The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 198

The European Union in Prophecy
manifested a calmness and trust to which he was a stranger. I had long before," he
says, "observed the great seriousness of their behavior. 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, Christ alone, for salvation: and an assurance was given me, that He had
197