had notice published in the newspaper, that the Methodists would preach the next day in the old house, forenoon and afternoon. I felt my heart much engaged in prayer to the Lord for a blessing on our labours in that city.

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Sunday 27th, I preached the first sermon in the old meeting house, at 9 o'clock A. M. from Isa. liii. 5, 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, &c. I preached with some faith and liberty, and the people appeared to be quite amazed. I had only about twenty hearers, who attended to the whole discourse; but there were many who came in and looked on awhile, and then went off quietly. This may be considered as the first permanent stand that was made in that city by the Methodists. The Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, had preached there in 1736; and Mr. Joseph Pilmore in 1773; but did not continue long amongst them. We came with a view to continue preaching in the city, if our labours should be owned of the Lord, Mr. Edgar Wells, at whose house we put up, attended preaching, and was, he afterwards confessed, awakened; and from that time sought the Lord in earnest, and within a few weeks time, he was happily converted."

Thus we see that God owns the faithful labour of his servants, and gives them souls for their hire; and is not this the highest reward they can ask?

Mr. Asbury continued in the city a few days, and left Mr. Willis as the stationed minister of the place, by whose indefatigable labours a society was formed, which has continued until the present day.*

After continuing with Mr. Asbury about twenty-six days, he left him in Charleston, and returned to his circuit.

*See Lee's History of Methodism in America, page 112.

CHAPTER VIII.

Leaves Salisbury Circuit-Attends Conference at Green HillsMeets with Doctor Coke-Some unpleasant feelings, between the Doctor and himself A reconciliation-Attends Conference at Mason's-Is appointed to travel Carolina Cireuit-His exercises there-Attends conference at Law's -From thence to Abingdon in Maryland-Is appointed to travel Kent Circuit.

MR. Lee returned to his Circuit just in time to go around and take an affectionate leave of those with whom he had laboured during the year.

By this (says Christ,) shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." And again, St. John, writing to the believers"Beloved let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." It is surely a true mark of our discipleship if we love God, and love one another. Heathens themselves have been astonished at this noble trait in the Christian character, and although ignorant of the cause, yet were constrained to say; "See how these Christians love one another."

Sharing the same toils, bound upon the same pilgrimage, and sons of the same heavenly parent, and partakers of the same grace; can it be a subject of wonder, that Christians should be endeared to each other, or that Christians should love their ministers who faithfully labour with them, and bear them up

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before a throne of grace, in their fervent and unceasing prayers?-It was this attachment which the believers at Ephesus had for the Apostle Paul, after having been benefitted by his labours for the space of three years, and which caused them at the hour of parting, to fall on the neck of their beloved pastor, and weep, "sorrowing, most of all, for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. -We cannot better apply the above remarks, than by making a few extracts from Mr. Lee's Manuscript Journal.

"Saturday, April 9th, Salisbury. The Lord was sensibly present, many of the people had cause to bless God for this meeting. One woman professed to find the Lord. My grief was greatly encreased at leaving these affectionate people. I believe they were as much grieved at parting with me, as I was at leaving them. We had many tears together.—

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"In the Evening I preached at Hickman's from Ephesians v. 1. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children. I felt what I said, and I hope the people felt it too. I wept while preaching, and they wept while hearing. But the thought of going away would hardly suffer me to speak. They wept, and some aloud when they took their leave of me. 'Sunday 10th. Hearn's. 2 Peter iii. 18. But grow in grace. I had liberty in speaking to-day; the hearers were much affected.-After preaching we held a love feast, and I bless God I was greatly comforted, I found it to be a time of love to my soul. the friends were powerfully wrought upon. I believe there were but few dry eyes in the house. When I made mention of leaving them, they wept aloud as if unable to bear the parting scene,

Many of

Monday 11th. Leadbetters. I had to settle a dispute between some of our friends, which had been in agitation for some months. I undertook it with great reluctancy; but I had reason to be thankful for our meeting in the end. We first went to prayer; then I exhorted a while; and asked some of the friends to pray. Then I got them to speak one at a time. When we first began most of us fell a weeping; and I believe there was not a dry eye in the house. All seemed agreed to drop it, and say no more about it; but I told them they must say all then, what was to be said, that there might be no more of it hereafter; but there was so much crying that it was some time before we could hear all they had to say; but in the end they all seemed to ask pardon, and each one freely forgave the other, and promised to be as though the dispute had never been. I am well convinced I never saw the like before. After we had settled this point we set off; but I had a sorrowful parting with my dear friends. When I bade them farewell there was scarcely one that was able to speak, being all in tears. My grief was almost more than I could bear.

"Wednesday 13th, At the new meeting house I preached from 2 Corinthians xiii. 11. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, &c. After I had concluded and told them I was going to leave them, and begged they would pray for me, immediately they began to weep, and I could say no more: I set down and wept several minutes. I then left the house, but before I could get far, they came around me weeping. I began to bid them farewell, and to speak a few words to them; but my grief was so great, that I was soon forced to stop. I never

saw, or felt such a parting scene before. At times it seemed that I would as soon have died, as to be parted from this people but upon due reflection I could say the will of the Lord be done."

Who that has experienced, in some degree the grief of parting with Christian friends, does not look forward with pleasure to that world of rest, where the redeemed of the Lord shall meet, to part and sorrow no more?

He left his charge in Salisbury on the 14th, and attended the setting of the Annual Conference at Green Hills, which commenced the 20th of April. Among those present at the conference was Doctor Coke, who took an active part in the deliberations of that body; and among other subjects which were introduced, that of slavery claimed no small part of his attention. Ever since his arrival in America his thoughts had been intensely fixed, in finding out some method, for the extirpation of this evil from amongst the Methodists.

He had viewed this evil, which he found existing in the southern department of the work, in an abstract form, not perhaps duly considering that thousands were involved in it, not through choice but necessity, and possessing a zeal which would bow to no difficulty, he went on enforcing the necessity of an immediate and unconditional emancipation of that unhappy portion of the human race,

Mr. Lee's notions on this subject were somewhat different from the Doctor's; he, with every friend of humanity, deplored the condition of this portion of Adam's family, and felt the most sincere regret for their situation; but at the same time he anticipated what in reality was brought to pass some years after,