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diff --git a/44140-0.txt b/44140-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b48be07 --- /dev/null +++ b/44140-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14057 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44140 *** + +Transcriber's note: + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + +Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: titlepage] + +[Illustration: George Whitefield. (handwritten signature)] + + + + + GEORGE WHITEFIELD: + + A BIOGRAPHY, + + WITH + + SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HIS LABORS + IN AMERICA. + + COMPILED + BY JOSEPH BELCHER, D. D., + + AUTHOR OF THE LIFE OF REV. DR. CAREY, MISSIONARY TO INDIA, + ETC., ETC. + + PUBLISHED BY THE + AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, + 150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + + MORAL STATE OF GREAT BRITAIN IN THE EARLY + PART OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY--WHITEFIELD, + FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS FIRST SERMON. + + 1714-1736. + + Low state of religion in Great Britain and its dependencies + when Whitefield appeared--His birth in Gloucester--Hooper-- + Raikes--Whitefield's early life--His entrance at the + university of Oxford--Becomes connected with the Wesleys + and other Methodists--Illness and mental trials--Relief-- + Preparation for the ministry--Return to Gloucester-- + Ordination--First sermon 13 + + + CHAPTER II. + + WHITEFIELD'S SUCCESS AS A PREACHER IN ENGLAND--FIRST + VISIT TO AMERICA. + + 1736-1738. + + Whitefield's return to Oxford--Usefulness there--Visits + London--Great popularity--Georgia--His anxiety as to duty-- + Invited to Georgia by the Wesleys--Preparation and + departure--Preaching and excitement at Deal--Labors and + success on board--Arrival and labors at Gibraltar-- + Interesting incidents on the voyage--Sickness and recovery-- + His reception at Savannah--Visit to an Indian king--Origin + of the Orphan asylum--Visit to Frederica--Return to + Savannah--Visit to Charleston--Treatment by Garden-- + Embarkation for Europe--Stormy voyage--Arrival in Limerick-- + Journey to London--Meeting with the trustees of Georgia-- + Ordination as priest--Return to London--First extempore + prayer--First idea of open-air preaching 40 + + + CHAPTER III. + + OPEN-AIR PREACHING IN ENGLAND AND WALES--ERECTION + OF THE TABERNACLE IN LONDON. + + 1738, 1739. + + Whitefield's visit to Bristol--New opposition--Interviews + with the chancellor of the diocese--Preaching at Kingswood-- + Large congregations--Preaching at Bristol--Labors in Wales + with Howel Harris--Gloucester--Old Mr. Cole--Return to + London--Conflict with Bishop Warburton and others-- + Moorfields--Kennington Common--Blackheath--Anecdotes-- + Erection of the Tabernacle--New Tabernacle--Certificate-- + Visit to Norwich--Conversion of Robert Robinson--Preaching + at the West End of London--Liberality of Whitefield's + congregations--Attendance of the nobility on Whitefield's + ministry--Architecture of Tabernacle and Tottenham Court + road chapel 71 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + WHITEFIELD'S SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA. + + 1739, 1740. + + Joseph Periam's release by Whitefield from Bedlam-- + Whitefield's arrival at Philadelphia--Preaches to vast + crowds in the open air--Testimony of Dr. Franklin and + others--Account of the Log College--William Tennent, Sen.-- + Whitefield's own account of his preaching at Philadelphia-- + Subsequent discovery of the conversion of Dr. Rodgers-- + Whitefield's first visit to New York--Description of him by + one of his hearers--Sermons in New Jersey--Old Tennent + church--Places of preaching at New York--Address to sailors-- + Letter to Pemberton--Interview with Gilbert Tennent--Some of + Whitefield's sermons printed--Departure from Philadelphia-- + Sermons on his journey to Savannah--Arrival and reception at + Charleston--Departure for Savannah--Dangers of the way--State + of things in Georgia--Whitefield revisits Charleston-- + Controversy with Commissary Garden--Lays the foundation-stone + of the Orphan house--Sermon by Smith on the character of + Whitefield 97 + + + CHAPTER V. + + CONTINUATION OF HIS SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA. + + 1740. + + Feebleness of Whitefield's health--Again visits Charleston, + Philadelphia, etc.--Extent of his former success--Extracts + from Seward's journal--Extracts from newspapers--Whitefield's + letter to England--His correspondence on marriage--Birth and + death of his son--His funeral sermon for his wife--Franklin + and others on Whitefield's eloquence--Anecdote--Extract from + the New England Weekly Journal--Return to Savannah--Manner of + his reception--Activity at Savannah--Again visits Charleston-- + Cited into the Commissary's court--Various examinations-- + Whitefield's appeal to the Court of Chancery--Interview with + the Commissary--Usefulness at Charleston--Sails for New + England 129 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + WHITEFIELD'S FIRST VISIT TO NEW ENGLAND. + + SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER, 1740. + + State of religion in New England--Testimony of Prince--Dr. + I. Mather--Dr. Jonathan Edwards' success--Prevalence of + prayer--Whitefield's arrival and labors at Newport--Interview + with Clap--Honeyman--Letter from Barber--Journey to Boston-- + Interview with the Commissary and the clergy--Preaches at + Brattle-street, Old South church, New North, Common, Roxbury, + Old North, Cambridge, First church--Interview with Governor + Belcher--Roxbury--Hollis-street--Old South church-- + Brattle-street--Marblehead--Salem--Ipswich--Newbury--Hampton-- + Portsmouth--York--Return to Boston--Frequent preaching-- + Invitation to children--Interesting conversation with a + child--Anecdote of juvenile usefulness--Remarks on an + unconverted ministry--Whitefield's character of Boston-- + Preaches at Concord, Sudbury, Marlborough, Worcester, + Leicester, Brookfield, Cold Spring, Hadley, Northampton-- + Revival there--Whitefield's opinion of Mr. Edwards and + family--Important interview--Preaching at East Windsor, + Westfield, Springfield, Suffield--Opinion of Mr. and Mrs. + Edwards, Sen.--Relinquishment of appointments to preach-- + Visit to New Haven--Interview with Principal Clap--Departure + from New England--Whitefield's character of it--Conversion + of Mr. Emerson--Prince's account of Whitefield's visit--Dr. + Baron Stow on its results--Anecdote, 148 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + LABORS IN NEW YORK AND THE MIDDLE AND SOUTHERN + STATES. + + 1740, 1741. + + Whitefield's arrival and labors at New York, Staten Island, + and Newark--Mr. Burr--Meeting with Gilbert Tennent--Visit to + Baskinridge--Tennent's preaching in Cross' barn--Whitefield + preaches in the new house at Philadelphia--Franklin's advice + to Gilbert Tennent--Remarkable instances of conversion-- + Success in Philadelphia--Apostrophe in a sermon--Visit to + Gloucester, Greenwich, Cohansey, Salem, Newcastle, Fagg's + Manor, Bohemia--Sails from Reedy island to Charleston-- + Arrival at Bethesda--Remarkable escape from death-- + Prosecution at Charleston--Preaching--Letters from Boston-- + Departure for England--Separation from Messrs. Wesley-- + Difficulties in London--Triumph--Howel Harris 196 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + FIRST AND SECOND VISITS TO SCOTLAND--LABORS + IN ENGLAND AND WALES. + + 1741-1744. + + Scheme of comprehension--Account of Rev. John Cennick-- + Voyage to Scotland--Letter to Rodgers--Visit to Erskine-- + Preaching in Edinburgh--Labors at Glasgow--His sermons + printed--Return to England--Letter from McCulloch--Renewed + glance at Edinburgh--Public attention deeply riveted-- + Execution of a convict--Improvement of the event in a + sermon--Conversion of a mimic--A drunken sergeant--Miss + Hunter--Marquis of Lothian--Conduct of Rev. Mr. Ogilvie-- + Second visit to Scotland--Cambuslang--Kilmarnock--Glance + at subsequent visits--Orphan-house park, Edinburgh-- + Glasgow--Increasing reputation--Extracts from letters-- + Anecdotes--Visit to Wales--Letters from America--Visit to + Gloucester, Strand, Tewkesbury--Encouraging news from + America--Success in London--Awakening at the Tabernacle-- + Visit to Gloucester and its neighborhood--South Wales-- + Return to London--Bristol--Exeter--Mr. Saunders--Conversion + of Thomas Olivers--Birmingham--Kidderminster--Health-- + Assizes at Gloucester--Plymouth--Deliverance from + assassination--Conversion of Mr. Tanner--Visits to the + poor--Anecdote--Embarkation for America 222 + + + CHAPTER IX. + + WHITEFIELD'S SECOND VISIT TO NEW ENGLAND. + + 1744, 1745. + + Incidents of the voyage from England--Prayer heard--General + alarm--Whitefield's illness--Arrival at York--Threatening + sickness--Rev. Mr. Moody--Preaching at York and Portsmouth-- + Apparent danger of death--Departure for Boston--Constant + preaching there--Chelsea--Malden--Prince's account of his + preaching and conduct--Objections made to his administration + of the Lord's supper--Changes in New England--Opposition to + Whitefield in Connecticut, New Haven, Massachusetts, Harvard + College--Large meeting in his favor at Boston--Number of + signatures to the testimony--Progress of revival-- + Proceedings of Harvard College--Whitefield's defence-- + Subsequent act of the College--Expositions at Boston, + Ipswich, Portland, Exeter--Expedition against Cape Breton-- + Sherburne's request--Sermon to the soldiers--Refusal of + chaplaincy--Conversion of a colored trumpeter--Of a noted + scoffer--Anecdote of Whitefield and Dr. Hopkins 254 + + + CHAPTER X. + + LABORS IN THE MIDDLE AND SOUTHERN STATES--THE + BERMUDAS. + + 1745-1748. + + Whitefield's preaching in New York, New Jersey, + Philadelphia--Liberal offer declined--Usefulness of his + printed sermons in Virginia--Preaches at Hanover--Isaac + Oliver--Visit to Bethesda--His account of the Orphan-house-- + His character as given by the New York Post-boy--Public + testimony as to Whitefield's integrity--Preaching tour in + Maryland--Visit to Charleston--Success of his preaching in + Maryland--Visits New York, Newport, Portsmouth, Boston-- + Return to Philadelphia--Bohemia--Journey to North Carolina-- + Embarkation for the Bermudas--His progress and labors-- + Honored by the governor and others--Usefulness among the + negroes--Summary of his proceedings in the Bermudas-- + Kindness of the people there--Voyage to England--His labors + on the voyage--Arrival at Deal 277 + + + CHAPTER XI. + + LABORS IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND--CHAPLAIN + TO LADY HUNTINGDON. + + 1748, 1749. + + Triumphs and trials in London--Becomes chaplain to the + Countess of Huntingdon--Complimented by the great-- + Bolingbroke and Rev. Mr. Church--Rev. James Hervey--Honors + conferred on Whitefield--Falsehoods of Horace Walpole-- + Charged with vulgarism--Defence--Third visit to Scotland-- + Return to London--Visit to the west of England--Conversions + in Gloucestershire--Tour in Cornwall--Brilliant assemblies + in London--Excursion to Exeter and Plymouth--Rev. Andrew + Kinsman--Return to London--Decline of health and visit to + Portsmouth and Wales--Arrival of Mrs. Whitefield from the + Bermudas--Visit to the north of England--Popularity there-- + Intensely interesting services--Rev. W. Grimshawe--Solemn + instances of mortality--Return to London for the winter-- + Usefulness 301 + + + CHAPTER XII. + + LABORS IN GREAT BRITAIN--FOURTH VISIT TO AMERICA--NEW + TABERNACLE IN LONDON, AND TABERNACLE + AT BRISTOL. + + 1750-1754. + + Efforts made by Whitefield for Bethesda--His ardent love for + America--Love to his mother--His mourning for sin--Dr. + Doddridge--London ministers--Interview with Doddridge and + Hervey--Earthquake in London--Bishop Horne's sermon-- + Universal consternation--Preaching of Whitefield at midnight + in Hyde park--Whitefield and his friends at Court--Journey to + Bristol--Taunton--Rev. R. Darracott--Preaching at Rotherham, + Bolton, Ulverston--Conversion of Mr. Thorpe--Edinburgh and + other places in Scotland--Testimony of Hume--Second visit to + Ireland--Opposition on Oxmantown Green--Usefulness in + Ireland--Rev. John Edwards--Fourth voyage to America-- + Interview with Lady Huntingdon--Moravians--Lady Huntingdon's + testimony--Letter to Dr. Franklin--Itinerant labors-- + Revision of manuscripts--Erection of the new Tabernacle-- + Again itinerates--Dedication of the Tabernacle at Bristol-- + Somersetshire--Condolence on Mr. Wesley's sickness--Visit of + Messrs. Davies and Tennent to England--Whitefield's fifth + voyage to America 323 + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + FIFTH VISIT TO AMERICA--RENEWED LABORS IN + GREAT BRITAIN--TOTTENHAM COURT-ROAD CHAPEL. + + 1754-1763. + + Whitefield's arrival and proceedings in Lisbon--Lands at + Beaufort, S. C.--Voyage to New York--New Jersey--Interview + with William Tennent--Accompanies President Burr to New + England--Popularity at Boston--Correspondence with + Habersham--Portsmouth--Rhode Island--Franklin's narrative of + a drummer and Whitefield--Powerful address in Virginia-- + Pleasant interview at Charleston--Embarks for England-- + Arrival at New Haven--His feelings on arriving in England-- + Labors at the Tabernacle--Love for America--Journey to + Bristol, Gloucestershire, Norwich--Returns to London-- + Reproof from Grimshawe--Serious illness--Earthquake at + Lisbon--Tottenham Court-road Chapel--Conversion of Mr. + Crane--Publication of "A short Address"--Personal character + of Whitefield's preaching--His servant--Shuter--Violent + persecution--Interference of government--Journey to + Bristol--Lines on a chair--Journey to Kent, north of England, + Scotland--Meeting at Leeds--Interview with the new governor + of Georgia--Prosperity of Tottenham Court--Journey to + Scotland--Ireland--Returns to London--Ill health--Anecdote-- + Another visit to Scotland--Death of friends--Debts of + Bethesda paid--Renewed visit to Scotland--Visit to + Brighton--Foote's mimicry--Activity--Sails on his sixth + voyage to America 350 + + CHAPTER XIV. + + SIXTH VISIT AND LABORS IN AMERICA--RENEWED + LABORS IN GREAT BRITAIN. + + 1763-1767. + + Improvement of Whitefield's health--Friends in Virginia-- + Proceedings in Philadelphia--New Jersey--A collegiate + hearer--New York--Letter from Boston Gazette--Opposition of + Seabury--Arrival and preaching at Boston--Public thanks to + him--Leaves Boston--New Haven--New York--New Jersey + College--Philadelphia--Virginia--South Carolina--Bethesda-- + Proceedings of the government--Prosperity of the Orphan- + house--Thoughts of returning to England--Still detained in + America--Sails for England--Arrival there--Dedicates a + church at Bath--Returns to London--Sickness--Interest in + American affairs--Rev. Samson Occum--Labors with Mr. + Whitaker in England--Success--Whitefield's journey to + Bristol--Success in London--Mr. Joss becomes his colleague-- + Rev. Rowland Hill--Whitefield again visits Bath and + Bristol--Mr. Fletcher's sermons in London--Preface to + Bunyan's works--Whitefield in Wales and Gloucestershire-- + North of England--Disappointed in obtaining a charter + for Bethesda 375 + + + CHAPTER XV. + + HIS LAST LABORS IN GREAT BRITAIN--COLLEGE + AT TREVECCA--EARL OF BUCHAN--TUNBRIDGE + WELLS. + + 1767-1769. + + Letter to Keen--Whitefield preaches before the Book + Society--Change in his style and manner of preaching-- + Expulsion of six students from Oxford--Whitefield's letter + to the Vice-chancellor--Usefulness of the expelled young + men--Letter to a gentleman at Wisbeach--To Captain Scott-- + To Hon. and Rev. Walter Shirley--Death and funeral services + of the Earl of Buchan--Whitefield's last visit to + Edinburgh--Death of Mrs. Whitefield--Whitefield's own + sickness--Dedication of the college at Trevecca--Improvement + of his health--Letter to Mr. Shirley--Letter of Dr. Franklin + to Whitefield--Whitefield's remarks on it--Dedication of + church at Tunbridge Wells--Contemplated voyage to America-- + His last sermon--Account of Rev. George Burder--Messrs. + Wilson--Embarkation of Whitefield--Detained in the Downs-- + Ordination and preaching at Deal--Anecdote of Dr. Gibbons-- + Clears the Channel--Arrival at Charleston 400 + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + SEVENTH VISIT AND LAST LABORS IN AMERICA--DEATH. + + 1769, 1770. + + Arrival at Bethesda--Its prosperity--Honors paid him by the + legislature--Letter at Charleston--Plan of the proposed + college--Visits Philadelphia--Preaches at Burlington, New + York, Albany--Attends an execution--Visit to Sharon-- + Conversion of Mr. Randall--Visit to Boston--Letters to + Messrs. Wright and Keen--Letter in Pennsylvania Journal-- + Arrival at Exeter--Anecdote--Vast congregation--Delivers his + last sermon--Account of it--His solemnly interesting + appearance--Rodgers' Journal--Journey of Whitefield to + Newburyport--Alarming illness--Death--His remarks to Dr. + Finley--Arrangements for the funeral--Its solemn services-- + Cenotaph 423 + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + TESTIMONIES AND FACTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF WHITEFIELD'S + CHARACTER. + + Funeral sermon by Dr. Cooper--Respect shown to his memory in + Georgia--Whitefield county--Sermon by Rev. Mr. Ellington-- + Arrival of the news in London--Sermon by Rev. J. Wesley-- + Rev. John Newton--Anecdote--Reply of Bacon the sculptor-- + Visits to his tomb--Old man in Ipswich--Whitefield's + indifference to his reputation and ease--Institution at + Georgia--Laborious life--Extraordinary voice--Use of common + facts--Anecdotes--His solemnity of manner--Testimony of an + American preacher--Of Winter--Anecdotes--Sermons in storms-- + Appearance in the pulpit--Character of his printed sermons-- + His devotional spirit--Visiting the sick--Intercourse with + society--Neatness 445 + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + CHARACTER OF WHITEFIELD AS A PREACHER--CENTENNIAL + COMMEMORATIONS. + + Prominence given by him to the truths of salvation--His + ardent glow of feeling--His direct address--His habitual + dependence on the Spirit of God--Dealt with men as immortal + beings--Dr. Hamilton's estimate of Whitefield--Comparison of + Whitefield and Wesley--Centennial commemorations--Hymns by + Mr. Conder--Usefulness--Bristol Tabernacle--Mr. James' + sermon--Character of Whitefield's ministry, by Mr. Glanville 479 + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The excellent Matthew Henry has very truly said, "There are remains +of great and good men, which, like Elijah's mantle, ought to be +gathered up and preserved by the survivors--their sayings, their +writings, their examples; that as their works follow them in the +reward of them, they may stay behind in the benefit of them." + +Influenced by this and kindred sentiments, the compiler of this +volume has devoted no small labor to gather from every source to +which he could gain access, whatever appeared to him important to be +known respecting the most distinguished uninspired preacher perhaps +of any age or country. Whatever may be the faults of the work, +to use the language of the Rev. Dr. Campbell, one of the present +pastors of Whitefield's churches in London, in reference to a short +sketch he had himself prepared of our great evangelist, "It will +serve to bring him and his apostolic labors before the minds of +vast multitudes of the rising generation, to whom both are all but +unknown; and this is far from unimportant. Whatever tends to fix +the minds of men afresh upon the character of WHITEFIELD is, and +it always will be, something gained to the cause of true religion. +The contemplation of that character is one of the most healthful +exercises that can occupy a Christian heart, or a Christian +understanding. It is an admirable theme for ministerial meditation. +It tends equally to humble, to instruct, and to encourage; to excite +love to Christ, zeal for his glory, and compassion for the souls of +men. What Alexander and Cæsar, Charles XII. of Sweden and Napoleon +the first, are to those of the sons of men who have not yet ceased +to 'learn war,' that Whitefield and Wesley are to those who aspire +to eminent usefulness as ministers and missionaries of the cross." + +In the preparation of this memoir, the compiler has sought to +collect together incidents which might interest and instruct, +especially in connection with Whitefield's labors in America; to +present him as much as possible in his own dress; and to use the +facts of his life to excite and cherish his own spirit, so far as +he had the spirit of Christ. Facts reflecting on the reputation and +feelings of others have been used only as the interests of truth +seemed to demand. + +It would have been easy to place on almost every page an array of +authorities, and to give here a long list of friends to whom the +writer has been indebted for aid; but the sole object of the volume +is the honor of Christ in the salvation of men, and that this may be +accomplished, we pray that the blessing of Heaven may rest upon it. + +PHILADELPHIA, 1857. + + + + +GEORGE WHITEFIELD. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + MORAL STATE OF GREAT BRITAIN IN THE EARLY PART OF THE EIGHTEENTH + CENTURY--WHITEFIELD FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS FIRST SERMON. + + +That we may have a clear and comprehensive view of the labors and +success of George Whitefield, it is important that we consider +the moral condition of Great Britain and its dependencies when +the Head of the church brought him on the field of action. The +latter part of the seventeenth and the beginning of the eighteenth +centuries presented in that country a scene of moral darkness, the +more remarkable as it so soon succeeded the triumph of evangelical +truth which distinguished the seventeenth century, and which is +perpetuated in a religious literature that will bless the world. +Causes had long been at work which produced such insensibility and +decline as to all that is good, and such a bold and open activity in +evil, as it is hoped the grace of God may avert from his churches +in all future time. The doctrine of the divine right of kings to +implicit obedience on the part of their subjects; the principle +of priestly control of the minds of men in religious matters; and +clerical influence, sustained by kingly authority, in favor of +sports on the Lord's day, together with the evil examples of men +high in rank and power, had produced their natural results on the +masses of the people, and make it painful, even at this distant +period, to survey the scene. + +Nor were these all the evils of that day. The expulsion from their +pulpits, by the "Act of Uniformity," of two thousand of the most +able and useful of the clergy in England, had led to great ignorance +and neglect of religion; and though men like Leighton and Owen, +Flavel and Baxter, with Bunyan and a host of others, had continued, +in spite of opposing laws, to preach when they were not shut up in +prison, and to write their immortal practical works, by the time of +which we are speaking they had been called to their eternal reward, +leaving very few men of like spirit behind them. Thus infidelity, +profligacy, and formalism almost universally prevailed. + +The low state of religion in the established church at that time +may be learned from the Rev. Augustus M. Toplady, himself one of +its ministers, who died in 1778. In a sermon yet extant he says, +"I believe no denomination of professing Christians, the church +of Rome excepted, were so generally void of the light and life of +godliness, so generally destitute of the doctrine and of the grace +of the gospel, as was the church of England, considered as a body, +about fifty years ago. At that period a _converted_ minister in the +establishment was as great a wonder as a comet; but now, blessed +be God, since that precious, that great apostle of the English +empire, the late dear Mr. Whitefield, was raised up in the spirit +and power of Elias, the word of God has run and been glorified; +many have believed and been added to the Lord all over the three +kingdoms; and blessed be his name, the great Shepherd and Bishop of +souls continues still to issue his word, and great is the company of +preachers, greater and greater every year." + +If it be said that Toplady, as he belonged to a different school of +theology from that which then generally prevailed, could scarcely +be expected to be impartial, we ask leave to transcribe a few lines +from Bishop Butler, who within six months of Whitefield's ordination +wrote thus: "It is come, I know not how, to be taken for granted +by many persons, that Christianity is not so much as a subject of +inquiry; but that it is now at length discovered to be fictitious. +And accordingly they treat it as if in the present age this were an +agreed point among all people of discernment; and nothing remained +but to set it up as a principal subject of mirth and ridicule, as +it were by way of reprisals for its having so long interrupted +the pleasures of the world." Bishop Warburton, who commenced his +ministry a few years before Whitefield, and who cannot be charged +with enthusiasm, says, "I have lived to see that fatal crisis, when +religion hath lost its hold on the minds of the people." + +Many other witnesses might be brought to testify that error and +worldly mindedness had made mournful havoc among the clergy, +and that spiritual religion had been almost buried in forms and +ceremonies. A recent writer has well described the state of religion +in the established church at that time, as only to be compared to a +frozen or palsied carcass. "There," says this Episcopal clergyman, +"were the time-honored formularies which the wisdom of the reformers +had provided. There were the services and lessons from Scripture, +just in the same order as we have them now. But as to preaching +the gospel, in the established church there was almost none. The +distinguishing doctrines of Christianity--the atonement, the work +and office of Christ and the Spirit--were comparatively lost sight +of. The vast majority of sermons were miserable moral essays, +utterly devoid of any thing calculated to awaken, convert, save, or +sanctify souls." Southey, a biographer of Wesley, who assuredly will +not be accused of too strong a tendency to evangelical truth, is +compelled to say, "A laxity of opinions as well as morals obtained, +and infidelity, a plague which had lately found its way into the +country, was becoming so prevalent, that the vice-chancellor of +the university at Oxford, in a _programma_, exhorted the tutors to +discharge their duties by double diligence, and had forbidden the +under-graduates to read such books as might tend to the weakening of +their faith." + +There were undoubtedly some learned and conscientious bishops +at this era. Such men were Secker and Gibson, Lowth and Horne, +Butler, and others. But even the best of them seem sadly to have +misunderstood the requirements of the day they lived in. They spent +their strength in writing apologies for Christianity, and contending +against infidels. They could not see that without the direct +preaching of the essential doctrines of the gospel, their labors +must be sadly defective. The man who dared to preach the doctrines +of the Bible, and in harmony with the Articles and Homilies of his +church, was set down as an enthusiast or fanatic. + +Among those who had dissented from the established hierarchy, and +who were untrammelled by the impositions of secular authority, the +state of vital godliness was also unhappily very low. The noble +spirits of early non-conformity had passed from earth, or crossed +the Atlantic to the frozen shores of New England, and a race of men +had sprung up, some of whom retained the tenets of orthodoxy, but +had lost its power; while others reposed on comfortable endowments, +and lulled themselves, or were drawn by favorable breezes, into the +cold elements of Arianism and Socinianism. As persons in the frozen +regions are said to sleep longer and more soundly than others, so +did they; and a more terrific blast of the trumpet of the gospel +was required to rouse and awake them from their spiritual slumbers. +Happily indeed for the world, and for the church in it, there were +some exceptions. Watts and Guyse and Doddridge, and their pious +associates in different parts of the land, were laborers together in +"God's husbandry," and ceased not to cultivate it with affectionate +faithfulness and care; and wherever their labors extended, the +plants of grace grew and flourished. Darracott, "the star of the +west," threw his mild rays over the vales of Somerset; and in the +north also a few faithful men were found. + +Nor have we even now said all that should be written as to the +character of those times. The highest personages in the land then +openly lived in ways contrary to the law of God, and no man rebuked +them. Profligacy and irreligion were reputable and respectable. +Judging from the description we have of men and manners in those +days, a gentleman might have been defined as a creature who got +drunk, gambled, swore, fought duels, and violated the seventh +commandment, and for all this very few thought the worse of him. + +Those too were the days when the men whom even kings delighted +to honor were such as Bolingbroke, Chesterfield, Walpole, and +Newcastle. To be an infidel, to obtain power by intrigue, and +to retain it by the grossest and most notorious bribery, were +considered no disqualifications even for the highest offices. Such +men indeed were not only tolerated, but praised. In those days +too, Hume, an avowed infidel, put forth his History, and obtained +a pension. Sterne and Swift then wrote their talented, but obscene +books; both of them were clergymen, but the public saw little +inconsistency in their conduct. Fielding and Smollett were the +popular authors, and the literary taste of high and low was suited +by Roderick Random, Peregrine Pickle, Joseph Andrews, and Tom Jones. +These authors were ingenious heathen philosophers, assuming the name +of Christians, and forcibly paganizing Christianity for the sake of +pleasing the world. + +Turning to _Scotland_, we find that the bold proclamation of the +discriminating truths of the gospel which characterize the preaching +of Knox, Welsh, and others, was being rapidly laid aside, and +cold formal addresses, verging towards a kind of Socinianism were +becoming fashionable. Old Mr. Hutchinson, minister of Kilellan, in +Renfrewshire, who saw but the beginning of this sad change, used to +say to Wodrow the historian, "When I compare the times before the +restoration with those since the revolution, I must own that the +young ministers preach accurately, and methodically; but there was +far more of the power and efficacy of the Spirit and of the grace +of God went along with sermons in those days than now. For my own +part--all the glory be to God--I seldom set my foot in a pulpit in +those days, but I had notice of the blessed effects of the word." It +is true, that even then there were a few faithful witnesses for God +in Scotland, such as the brothers Erskine, in the Secession church; +but for the most part, coldness, barrenness, and death prevailed. +The people knew not God, and were strangers to the life-giving +influence and power of the gospel. + +The Arianism of England had been carried to the north of _Ireland_, +and finding a state of feeling suitable to its reception, it took +root and grew up, so as to characterize a distinct section of the +Presbyterian church, then and still distinguished by the name of the +Remonstrant Synod. The south and west of Ireland were subjected to +a blight not less withering, though of a different kind, and which +continued much longer--continued, to a great extent, throughout +the whole of the last century. The clergy were usually sons of the +gentry, and accustomed to their sporting, drinking, and riotous +habits. They had no preparation for ministerial duties but a college +degree; and no education, either literary or moral, which had not +been obtained among wild young men at the university. According +to the interest which they happened to have, they passed at once +from college to ministerial charges, and again mixed in all the +dissipations of the districts where these lay. Ignorant of the +truth, they and their congregations were satisfied with some short +moral discourse. Many of the people were almost as ignorant of the +Scriptures and scripture truth as the inhabitants of Hindostan. +The Catholic priests meanwhile were at work among the people, and +they had many to help them. The sick and the dying were watched; +their fears were wrought upon; they were told of the power which +the priests had, of the influence possessed by the Virgin, and much +about the _old church_; and as soon as any seemed to give way, on +whatever point, the priest was sent for, who plied them anew, and +seldom failed in succeeding with the poor ignorant people. They were +now ready to receive absolution; but he had farther conditions to +propose. The whole family must submit to be rebaptized, or at least +promise to attend mass--and this also was not unfrequently gained; +the Protestant clergyman being all the while at a distance, neither +knowing nor much caring what was going on. In this way great numbers +of the lower and middle classes of the Protestants went over to the +church of Rome. Throughout whole districts the Protestant churches +were almost emptied, and many of those in rural districts were +allowed to fall into ruins. + +Of _Wales_ it is not important at present to say much. From the +middle ages downwards, great darkness and superstition had prevailed +among its mountains. It is true that in the days of James I., +a clergyman named Wroth, whose conversion to the truth had been +remarkable, had labored with eminent zeal and success, but at the +period of which we are now writing declension had succeeded. Within +the establishment all was cold and dead; nearly every minister +was ignorant of the Welsh language, a fact which also applied to +several successive bishops, while the state of morals, among even +the leaders of the hierarchy, was truly deplorable. An old Methodist +simply but truly described the country at this period, and of his +correct narrative we will here give a free translation. + +The land, he tells us, was dark indeed. Scarcely any of the lower +ranks could read at all. The morals of the country were very +corrupt; and in this respect there was no difference between +high and low, layman and clergyman. Gluttony, drunkenness, and +licentiousness prevailed through the whole country. Nor were the +operations of the church at all adapted to repress these evils. From +the pulpit the name of the Redeemer was scarcely heard; nor was much +mention made of the natural sinfulness of man, or of the influence +of the Holy Spirit. On Sunday mornings, the poor were more constant +in their attendance at church than the gentry; but the Sunday +evenings were spent by all in idle amusements. Every Sabbath there +was practised a kind of sport, called in Welsh _Achwaren-gamp_, +in which all the young men of the neighborhood had a trial of +strength, and the people assembled from the surrounding country +to witness their feats. On a Saturday night, particularly in the +summer, the young men and women held what they called _Nosweithian +cann_, or singing eves; that is, they met together and amused +themselves by singing in turns to the harp, till the dawn of the +Sabbath. These things, with the performance of rustic dramas, would +occupy sometimes the whole of the sacred day itself; while a set of +vagabonds, called the _Bobl gerdded_, or walking people, used to +traverse the villages, begging with impunity, to the disgrace alike +of the law and the country. With all this social sprightliness, the +Welsh were then a superstitious, and even a gloomy people. They +still retained many habits apparently derived from paganism, and +not a few of the practices of popery. Their funerals, like those of +the Irish, were scenes of riot and drunkenness, followed by prayers +for the release of the deceased from the pains of purgatory. Such +was the superstition of the people, that when Methodism was first +introduced among them, many of the peasantry expressed their horror +of the new opinions by the truly Popish gesture of crossing the +forehead; and when Wesley first visited them, he pronounced them +"as little versed in the principles of Christianity as a Creek or +Cherokee Indian." To this declaration he added the striking remark, +that, "notwithstanding their superstition and ignorance, the people +'were ripe for the gospel,' and most enthusiastically anxious to +avail themselves of every opportunity of instruction." + +As an illustration of the truth of the remark we have just +introduced from the discerning Wesley, we may mention an incident +which occurred in 1736. At this period dissent itself was reduced so +low in the country, that there were only six dissenting houses of +worship in all North Wales. One Sunday, Mr. Lewis Rees, a dissenting +minister from South Wales, and the father of Dr. Rees, the author of +the celebrated Cyclopedia which bears his name, visited Pwllheli, a +town on the promontory of Slëyn, in Caernarvonshire, and one of the +few places in which the Independents still had a chapel. After the +service, the congregation, collecting around him, complained very +sorely that their numbers were rapidly diminishing, that the few +who yet remained were for the most part poor, and that every thing +connected with their cause looked gloomy. To which the minister +replied, "The dawn of religion is again breaking out in South +Wales," referring them to the fact, that already a distinguished +man--Howel Harris--had risen up, going about instructing the people +in the truths of the gospel. Such was the character of the times +when God was raising up agents to revive and extend his cause. We +shall before long return to Wales with lively interest. + +"Such," says the eloquent Robert Hall, "was the situation of things +when Whitefield and Wesley made their appearance, who, whatever +failings the severest criticism can discover in their character, +will be hailed by posterity as the second reformers of England. +Nothing was farther from the views of these excellent men than to +innovate on the established religion of their country; their sole +aim was to recall the people to the good old way, and to imprint the +doctrines of the Articles and Homilies on the spirits of men. But +this doctrine had been so long a dead letter, and so completely +obliterated from the mind by contrary instructions, that the attempt +to revive it met with all the opposition that innovation is sure to +encounter, in addition to what naturally results from the nature +of the doctrine itself, which has to contend with the whole force +of human corruption. The revival of the _old_, appeared like the +introduction of a _new_ religion; and the hostility it excited +was less sanguinary, but scarcely less virulent, than that which +signalized the first publication of Christianity. The gospel of +Christ, or that system of truth which was laid at the foundation of +the Reformation, has since made rapid advances, and in every step of +its progress has sustained the most furious assaults." + +It ought here to be stated, as illustrating the providence of God in +preparing the British empire for the reception of the gospel, that +the revolution of 1688 introduced the spirit of toleration, and in +1714, the very year of Whitefield's birth, Anne, the last English +sovereign of a persecuting spirit, died, and the throne was assumed +by George I., the first prince of the house of Hanover. The way of +the Lord was thus prepared for bright illustrations of his mercy. + + * * * * * + +Rising from the beautiful valley of the Severn, and on the borders +of that noble stream, reposes in antique glory the affluent city of +GLOUCESTER, with its regular streets, and its majestic cathedral +and other relics of bygone days. In that city the traveller may +examine three spots which will long be interesting to the student of +ecclesiastical curiosities. The first of these is the ancient church +of Mary de Crypt, where reposes the dust of Robert Raikes, the +founder of Sunday-schools; the second, is the little stone which, +in a pensive-looking inclosure, marks the site on which the truly +noble-minded and Protestant Bishop Hooper was burnt, an early martyr +of bloody Mary's reign. There wicked men stood around to light up +the flames, and to mock his sorrows; but as we stand and look, we +exult in the subsequent triumphs of truth. + +The third spot, and the one to us at the present moment the most +interesting, is the Bell inn or hotel, yet standing, though +enlarged and beautified since the period of which we write. There +WHITEFIELD--the saint, the seraph, the "angel flying in the midst of +heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell +on the earth"--first breathed the vital air. Venerable city, we +will rejoice that though within thy walls one glorious luminary of +salvation was extinguished, another "burning and shining light" was +raised up to diffuse joy and happiness over the two most influential +quarters of the globe, and a third has since been given to suggest +the simple plan by which millions of the young have already acquired +the knowledge of salvation. + +GEORGE WHITEFIELD, the sixth son of Thomas and Elizabeth Whitefield, +was born December 16, 1714, old style. Concerning his father and +mother he writes, "The former died when I was two years old; the +latter died in December, 1751, in the seventy-first year of her age, +and has often told me how she endured fourteen weeks' sickness after +she brought me into the world; but was used to say, even when I +was an infant, that she expected more comfort from me than from any +other of her children. This, with the circumstance of my being born +in an inn, has often been of service to me, in exciting my endeavors +to make good my mother's expectations, and so follow the example of +my dear Saviour, who was laid in a manger belonging to an inn." + +In one of his journals, which he commenced at a very early part +of his ministry, Whitefield details with great simplicity many +incidents of his childhood and youth; from which it appears, that +though at times he had many serious thoughts and impressions, +the general course of his life, till the age of sixteen, was +irreligious. He tells us that in early youth he was "so brutish as +to hate instruction, and used purposely to shun all opportunities +of receiving it," and that he spent much money, improperly obtained +from his mother, in cards, plays, and romances, "which," says he, +"were my heart's delight. Often have I joined with others in playing +roguish tricks; but was generally, if not always, happily detected: +for this I have often since, and do now bless and praise God." His +full confessions of this character are very affecting, and should be +a caution to young persons to repel all such temptations. + +When George was about ten years of age, his mother married a second +time, thus forming a connection which led to much unhappiness. +He was, however, continued at school; and when twelve years old, +was transferred to the grammar-school of St. Mary de Crypt, where +he remained about three years. Having a graceful elocution and a +good memory, he gained much credit for delivering speeches before +the city corporation at the annual visitation of the school, and +received pecuniary rewards for his performances on those occasions. +How deeply he afterwards deplored these celebrations, especially +the performance of plays in connection with his school-fellows, +may be learned from his own words: "I cannot but observe here, +with much concern of mind, how this way of training up youth has +a natural tendency to debauch the mind, to raise ill passions, +and to stuff the memory with things as contrary to the gospel of +Christ, as darkness to light, hell to heaven." This sad tendency +was but too clearly evinced in the case of Whitefield himself. "I +got acquainted," he says, "with such a set of debauched, abandoned, +atheistical youths, that if God, by his free, unmerited, and special +grace, had not delivered me out of their hands, I should have sat +in the scorner's chair, and made a mock at sin. By keeping company +with them, my thoughts of religion grew more and more like theirs. +I went to public service only to make sport, and walk about. I took +pleasure in their lewd conversation. I began to reason as they did, +and to ask why God had given me passions, and not permitted me to +gratify them. In short, I soon made great proficiency in the school +of the devil. I affected to look rakish, and was in a fair way of +being as infamous as the worst of them." These were the things, and +not oratory, as has sometimes been said, which Whitefield learned +from plays and acting. + +In the midst of all this, his conscience often made him unhappy; and +he wished, if possible, to combine religion with his pleasures. He +purchased and carefully read "Ken's Manual for Winchester Scholars," +a book which commended itself as having comforted his mother in her +afflictions, and which he afterwards considered to have been "of +great benefit to his soul." + +At the age of fifteen, he thought he had acquired learning enough +for any ordinary occupation in life, and as his mother's business +was declining, he persuaded her to allow him to leave school and +assist in labor. "I began," says he, "to assist her occasionally +in the public-house, till at length I put on my blue apron and +my snuffers, washed mops, cleaned rooms, and in one word, became +professed and common _drawer_ for nearly a year and a half." In the +midst of the activity called for in such a situation, it pleased God +to renew his religious impressions, which induced him, at least at +intervals, to attend with much earnestness to the concerns of his +soul. + +From his childhood, Whitefield tells us, he "was always fond of +being a clergyman, and used frequently to imitate the ministers' +reading prayers." Nor did this tendency towards clerical engagements +cease as he became older. "Notwithstanding," he says, "I was thus +employed in a large inn, and had sometimes the care of the whole +house upon my hands, yet I composed two or three sermons, and +dedicated one of them to my elder brother. One day, I remember, I +was very much pressed to self-examination, and found myself very +unwilling to look into my heart. Frequently I read the Bible when +sitting up at night. And a dear youth, now with God, would often +entreat me, when serving at the bar, to go to Oxford. My general +answer was, 'I wish I could.'" + +His mother's difficulties increasing, it became necessary for her +to leave the inn; in which she was succeeded by one of her married +sons, with whom George for some time remained to continue his +assistance in the business. Some disagreement, however, arising +between them, he after a time took his departure from the inn, and +went to spend a month with his eldest brother at Bristol. Returning +from that city to Gloucester, he resided for a short season with his +mother. While thus living unemployed, without any definite object +before him, and waiting the openings of providence, his mother +was visited by an Oxford student, a servitor of Pembroke college +in that university. In the course of their conversation, he told +her, that after all his expenses at college for the quarter were +discharged, he had one penny remaining. She immediately exclaimed, +"This will do for my son!" and turning to him, said, "Will you go +to Oxford, George?" He replied, "With all my heart." Application +was immediately made to several friends who had influence at +the college, and they pledged themselves to serve her. In this +confidence, her favorite son returned to the grammar-school, +where he not only resumed his studies with greater diligence, but +endeavored, and not altogether in vain, to promote religion and +virtue among his associates. + +Having fully secured his literary preparation for the university, +Whitefield removed to Oxford in his eighteenth year, and was +immediately admitted, as a servitor, into Pembroke college. He soon +found that the seat of learning was also a scene of danger. From +the period of 1662, when the two thousand Non-conformists had been +expelled from the church, the universities had been sinking into a +moral lethargy, preferring uniformity to vital religion. Our young +servitor was shocked with the impiety of the students in general, +and dreading their influence on himself, he as much as possible +abstained from their society, and shut himself up in his study. + +Before he went to Oxford, Whitefield had heard of a class of +young men in the university who "lived by rule and method," and +were therefore called _Methodists_. They were much talked of, and +generally despised. Of this party, John Wesley, a Fellow of Lincoln +college, and already in holy orders, was the leader, his brother +Charles being also as warmly attached to it. They avowed that the +great object of their lives was to save their souls, and to live +wholly to the glory of God; and rarely have men subjected themselves +to greater self-denials and austerities. Drawn towards them by +kindred feelings, Whitefield strenuously defended them whenever he +heard them reviled, and when he saw them going, through a crowd +manifesting their ridicule, every Sunday to receive the sacrament +at St. Mary's or Christ church, he was strongly inclined to follow +their example. + +For more than a year he intensely desired to be acquainted with +them, but a sense of his pecuniary inferiority to them prevented his +advances. At length, learning that a pauper had attempted suicide, +Whitefield sent a poor woman to inform Charles Wesley, that so he +might visit her, and administer religious instruction. He charged +the woman not to tell Mr. Wesley who sent her, but, contrary to +this injunction, she told his name; and Charles Wesley, who had +frequently seen Whitefield walking by himself, on the next morning +invited him to breakfast. An introduction to the little brotherhood +soon followed, and he also, like them, "began to live by rule, and +pick up the very fragments of his time, that not a moment might be +lost." + +It is painful to read Whitefield's own account of the mortifications +of body to which he now submitted; and we are not surprised that, as +the result, his health was so reduced as to place even his life in +danger. All this time he had no clear view of the way of salvation, +and was "seeking to work out a righteousness of his own." In this +state he lay on his bed, his tongue parched with fever, and the +words of the dying Saviour, "I thirst," were impressed on his mind. +Remembering that this thirst occurred near the end of the Saviour's +sufferings, the thought arose in his mind, "Why may it not be so +with me? Why may I not now receive deliverance and comfort? Why +may I not now dare to trust and rejoice in the pardoning mercy of +God?" There was, as Tracy has said, no reason why he might not--why +he ought not. He saw nothing to forbid him. He prayed in hope, +borrowing language from the fact which suggested the train of +thought--"I thirst, I thirst for faith in pardoning love. Lord, I +believe; help thou mine unbelief." His prayer was heard. He dared +to trust in the mercy of God, as revealed in the death of Jesus +Christ for sinners. Conscience and his Bible bore witness that he +did right. The load that had so heavily oppressed him, the load of +guilt and terror and anxiety, that weighed down his spirit while he +sinfully and ungratefully hesitated to trust in divine mercy, was +gone. He saw the trustworthiness of the mercy of God in Christ, and +his heart rejoiced. + +"Though," as Tracy has well said, "the English universities were +established mainly for the purpose of educating men for the +ministry, Whitefield was not likely to gain a good knowledge of +theology there. He took another, and a characteristic course. Some +time after his conversion, when he was at Gloucester, he says, +'I began to read the holy Scriptures upon my knees; laying aside +all other books, and praying over, if possible, every line and +word. This proved meat indeed and drink indeed to my soul. I daily +received fresh life, light, and power from above. I thus got more +true knowledge in reading the book of God in one month, than I could +ever have acquired from all the writings of men.'" + +Every hour of Whitefield's time, especially after he had been +"filled with peace and joy in believing," was sacredly devoted to +preparation for the great work to which he had now solemnly devoted +himself. He visited the prisoners in the jail, and the poor in their +cottages, and gave as much time as he could to communion with God in +his closet. His friends now earnestly importuned him to apply for +ordination; but from this his deep sense of unworthiness made him +shrink. Besides, he intended to have a hundred and fifty sermons +carefully written before he began to preach. He had as yet but one, +and he lent that to a neighboring clergyman, to convince him that +he was not yet fit to be ordained. The clergyman kept it for two +weeks, divided it into two, preached it to his own people, and then +returned it to Whitefield, with a guinea for the use of it. + +Still, however, the work of preparation for the ministry was rapidly +going on. The state of his health compelled him to retire for a +season from Oxford, and he returned home to increase the depth of +his piety, and to be led, little as he thought of it, at once to the +pulpit. He writes, "O what sweet communion had I daily vouchsafed +with God in prayer, after my coming to Gloucester. How often have +I been carried out beyond myself, when meditating in the fields. +How assuredly I felt that Christ dwelt in me, and I in him; and how +daily did I walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and was edified +and refreshed in the multitude of peace. I always observed that +as my inward strength increased, so my outward sphere of action +increased proportionably." + +Thus, happy in himself, and thankful to the gracious God who made +him so, the affectionate soul of George Whitefield ardently desired +that others might participate in his sacred joys. In order to +advance this object, he mixed in the society of young people, and +endeavored to awaken them to a just sense of the nature of true +religion. Some were convinced of the truth, and united with him in +religious exercises; and these were some of the first-fruits of his +pious labors. His discovery of the necessity of regeneration, like +Melancthon's great discovery of the truth, led him to imagine that +no one could resist the evidence which convinced his own mind. He +writes, "Upon this, like the woman of Samaria, when Christ revealed +himself to her at the well, I had no rest in my soul till I wrote +letters to my relations, telling them there was such a thing as the +_new birth_. I imagined they would have gladly received it; but, +alas, my words seemed to them as idle tales. They thought I was +going beside myself." He visited the jail every day, and read and +prayed with the prisoners; attended public worship very frequently, +and read twice or three times a week to some poor people in the +city. In addition to all this, he tells us, "During my stay here, +God enabled me to give a public testimony of my repentance as to +seeing and acting plays; for hearing the strollers had come to +town, and knowing what an egregious offender I had been, I was +stirred up to extract Mr. Law's excellent treatise, entitled, "The +absolute Unlawfulness of the Stage Entertainment." The printer, +at my request, put a little of it in the newspaper for six weeks +successively; and God was pleased to give it his blessing." + +In this manner Whitefield employed himself during nine months; and +one effect of so doing was, that the partition wall of bigotry was +soon broken down in his heart. He says, "I loved all, of whatever +denomination, who loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." This +statement in his diary is connected with an account of the benefit +he derived from studying the works of the Non-conformists. "Baxter's +Call," and "Alleine's Alarm," so accorded with his own ideas of +fidelity and unction, that wherever he recognized their spirit he +acknowledged "a brother beloved." On this portion of his history +we dwell with unspeakable delight; the only drawback is an undue +importance he appears to have attached to _dreams_; and even those, +considered as an _index_ to his waking hours, are interesting, +revealing as they do his deep solicitude on the behalf of souls. + +Here then, before he had completed his twenty-first year, we see +Whitefield returned to Gloucester, and such was already the fame of +his piety and talents, that Dr. Benson, the bishop of the diocese, +offered to dispense, in his favor, with the rule which forbids the +ordination of deacons at so unripe an age. Thus graphically did he +afterwards describe his acceptance of this proposal. + +"I never prayed against any corruption I had in my life so much as +I did against going into holy orders so soon as my friends were for +having me go. Bishop Benson was pleased to honor me with peculiar +friendship, so as to offer me preferment, or to do any thing for me. +My friends wanted me to mount the church betimes. They wanted me +to knock my head against the pulpit too young; but how some young +men stand up here and there and preach, I do not know. However it +be to them, God knows how deep a concern entering into the ministry +and preaching was to me. I prayed a thousand times, till the sweat +has dropped from my face like rain, that God of his infinite mercy +would not let me enter the church till he called me and thrust me +forth in his work. I remember once in Gloucester--I know the room; I +look up to the window when I am there and walk along the street--I +said, 'Lord, I cannot go; I shall be puffed up with pride, and fall +into the condemnation of the devil. Lord, do not let me go yet.' I +pleaded to be at Oxford two or three years more. I intended to make +one hundred and fifty sermons, and thought that I would set up with +a good stock in trade. I remember praying, wrestling, and striving +with God. I said, 'I am undone, I am unfit to preach in thy great +name. Send me not. Lord, send me not yet.' I wrote to all my friends +in town and country to pray against the bishop's solicitation; but +they insisted I should go into orders before I was twenty-two. After +all their solicitations these words came into my mind: 'Nothing +shall pluck you out of my hands;' they came warm to my heart. Then, +and not till then, I said, 'Lord, _I will go_; send me when thou +wilt.'" + +Sunday, June 20, 1736, was the day appointed for his ordination +in the cathedral at Gloucester. On the preceding evening he spent +two hours in prayer for himself and the others who were to be set +apart to the sacred office with him; and on the day itself he rose +early, and passed the morning in prayer and meditation on the +qualifications and duties of the office he was about to undertake. +On a review of the solemn services of the day, he says, "I trust I +answered every question from the bottom of my heart, and heartily +prayed that God might say, Amen. And when the bishop laid his hands +upon my head, if my vile heart do not deceive me, I offered my whole +spirit, soul, and body to the service of God's sanctuary. Let come +what will, life or death, depth or height, I shall henceforward +live like one who this day, in the presence of men and angels, took +the holy sacrament, on the profession of being inwardly moved by +the Holy Ghost to take upon me that ministration in the church. I +call heaven and earth to witness, that when the bishop laid his +hands upon me, I gave myself up to be a martyr for Him who hung +upon the cross for me. Known unto him are all future events and +contingencies; I have thrown myself blindfold, and I trust without +reserve, into his almighty hands. When I went up to the altar, I +could think of nothing but Samuel's standing before the Lord with a +linen ephod." + +Having thus received ordination as a deacon of the church of +England, he delayed not to enter upon the work to which he was +appointed; and accordingly, on the next Sabbath he preached his +first sermon in his native city of Gloucester, selecting for his +subject, "The necessity and benefit of religious society." At the +appointed time he ascended the pulpit, in the church of St. Mary de +Crypt. We have his own record of the service: "Last Sunday, in the +afternoon, I preached my first sermon in the church where I first +received the Lord's supper. Curiosity drew a large congregation +together. The sight, at first, a little awed me; but I was comforted +with a heartfelt sense of the divine presence, and soon found the +advantage of having been accustomed to public speaking when a boy +at school, and of exhorting and teaching the prisoners and the +poor people at their private houses, while at the university. By +these means I was kept from being daunted overmuch. As I proceeded, +I perceived the fire kindled, till at last, though so young, and +amidst a crowd of those who knew me in my childish days, I trust +I was enabled to speak with some degree of gospel authority. Some +few mocked, but most, for the present, seemed struck; and I have +since heard that a complaint was made to the bishop, that I drove +fifteen people mad the first sermon. The worthy prelate, as I am +informed, wished that the madness might not be forgotten before the +next Sunday. Before then, I hope that my sermon upon, 'He that is in +Christ is a new creature,' will be completed. Blessed be God, I now +find freedom in writing. Glorious Jesus, + + "'Unloose my stammering tongue to tell + Thy love immense, unsearchable.'" + +It is remarkable, under all the circumstances of the case, that +Bishop Benson, a man never distinguished for his evangelical views, +always showed his friendship for Whitefield. Not only did he offer +him ordination when others might have refused, and defend him +against the persecutions to which he was exposed, but he more than +once gave him pecuniary help when it was much needed, though the +young clergyman had never complained. + +Thus early apprized of the secret of his strength, his profound +aspirations for the growth of Christianity, the delight of +exercising his rare powers, and the popular admiration, operating +with combined and ceaseless force upon a mind impatient of repose, +urged him into exertions which, if not attested by irrefragable +proofs, might appear incredible. It was the statement of one who +knew him well, and who was incapable of wilful exaggeration, and it +is confirmed by his letters, journals, and a "cloud of witnesses," +that "in the compass of a single week, and that for years, he +spoke in general forty hours, and in very many sixty, and that to +thousands: and after his labors, instead of taking any rest, he +was engaged in offering up prayers and intercessions, with hymns +and spiritual songs, as his manner was, in every house to which he +was invited." Never perhaps, since the apostolic age, has any man +given himself so entirely to preaching the gospel of Christ for +the salvation of souls, adopting as his motto the language of the +apostle Paul, "_This one thing I do_." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +WHITEFIELD'S SUCCESS AS A PREACHER IN ENGLAND--FIRST VISIT TO +AMERICA. + +1736-1738. + + +Whitefield, though thus prepared for action, was not impatient, +but willing to wait till his duty was fully ascertained. On the +Wednesday after his first sermon he went to Oxford, where, he says, +"I was received with great joy by my religious friends. For about +a week I continued in my servitor's habit, and then took my degree +of Bachelor of Arts, after having been at the university three +years and three quarters, and going on towards the twenty-second +year of my age. My dear and honored friends, the Rev. Messrs. John +and Charles Wesley, being now embarked for Georgia, and one or +two others having taken orders, the interest of Methodism, as it +was then and is now termed, had visibly declined, and very few of +this reputedly mad way were left at the university. This somewhat +discouraged me at times, but the Lord Jesus supported my soul, and +made me easy by giving me a strong conviction that I was where he +would have me to be. My degree, I soon found, was of service to +me, as it gave me access to those I could not be seen with when in +an inferior station; and as opportunity offered, I was enabled to +converse with them about the things which belonged to the kingdom of +God. The subscriptions for the poor prisoners, which amounted to +about forty pounds per annum, were soon put into my hands; two or +three charity schools, maintained by the Methodists, were under my +more immediate inspection; which, with the time I spent in following +my studies, private retirement, and religious converse, sweetly +filled up the whole of my day, and kept me from that unaccountable +but too common complaint of having any time hang upon my hands." + +The stay of Mr. Whitefield at Oxford, however, was very short. He +says, "By a series of unforeseen, unexpected, and unsought-for +providences, I was called in a short time from my beloved retirement +to take a journey to the metropolis of England. While I was an +under-graduate, among the religious friends, I was very intimate +with one Mr. B----n, a professed Methodist, who had lately taken +orders, and was curate at the Tower of London. With him, when +absent, I frequently corresponded, and when present took sweet +counsel, and walked to the house of God as friends. He mentioned +me to that late good and great man, Sir John Phillips; and being +called down for a while into Hampshire, he wrote to me to be of +good courage, and in the strength of God bade me hasten to town to +officiate in his absence, and to be refreshed with the sight and +conversation of many who loved me for Christ's sake, and had for a +long time desired to see me." + +On his arrival in London, Whitefield delivered his first sermon +there in Bishopsgate church, on the afternoon of Lord's day, August +8. On entering the pulpit, his juvenile aspect excited a general +feeling of his unfitness for the station, but he had not proceeded +far in his sermon before it gave place to universal expressions of +wonder and pleasure. If however he was thus exposed to the danger +of vanity, as he says, "God sent me something to ballast it. For as +I passed along the streets, many came out of their shops, admiring +to see so young a person in a gown and cassock. One I remember in +particular, cried out, 'There's a boy parson;' which, as it served +to mortify my pride, put me also upon turning that apostolical +exhortation into prayer, 'Let no man despise thy youth.'" From +his first sermon to his departure, at the end of two months, his +popularity in London continued to increase, and the crowds were +so vast that it was necessary to place constables both inside and +outside of the churches to preserve the peace. He tells us himself, +"Here I continued for the space of two months, reading prayers twice +a week, catechizing and preaching once, visiting the soldiers in the +infirmary and barracks daily. I also read prayers every evening at +Wapping chapel, and preached at Ludgate prison every Tuesday. God +was pleased to give me favor in the eyes of the inhabitants of the +Tower; the chapel was crowded on Lord's days; religious friends from +divers parts of the town attended the word, and several young men +came on Lord's-day morning, under serious impressions, to hear me +discourse about the _new birth_, and the necessity of renouncing all +in affection in order to follow Jesus Christ." + +The preaching of Mr. Whitefield now excited an unusual degree +of attention among persons of all ranks. In many of the city +churches he proclaimed the glad tidings of great joy to listening +multitudes, who were powerfully affected by the fire which was +displayed in the animated addresses of this man of God. Lord and +Lady Huntingdon constantly attended wherever he preached, and Lady +Anne Frankland became one of the first-fruits of his ministry among +the nobility of the metropolis. Her ladyship spent much of her +time with Lady Huntingdon, from whose society and conversation she +derived great comfort. She was a daughter of Richard, the first +Earl of Scarborough; was for many years lady of the bedchamber to +the Princess Anne, and to the Princesses Amelia and Caroline; and +finally became the second wife of Frederic Frankland, Esq., a member +of Parliament, from whose cruelty she endured much. + + * * * * * + +We have already said, that some time before this Messrs. John and +Charles Wesley had embarked for Georgia, and to their names we +might have added that of Mr. Ingham, also a member of the Methodist +fraternity at Oxford. + +Georgia, which was explored by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584, had been +colonized by debtors from Europe, by multitudes who had fled from +the grasp of persecution, and by others who were interested in +constructing a barrier against Spanish aggression. It originally had +trustees in England, concerned for its interests, including sons of +the nobility. The chief agent in executing the benevolent designs +in view was the truly excellent General Oglethorpe, who admirably +carried out the motto he gave to his companions in the work, "_Non +sibi sed aliis_"--"Not for themselves, but for others." The children +of poverty, taken from the overgrown agricultural population, +already a tax upon parish bounty at home, were to be transferred +in large numbers to the silk and indigo plantations which were +established on the savannahs and bottoms south and west of the +river, which thence derived its name from the peculiar conformation +of the adjoining plains. Combined with these leading purposes, it +was a cherished principle with the early patrons of this colony, +that it should become the centre for the diffusion of the gospel +among the natives; while charitable foundations were also laid for +the secular and religious education of all who would take advantage +of such provisions. The first Christians who left Europe to advance +the spiritual interests of Georgia were Moravians, and the next +were the Wesleys and Ingham. The records of the colony, as quoted +in White's Historical Collections of Georgia, show that, Sept. 14, +1735, Charles Wesley was appointed "Secretary for the Indian affairs +in Georgia," and that, Oct. 10, 1735, John Wesley was appointed +"missionary at Savannah." + +Whitefield had left London, and was laboring among a poor and +illiterate people in Hampshire, when his attention was directly +drawn to Georgia. This was not, indeed, the first time his heart had +been interested in the matter. He writes, "When I had been about a +month in town, letters came from the Messrs. Wesley, and the Rev. +Mr. Ingham their fellow-laborer, an Israelite indeed, from Georgia. +Their accounts fired my soul, and made me long to go abroad for God +too. But having no outward call, and being as I then thought too +weak in body ever to undertake a voyage at sea, I endeavored to +lay aside all thoughts of going abroad. But my endeavors were all +in vain; for I felt at times such a strong attraction in my soul +towards Georgia, that I thought it almost irresistible. I strove +against it with all my power, begged again and again, with many +cries and tears, that the Lord would not suffer me to be deluded, +and at length opened my mind to several dear friends. All agreed +that laborers were wanted at home, that I had as yet no visible call +abroad, and that it was my duty not to be rash, but wait and see +what Providence might point out to me. To this I consented with my +whole heart." + +The path of duty, however, soon opened before him. While fulfilling +his duties at Dummer, in Hampshire, preaching for the Rev. Mr. +Kinchin, who was now absent from home, to which labors we have +already referred, he received an invitation to a lucrative curacy in +London; but Georgia still rested like one of the prophetic "burdens" +on his mind. At this juncture he received a letter from his clerical +friend at the Tower, saying that Mr. Charles Wesley had arrived in +London. Very soon Mr. Wesley himself wrote to Whitefield, saying, +that he was come over to procure laborers, "but," added he, "I dare +not prevent God's nomination." "In a few days after this," writes +Mr. Whitefield, "came another letter from Mr. John Wesley, wherein +were these words: 'Only Mr. Delamotte is with me, till God shall +stir up the hearts of some of his servants, who putting their lives +in their hands, shall come over and help us, where the harvest is +so great, and the laborers so few. What if thou art the man, Mr. +Whitefield?' In another letter were these words: 'Do you ask me what +you shall have? Food to eat and raiment to put on, a house to lay +your head in--such as our Lord had not--and a crown of glory that +fadeth not away.' Upon reading this my heart leaped within me, and +as it were echoed to the call." + +After having consulted his bishop, Dr. Benson, as also the +archbishop of Canterbury, and the trustees of Georgia including +General James Oglethorpe who was then in London, he went to Bristol, +Bath, and other places, to take leave of his personal friends. As +he could not refrain from preaching, so every sermon increased his +popularity. We give his account of his preaching at Bristol, as a +specimen of the reception he met with. + +"It was wonderful to see how the people hung upon the rails of +the organ-loft, climbed upon the leads of the church, and made +the church itself so hot with their breath, that the steam would +fall from the pillars like drops of rain. Sometimes almost as many +would go away for want of room as came in, and it was with great +difficulty I got into the desk to read prayers or preach. Persons +of all ranks not only publicly attended my ministry, but gave me +private invitations to their houses. A private society or two were +erected. I preached and collected for the poor prisoners in Newgate +twice or thrice a week, and many made me large offers if I would not +go abroad." + +Having mentioned General James Edward Oglethorpe, the first +governor, and indeed the founder of the colony of Georgia, and to +the end of Whitefield's life his cordial friend, a few additional +facts concerning him may here be stated. He was the son of Sir +Theophilus Oglethorpe, and was born in London, December 21, 1688. +At sixteen he was admitted a student at Oxford, but did not finish +his studies, as the military profession had more charms for him +than literary pursuits. He was first commissioned as an ensign. +After the death of Queen Anne, he entered into the service of Prince +Eugene. When he attained the age of twenty-four years, he entered +Parliament, for Haslemere, where he continued thirty-two years. In +November, 1732, Oglethorpe, with one hundred and sixteen settlers, +embarked for Georgia, and landed at Charleston, S. C., January 13, +1733. They shortly afterwards proceeded to Georgia, where Oglethorpe +laid out a town, and called it Savannah. He very happily secured +the good will of the Indians. In 1743, he left Georgia for England, +to answer charges brought against him by Lieutenant-colonel Cook. +A court martial declared the charges groundless and malicious, and +Cook was dismissed from the service. In 1744 he was appointed one of +the field-officers under field-marshal the Earl of Stair, to oppose +the expected invasion of France. He died in 1785. He was truly a +noble man. + +As the period approached when Whitefield was to leave England, +the people showed their esteem for him in almost every possible +way. They followed him so closely, and in such numbers, for holy +counsels, that he could scarcely command a moment for retirement. +They begged to receive from him religious books, and to have their +names written therein with his own hand, as memorials of him, +and very many followed him from place to place till his final +embarkation. + +It was indeed a surprising fact, that a young man, scarcely more +than twenty-two years of age, and previously unknown to the world, +should be able to collect such immense congregations, and rouse +and command their attention; multitudes hanging upon and receiving +instructions from his lips. But God had endowed him with a singular +union of qualities, which most eminently fitted him for the work of +an evangelist. He was faithful to his trust, and his divine Master +abundantly blessed and honored him in the discharge of its momentous +duties. + +We have now traced the amazing effects of Whitefield's _first_ +sermons, and it may be interesting briefly to inquire into their +general character, and to ascertain what truths thus aroused the +public mind. Three of these sermons can, happily, be identified +with these "times of refreshing;" and they may be depended on, +as specimens of both the letter and the spirit of his preaching, +because they were printed from his own manuscripts: they are those +on "_Early Piety_," "_Regeneration_," and "_Intercession_." Whoever +will read the appeals in these sermons, realizing the circumstances +under which they were made, will scarcely wonder at the effect +produced by them. The topics of the second and third, and the tone +of all the three, are very different from the matter and manner of +sermonizing then known to the masses of the people. They do not +surprise _us_, because happily neither the topics nor the tone +of them are "strange things to our ears." Both, however, were +novelties in those days, even in London. When or where had an appeal +been made like this? + +"I beseech you, in love and compassion, to come to Jesus. Indeed, +all I say is in love to your souls. And if I could be but an +instrument of bringing you to Jesus, I should not envy, but rejoice +in your happiness, however much you were exalted. If I was to +make up the _last_ of the train of the companions of the blessed +Jesus, it would rejoice me to see you above me in glory. I could +willingly go to prison or to death for you, so I could but bring +one soul from the devil's strong-holds, into the salvation which +is by Christ Jesus. Come then to Christ, every one that hears me +this night. Come, come, my guilty brethren; I beseech you, for your +immortal souls' sake, for Christ's sake, come to Christ. Methinks I +could speak till midnight unto you. Would you have me go and tell +my Master that you will not come, and that I have spent my strength +in vain? I cannot bear to carry such a message to him. I would not, +indeed, I would not be a swift witness against you at the great day +of account; but if you will refuse these gracious invitations, I +must do it." + +In this spirit, not very prevalent even now, Whitefield began his +ministry. There is a fascination as well as fervor, or rather a +fascination arising from fervor, in some of his earliest as well as +his later discourses. How bold and beautiful is the peroration of +that on "_Intercession_." Referring to the holy impatience of "the +souls under the altar," for the coming of the kingdom of God, he +exclaims, + +"And shall not we who are on earth be often exercised in this +divine employ with the glorious company of the spirits of just men +made perfect? Since our happiness is so much to consist in the +communion of saints in the church triumphant above, shall we not +frequently intercede for the church militant below, and earnestly +beg that we may be all one? To provoke you to this work and labor +of love, remember, that it is the never-ceasing employment of the +holy and highly exalted Jesus himself; so that he who is constantly +interceding for others, is doing that on earth which the eternal +Son of God is always doing in heaven. Imagine, therefore, when +you are lifting up holy hands for one another, that you see the +heavens opened, and the Son of God in all his glory, as the great +High-priest of your salvation, pleading for you the all-sufficient +merit of his sacrifice before the throne. Join your intercession +with his. The imagination will strengthen your faith, and excite a +holy earnestness in your prayers." + +The nearer the time approached for his leaving the country, the more +affectionate the people grew towards him, and the more eagerly did +they attend on his ministry. Many thousands of ardent petitions were +presented to heaven on behalf of his person and his ministry; and +multitudes would stop him in the aisles of the churches, or follow +him with their tearful looks. Most of all was it difficult for him +to part from his friends at St. Dunstan's, where he administered the +sacrament, after spending the night before in prayer. + +The man who had produced these extraordinary effects, says Dr. +Gillies, had many natural advantages. He was something above the +middle stature, well proportioned, though at that time slender, and +remarkable for native gracefulness of manner. His complexion was +very fair, his features regular, his eyes small and lively, of a +dark blue color: in recovering from the measles, he had contracted +a squint with one of them; but this peculiarity rather rendered the +expression of his countenance more rememberable, than in any degree +lessened the effect of its uncommon sweetness. His voice excelled +both in melody and compass, and its fine modulations were happily +accompanied by the grace of action which he possessed in an eminent +degree, and which is said to be the chief requisite of an orator. +An ignorant man described his eloquence oddly, but strikingly, +when he said that Mr. Whitefield preached like a lion. So strange +a comparison conveyed no unapt idea of the force, and vehemence, +and passion--of the authority which awed the hearers, and made them +tremble like Felix before the apostle. Believing himself to be the +messenger of God, commissioned to call sinners to repentance, he +spoke as one conscious of his high credentials, with authority and +power; yet in all his discourses there was a fervor and melting +charity, an earnestness of persuasion, an outpouring of redundant +love, partaking of the virtue of the faith from which it flowed, +insomuch that it seemed to enter the heart which it pierced, and to +heal it as with a balm. + +At length, having preached in a considerable number of the London +churches, collected about a thousand pounds for the charity +schools, and obtained upwards of three hundred pounds for the +poor in Georgia, Whitefield left London, December 28, 1737, in the +twenty-third of his age, and went in the strength of God, as a poor +pilgrim, on board the Whitaker. + +Scarcely had he entered on his voyage from London, when he +discovered that but little comfort was to be expected in the ship +on which he had embarked. There was no place for retirement, no +disposition to receive him as an ambassador of Christ, and a decided +dislike even to the forms of religion. They moved but slowly to +the Downs, where they were detained for nearly a month, and where +Whitefield went on shore to visit Deal, an ancient town, one of the +Cinque-ports, so called, where "the common people," as in the case +of his great Master, "heard him gladly." With him, through his whole +ministry, it was of small importance whether he preached to the +rich or the poor; for he viewed the gospel as a message of mercy to +_sinners_, and wherever men were found, he was willing to persuade +them to be reconciled to God. + +The account given by Mr. Whitefield of his visit to Deal, and of the +different treatment he received there from different persons, would +be almost as correct a description of his labors and reception in a +hundred other places. He spent his first evening very comfortably in +religious conversation and family prayer, at which a poor woman was +much affected. "Who knows," he says, "what a fire this little spark +may kindle?" Next evening, eight or nine poor people came to him at +the report of this poor woman; and when, after three or four days, +the ship in which he had embarked was driven back to Deal, many met +together to bewail their own sins and those of others. Soon the +landlady who owned the house where he lodged, sent to her tenants, +beseeching them not to let any more persons come in, for fear the +floor should break under them; and they actually put a prop under it. + +The minister of Upper Deal, a mile or two from the town, now invited +Whitefield to preach in the church; it was much crowded, and many +went away for want of room. Some stood on the leads of the building +outside, and looked in at the top windows, and all around seemed +eager to hear the word. "May the Lord," says the good man, "make +them _doers_ of it. In the evening I was obliged to divide my +hearers into four companies, and was enabled to expound to them from +six till ten. Lord, keep me from being weary of, or in well-doing." + +The excitement at Deal became very great, in consequence of the +conviction of the people that their own minister, the Rev. Dr. +Carter, did not preach the gospel. The good man, to disprove the +charge, published a volume of his sermons, which, however admired by +gay formalists, furnished but too much evidence of the justice of +the charge. + +Just as he had left the church at Upper Deal, where he had been +preaching to a vast congregation, Mr. Whitefield, in consequence of +a sudden change of the wind, was summoned on board, and the Whitaker +sailed for Georgia. A very few hours afterwards, the vessel which +brought back John Wesley from that colony anchored in the Downs, +when he learned that the ships had passed each other, but neither +of these remarkable men then knew how dear a friend was on board +the other. When Wesley landed, he found it was still possible to +communicate with his friend, and Whitefield was surprised to receive +a letter from him, saying, "When I saw God by the wind which was +carrying you out brought me in, I asked counsel of God. His answer +you have enclosed." The enclosure was a slip of paper with the +words, "Let him return to London," which Wesley had obtained by lot, +to which he had had recourse. Whitefield prayed for direction, and +went on his voyage. + +This first voyage of Whitefield to America was invested with scenes +of far more than common interest. Perhaps, since the apostle Paul's +memorable voyage to Rome, the ocean had never exhibited a more +remarkable spectacle than that furnished by this ship. He was but +a stripling in his twenty-third year, and a faint and hesitating +homage once on a Sabbath-day, from a few of the less obdurate +sinners among his hearers, would be all that such a clergyman +could expect from an assemblage of gentlemen, of soldiers with +their wives and families, and the ship's crew. Yet in the hands of +this remarkable youth all became pliant as a willow. He converted +the chief cabin into a cloister, the deck into a church, and the +steerage into a school-room. He so bore down all opposition by love, +reason, and Scripture, that we soon see him, at the request of the +captain and officers, with the hearty concurrence of the gentlemen +who were passengers, reading "full public prayers" to them twice a +day in the great cabin, and expounding every night after the evening +prayers, besides daily reading prayers, and preaching twice a day +on deck to the soldiers and sailors, and increasing the services +on Sundays. In addition to all this, he daily catechized a company +of young soldiers, and engaged in the same exercise with the women +apart by themselves. + +Nor did even all this suffice to expend his zeal, for he commenced +a course of expositions on the creed and ten commandments; and so +convinced was he of the value of catechetical teaching, that on +February 3d he writes, "I began to-night to turn the observations +made on the lessons in the morning into catechetical questions, and +was pleased to hear some of the soldiers make very apt answers." + +Nor were the children forgotten; the Hon. Mr. Habersham, a personal +friend who accompanied him, assumed their instruction as his +department of holy labor. Mr. Whitefield wrote of him, that he was +"pleased to see Mr. Habersham so active in teaching the children. He +has now many scholars--may God bless him." + +Friendship for Whitefield had influenced Mr. Habersham to accompany +the young evangelist to Georgia. Mr. Habersham's friends, at +Beverly, in Yorkshire, where he was born in 1712, were greatly +opposed to his plans, but surely the hand of God directed them. +He presided over the Orphan-house till 1744, when he entered into +a commercial partnership. He occupied several important stations, +till he became president of the colony in 1769. The proceedings +connected with the revolutionary war more than once placed him in +great difficulties; he did not live to see its happy results, for in +1775 the state of his health compelled him to visit the north, in +hope of its renovation. The change, however, was of no benefit, and +he died at New Brunswick, New Jersey, August 28, 1775. The "Gazette" +of the day said of him, "In the first stations of the province he +conducted himself with ability, honor, and integrity, which gained +him the love and esteem of his fellow-citizens; nor was he less +distinguished in private life by a conscientious discharge of the +social duties, as a tender and affectionate parent, a sincere and +warm friend, and a kind and indulgent master. Mr. Habersham was +married by the Rev. Mr. Whitefield to Mary Bolton at Bethesda, on +the 26th of December, 1740, by whom he had ten children, three of +whom, sons, survived him, and were zealous in the cause of American +liberty." + +In harmony with the solemn duties which Mr. Whitefield had assumed, +he watched over the conduct of all around him. He tells us that the +ship's cook was awfully addicted to drinking, and when reproved for +this and other sins, he boasted that he would be wicked till within +two years of his death, and would then reform. Alas, he died on the +voyage, after an illness of six hours, brought on by drinking. + +One day on this voyage, finding on Captain Whiting's pillow "The +Independent Whig," Whitefield exchanged it for a book entitled "The +Self-Deceiver." The next morning, the captain came smiling and +inquired who made the exchange. Mr. Whitefield confessed the fact, +and begged his acceptance of the book, which he said he had read, +and liked very well. From thenceforward a visible alteration took +place in the conduct of the captain. + +On their arrival at Gibraltar, where they had to continue some time, +Mr. Whitefield found that Major Sinclair, without solicitation, had +provided a lodging for him, and the governor and military invited +him to their table. Being apprehensive that at a public military +table he might be more than hospitably treated, to prevent any +thing disagreeable, he reminded his excellency that, at the court +of Ahasuerus, "none did compel." The governor took the hint, and +pleasantly replied, "No compulsion of any kind shall be used at my +table;" and every thing was conducted with the greatest propriety. +Here he often preached, and was heard by many, including all in high +offices. Unusual indeed were the scenes, both with respect to the +place and the people. The adjacent promontories, and the vastness of +the rock of Gibraltar, aided in the enlargement of the ideas of the +preacher as to Him, who "in his strength setteth fast the mountains, +and is girded about with power." And the place being a sort of +public rendezvous of all nations, he thought, he says, "he saw the +world in epitome." + +The success of Whitefield's ministry at Gibraltar was truly +remarkable. He quaintly says of it, "Samson's riddle was fulfilled +there: 'out of the strong came forth sweetness.' Who more unlikely +to be wrought upon than soldiers? And yet, among any set of people, +I have not been where God has made his power more known. Many that +were quite blind, have received their sight; many that had fallen +back, have repented and turned to the Lord again; many that were +ashamed to own Christ openly, have waxed bold; and many saints have +had their hearts filled with joy unspeakable, and full of glory." + +Among other religions societies to which Whitefield was introduced +at Gibraltar, he one day attended the Jewish synagogue, and was +agreeably surprised when one of the rulers handed him into the chief +seat. The rabbi had the day before heard him preach against profane +swearing, and now thanked him for his sermon. He remained in the +synagogue during the whole service, engaged, he says, "in secret +prayer that the veil might be taken from the heart of the Jews, and +they grafted again into their own olive-tree." + +Several facts occurred on the way to Savannah after their +embarkation from Gibraltar, which are too interesting to pass +without notice. On one occasion Captain Mackay, after Whitefield +had preached against drunkenness, urged the men to attend to the +things which had been spoken; telling them that he was a notorious +swearer until he did so; and beseeching them for Christ's sake to +give up their sins. On another occasion, while marrying a couple on +deck, Whitefield suddenly shut the prayer-book in the midst of the +ceremony, because the bridegroom had behaved with levity; and not +until the laughter was turned into weeping, would he proceed. At the +close of the service he gave the bride a Bible. When a shark was +caught, with five pilot-fish clinging to its fins, he said, "Go to +the pilot-fish, thou that forsakest a friend in adversity; consider +his ways, and be abashed." When a dolphin was caught, the change +of its hues from lovely to livid, reminded him to say, "Just so is +man; he flourishes for a little while, but when death cometh, how +quickly his beauty is gone! A Christian may learn instruction from +every thing he meets with." While he was preaching on the death +of Christ darkness came on, and he said, "It puts me in mind of +that darkness which overwhelmed the world when the God of nature +suffered." + +In the latter part of the voyage, fever laid prostrate all in the +ship except four persons, and at length it seized Whitefield, and +confined him to his bed for a week. The attack, though short, must +have been severe; for besides other remedies, he was bled three +times. During his illness, the captain gave up his own bed to +him, and Mr. Habersham watched him day and night; but that which +gratified him most was, that the sick between decks, whom he had +endangered his life to console, prayed for him with great fervor. He +recovered, and repaid the kindness of all. At length, on May 5, they +came in sight of Savannah river, and sent off for a pilot; and such +was the joy of all, when they came to anchor at Tybee island, that +he could not help exclaiming, "How infinitely more joyful will the +children of God be, when, having passed through the waves of this +troublesome world, they arrive at the haven of everlasting rest!" +Though still weak, he preached a farewell sermon to his "red-coated +and blue-jacketed parishioners," as he called his military and naval +congregation. It was heard with floods of tears. + +Upon this voyage, says Dr. Gillies, he made these reflections many +years after: "Even at this distance of time, the remembrance of the +happy hours I enjoyed in religious exercises on deck, is refreshing +to my soul; and although nature sometimes relented at being taken +from my friends, and I was little accustomed to the inconveniences +of a sea-life, yet, a consciousness that I had the glory of God +and the good of souls in view, afforded me, from time to time, +unspeakable satisfaction." + +Whitefield was cordially welcomed at Savannah by Delamotte and +other friends of the Wesleys: the magistrates also offered to wait +upon him to pay their respects; but this he declined, and waited +upon them. They agreed to build him a tabernacle and a house at +Frederica, and to accept his services at Savannah as long as he +pleased. He was soon, however, again laid aside by the return of his +fever, now accompanied with ague. This attack in a few days brought +him so low, and made so great an alteration in his person, that he +says, "Had my friends seen me at that hour, they might have learned +not to have any man's person in admiration, and not to think more +highly of me than they ought to think." + +The first thing which Whitefield did after his recovery was to +visit _Tomo-Chici_, the Indian king, then on his death-bed. This +was the micoe, or king, whom Oglethorpe had taken to England, in +1734, and introduced to king George the Second. He was accompanied +by his wife and son, and seven other Indians of the Creek nation. +His eloquent speech to the king and queen was so well received at +court, that he was loaded with presents, and when he had again to +embark, was sent in one of the royal carriages to Gravesend. "He now +lay," says Whitefield, "on a blanket, thin and meagre; little else +but skin and bones. Senanki, his wife, sat by, fanning him with +Indian feathers. There was no one could talk English, so I could +only shake hands with him and leave him. A few days afterwards, +Mr. Whitefield again went to visit Tomo-Chici, and found that +his nephew, Tooanoowee, could speak English. Whitefield says, "I +desired him to ask his uncle, whether he thought he should die; +who answered, 'I cannot tell.' I then asked where he thought he +should go after death. He replied, 'To heaven.' But alas, how can +a drunkard enter there? I then exhorted Tooanoowee, who is a tall, +proper youth, not to get drunk; telling him that he understood +English, and therefore would be punished the more if he did not live +better. I then asked him whether he believed in a heaven. He said, +'Yes.' I then asked whether he believed in a hell, and described it +by pointing to the fire. He replied, 'No.' From whence we may easily +gather, how natural it is to all mankind to believe there is a place +of happiness, because they wish it to be so; and on the contrary, +how averse they are to believe in a place of torment, because they +wish it may not be so. But God is just and true; and as surely as +the righteous shall go away into everlasting happiness, so the +impenitently wicked shall go into everlasting punishment." + +The records of Georgia say, under date of December 21, 1737, +"Ordered, that a license be made out for the Rev. Mr. George +Whitefield to perform ecclesiastical offices in Georgia, as a deacon +in the church of England." + +Before Whitefield had any thoughts of going abroad, Charles Wesley +talked to him of an orphan-house in Georgia, which he and General +Oglethorpe had contemplated. When he arrived in Savannah, and had +sufficiently recovered from his illness to examine the state of +the colony, the condition of the children deeply affected him; and +he set his heart on founding the projected institution as soon +as he should be able to collect the needful funds. In the mean +time he opened schools in the villages of Highgate and Hampstead, +and one also, for girls, in Savannah. He afterwards visited the +Saltzburgher's orphan-school at Ebenezer; and if any thing had been +wanted to settle his own determination, or to inflame his zeal, he +found it there. The Saltzburghers were exiles for conscience' sake, +and were eminent for piety and industry. Their ministers, the Rev. +Messrs. Grenaw and Boltzius, were eminently evangelical, and their +asylum, which they had been enabled to found by British benevolence, +for widows and orphans, was flourishing. Whitefield was so delighted +with the order and harmony of Ebenezer, that he gave a share of +his own "poor's store" to Boltzius, for his orphans. Then came the +scene which entirely completed his purpose: Boltzius "called all the +children before him; catechized and exhorted them to give God thanks +for his good providence towards them; then prayed with them, and +made them pray after him; then sung a psalm. Afterwards, the little +lambs came and shook me by the hand, one by one, and so we parted." +Whitefield was now pledged to this cause for life. + +Most of our readers probably know that the conductors of "The +Gentleman's Magazine," a work which has now been regularly +published in London for much more than a century, have never been +favorable to evangelical truth, or its ministers; it is therefore +the more gratifying to copy from that work for November, 1737, the +following lines: it will be seen that they were published more than +a month before Mr. Whitefield's departure to the American colonies. + + +"TO THE REV. MR. WHITEFIELD, ON HIS DESIGN FOR GEORGIA. + + "How great, how just thy zeal, adventurous youth, + To spread in heathen climes the light of truth! + Go, loved of heaven, with every grace refined, + Inform, enrapture each dark Indian's mind; + Grateful, as when to realms long hid from day, + The cheerful dawn foreshows the solar ray. + How great thy charity, whose large embrace + Intends the eternal weal of all thy race; + Prompts thee the rage of waves and winds to scorn, + To effect the work for which thy soul was born. + What multitudes, whom Pagan dreams deceive, + Shall, when they hear thy heavenly voice, believe! + On Georgia's shore thy Wesley shall attend, + To hail the wished arrival of his friend; + With joy the promised harvest he surveys, + And to his Lord for faithful laborers prays; + Though crowded temples here would plead thy stay, + Yet haste, blest prophet, on thy destined way. + Be gentle, winds, and breathe an easy breeze, + Be clear, ye skies, and smooth, ye flowing seas! + From heaven, ye guardian angels, swift descend, + Delighted his blest mission to attend; + Which shall from Satan's power whole nations free, + While half the world to Jesus bow the knee. + Long as Savannah, peaceful stream, shall glide, + Your worth renowned shall be extended wide; + Children as yet unborn shall bless your lore, + Who thus to save them left your native shore; + The apostles thus, with ardent zeal inspired, + To gain _all nations_ for their Lord desired. + They measured seas, a life laborious knew, + And numerous converts to their Master drew; + Whose hallelujahs, on the ethereal plains, + Rise scarce beneath the bright seraphic strains. + + "GLOUCESTER, Nov. 1, 1737." + +After spending a few weeks at Savannah, laboring as much as his +health would permit, Whitefield went to Frederica, where he was +gladly received; the people "having had a famine of the word for a +long season." They had no sanctuary, and therefore he had to preach +under a tree, or in Mr. Habersham's house. This visit, although +short, endeared him to all the people; and he had the satisfaction +before he left, to see them "sawing timber for a commodious place +of worship, until a church could be built." His return, however, +to Savannah was hastened by a somewhat painful event. One of his +friends was lost in the woods, and missing from Tuesday till Friday. +The great guns had been fired to direct the wanderer, but in vain; +and some of the people had searched for him day and night, without +success. This report was sent to Whitefield, and it hurried him away +from Frederica. He had the pleasure, however, on his arrival at +Savannah, to find his "lost sheep." + +During the stay of Whitefield in Georgia, the weather was intensely +hot, sometimes almost burning his feet through his shoes. Seeing +others do it, he determined to accustom himself to hardship by +lying constantly on the floor; which by use he found to be so far +from being uncomfortable, that afterwards it became so to lie on a +bed. Nor was he more ready to deny himself than he was assiduous +to do good; preaching often, catechizing the young, visiting the +sick, and exhorting from house to house. Entirely independent and +unrestrained, he knew no fear in the discharge of what he regarded +as his duty. Knowing that some men of influence, to whom his voice +could not be addressed from the pulpit, were living in open defiance +of morality and shame, he went into the court and made an address to +the grand jury, urging them to present all such offenders without +partiality or fear, since the miserable state of the colony was +doubtless owing to divine displeasure against their sins. + +Reflection on the character, labors, and success of his +predecessors, stimulated his zeal and encouraged his hope. It could +not be denied that John Wesley had been misrepresented and unkindly +treated, both in Savannah and Frederica, and Whitefield therefore +rejoiced to bear honorable testimony of him and his colleagues. +He says, "Surely I must labor most heartily, since I come after +such worthy men. The good Mr. John Wesley has done in America is +inexpressible. His name is very precious among the people, and he +has laid such a foundation, that I hope neither men nor devils will +be able to shake it. O that I may follow him as he has followed +Christ." + +Mr. Whitefield having as yet only received deacon's orders, and +wishing to be ordained priest, for the more complete performance +of his duty as a minister of the church of England, it became +necessary for him to return to Europe for that purpose; and being +also desirous of making collections for his Orphan-house, he left +Mr. Habersham at Savannah, and went to Charleston, S. C., on his way +to England. + +At Charleston he became acquainted with the Rev. Alexander Garden, +the ecclesiastical commissary of the Bishop of London, who with +apparent cordiality twice invited him into his pulpit, and assured +him that he would defend him with his life and property, should the +same arbitrary proceedings ever be commenced against him which Mr. +Wesley had met with in Georgia. Dr. Deems, in his recently published +volume, "The Annals of Southern Methodism," tells us, when speaking +of his first sermon, "The people at first despised his youth, but +his engaging address soon gained their general esteem, and Mr. +Garden thanked him most cordially." In an after-period, however, +when Mr. Garden more fully understood the evangelical character of +Mr. Whitefield's preaching, he frequently took occasion to point +out what he called the pernicious tendency of his doctrines, and +irregular manner of life. He represented him as a religious quack, +who had an excellent way of setting off and rendering palatable his +poisonous tenets. On one occasion Garden, to keep his flock from +going after this strange pastor, preached from the text, "These that +have turned the world upside down are come hither also." Whitefield, +however, was not to be silenced in this way, and returned the +compliment by preaching from the words, "Alexander the coppersmith +did me much evil; the Lord reward him according to his works." + +On September 6, 1738, Whitefield embarked for London. The voyage was +perilous in the extreme. They were tossed about with bad weather, +in a ship out of repair, and in sad want of provisions. When they +were over about one-third of the Atlantic, a vessel from Jamaica +would have gladly received him, but he chose to share the lot of +his shipmates. They highly valued his services, and one of his +fellow-passengers, Captain Gladman, became, as the result of this +voyage, a truly pious man. The captain, in a subsequent period, at +his own earnest request, became the fellow-traveller of his teacher. + +After a passage of about nine weeks, they made the port of Limerick, +in Ireland. "I wish," Whitefield says, "I could never forget what +I felt when water and provisions were brought us from the shore. +Mr. M'Mahon, a country gentleman, came from his seat at midnight +on purpose to relieve us, and most kindly invited me, though +unknown, to his house, to stay as long as I pleased." At Limerick +he was cordially received by that worthy prelate, Bishop Birscough, +who engaged him to preach at the cathedral. From thence he went +to Dublin, where he preached, and was hospitably entertained by +Archbishop Bolton, Bishop Rundel, and Dr. Delany. + +Remaining but a short time in Ireland, he proceeded to London, where +he arrived December 8. Here he had the pleasure of conversing with +some of the Moravian brethren, whose faith and love refreshed his +spirit, though he did not entirely approve some of their views. He +soon discovered somewhat of a change of feeling towards him on the +part of many of the London clergy. Within two days, he found five +of the churches were closed against him. He called on the Archbishop +of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, who received him with cold +civility. The bishop asked him if his journals were not tinctured +with enthusiasm; and he replied, with his usual meekness and candor, +that they were written only for his own use, and that of his private +friends, and that they were published without his knowledge. So +anxious was he to avoid giving offence, that he took the earliest +opportunity to expunge from his journals whatever he discovered to +be erroneous, and whatever he had said without imperative necessity, +or which was likely to injure the character and feelings of any one. + +The trustees of Georgia, at a meeting in London, received Whitefield +with great cordiality, and in compliance with the wishes of the +colonists, they presented him with the living of Savannah, the +salary of which he declined to receive; but he thankfully accepted +five hundred acres of land, on which he proposed to erect his +orphan-house. + +On Sunday, January 14, 1739, being then in his twenty-fifth year, +Whitefield was ordained priest at Oxford, by his worthy friend +Bishop Benson. Having preached twice to very crowded congregations, +and administered the Lord's supper at the castle, he returned to +London the next day. As Dr. Benson once expressed regret that he +had ordained Mr. Whitefield, it may be proper here to explain the +circumstances. Shortly after the late Countess of Huntingdon first +became acquainted with the truth as it is in Jesus, Bishop Benson, +who had been lord Huntingdon's tutor, was sent for to remonstrate +with her ladyship, and to induce her to relinquish what were then +considered her erroneous views; but she pressed him so hard with +the Articles and Homilies of his own church, and so plainly and +faithfully urged upon him the awful responsibility of his station, +that for the moment his mind was hurt, and he rose up to depart, +lamenting that he had ever laid his hands upon George Whitefield, to +whom he imputed the change which had been wrought in her ladyship. +"My lord," said she, "mark my words; when you come upon your dying +bed, that will be one of the few ordinations you will reflect upon +with pleasure." It would seem that it was so; for, on his death-bed, +the Bishop sent ten guineas to Mr. Whitefield as a token of his +favor and approbation, and begged to be remembered by him in his +prayers. + +The interval between his taking priests' orders, and embarking a +second time for Georgia, was employed by Whitefield, with his usual +energy and success, in preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, +and in making collections for his Orphan-house. Having, before his +visit to America, collected large sums for the charity schools in +the metropolis, he naturally expected that the pulpits would not be +denied him now, in which to plead the interests of his own poor. +But he was scarcely yet aware that the tide of clerical opinion had +turned so extensively and strongly against him. The doctrines he had +preached, and the manner in which he had preached them, had produced +a sensation so strong, that he found himself excluded from most of +the churches in London. A few, however, were yet open to him for +his benevolent design. The Rev. Mr. Broughton conducted himself, +among others, very nobly. Having been urged to refuse his pulpit, +as some of his neighbors had done, he boldly replied, that "having +obtained the lectureship of St. Helen's by Whitefield's influence, +he should have the pulpit if he desired it." Mr. Whitefield +preached, but Mr. Broughton thus losing the lectureship, Whitefield +blamed himself for having done so. Whatever he might himself be +willing to suffer, he was not willing to inflict inconvenience on +others. + +Only a few days before his being ordained as priest, Whitefield +offered his first public _extempore_ prayer, in a large meeting +in Red Cross-street, London. He mentions this fact in a note of +his diary as "the first time I ever prayed extempore before such a +number." He did not even then suppose that his preaching, as well +as his prayers in this manner, were to develop his mighty power. +The crowding of the churches now suggested the idea of preaching in +the open air. He says, "When I was informed that nearly a thousand +people stood out in the church-yard, and that hundreds returned +home, this put me first upon thinking of preaching without doors. I +mentioned it to some friends, who looked upon it as a _mad_ motion. +However, we kneeled down and prayed that nothing might be done +rashly. Hear and answer, O Lord, for thy name's sake." + +We shall soon see how his extempore expositions and prayers were +fitting him for this new enterprise. He would have commenced in +London now, but he lacked a fair opportunity. