November 23, 1793 — to Ezekiel Cooper
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 158
Asbury had come to Virginia and was seeing some of the effects of the O’Kelly schism. The disaffection of the preachers reminds him of his other problems of keeping preachers. Many were marrying and leaving the work.
NEAR PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA
November 23, 17931
[TO EZEKIEL COOPER]2
My very dearest dear Brother:
I am yet moving southward and heavenward. I have spent some comfortable hours in Maryland and old Virginia in some places where I have preached the Gospel more than twenty years ago. Glory to God these people and their children are growing up for glory. I fear the divine spirit will shew itself in a few months; with to your tents oh Israel! Report says that 700 members and 30 preachers will form.3 But it may not be as formidable as we fear, and they boast. I am to be addressed with a petition to call a conference of ministers, and people, to redress their grievances. If they seem not heard they will withdraw from us.
I waited long to hear from my dear Brother Cooper but it was awful tidings. Married or single leaving the work, is my distress. The western country is much distressed and still I must go, if possible, to Kentucky. The church, and school4 will suffer more with my absence than presence. The delicacy of the work in Massachusetts calls for great economy, and great nursing, the tender plant, the work is the Lord’s, the wisdom, the power, the glory also. Oh, Christ is thine. We have had a great and general sickness. Saints and sinners humbled and dead. I wish exceedingly to hear from you. Send a letter to Brother Dickins5 if it comes time enough; let it be sent to Holston by post or to Fort Pitt. I have afflictions6 in my way, so have you, only let us give up ourselves wholly to God. I hope you will keep union with the people; and the preachers upon proper changes, that everything may go on well. Oh brother keep to the doctrines of the Gospel and press them home. I am as ever thine,
F. ASBURY
Garrett Biblical Institute Library
Notes (6)
- According to the Journal, Asbury was at J. Smith’s. ↩
- Presiding elder at Boston. ↩
- Reference is to the O’Kelly Republican Methodist Church, which had begun in Surry County, Virginia, not far from Petersburg. Actually the O’Kellyites, as they were called, made an effort to return to the fold. They felt Asbury gave them no consideration. (See MacClenny, The Life of Rev. James O’Kelly, 110-12.) ↩
- Cokesbury College. ↩
- Book Agent in Philadelphia. ↩
- On several occasions Asbury said that his chief affliction was the difficulties caused by his preachers marrying. He said once that the devil and the women were getting his preachers. Following is a report of the marriage of the Rev. William Spencer: “I have been exercised in my mind for several years about altering my condition in life but was unwilling to quit the traveling connection as long as I found myself able to travel and labour for God and souls. Being fully convinced that the life of a traveling preacher is the best life for holy and constant walking with God and for usefulness to mankind of any other life whatever. I first set out in the vineyard of the Lord with no other motive but to glorify God and to gain souls to my blessed Master, and I was anxious to be as extensively useful as possible feeling, however, that I was greatly exhausted and entirely unable to go through the labours I had gone through, I began to think seriously and with prayer to God for his blessing and direction about seeking a companion that might be a helpmeet for me. I viewed marriage to be an important matter, indeed, and was truly sensible of the necessity of acting with prudence and caution in so weighty an affair. I accordingly laid the matter before God in constant fervent prayer and likewise counselled with a number of my most judicious, pious, and aged brethren. I shall never forget an expression of an aged pious minister while talking with him on this important subject. ‘Depend upon it, my dear Brother (said he) a married life is the happiest or miserablest life upon earth: therefore you do well in laying your case before God, and in counselling with your friends, &c.’ “My continual prayer to God was, that if it was his will I should marry, to chuse one for me that he knew would be a blessing to me in time and Eternity: and I have no doubt but God heard and answered my prayers. “We were married the first day of November, 1797, in Lunenburg County, Virginia. The name of my wife was Mary Newbill, daughter of Mr. Nathe. Newbill of said County. The ceremony was performed by that man of God (now in Heaven) the Reverend John Easter. We had a small company of serious friends and brethren present, and after we were married, Brother Easter preached an excellent sermon, in which he treated largely upon the duties of husbands and wives, and which, I think, will be remembered by my wife and myself with profit till death parts us. “I now took my leave of an itinerant life, in which I had spent between 8 and 9 years, and had the unspeakable happiness to see many souls brought home to God. [For years he taught after this in Charlotte, Cumberland, and other counties.]” The Experience, &c., of the Reverend William Spencer, Vol. I. Property of Dr. Robert B. Pierce, Broadway Methodist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana ↩