USA > New Jersey > Memorials of Methodism in New Jersey : from the foundation of the first society in the state in 1770, to the completion of the first twenty years of its history > Part 2
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he felt bound to devote his all to the service and glory of God.
In a year or less from the time he was placed in the charge of the class in Burlington, he removed to Tren- ton. He there found a man who had been a Methodist in Ireland. With this man and two or three more, he united, and agreeing among themselves, they met to- gether in class. Thus was formed in 1771 the first Methodist society in the city of Trenton, the most prom- inent member, perhaps, of which, was the result of Cap- tain Webb's ministry.
In the meantime, the feeble band in Burlington was cared for. The first place in New Jersey in which it appears Asbury preached, was that town. He landed in Philadelphia from a port near Bristol, England, on the 27th of October, 1771. On the 7th of November, he went to Burlington, on his way to New York, " and preached in the Court-house to a large, serious congrega- tion." He felt there, he says, his " heart much opened." He proceeded on his journey to New York, and met with one P. Van Pelt, who had heard him preach in Philadel- phia. Mr. Van Pelt resided on Staten Island, and in- vited him to his house, which invitation he accepted, and preached at his house, and in the evening at the house of one Justice Wright, where he had a large company to listen to the word. To Asbury therefore, is the honor
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due of first sounding the trump of Methodism on that beautiful and fruitful Island. He remained labor- ing in New York and vicinity, until the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1772, when, " having a desire to see his friends on Staten Island, he set off, contrary to the persuasion of his friends in" the city. He was received and kindly entertained by Justice Wright and preached at Mr. Van Pelt's "to a few persons with much satisfaction." He was invited to preach in the house of one Mr. D., which he did, Justice Wright sending him " there on the Lord's day with several of his family." He preached twice at that gentleman's house to a large company. " Some," he says, " had not heard a sermon for half a year; such a famine there is of the word in these parts, and a still greater one of the pure word." He returned to Justice Wright's in the evening, " and preached to a numerous congregation with comfort." He says, "Surely God sent me to these people at the first, and I trust he will continue to bless them, and pour out his Spirit upon them, and receive them at last to himself." He preached three times more on the Island, and then on his way to New York he took his stand at the Ferry, and preached " to a few people."
After preaching in Amboy, in a large upper room to many hearers, in which he "was much favoured in his own soul," and receiving evidences of respect and kind-
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ness from an innkeeper there, he started on the 27th of February for Burlington. He rode a "rough-gaited horse," by whom he was "much shaken," and finding the road very bad, and himself and horse weary, he stopped, at the invitation of a Quaker, at or near Cross- wicks, on whom he called to inquire the way, and lodged in his house. He was treated with much kindness by his host, and the next day rode to Burlington, " very weary." The day following was the Sabbath, and he preached in the court-house to many hearers.
The work was now extending. New Mill,* a small village several miles from Burlington, presented its claims upon his attention and labors, and accordingly he rode over in a wagon with some friends, and "preached in a Baptist meeting-house, and was kindly received." He remained until the next day, when, finding the peo- ple were divided among themselves, he preached from the words, " This is his commandment, that we should be- lieve on the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another." He indulged hope that his labor was not in vain. He returned in the evening to Burlington.
On Wednesday, the 29th of April, we again find him at Burlington ; where he "found the people very lively." " Two persons," he says, "have obtained justification under brother W. ; and a certain Dr. T-t, a man of
* Afterwards called Pemberton.
