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

elieved, and a society was raised up that still continues. It was more than twenty strong in number,
in about one year's time.
On the following Sabbath Mr. Garrettson preached in Lewistown and went to preach by the side
of a river, where the wicked threatened to drown him. But no one molested him. Going to another
appointment he was overtaken by a man in soldier's dress, armed with a club, who said he had come
twenty miles to defend him. Having heard Mr. Garrettson preach at some other place, and believing
his doctrine, he declared his readiness to go with him a thousand miles to protect him.
Mr. Garrettson spent several days preaching in the forest of Sussex county, and the Lord
awakened many by his ministry. The next Methodist preacher that traveled over this ground, was the
lovely Pedicord; and, whether the "Lord," or the "devil" sent them, there has been a succession of
them, till the present time.
Mr. Garrettson next returned to the Forks, and preached at a house in the edge of Dorchester
county, to a large congregation, and continued his discourse two or three hours; for the Lord was
working powerfully among the people. After he had concluded, a magistrate made an attempt to send
him to jail. The sheriff came with his writ; but Mr. Garrettson looking him in the face, let him know
he was "going on the Lord's errand," and what the consequence would be to him, if he persisted in
fighting against God. While the sheriff was listening to him his countenance fell, and he replied, "It
is a pity to stop you," and Mr. Garrettson went on his way.
It was in 1779 that he performed that successful Sabbath day's labor recorded. On the 91st page
of his Life. "He preached in Dover a little after sunrise. At nine, to hundreds who stood and sat under
the trees at Brother Boyer's, where God's power was greatly displayed. At one o'clock, to a listening
multitude under the trees in Murderkill. His fourth sermon was preached at Brother Williams', in
Mispillion, where he seemed to have greater liberty than at either of the other places. A Quaker
preacher, who heard this last discourse, said that he spoke by the Spirit, if ever man did. But on
hearing that it was his fourth sermon that day, said he was a deceiver, for it was nothing but will
worship. He spake six hours in delivering the four sermons; and scarcely felt any fatigue, though he
had taken only a little milk and water for nourishment. It seemed that thousands were flocking to
Jesus." There is one individual (and probably but one) still living who heard these four discourses,
seventy-five years ago -- and that is Judge Davis, of Smyrna.
Since the above was written Mr. Isaac Davis has died, aged ninety-two or three years. He was
connected with the Methodists between seventy and eighty years. He was kind in his house; and
abounded in good sense and in this world's goods.
During this year, in Northwest Fork, Sussex county, Del., Mr. Garrettson came to Mr. Brown's
to preach on Sunday. All the morning he was harassed by the enemy -- the Bible seemed too small
to afford him a text -- a large congregation assembled, to whom he preached with great liberty and
effect under the trees. A brother of White Brown was at this meeting; and in the afternoon, as Mr.
Garrettson and about thirty of his friends were going to Mr. Turpin's to meeting, this man, urged on
by the sons of Belial, who were with him, waylaid and presented a loaded gun at him, and ordered
him to stop. The company, many of whom were women, were off of their horses in an instant.