FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY VMAm see 0" (Gt]B(0)11(&3E "^W^HITElPIEilLlDo MoAo M E M O I OF THE L I F • OF -pHE REVEREND GEORGE iVHITEFIELD, M.A. Late Chaplain to the Right Honourable The countess of HUNTINGDON: I N WHICH Every Circumftance worthy of Notice, both in his private and public Charader, is recorded. Faithfully feleded from his Original Papers, Journals, and Letters. ILLU STR ATED BY A Variety of interefting and entertaining Anecdotes, from the beft Authorities. To which are added, A particular Account of his Death and Funeral ; and Extrads from the Sermons, which were preached on that Occafion. COMPILED By the Rev. JOHN GILLIES, D. D. Tea douhtkfs I outnt all things but hfs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrift Jf^f's my Lord :• For' -ivhon} I have fuffered the Ivfs of all things i and do count them but dung that I may 339 — 341 Mr. Newton's manufcript Funeral Sermon. 341 — Conclufion referring to other Sermons. il^id. His Will -^ ~ 34-7—355 Prefent.fupply of Tabernacle and Chapel. 356, 357 MEMOIRS MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF THE Rev. Mr. GEORGE WHITEFIELD. CHAP. I. From his Birth^ to his going to the Univerfity of Oxford, Anno 1732. THIS eminent and pious fervant of Chrift^ Mr. George Whitejield^ was born at Glouceftcr^ on the fixteenth day of December^ O. S. 1714- His father, "Thomas Whitefield^ nephew of the Rev. Mr. Samuel Whitefield of Rockhampton^ in Glou- cejlerjliire (a)^ was firft bred to the employment of a (a) The Rev. Mr. Samuel IVhitefieldy great-grandfather of George^ was born at Wantage in BcrkjJnrc^ and was re6tor of North Ledyard in VAltJhire. He removed after- wards to Rockhamptcn. He had five daughters, two of whom were married to clergymen, Mr. Perkins and Mr. Lovirigham : And two fons, Samuel^ who fucceeded his father in the cure of Rockha?nptoyi^ and died without ifTue; and Andrew^ who was a private gentleman, and lived retired upon his eftate. Andrew had fourteen chil- dren, of whom Thomas was the eldeft, the father of Mr. George Whitefield. 3 wine 1 Memoirs of the Life of wine merchant in Briftol \ but afterwards kept art Inn in the city of Gloiicefier. In Brifiol he married Mifirefs Elizabeth Edwards, who was related to the Blackwells and the Binmirs of that city •, by whom he had fix fons and one daughter C^J. Of thefe, George was the youngeif, who being be- reaved of his father, when only two years old, was regarded by his mother with a peculiar tendernefs, and educated with more than ordinary rare. He was early under religious imprelTions •, but the bent of his nature, and the general courfe of his younger years, as himfelf acknowledges fry with exprefiions of fliame and felf- condemnation, was of a very different kind. Between the years of twelve and fifteen, he made a good progrefs in the Latin Claffics, at the public fchooi : and his eloquence began to appear, even at that early period, in the fpeeches which he delivered at the annual vifitations. It is probable the applaufe he received on thefe occafions, con- (b) EUzahcih^ the daughter, was tv/ice reputably mar- ried at Brijlol. "Johuy his Ton, lies interred with the family in St. Mary Decrypt Church in Gloucefler. yofeph died an infant. Andreiv fettled in trade at Brijlol, and died in the twenty-eighth year of his age. 'James was captain of a fliip, and died fuddenly at Bath. Thomas and Richard are flill living. The father died December 1 716. The mother continued a widow feven years, and was then married to Mr. Longden, an ironmont^er in Gloucejler, by whom (lie h.id no iffue. She died Decem- ber 175I5 in the feventy-firfl year of her age. (c) See the tv/o firfl: parts of his Life at the beginning. Confeffions of a, like nature, are to be found in the writings of St. Augujlin, 7 tributed. the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 3 tributed to his fondnefs for theatrical amufe- ments : From whence it has been infinuated that he learned his oratory upon the ftage. This, however, feems to have no other foundation, than his a<5ling a part fometimes with his fcl- low-fcholars ; particularly, in certain dramatic performances prepared for them by their mafter : For that he was more indebted as an orator to nature, than to art of any kind, mufl be evident to all perfons of difcernment who were acquainted with him. Such could not fail to obferve, that his eloquence was in a great meafure the efifeft of his genius, and proceeded chiefly from that pe- cular aflemblage of extraordinary talents with which God had endowed him. Notwithftanding this, it appears from his con- duct, that he either had not yet difcovered where his talents lay, or could not find means to qua- lify himfelf for entering into any profefilon v/here they might be properly exercifed : for when he was about fifteen years of age, he declined the purfuit of learning, and talked of getting an edu- cation that would better fit him for bufinefs. During this period, he fl:ill continued to refide with his mother •, and as her circumiftanccs were not then fo eafy as before, he did not fcruple to afiift her in the bufinefs of the tavern. But the prevailing bent of his genius began now (Irongly to difcover itfelf •, for even in this unfavourable fituation he compofed feveral fermons, one of which he dedicated to his ekleft brother: And B 2 after 4 Memoirs of the Life of after having vifited him at Briftol^ he came home with a relblution to abandon his prefent em- ployment, and to turn his thoughts a different way. After this, being for fome time difengaged from every purfuit, and but poorly fupported out of his mother's fcanty fubfiftence, he was in no fmall danger of being utterly ruined by the in- fluence of his former companions : but it pleafed God to break the fnare, by filling him with an abhorrence of their evil deeds. About this time, the impreflions of religion began again to recover their influence in his breafl: : And when he v/as feventeen years of age he received the facramcnt of the Lord's Supper. He now became more and more watchful, both over his heart and converfation. He was fre- quently employed in fafliing and prayer j fpent much of his time in reading books of devotion ; attended public worfliip twice every day ; and fo deeply was he engaged in thefe exercifes, that his thoughts v/ere confl:antly fet on the great things of religion. C H A P. the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. i; CHAP. II. From the 'Time of bis going to the Univerftty of Ok- ford, to his embarking for G^or^rsLy Aymo 1737. WHEN Mr. Whitefield arrived at eighteen, he was fcnt to the univerfity of Oxford^ where he v/as again expofed to the fociety of the wicked : But remembering his former danger and deliverance, by the grace of God, he refifted all their follicitations, and cultivated an acquaintance with the Methodifts, as the only perfons that feemed to preferve a fenfe of religion, through the whole of their deportment. It would be going beyond our purpofe to give an account of the rile of Methodifm : For this, the reader is referred to the Rev. Mr. John Wejiley\ iirfl Journal. But it may not be improper to notice the fpirit of the age, when it firll appeared. At that time, ferious and pra(5lical chriftianity in England was in a very low condition ', fcriptural, experimental religion, (which in the lafl century ufed to be the fubjedt of the fermons and writings of the clergy) was become quite unfafhionable -, and the onlv thinor infifted on was a defence of the out-v/orks of chriftianity againft the objections of infideis. What was the confequence .^ The writ- ings of infidels multiplied every day, and infi- delity made a rapid • progrefs among perfons of cs^erv rank, not becaufe they were reafoned into B 3 ■ It 6 Memoirs of the Life of \i by the force of argumcnr, but becaufe they were kept firangcrs to Cbrift and the power of the Gofpcl. We have a mod affeding defcription of this, by Bifhop Butler, whom none will fufped of exa^o;cratinor the fad: (d) " It is come, I know " not how, to be taken for granted, by many '• ; crlbns, that chnfiianlty is not fo much as a '' kibjcd of inquiry J but that it is, now at *' Icn'-th, difcovered to be fictitious; and ac- <' corciingly they treat it, as if in the prefent age, *^ this were an agreed point among all people of *' dilcernment; and nothing remained but to fet '• it up as a principal fubjedb of mirth and ridi- " cule ; as it were by way of reprifals, for it's *' having fo long interrupted the pleafures of the *• world." Such was the ftate of religion in Eng- land^ and Scotland was greedily fwallowing down the poifon, when it pleafed God to raife up the Methcdifls, as inllruments to revive his work in the midft of abounding impiety, and to bring multitudes who had fcarcely a form of godli- nefs, to experience it's quickening and renewing • power. Happy was it for Mr. Whitcfield, that there was a Society of Methodifls, at that time, in Oxford y but cfpecially that he becam.e acquainted with the Rev. Mr. Charles IVefiey, by whom he was treated with particular kindnefs. Such benefit did he re- ceive under his miniHry, that he always accounted (d) Preface to his Analogy, May 1736. . him the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 7 him his fpiritual father. And Mr. WefLcy\ reci- procal afFcclion for him, Hands recorded in the verfes at the beginning of Mr. Whitefuld'% fccond and third Journals. Like the other Methodifts, Mr. Whttejidd now began to live by rule, and to improve every mo- ment of his time to the bcft advantage. He re- ceived the communion every fabbath, vifited the fick, and the jail prifcners, and read to the poor. For daring to be thus Angularly religious, he foon incurred the difpleafure of his fellow-ftudents, and felt the effeds of it in their unkind behaviour. In the mean time, he was greatly diftrefled v/ith melancholy thoughts, which were augmented by excefTive bodily aufterities. And at laft, by read- ing, and perhaps mifunderftanding fome myflic writers, he was driven to imagine, that the bed method he could take, was to fhut himfelf up in his ftudy, till he had perfedtly mortified his ovm will, and was enabled to do good without any mixture of corrupt motives. He likewife ima- gined, that he muft relinquifn external duties, and public worfhip, and lailly, (which v;as no fmall trial and afilidion to him) that he mult deny him- felf the pleafure of converling with his religious friends. In this pitiable ftate of mind, Mr. Charles Weftley found hini one day, when he went to fee him •, apprized him of his danger, if he perfifted in that v/ay of life, and recommended to him his brother as a perfon of greater experience ; who readily gave him, from time to time, his friendly B 4 advice. 8 Memoirs of the Life of advice. Soon after this, however, he carried his abflinence and falling to fuch an extreme, that his body was fo emaciated, and feeble, that he could hardly walk up flairs. His tutor therefore thought proper to call a phyfician, and it appeared by the event, he had rightly judged in doing fo : for it pleafed God to make the phyfician's care and medicines fuccefsful to his recovery. His bodily health being reftored, his foul was likewife filled with peace and joy in believing on the Son of God. This joy was fo great for fome time, that go where he would, he could not help praifing God continually in his heart, and with fome difficulty reftrained himfelf from doing it aloud. As he was urged to go into the country for confirming his health, he returned to his na- tive air at Gioticefier, where (his mind being now happily enlightened) he preferred the facred writ- ings to all other books, and read them with con- ftant prayer-, in which exercife he found unfpeak- able delight and benefit. But inclination con- fpired with duty, to hinder him from confining his relio-ion to himfelf: Havino; a heart formed for focicty and friendfliip, he could not think of Ihutting himfelf up in his clofet -, but made it his bufinefs to converfe with young perfons, about his ovvn time of life, in order to awaken them to a fenfe of religion. God was pleafed foon to give fuccefs to his endeavours this way -, for feve- ral of them joined with him, and notwithdanding the coniempt they knew it would bring upon them. the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 9 them, met together from time to time for relic^i- ous exercifes. He alfo there read to fome poor people in the town, twice or thrice a week, and read and prayed with the prifoners in the county gaol every day. Being now about twenty-one years of apre, he was fent for by Do6lor Benfon^ Bifliop of Gloti- cefier\ who told him, That though he had pur- pofed to ordain none under three-and-twenty, yet he fhould reckon it his duty to ordain him when- ever he applied. Upon which, at the earned pcr- fuafion of his friends, he prepared for taking orders. His behaviour on this occafion was very exem- plary. He firft ftudied the Thirty-nine Articles, that he might be fatisfied of their being agreeable to Scripture. Then, he examined himfelf by the qualifications of a minifler mentioned in the New Teftament, and by the queflions that he knew were to be put to him at his ordination. On the Saturday^ he was much in prayer for himfelf and thofe who were to be ordained with him. On the morning of his ordination, (which was at G/^?/^- cefter^ Sunday^ June 20, 1736) he rofe early, and again read, with prayer, St. Paul's Epiftles to ^imothy^ and after his ordination, v/ent to the Lord's Table. The Sunday following, he preached his Sermon on T!he Necejfity and Benefit of Religious Society^ to a very crov;ded auditory ; and that fame week he fet out for Oxford^ whither he inclined to go, 5 rather 1 o Memoirs of the Life of rather than to the parilli which the Bifhop would have given him; bccaufe it was the place where he might beR profecute his ftudies, and where he hoped his labours might be mod ufeful U), Soon after this, he was invited to officiate at the chapel of the Tower of London, The firfl time he preached in London^ was Augufi 1736, at Bi/Iiopf- gate Church. Having a very young look, the people were furprifed at his appearance, and Teem- ed to fneer as he went up to the pulpit ; but they had not heard him long, when their contempt was turned into efleem, and their fmiles into grave at- tention. He continued at the Tower two months, preaching, catechifing, and vifiting the foldiers •, and feveral ferious young mien came to hear his (e) '' Lafl: Sunday in the afternoon, I preached my *' fiift Sermon in the church where I was baptized, and *' alfo firil received the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. *' Curiofuy drew a large congregation together. The *' fight, at firft, a little awed me. But i was comfort- *' ed with a heart-felt fenfe of the Divine Prefence : *' And foon found the advantage of having been ac- *' cuftomed to public fpeaking, when a boy at fchool ; " and of exhorting and teaching the prifoners, and " poor people at their private houfes, whilft at the uni- *' verfity. ^y thefe means, I was kept from being <' daunted ovc^r much. As i proceeded, I perceived the *' fire kindled, till at laft, tho' fo young, ?.nd amidft a *' crowd of thofe v»ho knew me in my chiidifh days, I *' truft, I was enabled to fpeak with fome degree of " (jofpel authority. Some few mocked ; but mod; for the " prefent feemed firuck : and I have fince heard, that *' a complaint had been made to the Bifhop, that I drove *' iift^^en mad, the firft fermon. The worthy prelate, " as I a.m informed, wifiied that the madnefs might not *•' be forgoitcn, before next Sumhiy.''' Letter XVL morning the Rev. Mr. George Whitefidd. 1 1 morning difcourfes on the Lord's^ day. In the mean time, the letters which the Rev. Meflieurs Wejleys and hghmn wrote home from Georgia^ made him long to go and preach the Gofpel in thole parts -, yet he waited till Providence fnould make his way more clear, and returning to Ox- ford^ he found himfelf very happy in his former em.ployments, and had m.uch pleafure in reading Henrfs Commentary on the Bible^ and in the com- pany of fome religious young men, v/ho met to- gether in his chamber every day. In November i"]^^-, he was again called from Oxford^ to mihifter at Bummer in HampJJiire. This was a new fphere of adion among poor illiterate people •, but he v;as foon reconciled to it, and thought he reaped no Imall profit by converfmg with them. Neverthelels, he continued his (ludies with unwearied application : Dividing the day in- to three parts ♦, eight hours for fleep and meals, eight for public prayers, catechifing and vifiting ; and eight for itudy and retirement. During his flay here, he was invited to a very profitable curacy in London ; but did not accept of it, as he was flill intent upon going abroad. Providence, at length, feemed to open a door to him \ for he received letters, containing what he thought to be an invitation, to go to Georgia^ from Mr. John Wejley^ whofe ^brother came over about this time to procure more labourers. It is eafy to judge, how readily this propofal would be embraced : and now that he thought himfelf clearly called, (many 12 Memoirs of the Life of (many things concurring to make his ftay at home lefs necefiary) he fet his affairs in order, and in January ij'^j^ went to take leave of his friends in Gloucefier and Brijlol, At Glouafler, the con- gregations when he preached, were very large, and very ferious. At Brljiol, many perfons were forced to return from the churches where he was invited to preach, for want of room. He went" alfo to Balb^ where he was kindly received, and preached twice. But he did not flay long at any of thefe places, being obliged to go to Oxford about the latter end of February •, from whence he came up to London^ to wait upon General Ogle- thorp and the Truftees for Georgia, He was foon introduced to the Archbifhop of Canterbury^ and the Bifhop of London^ who both approved of his going abroad. . While he continued at London^ waiting for General Oglethorpe he preached more frequently than he had done before, and greater numbers of people flocked to hear him. But finding that the General was not likely to fail for fomc time •, and being under particular obligations to the Rev. Mr. Sampfon Harris^ minifter at Stone- houfe m GlcitcefterfJiire^ he went at his requefl, to fupply his charge, till he fhould difpatch fome affairs in London. There he was very happy in his public miniflrations, but efpecially in his re- tirements, which he ufed afterwards to reflect up- on v/ith great fatisfadion (f). On Mr. Harris*^ (f) See Letter XXI. return; the Rev, Mr. George Whitefield. 