When Cartwright Asked, God ANSWERED
[Above: Peter Cartwright—Ed Porter Thompson, A Youth's History of Kentucky for School and General Reading, 1897 / public domain, Wikimedia]
PETER CARTWRIGHT was born in September 1785. As a youth in Kentucky, he was rowdy, but a period of deep conviction and a temporary blindness turned him to Christ. He soon began to exhort among the Methodists but did not preach, since he did not feel equipped.
One evening he was commanded by a Methodist leader to preach. He begged to be excused as he had never attempted to do so. Upon the other insisting, he finally consented.
He went out and prayed earnestly that God would help him to speak. Thinking God might be calling him into the ministry, he asked God to give him proof of it by converting a soul that evening.
I went into the house, took my stand, gave out a hymn, sang, and prayed. I then rose and gave them for a text Isaiah 26:4, “Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” The Lord gave light, liberty, and power; the congregation was melted into tears. There was present a professed infidel. The word reached his heart by the Eternal Spirit. He was powerfully convicted, and, as I believe, soundly converted to God that night, and joined the Church, and afterward became a useful member of the same.
Accepting that infidel’s conversion as a divine intervention in answer to his prayer, Cartwright went on to preach, and became one of the most famous frontier circuit riders. Francis Asbury formally ordained him as a deacon on this day, 16 September 1806. He faithfully made his rounds on horseback in all kinds of weather, read to educate himself, spent long hours on his knees, and braved bullies and mockers. He saw God’s power again and again to convert souls and to break down enmities and make all things new.
In one instance, two young men were feuding over a girl. Each swore to kill the other. Armed with pistols and dirks, they came into a camp meeting. People pointed out the pair to Cartwright and acquainted him with the circumstances. That Sunday, supernatural power rested on the congregation. Many fell to the ground. The Holy Spirit convicted both of the feuding men.
Their murderous hearts quailed under the mighty power of God, and with dreadful feelings they made for the altar. One entered on the right, the other on the left. Each was perfectly ignorant of the other being there. I went deliberately to each of them, and took their deadly weapons from their bosoms, and carried them into the preachers’ tent, and then returned and labored faithfully with them and others (for the altar was full) nearly all the afternoon and night. These young men had a sore struggle; but the great deep of their hearts was broken up, and they cried hard for mercy; and while I was kneeling by the side of one of them, just before the break of day, the Lord spoke peace to his wounded soul. He rose in triumph, and gave some thrilling shouts. I hastened to the other young man, at the other side of the altar; and in less than fifteen minutes God powerfully blessed his soul, and he rose and shouted, “Victory!” and as these young men faced about, they saw each other, and, starting simultaneously, met about midway of the altar, and instantly clasped each other in their arms. What a shout went up to heaven from these young men, and almost the whole assembly that were present! There were a great many more who were converted that night.
One of feuding men became a preacher “and spread the holy fire wherever he went,” but died young. Years later, Peter Cartwright still marveled over the change God’s word had accomplished.
A few hours before they were sworn enemies, thirsting for each other’s blood; but now all those murderous feelings were removed from them, and, behold! their hearts were filled with love.
—Dan Graves
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Peter Cartwright rode a circuit in an effective system developed by Methodist innovator Francis Asbury. Christian History #114, Francis Asbury: Pioneer of Methodism
For more about circuit riders such as Cartwright, see Christian History #45, Camp Meetings & Circuit Riders
