A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

Lord's Day, November 1, 1778, memorable in the history of Methodism in London, as the day on
which Mr. Wesley opened the new chapel in the City Road. See Wesley's Works, vol. iv., p. 499. On
this Sabbath Mr. Asbury lectured at Mr. White's. Asbury's Journal, vol. 1., p. 224.
In November, he rode to Quantico, in Somerset county, Md. He says, "I found no want of anything
there but religion:" this was his first visit to Somerset.
In December of this year, he met with Brother Wren, who was traveling and preaching. From him
he learned that the work in which Methodist preachers were engaged, was prospering far beyond his
expectation. The Lord was helping on the work in His own way, while persecution was driving the
preachers from place to place. See Asbury's Journal, vol. i., p. 200-227.
In the latter end of 1777, as stated above, Mr. Asbury came to the Peninsula, to the house of Cavel
Hinson, in Kent county, where he introduced Methodist preaching in 1772 -- he had not seen his
Kent county friends for more than four years; and rejoiced to find that the Lord had carried on a good
work among them during his absence. When he was last upon this shore, in September, 1773, there
were about six preaching places; now there were scores of appointments.
While laboring here he received the following strange account concerning a wicked young man
whose family countenanced the Methodists. He not only opposed them, but went to the place of
worship to curse the preacher, where he was struck with such terror that he suddenly died. His own
brother gave it as his opinion that the devil was directly concerned in his death. It seems that the
circumstances were so peculiarly strange concerning this young man's death, that they had been
attested on oath by the people who lived in the house with him.
Mr. Asbury continued to travel and preach until the 10th of March, 1778, when, on conscientious
principles, which would not allow him to take the oath required by the state of Maryland, he
withdrew to the state of Delaware, where the clergy were not required to take an oath to the state.
After seeking Divine direction by prayer and fasting, he felt his call was to remain in America,
having the promise of all the protection that Judge White's influence could afford him. But, on the
night of the 2d of April, the lighthorse patrol surrounded his house, and the judge was seized, and
carried away to Dover or Wilmington, where he was examined as an enemy of his country, because
he had become a Methodist, and harbored Methodist preachers. Leaving his family in great distress,
he was detained some five weeks, when he returned to his family, but went back to have his case
determined, and was finally discharged.
It was while Mr. Asbury was thus hiding from his enemies, as he tells us, "That he went forth after
dark through the gloom of the woods, from house to house, to enforce the truth, and join in the
worship of God. At a late hour of the night he was wont to [his practice was to] assemble the family
together, and offer up prayer to God in a subdued tone of voice, not the less hearty or acceptable to
the Deity on that account; adopting this course at the suggestions of prudence, to avoid the wrath of
the enemies of God and religion."