September 24, 1812 — to James Quinn

James Quinn was for nearly half a century a Methodist preacher. Asbury, as usual, at this time was emphasizing a strong

episcopacy. His emphasis on sanctification is characteristic of his preaching.

[JUDGE VANMEATER’S, OHIO]¹

September 24, 1812

[TO JAMES QUINN]²

My dear Son:

The God of all grace and wisdom, grant to us grace and wisdom as Christian ministers, and eminently, to rule in our Israel. The days of visitation are come. Israel ought to know it. The prudent should keep silent in this time; it is an evil time. But ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. Move heaven with your prayers, and earth with your cries. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet! Diligence, prudence, courage, perseverance. You will care for every circuit, every society, every preacher, every family, and every soul in your charge. You will be planning continually to extend and establish the Church of God in your section. You will be eyes, ears, mouth, and wisdom, from us to the people; and from the people to us. You will be in our stead, to supply our absence. ‘Tis order, ‘tis system, under God, that hath kept us from schism, and heresy, and division, till we number near two hundred thousand in membership; congregate, possibly three millions. No doubt, in forty-eight years four thousand have died in Jesus, nearly or remotely have died in faith by our means.

You will be planning all the year. You will collect all the information you can for the superintendents. Know men and things well. See sanctification, feel it, preach it, live it. I pray, invariably, for all the presiding elders, by name, twice in the day. When the connection was small, I prayed for every travelling preacher and circuit; now by districts. Let us be as one soul—one great soul of the body!

We ought to teach our brethren the impossibility of existing as a people without union, and an able executive; for thousands of our people know not their right from their left hand, in government. If there is treachery, or disorder in the body, what damage will ensue to spiritual life, liberty, and prosperity! The more sacred the interests, the greater the damage. O, how careful we ought to be what men we take into the ministry, and spy out their motives and manners!

F. ASBURY

John F. Wright, Sketches of the Life and Letters of James Quinn, 304-5. Transcribed by Lawrence Sherwood