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

intercourse with the Methodists, they soon bestowed the epithet upon him. Soon after this Dr. Coke
was visited by Mr. Thomas Maxfield, one of Wesley's earliest lay preachers, who, through Mr.
Wesley's influence, had been ordained by the Bishop of Londonderry, soon after which he withdrew
from the Methodists, and now resided as an independent minister, near South Petherton. Their
conversation was on the important subject of the new birth, as the source of a godly life. By this and
subsequent conversations, Dr. Coke became much enlightened as to true religion. About this time
he read "Alien's Alarm to the Unconverted," and from this time he was an earnest seeker of a change
of heart, until he was made to rejoice in the love of God.
Mr. Fletcher's "Appeal," and his "Checks to Antinomianism," Having been put into his hand by
a pious minister of the Established Church, gave him a bias in favor of the system of doctrine taught
by Mr. Wesley. About the same time he visited a respectable family in Devonshire, where he found
a poor, but pious laboring man, who was a Methodist class leader. With this rustic, Dr. Coke had
several conversations on the manner in which a sinner must come to God, the nature of pardon, and
the evidence accompanying it by the witness of the Spirit. They also joined in prayer. Here was a
"Master in Israel," gladly receiving instruction from a peasant, who gave him such an account of the
Methodists, as brought him to the resolve to disregard the strange reports that he had heard about
them, and become better acquainted with them. He not only preached in the church, but lectured on
weekday evenings for the benefit of the aged and infirm, who could not attend at church. It was while
preaching to his little flock in the country whither he had walked, that God was pleased to speak
peace to his soul, dispel his fears, and fill his heart with joy unspeakable. He announced from his
pulpit the blessing he had received, laid aside his written discourses, and began to preach
extemporaneously, and under his first extemporary discourse three souls were awakened.
Three years he had been laboring in his parish, before he received the blessing of pardon. The
course he was now pursuing, preaching without a book; his earnest manner, his plain reproofs, and
his evening lectures in the village; gave offense, and the parish was in a ferment. He had also
introduced into the church, the practice of singing hymns. To put an end to these irregularities, a
charge was made out against him and laid before the Bishop, who did not even notify the Doctor of
the charge, and it slept in silence. A second application to the Bishop of Bath and Wells met with
no better success. His enemies next applied to the rector of the parish, who promised to dismiss him.
The matter was secretly consummated, the Doctor was abruptly dismissed before the people, he not
having received an intimation of it, and to complete his disgrace; the parish bells chimed him out of
doors.
The greatest trouble that this caused him to feel, arose from the fact that the precipitancy of the
measure had not allowed him the opportunity of preaching a farewell sermon, to a people whom he
might never address again. His friends advised him to attend the church on the following Sabbaths,
and address the people as they were leaving the church. This advice was followed, and he was
permitted to conclude his discourse in peace. On announcing to preach there the next Sabbath, his
enemies declared they would stone him. At the time, the Doctor and his friends were on the spot.
They found magazines of stones collected to pelt him with. Among his friends were a Mr. Edmons
and his sister, of a highly respectable family near Petherton. These stood on either side of him, other
friends surrounded them, and he was permitted to finish his discourse in peace; after which he was
kindly invited to go home with Mr. And Miss Edmons, though they belonged to a dissenting family.