CHURCH HISTORY

Chapter 74

Spener and Francke

Already before the Thirty Years’ War, Germany had suffered very much from the divisions that were brought about by the differences of opinion among the divines, as we have previously observed. When the Peace of Munster was signed, rest and welfare gradually returned in the country, but the harmful influence was yet felt of the conflict between the different ministers. Many, who were very zealous for an orthodox confession, forgot that this confession, as an expression of the faith of the heart, has to exercise influence on our life. The Bible teaches us that a confession of the truth and a practical godliness must go hand in hand, or cannot be separated unto salvation. While so many were secure in their profession, and Christians became so bound to earthly things, the consequence thereof was that the spiritual life of the church began to pine. Many believers bewailed this; they felt the need to be built up in the faith by a mutual communion, and the cold and barren preaching of those days could not fulfill the needs of their soul.

During that time a minister by the name of fakob Spener was called to Frankfort. Those who heard him preach could feel at once that his preaching was no barren contemplation of the truth, but the expression of a living faith in the heart. Spener had come to conversion already during his childhood. In later years, when he was called to the ministry, it was his earnest desire to serve the church with the strength and the gifts that God had given him. He felt that the church had to be raised up out of the spiritlessness and dullness into which she had sunk. Therefore, he insisted that the members of the congregation should not only hear the Word of God being proclaimed, but also meditate upon it and come together to search the Scriptures with each other. Spener’s labors were richly blessed. The interest in the expounding of the Holy Scriptures was greatly increased; it was as if a new life had been awakened in the church. Under the leadership of the minister, the Christians began to meet regularly with each other to read and study the Scriptures. At first these meetings were held in his home, but soon there were so many that wanted to attend the meetings that Spener’s home was too small and they had to gather in the church. But then the enmity in the heart of those, who felt no need of spiritual life, began to be revealed; they started to mock these religious meetings and to oppose Spener. They called those who attended these meetings, “Pietists.”

In the year 1686 Spener was called to Dresden. There he also had to endure much hostility, until finally he was constrained to leave the city. No, his path was not strewn with roses in that city either. The other Lutheran ministers had given him a cold reception. The universities of Leipzig and Wittenberg were against him. The elector took offence when Spener, as his pastor, reproved him for his drunkenness. Then the elector of Brandenburg offered him a rectorate in the city of Berlin. Spener accepted and continued his labors with great courage in that place until the day of his death in 1705.

Excited by Spener’s example, the members of the congregation at other places also began to unite with each other in searching the Word of God and speaking about the interests of the Kingdom of God. In the city of Leipzig gatherings were held by the students under the leadership of one of the teachers of the school whose name was August Hermann Francke. Just as Spener, Francke had also been instructed in the Holy Scriptures from childhood, but pride and love for the world smothered that Word when he became a young man. He was a preacher already when be became converted unto the Lord. The realization of how terrible it was to teach others the way of salvation, while he himself was a stranger thereof, brought him in prayer to God, and the Lord heard his cries for mercy. He sought and found peace for his distressed soul by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. From that time on he had much liberty to proclaim the Gospel to others. He labored in the same manner as Spener did to excite and encourage the people not to be satisfied with a mere knowledge of the truth, but to come by the grace of God to repentance and feel the powerful influence of the truth in heart and life. But, just as Spener, he also had many enemies; many hated him and his labor. The assemblies he held in Leipzig were soon forbidden. Shortly afterwards Francke was called as a minister to Erfurt, but things did not go much better there. When he began to distribute the Bible and other edifying books, they accused him of introducing a strange religion and of sowing trouble. He was compelled to leave the city. Through the influence of Spener, he was appointed as professor at the University of Halle, which had been founded by the Elector of Brandenburg.

Francke now began his labors at Halle, but his activities were not limited to instruction alone at the university; the great needs of the poor of the city were also bound upon his heart, and he resolved to do all he could to help them. When he began to distribute bread amongst them from time to time, however, and likewise endeavored to direct them to the one thing needful, he noticed how great their ignorance was. Also, when he began to instruct them, he noticed that he could not attain his purpose because mostly all of the poor lacked the ability to understand his teaching. Therefore, he decided to begin with the children and to see that they could receive the necessary schooling. But the poor people had neither money nor suitable clothes to send their children to school, and hence it was necessary to establish a charity-school for them. In order to raise the necessary money for that purpose Francke placed a box at the door of his home, and when at a certain time he found eight guilders therein, he decided to begin with the establishment of the school. He prepared a room in his own home and requested one of the students to instruct the children. His plan was approved by all, and soon so many children came that the room was too small and they were obliged to look for a larger place.

As soon as Francke became better acquainted with the children he noticed that the orphans, who had been placed in different families here and there, were very much neglected. Their lot filled him with compassion and he earnestly desired to see that they received better care. He made known his plan to take one of the orphans into his own home, but instead of one they brought him four of these poor children. He just could not decide to send any of them away. His home now became a refuge for poor orphans, and although it was not an easy task to care for all of them he trusted that the Lord would provide all things necessary for this work of love. His trust in the Lord was not put to shame. As the needs became greater, the contributions flowed more abundantly, so that Francke soon could buy a building that was suitable for a school and a home for orphans. The more he labored, the more his work was extended. In order to fill the need for capable instructors, he founded a school where young people could receive the necessary training to become teachers. By establishing schools in other fields he also gave young men the opportunity to be trained for various positions in life; and again Francke received what he needed to carry out his plan successfully.

Soon the building was too small for so many departments, and consequently Francke decided that he must build. People thought it very imprudent that he wanted to start with that himself, since he had no money for such an undertaking, but Francke knew that God was mighty to help him and to provide all that was needed. He began this good work; every morning he united in prayer with the laborers to beseech God’s blessing upon the work, and in the evening, before the wages were paid, he thanked God with them. God answered his prayers. From many different directions he received contributions for the building; rich and poor gave according to their ability. The king of Prussia sent him 3,600 guilders besides tile and stone; and a poor chimney sweep of Halle offered to clean the chimneys of the institution without charge as long as he lived.

The building was finally finished in the year 1701 and could be occupied. There was now still much necessary to provide for all the needs of the orphans, whose number was more than a thousand, and also for the upkeep of the other institutions, and often the funds were depleted. However, Francke knew the Word of the Lord: “Ask and it shall be given to you.” In prayer he had his refuge and strength, and the Lord heard him. Every day all the needs were provided for.

In the year 1727 Francke was called out of his labors here below to enter that rest which has been prepared for the people of God. His institutions, however, were maintained and can yet be seen today by everyone who visits Halle.

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