|
After he
had labored a few years as a local preacher, he was received by Mr. Wesley at
the Bristol Conference, in 1768, as a traveling preacher. Having been useful
in this sphere in Cornwall,
Kent,
and Norwich
circuits, he met Captain Webb at the Leeds Conference in 1772, who was warmly
exhorting the preachers to go to America. His
spirit was stirred within him, and he gave his consent to go the following
spring. When the time arrived, Mr. Wesley wrote to him in the following
laconic style: "The time has come for you to embark for America. I let
you loose, George, on this great continent; publish your mission in the open
face of the sun, and do all the good you can." Those who following
through the following five years of his arduous and successful labors in
America, will comprehend the idea that was in Mr. Wesley's mind, when he
talked of turning this fiery missionary loose on this great continent. When
Mr. Shadford arrived at Peel, where the ship lay in which he was to embark, a
very remarkable dream, which he dreamed six years before, came very
forcefully to his mind. It was as follows: "In my sleep I thought I
received a letter from God, which read as follows -- 'You must go to preach
the gospel in a foreign land, unto a fallen people, a mixture of nations.' I
thought I was conveyed to the place where the ship lay, in which I was to
embark, in an instant. The wharf and ship appeared to be as plain to me as if
I were awake. I replied, Lord, I am willing to go in thy name; but I am
afraid a people of different nations and languages will not understand me.
The answer to this was -- 'Fear not, for I am with thee.' I awoke awfully
impressed with the presence of God, and full of divine love, and a relish of
it remained upon my spirit for many days. When I came to Peel and saw the
ship and wharf, I said to Brother Rankin, 'This is the ship, the place, and
the wharf which I saw in my dream six years ago.' This confirmed me that my
way was of God."
|
