February 9, 1814 — to Zachary Myles
NORTH CAROLINA
ASB_VOL3.PDF, PDF page 615
THE LAST TWO YEARS, 1814 - 16
February 9, 1814 - March 4, 1816
CHAPTER 14
The most interesting thing in this letter is Asbury’s reference to Coke. Coke’s wife had died, and he was free to travel again. Like Asbury, he had a roving disposition. He was to die on the Indian Ocean and be buried in its waters as he sailed on his missionary journey.
NORTH CAROLINA1
February 9, 1814
[TO ZACHARY MYLES]2
My dearly beloved in the Lord:
May great grace support us in these days of judgments! Such has been my prayer. The weather, my affliction (having had six or seven serious fits of the breast-pleurisy) have prevented me from making much use of books or pens, and I have not preached much. I have had to groan, being burdened, not that I would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Indeed I have felt more like a man of eighty than one in his sixty-ninth year.
Oh Asia! Oh Africa! Oh that the seed of Abraham by his Isaac might live before Jehovah! Of the work of God in America, I cannot say but saints and citizens are humbled; but perhaps not enough. When and where the people can hear the word, they give attention to it. I cannot speak of great numbers coming into fellowship. If we number two hundred and fifteen thousand this year, we shall do well. I begin to hope, as our troubles become more serious, they will be more sanctified. I hope Dr. Coke will devote the last of his days nobly, not in making many books, but in his apostolic mission in those two vast quarters of the globe, Asia and Africa. My prayers and good wishes shall follow him and his missionaries. I have nearly finished my mission, having travelled annually a circuit of 3000 miles, for forty-two years and four months; and if young again, I would cheerfully go upon another. We are well kept, if the Lord keepeth us. Your letters are always welcome to me and my select friends. At any time or place, your presence and letters will be invited and accepted by me. I am, yours,
FRANCIS ASBURY
The Methodist Magazine, XXXVII (1814), 639