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dissipation, was touched under brother B.'s sermon last night. I admire the kindness of my friends to such a poor worm as I. O my God, remember them, remem- ber me." The next day he writes, " I humbly hope the word was blest to a large number of people who attended while I preached at the court-house." He departed to Philadelphia, but on Tuesday the 5th of May, he was again in Burlington. He preached to a serious people, but felt troubled in soul that he was not more devoted. "O my God," he exclaims, "my soul groans and longs for this !" On the day following, he writes, " My heart was much humbled ; but the Lord enabled me to preach with power in my soul !" The next day he visited some prisoners, and one of them, who was to be tried for his life, seemed much affected. In the evening he preached " and felt," he says, "my heart much united to this people." The next morning he "set off for Philadel- phia," but in five days afterward, we again find him in New Jersey, in the neighborhood of Greenwich, where he speaks of preaching on "Behold I stand at the door and knock," and says, "Oh what a time of power was this to my own soul !" After this, he went to one Mr. T.'s, and many persons assembled at eight o'clock, to whom he preached with life. He speaks also of going " to the new Church," and after preaching with great assistance, lodged at I-c J-s, who conducted him
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in the morning to Gloucester, whence he went by water to Philadelphia. If this new Church belonged to the Methodists, it is probable that it was about the first which they erected in the province.
Asbury was one of the first preachers that visited the little society at Trenton and preached to them. We find him there proclaiming his message on Wednesday, the 20th day of May, 1772; and he says, "As the court was sitting, I was obliged to preach in a school- house to but few people; and as there were soldiers in the town, I could hardly procure lodging." The few Methodists who resided there at the time were not, it is probable, in circumstances to furnish very superior entertainment to the preachers.
On Sunday, the 24th of May, Asbury was again in Greenwich, and preached to about three hundred people who had assembled from different parts. In the after- noon, at three o'clock, he preached at Gloucester, to about two hundred people, and then went up the river, in a boat, to Philadelphia, where he preached at night. The next day he was unwell, but went to Burlington, and though he was very sick, he preached in the evening. The following day he was still unwell; but, ever anxious to obey the call of duty, he visited a prisoner under sen- tence of death, and "strove much to fasten conviction on his heart." On Wednesday he went to New Mills,
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where he preached at four o'clock, and again at ten the next morning. On Friday, he was at the execution, and preached under the jail-wall. He attended the prisoner to the place of execution. " When he came forth, he roared like a bull in a net. He looked on every side and shrieked for help." Asbury prayed with him and for him, but he says, "How difficult it is (if I may use the term) to drench a hardened sinner with religion !" He saw him "tied up," and then stepping on a wagon, he "warned the people to flee from the wrath to come, and improve the day of their gracious visitation, no more grieving the Spirit of God, lest a day should come in which they might cry, and God refuse to hear them." He then returned to Philadelphia, where he exhorted in the evening.
On Tuesday, the 2nd of June, Asbury is again in New Jersey, at Haddonfield. The next day he preached at five at Mantua Creek, and had a time of power. After the service was over, about a hundred people went to Mr. F.'s, one and a half miles off, where he also "preached with life." On Thursday he was at Green- wich, weak in body, but had some liberty in preaching to about two hundred willing people ; "but at Glouces- ter," he says, "I preached only to a few dead souls, from this striking passage, ' The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that
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heard it.' " He observes that in this journey he was kept in peace, " and had more freedom, life, and power than ever he had experienced in the city."
On Sunday, the 7th of June, he preached and held a love-feast in Philadelphia, and "some of our Jersey friends," he says, "spoke of the power of God with freedom." The next day he proceeded with much dis- agreeable company to Trenton, where many felt the Di- vine power accompanying the word preached. Two days afterwards, he returned to Philadelphia, after which he visited Bristol, Pennsylvania, and on returning, he soon proceeded to Burlington, and though weak and in- firm in body, he preached with liberty. He then bent his course for New Mills, groaning for more life, and desiring to reach greater attainments in holiness. After preaching there twice, he returned to Burlington, whence, after spending a sick night, he proceeded, quite unwell, to Philadelphia. A few days afterward he walked down to Gloucester Point, and then rode to a brother C.'s, and though very weak, weary, and wet, he preached with some degree of power, while it rained very hard, to many people from the text, " As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my
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mouth ; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall ac- complish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." At Greenwich, he met a Mr. S., who preached and baptized several people that seemed deeply affected. He went to Gloucester, and called on Esquire P., and presented him a petition for raising one hundred and fifty pounds to discharge the debt on the preaching house in Philadelphia. He promised both to contribute toward the object himself, and propose it to others.
