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

doing on the circuit. Brother E. was soon on the floor, and quickly another, until four fell. Soon six
or seven sinners fell to the floor. This meeting lasted about two hours, during which Mr. Abbott and
the pious Miss C. R. labored with the people."
As there were but two Episcopal churches in the bound of Dover Circuit at this time -- one at
Duck Creek, which Mr. Abbott had just left, and the other at Dover -- this meeting was, it seems, at
Dover. The woods in which he preached was, in all probability, that beautiful grove where Wesley
Chapel was erected two years afterwards; and the comic clerk was the clerk of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in Dover.
"Next day I met Brother Asbury and about twenty other preachers, at Brother Thomas White's,
on their way to quarterly meeting. Brother Asbury asked me what news I brought from the sea-coast.
One of the preachers said (judging from his common appearance that he was a dolt [dunce]), 'Why,
he can tell you nothing.' 'Yes, yes,' said Brother Asbury, 'he can tell us something.' I then related how
God was carrying on his work, and they were amazed. Brother Asbury called me up stairs, and told
me I must preach that evening. I told him I could not, as they were all preachers. He then said, 'You
must exhort after me.' After he had preached, I arose; and, as they were mostly preachers, I related
my experience, and exhorted them all to holiness of heart. In the morning, Brother Asbury stroked
down my hair, and said, 'Brother Abbott, the black coats scared you last night.' We all set out for
quarterly meeting. Towards evening, not far from the place, we stopped at a door, and Brother
Asbury said to the man of the house, 'You must send out and gather your neighbors;' and turning to
me said, 'You must preach here tonight.' We had a large congregation. I preached: some sighed, some
groaned, and others wept.
"Next morning we went to quarterly meeting at Barratt's Chapel, where Brother Asbury preached
to a large congregation, and called on me to exhort. Some of the preachers wondered where he had
gathered up that old fellow. I sung, prayed, and began to exhort; and God came down in his Spirit's
power, as in ancient days. Some fell to the floor, others ran out of the house, many cried aloud for
mercy, and others were shouting praises, with hearts full of love divine. Seeing the people sit on the
joists upstairs, I was afraid they would fall through; this caused me to withhold, and soon the
meeting ended."
Mr. As bury having given Mr. Abbott in charge of one of the gentlemen of the neighborhood, he
went to his house, and spent the afternoon conversing with his Christian friends. Mr. Abbott says:
"In the evening I asked if any of them could sing
"Still out of the deepest abyss
Of trouble, I mournfully cry;
I pine to recover my peace,
To see my Redeemer and die, &c.'
"A gentleman from Dorchester answered he could, and they sung it with such melodious voices,
and with the spirit, that it was attended with great power. The gentleman's lady (at whose house he
put up) and two others fell to the floor. When done singing, we kneeled down to pray, and several