[Mrs. Rieser] diligently instills into her children the advantages they have here over their miserable fatherland in Salzburg. They knew, saw, and heard nothing of the horrors that she had seen and in part experienced. They lived, she said, in solitude, are healthy, and are free and have the means of salvation abundantly.
Johann Martin BoltziusWe gladly conform to the people's needs in all things if it can be done in conformity with the word of God and for the sake of God's kingdom.
Johann Martin BoltziusEverybody living at the orphanage . . . are fully convinced of the selection of men to salvation ex absoluto decreto. . . . They claim to find much comfort and refreshment in this theory that serves the Roman heresy (secus sentientes roman.); yes, they would even say that they cannot look upon a person as converted who does not believe it. I showed my pity for them and told them of our dogma, sufficiently well founded in Holy Scriptures, of the everlasting, impartial love of God in Jesus Christ to all mankind and held up to them some evident verses . . . which they answered in a shallow manner. Since they pray that God may convert all the children entrusted to them and lead them to salvation, I asked them whether they believe that God would like to have those children saved.
Their answer was that they did not know, but it was their duty to make such intercession. However, I showed them: 1. that they, with their theory, do not have any joy in praying for the salvation of all men. 2. If they would do it and wished for all men to be helped, then their love would have to be greater than the love of God, who nevertheless effects this impartial and general love in them. 3. Their prayer was against the will and command of God: God has, according to their opinion, decided from eternity, by virtue of His sovereignty and great power, to let only a few be saved and these alone and no others to be redeemed by Christ. How could they now pray (without acting against the will of God), that God show mercy to all?
In Abercorn things are very profane, they do not celebrate Sundays and holy days. . . . It is a shame that Sundays are esteemed so little by most people in Christendom. Some of them drone it away loosely, others [the freethinkers] believe it is a day like other days, even though our dear God has promised to bless it if it is celebrated in the right way as, thank God, many people in Christendom and also among us can say from experience. May our dear God restrain all desecrations of the Sabbath and avert the judgments which are to come upon Christianity because of it.
Johann Martin BoltziusGod is only mocked at most weddings. For the word of God, singing, and praying are almost empty ceremonies, as I could well observe in Germany during and after the wedding feast of most so-called Christians.
Johann Martin BoltziusCursing is common with most people of this country. From Savannah Town, a town situated up near the Indians, such things are so often reported that one is shocked and cannot be surprised that the heathens do not come to a better recognition but become more and more wicked, because those who bear the name of Christians live frightfully godlessly.
Johann Martin BoltziusI hope that our descendants, insofar as they fear God, will find much material for the recognition of the wonderful and blessed ways that He has gone with us from the beginning from the printed reports of Ebenezer, . . . and that they will be thereby awakened to the praise of God and to faith in Him.
Johann Martin BoltziusBrief worldly pleasure is followed by pain and disgust. If only people would believe it rather than experience it.
Johann Martin BoltziusThus they did not do, as many unfortunately do nowadays in Christendom. When the ancient miracles of God are related, they say, "Now God doe no more miracles." Unbelieving nominal Christians speak thus; but true Christians do not say this but show that they believe in the God who wrought miracles in olden days.
Johann Martin BoltziusOur Salzburgers did not leave their home for the sake of good living; under the merciful guidance of our miraculous God they landed in this quiet corner of the world in order to strive first and foremost for God's kingdom and His justice.
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