418 History of Methodism 



to be justified by faith without the works of the law. 

 The way was thus prepared for my successor (the 

 Kev. Samuel K. Hodges), who reaped more than a 

 golden harvest." 



His appointment for 1814 was the Santee Circuit. 

 He labored through the year, struggling with mani- 

 fold hardships for the want of the necessary means of 

 support for his family; and lie finally thought it his 

 duty to relieve himself by asking for a location in De- 

 cember, 1814. He removed now to a farm which had 

 been given him by his father, and set himself industri- 

 ously to work to cultivate and to improve it. Though 

 he preached regularly every Sabbath, he was conscious 

 that his secular engagements were working evil to his 

 spiritual interests ; and had begun to feel that he was 

 out of his proper element. Thus it was with him, 

 when, on the 30th of December, 1815, " the idol of his 

 heart" expired. He saw Bishop Asbury in January, 

 ]816, as he passed through Rembert's neighborhood, 

 aiming for Baltimore, with but little hope of eking 

 out life till the session of the General Conference in 

 that city; and with bleeding heart asked him for a cir- 

 cuit. "I am a dying man," replied the Bishop, "or I 

 would give you one. I shall never see another Con- 

 ference in Carolina. You had better wait for your 

 Quarterly Conference to recommend you to a presid- 

 ing elder." During the year 1815 he had the charge 

 of two of the sons of his friend William Johnson, Esq., 

 of Santee, who treated him with the most considerate 

 generosity; and in June, 1816, he entered into a simi- 

 lar engagement with a brother-in-law of Mr. Johnson, 

 Robert F. Withers, Esq., and until October following 

 devoted a considerable part -of the time to the in- 

 struction of his daughters. At the expiration of his 