13 return, he left Stonehotife^ and upon repeated in- vitations went a fecond time to Briftol^ where he preached as ufual about five times a week. Here the multitudes of his hearers flill increafed [g). He was attended by perfons of all ranks and de- nominations ; private religious focieties were eredl- ed ; a colledion for the poor prifoners in Ncujgate^ was made twice or thrice a week ; and large en- couragement was offered to him, if he would not go abroad. — During his ftay at Brifiol^ which was from the end of May to the twenty- fir ft of June^ he paid a fecond fhort vifit to Bath^ where the peo- ple crowded, and were ferioufly affeded as at BnfioU and no lefs than 160/. was colle6ted for the poor of Georgia. June 21, he preached his fare well- fermon at. Briftol \ and towards the end of the difcourfe, when he came to tell them, " it might be they would fee him no more," the whole congregation was ex- ceedingly affeded \ high and low, young and old, burft. into a flood of tears. Multitudes, after fer- mon, followed him home weeping ; and the next day he was employed from fevcn in the morning till midnight, in talking and* giving advices to thofe who came to him, about the concerns of their fouls and falvation. (^) " Some hung upon the rails, others climbed up *' the leads of the church, and all together made the church '' itfelf fo hot, with their breath, that the fleam would " fall from the pillars like drops of rain." Ibid, From t4 Memoirs of the Life of From Brifiol he went to Gloucejier^ and preached to a very crowded auditory ; and after {laying a few days went on to Oxford^ where he had an agreeable interview with the other Methodifts, and came to London about the end of Auguft. Here he was invited to preach and affift in ad- miniflering the facrament in a great many churches. The congregations continually increafed ; and ge- nerally on the Lord's-days, he ufed to preach four times to very large and very much' affe6led aucji- tories, and to walk ten or twelve miles in going to the different churches. His friends began to be afraid he would hurt himfelf: but he ufed to fay, " He found, by experience, the more he did, the more he might do for God." His name was now put into the nevv^s-papers^ (though without his confent or knowledge) as a young gentleman going volunteer to Georgia^ who was to preach before the focieties at their general quarterly meeting. This ftirred up the people's cu- riofity more and more. He preached on that oc- cafion, his ferm.on on Early Piety^ which was printed at the rcqueft of the focieties. After this, for near three mofiths fucceffively, there was no end of people's flocking to hear him, and the ma- nagers of the charity- fchools were continually ap- plying to him to preach {h) for the benefit of the children •, for that purpofe they procured the li- berty of the churches on other days of the week (^) See Letter XXVIII. be fides the Rev. Mt\ George Whitefield. i 5 befides the Lord's-day •, and yet thoufands went away from the largeft churches, not being able to get in. The congregations were all attention, and feemed to hear as for eternity. He preached ge- nerally nine times a week, and often adminiftercd the facrament early on the Lord's-day morning, when you might fee the ftreets filled with people going to church with lanthorns in their hands, and hear them converfing about the things of God. As his popularity increafed, oppofition increafed proportionably. Some of the clergy became angry, two of them lent for him, and told him, they would not let him preach in their pulpits any more, unlefs he renounced that part of the preface of his fermon on Regeneration^ (lately publiflied) wherein he wifhed " that his brethren would entertain *^ their auditories oftener with dlfcourfes upon the " new-birth." Probably fome of them were ir- ritated the more, by his free converfation with many of the ferious Difienters, who invited him to their houfes, and repeatedly told him, " That *' if the dodrines of the new-birth, and juftifica- " tion by faith, were preached pov/erfully in the " churches, there would be few Diflfenters in Eng- " land,^^ Nor was he without oppofition even from fome of his friends. But under thefe dllcourage- ments, he had great comfort in meeting every evening with a band of religious intimates, to fpend an hour in prayer, for the advancement ot the gofpel, and for all their acquaintance, lb far as they knew their circumftances. In this he had un- common, 1 6 Memoirs of the Life of common fatisfaclion : once he fpent a whole night with them in prayer and praife ; and fometimes at midnight, after he had been quite wearied with the labours of the day, he found his (Irength re- newed in this exercife, which made him compofe his fermon upon Inter cejjion. The nearer the time of his embarkation ap- proached, the more affe6lionate and eager the peo- ple grew. Thoufands and thoufands of prayers were put up for him. They would run and ftop him in the alleys of the churches, and follow him with wifhful looks. But above all, it was hardeft for him to part with his weeping friends at St, Dim- ftan\^ where he helped to adminifter the facrament to them, after fpending the night before in prayer: This parting was to him almoil infupportable. CHAP. the Rev. Mr. George Whiteficld, 17 CHAP. IIL from the ^ime of his emharking for Georgia, to his re-embarkiffg for Enoldnd^ ly^^. IN the latter end of Becemher^ ^7Z7-> ^^"^^ ^^•' barked for Georgia, (i) This was to him a new, and at. firft appearance, a very unpromiiing fcene. The ihip was full of foldiers, and there were near twenty women among them. The cap- tains^ both of the foldiers and failors, with the fur- geon, and a young cadet, gave him foon to under- ftand, that they looked upon him as an impoflor^ and for a while treated him as fuch. The firit Lord*s-day, one of them played on the hautboy, and nothing was to be feen but cards, and little heard, but curfing and blafphemy. This was a very difagreeable fituation ; but it is worth while to obferve, with what prudence he was helped to behave among them, and how God was pleafed to blefs his patient and perfevering endeavours to do them good. He began with the officers in the cabin, in the way of mild and gentle reproof; but this had lit- (/) Here begins a manufcrlpt of Mr. IVhitefield's^ from which feveral paflages are taken in che following ac- count. It is referred to by M. S. C tic 1 8 Memoirs of the Life of tie efrc(5l {h). He therefore tried what midit be done between decks, among the Ibldiers. And though the place was not very commodious, he read prayers and expounded twice a day. At firfl he could not lee any fruit of his labour, yet it was encouraging to find it fo kindly received by his new red -coat parifliioners, (as he calls ihem) many of whom fubmitted chearfully to be catechifed about the leflbns they had heard expounded. In this fituation things continued for fome time* But all this while, he had no place for retirement, and there was no divine fervice in the great cabin, both which he greatly defired. At lafl: he obtained his wifh : one day finding the fhip captain a little inclined to favour him, he aflced him to fuffcr him now and then to retire into the round-houfe, where the captain flept, and offered him money for the loan of it. The captain would not take the mo- ney, but readily granted his requeft. Soon after- wards, the military captain, having invited him to a difh of coffee, he took the liberty to tell him, *' That though he was a volunteer on board, yet " as he was on board, he looked upon himfelf as *' his chaplain, and as fuch, he thought it a little *' odd, to pray and preach to tlie fervanis, and {k) " I could 60 no more for a feafon, than whilfl: I *' was writing, now and theji turn my head by way of *' reproof, to a Lieutenant of the foldicrs, who fvvorc as " though he was born of a fwcaring conftitution. Now '' and then, he would take the hint, return my nod " with a, ' Doclor, J alk your pardon,' and thento his *' cards and fwcaring again." M.S. 7 ' " not the Rev, Mr. George Whitcfield. 19 •* not to the mafter •,*' and added withal, " Tiiac *' if he thought proper, he would make ufe of a ** fhort collect now and then, to him, and the ** other gentlemen in the great cabin." After paufing a while, and fliaking his head, he an- fwcredj " I think we may, when we have nothing •' elfe to do.*' This aukward hint was all he got for the prefent; yet he was encouraged thereby to hope, that the defired point would bs foon gained* They were detained in the Downs, by contrary winds, for near a month ; the foldiers on board became by this time more and more civilized, and the people at De^l heard him gladly. There he preached thrice, at the invitation of the minifterSj and often expounded in the houfe v/here he lodged. This work was very delightful to him ; but he was fuddenly called away by a fair v;ind, about the ^nd of January, 1738, juft after he had preached in Upper-Deal church. Being returned to the fnip, he began to comfort himfelf with fome promifing appearances of doing oood in the o;reat cabin. As he had no better place, he generally every night retired with his friend Mr. HaherPiam, and his brother, and two fervants, behind the round-houfe, for prayer and other religious exercifes* Sometimes, he per- ceived Captain Whiting was hearkening within. One day, finding on the Captain's pillow the Inde- pendent Whig, he exchanged it for a book entitled, ^he SeJf'Decei'V£r. Next morning the Captain C 3 came 20 Memoirs of the Life of came fmiling, and enquired who made that ex- change ; Mr. V/hitefield conftfled the charge, and begged his acceptance of the book, which he laid he had read, and liked very well. From thence- forward, a vifible akeration was ieen in him. The other Captain alfo, about the fame time, met him as he was coming from between decks, and de- fired, " that they might have public fervice and *' expounding twice a-day in the great cabin." In about a fortnight, they reached Gibraltar^ whither they were bound to take in fome more foldiers. There, one Major Sinclair had been \o kind as to provide a lodging for him unafl^ed, who, with the other military gentlemen, even Go- vernor Sabine^ and general Columbine^ received him moft courteoufly. Being apprehenfive, that at a public military table, he might be more than hof- pitably entertained, by way of prevention, he begged leave to remind his Excellency of an ob- fervation made in the book of Efiher^ on the court of the great Ahafuerus^ *' That none did *' compel." He took the hint, and genteely re- plied, " That no compulfion of any kind lliould *' be ufed at his table." And every thing was carried on with great decorum. The officers at- tended at public worlhip with order and gravity \ the minifters alfo behaved with great civility ; and all concurred to give him invitations to preach, which he did twice or thrice in the week \ [l) and in (/) " Strange and unufual was the fcenc, both with *' refpefl to the place and people. The adjacent pro- *' montories. the Rev, Mr, George WhiteSeld. 2r in the evenings and mornings, when not on board, he expounded, converfed and prayed with a reli- gious Ibciety of foldiers, who had liberty from t:ie Governor to afiemble at any time in the church. His evening expofitions were attended, not only by the foldiers, but by officers, miniflers and towns-people-, and from all that could be judged, his labours were not without the divine blef- fing. Finding another fociety of religious foldiers there, belonging to the Church of Scotland^ he fent them, as well as the former, fome proper books, talked with feveral of them, and endea- voured to unite both focieties together j urging on them the neccflity of a catholic, difinterefted love, and of joining in prayer for the advancement of the kingdom of Chrijt. This exhortation alfo, by the blefllng of God, had a good effed ; and two or three of the latter fociety being draughted out for Georgia^ defired leave to go in the fhip with Mr. Whitefield^ which was readily allowed them. , Before the embarkation of the foldiers, by the General's confent, he gave them a parting difcourfe in the church. And after embarkation, from time to time, as the weather permitted, he preached to " montories, and the largenefs of the rock of Gihraltary " helped me to enlarge my ideas of Him, who in h'n ^' JJrength fetteth faji the mountavis^ arid is girded about with «' power. And the place being, as it were, a public *' rendezvous of all nations, I thought I favv the woild ^^ in epitome," M, S, C 3 them 2 2 Memoirs of the Life of them on board their refpedive fhips {m). Colonel Ccchran^ who commanded, was extremely civil : and ibon after their fetting fail, there was fuch a change upon Captain Mackay^ that he defired Mr. Whiu^ field would not give hlmlelf the trouble of ex- pounding and praying in the cabin, and between decks •, for he would order a drum to be beat morning and evening, and himfelf would attend with the foldiers on the deck. This produced a very agreeable alteration ; they were now as regular as in a church. Mr. IVhilefield preached with a captain on each fide of him, and foldiers all around j and the two other fhips companies, being now in the trade winds, drew near, and joined in the worfnip of God. The great cabin was now become a Bethel-^ both Captains were daily more and more affeded ; and a crucified Saviour, and the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, were the ufual topics of their converfation. Once, after public fermon, Captain Mackay defired the foldiers, to flop, whilft he informed them, that to his great fhame, he had been a notorious fwearer himfelf, but by the inftrumentality of that gentle- man, pointing to Mr. Whitefield, he had now left it off, and exhorted them, for Cbriji's fake, that they would go and do likewife. The children {?n) Ke not only preached to them ; but gave them notice, that he intended fpeaking to them, one by one, to fee what account they could give of their faith. — Ibid. At this time he began his *' Obfervations on fele£t Paf- *' fages of Scripture turned into Catechetical Qitcftions,'' printed in Vol, IV. of his Works. v/ere the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 23 were catechifed ♦, there was a reformation through- out the whole Ibldiery. The women cried, " What *' a change in our Captain." The bad books and packs of cards, which Mr. IVhitefield exchanged for bibles, and other religious books, (abundance of which were given him to difperfe by the Society for promoting Chrijiian lOwwkdge) were now thrown over board •, and a fever, that prevailed in general through the whole fliip, helped to make the im- prefllons fink deeper. For many days and nights, he vifited betwixt twenty and thirty fick perfons, crawling between decks upon his knees, admin- iftring medicines or cordials to them, and fuch advice as feemed fuitable to their circumftances. The failors did not efcape the fever ; Captain Whiting gladly went with them to vifit them. One of them in particular, who had been a mod noto- rious fcoffer, fent for him in a bitter agony, crying out upon and lamenting his wicked life. Tlie Cadet, who was a cabin paflenger, being alio feized, was wounded deeply, told Mr. Whitefield the hiftory of his life, and informed Captain Mackay of his defire to leave the army, and to return to his original intention (having had an univerfity education) of devoting himfclf to the fervice of the church of God. Mr. JVhitefield him- felf was alfo feized, but by the blefling of God, he foon recovered, and was ftrong enough, in about a week, to come out to the burial ot the Cook of the fhip, who had boafted, " That he «' would be wicked till two years before he died, C 4 '' and 24 Memoirs of the Life of *' and then he would be good." But he was fud* denly taken ill, and died in about fix hours («). It was the beginning of May^ when they drew near to land. After preaching his farewell-fer" mon, he arrived at the parfonage-houfe at Savannahy Mi^y 7, 1738, about four months after his firft embarkation at Dcptford. Upon this voyage (many years after) he made the following reflection : '^ A long, and, I truft, *• not altogether unprofitable voyage. What fliall " I render to the Lord for all his mercies ? Be- '' fides being ftrengthened to go through my pub- '• lie work, I was enabled to write letters, and *' compofe fermons, as though I had been on " land. Even at this dillance of time, the re^ '' membrance of the happy hours I enjoyed in re- " ligious exerciies on the deck, is rcfrelhing to my ** foul. And though nature fometimes relented *' at being taken from my friends, and little un- *' ufual inconveniencies of a fea-life \ yet, a con- *^ fcioufnefs that I had in view the glory of God,, ^' and the good of fouls, from time to time af- ** forded me unfpeakable fatisfadlion (^)," One Mr. Delamot J who had gone volunteer with Mr. John M^fjley^ and was left behind by him as fchoolmafter at Savamiah^ received Mr. JVhitefield at the parfonage-houfe, which he found much («) ^' This wns the only adult, except a foltlier (who *' had killed himfelf at Gibraltar by perpetual drinking) ^' that died out of all that were on board," M. S. {0) M. S. better the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 2; better than cxpe6latlon. Here fome ferious per- fons, the fruits of Mr. pVeJley's miniilry, foon came to fee him. On the morrow he read prayers, and expounded in the court-houfe, and waited upon the magiflrates ; but being taken ill, he was confined for above a week with a fever and ague. Vv^hen he was recovered, and able to look about him, he found every thing bore the afped of air infant colony : and, what was more difcouraging Itill, he faw it was likely to continue fo, by the very nature of its conilitution. *' The people *' (fays he) were denied the ufe both of rum and *' flaves. The lands were allotted them, accord- *' ing to a particular plan, whether good or bad ; *' and the female heirs prohibited from inheriting. " So that in reality, to place people there on fuch *' a footing, was little better than to tye their legs " and bid them walk. The fcheme was well *' meant at home •, but, as too many years expe- *' rience evidently proved, was abfolutely imprac- *' ticable in fo hot a country abroad. However, *' that rendered what I had brought over from my *' friends, more acceptable to the poor inhabi- *' tants, and gave me an ocular demonftration, "^^ which was what 1 wanted, when the hint was ^' given {p) of the great neceflity and promifing (/>) *' It was firft propofed to me by my dear friend " Mr. Charles IVcfiey^ who, with General Oglethorpe^ had *' concerted a fcheme for carrying on fuch a defign, be- ^' fore 1 had any thoughts of going abroad myfclf.** Vol. III. p. 463. y ^' Utility 26 Memoirs of the Life of ** utility of a future orphan-houfe, which I now ** determined, by the divine afTiftance, to fet about *^ in earneft. The Saltzhurghers at Ebenezer^ I " found had one ; and having heard and read of ** what ProfefTor Franck had done in that way in *' Germany^ I confidently hoped that fomething of ** the like nature might be owned, and fucceeded ** in Georgia, Many poor orphans were there al* ** ready, and the number was likely foon to in- *' creafe. *' As opportunity offered, I vifited Frederka^ and *' the adjacent villages, and often admired, con- " fidering the circumftances and difpofition of the " firll fettlers, that fo much was really done. *' The fettlers were chiefly broken and decayed ** tradefmen from London and other parts of Eng- ^^ land', and fevcral Scotch adventurers; fome *' highlanders, who had a worthy minifter, named *' Mackod ; a few Moravians •, and the Saltz- " hurghersy who were by far the moll induftrious " of the whole. With the worthy minifters of *' Ebenezer^ MeiTrs. Grenow and Boltzius, I con- *' tra(5led an intimacy. Many praying people ** were in the congregation, which, with the con- *' fideration that fo many charitable people in Eng-^ ** land had been ftirred up to contribute to Georgia^ *' and fuch faithful labourers as MefTrs. IVeJleys *' and Ingham had been fent, gave me great hopes, " that, unpromifing as the afpecl: at prefent might " be, the colony might emerge in time out of its *^ infant ftate. Some fmall advances Mr. Ingham *' had the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 27 ** had made towards converting the Indians^ who '' were at a fmall fettlement about four miles from '' Savannah, He went and lived among them for *' a few months, and began to compofe an Indian ♦' grammar ; but he was foon called away to Eng* *' land; and the Indians (who were only fomc •' run-away Creeks) were in a few years fcattered *' or dead. Mr. Charles Wefiey had chiefly afted ** as fecretary to General Oglethorpe^ but he foon ♦* alfo went to England to engage more labourers - *' and not long after, his brother, Mr. John Wejley^ *' having met with unworthy treatment, both at *' Frederica and Georgia^ foon followed. All this '' I was apprized of, but think it mofl prudent *' not to repeat grievances. Through divine ** mercy, I met with refpedful treatment from •' magiftrates, officers, and people. The firft I *' vifited now and then, the others, befides preach^ ♦* ing twice a day, and four times of a LordVday, ** I vifited from houfe to houfe : I was, in general, " moil cordially received ; but from time to time ** found, that ' Ccelum non animum mutant^ qui *' trans mare currunt :^ Though lowered in their *^ circumftances, a fenfe of what they formerly ** were in their native country, remained. It was *' plain to be feen, that coming over was not fb ^^ much out of choice, as conftraint ; choofing ra- *^ ther to be poor in an unknown country abroad, ^* than beholden to relations, or live among thofc ^ who knew them in more affluent circumftances *^ at home, Among fome of thefe, the event 5* hoW" 28 Memoirs of the Life of *^ however, proved, that the word took cfFedlual ** root. I was really happy in my little foreign *' cure, and could have cheerfully remained among ^* them, had 1 not been obliged to return to *' Englandy to receive prieft's orders, and make a ** beginning towards laying a foundation to the *' Orphan-houfe. — And thus the place I intended ** to hide myfelf in, became, through my being " obliged to return for thefe purpofes, a means " of increafing that popularity which was already •' begun, but which by me was abfolutely un- " forefeen, and as abfolutely undefigned (5^).'