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +OPEN-AIR PREACHING IN ENGLAND AND WALES--ERECTION OF THE TABERNACLE +IN LONDON. + +1738-1739. + + +Under the circumstances we have related in our last chapter, +Whitefield paid another visit to Bristol, and soon found that he had +to meet with new and very unexpected opposition. When he arrived in +the city, the chancellor of the diocese, while he did not approve +of what he considered his irregular conduct, told him that he would +not prohibit any clergyman from lending him his church; but in a +few days afterwards he sent for the evangelist, and announced his +entire opposition to his movements. Strangely enough, he now asked +Whitefield by what authority he preached in the diocese of Bristol +without a license. The reply of the intrepid minister was, that he +supposed such a custom had become obsolete, and asked the chancellor +in his turn, "And pray, sir, why did you not ask the clergyman who +preached for you last Thursday this question?" The chancellor then +read to him the canons which forbid any clergyman from preaching +in a private house; to which Whitefield replied, that he did not +suppose these canons referred to professed ministers of the church +of England; and when the chancellor told him he was mistaken, he +reminded his superior, "There is also a canon, sir, forbidding all +clergymen to frequent taverns and play at cards; why is not that +put in execution?" And he then added, that notwithstanding any +canons to the contrary, he could not but speak the things which +he knew, and that he was resolved to proceed as usual. His answer +was written down, and the chancellor closed the interview with the +words, "I am resolved, sir, if you preach or expound anywhere in +this diocese till you have a license, I will first suspend, and then +excommunicate you." The crisis was now come; the Rubicon had been +passed, and the inquiry might well be made, "What will Whitefield +now do?" + +Already have we seen that he had earnestly desired, in London, to +preach in the open air, for want of room in the churches, and indeed +also from the opposition of the clergy, which had begun so strongly +to manifest itself; and during this journey to Bristol, he found it +necessary to preach in the open air or not at all. As this event was +of vast importance in its results, both in his own history and that +of Mr. Wesley, who also began to preach on the same spot within two +months after Whitefield had opened the way, we must stay a while to +narrate the facts. + +[Illustration: TABERNACLE, p 89.] + +[Illustration: HANHAM MOUNT] + +At that time, the colliers of Kingswood, near the city of Bristol, +were a most depraved and reckless class of men. Inconceivably +barbarous and ignorant, they trampled on all laws, human and divine, +and hesitated not to set the magistrates at defiance. It was +dangerous to pass near the scene of their labors, even in open day, +for robberies and murders were of frequent occurrence; in a word, it +was truly "a seat of Satan." When Whitefield was at Bristol, making +collections for his projected orphan institution in Georgia, not a +few persons had said to him, "Why go abroad; have we not Indians +enough at home? If you have a mind to convert Indians, there are +colliers enough in Kingswood." "I thought," says he, "it might be +doing the service of my Creator, who had a mountain for his pulpit, +and the heavens for his sounding-board, and who, when his gospel +was refused by the Jews, sent his servants into the highways and +hedges." After much prayer and many inward struggles, he went one +day to a gentle elevation on the south side of Kingswood, called +Hanham Mount, and there, under an old sycamore-tree, he preached his +first sermon in the open air to about a hundred colliers. The scene +must have been very impressive. Before him stretched the rich and +beautiful valley of the Avon, through which the river was gently +winding, bordered in the distance by the undulating hills; while on +his right and left the cities of Bath and Bristol were within sight. + +The fact of his preaching here soon and extensively spread, and at +meeting after meeting his audience increased, till he found himself +addressing _nearly twenty thousand persons_. His own account of the +effects produced is very striking. He says, "The first discovery of +their being affected, was in the white gutters made by their tears, +which plentifully fell down their black cheeks, as they came out of +their coal pits. Hundreds and hundreds of them were soon brought +under deep convictions, which happily ended in sound and thorough +conversion. As the scene was quite new, and I had just begun to +be an extempore preacher, I had often many inward conflicts. +Sometimes, when twenty thousand people were before me, I had not, +as I thought, a word to say; but I was never deserted; and I was +often so assisted as to understand what that meaneth, 'Out of his +belly shall flow rivers of living water.' The open firmament above; +the prospect of the adjacent fields; with the sight of thousands +and thousands, some in coaches, some on horseback, and some in the +trees, and all so affected as to be drenched in tears together, to +which sometimes was added the solemnity of the approaching night, +were almost too much for me; I was occasionally all but overcome." +Writing to Mr. Wesley a few weeks afterwards, he says, "Yesterday I +began to play the madman in Gloucestershire, by preaching on a table +in Thornbury-street. To-day I have exhorted twice, and by and by +I shall begin a third time; nothing like doing good by the way. I +suppose you have heard of my proceedings in Kingswood." + +We scarcely need to remark here, that Kingswood has ever since been +regarded as a sacred spot in ecclesiastical history. Here houses +for Wesleyan Methodists and Independents were soon erected, and in +them thousands have been converted to God. Here was placed the first +school for the sons of Methodist preachers, and on Hanham Mount, +besides the voice of Whitefield, those of the Wesleys, Coke and +Mather, Pawson and Benson, and Bradburn, accomplished some of the +mightiest effects which attended their powerful preaching. There are +yet some living in the neighborhood who were awakened under their +ministry, and whose eyes glisten as they tell of the blessed days +that are past. + +Besides the colliers, and thousands from the neighboring villages, +persons of all ranks daily flocked out of Bristol. And he was +soon invited by many of the most respectable people to preach +on a large bowling-green in the city itself. Many of the people +indeed sneered to see a stripling with a gown mount a table on +unconsecrated ground; this even excited once or twice the laugh of +some of the higher ranks, who had admired him in the churches. But +he was unmoved, and his preaching was so blessed, that many were +awakened. Sometimes he was employed almost from morning till night +answering those who, in distress of soul, cried out, "What shall I +do to be saved?" He now sought the help of Mr. John Wesley, who, +after much reasoning with himself on the subject, complied with +the invitation, and followed Whitefield's example, who immediately +committed the work to him. Before leaving the neighborhood, however, +Whitefield had the satisfaction of laying the foundation of a school +for Kingswood; for the support of which the colliers liberally and +cheerfully subscribed. + +Taking an affectionate leave of his Bristol friends, Whitefield made +an excursion into Wales, where a revival of religion had commenced +several years before, under the ministry of the Rev. Griffith Jones, +and was now carried on by the ministry of Mr. Howel Harris, a man +of strong mental powers, great Christian zeal, and considerable +learning. They met at Cardiff. Whitefield's heart was then glowing +with the fire he had himself kindled at Bristol and Kingswood. On +his way from Bristol to Cardiff, he was delayed at the New Passage +by contrary winds. He says, "At the inn there was an unhappy +clergyman who would not go over in the passage-boat, because I was +in it. Alas, thought I, this very temper would make heaven itself +unpleasant to that man, if he saw me there. I was told that he +charged me with being a dissenter. I saw him, soon after, shaking +his elbows over a gaming-table. I heartily wish those who charge +me causelessly with schism and being righteous overmuch, would +consider that the canons of our church forbid the clergy to frequent +taverns, or to play at cards or dice, or any other unlawful games. +Their indulging themselves in these things is a stumbling-block to +thousands." + +We have said that Whitefield first met Howel Harris at Cardiff. +After preaching in the town-hall, from the judges' seat, he says, "I +was much refreshed with the sight of Mr. Howel Harris; whom, though +I knew not in person, I have long loved, and have often felt my +soul drawn out in prayer in his behalf.... When I first saw him, my +heart was knit closely to him. I wanted to catch some of his fire, +and gave him the right hand of fellowship with my whole heart. After +I had saluted him, and given an exhortation to a great number of +people, who followed me to the inn, we spent the remainder of the +evening in taking sweet counsel together, and telling one another +what God had done for our souls. A divine and strong sympathy +seemed to be between us, and I was resolved to promote his interest +with all my might. Accordingly we took an account of the several +societies, and agreed on such measures as seemed most conducive to +promote the common interest of our Lord. Blessed be God, there seems +a noble spirit gone out into Wales; and I believe that, ere long, +there will be more visible fruits of it. What inclines me strongly +to think so is, that the partition wall of bigotry and party spirit +is broken down, and ministers and teachers of different communions +join, with one heart and one mind, to carry on the kingdom of +Jesus Christ. The Lord make all the Christian world thus minded; +for, until this is done, we must, I fear, despair of any great +reformation in the church of God." + +Before leaving Cardiff, Whitefield preached again in the town-hall, +to a large assembly. He says, "My dear brother Harris sat close by +me. I did not observe any scoffers within; but without, some were +pleased to honor me so far as to trail a dead fox, and hunt it +about the hall. But, blessed be God, my voice prevailed. This being +done, I went, with many of my hearers, among whom were two worthy +dissenting ministers, to public worship; and in the second lesson +were these remarkable words: 'The high-priests, and the scribes, +and the chief of the people sought to destroy him; but they could +not find what they might do to him; for all the people were very +attentive to hear him.' + +"In the afternoon I preached again, without any disturbance or +scoffing. In the evening, I talked for above an hour and a half +with the religious society, and never did I see a congregation more +melted down. The love of Jesus touched them to the quick. Most +of them were dissolved in tears. They came to me after, weeping, +bidding me farewell, and wishing I could continue with them longer. +Thanks be to God, for such an entrance into Wales. I wrestled with +God for them in prayer, and blessed be His holy name for sending me +into Wales. I hope these are the first-fruits of a greater harvest, +if ever it should please God to bring me back from Georgia. 'Father, +thy will be done.'" + +Whitefield returned from this short excursion, to Bristol, baptized +with Welsh fire, and renewed his labors among the Kingswood colliers +with more than his usual power and success. He could not, however, +forget the tears which had entreated him to stay longer in Wales, +and in three or four weeks he visited Usk and Pontypool, where he +was again met by Howel Harris. At Usk, "the pulpit being denied, I +preached upon a table, under a large tree, to some hundreds, and God +was with us of a truth. On my way to Pontypool, I was informed by +a man who heard it, that Counsellor H---- did me the honor to make +a public motion to Judge P---- to stop me and brother Howel Harris +from going about teaching the people. Poor man, he put me in mind of +Tertullus, in the Acts; but my hour is not yet come. I have scarcely +begun my testimony. For my finishing it, my enemies must have power +over me from above. Lord, prepare me for that hour." + +The report to which we have just referred did not prevent the curate +of Pontypool from cordially inviting Whitefield into his pulpit. He +also read prayers for him. After the sermon, it was found that so +many had come to hear who could not find room in the church, that +another sermon was loudly called for. He says, "I went and preached +to all the people in the field. I always find I have most power +when I preach in the open air; a proof to me that God is pleased +with this way of preaching. I betook myself to rest, full of such +unutterable peace as no one can conceive of but those who feel it." + +In several other places did our evangelist, during this excursion, +unfurl the banner of the cross; and at its close he writes, "Oh how +swiftly this week has glided away. To me it has been but as one day. +How do I pity those who complain that time hangs on their hands! Let +them but love Christ, and spend their whole time in his service, +and they will find but few melancholy hours." Nor will any wonder +that he should thus speak, who consider the spirit which animated +his soul. What he some time afterwards wrote to Howel Harris, +from Philadelphia, indicated the spirit he himself cherished: +"Intersperse prayers with your exhortations, and thereby call down +fire from heaven, even the fire of the Holy Ghost, + + "'To soften, sweeten, and refine, + And melt them into love.' + +Speak every time, my dear brother, as if it were your last; _weep +out_, if possible, every argument, and compel them to cry, 'Behold +how he loveth us.'" + +From Wales, Whitefield went to visit his native city, Gloucester; +and after one or two sermons, he found himself here also excluded +from the parochial pulpits. But notwithstanding his persecutions, +and the infirm state of his health at that time, his labors in +Gloucester and its vicinity were constant and eminently successful. +Bowling-greens, market-crosses, highways, and other such places, +bore witness to his faithful and tearful labors. + +At Gloucester lived at that time the Rev. Mr. Cole, an old +dissenting minister, who often heard Whitefield preach, and used to +say, "These are the days of the Son of man indeed!" Whitefield, when +a boy, had been taught to ridicule this Mr. Cole; and when he was +once asked what profession he would engage in, replied, "I will be a +minister, but I will take care never to tell stories in the pulpit +like old Cole." Twelve years afterwards, the old minister heard the +young one preach, and tell some story to illustrate his subject, +when the venerable servant of Christ remarked, "I find young +Whitefield can tell stories now as well as old Cole." The good man +was much affected with the preaching of his young friend, and was so +humble, that he used to subscribe himself his curate, and went about +in the country preaching after him. One evening, while preaching, he +was struck with death, and asked for a chair to lean on till he had +finished his sermon. Having done this, he was carried up stairs and +died. When the fact was told to Whitefield, he said, "O blessed God, +if it be thy holy will, may my exit be like his!" How striking is +this fact when looked at in connection with the circumstances of his +own removal from earth. + +Intent on the advancement of his orphan-house in Georgia, Whitefield +soon went to London, passing on his way through Oxford. At both +places he found opposition, and in London was shut out of the +churches. He preached to thousands in Islington churchyard, and now +resolved to give himself to the work in the open air. + +From the conflict with the enemies who a few years before had +threatened her existence, the polemics of the church of England now +turned to resist the unwelcome ally who menaced her repose. Bishop +Warburton led the van, and behind him many a mitred front scowled +on the audacious innovator. Divested of the logomachies which +chiefly engaged the attention of the disputants, the controversy +between Whitefield and the bishops lay in a narrow compass. It +being mutually conceded that the virtues of the Christian life can +result only from certain divine impulses, and that to lay a claim +to this holy inspiration when its legitimate fruits are wanting, +is a fatal delusion, he maintained, and they denied, that the +person who is the subject of this sacred influence has within his +own bosom an independent attestation of its reality. So abstruse a +debate required the zest of some more pungent ingredients, and the +polemics with whom Whitefield had to do were not such sciolists in +their calling as to be ignorant of the necessity of riveting upon +him some epithet at once opprobrious and vague. While therefore +milder spirits arraigned him as an _enthusiast_, Warburton, with +constitutional energy of invective, denounced him as a _fanatic_. In +vain Whitefield demanded a definition of these reproachful terms. To +have fixed their meaning would have been to blunt their edge. They +afforded a solution, at once compendious, obscure, and repulsive, of +whatever was remarkable in his character, and have been associated +with his name from that time to the present. + +The spots on which Whitefield now began, in his own language, +"to take the field," and publicly to erect the standard of the +Redeemer's cross, are well known. Moorfields, then a place of +general rendezvous and recreation from the crowded city, Kennington +Common then about two, and Blackheath about five miles from London, +were the favorite sites to which he loved to resort, and "open his +mouth boldly" to listening thousands, in honor of his crucified and +glorified Lord. Recording his first engagement of this kind in his +diary of Sabbath evening, April 29, 1739, he writes, "Begun to be +yet more vile this day, for I preached at Moorfields to an exceeding +great multitude; and at five in the evening went and preached at +Kennington Common, where upwards of twenty thousand were supposed +to be present. The wind being for me, it carried my voice to the +extreme part of my audience. All stood attentive, and joined in +the psalm and the Lord's prayer so regularly, that I scarce ever +preached with more quietness in a church. Many were much affected. + + "'For this let men revile my name, + I'll shun no cross, I'll fear no shame; + All hail, reproach, and welcome pain, + Only thy terrors, Lord, restrain.'" + +For several successive months, the places we have named were his +chief scenes of action. At a moderate computation, the audience +frequently consisted of twenty thousand. It is said that the singing +could be heard two miles, and the voice of the preacher nearly +one. Sometimes there were upwards of a hundred coaches, besides +wagons, scaffolds, and other contrivances by which a sight of him +could be obtained. The rising ground on Blackheath, from which +Whitefield preached, is still known as "Whitefield's mount," and +after his death, Lord Dartmouth planted it with fir-trees. It will +ever be a grateful recollection to the author of this volume, that +during the summer of 1839 he prevailed on some of the most eminent +ministers of England to preach on every successive Monday evening +on this hallowed spot; and that here many thousands then heard +the way of salvation, and not a few were brought to the cross of +Christ. In that immediate neighborhood too, now densely populated, +he organized, and for some years preached to a Christian church. +Memorable times! Many were the manifestations of the Redeemer's +favor. + +An anecdote which we heard many years ago from one of Whitefield's +Blackheath hearers, may here be related. While one day preaching on +"the heath," there passed along the road at some distance, an old +man and "Mary" his wife, with their ass and his loaded panniers, +returning from London to their home in Kent. Attracted alike by the +crowd and the preacher's voice, the old man and his wife turned a +little out of their way to hear "what the man was talking about." +Whitefield spoke of somewhat which occurred eighteen hundred years +ago, and the old man said, "Mary, come along, it is only something +which happened a long while ago;" but Mary's attention had been +arrested, and she wished to stay a minute or two longer. They were +both soon in tears, and the inquiry was excited in their hearts, +"What shall we do to be saved?" On their way home, while "talking +of all these things," the old man recollected his neglected Bible, +and asked, "Why, Mary, does not our old book at home say somewhat +about these things?" They went home, and examined the old book with +new light. "Why, Mary," asked the old man, "is this indeed our old +book? why, every thing in it seems quite new." So true is it, that +the teaching of the Spirit gives new discernment as to the truths of +divine revelation. + +A fact strikingly illustrating the children's love to our evangelist +may be here mentioned. In his open-air preachings, especially in and +about London, he was usually attended by many of them, who sat round +him, in and about the pulpit, and handed to him the notes of those +who desired his counsels and prayers. These children were exposed to +the missiles with which he was often assailed, but however terrified +they might be, or even hurt, they seldom shrunk; "but," says he, "on +the contrary, every time I was struck, they turned up their little +weeping eyes, and seemed to wish they could receive the blows for +me." + +Speaking of his open-air labors, the devoted preacher says, "Words +cannot express the displays of divine grace which we saw, and heard +of, and felt. Lord, not unto me, but unto thy name be all the +glory." On a subsequent occasion he writes, "We have had a glorious +season, a true Easter. Jesus Christ is risen indeed. I have been +preaching in Moorfields, and our Saviour carries all before us. +Nothing can resist his conquering blood. It would have delighted you +to see poor sinners flock from the booths to see Jesus lifted up on +the pole of the gospel." The climax of his success there, is one of +the most remarkable letters that ever came from a mortal's pen. He +records at its close, "We then retired to the Tabernacle, with my +pockets full of notes from persons brought under concern, and read +them amidst the praises and spiritual acclamations of thousands, who +joined with the holy angels in rejoicing that so many sinners were +snatched, in such an unexpected, unlikely place and manner, out of +the very jaws of the devil. This was the beginning of the Tabernacle +society. Three hundred and fifty awakened souls were received in +one day; and I believe the number of notes exceeded a thousand. But +I must have done, believing you want to retire, to join in mutual +praise with me in thanksgiving to God and the Lamb." + +Having thus introduced the name of the Tabernacle, it is important +that the reader should be acquainted with the origin of the +buildings which have borne that name. From the very first of what +may be called his irregular labors, Whitefield always declared that +he "would never be the founder of a sect." He kept his word; yet +two London churches remain as his memorial--the Tabernacle, and +Tottenham Court-road chapel, the one in the north, and the other +in the western part of the metropolis. The Tabernacle, which was +first erected, was his more especial and favorite field of labor, +and he dwelt in the house adjoining it, which is still the pastoral +residence. + +Moorfields, just without the limits of the old north city wall of +London, was, a few years before Whitefield first knew it, a marsh, +and during the greater part of the year, was absolutely impassable. +Having been partially drained, a brick kiln was erected, and the +first bricks used in London are said to have been manufactured +there. Afterwards it was a field for the practice of archery, +when it was laid out in walks, and called the City Mall. Though +improved in name and appearance, it became the rallying ground for +the rabble of London; wrestlers, boxers, and mountebanks, the idle, +the dissolute, and the profane, held here their daily and nightly +revels. It appeared, in fact, to be one of the strong-holds of +Satan, and therefore became a most tempting and important point +of attack for the daring eloquence of Whitefield. All London rang +one day with the announcement that Whitefield would preach the day +following at Moorfields. + +This was in January, 1739. Gillies says, "The thing being strange +and new, he found, on coming out of the coach, an incredible number +of people assembled. Many told him that he would never come out of +that place alive. He went in, however, between two friends, who by +the pressure of the crowd were soon parted from him entirely, and +obliged to leave him to the mercy of the rabble. But these, instead +of hurting him, formed a lane for him, and carried him along to the +middle of the fields, where a table had been placed. This, however, +having been broken by the crowd, he mounted a wall, and preached to +an exceeding great multitude in tones so melting, that his words +drew tears and groans from the most abandoned of his hearers. +Moorfields became henceforth one of the principal scenes of his +triumphs. Thirty thousand people sometimes gathered together to hear +him, and generous contributions here poured in for his orphan-house +at Bethesda. On one occasion twenty pounds--about one hundred +dollars--were received in half-pennies, more than one person was +able to carry away, and enough to put one out of conceit with a +specie currency." + +It was not till his fifth visit to London, in March, 1741, that +Whitefield ventured to preach in Moorfields on _a week-day_; the day +selected for this bold action being Good-Friday. His chief, if not +his only friends on this occasion, he tells us, were a few "orthodox +dissenters." These people perceiving the inconvenience to which +he was subjected by the weather, during the morning and evening +services in Moorfields, procured the loan of a piece of ground, and +employed a carpenter to build a large temporary shed, to screen the +auditory from the cold and rain. This building Whitefield called +a "tabernacle," as it was only intended to be used a few months +during his stay in his native country, previous to his return to +America. Providence, however, had otherwise determined, and this +proved the commencement of a permanent establishment of the means of +grace. A great spiritual awakening took place; congregations became +very large, acquiring at the same time considerable cohesion, and +assuming a stationary character. This original fabric of wood was a +place of large dimensions; and notwithstanding its rude aspect and +temporary design, it sufficed for the accommodation of Whitefield +and his flock, during the twelve succeeding years--a period the most +brilliant and useful of his extraordinary career. + +Some of Whitefield's friends, however, did not approve of the +original wooden structure; and anticipating or desiring the +formation of a Christian church, they called for the immediate +erection of a substantial brick building, a point which was debated +with a warmth approaching to violence, of which Whitefield makes +pathetic mention seven years afterwards. Here then several important +facts are established: that the original tabernacle sprang not from +Whitefield, but from a voluntary movement among his adherents, +composed chiefly, if not wholly, of Protestant dissenters; that the +expense was borne not by him, but by them; that much debate and +dissension attended the measure, proving the thoroughly free and +popular character of the original movement; and that, as the edifice +originated with the people alone, so did the institution of regular +worship. It is certain that fears existed in the mind of Whitefield +as to the success of such an organization; but the results most +happily disappointed his expectations. + +The subject of the erection of a more spacious edifice in the place +of the tabernacle of wood, was first discussed at the mansion +of Lady Huntingdon, in Leicestershire, when Drs. Doddridge and +Stonehouse, and the Rev. Messrs. Hervey and Whitefield happened to +meet together, in the summer of 1751. During the following winter, +Whitefield began to make collections for the object, and on almost +its first presentation in London, nine hundred pounds, or four +thousand five hundred dollars, were subscribed. "But," he says, "on +the principle that burned children dread the fire, I do not mean +to begin until I get one thousand in hand, and then to contract at +a certain sum for the whole." The fact was, that Whitefield had +often been in great straits for the support of his orphan-house +in Georgia, "for I forgot," he says, "that Professor Francke built +in Glaucha, in a populous country, and that I was building at the +very tail of the world." In March, 1753, he wrote to Mr. Charles +Wesley, "On Tuesday morning the first brick of our new Tabernacle +was laid with awful solemnity. I preached from Exodus 20:24, 'In all +places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will +bless thee.' The wall is now about a yard high. The building is to +be eighty feet square. It is on the old spot. We have bought the +house, and if we finish what we have begun, shall be rent free for +forty-six years." In June the dedicatory services took place, when +the Tabernacle, though capable, with its capacious galleries, of +holding _four thousand_ people, was crowded almost to suffocation. +Often have we seen this vast building crowded with worshippers, with +delight have we occupied its pulpit, and with devout gratitude do we +record, that never for a moment has the frown of heaven rested upon +it. Thousands will ever bless God for its erection. + +Not unfrequently has the question been discussed, to what +denomination of Christians does the Tabernacle really belong? In +answer to this question, we give a legal document which may also +show what is done in reference to houses of worship in England, +under the laws for the maintenance of religious toleration. + +"These are to certifie whom it may Concern, that a Certificate +bearing date the Eighteenth Day of June, in the year of Our Lord +One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-four, under the Hands of +Starkey Myddleton Minister, Robert Keen, Thomas Cox, Samuel Grace, +Robert Hodgson, James Smith, Thomas Robinson, Benjamin Coles, +Thomas Brooks, and Samuel Lockhart, for appropriating and setting +apart a Certain Building for that purpose erected, situate near the +Barking Dogs in the Parish of Saint Luke in the County of Middlesex, +and intended for the meeting place of a certain Congregation of +Protestant Dissenters from the Church of England, calling themselves +Independents, was Registered in the Registry of the Dean and Chapter +of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, London, This Twenty-first +Day of June in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and +Sixty-four. + + "THOMAS COLLINS, Deputy Registrar." + +While the new Tabernacle was in the course of erection, Whitefield +visited Norwich, where his ministry was largely attended, and +notwithstanding much opposition, was followed with considerable +success. Writing to his friend Keen, he says, "How does God delight +to exceed even the hopes, and to disappoint the fears of his weak, +though honest-hearted people. In spite of all opposition, he hath +caused us to triumph even in Norwich. Thousands attend twice every +day, and hear with the greatest eagerness. I hope it will appear +yet more and more that God hath much people here." Compelled by +alarming illness, the result of his too much preaching, he suddenly +returned to London, from whence he thus wrote to one of the converts +at Norwich: "I shall little regard the weakness and indisposition of +my body, if I can but have the pleasure of hearing, if not before, +yet at the great day, that good was done to one precious soul at +Norwich. Blessed be God for the seed sown there. I doubt not but +it will be watered with the dew of his heavenly blessing, and bring +forth a divine increase." + +Truly the gospel did triumph, not only in the erection of the +Tabernacle in that city, but in preparing sinners to be pillars in +the temple of God, and to win others to his service. + +Among other converts won at Norwich, was the afterwards popular and +useful minister of Christ, the Rev. Robert Robinson, of Cambridge, +England. When a young man, about eighteen, he resided in that city, +and was engaged in the business of a barber. When he was walking +one morning with several companions who had agreed that day to take +their pleasure, the first object which attracted their attention +was an old woman who pretended to tell fortunes. They immediately +employed her to tell theirs, and that they might qualify her for the +undertaking, first made her thoroughly intoxicated. Robinson was +informed, among other things, that he would live to a very old age, +and see his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren growing +up around him. Though he had assisted in intoxicating the old +woman, he had credulity enough to be struck with those parts of the +prediction which related to himself. "And so," said he when alone, +"I am to see children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. At +that age I must be a burden to the young people. What shall I do? +There is no way for an old man to render himself more agreeable to +youth, than by sitting and telling them pleasant and profitable +stories. I will then," thought he, "during my youth, endeavor +to store my mind with all kinds of knowledge. I will see and +hear, and note down every thing that is rare and wonderful, that +I may sit, when incapable of other employments, and entertain my +descendants. Thus shall my company be rendered pleasant, and I shall +be respected, rather than neglected, in old age. Let me see, what +can I acquire first? Oh, here is the famous Methodist preacher, +Whitefield; he is to preach here, they say, to-night; I will go and +hear him." + +From these strange motives, as he told the celebrated Rev. Andrew +Fuller, he went to hear Whitefield preach. That evening his text +was, "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come +to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who +hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Matt. 3:7. "Mr. +Whitefield," said Robinson, "described the Sadducees' character; +this did not touch me; I thought myself as good a Christian as any +man in England. From this he went to that of the Pharisees. He +described their exterior decency, but observed, that the poison of +the viper rankled in their hearts. This rather shook me. At length, +in the course of his sermon, he abruptly broke off; paused for a +few moments; then burst into a flood of tears, lifted up his hands +and eyes, and exclaimed, 'Oh, my hearers, _the wrath's to come! the +wrath's to come!_' These words sunk into my heart like lead in the +water; I wept, and when the sermon was ended retired alone. For days +and weeks I could think of little else. Those awful words would +follow me wherever I went: 'The wrath's to come! The wrath's to +come!'" + +Scarcely had Whitefield completed the Tabernacle in London, before +he was earnestly solicited to hold public services at the west +end of the city, and Long-Acre chapel, then under the charge of a +dissenter, was offered for his use. An unruly rabble endeavored to +drive the preacher from his post; but a running fire of brickbats, +broken glass, bells, drums, and clappers, neither annoyed nor +frightened the intrepid evangelist; nor did an interference on the +part of the hierarchy, which followed soon after, prohibiting his +preaching in an incorporated chapel. "I hope you will not look on +it as contumacy," said Whitefield to the bishop, "if I persist in +prosecuting my design until I am more particularly apprized wherein +I have erred. I trust the irregularity I am charged with will appear +justifiable to every lover of English liberty, and what is all to +me, be approved at the awful and impartial tribunal of the great +Bishop and Shepherd of souls." Writing to Lady Huntingdon, he says, +"My greatest distress is so to act as to avoid rashness on the +one hand and timidity on the other;" and this shows, what indeed +was proved in his whole life, an entire absence of that malignant +element of fanaticism which courts opposition and revels in it. + +"Determined," as Mrs. Knight says, in her beautiful volume, "_Lady +Huntingdon and her Friends_," "not to be beaten from his ground, +yet hoping to escape some of its annoyances, Whitefield resolved to +build a chapel of his own. Hence arose Tottenham Court-road chapel, +which went by the name of 'Whitefield's soul-trap.'" Admirably +does he say, "I pray the Friend of sinners to make it a soul-trap +indeed to many wandering creatures. My constant work is preaching +fifteen times a week. Conviction and conversion go on here, for God +hath met us in our new building." It was completed and dedicated in +November, 1756. Though not equal in its triumphs to the Tabernacle, +the congregation has always been large, and its preachers--always +the same as those at the Tabernacle--have not labored in vain. In +1829, '30, improvements were made in the building, which still, +however, contains Whitefield's pulpit. A vast area in the centre was +originally filled with plain seats, where the masses of the people +were accommodated free of all pew rent. + +Let not infidels tell us, that the religion of these men and of +those times was mere enthusiasm, and that the temporal interests +of men were neglected in professions of high regard for those of +a spiritual character. Let such men know that within two years +of the opening of Tottenham Court-road chapel, not only did the +congregation build a parsonage-house for their minister, but twelve +almshouses for as many poor widows. The Tabernacle has always +acted with equal generosity. In proportion to their means, few +congregations in the world have exceeded these two in works of +benevolence. + +Assuredly what has sometimes been charged on evangelical +ministers--that they attend to the spiritual interests of mankind, +but neglect their temporal sufferings--would never apply to Mr. +Whitefield. No sooner had he completed these large edifices, where +vast congregations assembled, than he was heard frequently to plead +for those laboring under oppression or distress in foreign lands. +He preached in both these houses in behalf of the poor French +Protestants in Prussia, who had suffered much from the cruelty of +the Russians, when great numbers of the nobility, and some of the +highest officers of the crown went to hear him. The collections for +this object amounted to upwards of fifteen hundred pounds, or seven +thousand five hundred dollars; and for this disinterested act of +benevolence Whitefield received the thanks of his Prussian Majesty. + +Again, on the day recommended by the government for a general fast, +Mr. Whitefield preached both at the Tabernacle and at Tottenham +Court-road chapel, after which he collected five hundred and sixty +pounds for the relief of the German Protestants, and the sufferers +by fire at Boston, for which he received the unanimous thanks of +the inhabitants of that town. Lady Huntingdon wrote to one of her +friends, "It would delight you to have seen what crowds of the +mighty and noble flocked to hear him. The collection was for the +relief of the poor German Protestants. I invited several to come +who probably would not attend his ministry on other occasions." +Few places at that time could boast of such a constellation of +transcendent genius and senatorial talent, such a brilliant +assemblage of wisdom, magnanimity, and oratorical powers, as were +then found within these houses of the living God. + +One word may be allowed here on the plain architecture of these +buildings. "We are," says the excellent Mr. James, "in many things +improved, and I rejoice in the improvement; but the occasion of my +joy is at the same time the occasion of my fear and my jealousy +also. Our ecclesiastical architecture is just now a special +object of our attention. Whitefield, it may be confessed, paid +too little attention to this; we, perhaps, are paying too much. +His only solicitude was to save souls, careless altogether of the +tastefulness of the building within which that work, which has +no relation to styles of architecture, was carried on. His only +calculation in the construction of a building was, how many immortal +souls could be crowded within four square walls, and under a roof, +to hear 'the joyful sound.' Hence the somewhat uncouth buildings +which he erected. Ah, but when I consider that every stone in those +unsightly walls has echoed to the sound of salvation and the hymns +of redeemed spirits, and that almost every spot on the floor has +been moistened by the tears of penitence, then, in a feeling of +sanctity I seem to lose the sense of deformity, and there comes over +me an awe and solemnity which no modern gothic structure with its +lofty arches and painted windows can inspire. But still, as religion +is not only the most holy, but the most beautiful thing in God's +universe, there is no reason why taste and devotion should not be +united. It is the ministry of the word, however, upon which the +church must be chiefly intent." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +WHITEFIELD'S SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA. + +1739, 1740. + + +As in the preceding chapter, for the sake of connecting the history +of Whitefield's church edifices in London, we have anticipated the +order of events, we go back to the period shortly before his second +voyage to America. + +About the time of which we are now writing, a circumstance occurred +of deep interest, which Whitefield relates at considerable length. +Joseph Periam, a young man in London, who had read his sermon on +"regeneration," became deeply impressed by it; he sold all that he +possessed, and prayed so loud and fasted so long, that his family +supposed him deranged, and sent him to the Bedlam madhouse, where he +was treated as "methodistically mad," and as "one of Whitefield's +gang." The keepers threw him down, and forced a key into his mouth, +while they drenched him with medicine. He was then placed in a cold +room without windows, and with a damp cellar under it. Periam, +however, found some means of conveying a letter to Whitefield, +requesting both advice and a visit. These were promptly given. +The preacher soon discovered that Periam was not mad; and taking +a Mr. Seward and some other friends with him, he went before the +committee of the hospital to explain the case. It must have been +somewhat of a ludicrous scene. Seward so astounded the committee by +quoting Scripture, that they pronounced him to be as mad as Periam. +The doctors frankly told the deputation, that in their opinion, +Whitefield and his followers were "really beside themselves." It was +however agreed, that if Whitefield would take Periam out to Georgia, +his release would be granted. Thus the conference ended, and the +young man went out as a schoolmaster at the Orphan-house. There he +was exemplary and useful, and when he died two of his sons were +received into the institution. + +Mr. Whitefield so successfully pleaded the cause of his American +orphans, that during his journeys of twelve months he collected +upwards of one thousand pounds towards the erection of his intended +house for their accommodation. With this sum in his possession, he +set sail for America the second time, August 14, 1739, accompanied +by his friend Mr. Seward, eight men, one boy, and two children. + +While all this was going on, the inhabitants of Georgia were making +every possible preparation for his reception. The records of the +trustees say, May 16, 1739, "Read a commission to the Rev. George +Whitefield to perform all religious and ecclesiastical offices at +Savannah, in Georgia." Again: "June 2, 1739. Sealed a grant of five +hundred acres of land to the Rev. George Whitefield, in trust for +the use of the house to be erected and maintained for the receiving +such children as now are, and shall hereafter be left orphans in +the colony of Georgia, in pursuance of the direction of the Common +Council held the 30th of last month." + +Not only was Whitefield anxious to establish the orphan-house +for the benefit of the whole colony of Georgia, but having been +ordained priest, for the purpose of instructing the inhabitants of +the town of Savannah, he was desirous of making full proof of his +ministry among them. After a passage of nine weeks he landed at +Philadelphia, and was immediately invited to preach in the churches; +to which people of all denominations thronged as in England. He +was especially pleased to find that they preferred sermons when +"not delivered within the church walls." And it was well they did, +for his fame had arrived in the city before him, and crowds were +collected to hear him which no church could contain. + +A letter written on this voyage to America has recently come to +light, which beautifully illustrates the spirit by which Whitefield +was now animated. It was addressed to the Rev. John Cumming of +Andover, Hampshire, England. + + "Wrote at Sea, dated at Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1739. + + "REVEREND AND DEAR SIR--You see by my writing this how willing + I am to cultivate a correspondence with you. I wish Christians + in general, and ministers of Christ in particular, were better + acquainted. The cause of Christ thereby must be necessarily + promoted. But bigotry and sectarian zeal have been the bane of + our holy religion. Though we have one Lord, one faith, and one + baptism, yet if we do not all worship God in one particular + way, we behave to each other like Jews and Samaritans. Dear + sir, I hope that neither of us have so learned Christ. Blessed + be God for his free grace in Christ. The partition wall has + for some time been broken down out of my heart, and I can truly + say, whosoever loves the Lord Jesus, 'the same is my brother, + and sister, and mother.' For this reason, dear sir, I love you. + For this reason, though I decrease, yet I heartily wish you may + increase, even with all the increase of God. I am persuaded + you are like-minded. I believe my friends have prayed for me. + The Lord hath dealt most lovingly with me his servant. He has + chastened and corrected, but hath not given me over into the + hands of the enemy. A future journal will acquaint you with + particulars. What I have sent over to be published will afford + you abundant matter for thanksgiving in behalf of, + + "Dear sir, your affectionate friend, + Brother, and servant, + + "G. WHITEFIELD." + +The old court-house of Philadelphia, then standing on Second and +Market streets, had a balcony, which several years before the visit +of Whitefield had been often used instead of a pulpit. In 1736, we +find that Mr. Abel Noble had preached "from the court-house steps," +on a Monday, to a large congregation standing in Market-street, +on the subject of keeping the Sabbath. In the same year, Michael +Welfare appeared there to give his "warning voice," and now, in +1739, it became one of the favorite preaching stands of the great +evangelist. Here he stood, surrounded by many thousands, even down +to the side of the Delaware river, not a few bathed in tears, and +inquiring after the way of salvation. + +[Illustration: OLD COURT-HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA.] + +[Illustration: TENNENT CHURCH, FREEHOLD, N. J. p. 117.] + +Dr. Franklin says, "The multitudes of all sects and denominations +that attended his sermons were enormous; and it was a matter +of speculation with me to observe the influence of his oratory +on his hearers, and how much they admired and respected him, +notwithstanding his common abuse of them, by assuring them that +they were, naturally, half beasts and half devils. It was wonderful +to see the change soon made in the manners of our inhabitants. +From being thoughtless and indifferent about religion, it seemed +as if all the world was growing religious; so that one could not +walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in +different families in every street." + +A constant attendant on his ministry at this time says, "His +hearers were never weary; every eye was fixed on his expressive +countenance; every ear was charmed with his melodious voice; every +heart captivated with the beauty and propriety of his address. He +was no contracted bigot; all denominations partook of his religious +charity. Anxious in America for our civil privileges, he was alike +solicitous for the spiritual and temporal happiness of mankind. No +man since the apostolic age preached oftener or with better success. +He was, moreover, a polite gentleman, a faithful friend, an engaging +companion, and a sincere Christian. His sermons in the open air +lasted about one and a half hours." + +Watson, in his "Annals of Philadelphia," speaking of Whitefield's +first visit to that city, tells us that he preached to a crowd of +fifteen thousand persons on Society hill, and adds, "About the same +time he so far succeeded to repress the usual public amusements, +that the dancing-school was discontinued, and the ball and concert +rooms were shut up, as inconsistent with the requisitions of the +gospel. No less than fourteen sermons were preached on Society hill +in the open air in one week, during the session of the Presbyterian +church; and the gazette of the day, in noticing the fact, says, +'The change to religion here is altogether surprising, through the +influence of Whitefield; no books sell but religious, and such is +the general conversation.'" + +It is said, that though some gentlemen broke open the +assembly-rooms, no company could be induced to visit them. Such was +the popularity of Whitefield, that when he left the city, about +one hundred and fifty gentlemen accompanied him as far as Chester, +fifteen miles from Philadelphia, where he preached to about seven +thousand people. At White Clay creek, he preached to eight thousand +people, three thousand of whom, it is said, were on horseback. Many +complimentary effusions to him appeared in the newspapers, and James +Pemberton, a very distinguished _Friend_, said of him, "In his +conversation he is very agreeable, and has not much of the priest; +he frequents no set company." + +An old gentleman assured Watson, the annalist, that on one occasion +the words, "And he taught them, saying," as pronounced by Whitefield +on Society hill, were heard at Gloucester point, a distance by water +of two miles. + +Abundant reasons might be assigned for our introducing in this place +an account of the institution called "the Log college." It has +proved the parent of every collegiate and theological institution +connected with the large and wealthy body of Presbyterians in this +country; it was originated by a family which became especially +endeared to Mr. Whitefield; and from his journal, recording his +visit to it, we have, in some respects at least, the clearest +statement of facts concerning it which history has preserved. + +As we have already shown, about one hundred and forty years ago, +the state of religion, both in Europe and America, was very low. +Nor was the condition of the Presbyterian body an exception. As +the late Dr. Alexander, in his interesting volume, called "The Log +College," says, "The ministers composing the Presbyterian church +in this country were sound in the faith, and strongly attached to +the Westminster confession of faith and catechisms, as were also +their people; and there were no diversities or contentions among +them respecting the doctrines of the gospel; but as to the vital +power of godliness, there is reason to believe that it was little +known or spoken of. Revivals of religion were nowhere heard of, +and an orthodox creed, and a decent external conduct were the only +points on which inquiry was made, when persons were admitted to +the communion of the church. Indeed, it was very much a matter of +course, for all who had been baptized in infancy, to be received +into communion at the proper age, without exhibiting or possessing +any satisfactory evidence of a change of heart by the supernatural +operations of the Holy Spirit. And the habit of their preachers was +to address their people as though they were all pious, and only +needed instruction and confirmation." + +Such was the lamentable state of things when the Rev. William +Tennent, sen., an Irish clergyman past the middle stage of life +arrived in this country, about the year 1716. After laboring for +a season in the state of New York, till about 1721, he received +an invitation to settle at Bensalem, where he ministered to the +small Presbyterian congregation till 1726, when he was called to +Neshaminy, in the same county, where he labored for the rest of +his life, living till 1746, when he died, aged seventy-three. In +Neshaminy the good man felt that he was called not only to discharge +the duties of a preacher and pastor, but to look over the whole +country, and to devise means for the extension of the cause of +Christ. He had himself four sons, the subjects of divine grace, and +blessed with talents for usefulness in the kingdom of the Redeemer, +and he felt that when other young men rose up in the church, favored +with ministerial talents, they also would need mental cultivation. +Hence his determination to erect the humble building of which we now +write, which was the first Presbyterian literary and theological +institution in this country, the immediate parent of the college at +Princeton, and from which, indeed, all similar institutions emanated. + +The site of the Log college is about a mile from Neshaminy creek, +where the Presbyterian church has long stood. The ground near and +around it lies handsomely to the eye, and the more distant prospect +is very beautiful; for while there is a considerable extent of +fertile, well-cultivated land, nearly level, the view is bounded to +the north and west by a range of hills, which have a very pleasing +appearance. Mr. Whitefield has left in his "Journal," the only +description we have of the building. "The place," says he, "wherein +the young men study now, is in contempt called 'the college.' It +is a log-house about twenty feet long, and nearly as many broad; +and to me it seemed to resemble the school of the old prophets, for +their habitations were mean. That they sought not great things for +themselves is plain from these passages of Scripture, wherein we are +told that each of them took a beam to build them a house; and that +at the feast of the sons of the prophets, one of them put on the +pot, while the others went to fetch some herbs out of the field. All +that we can say of most of our universities is, they are glorious +without. From this despised place, seven or eight worthy ministers +of Jesus have lately been sent forth; more are almost ready to be +sent, and the foundation is now laying for the instruction of many +others." + +Of the senior Tennent, the founder of the Log college, little more +is known than what we have already given. He was a member of the +synod of Philadelphia, who were satisfied with his reasons for +leaving the Established church of Ireland, and for several years +this body cordially coöperated with him in his zealous labors. +Their unity of feeling, however, seems to have declined. This we +learn from a passage in Whitefield's "Journal," which also gives +us a beautiful view of the good old man. "At my return home, was +much comforted by the coming of one Mr. Tennent, an old gray-headed +disciple and soldier of Jesus Christ. He keeps an academy about +twenty miles from Philadelphia, and has been blest with four +gracious sons, three of which have been, and still continue to be +eminently useful in the church of Christ. He brought three pious +souls along with him, and rejoiced me by letting me know how they +had been evil spoken of for their Master's sake. He is a great +friend of Mr. Erskine, of Scotland; and as far as I can learn, both +he and his sons are secretly despised by the generality of the +synod, as Mr. Erskine and his friends are hated by the judicatories +of Edinburgh, and as the Methodist preachers, as they are called, +are by their brethren in England." + +Not long after this, the Log college was visited by Whitefield, who +wrote the account we have already given. He also says, under the +date of Nov. 29, 1739, "Set out for Neshaminy, twenty miles distant +from Trent Town, where old Mr. Tennent lives, and keeps an academy, +and where I was to preach to-day, according to appointment. About +twelve o'clock, we came thither, and found about three thousand +people gathered together in the meeting-house yard. Mr. William +Tennent, junior, an eminent servant of Jesus Christ, because we +stayed beyond the time appointed, was preaching to them. When +I came up, he soon stopped; sung a psalm, and then I began to +speak as the Lord gave me utterance. At first, the people seemed +unaffected, but in the midst of my discourse, the power of the Lord +Jesus came upon me, and I felt such a struggling within myself for +the people as I scarce ever felt before. The hearers began to be +melted down immediately, and to cry much; and we had good reason +to hope the Lord intended good for many. After I had finished, Mr. +Gilbert Tennent gave a word of exhortation, to confirm what had +been delivered. At the end of his discourse, we sung a psalm, and +dismissed the people with a blessing; O that the people may say Amen +to it. After our exercises were over, we went to old Mr. Tennent's, +who entertained us like one of the ancient patriarchs. His wife, +to me seemed like Elizabeth, and he like Zachary; both, as far as +I can learn, walk in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord +blameless. Though God was pleased to humble my soul, so that I was +obliged to retire for a while, yet we had sweet communion with each +other, and spent the evening in concerting what measures had best +be taken for promoting our dear Lord's kingdom. It happened very +providentially that Mr. Tennent and his brethren are appointed to be +a presbytery by the synod, so that they intend bringing up gracious +youths, and sending them out from time to time into the Lord's +vineyard." + +We may be permitted to add here, that among the ministers sent out +by Mr. Tennent, from the Log college, to preach the gospel, were his +four sons, Gilbert, William, John, and Charles, the Rev. Messrs. +Samuel Blair, John Blair, Charles Beatty, and Rev. Dr. Samuel J. +Finley, President of Princeton College; of some of these excellent +men the reader will hear again in the course of this volume. + +In reference to his first visit to Philadelphia, Whitefield thus +writes: "I have scarcely preached among them, but I have seen a +stirring among the dry bones. Go where I will, I find people with +great gladness receive me into their houses. Sometimes I think I am +speaking to stocks and stones; but before I have done, the power +of the Lord comes over them, and I find I have been ploughing up +some fallow ground, in a place where there has been a great famine +of the word of God. But as God's word increases, so will the rage +and opposition of the devil. Scoffers seem to be at a stand what to +say. They mutter in coffee-houses, give a curse, drink a barrel of +punch, and then cry out against me for not preaching more morality. +Poor men, if God judges them, as he certainly will do, by _their_ +morality, out of their own mouths will he condemn them. Their +morality, falsely so called, will prove their damnation. God has +enlarged my heart to pray. Tears trickle down my face, and I am in +great agony; but the Lord is pleased to set his seal to what he +enables me to deliver. Amid cries and groans in the congregation, +God gives me much freedom of speech. Many people and many ministers +weep. My own soul is much carried out. I preached to a vast assembly +of sinners; nearly twelve thousand were collected; and I had not +spoken long, before I perceived numbers melting; as I proceeded, the +power increased, and thousands cried out; never before did I see so +glorious a sight. Oh, what strong crying and tears were poured forth +after the dear Lord Jesus! Some fainted; and when they had gotten a +little strength, they would hear and faint again. Never was my soul +filled with greater power. Oh, what thoughts and words did God put +into my heart. As great, if not greater commotion was in the hearts +of the people. Look where I would, most were drowned in tears." + +An aged man who was living in 1806, and who well remembered the +scenes he witnessed, bore testimony that after this visit of the +great evangelist, public worship was regularly celebrated in +Philadelphia twice a day for a whole year; and that on the Lord's +day it was celebrated three, and frequently four times in each +church. He said there were not less than twenty-six societies +regularly held for prayer and Christian conference. + +Such was the influence of Whitefield, not only in Philadelphia, but +throughout the colony of Pennsylvania, that in the city attention to +commerce was suspended, and in the country the cultivation of the +land for the time being was abandoned, that people might hear him +proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus. + +Among other very striking conversions in Philadelphia at this +period, was that of a young lady, who had for several years made +a public profession of Christianity, but who now became fully +convinced that "she was totally unacquainted with vital piety." +When Mr. Whitefield began his labors in that city, she was greatly +affected by his preaching, on which she constantly attended, and +often afterwards told her friends, that after the first sermon she +heard him preach, she was ready to say with the woman of Samaria, +"Come see a man who told me all things that ever I did." The +preacher, she said, so exactly described all the secret workings of +her heart, her wishes, and her actions, that she really believed +he was either more than human, or else that he was supernaturally +assisted to know her heart. She was not then aware that all depraved +hearts are much alike, and that he who in lively colors can paint +one, gives a description which will be recognized by many as their +own. This young lady once walked twenty miles to hear a sermon +from Whitefield; she became a most eminent Christian, and was one +of the constituent members of the church organized by Mr. Tennent. +She married Mr. Hugh Hodge, who was also one of the seals of Mr. +Whitefield's ministry, and a deacon of the church, and for more than +sixty years she eminently "adorned the gospel of God in all things." + +During this first visit of Mr. Whitefield to Philadelphia, another +interesting circumstance occurred. Whitefield preached one evening +standing on the steps of the court-house, in Market-street, +which became, as we have said, his favorite spot during that and +subsequent visits. A youth some thirteen years of age stood near +him, and held a lantern for his accommodation; but becoming deeply +absorbed in the sermon, and strongly agitated, the lantern fell from +his hands, and was dashed in pieces. Those near the boy, observing +the cause of the accident, felt specially interested, and for a +few moments the meeting was discomposed by the occurrence. Some +fourteen years afterwards, Mr. Whitefield, on his fifth visit to +this country, was visiting St. George's, in Delaware. He was one +day riding out with the Rev. Dr. John Rodgers, then settled as the +minister at St. George's, in the closed carriage in which Whitefield +generally rode. Mr. Rodgers asked him whether he recollected the +occurrence of the little boy who was so affected with his preaching +as to let his lantern fall. Mr. Whitefield replied, "O yes, I +remember it well; and have often thought I would give almost any +thing in my power, to know who that little boy was, and what had +become of him." Mr. Rodgers replied with a smile, "I am that little +boy." Mr. Whitefield, with tears of joy, started from his seat, took +him in his arms, and with strong emotion remarked, that he was the +_fourteenth_ person then in the ministry whom he had discovered in +the course of that visit to America, in whose conversion he had, +under God, been instrumental. + +From Philadelphia, Whitefield was invited by Mr. Noble to New +York; this gentleman being the only person with whom he then had +an acquaintance in that city. Upon his arrival, he waited with his +friend on the commissary, but he refused to Whitefield the use of +the church. This commissary of the bishop, he says, "was full of +anger and resentment, and denied me the use of his pulpit before I +asked for it. He said they did not want my assistance. I replied, +that if they preached the gospel, I wished them good luck: I will +preach in the fields; for all places are alike to me." The undaunted +evangelist therefore preached in the fields; and on the evening of +the same day, to a very thronged and attentive audience, in the Rev. +Mr. Pemberton's meeting-house, in Wall-street; and continued to do +so twice or three times a day, with apparent success. + +Of this visit to New York, and of Whitefield's labors there, +we have a graphic account, furnished by one of his hearers, for +"Prince's Christian History." Of the first sermon in the fields, +the writer says, "I fear curiosity was the motive that led me +and many others into that assembly. I had read two or three of +Mr. Whitefield's sermons and part of his Journal, and from them +had obtained a settled opinion, that he was a good man. Thus far +was I prejudiced in his favor. But then having heard of so much +opposition, and many clamors against him, I thought it possible he +might have carried matters too far; that some enthusiasm might have +mixed itself with his piety, and that his zeal might have exceeded +his knowledge. With these prepossessions I went into the fields. +When I came there, I saw a great number of people, consisting of +Christians of all denominations, some Jews, and a few, I believe, +of no religion at all. When Mr. Whitefield came to the place +designated, which was a little eminence on the side of a hill, he +stood still and beckoned with his hand, and disposed the multitude +upon the descent, before, and on each side of him. He then prayed +most excellently, in the same manner, I suppose, that the first +ministers of the Christian church prayed. The assembly soon appeared +to be divided into two companies, the one of which I considered +as God's church, and the other the devil's chapel. The first were +collected round the minister, and were very serious and attentive; +the last had placed themselves in the skirts of the assembly, +and spent most of their time in giggling, scoffing, talking, and +laughing. I believe the minister saw them, for in his sermon, +remarking on the cowardice and shamefacedness in Christ's cause, he +pointed towards _this_ assembly, and reproached the former, those +who seemed to be Christians, with the boldness and zeal with which +the devil's vassals serve him. Towards the last prayer the whole +assembly appeared more united, and all became hushed and still; a +solemn awe and reverence appeared in the faces of most, a mighty +energy attending the word. I heard and felt something astonishing +and surprising, but I confess I was not at that time fully rid of my +scruples. But as I thought I saw a visible presence of God with Mr. +Whitefield, I kept my doubts to myself. + +"Under this frame of mind, I went to hear him in the evening at +the Presbyterian church, where he expounded to above two thousand +people within and without doors. I never in my life saw so attentive +an audience. All he said was demonstration, life, and power. The +people's eyes and ears hung on his lips. They greedily devoured +every word. I came home astonished. Every scruple vanished; I never +saw nor heard the like; and I said within myself, 'Surely God is +with this man, of a truth.' He preached and expounded in this manner +twice every day for four days, and his evening assemblies were +continually increasing. + +"On Sunday morning at eight o'clock, his congregation consisted of +about fifteen hundred people; but at night several thousands came +together to hear him; and the place being too strait for them, many +were forced to go away, and some, it is said, with tears lamented +their disappointment. After sermon he left New York at ten at night, +to fulfil a promise that he had made to preach at Elizabethtown, at +eleven A. M. the next day." + +We give a few paragraphs from the same vigorous pen, relating to +the personal manners and the doctrines of our evangelist. "He is a +man of a middle stature, of a slender body, of a fair complexion, +and of a comely appearance. He is of a sprightly, cheerful temper, +and acts and moves with great agility and life. The endowments of +his mind are very uncommon; his wit is quick and piercing; his +imagination lively and florid; and as far as I can discern, both are +under the direction of an exact and solid judgment. He has a most +ready memory, and I think speaks entirely without notes. He has a +clear and musical voice, and a wonderful command of it. He uses much +gesture, but with great propriety. Every accent of his voice, every +motion of his body _speaks_, and both are natural and unaffected. If +his delivery is the product of art, it is certainly the perfection +of it, for it is entirely concealed. He has a great mastery of +words, but studies much plainness of speech. + +"His doctrine is right _sterling_. I mean, perfectly agreeable +to the Articles of the church of England, to which he frequently +appeals for the truth of it. He loudly proclaims all men by nature +to be under sin, and obnoxious to the wrath and curse of God. He +maintains the absolute necessity of supernatural grace to bring +men out of this state. He asserts the righteousness of Christ to +be the only cause of the justification of the sinner; that this is +received by faith; that this faith is the gift of God; that where +faith is wrought, it brings the sinner under the deepest sense of +his guilt and unworthiness to the footstool of sovereign grace, to +accept of mercy as the free gift of God, only for Christ's sake. He +denies that good works have any share in our justification: that +indeed they do justify our faith, and necessarily flow from it, +as streams from the fountain; but Christ's external righteousness +imputed to us, and his inherent righteousness wrought in us, is the +only cause of man's salvation. He asserts the absolute necessity of +the new birth, where a principle of new life is ingenerated in the +heart of man, and an entire change is produced in the temper and +disposition of the soul; and that this new production is the work +only of God's blessed Spirit. That wherever this change is wrought, +it is permanent and abiding, and that the gates of hell shall never +prevail against it. He asserts that the special influence and +indwelling of the Spirit, was not peculiar to the first Christians, +but that it is the common privilege of believers in all ages of the +church; that the Holy Spirit is the author of the sanctification and +comfort of all God's people; and that, even in these days, if any +man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. He said, that +to many of his hearers, he feared he spoke in an unknown tongue; +that he preached great mysteries; that true Christians knew what he +meant, and that all his hearers, if they are saved, must be brought +to understand them. These are some of the doctrines which have been +attended with such mighty power in this city. This is the doctrine +of the martyrs. This they sealed with their blood; notwithstanding +that so many in our days have departed from it. + +"Mr. Whitefield speaks much of the language of the New Testament; +and has an admirable faculty in explaining the Scriptures. He +strikes out of them such lights, and unveils those excellencies +which surprise his hearers, when he expounds them. He expresses the +highest love and concern for the souls of men; and speaks of Christ +with the most affectionate appropriation--'_My Master! My Lord!_' He +is no enemy to the innocent freedoms and liberties of the gospel; +nor does he affect singularity in indifferent things. He spends +not his zeal in trifles, but says, 'The kingdom of God consists +not in meats and drinks; but in righteousness, and peace, and joy +in the Holy Ghost.' He breathes a most catholic spirit, and prays +most earnestly that God would destroy all that bigotry and party +zeal which has divided Christians. He supposes some of Christ's +flock are to be found under every denomination, and upbraids the +uncharitableness of those who confine the church to their own +communion. He professes a most sincere love to all those who love +our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and declares that he has no +design to make a party in religion. He professes that his whole +design in preaching the gospel is to bring men to Christ, to deliver +them from their false confidences, to raise them from their dead +formalities, and to revive primitive Christianity among them; and +if he can obtain this end, he will leave them to their liberty, and +they may go to what church, and worship God in what form they like +best." + +While going from Philadelphia to New York, or on his return, +Whitefield appears to have preached at Maidenhead, Abington, +Neshaminy, Freehold, Burlington, Elizabethtown, and New Brunswick, +to many thousands, gathered from various parts, among whom there +had been a considerable awakening under the ministry of Mr. +Frelinghuysen, a Reformed Dutch minister, and the Rev. Messrs. +Tennent, Blair, and Rowland. It was no less pleasing to him than +strange to see such congregations in a foreign land; ministers +and people shedding tears, sinners struck with awe, and religious +persons who had been much persecuted, filled with joy. The old +_Tennent church_ at Freehold, where preached Whitefield, Brainerd, +Davies, and other "famous men" of that day, still echoes with the +same gospel. In size the building is forty feet by sixty, with three +entrances on the larger side. The pulpit is on the north side of the +house, immediately opposite the central door, so that the minister +faces the width of the church instead of its length. The pulpit is +very narrow, and is surmounted with a sounding-board, according +to the custom of our fathers. In the middle aisle lie buried the +remains of the sainted William Tennent, whose death took place about +seven years after that of Whitefield, at the age of seventy-two +years. A handsome monumental tablet records the leading dates of his +pilgrimage. + +Some of our readers may inquire as to the localities honored by +Whitefield's preaching in and about the city of New York. We +find many records of his discoursing in the open fields of the +surrounding country; the old City Exchange, which stood at the +foot of Broad-street, near Water-street, and which was built on +large arches, was a favorite spot for itinerant preachers, and for +Whitefield among the rest. During his various visits to New York, +from 1745 to 1760, he generally preached in the Presbyterian church +in Wall-street, which was then the only church of that denomination +in the city, and of which the Rev. Dr. Pemberton, from Boston, was +the minister. Afterwards, a few years before his death, he was +accustomed to preach in the Brick church in Beekman-street; which +was then familiarly called the "Brick meeting," and in common +parlance, said to be "in the fields;" so little was the city +extended at that period. So prosperous was his ministry in New York, +that it was found necessary immediately to enlarge the Presbyterian +church in Wall-street, by the erection of galleries; and a year or +two afterwards it was again enlarged about one-third, in order to +accommodate the stated worshippers. + +When Whitefield was preaching before a very large number of the +seamen of New York, he introduced the following bold apostrophe into +his sermon: "Well, my boys, we have a cloudless sky, and are making +fine headway over a smooth sea, before a light breeze, and we shall +soon lose sight of land. But what means this sudden lowering of +the heavens, and that dark cloud arising from beneath the western +horizon? Hark! don't you hear the distant thunder? Don't you see +those flashes of lightning? There is a storm gathering. Every man +to his duty. How the waves rush and dash against the ship! The +air is dark. The tempest rages. Our masts are gone! What next?" +The unsuspecting tars, reminded of former perils on the deep, as +if struck by the power of magic, arose, and with united voices +exclaimed, "Take to the longboat, sir!" The reader may well imagine +how this very natural answer would be used by the preacher. + +While at New York, Whitefield wrote, "God willing, in about +seven months I hope to see New England on my return to Europe. +An effectual door is there opened, and no wonder there are many +adversaries. Shortly I expect to suffer for my dear Master." And +after his return to Philadelphia, he showed his piety and meekness +by writing to the Rev. Dr. Pemberton, of New York, "I have been much +concerned since I saw you, lest I behaved not with that humility +towards you which is due from a babe to a father in Christ; but +you know, reverend sir, how difficult it is to meet with success, +and not be puffed up with it; and therefore, if any such thing was +discernible in my conduct, O pity me, and pray to the Lord to heal +my pride. All I can say is, that I desire to learn of Jesus Christ +to be meek and lowly in heart; but my corruptions are so strong, and +my employ so dangerous, that I am sometimes afraid." + +One of the most important incidents of this journey to New York, +was the meeting of Whitefield with Gilbert Tennent. Two powerful +preachers could hardly resemble each other less; and the great +strength of each lay in characteristics in which the other was +deficient. In one point, especially, Whitefield felt and recorded +his new friend's superiority. He heard Tennent preach. "Never before +heard I such a searching sermon. He went to the bottom indeed, and +did not 'daub with untempered mortar.' He convinced me, more and +more, that we can preach the gospel of Christ no further than we +have experienced the power of it in our hearts. I found what a babe +and novice I was in the things of God." These men, as Tracy says, +having once met, could not but be friends and allies for life; and +the effects of their alliance could not fail to be felt by thousands. + +Both at Philadelphia and New York, printers applied to Whitefield +for copies of his sermons for publication, and two were so issued, +in the influence of which their author had cause to rejoice. In an +after-period, the celebrated Benjamin Franklin printed Whitefield's +"Journal in New England," still extant; a copy of which was sold at +auction in Philadelphia in 1855, for about thirty times its original +price. His journals, indeed, and his sermons became considerable +articles in commerce, and did not a little, amid the comparatively +sparse population of the country, to extend both his fame and his +usefulness. + +But the time was now come when it became important that Whitefield +should pursue his course towards Savannah. He could not, however, +regret his stay so long on the road. "It is unknown," he says, "what +deep impressions have been made on the hearts of hundreds. Many poor +sinners have, I trust, been called home, and great numbers are under +strong convictions. An opposer told me I had unhinged many _good +sort of people_. I believe it." + +Nor was this the only good he had done. No small sympathy had been +excited among Christian people in favor of his orphan family, and a +spirit of liberality and of prayer was extensively cherished. "They +sent me," says the grateful evangelist, "butter, sugar, chocolate, +pickles, cheese, and flour, for my orphans; and indeed, I could +almost say, they would pluck out their own eyes and give me. O that +what God says of the church of Philadelphia may now be fulfilled in +the city called after her name--'I know thy works.'" + +The ready liberality which everywhere met Whitefield, determined +him to pursue his journey by land. He therefore procured a vessel, +in which he sent on his family and their supplies to Savannah. Of +this sloop, Captain Gladman was master; and a young man who had +recently been converted by the preaching of the great evangelist, +willingly offered himself as mate. We have already seen that he was +accompanied southward as far as Chester by a very large company of +gentlemen of Philadelphia; and on his arrival at that place, a court +was about to open, but the judges sent him word that they would +not commence their business until the sermon, which they expected +from him, was over. Nearly a thousand people had travelled from +Philadelphia to hear it, and it was thought that those collected +from places many miles around, composed an assembly of not less than +seven thousand persons. A platform was erected, and it was believed +that many of his hearers obtained something infinitely better than +the mere gratification of their curiosity. + +Among other places at which he preached on this journey, was White +Clay creek, endeared to him not only as the place where he first met +with his beloved friend William Tennent, but as the residence of +a Welsh family who had heard him preach at Cardiff and Kingswood +before they emigrated, and who bore, what was to him a fact of +endearing interest, the name of _Howell_. But during this tour +Whitefield had to endure considerable privations and peril in riding +through the woods. On one occasion, he heard the wolves "howling +like a kennel of hounds" near to the road; on another, he had a +narrow escape in trying to cross the Potomac in a storm. Here also +he had once to swim his horse, owing to the floods; for it was now +the depth of winter. One night, Seward and he lost their way in the +woods of South Carolina, and were much alarmed at seeing groups +of negroes dancing around large fires. Notwithstanding all the +hardships, however, of the journey, no real injury was sustained +from it. + +Our evangelist at length arrived at Charleston in good health and +spirits. But he could not obtain admittance to St. Philip's church; +Garden, the commissary, who had once promised to "defend him with +life and fortune," was absent, and the curate would not open the +doors without his leave. The people, however, had not forgotten him, +and the Rev. Josiah Smith, the congregational minister, and the +pastor of the French church, at once threw open their houses and +pulpits, and rich indeed were the blessings they enjoyed. + +The congregations during his present visit to Charleston were large +and polite; but he says they presented "an affected finery and +gayety of dress and deportment, which I question if the court-end +of London could exceed." Before he left, however, there was what +he called "a glorious alteration in the audience." Many of them +wept; and the hitherto light and airy had visibly strong feelings, +as shown in their countenances. Such was their extreme anxiety to +hear more from him, that after he had gone to the shore to sail for +Georgia, they prevailed on him to preach again. + +On the next morning, Whitefield and his companions left Charleston +in a canoe for Savannah; and on their way lay on the ground in the +woods, surrounded by large fires to keep off the wild beasts. On +this fact he makes the reflection, "An emblem, I thought, of the +divine love and presence keeping off evils and corruptions from the +soul." On his arrival at Savannah, January 11, 1740, he was very +happy to meet his family, who had arrived there three weeks before +him; and to find, by letters from England, New York, etc., that the +work of the Lord prospered. One thing, however, greatly distressed +him. The colony of Georgia was reduced even to a much lower state +than when he left it, and was deserted by nearly all who could get +away. He thought that to employ those who were left, would render +them an important service, and that the money thus expended might be +the means of keeping them in the colony. + +During the absence of Mr. Whitefield from Georgia, Mr. Habersham +had fixed on a plot of ground of five hundred acres, about ten +miles from Savannah, on which the orphan-house should stand, and +had already commenced to clear and stock it. The orphans, in the +mean time, were accommodated in a hired house. Whitefield afterwards +regretted the course pursued. He found the condition of the orphans +so pitiable, and the inhabitants so poor, that he immediately +opened an infirmary, hired a large house at a great rent, and took +in, at different times, twenty-four orphans. + +In the March following, Whitefield was again at Charleston, where he +went to meet his brother, the captain of a ship, from England. Here +he was requested by many of the inhabitants to give some account of +his poor orphans, which he did in the house of worship occupied by +his friend the Rev. Josiah Smith, the first native of South Carolina +who received a literary degree. Such was the spirit excited, that +the collection amounted to seventy pounds sterling. This was no +small encouragement, especially as he had reason to believe that +most of it came from those who had received spiritual benefit from +his ministry. + +But if Whitefield now had his joys in Charleston, so he had also +his sorrows. We have seen that in a previous visit to this city, +he had considered himself "set for the defence of the gospel." He +had remarked, in reference to the twelfth article of the church of +England, "Observe, my dear brethren, the words of the article, 'Good +works are the fruit of faith, and follow after justification.' How +can they then precede, or be in any way the cause of it? No, our +persons must be justified, before our performances can be accepted." +Commissary Garden, of whom we have already spoken, now seized the +opportunity of Whitefield's visit to Charleston, to write him a +letter, dated March 17, attacking his doctrine of justification, and +challenging him to defend what he had said concerning the bishop of +London and his clergy. In this letter, he urged in reply to what +the evangelist had said, "If good works do necessarily spring out +of a true and lively faith, and a true and lively faith necessarily +precedes justification, the consequence is plain, that good works +must not only follow after, but precede justification also." +Whitefield replied the next day, "I perceive that you are angry +overmuch. Was I never so much inclined to dispute, I would stay +till the cool of the day. Your letter more and more confirms me, +that my charge against the clergy is just and reasonable. It would +be endless to enter into such a private debate as you, reverend +sir, seem desirous of. You have read my sermon: be pleased to read +it again; and if there be any thing contrary to sound doctrine, or +the Articles of the church of England, be pleased to let the public +know it from the press; and then let the world judge whether you or +my brethren the clergy have been rashly slandered." This was but +the commencement of a controversy, in which were concerned Garden +of Charleston, and the Rev. Messrs. Croswell and Gee of Boston, +portions of which are preserved in the Old South church library, in +the latter city; and which was afterwards resumed between Garden +and Smith, of Charleston, in the "South Carolina Gazette," as may +be seen in the library of the American Antiquarian Society at +Worcester, Massachusetts. + +In the mean time, Whitefield had returned to Savannah, and on +March 25, he laid the first brick of the main building of the +orphan-house, which he called _Bethesda_, that is, a house of mercy. +It was built of wood, and measured seventy feet by forty. By this +time nearly forty children had been received, to be provided for +with food and raiment; and counting the workmen with these, he had +nearly one hundred persons to feed day by day. To do all this he +had very little money in the bank; still he was not discouraged, +being persuaded that his present duty was to advance the interests +of the colony by carrying on his work. "As yet," says he, "I am +kept from the least doubting. The more my family increases, the +more enlargement and comfort I feel. Set thy almighty _fiat_ to it, +O gracious Father, and for thine own name's sake convince us more +and more, that thou wilt never forsake those who put their trust in +thee." On reviewing this passage fifteen years afterwards, he wrote, +"Hitherto, blessed be God, I have not been disappointed of my hope." + +We close our present chapter with a very short visit to Charleston. +In this city Whitefield had assuredly produced a very extraordinary +excitement, and very opposite opinions were entertained in reference +to his character and doctrines. On the day after he had laid the +first stone of Bethesda, Mr. Smith undertook at Charleston to defend +the conduct and character of his beloved friend, in a sermon from +Job 32:17: "I said, I will answer also my part; I also will show +mine opinion." As this discourse was published during the following +June, with a commendatory preface by the Rev. Drs. Colman and Cooper +of Boston, and is still highly valued as a piece of contemporary +history, we give an extract, particularly as to the _manner_ of the +preaching of the great evangelist. + +"He is certainly a finished preacher. A noble negligence ran +through his style. The passion and flame of his expressions will, +I trust, be long felt by many. My pen cannot describe his action +and gestures, in all their strength and decencies. He appeared to +me, in all his discourses, to be very deeply affected and impressed +in his own heart. How did that burn and boil within him, when he +spake of the things which he had 'made touching the King.' How was +his tongue like the pen of a ready writer, touched as with a coal +from the altar. With what a flow of words, what a ready profusion +of language, did he speak to us upon the great concerns of our +souls. In what a flaming light did he set _our_ eternity before +us. How earnestly he pressed Christ upon us. How did he move our +passions with the constraining love of _such_ a Redeemer. The awe, +the silence, the attention which sat upon the face of the great +audience, was an argument how he could reign over all their powers. +Many thought he spake as never man spake before him. So charmed +were the people with his manner of address, that they shut up their +shops, forgot their secular business, and laid aside their schemes +for the world; and the oftener he preached, the keener edge he +seemed to put upon their desires to hear him again. + +"How awfully, with what thunder and sound, did he discharge the +artillery of heaven upon us. And yet, how could he soften and +melt even a soldier of Ulysses with the mercy of God. How close, +strong, and pungent were his applications to the conscience; +mingling light and heat; pointing the arrows of the Almighty at the +hearts of sinners, while he poured in the balm upon the wounds of +the contrite, and made broken bones rejoice. Eternal themes, the +tremendous solemnities of our religion, were all _alive_ upon his +tongue. So, methinks--if you will forgive the figure--St. Paul would +_look_ and speak in a pulpit. In some such manner, I am tempted to +conceive of a seraph, were he sent down to preach among us, and to +tell us what things he had seen and heard above. + +How bold and courageous did he look. He was no flatterer; he would +not suffer men to settle on their lees; and did not prophesy smooth +things, nor sew pillows under their arms. He taught the way of God +in truth, and regarded not the persons of men. He struck at the +politest and most modish of our vices, and at the most fashionable +entertainments, regardless of every one's presence, but His in whose +name he spoke with this authority. And I dare warrant, if none +should go to these diversions until they have answered the solemn +questions he put to their consciences, our theatre would soon sink +and perish. I freely own he has taken my heart." