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

eing asleep, he climbed up the high wall, and clambered over the spike palisades, and made his
escape. Just as the cock crew for day he was discovered by the sentinel, who mistook him for a
comrade, and let him pass. At this time he felt a conviction, which was communicated to him in an
unusual manner, that his wife prayed for him; and, during his absence, his wife was comforted with
an assurance that she should see her husband again. Escaping thus, he made the best of his way
without interruption, until the evening, when he heard a gun fire at some distance behind him -presently
another. His pursuers had found his track in the woods, and were after him. He strove to
run, but was too weak. Another gun still nearer -- he made what speed he could, and when he came
to places where he made no track he made zigzag courses to deceive them and give him time to get
ahead. But, as they were many, they would find his track again. Thus he toiled on until seven guns
were fired -- the last within two or three hundred yards of him. His heart began to fail; he thought
he was gone, but resolved to labor onward as long as he had life; and now his pursuers had crossed
his track and were ahead of him. -- Taking advantage of this circumstance, he turned out of the path,
letting the Indians, who were behind, tread in the footsteps of those before. In the direction that he
was now going he came to a path that led to a settlement of the whites. Not keeping this long, he
went round the head of a ravine and laid himself down, concluding, that if his track was again
discovered, he would be favored by the darkness. The Indians got his track twice, but did not
overtake him. He went on in the dark as well as he could, sometimes feeling the bushes with his
hands, and often falling down among the rocks from weakness. Having found smoother ground, he
lay down until next morning. His enemies were still pursuing him. He had not left his hard bed long
before he heard two guns fired off. Coming to a hill where no marks of footsteps could be traced,
he steered his course for Bedford, and came on a training path, which he kept. Five days he lived on
acorns; afterwards he found some wild cherries; but lo! while he was eating them, up came an Indian,
who asked him where he was going; he said, "To the Delaware." The Indian, taking him by the hand,
gave a whoop, and other Indians were around him. By these he was kept a prisoner for some time.
He was bold and active, and cooked for them. By his cleverness, he gained the favor of the captain,
who praised him for doing everything like an Indian. Here he had more than he needed to eat. The
captain was careful to secure him every night, by making him lie in a corner, where he drew a cord
over hoop-poles, and tied deer's hoofs to the end, that if Williams pulled open the poles they would
rattle the deer's hoofs, and strike the captain's face, and wake him. After Williams had been with
these Indians some length of time, they went to war, leaving him behind to provide deer for the
squaws. He at last found an opportunity of escaping, which he improved, and once more arrived safe
at his own home, and embraced his wife."
The above is part of the experience of one of the old Methodists, on old Berkley Circuit. Surely
this man had seen enough of the Providence of God to enable him to put his trust in Christ, after he
was enlightened by the gospel. At his house the Methodists preached, and had a society, he was a
faithful man, and his wife was a pious woman.
From the foot of the Allegheny, Mr. Asbury turned his face towards the east, holding quarterly
meeting at Leesburg, and at Charles Penn's, near Seneca, this side of the Potomac. Coming to Micah
Dorsey's, at Elkridge, he was seized with his old affliction, the inflammatory sore throat. Here he had
the attendance of that eminent physician, Dr. Pew. After he was somewhat restored, he moved on
preaching at Jones' on the Manor, then paid his first visit to Little York, where Mr. Garrettson had
planted Methodism the previous spring: here he met Mr. Ranckle, once a Methodist, but now a