EXPERIENCE AND GOSPEL LABOURS OF THE Rev. Benjamin Abbott. TO WHICH IS ANNEXED, A NARRATIVE OF HIS LIFE AND DEATH. BY JOHN FFIRTH. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that COPY-RIGHT SECURED. PUBLISHED BY New Forks EZEKIEL COOPER AND JOHN WILSON, FOR THE METHODIST CONNECTION IN THE UNITED STATES. John C. Totten. printer. PREFACE. THE greater part of the following work was written many years after the occurrences took place; and as Mr. Abbot's memory could not precisely ascertain the exact time of the occurrences, they are consequently inserted without day or date. However, it is of no material consequence whether an occurrence took place on a Monday or a Saturday; whether in May or December, or in what particular year; provided that the relation thereof be true, and the subject be calculated to improve the mind, and to promote virtue and religion. Could Mr. Abbott have given a relation of every meeting, and all the particular occurrences, with day and date, it would have swelled the work far beyond what he designed or wished, and would have led him to a detail of many things of no importance. He only wished to relate the most material circumstances and occurrences in his life, which he could perfectly recollect, The day and date not being mentioned, is, in the opinion of the compiler, of no disadvantage to the work. Mr. Abbot, a short time before his death, put his manuscripts in possession of the compiler (John Ffirth) with a request, that he would arrange and revise them for publication: which he has endeavoured to perform to the best of his ability. Care has been taken, not to expunge any thing thatmight be of utility; and also to preserve the original, plain, simple ideas and language of the man. PREFACE. If some circumstances or occurrences do not stand exactly in that order of arrangement, in which they occurred in point of time, the compiler does not hold himself accountable for the error; and he hopes, that, if such inaccuracy should appear, it will be held excusable in the judgment of every judicious and candid reader. The work is thrown into two parts. Part the First, contains his experience and gospel labours, previous to his entering the itinerant connection of Methodist preachers; during which time, he visited various parts of New-Jersey, Pennsylva nia, Delaware, and Maryland. Part the Second, contains his travels and gospel labours, after he entered the itinerant connection. The compiler had an intimate acquaintance with Mr. Abbott for about twenty years, and had knowledge of some things relative to that eminent saint of God (which were not mentioned in his own manuscripts) which may be acceptable to the reader; he has, therefore, annexed to the work, a Narrative of the live and death of that extraordinary, zealous, faithful, and useful man. |