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

prospering; and especially among the youths of this circuit he was much encouraged to see them
coming into the fold.
Towards the latter end of this year he had a very remarkable meeting, in which he proved the truth
of that saying, "My strength is made perfect in weakness." He was laboring under bodily affliction;
and having heard that Mr. Pedicord, his spiritual father, was dead, he felt a wish, if such were the
will of the Lord, that he might follow him to glory. In this state of mind he began to doubt his call
to the work, and entertained thoughts of going home. Under the influence of such reasoning he went
to an appointment where very few usually attended, with an intention, if any came out, to give them
an exhortation, and write to the Conference that he declined taking an appointment for the ensuing
year. When he came in sight of the place he saw many carriages, and a large collection of people.
It was time to commence; and he felt himself wholly unprepared to meet the people. He concluded
that he would open his Testament, and undertake to speak from the first passage that struck his mind;
and if he was confounded before the people, he would regard it as an evidence that he had mistaken
his calling. His eye resting on these words, "What must I do to be saved?" He began to address the
people; and in his embarrassed state of feeling his tears began to flow freely; and the spirit of
weeping began to run through the congregation, and it was deeply touched. Many desired to be
present in the class meeting who were not members, and most that stayed in class united with the
Methodists. Thus, instead of encouraging his half-formed resolution to retire from the work, the Lord
renewed his commission by giving him that day a goodly number of seals.
It was during this year that he first heard the "Divine, exclusive, and unchangeable right of prelacy
preached up," by a clergyman direct from England, who, it appears, had more of the learning of this
world than of Divine grace. In his discourse he gave great offense to his hearers, and prevented his
being settled in the parish by advocating tithing system of England, as being more in accordance with
the order of God than the voluntary system that generally prevailed in America; and by his severe
attack of Mr. Wesley, calling him "The prince of enthusiasts," and his preachers "babblers." There
were many Methodists out to hear him; and in the midst of his tirade against enthusiasm a highly
respectable Methodist lady greatly embarrassed his by shouting, "Glory to God! if what I now feel
be enthusiasm, let me always be an enthusiast!" (Life of Ware.)
In 1784, Mr. Lee was appointed to Salisbury Circuit. The following extracts will show how much
he was, in the spirit of the work: "I preached at Hearns to a large company of solemn hearers. While
I was speaking of the love of God, I felt so much of it in my own soul that I burst into a flood of
tears, and for some time stood in silence and wept. I then began again; but was so overcome that I
had to stop and weep several times before I finished my subject. There were very few dry eyes in the
house. The next day I preached with many tears to a weeping congregation at Brother Carter's.
"I preached at John Randall's, who is deaf and dumb, yet can pronounce the name of his wife and
the name of his brother; but I could not learn that he ever uttered any other words. He is esteemed
a pious man, and by signs will give a good experience of his conviction, conversion, and progress
in the service of the Lord, and of his pleasing hope of Heaven when he leaves the world.
At Ledbetter's, my heart was greatly affected, and my eyes overflowed with tears. The hearers
were so much wrought upon that I had a hope of seeing some of them converted.