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CONTINUATION OF WHITEFIELD'S SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA. 1740. + + +At the period when Whitefield laid the cornerstone of his Bethesda, +his health was much impaired, and his spirits depressed. But it +was necessary that funds should be obtained, to meet the claims +now daily made upon him. He had received handsome donations from +Charleston, New York, and Philadelphia, yet the urgent demand was +for more. He therefore embarked from Charleston for Newcastle, +Delaware, in a sloop, and arrived there in about ten days. Passing +on from thence to Philadelphia, he found the churches closed against +him. The commissary told him that he would lend the church to him +no more. The laconic answer of Whitefield was, "The fields are +open;" and eight thousand people assembled to hear him the same +evening, and ten thousand on the following day. On the following +Lord's day morning, he collected one hundred and ten pounds sterling +for his "poor orphans," and then went to the Episcopal church, +where the commissary preached a sermon on justification by works. +As Whitefield was recognized at church, it was naturally expected +that in the evening he would answer the sermon; nor was the public +expectation disappointed. After his sermon, he collected eighty +pounds more for Bethesda. + +But far higher success than this attended his labors. Societies for +worship were commenced in different parts of the town; not a few +began seriously to inquire after the way of salvation; many negroes +came to the evangelist with the inquiry, "Have I a soul?" and a +church was formed, of which the distinguished Gilbert Tennent was +the eminently useful pastor. No less than one hundred and forty, who +had undergone a previous strict examination as to their personal +piety, were received as constituent members of the church, and large +additions were from time to time made to their number. + +Several events of special interest occurred during this visit to +Philadelphia. Tennent had to tell a series of delightful facts +as to the usefulness of Whitefield's former labors. He began to +deliberate on a plan for a negro school in Pennsylvania, as he did +afterwards also in Virginia, but unexpected difficulties intervened, +and both in the end were abandoned. Mr. Jones, the Baptist minister +of the city, told Whitefield of the change produced by his former +preaching on the minds of two ministers; one of whom stated to his +congregation that he had hitherto been deceiving both himself and +them, and added, that he could not preach to them at present, but +requested them to unite in prayer with him; and the other resigned +his charge, to itinerate among the unenlightened villages of New +Jersey and elsewhere. Another fact was, that an Indian trader became +so impressed with the preaching of Whitefield, that he had given up +his business, and was gone to teach the Indians with whom he used to +trade. Nor had his usefulness stopped here: he heard of a drinking +club, which had attached to it a negro boy remarkable for his powers +of mimicry. This boy was directed by the gentlemen who composed the +club to exercise his powers on Mr. Whitefield: he did so, but very +reluctantly; at length he stood up and said, "I speak the truth in +Christ, I lie not; unless you repent, you will all be damned." This +unexpected speech had such an effect as to break up the club, which +met no more. + +We add a few paragraphs from Seward's journal, who soon after +sailed for England to promote the interests of Georgia, and who +died in the parent country. They date from the 24th to the 26th of +April. "Came to Christopher Wigner's plantation in Skippack, where +many Dutch people are settled, and where the famous Mr. Spalemburg +lately resided. It was surprising to see such a multitude of people +gathered together in such a wilderness country, thirty miles distant +from Philadelphia. Mr. Whitefield was exceedingly carried out, +in his sermon, to press poor sinners to come to Christ by faith, +and claim all their privileges; namely, not only righteousness +and peace, but joy in the Holy Ghost; and after he had done, our +dear friend Peter Bohler preached in Dutch, to those who could not +understand Mr. Whitefield in English." + +"Before Mr. Whitefield left Philadelphia, he was desired to visit +one who was under a deep sense of sin, from hearing him preach. In +praying with this person, he was so carried beyond himself, that +the whole company, about twenty, seemed to be filled with the Holy +Ghost, and magnified the God of heaven." + +"Arose at three o'clock, and though Mr. Whitefield was very weak +in body, yet the Lord enabled him to ride nearly fifty miles, and +to preach to about five thousand people at Amwell, with the same +power as usual. Mr. Gilbert Tennent, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Wales, and Mr. +Campbell, four godly ministers, met us here." + +"Came to New Brunswick. Met Mr. Noble from New York, a zealous +promoter of our Lord's kingdom. He said their society at New York +was enlarged from seventy to one hundred and seventy, and was +daily increasing; and that Messrs. Gilbert and William Tennent, +Mr. Rowland, and several others, were hard laborers in our Lord's +vineyard." + +It will be readily supposed that by this time Whitefield and +his movements had become so much a matter of interest as to be +frequently discussed in the newspapers of the day. + +The "New England Weekly Journal" of April 29, 1740, copies from a +Philadelphia paper of April 17: "The middle of last month the Rev. +Mr. Whitefield was at Charleston, and preached five times, and +collected at one time upwards of £70 sterling for the benefit of +the orphan-house in Georgia; and on Sunday last, after ten days' +passage from Georgia, he landed at Newcastle, where he preached +morning and evening. On Monday morning he preached to about three +thousand at Wilmington, and in the evening arrived in this city. +On Tuesday evening he preached to about eight thousand on Society +hill, and preached at the same place yesterday morning and evening." +Then follows a list of his appointments daily to April 29, during +which time he was to preach at Whitemarsh, Germantown, Philadelphia, +Salem, N. J., Neshaminy, Skippack, Frederick township, Amwell, New +Brunswick, Elizabethtown, and New York. On May 6th, the Journal +copied a Philadelphia notice of April 24th, that he had preached on +the previous Sabbath to fifteen thousand hearers, and on Monday at +Greenwich and Gloucester, and that he would return to Georgia before +visiting New England. + +The Journal of May 20th, contains a letter from Whitefield to a +friend in England, dated New Brunswick, N. J., April 27. Of his +visit to Charleston he says, "A glorious work was begun in the +hearts of the inhabitants, and many were brought to cry out, 'What +shall we do to be saved?' A fortnight ago, after a short passage of +ten days, I landed in Pennsylvania, and have had the pleasure of +seeing and hearing that my poor endeavors for promoting Christ's +kingdom, when here last, were not altogether in vain in the Lord. I +cannot tell you how many have come to me laboring under the deepest +convictions, and seemingly truly desirous of finding rest in Jesus +Christ. Several have actually received him into their hearts by +faith, and have not only righteousness and peace, but joy in the +Holy Ghost. In short, the word has run and been much glorified, and +many negroes also are in a fair way of being brought home to God. +Young ones I intend to buy, and do not despair of seeing a room full +of that despised generation, in a short time, singing and making +melody with grace in their hearts to the Lord. + +"An effectual door is opened for preaching the everlasting gospel, +and I daily receive fresh and most importunate invitations to preach +in all the counties round about. God is pleased to give a great +blessing to my printed sermons. They are in the hands of thousands +in these parts, and are a means of enlightening and building up many +in their most holy faith. The clergy, I find, are most offended +at me. The commissary of Philadelphia, having gotten a little +stronger than when I was here last, has thrown off the mask, denied +me the pulpit, and last Sunday preached up an historical faith, +and justification by works. But the people only flock the more. +The power of God is more visible than ever in our assemblies, and +more and more are convinced that I preach the doctrine of Jesus +Christ. Some of the bigoted, self-righteous Quakers now also begin +to spit out a little of the venom of the serpent. They cannot bear +the doctrine of original sin, and of an imputed righteousness as +the cause of our acceptance with God. I have not yet met with much +opposition from the dissenters; but when I come to tell many of +them, ministers as well as people, that they hold the truth in +unrighteousness, that they talk and preach of justifying faith, +but never felt it in their hearts, as I am persuaded numbers of +them have not, then they no doubt will shoot out their arrows, even +bitter words." + +While on his voyage from Charleston to Newcastle, Whitefield seems +to have devoted the 4th of April, 1740, to correspondence on the +subject of marriage. "I find," said he, "by experience, that a +mistress is absolutely necessary for the due management of my +increasing family, and to take off some of that care which at +present lies upon me." His letters were addressed to a young lady +and her parents, connected with a family much devoted to piety. +Here, as everywhere else, his heart is transparent. He says to the +parents of Miss E----, "I write only because I believe it is the +will of God that I should alter my state; but your denial will fully +convince me that your daughter is not the person appointed for me. +He knows my heart; I would not marry but for him, and in him, for +ten thousand worlds." + +The next year, having returned to England, Whitefield, like his +eminent friend John Wesley, was married, and, like him also, was +unhappy in his domestic relation. In each case, the husband exacted +a previous pledge that the wife should never prevent the delivery +of a single sermon; and this was followed by separation from the +wife for weeks, months, or even years, in the prosecution of their +arduous labors. In the case of Whitefield, his marriage in Wales, +with a widow lady, in 1741, was followed by the birth of a son; +previous to which event he had said, in the joy of his heart, that +his name should be John, and that he should be a preacher of the +everlasting gospel. The first prediction was realized, and when +his child was a week old, the good man told his people in the +Tabernacle, London, that he would live to preach, and "be great in +the sight of the Lord." But alas, at the end of four months John +died, and his father very wisely wrote in his journal: "I hope what +happened before his birth, and since at his death, has taught me +such lessons as, if duly improved, may render his mistaken parent +more sober-minded, more experienced in Satan's devices, and +consequently more useful in his future labors in the church of God." + +On the death of his wife somewhat suddenly, August 9, 1768, Mr. +Whitefield himself preached her funeral sermon, from Romans 8:28: +"And we know that all things work together for good to them that +love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose." In +describing her character, he particularly mentioned her fortitude +and courage, and suddenly exclaimed, "Do you remember my preaching +in those fields by the stump of the old tree? The multitude was +great, and many were disposed to be riotous. At first I addressed +them with firmness; but when a gang of desperate banditti drew +near, with the most ferocious looks, and horrid imprecations and +menaces, my courage began to fail. My wife was then standing behind +me, as I stood on the table. I think I hear her now. She pulled my +gown"--himself suiting the action to the word, by placing his hand +behind him and touching his robe--"and looking up, said, 'George, +play the man for your God.' My confidence returned. I again spoke to +the multitude with boldness and affection; they became still; and +many were deeply affected." + +Before we leave Philadelphia, we may relate an instance or two as +to the power of his eloquence. Dr. Franklin says, "He had a loud +and clear voice, and articulated his words so perfectly that he +might be heard and understood to a great distance; especially as his +auditors observed the most profound silence. He preached one evening +from the top of the court-house steps, which are in the middle of +Market-street, and on the west side of Second-street, which crosses +it at right angles. Both streets were filled with his hearers to a +considerable distance. Being among the hindmost in Market-street, +I had the curiosity to learn how far he might be heard by setting +backwards down the street towards the river; and I found his voice +distinct till I came near Front-street, where some noise in that +street obstructed it. Imagine, then, a semicircle of which my +distance should be a radius, and that it was filled with auditors, +to each of whom I allowed two square feet, I computed that he might +well be heard by more than thirty thousand people." + +But not only does Franklin bear witness of Whitefield's eloquence as +to his voice, but still more strongly as to its _persuasiveness_, of +which, it seems, he was himself a striking illustration. He says, "I +refused to contribute to his orphan-house in Georgia, thinking it +injudiciously located. Soon after, I happened to attend one of his +sermons, in the course of which I perceived he intended to finish +with a collection, and I silently resolved he should get nothing +from me. I had in my pocket a handful of copper money, three or +four silver dollars, and five pistoles in gold. As he proceeded, I +began to soften, and determined to give the copper. Another stroke +of his oratory made me ashamed of that, and determined me to give +the silver; and he finished so admirably, that I emptied my pocket +wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all. At this sermon there +was also one of our club; who being of my sentiments respecting the +building at Georgia, and suspecting a collection might be intended, +had, by precaution, emptied his pockets before he came from home. +Towards the conclusion of the discourse, however, he felt a strong +inclination to give, and applied to a neighbor, who stood near him, +to lend him some money for the purpose. The request was made to, +perhaps, the only man in the company who had the firmness not to be +affected by the preacher. His answer was, 'At any other time, friend +Hodgkinson, I would lend to thee freely; but not now, for thee seems +to be out of thy right senses.'" + +Whitefield, much as he loved Philadelphia, had now again to leave +it. Thus writes the correspondent of the "New England Weekly +Journal," at Newcastle, May 15: "This evening Mr. Whitefield went +on board his sloop here, to sail for Georgia. On Sunday he preached +twice In Philadelphia, and in the evening, when he preached his +farewell sermon, it is supposed he had twenty thousand hearers. On +Monday he preached at Darby and Chester; on Tuesday, at Wilmington +and White Clay creek; on Wednesday, twice at Nottingham; on +Thursday, at Fog's Manor and Newcastle. The congregations were +much increased since his being here last. The presence of God was +much seen in the assemblies, especially at Nottingham and Fog's +Manor, where the people were under such deep soul distress, that +their cries almost drowned his voice. He has collected in this and +the neighboring provinces, about £450 sterling for his orphans in +Georgia." + +He arrived at Savannah June 5, and most interesting was the manner +of his reception. He says, "O what a sweet meeting I had with my +dear friends! What God has prepared for me, I know not; but surely +I cannot well expect a greater happiness, till I embrace the saints +in glory. When I parted, my heart was ready to break with sorrow; +but now it almost bursts with joy. O how did each in turn hang upon +my neck, kiss, and weep over me with tears of joy! And my own soul +was so full of a sense of God's love when I embraced one friend +in particular, that I thought I should have expired in the place. +I felt my soul so full of a sense of the divine goodness, that I +wanted words to express myself. Why me, Lord; why me? When we came +to public worship, young and old were all dissolved in tears. After +service, several of my parishioners, all my family, and the little +children, returned home, crying along the streets, and some could +not avoid praying very loud. + +"Being very weak in body, I laid myself upon a bed; but finding so +many weeping, I rose and betook myself to prayer again. But had +I not lifted up my voice very high, the groans and cries of the +children would have prevented my being heard. This continued for +near an hour; till at last, finding their concern rather increase +than abate, I desired all to retire. Then some or other might be +heard praying earnestly, in every corner of the house. It happened +at this time to thunder and lighten, which added very much to the +solemnity of the night. Next day the concern still continued, +especially among the girls. I mention the orphans in particular, +that their benefactors may rejoice in what God is doing for their +souls." + +On the 7th of June, he wrote, "I have brought with me a Latin +master, and on Monday laid the foundation, in the name of the Lord +Jesus, for a university in Georgia." On the 28th of the same month, +he wrote to a Mr. W. D----, in a style admirably corresponding with +the meek spirit we have already seen in his letter to the Rev. +Dr. Pemberton, of New York. "I thank you for your kind letters +and friendly cautions; and I trust I shall always reckon those my +choicest friends, who, in simplicity and meekness, tell me the +corruptions of my heart. It is that faithfulness which has endeared +J. S---- to me. I think I never was obliged to any one so much +before. O my dear brother, still continue faithful to my soul; do +not hate me in your heart; in any wise reprove me. Exhort all my +brethren to forgive my past, I fear, too imperious carriage; and let +them pray that I may know myself to be, what I really am, less than +the least of them all." + +Whitefield's family at Bethesda had now increased to not less than +one hundred and fifty persons, and to advance their interests, it +was needful that he should again visit Charleston, where he arrived +on the third of July, and immediately commenced preaching, as on +former visits. On the following Sabbath, three days after his +arrival, he attended the Episcopal church, where, he says, "I heard +the commissary preach as virulent and unorthodox, inconsistent a +discourse, as ever I heard in my life. His heart seemed full of +choler and resentment. Out of the abundance thereof, he poured forth +so many bitter words against the Methodists, as he called them, in +general, and me in particular, that several who intended to receive +the sacrament at his hands, withdrew. Never, I believe, was such +a preparation sermon preached before. After sermon, he sent his +clerk to desire me not to come to the sacrament till he had spoken +with me. I immediately retired to my lodgings, rejoicing that I was +accounted worthy to suffer this further degree of contempt for my +dear Lord's sake." + +The next day, the commissary of the bishop of London issued against +Whitefield the following ecclesiastical writ: + +"Alexander Garden, lawfully constituted Commissary of the Right +Reverend Father in Christ, Edmund, by divine permission Lord Bishop +of London, supported by the royal authority underwritten: + +"Alexander Garden, To all and singular clerks, and literate persons +whomsoever, in and throughout the whole province of South Carolina, +wheresoever appointed, Greeting: + +"To you, conjunctly and severally, we commit, and strictly +enjoining, command, that you do cite, or cause to be cited, +peremptorily, George Whitefield, clerk, and presbyter of the Church +of England, that he lawfully appear before us, in the parish church +of St. Philip, Charleston, and in the judicial place of the same, on +Tuesday, the fifteenth day of this instant July, 'twixt the hours of +nine and ten in the forenoon, then and there in justice to answer to +certain articles, heads, or interrogatories, which will be objected +and ministered unto him concerning the mere health of his soul, and +the reformation and correction of his manners and excesses, and +chiefly for omitting to use the form of prayers prescribed in the +Communion-Book; and further to do and receive what shall be just +in that behalf, on pain of law and contempt. And what you shall do +in the premises, you shall duly certify us, together with these +presents. + +"Given under our hands and seals of our office, at Charleston, this +seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven +hundred and forty." + +Justice to all parties requires it should be said, that the phrase +as to the health of Whitefield's _soul_ was used by Garden not of +choice, but in conformity with the forms of English ecclesiastical +law; the theory of which is, that ecclesiastical courts are only +held to promote the spiritual health or welfare of those who are +cited into them. The principal sin of Whitefield was "omitting to +use the form of prayer prescribed in the Common Prayer Book." The +undisputed matter of fact, as Tracy says, was, that he always used +that form when he could obtain an Episcopal church to preach in; but +when he was shut out of such pulpits, and was preaching to Baptists, +Presbyterians, and Congregationalists, in their own houses of +worship, where none of the congregations had prayer books, or knew +how to use them, and where the introduction of unaccustomed forms +would not have promoted the devotion of the worshippers, he prayed +extempore. + +On the day this writ was issued, Whitefield preached for Mr. +Chanler, "a gracious Baptist minister, about fourteen miles from +Charleston;" and twice on the next day "to a large audience in +Mr. Osgood's meeting-house, a young Independent minister," at +Dorchester; the next day at Dorchester again, and at Charleston +in the evening; the next day preached and read prayers in Christ's +church, and twice at Charleston the next day, with great success. +And now, on July 11th, a citation was served upon him to appear on +the fifteenth, as required in the writ. + +On the 12th, he preached and read prayers twice on John's island; +and on the 13th, which was the Sabbath, he again listened to a +sermon from the commissary. Of this sermon Whitefield says, "Had +some infernal spirit been sent to draw my picture, I think it +scarcely possible that he could paint me in more horrid colors. I +think, if ever, then was the time that all manner of evil was spoken +against me falsely for Christ's sake. The commissary seemed to +ransack church history for instances of enthusiasm and abused grace. +He drew a parallel between me and all the Oliverians, Ranters, +Quakers, French prophets, till he came down to a family of Dutartes, +who lived not many years ago in South Carolina, and were guilty of +the most notorious incests and murders." + +The next day Whitefield again preached twice; and on Tuesday +appeared before the commissary, according to his citation. This is +said to have been the first court of the kind ever attempted to be +held in any of the colonies. It consisted of the reverend commissary +A. Garden, and the Rev. Messrs. Guy, Mellichamp, Roe, and Orr, who, +as well as Whitefield himself, and his able advocate, Mr. Andrew +Rutledge, respectively showed their want of familiarity with such +business, and, after a series of blunders on both sides, the court +adjourned to nine o'clock the next morning, to afford Whitefield +time to ascertain the extent of the jurisdiction of the bishop and +his commissary. How little, however, he studied the subject may be +inferred from the fact, that he preached twice during the remainder +of the day. The next day, a Mr. Graham appeared as a prosecuting +attorney, and Mr. Rutledge as counsel for the respondent. Whitefield +made some mistakes, but hints from his quick-sighted advocate and +his own adroitness saved him from their consequences; though he +contrived to give the court a lecture on the meanness of catching at +a word as soon as it was out of his lips, without allowing him time +to correct it. He now filed his objection against being judged by +the commissary, who, he alleged, was prejudiced against him. This +gave rise to new questions: the court adjourned; and the evangelist +went to James' island, read prayers, and preached. The next day +he again appeared in court, and found that his exceptions were +repelled, and that the arbitrators he had asked for would not be +appointed. He now appealed to the high Court of Chancery in London, +declaring all further proceedings in this court to be null and +void. He then retired and read letters which refreshed his spirit, +by informing him how "mightily grew the word of God and prevailed" +at Philadelphia; and that Mr. Bolton, in Georgia, had nearly fifty +negroes learning to read. On the 18th he preached twice, and on the +19th again appeared before the commissary, and bound himself, in +a penalty of ten pounds, to prosecute his appeal in London within +twelve months. The appeal was never tried, as the ecclesiastical +authorities allowed it to die of neglect. + +"The court being ended," says Whitefield, in his journal, "the +commissary desired to speak with me. I asked him to my lodgings. He +chose to walk on a green near the church. His spirit was somewhat +calmer than usual; but after an hour's conversation, we were as far +from agreeing as before." "All his discourse was so inconsistent and +contrary to the gospel of our Lord, that I was obliged to tell him +that I believed him to be an unconverted man, an enemy to God, and +of a like spirit with the persecutor Saul. At this he smiled; and, +after we had talked a long while, we parted, and God gave me great +satisfaction that I had delivered my soul in my private conversation +with the commissary." + +The next day, July 20, was the Sabbath. The commissary preached in +his usual style, and Whitefield preached his farewell sermon to +the people of Charleston. By his recommendation two or three of +the dissenting ministers had instituted a weekly lecture; and the +evangelist "advised the people, as the gospel was not preached in +church, to go and hear it in the meeting-house." On leaving the +city, he summed up, in his journal, the results of his labors in +this manner: + +"What makes the change more remarkable in the Charleston people +is, that they seemed to me, at my first coming, to be a people +wholly devoted to pleasure. One well acquainted with their +manners and circumstances, told me more had been spent on polite +entertainments, than the poor's-rate came to; but now the jewellers +and dancing-masters begin to cry out that their craft is in danger. +A vast alteration is discernible in the ladies' dresses. And some, +while I have been speaking, have been so convinced of the sin of +wearing jewels, that I have seen them with blushes put their hands +to their ears, and cover them with their fans. But I hope the +reformation has gone farther than externals. Many moral, good sort +of men, who before were settled on their lees, have been gloriously +awakened to seek after Jesus Christ; and many a Lydia's heart hath +been opened to receive the things that were spoken. Indeed, the word +came like a hammer and a fire. And a door, I believe, will be opened +for teaching the poor negroes. Several of them have done their usual +work in less time, that they might come to hear me. Many of their +owners, who have been awakened, resolved to teach them Christianity. +Had I time, and proper schoolmasters, I might immediately erect a +negro school in South Carolina, as well as in Pennsylvania. Many +would willingly contribute both money and land." + +The Baptist church in Charleston at this time was nearly extinct, +being reduced to five or six communicants, but Whitefield's success +greatly increased their number, and it thus gained strength which +it has never lost. It is also gratefully mentioned even now by the +church of that denomination at Eutaw, that Whitefield during this +visit to South Carolina preached the dedication-sermon of their +house of worship. + +Whitefield left Charleston on July 21, visiting and preaching on his +way homeward, which he reached towards the close of the same week. +He preached on the Sabbath in extreme weakness of body, but "with +the Holy Ghost from above," and several were hopefully converted to +God. On the 18th of August, he again left Savannah for Charleston, +where he was able, for want of bodily strength, to preach but once a +day, but he thought that his sermons were attended with more power +and success than ever before. In a few days after, having preached a +farewell sermon to four thousand hearers, he sailed for New England, +where he had been very cordially invited by leading ministers and +others in Boston and many other places. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WHITEFIELD'S FIRST VISIT TO NEW ENGLAND. + +SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER, 1740. + + +The religious state of New England in the early part of the +eighteenth century, was little better than the description we +have already given of the state of Great Britain and its other +dependencies at that period. Dr. Prince tells us, that the first age +of New England was one of an almost continual revival. Preaching was +attended with so much power in some places, "that it was a common +inquiry, by such members of a family as were detained at home on a +Sabbath, whether any had been visibly awakened in the house of God +that day." And he adds, "Few Sabbaths did pass without some being +evidently converted, and some convincing proof of the power of God +accompanying his word." + +Dr. Increase Mather, writing towards the close of the seventeenth +century, while he confirms the statements we have already given, +bears farther testimony which is of a very painful character. +He says, "Prayer is necessary on this account, that conversions +have become rare in this age of the world. They that have their +thoughts exercised in discerning things of this nature, have sad +apprehensions that the work of conversion has come to a stand. +During the last age scarcely a sermon was preached without some +being apparently converted, and sometimes hundreds were converted +by one sermon. Who of us now can say that we have seen any thing +such as this? Clear, sound conversions are not frequent in our +congregations; the great bulk of the present generation are +apparently poor, perishing, and if the Lord prevent not, undone; +many are profane, drunkards, lascivious, scoffers at the power of +godliness, and disobedient; others are civil and outwardly conformed +to good order, because so educated, but without knowing aught of +a real change of heart." The same estimable writer says, in 1721, +"I am now in my eighty-third year, and having had an opportunity +of conversing with the first planters of this country, and having +been for _sixty-five_ years a preacher of the gospel, I feel as did +the ancient men who had seen the former temple, and who wept aloud +as they saw the latter. The children of New England are, or once +were, for the most part, the children of godly parents. What did our +fathers come into this wilderness for? Not to gain estates as men +do now, but for religion, and that they might have their children +in a hopeful way of being truly religious. There was a famous man +who preached before one of the greatest assemblies that ever was +addressed; it was about seventy years ago; and he said to them, 'I +lived in a country seven years, and all that time I never heard a +profane oath, or saw a man drunk.' And where was that country? It +was New England. Ah, degenerate New England! What art thou come to +at this day? How are those sins become common that were once not +even heard of!" + +Passing over, for the present, indications of a revival of religion, +which had appeared in other parts of the country, we speak now +only of New England. In 1734, a very extraordinary work of grace +appeared at Northampton, Massachusetts, under the ministry of the +distinguished Jonathan Edwards, the elder, the history of which is +given in his admirable "Narrative of the surprising Work of God" at +that period, in Northampton and the vicinity. + +It is important to remark here, that the preaching which led to such +delightful results was of the most faithful and pungent character. +We will give one instance, as illustrative of many, as will be +distinctly seen by those who have read EDWARDS' sermon, "_Sinners +in the hands of an angry God_," or his "_Justice of God in the +damnation of Sinners_." Perhaps, however, no sermon in New England +has ever acquired greater celebrity, or accomplished more good, than +the one preached by President Edwards at Enfield, July 8, 1741, from +the words, "Their feet shall slide in due time." Deut. 32:35. "When +they went into the meeting-house, the appearance of the assembly was +thoughtless and vain; the people scarcely conducted themselves with +common decency." But as the sermon proceeded, the audience became +so overwhelmed with distress and weeping, that the preacher was +"obliged to speak to the people and desire silence, that he might +be heard." The excitement soon became intense; and it is said that +a minister who sat in the pulpit with Mr. Edwards, in the agitation +of his feelings, caught the preacher by the skirt of his dress, and +said, "Mr. Edwards, Mr. Edwards, is not God a God of mercy?" Many of +the hearers were seen unconsciously holding themselves up against +the pillars, and the sides of the pews, as though they already felt +themselves sliding into the pit. This fact has often been mentioned +as a proof of the strong and scriptural character of President +Edwards' peculiar eloquence--the eloquence of truth as attended by +influence from heaven; for his sermons were read, without gestures. + +But there was another element which must be taken into account when +we look at the result of this sermon, as well as others delivered in +like circumstances, and one which we fear has been often overlooked. +"While the people of the neighboring towns were in great distress +about their souls, the inhabitants of Enfield were very secure, +loose, and vain. A lecture had been appointed there, and the +neighboring people were so affected at the thoughtlessness of the +inhabitants, and had so much fear that God would, in his righteous +judgment, pass them by, that many of them were prostrate before +him a considerable part of the previous evening, supplicating the +mercy of heaven in their behalf. And when the time appointed for the +lecture came, a number of the surrounding ministers were present, +as well as some from a distance"--a proof of the prayerful interest +felt on behalf of the town. In all this we see much of the secret +of the powerful impression produced by that sermon, and are taught +that in seasons when God seems about to pour out his Spirit on a +community, Christians should be found "continuing instant in prayer." + +In this more hopeful state of things than had long before existed +in New England, Whitefield, who was now the second time in America, +was most urgently entreated to visit the descendants of the Pilgrim +fathers. He complied with the request, and arrived at Newport on +the evening of the Sabbath, September 14, 1740. We furnish an +account, written chiefly by himself, in his journal, published in +London, 1741, a copy of which may be found in the library of Harvard +University, to which we have had a kind access, and which is rich in +what we may term _Whitefieldian lore_. He writes, + +"Was sick part of the passage, but found afterwards the sea-air, +under God, much improved my health. Arrived at Newport, in Rhode +Island, just after the beginning of evening service. We came +purposely thither first with our sloop. I think it the most pleasant +entrance I ever yet saw. Almost all the morning the wind was +contrary; but I found a very strong inclination to pray that we +might arrive time enough to be present at public worship. Once I +called the people; but something prevented their coming. At last, +finding my impression increase upon me, I desired their attendance +immediately. They came. With a strong assurance that we should be +heard, we prayed that the Lord would turn the wind, that we might +give him thanks in the great congregation; and also that he would +send such to us as he would have us to converse with, and who might +show us a lodging. Though the wind was ahead when we began, when we +had done praying, and came up out of the cabin, it was quite fair. + +"With a gentle gale we sailed most pleasantly into the harbor; got +into public worship before they had finished the psalms; and sat, as +I thought, undiscovered. After service was over, a gentleman asked +me whether my name was not Whitefield. I told him 'yes;' he then +desired me to go to his house, and he would take care to provide +lodgings and necessaries for me and my friends. I went, silently +admiring God's goodness in answering my prayer so minutely. Several +gentlemen of the town soon came to pay their respects to me, among +whom was one Mr. Clap, an aged dissenting minister, but the most +venerable man I ever saw. He looked like a good old Puritan, and +gave me an idea of what stamp those men were who first settled New +England. His countenance was very heavenly; he rejoiced much in +spirit at the sight of me, and prayed most affectionately for a +blessing on my coming to Rhode Island." + +In the evening, in company with Mr. Clap and other friends, +Whitefield visited Mr. Honeyman, the minister of the church of +England, and requested the use of his pulpit. "At first he seemed +a little unwilling, being desirous to know 'what extraordinary +call I had to preach on week-days,' which he said was disorderly. +I answered, 'St. Paul exhorted Timothy to 'be instant in season +and out of season;' that if the orders of the church were rightly +complied with, our ministers should read public prayers twice every +day, and then it would not be disorderly at such times to give them +a sermon. As to an extraordinary call, I claimed none otherwise than +upon the apostle's injunction, 'As we have opportunity, let us do +good unto all men.' He still held out, and did not give any positive +answer; but at last, after he had withdrawn and consulted with the +gentlemen, he said, 'If my preaching would promote the glory of +God, and the good of souls, I was welcome to his church as often +as I would, during my stay in town.' We then agreed to make use of +it at ten in the morning, and three in the afternoon. After this, +I went to wait on the governor, who seemed to be a very plain man, +and had a very plain house, which much pleased me. By profession, +I think he is a Seventh-day Baptist; he is a man of good report +as to his conduct and dealing with the world." As might have been +expected, the evening was spent in exposition and prayer, with a +crowded company, in the house of his friend Bowers, the gentleman +who first addressed him when coming out of church. + +On Monday morning, he breakfasted with "old Mr. Clap, and was much +edified by his conversation." Of this venerable servant of Christ +he says, "I could not but think, while at his table, that I was +sitting with one of the patriarchs. He is full of days, a bachelor, +and has been minister of a congregation in Rhode Island upwards of +forty years. People of all denominations, I find, respect him. He +abounds in good works; gives all away, and is wonderfully tender of +little children; many of different persuasions come to be instructed +by him. Whenever he dies, I am persuaded, with good old Simeon, he +will be enabled to say, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart +in peace.'" Whitefield preached, according to appointment, morning +and afternoon, "in the church. It is very commodious, and I believe +will contain three thousand people. It was more than filled in the +afternoon. Persons of all denominations attended. God assisted me +much. I observed numbers affected, and had great reason to believe +the word of the Lord had been 'sharper than a twoedged sword,' in +some of the hearers' souls." + +On the evening of the same day he received the following note: + + REVEREND SIR AND BELOVED BROTHER--Although mine eyes never saw + your face before this day, yet my heart and soul have been + united to you in love, by the bond of the Spirit. I have longed + and expected to see you for many months past. Blessed be God, + mine eyes have seen the joyful day. I trust, through grace, I + have some things to communicate to you that will make your heart + glad. I shall omit writing any thing, and only hereby present + my hearty love, and let you know that I am waiting now at the + post of your door for admission. Though I am unworthy, my Lord + is worthy, in whose name, I trust, I come. I am your unworthy + brother, + + "JONATHAN BARBER." + +"On reading it," says Whitefield, "I could not but think this was +one of those young ministers whom God had lately made use of in such +a remarkable manner, at the east end of Long Island. I sent for him, +and found he was the man. My heart rejoiced. We walked out, and took +sweet counsel together; and among other things, he told me that he +came to Rhode Island under a full conviction that he should see me +there, and had been waiting for me about a week.... What rendered +this more remarkable was, I had no intention of sailing to Rhode +Island till about three days before I left Carolina; and I had a +great desire to put in, if I could, at the east end of Long Island, +to see this very person, whom the great God now brought unto me. +Lord, accept our thanks, sanctify our meeting, and teach us both +what we shall do for thine own name's sake. In the evening I went +to the venerable Mr. Clap's, and exhorted and prayed with a great +multitude, who not only crowded into the house, but thronged every +way about it. The dear old man rejoiced to see the things which +he saw; and after my exhortation was over, dismissed me with his +blessing." + +Tuesday, we scarcely need remark, was spent by Whitefield in the +work of his great Master. He preached to a vast congregation, +including the members of the House of Assembly, who adjourned to +attend the service; and he had very delightful evidence that his +labors had already been useful. On Wednesday he left Newport, and +about noon preached at Bristol, at the request of the court, which +was then in session, and slept that night at a hotel on the road to +Boston. On Thursday morning he set out early, and as he passed on +with his friends, he says, "Found that the people were apprized of +my coming, and were solicitous for my preaching; but being resolved +under God, if possible, to reach Boston, we travelled on for near +fifty miles, and came to Boston about eight in the evening. When +we were within four miles of the city, the governor's son, several +other gentlemen, and one or two ministers, waited at a gentleman's +house to give me the meeting. They received me with great gladness, +and told me many more would have come, had not a large funeral +been in the town, or if there had been more certain notice of my +arriving. This rejoiced me; for I think I can stand any thing +better than this. It savors too much of human grandeur. But I must +be tried every way; the Lord be my helper. After stopping a while, +we went together to Boston, to the house of one Mr. Sandiford, +brother-in-law to the Rev. Dr. Colman, who long since had sent me an +invitation.... My heart was but low, and my body weak; but, at the +request of one of the ministers, I gave thanks to our gracious God +for bringing me in safety, and prayed that my coming might be in the +fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace." + +He slept well that night, and the next morning, he says, "I +perceived fresh emanations of divine light break in upon and refresh +my soul." He was visited by several gentlemen, including Josiah +Willard, Esq., the secretary of the province, a man who feared God, +and with whom Whitefield had for some time been in correspondence. +The governor, Belcher, received him with the utmost respect, and +requested frequent visits. He attended public worship at the church +of England, and waited on the commissary home, who received him +very courteously. As it was a day on which the clergy of that body +had a meeting, he came into the company of five of them assembled +together. They soon attacked him "for calling _that Tennent_ and +his brethren faithful ministers of Christ." He answered, that he +believed they were so. They questioned the validity of Presbyterian +ordination, and quoted from his journal his own words against him. +He replied, that perhaps his sentiments were altered. They then +went into a doctrinal discussion, which continued till Whitefield, +finding how inconsistent they were, took his leave, resolving that +they should not have the opportunity of denying him their pulpits. +However, they treated him, on the whole, with more courtesy than he +had lately been accustomed to receive from the ministers of his own +church. + +In the afternoon of the same day, he preached to a vast congregation +in the Rev. Dr. Colman's meeting-house, in Brattle-street, and in +the evening exhorted and prayed with such as came to his lodgings. +On Saturday, in the forenoon, he discoursed to a crowded audience at +the Old South church, where Dr. Sewall was pastor, the only church +edifice in Boston with which Whitefield was connected which is still +standing as it then was. In the afternoon he preached on the Common +to about eight thousand persons, and, at night to a thronged company +at his own lodgings. + +On the morning of the next day, which was the Sabbath, he heard +Dr. Colman preach; in the afternoon, he preached at Mr. Foxcroft's +meeting-house to a vast auditory. This gentleman was the senior +pastor of the First church, meeting in Chauncy-place, and the +Rev. Charles Chauncy was his colleague. The church edifice was in +Cornhill-square, not far from the old state-house, and was usually +called the "Old Brick meeting." As this house was by far too small +to contain his auditory, he almost immediately afterwards preached +on the Common, to about fifteen thousand hearers; and again at night +at his lodgings. He says, "Some afterwards came into my room. I felt +much of the divine presence in my own soul, and though hoarse was +enabled to speak with much power, and could have spoke, I believe, +till midnight." + +On Monday morning, Whitefield preached at Mr. Webb's meeting-house, +the "New North," on the corner of Clark and Hanover streets. "The +presence of the Lord," he says, "was among us. Look where I would +around me, visible impressions were made upon the auditory. Most +wept for a considerable time." In the afternoon he meant to have +preached at Mr. Cheekley's, in Summer-street, but was prevented +by an accident. Just before the time for the commencement of the +service, a person broke a board in one of the galleries, of which +to make a seat; the noise alarmed some who heard it, and they +imprudently cried out that the galleries were giving way. The +house being much crowded, the whole congregation were thrown into +the utmost alarm and disorder; some jumped from the gallery into +the seats below, others fell from the windows, and those below +pressing to get out of the porch, were many of them thrown over each +other and trodden upon. Many, as might be expected, were seriously +bruised; others had bones broken; and within two days five persons +died from the injuries they had received. Mr. Whitefield's presence +of mind did not fail him; he immediately led the anxious throng to +the Common, and preached to them from the text, "Go ye out into the +highways and hedges, and compel them to come in." He says, "The +weather was wet, but above eight thousand followed into the fields." + +On Tuesday morning, Whitefield visited Mr. Walter, at Roxbury. This +gentleman had been the colleague, and was now the successor of John +Eliot, "the apostle of the Indians." These two men had been pastors +of that church one hundred and six years. Whitefield was much +pleased with Walter, who, in return, was glad to hear that he, like +old Bishop Beveridge, called man "half a devil and half a beast." He +preached that forenoon at Mr. Gee's meeting-house, the "Old North," +of which church the celebrated Dr. Cotton Mather had formerly been +pastor. The house stood in the North square, and was taken down by +the British army and burned for fuel at the siege of Boston, in +1776. The auditory Whitefield preached to that morning was not very +crowded, as the people were in doubt where he would preach. After +dining with the secretary of the province, he says, "I preached +in the afternoon at Dr. Sewall's to a thronged congregation, and +exhorted and prayed as usual at my own lodgings; at neither place +without some manifestations of a divine power accompanying the word." + +Wednesday was not lost. Whitefield himself shall describe its +proceedings. "Went this morning to see and preach at Cambridge, the +chief college for training up the sons of the prophets in all New +England. It has one president, I think four tutors, and about a +hundred students. It is scarce as big as one of our least colleges +in Oxford, and as far as I could gather from some who well knew the +state of it, not far superior to our universities in piety and true +godliness. Tutors neglect to pray with, and examine the hearts of +their pupils. Discipline is at too low an ebb. Bad books are become +fashionable. Tillotson and Clarke are read instead of Sheppard, +Stoddard, and such like evangelical writers; and therefore I chose +to preach on these words: 'We are not as many, who corrupt the +word of God;' and in the conclusion of my sermon I made a close +application to tutors and students. A great number of neighboring +ministers attended, as indeed they do at all other times, and God +gave me great boldness and freedom of speech. The president of the +college and minister of the parish treated me very civilly. In the +afternoon I preached again in the court, without any particular +application to the students. I believe there were about seven +thousand hearers. The Holy Spirit melted many hearts. The word was +attended with a manifest power; and a minister soon after wrote me +word, that 'he believed one of his daughters was savingly wrought +upon at that time.' Paid my respects to the lieutenant-governor, +who lives at Cambridge, and returned in the evening to Boston, and +prayed with and exhorted many people who were waiting round the door +for a spiritual morsel. I believe our Lord did not send them empty +away." + +An elm under which Whitefield preached in Cambridge became +distinguished; it being under its shade that Washington, thirty-one +years after, first drew his sword in the cause of the Revolution, +on taking the command of the American army. From this circumstance, +it has been called the "Washington elm." The last time the late +distinguished Dr. Holyoke, of Salem, Mass., was in Cambridge, then +nearly a hundred years old, while passing this tree with a friend, +he said that he heard Whitefield's sermon, being at the time a +student in college. + +On Thursday he preached the weekly lecture at Mr. Foxcroft's, the +First church. But he says, "I was so oppressed with a sense of my +base ingratitude to my dearest Saviour, that Satan would fain have +tempted me to hold my tongue, and not invite poor sinners to Jesus +Christ, because I was so great a sinner myself. But God enabled +me to withstand the temptation, and since Jesus Christ had shown +such mercy to, and had not withdrawn his Holy Spirit from me, the +chief of sinners, I was enabled more feelingly to talk of his love; +and afterwards found that one stranger, in particular, was in all +probability effectually convinced by that morning's sermon. After +public worship, I went, at his excellency's invitation, and dined +with the governor. Most of the ministers of the town were invited +with me. Before dinner, the governor sent for me up into his +chamber. He wept, wished me 'good luck in the name of the Lord,' +and recommended himself, ministers, and people to my prayers. +Immediately after dinner, I prayed explicitly for them all, and +went in his coach to the end of the town; but had such a sense of +my vileness upon my soul, that I wondered people did not stone me. +Crossed a ferry, and preached at Charlestown, a town lying on the +north side of Boston. The meeting-house was very capacious, and +quite filled. A gracious melting was discernible through the whole +congregation, and I perceived much freedom and sweetness in my own +soul, though the damp I felt in the morning was not quite gone off. +In the evening I exhorted and prayed as usual at my lodgings; and +blessed be God, I found a great alteration in my hearers. They now +began to melt and weep under the word." + +On Friday, the following day, he preached in the morning at Roxbury, +from a little ascent, to many thousands of people, with much of the +divine presence. Several came to him afterwards, telling him how +they were struck with the word. Having dined with Judge Dudley, he +preached to a still larger congregation from a scaffold erected +outside Mr. Byles' meeting-house in Hollis-street. Wrote to several +friends in England; gave a short exhortation to a large crowd of +hearers; and then spent the evening with several ministers in +edifying conversation, singing, and prayer. + +Saturday, he preached in the morning at Mr. Welsteed's +meeting-house, and in the afternoon to about fifteen thousand +people on the Common. "But Oh, how did the word run! It rejoiced +me to see such numbers greatly affected, so that some, I believe, +could scarcely abstain from crying out. That place was no other +than a Bethel, and a gate of heaven." After he had gone home to his +lodgings he says, "The power and presence of the Lord accompanied +and followed me. Many now wept bitterly, and cried out under the +word like persons that were really hungering and thirsting after +righteousness; and after I left them, God gave me to wrestle with +him in my chamber, in behalf of some dear friends then present, +and others that were absent from us. The Spirit of the Lord was +upon them all. It made intercession with groanings that cannot be +uttered." + +On the day following, being the Sabbath, in the morning he preached +at the Old South church, Dr. Sewall's, to a very crowded auditory, +"with almost as much power and visible appearance of God as +yesterday. Collected £555 currency for my little lambs; was taken +very ill after dinner; vomited violently, but was enabled to preach +at Dr. Colman's in the afternoon to as great, if not a greater +congregation than in the morning. Here also £470 were collected for +the orphan-house in Georgia. In both places all things were carried +on with decency and order. People went slowly out, as though they +had not a mind to escape giving; and Dr. Colman said 'it was the +most pleasant time he ever enjoyed in that meeting-house through the +whole course of his life.' Blessed be God, after sermon I perceived +myself somewhat refreshed. Supped very early. Had the honor of a +private visit from the governor, who came full of affection to +take his leave of me for the present. Went, at their request, and +preached to a great company of negroes, on the conversion of the +Ethiopian, Acts the eighth; at which the poor creatures, as well as +many white people, were much affected; and at my return, gave an +exhortation to a crowd of people who were waiting at my lodgings. My +animal spirits were almost exhausted, and my legs, through expense +of sweating and vomiting, almost ready to sink under me; but the +Lord visited my soul, and I went to bed greatly refreshed with +divine consolations." Even at this early period such sufferings of +his bodily system frequently followed his herculean labors. + +Early on Monday morning, Sept. 29, Whitefield left Boston on an +excursion to the eastward. At Marblehead, he "preached to some +thousands in a broad place in the middle of the town, but not with +much apparent effect." At Salem, he "preached to about seven +thousand people. Here the Lord manifested forth his glory. One man +was, I believe, struck down by the power of the word. In every part +of the congregation, persons might be seen under great concern." He +went on to Ipswich, where he was kindly "entertained at the house +of Mr. Rogers, one of the ministers of the place." Of this family +our evangelist was soon to know more than he had hitherto done. At +about this period, John Rogers, aged 77, and Nathanael Rogers, were +joint pastors of the First church at Ipswich; both of them were +ardent promoters of the revival, as was also Daniel Rogers, of the +same family. Whitefield learned with deep interest that his host +was a descendant of the celebrated martyr, John Rogers. The next +day he preached there to some thousands. "The Lord," says he, "gave +me freedom, and there was a great melting in the congregation." At +Newbury, in the afternoon, the Lord accompanied the word with power. +The meeting-house was very large, many ministers were present, and +the people were greatly affected. Blessed be God, his divine power +attends us more and more." Wednesday, he preached at Hampton, in +the open air, to some thousands. He was here very highly gratified +with the conversation of Mr. Colton, the minister, and with the +Christian simplicity of his excellent wife. The high wind prevented +his being heard so well as he usually was, and he did not enjoy his +accustomed freedom; still, "some, though not many, were affected." +At Portsmouth, he "preached to a polite auditory, but so very +unconcerned, that I began to question whether I had been speaking +to rational or brute creatures. Seeing no immediate effects of +the word preached, I was a little dejected; but God, to comfort my +heart, sent one young man, crying out in great anguish of spirit, +'What shall I do to be saved?'" + +From Portsmouth, our evangelist proceeded to York, in Maine, "to +see one Mr. Moody, a worthy, plain, and powerful minister of Jesus +Christ, though now much impaired by old age. He has lived by faith +for many years, would have no settled salary, and has been much +despised by bad men, and as much respected by the true lovers of +the blessed Jesus." The next morning he was much comforted to hear, +from Mr. Moody, that he would preach that morning to a hundred new +creatures; "and indeed," says he, "I believe I did; for when I came +to preach, I could speak little or no terror, but most consolation." +He preached morning and evening. "The hearers looked plain and +simple, and the tears trickled apace down most of their cheeks." He +returned to Portsmouth that night, and the next morning preached to +a far greater congregation, and with much better effect than before. +"Instead of preaching to dead stocks, I now had reason to believe I +was preaching to living men. People began to melt soon after I began +to pray; and the power increased more and more during the whole +sermon." This was still more clearly evinced after Mr. Whitefield's +departure from the town. + +Returning to Boston, through Salem, Marblehead, and Malden, in each +of which places he preached, and being now in improved health, he +preached, October 7, both morning and evening, "with much power," +at Brattle-street. There had been for several days a report in +circulation, that he had died suddenly, or was poisoned, and the +people greatly rejoiced again to see him alive. At Mr. Webb's, the +New North church, on the following Wednesday, he thought there was +more of the presence of God through the whole ministration, than +he had before, known at one time in the course of his life. He +went there with the governor, in his coach, and preached morning +and evening. "Jesus Christ manifested forth his glory; many hearts +melted within them; and I think I was never drawn out to pray for +and invite little children to Jesus Christ, as I was this morning. A +little before, I had heard of a child who was taken sick just after +it had heard me preach, and said he would go to Mr. Whitefield's +God, and died in a short time. This encouraged me to speak to the +little ones. But O, how were the old people affected when I said, +'Little children, if your parents will not come to Christ, do you +come, and go to heaven without them.' There seemed to be but few +dry eyes, look where I would. I have not seen a greater commotion +since my preaching at Boston. Glory be to God, who has not forgotten +to be gracious." He collected, after this sermon, £440 for his +orphan-house, which was now more generally supported than ever +before. + +The interesting fact we have just related of the impression produced +on the mind of a little child by the preaching of Mr. Whitefield, +may afford the opportunity to introduce one or two other facts +bearing on the same general topic, and suggesting some practical +lessons. + +Whitefield could indeed descend to talk with children. Here is +a specimen which at once impresses us with a lively idea of his +spirit, and of the adaptation of the religion of Jesus to the young +as well as the old. A little girl seven years of age, when on her +death-bed, desired an interview with him; he came, and thus they +conversed: + +WHITEFIELD. For what purpose, my dear child, have you sent for me? + +GIRL. I think I am dying, and I wished very much to see you. + +WHITEFIELD. What can I do for you? + +GIRL. You can tell me about Christ, and pray for me. + +WHITEFIELD. My dear girl, what do you know about Christ? + +GIRL. I know he is the Saviour of the world. + +WHITEFIELD. My dear child, he is so. + +GIRL. I hope he will be _my_ Saviour also. + +WHITEFIELD. I hope, my dear, that this is the language of faith out +of the mouth of a babe; but tell me what ground you have for saying +this? + +GIRL. Oh, sir, he bids little children, such as I, to come unto him, +and says, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven;" and besides, I love +Christ, and am always glad when I think of him. + +WHITEFIELD. My dear child, you make my very heart to rejoice; but +are you not a sinner? + +GIRL. Yes, I am a sinner, but my blessed Redeemer takes away sin, +and I long to be with him. + +WHITEFIELD. My dear girl, I trust that the desire of your heart will +be granted; but where do you think you will find your Redeemer? + +GIRL. O, sir, I think I shall find him in heaven. + +WHITEFIELD. Do you think you will get to heaven? + +GIRL. Yes, I do. + +WHITEFIELD. But what if you do not find Christ there? + +GIRL. If I do not find Christ there, I am sure it is not heaven; for +where he dwells must be heaven, for there also dwells God, and holy +angels, and all that Christ saves. + +Who can tell the results of a single sermon, or trace the +consequences of one conversion? When Mr. Whitefield was preaching +in New England, a lady became the subject of divine grace, and her +spirit was peculiarly drawn out in prayer for others. But in her +Christian exercises she was alone; she could persuade no one to pray +with her but her little daughter, about ten years of age. She took +this dear child into her closet from day to day, as a witness of her +cries and tears. After a time, it pleased God to touch the heart of +the child, and to give her the hope of salvation by the remission +of sin. In a transport of holy joy she then exclaimed, "O, mother, +if all the world knew this! I wish I could tell every body. Pray, +mother, let me run to some of the neighbors and tell them, that they +may be happy and love my Saviour too." "Ah, my dear child," said the +mother, "that would be useless, for I suppose that were you to tell +your experience, there is not one within many miles who would not +laugh at you, and say it was all delusion." "Oh, mother," replied +the dear girl, "I think they would believe me. I must go over to +the shoemaker and tell him; he will believe me." She ran over, and +found him at work in his shop. She began by telling him that he must +die, and that he was a sinner, and that she was a sinner, but that +her blessed Saviour had heard her mother's prayers, and had forgiven +all her sins; and that now she was so happy that she did not know +how to tell it. The shoemaker was struck with surprise, his tears +flowed down like rain; he threw aside his work, and by prayer and +supplication sought for mercy. The neighborhood were awakened, and +within a few months more than fifty persons were brought to the +knowledge of Jesus, and rejoiced in his power and grace. + +But to return to our narrative of Whitefield's labors in Boston. On +Thursday, October 9, he preached the public lecture at the Old South +church. He had selected another text, but it was much impressed on +his heart that he should preach from our Lord's conference with +Nicodemus. A large number of ministers were present, and when he +came to the words, "Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not +these things?" he says, "The Lord enabled me to open my mouth boldly +against unconverted ministers, to caution tutors to take care of +their pupils, and also to advise ministers particularly to examine +into the experiences of candidates for ordination. For I am verily +persuaded the generality of preachers talk of an unknown and unfelt +Christ; and the reason why congregations have been so dead is, +because they have had dead men preaching to them. O that the Lord +may quicken and revive them, for his own name's sake. For how can +dead men beget living children? It is true, indeed, God may convert +men by the devil, if he pleases, and so he may by unconverted +ministers; but I believe he seldom makes use of either of them for +this purpose. No; the Lord will choose vessels made meet by the +operations of the blessed Spirit for his sacred use: and as for +my own part, I would not lay hands on an unconverted man for ten +thousand worlds. Unspeakable freedom God gave me while treating on +this head. After sermon, I dined with the governor, who seemed more +kindly affected than ever, and particularly told me, of the minister +who has lately begun to preach extempore, that 'he was glad he had +found out a way to save his eyes.' In the afternoon I preached on +the Common to about fifteen thousand people, and collected upwards +of two hundred pounds for the orphan-house. Just as I had finished +my sermon, a ticket was put up to me, wherein I was desired to pray +for a person just entered upon the ministry, but under apprehension +that he was not converted. God enabled me to pray for him with my +whole heart; and I hope that ticket may teach many others not to +run before they can give an account of their conversion. If they +do, they offer to God strange fire." The same day and evening, +Whitefield attended the funeral of one of the provincial council, +preached at the almshouse, exhorted a great number of persons at +the workhouse, who followed him there, and conversed with many who +waited at his lodgings for spiritual advice. From the time of his +return from the east, he had been thronged, morning and evening, +with anxious inquirers. His friends cried, "Spare thyself;" but he +says, "I went and ate bread very comfortably at a friend's house, +where I was invited, and soon after retired to my rest. Oh, how +comfortable is sleep after working for Jesus." + +On Friday he preached at Charlestown and at Reading to many +thousands, and on Saturday from the meeting-house door at Cambridge, +on Noah as a preacher of righteousness; a great number of persons +were present, who stood very attentively during a shower of rain, +and were at the latter part of the sermon much affected. On the same +afternoon he returned to Boston, and again preached, and was engaged +till midnight, chiefly in conversation and prayer with persons +anxious for their salvation. + +Sunday, October 12, he rose with body and soul greatly refreshed, +and spent its early hours in conversing with those who came for +spiritual counsel. He then "preached with great power and affection" +at the Old South church, which was so exceedingly thronged, that +he was obliged to get in at one of the windows. He dined with the +governor, who came to him after dinner weeping, and desired his +prayers. He heard Dr. Sewall in the afternoon. Both during the +exercises and after them he was sick, but went with the governor in +his coach, and preached his farewell sermon on the Common, Gillies +says, to twenty thousand, and Tracy to nearly thirty thousand +people, though the whole population of Boston did not at that time +exceed twenty thousand. Great multitudes were melted into tears when +he spoke of leaving them. The governor then went with him to his +lodgings. He stood in the passage and spoke to a great company, both +within and without the doors; but they were so deeply affected, and +cried out so loud, that he was compelled to leave off praying. The +remaining part of the evening was chiefly spent in conversation with +inquirers. + +In closing his account of this day's work, he exclaims, "Blessed be +God for what things he has done in Boston! I hope a glorious work is +now begun, and that the Lord will stir up some faithful laborers to +carry it on. Boston is a large, populous place, very wealthy. Has +the form kept up, but has lost much of the power of religion. I have +not heard of any remarkable stir for these many years. Ministers +and people are obliged to confess, that the love of many is waxed +cold. Both, for the generality, seem to be too much conformed +to the world. There is much of the pride of life to be seen in +their assemblies. Jewels, patches, and gay apparel are commonly +worn by the female sex; and even the common people, I observed +dressed up in the pride of life. There are nine meeting-houses of +the Congregational persuasion, one Baptist, one French, and one +belonging to the Scotch-Irish. One thing Boston is very remarkable +for--the external observance of the Sabbath. Men in civil offices +have a regard for religion. The governor encourages them, and the +ministers and magistrates are more united than in any other place +where I have been. Both were exceedingly civil to me during my stay. +I never saw so little scoffing, never had so little opposition. +But one might easily see much would hereafter arise, when I came +to be more particular in my application to particular persons; for +I fear many rest in a head-knowledge, are close pharisees, and +have only a name to live. It must needs be so when the power of +godliness is dwindled away, and where the form only of religion +is become fashionable among people. Boston people are dear to my +soul. They were greatly affected by the word, followed me night +and day, and were very liberal to my dear orphans. I promised, God +willing, to visit them again, and intend to fulfil my promise when +it shall please God to bring me again from my native country. In the +meanwhile, dear Boston, adieu. The Lord be with thy ministers and +people, and grant that the remnant which is still left according +to the election of grace, may take root downwards, and bear fruit +upwards, and fill the land." + +On the morning following these solemn services, Whitefield left +Boston on his way to Northampton. To detail his four days' progress, +would be almost to repeat what we have already written. At Concord, +where he arrived on Monday about noon, he preached twice to some +thousands in the open air, "and a comfortable preaching it was. The +hearers were sweetly melted down." Mr. Bliss, the minister of the +town, of whose subsequent labors it has been well said, more perfect +accounts ought to have been preserved, wept abundantly. On Tuesday +he "preached at Sudbury to some thousands with power, and observed +a considerable commotion in the assembly;" as was also the case the +same afternoon at Marlborough. At the latter place he was met by +Governor Belcher, who went with him through the rain that night to +Worcester. Here, on Wednesday, he "preached in the open air to some +thousands. The word fell with weight indeed. It carried all before +it. After sermon, the governor said to me, 'I pray God I may apply +what has been said to my own heart. Pray, Mr. Whitefield, that I may +hunger and thirst after righteousness.'" Passing on, he preached +at Leicester, Brookfield, and Cold-Spring, on his way to Hadley, +where he arrived on Friday, and preached about noon. In this place +he says, "A great work was begun, and carried on some years ago; +but lately the people of God have complained of deadness and losing +their first love. However, as soon as I mentioned what God had done +for their souls formerly, it was like putting fire to timber. The +remembrance of it quickened them, and caused many to weep sorely." +On the same afternoon he crossed the ferry to Northampton. + +Of the great revival of religion in New England, which commenced at +Northampton about 1734, and is the subject of President Edwards' +"Narrative," we have already briefly spoken; its importance will +justify a more extended notice. It began without any extraordinary +circumstances to awaken the attention of the people, or any uncommon +arrangements or efforts by the minister. The young people of the +place had for two or three years shown an increased measure of +thoughtfulness, and a growing disposition to receive religious +instruction. There had been, from time to time, instances of strong +religious impression and of hopeful conversion. But in the latter +end of December, 1734, five or six persons, one after another, +became very suddenly the subjects of the grace of God which newly +creates the soul. Among these was a young woman distinguished for +her gayety in youthful society, "one of the greatest company-keepers +in the whole town," who came to the pastor with a broken heart +and a contrite spirit, and with faith and hope in the Saviour of +sinners, before any one had heard of her being at all impressed +with serious things. The sudden, though, as time proved, the _real_ +conversion of this young woman, was the power of God striking the +electric chain of religious sympathies which had imperceptibly, +but effectually encircled all the families of Northampton. Mr. +Edwards' "Narrative" says, "The news of it seemed to be almost +like a flash of lightning upon the hearts of young people all over +the town, and upon many others.... Presently a great and earnest +concern about the great things of religion and the eternal world +became universal in all parts of the town, and among persons of +all degrees and all ages. All talk but about spiritual and eternal +things was soon thrown by; all the conversation in all companies +was upon these things only, except so much as was necessary for +people carrying on their ordinary secular business. The minds of +people were wonderfully taken off from the world; it was treated +among us as a thing of very little consequence. All would eagerly +lay hold of opportunities for their souls, and were wont very often +to meet together in private houses for religious purposes. And +such meetings, when appointed, were generally thronged. Those who +were wont to be the vainest and loosest, and those who had been +most disposed to think and speak lightly of vital and experimental +religion, were now generally subject to great awakening. And the +work of conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and +increased more and more. From day to day, for many months together, +might be seen evident instances of sinners brought out of darkness +into marvellous light. In the spring and summer following, the town +seemed to be full of the presence of God; it was never so full of +love, and yet so full of distress, as it was then. It was a time +of joy in families, on account of salvation being brought to them; +parents rejoicing over their children as new-born, and husbands +over their wives, and wives over their husbands. The goings of God +were then seen in his sanctuary, God's day was a delight, and his +tabernacles were amiable. Our public assemblies were then beautiful; +the congregation was alive in God's service, every one eagerly +intent on the public worship, every hearer eager to drink in the +words of the minister as they came from his mouth. The assembly +were, from time to time, in tears, while the word was preached; some +weeping with sorrow and distress, others with joy and love, others +with pity and concern for their neighbors." + +In December, 1743, nine years after this blessed work had begun, +Edwards writes, "Ever since the great work of God that was wrought +here about nine years ago, there has been a great, abiding +alteration in this town, in many respects. There has been vastly +more religion kept up in the town, among all sorts of persons, in +religious exercises, and in common conversation, than used to be +before. There has remained a more general seriousness and decency +in attending the public worship. I suppose the town has been in no +measure so free from vice, for any long time together, for these +sixty years, as it has these nine years past. There has also been +an evident alteration with respect to a charitable spirit to the +poor. And though, after that great work of nine years ago, there +has been a very lamentable decay of religious affections, and the +engagedness of people's spirits in religion, yet many societies for +prayer and social religion were all along kept up, and there were +some few instances of awakening and deep concern about the things of +another world, even in the most dead time. In the year 1740, in the +spring, before Mr. Whitefield came to this town, there was a visible +alteration. There was more seriousness and religious conversation, +especially among young people. Those things that were of ill +tendency among them were more forborne; and it was a more frequent +thing for persons to visit their ministers upon soul accounts. In +some particular persons, there appeared a great alteration about +that time. And thus it continued till Mr. Whitefield came to town, +which was about the middle of October following." + +And what thought Whitefield himself on his arrival at Northampton? +Let us hear him. "Their pastor's name is Edwards, successor and +grandson to the great Stoddard, whose memory will be always precious +to my soul, and whose books, entitled, "_A Guide to Christ_," and +"_Safety of appearing in Christ's righteousness_," I would recommend +to all. Mr. Edwards is a solid, excellent Christian, but at present +weak in body. I think I may say I have not seen his fellow in all +New England. When I came into his pulpit, I found my heart drawn out +to talk of scarce any thing besides the consolations and privileges +of saints, and the plentiful effusion of the Spirit upon the +hearts of believers. And when I came to remind them of their former +experiences, and how zealous and lively they were at that time, both +minister and people wept much; and the Holy Ghost enabled me to +speak with a great deal of power. In the evening, I gave a word of +exhortation to several who came to Mr. Edwards' house." + +On the following morning, "At Mr. Edwards' request, I spoke to his +little children, who were much affected. Preached at Hatfield, five +miles from Northampton, but found myself not much strengthened. +Conversed profitably on the way about the things of God with dear +Mr. Edwards, and preached about four in the afternoon to his +congregation. I began with fear and trembling, feeling but little +power in the morning, but God assisted me. Few dry eyes seemed to be +in the assembly for a considerable time. I had an affecting prospect +in my own heart of the glories of the upper world, and was enabled +to speak of them feelingly to others. I believe many were filled, as +it were, with new wine; and it seemed as if a time of refreshing was +come from the presence of the Lord." + +The day following this was the Sabbath. Whitefield tells us in his +journal, that he "felt wonderful satisfaction in being at the house +of Mr. Edwards. He is a son himself, and hath also a daughter of +Abraham for his wife. A sweeter couple I have not yet seen. Their +children were dressed, not in silks and satins, but plain, as +becomes the children of those who in all things ought to be examples +of Christian simplicity. She is a woman adorned with a meek and +quiet spirit, talked feelingly and solidly of the things of God, and +seemed to be such a help-mate for her husband, that she caused me to +renew those prayers, which, for some months, I have put up to God, +that he would be pleased to send me a daughter of Abraham to be my +wife. I find, upon many accounts, it is my duty to marry. Lord, I +desire to have no choice of my own. Thou knowest my circumstances; +thou knowest I only desire to marry in and for thee." + +Whitefield "preached this morning, and perceived the melting begin +sooner and rise higher than before. Dear Mr. Edwards wept during +the whole time of exercise. The people were equally, if not more +affected; and my own soul was much lifted up towards God. In the +afternoon the power increased yet more and more. Our Lord seemed to +keep the good wine till the last. I have not seen four such gracious +meetings together since my arrival. My soul was much knit to these +dear people of God; and though I had not time to converse with them +about their experiences, yet one might see they were for the most +part, a gracious, tender people; and though their former fire might +be greatly abated, yet it immediately appeared when stirred up." + +Edwards had looked forward to Whitefield's visit to Northampton with +interest, for he felt greatly concerned for his success. He wrote +a week before his arrival to his friend Dr. Wheelock, then a young +minister of twenty-nine, "I think that those that make mention of +the Lord, should now be awakened and encouraged to call upon God, +and not keep silence, nor give him any rest, till he establish and +till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth; and particularly +should be earnest with God, that he would still uphold and succeed +the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, the instrument that it has pleased him +to improve to do such great things for the honor of his name, and +at all times so to guide and direct him under his extraordinary +circumstances, that Satan may not get any advantage of him." + +After his visit, Edwards writes, "Mr. Whitefield's sermons were +suitable to the circumstances of the town; containing just +reproofs of our backslidings, and in a most moving and affecting +manner, making use of our great profession and our great mercies +as arguments with us to return to God, from whom we had departed. +Immediately after this, the minds of the people in general appeared +more engaged in religion, showing a greater forwardness to make +it the subject of their conversation, and to meet frequently for +religious purposes, and to embrace all opportunities to hear +the word preached. The revival at first appeared chiefly among +professors, and those who had entertained the hope that they were +in a state of grace, to whom Mr. Whitefield chiefly addressed +himself; but in a very short time, there appeared an awakening and +deep concern among some young persons that looked upon themselves +in a Christless state; and there were some hopeful appearances of +conversion; and some professors were greatly revived. In about a +month or six weeks, there was a great alteration in the town, both +as to the revivals of professors, and awakenings of others." + +During this visit of Whitefield to Edwards, some conversation +was held between them, of which, several years afterwards, as it +appears to us, far too much was said. Edwards took an opportunity, +privately, to converse with his friend about _impulses_, and +furnished him with some reasons for thinking that he gave too much +attention to such things. Whitefield did not appear offended, +neither did he seem inclined to converse much on the subject, or to +yield to the reasonings of his friend Edwards. The latter says, "It +is true, that I thought Mr. Whitefield liked me not so well for my +opposing these things; and though he treated me with great kindness, +yet he never made so much of an intimate of me, as of some others." +It seems also, that they conversed on the strong language which +the great evangelist was accustomed to employ as to those whom he +considered to be unconverted, and the duty of the people to forsake +the preaching of ministers whom he did not consider to be renewed +in the spirit of their minds. Whitefield told Edwards also, of the +design he had cherished of bringing over a number of young men from +England, to be ordained by the Tennents, in New Jersey; an object, +however, which he never accomplished. + +It appears that after preaching at Northampton twice on the Sabbath, +Whitefield, accompanied by his friend Edwards, rode to the house of +the father of the last-named gentleman, the Rev. Timothy Edwards, +in East Windsor, Connecticut. At this place, as also at Westfield, +Springfield, Suffield, Hartford, Wethersfield, Middletown, and +Wallingford, he preached to large assemblies, generally with his +accustomed animation and power, and with the happy proofs of +success which he so frequently witnessed. During this week also, +he experienced a remarkable deliverance from great danger. He +says, "A little after I left Springfield, my horse, coming over a +broken bridge, threw me over his head, directly upon my nose. The +fall stunned me for a while. My mouth was full of dust, I bled a +little, but falling upon soft sand, got not much damage. After +I had recovered myself, and mounted my horse, God so filled me +with a sense of his sovereign, distinguishing love, and my own +unworthiness, that my eyes gushed out with tears; but they were all +tears of love. Oh, how did I want to sink before the high and lofty +One who inhabiteth eternity!" + +During this week also, on his way to Suffield, he met with a +minister who said, "It was not absolutely necessary for a gospel +minister, that he should be converted;" meaning, no doubt, that +though conversion was necessary to his salvation, it was not +indispensable to his ministerial character and usefulness. This gave +Whitefield a subject. "I insisted much in my discourse upon the +doctrine of the new birth, and also the necessity of a minister's +being converted, before he could preach Christ aright. The word +came with great power, and a great impression was made upon the +people in all parts of the assembly. Many ministers were present. I +did not spare them. Most of them thanked me for my plain dealing; +but one was offended; and so would more of his stamp be, if I were +to continue longer in New England. For unconverted ministers are +the bane of the Christian church; and though I honor the memory of +that great and good man Mr. Stoddard, yet I think he is much to +be blamed for endeavoring to prove that unconverted men might be +admitted into the ministry. How he has handled the controversy, I +know not. I think no solid arguments can be brought to defend such a +cause. A sermon lately published by Mr. Gilbert Tennent, entitled, +'_The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry_,' I think unanswerable. +Tracy truly says, that Stoddard, in his '_Appeal to the Learned_,' +assumes that an unconverted minister is bound to continue in the +performance of ministerial duties, and infers that unconverted men +may therefore be admitted to the church. This opinion at one period +extensively prevailed, though all held it desirable that a minister +should be a converted man. By his attacks on this opinion, and +especially by thus endorsing Tennent's Nottingham sermon, Whitefield +gave great offence." + +On Wednesday afternoon, he preached at East Windsor, and spent +the night with Mr. Edwards, senior, "I believe," he says, "a true +disciple and minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. After exercise, we +supped at the house of old Mr. Edwards. His wife was as aged, I +believe, as himself, and I fancied that I was sitting in the house +of a Zacharias and Elisabeth." On the following day, he "preached to +many thousands, and with much freedom and power," at Hartford in the +morning, and at Wethersfield in the afternoon. Here he met Messrs. +Wheelock and Pomeroy, "two young, faithful, and zealous ministers +of Jesus Christ." From this place he had intended to go eastward +as far as Plymouth, and return by another route to Providence, and +notice had been given in the newspapers of about twenty sermons +which he proposed to preach at the times and places specified. +He was afterwards blamed for making these appointments without +first consulting the pastors of the several churches; thus giving +countenance, it was said, to the practice of itinerants intruding +into other men's parishes without their consent. The proceeding +was certainly somewhat irregular, but Whitefield was not much to +be blamed for it. The details were settled, and the publication +made, by men in whose judgment and knowledge of the customs of +the country he had a right to confide; and the appointments +were believed, in all cases, and doubtless known in some, to be +agreeable to the parties concerned. At Wethersfield, however, the +evangelist ascertained the necessity of his hastening on to New +York, and immediately, therefore, published a note recalling these +appointments. + +On Friday, October 24, Whitefield arrived at New Haven, and was +entertained at the house of Mr. James Pierpont, the brother-in-law +of Mr. Edwards, and of Mr. Noyes, the minister of the First +Congregational church. The Legislature of the colony being in +session, he remained till after the Lord's day; and "had the +pleasure of seeing numbers daily impressed," under his ministrations +in the old polygonal meeting-house. Several ministers of the +vicinity visited him, "with whose pious conversation he was much +refreshed." Good old Governor Tallcott, on whom with due politeness +he waited to pay his respects, said to him, "Thanks be to God for +such refreshings in our way to heaven." Among others who heard his +glowing appeals to the congregations that listened to him during +this visit, was young Samuel Hopkins, still well known as an eminent +divine. Hopkins was now nineteen, and was a student at college; his +biographer tells us, that "he was much interested in the man, and +much impressed by his solemn warnings." + +The testimony of Hopkins himself may here be introduced. He says, +speaking of Whitefield, "The attention of the people in general was +greatly awakened upon hearing the fame of him, that there was a +remarkable preacher from England travelling through the country. The +people flocked to hear him when he came to New Haven. Some travelled +twenty miles out of the country to hear him. The assemblies were +crowded, and remarkably attentive; people appeared generally to +approve, and their conversation turned chiefly upon him and his +preaching. Some disapproved of several things, which occasioned +considerable disputes. I heard him when he preached in public, and +when he expounded in private in the evening, and highly approved of +him, and was impressed by what he said in public and in private. +He preached against mixed dancing and the frolicking of males +and females together, which practice was then very common in New +England. This offended some, especially young people. But I remember +I justified him in this in my own mind, and in conversation with +those who were disposed to condemn him. This was in October, 1740, +when I had entered on my last year in college." + +On this visit, Whitefield dined with the Rev. Mr. Clap, the rector +of the college. Of the college he says, "It is about one-third part +as big as Cambridge. It has one rector, three tutors, and about a +hundred students. But I hear of no remarkable concern among them +concerning religion." Mr. Clap, it is well known, afterwards became +the public opponent of Whitefield; and it would seem that his +dislike to him commenced with this first interview; for he "spoke +very closely to the students, and showed the dreadful consequences +of an unconverted ministry." In his journal of the day he says, "O +that God may quicken ministers! O that the Lord may make them a +flaming fire!" On the two days following, he preached at Milford, +Stratford, and Fairfield, on his way to New York. On Wednesday, when +at Stamford, he thus speaks of New England and his labors in it: + +"I give God thanks for sending me to New England. I have now had +an opportunity of seeing the greatest and most populous parts of +it; and take it all together, it certainly on many accounts exceeds +all other provinces of America, and for the establishment of +religion, perhaps all other parts of the world. Never, surely, was +so large a spot of ground settled in such a manner, in so short a +space of one hundred years. The towns all through Connecticut and +eastwards towards York in the province of Massachusetts, [Maine,] +near the river-side, are large, well peopled, and exceedingly +pleasant to travel through. Every five miles, or perhaps less, +you have a meeting-house, and I believe there is no such a thing +as a pluralist, or non-resident minister in both provinces. Many, +nay, most that preach, I fear do not experimentally know Christ; +yet I cannot see much worldly advantage to tempt them to take upon +them the sacred function. Few country ministers, as I have been +informed, have sufficient allowed them in money to maintain a +family. God has remarkably, in sundry times and in divers manners, +poured out his Spirit in several parts of both provinces; and it +often refreshes my soul to hear of the faith of the good forefathers +who first settled in these parts. Notwithstanding they had their +foibles, surely they were a set of righteous men. They certainly +followed our Lord's rule, sought first the kingdom of God and his +righteousness; and behold, all other things God added unto them. +Their seed are now blessed, in temporal things especially, and +notwithstanding the rising generation seem to be settled on their +lees, yet I believe the Lord hath more than seven thousand who have +not bowed the knee to Baal. The ministers and people of Connecticut +seem to be more simple than those that live near Boston, especially +in those parts where I went. But I think the ministers' preaching +almost universally by notes, is a certain mark they have in a great +measure lost the old spirit of preaching. For though all are not to +be condemned that use notes, yet it is a sad symptom of the decay +of vital religion when reading sermons becomes fashionable, where +extempore preaching did once almost universally prevail. As for +the universities, I believe it may be said, their light is become +darkness, darkness that may be felt, and is complained of by the +most godly ministers. I pray God these fountains may be purified, +and send forth pure streams to water the cities of our God.... +As for the civil government of New England, it seems to be well +regulated, and I think, at opening all their courts, either the +judge or a minister begins with a prayer. Family worship, I believe, +is generally kept up. The negroes I think better used, both in soul +and body, than in any other province I have yet seen. In short, I +like New England exceedingly well; and when a spirit of reformation +revives, it certainly will prevail here more than in other places, +because they are simple in their worship, less corrupt in their +principles, and consequently easier to be brought over to the form +of sound words, into which so many of their pious ancestors were +delivered. Send forth, O Lord, thy light and thy truth, and for +thine infinite mercy's sake, show thou hast a peculiar delight in +these habitable parts of the earth. Amen, Lord Jesus, amen, and +amen." + +Among many who became the subjects of divine grace during this visit +of Whitefield to New England, was Daniel Emerson, who was educated +at Harvard college, where he received his first degree in 1739, and +where he continued to reside for some time as a graduate. While at +college, he is said to have been very fond of the gay pleasures of +this life, until his attention was effectually called to religion by +the preaching of Whitefield, whom he followed from place to place +for several days. He was ordained at Hollis, New Hampshire, in 1743, +where, in a ministry of fifty years, he was a worthy follower of +his spiritual father. The chief excellences of his preaching were +sound doctrine, deep feeling, and zeal at times almost overwhelming. +He was truly a son of thunder, and a flaming light. He was almost +incessantly engaged in labors, preaching, attending funerals, etc., +far and near. His efforts were greatly blessed, especially among +his own people, who under his ministry enjoyed extensive revivals +of religion, and where also a large number of ministers have been +called to their work. He died in 1801, aged eighty-five. + +It may be appropriate to introduce here a sketch of Whitefield's +doctrines and labors at this time, as given us by the eminent Dr. +Thomas Prince, in his "Christian History," under date of January +26, 1744-5, but having reference to Whitefield's first visit to New +England, which we have just described: + +"He spoke with a mighty sense of God, eternity, the immortality +and preciousness of the souls of his hearers, of their original +corruption, and of the extreme danger the unregenerate are in; with +the nature and absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Ghost; +and of believing in Christ, in order to our pardon, justification, +yielding an acceptable obedience, and obtaining salvation from +hell and an entrance into heaven. His doctrine was plainly that +of the reformers; declaring against our putting our good works or +morality in the room of Christ's righteousness, or their having any +hand in our justification, or being indeed pleasing to God while +we are totally unsanctified, acting upon corrupt principles, and +unreconciled enemies to him; which occasioned some to mistake him, +as if he opposed morality. But he insisted on it, that the tree of +the heart is by original sin exceedingly corrupted, and must be +made good by regeneration, that so the fruits proceeding from it +may be good likewise; that where the heart is renewed, it ought +and will be careful to maintain good works, that if any be not +habitually so careful who think themselves renewed, they deceive +their own souls; and even the most improved in holiness, as well as +others, must entirely depend on the righteousness of Christ for the +acceptance of their persons and services. And though now and then +he dropped some expressions that were not so accurate and guarded +as we should expect from aged and long-studied ministers, yet I had +the satisfaction to observe his readiness with great modesty and +thankfulness to receive correction as soon as offered. + +"In short, he was a most importunate wooer of souls to come to +Christ for the enjoyment of him, and all his benefits. He distinctly +applied his exhortations to the elderly people, the middle-aged, +the young, the Indians, and negroes, and had a most winning way +of addressing them. He affectionately prayed for our magistrates, +ministers, colleges, candidates for the ministry, and churches, as +well as people in general; and before he left us, in a public and +moving manner, he observed to the people how sorry he was to hear +that the religious assemblies, especially on lectures, had been so +thin, exhorted them earnestly to a more general attendance on our +public ministrations for the time to come, and told them how glad he +should be to hear of the same. + +"Multitudes were greatly affected, and many awakened with his lively +ministry. Though he preached every day, the houses were crowded; but +when he preached on the Common, a vaster number attended; and almost +every evening the house where he lodged was thronged to hear his +prayers and counsels. + +"On Mr. Whitefield's leaving us, great numbers in this town [Boston] +were so happily concerned about their souls, as we had never +seen any thing like it before, except at the time of the general +earthquake;[1] and their desires excited to hear their ministers +more than ever. So that our assemblies, both on lectures and +Sabbaths, were surprisingly increased, and now the people wanted +to hear us oftener. In consequence of which a public lecture was +proposed to be set up at Dr. Colman's church, near the midst of the +town, on every Tuesday evening." + + [1] Dr. Prince, in a note, here says, "Though people were _then_," + in the time of the earthquake, "generally frightened, and many + awakened to such a sense of their duty as to offer themselves to our + communion, yet very few came to me _then_ under deep convictions of + their unconverted and lost condition, in comparison of what came + _now_. Nor did those who came to me _then_, come so much with the + inquiry, 'What shall we do to be saved?' as to signify they had such + a sense of their duty to come to the Lord's table that they dare not + stay away any longer." + +In reference to the work of grace which was connected with +Whitefield's preaching in New England, the Rev. Dr. Baron Stow, +in his "Centennial Discourse," says, "The result, by the blessing +of God, was a powerful revival, such as New England had never +witnessed. The work was opposed with great vehemence; and no +impartial reader of the history of those extraordinary scenes can +question that much of the hostility was provoked by improprieties of +both speech and action, that would at any time be offensive to those +who love good order and Christian decorum. But after making liberal +allowance for all that was truly exceptionable, it is cheerfully +admitted by the candid Christian, that the excitement was, in the +main, the product of the Holy Spirit, and that its fruits were +eminently favorable to the advancement of true religion. A torpid +community was aroused, as by the trump of God, from its long and +heavy slumber; ministers and people were converted; the style of +preaching, and the tone of individual piety were improved; a cold, +cadaverous formalism gave place to the living energy of experimental +godliness; the doctrines of the gospel were brought out from their +concealment, and made to reassert their claims to a cordial, +practical credence, and all the interests of truth and holiness +received new homage from regenerated thousands." + +One or two other facts connected with Whitefield's usefulness in New +England are too important to be omitted. During this visit he was +much gratified by an interview with a colored man, who had been his +chaise-driver when he first visited Cambridge. The negro had heard +him preach in the college a sermon especially addressed "to those +who labor and are heavy-laden." It took such a hold on the poor man, +that he repeated it in the kitchen when he reached home. Mr. Cooper +of Boston was so well satisfied, as was Whitefield also, with his +account of his conversion, that he was admitted to the Lord's table. + +Another "brand plucked from the burning" was a son of Mackintosh, +an English rebel, who had been condemned to perpetual imprisonment, +and had been allowed by George the First to settle in New England. +One of his daughters, a lady of fortune, had heard Whitefield preach +in Dr. Prince's church at Boston, and had been won by the word to +Christ. She was soon after smitten by sickness, and ripened rapidly +for heaven. On her death-bed she cried out for her "soul friend" Mr. +Whitefield; but checking her own impatience, she asked, "Why should +I do so? He is gone about his Master's work, and in a little time we +shall meet to part no more." The distinguished evangelist had a very +high opinion of her piety, and his interest in her was increased by +the fact that she had a very remarkable escape from some ruffians +who had been bribed to convey her and her sister to Scotland, that +their uncle might seize on an estate worth a thousand pounds a year. + +There were at this time not less than twenty ministers in the +neighborhood of Boston who unhesitatingly spoke of Whitefield +as their spiritual father, directly tracing their conversion to +his ministry. Of one of these we have an account by Collins, the +journalist of South Reading. Speaking of 1741, he says, "Mr. +Whitefield preached upon our Common in the open air. Mr. Hobby +the minister went with the multitude to hear him. It is said that +Mr. Hobby afterwards remarked, he came to pick a hole in Mr. +Whitefield's coat, but that Whitefield picked a hole in his heart. +Mr. Hobby afterwards wrote and published a defence of Mr. Whitefield +in a letter to Mr. Henchman, the minister of Lynn, who had written +against him." + +The letters of Whitefield, during his journeys of eleven hundred +miles in New England, were few and brief; but they clearly indicated +that at this time he was inclined "to return no more to his native +country." New England, notwithstanding his trials there, had +evidently won his heart, and for a time almost weaned him from Great +Britain. When he left it, as he was now about to do, for the south, +he wrote, "God only knows what a cross it was to me to leave dear +New England so soon. I hope death will not be so bitter to me as +was parting with my friends. Glad shall I be to be _prayed_ thither +again before I see my native land. I would just be where He would +have me, although in the uttermost parts of the earth. I am now +hunting for poor lost sinners in these _ungospelized_ wilds." + +Is there not an awfully retributive providence connected with the +rejection of the gospel and its ministers? Do we not see this +principle at work in the history and present state of the Jews; and +has it not often appeared also in the history of Christianity? There +was a beautiful village, now a city, in Massachusetts, from which +Whitefield was driven with such rancorous abuse, that he shook off +the dust of his feet, and proclaimed that the Spirit of God would +not visit that spot till the last of those persecutors was dead. The +good man's language had a fearful truth in it, though he was not +divinely gifted with the prophet's inspiration. A consciousness of +desertion paralyzed the energies of the church; for nearly a century +it was nurtured on the unwholesome food of unscriptural doctrine. In +the very garden of natural loveliness, it sat like a heath in the +desert, upon which there could be no rain; and not till that whole +generation had passed from the earth, did Zion appear there in her +beauty and strength. