——[1795] — to His Parents

Neither date nor place is given for this letter. Evidently Cokesbury College was still in existence as he does not refer to its burning, which happened in December, 1795. The letter was probably written in 1795. Coke was about this time frequently in Europe, as the letter suggests.

——[1795]

[TO HIS PARENTS]

My ever dear Parents:

It is with the greatest difficulty I can communicate to your wants, or even be informed of them. I have requested and will request Doctor Coke, as he is so frequently in England, to know and supply, or order a supply of all your wants. Every act of kindness done to you in England, I shall return to the Doctor when in America; and also repay what he requires. I am in great straits about advising you to come hither. It would be attended with great expense and danger; and should you suffer, by land or water, it would give me great pain. My hands are very full. I am here, and there, and every where, upon the continent. But I should fear nothing so much as your not being devoted to God, or so holy as you ought to be.

I frequently pray for you. I want to see you both in heaven; it is but a little, yea, a very little time, and we shall close our concerns here. If at any time you should be shortened, write to the Doctor, and he will supply you, and I will answer to him. If I were not about a great work, and under indispensable obligations to the preachers and people here, chiefly raised up under my ministry, you might hope to see me. I have reason to believe, and that firmly, that the hand of God has been clearly seen in bringing me to, and continuing me in this land, from the first moment to the present. We have opened a house for learning. —— So far I am concerned for the present and rising generation. I am in some measure, by a multiplicity of business, constrained to forget my own country, and my father’s house. I am as ever, your affectionate son,

F. ASBURY

The Methodist Magazine and Quarterly Review, XIII, 310