Reformation , Protestantism in Bohemia had been trampled out by the hordes of Rome . All who refused to renounce the truth were forced to flee . Some of these , finding refuge in Saxony , there maintained the ancient faith . It was from the descendants of these Christians that light came to Wesley and his associates .
John and Charles Wesley , after being ordained to the ministry , were sent on a mission to America . On board the ship was a company of Moravians . Violent storms were encountered on the passage , and John Wesley , brought face to face with death , felt that he had not the assurance of peace with God . The Germans , on the contrary , manifested a calmness and trust to which he was a stranger . I had long before ," he says , " observed the great seriousness of their behaviour . Of their humility they had given a continual proof , by performing those servile offices for the other passengers which none of the English would undertake ; for which they desired and would receive no pay , saying it was good for their proud hearts , and their loving Saviour had done more for them .
And every day had given them occasion of showing a meekness which no injury could move . If they were pushed , struck , or thrown about , they rose again and went away ; but no complaint was found in their mouth . There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear , as well as from that of pride , anger , and revenge . In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began , the sea broke over , split the mainsail in pieces , covered the ship , and poured in between the decks as if the great deep had already swallowed us up . A terrible screaming began among the English . The Germans calmly sang on . I asked one of them afterwards , ' Were you not afraid ?' He answered , ' I thank God , no .' I asked , ' But were not your women and children afraid ?' He replied mildly , ' No ; our women and children are not afraid to die .'" --Whitehead , Life of the Rev . John Wesley , page 10 .
Upon arriving in Savannah , Wesley for a short time abode with the Moravians , and was deeply impressed with their Christian deportment . Of one of their religious services , in striking contrast to the lifeless formalism of the Church of England , he wrote : " The great simplicity as well as solemnity of the whole almost made me forget the seventeen hundred years between , and imagine myself in one of those assemblies where form and state were not ; but Paul , the tentmaker , or Peter , the fisherman , presided ; yet with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power ." -- Ibid ., pages 11 , 12 .
On his return to England , Wesley , under the instruction of a Moravian preacher , arrived at a clearer understanding of Bible faith . He was convinced that he must renounce all dependence upon his own works for salvation and must trust wholly to " the Lamb of God , which taketh away the sin of the world ." At a meeting of the Moravian society in London a statement was read from Luther , describing the change which the Spirit of God works in the heart of the believer . As Wesley listened , faith was kindled in his soul . " I felt my heart strangely warmed ," he says . " I felt I did trust in Christ ,
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