PRINTED BY T. KIRK, NO. 48, MAIDEN-LANE, FO THE AND J. WILSON, AT THE BOOK ROOM. 4X4 33 TO THE MEMBERS OF THE METHODIST SOCIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES. DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN, WE E think it expedient to give you a brief account of the rise of Methodism, both in Europe and America. In 1729, two young men in England, reading the Bible, saw they could not be saved without holiness, followed after it, and incited others so to do. In 1737, they saw likewise, that men are justified before they are sanctified: But still holiness was their object. God then thrust them out, to raise a holy people." In the year 1766, Philip Embury, a local preacher of our society, from Ireland, began to preach in the city of New-York, and formed a society of his own countrynien and the citizens: and the same year, Thomas Webb preached in a hired room, near the barracks. About the same time, Robert Strawbridge, a local preacher from Ireland, settled in Frederic county, in the state of Maryland, and preaching there, formed some societies. The first Methodist church in New-York was built in 1768 or 1769; and in 1769, Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor came to NewYork; who were the first regular Methodist preachers on the continent. In the latter end of the year 1771, Francis Asbury and Richard Wright, of the same order, came over. We humbly believe that God's design in raising up the preachers called Methodists, in America, was to reform the continent, and spread scripture-holiness over these lands. As a proof hereof, we have seen, since that time, a great and glorious work of God, from New-York through the Jersies, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia: as also, of late, to the extremities of the western and eastern states. We esteem it our duty and privilege most earnestly to recommend to you, as members of our church, our FORM OF DISCIPLINE, which has been founded on the experience of a long series of years; as also on the observations and remarks we have made en ancient and modera churches. ♦ These are the words of the Messrs. Wesleys themselves. |