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

he found twelve living witnesses who told him that they were all converted at that storm; and also
told him of divers others, who had gone from time to eternity; and of several who had moved out of
the neighborhood. This remarkable meeting was near the old Kent Meeting house (now Hinson's
Chapel; and it has been often spoken of, by the people of Kent county, as Mr. Abbott's "thunder-gust
sermon." Between the voice of the Lord from heaven, and the voice of His servant in the house, the
people had never known such a time.
After filling another small appointment, Mr. Abbott went to quarterly meeting, which was held
in Mr. Simmon's barn, near the Head of Sassafras. Here he met his brother Sterling, from Burlington,
N. J. Many attended this meeting. "On Sabbath I preached, and the Lord attended the word with
power; many cried aloud, and some fell to the floor. Brother Ivy gave a powerful exhortation, which
made many weep. A number were converted, and some professed sanctification." Mr. K., the kind
Churchman, took Mr. Abbott and Mr. Sterling home with him. While they were conducting family
worship in the evening, the power of God came down in a remarkable manner upon the colored
people, who were in the kitchen. Brother Sterling spent an hour among them, exhorting and
instructing them. Mr. Abbott had spent about two weeks on Kent Circuit; and this preaching
excursion, like all others of his, was attended by extraordinary manifestations: the people had to say,
"We have seen strange things today." Such a preacher they had never listened to before.
He, in company with Mr. Sterling, started for Jersey. Arriving at New Castle, where they stayed
all night, he preached at Brother Furness', "to a hard hearted, disobedient people:" such were the
people of New Castle in 1781; and we know not that they have greatly changed since.
From the Conference of 1781, Mr. Freeborn Garrettson was sent to Sussex Circuit in Virginia.
It was a time of great public calamity: the previous year the treacherous [Benedict] Arnold had made
a descent on Virginia, laying the country waste; and this year, Cornwallis was harassing the people
of Virginia with his army. This state of things was unfriendly to the spread of Christianity. There
was, also, some dissatisfaction with some of the local preachers and private members, because the
ordinances had been suspended. In this state things he arrived on his circuit, and commenced his
labors at Ellis' Chapel. He says, "As I entered the door, I saw a man in the pulpit dressed in black,
engaged in prayer. I soon perceived that he was bereft of his reason. I went into the pulpit and desired
him to desist. After he concluded prayer, he began to speak; and I had no way to stop him but by
causing the people to withdraw. After a few minutes the people returned, and I preached to them.
This strange man's testimony was, that he was a prophet sent of God to teach the people; and that
it was revealed to him that a person would interrupt him in his discourse. The prophet returned
home, and that night told his family, at such an hour he would go into a trance; and that they must
not bury him until after such a time, should he not survive. Accordingly, to all appearance, he was
in a trance. The next day I was sent for to visit him. Many were weeping around the bed in which
he lay like a corpse; for I could not perceive that he breathed. About the time that he spoke of
reviving, he came to himself. He had been happy in God and a sensible, useful man. After this, he
seemed more rational, and I took him part of the way round the circuit with me, and had a hope,
before we parted, that he was restored. Sometime after this he began again to preach Christ, and I
trust was more humble than ever." There was something mysterious in the case of this man. He, like
many others that have apparently been entranced, had little, if anything, to reveal on coming to
himself.