* About the middle of Auguft^ having fettled one that came with him as fchoolmafter in a neigh- bouring village, and left his friend Mr. HaherJIiam at Savannah^ after an affedionate parting with his flock, he fet out for Charlefiown^ in South- Carolina* Here he paid hrs firfl vifit to CommifTary Gar- ien^ and at his entreaty preached the next Sunday morning and evening, in a grand church refem- blino; one of the new churches in London. The inhabitants feemed at his firft coming up to de- fpife his youth ; but their countenances were altered before worlhip was over. Mr. Garden {q) " During my flay there, the weather was moft " intenfely hot, fometimes burning me almoft through *' my fhoes. Seeing others do it who were as unable, *' I determined to enure myfelf to hardinefs, by lying <' conftantly on the ground ; which by ufe, I found to *' be fo far from being a hardfliip, that afterwards it *< became fo, to lie on a bed." M> *S. thankei the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 2^ thanked him moft cordially, and apprized him of the ill treatment Mr. ^ejley had met with in Georgiay and afllired him, that were the fame arbitrary proceedings to commence againft him, he would defend him with his life and fortune. He alfo faid fomething about the colony of Georgia that much encouraged him, as if he thought its flou- rifhing was not very far off ; and that Charkjiown was fifteen times bigger nov/, than when he (Mr. Garden) firft came there. CHAP. ^o Memoirs of the Life cf C H A P. IV. From his emiarking at Charleflown for LondorJ^) to his preaching firft in Moorfields, 1 739. SEPTEMBER 6, 1738, Mr, H^Mief eld cm- ^ barked in a Ihip bound from Cbarks-Town to London. They had a very uncomfortable pafiage. For near a fortnight, they were beat about nor far from the bar •, they were foon reduced to an allowance of water •, and the fhip itfelf was quite out of repair. They were alfo very poorly off for provifions. When they were about a third part of their pafTage, they met with a Ja?naica man who had plenty of every thing. He fent for Mr, Whitefield on board, and offered him a moft com- modious birth ; but he did not think it right to leave his fliip-mates in difbrefs, and therefore re* turned to his own fhip, with fuch things as they were pleafed to give him. The rema:ining part of the voyage was flill more perilous. The only thing comfortable, was, that in the midft of thefe trials, deep impreflions were made on fome that were on board. All conflantly attended public wprfhip twice, and fome thrice a day. Once the Captain cried out, " Lord, break this hard heart *• of mine." Others were imprefled : particular- the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 31 ly one Captain Gladman, a paflenger, on whom a great change was wrought, and afterwards, at his own earned requeft, became Mr. Wbitefield's fel- low-traveller. At length, after nine weeks tofling and beating to and fro, they found themfelves in Limerick harbour (r)^ At Limerick^ Bifhop Burfcoiigh received him very kindly, and engaged him to preach in the cathedral, the good effedls of which he heard of many years after. From thence he went to Bub* lin^ where he preached^ and was courteoufly re- ceived by Dr. Belany^ Bifliop Rundel^ and Arch* bifliop Bolton^ who had heard of him from a gen- tleman of Gibraltar. And after a paffage of twenty-four hours from Dublin, he arrived at Park-gale, ^hurfday, November 30, preached twice on the Lord's-day at Manchejler, and came to London the Friday following, December 8. Here, he had a conference with the Moravian brethren, who were lately come to London ; and tho' he could not diredly fall in with their way of cxprefling themfelves, yet he heartily agreed with them in the old Proteftant Do6lrine of J unification in the fight of God, by Faith alone in the im- puted righteoufnefs of Chrift ; and was not a little (rj *' I wifli I could never forget what I felt, when *' water, and other provifions, were brought us from ** afhore. One Mr. Mac Mahoriy a country gentleman, " came from his feat at midnight, on purpofe to relieve " us, and moft kindly invited me, tho' unknown, to '« his houfe, to ftay as long as I pleafed." M. S. and Journals, delighted 52 Memoirs of the Life of delighted to find a great increafe of the work of God, both as to light and love, do6lrine and pra(5lice, through the inllrumentality of Mr. CharleSy and efpecially of Mr. John Wejley. Some of the clergy now began to fhew their difpleafure more and more ; fo that in two days time, five churches were denied him. And tho' the Archbiiliop of Canterbury^ and the Bifhop of London^ both received him civilly, it was but coldly : And the latter enquired, " Whether his ** Journals were not a little tinctured with enthu- fiafm ? " He replied, That, they were written only for himfelf, and private friends, and were pub- iiihed entirely without his confent, or knowledge, or fo much as his confent being afl^ed at all (s). The (j) It was certainly wrong to publifh them, without bis confent and revifal ; othei wife, the publication of them was a very proper way to prevent the mifreprefen- tation of fa6ls, either by calumny and detradion on the one hand, or by exaggeration on the other. And it is a great pity he did not continue them. They would have been the beft poffible memoirs of his life. But we fee how the offence given by, or taken at, fome pafiages, might help to determine him " to proceed (as he after- <* wards fays) in a more compendious way." The Journals were, indeed, moftly written amidft his incef- fant labours in preaching, travelling, and writing a mul- titude of letters. And the whole was told with that unguarded fimplicity, which tho' it charms the candid, and difpofes them to forgive or overlook many things, yet gives fre(^uent handle to the critical and fevere. Jt muft alfo be owned, that his unfufpecting honefty made him fometimes receive, with too little caution, the characters of perfons and focieties, from thofe whom he took to be friends of religion, and who, perhaps, were really the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 33 The Truftecs for the Colony of Georgia received him more cordially, were pleafed to exprefs their fatisfadion at the accounts fent them of his con- dud, during his (lay in the Colony •, and being requefted, by letters fent unknown to him, from the Magiftrates and Inhabitants, they mod wil- lingly prefented him to the Living of Savamtaby (though he infilled upon having no falary) and as readily granted him five hundred acres of land, whereon to ere6l an Orphan-houfe ^ to collect money for which, together with taking Prieft's Orders, were the chief motives of his returning to E?2gland fo foon. Near a month elapfed, before a board fat to make him thefe returns. But during that inter- val, he was not idle. He and his brethren went really fo, but were mifinformed. Being therefore con- vinced, upon fecond thoughts, that both his Journals, and the two firft parts of his Life, needed corredion, he prcmifed a new edition of them, which he according- ly publifhed in 1756. And in the preface he ingcnu- oufly acknowledges, that upon a review, he had found '' many miftakes, (which are now redlified) and many *' paflages that were juftly exceptionable" (which are now erafed.) And in a note, upon September 24, 1740, he fays, " In my former Journal, taking things by " hearfay too much, I fpoke and wr ;te too rafhly, both *' of the Colleges and Minifters of L^cw England ; for '' which, as 1 have already done when at Bfton laft, *' from the pulpit. I take this opportunity of afking *' public pardon from the prefs. It was rafli and un- *' charitable, and though well-meant, I fear, did hurt." But thefe corredions, while they fhew the author's can- dour and humility, do not afFedl the hidory of his extra- Ordinary labours and fuccefs in the work of the GofpeL D on 34 Memoirs of the Life of on in their ufual comic, taking hold of every op- portunity of doing good, and preaching occafion- ally as churches were allowed them (/). And tho' the church-wardens and clergy were averfe, yet the common people were rather more eager than ever. But what furprized him mod w^as, to fee many of the heads and members of the Lon- don Societies, (who, by the accounts given by Dr. Woodward d.nd Horneck (u)^ he thought were found- ed on a good bottom) make fuch virulent oppo- fition. However, numbers of them were of ano- ther mind, ap.d other Societies were foon formed in various parts of the town. A large room in Fetter-lane was the general place of rendezvous, where they had frequent meetings, and great fatis- fadion in focial prayer (x). At the fame time, in the churches that were open, the people crowded, and were affedled more than ever. And he and his brethren were fo much engaged, that for fome (t) " God gave us a moft pleafant Gofpel Chriftmas •* feafon, and fuch a happy beginning of a New Year, *' as I had never feen before." M. S. (u) See Dr. Woodward\ Account of the Rife and Pro- grefs of the Religious Societies in the City of London^ &c. (x) ' It was a Pentecoft feafon indeed. Some times ' whole nights were fpent in prayer. Often have we ' been iillcd as with new wine. And often have I feen * them overvv'helmed with the Divine Prefence, and cry- * out, '' Will God, indeed, dwell with men upon *^ earth ! How dreadful is this place ! This is no other " than the houfe of God, and the gate of Heaven 1 " M. S. days the Rev, Mr. George XVhitefieid. 35 days he could walk, and preach, and vifit Socie- ties with very little deep, and religious exercifea feenicd to be their meat and drink. January 11, 1739, he {t\. out for Oxford^ to receive Priefl's Orders from his good frit^nd BiQiop Benfon^ which he did the next Lord's-day j and having preached and adminidred the Sacra- ment at the Caftle, and preached again in the after- noon, to a crov/ded congregation, he returned to London^ January 15. As he had coUccied fo much for the Charity- fchoolsiaft year, he reafonably fuppofed that the pulpits would not be denied him for the ufe of the Georgia Orphan-houfe this yean But the re- ligious concern advancing, and fpreading more and more, oppofition alfo increafed. A pamphlet was publiflied againft his fermon, On Regeneration. Several Clergymen made ftrong objections againft him and his brethren, for expounding in focieties; and fome people were threatened with profccution by their parifh minifters, for fuftering them to ex- pound in their houfes. Yet this did not difcourage either preachers or hearers. The more they were oppofed, the more they were ftrengthened. New awakenings were heard of in various parts ; and, ^' What (hall I do to be faved ? " was the re- peated queftion of every day. All the pulpits were not as yet (hut up : Two or three churches v.'ere allowed him to preach in, and to collect for the Georgia Orphans, and for erecting a church for the poor 3aUzburghers at D 2 Ehsnezn, 3.6 Memoirs of the Life of Ebenezer. , One Mr. Broughton behaved nobly oo this occafion. Application being made to him, to deny Mr. IVhitefield his pulpit, he anfwered, " Having got the Ledurefhip of St. Helen's by *^' Mr. IVhitefield*^ influence ^ if he infifts upon " it, he fnall have my pulpit." Mr. Whitefield did infilt upon it, but (Mr. Broiighton lofing the Lec- turefhip) he afterwards blamed himfelf much for his condu6l. In Briftol he had the ufe of the churches for two or three Sundays^ but foon found they would not be open very long. The Dean was not at home : The Chancellor threatened to filence and fufpend him. In about a fortnight every door •was fliut, except Neivgate^ where he preached, and collected for the poor prifoners, and where people thronged, and were much impreffed j but this place, alfo, was foon fhut againft him, by orders from the Mayor. Before his firll embarkation for Georgia^ when he talked of going abroad, numbers in Brijlol ufed to reply, " What need of going abroad I '' Have w€ not htdians enough at home ? If you have a mind to convert Indians^ there are colliers enough in Kingfwocd, And before he left London^ whilft preaching at Bermondfey Church, and feeing fo many thoufands that could not com.e in, he had a Urong inclination to go out and preach to them (though he then ufed notes) upon one of the tomb- , flones in the church-yard. And this he mention- ed to feme friends, who looked upon the motion, .5 ,. « the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 37 at firft, very unfavourably ; yet were willing to take it into farther confideration. At Brijlol he thought he had a clear call to try this method. The colliers, he had heard, were very rude, and very numerous ; fo uncultivated, that no body cared to go among them ; neither had they any place of worfhip j and often, when provoked, they were a terror to the whole city of Briftol. He therefore looked upon the civilizing of thefe people ; and much more, the bringing of them to the profefTion and practice of chriftianity, as a mat- ter of great importance (y). After much prayer, and many ftruggles with himfelf, he one day went to Hannam Mount, and {landing upon a hill, be- gan to preach to about a hundred colliers, upon Matt. V. I, 2, 3. This foon took air. At the fecond and third time the numbers greatly in- creafed, till the congregation, at a moderate com,- putation, amounted to near twenty thoufand. But with what gladnefs and eagernefs, many of thefe defpiled outcafls, who had never been in a church in their lives, received the word, is above defcription. " Having (as he writes) no righte- " oufnefs of their own to renounce, they were " glad to hear of a Jefus who was a friend to pub- '' licans, and came not to call the righteous, but " finners to repentance. The firfl difcovery of (y) " I thought it might be doing the fervice of my " Creator, who had a mountain for his puJpit, and the " heavens for his founding board ; and who, when his *' Gofpcl was refufed by the JeiiSy fent his fervants " into the highways and hedges." M. S. D 3 *' thei^ 3 8 Memoirs of the Life of •' their being afFeftcd, was to fee the white gut» " ters 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 foon brought under deep con,- *' vi61:ions, which (as the event proved) hap- " pily ended in a found and thorough conver- " fion. The change was vifible to all, though *' numbers chofe to impute it to any thing, rather *' than the finger of God. As the fcene was " quite new, and I had jufc began to be an ex- *' tempore preacher, it often occafioned many in- " ward confiidts. Som^etimes, when twenty thou- " fand people were before me, I had not, in my *' own apprehenfion, a word to fay, either to " God or them. But I was never totally defert- *' ed, and frequently (for to deny it would be " lying againfr God) fo affifted, that I knew by *' happy experience, what our Lord meant by *^ faying, ' out of his belly fhall flow rivers of " living water.' The open firmament above me, " the prorpe6i: of the adjacent fields, with the *' fight of thoufands and thoufands, fome in " coaches, fome on horfeback, and fom.e in the " trees, and at times all afifedled and drenched in *' tears together, to which fometimes was added *' the folemnity of the approaching evening^ " was almioft too much for, and quite overcame ♦« mef^;." Befides the colliers, and thoufands from neigh- bouring villages, perfons of all ranks flocked (z) M. S. daily the Rev. M7\ George Whitefield. 39 daily out of BrJioL And he was foon invited to preach, by fome of the better fort, in a laro-e bowling-green in the city itfelf. Many indeed fneered, to fee a ftriplirg, with a gown, mount a table, upon what they called unconfecrated ground. And for once, or twice, it excited the contempt and laughter of the higher rank, who formerly were his admirers, when he preached in the churches. But God enabled him to (land the laugh, and to preach the Gofpel of Ckrift with earneftnefs and conftancy ; and was pleafed to at- tend it with his blelTing. From all quarters, people flocked under great concern about their fouls. Sometimes he was employed almofl: from morning to night, giving anfvver to thofe who came in great diftrefs, crying out, " What fhall *' we do to be f^ved?" More afllftance was wanted ; he therefore wrote to Mr. John Wejley^ who had never yet been at Brijiol^ and having re- ceiv^ed a favourable anfwer, recommended him and his brother, in the ilrongeft manner, to the people, and earneftly prayed that the laft might be firft ; for he was determined to purfue his fcheme of the Orphan- houfe, and return again to his retreat at Georgia. Mr. IVejIcy being come, he took an affedlionate leave of his friends at Briflol, and made a fecond excurfion to Wales^ where an awakening had be- gun fome years before, by the inllrumentality of the Rev, Mr. Griffith J ones ^ and was now carried on by the miniflry of one Mr. Howe I Harris^ a, lay- P 4 • man. 40 Memoirs of the Life of man. They met at Cardiff^ and in company with many others went to Hiijk^ Ponty-pool^ /Ihergavenn)\ Comiho\\ Carkon^ TreJex^ and Newport^ and preach- ed in all thefe places, Mr. IVhitefield firfl in Eng- liJJi^ and Mr. Harris afterwards in Welch^ to many thoLifands. The ferious perfons among them, of the Free Grace Diflenters, rejoiced ; but m.any of high-flying principles, and of another llamp, were equally enraged, and exprefled their diflike by mockings and threats. All thefe, however, he was enabled to bear with patience, and without the leait difcouragement. About the 8th of Aprils from Wales he went to Ghucejier^ the place of his birth, where a church was allowed him for once or twice, but no more. However, he preached frequently in Boothall^ (the place where the judges fit) and in his brother's field, to many thoufands f^J. His concern for his (a^ At the time of Mr. WhitefieWs preaching in Glou^ cejier^ old Mr. CgU^ a difTenting minifter, ufed to fay, *' Thefe are days of the Son of Man indeed." This Mr. Cok^ Mr. IVhitefield when a boy, was taught to ridicule. And being aflced once by one of his congre- gation, What bufinefs he would be of? He faid, " A *' minifter ; but he would take care never to tell ftories " in the pulpit like old CoUy About twelve years afterwards, the old man hearing him preach, and tell fome fliory to iJluftrate the fubjecSt he v/as upon, and having been informed what he had before faid, made this remark to one of his elders, " I find that young *' //7ji/r/^>/J can now tell ftories, as well as old C^/f." He was much affeded with Mr. Whitfield'^ preaching, and fo humhle, that he ufed to fubfcribe himfeif his the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 41 his countrymen, his fellow-citizens, and his own relations, made him forget all bodily weaknefs, (to which about this time he was frequently fub- jedl) and readily to comply with invitations given to preach at Painfwick^ Chehenham^ Evejham^ Badfe)\ Stroud^ Chafford^ places abounding with inhabitants, and where there is ground to hope, miany received much fpiritual benefit. To wander thus about from place to place ; to Hand in bowling-greens, at market- crofTes, and in highways, efpecially in his own country, where had he conferred with flefli and blood, he might have lived at eafe •, to be Warned by friends, and have every evil thing fpoken againft him by his enemies ; was (efpecially when his body was weak, and his fpirits low) very trying \ but flill he was inwardly fupported. Jpril 21. he again went to Oxford^ and after Haying a few days with the MethodiRs there, curate j and went about preaching after him in the country from place to place. But one evening, whilft preaching, he was ftruck with death, and then afked for a chair to lean on, till he concluded his fermon, when he was carried up flairs, and died. Mr. White- field's reflexion upon this (Letter DXXIII.) is, '' O '' blefied God ! if it be thy holy will, may my exit be «' like his!" As to Mr. TVhltefield's telling (lories in the pulpit, fome perhaps may find fault; but befide, that he had an uncommon fund of paiTages, proper enough to be thus told, and a peculiar talent of telling them j it was cer- tainly, a mean of drawing multitudes to hear him, who would not have attended to the truths of the Gof- pcl> delivered in the ordinary manner. came if 2 Memoirs of the Life of came to London^ where he attempted to prrach at Jjlington Church, the incumbent, Mr. Stonehonfe^ being a friend to the Methodifts ; but in the midft of the prayers, the church-v^^arden came, and demanded his licence, or otherwife he forbad his preaching in that pulpit. He might, perhaps, have infifted on his right to preach, yet for peace fake he declined •, and after the communion fer- vice was over, he preached in the church-yard. Opportunities of preaching in a more regular way being now denied him, and his preaching in the fields being attended with a remarkable blef- fing, he judged it his duty to go on in this practice, and ventured the foHowing Sunday into Mccrfields, Public notice having been given, and the thing being nev/ and fingular, upon coming out of the coach, he found an incredible number of people afiemblcd. Many had told him, that he fhould never come again out of that place alive. He went in, however, between tv/o of his friends, who by the predure of the crowd, were foon parted entirely from him, and vv^ere obliged to leave him to the mercy of the rabble. But ihefe, inftead of hurting him, formed a lane for him, and carried him along to the middle of the Fields^ (vy'here a table had been placed, which was broken in pieces by the crowd) and afterwards back again to the wall that then parted the upper and lower Mocrfields -, from whence he preached without mo- leftation, to an exceeding great multitude in the lower Fields. Finding fuch encouragement, he went the Rev. Mr. George Whltefidd. 43 went that fame evening to Kennington-Commcn a large open place, near three miles difcant from London, where he preached to a vail multitude, who were all attention, and behaved with as much regularity and quietnefs, as if they had been in a church (b). (h) " Words cannot well exprefs the elorious diT- ^' plays of Divine Grace, which we faw'^ and heard ^^ of, and felt.'