September 5, 1773 — to His Parents

Asbury loved Baltimore. The Journal record for September 5 shows that it was Sunday and that he preached at the Point in the morning and in Baltimore in the evening to a large congregation. However, he observed that the inhabitants were much devoted to pride, idolatry, and every species of sin. Yet he asked the Lord to remember them in mercy.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

September 5, 1773

[TO HIS PARENTS]

My dear Parents:

I long to hear oftener from you. I think I have had but two letters from you since I have been in America; but at such a distance we must expect long returns. I am at present stationed in Maryland, and shall stay until Spring. Then, if the Lord spare me, I shall go to Virginia,¹ and there continue till May, when our Conference will begin in Philadelphia.

Mr. Rankin² told me he saw [you], but I wonder you did not write. We — — the preachers and people in much —— order since the last preachers came over, and we have a prospect of much good.³ I have much to do here, as I am in the greatest part of the work, and we have many country-born preachers and exhorters. I bless God for health, I think better than ever; and I do feel my heart taken up with God and his work. When I consider the order and steadfastness of my own country friends, I wish almost to be with them. But I trust the time will come when I shall see them. Indeed, if I sought any thing but the glory of God, I should think this the only place in the world to answer my purpose. But God, that knows my heart, knoweth my desire is to spend and be spent in his service. I have had opportunities of pursuing fleshly ends, but I abhor them. Indeed, we have a land of plenty. We eat bread without scarceness.

I feel it my one great business to keep myself pure. The customs of a country are apt to stick to us without our notice. I see more and more every day what a preacher must be, and how he ought to live in public and private. I trust, my dear parents, you cleave to God, and both press on to a full conformity to the will of God, and the image of God,—holiness. Holiness becomes the house of God, whose house are ye. Let this be the mark for us, that Christ may be all. I am much taken up. Forgive the shortness of my letters. I have often to ride and preach twice in the daytime. My love to all friends. If I live, unless I should take a trip to the West Indies, I hope to be in England in less than two years. From your obedient and loving son,

FRANCIS ASBURY

Drew University Library