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

He continued in this exercise, making Mr. Thomas White's his home, until Mr. White was arrested
and carried off. The following week, fearing that he would be taken into custody, as his friend, who
had promised him secrecy and security, had been, he left Mr. White's; and, in his language, "Rode
on through a lonesome devious road, like Abraham, not knowing whither I went, but weary and
unwell, I found a shelter late at night; and here I intended to rest till Providence should direct my
way. But at night a report was spread which inclined me to think it would be best for me to move.
Accordingly, the next day I set out and lay in a swamp till about sunset, when I was kindly taken in
by a friend. I thought myself like some of the old prophets, hid in times of public distress."
We can only conjecture what neighborhood he was now in. We think he went up the Choptank
to the upper part of Kent county, about what is now called Holden's meeting house. When this
meeting was first raised up it was called Fogwell's; and, it has been said, that many years ago Mr.
Asbury charged a certain preacher of the Philadelphia Conference to take good care of the Fogwell
society, as it had been greatly endeared to him at the period of his confinement at Judge White's.
Whatever place he was now in, he was strictly shut up in a private chamber in a pleasant family,
wanting for nothing, spending his time in reading and study, and devoting ten minutes of each
waking hour to prayer. After spending, in this strict retirement, about three weeks, he ventured to
leave this asylum; and under the special protection of Divine Providence, returned to Mr. White's.
Here, for two weeks, he was again shut up, spending what he called his "dumb Sabbaths," not
preaching, nor scarcely daring to show himself; lest his enemies should lay violent hands upon him.
These five weeks, during which he had not preached, were the most unsatisfactory part of his life,
as he could not content himself, unless he was holding up a crucified Saviour to the view of sinners.
Unable to keep silence any longer, on the 13th of May, he met a small congregation, and found
a blessing while addressing it; and, on the following Sabbath, preached to a congregation collected
at Mr. White's: he was now coming forth from his confinement.
It was a question painfully revolved in the mind of Mr. Asbury whether, or not, he ought to have
thus concealed himself from his enemies? It is certain that in this he was not imitating the Saviour
who went forth to meet Judas and his band in the garden. Neither was he following the example of
the apostles who went forward in their work, although forbidden by the Jewish council. Nor did he
exhibit the courage of a Wesley in the days of mob violence in England; nor yet that of Abbott,
Garrettson, and Hartley, who dared to meet their worst foes. It seems, that his prudence prevailed
over his faith. Though he was an Englishman, and sent by Mr. Wesley, and, therefore, peculiarly
obnoxious at that time, yet Omnipotence could, with equal ease, protect an Englishman or an
American. We may well suppose, that, had he gone on in the work he would have fared no better
than Garrettson or Hartley. He might have been put in prison; nay, he might have borne in his body
the marks of violence, but it would have furthered the case of the Redeemer. Mr. Garrettson thought
that he never did more for the Saviour in the same length of time, than while he was imprisoned in
Cambridge; and Mr. Hartley could not have accomplished half as much good to the people of Easton
by preaching to them out of prison, as he did by his discourses, made more pathetic, and received
with increased interest, on account of the circumstances of their delivery.
We cannot think that Mr. Asbury's enemies would have had power over his life, for his work was
not yet accomplished on earth; if he had continued to travel and preach the few weeks that he lay by.