On Monday, the 29th of June, after a Sabbath "of sweet rest to his soul," in which the Lord gave him "power to speak with some affection," Asbury again left Philadelphia for Trenton. His conveyance was by stage, in which there was " some loose and trifling com- pany." After preaching in the evening with some life and energy, he went the next day and preached in the field, and then returned, and enjoyed liberty, while he preached to many people in the court-house. On the following Wednesday, he "went over the ferry and preached to many people, among whom were some fine women who behaved with airs of great indifference." He then re- turned to Trenton and preached at night, and again the next morning at five, after which he "set off for Phila- delphia." On his return, he again fell into " unprofit- able company," among whom he says, " I sat still as a
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man dumb, and as one in whose mouth there was no re- proof. They appeared so stupidly ignorant, sceptical, deistical, and atheistical, that I thought if there were no other hell, I should strive with all my might to shun that."
He was again in Burlington on Saturday, the 4th of July. He went there to attend the execution of a mur- derer, " and declared to a great number of people under the jail wall, 'He healeth the broken in heart!' The poor criminal appeared penitent, behaved with great solidity, and expressed a desire to leave the world." He then returned to Philadelphia, and delivered an exhortation that night, and after spending a peaceful Sabbath, de- parted again on Monday for Burlington. He remained there three days, labouring among the people, and " many," he says, " seemed much stirred up to seek the kingdom of God." He then returned to Philadelphia, where he remained a few days, and then went to New Jersey again, and preached near Mantua Creek,* at his friend, Mr. T.'s, and though it was the time of harvest, nearly one hundred people assembled; and while he dis- coursed on the words, " Ye were sometime in darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord," many felt the power
* So I judge from the connection, and from collating this with other passages in the Journal. Sometimes there is indefiniteness in the Journals in regard to localities.
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of the truth. He delivered another sermon the same day, and the next went to Greenwich, where he felt much "shut up" while preaching to about a hundred people, on "Fear not, little flock." He then went to Gloucester, which, he says, " is one of the dullest places I have seen in this country." The same night he went to Haddonfield, and the next day preached "to a few attentive hearers, who seemed much affected by the truths of God." One man especially, who had been much devoted to company and liquor, was much con- cerned on account of his past life ; but Asbury enter- tained fears that his impressions would not be permanent. The man, however, accompanied him to the ferry, whence he proceeded, on Friday, to Philadelphia, where he ar- rived "time enough for intercession, and found it a good time, both then and at the evening preaching."" On the Sabbath, after preaching in the morning, he set out in the afternoon for Trenton, where he did not arrive until noon on Monday, but at night he proclaimed the word with a good degree of animation.
During this short visit of two days, to Trenton, he met the society and gave them tickets. The society showed signs of growth, as it now, though in about the first year of its existence, had nineteen members in its communion. Mr. Asbury denominated them " a serious 3
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people," and saw a prospect of much good being accom- plished there.
Mr. Toy, to whom we may now properly revert, was still an efficient labourer with the little band in Trenton. They were supplied occasionally with preaching by Bishop Asbury, and the other preachers subsequently stationed in Philadelphia, until the storm of the Revolu- tion burst upon them, when the English preachers fled from the country, and they were left with none to break to them the bread of life. Notwithstanding, however, the greatness of their difficulties and the smallness of their number, they succeeded, by extraordinary exertion, in erecting a small frame house for Divine worship. In this humble temple Mr. Toy held weekly meetings, and the little society held on its way ; but in 1776, they were called to suffer an important loss in the removal of Mr. Toy and his family to Maryland.
In his new home he manifested the same spirit of de- votion to God and Methodism which had previously characterized him. He opened his house for preaching, and became the leader of a class. In November, 1779, he removed, at the instance of Bishop Asbury, to Abing- don, subsequently the seat of Cokesbury College. Here he instituted prayer meetings, and read Mr. Wesley's sermons to the people, and became the leader of a small class which had been formed there. He was also the
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instrument of building there a house of worship, which stood for many years, a monument of his devotion and zeal. In July 1787, the Conference was held in Abing- don, and as the facilities for entertaining the preachers were limited, Mr. Toy lodged twelve at his own house.
