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

A HISTORY
OF THE
RISE OF METHODISM IN AMERICA
by
John Lednum
CHAPTER 38
Methodism having surrounded Dorchester, in Maryland, the Lord prepared the way in 1779, for
its introduction into this county -- a Miss Ennalls, niece of Judge Ennalls, and Sister to Mr. Henry
Ennalls, had been visiting her friends, and had fallen in with the Methodists (perhaps in Dover, Del.,
where Mr. Richard Bassett, her brother-in-law, lived), by whom she was convinced that she was in
a lost state; and, afterwards was filled with peace, joy, and love. When she returned home, her
relations thought her beside herself, as they knew nothing of any such experience. She, however,
persevered, and was instrumental in the conversion of her sister, Miss Mary Ennalls, and some
others. This last named sister went down the county to visit Henry Airey, who was related to her. As
Mr. Airey was an entire stranger to experimental religion, which Mary was enforcing, and fearing
that his wife, who began to show some symptoms of seriousness, would lose her reason, he
undertook to convince his visitor that the Methodists were wrong, and for this purpose he took up
a book written by Mr. Perkins, an old Puritan, and began to read it to Mary; but he had not spent
many minutes in reading before he began to weep under conviction. He read till he thought he must
go among the Methodists, and compare his book with their books of religion. In order to compare
notes he went to Judge White's, and found that his book and theirs agreed in substance. If Methodism
was a disease, he was by this time deeply infected with it. After passing through the darkness and
distress of penitential grief, the Lord removed the burden of his guilt, and gave him peace -- and then
he was urgent in his requests to Mr. Asbury to have Methodist preaching in his county.
On the 10th of February, 1780, Mr. Garrettson rose early in the morning and called upon God, and
his soul was greatly strengthened; and, being commended to God in prayer by Mr. Asbury for this
mission, he set out from Mr. White's for Mr. Airey's. This was all done before day -- his morning
devotion, opening his mind to Mr. Asbury by whom he was committed to God for this mission. On
his way he wept freely, feeling much oppressed, and several times stopped his horse to turn back,
but was induced to pursue his way, and arrived at Mr. Airey's on the second day of his journey; and
at the door of his friend he felt his burden fall. As soon as he was in his private chamber, the Lord
made him feel that he was in the way of duty. The family, white and black, assembled for worship.
The Divine presence was there; and Mrs. Airey was so filled that she sank to the floor rejoicing aloud
-- and the work of grace commenced among the blacks. For three days Mr. Garrettson labored at Mr.
Airey's; and the congregations were deeply affected. The work of salvation was begun. "One man,"
said Mr. Garrettson, "was deeply affected by seeing us." As soon as the Lord began to work the
enemies began their rage: they began by giving a wicked man permission to take his life, promising
to protect him against the penalty of the law. Mr. Garrettson returned to Mr. Airey's, and this wicked
device failed. But, in thus taking refuge with his friend, he had the same oppression of spirit that he
had in 1778, in Kent, when he undertook to remain with his friends in order to shun the wrath of his
enemies. He was so pressed in spirit that he could stay but two days; so he went to another place and
preached with some effect. He was not, however, suffered to proceed in his work of preaching the