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Updated: June 17, 2025
At length he stepped nearer to the white-haired veteran, and said: "Happy man! reveal to me your secret! What is it that makes you so strong and calm? What light is this that illumines your soul? What power is this that makes you so content? Tell me, and make me happy for ever." "For this," replied the simple Spangenberg, his eyes shining with joy, "for this I must thank my Saviour."
At a Synod held a few years later , the Brethren commissioned Spangenberg to write a "Life of Zinzendorf." As the Count, however, had been far from perfect, they had to face the serious question whether Spangenberg should be allowed to expose his faults to public gaze.
He had first sent three Brethren Wenzel Neisser, John Toeltschig, and David Nitschmann, the Syndic to open up negotiations with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; and very disappointed he was when these negotiations came to nothing. He had then sent Spangenberg to London to make arrangements for the first batch of colonists for Georgia.
No longer could the Brethren's loyalty be doubted; and Spangenberg acted, on behalf of the British, with the skill of a military expert. As he went about in his regimentals his critics remarked that he looked far more like an army officer than an apostle of the Lord.
Thus, the Brethren in America were surrounded by Indian tribes; and to those Indian tribes they undertook to preach the Gospel. The first step was taken by Christian Henry Rauch. First, at a Conference in Bethlehem, the story was told by Tschoop, one of his earliest converts; and then it was officially quoted by Spangenberg, as a typical example of the Brethren's method of preaching.
Have you the witness within yourself? Does the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?" John Wesley was so staggered that he could not answer. "Do you know Jesus Christ?" continued Spangenberg. "I know he is the Saviour of the world." "True; but do you know he has saved you?" "I hope," replied Wesley, "he has died to save me." "Do you know yourself?"
It was this which impressed our House of Commons, and enabled them, in the Act of 1749, to recognize the Brethren "as a sober and industrious people." For that Act the credit must be given, not to the airy dreams of Zinzendorf, but to the solid labours of Spangenberg.
And thus the affair was indeed settled at once, to the great satisfaction of the person I have here named Spangenberg; and the same evening, in our family circle, the story was not only told by the waggish interpreter, but was given with all the circumstances and gestures.
The repeated distressing accounts from the brethren of the apparently insurmountable obstacles with which they had to struggle in attempting the conversion of the heathen, gave occasion to the venerable Bishop Spangenberg to write an impressive letter to the believing Esquimaux.
But the noblest testimony was given by Becker, the editor of the German Times. In an article in that paper, Becker related how once he had an interview with Spangenberg, and how Spangenberg recounted some of his experiences during the War in North America. The face of the Bishop was aglow. The great editor was struck with amazement.
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