G.F. Playter on Divine Retribution
Playter History of Methodism in Canada 83
The moral condition of the settlers was
indeed lamentable. They had no means of grace, and little
desire for any, loving drinking, dancing, horse-racing, and
other sports. A Baptist exhorter, from the United States,
used to have meetings occasionally, but was highly prejudiced
against the Methodists, and brought the people to have
similar feelings. Nathan Bangs was the first Methodist
preacher on the Thames, the St. Clair, and the north-western
shore of Lake Erie. On his first visits [in 1803], a number
of houses were opened for him to preach in; but, through the
Baptist, they were soon closed again. A rich man had opened
his house for preaching, and afterwards turned the preacher
out of doors, in the presence of the congregation,—when
taking out his handkerchief, and lifting his feet, the
preacher "wiped the dust off as a testimony against them." [cf.
Lk 9.5,
Mk 6.11] A few months after the affairs of this man
began to reverse. He learned to drink, and became a
drunkard. His wife went off with another man. His children
ran to ruin. In years after, he wandered about as a vagrant,
indebted to friends for daily food. In 1833, he was visited
by the preacher on the Gosfield circuit [Horace Dean], who found him on
the verge of the grave with no preparation, and no desire
for it. His mind was weak, and his body enfeebled by
disease. He lived in ignorance and disobedience to God, and
so he died.