Johann
Gold (1678-1745)
|
|
 |
the souls. And her love and heartiness did indeed make a deep impression on the souls there. Sometime in the year ? 38, they were both recalled by the church and our dear Gold was the same he ever was, which caused the labourers unspeakable pain in their hearts. At last the dear Pilgrim Congregation in Marienbourn thought if they brought him a little nearer to them, perhaps it would go better with him, and took him accordingly in the Year 39 to Eckershausen, gave him an outward imployment, and sought faithfully to deliver his soul, but he would not understand it, could not conceive what the church had against him. He believed, he had done superabundant good, because he had been really very faithfull in outward things and took care almost night and day to do that which was committed to his charge, we were constrained to leave him to our Savior because neither prayers not intreaties could do any thing to the causing him to give his hear over to our savior and instead of acknowledging the love of the church, he became their bitter enemy. In the year 40, it happened that he fell into a manifest notorious sin and could not get free from it, and the good Shepherd of his Soul came up with this his poor sheep. He knew not how to shew his head for shame, but as he was more concerned because the thing was made publick, and his heart was not broke and humbled at it, it was therefore though good to send him again to St. Thomas's, to be helpful to the Brethren in their outward affairs, and our Savior blest it to his heart so that thereby he learnt rightly to know himself, after which the church in Beth: recalled him to them, where the ground and foundation of his heart was feelingly made clear to him, and he then saw rightly how he had stuck in the mire and dirt of sin over head and ears, and acknowledged and felt the necessity of the grace in Jesus' blood for his sinful heard. Our Savior having seen his earnest long and desire, imparted the grace in his blood richly unto him, and he learnt to love and esteem the church as the Lambs beloved wife. 14 days before his happy departure, Joseph and Mary visited him, and asked him how it was in his heart? His heart broke immediately and his eyes overflowed with tears; saying: "is not the grace, that such a cursed ungodly wretch as I am, who have caused our Savior and his dear church so much grief and trouble, should now enjoy so many blessings from the lamb and his beloved church. I should surely have been lost if I had not come to the congregation." He could scarce tell us how it was in his heart
|