communication between them. The distresses, to which both the societies and preachers were exposed, were very terrible. The clergy abandoned their flocks; and in many instances the British missionaries, following their example, forsook their spheres of action. Mr. Asbury alone, unterrified by the

threatening sword, remained in his station.

"Surrounded by dangers on every side, his vigour increased as his colleagues declined the work; and, under the blessing of Providence, it was by his unwearied exertions, that the flame of Religion was kept alive, while thousands, both of its friends and enemies, fell in the conflict. But whatever impediments the work of God might have experienced, the societies increased amidst the partial desertions of their friends, and the horrors of war."*

But although Mr. Asbury remained faithful to his post, he was not always permitted to exercise the functions of his office. As an individual, his conduct was placed beyond the reach of censure; but the general suspicions, under which the preachers and the societies laboured, were transferred to him as an official and public character: in consequence of which he became an object of popular reproach. To avoid the effects of this unmerited indignation, he was obliged to retire from public view. But it pleased God to raise him up friends, who provided an asylum in which he was sheltered for two years, while the tempest raged in all its violence. During this time, the place of his retreat was at the house of a Mr. White, in the county of Kent, in the state of Delaware. In the house of this gentleman, who was a justice of the peace, and a member of the Methodist Society, Mr. Asbury twice convened some native American preachers, and held two diminutive conferences. He was, however, at length happily released from his confinement, through the kind interposition of John Dickenson, Esq. the predecessor of the celebrated Dr. Franklin in the government of Pennsylvania. From Mr. Dickenson, he received such letters of recommend

* Coke's History of the West Indies, Vol. I. p. 212.

ation, as enabled him to appear in public, and finally to travel through the States without molestation.

But although it was against the preachers from England, that the popular odium was principally directed; even those who were natives, were not wholly exempted from trouble. To break off all connexion with England, and to annihilate all acknowledgment of her dominion, a law was enacted, which required an oath of allegiance to the United States, to be taken by all. This was a measure to which many hesitated to submit; and the consequence was, that fines and imprisonment followed. Among the Methodists, several suffered severely on this account. It is, however, a tribute due to justice, to acknowledge that the rights of conscience were generally treated with tenderness, even by those who were appointed to carry the laws into execution. But above all, the hand of God appeared conspicuously in providing various ways for the deliverance of those who were imprisoned, and that not unfrequently through the interposition of men who were strangers to genuine religion.

From what principle this liberality of conduct arose, it is difficult with certainty to determine. Their political creed included universal toleration; but their laws militated against the principles of their constitution. It is easy to speculate upon the sources of human opinions and actions; but on the present occasion, we cannot avoid resolving all into the overruling Providence of God, who thus defended his faithful servants. In no instance, perhaps, was this faithfulness more apparent, than when the preachers were brought before the tribunals of justice. Here, in reply to interrogations, they bore such a strong testimony against sin, resisted every charge that could involve them in the political questions which were agitated, and pleaded the cause of the gospel with so much eloquence, that their judges were ready to say, "Almost ye persuade us to be Christians." On one of these occasions, a preacher of Baltimore whose name was Moore, delivered such a defensive testimony at the bar, as filled the judges and the whole court with admiration, at the elegance of his diction,

his arguments.

the comprehensiveness of his expressions, and the energy of But the effect of this faithfulness is still more strikingly exemplified in the following anecdote, which occurred in the State of Maryland.

Mr.

In the midst of these commotions, it happened that Mr. Chew, one of the preachers, was brought before Mr. Downs, then sheriff of the county in which the trial took place, and afterward a member of the general assembly of the State. On Mr. Chew's appearance, the sheriff demanded of the prisoner, if he were a minister of the gospel? On receiving from Mr. Chew an answer in the affirmative, he required him to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. Chew replied that he had scruples on his mind, and therefore could not consent at present. Mr. Downs then informed him, that he was bound on oath to execute the laws, and must in that case commit him to prison. calmness, that he by no means wished to be the cause of perjury, and therefore was perfectly resigned to suffer the penalty incurred. "You are a strange man," cried the sheriff, "and I cannot bear to punish you. I will therefore make my own house your prison." He accordingly committed him under his hand and seal to his own house, in which place he kept him for three months, during which time the sheriff was awakened, and his lady converted to God. They soon afterward joined the society; and Mr. Downs, with the assistance of some neighbouring gentlemen, built a preaching-house for the society at Tuckaho, the place where he lived.

Mr. Chew replied with great

Satisfied, however, that the preachers, who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the States, were not actuated by any principles of hostility to the cause of America, their case was shortly afterward taken into serious consideration by the Assembly of Maryland. And in order to preserve them from suffering for conscience' sake, and to prevent the magistrates and judges from having the trouble of attending to such cases, when others of more magnitude and importance demanded all their attention, an act was passed by the legislative body, expressly to allow the Methodist preachers to exercise their

ministerial duty, without taking the oath of allegiance. This act produced the desired effect. In this State their restrictions were at an end; the preaching was re-established; and, in the midst of public war, they continued to enjoy domestic peace, until the independence of the United States was acknowledged throughout Europe, and a communication was reopened between Great Britain and this part of the western continent.

In the other States the legal restrictions continued in force during the war; but towards the period of its termination the rigour of the laws was much relaxed. And although the Societies, during these commotions, received a great acquisition of members, the effects of the war were awfully conspicuous in the neglect of those ordinances which followed the overthrow of the Establishment. It was a survey of these calamitous effects which induced Mr. Wesley to have recourse to a certain measure, and to introduce a form of church government which will be described in the ensuing chapter.

CHAPTER V.

Effects of the war on the Methodist societies in America-Review of the causes which led to the establishment of the Methodist Episcopal Church-Preparatory steps taken in order to Dr. Coke's ordination-Copy of letters of ordinationLetter of Mr. Wesley to Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury, stating the ground on which he acted-Principles, on which Mr. Wesley acted, stated and vindicated-Apostolical Succession not to be proved, either from the church of Alexandria, Antioch, or Rome.

It is easy to perceive that, while the Church is connected

T

with the State, if calamities overtake the latter, the former cannot wholly escape. In the American colonies both were united; and the revolution which terminated in political independence, led to the subversion of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The church being considered as an instrument in the hands of the British Senate, became the first object of attack at the commencement of the revolution. We have already seen, that "the clergy abandoned their flocks" on the approach of danger; and we learn from the event, that the Americans were not forward either to supply their vacant pulpits, or to fill their empty churches.

Among men, who were destitute of the power of godliness, the loss of its form was viewed with indifference; but with those who enjoyed the former, the privation of the latter appeared in a very serious light. When the clergy of the Church of England had forsaken the country, and secured themselves by flight, the members of the Methodist societies found themselves totally deprived of the sacraments, which they had been accustomed to receive from them; and for their children they