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

principle was, that there was no falling from justifying grace; and, indeed, it was impossible for me
to fall, for I had shamefully fallen already. The brethren began to look very coldly at me, and as I
grew worse they disowned me, saying I had never been converted; and for months I never went to
meeting. Thus I went on to please my master the devil. My conscience giving me no rest, I took the
method that Cain did to stifle his; he, by the noise of axes and hammers in building cities; I, by the
hurry of business, and the clash of wicked company, and often by drinking. I continued in this state
until the commencement of the war between Great Britain and America; and then became a warm
Whig, and repaired to the muster-field to learn the use of arms, and turned out a volunteer. When
I had acted my part at camp, I returned home. By this time there was a people called Methodists that
had come into the place where I lived, telling the people that everybody might be saved. This
doctrine I did not believe, and thinking they were not sent of God, I determined to oppose them. I
continued to persecute them, but, like the rest of the devil's children, always behind their backs, or
at a distance. I went one evening to hear one exhort, but did not like to hear the people make such
a noise, though I liked a noise in a tavern. About the 14th of March, 1778, a woman persuaded me
to go to Mr. White's, to hear preaching. I went, and heard Mr. Asbury. As the discourse was
practical, and not doctrinal, I could find no fault with it, unless because it was delivered by a
Methodist preacher, which is too much the case in this polite age, among the rich and the great, -the
honorable children of the devil.
"My prejudice subsided, and a way was opened for conviction. The human soul is like a castle,
that we cannot get into it without a key. Let the key be lost, and the door continues shut. I once had
the key, but the devil had got it from me. I began to feel the returns of God's grace to revisit my soul.
The eyes of the people began to be upon me. My old companions looked very coolly at me; and the
Methodists had their eyes on me, no doubt for good; especially my friend Edward White frequently
asked me home with him, and conversed with me on Methodism; knowing I was Calvinistic, he
furnished me with the writings of Mr. Wesley and Fletcher. I once heard him say, 'If Christ died for
all, all were salvable; and they that were lost, were lost by their own fault;' which gave me more
insight into the scheme of redemption than ever I got before by all the reading and preaching I had
practiced. I was more and more engaged to save my soul. In retiring to pray, I have felt the spirit of
the devil in my very flesh. It seemed that I could hear the fiend say, 'What I are you praying again?
you had better quit, -- after awhile you will tire, and leave as you did before.' I went forward in the
way of duty, and on the 5th day of April, 1778, the Lord set my soul once more at liberty.
"I read Mr. Wesley on Perfection, but the mist of Calvinism was not wiped from my mind; they
had taught me that temptations were sins. I could not distinguish between sins and infirmities; and
hardly believe that any Antinomian can. I began to feel the necessity of joining the society, which
I did, in order to grow in grace. I began to speak to my acquaintance about their souls, and sometimes
to preach, and found that some were wrought upon. In family prayer, sometimes, the power of the
Lord would descend in such a manner as to cause the people to mourn and cry. Nor would they be
able to rise from the floor for half a night. My exercises about preaching were so great that I have
awoke from sleep, and found myself preaching. While I was in the way to hell, I lived for the most
part of my time without labor; now, I earned my bread by the labor of my hands; and studied divinity
at the plow, axe, or hoe, instead of the college. At last I disclosed my mind (on the subject of
preaching) to my friend Edward White. At this time, that man of God, C. B. Pedicord, was riding
in the circuit. He sent for me meet him at an appointment near Mr. White's, and asked me to give an