In South Carolina. 163 



Edisto Circuit, and riding upon the banks of the San- 

 tee, he felt the need of a deeper consecration to God, 

 and dismounting from his horse, in a grove beside the 

 river, he had a season of wrestling with God in prayer, 

 and from that time the assurance of God's love toward 

 him never forsook him for an hour. He would often 

 come from his closet, after remaining an hour upon 

 his knees, with his face fairly glowing with a heavenly 

 light. 



In this region (Edisto) the name Methodist was scarcely known 

 till he visited it. The new name and his heart-searching preaching 

 caused much stir among the people, as they had heard but little 

 preaching before, and knew nothing of experimental religion. Many 

 were convicted and converted, and a number of societies were formed. 

 It was no uncommon event for persons to fall under his pungent 

 preaching as suddenly as if they had been shot. The doctrine of 

 the new birth was no better understood by the people then than it 

 was by Nicodemus, until they were enlightened by his preaching. 

 The pioneer of Methodism not only has to take people as he finds 

 them, but the gold lias to be worked out of the ore. When Mr. 

 Smith was forming Edisto Circuit, a gentleman who was not a pro- 

 fessor of religion invited him to his home. While at his house 

 his host observed that he frequently retired into the woods, and on 

 one occasion followed him, when, to his great astonishment, he 

 found him on his knees engaged in fervent prayer. This struck him 

 under conviction, and was the cause of his embracing religion soon 

 after. The happy mixture of dignity, pleasantness, and meekness 

 in his countenance was calculated to win the good opinion of such 

 as beheld him. His appearance and his manners qualified him for 

 the missionary work, and many of those whom he found dead in sin, 

 and their tongues defiled with most profane language, he soon re- 

 joiced to hear praising God. He, like most of his brethren that 

 were engaged in planting Methodism, did not weary his congrega- 

 tions with dry and tedious discourses, but their sermons were short 

 and energetic. They enforced their preaching with the most con- 

 sistent deportment in the families where they sojourned, always 

 praying with and for them, and speaking to each individual on the 

 great matter of salvation. (Lednum.) 



