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

Jesus as they came to. "Hark," said Mr. Abbott to his Presbyterian opponent, "This is not the
language of hell, but the language of Canaan."
At a prayer meeting in the neighborhood in the evening, all present were prostrated on the floor
except Mr. Abbott and his opponent, who contended that it was delusion and the work of the devil.
Eight professed sanctification at this meeting, and some were justified. At his nineteenth
appointment, while preaching, he heard one cry, "Water! water! the man is fainting." It was his
Presbyterian opponent trembling like Belshazzar, who presently fell to the floor, and after a struggle
lay as one dead. After the class was met, and about the time the meeting ended, he revived. There
was no disputing about the character of the work now; the knockdown argument that he had met had
settled the question with him. At Mr. Abbott's next appointment he arose and gave an exhortation,
admitting that the power of God was manifested in these meetings as he never had seen it before.
At his twentieth appointment, the people were so much interested that they were unwilling to
leave the place, after Mr. Abbott had exhausted his strength in preaching to them; and Brother Cloud,
who had been with him some two weeks, "and had become something of a convert to these powerful
meetings, arose and gave a pertinent exhortation. One woman fell to the floor, and when she arose
testified that God had sanctified her soul. A young man was so deeply awakened, that when he
reached home he fell like a log of wood on the floor, and called on God to have mercy on him until
midnight. Next morning Mr. Abbott was sent for to see the young man. After asking him some
questions, he assured him that God had converted his soul, whereupon the youth arose and gave
glory to God. Mr. Abbott congratulated the mother that she had a son born again; But the mother
cried out, "Away with you, I want no more of you here. Whitefield was here before you, like you,
turning the world upside down, and driving the people mad. I want no more of your being born
again."
This old lady could not have paid a much greater compliment to Mr. Abbott than she did by
comparing him to Mr. Whitefield. She should have belonged to a congregation down east, whose
minister blotted "Ye must be born again" from his sermon, because a man was made uneasy by
hearing him read it.
His meeting was small and unsuccessful at his twenty-first appointment. From it he went home
with a friendly Quaker. While conversing with his Quaker brother on his experience, the Spirit of
the Lord came on him so powerfully that he fell and cried so loud that the people at the barn heard
him, and came running into the house; but hastening out as quickly with fear. As soon as he
recovered he looked round and saw them all in tears. Some of the Friends blessed God that they had
ever seen such a man; and invited him to preach in their meeting house. Thus Mr. Abbott passed
through evil and good report. Yesterday, the old church lady had bidden him away, because her son
was born again. Today, the Friends, not always the most liberal, were following him with delight -thus
smiles and frowns were blended. The last three appointments that he had filled, seem to have
been east of the Welsh Mountain, on the head waters of the Brandywine. At his twenty-second
appointment he had a large congregation and a good meeting: the woman of the house was struck
to the floor -- she followed him to his next place of preaching, where she was powerfully blest, and
returned home rejoicing.