History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

too severe? "How must Mr. Asbury have felt when he received, opened, and read Bishop White's
answer to the Doctor's letter, which fell into his hands? Is it not reasonable to suppose that he was
thunderstruck with surprise, and indignant at such conduct? That he was ready to cry out, treachery,
deception, intrigue, and a thousand things beside? Nor is it strange that in a letter, written
subsequently, and now lying before me, he should say, 'I cannot confide in ecclesiastics passing
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through the degrees and intrigues of a university, as I can trust to a plowman.'" It is morally
certain that he knew of the White letter when he bid Coke adieu at New Castle, for he did not return
to Baltimore until the close of the following November, having made an extensive circuit among the
New England churches from the New York Conference; and there is evidence, under Dr. Coke's own
hand, that during this whole period he nursed his righteous indignation. The proof? It is found in a
letter of Coke's to Asbury under date of September 23, 1791, and bound up in the pamphlet
published in London in 1793, as an appeal to the English Methodists against the publication of the
Coke-Moore "Life of Wesley" in opposition to Whitehead's "Life" as authorized by his will and the
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executors. This letter was republished in this country in the Baltimore Methodist Magazine for
May, 1856, and the following are extracts from it:
Isle Of Jersey, on the Coast of France, September 23, 1791.
Dear Friend:
I have written many letters to you, but have received none from you. I have written so much to
you concerning the imprudence I was led into in preaching Mr. Wesley's funeral sermon, that I shall
say no more at present on that head. I also dwelt on some other things which you might construe as
unkindness to you. . . . Will you appoint a place for me to meet you in the month of November of
next year? I mean, will you inform me what part of the continent you will be in at that time? Why
don't you send me your minutes? Why don't you write me? . . . Come, let everything contrary to love
and friendship die away and be no more forever. You must make allowance for me, considering the
great influence Mr. Wesley had on my mind, and his great prejudice toward you. . . . I am determined
to write to you every opportunity till I sail for America, let your neglect toward me be ever so great,
or ever so much deserved by me. Adieu. Pray at least,
For Your Truly Faithful Friend and affectionate brother,
Thomas Coke
Nothing could show the stern attitude of Asbury toward this supplanting Jacob, like this letter.
Coke had pushed out his pawns upon the ecclesiastical chess-board in over-confidence of winning,
but the master of the game dexterously turned out his hand, and again it was a disastrous checkmate
for the venture-some player. Asbury kept him on the stool of repentance until he was thoroughly
humbled. How thoroughly humbled and subdued let his next visit to America and the General
Conference of 1792 exhibit. Asbury was an adept in all ecclesiastical finesse, but he did not acquire
it as an art. He was a leader by the genius of his nature. In Coke it was an art, and as such belongs
to the trickster and Asbury allowed him the monopoly of it.
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