PARENTAGE AND YOUTH

     "The undevout historian is mad," wrote Dr. A. T. Pierson. This is the carefully weighed statement of a faithful student of history. The wheels of Providence are intricate and involved, yet they move straight forward, and, at times, move with exceeding swiftness. Blind indeed is the eye that can look upon the eclipse of Babylonian glory, the collapse of Alexandrian dreams and the repeated cataclysms of the race and not see "that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men" (Dan. 4:17). Pharaoh, Cyrus and the Caesars are proofs. The preparation of the political world for the Messianic advent reveals God's finger-marks on history. The coming of Savonarola and Martin Luther was God's rebuke to the pall of the dark ages. The "Holy Club" of Oxford was God's answer to the skepticism and moral darkness of the eighteenth century.

     "Westward the course of empire takes its way," is a historical fact poetically expressed. The wheels of the car of Providence must parallel that march of empire, so that where its camp stakes are set, above them may be unfurled the banner of the cross, upon which is inscribed, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

     Hence, it was the consistency of divine operations that a second Wesley should be called and trained for Christian leadership in the new world. He must be a man of clear vision, of balanced judgment, of indomitable courage, of unbending integrity, of unquenchable zeal, of holiest ambition, of superlative devotion. That man was Francis Asbury. Thomas Carlyle said: "We can not look, however imperfectly, upon a great man without gaining something by him. He is the living light-fountain, which it is good and pleasant to be near." The passing of a century has not lessened the power of that light nor has it dulled the pleasure that comes from looking at the portrait of this great and good man.

     His Parentage and Youth. Joseph and Elizabeth Asbury belonged to the better class of the common people of England and were in fairly moderate circumstances. Two children were born to them, one, a daughter, dying in early childhood. Francis was born in Staffordshire, about four miles from Birmingham, August 20, 1745. His mother was a pious woman and trained him with religious care. He says of himself that he "never dared an oath or hazarded a lie." He read the Bible with pleasure when seven years of age. His father was very anxious to give him an education and placed him in the school of one Arthur Taylor, where he remained a few months, but was compelled to leave because of the harshness and cruelty of the pedagogue. He was then placed to learn a trade; the result is given by himself as follows: "Soon after I entered business God sent a pious man, not a Methodist, into our neighborhood, and my mother invited him to our house; by his conversation and prayers I was awakened before I was fourteen years of age. It was now easy and pleasing to leave my company, and I began to pray morning and evening. I soon left our blind priest, and went to West-Bromwick church: here I heard Ryand, Stillingfleet, Talbot, Bagnall, Mansfield, Hawes, and Venn; great names, and esteemed gospel ministers. I became very serious, reading a great deal-Whitefield's and Cennick's sermons, and every good book I could meet with.

     "It was not long before I began to inquire of my mother who, where, and what were the Methodists; she gave me a favorable account, and directed me to a person who could take me to Wednesbury to hear them. I soon found this was not the church-but it was better. The people were so devout-men and women kneeling down-saying AMEN. Now, behold! they were singing hymns-sweet sound! Why, strange to tell! the preacher had no prayer book, and yet he prayed wonderfully! What was yet more extraordinary, the man took his text, and had no sermon book: thought I, this is wonderful indeed! It is certainly a strange way, but the best way."

     After attending several of these services he was enabled to believe that the Lord "pardoned his sins and justified his soul," as he expressed it. While not always rejoicing in as much of the Spirit's power as he desired, yet he said, "I was happy; free from guilt and fear, and had power over sin, and felt great inward joy." It was some time after this he tells us when the Lord showed him the evil in his heart and he sought and obtained what he called the pure and perfect love of God. His conversion, and association with the Methodists filled him with zeal, and, young as he was, he took an active part in the services.

     "After this we met for reading and prayer," he continues, "and had large and good meetings, and were much persecuted, until the persons at whose houses we held them were afraid, and they were discontinued. I then held meetings frequently at my father's house, exhorting the people there, as also at Sutton-Cofields, and several souls professed to find peace through my labors. I met class awhile at Bromwick Heath, and met in band at Wednesbury. I had preached some months before I publicly appeared in the Methodist meeting-houses; when my labors became more public and extensive; some were amazed, not knowing how I had exercised elsewhere.

     "My mother used to take me with her to a cottage meeting, which she conducted once a fortnight, for the purpose of reading the Scriptures, and giving out hymns. After I had been thus employed as a clerk for some time, the good sisters thought Frank might venture a word of exhortation. So, after reading, I would expound and paraphrase a little on the portion read. Thus began my gospel efforts, when a lad of sixteen or seventeen; and now I would rather have a section or chapter for a text than a single verse or part of a verse. When the society called me forth from obscurity my performance in public surpassed all expectation. But they knew not that the stripling had been exercising his gifts in his mother's prayer meeting."

