A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org
A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org
particular places. I know the word of God is our infallible guide, and by it we are to try all our dreams and feelings. I also know that, both sleeping and waking, things of a Divine nature have been revealed to me. It will hardly be doubted or denied by Christians, that God selects some individuals to be his instruments to perform certain works at certain times -- as Luther to effect the Reformation in the sixteenth century and Wesley in the eighteenth century; but these instruments could no find in the Bible, 'Thus saith the Lord, Martin Luther shall expose popery, and bring about a great reformation; and John Wesley shall be a restorer of declining Christianity.' These men were convinced of their call, as every true Gospel minister is, by a conviction wrought in their souls by the Holy Spirit. So, if God designs a person to go to a particular country or neighborhood, at a particular time, where he will be more useful than anywhere else, this cannot be learned from the Bible; but must be made known by revelation from the Omniscient Being. St. Paul, though he had been constituted an Apostle by a personal interview with Christ, did not know the Lord's time for him to preach the gospel in Macedonia until he had a 'vision.' From this he was 'assured that the Lord had called him to preach the gospel unto them.' If St. Paul needed to be directed by a vision where to go, it seems to be in perfect harmony with the administration of the Lord Jesus Christ to direct others by similar means -- the means used by the head of the Church are impressions, that are their own witness to their subjects that they are from the Lord -- dreams and visions. We can see nothing unreasonable, unphilosophical, or unscriptural in believing that many modern ministers, who have been consecrated wholly to the Lord, whose hearts have said 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?' Have been so directed." The results that followed from Mr. Garrettson's following the impression above, shows that it was from God. He found a family ready to receive him and his message -- the foundation of a Methodist society was laid, out of which several preachers came, who, in their day, did good service for the Redeemer. The evidence that his dream, which directed him to the people in Sussex and Somerset counties, was of God, is equally confirmed by the societies and preachers that were raised up at Broad Creek, the Sound, Salisbury, and Quantico. The charge of enthusiasm will not lie against him for believing in impressions, visions, and dreams; and for the same reason Mr. Abbott, and all such ministers, must be acquitted of the charge. 11 Hatred of tyranny and love of liberty have been the two ruling passions in the human heart, which have secured all the civil and ecclesiastical freedom now existing in Christendom. These two passions have been operating from the dawn of the Reformation; and in no country in Europe have they worked out such results as in England, the nation from which the people of the United States chiefly sprang. In the seventeenth century, when this country was colonized, these passions were vigorously operating in England; they brought Charles I. to the scaffold, and placed Oliver Cromwell, no less a tyrant, in his way, in power. New terms were used to represent the views of the struggling parties; those who advocated monarchy in church and state, were called Tories, from toree, an Irish word, signifying a savage robber. Those opposing to monarchy in church and state, were called Whigs, from whig-a-more, a phrase used by the Scotch, who were generally of the latter party, in driving strings of horses. When Anne, the daughter of James, Duke of York (after whom New York was called), and brother to Charles II., and granddaughter of Charles I, came to the throne, she began her reign with Whig friends and counselors; one of them was the serene, indefatigable, but avaricious Duke of Marlborough. After a while, Anne began to favor Tory views, of "divine right and passive obedience." Her old playmate, Sarah Jennings, now Duchess of Marlborough, one of the greatest and most high-bosomed ladies of the age, always a Whig, began to fall from Anne's esteem, and Mrs. Marsham, her kinswoman, who had been brought to the notice of the queen by the duchess,
took her place at court. She was but the tool of Harley, secretary of state, whose coadjutor was Henry St. John, afterwards Lord Bolingbroke. They succeeded in prostrating the Whigs, and placing the Tories in power. Several of the leading Whigs came to this country, bringing with them their hatred of monarchy. Of these, we name the Claypole and Halifax families. Oliver Cromwell's favorite daughter as married to a Claypole; and the Claypoles among the early settlers of Philadelphia were descended from Oliver Cromwell. Fairfax was opposed to the Stewarts; Lord Fairfax commanded an army in the civil war which prostrated the power of Charles I. They were identified with the Whigs and Presbyterians. This historical sketch may furnish the reason why a descendant of Lord Fairfax settled in Virginia, and took up a vast tract of country -- one county bearing his name to the present time. 12 Sketch of the Rev. Philip Gatch, p. 554. 13 Abridged from Mr. Wesley's Missionaries to America. 14 Dr. Tilden a local preacher. 15 General Washington's mother was a Ball, according to our recollection. 16 See the print that hangs up in many houses, called "The Deathbed of Mr. Wesley," in which Mr. Rankin stands near the dying saint. THE LAST WITNESS GONE. -- Those who have seen the large engraving of the "Deathbed of Wesley," will recollect the figure of the little boy who stands near the foot of the bed, and who, at the time the picture was engraved, was the only person living who was present on that solemn occasion. The following obituary from the last number of the London Watchman shows that he too has now passed away: -- Oct. 25th, "At Chesterfield, in his 68th year, James Roe Rogers, retired revenue officer. He was the son of the late Rev. James and Hester Ann Rogers. For thirty-five years he was a useful and consistent member of the Methodist connection. He was present with his parents at the death of the late venerable John Wesley, and was the last survivor of the party who witnessed that impressive scene." 17 J. K, the old Presbyterian friend who allowed the Methodists to preach in his house at Cedar Creek, in Sussex county, Del., and to raise a Methodist society, which was the germ of the Slaughter Neck Methodist meeting, where the Shockleys and Hickmans -- names honorably connected the Methodism -- as, also, others, was not the only one we ever heard of who kept his coffin by him. We have heard of one or two others who did the same thing. One who went to the Western country, carrying his coffin with him; and, not liking the country, returned, bringing back with him the "narrow house." Another, whose name was Adams, who was a very pious man, living above the fear of death, who kept his coffin under the bed he slept in, making it a repository for such articles as were proper to be kept in it until his body occupied it. The inquiry might be made, whether, if it were a more general practice for the living to keep the house that the body is to be the tenant of when the
- Page 285 and 286: cause of Christ -- how much Mr. W.