* M. S. C U A P. ^4. Mevwtrs of the Life of CHAP. V. From his preaching in Moorfields, ^c. to his laying the Foundation of the Orphan- houfe in Georgia, 1740. FOR feveral months after this, Moorfields^ Ken- ningto7i'Common^ and Blackheath^ were the chief fcenes of adion. At a moderate computa- tion, the auditories often confided of above twenty thoufand. It is faid their finging could be heard two miles off, and his voice near a mile. Some- times there were upwards of a hundred coaches, befides waggons, fcaffolds, and other contrivances, which particular perfons let out for the convenience of the audience. Having no other method to take, he was obliged to colled for the Orphan-houfe in the fields, or not at all, which was humbling to him, and his friends, who alTifled him in that work. But the readinefs with which the peo- ple gave, and the prayers which they put up when throwing in their mites, were very encouraging [c]. In the mean while, Mr. John Wefley was labouring with great zeal at Briftol^ his brother, Mr. Charles^ in London and elfewhere, Mr. Ingham had been [c) *' Once upwards of twenty pounds were colledled " in halfpence." M, S. preaching the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 45 preaching in nnany churches of Torkfliire^ Mr. Kin- chin in Oxford, and Mr. Rogers in Bedford/litre. Thus the feed fown was gradually incrcafed, and the embargo which was now laid on the fliipping, gave him leifure for more journeys through various parts of England'^ and God was pleafcd to crown his labours with amazing fuccefs. Some demur happening in Brijlol^ he went there a few days.; put Mr. Joht JVeJley (who had now made a progrefs in building the Kingfwood fchool, and alfo had begun a room at Briftol) in full power J and took him along with him, and intro- duced him as a field preacher, at Gloucefter and other places. Every where the word feemejd to fink deeper and deeper into the hearts of the hearers. Singing and praying were heard in Kingf- wood^ inftead of curfing and fwearing ; and in many .other places the fruits of righteoufnels evi- dently appeared. Many falfe reports were now fpread abroad con- cerning him. Not a journey he could make, but he was either killed or wounded, or died fuddenly. One groundlefs fiction v/as continually invented after another. And the Biiliop of London laid hold of this occafion for publifhing a charge to his clergy to avoid the extremes of enthufiafm and lukewarm nefs. But amidft thefe difcourao^ments. he was not left v/ithout the countenance and friend- fhip of feveral perfons of influence. The embargo being taken ofi\, and upwards of a thoufand pounds colleded for the Orphan-houfe, he 46 Memoirs of the Life of he failed the fecond time for America^ Aiigujl 14, 1739, with a family confiding of eight men, one boy, and two children, befides his friend Mr. 6"^- *ward» After a pafifage of nine weeks (J), he arrived at Philadelphia in the beginning of November^ and was immediately invited to preach in the churches, to v/hich people of all denominations thronged, as in E^tgland. From thence, he was invite'd' to New* 2^ork^ by Mr. Noble, the only perfon witii whom he had any acquaintance in that part of America. Upon his arrival, they w^aited en the CommifTary ; but he refufed him the ufe of his church. Mr. IVhitefield, therefore, preached in the fields, and on the evening of the fame day, to a very thronged and attentive audience in the Rev. Mr. Pemherton'^ meeting-houfe : and continued to do fo twice or thrice a day for above a week •, and by all that could be judged, with very great fuccefs. On his way to and from Philadelphia, he alfo preached at Elizabelh-Tczvn, Maidenhead, Abingdon^ Nefljaminiy Burlington, and New-Brunfwick, in the New-Jerfcys, to fome thoufands gathered from va- rious parts, amiOng v/hom there had been a con- fiderabie awakening, by the inftrumentality of one [cl] For the manner in which he employed his time ^n boarJ, fee his Journals and Letters of this period. — A lit- tle before he failed, he finiflied his Anfwer to the Bifhop of Londm's Paftoral Letter. And during the voyage, he wrote his Letter to the Religious Societies of England. See Vol. IV. of his Works. I Mr. the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 47 Mr. Freelinghaufeny a Dutch miniftcr, and the MefTrs. TenncUts^ Blair, and Rowland. He had alfo the pleaiiire of meeting with old Mr. Tennent^ as well as his Tons, and with Mr. Dlckinfon (e). It was no lefs pkafing than ilrange to him, to fee fuch gatherings in a foreign land j miniilers and people (bedding tears j finners flruck with awc; and ferious peribns, who had been much run down and delpiled, filled with joy. Mean time,, the Orphan -houfe affairs went on well. The things brought from England, were fold for their benefit. A llcop was purchafed, of which Captain Gladman was mailer •, and a young man, who had lately received ferious impreiTions under Mr. WhitefieW^ preaching, willingly offered himfelf as mate. ff) *' Mr. Tennent, and his brethren in prefbytery, *' intend breeding up gracious youths for our Lord's *' vineyard. The place wherein the young men ftudy '' now, is a log-houfe, about twenty-feet long, and near *' as many broad. From this defpifed place, {twtn or *^ eight worthy mlnifters of Jefus have lately been fent *' forth, and a foundation is now la) ing for the inftru<5iion *' of many others. The work, I am perfuaded, is of *' God, and therefore will not come to nought,** Journals, November 22, 1739. The event has verified his judgment about this inftltu- tion. . It is now a large college at Prlncctown in Neiu- yerfeys : and has already had many worthy prefidents (fome of whofe names are well known in the learned world) fuch as Mr. Dickinfon^ Mr. Burr, Mr. Jonathan Edwards, Mr. Samuel Davie^, Dr. Finley, and at prefent Dr. IVitherfpoon, by whofe abilities, care, and adtivity it is, under Providence, in a-very flourifliing condition- And there has been lately, (fummer 1770) a remark- able revival of religion among the ftudents, both in the college and grammar- fchool. Many 48 Memoirs of the Life of Many little prefents were made to his family for fea ftores, and the intended houfe. And abouc the end of November ^ he took his leave of his fa- mily, and ordered them to proceed in their voyage to Savannah^ while himlelf, with Mr. Seaward and two more determined to go thither by land. Numbers followed, fome twenty, Ibme fixty miles out from Philadelphia, He preached at C^efter^ Wilmington^ Nezvcaftle^ (where he was met on the way by Mr. Rofs, minifter of the place) Chriftianbridge^ and Whitely Creek ^ where Mr. Wil- liam T^ennent (whofe meeting-houfe is in the neigh- bourhood) had ereded a tent for him. Here he obferved new Icenes of field-preaching, or rather preaching in the woods, opened to him. At Whitelj-Creek^ perhaps the congregation did not confrft of lefs than ten thoufand. Earneft invita- tions were given him to come and preach el fe- where ; which he had great encouragement to do, from the vifible fuccefs of his labours j but he hailed to be v;ith his family at Sava7mah, In his way thither, he alfo preached in Marylajtdj at North-Eajl and Joppa^ and at Annapolis^ the ca- pital, where he was received with much civiHty by the Governor ; and at Upper- Marlborough. In Virginia alio, he preached at Williamfourghy where he was courteoufly received by the Gover- nor, and by Mr. Blair the CommiiTary, whom he fpeaks of with great regard. When he came to North-Carolina^ he thought it feemed to be the greatell vvafte, and the moft un- cultivated the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 49 cultivated of fpots, both in a temporal and fpi- ritual fenfe. Yet here, in a place called Newhurn- T^zv77, his preaching was attended with an uncom- mon influence. And it was not without effed at Newlon on Cape Fear river, where were many from Scotland amongft the congregation, who had lately- come over to fettle in North-Carvlina, Immediately on coming into South -Carolina pro- vince, (he fays) a vifible change was obfcrvable in the manners of the people. And when he came to Charkftowny (which was on Saturday^ January 3, 1 740) he could fcarce believe but he was amongft Londoners^ both in refped of gaiety of drefs, and politenefs of manners. Here he foon perceived, that by field-preaching he had loft his old friend the CommifTary, who once promifcd to defend him with life and fortune. However, at the requeft of the Independent mi- nifter, (who continued his friend to his dying day) he preached in his meeting-houfe. At the firft fermon, all was gay and trifling, no imprellion feemingly made at all. But next morning in the French church, the fcene was quite altered. A vifible, and almoft univerfal concern appeared. Many of the inhabitants earneftly delired him to give them one fermon more ; for which purpofe he was prevailed upon to put oflF his journey till the next day ; and there was rcafon to think his ftay was not in vain. Next morning, he and his companions (tt out in an open canoe for Savannah ^ ana in their way, E for 5P Memoirs of the Life of for the firfl time, lay in the woods, upon the ground near a large fire, which keeps off the wild beads ^ upon which he makes this refiedlion (/), " An "■ emblem, I thought, of the divine love and pre- " fence keeping off evils and corruptions from '' the foul." On his arrival at Savannah^ 'January ii, he was very happy to meet his famiily, who had got there three weeks before him ; and to find by letters from England^ New-Tork^ &c. that the work of God profpered. But it was a melancholy thing to fee the colony of Georgia reduced even to a much lower ebb than when he left it, and almoft deferted by all but luch as could not well go away. Em- ploying thefej therefore, he thought would be of fingular fervice, and the money expended, might be alio a means of keeping them in the colony. Before his arrival, Mr. Haherjham had pitched upon a plot of ground for the Orphan- houfe, of 500 acres, about ten miles from Savannah^ and had already begun to clear and (lock it. The or- phans, in the mean time, were accommodated in a hired houfe. On this, many years after, he makes the following reflections : " Had I pro- *' ceeded according to the rules of prudence, I *' fliould have firft cleared the land, built the f houfe, and then taken in the orphans; but I *-' found their condition fo pitiable, and the inha- bitants fo poor, that I immediately opened aa (f) M. ^. ■ ^^ in- cc the Rev. Mr, George Whitcfleld. 51 ** infirmary, hired a large houfe at a great rent, ^' and took in, at different times, twenty-four or- " phans. I'o all this I was encouraged, by the '* example of Profeffor Franck, But 1 forgot to " recoiled, that Profeffor Franck built in Gliuicha^ " in a populous country, and that I was building " in the very tail of the world, where I could not " expe6t the leaft fupply, and which the badnefs *' of its conffitution, which every day I expedted ^* would be altered, rendered by far the moil ex- '' penfive part of all his Majefty's dominions. But *' had I received more and ventured lefs, I Ihould '' have fuffered lefs, and others more f^).'* The firft collection he made in America^ was at the Rev. Mr. Smiths meeting-houfe in Charkftown^ whither he went about the middle of March ^ to fee Jiis brother, the Captain of a fliip from England. He was defired by fome of the. inhabitants, to fpeak in behalf of the poor orphans-, and the col- ledion amounted to feventy pounds T^fr/i^g". This was no fmall encouragen:ent to him at that time, efpecially as he had reafon to think it came from thofe who had received fpiritual benefit by his mi- niflrations. Having returned to Savannah^ he went to the fpot of ground, where he intended the Orphan- houfe fliould be built, and upon the 25th day of Marcby 1740, laid the firft brick of the great jiQufe, which he called Bethefda^ i. e. ^ boufe of E 2 mercy C2 Memoirs of the Life of mercy (b). By this time, near forty children were taken in, to be provided with food and raiment ; and counting the workmen and all, he had near a hundred to be daily fed. He had very little mo- ney in bank ; and yet he was not difcouraged, being perfuaded that the bcft thing he could do at prefent for the infant colony was, to carry on the work. {h) Long after this he writes, " Blefled be God, I ^^ have not been difappointed in the hope, that it would *' be a houfe and place of mercy to many, both in re^ ^' fpcdl to body and foul," M. S. CHAP. the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 53 CHAP. VI. p}'om his laying the Foundation of his Orphan-houfe in Georgia^ to his Arrival in England, 1741. MR. TFhitefield again, therefore, fet off in d flcrop for Newcafiie in Penfyhania^ where he arrived about the middle of April. In this fhorc paflage of ten days, he was much difcouraged both by weaknefs of body, and low fpirits. Bur, as he obferved afterwards. Providence was infinitely better to him than his fears, and exceeded his moil fanguine expedations. For during the fpace of two months, he was flrengthened to preach, ge- nerally twice, and frequently, befides travelling, thrice a day. At Philadelphia^ the churches were no longer allowed him ; but he preached in the fields to congregations that cOnfifted fometimes of near ten thoufand^ and with great apparent fuccefs. Large collections were made for the Orphan-houfej once, not lefs than an hundred and ten pounds jlerlmg. Societies for praying and finging were fet on foot \ and in every part of the town, many were concerned about their falvation. Some were wrought upon in a more inftantaneous, others in a more progrefTive, fome in a more filent, others in a more violent manner {i), (/) *' Many iiearoes came; fome (:)'i them inquiring-, « Have I a fou! ? '^' M S. K 9 At 54 Memoirs cf the Life of At NciV'tork^ NeiV'Briwfwick^ Styatlcn-JflanJ^ Bc^fenv'idge^ Whitelj-Creek^ Ff-ogs-Mayior^ Reedy- ijland^ there was great concern upon the mind both of the preacher and hearers. Sometimes he was almoft dead with heat and fatigue. Thrice a day he was lifted up upon his horl'e, unable to mount otherwife 5 then rode and preached, and came in and hiid him 1111' along upon two or three chairs^ He did riot doubt but fuch a courfe would Ibon take him to his defired reft* Yet he had many delightful hours v/ith MefTrs; lennents^ Blair ^ &c.. " Nighty f^tys he, -was as ir *' were turned into ^2i\\ when we rode finging *' through the woods. I could not help recom- •' mending thefe men, wherever 1 went, in the *' ftrongeft manner, becaufe I faw they gloried in « the crofs of Chrill {k):' With (/(•) M. S, In a Journal Written by Mr. /^'7///>w Snvard^ (Mr. WhiteJickVs companion in travel) v/e have the following particulars belonging to this period. *'' Jpril Cj^ 1740. Mr. JVhitefidd propofed my going *' to England upon feveral important affairs, particularly «' to brmg over Mr. Hutcbins to take cr.re of the Orphan^ *< houle \h his abfcnce— To acquaint the 7>ufiees of *' Georgia with the ftate of the colony, and the means, *' uniler God, for the better efli^blifliment thereof, it «' being now upheld almoft wholly by the foldiery and *' Orphan- houfe, moft of the people who are uncon- *' cerned in either, being gone or going — The proper *' means are principally three, I. An allowance of ne- '« 2;rocs. 2." A free title to the lands. 3. An indcpen- " dent magiilracy, viz. fuch as are able and willing to *' ferve v/lthout fee or reward- My bufinefs with the " Truftees v/ill be farther, to bring over the money the Rev. Mr. George Whiteficld. 55 With oreat joy he reached Savannah on the 51 h bf June, bringing his orphans, in money and pro- vifions, *« lodged in their hands for building the church at .S^;- *' vannah, I am, moreover, to coUe^l: fubfcriptions for *' a negtoe fchool in Penfyhania^ where our brother " WhiUfield propofes to take up land, in order to fettle *' a town for the reception of fuch Englijh friends, whole *' hearts God (hall incline to come and fettle there. <« April 13. Mr. Tennent informed us of the great <« fuccefs which had attended our brother IVhltcfielcl's <« preaching, when here laft. For fome time, a general *' filence was fixed by the Lord on people's minds, and *' many began ferioufly to think on what foundation they '' flood — A general outward reformation has been vifi-- *' ble. Many minifters have been quickened in their " zeal to preach the word in feafon and out of feafon. *« Cono;regations are increafed, and fome few, it is hoped^ *' will be brought, through their convictions, into a '' found and faving converfion.'* " April 14. Mr. Jones^ the Baptift minifter, told us " of two other minifters, Mr. Treat and lAu Morgan., *' who were fo affe6ted with our brother fVhiiefiekrs fpi- '' rit, that the latter had gone forth, preaching the glad «' tidings of falvation, towards the fea-coaft in the Jer- *■' fiys^ and mahy other places which lay in darknefs and '' the fhadow of death. The. former told his congrega- *' tion, that he had been hitherto deceiving himfelf and " them ; and that he could not preach to them at prefent, *' but defired they would join in prayer with him. " April I 5. We were informed, that an hidian trader '< was' fo afFcaed with brother Ifhiujield's dodrine,^ that " he is ' April 2$. Rofe at three o'clock: and though our "• brother lllntpfuld was very weak in body, yet the "• Lord enabled him to ride near fifty miles, and to '^ preach to about five thoufand pi-ople a: Amivcll, with *• the the Rev, Mr. George Whitefield. 57 ydnng and old were all diflblved in tears. Some, who came to vifu them, were alfb deeply imprcflcd ; particularly Mr. Htigib Bryan and his family, and fome (^kk) of Iiis relations. Several from Beauford jn South-Carolina^ then received their firft impref- fions. All thefe things gave him great encourage- ment. And though his family was now great, (near a hundred and fifty, including workmen) and the plan laid down would have required fomc ** the fame power as ufual. Mr. Gilbert Tennenty *' Mr. Rowlafid^ Mr. JValeSy and Mr. Campbell four *' godly miniflers, met us here. " April 26. Came to New-Brunfwick. — Met Mr. No- *' hie from Neiv-ym'k^ a zealous promoter of our Lord's *' kingdom. He faid their fociety at New-Tork was in- *■' created from feventy, to one hundred and feventy, '* and was daily increafing ; and that Meffrs. Gilbert d^nd *' IVilliaTn Tennents^ Mr. Roivlamly and feveral others, " were hard labourers in our Lord's vineyard. *' April 28. Had a moft affedtionate parting with our ** dear brother IFhite field, and our other brethren." The reft of Air. Seward's Journal was written moftly during his pafTage to England, where he arrived June 19, and with which it condudes, Mr. IVhitefield, in the new edition of his Journals, 1756, obfervcs, '* April " 28, 1740. This was the laft rime I faw my worthy *' friend ; for, before my return to England, he was en- *' tered into his reft, having Jeft behind, a glorious tefti- ■*' mony of the transforming efHcacy of converting grace. '< This hath alfo been the happy cafe of his brother " Benjamin^ who lately finifhed his courfc u'ith joy." [lik) For a more particular account of Mr. Bryan s fa- mily, and of his vifit to Mr. UVitcfi'cld, and what fol- lowed upon it. See No. L of Living Chriftianity deli- mated in th^ Diaries and Letters of Air, Hugh 13ryan and Mrs. Marv Hutfon. Reccmmenued by tht Rev. Dr. Con- xkr and Dr, Gibbons, thou- 5 3 Memoirs of the Lifs of thoufards to fupport it •, and although very oftcrf he had not twenty pounds in cafh, he was ftill kepr. from being diflieartened ; and his friends, believ ing the work to be of God, continued cheerfully to aflift him. Though he was very weak in body, yet the cry from various quarters for more preaching, and the necefTity of fupplying fo large a family, made him go again to CbarleS'Town^ where, as well as at Borchejler^ JJJiley-Ferry^ Pbnpon, and Jolms-ljland^ he preached to very attentive and affeded audito- ries. Charles -Tozvn was the place of the greateft fuccefs, and of the greatcft oppofition. The Com- mifiary poured out his anathemas, refufed to give him the facrament, and publifhed fome letters- acainft him.. But all in vain. He preached twice almoft every day, to great crowds, in the Indepen- dent and Baptift meeting-houfes i befides expound- inw in the evening in merchants houles. Thus he went on fucceCjfully (though often ready to die with the exceffive heat) till the end of ^dugiiji : when having received moil prefling invitations from the Rev. Dr. Colman^ and Mr. Cooper^ minifters in Bojlon \ and being defirous of feeing the defcen- dants of the good old Puritans, and their feats of learning; and having encouragement that fome- thing might be done for the Orphan-houle, he em- barked in the Orphan-houfe floop iox Nezv-Englandi in company with feveral Charles-'Town friends ; and arrived at Rhode- IJland^ Sepl ember 14. Here the Rev. Mr, George ^Whitefield. 