124 History of Methodism 



Wesley met the Society, and afterward sent for Mr. Board man and 

 me into his room, where he spoke freely and kindly to us about our 

 sea voyage, and the important business in which we had engaged. 

 After giving us much good advice, he sent us forth with his blessing, 

 in the name of the Lord. This was of great advantage to us, as. it 

 afforded us the pleasing reflection that we had not asked contrary to 

 the minds of our brethren and fathers in Christ. We had what we 

 believed a call from God; we had the approbation and authority of 

 three godly clergymen of the Church of England, and we had like- 

 wise the authority of more than a hundred preachers of the gospel, 

 "who were laboring day and night to save souls from destruction, and 

 advance the kingdom of Christ. Hence we concluded we had full 

 power, according to the New Testament, to preach the everlasting 

 gospel and do all possible good to mankind. We embarked from 

 Gravesend in the evening of Monday, August 21, 1769, on board the 

 Mary and Elizabeth, Captain Sparks having command, for Philadel- 

 phia. After a passage of nine weeks from London, we made land on 

 the 20th of October, and on the 21st landed at Gloucester Point, six 

 miles below Philadelphia. When we got on shore we joined in a 

 doxology, and gave praise to God for deliverance, and all the mer- 

 cies bestowed upon us during the passage. When we had rested a 

 little while at a public house, Mr. Boardman and I walked up to the 

 city, where we were kindly received and entertained by Captain 

 Sparks and wife. Having no knowledge of any society in Philadel- 

 phia, we had resolved to go forward to New York as soon as possi- 

 ble; but God had work for us to do ihat we knew not of. As we 

 were walking along one of the streets, a man who had been in our 

 society in Ireland, and had seen Mr. Boardman there, met with ns, 

 and challenged him. This was very providential ; for he informed 

 us they had heard two preachers were arrived, and he was then out 

 seeking us. He took us homeAvith him, and in a little time Captain 

 Webb, who had been in the city for some days, came to us and gave 

 us a hearty welcome to America. Our souls rejoiced to meet with 

 such a valiant servant of Jesus in this distant land, especially as he 

 was a real Methodist. The next day Mr. Boardman preached to a 

 small but serious congregation, on the call of Abraham to go forth 

 into the land of Canaan. The next day he set off for New York, 

 and I agreed to stay some time in Philadelphia, to try Avhat might 

 be done for the honor of God and the salvation of immortal souls. 



Mr. Boardman and Mr. Pilmoor interchanged, at 



