September 1, 1793 — to His Parents

Here is more evidence of Asbury’s continuing concern for his parents’ spiritual and physical welfare. As usual he is giving an account of the growth of the work. It is evident here that he has given up all idea of ever returning to England to live.

NEW YORK, N.Y.

September 1, 1793

[TO HIS PARENTS]

My ever dear Parents:

I am pleased to hear by Mr. Suckley,¹ (who was at the house), of your welfare. I expect by this time brother Sause has supplied you with a small sum of money. I shall not forget to supply you in future. It is but once in the year I visit our cities and sea-ports. I am called in a very peculiar manner to help in the planting of the Gospel westward. O what have you to do now but to spend half your time in meditation and prayer; to make your last days by far your best. I know not how you feel. But, although I have not seen fifty years, I feel many infirmities, but Christ is all and in all. I am resolved to give myself wholly to God, through my short day. I trust not only thousands annually join us, but 3000 are converted to God every year. I wish you would desire Mr. Taylor, or someone, to write to me once in three or six months. Mrs. Smith’s son was with me this morning. I shall try to put him forward to something, if in my power.

My love to all friends,

FRANCIS ASBURY

[What follows is an addition to the preceding letter, on the same sheet.] I have the flower of my days in hearing of and speaking for God and Christ. It is now near thirty years I have been speaking. I cannot, as heretofore, preach fifteen or sixteen times in seven days. I thank God for the use of my eyes, and ears, and tongue. I often pray for you. O that my parents may be saved from all sin before they die, that I may have the best assurance of your going to glory.

I think it would be best for you to sell any useless property you have, and live upon the proceeds. I shall never want or possess anything you have. I do most earnestly wish, if my mother should outlive my father, she would come to me, if able, and I am alive. I greatly rejoice that the seed of Methodism sown by me in Great Barr, groweth. I congratulate the society. Two and twenty years have greatly defaced features and families out of my remembrance. It is no matter. We shall hereafter know better than we are now known. I trust you will cry to God for the souls around you, that awakenings and conversions to God may be frequent amongst you, and that believers may be sanctified. The Lord can work like himself. O for a constant, pure, heavenly flame! I trust and hope the Lord has converted two or three thousand souls in the United States the last year. We have about 300 zealous travelling preachers, and near 700 local. We have the range of fourteen or fifteen states like small kingdoms; indeed, some like large ones, the whole continent 1,400 miles from north to south and a thousand from east to west. I have not forgotten Old England, although I never wish to reside there. Yet, I could wish I could visit it for only 8 or 10 months.

I am your very dear,

F. ASBURY

Drew University Library