196 History of Methodism 



It was as we were riding along that dreary sand-hill road in Chester- 

 field District, leading from the court-house toward Sumterville, and 

 I seemed more than usually earnest in my objections, that after quite 

 a speech on my side of the question, he thus answered me : "Well, 

 Billy, it is only supposition, after all ; and if you are called to preach, 

 and sinners are daily falling into hell, take care lest the blood 

 of some of them be found on your skirts." Sure enough, it was 

 only "supposition." The true question was as to usefulness, not 

 eminence ; and with respect to that matter, at least, I could only 

 suppose, and could not certainly know, that it might be better for 

 me to desist from my present course and adopt another. Here then 

 ended that difficulty about the exclusive study of divinity. I in- 

 stantly gave it up, and thanked my friend for his pains and patience 

 with me. 



Mr. Gassaway was a man of very devotional spirit; 

 in fact, lie carried all his matters in prayer to God, en- 

 joying a sweet confidence that God would manage 

 every thing for him. In this he not only manifested 

 a humble, child-like spirit of prayer, but also a strong 

 and steady faith which faltered not in the day of trial. 

 When traveling the circuit which then embraced the 

 town of Camden, a very powerful and extensive work 

 of grace broke out in the community, and a considera- 

 ble number of persons at that appointment were awak- 

 ened and converted to God. Among these was a Mrs. 

 Fisher, who was powerfully converted and joined the 

 Church. Her husband was not at home at the time 

 of his wife's conversion. He was a very ungodly man; 

 and when he returned and heard of what had taken 

 place, he became furious, ordered his wife to take her 

 name off the Church-book, and swore he would cow- 

 hide the preacher on sight. Many of Mr. Gassaway's 

 friends, who knew the violence of the man's temper, 

 begged him to keep away from his presence, assuring 

 him that from their knowledge of Fisher's character 

 they had no doubt he would carry his threat into ex- 



