Ohio History Journal

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190 Ohio Arch

190      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

I. HIS DECISIVE CONVERSION.

David Zeisberger's conversion stands out as clearly and

strongly as does that of John Wesley. in January, 1743, a lit-

tle company stood on the deck of the "James," ready to leave for

Europe. It was a group of Moravian Brethren, most of whom

had come to take leave of their beloved leader, Count Zinzen-

dorf. Belonging to this company was a young man, twenty-

two years of age, who had been appointed to return with the

Count to Germany. He stood alone and looked mournfully

upon the land of his choice. "Cast off the cable!" commanded

Captain Garrison. At that moment Bishop Nitschmann, who

had been the last to take leave of Count Zinzendorf, passed by,

and, observing the young man's dejected looks, stopped short.

"David," said he, "do you not return to Europe willingly?"

"No, indeed!" was Zeisberger's reply. "I would much

rather remain in America."

"For what reason?"

"I long to be truly converted to God and to serve Him in

this country."

This declaration deserves our careful consideration. David

Zeisberger was a "born Moravian" both nationally and denomi-

nationally. His birthplace was Zauchtenthal in Moravia, where

he first saw the light of day on Good Friday, April II, 1721.

His parents belonged to the Ancient Church of the Bohemian

and Moravian Brethren. They were evidently most godly peo-

ple, for in July, 1726, they left their large earthly possessions,

forsaking all for Christ's sake, and sought a refuge in the new

settlement in Saxony called Herrnhut. And yet, born Moravian

that Zeisberger was, and brought up in a pious home, he him-

self apparently remained unchanged by the Divine grace and

Spirit. Heredity was not sufficient. Not that he despised his

birthright; far from it! He prized his privileges and oppor-

tunities. With the great Scotch preacher and poet, Horatius

Bonar, he would have said:

"I thank Thee for a holy ancestry;

I bless Thee for a godly parentage;

For seeds of truth and light and purity,

Sown in this heart from childhood's earliest age."