     The "young stripling" was now made a local preacher in his eighteenth year, and became, as he himself says, "the humble and willing servant of every preacher that called on me by night or by day; being ready with hasty steps to go far and wide to do good; visiting Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and indeed almost every place within my reach for the sake of precious souls; preaching, generally, three, four, and five times a week, and at the same time pursuing my calling."

     How does that record sound in the ears of many who are supposed to be regular itinerants of today, to say nothing of the local class?

     Serving an apprenticeship as outlined in the foregoing, when about twenty-one he became a regular itinerant, preaching and laboring with great zeal and success until the Bristol conference. He says: "On the 7th of August, 1771, the conference began at Bristol, in England. Before this, I had felt for half a year strong intimations in my mind that I should visit America; which I had laid before the Lord, being unwilling to do my own will, or to run before I was sent. During this time my trials were very great, which the Lord, I believe, permitted to prove and try me, in order to prepare me for future usefulness. At the conference it was proposed that some preachers should go over to the American continent. I spoke my mind, and made an offer of myself. It was accepted by Mr. Wesley and others, who judged I had a call. From Bristol I went home to acquaint my parents with my great undertaking, which I opened in as gentle a manner as possible. Though it was grievous to flesh and blood, they consented to let me go. My mother is one of the tenderest parents in the world: but I believe she was blest in the present instance with divine assistance to part with me."

     How lame our language! how feeble our words! yet in these last simple sentences can be read the yearning of a father's loving heart, the poignant grief of a tender-hearted mother and the grief of the son in that parting. Reverence demands that the curtain of gentle silence be drawn across the picture of that domestic tragedy, while respect bows in all humility before such unmurmuring sacrifice. Truly, there were giants of moral heroes in those days!

     Although he had been laboring actively for over eight years, nearly five years in the regular itinerancy, so scant was the remuneration that when he reached Bristol the last of September, he had no money. The Lord opened the hearts of some of his friends, however, who provided him with clothing and ten pounds in money. The voyage was very trying. He was very sick the first few days; he had no bed except two blankets placed on a plank, but he consoled himself with the reflection that if men endured such hardships for worldly gain, he could do it for Jesus' sake. After the first Sabbath he preached to the sailors each returning Sabbath, the rest of his time being spent in study, prayer and self-examination. He found a strong and increasing desire to be "complete in all the will of God, and holy in all manner of conversation, as He that had called him was holy."

     The landing at Philadelphia was an occasion of great joy. He says: "The people looked on us with pleasure, hardly knowing how to show their love sufficiently, bidding us welcome with fervent affection, and receiving us as angels of God." Such was the welcome extended to this twenty-six-year-old missionary, who was providentially destined to become to American Methodism what Mr. Wesley was to English Methodism-a truly Pauline evangelist, founder of churches and far-seeing ecclesiastical builder.

FOR DISCUSSION AND MEDITATION

1. Cite other evidences than those mentioned by the author "that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men."

2. What did God raise up as a buffer to the skepticism and infidelity of the nineteenth century? the twentieth?

3. Name the seven colorful qualities that blend to make the rainbow character of Francis Asbury. Compare Carlyle's statement of a great man with Longfellow's in the "Psalm of Life."

4. Give three results of a pious mother's training; an outstanding life change as a result of a Godly guest in the home, and note the spiritual appetite of a truly awakened heart manifesting itself in a hunger for morning and evening prayer, religious reading and gospel preaching.

5. Note again the influence of Asbury's mother in his contacting the Methodists. What if she had not given him a favorable account of them? What if she had hindered his going to their meetings instead of helping him? Describe these meetings.

6. What two definite experiences came to him as a result of attending these meetings?

7. How did this new life manifest itself? With what result? What benefit would a young Christian receive from attending class meeting, prayer meeting and band meeting today?

8. Where did young Asbury as a youth of sixteen or seventeen exercise his gifts in expounding and paraphrasing the Scripture? How did this come about?

9. Describe the eighteen-year-old local preacher.

10. Note Asbury's attitude toward what he thought his call to America, and his preparation for future usefulness.

11. What does Mr. Griffith say of the parting of parents and son?

12. Describe Asbury's financial condition on leaving for America, his voyage, how he spent his time, and his desires.

13. What welcome did this twenty-six-year-old missionary to America receive on landing at Philadelphia? How does Mr. Griffith describe him in the closing words of this chapter?

14. What sentence in this chapter most deeply impresses you?