History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

eternal in the heavens." He lingered on his route toward the North, visiting and preaching among the
Churches, till the latter part of June, 1808, when, crossing the Sound, he landed at Norwalk, Conn.,
the village on whose highway he had preached his first sermon in New England. "He was much
gratified," says his biographer, "in saluting, in the name of the Lord Jesus, some of his friends of
former days. Almost twenty years had passed away since he first, as a stranger, entered this part of
the world." On Saturday, July 2, he is at Stratfield, where he had formed his first New England class.
The little flock assemble and receive his final counsels. After praying with them he hastens to New
Haven, where he spends the Sunday, preaching three times to weeping congregations. By the next
Saturday he reaches his old friend, General Lippett's home, Cranston, R. I., and on Sunday has
"another precious time of the love and presence of God." Through Providence and Bristol he passes
to Newport, where Merwin is stationed, and meets good Captain Beale, "who commands the fort,
and is a steady Methodist." He preaches there repeatedly to crowded and sobbing assemblies. "I
warned them," he writes, "and entreated them, as though I never more were to see them." With tears
and benedictions and last farewells all along his route. He reaches Boston on Thursday, the 21st, and
finds the same evening a congregation ready to hear him in the old church, and another, the next
night, in the new. By Saturday he is with his first society, in Massachusetts, at Lynn. They call on
him at the parsonage in the evening. The next day being the Sabbath he preaches to them in the
morning, with much effect, from Isa. xxxiii, 13. "It was," he writes, "an affecting time. At three
o'clock I preached again, and the house was much thronged. The Lord was with us. And also at six
o'clock my soul was much comforted in speaking to the people, and many wept under the word.
When I put the brethren in mind of my first coming among them, and the difficulties that I, as well
as they, had to go through, they could not forbear weeping. I could but hope that a blessing would
follow that meeting. I have not been so well pleased for a long time at meeting my old friends as I
was at this place."
By Friday, the 30th, he is in Maine, the field of his hardest conflicts. The people flock to hear him
on all his route, and have often to leave their chapels and turn into the woods for room. At
Monmouth, where the first society was formed, they cannot get into the house; many, after the
service, come to the altar to give him their hands in pledge of meeting him in heaven. "They wept,"
he says, "and I could not refrain from weeping." Soule and Fogg are with him there. The preachers
generally gather about him as he passes along, saluting him as an old leader and conqueror, and,
joining in the jubilatic gatherings of the people.
Similar scenes occurred at Winthrop. At Arrington "I had," he says, "a large company of people
to hear me and I spoke with great freedom and faith; and the hearers felt the power of the word.
Then, at half past two o'clock I preached to a crowded assembly. When I called upon them to
remember former days, when I first visited them, about fifteen years before, which was the first time
they ever heard a Methodist preacher, many of them were bathed in tears, for many, both parents and
children, had been converted under the preaching of the Methodists. It was indeed a solemn time,
and my soul was much quickened and blessed. In the afternoon I had a crowded house. The Spirit
of the Lord God came upon me while I was speaking, and I wept, and the people wept greatly. When
I dismissed them, I told them that I was about to leave them, and had but little expectation of ever
preaching in that place again. Many came and gave me their hands, and, with streaming eyes, begged
my prayers, and wished my welfare. Several came who had never been converted, and, crying aloud,
said they would try to get to heaven if they could. I have no doubt but a lasting blessing will follow