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LABORS IN NEW YORK AND THE MIDDLE AND SOUTHERN STATES. + +1740, 1741. + + +Whitefield was now again on his way to New York, preaching at Rye +and King's Bridge on the road. At the latter place he was met by +several friends from the city, with whom he pleasantly talked, "and +found," he says, "an inexpressible satisfaction in my soul when I +arrived at the house of my very dear friend Mr. Noble. After supper +the Lord filled my heart, and gave me to wrestle with him for New +York inhabitants and my own dear friends." He was also cheered +by meeting Mr. Davenport from Long Island, whose labors as an +evangelist were then exciting much interest. Here too he met with a +violent pamphlet published against him. "Met also with two volumes +of sermons published in London as delivered by me, though I never +preached on most of the texts. But Satan must try all ways to bring +the work of God into contempt." + +On the morning after his arrival, Whitefield preached in Mr. +Pemberton's meeting-house, and says concerning the service, "Never +saw the word of God fall with such weight in New York before. Two or +three cried out. Mr. Noble could scarce refrain himself. And look +where I would, many seemed deeply wounded. At night the word was +attended with great power. One cried out; and the Lord enabled me +at the latter end of my sermon to speak with authority. Alas, how +vain are the thoughts of men! As I came along yesterday, I found my +heart somewhat dejected, and told Mr. Noble I expected but little +moving in New York; but he bid me 'expect great things from God,' +and likewise told me of several who were, as he hoped, savingly +wrought upon by my ministry when I was there last." + +On the following day he finished his answer to the pamphlet already +referred to, and says, "God enabled me to write it in the spirit of +meekness." He adds, "Preached twice as yesterday to very crowded +auditories, and neither time without power. In the evening exercise +some fainted, and the Lord seemed to show us more and more that a +time for favoring New York was near at hand. Oh, wherefore did I +doubt? Lord, increase my faith." + +The following day, November 2, was the Sabbath. "Preached this +morning with freedom and some power, but was much dejected before +the evening sermon. For near half an hour before I left Mr. Noble's +house, I could only lie before the Lord, and say I was a poor +sinner, and wonder that Christ would be gracious to such a wretch. +As I went to meeting I grew weaker and weaker, and when I came into +the pulpit I could have chosen to be silent rather than speak. But +after I had begun, the Spirit of the Lord gave me freedom, till +at length it came down like a mighty rushing wind, and carried +all before it. Immediately the whole congregation was alarmed. +Shrieking, crying, weeping, and wailing were to be heard in every +corner; men's hearts failing them for fear, and many falling into +the arms of their friends. My soul was carried out till I could +scarcely speak any more. A sense of God's goodness overwhelmed me." + +After narrating two or three pleasing incidents as to the effect +of his preaching even on the minds of children, and describing his +feelings on his return home, he gives an account of the wedding +of two young persons who were going as his assistants to Georgia. +"Never," he says, "did I see a more solemn wedding. Jesus Christ +was called, and he was present in a remarkable manner. After Mr. +Pemberton had married them, I prayed. But my soul, how was it +enabled to wrestle with and lay hold on God! I was in a very great +agony, and the Holy Ghost was so remarkably present, that most, +I believe, could say, 'Surely God is in this place.' After this, +divine manifestations flowed in so fast, that my frail tabernacle +was scarce able to sustain them. My dear friends sat round me on the +bedsides. I prayed for each of them alternately with strong cries, +and pierced by the eye of faith even within the veil. I continued in +this condition for about half an hour, astonished at my own vileness +and the excellency of Christ, then rose full of peace and love and +joy." + +On Monday, the 3d, he preached both morning and afternoon to +increasing congregations, and says, "There was a great and gracious +melting both times, but no crying out. Nearly £110 currency were +collected for the orphans; and in the evening many came and took an +affectionate leave. About seven we took boat; reached Staten Island +about ten, greatly refreshed in my inner man. A dear Christian +friend received us gladly, and we solaced ourselves by singing and +praying. About midnight retired to sleep, still longing for that +time when I shall sleep no more." + +On Tuesday he preached on Staten Island from a wagon, to three +or four hundred people. "The Lord came among them," and several +inquired after the way of salvation. Here he met Gilbert Tennent +and Mr. Cross. The former of these excellent ministers had recently +lost his wife, and though he was ardently attached to her, he calmly +preached her funeral sermon with the corpse lying before him. +Tennent had lately been preaching in New Jersey and Maryland, and +had a delightful account to give his friend of the progress of the +good work. Nor was the account given by Mr. Cross of less interest. +After sermon he rode to Newark, where he preached till dark, as he +thought with but little good effect. "However, at night the Lord +manifested forth his glory; for, coming down to family prayer where +I lodged, and perceiving many young men around me, my soul was, as +it were, melted down with concern for them. After singing, I gave +a word of exhortation; with what power none can fully express but +those that saw it. Oh, how did the word fall like a hammer and like +a fire. What a weeping was there!" + +We must stay a moment to give a fact or two in reference to the +Rev. Aaron Burr, then quite a young man, who two or three years +before had been ordained at Newark, and whose ministry had been +attended with a delightful revival the year preceding Whitefield's +visit. During the period of this revival, the neighboring village +of Elizabethtown had been remarkable for its insensibility; even +Whitefield had preached there, "and not a single known conversion," +says Dr. Stearns, "followed his ministrations." Afterwards the +pastor, the well-known Jonathan Dickinson, saw happy results from +very plain preaching. Newark caught a new flame from its neighboring +altar, and Mr. Burr, who had lately been to New England in quest +of health, had heard the devoted evangelist again and again, +and invited him to visit his flock, which he did about a month +afterwards with happy results. The account given by Mr. Burr of +Whitefield's preaching in New England was precisely what we should +expect from the man who was afterwards the first president of +Princeton college, and who, fourteen years after this, accompanied +his eloquent friend to New England, "and saw at Boston, morning +after morning, three or four thousand people hanging in breathless +silence on the lips of the preacher, and weeping silent tears." + +The Rev. Stephen Dodd of East Haven, Conn., relates that an old +lady told him that when Mr. Whitefield came to preach in the old +meeting-house at Newark, she was twelve years old, and as he entered +the pulpit she looked at him with distrust, but before he got +through his prayers herself and all the congregation were melted +down, and the sermon filled the house with groans and tears. The +next time he came, the congregation was so large that the pulpit +window was taken out, and he preached through the opening to the +people in the burying-ground. + +On Wednesday, the 5th, he went to Baskinridge, Mr. Cross' parish, +where he found Mr. Davenport, who, according to appointment, had +been preaching to about three thousand people. He writes, "As I went +along, I told a friend my soul wept for them, and I was persuaded +within myself that the Lord would that day make his power to be +known among them. In prayer, I perceived my soul drawn out, and a +stirring of affections among the people. I had not discoursed long +before the Holy Ghost displayed his power. In every part of the +congregation somebody or other began to cry out, and almost all +melted into tears. This abated for a few moments, till a little boy +about seven or eight years of age cried out exceeding piteously +indeed, and wept as though his little heart would break. Mr. Cross +having compassion on him, took him up into the wagon, which so +affected me, that I broke from my discourse, and told the people the +little boy should preach to them, and that God, since old professors +would not cry after Christ, had displayed his sovereignty, and out +of an infant's mouth was perfecting praise. God so blessed this, +that a universal concern fell on the congregation again. Fresh +persons dropped down here and there, and the cry increased more and +more." + +In the evening, Gilbert Tennent preached excellently in Mr. Cross' +barn, two miles off. His subject was the necessity and benefit of +spiritual desertions, a remarkable subject, as has been said, at +such a time, in a barn, and at night. "A great commotion," says +Whitefield, "was soon observed among the hearers. I then gave a word +of exhortation. The Lord's presence attended it in a surprising +manner. One, in about six minutes, cried out, 'He is come, He is +come!' and could scarcely sustain the discovery that Jesus Christ +made of himself to his soul. Others were so earnest for a discovery +of the Lord to their souls, that their eager crying obliged me to +stop, and I prayed over them as I saw their agonies and distress +increase. At length my own soul was so full that I retired, and was +in a strong agony for some time, and wept before the Lord under a +deep sense of my own vileness, and the sovereignty and greatness of +God's everlasting love. Most of the people spent the remainder of +the night in prayer and praise. Two or three young ministers spoke +alternately, and others prayed as the Lord gave them utterance." + +The next morning Whitefield exhorted, sung, and prayed with the +people in the barn, and had some delightful conversation with +a lad of thirteen, a poor negro woman, and several others. In +company with several Christian friends, he then rode to the house +of Gilbert Tennent in New Brunswick. Here he found letters from +Savannah saying that great mortality existed in the neighborhood, +but that the family at the orphan-house continued in health, and +that a minister was about coming from England to take his church at +Savannah. "This last," says he, "much rejoiced me, being resolved +to give up the Savannah living as soon as I arrived in Georgia. A +parish and the orphan-house together are too much for me; besides, +God seems to show me it is my duty to evangelize, and not to fix +in any particular place." Here he was met by William Tennent also, +and after much conversation and prayer, it was settled that Gilbert +Tennent should go to Boston to carry on the work so happily begun +there. After preaching, exhortation, and prayer, Whitefield went +with Davenport to Trenton, and so on to Philadelphia. On their way, +they were twice remarkably preserved from drowning in creeks much +swollen by the rains; and late on a very dark Saturday night arrived +in the city, which had been already honored by his usefulness. + +On the following day, he twice preached in the house which his +friends were now building for him, and in which Gilbert Tennent +labored for many years with great success. He says, "It is one +hundred feet long and seventy feet broad. A large gallery is to be +erected all around in it. Many footsteps of Providence have been +visible in beginning and carrying it on. Both in the morning and +evening God's glory filled the house, for there was great power in +the congregation. The roof is not yet up, but the people raised a +convenient pulpit and boarded the bottom. The joy of most of the +hearers when they saw me was inexpressible. Between services, I +received a packet of letters from England, dated in March last. May +the Lord heal, and bring good out of the divisions which at present +seem to be among the brethren there. God giving me freedom, and +many friends being in the room, I kneeled down and prayed with and +exhorted them all. But Oh, how did they melt under both; my soul was +much rejoiced to look round on them." + +A fact in connection with the building of this church edifice +illustrates the practical philosophy of Dr. Franklin. Tennent waited +on him for aid in the erection of the house, which was cheerfully +afforded; the philosopher was asked by Tennent as to the best +method of raising the necessary funds, who instantly recommended him +to call at every house in the town to solicit help. He argued thus: +"Many are really desirous to give, and will be glad to see you; +others are inclined to be friendly, and will give if they are urged; +a third will be sure, if they are omitted, to say they would have +given had they been asked; and a fourth class will give you, rather +than have it said they refused." Tennent acted on the doctor's +counsel, and the funds were raised without difficulty. + +Two instances of the happy influence of the truth in the conversion +of sinners, in connection with this visit, must be given from +Whitefield's own pen. The first related to a Mr. Brockden, a lawyer +eminent in his profession, and the recorder of deeds for the city. +For many years this gentleman had been distinguished for Deism. +Whitefield writes, "In his younger days he had some religious +impressions, but going into business, the cares of the world so +choked the good seed, that he not only forgot his God in some +degree, but at length began to doubt of and to dispute his very +being. In this state he continued many years, and has been very +zealous to propagate his deistical, I could almost say atheistical +principles among moral men; but he told me he never endeavored +to make proselytes of vicious, debauched people. When I came to +Philadelphia, this time twelvemonth, he told me he had not so much +as a curiosity to hear me. But a brother Deist, his choicest friend, +pressed him to come and hear me. To satisfy his curiosity, he at +length complied with the request. I preached at the court-house +stairs, upon the conference which the Lord had with Nicodemus. I had +not spoken much before the Lord struck his heart. 'For,' said he, 'I +saw your doctrine tended to make people good.' His family knew not +that he had been to hear me. After he came home, his wife, who had +been at sermon, came in also, and wished heartily that he had heard +me. He said nothing. After this, another of his family came in, +repeating the same wish; and, if I mistake not, after that another; +till at last, being unable to refrain any longer, with tears in his +eyes, he said, 'Why, I have been hearing him;' and then expressed +his approbation. Ever since he has followed on to know the Lord; +and I verily believe Jesus Christ has made himself manifest to his +soul. Though upwards of threescore years old, he is now, I believe, +born again of God. He is as a little child, and often, as he told +me, receives such communications from God, when he retires into the +woods, that he thinks he could die a martyr for the truth." + +The other instance was that of the captain of a ship, "as great a +reprobate," says Whitefield, "as ever I heard of." This man used to +go on board the transport ships, and offer a guinea for a new oath, +that he might have the honor of making it. "To the honor of God's +grace," says our evangelist, "let it be said, he is now, I believe, +a Christian; not only reformed, but renewed. The effectual stroke, +he told me, was given when I preached last spring at Pennepack. Ever +since he has been zealous for the truth; stood like a lamb when he +was beaten, and in danger of being murdered by some of my opposers, +and, in short, shows his faith by his works." + +The stay of Mr. Whitefield in Philadelphia at this time was about +a week, during which he preached in the new house twice every day +to large and deeply interested congregations. He says, "It would +be almost endless to recount all the particular instances of God's +grace which I have seen this week past. Many that before were +only convicted, now plainly proved that they were converted, and +had a clear evidence of it within themselves. My chief business +was now to build up and to exhort them to continue in the grace +of God. Notwithstanding, many were convicted almost every day, +and came to me under the greatest distress and anguish of soul. +Several societies are now in the town, not only of men and women, +but of little boys and little girls. Being so engaged, I could +not visit them as I would, but I hope the Lord will raise up some +fellow-laborers, and that elders will be ordained in every place." + +Perhaps no man was ever more free from sectarianism than George +Whitefield. It is true, that he was ordained a clergyman of the +church of England, and never manifested any degree of reluctance to +officiate within its walls; but it is equally true, that the vast +majority of his sermons were delivered in connection with other +bodies of Christians. When he was once preaching from the balcony +of the court-house, Market-street, Philadelphia, he delivered an +impressive apostrophe: "Father Abraham, who have you in heaven? any +Episcopalians?" "No." "Any Presbyterians?" "No." "Any Baptists?" +"No." "Have you any Methodists, Seceders, or Independents there?" +"No, no!" "Why, who have you there?" "We don't know those names +here. All who are here are Christians, believers in Christ--men +who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of his +testimony." "Oh, is that the case? then God help me, God help us +all, to forget party names, and to become Christians, in deed and +in truth." It might be well for the different bodies of Christians +to think of the propriety of following this example of the holy +man. The peculiarities of each Christian denomination may have +their importance, but they ought not to keep good men in a state of +separation, much less of alienation from each other. + +On Monday, November 17, Whitefield left Philadelphia. He says, "Was +much melted at parting from my dear friends. Had it much impressed +upon my mind, that I should go to England, and undergo trials for +the truth's sake. These words, 'The Jews sought to stone thee, +and goest thou thither again?' with our Lord's answer, have been +for some time lying upon me; and while my friends were weeping +round me, St. Paul's words darted into my soul, 'What mean you to +weep and break my heart? I am willing not only to be bound, but +to die for the Lord Jesus.' After fervent prayer, I took my leave +of some, but being to preach at Gloucester in the West Jerseys, +others accompanied me in boats over the river. We sung as we sailed, +but my heart was low. I preached at Gloucester, but found myself +weighed down, and was not able to deliver my sermon with my usual +vigor. However, there was an affecting melting, and several, as +I heard afterwards, who had been in bondage before, at that time +received joy in the Holy Ghost. I rode on in company with several +to Greenwich, and preached to a few, with scarce any power. In +the evening we travelled on a few miles, but my body was more and +more out of order, and I thought God was preparing me for future +blessings. It is good to be humbled. I am never better than when I +am brought to lie at the foot of the cross. It is a certain sign +God intends that soul a greater crown. Lord, let me always feel +myself a poor sinner." On Tuesday he preached at Pilesgrove to +about two thousand people, but saw only a few affected. "At night," +he says, "God was pleased so abundantly to refresh my soul as to +make me forget the weakness of my body; I prayed and exhorted +with great power in the family where I lodged." On Wednesday, at +Cohansey, where Gilbert Tennent had prepared the way for him, he +says, "Preached to some thousands both morning and afternoon. The +word gradually struck the hearers, till the whole congregation was +greatly moved, and two cried out in the bitterness of their souls +after a crucified Saviour, and were scarcely able to stand. My +soul was replenished as with new wine, and life and power flew all +around me." At Salem, on the 20th, he preached in the morning at the +court-house, and in the afternoon in the open air before the prison, +to about two thousand persons. "Both times God was with us." On +Friday, November 21, he got with some difficulty to Newcastle, where +he preached in the court-house, and "observed some few affected, +and some few scoffing." Here he was joined by Mr. Charles Tennent, +who had lately married a young lady awakened under Whitefield's +ministry. They went on to White Clay creek, "and God," says he, "was +pleased to appear for me in an extraordinary manner. There were many +thousands waiting to hear the word. I have not seen a more lovely +sight. I sang the twenty-third psalm, and these words gave my soul +unspeakable comfort: + + "'In presence of my spiteful foes, + He does my table spread.' + +"The Lord Jesus assisted me in preaching. The melting soon began, +and the power increased more and more, till the greatest part of the +congregation was exceedingly moved. Several cried out in different +parts, and others were to be seen wringing their hands and weeping +bitterly. The stir was ten times greater than when I was here +last." At Fagg's Manor, on Saturday afternoon, he preached "to many +thousands, and God was pleased mightily to own his word. There was +a wondrous powerful moving, but it did not rise to such a degree as +when I preached here last spring. I was taken ill after preaching." +After still farther labors, he retired to rest, and he says, "The +Lord gave me sweet sleep, and in the morning I arose with my natural +strength much renewed." This was the Sabbath, and he preached at +Nottingham "to a large congregation, who seemed in no wise to regard +the rain, so they might be watered with the dew of God's blessing." + +On the following afternoon, at Bohemia, in Maryland, he says, +"Preached to about two thousand, and have not seen a more solid +melting, I think, since my arrival. Some scoffers stood on the +outside, but the Holy Spirit enabled me to lay the terrors of +the Lord before them, and they grew more serious. My soul much +rejoiced in the Lord to see salvation brought to Maryland." On +Tuesday, November 25, "came to Reedy Island, and had the wonderful +presence of God in the assembly in the afternoon. Several of my +dear Philadelphia friends came to take their last farewell." On +Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, he preached again. "The Lord was +with us every time. I was greatly delighted to see the captains of +the ships, and their respective crews, come constantly to hear the +word of God on shore, and join with us in religious exercises on +board." + +On December 1, when they sailed from Reedy Island to Charleston, +he wrote in his journal, "But before I go on, stop, O my soul, and +look back a little on the great things the Lord hath done for thee +during this excursion. I think it is now the seventy-fifth day since +I arrived at Rhode Island. My body was then weak, but the Lord has +much renewed its strength. I have been enabled to preach, I think, +one hundred and seventy-five times in public, besides exhorting very +frequently in private. I have travelled upwards of eight hundred +miles, and gotten upwards of £700 sterling in goods, provisions, +and money for my poor orphans. Never did God vouchsafe me such +great assistances. Never did I perform my journeys with so little +fatigue, or see such a continuance of the divine presence in the +congregations to whom I have preached. All things concur to convince +me that America is to be my chief scene for action." + +In about eight days, he arrived at Charleston, where he found there +had recently been a large fire, and to improve the sad event he +preached a sermon, and passed on to his own home, where he found +all well, and where he made arrangements for his voyage to England, +leaving on the 29th of December. On that day he narrowly escaped +death. A laborer was walking behind him with a gun under his arm, +which went off unawares; happily its muzzle was towards the ground, +"otherwise," says Whitefield, "I and one of my friends, in all +probability, should have been killed; for we were directly before, +and not above a yard or two distant from it. How ought we to live +in such a state as we would not fear to die in; for in the midst +of life we are in death!" In the evening he preached his farewell +sermon as pastor of Savannah. + +On Mr. Whitefield's arrival at Charleston, in company with two +gentlemen named Bryan, who had been called to suffer persecution +for Christ's sake, he had the happiness of meeting his brother, the +captain of a vessel from England, who gave him much interesting +intelligence of the Christians in that country. Commencing with the +Sabbath, he preached twice every day, in addition to expounding the +Scriptures almost every evening, and expresses his gratitude for +divine assistance. But though he had much to rejoice in, he had +also more than one source of sorrow. Some professors of religion, +of whom he had hoped well, had fallen away, and not a few of his +enemies were even more enraged than formerly. Hugh Bryan had written +a letter, in which, among other matters, "it was hinted that the +clergy break their canons." At the request of Jonathan Bryan, +Whitefield had corrected it for the press, and it was published +while he was now in the city. Hugh Bryan was apprehended, and on +his examination, being asked, frankly confessed that Whitefield had +corrected and made some alterations in it. Writing on January 10, +he says, "This evening a constable came to me with the following +warrant: + + "'South Carolina SS. By B---- W----, etc. Whereas I have + received information upon oath that George Whitefield, Clerk, + hath made and composed a false, malicious, scandalous, and + infamous Libel against the Clergy of this Province, in contempt + of His Majesty and His Laws, and against the King's Peace: These + are therefore, in His Majesty's Name, to charge and command + you and each of you forthwith to apprehend the said George + Whitefield, and to bring him before Me to answer the premises. + Hereof fail not, at your peril. And for your so doing this shall + be your and each of your sufficient Warrant. Given under my hand + and seal this tenth day of January, in the fourteenth year of + His Majesty's Reign, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and + forty [one.] + + "'B---- W----.'" + +Whitefield gave security to appear by his attorney at the next +quarter sessions, under penalty of one hundred pounds proclamation +money. "Blessed be God," he says in his journal, "for this +further honor. My soul rejoices in it. I think this may be called +persecution. I think it is for righteousness' sake." The next +morning he preached on Herod sending the wise men to find out +Christ, professing a desire to worship him, but intending to kill +him; _persecution under pretence of religion_, being his theme. +The afternoon sermon was on the murder of Naboth, from which he +discoursed on _the abuse of power by men in authority_. He says, +"My hearers, as well as myself, made the application. It was pretty +close." No doubt it was. In the evening he expounded the narrative +of Orpah and Ruth, and exhorted his hearers to follow the Lord Jesus +Christ, though his cause be never so much persecuted and spoken +against. + +On the following Thursday, he received several highly gratifying +letters from his friends at Boston. Mr. Secretary Willard said +to him, "Divers young men in this town, who are candidates for +the ministry, have been brought under deep convictions by your +preaching, and are carried off from the foundation of their false +hopes to rest only upon Christ for salvation." + +The Rev. Mr. Cooper wrote, "I can inform you that there are many +abiding proofs that you did not run in vain, and labor in vain +among us in this place. I can only say now in general, some have +been awakened who were before quite secure, and I hope a good work +begun in them. Others, who had been under religious impressions, +are now more earnestly pressing into the kingdom of heaven, and +many of the children of God are stirred up to give diligence for +the full assurance of faith. There is a greater flocking to all the +lectures in the town, and the people show such a disposition to the +new Tuesday evening lecture, that our large capacious house cannot +receive all that come. I am sure your visit to us has made a large +addition to the prayers that are going up for you in one place and +another, and I hope also unto the jewels that are to make up your +crown in the day of the Lord." + +In addition to these statements, Mr. Welch, a pious merchant, +wrote, "I fear I am tedious, but I cannot break off till I just +mention, to the glory of the grace of God, and for your comfort +and encouragement, the success your ministry of late has had among +us. Impressions made seem to be abiding on the minds of many. The +doctrines of grace seem to be more the topic of conversation than +ever I knew them. Nay, religious conversation seems to be almost +_fashionable_, and almost every one seems disposed to hear or speak +of the things of God. Multitudes flock to the evening lecture, +though it has sometimes been the worst of weather. Ministers seem to +preach with more life, and the great auditories seem to hear with +solemn attention, and I hope our Lord Jesus is getting to himself +the victory over the hearts of many sinners." + +These, and other letters of a similar character, filled the heart +of Whitefield with grateful pleasure; and he went on preaching and +enjoying the society of his friends till Friday, January 16. He +says, "I never received such generous tokens of love, I think, from +any people before, as from some in Charleston. They so loaded me +with sea-stores, that I sent many of them to Savannah." He now went +on board, and was fully engaged in preparations for the voyage, +which however was not entered on till the 24th. On that day the +_Minerva_ sailed over Charleston bar, and after a generally pleasant +voyage, they landed at Falmouth, March 11. "This," says he, "was a +profitable voyage to my soul, because of my having had many sweet +opportunities for reading, meditation, and prayer." + +The impartiality of history requires us, however reluctantly, here +to notice the separation which to some extent now took place between +Whitefield, and his old friends Messrs. John and Charles Wesley. +Their mutual attachment in early life we have already seen, as also +Whitefield's anxiety in Georgia to defend Mr. John Wesley's conduct +against those who opposed him. Impartial observers, however, after +a while began to remark, that on some doctrinal points, especially +on that of predestination, a difference was springing up. On his +passage to England, February 1, 1741, Whitefield thus wrote to +Mr. Charles Wesley: "My dear, dear brethren, why did you throw +out the bone of contention? Why did you print that sermon against +predestination? Why did you in particular, my dear brother Charles, +affix your hymn, and join in putting out your late hymn-book? How +can you say you will not dispute with me about election, and yet +print such hymns? and your brother sent his sermon against election, +to Mr. Garden and others in America. Do not you think, my dear +brethren, I must be as much concerned for truth, or what I think +truth, as you? God is my judge, I always was, and hope I always +shall be desirous that you may be preferred before me. But I must +preach the gospel of Christ, and that I cannot _now_ do, without +speaking of election." He then tells Mr. Charles Wesley, that in +Christmas-week he had written an answer to his brother's sermon, +"which," says he, "is now printing at Charleston; another copy I +have sent to Boston, and another I now bring with me, to print in +London. If it occasion a strangeness between us, it shall not be my +fault. There is nothing in my answer exciting to it, that I know of. +O, my dear brethren, my heart almost bleeds within me. Methinks I +could be willing to tarry here on the waters for ever, rather than +come to England to oppose you." + +Dr. Whitehead, in his "Life of John Wesley," has very wisely +said, "Controversy almost always injures the Christian temper, +much more than it promotes the interests of speculative truth. On +this question a separation took place between Mr. Wesley and Mr. +Whitefield, so far as to have different places of worship; and some +warm and tart expressions dropped from each. But their good opinion +of each other's integrity and usefulness, founded on long and +intimate acquaintance, could not be injured by such a difference of +sentiment; and their mutual affection was only obscured by a cloud +for a season." + +The friendship between Mr. Whitefield and the Messrs. Wesley was +very much increased and perpetuated by the wife of Mr. Charles +Wesley. This very extraordinary lady, whose original name was +Gwinne, was equally distinguished for her beauty, talents, and +piety. She had a very cordial regard for Mr. Whitefield, who as +cordially reciprocated it. She was married when the controversy +among these eminent men was at its height, and stipulated that +she should always be allowed to hear the preaching of Whitefield +and his friends. In her latter years especially, and she lived +till ninety-six, she expressed her pleasure in the belief that +she promoted the continuance of that endearing intercourse which +subsisted between Whitefield and her husband. She softened all +parties, and was on all occasions a blessed peacemaker. + +One fact relating to this eminently excellent woman may be +mentioned. She was nearly twenty years younger than her husband, and +four years after her marriage, and at the age of twenty-six, she +was seized with small-pox, of which at that time her eldest child +died. She lay twenty-two days in imminent danger of death, and when +she recovered she was so much altered in features that no one could +recognize her; but never did woman before lose her beauty with so +little regret. She used sportively to say, that the change in her +appearance "afforded great satisfaction to her dear husband, who +was glad to see her look so much older, and better suited to be his +companion." + +On Whitefield's arrival at Falmouth, he immediately set off in a +post-chaise to London, in order to preach on the following Sabbath. +But he now found occasion for all the patience he had acquired. He +had, he says, "written two well-meant, though ill-judged letters +against England's two great favorites, '_The Whole Duty of Man_,' +and Archbishop Tillotson, who, I said, knew no more about religion +than Mohammed. The Moravians had made inroads on our societies;" +besides which, the controversy with the Messrs. Wesley injured him. +His congregations on the Sabbath were still large, but on week-days +he had not more than two or three hundred hearers. He says, "Instead +of having thousands to attend me, scarcely one of my spiritual +children come to see me from morning to night. Once, on Kennington +Common, I had not above a hundred to hear me." + +Even this was not all. He says, "One that got some hundreds of +pounds by my sermons, refused to print for me any more. And others +wrote to me, that God would destroy me in a fortnight, and that my +fall was as great as Peter's." Still other sorrows attended him. +He writes, "I was much embarrassed in my outward circumstances. A +thousand pounds I owed for the orphan-house. Two hundred and fifty +pounds drawn on Mr. Seward, [who was now dead,] were returned upon +me. I was also threatened to be arrested for two hundred pounds +more." Besides all this, he had "a family of one hundred persons +to be maintained, four thousand miles off, in the dearest part of +his majesty's dominions." He now began to preach in Moorfields on +week-days, under one of the trees; where he saw numbers of his +spiritual children running by him without looking at him, and some +of them putting their fingers in their ears, that they might not +hear one word he said. "A like scene," he says, "opened at Bristol, +where I was denied preaching in the house I had founded." It was the +Kingswood school-house, built for the children of the colliers. + +But Whitefield could not long be kept down. His friends built a +new house and opened a new school at Kingswood. Some "free-grace +dissenters," as Gillies calls them, procured the loan of a building +lot in London, on which, as we have already seen, they built the +Tabernacle. Here his congregations immediately increased, and he +addressed them with his usual power and success. Invitations soon +poured in from the country, and even from places where he had never +been. At a common near Braintree, in Essex, he had more than ten +thousand hearers, and at many other places congregations were large +and much affected. "Sweet," says he, "was the conversation which I +had with several ministers of Christ." Soon again did he triumph, +even in England. + +Among the men who were now invited to aid, and who rendered +important assistance to Whitefield in his houses of worship in +London and Bristol, as well as in his itinerant labors, was Howel +Harris, a native of Wales, a gentleman, and a magistrate, to whom we +have already referred. His name in Wales is yet "a household word," +and his labors form a part of the history of Welsh Calvinistic +Methodism. As soon as he had embraced the gospel for himself, +he became intensely solicitous respecting the condition of his +neighbors. The scenes of profligacy and vice which everywhere +presented themselves burdened his heart, and he became anxious to +be actively employed in removing evil and doing good. He determined +on taking orders in the church of England, and accordingly +entered St. Mary's Hall, in Oxford university; but shocked at the +dissolute habits of the collegians, and finding what were called +his methodistical views were in the way of his ordination, he +returned to Wales, and began to evangelize its towns and villages. +Wherever there was an opening, there he went, and preached Christ +to the people; and although defamed and persecuted, he manfully +prosecuted his work, and thousands were by his agency brought to +repentance. He and Mr. Whitefield were kindred spirits, moved by +the same impulses, and pursuing the same course. Mr. Whitefield +spoke of him as "'a burning and shining light,' a barrier against +profaneness and immorality, and an indefatigable promoter of the +true gospel of Jesus Christ. For these years he has preached almost +twice a day, for three or four hours together. He has been in seven +counties, and has made it his business to go to wakes and fairs to +turn people from their lying vanities. He has been made the subject +of numbers of sermons, has been threatened with public prosecutions, +and had constables sent to apprehend him. But God has blessed him +with inflexible courage; strength has been communicated to him from +above, and he still goes on from conquering to conquer. God has +greatly blessed his pious endeavors; many call, and own him as their +spiritual father, and would, I believe, lay down their lives for his +sake." + +In the year 1759, when England was threatened with a French +invasion, Mr. Harris became a captain in the Brecknockshire militia, +and into whatever place in England the regiment was ordered, he +uniformly began to preach, and was the means of introducing the +gospel into many ignorant and depraved districts. Thus an unusual +act and an undesirable office were overruled to doing much good. +When the regiment was disbanded, he again regularly entered on his +ministerial duties with all his former zeal and activity. In a word, +he may justly be regarded the evangelist of Wales. + +As an illustration of the spirit of the energetic ministers of +Christ in those days, we quote a fact or two from the life of +Rowland Hill; the more readily as Howel Harris is the principal +subject. In 1774, four years after the death of Whitefield, Mr. +Hill travelled through Wales, preaching three or four times every +day; many conversions took place, which greatly sustained him under +an attack of illness; and led to the remark in his "Journal," "My +body quite weak, but my soul was refreshed." "A like example," +says Sidney, one of the biographers of Hill, "had been previously +before his eyes in the case of Howel Harris, one of Mr. Whitefield's +energetic followers, who was a man of extraordinary powers of body +and mind. Harris used to relate of himself, that being once on a +journey through Wales, he was subjected to great temptation to +desert his Master's cause, when he said, 'Satan, I'll match thee +for this;' and 'so I did,' he used to add; 'for I had not ridden +many miles before I came to a revel, where there was a show of +mountebanks, which I entered, and just as they were commencing, I +jumped into the midst of them and cried out, 'Let us pray,' which +so thunderstruck them that they listened to me quietly, while I +preached to them a most tremendous sermon, that frightened many +of them home.' Mr. Hill greatly delighted in this anecdote, and +often said that amidst somewhat similar scenes, he had been enabled +successfully to attack the kingdom of Satan." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FIRST AND SECOND VISITS TO SCOTLAND--LABORS IN ENGLAND AND WALES. + +1740-1744. + + +We have seen the spirit in which Mr. Whitefield returned to London, +and the cool manner in which he was too generally received. It is +painful to say that this coldness was not confined to enemies of the +truth; it appeared in some degree in eminent dissenting ministers, +as Watts and Bradbury, Barker, and even, to some extent, Doddridge. +A plan had a few years before been agitated to restore the +dissenters to the church, usually called the _Comprehension scheme_, +and assuredly, under the circumstances, friendship with Whitefield +was by no means favorable to such a plan being accomplished, though +it was at this period greatly desired by many of both parties. +Still, however, good was done; Whitefield preached, and God was +glorified. More union between Christians in advancing the cause of +Christ would have been exceedingly desirable, but even the want of +this was not permitted to stay the progress of this man of God. + +One of the most popular and useful ministers employed by Whitefield +and his friends at this time was John Cennick, the author of two +well-known hymns, beginning, + + "Jesus, thy blood and righteousness;" + "Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone." + +He was the preacher who, in Ireland, discoursed from the text, +"Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes," which +gave occasion for the Methodists in that country to be called +"_Swaddlers_." The parents of this excellent man were Quakers, +who had been imprisoned in Reading jail for the maintenance of +their religious principles. This persecution reduced them from +respectability to want, so that, like John Bunyan, they were forced +to make shoe-laces in prison for their support. + +The conversion of the son was very remarkable. His first deep and +lasting religious convictions flashed upon his mind like lightning +from heaven, while walking in the crowds of Cheapside, in London. +The effects were soon manifested; he became a new man, pursuing +a new course, and entering on a new work. His ministry was very +efficient, his views of truth were evangelical, his public speaking +popular, his zeal so great as sometimes to lead him to preach six +times in one day--all which labors were followed with abundant +success. + +Mr. Cennick was rather below the middle stature, of a fair +countenance, and though by no means robust in health, he knew little +of timidity. The spirit in which he discharged his ministry may be +seen in a letter he wrote to a friend: "We sang a hymn, and then the +devil led on his servants; they began beating a drum, and then made +fires of gunpowder: at first the poor flock was startled; but while +God gave me power to speak encouragingly to them, they waxed bolder, +and very few moved. The mob then fired guns over the people's heads, +and began to play a water engine upon brother Harris and myself, +till we were wet through. They also played an engine upon us with +hog's-wash and grounds of beer-barrels, and covered us with muddy +water from a ditch; they pelted us with eggs and stones, threw +baskets of dust over us, and fired their guns so close to us that +our faces were black with the powder; but, in nothing terrified, we +remained praying. I think I never saw or felt so great a power of +God as was there. In the midst of the confused multitude, I saw a +man laboring above measure, earnest to fill the buckets with water +to throw upon us. I asked him, 'What harm do we do? Why are you so +furious against us? We only come to tell you that Christ loved you, +and died for you.' He stepped back a little for room, and threw a +bucket of water in my face. When I had recovered myself, I said, +'My dear man, if God should so pour his wrath upon you, what would +become of you? Yet I tell you that Christ loves you.' He threw away +the bucket, let fall his trembling hands, and looked as pale as +death; he then shook hands with me, and parted from me, I believe +under strong convictions." + +Mr. Cennick had heretofore labored with Whitefield and Wesley, but +now adhered to the former, and labored very successfully in the +Tabernacle. After some years he united with the Moravian brethren, +and died in triumph at thirty-five. + +In the summer of 1741, some three or four months after his arrival +from America, Whitefield paid his first visit to Scotland. The state +of religion in that country at the commencement of the ministry of +this distinguished evangelist, has been already glanced at. It +is here important to remark, that in 1740 an indication of better +things began to appear in several places, especially in Cambuslang, +under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. M'Culloch. This excellent man, +for nearly a year before the revival began, had been preaching to +his people on those subjects which tend most directly to explain the +nature and prove the necessity of regeneration, according to the +different aspects in which it is represented in the holy Scriptures. +The church edifice had become too small for the congregation, and +the minister, in favorable weather, frequently conducted the public +worship on a green brae on the east side of a deep ravine near the +church, scooped out in the form of an amphitheatre. In this retired +and romantic spot, the worthy pastor preached in the most impressive +manner to the listening multitudes, and not unfrequently, after his +sermons, detailed to them the astonishing effects of Whitefield's +preaching in America, which did not a little to increase the +interest of the people, as well as lead them to wish to see such an +extraordinary preacher. + +While on his voyage to Scotland, Whitefield gave evidence that he +had not forgotten America. In his second visit to America, he had +become intimately acquainted with the Rev. Daniel Rodgers of Exeter, +New Hampshire, a direct descendant of the seventh generation of John +Rogers, who was burnt at the stake for the testimony of Christ in +the days of the bloody Mary. It is not surprising that Whitefield's +original letter to him, now in the possession of the family of the +grandson of Daniel Rodgers, is highly valued. It is dated on board +the Mary and Ann, bound from London to Scotland, July 25, 1741. + + "MY DEAR BROTHER RODGERS--How glad was I to receive a letter + from your hands, having heard nothing from you or of you + particularly since we parted. Oh, what great things has the + Lord shown us since that time! methinks I hear you say; and yet + I can tell of greater things. And I believe we shall see far + greater yet before we die. The work is beginning afresh here. + I sometimes think brother Gilbert [Tennent] must take a voyage + to old England. Most of our London ministers too much shun the + cross, and do not appear boldly for God. Now the Lord has worked + so powerfully in your college, I have less to object against + your joining Mr. Web. I am glad to hear that you speak _plain + and close_. What comfort will this afford you in a dying hour. + Go on, my dear brother, go on; venture daily upon Christ. Go out + in his strength, and he will enable us to do wonders. He is with + me more and more. I have sweetly been carried through the heat + and burning of every day's labor. Jesus bears all my burdens. + Jesus enables me to cast all my care upon him. Oh then, let us + magnify his name together. I am now going to Scotland, knowing + not what will befall me. What God does, you may expect to hear + of shortly. In the meanwhile, let us pray for and write to each + other. As iron sharpeneth iron, so do the letters of a man his + friend. Your last I have printed. God's glory called me to it. + + "My dear brother, adieu. Dear brother Sims sits by and salutes + you. My kind love awaits Mr. Web, and all who love the Lord + in sincerity. In hopes of receiving another letter from you + shortly, I subscribe myself, dear Mr. Rodgers, your most + affectionate, though very unworthy brother and servant in the + sweetest Jesus, + + "G. W." + +Among those who were most anxious that Mr. Whitefield should visit +Scotland, were the Rev. Messrs. Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine. These +two excellent brothers had separated themselves from the established +church, chiefly on the ground of its cold formalism, and with some +other zealous ministers had formed what has since been known as the +Associate Presbytery. Their wish was, that in coming to Scotland, +Whitefield should preach only in connection with their body, and +so help forward the work in which they were engaged. To this he +objected, regarding himself as an evangelist at large. As he +proceeded, they rather opposed him, as not sufficiently particular +and discriminative in his zeal. They wished him not to labor in +the church from which they had seceded, saying, "God had left it." +"Then," said he, "it is the more necessary for me to preach in it, +to endeavor to bring him back. I'll preach Christ wherever they'll +let me." On the 30th of July he arrived in Edinburgh, where he was +urged to preach, but declined till he had seen the Messrs. Erskine; +and accordingly proceeded to Dunfermline. Writing on the 1st of +August, he says, "I went yesterday to Dunfermline, where dear Mr. +Ralph Erskine hath got a large and separate, or as it is commonly +termed, seceding meeting-house. He received me very lovingly. I +preached to his and the town's people--a very thronged assembly. +After I had done prayers and named my text, the rustling made by +opening the Bibles all at once quite surprised me--a scene I never +was witness to before." + +On the day following, Whitefield returned to Edinburgh, accompanied +by Mr. Ralph Erskine, and preached in the Orphan-house park to a +large and attentive audience. His text was, "The kingdom of God +is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in +the Holy Ghost." Rom. 14:17. After the sermon, a large company, +including some of the nobility, came to bid him God-speed; and +among others a portly Quaker, a nephew of the Messrs. Erskine, who, +taking him by the hand, said, "Friend George, I am as thou art; I +am for bringing all to the life and power of the ever-living God; +and therefore, if thou wilt not quarrel with me about my hat, I +will not quarrel with thee about thy gown." On Sabbath evening, he +preached in the same place, to upwards of fifteen thousand persons; +and on the evenings of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, to nearly as +many; on Tuesday in the Canongate church; on Wednesday and Thursday +at Dunfermline; and on Friday morning at Queensferry. "Everywhere," +says he, "the auditories were large and very attentive. Great power +accompanied the word. Many have been brought under convictions, and +I have already received invitations to different places, which, God +willing, I intend to comply with." Writing a week later, he says, +"It would make your heart leap for joy to be now in Edinburgh. I +question if there be not upwards of three hundred in this city +seeking after Jesus. Every morning I have a constant levee of +wounded souls, many of whom are quite slain by the law. God's power +attends the word continually, just as when I left London. At seven +in the morning we have a lecture in the fields, attended not only +by the common people, but also by persons of rank. I have reason to +think that several of the latter sort are coming to Jesus. Little +children also are much wrought upon. God much blesses my letters +from the little orphans, [girls in the hospital.] He loves to work +by contemptible means. Oh, my dear brother, I am quite amazed when +I think what God has done here in a fortnight. My printed sermons +and journals have been blessed in an uncommon manner. I am only +afraid lest people should idolize the instrument, and not look +enough to the glorious Jesus, in whom alone I desire to glory. +Congregations consist of many thousands. Never did I see so many +Bibles, nor people looking into them, while I am expounding, with so +much attention. Plenty of tears flow from the hearers' eyes. Their +emotions appear in various ways. I preach twice daily, and expound +at private houses at night, and am employed in speaking to souls +under distress great part of the day. I have just snatched a few +moments to write to my dear brother. Oh, that God may enlarge your +heart to pray for me. This afternoon I preach out of town, and also +to-morrow. Next post, God willing, you shall have another letter. +I walk continually in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. The love of +Christ quite strikes me dumb. O grace, grace! let that be my song. +Adieu." + +In this manner Whitefield continued to preach very extensively +over Scotland; and early in September he arrived at Glasgow. +On the eleventh of that month he began his labors in the High +Church-yard, and for five days in succession preached there twice +a day--at an early hour in the morning, and again in the evening. +The expectations of the people were high, not only in Glasgow, but +all around, and crowds flocked to hear him preach. Morning after +morning, and evening after evening, that vast church-yard, almost +paved as it is with tombstones, was crowded with living worshippers, +trembling under the word. But not satisfied with hearing, the pen of +the ready writer was from day to day at work, and each sermon was +printed by itself, and put immediately into circulation. His sermons +were characterized by great simplicity, as if the language of the +preacher merely expressed what he felt, and yet there was so much +earnestness, and so much closeness of application, as to account +for the effects they produced. He was in the pulpit very much what +Baxter was in the press. He spoke as a man realizing all that he +said, and laying open the feelings of his own heart in addressing +the hearts of others. + +Very few men better knew the human heart than Whitefield. He seemed +to know all the thoughts and feelings of his hearers, and the best +way in which to meet them. He once preached in Scotland from the +text, "The door was shut." Matt. 25:10. A respectable lady who heard +him sat near the door, a considerable distance from the pulpit, and +observed two showy and trifling young men who appeared to turn the +solemn appeals of the preacher into ridicule; she heard one of them +say in a low tone to the other, "Well, what if the door be shut? +another will open." In a very few minutes, to the great surprise of +the lady, Mr. Whitefield said, "It is possible there may be some +careless, trifling person here to-day, who may ward off the force +of this impressive subject by lightly thinking, 'What matter if the +door be shut? another will open.'" The two young men looked at each +other as though they were paralyzed, as the preacher proceeded: +"Yes, another door will open; and I will tell you what door it +will be: it will be the door of the bottomless pit, the door of +hell!--the door which conceals from the eyes of angels the horrors +of damnation." + +After Mr. Whitefield's return to England, at the close of October, +among many letters which followed him, detailing the results of his +labors, was one from Mr. M'Culloch, the excellent minister already +referred to: + +"As it is matter of joy and thankfulness to God, who sent you +hither, and gave you so much countenance, and so remarkably crowned +your labors with success here at Glasgow, so I doubt not but the +following account of the many seals to your ministry in and about +that city, will be very rejoicing to your heart, especially as +the kingdom of our glorious Redeemer is so much advanced thereby, +and as the everlasting happiness of souls is promoted. I am well +informed by some ministers, and other judicious and experienced +Christians, that there are to the amount of fifty persons already +known, in and about Glasgow, who appear to be savingly converted, +through the blessing and power of God on your ten sermons. And there +are, besides these, several others apparently under conviction, +but not reckoned, as being still doubtful. Several Christians +also, of considerable standing, were much strengthened, revived, +and comforted by what they heard. They were made to rejoice in +hope of the glory of God, having attained to the full assurance +of faith. Among those lately converted, there are several young +people who were before openly wicked and flagitious, or at best +but very negligent as to spiritual things; and yet they are now +in the way of salvation. Some young converts are yet under doubts +and fears, but a considerable number of them have attained to +peace and joy in believing. Several of those who were lately +wrought on in a gracious way, seem to outstrip Christians of +considerable standing, in spiritual-mindedness, and in many other +good qualifications; particularly in their zeal for the conversion +of others, in their love to ordinances, and in their freedom from +bigotry and party zeal. Those converted by your ministry have not +been discovered at once, but only from time to time. A good many +of them have been discovered only of late. Their convictions were +at first less pungent, and through the discouragements they met +with in the families where they resided, as well as from their own +feelings, they endeavored for a time to conceal their state. These +circumstances afford ground for hoping, that there are yet others +who may afterwards become known. Besides such as have been awakened +through the power of God accompanying your sermons, there have been +others who have been since awakened, and who have been discovered +in consequence of the change observable in their conduct. These, +dear brother, are a few hints concerning some of the most remarkable +things, as to the blessing which accompanied your labors at Glasgow." + +At Edinburgh, when first visited by Whitefield, many persons of the +highest rank constantly attended his ministry. Among them were the +Marquis of Lothian, the Earl of Leven, Lord Ray, Lady Mary Hamilton, +Lady Frances Gardiner, Lady Jane Nimms, and Lady Dirleton; and at +some one of their houses he expounded almost every evening. Numbers +of ministers and students crowded to hear him; and aged Christians +told him they could set their seal to what he preached. + +In connection with this first visit to Edinburgh, several incidents +have been related which show the power that accompanied his +preaching, and the skill with which he could seize upon passing +circumstances, and apply them to the great purpose which he always +had in view. A gentleman, on returning from one of his sermons, was +met on his way home by an eminent minister whom he usually heard, +and who expressed great surprise that he should go to hear such a +man. The gentleman replied, "Sir, when I hear you, I am planting +trees all the time; but during the whole of Mr. Whitefield's sermon, +I could not find time to plant one." A similar instance is related +of a ship-builder, who usually could "build a ship from stem to +stern during the sermon; but under Mr. Whitefield, could not lay a +single plank." + +Another narrative has been thus given. An unhappy man who had +forfeited his life to the offended laws of his country, was +executed in that neighborhood. Mr. Whitefield mingled with the +crowd collected on the occasion, and was much impressed with the +decorum and solemnity which were observable in the awful scene. His +appearance, however, drew the eyes of all upon him, and produced +a variety of opinions as to the motives which led him to join the +multitude. + +The next day, being Sunday, he preached to a very large congregation +in a field near the city; and in the course of his sermon, he +adverted to the scenes of the preceding day. "I know," said he, +"that many of you may find it difficult to reconcile my appearance +yesterday with my clerical character. Many of you, I know, will +say that my moments would have been better employed in praying +for the unhappy man, than in attending him to the fatal tree; and +that perhaps curiosity was the only cause that converted me into a +spectator on that occasion; but those who ascribe that uncharitable +motive to me, are under a mistake. I went as an observer of +human nature, and to see the effect that such an occurrence +would have on those who witnessed it. I watched the conduct of +those who were present on that awful occasion, and I was highly +pleased with their demeanor, which has given me a very favorable +opinion of the Scottish nation. Your sympathy was visible on your +countenances; particularly when the moment arrived that your unhappy +fellow-creature was to close his eyes on this world for ever. Then +you all, as if moved by one impulse, turned your heads aside, and +wept. Those tears were precious, and will be held in remembrance. +How different it was when the Saviour of mankind was extended on the +cross! The Jews, instead of sympathizing in his sorrows, triumphed +in them. They reviled him with bitter expressions, with words +even more bitter than the gall and vinegar which they handed him +to drink. Not one of all who witnessed his pains, turned his head +aside, even in the last pang. Yes, my friends, there was _one_--that +glorious luminary," pointing to the sun, "veiled his brightness, and +travelled on his course in tenfold night." + +On another occasion, near the same city, and probably in the field +to which we have already referred, under the shade of a venerable +tree, in a lovely meadow, a poor unhappy man, thinking to turn him +into ridicule, placed himself on one of the overhanging boughs, +immediately above the preacher's head, and with monkey-like +dexterity mimicking his gestures, endeavored to raise a laugh in the +audience. Guided by the looks of some of his hearers, Whitefield +caught a glance of him, but without seeming to have noticed him, +continued his discourse. With the skill of a wise orator, he +reserved the incident for the proper place and time. While forcibly +speaking on the power and sovereignty of divine grace, with +increasing earnestness he spoke of the unlikely objects it had often +chosen, and the unlooked for triumphs it had achieved. As he rose +to the climax of his inspiring theme, and when in the full sweep of +his eloquence, he suddenly paused, and turning round, and pointing +slowly to the poor creature above him, he exclaimed, in a tone of +deep and thrilling pathos, "Even _he_ may yet be the subject of +that free and resistless grace." It was a shaft from the Almighty. +Winged by the divine Spirit, it struck the scoffer to the heart, and +realized in his conversion the glorious truth it contained. + +Yet another fact may be told connected with Whitefield and +Edinburgh. When he was once there, a regiment of soldiers were +stationed in the city, in which was a sergeant whose name was +Forbes, a very abandoned man, who, everywhere he could do so, run in +debt for liquor, with which he was almost at all times drunk. His +wife washed for the regiment, and thus obtained a little money. She +was a pious woman, but all her attempts to reclaim her husband were +unsuccessful. During one of Mr. Whitefield's visits to the city, +she offered her husband a sum of money, if he would for once go and +hear the eloquent preacher. This was a strong inducement, and he +engaged to go. The sermon was in a field, as no building could have +contained the audience. The sergeant was rather early, and placed +himself in the middle of the field, that he might file off when Mr. +Whitefield ascended the pulpit; as he only wished to be able to say +that he had seen him. The crowd, however, increased; and when the +preacher appeared, they pressed forward, and the sergeant found it +impossible to get away. The prayer produced some impression on his +mind, but the sermon convinced him of his sinfulness and danger. +He became a changed man, and showed the reality of his conversion +by living for many years in a very penurious manner, till he had +satisfied the claims of every one of his creditors. + +One fact more should be stated in connection with this visit. Mr. +James Ogilvie was one of the ministers of Aberdeen. This city +was not in that day, nor indeed in any part of the eighteenth +century, warmly attached to a fully-exhibited gospel. At this time, +however, both Mr. Ogilvie and his colleague, Mr. Bisset, who, as +Sir Henry Moncrieff says, was the highest of the High church, were +evangelical, though otherwise very opposite men. "Though colleagues +of the same congregation," says Whitefield, "they are very different +in their natural temper. The one is, what they call in Scotland, a +sweet-blooded man, the other of a choleric disposition. Mr. Bisset +is neither a seceder nor quite a true kirkman, having great fault +to find with both. Soon after my arrival, dear Mr. Ogilvie took me +to pay my respects to him. He was prepared for it, and pulled out +a paper containing a great number of insignificant queries, which +I had neither time nor inclination to answer." For several years +Mr. Ogilvie had been corresponding with Mr. Whitefield to induce +him to visit Aberdeen, hoping that some good might be done; and as +he was himself to preach on Sabbath forenoon in presence of the +magistrates, he gave Mr. Whitefield his place. The congregation was +large, and apparently much interested. Mr. Bisset, in the afternoon, +preached against Mr. Whitefield by name. Mr. Ogilvie, without either +consulting his friend, or noticing the conduct of his colleague, +stood up, after the sermon, and intimated to the congregation +that Mr. Whitefield would again preach in about half an hour. The +magistrates remained in the session-house, and the people hastened +back, expecting to bear a reply. Mr. Whitefield, waiving as much as +possible all controversial matter, preached Christ. The audience +was silent, solemn, and deeply impressed. Next day, the magistrates +apologized for their minister; and as a mark of their own respect, +presented to Mr. Whitefield the freedom of their city. The effect of +this visit to Aberdeen was great and beneficial. + +In 1742, Mr. Whitefield again visited Scotland. In the mean time +he had heard that his dear friends the Erskines had become greatly +offended, on account of what they considered his lax views of church +government. But notwithstanding this difference with the seceders, +he was received by great numbers, among whom were some persons of +distinction, with cordiality and joy, and had the satisfaction +of hearing more and more of the happy fruits of his ministry. +At Edinburgh he again preached twice a day, as before, in the +Hospital-park, where a number of seats and shades, in the form of +an amphitheatre, were erected for the accommodation of his hearers. +On the day of his arrival at Cambuslang, he preached three times +to an immense body of people, although he had preached that same +morning at Glasgow. The last service continued till eleven o'clock; +and so much were the people interested, that Mr. M'Culloch, after +preaching till past one in the morning, could scarcely persuade them +to depart. Mr. Whitefield himself thus describes the scene: "Persons +from all parts flocked to see, and many, from many parts, went home +convinced and converted to God. A brae, or hill, near the manse at +Cambuslang, seemed to be formed by Providence for containing a +large congregation. People sat unwearied till two in the morning, +to hear sermons, disregarding the weather. You could scarcely walk +a yard, but you must tread upon some either rejoicing in God for +mercies received, or crying out for more. Thousands and thousands +have I seen, before it was possible to catch it by sympathy, melted +down under the word and power of God. At the celebration of the holy +communion, their joy was so great, that, at the desire of many, +both ministers and people, in imitation of Hezekiah's passover, +they had, a month or two afterwards, a second, which was a general +rendezvous of the people of God. The communion was in the field; +three tents, at proper distances, all surrounded with a multitude of +hearers; above twenty ministers, among whom was good old Mr. Bonner, +attending to preach and assist, all enlivening and enlivened by one +another." + +In addition to his labors at Glasgow and Cambuslang, it is +surprising to observe the number of places in the west of Scotland +which Whitefield visited in the course of a few weeks; preaching +wherever he went, with his usual frequency, energy, and success. +A gentleman of piety and intelligence thus refers to one of them +several years afterwards: "When Mr. Whitefield was preaching at +Kilmarnock, on the twenty-third of August, from the words, 'And of +his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace,' I thought I +never heard such a sermon; and from the era above mentioned, I have +always looked upon him as my spiritual father, and frequently heard +him afterwards in Edinburgh and Glasgow with much satisfaction. +When Cape Breton was taken, I happened to be at Edinburgh, and being +invited to breakfast with Mr. Whitefield, I never, in all my life, +enjoyed such another breakfast. He gave the company a fine and +lively descant upon that part of the world, made us all join in a +hymn of praise and thanksgiving, and concluded with a most devout +and fervent prayer." About the end of October, Whitefield returned +to London. + +Probably few are aware that Mr. Whitefield visited Scotland no +less than _fourteen_ times. These visits extended over a period +of twenty-seven years, beginning in 1741, and ending in 1768. +In none of his visits after 1742 were there the same extensive +awakenings as in his first two visits, yet his coming was always +refreshing to serious persons, infusing new life, and increasing +their numbers. Young people, too, were much benefited by his +ministry, and especially young students, who afterwards became +zealous and evangelical preachers. His morning discourses, which +were generally intended for sincere but disconsolate souls, were +peculiarly fitted to direct and encourage such in the Christian +life; and his addresses in the evening to the promiscuous multitudes +who then attended him, were powerful and alarming. There was great +solemnity in his evening congregations in the Orphan-house park at +Edinburgh and the High Church-yard at Glasgow, especially towards +the conclusion of his sermons--which were usually long, though they +seemed short to his hearers--when the whole multitude stood fixed, +and like one man, hung upon his lips with silent attention, and many +were under deep religious impressions. + +His conversation was no less useful and delightful than his +sermons. Many in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and other parts of the land, +bore witness of this fact. In Glasgow especially, when in company +with his excellent friends M'Laurin, Scott, and others, one might +challenge the professed sons of pleasure, with all their wit, humor, +and gayety, to furnish entertainments so gratifying; nor was any +part of it more agreeable than it was useful and edifying. + +Mr. Whitefield's friends in Scotland, among whom were many of all +ranks, from the highest to the lowest, were constant and steady +in their great regard for him, and his opposers from year to year +became less violent. Indeed, his whole behavior was so transparent +to the eyes of the world, and his character, after it had stood many +attacks from all quarters, became so thoroughly established, that +some of his opposers in Scotland seemed to acquire esteem for him; +at least, they ceased to speak evil of him. + +In closing our sketch of Whitefield in Scotland, we select a few +paragraphs from his letters, which are the more interesting as +being among the very last words he wrote in that country. June 15, +1768, he says, "You would be delighted to see our Orphan-house +park assemblies, as large, attentive, and affectionate as ever. +Twenty-seven-year-old friends and spiritual children remember the +days of old; they are seeking after their first love, and there +seems to be a stirring among the dry bones." Writing on the second +of July, he says, "Could I preach ten times a day, thousands and +thousands would attend. I have been confined for a few days; but on +Monday or Tuesday next, hope to mount my throne again. O, to die +there! too great, too great an honor to be expected." Again, on the +ninth of July, "Every thing goes on better and better here; but I am +so worn down by preaching abroad and talking at home almost all the +day long, that I have determined, God willing, to set off for London +next Tuesday." + +The respect with which Whitefield was treated in Scotland, not only +by professing Christians, but in general society, was shown by the +fact that he was presented with the freedom of some of the principal +cities and towns which he visited. This privilege was given him in +Stirling, Glasgow, Paisley, and Aberdeen, in 1741, and at Irvine and +Edinburgh some years afterwards. + +It is difficult, in such a world as this, so to live as that "our +good" shall not "be evil spoken of." Mr. Whitefield has sometimes +been charged with motives of a mercenary character, but his whole +life showed the fallacy of such a charge. Dr. Gillies, his original +biographer, received from unquestionable testimony the knowledge +of a fact which ought not to be forgotten. During his stay in +Scotland, in the year 1759, a young lady, Miss Hunter, who possessed +a considerable fortune, made a full offer to him of her estate in +money and lands, worth several thousand pounds. He promptly refused +the offer; and upon his declining it for himself, she offered it to +him for the benefit of his orphan-house. This also he absolutely +refused. + +Never could Whitefield be accused of moral cowardice. When the old +Scotch Marquis of Lothian professed that his heart was impressed +with the importance of religion, but wished to be a Christian in +the dark, Whitefield said to him, "As for praying in your family, +I entreat you not to neglect it; you are bound to do it. Apply to +Christ to overcome your present fears; they are the effects of pride +or infidelity, or both." + + * * * * * + +On his return from Scotland to London in 1741, Whitefield passed +through Wales, where at Abergavenny he was married to a Mrs. James, +a widow, some ten years older than himself. Of this marriage, as +also of the death of his only child, we have already spoken. After +preaching at Bristol twice a day for several days in succession, +he returned to London in the beginning of December, where he +found letters from Georgia, which, on account of the temporal +circumstances of his orphan family, somewhat discouraged him. But to +trace his progress, and to report all his labors, would be to extend +our volume beyond its due limits. + +He was soon again in the west of England, and writing from +Gloucester, his native place, December 23, 1741, he says, "Last +Thursday evening the Lord brought me hither. I preached immediately +to our friends in a large barn, and had my Master's presence. Both +the power and the congregation increased. On Sunday, Providence +opened a door for my preaching in St. John's, one of the parish +churches. Great numbers came. On Sunday afternoon, after I had +preached twice at Gloucester, I preached at the hill, six miles off, +and again at night at Stroud. The people seemed to be more hungry +than ever, and the Lord to be more among them. Yesterday morning I +preached at Painswick, in the parish church, here in the afternoon, +and again at night in the barn. God gives me unspeakable comfort and +uninterrupted joy. Here seems to be a new awakening, and a revival +of the work of God. I find several country people were awakened when +I preached at Tewkesbury, and have heard of three or four that have +died in the Lord. We shall never know what good field-preaching has +done till we come to judgment. Many who were prejudiced against me +begin to be of another mind; and God shows me more and more that +'when a man's ways please the Lord, he will make even his enemies to +be at peace with him.'" + +In the following February he was still further encouraged by +receiving letters from America, informing him of the remarkable +success of the gospel there, and that God had stirred up some +wealthy friends to assist his orphans in their extremity. He writes, +"The everlasting God reward all their benefactors. I find there +has been a fresh awakening among them. I am informed that twelve +negroes belonging to a planter lately converted at the orphan-house, +are savingly brought home to Jesus Christ." Nor were these things +all which afforded him joy. Writing to a friend, April 6, he says, +"Our Saviour is doing great things in London daily. I rejoice to +hear that you are helped in your work. Let this encourage you; go +on, go on; the more we do, the more we may do for Jesus. I sleep +and eat but little, and am constantly employed from morning till +midnight, and yet my strength is daily renewed. Oh, free grace! it +fires my soul, and makes me long to do something for Jesus. It is +true, indeed, I want to go home; but here are so many souls ready to +perish for lack of knowledge, that I am willing to tarry below as +long as my Master has work for me." It was at this period that he +first ventured to preach in the fair in Moorfields, to which we have +already referred. In this year he made also his second journey to +Scotland, the particulars of which have been already given. + +On his arrival from Scotland in London, October, 1742, Whitefield +found a new awakening at the Tabernacle, which in the mean time had +been enlarged. He says, "I am employed, and, glory to rich grace, +I am carried through the duties of each day with cheerfulness and +almost uninterrupted tranquillity. Our society is large, but in good +order. My Master gives us much of his gracious presence, both in our +public and private ministrations." + +In March, 1743, he went again into Gloucestershire, where the +people appeared to be more eager to attend on his ministry than +ever before. "Preaching," says he, "in Gloucestershire, is now like +preaching at the Tabernacle in London." And in a letter, April 7, +he says, "I preached, and took leave of the Gloucester people with +mutual and great concern, on Sunday evening last. It was past one in +the morning before I could lay my weary body down, At five I rose +again, sick for want of rest; but I was enabled to get on horseback +and ride to Mr. T----'s, where I preached to a large congregation, +who came there at seven in the morning. At ten, I read prayers and +preached, and afterwards administered the sacrament in Stonehouse +church. Then I rode to Stroud, and preached to about twelve thousand +in Mr. G----'s field; and about six in the evening, to a like number +on Hampton common." Next morning he preached near Dursley to some +thousands; at about seven o'clock he reached Bristol, and preached +to a full congregation at Smith's hall; and on the following +morning, after preaching, set out for Waterford, in South Wales, +where he opened the association which he and his brethren had agreed +upon, and was several days with them, settling the affairs of the +societies. The work in Wales, during his absence, had very greatly +extended itself, not a few of the clergy having become converted, +as well as their people. He tells us, "The power of God at the +sacrament, under the ministry of Mr. Rowland, was enough to make +a person's heart burn within him. At seven in the morning have I +seen perhaps ten thousand from different parts, in the midst of a +sermon, crying, _Gugunniaut_--_bendyth_--[glory--blessed]--ready +to leap for joy." He continued in Wales some weeks, preaching with +great apparent success, and in the latter part of April returned +to Gloucester, after having, in about three weeks, travelled about +four hundred miles, spent three days in attending associations, +and preached about forty times. Among the interesting events +of this journey may be reckoned the fact, that when he was at +Caermarthen the quarterly sessions were held. When he was about to +preach, the magistrates sent him word, that if he would stay till +the court rose, they would attend on the service. He acceded to +their proposal, and they were present, with many thousands more, +including several persons of high rank. + +After a few weeks spent in London, preaching to vast congregations +in Moorfields, and exulting in his accustomed success, collecting +too for his beloved orphans, so as to be able to pay all his debts, +and to make a remittance to Georgia, we again find him at Bristol, +and in a few days afterwards at Exeter. Among the clergymen who +met him there was Mr. Cennick. As this gentleman was preaching +during this visit in the High-street of the city, he was eloquently +discoursing on the doctrine of the atonement by the blood of Christ, +when a profane butcher in the crowd exclaimed, "If you love blood, +you shall presently have enough of it," and ran to obtain some to +throw on him. A Mr. Saunders, who was employed in conveying persons +from one place to another, though an entire stranger to religion, +from a sense of justice, determined to defend the preacher; and +when the butcher came with a pail nearly filled with blood, he +quietly took it from him, and poured it over the man's own head. +This Mr. Saunders afterwards became an eminent Christian. He was, +till extreme old age, the body-coachman of George III., with whom he +frequently held Christian conversation, and died happily in 1799, at +the age of eighty-nine. + +During this visit to Bristol, Whitefield's ministry was owned of God +in the conversion of Thomas Olivers, a young profligate Welshman. +It is said, he had so studied profanity and cursing, that he +would exemplify the richness of the Welsh language by compounding +twenty or thirty words into one long and horrid blasphemy. He had +often sang profane songs about Whitefield, and was now induced by +curiosity to go to hear him. Being too late on the first occasion, +he went on the following evening nearly three hours before the time. +The text was, "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" Zech. +3:2. His heart became broken with a sense of his sins, and he was +soon enabled to trust in the mercy of Christ. He became a zealous +and successful minister of Christ among the followers of Mr. Wesley, +and was the author of the well-known hymn, + + "The God of Abram praise," etc. + +In August, Whitefield returned to London, but not to make a long +stay there. "I thank you," he writes to a correspondent, "for +your kind caution to spare myself; but evangelizing is certainly +my province. Everywhere effectual doors are opened. So far from +thinking of settling in London, I am more and more convinced that +I should go from place to place." Accordingly, during the three +last months of 1743, we find him in a large number of places in the +central and western parts of England. At Birmingham, he writes, "I +have preached five times this day, and weak as I am, through Christ +strengthening me, I could preach five times more." At Kidderminster +he met with a distinguished Christian merchant, a Mr. Williams, +whose published "Memoirs" have been eminently useful. Whitefield +writes, "I was kindly received by Mr. Williams. Many friends were +at his house. I was greatly refreshed to find what a sweet savor of +good Baxter's doctrine, works, and discipline remains to this day." +Nor did he, amidst all his labors, feel his health much impaired. +He observes, indeed, that he had taken a cold, but adds, "The Lord +warms my heart." + +In the beginning of March, 1744, he was compelled to attend the +assizes at Gloucester. During the preceding summer, the enemies of +the Methodists had been very violent, especially at Hampton, in that +county. Forbearance in the case had ceased to be a virtue, and Mr. +Whitefield was strongly urged to appeal to law, which in England in +such cases is severe. At the preceding sessions the rioters had been +convicted, but appealed to the assizes, a higher court. After a full +hearing, a verdict was given in favor of Whitefield and his friends, +and all the prisoners were found guilty. This exposed each to a +fine of forty pounds, or six months' imprisonment; the rioters were +greatly alarmed, public feeling on the subject was corrected, and +the Methodists readily extended forgiveness to the unhappy offenders. + +Whitefield was now invited by Mr. Smith, an American merchant then +in England, in the name of thousands, to revisit this country, +and took passage with that gentleman in a vessel sailing from +Portsmouth. But the captain refused to take him, "for fear," as he +said, "he would spoil the sailors." On this account Mr. Whitefield +was compelled to go to Plymouth, another seaport, to accomplish his +purpose. On his way, he preached at Exeter and other places, with +delightful results. "But," he says, "the chief scene was at Plymouth +and the Dock, [now called Devonport,] where I expected least +success." + +While he was at Plymouth, four well-dressed men came to the house of +one of his particular friends, in a kind manner inquiring after him, +and desiring to know where he lodged. Soon after, Mr. Whitefield +received a letter informing him that the writer was a nephew of Mr. +S----, an attorney in New York; that he had the pleasure of supping +with Mr. Whitefield at his uncle's house, and requested his company +to sup with him and a few friends at a tavern. Mr. Whitefield +replied to him that he was not accustomed to sup abroad at such +houses, but he should be glad of the gentleman's company to eat a +morsel with him at his own lodging. The gentleman accordingly came +and supped, but was observed frequently to look around him, and to +be very absent. At length he took his leave, and returned to his +companions in the tavern, and on being asked by them what he had +done, he answered, that he had been treated with so much civility +and kindness that he had not the heart to touch him. One of the +company, a lieutenant of a man-of-war, laid a wager of ten guineas +that he would do his business for him. His companions, however, had +the precaution to take away his sword. + +It was now about midnight, and Mr. Whitefield having that day +preached to a large congregation, and visited the French prisoners, +had retired to rest, when he was awoke and told that a well-dressed +gentleman earnestly wished to speak with him. Supposing that it was +some person under conviction of sin, many such having previously +called upon him, he desired him to be brought to his room. The +gentleman came, sat down by his bedside, congratulated him upon the +success of his ministry, and expressed considerable regret that he +had been prevented from hearing him. Soon after, however, he began +to utter the most abusive language, and in a cruel and cowardly +manner beat him in his bed. The landlady and her daughter, hearing +the noise, rushed into the room and laid hold of the assailant; +but disengaging himself from them, he renewed his attack on the +unoffending preacher, who, supposing that he was about to be shot or +stabbed, underwent all the feelings of a sudden and violent death. +Soon after, a second person came into the house, and called from +the bottom of the stairs, "Take courage, I am ready to help you." +But by the repeated cries of murder the neighborhood had become so +alarmed, that the villains were glad to make their escape. "The +next morning," says Mr. Whitefield, "I was to expound at a private +house, and then to set out for Biddeford. Some urged me to stay and +prosecute, but being better employed, I went on my intended journey, +was greatly blessed in preaching the everlasting gospel; and, upon +my return, was well paid for what I had suffered, curiosity having +led perhaps two thousand more than ordinary to see and hear a man +that had like to have been murdered in his bed. And I trust, in the +five weeks that I waited for the convoy, hundreds were awakened and +turned unto the Lord." + +As Whitefield was one day preaching in Plymouth, a Mr. Henry Tanner, +who was at work as a ship-builder at a distance, heard his voice, +and resolved, with five or six of his companions, to go and drive +him from the place where he stood; and for this purpose they filled +their pockets with stones. When, however, Mr. Tanner drew near, and +heard Mr. Whitefield earnestly inviting sinners to Christ, he was +filled with astonishment, his resolution failed him, and he went +home with his mind deeply impressed. On the following evening, he +again attended, and heard Mr. Whitefield on the sin of those who +crucified the Redeemer. After he had forcibly illustrated their +guilt, he appeared to look intently on Mr. Tanner, as he exclaimed, +with great energy, "Thou art the man!" These words powerfully +impressed Mr. Tanner; he felt his transgressions of the divine law +to be awfully great, and in the agony of his soul he cried, "God be +merciful to me a sinner!" The preacher then proceeded to proclaim +the free and abundant grace of the Lord Jesus, which he commanded to +be preached among the very people who had murdered him; a gleam of +hope entered the heart of the penitent, and he surrendered himself +to Christ. Mr. Tanner afterwards entered the ministry, and labored +with great success, for many years, at Exeter. + +We are not quite certain whether it was on this or a subsequent +visit to Plymouth, that Whitefield had preached on the Sabbath for +the Rev. Mr. Kinsman, and after breakfast on Monday morning, said +to him, "Come, let us visit some of your poor people. It is not +enough that we labor in the pulpit; we must endeavor to be useful +out of it." On entering the dwellings of the afflicted poor, he +administered to their temporal as well as their spiritual wants. +Mr. Kinsman, knowing the low state of his finances, was surprised +at his liberality, and suggested that he thought he had been too +bountiful. Mr. Whitefield, with some degree of smartness, replied, +"It is not enough, young man, to pray, and put on a serious face; +true religion, and undefiled, is this, to visit the widow and the +fatherless in their affliction, and to supply their wants. My stock, +it is true, is nearly exhausted; but God, whom I serve, and whose +saints we have assisted, will, I doubt not, soon give me a supply." +His expectation was not disappointed. A stranger called on him +the same evening, who said, "With great pleasure I have heard you +preach; you are on a journey, as well as myself, and travelling is +expensive. Do me the honor to accept of this;" handing him five +guineas, or twenty-five dollars. Returning to the family, Mr. +Whitefield, very pleasantly smiling, showed them the money, saying, +"There, young man, God has very speedily repaid what I lent him this +morning. Let this in future teach you not to withhold what it is in +the power of your hand to give. The gentleman to whom I was called +is a perfect stranger to me; his only business was to give me the +sum you see." It was a singular fact, that this gentleman, though +rich, was notorious for a penurious disposition. + +During his stay in Plymouth, Whitefield's usefulness daily +increased. The ferry-men, who obtained their living by carrying +persons between Plymouth and Dock, refused to take money from his +hearers, saying, "God forbid that we should sell his word!" The +evangelist exclaimed, "Oh, the thousands that flock to the preaching +of Christ's gospel!" In the midst of these scenes, the convoy +arrived, and in delicate health he embarked for America. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WHITEFIELD'S SECOND VISIT TO NEW ENGLAND. + +1744, 1745. + + +Mr. Whitefield commenced his third voyage to America in August, +1744. His health while crossing the Atlantic became worse, +rather than better, the voyage lasting eleven weeks. He had set +out in company with about one hundred and fifty ships, attended +by several men-of-war as convoys, which, however, they lost by +storms separating them on the way. It was more than six weeks, +owing generally to want of wind, before they reached any of the +western islands. When the wind again sprung up, one of the vessels, +which missed stays, drove upon the ship in which Whitefield was, +striking her mainsail into the bowsprit. The alarm was very great, +but no lives were lost. He had been singing a hymn on deck when +the concussion took place; this fact, together with that of the +concussion itself, was communicated to the convoy, and led to the +use of much violent and wicked language. But the good man was not +intimidated. He says, "I called my friends together, and broke +out into these words in prayer: 'God of the sea, and God of the +dry land, this is a night of rebuke and blasphemy. Show thyself, +O God, and take us under thine own immediate protection. Be thou +our convoy, and make a difference between those who fear thee, and +those that fear thee not.'" A difference was soon made. Next day a +heavy storm arose, which "battered and sent away our convoy, so +that we saw him no more all the voyage." Whitefield at first did +not at all regret the loss, but when two strange sails appeared +in the distance, and preparation was made for action by mounting +guns, slinging hammocks on the sides of the ships, and encircling +the masts with chains, he being, as he says, "naturally a coward," +found it formidable to have no convoy. The vessels, however, proved +to be only a part of their own fleet. This was a pleasant discovery +to them, especially to Whitefield. "The captain, on clearing the +cabin, said, 'After all, this is the best fighting.' You may be sure +I concurred, praying that all our conflicts with spiritual enemies +might at last terminate in a thorough cleansing and an eternal +purification of the defiled _cabin_ of our hearts." + +The tediousness of this voyage, in the feeble state of his health, +seems to have tried Whitefield's patience; so that when he arrived +in sight of the port of York, in the then territory of Maine, in +order to land a few hours sooner he went on board a fishing smack +then in the bay; but darkness coming on, she missed her course, +and was tossed about all night. Unfortunately, too, she had no +provisions, and he was so hungry that he says he "could have gnawed +the very boards." Besides he was suffering from "nervous colic." He +was greatly discouraged, until a man who was lying at his elbow in +the cabin began to talk of "one Mr. Whitefield, for whose arrival +the 'New Lights' in New England" were watching and praying. "This," +he says, "made me take courage. I continued undiscovered; and in a +few hours, in answer, I trust, to _new-light_ prayers, we arrived +safe." This was on October 19, 1744. He was quite ill when he +landed; but was received by Dr. Sherburne, an eminent physician +at York, who was once a Deist, but had been converted under +Whitefield's ministry. This gentleman took him to his own house, and +after a few days he began to recover. + +The Rev. Mr. Moody, of York, the aged and excellent, but eccentric +minister of whom we have already spoken, took the earliest suitable +opportunity of calling on the great evangelist, and said very +characteristically, "Sir, you are, first, welcome to America; +secondly, to New England; thirdly, to all faithful ministers in New +England; fourthly, to all the good people of New England; fifthly, +to all the good people of York; and sixthly and lastly, to me, dear +sir, less than the least of all." Prince's "Christian History" had +announced his arrival, and that his intention was "to pass on to +Georgia; and as he goes on, to meddle with no controversies, but +only to preach up the parts of vital piety and the pure truths of +the gospel, to all who are willing to hear them." + +After giving Whitefield this hearty welcome, Moody urged him for a +sermon. The preacher hesitated, on account of his illness, but "good +old Mr. Moody" did not give him the benefit of his own favorite +maxim, "When you know not what to do, you must _not_ do you know +not what." Whitefield preached, and immediately went to Portsmouth, +where he preached the same evening, November 6, for Mr. Fitch, and +was to have preached again the next morning, but was too ill, and +deferred it till the afternoon. In the mean time, as he wrote, "My +pains returned; but what gave me most concern was, that notice had +been given of my being engaged to preach. I felt a divine life, +distinct from my animal life, which made me, as it were, laugh at +my pains, though every one thought I was taken with death. My dear +York physician was then about to administer a medicine. I on a +sudden cried out, 'Doctor, my pains are suspended; by the help of +God, I will go and preach, and then come home and die.' With some +difficulty I reached the pulpit. All looked quite surprised, as +though they saw one risen from the dead. I indeed was as pale as +death, and told them they must look upon me as a dying man, come to +bear my dying testimony to the truths I had formerly preached to +them. All seemed melted, and were drowned in tears. The cry after +me, when I left the pulpit, was like the cry of sincere mourners +when attending the funeral of a dear departed friend. Upon my +coming home, I was laid upon a bed on the ground, near the fire, +and I heard them say, 'He is gone.' But God was pleased to order it +otherwise. I gradually recovered." + +In another account he himself says, "In my own apprehension, and +in all appearance to others, I was a dying man. I preached--the +people heard me--as such. The invisible realities of another world +lay open to my view. Expecting to launch into eternity, and to be +with my Master before the morning, I spoke with peculiar energy. +Such effects followed the word, I thought it was worth dying for a +thousand times. Though wonderfully comforted within at my return +home, I thought I was dying indeed.... Soon after, a poor negro +woman would see me. She came, sat down upon the ground, and looked +earnestly in my face, and then said, 'Massa, you just go to heaven's +gate, but Jesus Christ said, Get you down, get you down; you must +not come here yet; but go first, and call some more poor negroes.' I +prayed to the Lord, that if I was to live, this might be the event." + +It was nearly three weeks before he was sufficiently recovered to +proceed to Boston. The day before he left Portsmouth Mr. Shurtleff +wrote, "The prejudices of most that set themselves against him +before his coming, seem to be in a great measure abated, and in +some, to be wholly removed; and there is no open opposition made +to him. I have frequent opportunities of being with him, and there +always appears in him such a concern for the advancement of the +Redeemer's kingdom and the good of souls, such a care to employ his +whole time to these purposes, such sweetness of disposition, and so +much of the temper of his great Lord and Master, that every time I +see him, I find my heart further drawn out towards him." + +"Prince's Christian History," of December 15, says, "The Rev. Mr. +Whitefield was so far revived as to be able to take coach with his +consort, and set out from Portsmouth to Boston, Nov. 24; whither he +came in a very feeble state, the Monday evening after; since which +he has been able to preach in several of our largest houses of +public worship, particularly the Rev. Dr. Colman's, Dr. Sewall's, +Mr. Webb's, and Mr. Gee's, to crowded assemblies of people, and +to great and growing acceptance. At Dr. Colman's desire, and with +the consent of the church, on the Lord's day after his arrival, +he administered to them the holy communion. And last Lord's day he +preached for the venerable Mr. Cheever, of Chelsea, and administered +the holy supper there. The next day he preached for the Rev. Mr. +Emerson, of Malden. Yesterday he set out to preach for some towns to +the northward; proposes to return hither the next Wednesday evening, +and after a few days to comply with the earnest invitations of +several ministers to go and preach to their congregations, in the +southern parts of the province. + +"He comes with the same extraordinary spirit of meekness, sweetness, +and universal benevolence as before. In opposition to the spirit +of separation and bigotry, he is still for holding communion with +all Protestant churches. In opposition to enthusiasm, he preaches +a close adherence to the Scriptures, the necessity of trying all +impressions by them, and of rejecting whatever is not agreeable to +them, as delusions. In opposition to Antinomianism, he preaches up +all kinds of relative and religious duties, though to be performed +in the strength of Christ; and, in short, the doctrines of the +church of England, and the first fathers of this country. As before, +he first applies himself to the understandings of his hearers, +and then to the affections; and the more he preaches, the more he +convinces people of their mistakes about him, and increases their +satisfaction." + +The administration of the Lord's supper by a priest of the church +of England in the Congregational church in Brattle-street, Boston, +gave great offence. Some said, the consent of the church was +neither given nor asked, and Dr. Colman was blamed for introducing +Whitefield by his own authority; to which Dr. Colman replied, that, +as it was customary for pastors to invite the assistance of other +ministers on such occasions, he thought it unnecessary to call for +a vote of the church; that he plainly intimated his intention in +his prayer after sermon, and then, on coming to the table, said, +"The Rev. Mr. Whitefield being providentially with us, I have asked +him to administer the ordinance;" and that by the countenances of +the people it seemed to be universally agreeable to them, which he +supposed to be all the consent which the case required. + +Since Mr. Whitefield's former visit to New England, a considerable +change had taken place in not a few of the ministers and churches. +In 1740, he had inveighed strongly against many of the ministers, +some of them even by name, as, in his opinion, unconverted; and +after his departure, some preachers, who professed themselves to +be his followers, had created great confusion by carrying these +charges much farther than he would have approved. His second visit +was therefore anticipated by many with anxiety, lest it might cause +a new outbreak of enthusiasm and disorder. The General Association +of Connecticut, in June, 1745, advised that he be not invited to +preach in any of the churches. When he visited New Haven, he found +himself shut out of the pulpit of the First church by its minister +Mr. Noyes. A great crowd, however, assembled to hear him, from the +neighboring towns, as well as from New Haven, and he preached from a +platform erected in the street, before Mr. Pierpont's house on the +Green, to a congregation which neither of the meeting-houses could +have contained. + +From Professor Kingsley's "Sketch of the History of Yale College," +we learn that "President Clap issued a declaration, signed by +himself and three tutors, that is, Samuel Whittlesey, afterwards +minister of the First church in New Haven, Thomas Darling, for many +years chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of +New Haven, and John Whiting, in which some of the proceedings of Mr. +Whitefield were condemned. In consequence of the religious fervor +which had been excited, a much greater diversity of theological +opinions prevailed in Connecticut than at any previous period. +Violent controversies arose, churches were divided, and the +government, by interfering to prevent these evils, increased rather +than checked them. The college became an object of jealousy; and the +declaration of the rector and tutors, respecting the preaching of +Whitefield, offended some, without effectually conciliating others." + +The opposition to Mr. Whitefield of which we have spoken, was +by no means all that he met with. Even before the Association +in Connecticut had taken action, several similar bodies in +Massachusetts had acted in a similar manner. The corporation of +Harvard college published a testimony against him, while that of +Yale represented that he intended to root out all the standing +ministers in our land, and to introduce foreigners in their stead. +The good man, notwithstanding all this opposition, and much more, +went on laboring for the salvation of souls, and God still honored +him with success. + +While the impartiality to which we hold ourselves bound demanded +the statement just made, and while we are compelled to admit the +existence of evils attendant on these revivals, we also record some +of the facts connected with a convention of ministers, who assembled +in Boston in pursuance of a previous notice in the Boston Gazette of +May 30, 1743. We copy the original invitation. + +"It is desired and proposed by a number of ministers, both in town +and country, that such of their brethren as are persuaded that +there has been of late a happy revival of religion through an +extraordinary divine influence, in many parts of this land, and are +concerned for the honor and progress of this remarkable work of +God, may have an interview at Boston, the day after the approaching +commencement, to consider whether they are not called to give an +open, conjunct testimony to an event so surprising and gracious; as +well as against those errors in doctrine, and disorders in practice, +which through the permitted agency of Satan have attended it, and +in any measure blemished its glory and hindered its advancement; +and also to consult as to the most likely method to be taken to +guard people against such delusions and mistakes as in such a season +they are in danger of falling into, and that this blessed work may +continue and flourish among us." Those who could not be present were +invited to send written attestations. + +In accordance with this proposal, the convention met in Boston +on Thursday, July 7. The Rev. Dr. Sewall of Boston officiated as +Moderator, and the Rev. Messrs. Prince of Boston, and Hobby of +Reading, as Scribes. Ninety persons thus assembled, and letters +were read from twenty-eight who were absent. A committee was +appointed, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Sewall, the Rev. Messrs. +Wigglesworth, Prince, Adams, Cooper, Nathanael Rogers, Leonard, +and Hobby, to prepare a report. On the next morning this committee +presented a document, which, after full discussion, was signed by +all present; and the meeting was dissolved. + +Our limits will not allow us to give the whole of the report to +which we have referred, but a few sentences will show its general +character: + +"We, whose names are undersigned, think it our indispensable +duty--without judging or censuring such of our brethren as cannot +at present see things in the same light with us--in this open +and conjunct manner to declare, to the glory of sovereign grace, +our full persuasion, either from what we have seen ourselves, or +received upon credible testimony, that there has been a happy +and remarkable revival of religion in many parts of this land, +through an uncommon divine influence, after a long time of decay +and deadness, and a sensible and very awful withdrawal of the Holy +Spirit from his sanctuary among us.... The present work seems to +be remarkable and extraordinary, on account of the numbers wrought +upon. We never before saw so many brought under soul concern, and +with great distress making the inquiry, 'What must we do to be +saved?' And these persons were of all ages and character. With +regard to the suddenness and quick progress of it, many persons and +places were surprised with the gracious visit together, or near +about the same time, and the heavenly influence diffused itself +far and wide, like the light of the morning. Also [the work seems +to be remarkable] in respect to the degree of operations, both in a +way of terror, and in a way of consolation, attended in many with +unusual bodily effects. Not that all who are accounted the subjects +of the present work have had these extraordinary degrees of previous +distress and subsequent joy. But many, and we suppose the greater +number, have been wrought on in a more gentle and silent way, and +without any other appearances than are common and usual at other +times, when persons have been awakened to a solemn concern about +salvation, and have been thought to have passed out of a state of +nature into a state of grace. As to those whose inward concern has +occasioned extraordinary outward distresses, the most of them, when +we came to converse with them, were able to give what appeared to us +a rational account of what so affected their minds.... The instances +were very few in which we had reason to think these affections were +produced by visionary or sensible representations, or by any other +images than such as the Scripture itself presents to us. Of those +who were judged hopefully converted, and made a public profession of +religion, there have been fewer instances of scandal and apostasy +than might be expected.... There appears to be more experimental +godliness and lively Christianity than most of us can remember we +have ever seen before.... And now we desire to bow the knee in +thanksgiving to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that +our eyes have seen and our ears heard such things. And while these +are our sentiments, we must necessarily be grieved at any accounts +sent abroad representing this work as all enthusiasm, delusion, and +disorder. Indeed, it is not to be denied, that in some places many +irregularities and extravagances have been permitted to accompany +it, which we would deeply bewail and lament before God, and look +upon ourselves obliged, for the honor of the Holy Spirit, and of +his operations on the souls of men, to bear a public and faithful +testimony against; though at the same time it is to be acknowledged, +with much thankfulness, that in other places where the work has +greatly flourished, there have been few if any of those disorders +and excesses. But who can wonder if, at such a time as this, Satan +should intermingle himself to hinder and blemish a work so directly +contrary to the interests of his own kingdom?... Finally, we exhort +the children of God to continue instant in prayer, that He, with +whom is the residue of the Spirit, would grant us fresh, more +plentiful, and extensive effusions, that so this wilderness, in +all the parts of it, may become a fruitful field; that the present +appearances may be an earnest of the glorious things promised in the +latter days, when she shall shine with the glory of the Lord arisen +upon her, so as to dazzle the eyes of beholders, confound and put +to shame all her enemies, rejoice the hearts of her solicitous and +now saddened friends, and have a strong influence and resplendency +throughout the earth. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus; come quickly." + +This paper was signed by eighteen ministers in the county of +Suffolk, among whom were Colman, Sewall, Prince, Webb, Cooper, +Foxcroft, Checkly, Gee, Eliot, and Moorhead of Boston; twelve in +the county of Essex, nine in Middlesex, six in Worcester, ten in +Plymouth, one in Barnstable, three in Bristol, three in York, five +in New Hampshire, and one in Rhode Island. There were one hundred +and fourteen in all who gave attestations, either by signing their +names to the above document, or by sending written attestations. +Ninety-six of the one hundred and fourteen took their first degree +of Bachelor of Arts more than ten years previously; consequently +before the revival commenced. Twenty-six took their first degrees +above thirty years before. Attestations were received but from +twelve ministers in Connecticut, as the proposal did not reach them +in time. + +We may add to this statement, as showing in some degree the extent +of this revival, that while in 1729 the number of members in the +Congregational and Presbyterian churches of this country may be +estimated at thirty-three thousand, the number of communicants in +1745 could not be less than seventy-five thousand. "The _special_ +revivals of religion," says an able writer in the "American +Quarterly Register," vol. 4, 1832, "were probably the means of +adding from twenty thousand to thirty thousand members to the +churches." The same writer adds, "The genuine fruits of holiness +appeared, according to the acknowledgment of all parties, in +multitudes of those who professed religion. They were Christians, +who endured unto the end. This is the unanimous testimony of those +men who were the best able to judge. Great numbers who were +convinced of sin by Mr. Whitefield's preaching, gave ample evidence, +living and dying, of sincere and fervent love to the commands of +God. There is reason to believe that a _preparation_ had been made +for the descent of the Holy Spirit, many years before the revival +commenced. The fasts and public reformations, the prayers and tears +of good men, from 1700 to 1730, were not in vain." + +One fact connected with the testimony against Whitefield, published +by the faculty of Harvard college, we quote, as showing that then, +as well as now, a difference of opinion existed as to written and +extempore sermons. They thought his extempore manner of preaching +"by no means proper," because extempore preachers are of necessity +less instructive, the greater part of the sermon being commonly "the +same kind of harangue which they have often used before, so that +this is a most lazy manner" of preaching; and because it exposes the +preacher to utter rash expressions, and even dangerous errors, as +Whitefield, they thought, had done in several instances, probably +from that cause. Assuredly he preferred extempore preaching to any +other; yet he never pretended to preach without previous study. His +sermons usually cost him as much previous labor as if they had been +written; so that, in his case at least, it was not "a lazy way" of +preaching. The errors which they said he had uttered, were a few +hasty expressions, which he had retracted as soon as he had been +reminded of them. + +Itinerancy, which had also been objected against Whitefield as one +of his crimes, he strenuously defended as scriptural and right; +understanding an evangelist to be, what they said an itinerant was, +"One that hath no particular charge of his own, but goes about from +country to country, or from town to town in any country, and stands +ready to preach to any congregation that shall call him to it." +For the divine command, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the +gospel to every creature," he argued, "authorizes the ministers of +Christ, even to the end of the world, to preach the gospel in every +town and country, though not 'of their own head,' yet whenever and +wherever Providence should open a door, even though it should be +in a place 'where officers are already settled, and the gospel is +fully and faithfully preached.' This, I humbly apprehend, is every +gospel minister's indisputable privilege." He further asked, "Was +not the Reformation begun and carried on by itinerant preaching?" He +then quoted from "Baxter's Reformed Pastor," a plan which had been +adopted in some parts of England, for circular lectures by settled +ministers selected for the purpose, and with the consent of the +pastors. + +In reference to Harvard college, Whitefield lived long enough +to take a Christian's revenge. In 1764, he solicited from his +friends donations of books for their library, which had recently +been destroyed by fire, and four years afterwards, while his old +opponent President Holyoke was yet in office, the following minute +was entered on their records: "At a meeting of the President and +Fellows of Harvard college, August 22, 1768, the Rev. G. Whitefield +having, in addition to his former kindness to Harvard college, +lately presented to the library a new edition of his Journals, and +having procured large benefactions from several benevolent and +respectable gentlemen; _voted_, that the thanks of the corporation +be given to the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, for these instances of candor +and generosity." + +It will be readily supposed, that notwithstanding all the opposition +which Whitefield met, there were yet many thousands always ready to +attend on his ministry. It was now the close of 1744, but the cold +of winter did not prevent vast crowds assembling at early services +long before daylight. Speaking of the opposition he met, "so that," +says he, "for a while my situation was rendered uncomfortable," +he adds, "But amidst all this smoke a blessed fire broke out. The +awakened souls were as eager as ever to hear the word. Having heard +that I expounded early in Scotland, they begged that I would do +the same in Boston. I complied, and opened a lecture at six in +the morning. I seldom preached to less than two thousand. It was +delightful to see so many of both sexes neatly dressed flocking to +hear the word, and returning home to family prayer and breakfast +before the opposers were out of their beds." + +The late Rev. Dr. Archibald Alexander tells us, that when he was +at Boston, in 1800, he found in the Old South church a lingering +relic of Whitefield's times, in a convert of his day, a lady between +eighty and ninety years of age, who belonged to a prayer-meeting +founded then, which had been kept up weekly until within a few +years. Of this, she was the only surviving member. + +The "Evening Post," which seems to have been on the side of +those who opposed Whitefield, in its issue of March 11, 1745, +says, "Prince, Webb, Foxcroft, and Gee, are the directors of Mr. +Whitefield's public conduct, as he himself has lately declared at +Newbury." He had other powerful friends among the clergy, and still +more among the laity, who invited him by vote into some pulpits +where the pastors were "shy" of him. + +On the 7th of February, we find him at Ipswich, where he spent +several days. Mr. Pickering, of the Second church, declined +admitting him into his pulpit, and assigned his reasons in a letter, +which was published. It contains the usual objections set forth in +the various "testimonies," and is remarkable only for one convenient +metaphor. The Bishop of London had published on "Lukewarmness and +Enthusiasm." Whitefield had said in reply, "All ought to be thankful +to that pilot who will teach them to steer a safe and middle +course;" and Pickering wittily asks, "But what if the pilot should +take the vane for the compass?" + +Early in March we find him making an excursion into the east, as we +hear of him both at Berwick and Portland, in the then territory of +Maine. In the latter place, he not only made a powerful impression +on the people, but on their minister. In the outset a strong feeling +existed against his preaching in the pulpit of the First church. Mr. +Smith, the pastor, says in his "Journal," "The parish are like to be +in a flame on account of Mr. Whitefield's coming; the leading men +violently opposing." Under the date of May 19, after Whitefield's +departure, we find in the "Journal" a remarkable passage: "For +several Sabbaths, and the lecture, I have been all in a blaze; never +in such a flame, and what I would attend to is, that it was not only +involuntary, but actually determined against. I went to meeting +resolving to be calm and moderate, lest people should think it was +wildness and affectation to ape Mr. Whitefield; but God, I see, +makes use of me as he pleases, and I am only a machine in his hand." + +About the middle of March, we find our evangelist at Exeter, +where he afterwards preached his last sermon. Here some of the +more zealous members of the church had withdrawn, and formed a +new church. Their conduct had been sanctioned by one council, and +censured by another, two years before this time. Whitefield preached +to them twice, though Mr. Odlin, the pastor of the church from +which they had withdrawn, "solemnly warned and charged him against +preaching in his parish." So says the "Evening Post," of March 25, +which further calls the people to whom he preached, "Separatists." + +In this spring of 1745, the first expedition for the capture from +the French of the island of Cape Breton, near Nova Scotia, was set +on foot. Colonel Pepperell, a warm personal friend of Whitefield, +and the only native of New England who was created a Baronet of +Great Britain, was then at Boston, constantly attending Whitefield's +lectures. On the day before he accepted a commission to be general +in that expedition, he asked his opinion of the matter, and was +told, with the preacher's usual frankness, that he did not indeed +think that the scheme proposed for taking Louisburgh would be very +promising; and that the eyes of all would be upon him. If he did +not succeed, the widows and orphans of the slain soldiers would be +like lions robbed of their whelps; but if it pleased God to give +him success, envy would endeavor to eclipse his glory: he had need, +therefore, if he went, to go with a single eye; and then there +was no doubt, if Providence really called him, he would find his +strength equal to the difficulties with which he would have to +contend. + +About the same time, Mr. Sherburne, another of Whitefield's friends, +being appointed one of the commissioners, told him he must favor +the expedition, otherwise the pious people would be discouraged +from enlisting; not only did he say this, but he insisted that +the evangelist should give him a motto for his flag, for the +encouragement of his soldiers. Whitefield refused to do this, as +it would not be consistent with his character as a minister of the +gospel of peace. But as Sherburne would take no denial, he gave him, +_Nil desperandum, Christo Duce_--[Nothing to be despaired of, Christ +being leader.] In these circumstances a large number of men enlisted. + +The soldiers and their officers now went farther, and before their +embarkation requested him to give them a sermon. He preached to +them from the text, "And every one that was in distress, and every +one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered +themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them." 1 Samuel +22:2. From this somewhat singular text, he discoursed on the +manner in which distressed sinners came to Jesus Christ, the Son +of David; and in his application, exhorted the soldiers to behave +like the soldiers of David, and the officers to act like David's +worthies; saying, that if they did so, there would be good news +from Cape Breton. After this he preached to the general himself, +who invited him to become one of his chaplains. Whitefield declined +this, saying, that though he should esteem this an honor, yet, as +he generally preached three times a day, to large congregations, +he could do more service by stirring up the people to pray, thus +strengthening the hearts and hands of the army. In this practice +he persevered during the whole siege of Louisburgh. "I believe," +said he, "if ever people went with a disinterested view, the New +Englanders did then. Though many of them were raw and undisciplined, +yet numbers were substantial persons, who left their farms and +willingly ventured all for their country's good. An amazing series +of providences appeared, and though some discouraging accounts +were sent during the latter end of the siege, yet in about six +weeks news came of the surrender of Louisburgh. Numbers flocked +from all quarters to hear a thanksgiving sermon upon the occasion. +And I trust the blessing bestowed upon the country through the +thanksgivings of many, redounded to the glory of God." + +Some time before this, the people of Boston had proposed to build +for Whitefield "the largest place of worship ever seen in America," +in which he should regularly preach; but, as usual, he feared this +plan would abridge his liberty of itinerating: he thanked them for +their offer, but decidedly declined to accept it. As his bodily +strength increased, he began to move southward, and went through +Rhode Island and Connecticut, preaching to thousands generally twice +a day. He says, "Though there was much smoke, yet every day I had +more and more convincing proof that a blessed gospel fire had been +kindled in the hearts both of ministers and people." + +About this time occurred a fact which delightfully shows how the +enemies of this admirable man were often converted into friends. +A colored trumpeter belonging to the English army resolved to +interrupt him while delivering a sermon in the open air. For this +purpose he went to the field, carrying his trumpet with him, +intending to blow it with all his might about the middle of the +sermon. He took his station in front of the minister, and at no +great distance from him. The crowd became very great, and those who +were towards the extremity pressed forward, that they might hear +more distinctly, and caused such a pressure where the poor trumpeter +stood, that he found it impossible at the time when he intended to +blow his trumpet, to raise the arm which held it, by which means +he was kept within the sound of the gospel as effectually as if +he had been chained to the spot. In a short time his attention +was powerfully arrested, and he became so deeply affected by the +statements of the preacher, that he was seized with all the agonies +of despair, and was carried to a house in the neighborhood. After +the service, he was visited by Mr. Whitefield, who gave him suitable +counsels, and from that time the trumpeter became a greatly altered +man. So true is it in reference to the omnipotent and gracious Being, + + "Hearts base as hell he can control, + And spread new powers throughout the whole." + +While preaching at Boston, he was delighted to observe that the +sheriff, who had heretofore been the leader of the persecution +against him, now began to hear him preach; and his pleasure was +vastly increased, when he saw the crowds come around him to inquire +as to their highest interests. + +Among these crowds was a somewhat remarkable gentleman of that city. +He was a man of ready wit and racy humor, who delighted in preaching +over a bottle to his ungodly companions. He went to hear Whitefield, +that he might be furnished with matter for a "tavern harangue." When +he had heard enough of the sermon for his purpose, he endeavored +to quit the church for the inn, but "found his endeavors to get +out fruitless, he was so pent up." While thus fixed, and waiting +for "fresh matter of ridicule," the truth took possession of his +heart. That night he went to Mr. Prince full of terror, and sought +an introduction to ask pardon of the preacher. Whitefield says of +him, "By the paleness, pensiveness, and horror of his countenance, +I guessed he was the man of whom I had been apprized. 'Sir, can you +forgive me?' he cried in a low, but plaintive voice. I smiled, and +said, 'Yes, sir, very readily.' 'Indeed,' he said, 'you cannot when +I tell you all.' I then asked him to sit down; and judging that he +had sufficiently felt the lash of the law, I preached the gospel +to him." This, with other remarkable conversions, gave increasing +energy and influence to his preaching in Boston. "My bodily +strength," he says, "is recovered, and my soul more than ever in +love with a crucified Jesus." + +Another illustration may also be here given of the meekness and +gentleness which usually characterized our evangelist in his +intercourse with his brethren. In his later visits to New England, +it was Whitefield's usual practice to spend a few days with Dr. +Hopkins. On one of these occasions, after preaching for the doctor +on the Sabbath, the next day he proposed a ride into the country +for exercise. During the ride, Whitefield spoke with regret of the +views of their "good brother Edwards on the subject of the witness +of the Holy Spirit." "Ah," asked Dr. Hopkins, "and what is the +error?" Here Whitefield made a long pause; and Hopkins continued +the conversation: "Do you believe, Mr. Whitefield, that the witness +of the Spirit is a direct communication from God?" "I cannot say +that I do," was the reply. "Well, do you believe that Christians +have any other witness of the Spirit than that afforded by the +testimony of their own holy affections?" "I cannot say that I do," +Mr. Whitefield again replied. "Do you believe it to be any thing +more or less," continued Hopkins, "than the Spirit producing in the +heart the gracious exercises of repentance, faith, etc.?" "No, that +is precisely my view of it," said Whitefield. "And that is precisely +the view of good father Edwards," pleasantly returned Dr. Hopkins. +Whitefield frankly acknowledged his error, and rejoiced that there +was no disagreement on the subject. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + FROM HIS LEAVING NEW ENGLAND TILL HIS ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND--LABORS + IN THE MIDDLE AND SOUTHERN STATES--THE BERMUDAS. + +1745-1748. + + +Leaving New England, Whitefield proceeded first to New York, where +he preached as he had formerly done, and found that the seed sown in +past days had produced much fruit. Proceeding still southward, on +his way towards Philadelphia, arriving in New Jersey, he says, "I +had the pleasure of preaching by an interpreter to some converted +Indians, and of seeing nearly fifty young ones in one school, near +Freehold, learning the Assembly's Catechism." A blessed awakening +had before this time been begun and carried on among the Delaware +Indians, by the ministry of David Brainerd; no such work had been +heard of since the days of the apostolic Eliot in New England. + +Arriving in Philadelphia, Whitefield was rejoiced to find that his +friend Gilbert Tennent was still blessed with success in his labors. +Many, he says, were under "soul-sickness," and Tennent's health +suffered much with walking from place to place to see them. The +gentlemen connected with the new house in which Tennent preached, +were, as well as Tennent himself, desirous of securing at least a +portion of Whitefield's labors, and offered him eight hundred pounds +a year, if he would become their pastor, and labor with them six +months in the year, travelling the other six months wherever he +thought proper. He thanked them, but declined. + +Not unfrequently have we been told by frigid critics of the inferior +character of Whitefield's printed sermons. But have they not looked +too much for the beauties of style, and overlooked the simple energy +of their scriptural truths? Even these printed sermons have, under +God, accomplished wonders. In the year 1743, a young gentleman +from Scotland, then residing at Hanover, in Virginia, had obtained +a volume of Whitefield's sermons preached in Glasgow, and taken +in shorthand, which, after a gentleman of Hanover, named Hunt, +the father of a distinguished Presbyterian minister of that name, +had studied with great personal benefit, he invited his neighbors +to visit his house to hear read. By their plainness and fervor, +attended with the power of God, not a few became convinced of +their lost condition as sinners, and anxiously inquired the way of +salvation. The feelings of many were powerfully excited, and they +could not forbear bitter and violent weeping. The intelligence +spread, curiosity prompted the desire of many others to attend such +remarkable services; and one and another begged for admission, +till the houses were crowded. Numbers were pricked to the heart; +the word of God became quick and powerful; and, "What shall we +do?" was the general cry. What to do or say the principal leaders +knew not. They themselves had been led by a still small voice, +they hardly knew how, to an acquaintance with the truth; but now +the Lord was speaking as on mount Sinai, with a voice of thunder; +and sinners, like that mountain itself, trembled. It was not long +before Christians had the happiness to see a goodly number healed +by the same word that had wounded them, and brought to rejoice in +Christ, and his great salvation. "My dwelling-place," said Mr. +Morris, one of their number, "was at length too small to contain +the people, whereupon we determined to build a meeting-house merely +for _reading_. And having never been used to social prayer, none of +us durst attempt it." This _reading-house_, as it was called, was +followed by others of like character, and the number of attendants +and the power of divine influence were much increased. Mr. Morris, +as the report spread, was invited to several places at a distance to +read these sermons. The phrase, "Morris' reading-house," has come +down by tradition to the present age, as well as important details +of the opposition of the magistracy and other classes, who sought, +but in vain, to stop the progress of the work. + +Such was the origin of the Presbyterian church at Hanover, where, in +after-days, William Robinson and President Davies accomplished such +mighty triumphs, and where the sacred cause still flourishes. + +Whitefield does not seem to have been made acquainted with these +facts till he now arrived in the colony, and saw the happy effects +which had been produced by the labors of the Rev. Messrs. Robinson, +Tennent, Blair, and others. Of the visit of Whitefield among them, +one of them writes, "Mr. Whitefield came and preached four or five +days in these parts, which was the happy means of giving us further +encouragement, and engaging others to the Lord, especially among +the church people, who received his doctrine more readily than they +would from ministers of the Presbyterian denomination." We may add +here, that in 1747 there were four houses of worship in and around +Hanover, which had sprung from the "mustard-seed" of the sermons +taken in shorthand from Whitefield's lips at Glasgow. + +Among the converts in the south who met Whitefield, was Isaac +Oliver, who was both deaf and dumb, and had been so from his birth. +Notwithstanding these great disadvantages, he could both feel and +evince his strong feelings by the most significant and expressive +signs. He could, for instance, so represent the crucifixion of the +Lord Jesus Christ, as to be understood by every one; and among +his own friends he could converse about the love of Christ in the +language of signs, till he was transported in rapture and dissolved +in tears. He was much beloved for his eminent piety. + +Whitefield had not, during any portion of this time, forgotten +Bethesda. The public had warmly sustained it, and he now went +forward to see to its affairs, and to add to the orphan-house a +Latin school, intending, indeed, before a long time to found a +college. + +The following account of the orphan-house in 1746, was written by +Mr. Whitefield in the form of a letter to a friend, and published +as a small pamphlet. We transcribe it from "White's Historical +Collections of Georgia," published in 1854: + + "Provide things honest in the sight of all men."--Rom. 12:17. + + "BETHESDA, in Georgia, March 21, 1745-6. + +"Some have thought that the erecting such a building was only the +produce of my own brain; but they are much mistaken; for it was +first proposed to me by my dear friend the Rev. Mr. Charles Wesley, +who, with his excellency General Oglethorpe, had concerted a scheme +for carrying on such a design before I had any thoughts of going +abroad myself. It was natural to think that, as the government +intended this province for the refuge and support of many of our +poor countrymen, numbers of such adventurers must necessarily be +taken off, by being exposed to the hardships which unavoidably +attend a new settlement. I thought it, therefore, a noble design in +the general to erect a house for fatherless children; and believing +that such a provision for orphans would be some inducement with many +to come over, I fell in with the design, when mentioned to me by my +friend, and was resolved, in the strength of God, to prosecute it +with all my might. This was mentioned to the honorable trustees. +They took it kindly at my hands, and wrote to the bishop of Bath and +Wells for leave for me to preach a charity sermon on this occasion +in the Abbey church. This was granted, and I accordingly began +immediately to compose a suitable discourse. But knowing that my +first stay in Georgia would necessarily be short, on account of my +returning again to take priest's orders, I thought it most prudent +first to go and see for myself, and defer prosecuting the scheme +till I came home.... When I came to Georgia, I found many poor +orphans, who, though taken notice of by the honorable trustees, +yet, through the neglect of persons under them, were in miserable +circumstances. For want of a house to bring them up in, the poor +little ones were tabled out here and there; others were at hard +services, and likely to have no education at all. + +"Upon seeing this, and finding that his Majesty and Parliament had +the interest of the colony much at heart, I thought I could not +better show my regard to God and my country than by getting a house +and land for these children, where they might learn to labor, read, +and write, and at the same time be brought up in the nurture and +admonition of the Lord. Accordingly, at my return to England, in +the year 1738, to take priest's orders, I applied to the honorable +society for a grant of five hundred acres of land, and laid myself +under an obligation to build a house upon it, and to receive from +time to time as many orphans as the land and stock would maintain. +As I had always acted like a clergyman of the church of England, +having preached in a good part of the London churches, and but a +few months before collected near a thousand pounds sterling for the +children belonging to the charity schools in London and Westminster, +it was natural to think that I might now have the use at least +of some of these churches to preach in for the orphans hereafter +more immediately to be committed to my care. But by the time I had +taken priest's orders, the spirit of the clergy began to be much +imbittered. Churches were gradually denied me, and I must let this +good design drop, and thousands, and I might add ten thousands, +go without hearing the word of God, or preach in the fields. +Indeed, two churches, one in London, namely, Spitalfields, and one +in Bristol, namely, St. Philip's and Jacob, were lent me on this +occasion, but those were all. I collected for the orphan-house in +Moorfields two hundred and fifty pounds one Sabbath-day morning, +twenty-two pounds of which were in copper. In the afternoon I +collected again at Kennington Common, and continued to do so at +most of the places where I preached. Besides this, two or three of +the bishops, and several persons of distinction contributed, until +at length, having gotten about a thousand and ten pounds, I gave +over collecting, and went with what I had to Georgia. At that time +multitudes offered to accompany me; but I chose to take over only a +surgeon and a few more of both sexes, that I thought would be useful +in carrying on my design. My dear fellow-traveller William Seward, +Esq., also joined with them. Our first voyage was to Philadelphia, +where I was willing to go for the sake of laying in provision. I +laid out in London a good part of the thousand pounds for goods, and +got as much by them in Philadelphia as nearly defrayed the families' +expenses of coming over. Here God blessed my ministry daily.... + +"January following, 1739, I met my family at Georgia, and being +unwilling to lose any time, I hired a large house, and took in all +the orphans I could find in the colony. A great many also of the +town's children came to school gratis, and many poor people that +could not maintain their children, upon application, had leave given +them to send their little ones for a month or two, or more as they +could spare them, till at length my family consisted of between +sixty and seventy. Most of the orphans were in poor case, and three +or four almost eaten up with lice. I likewise erected an infirmary, +in which many sick people were cured and taken care of gratis. I +have now by me a list of upwards of a hundred and thirty patients, +which were under the surgeon's hands, exclusive of my own private +family. About March I began the great house, having only about one +hundred and fifty pounds in cash. I called it _Bethesda_, because +I hoped it would be a house of mercy to many souls. Many boys have +been put out to trades, and many girls put out to service. I had +the pleasure, the other day, to see three boys work at the house in +which they were bred, one of them out of his time, a journeyman, +and the others serving under their masters. One that I brought from +New England is handsomely settled in Carolina; and another from +Philadelphia is married, and lives very comfortably in Savannah. We +have lately begun to use the plough, and next year I hope to have +many acres of good oats and barley. We have nearly twenty sheep and +lambs, fifty head of cattle, and seven horses. We hope to kill a +thousand weight of pork this season. Our garden is very beautiful, +furnishes us with all sorts of greens, etc., etc. We have plenty +of milk, eggs, poultry, and make a good deal of butter weekly. A +good quantity of wool and cotton have been given me, and we hope to +have sufficient spun and wove for the next winter's clothing. The +family now consists of twenty-six persons. Two of the orphan boys +are blind, one is little better than an idiot. I have two women to +take care of the household work, and two men and three boys employed +about the plantation and cattle. A set of Dutch servants has been +lately sent over. The magistrates were pleased to give me two; and I +took in a poor widow, aged near seventy, whom nobody else cared to +have. A valuable young man from New England is my schoolmaster, and +in my absence performs duty in the family. On Sabbaths, the grown +people attend on public worship at Savannah, or at White Bluff, a +village near Bethesda, where a Dutch minister officiates. The house +is a noble, commodious building, and every thing sweetly adapted +for bringing up youth. Georgia is very healthy; not above one, and +that a little child, has died out of our family since it removed to +Bethesda." + +A tabular statement follows this account, giving full particulars of +the eighty-six children who to that period had been admitted into +the establishment. + +Old newspapers, as daguerreotyping the facts, and even the feelings +of any particular period, are sometimes invaluable. In New York, as +everywhere else, Whitefield had his enemies, and many charges were +brought against him. But that there were those who took a strongly +favorable view of his character and conduct, is very clear from an +extract we give from "The New York Post-Boy," of April, 1746: "Mr. +Whitefield's excellent parts, fine elocution, and masterly address; +his admirable talent of opening the Scriptures, and enforcing +the most weighty subjects upon the conscience; his polite and +serious behavior, his unaffected and superior piety, his prudence, +humility, and catholic spirit, are things which must silence and +disarm prejudice itself. By these qualifications of the orator, the +divine, and the Christian, he has not only fixed himself deeper in +the affections of his former friends, but greatly increased the +number wherever he has preached; and made his way into the hearts of +several who, till this visit, had said all the severe things against +him that enmity itself seemed capable of." + +From this period, this paper especially noticed the various +movements of this apostolic man; his arrivals in the city, his +engagements in it, his departures from it, and the places of his +destination, were all given with the minutiæ with which even the +movements of monarchs are recorded. + +It was not without its use that the organs of the public thus +expressed their high sense of his character. In 1745, suspicions +were whispered abroad as to the entire integrity of this excellent +man in the appropriation of the funds collected for Bethesda. But +happily for all parties, the magistrates of Savannah published in +the Philadelphia Gazette an affidavit, that they had carefully +examined Mr. Whitefield's receipts and disbursements, and found that +what he had collected in behalf of the orphans, had been honestly +applied, and that besides, he had given considerably to them of his +own property. + +Having done what he could at Bethesda, feeling his health failing +him, needing resources for his orphans, and urged on by his love of +preaching, Whitefield was soon again in the field, far away from +his home. In the autumn of 1746, we find many passages in his +journals and letters like these, while in Maryland: "I trust the +time for favoring this and the neighboring southern provinces is +come. Everywhere, almost, the door is opened for preaching, great +numbers flock to hear, and the power of an ascended Saviour attends +the word. For it is surprising how the Lord causes prejudices to +subside, and makes my former most bitter enemies to be at peace +with me.... Lately I have been in seven counties in Maryland, and +preached with abundant success." At Charleston, South Carolina, he +writes, January 1747, "The Lord Jesus is pleased to give me great +access to multitudes of souls." A few weeks later, he writes from +the same place, that Bethesda was never in a better condition; that +he had opened a Latin school there during the winter, and that he +hoped yet to see ministers furnished from Georgia. + +In April, we again find him in Maryland, as he writes on the +twenty-fifth of that month from Bohemia, in that province, and +speaks of the success of Mr. Samuel, afterwards President Davies, +in Virginia, but adds that a proclamation had been issued in that +state against itinerants, so that he himself was shut out of it. In +the middle of May he exults, "Maryland is yielding converts to the +blessed Jesus. The gospel seems to be moving southward. The harvest +is promising. The time of the singing birds is come;" and five days +afterwards he says, "I have been now a three hundred miles' circuit +in Maryland, and through one or two counties in Pennsylvania. +Everywhere the people have a hearing ear, and I trust some have an +obedient heart." + +On the first of June we find him in Philadelphia, from whence +he writes, "At present I have full work here. The congregations +yesterday were large, and for this month past I have been preaching +to thousands in different places." During the whole of this month +his health was in a very critical state. Here we have a few +sentences from his pen, as given on different days: "I am sick and +well, as I used to be in England; but the Redeemer fills me with +comfort. I am determined, in his strength, to die fighting.... I +have almost a continual burning fever. With great regret I have +omitted preaching _one_ night to oblige my friends, and purpose to +do so once more, that they may not charge me with murdering myself. +But I hope yet to die in the pulpit, or soon after I come out of +it.... Since my last, I have been several times on the verge of +eternity. At present I am so weak that I cannot preach. It is hard +work to be silent, but I must be tried every way." + +Sickness did not interrupt Whitefield's labors, if he could move or +preach at all. "I am determined," he says to Gilbert Tennent, "to +die fighting, though it be on my _stumps_." He was soon after at +New York, Newport, Portsmouth, and Boston. At New York he writes, +"I am as willing to hunt for souls as ever. I am not weary of my +work." On the next day he writes, "I have preached to a very large +auditory, and do not find myself much worse for it." He did so again +with success. He then says, "I shall go to Boston like an arrow +out of a bow, if Jesus strengthen me. I am resolved to preach and +work for Him until I can preach and work no more. I have been upon +the water three or four days, and now eat like a sailor." He went +on to Boston, where he heard of the sudden but joyful death of his +venerable and excellent friend Dr. Colman. He adds, "My reception at +Boston and elsewhere was like unto the first. Arrows of conviction +fled and stuck fast. Congregations were larger than ever, and +opposers' mouths were stopped." + +After again making short visits to Philadelphia and Bohemia, +Whitefield, according to previous arrangements, went to spend the +winter in North Carolina. Before he left Bohemia, however, he wrote +to his friends at New York, who were intensely anxious about his +health, but he could only say it was yet fluctuating. Even so was +it when he arrived in North Carolina, yet he writes, "I am here, +hunting in the woods, these _ungospelized_ wilds, for sinners. It is +pleasant work, though my body is weak and crazy. But after a short +_fermentation_ in the grave, it will be fashioned like unto Christ's +glorious body. The thought of this rejoices my soul, and makes me +long to _leap_ my seventy years. I sometimes think all will go to +heaven before me. Pray for me as a dying man; but Oh, pray that I +may not go off as a _snuff_. I would fain die _blazing_--not with +human glory, but with the love of Jesus." + +Such was his weakness, that his journey to Bathtown, in North +Carolina, was long and slow. Even a short ride was fatiguing and +painful. Still, he preached with considerable power; cheered on from +stage to stage by the hope that the conversion of "North Carolina +sinners would be glad news in heaven." His letters indicated +lively hopes of an extensive revival, but his expectations were not +fully realized. His health was still exceedingly feeble, and his +physicians ordered him to try a change of climate. He accordingly +embarked for the Bermudas, where he landed, March 15, 1748. + +The Bermudas are a group of four small islands lying about nine +hundred miles east of Georgia. The largest of the islands is called +St. George's, with a capital of the same name; the climate is +remarkably fine, and well adapted for the temporary residence and +recovery of invalids. Here Whitefield met with an exceedingly kind +reception, and remained on the island with great benefit to his +health, more than a month. We scarcely need to say that he was not +idle during his residence here, but traversed the island from one +end to the other, generally preaching twice a day. A few passages +from his journal will best show the facts. + +"The simplicity and plainness of the people, together with the +pleasant situation of the island, much delighted me. The Rev. +Mr. Holiday, minister of Spanish Point, received me in a most +affectionate, Christian manner; and begged I would make his house +my home. In the evening, I expounded at the house of Mr. Savage, at +Port Royal, which was very commodious; and which also he would have +me make my home. I went with Mr. Savage in a boat to the town of +St. George, in order to pay our respects to the governor. All along +we had a most pleasant prospect of the other part of the island; a +more pleasant one I never saw. Mrs. Smith, of St. George, for whom +I had a letter of recommendation from my dear old friend Mr. Smith, +of Charlestown, received me into her house. About noon, with one of +the council and Mr. Savage, I waited upon the governor. He received +us courteously, and invited us to dine with him and the council. We +accepted the invitation, and all behaved with great civility and +respect. After the governor rose from the table, he desired, if I +stayed in town on the Sunday, that I would dine with him at his own +house. + +"Sunday, March 20. Read prayers and preached twice this day, to +what were esteemed here large auditories--in the morning at Spanish +Point church, and in the evening at Brackish Pond church, about two +miles distant from each other. In the afternoon I spoke with greater +freedom than in the morning, and I trust not altogether in vain. All +were attentive, some wept. I dined with Colonel Butterfield, one of +the council; and received several invitations to other gentlemen's +houses. May God bless and reward them, and incline them to open +their hearts to receive the Lord Jesus. + +"Wednesday, March 23. Dined with Captain Gibbs, and went from thence +and expounded at the house of Captain F----le, at Hunbay, about +two miles distant. The company here also was large, attentive, +and affected. Our Lord gave me utterance. I expounded the first +part of the eighth chapter of Jeremiah. After lecture, Mr. Riddle, +a counsellor, invited me to his house; as did Mr. Paul, an aged +Presbyterian minister, to his pulpit; which I complied with upon +condition that the rumor was true, that the governor had served +the ministers with an injunction that I should not preach in the +churches. + +"Sunday, March 27. Glory be to God! I hope this has been a +profitable Sabbath to many souls; it has been a pleasant one to +mine. Both morning and afternoon I preached to a large auditory, for +the Bermudas, in Mr. Paul's meeting-house, which I suppose contains +about four hundred. Abundance of negroes, and many others, were +in the porch, and about the house. The word seemed to be clothed +with a convincing power, and to make its way into the hearts of +the hearers. Between sermons, I was entertained very civilly in a +neighboring house. Judge Bascom, and three more of the council, +came thither, and each gave me an invitation to his house. How does +the Lord make way for a poor stranger in a strange land. After the +second sermon I dined with Mr. Paul; and in the evening expounded to +a very large company at Councillor Riddle's. My body was somewhat +weak; but the Lord carried me through, and caused me to go to +rest rejoicing. May I thus go to my grave, when my ceaseless and +uninterrupted rest shall begin. + +"Thursday, March 31. Dined on Tuesday at Colonel Corbusier's, and on +Wednesday at Colonel Gilbert's, both of the council; and found, by +what I could hear, that some good had been done, and many prejudices +removed. Who shall hinder, if God will work? Went to an island this +afternoon called Ireland, upon which live a few families; and to my +surprise, found a great many gentlemen, and other people, with my +friend Mr. Holiday, who came from different quarters to hear me. +Before I began preaching, I went round to see a most remarkable +cave, which very much displayed the exquisite workmanship of Him, +who in 'his strength setteth fast the mountains, and is girded +about with power.' While I was in the cave, quite unexpectedly I +turned and saw Councillor Riddle, who, with his son, came to hear +me; and while we were in the boat, told me that he had been with +the governor, who declared he had no personal prejudice against +me, and wondered I did not come to town and preach there, for it +was the desire of the people; and that any house in the town, the +court-house not excepted, should be at my service. Thanks be to God +for so much favor. If his cause requires it, I shall have more. +He knows my heart; I value the favor of man no farther than as it +makes room for the gospel, and gives me a larger scope to promote +the glory of God. There being no capacious house upon the island, +I preached for the first time here in the open air. All heard very +attentively; and it was very pleasant, after sermon, to see so many +boats full of people returning from the worship of God. I talked +seriously to some in our own boat, and sung a psalm, in which they +readily joined. + +"Sunday, April 3. Preached twice this day at Mr. Paul's +meeting-house, as on the last Sabbath, but with greater freedom +and power, especially in the morning; and I think to as great, +if not greater auditories. Dined with Colonel Harvy, another of +the council; visited a sick woman, where many came to hear; and +expounded afterwards to a great company, at Captain John Dorrel's, +Mrs. Dorrel's son, who with his wife courteously entertained me, and +desired me to make his house my home. So true is that promise of +our Lord, that 'whosoever leaves father or mother, houses or lands, +shall have in this life a hundred-fold with persecution, and in the +world to come, life everlasting.' Lord, I have experienced the one; +in thy good time grant that I may experience the other also. + +"Wednesday, April 6. Preached yesterday at the house of Mr. Anthony +Smith, of Baylis Bay, with a considerable degree of warmth; and +rode afterwards to St. George, the only town on the island. The +gentlemen of the town had sent me an invitation by Judge Bascom; +and he, with several others, came to visit me at my lodgings; +and informed me that the governor desired to see me. About ten I +waited upon his excellency, who received me with great civility, +and told me he had no objection against my person or my principles, +having never yet heard me; and he knew nothing with respect to my +conduct in moral life, that might prejudice him against me; but his +intentions were to let none preach in the island, unless he had a +written license to preach somewhere in America, or the West Indies; +at the same time he acknowledged that it was but a matter of mere +form. I informed his excellency that I had been regularly inducted +into the parish of Savannah; that I was ordained priest by letters +dismissory from my lord of London, and was under no church censure +from his lordship; and would always read the church prayers, if the +clergy would give me the use of their churches. I added farther, +that a minister's pulpit was always looked upon as his freehold; and +that I knew one clergyman who had denied his own diocesan the use +of his pulpit. But I told his excellency I was satisfied with the +liberty he allowed me, and would not act contrary to his injunction. +I then begged leave to be dismissed, as I was obliged to preach at +eleven o'clock. His excellency said he intended to do himself the +pleasure to hear me. At eleven, the church bell rung. The church +Bible, prayer-book, and cushion, were sent to the town-house. The +governor, several of the council, the minister of the parish, and +assembly-men, with a great number of the town's people, assembled in +great order. I was very sick, through a cold I caught last night; +but read the church prayers. The first lesson was the fifteenth +chapter of the first book of Samuel. I preached on those words, +'Righteousness exalteth a nation.' Being weak and faint, and +afflicted much with the headache, I did not do that justice to my +subject which I sometimes am enabled to do; but the Lord so helped +me that, as I found afterwards, the governor and the other gentlemen +expressed their approbation, and acknowledged they did not expect to +be so well entertained. Not unto me, Lord, not unto me, but to thy +free grace be all the glory! + +"After sermon, Dr. F----bs, and Mr. P----t, the collector, came +to me, and desired me to favor them and the gentlemen of the town +with my company at dinner. I accepted the invitation. The governor, +and the president, and Judge Bascom were there. All wondered at my +speaking so freely and fluently without notes. The governor asked +whether I used minutes. I answered, 'No.' He said it was a great +gift. At table, his excellency introduced something of religion by +asking me the meaning of the word HADES. Several other things were +started about freewill, Adam's fall, predestination, etc., to all +which God enabled me to answer so pertinently, and taught me to mix +the _utile_ and _dulce_ [useful and pleasant] so together, that all +at table seemed highly pleased, shook me by the hand, and invited me +to their respective houses. The governor, in particular, asked me to +dine with him on the morrow; and Dr. F----, one of his particular +intimates, invited me to drink tea in the afternoon. I thanked +all, returned proper respects, and went to my lodgings with some +degree of thankfulness for the assistance vouchsafed me, and abased +before God at the consideration of my unspeakable unworthiness. In +the afternoon, about five o'clock, I expounded the parable of the +prodigal son to many people at a private house; and in the evening +had liberty to speak freely and closely to those who supped with +me. O that this may be the beginning of good gospel times to the +inhabitants of this town." + +We might fill other pages from Whitefield's journal, but will only +give two more passages. The first will show him in connection with +the African race, in whose highest welfare he always took a special +interest. + +"Saturday, May 7. In my conversation these two days with some of my +friends, I was diverted much in hearing several things that passed +among the poor negroes, since I preached to them last Sunday. One of +the women, it seems, said that 'if the book I preached out of was +the best book that was ever bought at London, she was sure it had +never all that in it which I spoke to the negroes,' The old man who +spoke out loud last Sunday, and said 'yes' when I asked them whether +all the negroes would not go to heaven, being questioned by somebody +why he spoke out so, answered, that 'the gentleman put the question +once or twice to them, and the other fools had not the manners to +make any answer; till at last I seemed to point at him, and he +was ashamed that nobody should answer me, and therefore he did.' +Another, wondering why I said negroes had black hearts, was answered +by his black brother, 'Ah, thou fool, dost not thou understand it? +He means black with sin.' Two girls were overheard by their mistress +talking about religion, and they said 'they knew, if they did not +repent, they must be damned.' From all which I infer that these +negroes on the Bermudas are more awake than I supposed; that their +consciences are awake, and consequently prepared in a good measure +for hearing the gospel preached to them." + +Whitefield sums up the events which had occurred in connection with +himself on the Bermudas, the praise of which islands has also been +celebrated by the distinguished Bishop Berkeley, who resided there +for some time, and by Waller the poet. + +"Sunday, May 22. Blessed be God, the little leaven thrown into the +three measures of meal begins to ferment and work almost every +day for the week past. I have conversed with souls loaded with a +sense of their sins, and as far as I can judge, really pricked to +the heart. I preached only three times, but to almost three times +larger auditories than usual. Indeed, the fields are white, ready +to harvest. God has been pleased to bless private visits. Go where +I will, upon the least notice, houses are crowded, and the poor +souls that follow are soon drenched in tears. This day I took, as +it were, another farewell. As the ship did not sail, I preached +at Somerset in the morning to a large congregation in the fields; +and expounded in the evening at Mr. Harvy's house, around which +stood many hundreds of people. But in the morning and evening how +did the poor souls weep. Abundance of prayers and blessings were +put up for my safe passage to England, and speedy return to the +Bermudas again. May they enter into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. +With all humility and thankfulness of heart will I here, O Lord, +set up my _Ebenezer_, for hitherto surely hast thou helped me. +Thanks be to the Lord for sending me hither. I have been received +in a manner I dared not to expect, and have met with little, very +little opposition indeed. The inhabitants seem to be plain and +open-hearted. They have loaded me with provisions for my sea-store; +and in the several parishes, by a private voluntary contribution, +have raised me upwards of _one hundred pounds sterling_. This +will pay a little of Bethesda's debt, and enable me to make such +a remittance to my dear yoke-fellow, as may keep her from being +embarrassed, or too much beholden in my absence. Blessed be God for +bringing me out of my embarrassments by degrees. May the Lord reward +all my benefactors a thousand-fold. I hear that what was given, +was given heartily, and people only lamented that they could do no +more." + +Whitefield now transmitted to Georgia what had been collected for +the orphan-house; but fearing a relapse, if he returned to the +south during the hot season, which was near commencing, and pressed +also again to visit England, he took his passage in a brig, and in +twenty-eight days arrived at Deal. + +On his voyage, he completed an abridgment, which he had previously +begun, of "_Law's serious Call to a devout and holy Life_," which he +endeavored to make more useful by excluding whatever is not truly +evangelical, and illustrating the subject more fully, especially +from the holy Scriptures. He also wrote letters to his friends, one +of which strikingly illustrates his Christian humility. It bears +date June 24, 1748. "Yesterday I made an end of revising all my +journals. Alas, alas, in how many things I have judged and acted +wrong. I have been too rash and hasty in giving characters both +of places and persons. Being fond of Scripture language, I have +used a style too apostolical, and at the same time I have been too +bitter in my zeal. Wildfire has been mixed with it, and I find that +I frequently wrote and spoke in my own spirit, when I thought I +was writing and speaking by the assistance of the Spirit of God. I +have, likewise, too much made inward impressions my rule of acting, +and too soon and too explicitly published what had been better kept +in longer, or told after my death. By these things I have hurt +the blessed cause I would defend, and also stirred up a needless +opposition. This has humbled me much, and made me think of a saying +of Mr. Henry, 'Joseph had more honesty than he had policy, or he +never would have told his dreams.' At the same time, I cannot but +praise God, who fills me with so much of his holy fire, and carried +me, a poor weak youth, through such a torrent, both of popularity +and contempt, and set so many seals to my unworthy ministrations. I +bless him for ripening my judgment a little more, for giving me to +see and confess, and I hope in some degree to correct and amend some +of my former mistakes." + +In the early part of this year, 1748, the "Gentleman's Magazine" +had announced Whitefield's death as having taken place in America. +One of his first letters on his arrival at Deal in that year, says, +"Words cannot express how joyful my friends were to see me once more +in the land of the living, for I find the newspapers had buried me +ever since April last. But it seems I am not to die, but live. O +that it may be to declare the works of the Lord." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +LABORS IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND--CHAPLAIN TO LADY HUNTINGDON. + +1748, 1749. + + +On the evening of July 6, 1748, Whitefield again found himself in +London, after an absence of nearly four years. Here he was welcomed +with joy by many thousands. The large church of St. Bartholomew +was at once thrown open to him, where multitudes flocked to hear, +and where on the first Sabbath he had a thousand communicants. But +in his own more immediate circle many things were in an unhappy +condition. His congregation at the Tabernacle had been much +scattered during his absence; Antinomianism had made sad havoc +among the people; and one of this party threatened to rival him in +Moorfields. Whitefield sent him word, "The fields are no doubt as +free to you as to another. God send you a clear head and a _clean_ +heart. I intend preaching there on Sunday evening." He did so; and +found "Moorfields as white to harvest as ever." Our evangelist +was again called to mourn the evils of poverty. He found himself +compelled to sell his household furniture, to pay, in part, the +debts of his orphan-house, which were yet far from being cancelled; +his aged mother, for whom he always retained the highest regard, +also needed his aid. These and other trials pressed him sorely; but +on the other hand, he felt happy in his work, and his congregation +were soon reunited, and happy in his labors. + +We have seen that as early as 1738, Lady Huntingdon, with his +lordship her husband, as frequently as they could, heard Whitefield +preach; since that period his lordship had died, leaving her +ladyship a widow, in the thirty-ninth year of her age. At what +period she became more openly and intimately Whitefield's friend +does not appear; but when he landed at Deal from his third visit +to America, she sent Howel Harris to bring him to her house at +Chelsea, where he preached to large circles of the gay world, who +thronged this then fashionable watering-place. For the benefit of +this class of hearers, she soon after removed to London, at that +time some three miles distant from Chelsea, appointed Whitefield her +chaplain, and during the winter of 1748 and '49, opened her splendid +mansion in Park-street for the preaching of the gospel. "Good Lady +Huntingdon," he writes, "has come to town, and I am to preach twice +a week at her house to the great and noble. O that some of them +might be effectually called to taste the riches of redeeming love." +On the first day appointed, Chesterfield and Bolingbroke, both of +them well-known for their gayety and infidelity, and a circle of the +nobility, attended; and having heard him once, they desired to come +again. "Lord Chesterfield thanked me," he says. "Lord Bolingbroke +was moved, and asked me to come and see him the next morning. My +hands have been full of work, and I have been among great company. +All accepted my sermons. Thus the world turns round. '_In all time +of my wealth, good Lord, deliver me._'" + +The death-bed of Lord St. John Bolingbroke, whom we have already +mentioned as one of his parlor-hearers, exhibited scenes unusual in +the circle where he moved. The Bible was read to him, and his cry +was, "God be merciful to me a sinner." "My Lord Bolingbroke," wrote +Lady Huntingdon to Whitefield, "was much struck with his brother's +language in his last moments. O that his eyes might be opened by the +illuminating influence of divine truth. He is a singularly awful +character; and I am fearfully alarmed, lest the gospel which he so +heartily despises, yet affects to reverence, should prove the savor +of death unto death to him. Some, I trust, are savingly awakened, +while many are inquiring; thus the great Lord of the harvest hath +put honor on your ministry, and hath given my heart an encouraging +token of the utility of our feeble efforts." + +It is related that the Rev. Mr. Church, a clergyman who died curate +of Battersea, near London, one day called on Bolingbroke, who said +to him, "You have caught me reading John Calvin; he was indeed a man +of great parts, profound sense, and vast learning; he handles the +doctrines of grace in a very masterly manner." "Doctrines of grace," +replied the clergyman; "the doctrines of grace have set all mankind +by the ears." "I am surprised to hear you say so," answered Lord +Bolingbroke, "you who profess to believe and to preach Christianity. +Those doctrines are certainly the doctrines of the Bible, and if I +believe the Bible I must believe them. And let me seriously tell +you, that the greatest miracle in the world is the subsistence of +Christianity, and its continued preservation, as a religion, when +the preaching of it is committed to the care of such unchristian +men as you." + +At this period Whitefield renewed his acquaintance with the Rev. +James Hervey, who has not improperly been called the Melancthon +of the second reformation in England. Among all the converts +of our evangelist, no one was more distinguished for piety, or +for his fascination as a writer, than this admirable clergyman. +His writings, though too flowery in their style, were eminently +suitable, as Whitefield himself says, "for the taste of the polite +world." Hervey wrote to Whitefield, "Your journals and sermons, and +especially that sweet sermon on 'What think ye of Christ?' were a +means of bringing me to the knowledge of the truth." Whitefield felt +the warmest attachment to Hervey in return, and when he introduced +some of his works into America, wrote, "The author is my old friend; +a most heavenly-minded creature; one of the first Methodists, who +is contented with a small _cure_, and gives all he has to the poor. +We correspond with, though we cannot see each other." Whitefield +intimated in one of his journals his intention of sketching Hervey's +character, but this was one of the many intended things which +were never accomplished. Dr. Doddridge wrote a preface to one of +his works, which Warburton, as might be expected, called "a weak +rhapsody." + +Under the auspices of Lady Huntingdon, a prayer-meeting was +established for the women who, from the circles of rank and fashion, +became the followers of the Lord. Among these were Lady Frances +Gardiner, Lady Mary Hamilton, daughter of the Marquis of Lothian, +who had attended the ministry of Whitefield in Scotland, Lady +Gertrude Hotham and Countess Delitz, sisters of Lady Chesterfield, +Lady Chesterfield herself, and Lady Fanny Shirley. "Religion," says +Lady Huntingdon, when writing to Doddridge, "was never so much the +subject of conversation as now. Some of the great ones hear with me +the gospel patiently, and thus much seed is sown by Mr. Whitefield's +preaching. O that it may fall on good ground, and bring forth +abundantly." + +Some one, we believe a bishop, complained to George II. of the +popularity and success of Whitefield, and entreated his majesty in +some way or other to silence him. The monarch, thinking, no doubt, +of the class described by the martyr Latimer, as "unpreaching +prelates," replied with jocose severity, "I believe the best way +will be to make a bishop of him." + +But if Whitefield was honored by some of the great, he received from +others unmingled hostility. Horace Walpole, the gay man, and the +corrupt courtier, thought it worth while to introduce the Methodist +preacher into his "Private Correspondence." The statement he makes +of professed facts is altogether incredible, but shows unmistakably +the spirit of the writer. "The apostle Whitefield is come to some +shame. He went to Lady Huntingdon lately, and asked for forty pounds +for some distressed saint or other. She said she had not so much +money in the house, but would give it him the first time she had. He +was very pressing, but in vain. At last he said, 'There's your watch +and trinkets, you don't want such vanities; I will have that.' +She would have put him off; but he persisting, she said, 'Well, if +you must have it, you must.' About a fortnight afterwards, going +to his house, and being carried into his wife's chamber, among the +paraphernalia of the latter the countess found her own offering. +This has made a terrible schism; she tells the story herself. I had +not it from Saint Frances, [Lady Fanny Shirley,] but I hope it is +true." Every thing goes to prove the sincerity of his hope, though +founded on falsehood. + +It has generally happened that the most effective public speakers, +whether secular or sacred, have been accused by a fastidious class +with _vulgarisms_. So with Cicero, Burke, and Chatham; so with +Patrick Henry and Daniel Webster; and to turn to eminent preachers, +so with Luther, Latimer, and Whitefield. The reason was, that +intent on the greatest good to the greatest number, they used what +Dr. Johnson, after Daniel Burgess, called "market language." Dr. +William Bates, an accomplished and courtly non-conformist minister, +in the seventeenth century, once complained in the presence of his +faithful but unpolished friend Daniel Burgess, that he found very +little success in his work as a minister; when his aged brother +smartly replied, "Thank your velvet mouth for that--too fine to +speak market language." Whitefield, very happily for thousands, had +no squeamishness of this sort. + +Some ladies called one Saturday morning to pay a visit to Lady +Huntingdon, and during the interview, her ladyship inquired of them +if they had ever heard Mr. Whitefield preach. On being answered +in the negative, she said, "I wish you would hear him; he is to +preach to-morrow evening." They promised her ladyship they would +certainly attend. They fulfilled their promise; and when they called +on her ladyship the next Monday morning, she anxiously inquired if +they had heard Mr. Whitefield on the previous evening, and how they +liked him. The reply was, "Oh, my lady, of all the preachers we +ever heard, he is the most strange and unaccountable! Among other +preposterous things, would your ladyship believe it, he declared +that Jesus Christ was so willing to receive sinners, that he did not +object to receive even the devil's _castaways_! Now, my lady, did +you ever hear of such a thing since you were born?" Her ladyship, in +reply, said, "There is something, I acknowledge, a little singular +in the invitation, and I do not recollect to have met with it +before; but as Mr. Whitefield is below in the parlor, we will have +him up, and let him answer for himself." + +On Mr. Whitefield's entering the drawing-room, Lady Huntingdon +said, "Sir, these ladies have been preferring a very heavy charge +against you, and I thought it best that you should come up and +defend yourself. They say, that in your sermon last evening, in +speaking of the willingness of Jesus Christ to receive sinners, you +said, that 'so ready was Christ to receive sinners who came to him, +that he was willing to receive even the devil's castaways.'" Mr. +Whitefield immediately replied, "I certainly, my lady, must plead +guilty to the charge; whether I did what was right, or otherwise, +your ladyship shall judge when you have heard a fact. Did your +ladyship notice, about half an hour ago, a very modest single rap +at the door? It was given by a poor, miserable looking aged female, +who requested to speak with me. I desired that she might be shown +into the parlor, when she thus addressed me: 'I believe, sir, you +preached last evening at such a chapel.' 'Yes, I did.' 'Ah, sir, I +was accidentally passing the door of that chapel, and hearing the +voice of some one preaching, I did what I have never been in the +habit of doing--I went in; and one of the first things I heard you +say, was, that Jesus Christ was so willing to receive sinners, that +he did not object to receive the devil's castaways. Do you think, +sir, that Jesus Christ would receive me?' I answered her that there +was not a doubt of it, if she was but willing to go to him." + +It is pleasant to add, that the impression conveyed in the singular +language of Mr. Whitefield ended in the conversion of the poor +woman to God. She gave satisfactory evidence that her great and +numerous sins had been forgiven through the atonement of the Lord +Jesus Christ. Was Mr. Whitefield to be censured for the use of this +language? + +In September, 1748, Mr. Whitefield made his third visit to Scotland, +where he met with a cordial welcome, and where his labors became +increasingly valued. Some of the clergy at Glasgow, Perth, and +Edinburgh used their influence to exclude him from the pulpits, but +the majority voted in his favor; and a full examination vindicated +his character, and made his excellences more generally known. All +the ministers who were disposed to invite him to preach, were at +liberty to do so, except in the presbytery of Edinburgh; here, +however, he was accommodated by the magistrates with a church to +preach in whenever he visited the city. In Scotland he now warmly +advocated the cause of the college in New Jersey: of the results of +his labors we shall hear more hereafter. + +On his return to London, Whitefield resumed his preaching at +Lady Huntingdon's to "the great ones," as he calls them. Thirty, +and sometimes even sixty persons of rank attended, although the +newspapers gave false and degrading accounts of the reception he +met with in Scotland. He now availed himself of the influence he +possessed, to forward his intended college, in addition to his +orphan-house, for which his plea was, "If some such thing be not +done, I cannot see how the southern parts will be provided with +ministers; for all are afraid to go over." On this ground he +appealed to the trustees of Georgia; reminding them that he had +expended five thousand pounds upon the orphan-house; begging them +to relieve it, as a charitable institution, from all quit-rent +and taxes; and especially to allow him the labor of blacks in +cultivating the farm. "White hands," he said, "had left his tract of +land uncultivated." + +It will not be expected that Whitefield could stay long, even in the +courtly circles of London, where he met with so much acceptance. We +very soon find him among his old friends at Gloucester and Bristol. +The bishop of the latter see, he says, behaved very respectfully +to him; he visited also his old tutor, now become one of the +prebendaries, and met with the old kindness received at Oxford. "I +told him, that my judgment, as I trust, was a little more ripened +than it was some years ago; and that as fast as I found out my +faults, I should be glad to acknowledge them. He said the offence of +the governors of the church would wear off as I grew _moderate_." +The evangelist did not tell the doctor how little he cared for such +moderation as the governors of the church in that day required; +but he wrote to Lady Huntingdon, on the subject of their favor, "I +am pretty easy about that. If I can but act an honest part, and be +kept from _trimming_, I leave all consequences to Him who orders all +things well." During this journey, many new converts were won. One +of these was a counsellor, who was so much affected, that his zeal +in inviting others to hear Whitefield led his wife to suspect him of +madness. + +An interesting fact connected with Gloucestershire, his native +county, may be introduced in this place, though we are not sure +that it occurred during this journey. John Skinner of Houndscroft +was a strolling fiddler, going from fair to fair, supplying music +to any party that would hire him. Having determined to interrupt +Mr. Whitefield while preaching, he obtained a standing on a ladder +raised to a window near the pulpit. Here he remained a quiet, if not +an attentive hearer, till the text was read, when he intended to +begin his annoying exercise on the violin. It pleased God, however, +while he was putting his instrument in tune, to convey the word +preached with irresistible power to his soul; his attention was +diverted from his original purpose, he heard the whole sermon, and +became a new man. + +Happily Whitefield was blessed in bringing to Christ many who were +made eminently useful. Among others we might mention the late Rev. +Cornelius Winter, an eminent minister, who afterwards accompanied +our evangelist in his last voyage to America, and who after his +death conveyed his will to England, and sought ordination to return +and labor in Georgia. Disappointed in this, he became an able and +successful minister in England; and also trained several young men +for the Christian ministry, including the late celebrated William +Jay of Bath. Whitefield had often been heard by Winter with great +pleasure, for he admired his eloquence; but for some time no good +effects were apparent. One night, while playing at cards, an +amusement in which he much delighted, and though surrounded by a +number of gay companions, the thought presented itself to Winter's +mind that he might that evening hear his favorite preacher. He broke +off from play in the midst of the game, which made his companions +very angry, as they suspected where he was going. He tells us that +it was a night much to be remembered. He had reason to hope the +scales of ignorance were then removed from his eyes, he had a sense +of his misery as a sinner, and was led to earnest inquiry after the +way of salvation. It is scarcely necessary to say, that he never +again played at cards. + +From the exhilarating scenes of Gloucestershire and Bristol, we +must accompany Whitefield into Cornwall, among the glens and dales +of which, or on the seaside to a somewhat similar population and +with almost equal success, he spoke "all the words of this life." +The robust and determined miners of the west of England, whose +very employment gives hardihood alike to their character and frame, +at first received him in somewhat rough and unpolished style, +but were soon after melted and transformed by the grace which +had displayed its triumphs among their brethren at Kingswood. +"I am just returned," he writes on one occasion, "from near the +Land's End, where thousands and thousands heard the gospel gladly. +Everywhere the word of God has run and been glorified. Every day I +have been travelling and preaching; and could I stay a month, it +might be spent to great advantage. At a place called Port Isaac, +the Redeemer's stately steps were indeed seen. At Camelford I +preached with great quietness in the streets. At St. Ann's we had +a very powerful season; and yesterday at Redruth several thousands +attended, and the word was quick and powerful." Again he writes, +"Immediately after writing my last, I preached to many thousands at +a place called Gwennap. The rain descended, but the grace of God +seemed to fall like a gentle dew, sprinkling rain upon our souls. It +was indeed a fine spring shower. In the evening I rode to St. Ives, +and preached to many who gladly attended to hear the word; a great +power seemed to accompany it. On the Lord's day I preached twice to +great auditories. On Monday I preached again at Redruth, at ten in +the morning, to nearly, as they were computed, ten thousand souls. +Arrows of conviction seemed to fly fast." Again, in a communication +to the Countess of Huntingdon, he says, "I have been very near +the Land's End, and everywhere souls have fled to hear the word +preached, 'like doves to their windows.' The harvest is great, yea, +very great, but laborers are few. O that the Lord of the harvest +would thrust out more laborers." And yet again he says, "Invitations +are sent to me from Falmouth and several other places, but I cannot +attend to them all at present. I want more tongues, more bodies, +more souls, for the Lord Jesus. Had I ten thousand, he should have +them all." Such was the noble spirit he displayed, and such were +the manner and fruits of his "entering in among" the, at that time, +benighted children of Cornwall. A great light shone upon them. They +came from the caverns of the earth to welcome its rising, and to +look upon its brightness. Thousands of them were indeed "brought out +of darkness into marvellous light," and turned by it from sin to +holiness, and from Satan to God; and thousands are still rejoicing +in its beams. + +On his return to London, Whitefield found his assemblies at the +countess's "brilliant indeed," and Lord Bolingbroke still one among +them. Of this talented nobleman our evangelist at this time indulged +a happy hope, which, alas, seems never to have been realized. + +In February, 1749, Whitefield made an excursion to Exeter and +Plymouth, where he was agreeably surprised to find a great +alteration had taken place since his preceding visit, five years +before. He loved to "range," as he called it, "after precious +souls," and happily for him and for others he found them. During +this and subsequent visits to Plymouth, he resided with the Rev. +Andrew Kinsman, an excellent Congregational minister, of whom we +have already spoken. He was born in Devonshire in 1724, and was +therefore ten years younger than Whitefield. While peculiarly +amiable in his manners, and remarkable for his regard to his +parents, he was unacquainted with the religion of the heart till +his seventeenth year, when he met with a volume of Mr. Whitefield's +sermons, and one of those on the new birth alarmed him. His pious +friends were few, but his religious feelings were deeply moved, +and God at length gave him "the oil of joy for mourning, and the +garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Concerned for the +highest interests of his relatives, he one night, as the family were +retiring to rest, broke out, with intense emotion, "What, shall we +go to bed without prayer? How do we know but some of us may awake +in hell before morning?" This unexpected address struck the family +with solemn awe; and while they looked at each other with conscious +shame, for the neglect of so clear a duty, he fell upon his knees +and prayed with so much readiness and fervor that it excited their +astonishment. + +As might be expected, his concern for others did not stop here; he +was anxious that his neighbors might also find "the unsearchable +riches of Christ." He began, therefore, to read Whitefield's sermons +to as many as would attend, supposing, with Melancthon, that what +had proved so great a blessing to himself, would not fail of similar +effects on others, as soon as they were heard. After a short time, +he began himself to expound and preach, and was encouraged by many +conversions under his ministry, including those of his father, +mother, and three sisters. Not long after these events, Whitefield, +in entering on one of his voyages to America, had been compelled +to stay at Plymouth, where Kinsman first saw and heard him. By a +series of remarkable events, Mr. Kinsman was brought to settle +as a minister at Plymouth, where the "Tabernacle" was erected on +ground given by himself, and the congregation were served by him and +other ministers with abundant success. In the whole neighborhood an +extraordinary blessing attended his labors, and his usefulness and +deliverances from danger were only second to those of Whitefield +himself. Nor was he less respected, nor his ministry attended with +less success, at Bristol and London--cities to which he was invited +by Whitefield; who used to call Bristol "_Kinsman's America_," +alluding to his own reception and success in the western world. + +On one occasion, when Whitefield was about to sail for America, +he sent for Kinsman to London, and on his arrival dined with his +distinguished friend at the Tabernacle house. After dinner there +was a violent storm of thunder and lightning. As they stood at the +window looking out on the raging elements, Mr. Kinsman, supposing a +young clergyman who had dined with them, and who now stood by his +side, to be a pious man, familiarly put his hand on his shoulder, +and with great cheerfulness and energy repeated the lines of Dr. +Watts: + + "The God who rules on high, + And thunders when he please; + Who rides upon the stormy sky, + And manages the seas-- + _This awful God is ours_, + Our Father, and our love!" + +The words so appropriately introduced, and so emphatically spoken, +made a deep impression on the mind of the young clergyman, and gave +rise to a conversation which, by the blessing of God, led to his +conversion. + +At the Tabernacle in London, the ministry of Mr. Kinsman was greatly +distinguished for its excellence and success, and he thought himself +highly honored in preaching the first sermon delivered from the +pulpit of the present Tabernacle. His musical voice, his lively and +pathetic address, and the richness of the evangelical truths he +proclaimed, brought numbers of all classes of society to hear him. +Among them was Shuter, the comedian, to whom we shall again refer as +a hearer of Whitefield, and who years afterwards, in an interview +with Kinsman, drew a striking contrast between their professions, +and bitterly lamented that he had not cordially embraced religion, +when his conscience was impressed under the preaching of the great +evangelist. + +But we must not stay longer to speak of Kinsman; suffice it to say +that he founded, in addition to Plymouth, a new church three miles +from thence, at a place now called Devonport, and labored with +energy and holy success till the sixty-ninth year of his age, when +he died in triumph, February 28, 1793. Of such a man it was truly +said, that for Whitefield "he retained the most filial affection to +his dying day; and frequently travelled with, and consulted him as a +father upon all his religious concerns." + +In March Whitefield returned to London, where the feeble state of +his health made him feel weary even in his success. He says, "I +have seen enough of popularity to be sick of it, and did not the +interest of my blessed Master require my appearing in public, the +world should hear but little of me henceforward." Yet his zeal +abated not. "I dread the thoughts of flagging in the latter stages +of my road," is an expression often used in his letters to his +friends. He thought that preaching and travelling contributed to his +health. In a letter to Hervey, he says, "Fear not your weak body, +we are immortal till our work is done. Christ's laborers must live +by miracle; if not, I must not live at all, for God only knows what +I daily endure. My continual vomitings almost kill me, and yet the +pulpit is my cure; so that my friends begin to pity me less, and to +leave off that ungrateful caution, 'Spare thyself.' I speak this to +encourage you." + +All this Whitefield meant. Hence in May we find him preaching at +Portsmouth daily, for more than a week, to very large and attentive +auditories; where was shown another remarkable instance of the power +which attended his preaching, for many who a few days before were +speaking all manner of evil against him, were very desirous of his +longer stay to preach the gospel among them. From Bristol, June 24, +he writes, "Yesterday God brought me here, after a circuit of about +eight hundred miles, and enabled me to preach to, I suppose, upwards +of a hundred thousand souls. I have been in eight Welsh counties, +and I think we have not had one dry meeting. The work in Wales is +much upon the advance, and likely to increase daily." + +Whitefield returned to London to welcome his wife home from the +Bermuda Islands. From her he learned that there his character had +been aspersed by one of the clergy; but while he grieved over the +fact, he said, "I am content to wait till the day of judgment for +the clearing up of my character; and after I am dead, I desire no +other epitaph than this, 'Here lies George Whitefield. What sort of +a man he was, the great day will discover.'" + +In the midst of his sorrows, Whitefield was comforted by a visit +from two German ministers, who had been laboring among the Jews with +apparently happy results. He found also several of the peeresses, +and others of "the great," cordially disposed to receive him; and +shortly afterwards was visited by Mr. Grimshaw, a clergyman from +Yorkshire, for whom in September he went to preach. Thousands in the +village of Haworth attended his preaching, even ten thousand at a +time, and a thousand communicants approached the table of the Lord. +At Leeds also he preached, at the invitation of Mr. Wesley's people, +to ten thousand persons, and Mr. Charles Wesley himself introduced +him to the pulpit at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. + +In the north of England the visits of Mr. Whitefield were always +looked for with intense interest. In one of his letters, he thus +describes the state of things there in August, 1756: "It is now a +fortnight since I came to Leeds, in and about which I preached eight +days successively, three times almost every day, to thronged and +affected auditories. On Sunday last at Bradford, in the morning, +the audience consisted of above ten thousand; at noon, and in +the evening, at Birstal, of nearly double that number. Though +hoarse, I was able to speak so that they all heard." These hallowed +services were often spoken of by the late Rev. Dr. John Fawcett, +for more than half a century an eminent Baptist minister of that +neighborhood, to whose soul they proved a rich blessing. After +having heard Whitefield at Bradford in the morning, he followed +him to Birstal, where a platform was erected at the foot of a hill +adjoining the town, whence Mr. Whitefield addressed an immense +concourse of people, not fewer, it was believed, than twenty +thousand, who were ranged before him on the declivity in the form of +an amphitheatre. "I lay," says Fawcett, "under the scaffold, and it +appeared as if all his words were addressed to me, and as if he had +known my most secret thoughts from ten years of age. As long as life +remains, I shall remember both the text and the sermon." Accustomed +as he was to preach to large and promiscuous multitudes, when he +looked on this vast assemblage, and was about to mount the temporary +stage, he expressed to his surrounding friends a considerable +feeling of timidity; but when he began to speak, an unusual +solemnity pervaded the assembly, and thousands, in the course of the +sermon, as was often the fact, gave vent to their emotions by tears +and groans. Fools who came to mock, began to pray, and to cry out, +"What must we do to be saved?" + +Mr. Shirley, in giving an account of this same service, tells us +that "not only the field, but the woodlands about it, were covered +with crowds collected from different parts. An unusual solemnity +pervaded this vast multitude, and at the close of the service the +one hundredth psalm was sung, and concluded with Mr. Grimshaw's +favorite doxology, + + "'Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.' + +The volume of sound produced by the united voices of thousands, +while it reëchoed through the vale below, had such an effect as no +language can describe." + +Mr. Grimshaw was a very remarkable clergyman connected with the +church of England, though found fault with on account of his +irregularity. He studied at Cambridge for the ministry before he +was acquainted with the reality of true religion. His conversion +was very striking; after which he became a remarkably faithful and +pungent preacher. He settled at Haworth, in Yorkshire, where Mr. +Whitefield visited him. + +In one of the services held by Mr. Whitefield in Yorkshire, a +deep solemnity was created by providential circumstances. He had +mounted the temporary scaffold to address the thousands before him. +Casting a look over the multitude, he elevated his hands, and in an +energetic manner implored the divine presence and blessing. With a +solemnity peculiarly his own, he then announced his text, "It is +appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. +11:27. After a short pause, as he was about to proceed, a wild, +terrifying shriek issued from the centre of the congregation. A +momentary alarm and confusion ensued. Mr. Whitefield waited to +ascertain the cause, and requested the people to remain still. Mr. +Grimshaw hurried to the spot, and in a few minutes was seen pressing +towards the place where Mr. Whitefield stood. "Brother Whitefield," +said he, manifesting in the strongest manner the intensity of his +feelings, and the ardor of his concern for the salvation of sinners, +"you stand among the dead and the dying. An immortal soul has been +called into eternity; the destroying angel is passing over the +congregation; cry aloud, and spare not." The awful occurrence was +speedily announced to the congregation. After the lapse of a few +moments, Mr. Whitefield again announced his text. Again a loud and +piercing shriek proceeded from the spot near where Lady Huntingdon +and Lady Margaret Ingham were standing. A thrill of horror seemed +to escape from the multitude when it was understood that a _second_ +person had fallen a victim to the king of terrors. When the +consternation had somewhat subsided, Mr. Whitefield gave indications +of proceeding with the service. The excited feelings of many were +wound up to their highest point. All was hushed; not a sound was to +be heard; and a stillness like the awful silence of death spread +over the assembly, as he proceeded in melting strains to warn the +careless, Christless sinner to "flee from the wrath to come." + +As winter was now approaching, Whitefield felt it important to +return to the metropolis. During the tour he had made, he won to +Christ not a few of those who afterwards laid the foundations of +churches now flourishing in the counties of Lancaster, York, and +Northumberland. He met, however, with so much "rude treatment here +and there, as sent him home praying, 'Lord, give me a pilgrim heart +for my pilgrim life.'" He was now in "winter quarters," but was +neither idle nor useless. To use his own words, "The glory of the +Lord filled the tabernacle, and the shout of a king was in the +camp," and that from week to week. "Thousands, thousands crowded to +hear." Every day also he heard of instances of conversion. One of +these pleased him greatly. It was that of a boatswain, who, before +hearing him, knew no more about divine truth "than the whistle he +blew on board." He mentions also a boy eleven years of age, a woman +of eighty, and a baker, who had been "a Jerusalem sinner," all of +whom bowed before the cross, and placed their hopes of salvation on +Him who died thereon. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + LABORS IN GREAT BRITAIN--FOURTH VISIT TO AMERICA--NEW TABERNACLE + IN LONDON, AND TABERNACLE AT BRISTOL. + +1750-1754. + + +At the beginning of the year 1750, Whitefield was still in London. +At this time his intended college at Bethesda occupied much of +his attention. He wrote to his friends in every quarter for help. +His usual appeal was, "We propose having an academy or college at +the orphan-house. The house is large, and will hold a hundred. My +_heart_, I trust, is larger, and will hold ten thousand." Though +in London, his heart was in America. He says, "Ranging seems my +province; and methinks I hear a voice behind me saying, 'This is +the way, walk in it.' My heart echoes back, 'Lord, let thy presence +go with me, and then send me where thou pleasest.' In the midst of +all, America, _dear_ America, is not forgotten. I begin to count the +days, and to say to the months, 'Fly fast away, that I may spread +the gospel-net once more in dear America.'" + +Be it here mentioned, that amid the busy scenes of his life, and +while surrounded with the flatteries of the great and noble, +Whitefield did not forget the duties he owed to his mother. A person +whom he had employed to obtain some comforts for her, had neglected +the duty, so that the now aged matron might have felt a week's +anxiety. He wrote to her, "I should never forgive myself, was I, by +negligence or any wrong conduct, to give you a moment's needless +pain. Alas, how little have I done for you. Christ's care for his +mother excites me to wish I could do any thing for you. If you +would have any thing more brought, pray write, honored mother. +* * * Tomorrow it will be _thirty-five_ years since you brought +unworthy me into the world. O that my head were waters, and mine +eyes fountains of tears, that I might bewail my barrenness and +unfruitfulness in the church of God." + +While he was now fully engaged in preaching, and was surrounded +with flatteries, he did not forget his duty to conflict with sin. +He writes, "I find a love of power sometimes intoxicates even God's +dear children. It is much easier for me to obey than govern. This +makes me fly from that which, at our first setting out, we are apt +to court. I cannot well buy humility at too dear a rate." + +Dr. Philip Doddridge, as every reader knows, was one of the most +pious and accomplished preachers and writers of the Non-conformists +of England in his day. Nor was his _missionary_ zeal small in its +degree. Though he died as early as 1751, he had said, "I am now +intent on having something done among the dissenters, in a more +public manner, for propagating the gospel abroad, which lies near +my heart. I wish to live to see this design brought into execution, +at least into some forwardness, and then I should die the more +cheerfully." It was indeed the passion of his life to promote +the interests of evangelical truth, and save the souls of men. +And though, as his recent eulogist, the Rev. John Stoughton, has +said, condemned by some, and suspected by others for so doing, he +took a deep and sympathetic interest in the evangelical labors of +Whitefield. It seems strange in our day to think of Whitefield +being regarded as an enthusiast by orthodox dissenters. Yet there +were those who did thus regard him. Bradbury poured on him streams +of wit; Barker regarded his sermons as low and coarse; and another +in writing calls him "honest, crazy, confident Mr. Whitefield." +But Doddridge regarded him as far otherwise, and spoke of him as +"a flaming servant of Christ." He prayed on one occasion at the +Tabernacle, but Dr. Watts was much grieved by it; and when, on +Whitefield's visiting Northampton, Doddridge gave him the use of +his pulpit, the managers of the college of which he was president +remonstrated with him for so doing. + +The visit of Whitefield to Doddridge was in February, 1750, where +he met with the Rev. Dr. Sir James Stonehouse, and the Rev. Messrs. +Hartley and Hervey. The latter eminent clergyman thus writes: "I +have lately seen that most excellent minister of the ever-blessed +Jesus, Mr. Whitefield. I dined, supped, and spent the evening with +him at Northampton, in company with Dr. Doddridge, and two pious, +ingenious clergymen of the church of England, both of them known to +the learned world by their valuable writings. And surely I never +spent a more delightful evening, or saw one that seemed to make +nearer approaches to the felicity of heaven. A gentleman of great +worth and rank in the town invited us to his house, and gave us +an elegant treat; but how mean was his provision, how coarse his +delicacies, compared with the fruit of my friend's lips: they +dropped as honey from the honey-comb, and were a well of life. +Surely people do not know that amiable and exemplary man, or else, +I cannot but think, instead of depreciating, they would applaud +and love him. For my part, I never beheld so fair a copy of our +Lord, such a living image of the Saviour, such exalted delight in +God, such enlarged benevolence to man, such a steady faith in the +divine promises, and such a fervent zeal for the divine glory; and +all this without the least moroseness of humor, or extravagance of +behavior, sweetened with the most engaging cheerfulness of temper, +and regulated by all the sobriety of reason and wisdom of Scripture; +insomuch that I cannot forbear applying the wise man's encomium of +an illustrious woman to this eminent minister of the everlasting +gospel: 'Many sons have done virtuously, but thou excellest them +all.'" + +In the month of March, 1750, a general alarm had been awakened +by earthquakes in London, and fears were excited by pretended +prophecies of still greater devastation. These signal judgments +of Jehovah were preceded by great profligacy of manners, and its +fruitful parent, licentiousness of principle. Dr. Horne, afterwards +dean of Canterbury and bishop of Bristol, in a sermon preached at +the time, says, "As to faith, is not the doctrine of the Trinity, +and that of the divinity of our Lord and Saviour--without which +our redemption is absolutely void, and we are yet in our sins, +lying under the intolerable burden of the wrath of God--blasphemed +and ridiculed openly in conversation and in print? And as to +righteousness of life, are not the people of this land dead in +trespasses and sins? Idleness, drunkenness, luxury, extravagance, +and debauchery; for these things cometh the wrath of God, and +disordered nature proclaims the impending distress and perplexity of +nations. And Oh, may we of this nation never read a handwriting upon +the wall of heaven, in illuminated capitals of the Almighty, MENE, +MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN--God hath numbered the kingdom, and finished +it. Thou art weighed in the balances of heaven, and found wanting +the merits of a rejected Redeemer, and therefore the kingdom is +divided and given away." + +The shocks felt in London in February and March of this year, were +far more violent than any remembered for a long series of years. The +earth moved throughout the whole cities of London and Westminster. +It was a strong and jarring motion, attended with a rumbling noise +like that of thunder. Multitudes of persons of every class fled +from these cities with the utmost haste, and others repaired to the +fields and open places in the neighborhood. Towerhill, Moorfields, +and Hyde Park were crowded with men, women, and children, who +remained a whole night under the most fearful apprehensions. Places +of worship were filled with persons in the utmost state of alarm. +Especially was this the case with those attached to Methodist +congregations, where multitudes came all night, knocking at the +doors, and for God's sake begging admittance. As convulsions of +nature are usually regarded by enthusiasts and fanatics as the +sure harbinger of its dissolution, a soldier "had a revelation," +that a great part of London and Westminster would be destroyed +by an earthquake on a certain night, between the hours of twelve +and one o'clock. Believing his assertion, thousands fled from the +city for fear of being suddenly overwhelmed, and repaired to the +fields, where they continued all night, in momentary expectation of +seeing the prophecy fulfilled; while thousands of others ran about +the streets in the most wild and frantic state of consternation, +apparently quite certain that the day of judgment was about to +commence. The whole scene was truly awful. + +Under these circumstances, the ministers of Christ preached almost +incessantly, and many were awakened to a sense of their awful +condition before God, and to rest their hopes of eternal salvation +on the Rock of ages. Mr. Whitefield, animated with that burning +charity which shone so conspicuously in him, ventured out at +midnight to Hyde Park, where he proclaimed to the affrighted and +astonished multitudes that there is a Saviour, Christ the Lord. The +darkness of the night, and the awful apprehensions of an approaching +earthquake, added much to the solemnity of the scene. The sermon +was truly sublime, and to the ungodly sinner, the self-righteous +pharisee, and the artful hypocrite, strikingly terrific. With +a pathos which showed the fervor of his soul, and with a grand +majestic voice that commanded attention, he took occasion from the +circumstances of the assembly, to call their attention to that +most important event in which every one will be interested, the +final consummation of all things, the universal wreck of nature, +the dissolution of earth, and the eternal sentence of every son +and daughter of Adam. The whole scene was one of a most memorable +character. Mr. Charles Wesley, Mr. Romaine, and others preached in a +similar manner, and with like happy results. + +At this period, Whitefield and his female friends especially, +were the subjects of royal attention at the court of George the +Second. It is said that on one occasion Lady Chesterfield appeared +in a dress "with a brown ground and silver flowers," of foreign +manufacture. The king, smiling significantly, said to her aloud, "I +know who chose that gown for you--Mr. Whitefield; I hear you have +attended on him for a year and a half." Her ladyship acknowledged +she had done so, and professed her approbation of his character and +ministry; and afterwards deeply regretted that she had not said more +when she had so good an opportunity. Whitefield had occasion to wait +on the secretary of state, in company with Dr. Gifford, a Baptist +pastor in London, to ask relief for some persecuted Christians in +Ireland, and was assured that "no hurt was designed by the state to +the Methodists." He also renewed his friendship with the Messrs. +Wesley, and several times exchanged pulpits with them. He writes, "I +have now preached thrice in Mr. Wesley's chapel, and God was with us +of a truth." + +Again was our evangelist tired of London, and again had he grown +sick for want of field-preaching. Accordingly he set out for Bristol +and other parts of the west of England; and although rain and hail +pelted him in his field-pulpits, he preached "about twenty times +in eight or nine days." As soon as he found himself in his own +element, he saw every thing in his old lights. He says, "Every +thing I meet with seems to carry this voice with it: 'Go thou and +preach the gospel; be a pilgrim on earth; have no party, or certain +dwelling-place.' My heart echoes back, 'Lord Jesus, help me to do +or suffer thy will. When thou seest me in danger of _nestling_, in +pity, in tender pity put a thorn in my nest, to prevent me from it.'" + +From Bristol, Whitefield went to Taunton, where he met with the Rev. +Richard Pearsall, an eminent and excellent Presbyterian minister, of +whom he speaks very highly; and from thence, on his way to Plymouth, +he stayed at Wellington, to preach for the Rev. Risdon Darracott, +who has ever since been distinguished as "the star in the west." Mr. +Darracott was the son of a dissenting minister in Dorsetshire, where +he was born in 1717, when Whitefield was three years old. He studied +for the ministry under the Rev. Dr. Doddridge, at Northampton, +and entered on his ministerial course in Cornwall in 1738, which +situation he was most reluctantly compelled to leave two years +afterwards from violent hemorrhage of the lungs. Under this alarming +visitation he spent about six months with his friends in Devonshire, +where his fervent-minded father had preached till his death at the +age of forty. While here, he had a call to succeed a venerable +minister at Wellington, who had recently deceased. He found the +congregation small, and the number of communicants but twenty-eight. +His ministry soon drew a large congregation, many of whom had never +before made a profession of religion, and were first attracted +into the town from the neighboring villages out of mere curiosity +to hear him. The house of worship was soon insufficient to contain +his hearers; and even when it was enlarged, many were frequently +compelled to stand out of doors, unable to obtain an entrance. The +Rev. Benjamin Fawcett, who preached his funeral sermon, said, "I +never knew any congregation which appeared to have so many instances +of abiding religious impressions;" and added, "I have good reason to +believe that his ministry was owned to the effectual conversion of +many hundreds of souls." + +The night before the death of this excellent man, which took place +in his forty-second year, he exclaimed, "Oh, what a good God have I, +in and through Jesus Christ. I would praise him, but my lips cannot. +Eternity will be too short to speak his praises." The physician +coming in, he said to him, "Oh, what a mercy is it to be interested +in the atoning blood of Jesus. I come to the Lord as a vile sinner, +trusting in the merits and precious blood of my dear Redeemer. O +grace, grace, free grace!" His last words were, "I am going from +weeping friends to congratulating angels, and rejoicing saints in +glory. He is coming. Oh, speed thy chariot wheels; why are they so +long in coming? I long to be gone!" He left in his church more than +two hundred communicants. + +Whitefield and Darracott were congenial spirits, and Darracott, like +his friend, had suffered much reproach in the cause of his Master; +he was what Whitefield called him, "a flaming and successful +preacher of the gospel." He had just at this time lost three lovely +children. "Two of them," says Whitefield, "had died on the Saturday +evening before the sacrament; but weeping did not prevent sowing. +He preached the next day, and administered as usual. Our Lord +strengthened him; and for his three natural, gave him above _thirty_ +spiritual children; and he is likely to have many more. He has +ventured his little all for Christ; and last week a saint died who +left him and his heirs two hundred pounds in land. Did ever any one +trust in God, and was forsaken?" This interview with Darracott, and +with good old Mr. Pearsall, who had been a preacher of righteousness +before Whitefield was born, had an inspiring influence upon him. He +says, "I _began_ to take the field again at his dwelling for the +spring! I begin to _begin_ to spend and be spent for Him who shed +his own dear heart's blood for me. He makes _ranging_ exceedingly +pleasant." + +Soon after this, Whitefield went again into Yorkshire. At Rotherham +he says, "Satan rallied his forces. The crier was employed to give +notice of a bear-baiting. You may guess who was the bear! However, +I preached twice. The drum was heard, and several watermen attended +with great staves. The constable was struck, and two of the mobbers +apprehended, but rescued afterwards." Sheffield and Leeds he found +to be a new and warmer climate. Lancashire, however, was still but +cold to him. All was quiet at Manchester, and he "humbly hoped some +had enlisted," but no great impression was then made. At Bolton, a +drunkard stood up behind him to preach; and the wife of the man who +lent him the field, twice attempted to stab the workman who put up +the stand for him. This roused him, and he bore down all opposition +by a torrent of eloquence, which quite exhausted him. In the night, +however, some rude fellows got into the barn and stables where his +chaise and horses had been put, and cut them very shamefully. This +conduct he called, "Satan showing his teeth." + +To narrate the particulars of this journey would be little more +than a repetition of scenes of insult and of success with which the +reader has already become familiar. At Ulverston he says, "Satan +made some small resistance. A clergyman, who looked more like a +_butcher_ than a minister, came with two others, and charged a +constable with me; but I never saw a poor creature sent off with +such disgrace." + +One of the most remarkable conversions recorded in the history of +the church occurred during this journey by the ministry of Mr. +Whitefield. The full particulars are recorded in the Life of the +Countess of Huntingdon, and can only be briefly mentioned here. + +In the early period of Whitefield's ministry, many of the taverns +became places where his doctrines and zeal were talked of and +ridiculed. A Mr. Thorpe, and several other young men in Yorkshire, +undertook at one of these parties to mimic the preaching of Mr. +Whitefield. The proposition met with applause; one after another +stood on a table to perform his part, and it devolved on Mr. Thorpe +to close this irreverent scene. Much elated, and confident of +success, he exclaimed, as he ascended the table, "I shall beat you +all." Who would have supposed that the mercy of God was now about to +be extended to this transgressor of his law? The Bible was handed to +him; and by the guidance of unerring Providence, it opened at Luke +13:3: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." The moment +he read the text his mind was impressed in a most extraordinary +manner; he saw clearly the nature and importance of the subject; +and as he afterwards said, if he ever preached with the assistance +of the Holy Spirit, it was at that time. His address produced a +feeling of depression in his auditors; and when he had finished, +he instantly retired to weep over his sins. He soon after became +associated with the people of God, and died a successful minister of +Christ, at Masborough, in Yorkshire, in 1776, about six years after +the death of Mr. Whitefield. He was the father of the distinguished +Rev. William Thorpe, of Bristol. + +Passing on to Edinburgh, Whitefield was, as usual, received with the +most unfeigned tenderness and joy, preaching to great multitudes +of attentive and serious people, whose earnest desire to hear him +made him exert himself beyond his strength. He says, "By preaching +always twice, once thrice, and once four times in a day, I am quite +weakened; but I hope to recruit again. Christ's presence makes me +smile at pain." He returned to London, having preached about one +hundred times, it was believed to not less than one hundred thousand +people. + +Among the occasional hearers of Whitefield when in Scotland, was +the celebrated infidel historian, David Hume. An intimate friend +having asked him what he thought of Mr. Whitefield's preaching, he +replied, "He is, sir, the most ingenious preacher I ever heard; it +is worth while to go twenty miles to hear him." He then repeated +the following passage, which occurred towards the close of the +discourse he had been hearing. "After a solemn pause, Mr. Whitefield +thus addressed his numerous audience: 'The attendant angel is just +about to leave the threshold, and ascend to heaven. And shall he +ascend, and not bear with him the news of one sinner, among all +this multitude, reclaimed from the error of his ways?' To give +the greater effect to this exclamation, he stamped with his foot, +lifted up his eyes and hands to heaven, and with gushing tears cried +aloud, 'Stop, Gabriel! stop, Gabriel! stop, ere you enter the sacred +portals, and yet carry with you the news of one sinner converted to +God.' He then, in the most simple but energetic language, described +what he called a Saviour's dying love to sinful man, so that almost +the whole assembly melted into tears. This address was accompanied +with such animated, yet natural action, that it surpassed any thing +I ever saw or heard in any other preacher." + +In the summer of 1751, Whitefield paid a second visit to Ireland, +and was most hospitably received in Dublin by a respectable and +opulent gentleman named Lunell, who had been brought to Christ by +the first Methodist itinerant preacher in that city. During this +excursion, Whitefield preached about eighty sermons, fourteen +of them in Dublin, and seven in Limerick. His hearers in Dublin +organized themselves into a public society, which does not seem +to have met his approbation. He says, "This morning I have been +talking with dear Mr. Adams, and can not help thinking that you +have run before the Lord, in forming yourselves into a public +society as you have done. I am sincere when I profess that I do +not choose to set myself at the head of any party. When I came to +Ireland, my intention was to preach the gospel to all; and if it +should ever please the Lord of all lords to send me thither again, +I purpose to pursue the same plan. For I am a debtor to all of +every denomination, and have no design, if I know any thing of this +desperately wicked and deceitful heart, but to promote the common +salvation of mankind. The love of Christ constrains me to this." + +During this visit, Whitefield a few times ventured out of the city +to Oxmantown-green, then a large open place, situated near the +royal barracks, where the Ormond and Liberty boys, two factions +among the lowest class of the people, generally assembled on the +Sabbath to fight with each other. The congregations at first were +very numerous, and deeply affected, nor did any disturbance occur. +Thus encouraged, the preacher ventured again, and gave notice of +his intention to resume his labors. He went through the barracks, +the door of which opened into the green, and pitched his tent near +the barrack walls, not doubting of the protection, or at least of +the interposition of the officers and soldiers, if there should be +occasion for it. The multitude in attendance was indeed vast. After +singing and prayer, Whitefield preached without molestation, except +that now and then a few stones and clods of dirt were thrown at +him. It being war-time, he took occasion to exhort his hearers, +as was his usual practice, not only to fear God, but to honor the +king; and prayed for the success of the king of Prussia. When the +service was over, he thought to return home by the way he came, +but, to his great surprise, a passage through the barracks was +denied; and he was compelled to pass from one end of the green to +the other, through thousands of Roman-catholics. He was unattended; +for a soldier and four preachers who came with him had fled from +the scene of danger, and he was seriously attacked by the mob. +They threw vollies of stones upon him from all quarters, and he +reeled backwards and forwards till he was almost breathless and +covered with blood. At length, with great difficulty he staggered +to the door of a minister's house near the green, which was kindly +opened to him. For a while he continued speechless, and panting for +breath; but his weeping friends having given him a cordial, and +washed his wounds, a coach was procured, in which, amidst the oaths, +imprecations, and threatenings of the rabble, he got safe home, +and united in a hymn of thanksgiving with his friends. In a letter +written to a friend soon after this event, he says, "I received many +blows and wounds; one was particularly large, and near my temple: I +thought of Stephen, and was in hopes, like him, to go off in this +bloody triumph to the immediate presence of my Master." + +Unpromising, however, as things were in Ireland, the labors of +Whitefield, followed as they were by those of the Wesleys, became +the foundation of a number of Christian societies that proved vast +blessings to Ireland; and some of them grew into large churches, +which continue to flourish till this day. + +The society to which reference has been made, which assembled +in Skinner's alley, secured ministerial aid from the late Rev. +John Edwards, who was one of Whitefield's converts, and among +the earliest preachers at the Tabernacle in London; and who also +itinerated over nearly the whole of England, Scotland, and Ireland. +The period was one of great persecution, and this good man had +several remarkable preservations from death. At one time, while he +resided in Dublin, he was returning from preaching at a village, +when he was seized by a party of rude fellows, who declared they +would throw him over the bridge into the Liffey. This was observed +by an opposite political party, residing on the other side of the +river, who encountered his assailants, and rescued him out of their +hands, saying he lived on their side the river, and none should hurt +him. At another time, having preached out of doors, a furious mob +of the _White-boys_, a political party so called, beset the house +in which he was, and threatened to burn it to the ground, unless he +was driven out of it. His anxious friends could see but one way for +his escape, which was through a window that opened into a garden +belonging to a justice of the peace, who was himself a violent +persecutor of the Methodists. Through this window Mr. Edwards was, +like the apostle Paul, let down in a basket. Here he stood some +time in great consternation, fearing the family might observe him, +and charge him with breaking into the garden for improper purposes, +and so both religion and himself would be injured. At length he +ventured to knock at the door, and asked for the magistrate, to +whom he ingenuously stated the facts, and who most generously +protected and extended to him the hospitalities of his house for two +days. + +One fact more must be told of this excellent man. He resolved to +visit a town to which had removed a number of soldiers who had +received benefit from his ministry. He was met, however, by some of +these pious men, who told him that the inhabitants were determined +to take his life. Edwards was not to be dissuaded from his purpose; +and on his arrival he immediately preached in the street, and +several distinguished persons, including the mayor of the town, came +to hear him, and by their influence prevented disturbance. After +the service, the mayor invited him to breakfast with several of +the principal inhabitants, and told him they were very glad he was +come--that the people were extremely dissolute in their manners, and +the clergy, both Protestants and Catholics, exceedingly remiss in +their duty, and they hoped the Methodists would succeed in reforming +the town. These gentlemen subscribed to the support of stated +preaching, and extensive and lasting good was done. + +Amid Whitefield's innumerable engagements and declining health, +Bethesda and his beloved America could not be forgotten. While +he was at Glasgow during this summer of 1751, he was greatly +delighted to hear that Mr. Dinwiddie, brother-in-law to the Rev. Mr. +M'Culloch, of Cambuslang, was appointed governor of Virginia. The +gospel had been much opposed there, and he thought the appointment +now made would greatly tend to check persecution. + +Whitefield, as it appears to us, now very suddenly determined on +another voyage to America. He arrived in London from Edinburgh in +the early part of August, with improved health, the country air +having healed his hemorrhage. He took a hasty leave of his friends, +and set sail for Georgia, in the Antelope, Captain M'Lellan, taking +several orphans with him. He arrived at Savannah Oct. 27, and had +the happiness of finding the orphan-house in a prosperous condition. +Here, however, he did not stay long; as in November we hear of +him in his usual labors, and with his usual ardor engaged in his +constant work of preaching. Having formerly suffered much from the +climate of America in the summer, he determined again to embark for +London, which he did in April. We can scarcely trace his object in +this journey to and from America, except in some designs of the +government to place Georgia on a new footing. + +In June, 1752, Mr. Whitefield was found in the society of the +Countess of Huntingdon at Bath, where he continued about three +weeks, preaching every evening to great numbers of the nobility. +Here he became acquainted with Mrs. Grinfield, a lady who attended +on the person of Queen Caroline. "One of Cæsar's household," +he writes, "hath been lately awakened, through her ladyship's +instrumentality, and I hope others will meet with the like +blessing." He afterwards visited her at the palace of St. James, +and says, "The court, I believe, rings of her, and if she stands, I +trust she will make a glorious martyr for her blessed Lord." + +The Moravians, or United Brethren, were at one period on terms of +very cordial friendship with the Messrs. Wesley and Whitefield. At +the time of which we are writing, a series of strange absurdities, +resembling the adoration of saints and other superstitions of +popery, developed themselves among members of that body, at the head +of which then stood Count Zinzendorf, to whom Whitefield wrote an +urgent remonstrance on the subject. An open separation took place, +and Mrs. Grinfield, the Rev. John Cennick, and some others, adhered +to the count, while Whitefield and Lady Huntingdon endeavored to +bring him back to what they believed the simplicity of the gospel. +Lady Huntingdon, speaking of her final interview with him, says, +"Our conference was long, and as the count honored me with his +company for a few days, was resumed at intervals, always closing +with a solemn scriptural prayer to our great and glorious Head, +for the illuminating influences of his Spirit to guide us into all +truth. We parted with the utmost cordiality." + +"Dear Mr. Whitefield's letter," says Lady Huntingdon, "has much +grieved the count. But his remonstrance is faithful, and the awful +exposures he has reluctantly been forced to make, may be productive +of the highest good in opening the eyes of many to the miserable +delusions under which they lie." + +A correspondence, indeed we may say friendship, had for years +existed between Whitefield and the eminent philosopher Dr. Benjamin +Franklin. The following, from a letter of Whitefield, August 17, +1752, shows his fidelity to the eminent citizen and statesman: +"I find you grow more and more famous in the learned world. As +you have made a pretty considerable progress in the mysteries +of electricity, I would now humbly recommend to your diligent, +unprejudiced pursuit and study, the mystery of the new birth. It +is a most important, interesting study, and when mastered, will +richly answer and repay you for all your pains. One, at whose bar +we are shortly to appear, hath solemnly declared that, without it, +we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. You will excuse this +freedom. I must have _aliquid Christi_--something of Christ, in +all my letters." This honest letter ought to have delighted the +philosopher in his closet, even more than the eulogium he heard +while standing behind the bar of the House of Lords, when Earl +Chatham said of him, "Franklin is one whom Europe holds in high +estimation for his knowledge and wisdom; one who is an honor, not to +the English nation only, but to human nature." + +In the course of the summer of 1752, and the following one, +Whitefield visited Scotland twice, and preached much also throughout +England and Wales. As usual, he greatly rejoiced in the presence +and service of God, and never appears to have been more happy than +in this period of his life. "Since I left Newcastle," he writes, "I +have scarcely known sometimes whether I have been in heaven or on +earth. Thousands and thousands flock twice or thrice a day to hear +the word of life. God favors us with weather, and I would fain make +hay while the sun shines. Oh that I had as many tongues as there are +hairs in my head. The ever-loving, ever-lovely Jesus should have +them all. Fain would I die preaching." + +About this period also, Mr. Hervey and he were employed in revising +each other's manuscripts; the former was then preparing his "Theron +and Aspasio," a work which, though florid in its style, has been +eminently useful in conducting many of its readers to a saving +knowledge of the doctrines of the gospel. Of his friend's writings +Mr. Whitefield says, "For me to play the critic on them, would be +like holding up a candle to the sun. However, I will just mark a +few places, as you desire. I foretell their fate; nothing but your +scenery can screen you. Self will never bear to die, though slain +in so genteel a manner, without showing some resentment against its +artful murderer.... I thank you a thousand times for the trouble you +have been at in revising my poor compositions, which I am afraid you +have not treated with a becoming severity. How many pardons shall I +ask for mangling, and, I fear, murdering your 'Theron and Aspasio?' +If you think my two sermons will do for the public, pray return them +immediately. I have nothing to comfort me but this, that the Lord +chooses the weak things of this world to confound the strong, and +things that are not, to bring to naught things that are. I write for +the poor; you for the polite and noble. God will assuredly own and +bless what you write." + +Whitefield was now also very busy in erecting his second London +Tabernacle, which he dedicated, June 10, 1753. We have, for the sake +of completing the narrative of its first building, already given in +our third chapter a statement of the second tabernacle, to which the +reader is referred. + +Both the judgment and inclination of Mr. Whitefield concurred to +induce him to persevere in his itinerant course, correctly judging +that in this way he best employed his peculiar talents. After +preaching, therefore, with his usual fervor and success for a short +time in his newly erected Tabernacle, he again set out towards +Scotland, where he spent some days at Edinburgh and Glasgow, and +preached generally twice, sometimes three times a day, and once five +times. He says, "Attention sat upon all faces, and friends came +round like bees, importuning me to stay another week." This he found +too much for his strength, but still went forward, often expressing +his desire to serve his divine Master to the utmost limit of his +power, and his hopes to be with him soon in heaven. During this +journey, including his return to London, where he arrived the latter +end of September, he travelled about twelve hundred miles, and +preached one hundred and eighty times, to many thousands of hearers. + +As converts increased in Bristol and its neighborhood, Mr. +Whitefield felt compelled to erect there also a "tabernacle." Lady +Huntingdon was one of the earliest contributors to this important +object, and through her influence Lord Chesterfield gave twenty +pounds to it. He had no taste for religion, but he well understood +oratory, and in his letter to Lady Huntingdon covering his +remittance, he said, "Mr. Whitefield's eloquence is unrivalled, his +zeal inexhaustible." The Earl of Bath sent fifty pounds, saying, +"Mocked and reviled as Mr. Whitefield is by all ranks of society, +still, I contend that the day will come when England will be just, +and own his greatness as a reformer, and his goodness as a minister +of the most high God." + +The Tabernacle at Bristol was dedicated November 25, 1753, with a +sermon from Whitefield. Its history is one of deep interest. Its +early ministers were worthy of any age, but remarkably fitted for +that in which their lot was cast; men of pith and power, undismayed +at dangers, braving all kinds of difficulty and toil, and prepared +equally for labor and sufferings in the cause of their great Master. +Nor have later ministers dishonored their predecessors; the cause +still flourishes, and the hallowed house has been the birthplace of +many eminent Christians. What Whitefield then said of this house +might often be said of it now: "It is large, but not half large +enough; for if the place could contain them, nearly as many would +attend as in London." He always delighted in his visits to this +place, and laid here a foundation for vast benefits, even to the +present day. On one of his visits to preach here, he began a series +of sermons on the evening before the commencement of the fair. His +text was, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and +he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and +milk without money, and without price." Isa. 55:1. The congregation +was large, and thus he began: "My dear hearers, I fear that many of +you are come to attend Bristol fair. So am I. You do not mean to +show your goods until to-morrow; but I shall exhibit mine to-night. +You are afraid purchasers will not come up to your price; but I am +afraid my buyers will not come down to mine; for mine," striking his +hand on the Bible, "are 'without money, and without price.'" + +After the dedication of this Bristol Tabernacle, Whitefield preached +in the open air in various parts of Somersetshire, at seven o'clock +at night. "My hands and body," says he, "were pierced with cold; but +what are outward things, when the soul is warmed with the love of +God? The stars shone with exceeding brightness; by an eye of faith +I saw Him who 'calleth them all by their names.' My soul was filled +with a holy ambition, and I longed to be one of those who 'shall +shine as the stars for ever and ever.'" + +At this time he had a fine opportunity to show his Christian +attachment to his old friends. Mr. John Wesley had, by a series +of extraordinary labors, brought his life into great danger, and +Whitefield, hearing of this while at Bristol, wrote a sympathizing +letter to his brother Charles, in which he prays for the descending +garment of Elijah to rest on the surviving Elisha, and encloses +an ardent and solemn farewell to the invalid, who was supposed +to be dying. He says, "The news and prospect of your approaching +dissolution have quite weighed me down. I pity myself and the +church, but not you. A radiant throne awaits you, and ere long you +will enter into your Master's joy. Yonder he stands with a massy +crown, ready to put it on your head, amidst an admiring throng of +saints and angels. But I, poor I, that have been waiting for my +dissolution these nineteen years, must be left behind to grovel here +below. Well, this is my comfort, it cannot be long ere the chariots +will be sent even for worthless me. If prayers can detain you, even +you, reverend and very dear sir, shall not leave us yet. But if the +decree is gone forth that you must now sleep in Jesus, may he kiss +your soul away, and give you to die in the embraces of triumphant +love. If in the land of the living, I hope to pay my best respects +to you next week. If not, reverend and dear sir, farewell." He had +soon the satisfaction of witnessing the recovery of his friend, who +was to survive him more than twenty years. + +We have already intimated that Whitefield used his influence in +Scotland in favor of the New Jersey college, located at Princeton. +In accordance with his advice, the friends of the college in this +country sent over the Rev. Samuel Davies, afterwards president of +the college, and the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, to promote its interests +in the British islands. A few extracts from the manuscript diary of +Davies, with the use of which we have been favored for this volume, +will show the readiness of Whitefield to labor, or to "be nothing," +so that the cause of Christ might be advanced. The deputation +arrived in England in the closing month of 1753, and thus writes +Davies: + +"Wednesday, December 26. Mr. Whitefield having sent us an invitation +last night to make his house our home during our stay here, we +were perplexed what to do, lest we should blast the success of our +mission among the dissenters, who are generally disaffected to him. +We at length concluded, with the advice of our friends and his, that +a public intercourse with him would be imprudent, in our present +situation, and visited him privately this evening; and the kind +reception he gave us revived dear Mr. Tennent. He spoke in the most +encouraging manner as to the success of our mission. And in all +his conversation discovered so much zeal and candor, that I could +not but admire the man as the wonder of the age. When we returned, +Mr. Tennent's heart was all on fire, and after we had gone to bed, +he suggested that we should watch and pray; and we rose and prayed +together till about three o'clock in the morning. + +"Jan. 1. Went in the evening to hear Mr. Whitefield in the +Tabernacle, a large, spacious building. The assembly was very +numerous, though not equal to what is common. He preached on the +parable of the barren fig-tree; and though the discourse was +incoherent, yet it seemed to me better calculated to do good to +mankind than all the accurate, languid discourses I ever heard. +After sermon I enjoyed his pleasing conversation at his house." + +It would seem that Messrs. Davies and Tennent had their trials, as +well as their encouragements. Writing Jan. 14, Mr. Davies says, +"Spent an hour with Mr. Whitefield. He thinks we have not taken +the best method in endeavoring to keep in with all parties, but +should 'come out boldly,' as he expressed it, which would secure the +affections of the pious people, from whom we might expect the most +generous contributions." On the evening after this, they dined with +Whitefield at the house of a common friend, and he rejoiced in the +abundant success they afterwards met with from nearly all parties. + +"Jan. 25. Dined with Mr. Bradbury, who has been in the ministry +about fifty-seven years. He read us some letters which passed +between Mr. Whitefield and him, _anno_ 1741; occasioned by Mr. +Whitefield's reproving him in a letter for singing a song in a +tavern, in a large company, in praise of old English beef. The old +gentleman sung it to us, and we found it was partly composed by +himself, in the high-flying days of Queen Anne. He is a man of a +singular turn, which would be offensive to the greatest number of +serious people; but for my part I could say, + + 'I knew 'twas his peculiar whim, + Nor took it ill, as't came from him.'" + +In March, 1754, Whitefield, in company with twenty-two poor +destitute children, sailed the fifth time for America. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + FIFTH VISIT TO AMERICA--RENEWED LABORS IN GREAT + BRITAIN--TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD CHAPEL. + +1754-1763. + +On this voyage to America, Whitefield sailed for South Carolina by +way of Lisbon. His health demanded repose; he thought that seeing +Popery as it is when unrestrained by public opinion, might be of use +to him in his future labors; and moreover, he had with him a number +of orphans whom he wished comfortably to settle at Bethesda before +he visited the northern provinces. It would be pleasant, if our +limits would allow it, to furnish the letters he wrote from Lisbon +during nearly four weeks, but a few sentences must suffice: "This +leaves me an inhabitant of Lisbon. We have now been here almost +a week, and I suppose shall stay a fortnight longer. A reputable +merchant has received me into his house, and every day shows me the +ecclesiastical curiosities of the country. O, my dear friend, bless +the Lord of all lords, for causing your lot to be cast in such a +fair ground as England, and giving you such a goodly heritage. It +is impossible to be sufficiently thankful for civil and religious +liberty, for simplicity of worship, and powerful preaching of the +word of God. O for simplicity of manners, and a correspondent +behavior. The air agrees with my poor constitution extremely well. +Through divine assistance; I hope what I see will also improve +my better part, and help to qualify me better for preaching the +everlasting gospel." + +In another letter he writes, "Never did civil and religious liberty +appear to me in so amiable a light as now. What a spirit must Martin +Luther and the first reformers be endued with, that dared to appear +as they did for God. Lord, hasten that blessed time when others, +excited by the same spirit, shall perform like wonders. Oh, happy +England! Oh, happy Methodists, who are Methodists indeed! And all I +account such, who, being dead to sects and parties, aim at nothing +else but as holy a method of living to, and dying in the blessed +Jesus." + +He was heartily glad to get away from Popish processions and +superstitious rites, and again to visit his "dear America." + +Our evangelist arrived with his orphans at Beaufort, in South +Carolina, May 27, 1754, greatly improved in health, with a heart +burning with love and zeal for his Lord and Master. He says, with +his usual energy, "Oh that I may at length learn to begin to live. +I am ashamed of my sloth and lukewarmness, and long to be on the +stretch for God." His family now consisted, "black and white," of +one hundred and six members, all dependent on his personal efforts +and influence. He regarded his charge as a stewardship for God, and +collected accordingly, nothing doubting. It was now summer, and +besides the oppressive heat, "great thunders, violent lightnings, +and heavy rains" frequently beat upon him as he journeyed from +place to place. His health improved, and his spirits rose as he +advanced on his journey. At Charleston, and elsewhere, his labors +were received with the same degree of acceptance as formerly, and +he was much encouraged by the conversion of a clergyman, a faithful +successor to Mr. Smith of the city just named, and the first student +sent forth from Bethesda. + +He arrived at New York, by water, July 27, and divided his labors +between that city and Philadelphia almost entirely for nearly two +months. In the latter city, he tells us, he was seized with violent +_cholera morbus_, and brought to the gates of death. To use his own +words, he "had all his cables out, ready to cast anchor within the +port of eternity;" but he was soon "at sea again," although only +able to preach once a day for some time. "Everywhere," he says, "a +divine power accompanied the word, prejudices were removed, and a +more effectual door opened than ever for preaching the gospel." When +he looked at "the glorious range for hunting in the American woods," +he was at a loss on which hand to turn.... "Affection, intense +affection cries aloud, Away to New England, _dear_ New England, +immediately. Providence, and the circumstances of the southern +provinces, point directly to Virginia." + +While thus undecided, he visited his old friend Governor Belcher, +then governor of New Jersey, and residing at Elizabeth town. He +found the good old man ripening for heaven, willing to depart and to +be with Christ. At this time the commencement of New Jersey college +was held, and as a mark of their respect, the president and trustees +conferred on him the honorary degree of master of arts. The meeting +of the synod immediately followed, respecting which body he says, +"I was much refreshed with the company of the whole synod; such a +number of simple-hearted, united ministers I never saw before. I +preached to them several times, and the great Master of assemblies +was in the midst of us." + +Influenced by what he saw and heard in New Jersey, Whitefield +determined to go to New England, and to return from thence by +Virginia to Georgia, and made his arrangements accordingly; it would +comprise a circuit of more than two thousand miles, but he said, +"The Redeemer's strength will be more than sufficient." + +It has been thought that it was during this visit of Whitefield +to New Jersey, and probably at the table of Governor Belcher, +that he dined in company with a number of ministers, and held the +often-reported conversation with "Father Tennent." After dinner, +Mr. Whitefield adverted to the difficulties attending the Christian +ministry; lamented that all their zeal availed but little; said that +he was weary with the burden of the day; and declared his great +comfort in the thought, that in a short time his work would be done, +when he should depart and be with Christ. He then appealed to the +ministers, if it was not their great comfort that they should soon +go to rest. They generally assented, except Mr. Tennent, who sat +next to Mr. Whitefield in silence, and by his countenance indicated +but little pleasure in the conversation. + +Seeing this, Mr. Whitefield, gently tapping him on the knee, said, +"Well, brother Tennent, you are the oldest man among us; do you not +rejoice to think that your time is so near at hand, when you will +be called home?" Mr. Tennent bluntly answered, "I have no wish about +it." Mr. Whitefield pressed him again. Mr. Tennent again answered, +"No, sir, it is no pleasure to me at all; and if you knew your +duty, it would be none to you. I have nothing to do with death; my +business is to live as long as I can, as well as I can, until He +shall think proper to call me home." Mr. Whitefield still urged for +an explicit answer to his question, in case the time of death were +left to his own choice. Mr. Tennent replied, "I have no choice about +it; I am God's servant, and have engaged to do his business as long +as he pleases to continue me therein. But now, brother, let me ask +you a question. What do you think I should say, if I was to send my +servant into the field to plough; and if at noon I should go to the +field, and find him lounging under a tree, and complaining, 'Master, +the sun is very hot, and the ploughing hard; I am weary of the work +you have appointed me, and am overdone with the heat and burden of +the day. Do, master, let me return home, and be discharged from this +hard service?' What should I say? Why, that he was a lazy fellow, +and that it was his business to do the work that I had appointed +him, until I should think fit to call him home." + +Accompanied by President Burr, Whitefield set out, October 1, for +Boston, and arrived there on the 9th. Here he stayed a week, and +saw there, morning after morning, three or four thousand people +hanging in breathless silence on his lips, and weeping silent tears. +Whitefield himself calls it "a lovely scene," and says he "never +saw a more effectual door opened for the gospel. Sinners have been +awakened, saints quickened, and enemies made at peace with me. +Grace, grace! Surely my coming here was of God. Convictions _do_ +fasten, and many souls are comforted." Such were the crowds at the +early sermons, that in order to reach the pulpit, he had to get +in at the windows of the churches. In a letter to the Countess of +Huntingdon, he wrote, "In Boston, the tide ran full as high as ever +your ladyship knew it at Edinburgh, or in any part of Scotland." + +While at Boston, Whitefield heard with much pleasure of the +appointment of his friend Habersham as secretary to the new governor +of Georgia, and wrote to him, "I wish you joy of your new honor. +May the King of kings enable you to discharge your trust as becomes +a good patriot, subject, and Christian. You have now a call, I +think, to retire from business, and to give up your time to the +public." Our evangelist travelled north as far as Portsmouth, in +New Hampshire, generally preaching two or three times a day, till +November 7, when he took his farewell at Boston, at four o'clock in +the morning. Speaking of this journey, he says, "What have I seen? +Dagon falling everywhere before the ark; enemies silenced, or made +to own the finger of God; and the friends of Jesus triumphing in +his glorious conquests. A hundredth part cannot be told. We had +scarcely one dry meeting." When he arrived in the neighborhood of +Portsmouth, the northern boundary of his journey, he was overwhelmed +with humility as well as joy, by the large cavalcade which came out +to meet and welcome him. He says of them, "They were too many;" and +of this northern journey, "It seems to me the most important one I +was ever engaged in." + +Of no portion of Whitefield's life are we so ignorant as of the +journey he now made from New England to the South. Journal, letters, +historians, and newspapers alike fail us. Gillies tells us only that +from Boston he "proceeded to Rhode Island, and went onward through +Maryland and Virginia, with a prospect so pleasing, that he lamented +he had not come sooner. The whole country seemed eager to hear the +gospel, many coming forty or fifty miles, and a spirit of conviction +and consolation appeared in every congregation. Prejudices seemed +to have fled; churches were opened to him; high and low, rich and +poor, now seemed to think favorably of his ministrations; and +many acknowledged what God had done for their souls through his +preaching, when he was there before." It scarcely appears probable +that he went from Rhode Island to Maryland by water; but if he +did not, he must have passed through New York, New Jersey, and +Philadelphia, and we feel somewhat of surprise that no records of +the journey appear to have been preserved. + +Dr. Franklin relates a very characteristic anecdote of Mr. +Whitefield, which probably occurred in Philadelphia or its +neighborhood at a period not later than this. "The eloquent orator" +was preaching in an open field, when a drummer was present, who +was determined to interrupt the preacher, and rudely beat his drum +in a violent manner, in order to drown his voice. Whitefield spoke +very loud, but could not make so much noise as the instrument. +He therefore called out to the drummer, "Friend, you and I serve +the two greatest masters existing, but in different callings. You +beat up for volunteers for King George, I for the Lord Jesus: in +God's name, then, let us not interrupt each other; the world is +wide enough for both, and we may get recruits in abundance." This +speech had such an effect on the drummer, that he went away in great +good-humor, and left the preacher in full possession of the field. + +Virginia, alike from the success of his former labors there, and +from the general characteristics of the people, must have presented +a scene of intense interest to Whitefield at this time. Everywhere +great preparations were made for his coming, and large congregations +assembled to hear him. It is said, that on one occasion, as he was +speaking on the banks of one of the rivers of this noble province, +and spoke of the strength of human depravity, and the insufficiency +of the means of grace to convert the sinner without the influence +of the Holy Spirit: "Sinners," said he, "think not that I expect to +convert a single soul of you by any thing that I can say, without +the assistance of Him who is 'mighty to save.' Go and stand by that +river, as it moves on its strong and deep current to the ocean, and +bid it stop, and see if it will obey you. Just as soon should I +expect to stop that river by a word, as by my preaching to stop that +current of sin which is carrying you to perdition. Father in heaven, +see! they are hurried on towards hell; save them, or they perish!" +The impression which this address produced on his hearers was so +strong, that they were ready to respond with trembling, "Save, +Lord; we perish!" + +Whitefield must have been highly gratified on reaching Charleston, +in attending the ordination of the young minister there, his first +student from Bethesda, of whom we have already spoken as succeeding +Mr. Smith; and not less would he rejoice that one of the actors +at the Charleston theatre had been "snatched as a brand from the +burning." + +Though we have not the exact date of his arrival at Savannah, we +know that he remained there but a very short time. His health +again declined, his former vomitings returned with violence, and +his animal spirits failed with his strength. In February, 1755, we +again find him at Charleston; and in the latter end of March, he +embarked for England, arriving, after a comparatively short voyage, +at Newhaven, in Sussex, May the eighth. + +Two strong impressions were made on the mind of Whitefield as he now +looked on his native land. The first was that of grief on account of +its condition. Nothing less than war with France was daily expected, +for the French threatened to invade Britain, and were constantly +making encroachments on her American colonies. "At this time," he +says, "next to Jesus Christ, my king and my country were upon my +heart, I hope I shall always think it my duty, next to inviting +sinners to the blessed Jesus, to exhort my hearers to resist the +first approaches of popish tyranny and arbitrary power. O that we +may be enabled to watch and pray against all the opposition of +antichrist in our own hearts; for, after all, there lies the most +dangerous man of sin." His second feeling was one of holy joy; for +during his absence the preaching of the gospel had been abundantly +successful. He writes, "Glory be to the great Head of the church! +The poor despised Methodists are as lively as ever; and in several +churches the gospel is now preached with power. Many in Oxford are +awakened to the knowledge of the truth; and I have heard almost +every week of some fresh minister or another, who seems 'determined +to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified.'" + +At the Tabernacle in London, as might be expected, Whitefield +enjoyed what he terms "golden seasons;" but by this time not a few +of the London clergy had begun to preach Christ with holy fidelity; +and as this was the principal thing he desired, he says his "call to +go abroad was still more clear." Indeed, so little did he now esteem +London as a sphere of labor, and so much did he regard places by the +amount of their destitution, that he wished at once to return to +America, without ranging through England or Scotland. Hence he says, +"Methinks I could set out for America to-morrow, though I have not +yet entered upon my country range." + +But if he loved America most, England loved herself more, and he +was drawn again into Gloucestershire and Bristol. He went also, at +the request of Lady Huntingdon, to dedicate the new Tabernacle at +Norwich, to which we have already referred. At this last place, +he says, August 30, 1755, "Notwithstanding offences have come, +there has been a glorious work begun, and is now carrying on. The +polite and great seem to hear with much attention; and I scarcely +ever preached a week together with greater freedom." For a long +period the work of God abundantly prospered in connection with this +"Tabernacle." Two years after its dedication, the Hon. and Rev. +Walter Shirley preached some time in it, and had eight hundred +communicants in fellowship, and he said of them, "Their experience, +lives, and conversation are so excellent, that there is nothing like +it in the whole kingdom." + +On Whitefield's return to London, there were those who urgently +entreated him to engage in a new controversy with the Messrs. +Wesley, some of whose followers had been jealous of his success at +Norwich. He declined, with his common remark, "I have no time for +controversy," and reserved what he had to say till he could see them +"face to face," simply writing to assure them that he had no party +designs on foot. + +Very soon after this, he set out for his northern circuit; and +wonderfully indeed did the Lord grant him success. One thing, +however, on this journey grieved him. His friends at Leeds, without +his knowledge, had built a large church edifice. He saw at once, +that this circumstance would create an "awful separation among +the societies" formed by the Messrs. Wesley and his own friends; +and lost no time in writing to those ministers, that they might +endeavor to prevent a breach. Both the plan and the spirit of this +undertaking so grieved him, that he exclaimed, "Oh this self-love, +this self-will, is the _devil of devils_." This he wrote to Lady +Huntingdon, a proof that party was not their object; and it is +pleasant to add, that Whitefield's fears were groundless. Leeds, +even then, contained population sufficient to fill both houses, +and the whole movement "fell out rather to the furtherance of the +gospel." During two months he preached twice, and some days three +times, to greater numbers than ever before, inviting them to Christ, +and "exhorting them to pray for King George, and the dear friends +in America." He heard at this time, that the American ladies were +making the soldiers' coats; and he immediately wrote to urge his own +female friends in the new world to be "some of the most active in +this labor of love." + +Though Mr. Whitefield stood very high in the esteem of that class +of ministers who embraced his views of evangelical truth, and who +approved the plans he pursued for the evangelization of the world, +they never considered him perfect, nor were some of them backward, +when they deemed it needful, to reprove him. In a sermon he once +preached in Haworth church, Yorkshire, of which his friend Grimshaw +was the minister, having spoken severely of those professors of the +gospel who, by their loose and evil conduct, caused the ways of +truth to be evil spoken of, he intimated his hope, that it was not +necessary to enlarge much on that topic to the congregation before +him, who had so long enjoyed the labors of an able and faithful +preacher; and he was willing to believe that their profiting +appeared to all men. This latter expression roused Mr. Grimshaw's +spirit, and notwithstanding his great regard for the preacher, he +stood up and interrupted him, saying, with a loud voice, "O sir, +for God's sake, do not speak so; I pray you, do not flatter. I fear +the greater part of them are going to hell with their eyes open." + +Notwithstanding the astonishing labors of Whitefield on this +tour, he returned to London apparently in full flesh, and was +congratulated by his friends on his improved appearance. Alas, all +this, as he well knew, was disease, which indeed very soon became +apparent. He was seized with inflammatory sore throat, that was +followed by quinsy, assuming an almost fatal aspect. One physician +prescribed silence and warmth, and the preacher "promised to be +very obedient," but a few days afterwards, another recommended a +perpetual blister: this proposal roused him, and he determined to +try his own remedy--perpetual preaching. The remedy itself was +painful, but he said, "When this grand catholicon fails, it is +all over with me." At this time the sad news of the earthquake at +Lisbon arrived in London; he was unable to preach on the subject, +but when told of it he said, "Blessed be God, I am ready; I know +that my Redeemer liveth. Oh that all in Portugal had known this! +Then an earthquake would only be a _rumbling_ chariot to carry the +soul to God. Poor Lisbon, how soon are thy riches and superstitious +pageantry swallowed up!" + +In the winter of 1755-6, he was applied to to preach in the vicinity +of the two great theatres, which he began to do in Long Acre chapel. +Disturbances took place, and the Bishop of London interposed to stop +him. In the end he erected Tottenham Court-road chapel, as already +detailed in our third chapter. + +Mr. Whitefield's ministry in London at this time was still +successful. Thousands hung on his lips with delight, not a few of +whom were won to the service of Christ. He tells us, among many +similar facts, of the conversion of a Mr. Crane, who was afterwards +appointed steward of the orphan-house in Georgia. This gentleman +had one evening determined to visit the theatre, and set out +for Drury-lane; that house being crowded, he resolved to go to +Covent-garden; that also being so full that he could not obtain +admittance, he changed his plan, and resolved on being entertained +with one of Whitefield's sermons, and hastened to Tottenham +Court-road chapel. It pleased God to impress the word on his heart, +and he became an eminent Christian. So truly is the prediction +verified, "I am found of them who sought me not." + +During this year he published "A Short Address to Persons of all +Denominations, occasioned by an Alarm of an intended Invasion." +We have examined it, and not without pleasure. It is a faithful +exposure of Popery and its bitter fruits. + +It is a charge often preferred against the faithful ministers of +Christ, by those whose consciences testify to their own guilt, +that they are _personal_ in their remarks, and mean to censure +particular individuals. It is certain that this was often done by +Mr. Whitefield, and sometimes with very happy effect. He once drew, +from the conduct of his female servant, the picture of a Christian +failing in his duty, which painfully distressed her, till he gave +her an assurance of his entire forgiveness. + +Nor was this the only time when his hearers were compelled to +feel, "he means _me_." The celebrated comedian, Shuter, had a great +personal regard for Mr. Whitefield, and not unfrequently attended +his ministry. At one period of his popularity he was acting in +a drama under the character of _Ramble_. During the run of the +performance, he attended service at Tottenham Court chapel, and was +seated in a pew exactly opposite the pulpit. Mr. Whitefield on that +occasion gave full vent to his feelings, and in his own energetic +manner invited sinners to the Saviour. While doing this, fixing his +eye full on Shuter, he added, "And thou, poor _Ramble_, who hast +long rambled from him, come also. Oh, end your rambling by coming +to Jesus." Shuter was exceedingly struck, and going afterwards to +Whitefield, he said, "I thought I should have fainted; how could you +serve me so?" + +In the early part of 1756, Whitefield was engaged in London, +preaching and collecting for the poor not only at Bethesda, but +also for the French Protestants. At the Tabernacle, a man came up +to him in the pulpit, threatening his life, and handing him three +anonymous letters denouncing sudden and certain death, unless he +ceased to preach and to pursue the offenders by law. One of these +letters Whitefield sent to the government, who at once offered a +reward, and his majesty's pardon, to any one who would discover +the writer. While this fact gratified, it also embarrassed him. He +wrote to Lady Huntingdon, "My greatest distress is to act so as to +avoid rashness on the one hand, and timidity on the other." For his +own sake, he would not have cared about the matter; but looking at +it as connected with the cause of civil and religious freedom, he +wisely allowed the law to take its course at the hazard of his own +life by assassination. Agreeably with the advice of the government, +he carried the whole affair into the court of the King's Bench; this +alarmed the offenders, and the annoyance ceased. + +We next find him at Bristol, but not to rest, though the labors +and anxieties of the winter and spring had nearly worn out his +strength and spirits. Here he preached as usual, and then returned +to London. During this journey he preached in several places +in Gloucestershire, his native county, and in Bradford, Frome, +Warminster, and Portsmouth, spending about three months in the tour. + +In the county which gave Whitefield birth, is still to be seen +a chair on which he often sat, and on which may be yet read the +following lines: + + "If love of souls should e'er be wanting here, + Remember me, for I am Whitefield's chair; + I bore his weight, was witness to his fears, + His earnest prayers, his interesting tears. + His holy soul was fired with love divine: + If thine be such, sit down and call me _thine_." + +A very few weeks passed, and we find him in Kent. In a letter +written July 27, after his visit to that county, he says, "The +gospel flourishes in London. I am just returned from preaching at +Sheerness, Chatham, and in the camp." On the next day he set off +towards Scotland. On August 14, he writes from Sunderland, "How +swiftly doth my precious time pass away! It is now a fortnight since +I came to Leeds, in and about which I preached eight days, thrice +almost every day, to thronged and affected auditories. On Sunday +last at Bradford, in the morning, the auditory consisted of about +ten thousand; at noon and in the evening, at Birstal, to nearly +double the number. Though hoarse, I was helped to speak so that all +heard. Next morning I took a sorrowful leave of Leeds, preached at +Doncaster at noon, and at York the same night. On Wednesday, at +Warstall, about fifty miles off; on Thursday, twice at Yarm; and +last night and this morning, here." Wherever he labored, he heard +of the good effects of his preaching in those places last year, and +was constantly finding "many trophies of redeeming love." Such was +the effect of the two sermons he preached at Birstal, that "several +hundreds rode eight miles with him in the evening, singing and +praising God." + +In a day or two after this, we find him at Edinburgh and Glasgow, +preaching, as usual, to vast crowds, and with his accustomed +success. At the former places especially, even politicians gave him +a cordial welcome, and thronged to hear him, while the newspapers +applauded him for his spirit-stirring exposures of "Popish +tyranny and arbitrary power." He preached twice every day in the +Orphan-hospital park, and blended with almost every sermon rousing +appeals to the Protestantism, courage, and loyalty of the Scotch. +At the close of one of his sermons he pleaded the cause of the poor +Highlanders, and collected at its close about three hundred dollars. + +On his way back to London, Whitefield held a peculiarly solemn +and refreshing meeting with his friends at Leeds; and after it, +he braced his nerves by a tour of _mountain preaching_ in company +with his friend Grimshaw. But it was now late in October, and +as he found "these cold countries bringing on his last year's +disorder," and having, as he significantly says, "grown very +prudent," he returned to London, and dedicated Tottenham Court-road +church edifice. Another errand also had taken him to that city. +The new governor of Georgia had sent for him, to consult with him +before sailing to that colony. Whitefield met him, and was so much +delighted with him, that he wrote off to Bethesda to prepare them +for a _state_ visit. He says, "Waited upon his excellency, and gave +him, and all whom he pleases to bring, an invitation to Bethesda. +Dear Mrs. C---- will make proper provision." He went even farther, +and proposed that the governor, if possible, should be received at +Bethesda with military honors. + +The success of his new house of worship in Tottenham Court-road +showed the necessity and propriety of its erection on that spot. +Several persons of distinction came, and engaged permanent seats; +and the place was often so crowded, that hundreds were unable to +obtain admission. It was now usual with him to preach about fifteen +times every week, which, with a weak appetite, want of rest, and +much care upon his mind, greatly enfeebled him. He writes, "But the +joy of the Lord is my strength; and my greatest grief is, that I can +do no more for Him who hath done and suffered so much for me." + +In the following year, 1757, Whitefield planned another journey to +Scotland, at the time the general assembly of the church was held. +Before leaving London, he had placed the affairs of his projected +college in the hands of Lord Halifax, and he now seems to have +hoped that this journey to Scotland would have promoted that object, +as well as others. It is said, that about a hundred ministers at a +time attended his sermons, thirty of whom invited him to a public +entertainment. Lord Cathcart, his majesty's commissioner to the +assembly, also invited him to his own table. Whitefield says that he +preached "just fifty times" on this visit, which extended to about a +month. + +From Scotland he went, in June, as we have seen, to Ireland, and +enjoyed, in the midst of no small persecution, much preaching, and +much success. On his return to London, he found that the governor +of Georgia had visited Bethesda, and promised to communicate +his sentiments to Lord Halifax, "concerning its being enlarged +into a college;" but the pressure of public affairs hindered his +application to the government. Bad news arrived from America, "about +the fleet," and therefore Whitefield kept a fast-day at his houses +of worship. + +The health of our evangelist now sadly failed. He was brought to +live on the "short allowance of preaching but once a day, and thrice +on the Sunday;" very "short allowance" for _him_. Once, however, he +broke through the restraint, and preached three times on the success +of the king of Prussia; which, he says, "somewhat _recovered_" him, +after he had been for a week at the gates of the grave. He was not +able this winter to attempt what he considered great things; but +Tottenham Court was his _Bethel_, as he called it. This house was +then surrounded by a beautiful piece of ground, and he formed the +plan of building on it an almshouse for "twelve godly widows," +as a "standing monument that the Methodists were not against good +works." This charity he soon carried into effect. His thoughts, +however, were not confined to home. Although broken down in health +and spirits, by weakness and want of rest, he watched the affairs of +Prussia with intense interest, and assured the German Protestants, +through Professor Francke, that "we looked on their distresses as +our own." + +In the spring of 1758, he laid the foundation-stone of his +almshouse, and in June of the same year began to select its inmates. +Pointing to these houses, some years afterwards, he said to a +gentleman who was visiting him, "Those are my redoubts. The prayers +of the poor women who reside in them, protect me in my house." +Having arranged for the supply of his London pulpits, Whitefield +went into the west of England, and proceeded from thence into Wales. +But his health was so feeble, that he could not bear to drive, nor +even ride in a one-horse chaise. The roads were rough, and riding +shook him nearly to pieces. "Every thing," he says, "wearies this +shattered bark now." A friend purchased for him a close chaise, +advancing the money until he could conveniently repay it. He +deeply felt this kindness, because by no other means could he have +itinerated. "I would not," he says, "lay out a single farthing but +for my blessed Master; but it is inconceivable what I have undergone +these three weeks. _I never was so before._ O for a _hearse_ to +carry my weary carcass to the wished for grave." During all this +tour he was unable to sit up in company even once; yet he often +preached to ten or fifteen thousand people, and made their "tears +flow like water from the rock." His views of himself at this time +were more than usually humble. He said to Lady Huntingdon, "Oh, I +am sick--sick in body, but infinitely more so in mind, to see so +much dross in my soul. Blessed be God, there is One who will sit as +a refiner's fire, to purify the sons of Levi. I write out of the +burning bush. Christ is there; Christ is there!" + +Among the many illustrations of Scripture which Whitefield often +introduced into his sermons, one is truly worthy of record. +Preaching from the words, "Wherefore, glorify ye the Lord in the +fires," Isa. 24:15, he says, "When I was, some years ago, at +Shields, I went into a glass-house, and standing very attentively, +I saw several masses of burning glass of various forms. The workman +took one piece of glass, and put it into one furnace, then he put +it into a second, and then into a third. I asked him, 'Why do you +put that into so many fires?' He answered me, 'Oh, sir, the first +was not hot enough, nor the second, and therefore we put it into the +third, and that will make it transparent.' 'Oh,' thought I, 'does +this man put this glass into one furnace after another, that it +may be rendered perfect? Oh, my God, put me into one furnace after +another, that my soul may be transparent, that I may see God as he +is.'" + +In the month of July, Whitefield again set out for Scotland, +preaching on his way in many pulpits, including "Bishop Bunyan's," +as he used to call him, at Bedford, Berridge's at Everton, and +Doddridge's at Northampton. Four Episcopal clergymen lent him their +pulpits. His health received, for some time, little benefit, so that +he sometimes feared he must return. But he adds, "Through divine +strength, I hope to go forward; and shall strive, as much as in me +lies, to die in this glorious work." He preached and collected in +Scotland with his accustomed energy and success, and returned to +London with his health somewhat renovated. This year he lost by +death some of his earliest and warmest friends, including Hervey in +England, and Presidents Burr and Edwards, and Governor Belcher, in +America. Such removals gave him also "a desire to depart," but his +work on earth was not yet done. + +Three principal facts connected with our evangelist may be said to +mark the year 1759. One was, that he had the satisfaction to clear +off all his debts for the orphan-house. "Bethesda's God," he writes, +"lives for ever, and is faithful and all-sufficient." He longed +again to visit America, but several difficulties intervened for the +present. + +A second event which marked the year, was another journey to +Scotland. He complains in his letters, that though his congregations +at Edinburgh and Glasgow were never more numerous and attentive, +yet, with respect to the power of religion, it was a dead time in +Scotland, in comparison with London and several other parts of +England. His presence in Scotland, however, at this time was very +important, especially in collecting for his orphan-house and the +Highland Society for the support of children. Many Scottish soldiers +were now in America, which greatly increased the interest felt in +every thing relating to it. + +In this year, 1759, Mr. Whitefield also for the first time +visited Brighthelmstone, now called Brighton, a very fashionable +watering-place, where George IV. afterwards, while regent, built a +tawdry tasteless palace. The preacher's first sermon was delivered +under a tree in a field behind the White Lion inn. Among his +congregation on that day was a young man named Tuppen, about +eighteen years of age. He had been educated by a pious mother in +the strict observance of the external parts of religion, but was +entirely destitute of its power. He attended not so much from +curiosity, as from the intention to insult and interrupt the +preacher. He tells us, "I had therefore provided myself with stones +in my pocket, if opportunity offered, to pelt the preacher; but +I had not heard long, before the stone was taken out of my heart +of flesh; and then the other stones, with shame and weeping, were +dropped one by one out upon the ground." The words, "Turn ye, turn +ye," became the means of turning him from sin to God. Mr. Tuppen +became an excellent Christian minister, and labored as a pastor for +some years in Portsmouth. He then removed to the city of Bath, where +he originated a congregation, and built a house for public worship. +He was succeeded in this important sphere by the late distinguished +William Jay, who labored there for about sixty-four years. + +Such was the prosperity attendant on the efforts of Messrs. +Whitefield, Madan, Romaine, Berridge, Venn, and Fletcher, at +Brighton, that Lady Huntingdon felt it her duty to erect a church +edifice there, and being unable to do it in any other way, sold her +jewels to the amount of nearly three thousand five hundred dollars. +The cause still flourishes there, and very many have been turned to +righteousness. + +While Whitefield's ministry at the Tabernacle was at its height of +popularity, Foote, a comedian of eminent talent for mimicry, who +was frequently in difficulties on account of his love of ridicule, +by which indeed his life was shortened, employed his wit to bring +the distinguished preacher into contempt. One of his biographers +says, that "very pressing embarrassments in his affairs compelled +him to bring out his comedy of '_The Minor_,' in 1760, to ridicule +Methodism, which, though successful, gave great offence, and was at +last suppressed." Of this miserable piece of buffoonery, it may be +enough to say, that Foote, and the agents employed at the Tabernacle +and Tottenham Court-road chapel to collect materials from Whitefield +for the accomplishment of their object, were so disgracefully +ignorant of the inspired writings, as not to know that what they +took for Mr. Whitefield's peculiar language was that of the word of +God. + +Lady Huntingdon interposed in the matter, first with the Lord +Chamberlain, by whose license alone any play could then be performed +in London, and then with Mr. Garrick, the latter of whom assured her +that he would use his influence to exclude it, and added, that had +he been aware of the offence it was adapted to give, it should never +have appeared with his concurrence. The representation of this piece +of mummery, as might have been expected, considerably increased +Whitefield's popularity, and brought thousands of new persons to +hear the gospel: thus Providence gave him the victory over his +opposers. + +To report the sicknesses, the labors, and the successes of +Whitefield from this time to that of his sixth embarkation for +America, would be little more than a repetition of the past. Suffice +it to say, that in England, and in Scotland, he labored amid much +ill-health, and surrounded with many dangers; but at length, having +found an Episcopal clergyman, the Rev. John Berridge, a man of +somewhat eccentric manners, but of great learning, of eminent piety, +and of burning zeal, who was willing to labor for a time in London, +Whitefield set sail in the ship Fanny, Captain Archibald Galbraith, +bound from Greenock to Virginia, June 1, 1763, and arrived at +Rappahannock, after a tedious, but otherwise pleasant voyage of +about twelve weeks, in the last week of August. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SIXTH VISIT AND LABORS IN AMERICA--RENEWED LABORS IN GREAT BRITAIN. + +1763-1767. + + +Whitefield was now for the sixth time in America. He was twelve +weeks on the voyage; but though tedious, it had done him good. "I +enjoyed," he says, "that quietness which I have in vain sought after +for some years on shore." Owing to the violence of his asthma, he +had set sail "with but little hopes of farther public usefulness;" +but after being six weeks at sea, he wrote to a friend, "Who knows +but our latter end may _yet_ increase? If not in public usefulness, +Lord Jesus, let it be in heart-holiness. I know who says Amen. I +add, Amen and amen." + +On his arrival in Virginia, Whitefield was surrounded by many +Christian friends, the fruits of his former labors in that colony, +but whom he had not hitherto known. It was with great difficulty, +however, that he preached to them; for though his general health +was better, his breathing was very bad. The months of September, +October, and November, he spent in Philadelphia. He says, "Here are +some young bright witnesses rising up in the church. Perhaps I have +already conversed with forty _new creature_ ministers of various +denominations. Sixteen popular students, I am credibly informed, +were converted in New Jersey college last year. What an open door if +I had strength! Last Tuesday we had a remarkable season among the +Lutherans; children and grown people were much impressed." Ill as he +was, he preached twice a week, and with his usual success. + +He intensely desired at this time to visit Georgia, but was +absolutely prohibited by his physicians, till he had recovered his +strength. In the end of November, therefore, he passed over into New +Jersey, visiting the college, and Elizabethtown. He tells us that +at the college he had "four sweet seasons." His spirits rose at the +sight of the young soldiers who were to fight when he had fallen. It +was now winter, and "cold weather and a warm heart" put him in good +spirits, so that he was able to preach three times a week. + +A young man, a member of the college, hearing that Whitefield was +to preach in the neighborhood, and being more than a little anxious +to ascertain whether he really deserved all the celebrity he +enjoyed, went to hear him. The day was very rainy, and the audience +was small; the preacher, accustomed to address thousands, did not +feel his powers called forth as at other times. After having heard +about one-third part of the sermon, the young man said to himself, +"The man is not so great a wonder after all--quite commonplace and +superficial--nothing but show, and not a great deal of that;" and +looking round upon the audience, he saw that they appeared about as +uninterested as usual, and that old father ----, who sat directly +in front of the pulpit, and who always went to sleep after hearing +the text and plan of the sermon, was enjoying his accustomed nap. +About this time, Whitefield stopped. His face went rapidly through +many changes, till it looked more like a rising thunder-cloud than +any thing else; and beginning very deliberately, he said, "If I had +come to speak to you in my own name, you might rest your elbows upon +your knees, and your heads upon your hands, and sleep; and once in a +while look up and say, 'What does the babbler talk of?' But I have +not come to you in my own name. No; I have come to you in the name +of the Lord God of hosts, and"--here he brought down his hand and +foot at once, so as to make the whole house ring--"and I must, and +will be heard." Every one in the house started, and old father ---- +among the rest. "Aye, aye," continued the preacher, looking at him, +"I have waked you up, have I? I meant to do it. I am not come here +to preach to stocks and stones; I have come to you in the name of +the Lord God of hosts, and I must, and I will have an audience." The +congregation was fully aroused, and the remaining part of the sermon +produced a considerable effect. + +From New Jersey, Whitefield passed on to New York, where he says, +"Such a flocking of all ranks I never saw before at New York.... +Prejudices have most strangely subsided. The better sort flock as +eagerly as the common people, and are fond of coming for private +gospel conversation. Congregations continue very large, and I trust +saving impressions are made upon many." Such also was his influence +as a philanthropist, that though prejudices ran high against the +Indians, on account of a threatened insurrection in the south, he +collected about six hundred dollars for Dr. Wheelock's Indian school +at Lebanon, Conn., which he soon after visited with much pleasure. + +An extract of a letter from New York, dated Jan. 23, 1754, which +appeared in the Boston Gazette, may show the esteem in which he was +held: "The Rev. George Whitefield has spent seven weeks with us, +preaching twice a week, with more general approbation than ever; and +has been treated with great respect by many of the gentlemen and +merchants of this place. During his stay he preached two charity +sermons, the one on the occasion of the annual collection for the +poor, in which double the sum was collected that ever was upon the +like occasion; the other was for the benefit of Mr. Wheelock's +Indian school at Lebanon, for which he collected, notwithstanding +the present prejudices of many people against the Indians, the sum +of one hundred and twenty pounds. In his last sermon, he took a very +affectionate leave of the people of this city, who expressed great +concern at his departure. May God restore this great and good man, +in whom the gentleman, the Christian, and accomplished orator shine +forth with such peculiar lustre, to a perfect state of health, and +continue him long a blessing to the world and the church of Christ." + +Leaving New York, he visited and preached, as far as his strength +would allow, at Easthampton Bridge, Hampton, and Southhold, on +Long Island; at Shelter Island, and at New London, Norwich, and +Providence. + +Whitefield arrived at Boston in the end of February, 1764, and was +welcomed by multitudes with cordial affection; and again he saw "the +Redeemer's stately steps in the great congregation." Boston at that +time was visited with small-pox, and Whitefield therefore devoted +much of his labor to the adjacent towns. Writing from Concord, he +says, "How would you have been delighted to have seen Mr. Wheelock's +Indians. Such a promising nursery of future missionaries, I believe, +was never seen in New England before. Pray encourage it with all +your might." About two months after his arrival in Boston, his +illness returned, but did not long prevent him from preaching, and +the people still flocked in crowds to hear him. He left Boston for +the south; but messengers were sent to entreat his return, and +especially urged him to renew his six o'clock morning lecture. He +did return, but was now unable to preach at the early hour they +desired; he appeared, however, in the pulpit for some time on +three occasions in the week, and such was the number of converts +discovered, that after he had left it was proposed to send him a +book filled with their names, as desiring his return. + +We ought to have said, that according to the Boston Gazette, +about the time of the arrival of Whitefield, "at a meeting of the +freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Boston, it was +unanimously voted that the thanks of the town be given to the Rev. +George Whitefield, for his charitable care and pains in collecting +a considerable sum of money in Great Britain for the distressed +sufferers by the great fire in Boston, 1760. A respectable committee +was appointed to wait on Mr. Whitefield, to inform him of the vote, +and present him with a copy thereof." + +Notwithstanding the earnest entreaties of his friends, he left +Boston in the early part of June. On the first of that month he +wrote, "Friends have even constrained me to stay here, for fear of +running into the summer's heat. Hitherto I find the benefit of it. +Whatever it is owing to, through mercy, I am much better in health +than I was this time twelve months, and can preach thrice a week to +very large auditories without hurt; and every day I hear of some +brought under concern. This is all of grace." + +Sorrowfully parting from his friends at Boston, Whitefield left them +for New York by way of New Haven. Here he preached to the students, +and had taken his leave of them; but such was the impression he had +made on their minds, that they requested the president to go after +him, to entreat for another "quarter of an hour's exhortation." He +complied with the request, and the effect was what he called "the +_crown_ of the expedition." He continued at New York till the end of +August. While there he writes, "At present my health is better than +usual, and as yet I have felt no inconvenience from the summer's +heat. I have preached twice lately in the fields, and we sat under +the blessed Redeemer's shadow with great delight. My late excursions +upon Long Island, I trust, have been blessed. It would surprise you +to see above one hundred carriages at every sermon in the new world." + +On his way to Philadelphia, in September, Whitefield preached at the +New Jersey college commencement; for which, and for the influence +he had exerted in favor of the institution, the trustees sent him +a vote of thanks. His reception at the college was all he could +desire. The governor and the ex-governor of the state, with many +other gentlemen, attended, and every other mark of respect was shown +him. At Philadelphia, he describes the effect of his labors as +"great indeed," and as usual, he was compelled to exclaim, "Grace, +grace!" + +Leaving Pennsylvania, he went on through Virginia; here he tells +us, in places as "unlikely as _Rome_ itself," he found societies of +Christians, formed and led on by a wealthy planter of that colony; +they met him in a body, wishing publicly to identify themselves with +him. "Surely the _Londoners_," he writes, "who are fed to the full, +will not envy the poor souls in these parts. I almost determine to +come back in the spring" from Georgia to them. + +On one occasion, while he was preaching in this colony, a Mr. Allen, +afterwards a member of the eminent Mr. Davies' church at Hanover, +and who, with his family, "addicted himself to the ministry of the +saints," fell on the ground at full length, suddenly, as if shot +through the heart, and lay for the remainder of the evening as one +who was dead. His descendants are now very numerous, and many of +them are among the most zealous Christians in that state. + +From Virginia, Whitefield proceeded to South Carolina, and, Nov. +22, wrote, "At Newbern, last Sunday, good impressions were made. I +have met with what they call 'New Lights' in almost every place, +and have the names of several of their preachers." Having preached +at Charleston, he passed on to Bethesda, and had the happiness to +find the whole colony in a prosperous condition. Here he spent the +winter, and writes, "Peace and plenty reign at Bethesda. All things +go on successfully. God hath given me great favor in the sight of +the governor, council, and assembly. A memorial was presented for +an additional grant of lands, consisting of two thousand acres. It +was immediately complied with. Both houses addressed the governor +on behalf of the intended college. A warm answer was given; and I +am now putting every thing in repair, and getting every thing ready +for that purpose. Every heart seems to leap for joy at the prospect +of its future usefulness to this and the neighboring colonies. He +who holdeth the stars in his right hand will direct, in due time, +whether I shall directly embark for England, or take one tour more +to the northward. I am in delightful winter quarters for once. His +excellency dined with me yesterday, and expressed his satisfaction +in the warmest terms. Who knows how many youths may be trained up +for the service of the ever-loving and altogether lovely Jesus. Thus +far, however, we may set up our Ebenezer. Hitherto the bush hath +been burning, but is not consumed." To this statement he adds, "Mr. +Wright hath done much in a little time; but he hath worked night and +day, and not stirred a mile for many weeks. Thanks be to God, all +outward things are settled on this side the water. The auditing the +accounts, and laying the foundation for a college, hath silenced +enemies and comforted friends. The finishing of this affair confirms +my call to England at this time." + +But the intense anxiety of multitudes to hear his preaching, +prevented Whitefield from leaving America for several months longer. +He had, indeed, as early as the middle of February, determined not +to visit New England till his return from Europe; but arriving at +Charleston, he was compelled to devote to labors there the whole +month of March, and then set out for Philadelphia, preaching at many +places on his way. He says, "All the way from Charleston to this +place the cry is, 'For Christ's sake, stay and preach to us.' Oh for +a thousand lives to spend for Jesus." + +The heat of the weather made it indispensable for his health that +he should go to sea, and July 5th he once more arrived in England, +on his last return voyage from America. He says, "We have had but +a twenty-eight days' passage. The transition has been so sudden, +that I can scarcely believe that I am in England. I hope, ere long, +to have a more sudden transition into a better country." When he +arrived in his native land, he was ill of a nervous fever, which +left him extremely weak in body, and unable to exert himself as +formerly. Yet, still intent on his work, he did what he could, in +expectation of soon entering into his eternal rest. "Oh, to end life +well!" he writes; "methinks I have now but one river to pass over. +And we know of One who can carry us over without being ankle deep." + +On Whitefield's arrival in England, he found that his excellent +friend the Countess of Huntingdon was erecting a large and beautiful +church edifice in the fashionable city of Bath, and to that place he +at once repaired. There he found several of his clerical brethren +preaching in the private chapel at Bretby Hall, belonging to the +Earl of Chesterfield, who had placed it for the time being at the +disposal of Lady Huntingdon. On Whitefield's arrival, this place was +of necessity exchanged for the Park, where the concourse of people +was as vast as ever. + +October 6, he preached the dedicatory sermon of Lady Huntingdon's +church at Bath, to an immense crowd. To his friend Robert Keen, +Esq., one of the managers of his London houses, he wrote, "Could +you have come, and have been present at the opening of the chapel, +you would have been much pleased. The building is extremely plain, +and yet equally grand. A most beautiful original! All was conducted +with great solemnity. Though a wet day, the place was very full, and +assuredly the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls consecrated and +made it holy ground by his presence." + +He made but a short stay at Bath, and returned to London, still +feeble and tottering, but still compelled to labor. He had an +interview with his old friend John Wesley, who says of him, "He +seemed to be an old man, being fairly worn out in his Master's +service, though he has hardly seen fifty years; and yet it pleases +God that I, who am now in my sixty-third year, find no disorder, +no weakness, no decay, no difference from what I was at five and +twenty, only that I have fewer teeth, and more gray hairs." Writing +to a friend at Sheerness, in Kent, Jan. 18, 1766, Whitefield says, +"I am sorry to acquaint you that it is not in my power to comply +with your request, for want of more assistance. I am confined in +town with the care of two important posts, when I am only fit to be +put into some garrison among invalids." By some means, however, he +obtained a release, for in March we find him at Bath and Bristol. +Writing, March 17, he says, "The uncertainty of my motions has made +me slow in writing; and a desire to be a while free from London +cares, has made me indifferent about frequent hearing from thence. +Last Friday evening, and twice yesterday, I preached at Bath, to +very thronged and brilliant auditories." + +Whitefield's interest in America was not lessened by his absence +from it. He ardently loved it, and wished for the return of its +peace and prosperity. He hoped, with many others, that the repeal +of the Stamp Act would lead to this result; hence, we find in his +Letter-book this entry: "March 16, 1766, Stamp Act repealed. _Gloria +Deo._" + +Among the remarkable men of his day was Samson Occam. He was +descended, on his mother's side, from Uncas, chief of the Mohegans. +He was born in 1723, of parents who led a wandering life, depending +on hunting and fishing for subsistence. None cultivated their +lands, all dwelt in wigwams, and Samson was one of the very first +of the tribe who learned to read. About the year 1740, at the age +of seventeen, he was converted by the labors of Whitefield, Gilbert +Tennent, and their companions. In a year or two he had learned to +read his Bible with ease, and to his great advantage. He was a +pupil at the school originally founded by Dr. Wheelock, at Lebanon, +Conn., for the benefit exclusively of Indians, four years, and +was then a teacher for eleven years. In 1759, he was ordained by +the Suffolk Presbytery, and became an eminently zealous preacher +to the scattered Mohegans. In 1766, in company with the Rev. Mr. +Whitaker of Norwich, he went to England to advocate the cause of +Dr. Wheelock's Indian school, which school was afterwards merged in +Dartmouth college, of which Mr. Wheelock was also founder and first +president. Occum preached in the churches of Whitefield and Lady +Huntingdon, as well as in some others of different denominations. We +remember half a century ago hearing an old lady at Kidderminster, +the town of Richard Baxter, describe a scene which occurred in +Fawcett's church in that town. Occum had preached, and a handsome +collection had been taken for his object; with tears of gratitude +and joy the good man thanked them, and in tones which neither the +weeping nor the mimetic talent of the old lady would allow her fully +to imitate, assured them that the blessing of many ready to perish +would come upon them. The place was a Bochim, and nothing could +prevent the people from having the plates again carried round, that +they might add to the liberal contributions they had already made. + +Occum preached in Great Britain from three to four hundred sermons; +and as no North American Indian had ever preached in England before, +public curiosity was great, and his pecuniary success considerable. +He brought to this country, with his companion, as the produce of +their labors, more than forty-five thousand dollars. In 1772 he +published an interesting sermon which he preached to an Indian at +his execution. An excellent portrait of him was published in England. + +Dr. Timothy Dwight writes, "I heard Mr. Occum twice. His +discourses, though not proofs of superior talents, were decent; +and his utterance in some degree eloquent. His character at one +time labored under some imputations; yet there is good reason to +believe that most, if not all of them were unfounded; and there is +satisfactory evidence that he was a man of piety." An account of the +Montauk Indians, written by Occum, is preserved in the "Historical +Collections." He died at New Stockbridge, N. Y., July, 1792. It has +been said that the first Sunday-school in these United States was +founded in the house of his sister, a few months after his death. + +Occum was somewhat of a wit, and could well apply his talent in his +conflict with the enemies of divine truth. He once ended a long +controversial conversation with a Universalist, by saying, "Well, +well, remember, if you are correct, I am safe; if you are not +correct, I am safe. I have two strings to my bow; you have but one." + +In June, 1766, we again find Whitefield in the neighborhood of +Bristol, whence he writes, "As my feverish heat continues, and the +weather is too wet to travel, I have complied with the advice of +friends, and have commenced a Hot-wells water drinker twice a day. +However, twice this week, at six o'clock in the morning, I have +been enabled to call thirsty souls to come and 'drink of the water +of life freely.' Tomorrow evening, God willing, the call is to be +repeated, and again on Sunday." On his return to London, he writes, +under date of September 25, "Many in this metropolis seem to be on +the wing for God; the shout of a king is yet heard in the Methodist +camp. Had I wings, I would gladly fly from pole to pole; but they +are clipped by thirty years' feeble labors. Twice or thrice a week +I am permitted to ascend my gospel throne. The love of Christ, I am +persuaded, will constrain you to pray that the last glimmering of +an expiring taper may be blessed to the guiding of many, wandering +souls to the Lamb of God." + +The good providence of God now gave Whitefield a colleague in the +ministry at the Tabernacle and Tottenham Court-road chapel, the Rev. +Torial Joss. This gentleman had spent many years as captain at sea; +converted by divine grace, and filled with holy zeal, he devoted +his popular talents to the welfare of his fellow-men, preaching +both on sea and land. In a remarkable manner, Mr. Whitefield became +acquainted with him, and, without his knowledge, published that he +would preach in his houses of worship, which, though with extreme +reluctance, Joss did. These services were often renewed, and +Whitefield gave him no rest till he abandoned the sea, and devoted +himself to the ministry. Everywhere he was popular, and everywhere +useful. He continued minister of the two places in London--spending +four or five months in each year travelling and preaching--for +twenty-seven years after the death of his friend, and then departed +from earth, in 1797, in holy triumph, in the 66th year of his age. + +One of the most extraordinary men in modern times was the late Rev. +Rowland Hill, who erected Surrey chapel, London, and continued to +preach in it till his death, in his eighty-ninth year, in 1833. He +was eminently dignified in person, possessed extraordinary zeal, +and was honored by his great Master with probably more success in +the direct work of saving souls than any other minister of his day. +He was a man of considerable rank, his father being a gentleman of +title, one of his brothers a member of Parliament for many years, +representing his native county, and the late eminent statesman +and soldier Lord Hill was his nephew. Mr. Hill himself in early +life became a Christian, and was educated for the ministry in the +established church, but violated its rules, and preached wherever he +could; for many years he was greatly persecuted by his own family, +some of whom, however, in the end sustained the yoke of Christ. +When Rowland began his somewhat erratic career, the opposition from +his father was so great, that he was reduced sometimes to extreme +poverty; and he was exactly the man to be encouraged by such men +as Whitefield and Berridge. We give a few extracts from letters +addressed to him by Whitefield, which certainly show no small +degree of ardor, though we cannot see in them what Hill's clerical +biographer, Mr. Sidney, professed to find, "an aspiration after the +honors, when he had no prospect of the sufferings of martyrdom." The +fact was, that Mr. Sidney was offended with Whitefield, as he was +with his venerable uncle, Mr. Hill, for having deviated from the +rigid laws of the establishment. It is only needful to introduce +the first letter by saying that it was dated, London, December 27, +1766, and was sent in answer to one in which Mr. Hill had asked his +counsel. + +"About thirty-four years ago, the master of Pembroke college, +where I was educated, took me to task for visiting the sick and +going to the prisons. In my haste I said, 'Sir, if it displeaseth +you I will go no more.' My heart smote me immediately; I repented, +and went again; he heard of it--threatened--but for fear he should +be looked on as a persecutor, let me alone. The hearts of all +are in the Redeemer's hands. I would not have you give way; no, +not for a moment. The storm is too great to hold long. Visiting +the sick and imprisoned, and instructing the ignorant, are the +very vitals of true and undefiled religion. If threatened, denied +degree, or expelled _for this_, it will be the best degree you can +take--a glorious preparative for, and a blessed presage of future +usefulness. I have seen the dreadful consequences of giving way and +looking back. How many by this wretched cowardice, and fear of the +cross, have been turned into pillars, not of useful, but of useless +salt. Now is your time to prove the strength of Jesus yours. If +opposition did not so much abound, your consolations would not so +abound. Blind as he is, Satan sees some great good coming on. We +never prospered so much at Oxford as when we were hissed at and +reproached as we walked along the streets, as being counted the +dung and offscouring of all things. That is a poor building which +a little stinking breath of Satan's vassals can throw down. Your +house, I trust, is better founded. Is it not built upon a rock? Is +not that rock the blessed Jesus? The gates of hell, therefore, shall +not be able to prevail against it. Go on, therefore, my dear man, go +on. Old Berridge, I believe, would give you the same advice; you are +honored in sharing his reproach and name. God be praised that you +are enabled to bless when others blaspheme. God bless and direct and +support you. He will, he will. Good Lady Huntingdon is in town; she +will rejoice to hear that you are under the cross. You will not want +her prayers, or the poor prayers of, my dear honest young friend, +yours, in an all-conquering Jesus." + +The opposition Mr. Hill met with from his parents increased, and +the threat of his degree being withheld, was, on the part of +the university authorities, more determined; still, however, he +persevered in his preaching and his visits, in violation of the +laws of discipline. In June, 1767, Mr. Whitefield wrote him: "I +wish you joy of the late high dignity conferred upon you--higher +than if you were made the greatest professor in the university of +Cambridge. The honorable degrees you intend giving to your promising +candidates, [allowing some of his fellow-students to preach in the +various places which he had visited,] I trust will excite a holy +ambition, and a holy emulation; let me know who is first honored. As +I have been admitted to the degree of doctor for near these thirty +years, I assure you I like my field preferment, my airy pluralities, +exceedingly well. For these three weeks last past I have been +beating up for fresh recruits in Gloucestershire and South Wales. +Thousands and thousands attended, and good Lady Huntingdon was +present at one of our reviews. Her ladyship's aid-de-camp preached +in Brecknock-street, and Captain Scott, that glorious field-officer, +lately fixed up his standard upon dear Mr. Fletcher's horseblock +at Madeley. Being invited thither, I have a great inclination to +lift up the Redeemer's ensign next week in the same place; with +what success, you and your dearly beloved candidates for good +old methodistical contempt shall know hereafter. God willing, I +intend fighting my way up to town. Soon after my arrival there, +I hope thousands and thousands of volleys of prayers, energetic, +effectual, fervent, heaven-besieging, heaven-opening, heaven-taking +prayers, shall be poured forth for you all. Oh, my dearly beloved +and longed-for in the Lord, my bowels yearn towards you. Fear not +to go without the camp; keep open the correspondence between the +two universities. Remember the praying legions--they were never +known to yield. God bless those that are gone to their respective +_cures_--I say not _livings_, a term of too modern date. Christ is +our life; Christ is the Levite's inheritance, and Christ will be the +true disinterested Levite's lot and portion and all. Greet your dear +young companions whom I saw; they are welcome to write when they +please. God be your physician under your bodily malady. A thorn, a +thorn! but Christ's grace will be sufficient for you. To his tender, +never-failing mercy I commit you." + +A few weeks after this, Mr. Hill was much depressed in spirits, +partly from bodily illness, partly because he was about to leave +Cambridge and its surrounding villages, where he had latterly so +frequently preached, but chiefly from the fact that he was going +home, where he would again meet the frowns of his honored parents, +for what they deemed his overrighteousness. In the midst of all +this, however, he knew that he would meet at Hawkstone, his father's +residence, the cordial welcome of his sister and elder brother, +Richard Hill, afterwards a baronet. This gentleman had lately become +a village preacher and a visitor of prisons, like his brother. Under +these circumstances he was addressed by Whitefield, in his own +peculiar and energetic style: "What said our Lord to Martha? 