Not far from this time he became an instructor in Cokesbury College. He was elected to this position on account of his knowledge of Mathematics and English Literature. About 1789 or 1790, he began to preach, and in October 1797, he was ordained a Deacon. In 1801, he entered upon the privations and toils of an itinerant life, and was appointed to Baltimore circuit. He was subjected to discouragement in his work by being tempted to doubt his call to the ministry. He endured painful struggles of mind on this account, but finally ob- tained a complete victory over his subtle adversary. On one occasion, having preached several times with but lit- tle apparent effect, and having lost his horse, he attempted to walk a distance of five miles with his saddle-bags on his arm. The suggestion entered his mind that this had befallen him because he had undertaken a work to which God had not called him. He retired into the woods, op- pressed beyond measure, and wrestled in fervent prayer, with God, requesting an evidence of his call to the work if he were truly called. His prayer was heard, and that day several souls were awakened and converted to God.
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When the service was concluded, the man of the house informed him that his horse was found and lodged in his stable. From that day he never doubted his Divine vo- cation to the ministerial office.
He continued to perform the work of an itinerant Methodist preacher for about seventeen years, during which time he showed himself a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. He travelled the following circuits respectively, namely, Calvert, 1802; Norfolk, 1803; Severn, 1804; Prince George's, 1805; Montgomery, 1806; Frederick, 1807 ; Severn, 1808; Great Falls, 1809-10; Calvert, 1811; Severn, 1812; Baltimore circuit, 1813; Great Falls, 1814-15; Harford, 1816-17; Prince George's, 1818. In 1819, he passed into the honored, but unenviable company of his superannuated co-laborers, where he re- mained, preaching almost every Sabbath, and sometimes twice, never failing to fulfil his engagements, until December 1825.
He fell at his post, with his armor on, and his hand clasping the Spirit's sword which he had wielded so suc- cessfully in many a fierce and trying conflict. He was conducted from the pulpit to his death bed, on which he declared his submission to the will of God. He testified that he had a Divine assurance of the peace and love of God, that he had trusted in Him for fifty-five years, and
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now rested his whole soul upon his promise. Thus be- lieving and thus sustained, he tranquilly met the inevi- table hour, and passed serenely to his reward on high, on the evening of Saturday, the 28th of January, 1826.
Mr. Toy possessed an intellect naturally strong, and a very retentive memory. In addition to the liberal academical advantages which he enjoyed in his youth at Burlington, his mind was stored by diligent attention to reading. He was deeply read in the works held in the highest estimation by the Church, and he especially de- lighted in the Holy Scriptures. These he studied with unwearied attention, and was thus prepared to bring forth out of the treasury, things both new and old. He was a first cousin to the late Bishop White, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and was, says a Methodist authority,* one of the purest men and soundest preach- ers known to early Methodism.
* Rev. William Hamilton, Baltimore, Md.
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CHAPTER II.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK UNTIL THE FIRST CONFERENCE.
AFTER his visit to Trenton, Asbury returned to Phila- delphia, but was shortly in New Mills again, preaching the word both evening and morning. He found them a very affectionate people. He then went to Burlington, where he found many friends from Philadelphia, and they had at night a time of power. He departed the next morning for Amboy, which place he reached after a tedious journey through much rain and over bad roads. He took lodging at a tavern, as there was probably no other place for the entertainment of a Methodist preacher. He, however, was kept in peace in his jour- ney and felt great courage in the work of God. He preached to a small congregation at Amboy, but they did not appear to have much relish for the word, and he en- tertained but a small hope for the place.
He again visited Staten Island, and preached to large congregations at Mr. Van Pelt's and Justice Wright's.
