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

and some were fully awakened." He went home with Mr. Bray, a Baptist. On their way to his house
they stopped at a place where he found a number of persons who had heard him preach, and were
much affected: he prayed with them, and gave them an exhortation; and then went to Mr. Bray's,
where he found about forty people assembled together. Here he related what he had seen of the
wonderful work of God in the land: -- souls converted, souls sanctified, drunkards become sober
men, &c. "One of the young men present said, 'It beats all the preaching I ever heard of since I was
born, and if there is such a God as you speak of, I am determined to find him before morning. I then
exhorted him, telling him, if he sought he would find. He went home, retired to his barn, where he
continued all night in prayer, -- sometimes on his knees, and sometimes on his face. Next morning,
when the sun was up, the Sun of righteousness shone upon him in pardon and peace. 'Now,' said he,
'are these (Methodists) the people we used to call deceivers and false teachers? O that God would
convert another soul, that there might be two witnesses for Jesus today; that out of the mouth of two
witnesses every word might be established!' As he was on his way to meeting he met with nine or
ten others; just as they turned the corner of the house to go in, a young man fell to the ground, and
never ceased crying to God until he spoke peace to his soul. They then came into the house, and the
first one began to exhort the people, bathed in tears, telling them that they had called these people
antichristians; but that he knew they were the servants of the living God, -- exhorting them to
believe. After him arose the other who had just found peace at the door, and began to tell what God
had done for his soul, exhorting them likewise to believe, while tears flowed from many eyes." It was
very opportune that God had raised up these two young preachers to speak for him at Mr. Abbott's
twenty-first appointment, as he had taken such a cold that he could not speak above a whisper.
Next day, at his twenty-second appointment, his cold had greatly increased. He felt that he could
not properly preach; and, as he says, "only whispered them an exhortation." He was now in
Burlington county. The ground he had traveled over in Cumberland, Cape May, the east end of
Gloucester, and Monmouth counties, was new to him. The appointments he had never been at
before; and most of the people that he had seen were strange to him; but he is now among his old
friends. His twenty-third appointment was at Brother Fidler's, where he preached, and had a precious
time with the little society. "A few days after, I went to Trenton. I began to preach at candlelight to
a large congregation, which caused the devil to roar. His children in the street cried, Fire! fire! This
alarmed the people, and broke up the meeting.
"Next morning, I set out for quarterly meeting at New Mills. After our meeting had been opened,
and several exhortations given, Brother C. Cotts (of Trenton) went to prayer, and several fell to the
floor, and many were affected, and we had a powerful time. After meeting, Brother James Sterling,
and several others, went with me to John Budd's. Here we found a woman in distress of soul. In the
morning, Brother Sterling went to prayer; after him I prayed. The distressed woman lay as in the
agonies of death near one hour; she then went into her room to pray, and soon after returned
professing faith in Christ. She and her husband went with us to Brother H.'s (probably Brother
Heisler's), where about forty persons had assembled, waiting for us to pray together before we parted.
As soon as I entered the house, a woman entreated me to pray for her, saying, 'I am going to hell, I
have no God.' I exhorted her, and all present. Then a young woman came to me, saying, 'Father
Abbott, pray to God that he may give me a clean heart.' I replied, 'God shall give you one this
moment.' She dropped into my arms as one dead. I then claimed the promises, and cried, exhorting
them all to look to God for pure hearts; at this time about twenty more fell to the floor. When the