'Did I +not say unto thee, If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldst see the +glory of God?' Blessed, for ever blessed be the God and Father of +our Lord Jesus Christ, for what he hath done for your dear brother. +A preaching, prison-preaching, field-preaching _esquire_, strikes +more than all the black gowns and lawn sleeves in the world. And +if I am not mistaken, the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls will +let the world, and his own children too, know that he will not be +prescribed to in respect to men, or garbs, or places; much less will +he be confined to any order or set of men under heaven. I wish you +both much, very much prosperity. You will have it--_you will have +it_. This is the way, walk ye in it. Both Tabernacle and [Tottenham +Court-road] chapel pulpits shall be open to a captain or an esquire +sent of God. The good news from Oxford is encouraging. Say what they +will, preaching should be one part of the education of a student in +divinity. I pray for you night and day." + +On the arrival of Mr. Hill at his father's beautiful seat, it was +his happiness to find that his brother Brian, afterwards useful as +a clergyman, was added to the number of believers in Christ; he +learned also, that one of his college friends had been threatened +to have an exhibition, or yearly gift towards his university +expenses, withdrawn, unless he renounced his evangelical doctrines +and practices. The reader will now understand Mr. Whitefield's +letter: "I have been sadly hindered from answering your last letter, +delivered to me by your brother. I gave it him to read, and we had, +I trust, a profitable conference. God be praised if another of your +brothers is gained. What grace is this! Four or five out of one +family--it is scarcely to be paralleled. Who knows but the root, +as well as the branches, may be taken by and by? Abba, Father, all +things are possible with thee! Steadiness and perseverance in the +children will be one of the best means, under God, of convincing the +parents. This present opposition I think cannot last very long; if +it does, to obey God rather than man, when forbidden to do what is +undoubted duty, is the invariable rule. Our dear Penty [afterwards +the Rev. Thomas Pentycross] is under the cross at Cambridge. But + + "'Satan thwarts, and men object, + Yet the thing they thwart effect.' + +I should be glad if any one's exhibition was taken from him for +visiting the sick, etc. It would vastly tend to the furtherance of +the gospel; but Satan sees too far, I imagine, to play such a game +now. Let him do his work; he is only a mastiff chained. Continue to +inform me how he barks, and how far he is permitted to go in your +parts; and God's people shall be more stirred up to pray for you +all." + +The close of Mr. Hill's life was truly interesting and instructive. +As has been intimated, he preached with scarcely diminished power +until within a few weeks of his death. During the last two or three +years of his life he very frequently repeated the following lines of +an old poet: + + "And when I'm to die, + Receive me, I'll cry, + For Jesus has loved me, I cannot tell why; + But this I can find, + We two are so joined, + That he'll not be in glory, and leave me behind." + +"The last time he occupied my pulpit," writes his neighbor, the Rev. +George Clayton, "when he preached excellently for an hour, in behalf +of a charitable institution, he retired to the vestry after service +under feelings of great and manifest exhaustion. Here he remained +until every individual except the pew-openers, his servant, and +myself had left the place. At length he seemed with some reluctance +to summon energy enough to take his departure, intimating that it +was in all probability the last time he should preach in Walworth. +His servant went before to open the carriage-door, the pew-openers +remaining in the vestry. I offered my arm, which he declined, and +then followed him as he passed down the aisle of the chapel. The +lights were nearly extinguished, the silence was profound, nothing +indeed was heard but the slow majestic tread of his own footsteps, +when, in an undertone, he thus soliloquized: + + "'And when I'm to die,' etc. + +To my heart this was a scene of unequalled solemnity, nor can I ever +recur to it without a revival of that hallowed, sacred, shuddering +sympathy which it originally awakened." + +When the good old saint lay literally dying, and when apparently +unconscious, a friend put his mouth close to his ear, and repeated +slowly his favorite lines: + + "And when I'm to die," etc. + +The light came back to his fast-fading eye, a smile overspread his +face, and his lips moved in the ineffectual attempt to articulate +the words. This was the last sign of consciousness which he gave. + +We could almost wish that every disciple of Christ would commit +these lines, quaint as they are, to memory, and weave them into +the web of his Christian experience. Confidence in Christ, and +undeviating adherence to him, can alone enable us to triumph in life +and death. + +In November, 1766, Whitefield again visited Bath and Bristol, and +then passed on to Gloucestershire and Oxford. Never did so many +of the nobility attend his ministry as he now saw at Bath, and +the results of his whole journey were such as to fill him with +the most devout gratitude. He saw too the number of his clerical +friends largely increasing, and especially rejoiced in the fact +that the excellent Fletcher, of Madeley, preached in his pulpits in +London. He writes of this event, "Dear Mr. Fletcher has become a +_scandalous_ Tottenham Court preacher.... Were we more scandalous, +more good would be done.... Still, 'the shout of a king is yet +heard' in the Methodist camp." + +In January, 1767, Whitefield wrote a recommendatory preface to +the works of John Bunyan, whom he pleasantly designated, "Bishop +Bunyan;" and as soon as the weather would permit, we find him +at Norwich, and then at Rodborough, Woodstock, Gloucester, and +Haverfordwest, from which last place he wrote, "Thousands and +thousands attend by eight in the morning. Life and light seem to +fly all around." On a second visit to Gloucester on this tour, he +wrote, "Blessed be God, I have got on this side the Welsh mountains. +Blessed be God, I have been on the other side. What a scene last +Sunday! What a cry for more of the bread of life! But I was quite +worn down." + +In September following, he again visited the north of England, +writing from day to day in high spirits. September 28, he says, +"My body feels much fatigued in travelling; comforts in the soul +overbalance;" and from Leeds, October 3, he writes, "Field and +street preaching have rather bettered than hurt my bodily health." + +Whitefield now returned to London, to sustain a heavy +disappointment. The negotiations relative to the college at Bethesda +were this winter brought to an issue. A memorial addressed to his +Majesty was put into the hands of the clerk of the Privy Council, +setting forth the great utility of a college in that place to the +southern provinces; and praying that a charter might be granted upon +the plan of the college in New Jersey. This memorial was transmitted +by the clerk of the Privy Council to the lord president, and by his +lordship referred to the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whom also a +draft of an intended charter was presented by the Earl of Dartmouth. +A correspondence followed all this between the archbishop and +Whitefield; the consequence of which was, that his grace gave the +draft of the college to the lord president, who promised he would +consider of it; and gave it as his opinion that "the head of the +college ought to be a member of the church of England; that this was +a qualification not to be dispensed with; and also, that the public +prayers should not be extempore ones, but the liturgy of the church, +or some other settled and established form." Whitefield replied +that these restrictions he could by no means agree to, because the +greatest part of the contributions for the orphan-house came from +Protestant dissenters; and because he had constantly declared that +the intended college should be founded upon a broad foundation, and +no other. + +"This," said he, "I judged I was sufficiently warranted to do, +from the known, long-established, mild, and uncoercive genius of +the British government; also from your grace's moderation towards +Protestant dissenters; from the unconquerable attachment of the +Americans to toleration principles, as well as from the avowed +habitual feelings of my own heart. This being the case, and as +your grace, by your silence, seems to be like-minded with the lord +president; and as your grace's and his lordship's influence will +undoubtedly extend itself to others, I would beg leave, after +returning all due acknowledgments, to inform your grace that I +intend troubling your grace and his lordship no more about this so +long depending concern. As it hath pleased the great Head of the +church in some degree to renew my bodily strength, I propose now +to renew my feeble efforts, and to turn the charity into a more +generous, and consequently into a more useful channel. I have no +ambition to be looked upon as the founder of a college; but I would +fain act the part of an honest man, a disinterested minister of +Jesus Christ, and a true, catholic, moderate presbyter of the church +of England." + +Thus ended Whitefield's labors to establish a college at Bethesda. +Berridge, and not a few others of his friends rather rejoiced in his +disappointment, as they thought there was some fear, uncontrolled as +the institution might hereafter be by men of established principles +of piety, that an unconverted ministry might be increased by its +means. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + HIS LAST LABORS IN GREAT BRITAIN--COLLEGE AT TREVECCA--EARL OF + BUCHAN--TUNBRIDGE WELLS. + +1767-1769. + + +Whitefield had abandoned the idea of a charter for a college at +present, but he was yet ardently desirous of a public academy being +added to his orphan-house, similar to what existed at Philadelphia +before a college charter was granted. He thought that if this +could be done, a better day might arrive, when a charter on broad +principles might be obtained. He developed his whole plan in a +letter to Governor Wright. Feeling too the uncertainty of life, he +wrote to his friend Mr. Keen, "None but God knows what a concern is +upon me now, in respect of Bethesda. As another voyage, perhaps, may +be the issue and the result of all at last, I would beg you and my +dear Mr. H---- to let me have all my papers and letters, that I may +revise and dispose of them in a proper manner. This can do no hurt, +come life or come death." + +October 28th, 1767, Whitefield preached at the London Tabernacle +before the society for promoting religious knowledge among the poor, +usually called, The Book Society. This society had been organized +seventeen years before this period, and included in it such men as +Watts, Doddridge, and Gifford. He gave way to all the zeal of his +heart while he discussed the petition, "Thy kingdom come." Luke +11:2. The congregation was immense, many had to go away unable +to obtain admittance. It was believed that a larger number of +dissenting ministers were present than ever before heard a sermon +from an Episcopal minister, and the collection reached more than +five hundred dollars, or above four times the usual amount, besides +eighty new annual subscribers. After the service, he dined with a +very large party, including the ministers, where harmony reigned, +and much respect was shown him. + +It may be readily supposed, that with advancing years and increasing +experience, some changes might have taken place both in the style +and manner of Whitefield's preaching. The Rev. Cornelius Winter, who +had become somewhat closely associated with him, says, "He dealt +more in the explanatory and doctrinal mode on the Sabbath morning +than at any other time, and sometimes made a little, but by no means +an improper show of learning. His afternoon sermon was more general +and exhortatory. In the evening, he drew his bow at a venture; +vindicated the doctrines of grace, fenced them with articles and +homilies, referred to the martyr's seal, and exemplified the power +of divine grace by quotations from the venerable Foxe. Sinners were +then closely plied, numbers of whom, from curiosity, coming to +hear for a minute or two, were often compelled to hear the whole +sermon. How many in the judgment-day will rise to prove that they +heard to the salvation of the soul. Upon the members of society, +the practice of Christianity was then usually inculcated, not +without some pertinent anecdote of a character worthy to be held +up for an example, and in whose conduct the hints recommended were +exemplified. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, +he preached at six in the morning; and never, perhaps, did he +preach greater sermons than at this hour." This, with the frequent +administration of the Lord's supper to hundreds of communicants, was +his usual plan for several years; but now he became more colloquial +in his style, with but little action; he gave pertinent expositions +of the Scriptures, with striking remarks, all comprehended within an +hour. Winter adds, "The peculiar talents he possessed, subservient +to great usefulness, can be but faintly conceived from his sermons +in print; though, as formerly, God has made the reading of them +useful, and I have no doubt that in future they will have their use." + +But even yet our evangelist had to engage in war. The opposition +of the universities in Oxford and Cambridge to the principles and +practices introduced by Whitefield, Wesley, and their companions, +grew and strengthened, till an event occurred at Oxford singularly +remarkable in its history for opposition to evangelical religion, +which for many years continued to excite very extraordinary +interest. The London "St. James' Chronicle," of Thursday, March 17, +1763, contained the following "extract of a letter from Oxford:" +"On Friday last, six students, belonging to Edmund Hall, were +expelled the university, after a hearing of several hours before +Mr. Vice-Chancellor and some of the heads of houses, for holding +methodistical tenets, and taking upon them to pray, read, and +expound the Scriptures, and singing hymns in a private house. +The ---- of the ---- [The Principal of the Edmund Hall, Rev. Dr. +Dixon] defended their doctrines from the Thirty-nine Articles of +the established church, and spoke in the highest terms of the piety +and exemplariness of their lives; but his motion was overruled, +and sentence pronounced against them. Dr. ----, [Dixon,] one of +the heads of houses present, observed, that as these six gentlemen +were expelled for having too much religion, it would be very proper +to inquire into the conduct of some who had too little; and Mr. +---- [Dr. Nowell] was heard to tell their chief accuser, that the +university was much obliged to him for his good work." + +To detail the events which followed this extraordinary act, and to +describe the excitement thus created, form no part of the design of +our volume. We have referred to the fact because Mr. Whitefield and +his friend Sir Richard Hill took part in the controversy. Referring +to Dr. Nowell's assertion to Mr. Higson, their "chief accuser," and +who was also their tutor, that the university was obliged to him, +Whitefield says to the Vice-Chancellor, "What thanks, reverend sir, +he may meet with from the whole university I know not; but one thing +I know, namely, that he will receive no thanks for that day's work +from the innumerable company of angels, the general assembly of the +first-born which are written in heaven, or from God the Judge of +all, in that day when Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant shall +come in his own glory, in the glory of the Father and his holy +angels, and gather his elect from all the four corners of the world. + +"It is true, indeed, one article of impeachment was, that 'some of +them were of _trades_ before they entered into the university.' +But what evil or crime worthy of expulsion can there be in that? +To be called from any, though the meanest mechanical employment, +to the study of the liberal arts, where a natural genius hath been +given, was never yet looked upon as a reproach to, or diminution of +any great and public character whatsoever. Profane history affords +us a variety of examples of the greatest heroes, who have been +fetched even from the plough to command armies, and who performed +the greatest exploits for their country's good. And if we examine +_sacred_ history, we shall find that even David, after he was +anointed king, looked back with sweet complacency to the rock from +whence he was hewn, and is not ashamed to leave it upon record, that +God took him away from the sheepfolds, as he was following the ewes +great with young; and, as though he loved to repeat it, he took +him, he says, 'that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his +inheritance.' + +"But why speak I of David, when Jesus of Nazareth, David's Lord and +David's King, had for his reputed father a carpenter? and in all +probability, as it was a common proverb among the Jews, that 'he +who did not teach his son a trade, taught him to be a thief,' he +worked at the trade of a carpenter himself. For this, indeed, he was +reproached and maligned: 'Is not this,' said they, 'the carpenter's +son?' Nay, 'Is not this the carpenter?' But who were these +maligners? The greatest enemies to the power of godliness which +the world ever saw, the scribes and Pharisees, that 'generation of +vipers,' as John the Baptist calls them, who, upon every occasion, +were spitting out their venom, and shooting their arrows, even +bitter words, against that Son of man, even that Son of God who, +to display his sovereignty, and confound the wisdom of the worldly +wise, chose poor fishermen to be his apostles; and whose chief of +the apostles, though brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, both before +and after his call to the apostleship, labored with his own hands, +and worked at the trade of a tent-maker." + +It is pleasant to know that the young men thus expelled became +useful in the church of Christ. One of them, indeed, Erasmus +Middleton, who had been sustained at Oxford by Mr. Fuller, a +dissenter and banker in London, was ordained in Ireland by the +bishop of Down, and having married a lady of the ducal family of +Gordon, in Scotland, was curate successively to the Rev. Messrs. +Romaine and Cadogan in London, and finally rector of Turvey, in +Bedfordshire, where he was the immediate predecessor of the sainted +Legh Richmond. + +Many delightful evidences yet exist that as Whitefield drew nearer +the end of his career on earth, his holy zeal increased, rather +than lessened. We have lying before us three of his letters, not +included either in the collection of his printed correspondence, or +in the lives which have been published. The first was addressed to a +gentleman at Wisbeach, and appears to have been written from London. +It is dated Sept. 25, 1766. + +"DEAR SIR--As your letter breathes the spirit of a sincere +follower of the Lamb of God, I am sorry that it hath lain by +so long unanswered; but bodily weakness, and a multiplicity of +correspondents, both from abroad and at home, must be pleaded +as excuses. 'Blessed be God, our salvation is nearer than when +we believed.' It should seem that you have now served three +apprenticeships in Christ's school, and yet I suppose the language +of your heart is, 'I love my Master, and will not go from him;' and +Oh, what a mercy, that whom Jesus loves, he loves to the end! Do you +not begin to long to see him more than ever? Do you not groan in +this tabernacle, being burdened? Courage, courage; he that cometh +will come, and will not tarry. Oh that patience may have its perfect +work! Many in this metropolis seem to be on the wing for God; the +shout of a king is yet heard in the Methodist camp. Had I wings, I +would gladly fly from pole to pole; but they are clipped by thirty +years' feeble labors. Twice or thrice a week I am permitted to +ascend my gospel throne. The love of Christ, I am persuaded, will +constrain you to pray that the last glimmering of an expiring taper +may be blessed to the guiding of many wandering souls to the Lamb of +God." + +The second letter was written from the same city, February 12, in +the following year, and was addressed to Captain Scott, a military +officer then "quartered at Leicester." This gentleman, in early +life, had been much devoted to the gayeties of fashionable society; +long after he had entered the army, he was converted to God, under +the ministry of the Rev. W. Romaine; and a few weeks before Mr. +Whitefield addressed to him this letter, he had begun to preach the +grand message of reconciliation. He afterwards left the army, was +ordained as a Congregational minister, and labored for many years in +almost innumerable places in city and country, with abundant success. + +"What, not answer so modest a request, namely, to snatch a few +moments to send dear Captain Scott a few lines? God forbid. I must +again welcome him into the field of battle. I must again entreat +him to keep his rank as captain, and not suffer any persuasions to +influence him to descend to the low degree of a common soldier. If +God will choose a red-coat preacher, who shall say unto him, 'What +doest thou?' + + "Prevent thy foes, nor wait their charge; + But call the lingering battle on; + But strongly grasp thy seven-fold targe, + And bear the world and Satan down. + + "Strong in the Lord's almighty power, + And armed in panoply divine, + Firm mayest thou stand in danger's hour, + And prove the strength of Jesus thine. + + "The helmet of salvation take, + The Lord the Spirit's conquering sword; + Speak from the word, in lightning speak; + Cry out, and thunder from the Lord. + + "Through friends and foes pursue thy way, + Be mindful of a dying God; + Finish thy course, and win the day, + Though called to seal the truth with blood. + +"Gladly would I come, and in my poor way endeavor to strengthen your +hands; but alas, I am fit for nothing, but, as an invalid, to be +put into some garrison, and now and then put my hand to some old +gun. Blessed be the Captain of our salvation for drafting out some +young champions to reconnoitre and attack the enemy. You will beat +the march in every letter, and bid the common soldiers not halt, but +go forwards. Good Lady Huntingdon wishes you much prosperity. Pray +write to her at Brighthelmstone, [now Brighton,] Sussex. She will +most gladly answer you; and I assure you, her Ladyship's letters +are always weighty. Hoping one day or another to see your face in +the flesh, and more than hoping to see you crowned with glory in +the kingdom of heaven, I must hasten to subscribe myself, my dear +captain, yours in our all-glorious Captain-general, + + "G. WHITEFIELD." + +The last letter we shall introduce in this connection was addressed +by Whitefield to the Honorable and Rev. Walter Shirley, of Ireland, +a near relative of the Countess of Huntingdon, who breathed, as a +minister of Christ, much of the spirit of his great Master. It was +dated, Bath, Dec. 8, 1767: + +"REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR--How glad was I to hear by the London +Shunamite, [Mrs. Herritage,] that you and your lady were well; +that God had given you a son; that you reflected on your preaching +at Tottenham Court chapel with pleasure; that you had gotten a +curate; and, to complete all, that you intended to visit England +next spring. This news rejoiced me before I left town, and was most +grateful to our good Lady Huntingdon, whom I have the honor of +waiting upon at this time in Bath. She hath been sick, nigh unto +death, but through mercy is now somewhat recovered, though as +yet unable to write much. This her ladyship much regrets on your +account; and therefore enjoins me to inform you, that your letter +did not reach her hands till many weeks after the proper time; that +ever since she has been visited with lingering sickness, but begs +you will not linger in coming over to our Macedonia to help us. The +thought of it seems to refresh her heaven-born soul. Blessed be God, +her ladyship still takes the lead. + +"She is now doing honor to the remains of the Earl of Buchan, who +sweetly slept in Jesus last week. All hath been awful, and more +than awful. On Saturday evening, before the corpse was taken from +Buchan house, a word of exhortation was given, and a hymn sung +in the room where the corpse lay. The young Earl stood with his +hands on the head of the coffin, the Countess Dowager of Buchan +on his right hand, Lady Ann Agnes, and Lady Isabella Erskine on +his left, and their brother the Hon. Thomas Erskine next to their +mother, with Miss O----, Miss W----, Miss G----; on one side +all the domestics, with a few friends on the other. The word of +exhortation was received with great solemnity, and most wept under +the parting prayer. At ten, the corpse was removed to good Lady +Huntingdon's chapel, where it was deposited within a place railed in +for that purpose, covered with black baize, and the usual funeral +concomitants, except escutcheons. + +"On Sunday morning, all attended in mourning at early sacrament. +They were seated by themselves, at the feet of the corpse, and with +their head servants, received first, and a particular address was +made to them. Immediately after receiving, these verses were sung +for them: + + "'Our lives, our blood, we here present, + If for thy truth they may be spent: + Fulfil thy glorious counsel, Lord; + Thy will be done, thy name adored. + + "'Give them thy strength, O God of power, + Then let men rave or devils roar, + Thy faithful witnesses they'll be; + 'Tis fixed, they can do all through thee!' + +"Then they received this blessing: 'The Lord bless you, and keep +you; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you; the +Lord cause his face to shine upon you, and give you peace;' and so +returned to their places. + +"Sacrament ended, and a blessed sacrament it was, the noble mourners +returned to the good Countess of Huntingdon's house, which was lent +them for the day. At eleven, public worship began. The bereaved +relatives sat in order within, and the domestics round the outside +of the rail. The chapel was more than crowded. Near three hundred +tickets, signed by the present earl, were given out to the nobility +and gentry, to be admitted. All was hushed and solemn. Proper hymns +were sung, and I preached on the words, 'Blessed are the dead that +die in the Lord.' Attention sat on every countenance, and deep +and almost universal impressions were made. The like scene, and +if possible more solemn, was exhibited in the evening, and I was +enabled to preach a second time, and a like power attended the word +as in the morning. Ever since, there hath been public service and +preaching twice a day. This is to be continued till Friday morning, +then all is to be removed to Bristol, in order to be shipped off to +Scotland. The inscription on the coffin runs thus: 'His life was +honorable--his death blessed--he sought earnestly peace with God--he +found it, with unspeakable joy, alone in the merits of Jesus Christ, +witnessed by the Holy Spirit to his soul--he yet speaketh. Go and do +likewise.' + +"I have often wished for you here. Congregations are very large, +attentive, and deeply impressed. Great numbers of all ranks crowd +to see and hear; and I trust many will also feel. Surely the death +of this noble earl, thus improved, will prove the life of many. +He behaved like the patriarch Jacob, when by faith, leaning upon +his staff, he blessed his children. The earl added, 'Yea, and they +shall be blessed.' He laid his hands on, and blessed his children, +assuring them of his personal interest in Jesus. He had great +foretastes of heaven. 'Had I strength of body,' cried he, 'I would +not be ashamed, before men and angels, to tell what the Lord Jesus +hath done for my soul. Come, Holy Ghost--come, Holy Ghost; happy, +happy, happy!' and then sweetly slept in Jesus. All surviving +relatives still feel the influence. They sit round the corpse, +attended by their domestics and supporters, twice a day. Good Lady +S---- gets fresh spirits. The present noble earl, I believe, hath +got the blessing indeed, and seems, upon the best evidence, to +determine to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. He +hath behaved in the most delicate manner to the Countess, and other +noble survivors." + +The summer of 1768 brought to Whitefield a series of changes. +For the last time he now visited Edinburgh, where he found his +congregations as large, and his Christian friends as affectionate +as ever. Soon after his return to London, Mrs. Whitefield was +seized with inflammatory fever, and died, as we have already seen, +on the 9th of August. His own health too was more than declining. +He writes, "I have been in hopes of my own departure. Through hard +writing, and frequent preaching, I have burst a vein. The flux is +in a great measure stopped; but rest and quietness are strictly +enjoined." + +"Rest and quietness!" With Whitefield such things were impossible as +long as he could move or speak. His fire must burn till its whole +material was expended; his heart overflowed, and he must labor till +his body sank under exhaustion. No persecution could appall him, no +sickness could long keep him from his beloved engagements. He would +preach till he died, being fully assured that his "labor was not in +vain in the Lord." + +Neither Whitefield nor any of his friends could ever be the +advocates of an unlearned ministry. Many of the men engaged under +his direction, and preaching in what was already called "Lady +Huntingdon's connection," needed, as they well knew, a better +education than they possessed. Hence her ladyship obtained a lease +of an old structure, supposed to have been part of an ancient +castle erected in the reign of Henry the Second. The date over the +entrance, now almost effaced, is 1176. It was called Trevecca House, +was situated in the parish of Talgarth, in South Wales, and was for +some time the residence of Howel Harris. This building was opened +as a college for religious and literary instruction, and the chapel +dedicated to the preaching of the everlasting gospel, Aug. 24, 1768, +the anniversary of the Bartholomew act, and of the birth of her +ladyship. Mr. Whitefield preached from Exod. 24:24: "In all places +where I record my name, I will come unto thee and bless thee;" +and on the following Sabbath he addressed a congregation of some +thousands, who assembled in the court before the college. His text +on that occasion was, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is +laid, which is Jesus Christ." When speaking of the dedication of the +college, Mr. Whitefield says, "What we have seen and felt at the +college is unspeakable." + +After her ladyship's death the institution was removed to Cheshunt, +about thirteen miles north of London, where it still flourishes +under the presidency of the Rev. Dr. W. H. Stowell. + +In the early part of 1769, Mr. Whitefield was for some weeks +seriously ill, but towards the close of March, he was able to +write, "Through infinite mercy I have been able to preach four +days successively." During his illness he received many offers of +assistance from his brethren in the ministry, but from none more +cordially than from the Honorable and Rev. Mr. Shirley. Writing to +him, April 1, Whitefield says: + +"How much am I obliged to you for your two kind letters, and more +especially for the repeated offers of your ministerial assistance. +They will be most gratefully accepted, and, I humbly hope, be +remarkably succeeded by Him who hath promised to be with us always, +even unto the end of the world. Blessed be His name, we have been +favored with most delightful passover feasts. The shout of the +King of kings is still heard in the midst of our Methodist camps; +and the shout of, Grace, grace! resounds from many quarters. Our +almighty Jesus knows how to build his temple in troublous times. His +work prospers in the hands of the elect countess, who is gone to +Bath, much recovered from her late indisposition. Worthy Lady Fanny +Shirley proposes soon to follow, in order to reside there. Some more +coronets, I hear, are likely to be laid at the Redeemer's feet. They +glitter gloriously when set in and surrounded by a _crown of thorns_. + + "'Subjects of the Lord, be bold; + esus will his kingdom hold; + Wheels encircling wheels must run, + Each in course to bring it on.'" + +That the friendship of Dr. Franklin towards Mr. Whitefield was +sincere, cannot be doubted; there is, however, somewhat painful +in the thought, that even in this connection Franklin could not +conceal his scepticism. In 1769 both these eminent men were in +London, and every one knows that the state of our country was very +trying. Franklin thus wrote to Whitefield: "I am under continued +apprehensions that we may have bad news from America. The sending +soldiers to Boston always appeared to me a dangerous step; they +could do no good, they might occasion mischief. When I consider +the warm resentment of a people who think themselves injured and +oppressed, and the common insolence of the soldiery, who are taught +to consider that people as in rebellion, I cannot but fear the +consequences of bringing them together. It seems like setting up +a smith's forge in a magazine of gunpowder. I _see_ with you that +our affairs are not well managed by our rulers here below; I wish I +could _believe_ with you, that they are well attended to by those +above: I rather suspect, from certain circumstances, that though +the general government of the universe is well administered, our +particular little affairs are perhaps below notice, and left to take +the chance of human prudence or imprudence, as either may happen to +be uppermost. It is, however, an uncomfortable thought, and I leave +it." + +It would have been strange indeed if Whitefield had allowed a +letter closing in this manner to pass without a remark; hence we +are prepared to find that, in his own handwriting, at the foot +of the autograph letter, he wrote, "_Uncomfortable_ indeed! and, +blessed be God, _unscriptural_; for we are fully assured that 'the +Lord reigneth,' and are directed to cast _all_ our own care on him, +because he careth for us." Could Dr. Franklin have seen the splendid +results of that management which he thought indicated the absence of +a particular providence--could he have beheld the vast Republic, the +abode of liberty, commerce, literature, and religion, which in less +than a century has grown out of the insurgent colonies--he would +surely have exclaimed, in the language of the prophet, "Verily there +is a God in the earth!" + +In July, Whitefield was called by Lady Huntingdon to visit Tunbridge +Wells, a popular watering place in Kent, some twenty or thirty miles +from London, to dedicate a new and beautiful house to the service +of God. The congregation was far too large to be accommodated within +the walls; he therefore preached out of doors from a mount in the +court before the house. His text was, "This is none other but the +house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." Gen. 28:17. This +sermon is said to have been one of his most eloquent and thrilling +efforts; the lofty energy of his tones, the utter forgetfulness +of himself in the all-absorbing interest of his subject, the very +impersonation of the truths which he uttered as he stretched forth +his hand, "Look yonder; what is that I see? It is my agonizing Lord! +Hark, hark! do you not hear? O earth, earth, earth, hear the word +of the Lord!" thrilled the vast congregation, riveting the eye, +piercing the conscience, and holding strong men breathless before +the resistless might of his inspired eloquence. After the service +he delivered an exhortation, and on the next day again preached and +administered the Lord's supper. + +He now began to prepare for his _seventh_, and as it proved, his +_last_ voyage to America, especially to visit his beloved orphans +and friends in Georgia. The only thing which seems to have grieved +him, was the pain of parting for a time from his London friends. +This was nothing new, but his feelings were even less reconciled to +the event than formerly. "Oh," he says, "these partings! without +a divine support they would be intolerable. Talk not of taking +_personal_ leave; you know my _make_. Paul could stand a whipping, +but not a weeping farewell." + +The text of his last sermon was John 10:27, 28: "My sheep hear my +voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them +eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man +pluck them out of my hand." The sermon was printed, and that very +incorrectly; but a few sentences will show that it was strikingly +characteristic: "These words, it will be recollected, were uttered +by Christ at the feast of dedication. This festival was of bare +human invention, and yet I do not find that our Lord preached +against it. And I believe that when we see things as we ought, we +shall not entertain our auditories about rites and ceremonies, +but about the grand thing. It is the glory of Methodists, that +while they have been preaching forty years, there has not been, +that I know of, one single pamphlet published by them about the +non-essentials of religion.... The Lord divides the world into +sheep and goats. O sinners, you are come to hear a poor creature +take his last farewell; but I want you to forget the creature and +his preaching. I want to lead you further than the Tabernacle--even +to mount Calvary, to see with what expense of blood Jesus Christ +purchased 'his own.' Now, before I go any further, will you be so +good, before the world gets into your hearts, to inquire whether +you belong to Christ or not. Surely the world did not get into +your hearts before you rose from your beds. Many of you were up +sooner than usual. [The sermon was preached at seven o'clock in the +morning.] I hope the world does not get into your hearts before +nine. Man, woman, sinner, put thy hand upon thy heart, and say, +Didst thou ever hear Christ's voice so as to follow him?... I once +heard Dr. Marryatt, who was not ashamed of 'market language,' say +at Pinner's Hall, 'God has a great dog to fetch his sheep back +when they wander.' He sends the devil after them, to bark at them; +but instead of barking them further off, he barks them back to the +fold.... 'None shall pluck them out of my hand.' This implies that +there is always somebody plucking at Christ's sheep. The lust of the +flesh is plucking; the pride of life is plucking; and the devil is +continually plucking at them; 'but nothing shall pluck them out of +my hand;' I have bought them, and am gone to heaven to 'prepare a +place for them.'" + +Of this sermon, as taken in shorthand and printed, Whitefield +received a copy while at Deal, and was much dissatisfied with it. He +says, "This morning I received a surreptitious copy of my Tabernacle +farewell sermon, taken, as the shorthand writer professes, +verbatim as I spoke it. But surely he is mistaken. The whole is so +injudiciously paragraphed, and so wretchedly unconnected, that I +owe no thanks to the misguided, though it may be well-meant zeal of +the writer and publisher, be they who they will." Had Whitefield +known that the lad of seventeen who had thus taken down his sermon, +would hereafter become a devoted and useful minister of Christ, the +secretary of the London Missionary Society, the originator of the +London Religious Tract Society, and for many years the editor of the +London Evangelical Magazine, and the author of "Village Sermons," +which have circulated by hundreds of thousands of volumes in both +hemispheres, how would his heart have warmed towards him. Let us +copy from the journal of George Burder, as given in his life by his +son, the Rev. Dr. H. F. Burder, a short passage: + +"August, 1769. About this time I heard Mr. Whitefield preach +several sermons, particularly his two last in London; that at +Tottenham Court chapel on Sabbath morning, and that at the +Tabernacle on Wednesday morning at seven o'clock. I remember a +thought which passed my mind, I think, as I was going to hear his +last sermon--'Which would I rather be, Garrick or Whitefield?' I +thought each, in point of oratory, admirable in his way. I doubt not +conscience told me which was best. I wrote Mr. Whitefield's sermons +in shorthand, though standing in a crowd. The latter I copied out, +and by the request of a friend it was printed in about a week. I +remember sitting up part of a night to write it out, and at the same +time I observed the comet which then appeared. The sermon was very +incorrect, and Mr. Whitefield being detained at Deal before he left +England, saw it, and complained of it." + +Before we entirely separate from the Tabernacle, we wish to record +some other interesting facts associated with it, especially relating +to Thomas Wilson, Esq., for many years the treasurer of Hoxton, +afterwards Highbury, college, who gave the ground on which the +latter building stands, devoted his fortune to the extension of the +cause of Christ, and in addition to many other noble acts, erected +five large houses of worship in the British metropolis, capable of +seating eight thousand persons. The father of this gentleman was for +many years a devoted deacon of a Congregational church, but entered +into full sympathy with the labors of Whitefield, attending the +Tabernacle on Lord's-day evenings. "To this circumstance, perhaps, +may be traced much of his own zeal for the glory of God, and no +inconsiderable portion of that public spirit which afterwards +distinguished his son Thomas, who well remembered being carried +in his nurse's arms, in company with his parents, to the scene of +Whitefield's ministry, and listening with such interest as one so +young was likely to feel, to a preacher of surpassing eloquence +and power." The Rev. Dr. Morison, one of his biographers, adds: +"Thus did he imbibe in early life a strong prepossession for +animated public address, which he never lost in after-years, and +which he never failed to urge upon all youthful candidates for the +sacred office. As might have been expected, the Tabernacle became +his Sabbath home, where he was wont to listen to men of fervent +eloquence, and of purely evangelical sentiment. He entered, while +very young, into communion with the church in that place, and +afforded a pleasing example of early and consistent dedication to +the service of Christ." + +Having finished the service of the Tabernacle which we just now +described, Whitefield went immediately to Gravesend, twenty miles +from London, to set sail, embarking in the Friendship, Captain +Ball, for Charleston. His companions on the voyage were Messrs. +Winter and Smith, both of them young ministers of lively zeal; and +the former especially, was distinguished in after-life by great +success in his labors for Christ and his church. Whitefield wrote, +"I am comfortable on every side--a civil captain and passengers; +all willing to attend on divine worship, and to hear of religious +things." + +But delay was the lot of our evangelist and his friends. They +arrived in the Downs, and had to stay there about a month waiting +for a fair wind. While here, he was delighted with a most unexpected +visit from Dr. Gibbons of London, and the Rev. Mr. Bradbury of +Ramsgate, who had met at Deal to ordain a young minister. He says, +"Wednesday, Sept. 13, I went on shore, and attended an ordination +solemnity at the dissenting meeting. Several ministers officiated. +Several important questions were asked and answered before, and +a solemn charge given after imposition of hands. But the prayer +put up in the very act of laying on of hands, by Dr. Gibbons, was +so affecting, and the looks and behavior of those that joined so +serious and solemn, that I hardly know when I was more struck under +any one's ministration. The ordination being over, at the desire +of the ministers and other gentlemen, I went and dined with them: +our conversation was edifying; and being informed that many were +desirous to hear me preach, I willingly complied; and I trust some +seed was sown the same evening at Deal, which, by God's heavenly +blessing, will spring up to life eternal. The people of Deal seemed +very civil, and some came to me who had not forgotten my preaching +to them, and their deceased friends and parents, thirty-two years +ago." + +Whitefield tells a somewhat amusing anecdote of Dr. Gibbons, on one +of his visits on board. The worthy doctor was unused to the sea, +and became sea-sick, so that he was obliged to lie down for some +time in the state-cabin. "There," says our evangelist, "he learned +more experimentally to pray for those who do business in the great +waters." While yet in the Downs, Whitefield preached not only on +board, but at Ramsgate and elsewhere. On September 25, in company +with many other ships, they sailed, but soon were again compelled +to cast anchor over against New Romney and Dungenness. At length, +however, they cleared the channel, and after a long and dangerous +voyage arrived safe at Charleston, S. C. Happily, Whitefield's +health had become greatly renovated, so that he felt better than +after any voyage he had made for many years. In his memorandum he +wrote: + +"November, 1769. For the last week we were beating about our port, +within sight of it, and continued for two days in Five-fathom hole, +just over the bar. A dangerous situation, as the wind blew hard, and +our ship, like a young Christian, for want of more ballast, would +not obey the helm. But through infinite mercy, on November 30, a +pilot-boat came and took us safe ashore to Charleston, having been +on board almost thirteen weeks. Friends received me most cordially. +Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his mercies. Oh, to +begin to be a Christian and minister of Jesus!" On the very day of +his landing, Whitefield preached at Charleston, and learned from his +friend Mr. Wright that all was well at Bethesda. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SEVENTH VISIT AND LABORS IN AMERICA--DEATH. + +1769, 1770. + + +Whitefield now lost no time in proceeding to his beloved Bethesda, +which at present wore a very inviting aspect. Writing, January 11, +1770, he says, "Every thing exceeds my most sanguine expectations. +I am almost tempted to say, 'It is good for me to be here;' but all +must give way to gospel ranging--divine employ! + + "'For this, let men revile my name, + I'll shun no cross, I'll fear no shame; + All hail, reproach!'" + +In another letter he says, "The increase of this colony is almost +incredible. Two wings are added to the orphan-house, for the +accommodation of students; of which Governor Wright laid the +foundation, March 25, 1769." + +An official paper of the Georgia legislature will show the esteem in +which Whitefield was held by that body. + +"Commons House of Assembly, Monday, Jan. 29, 1770. Mr. Speaker +reported, that he, with the house, having waited on the Rev. Mr. +Whitefield, in consequence of his invitation, at the orphan-house +academy, heard him preach a very suitable and pious sermon on the +occasion; and with great pleasure observed the promising appearance +of improvement towards the good purposes intended, and the decency +and propriety of behavior of the several residents there; and +were sensibly affected, when they saw the happy success which has +attended Whitefield's indefatigable zeal for promoting the welfare +of the province in general, and the orphan-house in particular. +Ordered, that this report be printed in the Gazette. + + "JOHN SIMPSON, Clerk." + +In pursuance of this vote, we find in the Georgia Gazette as +follows: "Savannah, January 31, 1770. Last Sunday, his Excellency +the Governor, Council, and Assembly, having been invited by the +Rev. Mr. Whitefield, attended divine service in the chapel of the +orphan-house academy, where prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. +Ellington, and a very suitable sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. +Whitefield, from Zechariah 4:10, 'For who hath despised the day +of small things?' to the great satisfaction of the auditory; in +which he took occasion to mention the many discouragements he met +with, well known to many there, in carrying on the institution for +upwards of thirty years past, and the present promising prospect of +its future and more extensive usefulness. After divine service, the +company were very politely entertained with a handsome and plentiful +dinner; and were greatly pleased to see the useful improvements +made in the house, the two additional wings of apartments for +students, one hundred and fifty feet each in length, and other +lesser buildings, in so much forwardness; and the whole executed +with taste, and in so masterly a manner; and being sensible of +the truly generous and disinterested benefactions derived to the +province through his means, they expressed their gratitude in the +most respectful terms." + +On February 10, we find a letter written at Charleston by Whitefield +to his friend Mr. Robert Keen of London: + +"Through infinite mercy, this leaves me enjoying a greater share of +bodily health than I have known for many years. I am now enabled +to preach almost every day, and my poor feeble labors seem not to +be in vain in the Lord. Blessed be God, all things are in great +forwardness at Bethesda. I have conversed with the governor in the +most explicit manner, more than once, concerning an act of Assembly +for the establishment of the intended orphan-house college. He most +readily consents. I have shown him a draft, which he much approves +of, and all will be finished at my return from the northward; in the +meanwhile the building will be carried on. As two ministers from New +Jersey and Rhode Island have been soliciting benefactions for their +respective colleges, no application of that nature can be made here; +but the Lord will provide.... Since my being in Charleston, I have +shown the draft to some persons of great eminence and influence. +They highly approve of it, and willingly consent to be some of the +wardens. Nearly twenty are to be of Georgia, and about six of this +place; one of Philadelphia, one of New York, one of Boston, three of +Edinburgh, two of Glasgow, and six of London. Those of Georgia and +South Carolina are to be qualified; the others to be only honorary +corresponding wardens." + +Two days afterwards he again writes to the same friend, "In a few +months, I hope all will be completed. But what may these few months +produce? Lord Jesus, prepare us for whatsoever thou hast prepared +for us, and give peace in our time, for thine infinite mercy's sake. +You must expect another draft soon. God be praised for that saying, +'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' You would be pleased +to see with what attention the people hear the word preached. I have +been in Charleston near a fortnight--am to preach at a neighboring +country parish church next Sunday, and hope to see Georgia the week +following. Perhaps I may sail from thence to the northward, and +perhaps embark from thence. Lord Jesus, direct my goings in thy way. +I am blessed with bodily health, and am enabled to go on my way +rejoicing. Grace, grace!" + +On returning to Bethesda, his heart seems to have been full of the +orphan-house and the college. For the direction of the latter, he +prepared a series of rules, and especially provided for the reading +of the old Puritan and Non-conformist writers of the seventeenth and +eighteenth centuries. Every letter he wrote contained references +to the improved state of his health, and the increased number of +preaching engagements which he was now able to fulfil. His spirits +seem to have been better, and his exultations in the divine kindness +more ardent than ever, while his correspondence indicates much +heavenly-mindedness, and lively desires for the highest happiness of +his friends. + +As Whitefield had now been in the south more than five months, we +are not surprised to find that applications poured in from every +part of the north, entreating him to revisit the scenes of other +years. He left Bethesda and its affairs in the hands of persons +worthy of his confidence, of whom he said, "Such a set of helpers I +never met with." + +After some hesitation as to where he should first go, he set out +for Philadelphia, where he arrived on the 6th of May. Writing three +days afterwards, he says, "The evening following, I was enabled to +preach to a large auditory, and have to repeat the delightful task +this evening. Pulpits, hearts, and affections, seem to be as open +and enlarged to me as ever." On the 24th he again wrote, "A wide +and effectual door, I trust, has been opened in this city. People +of all ranks flock as much as ever. Impressions are made on many, +and I trust they will abide. To all the Episcopal churches, as +well as most of the other places of worship, I have free access. +Notwithstanding I preach twice on the Lord's day, and three or four +times a week besides, yet I am rather better than I have been for +many years. This is the Lord's doing." On June 14, he says, "This +leaves me just returned from a one hundred and fifty miles' circuit, +in which, blessed be God, I have been enabled to preach every day. +So many new as well as old doors are open, and so many invitations +sent from various quarters, that I know not which way to turn +myself." + +Of his last visit to New Jersey, Bishop White of Philadelphia, then +a young man of twenty-three, says, "When he was on his way from +Philadelphia to Boston, late in the summer, he had been prevailed on +to promise to cross from Bristol to Burlington, and to preach there. +I happened to be in the latter place, and staying in the house of a +relative, when it was announced that Mr. Whitefield was at a tavern +on the other side of the river. He was expected to be escorted by +my relative. I went with him; and we returned in a boat with Mr. +Whitefield and his company. He preached to the assembled citizens in +front of the court-house, and afterwards dined at the house of my +relative. During dinner, he was almost the only speaker, as was said +to be common; all present being disposed to listen." + +A few days after this visit, we find him at New York, writing, June +30, "I have been here just a week. Have been enabled to preach +four times; and am to repeat the delightful task this evening. +Congregations are larger than ever. Blessed be God, I have been +strengthened to itinerate and preach daily for some time. Next +week I purpose to go to Albany; from thence, perhaps to the Oneida +Indians. There is to be a very large Indian congress; Mr. Kirkland +accompanies me. He is a truly Christian minister and missionary. +Every thing possible should be done to strengthen his hands and his +heart. Perhaps I may not see Georgia till Christmas. As yet, I keep +to my intended plan, in respect to my returning. Lord Jesus, direct +my goings in thy way. The heat begins now to be a little intense; +but through mercy I am enabled to bear up bravely. What a God do we +serve!" + +On the twenty-ninth of July, he again writes from the same city, and +it is the _last entry_ in his memorandum: "Since my last, and during +this month, I have been above a five hundred miles' circuit; and +have been enabled to preach and travel through the heat every day. +The congregations have been very large, attentive, and affected; +particularly at Albany, Schenectady, Great Barrington, Norfolk, +Salisbury, Sharon, Smithfield, Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, New Rumbart, +New Windsor, and Peck's Hill. Last night I returned hither, and +hope to set out for Boston in two or three days. O what a new scene +of usefulness is opening in various parts of this world! All fresh +work where I have been. The divine influence has been as at first. +Invitations crowd upon me both from ministers and people, from many, +many quarters. A very peculiar providence led me very lately to a +place where a horse-stealer was executed. Thousands attended. The +poor criminal had sent me several letters, hearing I was in the +country. The sheriff allowed him to come and hear a sermon under +an adjacent tree. Solemn, solemn! After being by himself about an +hour, I walked half a mile with him to the gallows. His heart had +been softened before my first visit. He seemed full of solid, divine +consolation. An instructive walk! I went up with him into the cart. +He gave a short exhortation. I then stood upon the coffin--added, +I trust, a word in season--prayed--gave the blessing, and took +my leave. Effectual good, I hope, was done to the hearers and +spectators. Grace, grace!" + +Our local histories seem to delight to honor Whitefield by the +introduction of his name whenever they have an opportunity. +In a notice of Sharon, in "Barber's Historical Collections of +Connecticut," the writer says, "In the latter part of July, 1770, +the Rev. George Whitefield passed through this town on a preaching +tour. There was considerable opposition to his being admitted into +the meeting-house, and arrangements had been made to hold the +service in an orchard still standing near the meeting-house, in case +he should be refused. Mr. Smith, [the Rev. Cotton Mather Smith, a +descendant of Cotton Mather,] invited him into the pulpit, though +strongly opposed by a considerable number of influential men. An +immense congregation from this and the neighboring towns filled the +meeting-house to overflowing. His text was, 'Marvel not that I said +unto you, Ye must be born again.' He proceeded to discourse on the +doctrine of the new birth with astonishing power and eloquence, +and the congregation were much moved by the power of the truth +and Spirit of God. The concluding words of his discourse were a +quotation, with a little variation, from the close of the fourth +chapter of Solomon's Song. 'Awake, O north wind, and come, thou +south; blow upon _this_ garden, that the spices thereof may flow +out. Let my Beloved come into _this_ garden, and eat his pleasant +fruits.' Many of the inhabitants of Sharon followed him for several +successive days, to hear the word of life from this devoted minister +of the cross." + +We think it must have been in this journey that Whitefield's +ministry was blessed to the conversion of a young man who has left +his mark on the age. Benjamin Randall was born in New Castle, +New Hampshire, in 1749. In his twenty-second year he was brought +under the ministry of Whitefield, by which means he became deeply +convinced of sin, and was soon after converted to God. In 1776, +he united with a Calvinistic Baptist church; but before long +began to preach what he accounted more correct doctrines in his +native town, and was honored of God to effect a very powerful and +extensive revival. He is considered the founder of the denomination +of Freewill Baptists, which now comprises from eleven to twelve +hundred churches, more than a thousand pastors and licentiates, and +upwards of fifty thousand communicants. Mr. Randall was a man of +strong mental powers, and though he had not a classical education, +he was a good English scholar, aspired after general and religious +knowledge, had fine discriminating talent, and was remarkable for +the perseverance with which he pursued whatever he undertook. Above +all, like his spiritual father, he possessed what a living preacher +has well called, "a passion for souls." + +From New York Whitefield proceeded to Boston, and short extracts +from two of his letters, and those _the last_ he wrote, will show +his position and his feelings: + +September 17, he says to Mr. Wright, at Bethesda, "Fain would +I come by Captain Souder, from Philadelphia; but people are so +importunate for my stay in these parts, that I fear it will be +impracticable. 'My God will supply all my need according to the +riches of his grace in Christ Jesus.' Two or three evenings ago, I +was taken in the night with a violent flux, attended with retching +and shivering, so that I was obliged to return from Newbury; but +through infinite mercy I am restored, and to-morrow morning hope +to begin again. Never was the word received with greater eagerness +than now. All opposition seems, as it were, for a while to cease. I +find God's time is the best. The season is critical as to outward +circumstances; but when forts are given up, the Lord Jesus can +appoint salvation for walls and for bulwarks; he has promised to be +a wall of fire round about his people. This comforts me concerning +Bethesda, though we should have a Spanish war. You will be pleased +to hear, I never was carried through the summer's heat so well." + +And finally, to his dear friend Mr. Keen of London, he wrote from +Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 23, just one week before his +death, "By this time I thought to be moving southward. But never +was greater importunity used to detain me longer in these northern +parts. Poor New England is much to be pitied; Boston people most of +all. How grossly misrepresented! What a mercy that our Christian +charter cannot be dissolved! Blessed be God for an unchangeable +Jesus! You will see, by the many invitations, what a door is opened +for preaching the everlasting gospel. I was so ill on Friday that I +could not preach, though thousands were waiting to hear. Well, the +day of release will shortly come, but it does not seem yet; for by +riding sixty miles I am better, and hope to preach here to-morrow. +I trust my blessed Master will accept these poor efforts to serve +him. O for a warm heart! O to stand fast in the faith, to acquit +ourselves like men, and be strong! May this be the happy experience +of you and yours. I suppose your letters are gone for me in the +Anderson to Georgia. If spared so long, I expect to see them about +Christmas. Still pray and praise. I am so poorly, and so engaged +when able to preach, that this must apologize for not writing to +more friends: it is quite impracticable." + +Whitefield's hope to "preach here to-morrow" was fully realized. In +the "Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser," we find a letter +from Portsmouth, dated Sept. 28, 1770, which says, "Last Sunday +morning came to town from Boston, the Rev. George Whitefield, and +in the afternoon he preached at the Rev. Dr. Haven's meeting-house; +Monday morning he preached again at the same place, to a very large +and crowded audience. Tuesday morning a most numerous assembly met +at the Rev. Dr. Langdon's meeting-house, which it is said will hold +nearly six thousand people, and was well filled, even the aisles. +Evening he preached at the Rev. Mr. John Rodgers' meeting-house in +Kittery, and yesterday at the Rev. Mr. Lyman's in York, to which +place a number of ladies and gentlemen from town accompanied him. +This morning [Friday] he will preach at the Rev. Dr. Langdon's +meeting-house in this town." + +We are now approaching the closing scene, and are invited to hear +Whitefield's last sermon. On his way to Newburyport, where he had +engaged to preach on Sunday morning, September 30, he was entreated +to preach at Exeter. This had been the scene of some of his former +triumphs. He was once preaching here, when a man was present who had +loaded his pocket with stones to throw at the preacher. He heard +his prayer with patience, but as soon as he had read his text, the +man took a stone out of his pocket and held it in his hand, waiting +for an opportunity to throw it. But God sent a word to his heart, +and the stone dropped from his hand. After the sermon, the poor +fellow went to Mr. Whitefield, and said, "Sir, I came here to-day +with the intention of breaking your head, but God has given me a +broken heart." This man was converted to God, and lived an ornament +to the gospel. + +As though it had been felt by the public that this might be our +preacher's last sermon, inconvenient as Saturday noon must be for +the assembling of a congregation for worship, such a multitude was +collected that no house could contain them, and Whitefield, for +nearly two hours, discoursed to an attentive crowd in the open air. +Of this last sermon at Exeter, a gentleman who was present has given +a deeply interesting and affecting account. The relator was then in +his eighty-sixth year, but he retained a strong remembrance of the +most trivial incidents connected with that extraordinary man. He +says: + +"It was usual for Mr. Whitefield to be attended by Mr. Smith, +who preached when he was unable on account of sudden attacks of +asthma. At the time referred to, after Mr. Smith had delivered a +short discourse, Mr. Whitefield seemed desirous of speaking; but +from the weak state in which he then was, it was thought almost +impossible. He rose from the seat in the pulpit, and stood erect, +and his appearance alone was a powerful sermon. The thinness of his +visage, the paleness of his countenance, the evident struggling of +the heavenly spark in a decayed body for utterance, were all deeply +interesting; the spirit was willing, but the flesh was dying. In +this situation he remained several minutes, unable to speak; he +then said, 'I will wait for the gracious assistance of God, for +he will, I am certain, assist me once more to speak in his name.' +He then delivered perhaps one of his best sermons, for the light +generally burns most splendidly when about to expire. The subject +was a contrast of the present with the future; a part of this sermon +I read to a popular and learned clergyman in New York, who could +not refrain from weeping when I repeated the following: 'I go, I go +to rest prepared; my sun has arisen, and by aid from heaven, given +light to many; 't is now about to set for--no, it cannot be! 't is +to rise to the zenith of immortal glory; I have outlived many on +earth, but they cannot outlive me in heaven. Many shall live when +this body is no more, but then--Oh, thought divine!--I shall be in a +world where time, age, pain, and sorrow are unknown. My body fails, +my spirit expands; how willingly would I live for ever to preach +Christ! but I die to be with him. How brief, comparatively brief, +has been my life, compared with the vast labors I see before me yet +to be accomplished; but if I leave now, while so few care about +heavenly things, the God of peace will surely visit you.' These, +and many other things he said, which, though simple, were rendered +important by circumstances; for death had let fly his arrow, and +the shaft was deeply enfixed when utterance was given to them: his +countenance, his tremulous voice, his debilitated frame, all gave +convincing evidence that the eye which saw him should shortly see +him no more for ever. When I visited the place where he is entombed, +Newburyport, I could not help saying, 'The memory of the just is +blessed,' Few are there like George Whitefield; however zealous, +they do not possess the masterly power, and those who do, too often +turn it to a purpose that does not glorify God." + +We have already spoken of the Rev. Daniel Rodgers, a descendant of +the martyr of that name, and pastor of the second congregational +church at Exeter. It was this old friend of Whitefield who had +importuned him to preach at Exeter. The "_Almanack Journal_" of +this excellent man contains the following items of the activity of +our "eloquent orator" in his closing days: "September 10, 1770, +dear Mr. Whitefield preached here, A. M., ten o'clock. 11th, Mr. +Whitefield preached again in Mr. Parsons' meeting-house. 12th, I +rode over to Rowley, Mr. Whitefield preached there. 14th, a storm +of rain. 15th, the rain continues. Mr. Whitefield went to Boston, +not well. 25th, I heard dear Mr. Whitefield preach. 26th, he went to +Kittery, and preached for brother John; P. M. I rode to York. 27th, +Mr. Whitefield preached at York; P. M. we returned to Portsmouth. +28th, Mr. Whitefield preached his farewell sermon; I returned home. +29th, dear Mr. Whitefield preached for me the last sermon he ever +preached." + +Mr. Smith's account of the closing scene will not be considered too +minute in its details. "Before he commenced his journey of fifteen +miles from Portsmouth to Exeter, Mr. Clarkson, senior, observing +him more uneasy than usual, said to him, 'Sir, you are more fit to +go to bed than to preach.' Whitefield's reply was, 'True, sir;' but +turning aside, he clasped his hands together, and looking up, said, +'Lord Jesus, I am weary _in_ thy work, but not _of_ thy work. If I +have not yet finished my course, let me go and speak for thee once +more in the fields, seal thy truth, and come home and die.' His last +sermon was from 2 Cor. 13:5, 'Examine yourselves, whether ye be in +the faith. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in +you, except ye be reprobates?' He dined at Captain Gillman's. After +dinner, Mr. Whitefield and Mr. Parsons rode to Newbury. I did not +get there till two hours after them. I found them at supper. I asked +Mr. Whitefield how he felt after his journey. He said he was tired, +therefore he supped early, and went to bed. He ate a very little +supper, talked but little, asked Mr. Parsons to discharge the table, +and perform family duty, and then retired up stairs." + +The Rev. Dr. Hallock tells us, that, in 1822, he visited Newburyport +and the tomb of Whitefield. He was then told by persons whom he +considered reliable, that when Whitefield was retiring to his +chamber on this last evening of his life, many were so desirous to +see and hear him, that he stood on the stairs with a lamp in his +hand, and there gave them a tender spiritual address. + +We resume Mr. Smith's account: "He said he would sit and read till I +came to him, which I did as soon as possible; and found him reading +the Bible, with Dr. Watts' Psalms lying open before him. He asked +me for some water-gruel, and took about half his usual quantity; and +kneeling down by his bedside, closed the evening with prayer. After +a little conversation, he went to rest, and slept till two in the +morning, when he awoke, and asked for a little cider; he drank about +a wine-glass full. I asked him how he felt, for he seemed to pant +for breath. He said to me, 'My asthma is coming on again; I must +have two or three days' rest. Two or three days' riding, without +preaching, would set me up again.' Soon afterwards, he asked me to +put the window up a little higher, though it was half up all night. +'For,' said he, 'I cannot breathe; but I hope I shall be better by +and by: a good pulpit sweat to-day may give me relief; I shall be +better after preaching.' I said to him, 'I wish you would not preach +so often.' He replied, 'I had rather wear out than rust out.' I then +told him, I was afraid he took cold in preaching yesterday. He said +he believed he had; and then sat up in bed, and prayed that God +would be pleased to bless his preaching where he had been, and also +bless his preaching that day, that more souls might be brought to +Christ. He prayed for direction whether he should winter in Boston, +or hasten to the southward; and he prayed for a blessing on his +Bethesda college, and his dear family there, for the Tabernacle and +Chapel congregations, and all connections on the other side of the +water; and then he laid himself down to sleep again. + +"This was near three o'clock. At a quarter past four he awoke, +and said, 'My asthma, my asthma is coming on; I wish I had not +given out word to preach at Haverhill on Monday; I don't think I +shall be able; but I shall see what to-day will bring forth. If I +am no better to-morrow, I will take two or three days' ride!' He +then desired me to warm him a little gruel; and in breaking the +fire-wood, I waked Mr. Parsons, who thinking I knocked for him, rose +and came in. He went to Mr. Whitefield's bedside, and asked him +how he felt. He answered, 'I am almost suffocated. I can scarcely +breathe, my asthma quite chokes me.' I was then not a little +surprised to hear how quickly, and with what difficulty he drew his +breath. He got out of bed, and went to the open window for air. This +was exactly at five o'clock. I went to him, and for about the space +of five minutes saw no danger, only that he had a great difficulty +in breathing, as I had often seen before. Soon afterwards, he turned +himself to me, and said, '_I am dying_.' I said, 'I hope not, sir.' +He ran to the other window, panting for breath, but could get no +relief. It was agreed that I should go for Dr. Sawyer; and on my +coming back, I saw death on his face; and he again said, '_I am +dying_.' His eyes were fixed, his underlip drawing inward every time +he drew breath. I persuaded him to sit down in the chair, and have +his cloak on; he consented by a sign, but could not speak. I then +offered him a glass of warm wine; he took half of it, but it seemed +as if it would have stopped his breath entirely. He went towards +the window, and we offered him some warm wine, with lavender drops, +which he refused. + +"In a little time he brought up a considerable quantity of phlegm. +I then began to have some small hopes. Mr. Parsons said he thought +Mr. Whitefield breathed more freely than he did, and would recover. +I said, 'No, sir, he is certainly dying.' I was continually employed +in taking the phlegm out of his mouth with a handkerchief, and +bathing his temples with drops, rubbing his wrists, etc., to give +him relief, if possible, but all in vain; his hands and feet were +as cold as clay. When the doctor came in, and saw him in the chair +leaning upon my breast, he felt his pulse, and said, 'He is a dead +man.' Mr. Parsons said, 'I do not believe it; you must do something, +doctor.' He said, 'I cannot; he is now near his last breath.' And +so indeed it was; for he fetched but one gasp, and stretched out +his feet, and breathed no more. This was exactly at six o'clock. We +continued rubbing his legs, hands, and feet, with warm cloths, and +bathed him with spirits for some time, but all in vain. I then put +him into a warm bed, the doctor standing by, and often raised him +upright, continued rubbing him and putting spirits to his nose for +an hour, till all hopes were gone. The people came in crowds to see +him." + +Whitefield seems to have had somewhat of a presentiment that +his death would be unattended with any remarkable expression of +spiritual enjoyment. In his last preceding visit to this country, +he had spent a day or two under the roof of the Rev. Dr. Finley, +then president of the college at Princeton, New Jersey. One day Dr. +Finley said at the dinner-table, "Mr. Whitefield, I hope it will be +very long before you will be called home; but when that event shall +arrive, I shall be glad to hear the noble testimony you will bear +for God." Whitefield replied, "You would be disappointed, doctor; I +shall die silent. It has pleased God to enable me to bear so many +testimonies for him during my life, that he will require none from +me when I die. No, no. It is your dumb Christians, who have walked +in fear and darkness, and thereby been unable to bear a testimony +for God during their lives, that he compels to speak out for him on +their death-beds." + +We resume Mr. Smith's narrative: "The Rev. Mr. Parsons, at whose +house my dear master died, sent for Captain Fetcomb, and Mr. +Boadman, and others of his elders and deacons, and they took the +whole of the burial upon themselves, prepared the vault, and sent +and invited the bearers. Many ministers of all persuasions came to +the house of the Rev. Mr. Parsons, where several of them gave a very +particular account of their first awakenings under his ministry +several years ago, and also of many in their congregations that, +to their knowledge, under God, owed their conversion to his coming +among them, often referring to the blessed seasons they had enjoyed +under his preaching; and all said, that this last visit was attended +with more power than any other, and that all opposition fell +before him. Then one and another would pity and pray for his dear +Tabernacle and Chapel congregations, and it was truly affecting to +hear them bemoan America and England's loss. Thus they continued for +two hours, conversing about his great usefulness, and praying that +God would scatter his gifts, and drop his mantle among them." + +Dr. Gillies says, "Early next morning, Mr. Sherburn of Portsmouth +sent Mr. Clarkson and Dr. Haven with a message to Mr. Parsons, +desiring that Mr. Whitefield's remains might be buried in his own +new tomb, at his own expense; and in the evening several gentlemen +from Boston came to Mr. Parsons, desiring the body might be carried +there. But as Mr. Whitefield had repeatedly desired to be buried +before Mr. Parsons' pulpit, if he died at Newburyport, Mr. Parsons +thought himself obliged to deny both these requests." + +Mr. Parsons, in a note to his funeral sermon, says, "At one o'clock +all the bells in the town were tolled for half an hour, and all the +vessels in the harbor gave their proper signals of mourning. At two +o'clock the bells tolled a second time. At three the bells called +to attend the funeral. The Rev. Dr. Haven of Portsmouth, and the +Rev. Messrs. Rodgers of Exeter, Jewet and Chandler of Rowley, Moses +Parsons of Newbury, and Bass of Newburyport, were pall-bearers. +Mr. Parsons and his family, with many other respectable persons, +followed the corpse in mourning." + +"The procession," says Mr. Smith, "was only one mile, and then the +corpse was carried into the Presbyterian church, and placed at the +foot of the pulpit, close to the vault; the Rev. Daniel Rodgers made +a very affecting prayer, and openly declared, that, under God, he +owed his conversion to that dear man of God whose precious remains +now lay before them. Then he cried out, 'O my father, my father!' +then stopped and wept as though his heart would break; the people +weeping all through the place. Then he recovered, and finished his +prayer, and sat down and wept. Then one of the deacons gave out the +hymn, + + "'Why do we mourn departing friends?' + +some of the people weeping, some singing, and so on alternately. +The Rev. Mr. Jewet preached a funeral discourse; and made an +affectionate address to his brethren, to lay to heart the death of +that useful man of God, begging that he and they might be upon their +watchtower, and endeavor to follow his blessed example. The corpse +was then put into the vault, and all concluded with a short prayer, +and dismission of the people, who went weeping through the streets +to their respective places of abode." + +The Rev. Mr. Rodgers, from whose "Almanack Journal" we have quoted, +records that the vast assembly at the funeral consisted of "four, +since thought five thousand people," and adds, Oct. 7, "I preached +from those words in the first Philippians, 'Having a desire to +depart and be with Christ,' etc. I spoke extempore, somewhat +largely, of dear Mr. Whitefield's character." + +The late venerable Mr. Bartlet of Newburyport, some years ago, +erected a monument to the memory of Whitefield in the church beneath +which his remains are interred. The cenotaph was executed by Mr. +Struthers of Philadelphia, after a design of Strickland, and the +inscription which follows was written by the late Rev. Dr. Ebenezer +Porter, of the Theological seminary at Andover. + + + THIS CENOTAPH + + is ERECTED, WITH AFFECTIONATE VENERATION, + + To the Memory + + OF + + THE REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, + + BORN AT GLOUCESTER, ENGLAND, DECEMBER 16, 1714; + EDUCATED AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY; ORDAINED 1736. + IN A MINISTRY OF THIRTY-FOUR YEARS, + HE CROSSED THE ATLANTIC THIRTEEN TIMES, + AND PREACHED MORE THAN EIGHTEEN THOUSAND SERMONS. + AS A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS, HUMBLE, DEVOUT, ARDENT, + HE PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD: + PREFERRING THE HONOR OF CHRIST TO HIS OWN INTEREST, REPOSE, + REPUTATION, AND LIFE. + AS A CHRISTIAN ORATOR, HIS DEEP PIETY, DISINTERESTED ZEAL, + AND VIVID IMAGINATION, + GAVE UNEXAMPLED ENERGY TO HIS LOOK, UTTERANCE, AND ACTION. + BOLD, FERVENT, PUNGENT, AND POPULAR IN HIS ELOQUENCE, + NO OTHER UNINSPIRED MAN EVER PREACHED TO SO LARGE ASSEMBLIES, + OR ENFORCED THE SIMPLE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL BY MOTIVES + SO PERSUASIVE AND AWFUL, AND WITH AN INFLUENCE SO POWERFUL, + ON THE HEARTS OF HIS HEARERS. + HE DIED OF ASTHMA, SEPTEMBER 30, 1770. + SUDDENLY EXCHANGING HIS LIFE OF UNPARALLELED LABORS + FOR HIS ETERNAL REST. + +[Illustration: OLD SOUTH CHURCH, BOSTON.] + +[Illustration: MONUMENT] + +[Illustration: OLD SOUTH, AT NEWBURYPORT] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TESTIMONIES AND FACTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF WHITEFIELD'S CHARACTER. + + +"Last evening," says a letter from Boston, October 1, 1770, to the +"Pennsylvania Journal," "we were informed by a melancholy messenger +from Newburyport, that yesterday morning about six o'clock, at +that place, the renowned and Rev. George Whitefield, chaplain to +the Right Hon. the Countess of Huntingdon, etc., was, by a sudden +mandate, summoned to the bosom of his Saviour. He had been preaching +in divers parts of this province since his arrival from the +southward, with his usual diligence and energy; was now from a tour +to the province of New Hampshire on his return to this town, but +being seized with a violent fit of the asthma, was in a short space +translated from the labors of this life to the enjoyment of a better. + +"Of this truly pious and very extraordinary personage, little can +be said but what every friend to vital Christianity who has sat +under his ministry will readily attest. In his public performances +throughout Europe and British America, he has, for a long course of +years, astonished the world as a prodigy of eloquence and devotion. +With what frequency and cheerfulness did he ascend the desk, the +language of his actions being ever, 'Wist ye not that I must be +about my Master's business?' With what divine pathos did he plead +with, and persuade by the most engaging incitements, the impenitent +sinner to the practice of piety and virtue. Filled with the spirit +of grace, he spoke from the heart; and with a fervency of zeal +perhaps unequalled since the apostles, ornamented the celestial +annunciations of the preacher with the graceful and most enticing +charms of rhetoric and oratory. From the pulpit he was unrivalled +in the command of an ever-crowded and admiring auditory; nor was +he less entertaining and instructive in his private conversation +and deportment. Happy in a remarkable ease of address, willing to +communicate, studious to edify, and formed to amuse--such, in more +retired life, was he whom we lament. And while a peculiar pleasantry +enlivened and rendered his company agreeable, his conversation was +ever marked with the greatest objects of his pursuit--virtue and +religion. It were to be wished that the good impressions of his +ministry may be long retained; and that the rising generation, like +their pious ancestors, may catch a spark of that ethereal flame +which burnt with such lustre in the sentiments and practice of this +faithful servant of the most high God." + +Another contemporaneous article says, "Dr. Cooper of Brattle-street, +called an enthusiast by none, won early to serious religion by his +[Whitefield's] instrumentality, delivered a sermon upon his death, +in which he pronounced a strong eulogy in favor of his holy and +successful activity in the cause of vital and practical religion +through the English dominions. Pews, aisles, and seats were so +crowded, and heads and shoulders were in such close phalanx, that it +looked as though a man might walk everywhere upon the upper surface +of the assembly, without finding an opening for descending to the +floor." + +When the news of Mr. Whitefield's death reached Georgia, its +inhabitants vied with each other in showing him the highest respect. +All the black cloth in the stores was bought up; the pulpit and +desk of the church, the branches, the organ-loft, and the pews of +the governor and council were covered with black. The governor and +council in deep mourning convened at the state-house, and went in +procession to church, where they were received by the organ playing +a funeral dirge. Two funeral sermons were there listened to by the +authorities. In the Legislature high eulogiums were pronounced +on the admirable preacher, and a sum of money was unanimously +appropriated for removing his remains to Georgia, to be interred +at his orphan-house; but the inhabitants of Newburyport strongly +objected, and the design was relinquished. Forty-five years later +when a new county was formed in Georgia, it received the name of +Whitefield in commemoration of his worth and useful services. + +In a letter from Dr. Franklin to a gentleman in Georgia, he says, +"I cannot forbear expressing the pleasure it gives me to see +an account of the respect paid to his memory by your assembly. +I knew him intimately upwards of thirty years; his integrity, +disinterestedness, and indefatigable zeal in prosecuting every good +work, I have never seen equalled, I shall never see excelled." + +Of course it would be expected that the sermons at Savannah would +be of great interest. Such a discourse was delivered by the Rev. +Mr. Ellington, who very truly said, "Whitefield's longing desires +for the salvation of immortal souls would not admit of his being +confined within the limits of any walls. How he has preached, with +showers of stones, and many other instruments of malice and revenge +about his ears, many of his surviving friends can witness. But +having the salvation of sinners at heart, and a great desire to +rescue them from the power of an eternal death, he resolved to spend +and be spent for the service of precious and immortal souls; and +spared no pains and refused no labor, so that he might administer +to their real and eternal good. He died like a hero on the field +of battle. Thousands in England, Scotland, and America have great +reason to bless God for his ministrations." + +Who shall attempt to describe the feelings of the congregations +at the Tabernacle and Tottenham Court chapels, when the news of +their pastor's death first reached them? All were indeed clothed in +mourning. By Whitefield's own previous appointment, the Rev. John +Wesley preached the funeral sermon at Tottenham Court-road chapel. +The preacher bore this testimony: "In his public labors he has for +many years astonished the world with his eloquence and devotion. +With what divine pathos did he persuade the impenitent sinner to +embrace the practice of early piety and virtue. Filled with the +spirit of grace, he spoke from the heart with a fervency of zeal +perhaps unequalled since the days of the apostles; and adorned +the truths he delivered with the most graceful charms of rhetoric +and oratory. From the pulpit he was unrivalled in the command of +an ever-crowded auditory. It was the love of God shed abroad in +his heart by the Holy Ghost which filled his soul with tender, +disinterested love to every child of man.... Mention has been +already made of his unparalleled zeal, his indefatigable activity, +his tender-heartedness to the afflicted, and charitableness towards +the poor. But should we not likewise mention his deep gratitude to +all whom God had used as instruments of good to him? of whom he did +not cease to speak in the most respectful manner, even to his dying +day. Should we not mention that he had a heart susceptible of the +most generous and the most tender friendship? I have frequently +thought that this, of all others, was the distinguishing part of +his character. How few have we known of so kind a temper, of such +large and flowing affections! Was it not principally by this that +the hearts of others were so strongly drawn and knit to him? Can +any thing but love beget love? This shone in his very countenance, +and continually breathed in all his words, whether in public or +private. Was it not this which, quick and penetrating as lightning, +flew from heart to heart; which gave that life to his sermons, his +conversation, his letters? Ye are witnesses." + +The Rev. John Newton preached a funeral sermon at Olney, where +he was then settled, from the highly appropriate text, "He was a +burning and a shining light," John 5:35, in which he thus speaks +of Whitefield: "Some ministers are burning and shining lights +in a peculiar and eminent degree. Such a one, I doubt not, was +the servant of God whose death we now lament. I have had some +opportunities of looking over the history of the church in past +ages; I am not backward to say, that I have not read or heard +of any person, since the apostles' days, of whom it may be more +emphatically said, 'He was a burning and a shining light,' than the +late Mr. Whitefield; whether we consider the warmth of his zeal, the +greatness of his ministerial talents, or the extensive usefulness +with which the Lord honored him. I do not mean to praise the man, +but the Lord who furnished him, and made him what he was. He was +raised up to shine in a dark place. The state of religion when he +first appeared in public, was very low in our established church. +I speak the truth, though to some it may be an offensive truth. +The doctrines of grace were seldom heard from the pulpit, and the +life and power of godliness were little known. Many of the most +spiritual among the dissenters, were mourning under a sense of a +great spreading declension on their side. What a change has taken +place throughout the land within a little more than thirty years; +that is, since the time when the first set of despised ministers +came to Oxford! And how much of this change has been owing to God's +blessing on Mr. Whitefield's labors, is well known to many who have +lived through this period, and can hardly be denied by those who are +least willing to allow it.... His zeal was not like wildfire, but +directed by sound principles, and a sound judgment.... The Lord gave +him a manner of preaching which was peculiarly his own. He copied +from none, and I never met with any one who could imitate him with +success." + +With regret we tear ourselves away from Romaine and Toplady, from +Pemberton and Parsons, and from a multitude of others who bore +testimonies like those we have given, but which would exceed the +limits of our narrative. + +Mr. Newton, after his removal to London, once breakfasting with +a company of noblemen and gentlemen, was asked if he knew Mr. +Whitefield. He answered in the affirmative, and remarked, that as a +preacher Mr. Whitefield far exceeded every other man of his time. +Mr. Newton added, "I bless God that I lived in his time: many were +the winter mornings I rose at four o'clock to attend his Tabernacle +discourses at five; and I have seen Moorfields as full of lanterns +at these times, as I suppose the Hay market is full of flambeaux +on an opera night." As a proof of the power of Mr. Whitefield's +preaching, Mr. Newton said, that a military officer at Glasgow, who +had heard him preach, laid a wager with another, that at a certain +charity sermon, though he went with prejudice, he would be compelled +to give something. The other, to make sure that he would not, laid +aside all the money out of his pockets; but before he left the +church, he was glad to borrow some, and lose his bet. Mr. Newton +mentioned as another striking illustration of Mr. Whitefield's +persuasive oratory, his collecting after one sermon £600, or about +$3,000, for the inhabitants of an obscure village in Germany, that +had been burned down. After this sermon, Whitefield said, "We shall +sing a hymn, during which those who do not choose to give their +mite on this awful occasion, may sneak off." Not one moved; he came +down from the pulpit, ordered all the doors to be shut but one, at +which he held the plate himself, and collected the large sum we have +named. Mr. Newton farther stated what he knew to be a fact, that at +the time of Whitefield's greatest persecution, when obliged to speak +in the streets, in one week he received not fewer than a thousand +letters from persons distressed in their consciences by the energy +of his preaching. + +A gentleman of title in England was one day examining some works +of the distinguished sculptor, John Bacon. Among them he observed +a bust of Mr. Whitefield, which led him to remark, "After all that +has been said, this was truly a great man; he was the founder of a +new religion." Mr. Bacon replied, "A new religion, sir?" "Yes," said +the baronet; "what do you call it?" "Nothing," was the reply, "but +the old religion revived with new energy, and treated as though the +preacher meant what he said." + +Several interesting narratives have been given of visits to the tomb +of Whitefield, which show the preciousness of his memory. + +In 1834, the Rev. Andrew Reed, D. D., of London, and the late +Rev. James Matheson, D. D., of Durham, visited this country as a +deputation to its churches from the Congregational Union of England +and Wales. In describing their visit to Newburyport, Dr. Reed says, +"We had a conference with the pastors here, and afterwards went +to the church which is enriched with the remains of Whitefield. +The elders of the church were present in the porch to receive us. +We descended to the vault. There were three coffins before us. +Two pastors of the church lay on either side, and the remains of +Whitefield in the centre. The cover was slipt aside, and they lay +beneath my eye. I had before stood in his pulpits; seen his books, +his rings, and chairs; but never before had I looked on part of his +very self. The skull, which is perfect, clean, and fair, I received, +as is the custom, into my hand. I could say nothing; but thought +and feeling were busy. On returning to the church, I proposed an +exercise of worship. We collected over the grave of the eloquent, +the devoted, and seraphic man, and gave expression to the sentiments +that possessed us, by solemn psalmody and fervent prayer. It was not +an ordinary service to any of us." + +In the year 1835, a similar deputation visited this country from +the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland. It consisted of +the late Rev. F. A. Cox, D. D., of London, and the Rev. James +Hoby, D. D., then of Birmingham. They also visited the tomb of our +never-to-be-forgotten evangelist. We give a few sentences from their +report: "We made an excursion to Newburyport, thirty-nine miles from +Boston, to see the tomb of Whitefield. On our arrival, we hastened +to the depository of the precious remains of that eminent servant +of God.... We descended with some difficulty into the subterraneous +vault, which is immediately behind the pulpit, in a small chamber +like a vestry, external to the body of the church. Deep expectant +emotions thrilled through our bosoms, while a kind of trap-door was +opened, and we descended beneath the floor to another door, which +stood perpendicularly, by which we entered, or rather crept, into +the awful and silent sepulchre. There were three coffins placed +in parallel lines; two of them containing the mortal part of Mr. +Parsons and Mr. Prince, pastors of the church. We instinctively +took our seats, the one on the one coffin, the other on the other, +with the coffin of Whitefield between, over which, when the upper +part of the lid was removed, to reveal the skeleton secrets of the +narrow prison-house, we bent in solemn stillness and awe. We gazed +on the fragments--we contemplated and handled the skull of that +great preacher of righteousness--we thought of his devoted life, +his blessed death, his high and happy destiny; and whispered our +adorations of the grace that formed him both for earth and heaven." + +The following lines were written by the departed and amiable William +B. Tappan, on visiting this spot in September, 1837. + + "And this was Whitefield!