59 Here feveral gentlemen foon came to vifit him, among whom was the Rev. Mr. C/^/), an aged dif- fenting minifler, in whom he thought he faw what manner of men the old Puritans were, who firfl: fettled New- England^ and was much delighted with his converfation. They went together to the in- cumbent's houfe, to aflc the ule of the church, which was granted : and in it he preached three days, twice a day, to deeply affeded auditories. This he thought was a happy entrance into New- England. But he was ft ill more agreeably furprifed^ when, before he got to Bcfion^ he was met feveral miles from the city, by the Governor's Ton, and fome of the minifl:erSi and principal inhabitants^ wh6 conduced him to Mv, St—^nf — rJ's (brother- in-law to Dr. Coiman) who, with his collegue Mr. Cooper, and many others, came and joined in prayer. Jonathan Belcher, Efq-, was then Governor of the Majpzchufeth colony, and Jofuih J'P^illard, Se- cretary. Both thefe gentlemen were his fincere friends; fo were the minifterSj MelTrs. IVeh, Fox- craft, Prmce, Dr. Sewall, Gee, &c. To avoid, however, giving any jufl: offence, he went to the Englifii church to morning prayers •, but finding, by converfation with the Commilfary, and ibme other clergy, that there was no accefs there, he began preaching in the afternoon, at Dr. Coiman^ meet- houfe, and fo went round (except when lie preached on the common)* to the other meeting-houfes, '^ efpecialiy 6o Memoirs cf the Life of cfpecially the largeft of them, for fome time to- gether. Governor Belcher generally attended ^ Secretary IFillard, and fevcral of the Council, fet the fame example ; and all feemed to vie who (hould fliow the grcateft refpedl. Congregations were exceed- ing large, both witlr.n and without •, and were much affeded. Old Mr. IValter^ who fucceeded Mr. Ellict^ commonly called the apoftle of the Indians^ at Roxhury\ faid it was Puritanlfm revived : and Dr. Colman laid, when preaching at his meet- ing-houfe the Sunday following, that '' it was the " happieft day he ever faw in his life.'* He preached alfo at Cambridge^ Marblehead^ Ipf* ivich^ Nezjuhur)\ Hampton^ Tork^ PcrtfmoiUh^ Salem^ and Mai4[den^ to large congregations. The gentle- men of the greated repute had their houfes open, in every place •, coliediions were readily made for the orphans : and, in abo^t a week, having preached fixteen times, and rode a hundred and feventy miles, he returned to Bcfton^ OBoher 6. Here the congregations were dill Increafed. At his farewell fermon, it was fuppofed there were near twenty thoufand people. He received a great number of letters, and could have fpent whok days in converfing with thofe that came to him under foul concern. Miniftcr^ and iludents at- tended. Little children were imprefTcd. The contributions for the orphans were very confider- able, amounting, in town and country^ to near five ijundrcd pounds/t'r/;??^. 5 H«. the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, 6 1 He fet out next for Northampton : having read in England an account of a remarkable work of converfion there, . publirtied by their pallor the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Edwards , and having a great defire to fee him, and to hear the account froni his own mouth. At Concordy Sudbury^ Marlhoroiigh^ Worcefter^ Leicejler^ Hadle)\ places all lying in the way, puU pits and houfes were every where opened, and a continued influence attended his preaching. At Northampton^ when he came to remind them of what God had formerly done for them, it was like putting fire to tinder. Both minifler and people were much moved % as were the children of the family, at an exhortation which their father defired Mr. Whitefield to give them. After leaving Northampton^ he preached in Weft- field, Springfield^ Stiffield^ Windfor^ Hertford^ Wea- ther sfield^ Middleton^ and Walling ford ^ to large and afFed:ed congregations. And O^oher 23, reached Newhaven^ where he was affedionately received by Mr. Pierponty brother-in-law to Mr. Edwards^ and had the pleafure of feeing his friend Mr. Noble of NeW'Torky who brought him letters from Georgia. Here alfo he was much refrefhed with the conver- fation of feveral gofpel minifters. It being aflem- bly time, and the Governor and Burgefles then fitting, he flayed till Lord's-day, and had the plea- fgre to fee numbers daily imprefTed. The good old Governor was particularly much affe6lcd 5 and ^t a private vifit which Mr. Whitefield paid him, laid, 62 Mt'fnoirs of the Life of faid, *' Thanks be to God, for fuch refreiliings m ^' our way to heaven." On Monday morning he fet forward, and preacheci with ufual liiccefs at Milford^ Stratford^ Fairfield^ Newark^ and Stanford^ where he was vifited by Ibme minifters under deep concern. This was on the borders of New-Tork pro- vince, into which he now again entered, an4 preached at Rys and Kingjlridge^ on his way to the city of New Tork^ where he arrived OMoher 30. Here for three days fucceflively, and afterwards at Staten-JfMnd^ Neivark^ B^Jkenridge^ his preaching appeared to be attended with more fuccefs than isver. At 'Trenton he had a long conference with fome minifccrs about Mr. Gilbert Tenent'% comply- ing with an invitation to go and preach in New^ England. After prayer, and confidering the argu- ments both for and againfc this propofal, they thc'jght it bed he lliould go ; which, however dif- fident of himfelf, he was periliaded to do. Anc} his minijlrations were attended with an extraordi? n^iry blefling to multitudes, as is particularly nar- rated eli'cwhcre (/). Saturday (/) Sec Prince-j Chr'ijUan H'ljtorj^ or, Hijlor'ical Colkc- pons of the Succcfs of the Gojpei, Vol. 11. where the fadts are fet down in the order of time. About this time Mr. JVhittfield wrote his Letter to fome Church- Members cf the Prcjlyicrian Perfuafion^ in An^ fujer to certain Scruples and ^icries which they had propofed, •§ee Woiks, Vol. iV, Wh^t the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 63 Saturday November §, Mr. PP^hitefield came back %o Philadelphia^ and n^xt day preached to feveral thour What fort of reception he had in Nezv-pngland^ vnXl farther appear from the following letters of f'ome eminent ininiftcrs of Bc/hfi^ and adjacent towns, puhlifbcd by the Rev. Mr. Joftah S/niib, oi Charles-Town^ in the Sputh-Ca- rolina Gazetce. " Rev. and dear Sir ^ OSIqher i^ I'J^O* " Your kind letter by Mr. Whitejidd^ and your other, ■*' are both now before me. You raifed our expejStations M of him very much, as did his Journals more, and '' Mr. P, of New-York^ concurred with them ; but we " own, now that we have feen and heard him, that our " expectations are all anfvi^ered and exceeded, not only •*' in his zealous, and fervent, abounding labc^urs, but iii '' the command of the hearts and atfedtions of his *' hearers. — He has been received here as an angel of *' God, and feryant of 'Jcfus Chrijl. — I hope this vilit to '' us, will be of very great ufe and benefit to minifters " and people. He has found his heart and mouth much ^' opened to fpeak freely and boldly to us, and he finds " it received with joy." The fame Gentleman, A^^- vefnher 29, 1740, v/rites thus : — '' Mr. JFhiiefieldXth us *' feven weeks ago ; the laft week we heard of him at *' Philadelphia, i hear that much of the piefence of God *' is with him. He has left a blefiing behind him, we ** hope, with us. Our people, high and low, old and *' young, are very fwift to hear. The excellent meek- ?' nefs of Mr. WhitefieW^ Anfwer to the Qiierifts, will " honour him to you." Another, in a Letter, 06loher 22, 1 740, exprefTes him- felf thus : " Though it is always a fingular pleafure to ?' me to hear from you, yet your two letters by f' Mr. JVhitefield^ had a new circumftance of pleafure ?' from the dear hand that prcfented them. I perceive " you v/as impatient to know what fort of entering in *' he had among us. We (minillers, rulers, and peo- *' pie) generally received him as an angel of God. When f he preached his farewell fermon in gur common, there * ' " were 64 Memoirs of the Life of thoufands in a hoiife built for that purpofe, fiiice his lad departure. Here he both heard of, and favv *' were twenty- three thoufand, at a moderate computa- *' tion. We are abundantly convinced, that you fpoke ♦* the words of truth and fobernefs in your fermon relat- *' ing to him. Such a power and prefence of God with '' a preacher, and in religious afTemblies, I never faw " before ; but 1 would not limit the Holy One of JfraeL '^ The prejudices of many are quite conquered, and ex- '* pe/ho could not fall in with Mr. lVef,cy\ fentiments, and one or two more in like circum- flances, having joined Mr. IVkitcfidd,, they began a new houfe in Kin^fzvcod^ and foon cftablifned a fchool among them, that favoured Calvin iflical Principles. And here, and in feveral other places, they preached to very large and ferious congreo-a- tions, in the fame manner as he had done in America, Thither he intended to return as foon as pofli- ble. Mean time, it being inconvenient, pn ac- count of the weather, to preach morning and evening in Mocrfields ; fome Free-grace Diffenters, (who flood by him clofely in that time of trial) got the loan of a piece of ground, and engaged with a carpenter to build a large temporary flied, (0) About this time he was ordered to attend in the Parliament Houfe, to give information concerning the ftate of the Colony in Georgia. " Jprii 10, 1 741. I " have been at the Parliament Houfe. The Georgia " affair was adjourned. It was fomewhat of a trial to " be in the houfe. I thc^u remembered what the " Apdftle faid, ' We are become a fpeiSlacle to men.' ** My Appeal will come to nothing, I believe. I have *' waited upon the Speaker. He received me very « kindly." Letter CCLXXIV. Again, " He treated me kindly, and affured me, that " there would be no pcrfccution in this King's reign." tetter CCLXXXVI, . F 4 to 72 Memcirs of the Life of to fcreen the auditory from cold and rain, which he called a tabernacle ^ as it was only intended to be made ufe of for a few months, during his (lay in his native country. The place fixed upon, was very near the Foundery, which he difliked, be- caufe he thought it looked like ere<5ling altar againfl altar; but upon this occafion he remarks, " All was wonderfully over-ruled for good, and " for the furtherance of the Gofpcl. A freflx *' awakening immediately began. Congregations " grew exceeding large, and at the people's de- '' fire, I fent (necefllty reconciling me more and *' more to lay- preaching) for Melfeurs Cennicky '' Harris^ Sengrave^ Humphries^ &c. &c. &c, to *' affiftCpJ." Frefli doors were now opened to him, and in- vitations fent to him from many places, where he had never been. At a common, near Braintree in Efex^ upwards of ten thoufand perfons attended. At Halftead^ Bedha-m^ CofsleJJially JVethersfield^ Col- chefter^ Bury^ Jpfwicb^ the congregations were very- large and much affecledf^j. At this time alfo, he was flrongly folicited by religious perfons, of different perfuafions, to vifit Scotland, Several letters had pad between him ip) M. S. (q) "- S'vveet wzis the converfation I had with feveral *' miniflers of Chriji. But our own clergy grew more '' and more fiiy, now they knew I was a Calvimjl ; ^^ tho* no doubt (as Mr. Bedford told me when going to *' the Bifnop of London) our Articles are Calvini/iicaL" M.S. and the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 73 and the McflTieurs Erjkines^ fome time before (r)^ and he had a great defire to fee them. He there- fore took his paflage from London to Lsithy where (after five days, which he employed in writing many excellent letters to his Orphans, &c. fee Letter CCCXI. to CCCXXXVII.) he arrived July 30, 1 741. Several perfons of diftinclion mod gladly received him, and would have had him preach at Edi7iburgh dircdly \ but he was de- termined that the Rev. MefTieurs Erjkincs fhould have the firfl: offer; and therefore went imme- diately to Dumfermlin^ and preached in Mr, Er- JIdnes's Meeting- houfe. Great periuafions were ufed to detain him at Dumfermlin^ and as great to keep him from preach- ing for, and vifiting the Rev. Mr. WardUvjj^ who had been collegue to Mr, Ralph ErJIdne above (r) See his Journals, and his Letters to the Rev. Mr. Ps.. E. and the Rev. Mr. E. E. In his laft to Mr. E. E. before coming to ScotLuid (Letter CCLXXX) he writes, *' May^ i6, 1741. l^his " morning, I received a kind letter from your brother " Ralphs who thinks it beft for me wholly to join the «* AlTociate Prefbytery, if it fnould pleafe God to ftmd *' me into Scotland. This I cannot altogether come in- *' to. I come only as an occafional preacher, to preach " the fimple Gofpel to all that are willing to hear me, " of whatever denomination. I write this, that there " may not be the leafl: mifunderftanding between us, " I love and honour the Aflbciate Prefoytery in the '* bowels of Jefus Chriji : but, let them not be oifend- " ed, if in aii things, I cannot immediately fall in vviili " them." To the fame purpofe he writes to Mr. R. E. May 23, 1741. Letter CCLXXXVIII. tvve.uy 74 Memoirs of the Life of twenty years, and who, as well as the Rev. Mr. Davldfcn^ a difTenting minifter in England, that went along with Mr. Whitefield^ were looked up- on as perjured, for not adhering to the Solemn League and Covenant. This was new language to him, and therefore unintelligible. But that he might be better informed, it was propofed that the Rev. Mr. Mcncrief, Mr. Ehenczer ErJJdne, and others, members of the AfTociate Preibytery, fiiould convene in a few days, in order to give him farther light. In the mean time, Mr. Ralph Erjkim accom- panied him to Edinburgh, where he preached in the Orphan-houfe Park, (field -preaching being no novelty in Scotland) to a very large and affedl- ed auditory, upon thefe words, " The Kingdom " of God is not Meat and Drink, but Righteouf- *' nefs, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoft." The next day he preached in the Weft Kirk, and exprefled great pleafure in hearing two Gofpel Sermons from the Rev. Mr. Gufthart, and the Rev. Mr. Mac Vicar. And the following day, he preached in the Cannongate Church, where Mr. Ralph Erjkine went up with him into the pulpit. According to promife, he returned v/ith him to T)tiiTifermUn, where Mr. E. Erfiine, and feveral of the AiTociate Prefbytery were met together. When Mr. JVbitejuld came, they foon propofed to pro- ceed to bufiners. He afked them for what pur- pofe ? They anfwered, to difcourfe, and fet him richt about Church Government, and the Solemn League and Covenant, He replied, they might fave the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. y^ fave themfelves that trouble, for he had no (cruple about it, and that fettling Church Go- vernment, and preaching about the Solemn League and Covenant, was not his plan. He then told them fomething of his experience, and how he was led into his prefent way of adiing. One of them, in particular, faid he was deeply afFeded. And Mr. E. Erjkine de- fired they would have patience with him, for that having bec^ born and bred in England^ and never ftudied the point, he could not be fuppofed to be perfediy acquainted with it. But Mr. M. infift- ed, that he was therefore more inexcufeable, for England had revolted moft with refpedl to Church Government; and that he being born and edu- cated there, could not but be acquainted with the matter in debate. Mr. Whitefield told him, he had never yet made the Solemn League and Cove- nant the fubjecl of his lludy, being too bufy about matters which he judged of greater im- portance. Sevcnil replied, that every pin of the Tabernacle was precious. He anfwered, that in every building, there were outfide and infide workmen ; that the latter, at prefent, was his province; that if they thought themfelves called to the former, they might proceed in their own way, and he would proceed in liis. He then aflced them feriouily, what they would have him to do? The anfwer was, that he was not defired to fub- fcribe immediately to the Solemn League and Co- venant, but tb preach only for them, till he had further light. He ^fked. Why only for them ? Mr. 7 6 Memoirs of the Life of Mr. R. E. faid, " They were the Lord's People." He then afked, Were no other the Lord's People but themfelves ? If not, and if others were the Devil's people, they had more need to be preach- ed to j that for his part, all places were alike to him ', and that if the Pope himfelf would lend him his pulpit, he would gladly- proclaim in it the righteoufnefs of the Lord Jefus Chrift, Some- thing paifed about taking two of their brethren with him to England^ to fettle Prefbytery there \ and then with two more, to go and fettle Prefby- tery in America. But he afked, Suppofe a num- ber of Independents fhould come, and declare, that after the greateft fcarch, they v/ere convinced that Independency was the right Church Govern- ment, and would difturb no body, if tolerated ; fhould they be tolerated ? They anfwered, No. — Soon after this the company broke up. And Mr. M. preached upon If. xxi. ii, 12. '' Vv^atchman, '' what of the night ? &c." And took occafion to declaim ftrongly againft the Ceremonies of the Church of England^ and to argue (jj, " That one " who held Communion with that Church, or " with the backQidden Church of Scotland, could *' not be an Inftrument of Reformation." The (s) " I attended ; but the good man fo fpent himfelf " in the former part of his fermon, in talk-ng againil *' prelacy, the Common Prayer-Book, thefurplice, the *' rofe in the hat, and fuch like externals ; that when " he came to the latter part of his text, to invite poor *« finners to ^cjus Chrijl^ his breath was io gone, that he *' could fcarce be heard. What a pity, th^t the iaft was " not tirft, and the iirft Iaft 1 '* Letter CCCXXXIX. confequcnce the Rev, Mr. George Whitejfield. 77 confcqucnce of all this, was, an open breach. Mr. IVhilefield retired though ctul and uneaiy to his clofet, and after preaching in the fields, fac down and dined with them, and then, took a final leave (t). Many waited at Edinhtirgh to know the ilTue of the conference, who were not difappointed in the event. Thither he returned, after preaching at Inner kei things and the ^^^»'s-/'ith contempt, but " with oppofition alfo,. from thofe who ought to *' adl a very different part. Did he preach ano- " ther Jefus, or another dodtrine, he ought juflly *' to be rejeded : but this is not the cafe. And *' yet this very thing is advanced as an argument *' againft him : It is faid, he advances nothing *' new. And I allow it. This gives his friends " joy. But thefe reverend gentlemen fhould " mind, that there are two things in Gofpel '^ ordinances, purity and power. The firft, in " mercy, we ftill have in feme good meafure (tho' " complaints of the want of this are very open) ; *' but the laii, we fadly confefs the want of, and *' this is v/hat attends the Gofpel difpenfed by him. " And furc, I am, that even the credible report ^ of it fliould much endear him to all, who wiili " well 9© Memoirs of the Life of ** well to the interefl of our dear, tho' too un- •* known, and altogether lovely Lord Jefus, *' His calmnefs and fereniry under all he meets *' with, yea his joy in tribulation, is to me fo «' furprifing, that I often think, the Lord fent *' him to this place, in particular, to teach me *' how to preach, and elpecially how to fuffer. " His attachment to no party, but to Chrijl ** and true Grace alone, has long appeared to me *' a peculiar excellency in him. Chriftianity has *' been fo long broken into fo many different " itdis and parties, that an honed pagan might *^ juftly be at a lofs, was he among us, where to ^' find the religion of Jefus. " One now appears, who loudly calls us (and " whofe voice the Lord feems to back with power) *' to look into the original plan of that religion *' we profefs : fure nothing more juft, nothing " more reafonable. He tells us, wherein the " Kingdom of God does confift. And yet how '^ fad is it, he Ihould be defpifed. Who knows ** but this may be the Lord's lall voice to us, " before he takes his kingdom from us ? *' As to what you afK of his reception in this *' city ; I invited him, nny, urged him^ to un- *' dertake this journey, in confequence of a cor- " refpondence with him, for miOre than two or ^' three years. I did it with the concurrence of a ^^ very few. PI>is journey was delayed, till bad '' reports had imbittcred the minds of aimoil all *•' againfl him : fo that when he came, I could '' fcarce the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. gi *' fcarce obtain liberty for him to preach even in *' the fields. All that I could do, was wh'at I ^' had reijlved long before ; I gave him with great " pleafure, and full freedom, my pulpit, which, *' for that day, was in the church which our " magiftrates and principal people of note frc- *' quent. And at once, the Lord, by his preach^ *^ ing, melted down the iicarts of his enemies, " (except ^ and ■ — ) ; fo that, con- " trary to our cuftom, he was allowed the fame *' place and pulpit in the evening of that day, *' and the other church as often as he pleafed. " While he ftayed among us in this city, he *' anfwered our expectations fo much, that he has '' fcarce more friends any where of its bulk, " than here, where, at firft, almoft all were a- " gainft hirn. And the word came alfo with fo " much power, that I hope feveral of different ^' denominations, will blefs the Lord for ever- " more, that cfer they heard him. And in his ^' way from us, I faw in part, and have heard ^' more fully fince, what fatisfies, that this was ^* of the Lord, and for the good of many." *' P, S, I fuppofe you have heard, that our ma- ^' giftrates waited on him while here, and made *' him free of this place ; though that is a com- " pliment, rarely allowed to (Irangers, of late.