Delaware and Kent county, was 1288 in:the year 1779. When the many difficulties they had to contend with, in consequence of the war which was now raging with increased violence, are considered, we can but admire the good hand of God that was with them in the awakening and conversion of so many souls. Notwithstanding these obstacles, Mr. Garrettson was enabled to prosecute his labours in the gospel with increased vigour and perseverance, and with great success; so that at the time we are now speaking of, there were no less than forty nine preachers and 8577 members in the societies. Mr. Asbury was still confined, principally at Judge White's, so that the chief management of the affairs fell upon Mr. Garrettson, so far as active labour was concerned. It is true he corresponded with Mr. Asbury, and acted according to his advice and under his direction. It is not to be wondered at that "all manner of evil" should be said of a man wha was thus instrumental in the hand of God in giving such a shock to Satan's kingdom.

Having given such evident proofs of his designation to the work of the Christian ministry by the supreme Head of the church, and of his skilfulness in conducting the spiritual interests of the societies, Mr. Asbury requested him to leave his present field of labour, and pay a visit to the city of Philadelphia, the society in, this place being in a very depressed state.

The British army had been for a considerable time quartered in this city, and at this time had just taken their departure. The confusion occasioned by this state of things, tended very much to obstruct the work of God. Previously to the entrance of the British into the city, many of the inhabitants had fled into the country, and it was some time even after they had departed, before the citi zens returned and arranged their affairs, so as to feel themselves in a settled state. "I stayed," says Mr. Garrettson, "about two months in Philadelphia, and though I did not

see much fruit of my labour, I found many of my dear friends near and precious to me."

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Being relieved in the city by Mr. Cox, he took a tour into several parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 'preaching," he says, "from ten to twelve sermons a week. I bless God for the prosperous journey he gave me through the state of New Jersey: several were awakened, and some brought to know the Lord Jesus.

"One day after preaching, an old man came to me and said, all in tears, 'This day I am a hundred and one years old, and this is my spiritual birth day.' The dear man's soul was so exceedingly happy, that he appeared to be ready to take his flight to heaven.

"I preached at a new place, where the congregation consisted mostly of young people, from 'The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,' Luke xix, 10. We had a wonderful display of the power of the Lord. After I had finished my discourse, the young people hung around each other crying for mercy. Many, no doubt, will praise the Lord eternally for that day. A remarkable circumstance happened respecting a young woman who was brought up in the Quaker persuasion. It pleased the Lord to awaken her when very young. She experienced the pardoning love of God, and continued to enjoy it for some time. By degrees, however, she got off her watch, having none to strengthen but many to draw her away. She at length fell from God, and became as wild and trifling as ever. Soon after this she was entirely deprived of her speech; the enemy of her soul persuaded her to believe that it was a sin for her to do any kind of work, or even to dress herself; and if they gave her a book to read she thought it sinful to turn over a leaf, and would read no more unless some one would perform this office for her. It was impressed on her mind that there was a people in a particular place who served the Lord; and if she could get among them, they would be a means of restoring her to

her speech. She had never heard of a Methodist; and the place which was revealed to her was nearly twenty miles from her residence, where there was a young, loving society. Though she knew nothing of the way, she sat off to find that place and people. Her family missing her, pursued and brought her back. Not long after she made a more successful attempt, and found the society. The Lord revealed her case to them. There was a preacher present, Mr. Daniel Raff, who consented to call a meeting, and they cried to the Lord in her behalf that day and the next. She then went into a private room, kneeled down to prayer, and continued there till the Lord blessed her soul. At the same time her tongue was loosened, and she could speak forth the praises of Israel's God. She had been dumb about two years. Some time after I came into this neighbourhood and sent word to her mother that I would preach such a day at her house. When the day arrived, I took the young woman home, accompanied by many friends, and we were received like angels: some thought the Methodists could work miracles. Many of the friends and neighbours came, and could not but observe how angelic this young woman appeared. She was now able to speak and work as well as usual. I bless the Lord who gave me great freedom in preaching on this remarkable occasion. The people seemed to believe every word which was delivered. The old lady was ready to take us in her arms, being so happy, and so well satisfied with respect to her daughter."

CHAPTER VII.

Returns to the Peninsula-Introduction of Methodism into Dorset county-Peculiar exercises, and happy deliverance-Escapes an attempt to take his life-Taken by a mob-Imprisonment of J. Hartley-Maltreated and imprisoned-Happy in his own soul-Is set at liberty-Strange visions of the night.

HAVING Completed his mission in this part of the country, in the autumn of the same year he made his second visit to the Peninsula, the place where the Lord of the harvest had given to him so many souls. Here he travelled extensively through the winter, preaching with his usual diligence and success.

The following account of the commencement and progress of the work of God in Dorset county, where the citizens were principally members of the Church of England, is taken from his printed journal and his manuscript notes. It began by means of a young lady who was niece to Judge E., of Dorset county, and sister to the wife of the honourable Mr. Basset. Being on a visit, she fell in company with the Methodists, by whose means she was awakened to a sense of her lost and guilty state, and finally converted to God, and so became a pious follower of the blessed Jesus. When she returned to her uncle's in Dorset, they thought she was beside herself. She, however, persevering in her Christian course, became instrumental in the conversion of her sister Mary, and a few others. Her sister became as zealous for God as herself; and soon after another sister, Mrs. Basset, became a most blessed woman. "I have no doubt," says Mr. Garrettson, "but that she lived and died a bright witness of sanctification."

The honourable Mr. Basset was an eminent lawyer in the state of Delaware. After he embraced religion, he became a member of congress, was afterwards appointed one of the United States' judges; and finally, a governor

of the state of Delaware. The substance of what follows Mr. Garrettson says he had from Mr. Basset's own mouth. At the time of the conversion of his lady and her sisters, who all three were eminently pious, Mr. Basset being a man of the world, and moving in the higher circles of fashionable society, became greatly distressed in mind on account of the Methodists, so that he had but little rest day or night. A court being soon to be held in Lewiston, in which he had a cause to manage as counsel, he concluded that when that should be completed, he would sell his property, and move to some distant part of the country, so as to rid himself of the "noisy Methodists." One night during the session of the court, he went to his bed chamber to rest. After falling into a profound sleep, he dreamed that he saw two devils in black standing by his bed side, who, he thought, had come to take him away. He trembled, and began to pray. The devils thereupon soon vanished; and were succeeded by two beautiful angels dressed in white, standing near his bed. These, thought he, are messengers for good. Casting his eye towards the farthest corner of the room, he saw an aged, and very grave looking man, sitting in a large arm chair, frowning upon him, the angels still standing by his bed. He looked, and be held a beautiful child advance to the aged man, and smiling pleasantly, began to fondle around him; but the aged man continued to frown. On this his sins were brought to his recollection, and it appeared to him that God the Father, represented by the aged man, was frowning on him, while Jesus Christ, represented by the little child, was interceding for him. The angels might justly represent the Holy Spirit directing the ministers of Christ, or his holy sisters presenting his case in prayer to a throne of grace.

He awoke in a sort of rapture, and immediately dedicated himself to the God who made him, and became a

happy Christian. "From what I understood," says Mr.