The early times of Methodism were a period pervaded with rationalism and formalism. There was a man at this time named John Nelson, who was a stone cutter. He was also a teacher of the gospel. He was out on the street one day, teaching and calling men to the way of the Lord, but was surrounded by a mob who started to distract by ringing very big and loud bells, in order to stop people from hearing while efforts were made to carry out an evil plot of placing a rope around Nelson’s neck to drag him into a river to drown him. A half crazed man came toward Nelson to put the rope on his neck but Nelson pushed off the rope. About this time an officer approached Nelson to arrest him when Nelson immediately charged him to do his duty, to which the officer asked what he meant. He charged him in the name of the king to put a stop to the trouble and deliver him from the mob. Pale, the officer did exactly what was commanded of him! Amazing!
Summarised by Fred Felix.