*' Mr. WiU'tfon^ minifter at Dundee^ wrote as fol- lows, to his friend at Edinburgh, " OEloher 8, *' I74i(^). Honoured Sir, I am favoured with ^) QHg^ Weekly Hiftory, No. XIII. _" yours. '5/2 Memoirs of the Life of *' yours, wherein you defire my thoughts of Mr' *' WhitefieU^ and an account of his labours and " fuccefs with us. Although my ientiments may " be little regarded by many, yet when you put *' me to it, I think I am bound to do juftice to *' the chara6ter of this ftranger, which I fee few " willing to do. 1 am not m.uch furprized, *' though the Devil, and all he can influence, be " up in arms againft the youth, feeing he makes *' fuch bold and vigorous attacks upon his king- " dom and ftrong holds. As you, Sir, do ob- " ferve it to be with you, fo it is with us. He is •' hated, and fpoken againft, by all the epifcopal " party, and even the mod of our clergy do *' labour to diminidi and expofe him : this is not *' to be much wondered at, feeing his inceffant *' labours for Chrift and fouls, is fuch a ilrong *' reproof to them ; befides, what he fays pub- ** licly, againft the fending out of unconverted •' minifters, and their preaching an unknown •' Chrtfi ', this muft be galling to carnal men. I *' look upon this youth, as railed up of God ** for fpecial fervice, and fpirited for making new *' and fmgular attempts, for promoting true •* chriftianity in the world, and for reviving it *' where it is decayed j and I fee him wonder- ••' fully fitted and ftrengthened, both in body and *' mind, for going through with his projeds, *' amidft the greateft difcouragements and difH^ *"' culties. I fee the man to be all of a piece ; ." his life and converiation to be a tranfcript of ' " his the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. g^ his fermons. It is truly a rare thing, to fee fo much of God about any one man. To fee one fo eminent for humility, in the midfl of applaufe; for meeknefs and patience, under reproaches and injuries ; for love to enemies ; for defire to glorify Cihriji, and fave fouls ; contentment in a mean lot, acquiefcing in the will of God in all cafes, never fretting under any difpenfation, but ftill pralfing and giving thanks for every thing. It is rare to fee in a man, fuch a flaming fire for God and againft fin, when in the pulpit •, and yet mofl eafy and calm in converfing with men out of it ; care- ful not to give offence to them, and yet never courting the favour of any. God has beftow- ed a large meafure of gifts and graces upon him, for the work he is engaged in, and has made him a chofen veflel, to carry his name among the Gentiles^ and to revive his work in feveral other churches. O that God may order his coming to poor Scotland^ in fuch a cloudy time, for the fame end ! And who knows, but God might be intreated, if we could wreflle with him, notwithftanding all our provoca- tions ! Things appeared mofl: unlikely, in other places, fome while ago, where now Chriji is riding in triumph, going forth conquering and to conquer. This worthy youth, is Angu- larly fitted to do the work of an Evangelift •, and I have been long of opinion, that it would be for the advantage of the world, were this " ftill 94 Memoirs of the Life of *"' flill to be a (landing office in the church. And " feeing the Lord has ftirred him up to vcn- " ture his life, reputation, and his all for Chrijt ; *^ refufe the bcfl benefices in his own country, " and run all hazards by fea and land, and travel *' fo many thoufand miles to proclaim the glory *^ of Chrifi., and riches of his free- grace, of " which he himfelf is a monument; and efpe- *' cially, feeing God has honoured him to do all *' this with fuch furprifing fuccefs, among finners *' of all ranks and perfuafions, and even many of " the moft notorious, in awakening and turning *' them to the Lord; I truly think we are alfo *' bound to honour him, and to efteem him high- *' ly in love for his mailer's, and for his work^s *' fake, according to i Thejf. v. 13* And for *' thofe who vilify and oppofe him, I wifh they " would even notice a GajnaliePs words, j^^s v. * Let him alone, left haply ye be found to fight ^ againft God :' " Or rather, that they would re- *' gard the Apoftle Peter^s words, apologizing for *' his going in with xfaQ uncircumcifed, J^s x'u *' when the Holy Ghoft fell upon them -, ' What ' was I that I could withftand God ? ' "I have ** myfelf been witnefs to the Holy Ghoft falling *^ upon him and his hearers oftner than once^- " I do not fay in a miraculous, though in an ob- " fervabk manner. Yea, I have already feen *' the defirable fruits thereof in not a few ; and *' hope, through the divine blefling on the ked " fown, to fee more. Many here are blefting " God, «( the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 95 God, for fending him to this country, though Satan has raged much againft it. *' The Lord is a fovereign agent, and may raife up the inftruments of his glory, from what churches or places he pleafes •, and glori- fies his grace the more, v/hen he does it from thofe focieties, whence and when it could be lead expc6led. Though Mr. Whitefield be or- dained, according to his education, a minifter of the Church of England:, yet we are to re- gard him as one, whom God has raifed up, to witnefs againft the corruptions of that Church ; ** whom God is ftill enlightening, and caufing to " make advances towards us. He has already ** conformed to us, both in dodrine and worfhip, *' and lies open to light to conform to us in other " points. He is thoroughly a Calvinift, and ^' found to the dodlrines of Free Grace, in tiie " doftrine of Original Sin, the New Birth, jufti- ^' fication by Chriji^ the necefTity of imputed " Righteoufnefs, the operations of the Holy *' Ghoft, &c. Thefe he makes his great theme, *' drives the point home to the confcience, and *' God attends it with great power. And as God " has enlightened him gradually in thcfc things, •' fo he is ftill ready to receive more light, and ** fo foon as he gets it, he is moft frank in de- *' daring it. " God, by owning him fo wonderfully, is ** pleafed to give a rebuke to our intemperate *' bigotry, and party-zeal, and to tell us, that 7 *' neither 96 Memoirs of the Life of ** neither circumcifion nor uncirciimcifion availeth '^ any thing, but the new creature." " F, S^ *'^ Many with us are for preferring minifters, ac- •' cording to the party they are of, but commend •' me to a pious, Cir/y^-exalting, and foul-win- *' ning minifter, whatever be his denomination. " Such are miniflers of Cbrift's fending, and of " fuch he faith, ' He that receiveth you, re- ** ceiveth me, and he that defpifeth you, def- *' pifeth me^" which is a rule of duty to " us(b):' ' The (/;) The compiler lately received a tranfcript, from the diary of a very worthy chriftian in Edhihurghy who died about two years ago, in u'hich are the following *' pafTages. " Sabbati^ Angnji (^^ I74i- What is fur- *' prizing, is, that numbers of all ranks, all denomi- •^ nations, and all chara6lers, come conftantly to hear *' him, though his fermons abound with thofe truths *' which would be unwelcome from the mouth of others. *' He is indefatigable in his work. Three hours before *' noon he appoints, for people under diftrefs to con- ** verfe with him, w'nen he is much confined. Then *•• he writes numbers of letters. And this week he is *' to add a morning lediure to his work. I have reafon^ •' among many others, for bleiTmg God, for fending " him to this place." ^'- 'Sabbati, Anguji -p^ 1 74 1- Mr. /F 1'/ prcach- " ed Monday morning and afternoon, Tuejday torenoon '^ in the Canongate Church, evening in the park, and '^ gathered 25 /. 7 j. 6 d. for the poor Highlanders. •* Next day he went to Newbottle^ and preached twice. "On Thurfday to Whitburn \ Friday morning at Torphi- «^ chen ; Friday evening at Linlithgow ; Saturday morning «« and afternoon, both at Falkirk. And this day he i.^ *' at Airth. To-morrow he will preach twice ^t Stir- *' ling, Culrofit Tuejday forenoon ^ Dumfermlin^ after- 1 *' noon. the 'kev. Mr, George Whitefield. 97 The four preceding letters fliew the acceptable- nefs and lucceis of Mr. IVhitefiekW miniflrations in *^ noon. tVedriefday^ twice at Kinrofs, Thurfday^ Fertlu *' From Friday to Monday^ at Dundee. Monday^ King^ *' laJftCy and came to Edinburgh on Tuefday. BlelTcd be ** God, he feldom preaches without Tome one or other *' laid under concern. Surely GcD has fent him to this *' place for good. The Devil never raged more by his *' emilTaries. It is remarkable, there never was a mini- *' fter, no nor any other man, againft whom the mouths *' of the licentious have been more opened. Since he " came, I have found myfelf more defirous tobewcitch- *' ful, left my foot flip at any time, and to guard againft *' many things, which before I thought indifferent. " Thurfday, OSfober 29, 1 741. Yeflerday Mr. incite- *' field left this place, to return to England. His de- *' parture was a great grief to rnany, whom the Lord *^ has mercifully awakened, under his miniftry, the •' number of which, I believe, is very great. Mr. *« W r alone, among about thirty young communi- '' cants that came to converfe with him, found about a *' dozen, who told him, They were firil effedually " touched under his miniflry ; and gave very good ac- *' counts of a work of God upon their fouls. Some of *' the mod abandoned wretches are brought to cry^ * What fhall I do to be faved ?' «' I have often had the *' opportunity of converfation with him, and, I think, " I never heard him, or converfed with him, but I " learned fome good lefTon. I do not remember to have '' heard one idle word drop from him, in all the times I " have been in company with him ; and others, that ^' have been much more with him, give him the fame *' teftimony. On Tuefday lafl, he preached and exhorted *' feven times. I heard him to my great fatisfadlion the *' fourth time, in the park. From that he went to the " Old People's Hofpital, to give them an exhortation ; '' but indeed, I never was witncfs to any thing of the ** kind before. All the congregation (for many follow- " €d him} were fo moved, that very few, if any, could H ' ** refraia 98 Memoirs of the Life of ^ in moft of the great towns in Scotland, As to fmaller places, the following extrad of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. 'Thomas David/on (his fellow- traveller) to the Rev. Mr. Henry Davidfm of Gal- *^ refrain from crying out. I am fure, the Kingdom of *' God was then come nigh unto them, and that a woe *' will be unto them that flighted the offers of a Saviour *' then made to them. From that, he went to Heriot's *' Hofpital, where a great change is wrought upon many '' of the boys ; for there, as well as in the Maiden- *' Hofpitals, FellowHiip-meetings are fet up, which ** is quite new there ; for the boys of that Hofpi- *' tal were noted for the wickedeft boys about town. " I was with him in a private houfe in the evening. '' When he came there, he was quite worn out. How- *' ever, he expounded there, which was the feventh dif- *' courfe that day ; and, what was very furprizing, he " was much frefner after he had done, than at the be- *' ginning. " November 29, 1 741. I had agreeable accounts of '' fome of the children who were v/rought upon by the *' miniftry of Mr. l^F- d. I heard this day of a good *' many, that I heard not of formerly, who were not *' only laid under concern, but feemed to have a work *' of grace wrought upon their heart, appearing by a *' moft remarkable change in their converfation, and «' eager defires after farther degrees of knowledge of *' the Lord's ways, which leads them to attend every *' opportunity they can have for inftru6tion. *' Sabbati, December 6, 1741. Since Mr, 7VJ?itefieId*^ '^ coming here, I find chriftians freer in converlation *' than formerly ; which is a great mercy both to them- '' felves, and all about them ; the experience of which *' I have had by this paft week, in feveral places where ** I have been. I had occafion to fee a foldier, v^'ho was *' lately wrought upon by Mr. lVhitefield\ means. He ♦' feems to have come a great length in a little time, '' and gives a very judicious account of the Lord's *' dealings with his foul." laJliidSy the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 99 hjlikis^ dated Cidrofs^ December 3, 1741, will be ari agreeable fpecimen. " Our journey to the North was as comfort- *>' able as any we had. In feveral places as he *' came along, the Lord I thought countenanced *' him in a very convincing manner, particularly ** at a place called Lttndie^ five miles north from *' Dundee^ v^here there is a confiderable number ^'^ of ferious chriftians, who hearing that he was *^ to come that way, fpent mofl: part of the night *' before in prayer together. Although his *' preaching there \^/as only in a pafUng way, *' having to ride to Dundee after it, and it was *'* betwixt three and four before he reached the *' place •, yet he had but fcarce well begun, be- *' fore the power of God was indeed very difcerni- ^* ble. Never did I fee fuch a pleafing melting *' in a worfhipping aflembly. There was nothing *' violent in it, or like what we may call fcrewing *' up the paffions : for it evidently appeared to be *' deep and hearty, and to proceed from a higher " fpring;" As a conclufion of this article, concerning Mr. Whitefield'^ firft reception and miniftrations in Scotland^ the reader will not be dilpieafed to fee the following extrad from the papers of a gentleman deceafed^ who was eminent for learn- ing and knowledge of the world, and who had a general acquaintance with thofe who profelTed the greateft regard to religion. H 3 *"' Memeurs loo Memoirs of the Life of " MefTieurs Ehenezer and Ralf)b Erfiine cor- *' refpondedcd with him for two or three years, ** and invited him to Scotland. But afterwards '* refledting that if they held communion with aa " epifcopal minifter, becaufe a good man and ** fuccefsful preacher, they could not vindicate *' their renouncing communion v^ith fuch mi- " niflers in the Church of Scotland : They wrote *' to him not to come. However, on the invira- *•' tion of fome minifters and people of the efta- *' blifhed Church he came, and preached his firft *' fermon in Mr. RaJpb Erjkine^ pulpit at 'Dum- " fermlin (a town ten or twelve miles from Edbi' " hurgh on the other fide of Forth.) At a fecond *' vifit to Dinnfermlin^ He had a conference wkh all " the feceeding brethren, where he honedly " avowed that he was a member of the Church *' of England^ and as he thought the Government *' and Woriliip of it lawful, was refolved, unlefs *' violently thruft out of it, to continue fo, re- *' buking fin and preaching Chrijl : And told " them he reckoned the Solemn League and Co- " venant a finful oath, as too much narrowing the " communion of faints, and that he could not fee *' the divine right of Prcfoytery. On this they *' came to a prefbyterial refolution to have no more *' to do with him *, and one of them preached a fer- " men to fhew that one who held communion *' with the Church of Fjighifid^ or backflidden " Church of Scotland^ could not be an inftrument " of the Rev, Mr. George Whitefield. loi ** of reformation. This, however, did not hinder *^ multitudes, both of the Seceders and eftablifh- *' ed Church of Scotland^ from hearing his fer- *' mons. His foundnefs in the faith, his fervent *' zeal, and unwearied diligence for promoting *' the caufe of Cbrift -, the plainnefs and fimplici- " ty, the affection and warmth of his fcrmons ; *' and the amazing power that had accompanied " them in many parts of Enghjid^ and in almotl *' all the North American Colonies, joined to his *' meeknefs, humility, and truly candid and ca- ^^ tholic fpirit, convinced them there was rcafon " to think well of him, and to countenance his " miniftry. Converfions were become rare, little *' livelinefs was to be found even in real chridians, " and bigotry and blind zeal were producing ani- *' mofities and divifions, and turning away the *' Attention of good men from matters of infi- *' nitely greater importance. In this fituation, '' an animated preacher appears, fingularly qua- *' lified to awaken the fecure, to recover chriftians *' to their firft love, and nrft works, and to recon* *' cile their affedlions one to another. " The epifcopal clergy gave him no counte- *' nance, though fome few of their people did. " And in the eftablilhed Church of to//i?wi, fome " of the more rigid prefbyterians would not hold '* communion with him, on account of his con- " nedlion with the Church of England^ and his *' fceming to alTume the office of an Evangelift, H 3 " peculiar. J 02 Memoirs of the Life of *' peculiar, in their apprehenfion, to the firfl *' ages of the church : while fome, who aflfeded f' to be thought morie fenfible, or more modifh ^^ and polite, were mightily difTatisfied with him " for preaching the Cdvinift Dodrines of Elec- " tion. Original Sin, Efficacious Grace, Jufti- '^ ficatiqn through Faith, and the Perfeverance U of the Saints ; and for inveighing againft the f play-houfe, dancing afiemblies, games of chance, *' haunting taverns, vanity and extravagance in f' drefs, and levity in behaviour and conver- *' fation. " Some gentlemen and ladies who went tq f^ hear, would not go a fecond time, becaufe *^ he difturbed them, by infilling on man's mi- *' ferable and dangerous ftate by nature, and *' the ftridnefs and holinefs eflential to the *' chriftian charader. But upon many of his " hearers in Edinburgh^ of all ranks and ages, *' efpecially young people, deep impreflions *' were made, and many of them waited on *^ him privately, lamenting their former im- *' moral lives, or flupid thoughtlefncfs about reli- *' gion, and expreiTing their anxious concern about *' obtaining an interefl: in Chrift^ and the fan6li- ^^ fying influences of the Spirit. I n the greatell " part of thefe, the impreffions have appeared *' to be faving, from their circumfped exem- '' plary conduct fince that time, or from their "^' comfortable, or triumphant deaths. Many ^^ Prebyterians the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 103 ** Prefbyterians begin to think more mildly and " candidly than before, of the miniflers and " members of the Church of England (ij." (i) This year, 1741- he received the compliment of honorary Burgefs Tickets from the Towns of ^//r//;?^, Glafgowy Paijley^ and Aberdeen. And in 1742, from Irvine. And 1^62, from Eelinhrgb. H 4 C H A P, io4 ' Memoirs of the Life of CHAP. IX. Trcm his having Edinburgh 1741, t-o his Return to that City in the Tear 1742. MR. WhitefieU having left Edinburgh in the latter end of October 174I5 fet out for Abergavenny in JVaks^ where, having fome time ago formed a refolution to enter into the married fiate, he married one Mrs. James (k)y a widow between thirty and forty years of age -, of whom he fays (Letter CCCLXXVL) '' She has been a houfe- *' keeper many years, once gay, but for three *^ years lad pad, a defpifed follower of the Lamb *' of God." From Abergavenny he went to Briftoly where he preached twice a day with his ufual fuc^ cefs. Upon returning to Lofidon in the beginning of December^ he received letters from Georgia con- cerning his orphan-family, which, with refpedl to their external circumftances, were a lictle difcou- raging. On the other hand, he had mod com- fortable accounts of '^he fruus of his minilh7 in Scotland, This made him think of paying another vifit there in the Spring. Mean time, he had the pleafure of feeing his labours attended with the divine blcffing at London and Brijlcl. And from {k) Her maiden name was Elizabeth Burnell. y Gkucefler the Rev, Mr, George V/hitefield. 