[February 11, 1797] — to George Roberts

George Roberts was for years one of the most frequent

correspondents of Asbury. Asbury was in Charleston as usual in the winter months. He was greatly disturbed and distressed by the death of a dear friend, Brother Wells. He had been working on the discipline, and this letter tells of that. He makes reference in this letter to the parting with Coke. In the Journal on February 10 he says, “This day Dr. Coke is waiting to sail for Ireland. Strangers to the delicacies of Christian friendship know little or nothing of the pain of parting.” The date on the letter has been torn out; but as Asbury makes reference to Coke on February 10 and says he was writing on the next day, then February 11 is the date. [CHARLESTON], S.C.

[February 11, 1797]

[TO GEORGE ROBERTS]¹

My very dear George:

I am now answering two letters to one received. Yesterday in the evening, our dear Coke embarked in a Scotch vessel for Ireland. When I left you and Baltimore, that evening, I rode in the night till 8 o’clock, in which I suffered. We came drifting and dusting along, sometimes three, then half a dozen, and a dozen in company. Our route was through Alexandria, Colchester, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, and Richmond and Petersburg. I was pleased to find general harmony. When we read them the decrees of yearly conferences we had great peace.

It seems the temple of war on James² is shut up. I must needs take my course through Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newbern, Wilmington, Georgetown, and then to this seat. The excessive rides, and cold and night work were preparing me with cold upon cold, [as] we came 30, 40, and 50 miles per day. We had great peace in the Charleston Conference. News of revivals in both States, Georgia and this. I went out one morning early; as frequently at night. By the death of Brother Wells³ I was called out. I felt a kind of dumb stretching ague. At last it set me fast. For 20 days I chiefly kept my room. I never went to bed but one day, when seized with a violent shaking fever and ague, that held me cold and hot for six or seven hours. I knew not if the ague should get into my old system now how it might be. But blessed be God for men and means. I am better. Dr. Coke supplied my lack of service. If it was needful for me to be sick, it could not have been a better time and place. [Some defaced.]

We have written what will make about 100 printed pages,⁴ have bound our work with six or 700 printed scriptures. Our hearts, hands, heads, eyes, Bibles, and concordances have been employed. I hope the work will please, convince, and instruct. We are only sorry we did not ask the General Conference to give us leave to strike out the childish questions, and to lay the text as well as the notes properly together. I view the work of vast importance that hath cost us such application and thought for months and years. Brother James O’Kelly answered a woman who asked the difference between me and him. He gave her the powerful return. “Suppose,” said he, “I were to show you the Bible and a form of discipline made by the General Conference, would you not know the difference?” For this cause we have abounded in scripture, and when we consider the form is 70 pages, we have not been prolix in the notes. Every explanation must be more than the text. We have guarded against weak arguments, and improper scripture, and against anything harsh and reflecting on others. We have struck out many to us exceptional parts of the tracts. These we did not hold as sacred as the discipline which we did not alter a word. In this we have been peculiarly careful that our notes should not speak a different meaning from the text. I judge it of such consequence that I shall offer the reading not only before the Philadelphia Conference but before every yearly conference in the Union. We have read a part before the Charleston Conference that we had ready.

The Doctor’s time was lengthened only to write the last lines leaving out the Tract on Baptism, and the Service, without ordination service, it will be about 300 pages. As to what you say on Discipline it is true as to the church of England or Episcopal Protestants. There are many objections. If they have the doctrine, they do not preach it at all. They are a settled, man made, worldly ministry under no discipline and always have been. ‘Tis our traveling plan like the flying camp is the matter: if they do not take the fever and die up! The Maryland —— suffered much but afterward they weathered the storm.

In about fifteen days I march for Cumberland and Kentucky, shall make a route of nearly 1,000 miles to Baltimore. There you may meet me with a letter the first of June. I am to take Relief,⁵ stiff as he is, 10 years old, my skin and my clothing, and not 3 dollars in my purse. The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof! Brother Nichols did not write. Unless in urgent business, I only act on the defensive, that is, answer the preachers when they write. I am pleased to hear that the house is about at the 2 mile stone; more so to hear that the Africans are about building one; help them all you can. The more houses the more people; and the more preaching, and the more converted.

I met with nothing which so gladdened my hearers in sickness as the seeing a letter from [Vanderlip to ——] giving an account of the work at the New Church. I suppose the whole society could meet every week, at the old church⁶ once a fortnight, and the same at the new church.⁷ I must believe this to have been the constant practice of the primitive church. I am perfectly satisfied with the part I took in the General Conference relative to the slaves. It is of great consequence to us to have proper access to the masters and slaves. I had a case, a family I visited more than a year ago, a tyrannical old Welshman. I saw there he was cruel, his people were wicked, and treated like dogs. “Well,” say you, “I would not go near such a man’s house.” That would be just as the devil would have it. In one year I saw that man much softened, his people admitted into the house of prayer, the whole plantation, 40 or 50 singing and praising God. What now can sweeten the bitter cup like religion? The slaves soon see the preachers are their friends, and soften their owners towards them. There are thousands here of slaves who if we could come out to them would embrace religion. It is of vast moment for us to send the news far and wide. It hath its influence.

James King will be on this station. You may write to him. Ann Willis⁸ lives where her husband died, or you may direct a letter to Jonathan Jackson, presiding elder, and he will spread the news through the Carolinas and Georgia, be particular.

We have had hundreds brought in through Georgia and South Carolina, and some parts of North Carolina the last year. You can promise me as much as I can you the present. Where do you live? Remember I live here as you said to the man. How long do you keep in the work, the present moment we can promise. As to the Baltimore burning, after a little shock at first it seems no more to me than as much chaff. If the LORD loves these people he will keep them down. Burning is a lottery, and many make a benefit of the calamity which I suppose is one. I only wish to know who burnt Cokesbury, which I shall ever believe was done wickedly, and I am sure it will come out at the day of Judgment. I have written— circumstantially, I am weak. I suppose you will let the brethren know what they wish to hear of me.

I am as ever thine

FRANCIS ASBURY

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference

(Lovely Lane Museum)