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

to Long Island, until he resolved if there were an opportunity he would follow this impression. On
going to the wharf next morning, he found a sloop ready to sail to Southold, and went on board.
When he landed he inquired for praying people, and was directed to Mrs. Moore's house. Soon as
she saw him she knew he was a Methodist minister and hailed him as "the blessed of the Lord." A
congregation was convened, -- a sermon was preached, -- and soon a class was formed, and
Methodism has been in the place ever since. (See Garrettson's Life, pp. 183-4.) As a minister of
Christianity, he went to the grave without a blot or stain upon his unsullied character. His Presiding
Elder, afterwards Bishop George, preached and published his funeral discourse.
He stood high as a Christian, and as a minister of the gospel. His slender constitution yielded to
his toils, and while praying with a sick friend he began to discharge blood; and it was thought, that
a large blood vessel broke, and he was suffocated with his blood, and died suddenly at the house of
Walter Worthington, in Anne Arundel county, Md., in 1804. He will, we doubt not, receive a
kingdom and a crown.
Mr. John Smith was a native of Kent county, Md., born in 1758, and was converted to God in
1780. He traveled and preached ten or twelve years, and then became supernumerary, and afterwards
superannuated, until his death in 1812. His dying language was, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly,
take my enraptured soul away. I am not afraid to die. I long to be dissolved, and see my Saviour
without a dimming vail between, -- death has lost his sting." He died in Chestertown, after a long
and severe illness, in his fifty-fifth year; and his dust sleeps at Hinson's Chapel, near the great and
good William Gill's.
Although Kent was the first county on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that was favored with
Methodist preaching (having, as is believed, been visited by Mr. Strawbridge), it has not furnished
many Methodist preachers. Brother Smith, it seems, was among the first from this county.
Mr. Isaac Smith was a native of Virginia. This year he was with the Rev. Jesse Lee, on Salisbury
Circuit, N. C. In 1786 he formed Edisto Circuit. In this region the name Methodist was scarcely
known until he visited it. The new name, and his heart-searching preaching, caused much stir among
the people, as they had heard but little preaching before, and knew nothing of experimental religion.
Many were convicted and converted, and a number of societies were formed. It was no uncommon
event for persons to fall under his pungent preaching, as suddenly as if they had been shot; and after
they had lain for some time on the ground, or floor, to rise and praise God, for giving them the
evidence of pardon. This caused gainsayers to declare that the people were run mad; and the
Methodists were the deceivers spoken of in the New Testament. The doctrine of the new birth was
no better understood by the people then, than it was by Nicodemus, until they were enlightened by
his preaching. The pioneer of Methodism not only has to take people as he finds them, but the gold
has to be worked out of the ore. When Mr. Smith was forming Edisto Circuit, a gentleman who was
not a professor of religion, invite him to his house. He visited him; and while at his house, the
gentleman observed that he frequently retired into the woods. Thinking that he thus went into secret
places for mischief or wickedness, he, on one occasion, followed him as a spy; when, to his great
astonishment, he found him on his knees, engaged in fervent prayer! This struck the gentleman under
conviction; and was the cause of his embracing religion soon after. The happy mixture of dignity,
pleasantness, and meekness in his countenance was calculated to win the good opinion of such as