105^ Ghucejter he thus writes, " December 22, 1741, " Laft fhtirfday evening the Lord brought me hi- ** ther. I preached imiTscdiately to our friends in ** a large barn, and had my Mafter's prefencc. " On Friday and Saturday, I preached again twice. " Both the power and the congregation increafed. *' On Sunday Providence opened a door for my " preaching in St. John*s^ one of the parifh ♦' churches. Great numbers came. On Sunday *' afternoon, after I had preached twice at Glou- *' cefter^ I preached at Mr. F 's at the hill, fix *' miles off, and again at night, at Stroud, The " people feemed to be more hungry than ever, and *' the Lord to be more amongll them. Yederday " morning I preached at Painfwick in the parifh *' church, here in the afternoon, and again at " night in the barn. God gives me unfpeakable *' comfort, and uninterrupted joy. Here feems ta " be a new awakening, and a revival of the work *' of God. I find feveral country people were *' awakened when I preached at I'ewkjhury^ and *' have heard of three or four that have died in the *' Lord, We ftiall never know what good field- *' preaching has done, till we come to judgment. *' Many, who were prejudiced againft me, begin '' to be of another mind ; and God (liows me more *' and more, that when a man's ways pleafc the *' Lord, he will make even his enemies to be at *' peace with him. To morrow morning I pur- _** pofe to fet out for Abergavenny^ and to preach 'lo6 Memoirs of the Life of *' at Brtjtoh in Wilts^ Gloticefier^ and Gloucejler/fdrel I* before 1 fee London.''^ In the latter end of Becemher he came to Brijio!^ where he continued near a month, preaching twice every day, and writing to his friends in London and Scotland. He alfo fet up a general monthly meeting to read correfponding letters, t'rom Brijlol he re- turned to G/^^/^f/?^r, and January 28, 1742, writes, {1} « On Friday laft I left Bripl^ having firft fet- *' tied affairs, almoil as I could wifli. At King/- ^' wood, I adminiftered the facrament on f'^ed- " nefday night. It was the Lord's paffover. On *' Thurfday we had a fwcet love-feaft ; on Friday *' the Lord was with me twice at Tockington -, on *' Saturday morning I broke up fome fallow ground ^' at Newport •, and in the evening preached to *' many thoufands at Stroud ; on Monday morning ** at Pain/wick, and ever fince twice a day here. "Cur congregations, I think, are larger than at '' BrifioL Every fermon is bleifed." On his way to London, Feb. 23, he was flill far- ther encouraged by receiving letters from America'y informing him of the remarkable fuccefs of the gofpel there, and that God had flirred up fome wealthy friends to afTift his orphans in their late flraits {m). Upon his return to London^ he went (/) Letter CCCLXXXIX. {m) " The everlafting God reward all their benefac- *' tors. I find there has been a frefh awakening among ** them. I am informed, that twelve negroes, belonging *' to a planter lately converted at the Orphan-houfe, are *' favingly brought home to Jefus ChriJiJ' Letter CCCXCVIII. J ©a the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 107 pn with greater zeal and fucccfs, if pofiiblc, thari ever. " Our Saviour (fays he, writing to a bro- *' ther («), April 6 i 1742) is doing great thir/ga ^' 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 Jefus, I fleep and eat but little, *' and am conftantly employed from morning till *' midnight, and yet my ftrength is daily renewed. ?' O free grace ! It fires my foul, and makes me " long to do fomething for Jefus. It is true, in- ^' deed, I want to go home ; but here are fo many " fouls ready to perilh for lack of knowledge, *' that I am wilHng to tarry below as long as my ^' Mailer has work for me." From this principle of compaflion to perifhing fouls, he now ventured to take a very extraordi- nary flep. It had been the cuftom for many years paft, in the holiday feafons, to ered: booths in Moorfields^ for mountebanks, players, puppet- Ihows, &c. which were attended from morning till night, by innumerable multitudes of the lower fort of people. He formed a refolution to preach the gofpel among them ; and executed it. Cn Whitmonday^ at fix o'clock in the morning, attended by a large congregation of praying people, he be- gan. Thoufands, who were waiting there, gaping for their ufual diverfions, all flocked round him. {-lis text was John iii. 14. They gazed, thty («) Letter CCCCVII. liflencV f c8 Memoirs of the Life of liftened, they wept : and many fcemed to be flung with deep conviction for their pail fins. All was hulhcd and foiemn. {o) " Being thus encouraged, •' (lays he) I ventured out again at noon, when the " fields Vv-ere quite full •, and could fcarce help fmil- *' ing, to fee thoufands, when a merry-andrew was *' trumpeting to them, upon obferving me mount *' a {land on the other fide of the field, deferting *' him, till not fo much as one was left behind, *' but all flocked to hear the gofpel. But this, *' together with a com.plaint that they had taken " near twenty or thirty pounds lefs that day than *' ufual, fo enraged the owners of the booths, that ** when I came to preach a third time in the even- ** ing, in the midft of the fermon, a merry-andrew *' got up upon a man's fnoulders, and advancing *' near the pulpit, attempted to fladi me with a *' long heavy whip feveral times. Soon afterwards *' they got a recruiting lerjeant, with his drum, &c. '* to pafs through the congregation. But I de- *' fired the people to make way for the King's '^ officer, which was quietly done. Finding thefe *' efforts to fail, a large body, quite on the oppo- *' fite fide, affembled together, and having got a " great pole for their ftandard, advanced with " found of drum, in a very threatening manner, ^^ till they came near the fkirts of the congrega- •' tion. Uncommon courage was given both to *' preacher and hearers. I prayed for fupport and (o) M. S. and Letters CCCCXI, CCCCXII. *' de~ the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 169 *' deliverance, and was heard. For juft as they *' approached us with looks full of relentment, I *' know not by what accident, they quarrelled *' an?.ong theailelves, threw down their ilaff, and " went their way, leaving, however, many of their " company behind, who, before we had done, I " truft were brought over to join the befieged " party. I think I continued in praying, preach- *' ing, and finging, (for the noife v/as too great at *' times to preach) about fhree hours. \Vc then *' retired to the Tabernacle, where thoufands ^' flocked. We were determined to pray down ** the booths ; but blefled be God, more iubftan- ** tial work was done. Ac a moderate computa- " tion, I received (I believe) a thoufand notes *' from perfons under conviction -, and loon after, *' upwards of three hundred were received into the *' fociety in one day. Some I married, that had " lived together without marriage. One man had ** exchanged his wife for another, and given four- *' teen (hillings in exchange. Numbers, that *' feemed as it were to have been bred up for Ty- " burn^ were at that time plucked as firebrands *' out of the burning." " I cannot help adding, that feveral Little boys •' and girls, who were fond of fitting round " me on the pulpit, while I preached, and '*« handing to me people's notes, though they *• were often pelted with eggs, dirt, &c. thrown *' at me, never once gave way j but, on the *' contrary, every time I was ftruck, turned up *' their 1 16 Memoirs of the Life of ** their little weeping eyes, and feemed to wiffi " they could receive the blows for rrie. God " make them, in their growing years, great and " living martyrs for him, who out of the mouth " of babes and fucklings perfeds praife.'* C H A R the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 1 1 1 CHAP. X. From his Arrival in Scotland 1742, to his Return t$ London the fame Tear, SOON after this, he embarked a fecond time for Scotland^ and arrived at Leith^ June 3, 1742 (p). But here it is proper to take a view of the ftate of things in that country upon his arrival. It had (/>) " Edinburgh^ Sabbath^ June 6, 1 742. On Thurf- •* day laft our dear friend Mr. Whitefield returned to this •' place, to the great comfort of many honeft chriftlans, *' efpecially of thofe to whom he was made a mean of *' convicStion and converfion when laft here. — He feems *' to have improved much in chriftian knowledge. He *' is much refrefhed with the accounts of the work of ** God in the weft country. 1 have heard him preach " five excellent difcourfes, all calculated for the building *^ up of chriftians (though he never fails to put in a *' word for the convidion of finners) ; and, I think, can *« fay, that I have never heard him without fome in- *' fluence attending his preaching, efpecially in private *' houfes. O may the impreflions made on my heart *' never wear off, left at any time I (hould be in danger *' of dropping my watch, and becoming untender.** " Sabb, O^ober 17, 1742. It is a great recommend- *« ation of Mr. IFhitefield to me, that though the Sece- *' ders give him every bad charafter that can be devifed, *' viz. a forcerer, &c. yet he takes all patiently, and *' wherever he goes, fpeaks well of them, io far as he *' can : for none can approve of thofe grofs parts of their " conduct : therefore thcfe he choofes to caft a mantle *' of love over." Diary ^ formerly quoted. pleafed 1 1 2 Memoirs of the Life of pleafed God to blcfs his firft vifu to Scotland^ not ©nly for the converfion of particular perfons, and the comfort and quickening of private chriftians, but to roufe them to more than ordinary concern about the falvation of their neighbours, and to excite pious and confcientious minifters to greater diligence in their work. Prayers were put up, with fome degree of faith and hope, that God would now give fuccefs to their labours ; and not fufFer them always to complain that they fpent their ftrength in vain. Nor were thefe prayers long un* anfwered : for in the month oi February^ 17425 an extraordinary religious concern began to appear publicly at Camhujlang \ and foon after at Kilfyth and other places : the news of which quickly fpread through the land, and engaged general attention. Of this, ajuft though fhort defcription is given in the following letter, written by the Rev. Mr. Ila- miUon (then minifrer in the Barony pariQi, now in the High-Church of Glafgow) to Mr. Prince^ mi- nifter in Bcjlon (q), " GLfgow^ Sept. 13, 1742. " We in the fouth and weft of Scotland^ have great '' reafon to join in thankfulnefs to God, with you, *' for the days of tlie Redeemer's povVer that we " are favoured with. Mr. Whitcfield came to Scot- " land in fummer 1741, for the Hrft time: and in " many places where he preached, his miniftra- " tions were evidently blelTed, particularly in *' the cities of Edinburgh and Ghfgo^v^ where a [q) Prince's Chnjlan Hijlcry, N'\ X. con- the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 1 1 3 ^^ confiderable number of perfons were brought *' under fuch imprelTions of religion, as have never *' yet left them •, but they are (till following on to '' know the Lord. However, this was only the " beginning of far greater things : for about the " middle of February laft, a very great concern " appeared among the people oiCamhiiflang^ a fmall " parifli, lying four miles fouth-eaft of Glafgow^ *' under the paftoral infpedion of the Rev. Mr. *' William MacCulloch^ a man of confiderable parts " and great piety. This concern appeared with *' fome circumflances very unufual among us : to " wit, fevere bodily agonies, outcry ings, and *' faintiqgs in the congregation. This made the " report of it fpread like fire, and drew vaft mul- " titudes of people from all quarters to that place. *^ And, I believe, in lefs than two months after *' the commencement of it, there were few pariihes *' within twelve miles of Camhufang^ but had fome, *' more or fewer awakened there, to a very deep, " piercing fenfe of fin : and many at a much " greater difl:ance. I am verily perfuaded with " your worthy brother Mr. Cooper^ in his preface '' to Mr. Edwards^ fermon, that God has made *' ufe of thefe uncommon circumfbances, to make " his work fpread the fader. But, blefifed be " Godj Camhujlang is not the only place where *' thefe imprefllons are got. - The fame work is " fpreading in other parifhes, and under their own " minifters, particularly at Calder^ Kilfyih^ and *' Cumbernaud^ all to the north, and north-eafl of I ** Glafgozv, 1 1 4 Metnoirs of the Life of " Glafgow, And I doubt not, that fince the mi<^- " die of February^ when this work began at •' Camhujlang^ there are upwards of two thoufand ** perfons awakened, and almoft all of them, by *' the beft accounts I have, in a promifing condi- *' lion : there being very few inftances of impoftors, " or fuch as have loft their imprefTions ; and many *' whom we are bound to think are true fcripturc *' converts, and evidencing it by a fuitable walk *' and converfation. There is evidently a greater *' ferioufnefs and concern about religion appearing *' in moft of our congregations, than formerly : a ** a greater defire after the word -, people applying *' themfelves more clofely to their duty v and '' ereding new focieties for prayer and fpirituatl *' conference : which gives us the joyful profpcd *' of a confiderable enlargeQ:ient of the Melliah's *' kingdom.'* " My parifh has llkewife had fome fhare in this *' good work. There has been above an hundred " new communicants among them this fummer, *' who never did partake of the blcfled facrament '* before : which is five times as many as ever f *' admitted in any former year : moft of them " were awakened at Camhujlang \ feme of them .*' in their own church •, and in others the impref- " fions have been more gradual, and not attended " with thefe uncommon circumftances before men- *' tioned. And it is to be obfcrved, that before " we admit any perfon to the Lord's table, we " particularly exaipinc them, and are latisfied with " their the Rev. Mr, George Whiteficld. n^ ** their knowledge of the principles of religion, of ** the nature and ends of the facrament, and the *' imprelTions of religion they have on their " minds {qq)r To the fame purpofe is the Rev. Mr. IVilliforh letter to Dr. Colman^ minifter in Bofton : dated Dtatdee, Feb. 28, 1743. {r) " I muft inform you ' a little of the work of God begun here. I told * you in my laft, that after Mr. JVhiteJield'% firll ' coming and preaching three months in Scotland^ ' there Were fome beginnings of a revival of re- ' ligion in fome of our principal cities, as Edin- ' burgh and Glafgow^ which ftiil continue and in- ' creafe, efpecially fince Mr. Whitefield^^ fecond ' coming in June laft. But befides thefe cities, * the Lord hath been pleafed to begin a work * much like that in 'New-England^ in feveral placed * in the weft of Scotland, The firft parilh awaken- ^ ed, was Cambujlang \ the next was the parilh of {qq) Extracl: of a letter from a perfon of diilin6tion to the Compiler. ^' Edinburgh^ Fehrmryy 1772. I would not afcrlbe all ' the revival of religion in Scoilandy to (the inftrumen- ' tality of) Mr. IVhitcfield. At Cambvjlangy it began, ' before he had been there ; but in Edinburgh^ and all ' the other places in Scotland^ that I heard of, after di- ' ligent enquiry, it began with his firft vifit. This ho- nour he had from his divine Mafter, and it ought not to be tJiken from him. And every time he came to ' Scotland^ it is an undoubted fact, that an unCommorl power attended his miniftry : and many were always brought under ferious Jlnd lafting imprellions," (r) PrinceV Chrijllan Hiftory^ N'. XI. Ii6 Memoirs of the Life of " Kilfyth^ about nine miles north eaft of Glcfgow^ " and afterward the parifhes oiCaUer^ Kirkintilloch^ *' Cumbernaud^ Campfie^ Kilmarnock^ Gargunnock^ " and a great many others in the country. The " awakenings of people have been, in a good *' many, attended with outcryings, faintings, and *' bodily diflrefles : but in many more, the work *' has proceeded with great calmnefs. But the " effedls in both forts are alike good and defirable, " and hitherto we hear nothing of their falling *' back from what they have profeiTed at the be- " ginning : and (till v;e hear of fome new pariflies " falling under great concern here and there, " though the great cryings and outward diHrelTes *' are much ceafed. " The Lord, in this backfliding time, is willing *' to pity us, and fee our ways and heal them, '*- however crooked and perverfe they have been. *' O fhall not this wonderful flep of divine conde- " fceniion, lead us all to repentance, and to go *' out to meet a returning God, in the way of " humihation and reformation. The mag-jftrates o *' and minifters in Edinburgh^ are beginning to *' fet up focieties for reformation of manners, and " new le6lures on week days. May all our cities " follow their example. There is a great increafe ^' of praying focieties alfo in Edinburgh and othe-r " towns and villages ♦, and in them they are keep- *' ing days of thankfgiving for the partial water- *' ings the Lord is giving us ; thofe in Edinburgh^ I " fend the Rev, Mr. George Whitefield. 1 1 7 •' fend printed memorials to others through the " nation, to excite them to it (rr)." The greateft (Irangers to religion could not avoid hearing of thele things, but they were very dif- ferently affe6led with them. Whilft ibme became more thoughtful and ferious, many mocked, and fome were even filled with rage. On the other hand, the temper and behaviour of thofe who were the fubjeds of this remarkable work, was the flrongeft of all arguments that it came from above. Their earneft defire to be rightly directed in the way to heaven ; their tender and confcientious walk 5 their faithfulnefs in the duties of their ftations ; their readinefs to make ample reflitutlon for any a6l of injuftice they had formerly commit- ted ', their difpofition to judge mildly of others, but feverely of themfelves ; their laying afide quarrels and law-fuits, and defiring to be recon- ciled, and to live peaceably with all men -, fuch amiable and heavenly qualities, efpecially when appearing in fome who had formerly been of a very oppofite charader, could not fail to ftrike every ferious obferver. In Ihort, it was (rr) The Rev. Mr. Alackmght of Irvine^ thus writes to Mr. IFhitefield^ June 21, 1742. " BlefTed be our glo- '« rious God, there are fome awakenings amongft us at ^' Irvine ; not only of thofe who have been at Camhiijlau^^ " but feveral others are lately brought into great concern " about their eternal ftate, and among them feveral chil- '' dren ; the news of which I know will rejoice you, " and I hope will encourage you to vifit us to help for- " ward this great and glorious work of converting fin- " ners." Remarkable Particulars^ &c, I 3 fuch Ij8 Memoirs of the Life of fuch a time for the revival of religion, as had never before been feen in Scotland (j). f he enmity which wicked and profane men dif- covered againll this worjc, and the derifion with which they treated it, is no more than what might naturally be expet^led. But it is not fo eafy to ac-? count for the conduct of the Seceders. Thefe, not Satisfied with forbearing to approve of it, went the length even to appoint a general faft among them, one of the grounds of which was, the receiving Mr. Whitejidd into Scotland-, and another, the delu- fion, as they called it, at Cambufiang and other places. And Mr. Gibb^ one of their minifters, wrote a pamphlet inveighing againll both, in the moil virulent language. Such was the bigotry, apd mifguided zeal of the bulk of the party at that time. It is hoped their fucceflbrs have jufter views of this matter. But it is not proper here to enlarge upon this fubjed (t). With refpedb to Mr. WUnfidd^ the fpring of their firfl oppofition to (•i) Partlci^lars may be found in the attefled narrative of the work at Cambujlang ; Dr. Webiler'j Divine In^ f.uence the true Springs he. j and in Mr. Robe'j Narratives 'and MonMy hilfiory. — A view of the moft mennorable paff.i^es, is given in Vol. II. Book IV. Chap VI. of Hifl. Coll relating to the Succejs cf il>e GofpeU printed in 1754; where is alfo fome account of the abiding fruits of thefe religious impreflions. (t) The reader who wants to fee the obje<5lions againft the work at Cambujlang., &c. fully refuted, may conful^ (befidcs the books mentioned In the bft note) Mr. Robeh Letters to Mr. Fifljer j and Mr. Jonathan Edwards*fk pl/liniuijhiug Marks of a IVork of the Spirit of God.'*-' the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 1 19 to him, fufficiently appears from his converfation with them at Dumfermling^ formerly mentioned. And the following letter, which he wrote at Camhujlang^ Auguft 1742, and which was afterwards printed at GlafgoiVy gives an account of their obje6lions, and his anfwers, which are perfedly agreeable to the fpirit of both (u). " 1 heartily thank you for your " concern about unworthy me. Though I am not *' very folicitous what the world fay of me, yet I *' would not refufe to give any one, much lefs a ** minifter of Jefus Chrift^ (and fuch an one I take ** you to be) all reafonable fatisfadion about any " part of my dodlrine or conduct. I am forry that *^ the aflTociate prefbytery, befides the other things " exceptionable in the grounds of their late fall, *^ have done mc much wrong. As to what they ** fay about the fupremacy, my fentiments, as to *' the power and authority of the civil magiftrate *' as to facred things, agree with what is faid in *' the Wefiminfier Confeflion of Faith, chap, xxiii. ** paragraph 3 and 4. And I do own the Lord " Jejus to be the blefled head and king of his ** church. " The folemn league and covenant 1 never ab- ** jured, neither was it ever propofed to me to be And as to the argument from the goodncfs of the fruits, which is level to the capacities of all, the Compiler thinks it his duty to add, that among his acquaintance, who were the fubjedts of that work, the fruits were gc- .Dcraliy both gaod and lajling, («) Glafgow TVeekly Hiji, N». XXIII. 