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- Page 289 and 290: In this unhappy state she continued
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- Page 293 and 294: time, to distribute his well tried
- Page 295 and 296: On his way to his circuit, he met w
- Page 297 and 298: Mr. Thomas Ware, having been recomm
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- Page 303 and 304: preachers found their way into it.
- Page 305 and 306: prospering; and especially among th
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- Page 309 and 310: to Long Island, until he resolved i
- Page 311 and 312: When age and infirmity obliged him
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- Page 317 and 318: On Saturday, 25th, being the second
- Page 319 and 320: of them has been tried; as to untri
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- Page 325 and 326: Mr. Russel was raised in the Church
- Page 327 and 328: Carpenter's son, the late Rev. Char
- Page 329 and 330: In 1852, James Smith, a preacher fo
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particular places. I know the word of God is our infallible guide, and by it we are to try all our<br />
dreams and feelings. I also know that, both sleeping and waking, things of a Divine nature have been<br />
revealed to me. It will hardly be doubted or denied by Christians, that God selects some individuals<br />
to be his instruments to perform certain works at certain times -- as Luther to effect the Reformation<br />
in the sixteenth century and Wesley in the eighteenth century; but these instruments could no find<br />
in the Bible, 'Thus saith the Lord, Martin Luther shall expose popery, and bring about a great<br />
reformation; and John Wesley shall be a restorer of declining Christianity.' <strong>The</strong>se men were<br />
convinced of their call, as every true Gospel minister is, by a conviction wrought in their souls by<br />
the Holy Spirit. So, if God designs a person to go to a particular country or neighborhood, at a<br />
particular time, where he will be more useful than anywhere else, this cannot be learned from the<br />
Bible; but must be made known by revelation from the Omniscient Being. St. Paul, though he had<br />
been constituted an Apostle by a personal interview with Christ, did not know the Lord's time for<br />
him to preach the gospel in Macedonia until he had a 'vision.' From this he was 'assured that the Lord<br />
had called him to preach the gospel unto them.' If St. Paul needed to be directed by a vision where<br />
to go, it seems to be in perfect harmony with the administration of the Lord Jesus Christ to direct<br />
others by similar means -- the means used by the head of the Church are impressions, that are their<br />
own witness to their subjects that they are from the Lord -- dreams and visions. We can see nothing<br />
unreasonable, unphilosophical, or unscriptural in believing that many modern ministers, who have<br />
been consecrated wholly to the Lord, whose hearts have said 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?'<br />
Have been so directed." <strong>The</strong> results that followed from Mr. Garrettson's following the impression<br />
above, shows that it was from God. He found a family ready to receive him and his message -- the<br />
foundation of a Methodist society was laid, out of which several preachers came, who, in their day,<br />
did good service for the Redeemer. <strong>The</strong> evidence that his dream, which directed him to the people<br />
in Sussex and Somerset counties, was of God, is equally confirmed by the societies and preachers<br />
that were raised up at Broad Creek, the Sound, Salisbury, and Quantico. <strong>The</strong> charge of enthusiasm<br />
will not lie against him for believing in impressions, visions, and dreams; and for the same reason<br />
Mr. Abbott, and all such ministers, must be acquitted of the charge.<br />
11 Hatred of tyranny and love of liberty have been the two ruling passions in the human heart, which<br />
have secured all the civil and ecclesiastical freedom now existing in Christendom. <strong>The</strong>se two<br />
passions have been operating from the dawn of the Reformation; and in no country in Europe have<br />
they worked out such results as in England, the nation from which the people of the United States<br />
chiefly sprang. <strong>In</strong> the seventeenth century, when this country was colonized, these passions were<br />
vigorously operating in England; they brought Charles I. to the scaffold, and placed Oliver<br />
Cromwell, no less a tyrant, in his way, in power. New terms were used to represent the views of the<br />
struggling parties; those who advocated monarchy in church and state, were called Tories, from<br />
toree, an Irish word, signifying a savage robber. Those opposing to monarchy in church and state,<br />
were called Whigs, from whig-a-more, a phrase used by the Scotch, who were generally of the latter<br />
party, in driving strings of horses. When Anne, the daughter of James, Duke of York (after whom<br />
New York was called), and brother to Charles II., and granddaughter of Charles I, came to the throne,<br />
she began her reign with Whig friends and counselors; one of them was the serene, indefatigable,<br />
but avaricious Duke of Marlborough. After a while, Anne began to favor Tory views, of "divine right<br />
and passive obedience." Her old playmate, Sarah Jennings, now Duchess of Marlborough, one of the<br />
greatest and most high-bosomed ladies of the age, always a Whig, began to fall from Anne's esteem,<br />
and Mrs. Marsham, her kinswoman, who had been brought to the notice of the queen by the duchess,