348 History op Methodism 



er had done all his frolicking, I never knew him to 

 make an ineffectual effort. I myself saw on one oc- 

 casion, under one of his exhortations, eleven sinners 

 fall from their seat — from one seat— on the ground, 

 crying for mercy. And this was but a remarkable in- 

 stance of a common occurrence, esx3ecially under his 

 overwhelming appeals. 



" 1 will mention one remarkable evidence of the Di- 

 vine design and presence in these supernatural influ- 

 ences. As these religious phenomena were coincident 

 with Methodism in that region, and as Methodism was 

 a foredoomed heresy, this business of falling, of get- 

 ting converted in a few hours, and rising up with the 

 assurance of pardon, and shouting, were all pleaded 

 against us as proof good enough that we were false 

 apostles — deceitful workers, transforming ourselves 

 into the apostles of Christ. There was a small Bap- 

 tist church about three miles from ours. Some of its 

 members had become rabid in feeling against the new 

 religion; regarded it as a devilish necromancy; called 

 it wild-fire; but the most familiar figure was fox-fire. 

 AYe Methodists, indifferent to such abuse, determined 

 to omit our next class-meeting, and attend the monthly 

 Baptist meeting. So we did, all of us, on Saturday. 

 The good old pastor preached, and, as his wont was, 

 opened the way to receive experiences by asking if 

 there was any one in the house that had any thing to 

 say for the Lord. My brother, always -having some- 

 thing to say, and not being well posted on the order 

 of the meeting, arose and commenced one of his soul- 

 stirring exhortations, and in half an hour the floor was 

 almost covered with the fallen, and during the after- 

 noon many found peace in believing, and such a shout 

 was never before heard in any meeting among us. The 



