rk. It had been suggested that the Moravians preach in a
church at a little place called Goshen, near "Knoxborough", a church
which had been built by subscriptions of Germans and English living
in the neighborhood, and had been used occasionally by a preacher from
Ebenezer.

At this time the Salzburgers were in a very bad condition. Bolzius had
died in 1765, and Rabenhorst and Triebner, who shared the pastorate,
were greatly at variance, so that the entire settlement was split into
factions. Dr. Muehlenberg, "the father of Lutheranism in Pennsylvania",
had come to settle the difficulties, and heard with much displeasure of
the plan to have the Moravians preach at Goshen. He declared,--"I doubt
not, according to their known method of insinuation, they will gain the
most, if not all the remaining families in Goshen, and will also make an
attempt on Ebenezer, for their ways are well adapted to awakened
souls. I have learned by experience that where strife and disunion
have occurred in neighborhoods and congregations among the Germans in
America, there black and white apostles have immediately appeared, and
tried to fish in the troubled waters, like eagles which have a keen
sight and smell."

Dr. Muehlenberg was too much prejudiced against the Moravians to judge
them fairly, for he belonged to the Halle party in Germany, and in
Pennsylvania had clashed with Zinzendorf during the latter's residence
there. The Lutheran Church was in no way endangered by the preaching of
the missionaries, for their instructions were explicit: "If you have an
opportunity to preach the Gospel to German or English residents use
it gladly, but receive none into your congregation, for you are sent
expressly to the negroes." "You will probably find some of the so-called
Salzburgers there, with their ministers. With them you will in all
fairness do only that to which you are invited by their pastor. You will
do nothing in their congregation that you would not like to have another
do in yours." Dr. Muehlenberg, therefore, might safely have left them
free to preach the Gospel where they would, even to his own distracted
flock, which was weakened by dissensions, suffered severely in the
Revolutionary War, and gradually scattered into the adjoining country.

In accordance with his instructions, Mueller at once gave up all idea of
using the Goshen church, and occupied himself with those who heard him
gladly at Knoxborough. After a careful examination of