July 19, 1815 — to Jacob Gruber

A second letter to Jacob Gruber within a few days shows clearly that Asbury was not up to his old self in composing his thoughts. Here he is concerned with ordination. The letter is difficult to read, and phrases are not always connected. However, the letter is remarkable for its interpretation and defense of the American system.

LITTLETON, PENNSYLVANIA¹

July 19, 1815

[TO JACOB GRUBER]²

My dear Son:

Great grace attend us in this evil prosperous [world], as in the day of adversity. Now if ever wrestle, preach, pray, cry aloud, stamp with ye foot, smite with both hands, wake saints, sinners, seekers, preachers also. The Lord help us, we are going down stream. I fear a ——³ The ——; our own not excepted. The delegates in [New] York 16. Daniel left, Thomas Elected.⁴ New England hath seen enough of Presbyterianism, and independence not to covet more of it amongst our Methodism. I hope we shall have but one Presbyterian Conference in which the Presiding Elders, how aged, pious, useful, or wise they be, they shall be reprobated, for taking an office P.E. [presiding elder].

After 20 years the cloven foot of heresy is coming. J. O’Kelly denied the God that bought him, pleaded for a universal appeal from the Superintendency in point of stations. His wisdom did not say, to whom, to where they should appeal! But that I presume it to be the presiding elder upon the district, as long as he pleased, the stationed, and circuit preacher back to his own place. Then instead of custom, orders had to take place 40 years, presiding elder too, stationed elder. The Doctrine now by Swillers [?] thought all Bishops, all elders. Oh friends and Delegates of the General Conference will be all Bishops. Presbyterians say where are your 3 orders? I answer in the oracles of God. Deacons, Acts 6:6. Elders, Acts 14:23, Apostles ordination, Acts 13:2, 3. Where the Deacons Apostolic Elders No. 1 men, the Elders, apostles not No. 1.

But this thundering tale, John Wesley was not ordained, with a third Apostolic ordination, say wise men his election by the preachers was amply complete; this Mr. Wesley had [trouble] from the American preachers, from first to the last till he sent ordained men to the continent. In thirty years he has proved himself an apostolic man. John Wesley executed ordination by hundreds, had exercised all the powers of an apostolic man of God! for 30 years. Query, had the elders a right to administer ordination in the Apostolic Days? They had not, nor supreme rule in the church. They had a ruling power subject to Apostolic control, by person or letter. See it in Ephesus by Timothy, an apostolic man! Paul’s Epistles to Titus, and Timothy, that Timothy had the same power in Ephesus as Titus in Crete; Paul, I have left there in Crete, to ordain elders in every city as I appointed thee. Bischoff is a German word, a chief minister of the church, it is neither Latin, Greek, nor Hebrew, but German, Saxon, Tuetonik, the most ancient German language.

John Wesley was ordained I presume by 2 English Bishops, first deacon, second elder, then according to Presbyterian talk a bishop. Some say some pillars in our order will give way the Church, will be formed and ——⁵ not —— men, sensible —— among the Presbyterians. —— own

Government no right of imminence, to be up with equality and a few men dare travel, that wish to do it but afraid. Ah a thousand vacant congregations, one man has charge of 3 congregations Lutherans and Reformed 6, 8, or 12 high and low Dutch. Dr. Coke died near the land of Asia, was found dead upon the cabin floor! Buried at sea! Possibly with intense application to the Portuguese language, as thousands in Asia speak that language. I cannot speak his excellency, the last and greatest of the Oxford Methodists and —— taken in every ——.

You have in the mite subscription, miniature. If the —— and people will approve you can get a book like a long folding Psalm Book. present to yourself and all the official department, every member, every friend. There is no compulsion; do it or not but do it right if at all. When Baltimore Conference will be independent of the friends we cannot say. Twelve pounds sterling British Quarterage England conferences settles as in the subscription paper. Bishop McKendree being unwell, left me to serve alone in New England. To preserve life, as I thought we have left him to serve alone in Genesee.

My health is by this means better. I go on in heat but prudent haste to Ohio Conference. In the printing press, Dr. Coke’s legacy and mine, scripture notes on the discipline —— evils and —— of —— it will —— but we must attend the Conferences one after another, but as long as I can do anything and am welcome to call, I shall do my best to see as many conferences annually as possible. I could seriously wish one letter annually from all Presiding Elders, copied by the senior Presiding Elder in quarterly [?] reports of the work from all the Presiding Elders, compiled by Nelson Reed if you all send in November 30, 1815.

Still as ever yours

F. ASBURY

P.S. Our legacy is for our own ministry and all these our people breaking union in spirit is schism, false doctrines of God, heresy whether to Son or Spirit.

Drew University Library