, prostrated myself in spirit at the feet of Jesus, and thankfully implored his grace, to be faithful unto the end, and |