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we have a catalogue. "To him idleness and the
want of truth were of great moment, seeing how God's
gift of freedom was misapplied."
The closing years of Balthasar Hoffman's life were
spent in a small room, spinning; yet daily would he
read, write, sing, and pray. And as he had long been
blessed with bodily health, so God protected him
against much and severe sickness in his last days.
Gradually, however, his sanctified spirit was loosened
from its earthly tabernacle, and nature sank year by
year, till December 21, 1774, when he was attacked
with vertigo and increasing debility, and on July 11,
1775, in his 89th year, he passed peacefully away. His
wife, Ursula, died May 15, 1767, aged 80 years, and
both lie buried in the Schwenkfelder burying-ground
belonging to the congregation in Lower Salford. Balthasar
Hoffman and wife left three children, Anna,
Rosina, and Christopher, who succeeded his father as
minister of the society; his children were all born in
Europe. All three were married, but the son left no
issue. There are descendants of the daughters, however,
to the fifth and sixth generations.
He remained an acceptable minister of the Schwenkfelders
from the death of Weiss in 1740 until the
time of his death. He resided on a tract of land by
the east side of Skippack Creek, two miles west of
Franconia village, now owned by Henry Derstine.
He was a man of eminent wisdom and piety, and left
behind him a catalogue of his writings, embracing
fifty-eight tracts, all on theology and practical religion,
besides eighty-three letters on various kindred
topics.
Christopher Hoffman, the father of Balthasar, died in
Saxony, under the protection of Count Zinzendorf; he,