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 51
Mr. Joseph Everett was born in Queen Anne's county, state of Maryland, June 17, 1732. Among
Methodist preachers there has been not only a great variety of talent, but also of manner and tact.
This has been a wise arrangement, to suit the no less various tastes of their hearers; seeing, that every
preacher can please, and profit some, and no one can meet the expectation of all. Mr. Everett was,
we think, the roughest-spoken preacher that ever stood in the itinerant ranks. But let no one prejudge
him; but follow him through his ministerial life of thirty years, which closed in a most triumphant
death, and see if a doubt remains that he was a good man. As he wrote an account of his experience,
which was published in the Arminian Magazine, in order to show his manner of expressing himself,
we will give his language to some extent. He says his parents were neither rich nor poor, but labored,
and taught him to labor.
"As to religion, we had none, but called ourselves of the Church of England. We went to church,
and heard a parcel of dead morality, delivered by a blind, avaricious minister, sent by the devil to
deceive the people. Since the Lord has opened my eyes, I have stood amazed to see sinners giving
extravagant sums (of money) to blind guides, to go before them to hell. My nature was a fit soil for
the devil's seed to take root, and grow in. I learned to swear, to tell lies, and vent my angry passions.
I was often uneasy, afraid to die, and felt a weight of guilt that caused me to resolve to do better. I
never heard one gospel sermon until I was grown up.
"In this state of wickedness I lived till I was married. I chose a companion that was as willing to
go to the devil as I was; it would have puzzled a philosopher to determine which of us loved sin
most. Thus I went on until the New Lights, or Whitefieldites, came about. I went to hear them; and,
saw myself in the way to hell; and was taught that I must be born again, and know my sins forgiven.
I began to fall out with my sins, -- to read the Bible, -- to pray in secret, and likewise in my family,
-- thus I went on for nearly two years. The minister that I heard, taught that Christ died for a certain
number, and not one of them would be lost; and all the rest of mankind would be damned and sent
to hell, -- that the elect must persevere and go to heaven. By this trap the devil catches millions of
unwary souls. The Lord knows what I suffered by it. I was no stranger to persecution, as I reproved
sin. By this time I was joined in communion with the New Light Church, and was thought to be a
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great Christian; but, as yet, a stranger to the knowledge of sins forgiven. In 1763, I went into a
chamber to seek the blessing. I was on my knees but a few moments before the Lord shed His love
abroad in my heart, and I felt I had redemption in His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. I was so
simple that I thought there was no sin in my soul. But in a short time the enemy of my soul began
to work upon the unrenewed part of my nature, and I felt pride, self-will, and anger. Our minister
told us, though we might know our sins forgiven, it was impossible to live without sin. At last the
devil found out a scheme that answered his purpose: he baited his hook, and I swallowed it. I still
went to hear preaching, prayed in my family, but my conscience told me I was a hypocrite. My