William Moister - The Father of Our Missions; The Story of T. Coke (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. LABOURS IN AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES. DR. COKE was from the beginning of his remarkable career preeminently A. Mssionaby. His whole soul was largely imbued with love to God and love to man, which is, in fact, the true source of the missionary spirit. This is evident from his efforts to spread the light of Divine Truth throughout his native land. At length the time came when the sphere of his labours was to be largely extended. The first foreign mission of Dr. Coke was to America, and in order to understand the occasion which led to his going there, it will be necessary briefly to recall the remarkable manner in which Methodism was first introduced into the new world. About the year 1760, when emigration had begun to flow to the American continent, among others who went from Ireland to better their condition were a few persons in humble circumstances who, having heard Mr. Wesley and his associates, had become impressed with the truth, and had joined the Methodist Society in their native land. Although thus highly favoured, the emigrants to whom we allude do not appear to have retained their religious impressions, for it is said that they, in common with others, became addicted to the pleasures of the world in the land of their adoption. One evening in the autumn of 1766, a large company of emigrants were engaged in playing cards, as usual, at the residence of one of them, when Barbara Heck came in, and burning with indignation she hastily seized the cards, and throwing them in the fire, administered a scathing rebuke to all concerned. She then went to the house of Philip Embury and told him what she had seen and what she had done, adding with great earnestness, "Philip, you must preach to us, or we shall all go to hell, and God will require ou...