May 6, 1798 — to John Kobler
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 210
There is some confusion as to the references in this letter. It looks as if John Kobler was still presiding elder on the Kentucky District. If the Minutes are correct, he was changed to the Cumberland Circuit in Tennessee at the Virginia Conference which met at Salem Church on April 9, 1798. Asbury indicates here that that Salem Conference had not yet been held as of May 6. In 1797 Jonathan Bird was presiding elder on the Holston District, made up of Green, Holston, Russell, and New River in Virginia.
WIDOW SISSILS
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
May 6, 1798
[TO JOHN KOBLER]
My very dear Brother:
Being so much in haste and so in a crowd1 I could say but little and think less. I have judged it will be expedient for thee to attend the next Virginia Conference at Salem and to bring out three with thee. Take your choice in the matter of Gibson, Jonathan Bird, Jarratt or Nathaniel Munsay.2 These may expect a change. Six or eight such conferences as from the territory3 to Bottetourt, to be performed in one year will work down my strength, if not my courage. I think you want more of the wisdom of the serpent to find out the wisdom of the serpent that will work powerfully at times in both sexes and all orders of man. Suppression is a grace if not carried to excess. Dangers stand thick through all the ground to push us into spiritual death, and the grave of sin.
We have need to spend one third at least of our time in prayer, one third in labour, and one third in sleep. We ought not to be all that time on our knees. We should ride and sit and walk in the presence of God. I have rode so hard, fasted so much, slept so little, my nervous system is in a flutter and I am full of irritation and to crown all, Brother Ray4 and Baldwin5 have led us through the hills and it was nearly to being hot and dry for a mile. Now we breathe and then we go along, only let us go on in faith and in patience doing and suffering the whole will of God. Write by post to Philadelphia or Baltimore. I am as ever thine in a sweet Redeemer, gratefully I acknowledge your love to me, when unknown by person and some well known.
F. ASBURY — Drew University Library
Notes (5)
- The conference had been in session at Salem Church in Mecklenburg County. ↩
- Not clear as to who Gibson, Jarratt, and Munsay are, probably local preachers who were supplies. Jonathan Bird became a well-known preacher. ↩
- Western Territory. The 1799 Conference was actually held at Jones Chapel. ↩
- John Ray was on the Tar River Circuit, North Carolina. Interestingly, there are two sets of appointments in the 1797 Minutes for this North Carolina district. In the second set Ray is on the Roanoke Circuit. ↩
- John Baldwin was Book Steward for the Virginia Conference. ↩