Whatever were the peculiar notions of count Zinzendorf on some doctrinal subjects, his printed discourses put it beyond all doubt that he was a sound Divine. He firmly believed and fearlessly maintained every doctrine essential to salvation, and from the heart subscribed to the assertion of the great German Reformer, that justification by faith is that article, by the admission or rejection of which the Church will either stand or fall. Hence he delighted to extol the free grace of God in

sitions he was always ready to correct whatever was proved to him to be justly objectionable, either in the subject or language.

With regard to his discourses and sermons, of which several hundred have been published in Germany, it should be observed, that they were not precomposed, but delivered strictly extempore, and taken down in short hand. In this imperfect and mutilated state they were put to press, often without being seen by him, or receiving any correction. He indeed began to revise all bis publications, in order to prepare a new edition; but his many other avocations prevented him from making much progress in this work. After his decease, however, the Rev. Gottfried Clemens presented the German public with a revised edition of some of his Discourses in eight volumes octavo. The best of his hymns have been inserted in the Brethren's German Hymn-book.

Respecting those of his writings, both in prose and verse, which have been translated into English, it seems necessary to make this further remark, that the inferiority, which is observable in almost every translation, is peculiarly conspicuous in the translations made of count Zinzendorf's writings. His style and diction were peculiarly his own, and often appear extravagant and paradoxical even to a German reader, if the connection of his frequently abrupt sentences be not closely attended to. To retain these peculiarities in the translation was no easy task, especially as most of his translators, though masters of the English language, were not sufficiently acquainted with the niceties of the German idiom, always to choose the most appropriate terms for conveying the exact meaning of their author, with sufficient perspicuity. Aiming at too literal a translation, the force and beauty of the sentiment in the original were lost. Thus they often appear, not only unintelligible and puerile, but even objectionable. This is particularly the case with his Hymns. Many expressions, which in the original are inoffensive, because used by Luther and others, and admitted into some of the best German bymn-books, can hardly fail to offend an English reader.

The Brethren, both in England and Germany, have long since expunged from the Collections of Hymns in use among them, all those composed both by count Zinzendorf and others, which are justly censurable as it regards either the subject or the language.

Christ Jesus, and to invite the most guilty and wretched of mankind to accept of the offered salvation, without money and without price. He zealously opposed all self-righteousness; but as strenuously maintained the necessity of good works, as the fruits of faith, shewing that sanctification springs as naturally from faith as justification, and that when the love of God in Christ Jesus is shed abroad in the heart, it will enkindle love to Him who first loved us, and expand in charity to our neighbour. More than one university in Germany and consistory of the Lutheran Church, after the strictest examination, bore public and honorable testimony to his knowledge of the Scriptures, and the soundness of his divinity.

In the Church of the Brethren the memory of count Zinzendorf will ever be cherished with admiration and gratitude, as the instrument in the hand of God of raising their Church from its ashes, recovering its constitution, and inspiring its members with zeal for the glory of God, and the advancement of his kingdom among Christians and Heathen. Yet with all their veneration for his person and services, they do not consider him as a perfect character, for he was but a man, and therefore liable to err; and great as the benefit many have received from his writings, they do not attach any higher merit to them, than what is due to any human composition, the general tenor of which is in accordance with the oracles of God. They respect his memory not only as a devoted servant, but as a real child of God, and an humble follower of Jesus, who derived all his hopes of happiness in time and eternity from the cross of Christ, deeming it his highest honor to be abased that his Saviour might be exalted; and in whom the enthusiasm, with which he has been charged, sprang from ardent love to his Redeemer, and spent itself in his service.

The author trusts this remark will not appear superfluous, when he informs his readers, that he has more than once been asked, and that by men of piety and learning, whether the writings of count Zinzendorf were considered as symbolical, (or a kind of standard of divine truth) in the Brethren's Church? For further information on this subject the reader is referred to p. 230, &c.

1

His widow, Anna Nitschmann, was confined by illness at the ime of his departure, and followed him into eternity on the 21st of May of the same year.

By his first marriage he had six sons and six daughters, of whom three daughters only survived their father. His eldest daughter, Henrietta Justina Benigna, was in 1746 married to baron Johannes von Watteville, who was afterwards consecrated a bishop of the Brethren's Church, his second daughter Elizabeth, was married to baron Frederick von Watteville, and the third Agnes Maria, to count Moritz zu Dohna.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUM

NOTE.

The Preface, Table of Contents, and Index, will be given with the second volume.

ERRATA.

On page 63, first line, instead of: was the first known translation of the Bible into, read, was, as far as is known, the first translation of the Bible printed in

On page 409, line 9, instead of, will continue, read, still continues.

T. INKERSLEY, PRINTER, BRADFORD,

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