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He then proceeded to New York and labored to promote the interests of the work there and in the vicinity. During this time he visited Amboy again and dined with a mixed company of Assemblymen, Churchmen, and Quakers. With characteristic sincerity he proclaimed his message, and, though many of them went to hear him for sport, "they went away very still." On one occasion, when he went to Staten Island, Justice Wright met him and in- formed him that the court was holding its sessions and engrossed the attention of the people. He then pro- ceeded to the ferry, and lifted up his voice in behalf of the truth, while many people listened attentively to his word. " Hitherto," he exclaims, " hath the Lord helped me !"
On the nineteenth of October he started from New York in a stage across Jersey for Philadelphia. He was annoyed during the journey by the profanity of a young man, who was a fellow passenger. Asbury determined to reprove him when a suitable opportunity offered. At length he found such an opportunity, when none but himself and another person were left in the vehicle with him, when he told him how his conduct had grieved him. He received the admonition quite well, and excused him- self by saying he did not think what he was doing. He afterward appeared to exercise more care over his words. They stopped at New Brunswick to dine, and then pro-
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ceeded to Princeton, a place Mr. Asbury had long de- sired to see, on account of the pious Mr. Davies, who was the late president of the college there. He tarried there during the night, and the next day went to Trenton, but, on arriving there he found that a drunken sailor had locked up the court-house, so he was obliged to preach in a school-house, where he had a comfortable meeting. He also preached at five o'clock the next morning! The day following he went over the river and preached, and then returned and proclaimed the word in the evening at Trenton to an audience in which there were many young people.
The following Sabbath was spent in Burlington, where he was much dejected in spirit, but felt greatly assisted in preaching, and the truth reached the hearts of the people. After preaching at five o'clock the next morn- ing he left for Philadelphia, where he again preached in the evening.
After an absence of nearly six months, in which he traveled and labored in portions of Delaware and Mary- land, he again appears in New Jersey, where he preached at different points, and often to large congregations, from Saturday, the seventeenth, till Thursday, the twenty- second of April, 1773. Speaking of this visit, he says; " The Lord was frequently with us in mercy and power ; and my heart was greatly enlarged. How I long to be
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more holy-to live more with God and for God ! Trou- bles encompass me about ; but the Lord is my helper. Before my return to Philadelphia I had the pleasure of seeing the foundation laid of a new preaching house, thirty-five feet by thirty."*
While Asbury was traveling to and fro preaching the word publicly, and performing as much labor of this kind as most clergymen, at the present day, would consider sufficient to tax the energies of nearly a half dozen men, he was not unmindful of the more personal work of a pastor.
Hence, while on a tour " through the Jerseys" in May of this year, we find him speaking faithfully and closely to a certain man, who, he says, " has a great regard for us, but seems to be too much taken up with worldly cares." He showed him the deceitfulness of riches in producing a spirit of independence towards God, hard-
* Though I have no data, by which to determine, with certainty, the location of this " preaching house," I think it highly probable it was Trenton. The society there must have commenced to build about this time, as they had their house erected and Mr. Toy held service in it some time before he removed to Maryland, which was in 1776, three years after the foundation here mentioned was laid. This opinion is strengthened by the fact that Asbury frequently preached in Trenton, and it is not improbable, therefore, that he was there on that occasion. See p. 46.
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ness of heart, and pride in its various forms, while they promise safety and happiness.
The Methodist preachers of that early day, though having authority from the Great Head of the Church, in virtue of their Divine call, to perform all the offices of the ministry, and consequently to administer the Sacra- ments, had not received Episcopal ordination, and it was not considered proper, therefore, for them to perform this part of religious service. Hence, the preachers themselves, as well as their people, were accustomed to go to the Episcopal Churches to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which was sometimes administered by unholy hands. One of the rules for the government of the connection, agreed to by all the preachers present at the first Conference, in 1773, was, that " all the peo- ple, among whom we labor, are to be earnestly exhorted to attend the Church and receive the ordinances there."* Accordingly, on Sabbath afternoon, the sixth of June, after preaching in the morning at Burlington, Mr. As- bury went to Church in order to receive the Sacrament. " The parson," he says, "gave us a strange discourse, full of inconsistency and raillery. Leaving him to answer for his own conduct, I took no further notice of it, but preached that night from these words, ' The natural man
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