The Penn's Grove record., 1896-02-07
THE narl 81 mErnoDIsM
Ave COUNTY.

IN
John Islse Shis "History Of the
Rise of Med 81 in America says
that the ND .Ismarksble conversion
that ooh ~ 177s in Jersey, or in
America, aiaz perhaps we might say in
the world, N Benjamin Abbott. lie
was awakened under the preaching Of
Abraham Whitworth on September.
The first record Of a Methodist society
being formedA Salem County was in
1878 near PitiSgrove (Elmer) and Mr..
Abbott was maze leader over it. Mrs.
Susanna Ayars &ss the first that receiy.
ed the Lords prophets'' in the town
of Pittsgrove. She Joined about this
time, and hei children followed her ex
ample. Not far from Pittsgrove lived
Mr.. Early, who became q Methodist at
this time. His son William Early was
a travelling preacher and died In 1928,
aged 80 years.
In those days there were no churches
and very rarely a school house, and
nearly all the { ceilings were held in
private houses IN invitation. Welearn
from Abbolt'sf fife that he next intro.
duced Metlodiam into Huntington.
1.-The Sabbath day following, l preach-
in a place called He'll Meek, which name
took its rise from the wickedness Of the
people. One sinner said, lie had heard
Abbott swear, and had seen him fight,
and nov he world 60 and hear him
preach. The word reached his heart,
and he soon after became a convert to
the Lord. After meeting, he invited
me home with hini, and several others
invited INC to preach at their houses, so
that L got preaching places all through
the neighborhood, and a considerable
revival of religion took place. although
it had been so noted for wickedness.
Among Others, ayoung lad about iifteen
was awakened, and in a few weeks
found peace: his father being a great
enemy to religion, opposed him violent
$3.50
ly, and ggeulY to prevent his being a
Methodist, ADG even whipped him for
praSing.''
"In Mauhii gton great congregations
attended. Tie man and his wife were
both awakened and under strong con.
yictions, and many others were stirred
up to inquire the way to Zion. AT the
second place. the minister thereof at
tended I fe,t at first a great cross to
preach before him, lie being q learned
man, and l supposed had come TO hear
me, with an evil design, as appeared af-
terward to be the case. However, l
prayed to the Lord not to let me be con-
founded. After I began, my cross was
but light, and the minister, who sat be-
fore me, was no more than another sin
ner. The power of God rested upon
us, and several cried out aloud, and
two Yell to the floor agonizing for saliva.
ton. l tarried all night, and the min
lister and five or six of the heads Of the
Presbyterian meeting, spent the ever
ing with me, in order to dispute and
pick me to piecesifpossible. The min-
lister asked me ii I yss u Wesleyan: 1
answered yes, Thea, said he, You
deny the ~pesseYefSnce OF the saints"
God forbid, said |, for none a be saw
ed unless they presevere to the end
Then, said he, yolf believe the POSSIBLE
ity of falling front grace; | answered
yes. He then, Ia a very abrupt a
ner, gave n the lie; but when l told
him that l could prove the doctrine by
the word of God, he very passionately
gave me the lie again. | quoted sun-
dry scriptures, particularly that of Da-
vid's fall, and turned to Eek. chap. iii,
yer. 20 and q, and wished him to read
and explain the passage: but he would
not touch the Bible. His elder said, it
read as 1 said, and he ought to explain
it. He, in a passion, said he was
brought up at a college, and certainly
knew; but l was a fool, and he could
| cut such q fellow s throat; then turned
to his elder and said. ''If there was a
dogs head Oh your shoulders, ! would
cut it off. Do not you know the ar
ticles OF your own church, l will teach
you better" l told him the curse Of
God was upon all such watchmen as lie
was, who did not warn the people
against sin; that If they lived and died
in sin, they could not be saved, and by
his doctrine souls might fall away and
perish, but their blood would be found
in his skirts. He replied, | could cut
such a fellows throat; it makes my
blood boil to hear the perseverance OF
the saints denied. then handed him
| the Bible, and desired him to clear it
up; but, said he, You are a fool. you
know nothing at all. l was brought
up at college, aud | will have you be-
fore your betters." He got SO angry
that he could say but little more. l
COlu It'll tudt IL W. WOAo ompdosauoAo
| for Christ, we ought To- go on hand and
heart to attack the devil in all his
| strong holds. And then asked the man
| of the house ii / should preach there
again: but the answer was 10. So this
place was shut against me through the
influence of The minister. But, glory
to God, there were doors opened in
Warrington, SO that l was at no loss
for places to preach at.
81 accordingly preached at William
Harvey's, where The people came out
pretty generally, and the Lord wrought
powerfully among them. And on my
return home, 1 went with one of my old
companions, who asked me IL / would
preach at his house in Woodstown.
told him | would; accordingly an APP
| ,nYAlr ar1 - La 4.