--this, the dust now blending + With kindred dust, that wrapt his soul of fire-- + Which, from the mantle freed, is still ascending + Through regions of far glory, holier, higher. + + Oh, as I gaze here with a solemn joy + And awful reverence, in which shares Decay, + Who, this fair frame reluctant to destroy, + Yields it not yet to doom which all obey-- + How follows thought his flight, at Love's command, + From hemisphere in sin, to hemisphere, + Warning uncounted multitudes with tears-- + Preaching the risen Christ on sea and land-- + And now those angel journeyings above! + Souls, his companions, saved by such unwearied love!" + +In December, 1845, one of the London daily papers, "The Sun," +contained a somewhat extended account of Whitefield in New England, +and especially his death, funeral, and tomb, from which we +borrow mementos that in both hemispheres may be interesting "for +generations to come." + +"I was spending Sunday at Old Ipswich, in the latter part of last +September, when by accident I fell in with an old inhabitant of +the town who had heard Whitefield preach there. He was a sort of +patriarch of the place, and as he sat on one of the stones which +surrounded the ancient orthodox meeting-house, his grey locks +streaming from beneath his queerly shaped hat, and attired in his +primly cut old-fashioned coat, he appeared no bad representative of +the departed Puritans who, in former days, had soberly and decently +obeyed the call of the Sabbath bell, and worshipped in the same +temple whose steeple now casts its shadow athwart the green sward +beneath.... As the bell of Old Ipswich church swung out that bright +Sabbath morning, it was a pretty sight to see the village people +coming from different points to the decaying old church, which +was situated, as most country churches in New England are, on a +hill-top. While I was enjoying the scene, the old man to whom I have +alluded, and who was sitting on a stone, accosted me, and asked me +if I was not a stranger 'in these parts.' On my informing him that I +was, he pointed out to me the 'lions' of the neighborhood, and wound +up by asking, 'I suppose, sir, you've heard of Whitefield?' + +"'Of Whitefield? to be sure I have.' + +"'Well, I've seen Whitefield, George Whitefield stood on this very +stone,' (dropping his stick feebly from his shaking hands,) 'and I +heard him preach here.' + +"'And do you remember any thing about him?' I asked. + +"'Well, I guess I do. I was but a bit of a boy then; but here he +stood on this stone, looking like a flying angel, and we call this +Whitefield's pulpit to this day.... There was folks here from all +parts to hear him; so he was obliged to preach outside, for the +church wasn't half big enough for 'em, and no two ways about it. +I've heard many parsons sin' that time, but none on 'em could come +nigh him, any how they could fix it.' + +"'Do you remember any thing of his sermons?' I inquired. + +"'Oh, I was too young to notice aught, sir, but the preacher hisself +and the crowds of people, but I know he had a very sweet voice; +and as I said, when he spread his arms out, with a little Bible in +his hand, he looked like a flying angel. There never were so many +people, afore nor since, in Old Ipswich. I suppose, sir, you'll be +going to see his bones? He was buried at Newburyport, and you can +see 'em if you like.' + +"I made up my mind that I would see them, if possible. On the +following day, I went over to Newburyport by railroad, and proceeded +first to the house in which Whitefield died. It was at the time the +residence of the Rev. Jonathan Parsons, the first regular pastor of +the Presbyterian Society in the town. It is a plain unpretending +structure, possessing no other claims to attention than its being +the spot where the last scene of Whitefield's career was enacted. +I knocked, and asked of a lady who answered my summons, if I might +be allowed to see the room in which Mr. Whitefield died. She very +courteously showed me up a flight of stairs into a chamber, which, +she said, Mr. Whitefield used to sleep in. 'Here is the place he +died in,' said the lady, as she showed me a little entry just +outside the door of the chamber, directly over the entrance to the +house. 'He lay the night before he died,' said the lady, 'in that +bed-chamber; and when he was struck with death, he ran out to this +entry window for breath, and died while sitting in a chair opposite +to it.' + +"The Federal-street church, where Whitefield was buried, was but a +short distance from the house in which he died, and on my way to +it I called on the sexton.... He preceded me through the aisle of +the church, and opening a little narrow door by the side of the +pulpit, we passed into a dim gloomy room behind it, and from thence +descending four or five steps, found ourselves in a brick vault +which lay directly under the pulpit. It was two or three minutes +before my eyes got accustomed to the gloom; but soon objects became +discernible, and I saw three old coffins, two of them serving as +supporters to the third, which lay across them.... The sexton +trimmed his lamp, then lifted the lid of an old coffin, and holding +the flame close to it, said, 'Here, look in, ... THAT'S THE MAN.' + +"Yes, there lay the man, or at least, all that remains of the once +mighty preacher. A strange awe came over me at his words, '_That's +the man._' I took the skull in my hands, and examined it carefully. +The forehead was rather narrow than broad, and by no means high. I +soon put it back again to the coffin." + + * * * * * + +Among the more prominent traits in the character of Whitefield, +we may designate his _indifference to his own honor and ease_, of +which his narrative contains almost innumerable illustrations. In +the preparation of the deed of trust for his intended college, he +entirely omitted his own name, that the proposed trustees might +accept the office without suffering contempt for being connected +with him. It was not pretence which led him often to say, "Let the +name of George Whitefield perish, if God be glorified." On the +same principle of almost self-annihilation he acted in reference +to the accumulation of money. He secured nothing for himself. It +does not seem that what he left to his friends by his will was or +could be paid; what had been left him as legacies had been nearly +all expended, and would have been entirely, had he lived to return +to his beloved Bethesda. By his will he placed the institution in +the hands of Lady Huntingdon, who sent out ministers and other +persons to conduct it. But soon after this, the buildings were burnt +down. After the fire, came the Revolutionary war, which tended to +unsettle the tenure of property, and at the time of its close, the +whole plans, alike of the orphan-house and the college, were nearly +unknown. The authorities of Savannah, in accordance with the high +regard which they still entertained for Whitefield's memory, secured +whatever they could of the wreck, the proceeds of which they +invested in a school for the young, which yet flourishes. + +Perhaps no man was ever more thoroughly _fond of labor_. From a +memorandum in which Mr. Whitefield recorded the times and places +of his ministerial labors, it appears that from the period of his +ordination to that of his death, which was thirty-four years, +he preached upwards of _eighteen thousand sermons_. It would be +difficult to imagine how many thousand miles he travelled. When he +ascertained that his physical powers began to fail, putting himself +on what he called "short allowance," he preached _only once on every +week-day, and three times on the Sabbath_. In view of his various +journeyings in the slow and inconvenient modes of travelling then +in use, his thirteen voyages across the Atlantic, and all that he +accomplished, it appears that few men ever performed so much labor +within the same period. + +Nearly every one who has attempted a description of Whitefield has +said much of his _extraordinary voice_. It is known that Garrick was +heard to say that he would give a hundred guineas if he could say +"Oh!" as Whitefield did. The late Rev. Dr. Haweis, speaking of his +"wonderful voice," and of its sweetness and variety of tone, said he +believed on a serene evening it might be distinctly heard for nearly +a mile. Others have given similar evidence. + +The late Sir George Beaumont, no mean authority on such a subject, +thus familiarly speaks: "Oh yes; I heard that young gentleman this +morning allude to 'roaring Whitefield,' and was amused at his +mistake. It is a common one. Whitefield did not roar. I have been +his auditor more than once, and was delighted with him. Whitefield's +voice could be heard at an immense distance; but that was owing to +its fulness, roundness, and clearness. It was a perfectly sound +voice. It is an odd description, but I can hit upon no better; there +was neither crack nor flaw. To describe him as a bellowing, roaring +field preacher, is to describe a mountebank, not Whitefield. He had +powers of pathos of the highest order. The tender, soft, persuasive +tones of his voice were melodious in the extreme. And when he +desired to win, or persuade, or plead, or soothe, the gush of +feeling which his voice conveyed at once surprised and overpowered +you." + +Speaking on the authority of his tutor, the Rev. Cornelius Winter, +the late excellent Mr. Jay says that Whitefield's voice was +incomparable: not only distinct and loud, but abounding with every +kind of inflection, and perfectly under his power; so that he could +render every thing he expressed, however common or insignificant in +itself, striking and affecting. + +This distinguished man had a peculiar talent for making the +_narration of facts tell in the pulpit_. Nothing occurred among +even his own family connections, but he would make it contribute to +the edification of his auditors. One Lord's day morning, with his +usual fervor he exhorted his hearers to give up the use of means for +the spiritual good of their relatives and friends only with their +lives. He told them he had a brother, for whose spiritual welfare +he had very long used every possible means. He had warned him, and +prayed for him, but all apparently to no purpose, till a few weeks +previous; when that brother, to his astonishment and joy, came to +his house, and with many tears declared that he had come up from +the country to testify to him the great change which divine grace +had wrought in his heart, and to acknowledge with gratitude his +obligation to the man by whom God had wrought. Mr. Whitefield added, +that he had that morning received information, that on his brother's +return to Gloucestershire, where he resided, he dropped down dead as +he was getting out of a stagecoach. "Let us pray always," said he, +"for ourselves, and for those who are dear to us, and never faint." + +This habit of making every occurrence bear on his ministry, Mr. +Winter, who knew him more intimately, and has told us more of his +private life and conduct than any other man, tells us was "perfectly +in character with Mr. Whitefield. He turned every thing into gold; +he improved every thing for good. Passing occurrences determined +the matter of his sermons, and, in some degree, the manner of his +address. Thus, if he had read on astronomy in the course of the +week, you would be sure to discover it. He knew how to convert +the centripetal motion of the planets to the disposition of the +Christian towards Christ; and the fatal attraction of the world +was very properly represented by a reference to the centrifugal. +If he attended any extraordinary trial, he would avail himself of +the formality of the judge in pronouncing sentence. It would only +be by hearing him, and by beholding his attitude and tears, that a +person could well conceive the effect; for it was impossible but +that solemnity must surround him who, under God, became the means +of making all solemn." + +He sometimes made use of an incident of history in the reign of +Henry VIII. The apprentices of London appeared before that monarch, +pleading his pardon for their insurrections, manifesting intense +feeling on the matter, and praying for "mercy, mercy." "Take them +away, take them away," was the monarch's request, moved by the sight +and the cries of these youths, "I cannot bear it." The application, +as will be readily supposed, was, that if an earthly monarch of +Henry's character could be so moved, how prevalent must be the plea +of the sinner in the ears of infinite Love. + +The case of two Scotchmen in the convulsion of the state at the +time of Charles II. served him on more than one occasion. These +men, having to pass some of the troops, were thinking of their +danger, and meditating the best way of escape, when one of them +proposed wearing a skullcap; but the other, thinking that would +imply distrust of the providence of God, determined to proceed +bareheaded. The last was the first laid hold of, and being asked, +"Are you for the covenant?" replied, "Yes;" and being further asked, +"What covenant?" answered, "The covenant of grace;" by which reply, +eluding farther inquiry, he was allowed to pass; but the other, not +answering satisfactorily, received a blow from the sabre, which +penetrating through the cap, struck him dead. In the application, +Mr. Whitefield, warning against vain confidence, exclaimed, "Beware +of your skullcaps." + +An American clergyman has told us that he once related to Whitefield +an affecting occurrence, but did it with the ordinary brevity and +feeling of common conversation. Afterwards he heard Mr. Whitefield +preach, and tell this same story with such nature, pathos, and +power, that the clergyman found himself weeping like a child. It has +been well said, that he spoke with the tones of the soul; and that +his gestures were impelled by the same spontaneous magical influence +which made them, as well as his words, seem part of his soul. +Indeed, he threw his soul into every thing he did and said. + +It is said that Whitefield would sometimes rise in the sacred desk, +and for a minute or two looking in silence around his vast audience, +as if salvation or perdition teemed in every cast of his eye, would +burst into tears, while the swift contagion, before he uttered a +word, had reached every heart that could feel, and dimmed every eye +that could weep.[2] + + [2] The New York Evangelist, in 1830, made the remark, that + "Whitefield would have lost much of his oratorical influence on his + hearers, had his speaking eyes been covered with a pair of modern + spectacles." + +While his path to the sinner's heart was thus met with tears, he was +never without strength or aim. He struck everywhere. He swung his +glittering weapon, "the sword of the Spirit," in every direction, +the same whether he preached in the cushioned and carpeted pulpit to +lords, ladies, and gentlemen, or encountered a mob of stage-players +and merry-andrews in the open field. He insisted on instant, +visible, decisive action in his hearers. All was commotion where he +moved. The very earth would seem to be shaken with the thunder of +his eloquence; the heavens seemed, in the bold metaphor of Isaiah, +to "drop down from above, and the skies to pour down righteousness," +when he set the trumpet of the gospel to his lips, and made the +notes of salvation or perdition ring in the ears of dying men. Such +unwonted sounds startled the multitude into life, rousing energies +that were forthwith enlisted either for or against the mighty cause +which he advocated, with the boldness and fervor of one who had +received immediate commission from heaven. His sacred ambition was +content with nothing short of the conquest of thousands. + +It has been well said by a living American writer, that "Whitefield +was, in sacred eloquence, what Handel was in sacred music. There +was an air, a soul, and a _movement_ in his oratory, which created +indescribable emotion in his vast assemblies, and if Handel, with a +thousand auxiliary voices and instruments, astonished the multitude +in Westminster Abbey, even to raising them on their feet, by the +performance of his Messiah, Whitefield did greater wonders in his +single person by _preaching_ the Messiah to the immense crowds in +Tottenham Court-road and Moorfields." + +The same writer has said elsewhere, "The influence of Whitefield and +Edwards on theology and pulpit eloquence were immense. There was in +those two men indeed 'a diversity of gifts, but the same spirit,' +The intellect prevailed in Edwards, the impassioned in Whitefield. +Pure truth came forth from the mind of the one as nakedly +demonstrated as it ever was on the pages of Newton and Locke; for +Edwards, when but a child, read Locke with enthusiasm. From the +soul of Whitefield it came forth arrayed in the gorgeous robes of +his own many-colored imagination, baptized in the tenderness of his +own sympathetic spirit. At times, indeed, the thunders of Sinai +seemed to shake the sacred desk, but the softer music of the harp +of Zion was more congenial with his compassionate spirit, though he +was always bold for God, and braved danger in every form for the +salvation of sinners. It is not strange that American preachers +venerate, even to enthusiasm, the memory of such a man, and visit +his dust, enshrined as it is in the bosom of New England, with +feelings of indescribable interest. His labors were for us; his rest +is with us; his example is before us. The first were indefatigable; +the second is peaceful; the last is glorious." + +The Rev. Mr. Winter says, "I hardly ever knew him to go through +a sermon without weeping more or less;" and again, "It was only +by beholding his attitude and tears, that one could well conceive +of the effect." No doubt there was a connection between the tears +of Whitefield and his piety; but it must not be supposed that he +was always "the weeping prophet;" he could smile as well as weep. +A venerable lady in New York, known to some yet living, speaking +of the influence which first won her heart to God, said that "Mr. +Whitefield was so cheerful that it _tempted her to be a Christian_." + +Every thing about this distinguished man excited attention. His +voice, accompanied by his look from crossed eyes, and proceeding +from a man of his robust frame, produced wonderful effects. It +is said that when once preaching in a graveyard, two young men +conducted themselves improperly, when he fixed his eyes upon them, +and with a voice resembling thunder, said, "Come down, ye rebels." +They instantly fell, neither of them being inclined again to come +into contact with such a look, or to hear such a voice. + +He was once preaching to a vast crowd of people in southern +Pennsylvania, which was at that time ignorant and uncivilized. He +was incessantly disturbed by their noise, and twice reproved them +with great severity. At length he was so overcome by their noisy and +irreverent conduct, that he stopped short, dropped his head into his +hands, burst into a flood of tears, and exclaimed, "Oh, Lord God, I +am ashamed that these people are provoking thy wrath, and I dare not +reprove them a third time." Such was the effect of his conduct and +feeling, that his audience became perfectly quiet, and remained so +till the end of his discourse. + +We have before us two narratives of his preaching during very heavy +storms. Dr. Campbell, a successor of Whitefield in the _Tabernacle_ +in London, and whose ministry has been marked by much of the power +and success of his great predecessor, has given to the first of +these narratives the title of "_Thunder and Eloquence_." Before +he commenced his sermon on this occasion, long darkening columns +crowded the bright sunny sky of the morning, and swept their dull +shadows over the building, in fearful augury of the storm. + +His text was, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, +I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able." +"See," said he, pointing to a shadow that was flitting across the +floor--"see that emblem of human life. It passed for a moment, and +concealed the brightness of heaven from our view; but it is gone. +And where will ye be, my hearers, when your lives have passed away +like that dark cloud? Oh, my dear friends, I see thousands sitting +attentively, with their eyes fixed on the poor unworthy preacher. +In a few days, we shall all meet at the judgment-seat of Christ. +We shall form a part of that vast assembly that will gather before +the throne; and every eye will behold the Judge. With a voice whose +call you must abide and answer, he will inquire whether on earth you +strove to enter in at the strait gate; whether you were supremely +devoted to God; whether your hearts were absorbed in him. My blood +runs cold when I think how many of you will then seek to enter in, +and shall not be able. Oh, what plea can you make before the Judge +of the whole earth? Can you say it has been your whole endeavor to +mortify the flesh, with its affections and lusts--that your life has +been one long effort to do the will of God? No; you must answer, 'I +made myself easy in the world by flattering myself that all would +end well; but I have deceived my own soul, and am lost.' + +"You, O false, and hollow Christian, of what avail will it be that +you have done many things--that you have read much in the sacred +word--that you have made long prayers--that you have attended +religious duties, and that you have appeared holy in the eyes of +men? What will all this be, if, instead of loving Him supremely, +you have been supposing you should exalt yourself in heaven by acts +really polluted and unholy? + +"And you, rich men, wherefore do you hoard your silver? Wherefore +count the price you have received for Him whom you every day crucify +in your love of gain? Why--that when you are too poor to buy a +drop of cold water, your beloved son may be rolled to hell in his +chariot, pillowed and cushioned around him." + +The eye of the preacher gradually lighted up as he proceeded, till +towards the close it seemed to sparkle with celestial fire. With +his whole energy he exclaimed, "O sinners, by all your hopes of +happiness, I beseech you to repent. Let not the wrath of God be +awakened. Let not the fires of eternity be kindled against you. See +there!" pointing to the lightning, which played on the corner of the +pulpit, "it is a glance from the angry eye of Jehovah!" Raising his +finger in a listening attitude, as the distant thunder grew louder +and louder, and broke in one tremendous crash over the building, he +continued, "Hark! It was the voice of the Almighty as he passed by +in his anger!" As the sound died away, he covered his face with his +hands, and knelt beside his pulpit, apparently lost in inward and +intense prayer. The storm passed rapidly away, and the sun, beaming +forth in his might, threw across the heavens a magnificent arch of +peace. Rising, and pointing to the beautiful object, he exclaimed, +"Look upon the rainbow, and praise Him who made it. Very beautiful +it is in the brightness thereof. It compasseth the heavens about +with glory; and the hands of the Most High have bended it!" + +On another occasion, as Mr. Whitefield was preaching in Boston, on +the wonders of creation, providence, and redemption, a violent +storm of thunder and lightning came on. In the midst of the sermon +it attained to so alarming a height that the congregation sat in +almost breathless awe. The preacher closed his note-book, and +stepping into one of the wings of the desk, fell on his knees, and +with much feeling and fine taste repeated: + + "Hark, THE ETERNAL rends the sky! + A mighty voice before him goes-- + A voice of music to his friends, + But threatening thunder to his foes: + 'Come, children, to your Father's arms; + Hide in the chambers of my grace, + Till the fierce storm be overblown, + And my revenging fury cease--' + +"Let us devoutly sing to the praise and glory of God this hymn, Old +Hundred." + +The whole congregation instantly rose, and poured forth the sacred +song, in which they were accompanied by the organ, in a style of +simple grandeur and heartfelt devotion that was probably never +surpassed. By the time the hymn was finished the storm was hushed. +The remainder of the services were well adapted to sustain the +elevated feeling which had been produced; and the benediction with +which the good man dismissed the flock was universally received with +streaming eyes, and hearts overflowing with tenderness and gratitude. + +Another writer has thus described his appearance in the pulpit. +There was nothing in the appearance of this extraordinary man which +would lead you to suppose that a Felix would tremble before him. +He was something above the middle stature, well proportioned, and +remarkable for a native gracefulness of manner. His complexion +was very fair, his features regular, and his dark blue eyes small +and lively. In recovering from the measles he had contracted a +squint with one of them; but this peculiarity rather rendered the +expression of his countenance more remarkable, than in any degree +lessened the effect of its uncommon sweetness. His voice excelled +both in melody and compass; and its fine modulations were happily +accompanied by that grace of action which he possessed in an eminent +degree, and which has been said to be the chief requisite in an +orator. To see him when he first commenced, one would have thought +him any thing but enthusiastic and glowing; but as he proceeded, +his heart warmed with his subject, and his manner became impetuous +and animated; till, forgetful of every thing around him, he seemed +to kneel at the throne of Jehovah, and to beseech in agony for his +fellow-beings. + +After he had finished his prayer, he knelt for a long time in +profound silence, and so powerful was the effect on the most +heartless of his audience, that a stillness like that of the tomb +pervaded the whole house. + +Mr. Tracy, in his narrative of "the Great Awakening" about 1740, +has admirably remarked, "It is often said that Whitefield cannot +have been a very great man, because his printed sermons contain only +plain, common thoughts, such as men of ordinary minds habitually +use. But what made those thoughts so common? They were not common +when he began to utter them. In England especially, and to a +considerable extent here also, they astonished his hearers by their +strangeness. What is more common than a voyage across the Atlantic? +But was Columbus, therefore, only an ordinary man? The case of +Copernicus is more nearly parallel. He reasserted a truth which had +been uttered, repudiated, and forgotten. That truth is now common, +even among school-boys. But was he, therefore, only a child in +intellect?" + +There are yet extant about eighty of the sermons by which Whitefield +agitated nations, and the more remote influence of which is still +distinctly to be traced, in the popular divinity and national +character of Great Britain and of the United States. Of these +compositions, Sir James Stephen, an evangelical Episcopalian of +London, wrote at some length in the "Edinburgh Review," 1838, and +we shall make no apology for borrowing a portion of his remarks, +combining them with some of our own. + +It is true, that these sermons have fallen into very general +neglect; for to win permanent acceptance for a book, into which the +principles of life were not infused by its author, is a miracle +which not even the zeal of religious proselytes can accomplish. Yet, +inferior as were his inventive to his mimetic powers, Whitefield is +entitled, among theological writers, to a place which, if it cannot +challenge admiration, may at least excite and reward curiosity. +Many, and those by far the worst of his discourses, bear the marks +of careful preparation. Take at hazard a sermon of one of the +preachers usually distinguished as evangelical, add a little to +its length, and subtract a great deal from its point and polish, +and you have one of his more elaborate common topics discussed in +a commonplace way; a respectable mediocrity of thought and style; +endless variations on one or two cardinal truths--in short, the task +of a clerical Saturday evening, executed with piety, good sense, and +exceeding sedateness. But open one of that series of Whitefield's +sermons which bears the stamp of having been conceived and uttered +at the same moment, and imagine it recited to myriads of eager +listeners with every charm of voice and gesture, and the secret +of his unrivalled fascination is at least partially disclosed. He +places himself on terms of intimacy and unreserved confidence with +you, and makes it almost as difficult to decline the invitation +to his familiar talk as if Montaigne himself had issued it. The +egotism is amusing, affectionate, and warm-hearted, with just that +slight infusion of self-importance without which it would pass for +affectation. In his art of rhetoric, personification holds the first +place; and the prosopopoeia is so managed as to quicken abstractions +into life, and to give them individuality and distinctness without +the exhibition of any of those spasmodic and distorted images which +obey the incantations of vulgar exorcists. Every trace of study and +contrivance is obliterated by the hearty earnestness which pervades +each successive period, and by the vernacular and homely idioms in +which his meaning is conveyed. + +It is in the grandeur and singleness of purpose that the charm of +Whitefield's preaching seems to have consisted. You feel that you +have to do with a man who lived and spoke, and who would gladly +have died, to deter his hearers from the path of destruction, and +to guide them to holiness and peace. His gossipping stories, and +dramatic forms of speech, are never employed to hide the awful +realities on which he is intent. Conscience is not permitted to +find an intoxicating draught in even spiritual excitement, or an +anodyne in glowing imagery. Guilt and its punishment, pardon and +spotless purity, death and an eternal existence, stand out in bold +relief on every page. From these the eye of the teacher is never +withdrawn, and to these the attention of the hearer is riveted. All +that is poetic, grotesque, or rapturous is employed to deepen these +impressions, and is dismissed as soon as that purpose is answered. +Deficient in learning, meagre in thought, and redundant in language +as are these discourses, they yet fulfil the one great condition of +genuine eloquence. They propagate their own kindly warmth, and leave +their stings behind them. + +The enumeration of the sources of Whitefield's power is still +essentially defective. Neither energy, nor eloquence, nor histrionic +talents, nor any artifices of style, nor the most genuine sincerity +and self-devotedness, nor all these united, would have enabled him +to mould the religious character of millions in his own and future +generations. The secret lies deeper. It consisted in the theology +he taught--in its perfect simplicity and universal application. +"Would ministers," says he, "preach for eternity, they would then +act the part of true Christian orators; and not only calmly and +coolly inform the understanding, but by pathetic and persuasive +address, endeavor to move the affections and to warm the heart. To +act otherwise, betrays a sad ignorance of human nature, and such +an inexcusable ignorance and indifference in a preacher, as must +constrain the hearers to suspect, whether they will or not, that +the preacher, let him be whom he will, only deals in the false +commerce of unfelt truth." His eighteen thousand sermons were but +so many variations on two key-notes: man is guilty, but may obtain +forgiveness; he is immortal, and must ripen here for endless weal or +woe hereafter. Expanded into innumerable forms, and diversified by +infinite varieties of illustration, these two cardinal principles +were ever in his heart and on his tongue. Let who would invoke +poetry to embellish the Christian system, or philosophy to explore +its esoteric depths, from his lips it was delivered as an awful and +urgent summons to repent, to believe, and to obey. To set to music +the orders issued to seamen in a storm, or to address them in the +language of Aristotle or Descartes, would have seemed to him not a +whit more preposterous than to divert his hearers from their danger +and their refuge, their duties and their hopes, to any topics more +trivial or more abstruse. In fine, he was thoroughly and continually +in earnest, and therefore possessed that tension of the soul which +admitted neither of lassitude nor relaxation, few and familiar +as were the topics to which he was confined. His was, therefore, +precisely that state of mind in which alone eloquence, properly so +called, can be engendered, and a moral and intellectual sovereignty +won. + +Nor less important is it to remark, though we need not illustrate +it at length, that much was effected by every one seeing that he +always forgot himself in his subject, and rested only on heaven for +success. He felt himself called to serve Christ, and gave himself +to his task, to save sinners, and he cared for nothing else. No +one ever doubted his sincerity when he prayed, "Help me, Friend of +sinners, to be nothing, to say nothing, that thou mayest say and do +every thing, and be my all in all." If the same feelings were fully +shown by the ministry at present, our messages would tell more on +the hearts of our hearers. + +We need hardly remind the reader that Whitefield was remarkable for +_a devotional spirit_. Probably no man ever lived nearer to God. Had +he been less prayerful, he would have been less powerful. It has +been said that during a few of the last years of his life he read +the voluminous exposition of Matthew Henry, comprising six quarto +volumes, in a kneeling posture, pausing and praying that God would +engraft upon his mind the instructions of that extraordinary man. +When he came before his auditors, he looked like one who had been +with God. This it was which won for him the title of _seraphic_--he +was a human _seraph_, and burnt out in the blaze of his own fire. +Usually for an hour or two before he went into the pulpit, he +claimed retirement. In this claim he was imperative, and would not +be interrupted in his seasons of hallowed intercourse with God. + +Engaged almost incessantly in preaching, or in preparation for it, +it was impossible, however much he desired it, to pay many private +visits of a religious nature. We are told, however, that on one +occasion, when a young minister, afterwards exceedingly popular and +useful, was once visiting him, he was sent for to visit a poor woman +who had been so dreadfully burnt that she could not survive many +hours. He went immediately, and prayed with her. He had no sooner +returned, than she called out, "Oh, where is Mr. Whitefield?" Urged +by her entreaty, her friends requested him to visit her a second +time. He complied, and again prayed with her. The poor afflicted +woman continued still to desire his presence. When her friends came +for him a third time, "I begged of him," said the young clergyman, +"not to go; for he could scarcely expect to do any good. 'Your +nerves are too weak, your feelings are too acute to endure such +scenes.' I shall never forget his mild reproof: 'Leave me; my Master +can save to the uttermost, to the _very uttermost_.'" + +In conversation with his friends, Whitefield was as far removed as +possible from duplicity and mere compliment. He invited from his +friends whatever of instruction and of reproof they considered him +to need. And while he was always ready to receive reproof, he was, +when called to the duty, ready to give it, and often in a way which +his friends did not expect. A censorious professor of religion, +knowing the doctrinal differences between the two men, asked +Whitefield if he thought they would see Mr. John Wesley in heaven. +His answer was truly admirable: "No, sir, I fear not; for he will +be so near the throne, and we shall be at such a distance, we shall +hardly get sight of him." + +It is said, that when he was once travelling in company with a +Christian man, they had occasion to stay for a night at a road-side +tavern. After they had retired, they were greatly annoyed by a +company of gamblers, who were in an adjoining room. Whitefield +could not rest, and told his friend that he would go into the room +and reprove them for their conduct. The other remonstrated against +his doing so, but in vain. He went; and unhappily, his words fell +apparently powerless upon them. Returning, he laid down to sleep. +"What," asked his companion, "did you gain by your trouble?" +Whitefield characteristically answered, "A soft pillow." + +In his intercourse with general society, Mr. Whitefield never forgot +his dignity as a servant of Jesus Christ. When he was in the zenith +of his popularity, Lord Clare, who knew that his influence was +considerable, applied to him by letter, requesting his influence +at Bristol at the ensuing general election. To this request Mr. +Whitefield replied, that in general elections he never interfered; +but he would earnestly exhort his lordship to use great diligence to +make his own particular "calling and election sure." + +Mr. Whitefield was greatly distinguished, even from early life, for +neatness in his person, order in his apartments, and regular method +in the management of all his affairs. He was accustomed to say that +a minister should be "without a spot;" and on one occasion remarked, +that he could not feel comfortable if he knew that his _gloves_ +were out of their proper place. The advantages of such habits are +numerous. They save time, give a degree of comfort which can only +be known by experience, and add not a little to the dignity of the +Christian minister. + +The device upon Whitefield's seal, of which probably few impressions +are now to be found, was truly characteristic. It was a winged heart +soaring above the globe, and its motto was, "_Astra petamus_"--Let +us seek heaven. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CHARACTER OF WHITEFIELD AS A PREACHER--CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIONS. + + +In suggesting a few of the CHARACTERISTICS OF WHITEFIELD'S +PREACHING, we are very greatly indebted to an excellent anonymous +writer in the London Evangelical Magazine for 1853. We consider as +among the reasons of his success, and as worthy of our imitation, + +First, _the prominence given to the leading truths of salvation, +and the constant exaltation of Christ in them_. There needs no +minute inquiry, or great analytical care, to ascertain what was +the pervading theme of this popular minister: it was "Christ, +and him crucified," and the glorious truths that hover around +the cross, and derive from it their being and lustre. There was +no other subject, in Whitefield's estimation, that was worthy of +preëminence, and to unfold, elucidate, and apply it, was the great +design of his labors. He saw in it such a wonderful adaptation to +the necessities and condition of fallen humanity, that he stood in +the midst of its wants and woes with all the confidence of a good +physician who had a sovereign and sufficient remedy to propose. +He knew that there was no case which it could not meet, no moral +disease from which it would not recover, no spiritual need which +it would not supply; and therefore, however far gone men might +be from original righteousness, however hardened in sin, sunk in +iniquity, or however elevated by the delusions of a false morality +and fancied self-righteousness, he propounded this as the only and +all-sufficient antidote, at once to destroy and heal, to kill and +to make alive. As to the spurious production of a rationalistic +theory on the one hand, or the prescriptions of ceremonial virtue +and sacramental grace on the other, he knew them not. He saw at +once their hollowness and insufficiency, and would not mock the +necessities of our fallen nature, or aggravate the wounds which sin +had made by a proposal of them. His acquaintance with the human +heart was deep, and his knowledge of the different modifications +of the original disease was so great, that he despaired of relief +from any expedients save that which infinite Wisdom had devised, and +which "the gospel of the grace of God" revealed. Philosophy with +all its discoveries, and reason with all its powers, the law with +all its authority, and virtue with all its rewards, he knew could +only, like the priests and the Levites, have passed the patient by, +and left him to despair, till a greater than they should arrive, +and say, "I will come and heal you." On that adorable Personage, +therefore, and the wonders of his skill and love, he delighted to +dwell. Every sermon was full of Christ; every discourse was odorous +of him. From whatever part of revealed truth he derived his text, +and with whatever peculiar development of man's moral physiology he +had to do, there was something to suggest, to demonstrate the need, +or the suitableness, or the all-sufficiency of the Saviour of the +world. To set him forth, in the glories of his wonderful person, the +variety of his offices, the perfection of his righteousness, the +completeness of his atonement, and the plenitude of his grace, was +his perpetual aim. To these he gave continual prominence, at all +times, and in every place. There was no reserve, no equivocation, no +partial statement on such themes. It was a full, clear, consistent +gospel. From his lips the gospel gave no "uncertain sound." This +made him a welcome messenger of glad tidings to all. This gave him +a key to the hearts of many, who, as they stood around him, and +wondered at him, like those five thousand whom the Redeemer fed +with "five loaves and two small fishes," found all their appetites +suited, and all their necessities supplied. It was the magic power +which arrested them; the centre of gravitation which attracted them; +the bread of life which fed them. "As Moses lifted up the serpent +in the wilderness," so now was the Son of man lifted up by the +ministry of this his devoted herald; and far as the camp extended, +and wide as the circumference of poison and death was spread, the +wounded looked thereon and lived. A restorative virtue issued from +it. The hardest heart was softened. The most obstinate in rebellion +was overcome. The blindest saw. The moral lepers were cleansed. +The broken in heart were made whole, and the spiritually dead were +raised to life. "This was the Lord's doing, and it was marvellous in +their eyes." They beheld the man. They heard him preach. They felt +the power. It was because He was exalted among them who had said, +"I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." + +Secondly, _the glow of feeling, the melting compassion, which +pervaded his own soul_. Oh, it is supremely delightful and deeply +affecting to observe the tender affection and melting pathos with +which Whitefield propounded and proclaimed the precious truths and +everlasting verities of the gospel to his fellow-men. He stood +among them as one of their race, one of their number, conscious of +the common misery into which all had fallen, and weeping over the +miseries and ruin in which by nature they were alike involved. As +he opened up the treasures of infinite mercy, and the riches of +redeeming love to their view, he wept to think how long they had +been unknown or despised by many, and with what base ingratitude +thousands would probably still turn away from them. As one who +saw their immortal being in jeopardy, and their souls standing +on the verge of irretrievable ruin, he hastened, with joy in his +countenance and tenderness in his heart, to tell them of One who was +"mighty to save," and that "now was the accepted time, and now the +day of salvation." Not as one who had a cold lecture on ethics to +deliver, or a dissertation on philosophy to expound, or a problem +in mathematics to solve, did he proceed to such a work; but as one +who felt the weight of his great commission, and knew the worth +of never-dying souls. The evil of sin, the danger of impenitence, +the powers of the world to come, the glories of heaven, and the +unutterable miseries of the regions of woe, were visibly present to +his own mind; and of these, "out of the abundance of his heart," he +spoke to others. He could not be calm, he could not be apathetic on +such themes as these. + + "Passion was reason, transport temper, here." + +And with much of the melting tenderness of Him who wept over +Jerusalem, he spoke of these things to all that resorted to him. +What moving words did he utter on Blackheath hill, in the Tabernacle +pulpit, and on Kingswood mount! His vivid eye beamed with the glow +of tenderness, and his tears, as he spoke, oft-times moistened his +little Bible or bedewed the ground. In his printed sermons, which +doubtless are but feeble specimens of his free and fervent manner, +there are strains of tender pathos and impassioned oratory, which it +is almost impossible to read even now without being moved to share +in his feelings and in the emotions which they must have enkindled +around; and in the perusal of which we wonder not that, in all the +circumstances, the place in which he stood was a Bochim--a place of +weeping. Oh, the melting power, the exquisite pathos, the tender +expostulation of this preëminent man, and unrivalled preacher of the +gospel of our salvation! We wish we could catch them now--that all +preachers possessed them; that the rising ministry especially would +emulate him in these things. Whitefield showed his intense feeling, +not from the mere power of ratiocination, or from the poetic +memento, or for the sake of producing effect by the tears that were +unfelt, or which only flowed from the surface; but from the meltings +of a tender heart, influenced by a Saviour's love, and overflowing +with the commiseration of a benign compassion for dying multitudes +around. Doddridge's beautiful hymn, + + "Arise, my tenderest thoughts, arise," + +one might almost think was written at Whitefield's side. The +tenderness of John, and the "weeping" of Paul, were blended in him +with the boldness of Peter. The love that agonized in the garden of +Gethsemane, and bled on the cross of Calvary, was largely diffused +through all his powers. + +Thirdly, _the direct address of his ministry_. The characteristic +mode of his preaching, and the style of his public ministrations, +was, to direct his appeal to the hearts and consciences of his +hearers, and to "preach _to_ the people all the words of this +life." It was not an harangue _before_ them. It was not an oration +beautifully prepared, read, or delivered in their hearing, and +presented simply for their acceptance and admiration; but a +direct address, an affectionate appeal, a solemn and earnest +communication of the message he had received from God to them. Oh, +we have sometimes thought, what a marked difference there ought +to be between the ministrations of a servant of Christ to his +fellow-immortals, on things of eternal importance in which they are +personally and deeply concerned, and the delivery of a lecture from +the philosopher's desk, or even of a dissertation on theology from +the professorial chair. So thought the apostles. So thought the +prophets and public teachers of sacred mysteries of old. They had +the "burden of the Lord" to deliver, and it was _unto_ the people. +They had an embassy to execute, and it was by negotiating directly +with, and in the consciences of their hearers. Whitefield caught +their spirit, proceeded in their way, and did such mighty execution, +not by the mere symmetrical illustration of divine truth, but by +the direct presentation of it to their minds. They had not to ask, +"For whom is all this intended?" and, "Is it designed for us?" They +felt that it was. It came home to their consciences, and to their +very hearts. They could not transfer it to others, nor avoid the +application of it to themselves. Had the preacher called them by +name, which in his skilful delineation of character, he sometimes +virtually did, they could not have been more certain that he +intended it for them, and that it was at their peril to neglect or +pass it by. "I have a message from God unto thee," he substantially +said in every discourse he uttered, and the people were compelled +to believe it. "Go, and tell this people," said the divine voice +to Isaiah, "Ye hear indeed, but do not understand; ye see indeed, +but do not perceive." "Therefore," said Peter, "let all the house +of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, _whom +ye have crucified_, both Lord and Christ." "Now then," said Paul, +"we are ambassadors for Christ; as though God did beseech _you_ by +us, we pray _you_, in Christ's stead, _be ye_ reconciled to God." +Such was the tenor of the apostolic ministry. Such the secret of +its mighty power and success. And such also was the characteristic +of the faithful and seraphic Whitefield, by which he knocked at the +door of many hearts, and those hearts were opened to him, to his +message, and to his Lord. His plan was that of heavenly wisdom; his +appeal was the same. "Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to +the sons of men." In him were verified the poet's graphic lines: + + "There stands the messenger of truth; there stands + The legate of the skies: his theme divine, + His office sacred, his credentials clear. + By him the violated law speaks out + Its thunders; and by him, in strains as sweet + As angels use, the gospel whispers peace. + He stablishes the strong, restores the weak, + Reclaims the wanderer, binds the broken heart, + And sues the sinner to return to God." + +Fourthly, _his habitual dependence on the Spirit of God, and his +earnest aspirations for the manifestation of his power_. That he +was conscious of his own superior talents as an orator, and knew +how to employ them on sacred themes; that he skilfully wielded +all the weapons of a well-studied eloquence to gain access to the +human mind, and knew both how to alarm and how to persuade, and +could attempt both with as much success probably as any speaker, +either of ancient or modern times; that he had a large and minute +acquaintance with the powers and passions of the human soul, and +knew well when and how to touch the hidden springs of its energies +and actions; that he had a good amount of common and sacred learning +at his command, and like that Apollos whom among the early teachers +of Christianity he most resembled, was "mighty in the Scriptures;" +and that he delighted to expatiate on the wonders and glories of +redemption as a restorative scheme preëminently adapted to interest +and attract, to impress and rule our common nature--are facts open +to all who inspect his writings and accompany him in his labors, +and will be denied by none. But with all these, and amid all, in +every sermon he composed and delivered, and in his most impassioned +addresses to his hearers, there is manifested an underlying and +all-pervading dependence on the power and grace of the Spirit +of God, which was in character, if not in degree, meek, humble, +genuine, entire, like that of the most eminent apostle or adoring +saint at the foot of the divine throne. With him it was not merely a +sentiment, but a feeling; and that feeling constant and habitual, as +it was in him who in the review of his labors said, "I have planted, +Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." He knew that none but +the almighty Spirit could gain effectual access to the spirit of +man; and that not even a Melancthon, a Luther, or a Whitefield, +could make old Adam yield, unless constrained by a superior power. +He seemed to stand in the valley of vision among the dry bones, as +the prophet did, and while he addressed them with something like a +prophet's power, he had no expectation or hope of success until the +wind of heaven came down and blew upon them. Therefore he prophesied +to it as well as to them. "Come from the four winds, O breath, and +breathe upon the slain, that they may live," was often the mighty +cry of his soul, before preaching, while preaching, and after +preaching. It seemed to be his joy, his only, his all-sustaining +confidence, that he lived under "the dispensation of the Spirit," +and wrought in a day, and preached upon a theme, in connection with +which "the ministration of the Spirit" was to be "glorious," by his +wonderful works of conviction, conversion, and sanctification, among +the children of men. To that Spirit, as the glorifier of Christ, he +often devoutly and earnestly appealed. Sometimes, in the midst of +an unusual flow of tender and eloquent address to his hearers on +his favorite theme of the glories and grace of his divine Master, +he would pause in solemn silence, and lifting up his hands and his +voice to heaven, and carrying the hearts of his audience with him, +invoke aloud the descending and all-consuming fire. The present God +was acknowledged and felt. The word came "in demonstration of the +Spirit and of power." And while the habitual aim of his preaching +was to exalt "Christ Jesus the Lord," and while he reasoned, and +opened the Scriptures, and taught and alarmed or invited his +hearers, in the most touching strains of urgent remonstrance and +tender entreaty, to accept now "the great salvation," the inward +state of his soul was that of entire reliance on the presence and +coöperation of the Holy Spirit of God. To him were sent up his most +intense aspirations. In all the records of his success, to that +Spirit the honor is always ascribed. "Not I, but the grace of God +which was with me," is the grateful acknowledgment he makes in the +review of every field occupied and every triumph won. And thus it +was that the fabric of his ministry, and of all his ministrations, +in the multitudinous labors which he directed against the kingdom +of darkness and of Satan in his day, was like the mystic vision +which Ezekiel saw, _instinct with life_. The spirit of the living +creatures was in the wheels. "When this went, those went; when this +stood, those stood; when this was lifted up from the earth, those +were lifted up." It was all life. A living preacher; a living theme; +a living power, giving life, and spreading it all around. Therefore +it was that life followed in the region of death, and at his coming +the desert rejoiced, and the wilderness blossomed as the rose. + + "Dry bones were raised, and clothed afresh, + And hearts of stone were turned to flesh." + +By preaching such as we have now attempted to describe, thousands +and tens of thousands were gathered to Christ. "An exceeding great +army" stood up. Slumbering churches were awakened, religion was +revived, and "righteousness and praise" were caused to "spring forth +before all the nations." And as this apostolic man surveyed the +amazing scene, and glanced at the wide circumference of his labors, +in the British Isles and in the New World, he might have exclaimed, +as one before him had done, "Now thanks be unto God, who always +causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of +his name by us in every place." "Through mighty signs and wonders, +_by the power of the Spirit of God_, from Jerusalem round about to +Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." "For I am +not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to +salvation; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Who, in the +remembrance of Whitefield and his times, will not long for their +return, and exclaim, "Awake, awake; put on strength, O arm of the +Lord; awake, as in the ancient days." "O that thou wouldest rend +the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might +flow down at thy presence, as when the melting fire burneth, the +fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine +adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!" Spirit +of the living God, descend and replenish with thy power all our +souls, our ministry, our temples, our land. + +In estimating the character of Whitefield, it should be observed +that _he dealt with his hearers, individually and collectively, as +immortal beings_. To use the language of Isaac Taylor, "he held +MAN as if in the abstract, or as if whatever is not common to all +men were forgotten. The most extreme diversities, intellectual and +moral, differences of rank, culture, national modes of thought, all +gave way and ceased to be thought of; distinctions were swept from +the ground where he took his position. At the first opening of his +lips, and as the rich harmony of his voice spread its undulations +over the expanse of human faces, and at the instant when the sparkle +of his bright eye caught every other eye, human nature, in a manner, +dropped its individuality, and presented itself in its very elements +to be moulded anew. Whitefield, although singularly gifted with a +perception of the varieties of character, yet spoke as if he could +know nothing of the thousands before him but their immortality and +their misery; and so it was that these thousands listened to him. + +"No preacher whose history is on record, has trod so wide a field as +did Whitefield, or has retrod it so often, or has repeated himself +so much, or has carried so far the experiment of exhausting himself, +and of spending his popularity, if it could have been spent, but +it never was spent. Within the compass of a few weeks he might +have been heard addressing the negroes of the Bermuda islands, +adapting himself to their infantile understandings, and to their +debauched hearts; and then at Chelsea, with the aristocracy of rank +and wit before him, approving himself to listeners such as the +lords Bolingbroke and Chesterfield. Whitefield might as easily have +produced a Hamlet or a Paradise Lost, as have excogitated a sermon +which, as a composition, a product of thought, would have tempted +men like these to hear him a second time; and as to his faculty and +graces as a speaker, his elocution and action, a second performance +would have contented them. But in fact Bolingbroke, and many of his +class, thought not the hour long, time after time, while, with much +sameness of _material_ and of language, he spoke of eternity and of +salvation in Christ.... Floods of tears moistened cheeks rough and +smooth; and sighs, suppressed or loudly uttered, gave evidence that +human nature is one and the same when it comes in presence of truths +which bear upon the guilty and the immortal without distinction." + + * * * * * + +The Rev. Dr. James Hamilton of London has admirably delineated +Whitefield, in a passage which must be admired by all who read +it: "Whitefield was the prince of English preachers. Many have +surpassed him as sermon-makers, but none have approached him +as a pulpit orator. Many have outshone him in the clearness of +their logic, the grandeur of their conceptions, and the sparkling +beauty of single sentences; but in the power of darting the gospel +direct into the conscience, he eclipsed them all. With a full and +beaming countenance, and the frank and easy port which the English +people love--for it is the symbol of honest purpose and friendly +assurance--he combined a voice of rich compass, which could easily +thrill over Moorfields in musical thunder, or whisper its terrible +secret in every private ear; and to this gainly aspect and tuneful +voice he added a most expressive and eloquent action. Improved by +conscientious practice, and instinct with his earnest nature, this +elocution was the acted sermon, and by its pantomimic portrait +enabled the eye to anticipate each rapid utterance, and helped the +memory to treasure up the palatable ideas. None ever used so boldly, +nor with more success, the highest styles of impersonation: as when +he described to his sailor-auditors a storm at sea, and compelled +them to shout, 'Take to the longboat, sir!' His 'hark, hark!' could +conjure up Gethsemane with its faltering moon, and awake again the +cry of horror-stricken innocence; and an apostrophe to Peter on +the holy mount would light up another Tabor, and drown it in glory +from the opening heaven. His thoughts were possessions, and his +feelings were transformations; and he spoke because he felt, his +hearers understood because they saw. They were not only enthusiastic +amateurs, like Garrick, who ran to weep and tremble at his bursts +of passion, but even the colder critics of the Walpole school +were surprised into momentary sympathy and reluctant wonder. Lord +Chesterfield was listening in Lady Huntingdon's pew when Whitefield +was comparing the benighted sinner to a blind beggar on a dangerous +road. His little dog gets away from him when skirting the edge of +a precipice, and he is left to explore the path with his iron-shod +staff. On the very verge of the cliff this blind guide slips through +his fingers and skims away down the abyss. All unconscious, the +owner stoops down to regain it, and stumbling forward--'Good God, +he is gone!' shouted Chesterfield, who had been watching with +breathless alarm the blind man's movements, and who jumped from his +feet to save the catastrophe. + +"But the glory of Whitefield's preaching was his heart-kindled +and heart-melting gospel. But for this, all his bold strokes and +brilliant surprises might have been no better than the rhetorical +triumphs of Kirwan and other pulpit dramatists. He was an orator, +but he only sought to be an evangelist. Like a volcano where gold +and gems may be darted forth as well as common things, but where +gold and molten granite flow all alike in fiery fusion, bright +thoughts and splendid images might be projected from his pulpit, +but all were merged in the stream which bore along the gospel +and himself in blended fervor. Indeed, so simple was his nature, +that glory to God and good will to man had filled it; there was +room for little more. Having no church to found, no family to +enrich, and no memory to immortalize, he was simply the ambassador +of God; and inspired with its genial piteous spirit--so full of +heaven reconciled and humanity restored--he soon himself became a +living gospel. Radiant with its benignity, and trembling with its +tenderness, by a sort of spiritual induction a vast audience would +speedily be brought into a frame of mind--the transfusing of his +own; and the white furrows on their sooty faces told that Kingswood +colliers were weeping, or the quivering of an ostrich plume bespoke +its elegant wearer's deep emotion. And coming to his pulpit direct +from communion with his Master, and in the strength of accepted +prayer, there was an elevation in his mien which often paralyzed +hostility, and a self-possession which made him amid uproar and +confusion the more sublime. With an electric bolt he would bring the +jester in his fool's cap from his perch on the tree, or galvanize +the brickbat from the skulking miscreant's grasp, or sweep down in +crouching submission and shamefaced silence the whole of Bartholomew +fair; while a revealing flash of sententious doctrine, of vivified +Scripture, would disclose to awe-struck hundreds the forgotten +verities of another world, or the unsuspected arcana of their inner +man. 'I came to break your head, but, through you, God has broken +my heart,' was a sort of confession with which he was familiar; and +to see the deaf old gentlewoman who used to mutter imprecations +at him as he passed along the streets, clambering up the pulpit +stairs to catch his angelic words, was a sort of spectacle which the +triumphant gospel often witnessed in his day. And when it is known +that his voice could be heard by twenty thousand, and that ranging +all the empire, as well as America, he would often preach thrice +on a working-day, and that he has received in one week as many as +a thousand letters from persons awakened by his sermons, if no +estimate can be formed of the results of his ministry, some idea may +be suggested of its vast extent and singular effectiveness." + + * * * * * + +Very admirably has a writer in the North British Review compared and +contrasted Whitefield and Wesley. He says, "Few characters could be +more completely the converse, and in the church's exigencies, more +happily the supplement of one another, than were those of George +Whitefield and John Wesley; and had their views been identical, +and their labors all along coincident, their large services to the +gospel might have repeated Paul and Barnabas. Whitefield was soul, +and Wesley was system. Whitefield was a summer cloud which burst at +morning or noon a fragrant exhalation over an ample track, and took +the rest of the day to gather again; Wesley was the polished conduit +in the midst of the garden, through which the living water glided +in pearly brightness and perennial music, the same vivid stream +from day to day. After a preaching paroxysm, Whitefield lay panting +on his couch, spent, breathless, and deathlike; after his morning +sermon in the foundry, Wesley would mount his pony, and trot and +chat, and gather simples, till he reached some country hamlet, where +he would bait his charger, and talk through a little sermon with the +villagers, and remount his pony and trot away again. In his aërial +poise, Whitefield's eagle eye drank lustre from the source of light, +and loved to look down on men in assembled myriads; Wesley's falcon +glance did not sweep so far, but it searched more keenly and marked +more minutely where it pierced. A master of assemblies, Whitefield +was no match for the isolated man. Seldom coping with the multitude, +but strong in astute sagacity and personal ascendency, Wesley could +conquer any number one by one. All force and impetus, Whitefield +was the powder-blast in the quarry, and by one explosive sermon +would shake a district, and detach materials for other men's long +work--deft, neat, and painstaking, Wesley loved to split and trim +each fragment into uniform plinths and polished stones. Or, taken +otherwise, Whitefield was the bargeman or the wagoner who brought +the timber of the house, and Wesley was the architect who set it up. +Whitefield had no patience for ecclesiastical polity, no aptitude +for pastoral details--with a beaver-like propensity for building, +Wesley was always constructing societies, and with a king-like +craft of ruling, was most at home when presiding over a class or a +conference. It was their infelicity that they did not always work +together--it was the happiness of the age, and the furtherance of +the gospel, that they lived alongside of one another." + + +CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIONS. + +When a century had elapsed from the commencement of Whitefield's +public labors, it was deemed desirable by many in England to +hold public services of a devotional and practical character, in +celebration of the event. Especially was it designed that such +celebrations should have a reference, as far as possible, to +advance open-air preaching. The first services of this character +were very properly held in the Tabernacle, London, on May 21, 1839, +and well do we remember with what intense interest, in common with +thousands, we attended them. Ministers and laymen of at least +four religious denominations assisted in them, and eloquently +discoursed on subjects illustrating the grace of God in connection +with Whitefield, but still more intent were they on benefiting the +present and future generations of men. Dr. Campbell delivered a +sermon on the character and labors of Apollos, illustrated by those +of Whitefield; the late Dr. Cox discoursed on the genius and labors +of Whitefield; the late Rev. John Blackburn described the past and +present state of religion in England; and the Rev. John Young, LL. +D., urged the propriety, duty, and necessity of open-air preaching. +In addition to these sermons, several admirable speeches were made, +and every thing was marked by a spirit of earnest devotion. A small +volume, containing the sermons and speeches, was printed, and put +into extensive circulation. + +About the same time, a number of ministers of the Congregational +order met in a central town of Gloucestershire, when one of them +suggested, that "as the present year was the centenary of the Rev. +George Whitefield's labors in reviving the apostolic practice of +open-air preaching, it might be desirable to commemorate them by a +special religious open-air celebration. It was further remarked, +that Whitefield was a native of Gloucester; that as many ministers +present presided over churches instituted by his ministry; that +as Stinchcombe hill, in the very centre of the county, presented +a most beautiful and eligible spot for a public meeting; and as +upon its summit, a century ago, Whitefield himself had preached and +showed the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, it seemed a duty to +improve the opportunity it offered of addressing, on the gracious +persuasives of the cross, a large concourse of persons, many of whom +might never hear the gospel, and of promoting in the county the +revival of evangelical religion, which God so highly honored his +devoted servant in commencing in our land." + +The suggestion was most cordially received, arrangements were made, +and, July 30, 1839, though the weather was unfavorable, the meeting +was attended by at least seven thousand persons. A large preaching +stand was erected for the ministers, nearly one hundred of whom +were present. Sermons were preached by the Rev. Drs. Matheson and +Ross, and by the Rev. Messrs. T. East, J. H. Hinton, and J. Sibree; +and addresses were given, and the devotional exercises led by many +others. The services were solemnly impressive. The late Josiah +Conder, Esq., wrote two hymns especially for the occasion, which are +well worthy of preservation; we therefore transfer them to our pages. + +I. + + How sweet from crowded throngs, + Zion, ascend thy songs, + With choral swells through echoing aisles! + Where brethren, brethren meet, + These songs rise doubly sweet, + From humbler rooms or loftier piles. + + But here, not made with hands, + A nobler temple stands; + Here, 'mid thy works, O God, we bow, + Where all around, above, + Proclaims thy power and love; + Oh, tune our hearts to praise thee now. + + We bless thy gracious care, + For many a house of prayer, + Where saints may meet with conscience free, + To keep thy simple rites, + In which thy church delights, + And unforbidden, wait on thee. + + But now, beneath the sky, + We raise our songs on high, + To Him who gave all nature birth; + While the free air wafts round + To distant vales the sound-- + Praise to the Lord of heaven and earth. + + So to the mountain air + The Saviour breathed his prayer; + So 'mid green hills or deserts rude, + The poor he meekly taught, + And gracious wonders wrought, + Or fed the famished multitude. + + So did apostles teach; + So did our Whitefield preach; + These hills have heard his fervent prayer: + Oh, let the saving word + Throughout our land be heard, + Free as the light, and open as the air. + + +II. + + Where is the voice of Whitefield now? + Where does his mantle rest? + Oh, for Elisha's from the plough, + With kindred zeal possessed! + Apostles of heroic mould, + With love seraphic fired, + Divinely called, like those of old + At Pentecost inspired! + + Oh THOU, our Head, enthroned on high, + By whom thy members live, + Wilt thou not hear our fervent cry, + The holy unction give? + In all the plenitude of grace + Thy gifts of might bestow; + And by us, Lord, in every place, + Thy saving virtue show. + + This Christian land with error teems, + The blind by blinder led; + The sophist weaves his Atheist schemes; + Wide has the poison spread. + Arise, O Lord, send forth thy word; + Thy faithful heralds call; + And while the gospel trump is heard, + Let Satan's bulwarks fall. + + Free, pure, and vital as the light, + GOD'S message to our race; + Like genial gales the SPIRIT'S might, + Sovereign, mysterious grace. + Breathe forth, O wind, and to new birth + Quicken the bones of death; + Regenerate this withered earth; + Give to the dying breath. + +It is pleasant to add to this account, that satisfactory evidences +were given that some, during these services, were brought to the +saving knowledge of "the truth as in Jesus." And it may be mentioned +as a singular circumstance, that an old man one hundred and three +years of age attended on this occasion, who had been carried in his +mother's arms to this same spot to hear Whitefield preach just a +century before. + +The last centenary service to which we shall make reference, is the +one held at the _Bristol_ Tabernacle, November 25, 1853. The sermon +on _The Character of Whitefield_, by the Rev. John Angell James, was +from the text, "This one thing I do." Phil. 3:13. In it he said: + +"We hear much in our days about the adaptation of the gospel to +the age. There is no word I more hate or love, dread or desire, +according to the sense in, or the purpose for which it is used, +than this word _adaptation_ as applied to preaching. Now, if by +adaptation be meant, more philosophy, and less Christianity; more of +cold abstract intellectualism, and less of popular, simple, earnest +statement of gospel truth; more profound discussion and artificial +elaboration addressed to the learned few, and less of warm-hearted +appeal to the multitude, may God preserve us from such adaptation, +for it is high-treason against truth and the salvation of souls. But +if by this be meant a stronger intelligence, a chaster composition, +a sterner logic, a more powerful rhetoric, a more correct criticism, +and a more varied illustration, but all employed to set forth the +gospel as comprehending those two great words, _redemption and +regeneration_, let us have it; we need it; and come in ever such +abundance, it will be a blessing. + +"Adaptation! the gospel is adaptation, from beginning to end, to +every age of time, and to all conditions of humanity. It is God's +own adaptation. It is he who knows every ward of the lock of +man's nature, who has constructed this admirable key; and all the +miserable tinkering of a vain and deceitful philosophy can make no +better key, nor can all the attempts of a philosophizing theology +make this key better fit the wards of the lock. + +"Adaptation! was not the gospel in all its purity and simplicity +adapted to human nature as it existed in commercial, scholastic, +philosophical Corinth? And did not Paul think so when he determined +to know nothing there, but 'Christ, and him crucified?' Was it not +by this very gospel, which many are "beginning to imagine is not +suited to an intellectual and philosophical age, that Christianity +fought its first battles, and achieved its victories over the +hosts of darkness? Against the axe, the stake, the sword of the +gladiator, and the lions of the amphitheatre; against the ridicule +of wits, the reasoning of sages, the interests, influence, and craft +of the priesthood; against the prowess of armies, and the brute +passions of the mob, Christianity, strong in its weakness, sublime +in its simplicity, potent in its isolation, asking and receiving +no protection from the sceptre of the monarch or the sword of the +warrior, went forth to do battle with the wisdom of Greece and the +mythology of Rome. Everywhere it prevailed, and gathered its laurels +from the snows of Scythia, the sands of Africa, the plains of India, +and the green fields of Europe. With the gospel alone she overturned +the altars of impiety in her march. Power felt his arm wither at her +glance. She silenced the lying oracles by the majesty of her voice, +and extinguished the deceptive light of philosophy in the schools, +till at length she who went forth forlorn and weeping from Calvary +to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, ascended, upon the ruins of the +temples, the idols, and the altars she had demolished, to the throne +of the Cæsars, and with the diadem on her brow, and the purple on +her shoulders, gave laws to the world from that very tribunal where +she had been dragged as a criminal and condemned as a malefactor.[3] + + [3] See Dr. John M. Mason's Funeral Sermon for Mrs. Graham. + +"Adaptation! is not justification by faith the very substance of the +gospel, and was it not by this doctrine that Luther effected the +enfranchisement of the human intellect, from the chains of slavery +which had been forged in the Vatican; achieved the liberation of +half Europe from the yoke of Rome, and gave an impulse to human +thought and vital Christianity which has not yet spent itself, and +never will, till it issues in the jubilee of the nations and the +glories of the millennium? + +"Adaptation! did not Whitefield move this kingdom almost to its +centre, and equally so our then great transatlantic colony to +its extremities, fascinating alike the colliers of Kingswood and +the citizens of the metropolis; and by this mighty theme enable +myriads to burst the chains of sin and Satan, and to walk abroad +disenthralled by the mighty power of redeeming grace? + +"Adaptation! is not this gospel now proving its power in heathen +countries to raise the savage into civilized man, the civilized man +into the saint, and in this ascending scale of progression, the +saint into the seraph? + +"And yet, with these proofs of the power of the gospel to adapt +itself to every age of the world, and to every condition of +humanity, there are those who want something else to effect the +regeneration of mankind. 'And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all +men unto me.' So said the Saviour of men. The cross is the great +moral magnet for all ages and all countries, to draw men from +barbarism to civilization, from sin to holiness, from misery to +happiness, and from earth to heaven; and it were as rational to say +the loadstone had lost its original power of polar attraction, and +the mariner's compass is an old, stale invention, and must now be +replaced with some new device, better adapted to the modern light +of science, as to suppose that the doctrine of the cross had become +effete, and must give way to some new phase of theological truth. + +"I now consider the _manner_ in which Whitefield carried out his own +purpose into action. '_One thing I do_:' and _how_ did he accomplish +it? + +"Never was the joyful sound sent over the world by a more +magnificent _voice_. All his biographers labor, as do the +historians of Greece in describing the power of Demosthenes, to +make us understand his wondrous oratory. Perhaps, after all, that +which gives us the most vivid idea of it is, not the _crowds_ it +attracted, moved, and melted, but that it warmed the cold and +calculating Franklin, and fascinated the philosophical and sceptical +Hume. Heaven rarely ever gave, or gives to man the faculty of speech +in such perfection. But what is particularly worthy of notice is, +that he trusted not to its native power, but increased that power +by assiduous cultivation. His matchless elocution was not only an +endowment, but an acquirement. If he preached a sermon twenty times, +he went on to the last improving his method of delivering it, both +as to tones and action; not for theatrical display--no man was +ever more free from this--but to carry out his 'one thing'--_the +salvation of souls_. He knew, and deeply and philosophically entered +into the meaning of that text, 'Faith cometh by hearing;' and he +also knew that attentive hearing comes by the power of speaking. +With such a theme as the gospel, with such an object as salvation, +with such an aim as eternity, and such a Master to serve as Christ, +he would not give utterance to such subjects, and for such purposes, +in careless and slovenly speech. He studied to be the orator, that +he might thus pluck souls as brands from the burning. In this let us +imitate him. Of all our faculties, that of speech is perhaps least +cultivated, yet is most susceptible of cultivation, and pays best +for the pains bestowed upon it. My brethren, speech is the great +instrument of our ministerial labor. Our assault upon the rebel town +of Mansoul is to be carried on, and our entrance to be effected, +to use the language of Bunyan, at ear-gate. The tongue, rather +than the pen, is the weapon of most of us. For the love of souls, +let us endeavor to be good speakers. With the loftiest themes in +the universe for our subjects, do, do let us endeavor to speak of +them in some measure worthily. It is an instructive and astounding, +and to us humiliating and disgraceful fact, that the stage-player, +whether in comedy or in tragedy, takes ten times more pains to +give effective utterance to his follies, vices, and passions, for +the amusement of his audience, than we do to eternal and momentous +truths for the salvation of ours. The stage seems the only arena +where the power of oratory is much studied. Should this be? + +"A few characteristics of Whitefield's manner deserve emphatic +mention and particular attention, as connected with the execution +of his one great purpose. The first I notice is _solemnity_. He +never, as did some of his followers, degraded the pulpit by making +it the arena of low humor and wit; abounding in anecdote, and even +in action, he was uniformly solemn. His deep devotional spirit +contributed largely to this, for his piety was the inward fire +which supplied the ardor of his manner. He was eminently a man of +prayer; and had he been less prayerful, he would also have been less +powerful. He came into the pulpit from the closet, where he had been +communing with God, and could no more trifle with merry humor at +such a time than could Moses when he came down from the mount to the +people; or than the high-priest when he came out from the blazing +symbols of the divine presence between the cherubim in the holy of +holies; or Isaiah when he saw the Lord of hosts, high and lifted up, +with his train filling the temple. Happily the age and taste for +pulpit buffoonery is gone, I hope never to return. + + ''Tis pitiful to count a gain when you should woo a soul.' + +It was the stamp and impress of eternity upon his preaching, that +gave Whitefield such power. He spoke like a man that stood upon +the borders of the unseen world, alternately rapt in ecstasy as he +gazed upon the felicities of heaven, and convulsed with terror as +he seemed to hear the howlings of the damned, and saw the smoke +of their torment ascending from the pit for ever and ever. His +maxim was to preach, as Apelles painted, for eternity, and he +said, if ministers preached for eternity, they would then act the +part of true Christian orators. And tell me, my brethren, what are +all the prettinesses, the beauties, or even sublimities of human +eloquence--what the similes, metaphors, and other garniture of +rhetoric--what the philosophy and intellectualities which many in +this day are aiming at, to move and bow and conquer the human soul, +compared with 'the powers of the world to come?' + +"But there was another characteristic of Whitefield's manner, and +that was its _tenderness_. Our Lord, as to his humanity, was a man +of sorrows, and therefore of tears; so was Paul, so was Whitefield. +Perhaps the latter somewhat too much so, at any rate far too much so +for any preacher but himself, and with him the fountain of his tears +was somewhat too full and flowing. But Oh, what an apology for this, +and what a stroke of pathetic eloquence was that appeal when on one +occasion he said, 'You blame me for weeping, but how can I help +it, when you will not weep for yourselves, although your immortal +souls are on the verge of destruction, and for aught I know you are +hearing your last sermon, and may never more have an opportunity +to have Christ offered to you.' Man is an emotional as well as an +intellectual creature, and sympathy is one of the powers of our +physical and mental economy. The passions are of an infectious +nature, and men feel more in a crowd than in solitude. The adage of +the ancient elocutionist is still true, 'If you wish me to weep, +weep yourself.' Whitefield's tears drew forth those of his audience, +and his pathos softened their hearts for the impressions of the +truth. It is forgotten by many preachers that they may do much by +the heart, as well as by the head. We are not the teachers of logic, +mathematics, metaphysics, or natural philosophy, which have nothing +to do with the heart, but of religion, the very seat of which is +there; and _we_ address ourselves not only to the logical, but to +the æsthetical part of man's complex nature. By argument, I know +we must convince, but we must not stop in the judgment, but go on +to reach the heart, and we ourselves must feel as well as reason. +_Clear, but cold_, is too descriptive of much modern preaching. It +is the frosty moonlight of a winter's night, not the warm sunshine +of a summer's day. A cold preacher is likely to have cold hearers. +Cold! What, when the love of God, the death of Christ, the salvation +of souls, the felicities of heaven, and the torments of hell are the +theme? Enthusiasm here is venial, compared with lukewarmness. + +"Need I say that _earnestness_ was characteristic of Whitefield's +preaching? Yes, that one word, perhaps, more than any other in our +language, is its epitome. An intense earnestness marked its whole +career, and was carried to such a pitch as to subject him, as did +that of Paul, to the imputation of madness. The salvation of souls +was so entirely the one thing that engrossed his soul, his time, +his labors, that not a step deviated from it. Every moment, every +day, was an approximation to it. His devotions, his recreations, +if any such he had, his journeys, his voyages, his sermons, his +correspondence, were all referred to this one end. His exertions +never relaxed for a moment, and he, with his great compeer Wesley, +made the trial so seldom made, what is the utmost effect which, in +the way of saving souls, may be granted to any one preacher of the +gospel in any age or country. + +"What may not be done, and is not done by earnestness? It gives +_some_ success to any error, however absurd or enormous, and to any +scheme of wickedness, however flagrant and atrocious. What is it +that has given such success to popery, to infidelity, to Mormonism? +_Earnestness._ And shall the apostles and advocates of error be +more in earnest than the friends of truth? Whitefield often quoted +Betterton the player, who affirmed that the stage would soon be +deserted if the actors spoke like the preachers. And what _would_ +empty the play-house, that is, dulness and coldness, _does_ often +empty the meeting-house. 'Mr. Betterton's answer to a worthy +prelate,' says Whitefield, 'is worthy of lasting regard.' When asked +how it is that the clergy, who speak of things _real_, affected +the people so little, and the players, who speak only of things +imaginary, affected them so much, replied 'My lord, I can assign but +one reason--we players speak of things imaginary as though they were +real, and too many of the clergy speak of things real as though they +were imaginary.' It is not always so. Many a preacher, even in our +own day, by the unaffected earnestness of his manner, carries away +his audience upon the tide of his own feeling. They hear what he +says, they see what he feels, his eye helps his tongue, the workings +of his countenance disclose the feelings of his heart; his manner is +a lucid comment upon his matter, breaks down the limits which words +impose upon the communication of ideas, and gives them not only an +apprehension of the meaning, but a sense of the importance of his +subject, which unimpassioned language and manner could not have done. + +"I name but one thing more as characteristic of this great man, +and which it would be well for us to imitate, and that is, his +_dauntless courage_. See him not only facing mobs, defying threats, +and even lifting up his pulpit amid the wild uproar of a London +fair, the boldest achievement that a speaker ever accomplished, but +holding on his noble career unterrified, and working amid the storm +of obloquy that came upon him from so many quarters. Who that has +ever read, can ever forget Cowper's exquisite description of him? + + "'LEUCONOMUS--beneath well-sounding Greek + I show a name a poet must not speak-- + Stood pilloried on infamy's high stage, + And bore the pelting storm of half an age, + The very butt of slander, and the blot + For every dart that malice ever shot. + The man that mentioned him at once dismissed + All mercy from his lips, and sneered and hissed. + His crimes were such as Sodom never knew, + And perjury stood up to swear all true; + His aim was mischief, and his zeal pretence, + His speech rebellion against common-sense: + A knave when tried on honesty's plain rule, + And when by that of reason, a mere fool. + The world's best comfort was, his doom was passed, + Die when he might, he must be damned at last. + Now truth, perform thine office, waft aside + The curtain drawn by prejudice and pride, + Reveal--the man is dead--to wondering eyes, + This more than monster, in his proper guise. + He loved the world that hated him; the tear + That dropped upon his Bible was sincere: + Assailed by scandal and the tongue of strife, + His only answer was--a blameless life; + And he that forged, and he that threw the dart, + Had each a brother's interest in his heart. + Paul's love of Christ, and steadiness unbribed, + Were copied close in him, and well transcribed. + He followed Paul--his zeal a kindred flame, + His apostolic charity the same. + Like him, crossed cheerfully tempestuous seas, + Forsaking country, kindred, friends, and ease. + Like him he labored, and like him, content + To bear it, suffered shame where'er he went. + Blush, calumny! and write upon his tomb, + If honest eulogy can spare the room, + Thy deep repentance of thy thousand lies, + Which, aimed at him, have pierced the offended skies; + And say, Blot out my sin, confessed, deplored, + Against thine image, in thy saint, O Lord.' + +"What but a guilty cowardice is it, a false and pusillanimous shame, +that keeps us in these days from some novel and bolder method of +aggression upon the domain of darkness? Are we not wanting here in +that moral courage which would make us, when conscious of doing +right, indifferent to the stare of the ignorant, and the wonder +of the timid; to the shaft of ridicule, and the malignant censure +of the cynic? How enslaved are we by the fetters of custom, or +restrained by the trammels of conventiality! How little are we +disposed to go out of the usual track, even in saving souls! Very +few are disposed to imitate the boldness, ingenuity, and novelty +of that noble-hearted brother,[4] who hired a disengaged theatre +in the city where he dwelt, and for four months preached there to +listening and well-behaved crowds, the gospel of salvation; and for +his reward had very many given to him, who are his joy now, and will +be his crown of rejoicing in the presence of Christ at his coming. +Who can see Paul on Mars-Hill, addressing himself to the sages and +their followers of all sects, and preaching to them a doctrine so +repugnant to the mythology of the temple and the philosophy of the +schools, as Christ, the last judgment, and the resurrection of the +body, without being impressed with the moral courage of such an act? +It is this spiritual heroism that is wanted in our modern preaching, +and indeed, which was no less needful when the Methodistic company +commenced their preaching. + + [4] The Rev. Richard Knill of Chester, formerly a missionary in + India, and afterwards in Russia, since deceased.--B. + +"Nor is it only in this unwillingness to go off from our own +ground for saving souls that our guilty cowardice is seen, but in +the disposition to shirk the more solemn and searching truths of +revelation. Are we not giving way too much to the fastidiousness of +modern taste and refinement, which is craving after smooth things; +which desires the sentimental, the picturesque, the imaginative, but +turns with disgust from the solemn, the alarming, the awakening? Are +we not too gentle and courteous to mention such a word as 'hell' +to modern ears polite? Are we not too fearful to break in with the +thunders of a violated law upon those who are at ease in Zion? I do +not ask for a gross, revolting method of describing the punishment +of the wicked, as if the preacher delighted in harrowing up the +feelings of his audience. This is as disgusting as if, in order +to keep men from crime, our judges and magistrates were ever and +anon giving a minute detail of the process of an execution, and the +convulsive pangs of an expiring wretch suspended to the beam of the +gibbet. We ask not for a harsh, scolding, and denunciating style of +preaching; but we do want more of the unflinching boldness, and the +dauntless courage, which, are necessary to fidelity, and absolutely +essential to him who would win souls to Christ. It is too generally +forgotten, that our Lord Jesus, who was incarnate love, was the most +solemn and awful of all preachers. He whose gentle spirit so often +breathed out itself in invitation, and whose compassion melted into +tears, at other times robed himself in terror, and uttered the most +alarming peals of divine indignation. What we need for our ministry +is this mixture of tenderness and solemnity, which entered so deeply +into the ministry of Christ, and was so characteristic of his +servant, whose labors we this day commemorate and commend." + + * * * * * + +Hear also the Rev. John Glanville, the present successor of +Whitefield in the Tabernacle at Bristol: "And such preaching _must +continue_, if the world is to be saved. Nothing but this is suited +to man's necessities; nothing else can meet man's miseries. The +battle must be fought with the old, well-tried, but not worn-out +weapons. God has provided them, and we must use them. We require +nothing else; the world has not outgrown the old gospel, so as to +need something new to soothe its sorrows and satisfy its wants. + +"Not that ministers can now produce the effect Whitefield did. He +was a man standing alone. The charm and power of his preaching +have never been explained. It was all fire and flame, shooting +out red-hot thunderbolts against the citadels of sin. It was an +undivided soul, solemnly consecrated to one object--an entire life, +zealously employed in one thing. As he preached, every feature +spoke, the whole man became vocal, and the truth of God stood out +in its full proportions and beauty, in the bright and broad daylight +of heaven. So unreserved was his self-consecration, that every thing +was deemed impertinent which obtruded upon, or interfered with the +one great end of his existence. He lived in communion with God--more +in heaven than on earth. He was much at the foot of the throne, +and got his strength there; he prevailed with men, because he had +prevailed with God. His whole soul was filled with life, and fired +with love, from being in habitual contact with the cross. + +"And _we_ must pursue the same course, and try to do the same thing. +We have the power, and we must bring it forth and use it. God has +given the machinery, and it is for us to set it in motion. The +world is perishing, and we must save it; it is dying, and we must +give it life. God from his eternal throne calls us--Christ from his +bleeding cross speaks to us--voices from the abodes of sin, and the +regions of despair, sound in our ears. And we all, as ministers and +as members, must rise up in the vigor of piety and the fervor of +prayer. We must rise up from the slumbers of selfishness, and tear +off the fetters of the world, and act as those who believe in the +existence of an eternal heaven and an eternal hell, and that all +souls will be found in the one or in the other--as those who have a +great work to do, and but a short and uncertain time to do it in. +Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the +ancient days, in the generations of old." + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's note: + +Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. +Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as +printed. + +Missing page numbers are page numbers that were not shown in the +original text. + +Mismatched quotes are not fixed if it's not sufficiently clear where +the missing quote should be placed. + +The cover for the eBook version of this book was created by the +transcriber and is placed in the public domain. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of George Whitefield, by Joseph Belcher + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44140 *** |