November 27, 1811 — to Thomas Coke

Again Asbury is reporting to Coke. He is referring to his forty years of ministry in the United States and to his hopes of preaching not only to the Americans but to the British and Spanish people surrounding the United States.

——, [GEORGIA]¹

November 27, 1811

[TO THOMAS COKE]

I set up my Ebenezer, hitherto hath God helped me. The 20th of October last was the anniversary of my arrival in our new world. O how short, on review, does all the time appear since I landed in America! And, Oh! how great have been my unfaithfulness and unfruitfulness! Greatly as the Lord hath multiplied us as a people in this part of the world, the most junior state can boast of more citizens than we have members in our whole union. In our populous cities, the whole population of which is supposed to be upwards of five millions, perhaps between six and ten thousand sit weekly under our ministry. Many of our meetings are attended by men of all descriptions, Representatives,² etc., with the single exception of the President.³ Great and gracious signs follow our meetings at our annual conferences, our quarterly meetings, and encampments. Never before did I witness such scaffolding for the divine building among us as there is at present. Should my life be spared a few years, I shall push to preach the gospel in all the world of America, though I should find it three thousand miles in length and as many in breadth. I long to preach the gospel to all the British, Spanish, and the United States of America. I hope the Lord will open an effectual door for thousands in your happy isle, by village missionaries, or other ways and means. My dear brother, I hope you excel me in every thing that is good. O let us preach inward and outward holiness in all its branches. We have revived weekly fasting, and recommended two general fasts annually. Were I to suffer my mind to wander into the state of other churches, I should say they are orthodox, they have gracious ministers and members, and praying societies. Our local preachers, who are more numerous than ministers of other denominations, fill up vacancies, and preach in new places. The campmeetings prove a general blessing to both preachers and people.

I am, as ever, your’s,

F. ASBURY

The Methodist Magazine, XXXV (1812), 316