January 26, 1810 — to Jacob Gruber

Jacob Gruber was one of Asbury’s most dependable preachers. He was of German extraction. He was ministering in a section of the country where there were many Germans, and Asbury shows his solicitude for them.

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

January 26, 1810

[TO JACOB GRUBER]¹

My dear Jacob:

God be gracious to thee my son, the presiding elders of our Israel, are always on my mind, frequently named by me, before the Lord, always twice, if not thrice a day. My letters are all valedictory, for what I know (I mean the last). I did not answer yours in Charleston finding nothing that called special attention, presuming you had not received a letter I wrote from Buncombe. The South Carolina Conference held in Charleston, was great to the members, society, and citizens. The increase of members 3000, prospects of the work far exceeding our most exalted expectation. Lovely blossoms of young men of families, a little above par, for learning and estimation.

I have felt a great concern for the lost sheep of the house of Germany, we have but only you two boys.² that can Germanize, one with me, hitherto. You will expect that the superintendency would be unwise to remove you from one field and not put you with a larger if possible to meet and serve your father’s countrymen. Prepare, prepare my son, be always ready for every call of God and your Guides. I lament the want of pure practical religion, family and private prayer, and fasting, reading the scriptures, teaching, instructing the children. Our presiding elders should lecture the people closely in quarterly lovefeast, about class meeting, dress, and many Christian duties.

The rich are coming in, they bring their daughters, Methodist preachers marrying, falling! Oh Lord help [the] locating, leaving the work, never counting the cost [preachers]. Lay these things together my son! You may lay this letter among your papers, you may read it when I am absent, perhaps when I have done riding at the rate of 10,000 (yet but 3000 as we are so much detained,) miles a year, 200 miles a week³ or in 4 days meeting, 8 conferences of between 6 and 700 ministers, writing 100 letters, preaching 200 sermons, but what is this without the power of God to bless the Spirit, to aid the merit of Christ, to atone. Great prospects, great dangers await us this year. Let Zion’s watchmen all awake and take the alarm and advice they give, I am yours in the Lord.

F. ASBURY

Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore Conference (Lovely Lane Museum)