The Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania, a Historical Sketch (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ... pursuance of the call a synod was therefore held in Germantown on New Year's day, O. S. Christopher Wiegner, according to some reports, seems to have been one of the important members of the gathering. Christopher Saur said concerning this synod: "The Schwenkf elders knew him (Zinzendorf) and had lived with him. Of these none came. Two who lived in Germantown were prevailed upon to attend, but when they saw that they were only wanted in order that it might be heralded abroad that they too had attended they went home." It seems that Saur did not class Wiegner as a Schwenkfelder or did not know of his attendance. The scant attention given the gathering by the Schwenkfelders, the displeasure aroused by their not migrating to Georgia originally, the non-responsiveness to the labors of Bonisch and Spangenberg, the sly sycophancy of others, probably put Zinzendorf into a frame of mind that on slight provocation might lead him to imprudent acts and this indeed happened all too soon. On Epiphany, January 6, Zinzendorf preached the second time at Wiegner's and was listened to by the Schwenkfelders who rejoiced to see their former guardian angel and benefactor. It seems that on the same day eight of them called upon him at his house in Germantown. Both here and at Wiegner's controversy arose. What took place was written out by the Schwenkfelders and later published. Zinzendorf questioned them concerning their confession of faith, their organization, their hymns and other points. He said Schwenkfeld taught error, rejected word and outward things or services, that George Weiss led the people around by the nose and taught errors, that it was easier to preach to Satan than to them, that he had power over them and was bound to save their souls, that...