138 History of Methodism 



me, in the heat of youth and youthful blood, the evil of my heart ; 

 for a short time I enjoyed, I thought, the pure and perfect love of 

 God ; but this happy frame did not long continue, although at sea- 

 sons I was greatly blessed. 



He was formally licensed to officiate as a local preach- 

 er when he was seventeen years old, and at twenty-one 

 entered the traveling connection. 



As the mother of the AVesleys willingly gave up her 

 sons, John and Charles, to preach to the savages of 

 Georgia, so the mother of Asbury cheerfully acqui- 

 esced in the leadings of Providence, and with Chris- 

 tian resignation parted with her only son to come as a 

 missionary to the wilds of America. 



He embarked September 4, 1771, with Richard 

 Wright, a young man who had been in the itinerant 

 connection but one year, but who, impressed with the 

 importance of the missionary work, had volunteered 

 to accompany him to America; and, after a voyage of 

 eight weeks, they were welcomed to the hospitalities 

 of Philadelphia, where "the people looked on them 

 with pleasure, hardly knowing how to show their love 

 sufficiently; bidding them welcome with fervent affec- 

 tion, and receiving them as the angels of God." The 

 first evening was spent at the old St. George's Church, 

 where they listened to a discourse from Joseph Pil- 

 moor, and entered at once on their American work. 



The limited sphere of operations presented by New 

 York and Philadelphia did not suit the apostolic spirit 

 of Asbury. "At present I am dissatisfied," said he, 

 under date of Thursday, November 22, 1771. " I judge 

 we are to be shut up in the cities this winter. My 

 brethren seem unwilling to leave the cities, but I think 

 I shall show them the way." He accordingly planned 

 excursions into the surrounding country and to dis- 



