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

gospel unmolested longer than two weeks. On Saturday the 25th, he seemed to have a presentiment
in his very solemn feeling of something remarkable at hand. In company with his friend, Mr. Airey,
he had been preaching to a weeping congregation; and, as they were returning home in the evening,
a company of men surrounded them, and called Mr. Garrettson their prisoner, beating his horse and
using much profane language. After night they took him to a magistrate, who ordered him to jail. In
the darkness of the night, his friend Airey and several of his foes started for the prison.
They had not gone a mile before there was an awful flash of lightning; and in a minute his foes
fled and left him and Mr. Airey. He called for them, but there was no answer. They went on talking
of the goodness of God, until they overtook two of his guards almost frightened out of their wits. Mr.
Garrettson told them if he was to go to jail that night they ought to go on. One replied, "O, no! let
us stay until morning." The guards that formed the company collected again, though greatly
intimidated by the lightning. The leader of the guard riding by the side of Mr. Garrettson, inquired,
"Sir, do you think the affair happened on our account?" One of them swore; and another reproved
him for swearing on such an awful occasion as that was to them. The guard stopped suddenly, and
one said, "We had better give him up for the present," and turned back. But soon they came back,
saying, "We cannot give him up." And soon after fled again, and were not seen any more that night.
About midnight Mr. Garrettson returned with his friend, and found the family waiting: they were
received joyfully, and had a happy family meeting. During the remainder of the night while asleep,
Mr. Garrettson says he "was transported with visions," which on waking comforted him with an
assurance that every weapon formed against him should perish.
The next day being Sunday, he undertook to fill his appointment at Mr. Airey's. His enemies were
expected to be upon him, and many that were for him brought short clubs under their coats to defend
him. Just as he was beginning his meeting his persecutors came up in a body. Their head man,
presenting a pistol, laid hold of him. He was pulled into a room; but, as soon as he could, he went
out into the midst of them and began to exhort. Soon the most of them were in tears; and the female
part of the congregation were much alarmed. His horse was made ready; and accompanied by his
friend Mr. Airey, and his enemies, they started for Cambridge. When he arrived, he and Mr. Airey
occupied a room in a tavern from noon till night. The people of Cambridge came to the hotel to drink
and rejoice over their prisoner; and their hatred to Mr. Airey was nearly as great, for bringing the
Methodists into the county. Before this he stood high as a citizen.
He was also a magistrate, and a soldier on the side of America. One of the bullies made an attempt
to come into the room to abuse them, and aimed a blow at Mr. Airey, that might have been fatal if
he had received its full force. This sudden attack was too much for the soldier, who feeling an "old
man's bone in him," as Mr. Nelson said, brought his persecutor to the floor by a blow in his temple,
which raised a barroom laugh, and caused them to behave a little better. Mr. Garrettson reproved his
friend with tears for this act, which seemed to be unpremeditated on his part: and for which Mr.
Airey could not feel that he had done wrong.
After they had kept Mr. Garrettson in the tavern for a show during the afternoon of the Lord's day,
towards night they lodged him in prison; and took away the key, that his friends might not minister
to him. He had a dirty floor for his bed, his saddlebag for a pillow, and a cold east wind blowing
upon him. But being imprisoned for the same cause that Paul and Silas were, he found similar