14^ " at). 120 Memoirs of the Life of " abjured : and as for my mifiives, if the. aflbciate " preibytery will be pleafed to print them, the " worki will fee that they had no reafon to expedl " I would ad; in any other m.anner than I have " done. What that part of my experience is, that " favours of the grofleft enthufiafm, I know not, *' becaufe not fpecified ; but this one thing I know, *' when I converfed with them, they were fatisfjed *' with the account I then gave of my experiences, '' and alfo of the validity of my miiTion •, only, ** ,when they found. I would preach the gofpel pro- *'' mifcuoufly to- all, and for every miniiler that *' would. invite miC, and not adhere only to them, ^' one pf them particularly laid, ' They were fa- " tisfiedwith all the other accounts which I crave " of myfelf, except of my call to Scotland at that *' time.' They would have been glad of my help, " and have received me as a minifler of Jefus '' Chrift^ had I confented to have preached only at " the invitation of them and their people. But I " judged that to be contrary to the didlates of my *' confcience ; and therefore I could not comply. *' I thought their foundation was too narrow for " any high houfe to be built upon. I declared " freely, when laft in Scotland^ (and am more and ^' more convinced of it fince) that they were ** building a Bahcl (.v). At the fame time, they knew [x] The event verified this conje(£lure. In his M. S. rotes, feveral years after, he makes the following re- mark : " ^uch a work (the religious ccncern at Catn^ " bujlang) the Re^. Mr. George Whitefield. 12 1 f^ knew, very well, I was very far from being " againft all church-government, (for how can ^' any church fubfift without it ?) I only wrged, as f^ I do now, that fince holy men differ fo much ." about the outward form, we fhould bear with^ '^ and forbear one another, though in this refpect 5' we are not of one mind. I have often declared " in the mod public n-janner, that I believe the *' Church of Scotland to be the bed conflituted ^' national church in the world. At the fame time " I would bear with, and converfe freely with alj " others, who do not err in fundamentals, and " who give evidence that they are true lovers of " the Lord Jefus. This is what I mean by a ca- " tholic fpirit. Not that 1 believe a Jew or Pagan " continuing fuch, can be a true chriftian, or have " lujlang) fo very extenfive, mud meet with great op- " pofition. My co]le6lions for the orphans gave a great " handle ; but the chief oppofition was made by the Se- *' ceders, who, though they had prayed for me at a moft '* extravagant rate, now gave out that I was agitated by '* the devil. Taking it for granted, that all converted *' perfons muft take the covenant, and that God had *' left the Scotch eftablifhed churches long ago, and that " he would never work by the hands of a curate of tfce *' Church of Etiglandy they condemned the whole work, f as the work of the devil ; and kept a faft through all " Scotland, to humble themfelves, becaufe the devil *' was come down in great wrath, and to pray that the " Lord would rebuke the deflroyer (for that was my " title). But the Lord rebuked thefe good men ; for '/' they fplit among themfelves, and excommunicated " one another. Having afterwards a fhort interview " with Mr. Ralph Erjkine, we embraced each other, and *' he faid, ' We had feen ftrange things." " true 122 Memoirs of the Life of ** true chriftianity in them ; and if there be any ** thing tending that way in the late extradl which ** I lent you, I utterly difavow it. And I am •^ fure, I obferved no fuch thing in it, when I *' publifhed it, though upon a clofer review, fome ♦^ exprefTions feemjuftly exceptionable. You know ♦^ how ftrongly I aiTert all the dodrines of grace ** as held forth in the Wejlminjler Confeflion of ** Faith, and doctrinal articles of the Church of " England, Thefe I truft I fhall adhere to as long '' as I live, becaufe I verily believe they are the *' truths of God, and have felt the power of them *' in my own heart. I am only concerned that " good men fhould be guilty of fuch mifrepre- *^ fentations. But this teaches me more and more *' to exercife compafTion toward all the children of *' God, and to be more jealous over our own *' hearts, knowing what fallible creatures we all " are. I acknowledge that I am a poor blind fm- *' ner, liable to err, and would be obliged to an " enemy, much more to fo dear a friend as you *' are, to point put to me my miflakes, as to my *' pradlice, or unguarded expreflions in my preach- ** ing or writing. At the fame time, I would ^' humble myfclf before my Mafter, for any thing ^' 1 may fay or do amifs, and beg the influence ** and affiftances of his blefled Spirit, that I may *' fay and do fo no more." So much for Mr. Whitefield^s difference with the Seceders. But notwithftanding all this, upon his |econd arrival in Scotland^ June 1742, he was re- ceived the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 123 ceived by great numbers, among whom were fomc perfons of diftindion, with much joy : and had the latisfadion of feeing and hearing more and more of the happy fruits of his miniftry (y). At Edin^ lurgb he preached twice a day, as ufual, in the Hofpital park, where a number of feats and fhades, in the form of an amphitheatre, were ereded for the accommodation of his hearers. And in con- fequence of earneft invitations, he went to the weft- country, particularly to Camhujlang^ where he preached no lefs than three times upon the very day of his arrival, to a vaft body of people, al- though he had preached that fame morning at Clafgow, The laft of thefe exercifes he began at nine at night, continuing till eleven, when he faid he obferved fuch a commotion among the people, as he had never feen in America, Mr. MacCulloch preached after him, till paft one in the morning, ^nd even then could hardly perfuade the people to ^depart. All night in the fields might be heard (;;) " Edinburgh^ Jmie 4, 1 742. This morning I re- ♦ ^ ceived glorious accounts of the carrying on of the ^* Mediator's kingdom^ Three of the little l)oys that *S were converted when I was laft here, came to me an4 ^' wept, and begged me to pray for and with them. A ^* minifter tells me, that fcarce one is fallen back, who *? was awakened, either among old or young. The Ser- *' jeant, whofe letter brother C has, goes on well ^< with his company." Letter CCCCXXIl. And in the M. S. " Societies (or fellowfhip meet- *^ ings) I found fet up for prayer, efpecially ?.t Glafgow *".*: and Edinburgh. Several young gentlemen dedicated ** themfelves to the miniftry, ^nd became burning and ^S ihining lights/' 7 <^^ 124 Memoirs of the Life cf the voice of prayer and praile. As Mr, IVhitefieU was frequently at Cambujlang during this feafon, a defcription of what he obferved there at different times, will be beft given in his own words (2) ; *^ Perlbns from all parts flocked to fee, and many *' from many parts, went home convinced, and *'^ converted unto God. A brae, or hill, near the ^' manfe at Cambujlang^ feemed to be formed by ^' Providence, for containing a large congregation. *' People fat unwearied till two in the morning, *' to hear fermons, difregarding the weather. You " could fcarce walk a yard, but you mull tread *' upon fome, either rejoicing in God for mercies *' received, or crying out for more. Thoufands *^ and thoufands have I feen, before it was pofTible '' to catch it by fympathy, melted down under *' the word and power of God. At the celebra- ** tion of the holy communion, their joy was fo *' great, that at the defire of many, both minifters '' and people, in imitation of HezekiaFs paffoverj *' they had, a month or two afterwards, a fecond \ *' which was a general rendezvous of the people *' of God. The communion-table was in the " field ; three tents, at proper diftances, all fur- " rounded \vith a multitude of hearers j above *' twenty miniflers (among whom was good old " Mr. Bonner) attending to preach and afTift, all ** enlivening and enlivened by one another." Befides his labours at Glafgow and Cambujlang^ it is fomewhat furprizing to think, how many oth^ (z) M, S. places the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 125 places in the weft of Scotland he vifited within the compafs of a few weeks, preaching once or tv/ice at every one of them, and at feveral three or four times. It is v/orth while to fet down the Journal {a) of a week or two. In the beginning of July^ he preached twice on Monday at PciJIey ; on the ^uefday and PFednefday^ three times each day at Irvine \ on "Thurfday^ twice at Me arm ; on Friday^ three times at Ciimhernaud \ and on Saturday^ twice at Falkirk. And again in the latter end of Angiijl [h\ on nurfday^ he preached twice at Greenock ; on Friday^ three times at KHhride ; on Saturday^ once at Kilbride^ and twice at Stevenfon ; on Sabbath^ four times at Irvine ; on Monday^ once at Irvine^ and three times at (^) A7/- marnock j (a) Letter CCCCXXVI. {h) Letter CCCCXLIX. {c) A gentleman now living, of an irreproachable chara6ler, thus writes -to the Compiler, April 2>^ i??!* *' When Mr. Whitefield vf 2.2 preaching at Kilmaniock^ on *' the 23d of Augiifi., 1742, from thefe words, ' And out of his fulnefs have all we received, and grace for *^ grace,' I thought I never heard fuch a fermon on the fulnefs of grace that is treafured up in ChriJ} "Jefus : *' and can truly fiiy, that I felt the efficacy of the Holy Spirit upon my foul, during that difcourfe. I afterwards (hut up myfelf in my chamber, during the remain- ing part of that day ; and before I laid myfelf down to *' reft, I made a folemn and ferious dedication of myfelf to God, by way of covenant, extended and fubfcribed *' the fame with my hands, and, I think, had conimu- *' nion with God in fo doing ;' to which I have often *' had recourfe fmce, in adhering thereto, and in renevv- *' ing thereof; though my life ilnce has been attended «. with many backflidings from Qo^^ and have been per- *' fidious 126 Memoirs of the Life cf tnarnock', (d) on Tuefday^ once at Kilmarnock^ and four times at Stewarton ♦, on lVednefda)\ once at Stewarton^ and twice at the Mtarns, He was alfa at Inchannen^ New Kilpatricky Calder^ and Kilfyth^ (where the religious concern ftill increaled) and at ^orphichen. He was indeed rometimes taken very ill, and his friends thought he was going off: '^ But in the pulpit (lays he) the Lord out of '^ weaknefs, makes me to wax flrong, and caufes " me to triumph more and more (f).*' And even when he retired for a day or two, it was on purpofe ** fidious in his covenant ; yet I ftill rejoice in his falva- *' tion through precious Chriji. And it is refrefhing to *' behold the place at this very day, as I have often done *' lince. I from the aera abovemehtioned, alw^t^^s *' looked upon Mr. Whitefeld as my fpiritiial father, and *' frequently heard him afterwards in Edinburgh and ** Glafgow with much fatisfadion. It always gave me *' joy, the mentioning of his name, and grieved me •' when he was reproached. And I can very well re- *' member, that when Cape Breton was taken, I hap- *' pened to be then at Edhiburgh ; and being invited to ** brCakfaft with Mr. Whiufield^ I never in all my life *• enjoyed fuch another breakfaft. He gave the company *' a fine and lively defcant upon that part of the world, •' made us all join in a hymn of praife and thankfgiving, *' and concluded with a moft devout and fervent prayer, *' In the evening of that day, he preached a moft excel- *' lent thankfgiving fermon, from the firft two verfes of ** the cxxvith pfalm,'* (^) " I never preached with fo much apparent fuccefs " before. At Greenock^ Irvine^ Kilbride^ Kilmarnock^ and *' Stewarton^ the corvcern was great : at the three lad *» very extraordinary." Letter CCGCXLIX. (£) Letter GCCCXXXV,. the keVi Mr. George Whitefield. i iy to write letters, and to prepare pieces for the prefs, fo that he was as bufy as ever (f). ^ When he was at Edinburgh^ he received accounts that the Spaniards had landed in Georgia. Upon this occafion he wrote to Mn Haberflmm (g), " I *' am glad my dear family is removed to Mi*. *' Brya?i'sy and rejoice that our glorious God had ** raifed him and his brother up, to be fuch friends *' in time of need. My thoughts have been va- " rioufly exercifed, but my heart kept (ledfafl: and " joyful in the Lord of all lords, whofe mercy " endureth for ever. I long to be with you, and *• methinks could willingly be found at the head " of you kneeling and praying, though a Spaniard^ *' fword fhould be put to my throat. But alas, I *' know not how I fhould behave, if put to the " trial : only we have a promife, that as our day " is, fo our (Irengch lliall be. The thoughts of *' divine love carry me above every thing. My (f) Particularly, J Vindication of the IVork of God in New-England. See Works, Vol. IV. and feveral Let- ters about the affairs of the Orphan-houfe, fome of hl« friends there having met with harfh treatment from the magiftrates of Savannah, See Letter CCCCXXXIX, to IVlr. B , and Letter CCCCXL, to the Truftces for Georgia^ and Letters CCCCXLII, CCCCXLIir, to Ge- neral Oglethorpe^ and to Thomas f , Efqj in Georgia, At this time alfo he pub) idled at Edinburgh^ a conti- nuation of the account of the Orphan-houfe, from 7a- nuary 1741, to June 1742. See his Works, Vol, IIL where you have the whole account continued from time to time, till April 1770. (^) Letter CCCCLVIL " dc;j- I iS Memoirs of the Life of " dear friend, the Spaniards cannot rob us of this % *' nor can men or devils. — I humbly hope that I " fhall fliortly hear of the fpiritual and temporal " welfare of you all." And he was not difap- *' pointed \ for a few weeks after he was informed " of his family's fafe return to Belhefda (b). About the end of Otloher he left Scotland^ and rode poll to London^ where he arrived in about five days. {]}) The manner in which the Spaniards were repulfed, with remarks upon the klndnefs of Providence to the colony, may be feen in an extract of General Oglethorpe %•. proclamation far a thankfgiving, in Letter DII. CHAP, ibe Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 129 CHAP. XL From his Arrival in London in the Tear 1742, /i? his embarking for America, 1 744. ON Mr. WhitefieW% arrival in London^ he found a new awakening at the Tabernacle, which they had been obliged to enlarge ; where, as he obfervesi " from morning till midnight {i), I am *' employed, arid, glory be to rich grace, I am " carried through the duties of each day with " chearfulnefs, and almoft uninterrupted tran- *' quillity. Our fociety is large, but in good order. '' My Mailer gives us much of his gracious pre- *' fence, both in our public and private admini- " ftrations." In the month of March 1743^ he went into Gloucefisrfliire^ where the people feemed more de- firous to hear than ever. " Preaching (fays he) *' {k) in Gloticefter/Jiirey is now like preaching . at " the Tabernacle in London'* And again, (in a Letter, dated April 7,) (I) " I preached and took " leave of the Gloncefter people, with mutual (0 Letter CCCCXCI. [k) Letter DIV. (/) Letter DVL K '' and 1 30 Memoirs of the Life of " and great concern, on Sunday evening laft. It " was paft one in the morning before I could lay " my weary body down. At five I role again, " fick for want of reft ^ but I was enabled to get " on horfeback, and ride to Mr. F 's, where *^ I preached to a large congregation, who came *' there at feven in the morning. At ten, I read " prayers and preached, and afterward admin- ** iftered the facrament in Stonehoufe church. Then *^ I rode to Stroud^ and preached to about 12,00© " in Miftrefs G 's field ; and about fix in the " evening to a like number in Hampton-Common, " After this, went to Ha^npton^ and held a general *' love-feaft with the united focieties, and went to *' bed about midnight very chearful, and very ^' happy.** Next morning he preached near Durjley to fome thoufands ; about feven reached Brijlol^ and preached to a full congregation at Smiths-Hall', and on Tuefday morning, after preach- ing again, fet out for VVaterford, in South-Wales^ where he opened the affociation which he and his brethren had agreed upon, and was feveral days with them, fettling the afi^airs of the focieties. He continued in Wales fome weeks, and preached with great apparent fuccefs at Cardiff^ Lantrijfant^. Neath^ Szvanzey^ Harhrook^ Llanelthy^ Carmarthen^ (m) Larn^ Narhatt^ Newton^ Jefferfon^ Llajfivran^ (m) " It was the great feffions. The JuRices defired *' I would flay till they rofe, and they would come, *' Accordingly th&y did, and many thoufands more; and « feveral people of quality." J^etter CCCCCIX. 5 Kidwilly^. •the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 131 Kidwiily, Llangathan, Landovery^ Brecon, '^revecka^ Guenfetben, Buiilb, and the Gore (n)^ and in the latter end of Jpril returned to Giotuefter^ after hav- ing, in about three weeks (0)^ travelled about four hundred EngliJJi miles, fpent three days in attend- ing afTociations {p)^ and preached about forty times. {n) " The work begun by Mr. Jones^ fpread itfelf far *' and near, in ^ouih and North-Wales^ where the Lord " had made Mr. Howtl Harris an inftrument of con- *' verting feveral clergy as well as laymen. Laft year " I vifited feveral places, but now I went to more, and *' in every place found, that not one half had been told *' me. The power of God at the facrament, under the *' miniftry of Mr. Rowland^ was enough to make a per- *' fon's heart burn within him. At feven of the morn- *' ing have I feen perhaps ten thoufand from different *' parts, in the midft of fermon, crying, Gogunniant — *' bcndyitti — ready to leap for joy. Affociations were *' now formed, and monthly or quarterly meetings ap- *' pointed, and a clofer conne6lion eftablifbed between *' the Englijh and Wdch^ fo that feveral came over to *' affift." M. S. (o) Letter DXIV. (p) At one of thefe afTociations, a motion was made to feparate from the eftablifhed Church : but (fays Mr. JVhitefidd, Letter DXXXIII.) " by far the greater *' part llrenuoufly oppofed it, and with good reafon : " for, as we enjoy fuch great liberty under the mild and *' gentle government of his prefent Majefty King George, *' I thinic we can do him, our country, and the caufe of *' God, more fervice in ranging up and down, preaching " repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jefus ** ChriJ}^ to thofe multitudes who would neither come ** into church or meeting, but who are led by curiofity '* to follow us into the fields. This is a way to " V/hich God has affixed his feal for many years paft." K 3 In 132 Memoirs of the Life cf In May he went back to London^ " Once more, *' as he exprelfes it, to attack the pHnce of dark-' *' nefs in Moorfields^^ in the time of the holidays. The congregations \vere amazingly great, and much affcdlcd. And by the contributions which were now and formerly made for his orphans, he had the fatisfadion of paying all that was due in England^ and of making a fmall remittance to Mr. Haberjliam (q). About the middle of Jme he made another ex- curfion, and preached at Fairford^ Glanfield^ Bur- ford^ Bengeworth^ and Gloucejler -, alfo at Brijiol and Kingfujood^ and at Brinkzvorth^ T'etherton^ and Hampton* At BriJlol he continued fome time, preaching flatedly every day twice, and four times on the Sunday. Afterwards he preached at Exeter to very large congregations, where many of the clergy attended. In Auguji he returned to London^ but made no long ilay there. " I thank you, fays he to a cor- " refpondent (r), for your kind caution to fpare .*' myfelf i but evangelizing is certainly my pro- *' vince. Every where effcdlual doors are opened. *' So far from thinking of neftling at London^ I *' am more and more convinced that I (hould go •' from place to place." Accordingly we find him in the months of Oufo- her, November, and DecemhcTy preaching and tra* {q) Letter DXIX. (r) Letter DXL. veiling the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. ijj veiling through the country, as if it had been the middle of Summer. At Avon in JVilts^ I'ethertony Clack^ Brinkzvorth^ Ckippenham^ fFellwglon, Cul- lompton^ Exeter^ Axmwfter^ Otter)\ Biddeford (s)^ St. Gennis in Cornwall (t)^ Birmingham (u)^ Kidder- minfter (x)y and Brcmfgrove. Nor did he feel his health much impaired, though it was fo late in the feafon. He obferves, indeed, (Letter DXLII.) that he had got a cold j but adds, " The Lord " warms my heart." (f) '^ Here is a clergyman about eighty years of ase, *' but not above one year old in the fchool of Chrijl. He *' lately preached three times, and rode forty miles the '' fame day. A young Oxonian who came with him, '^ and many others, were deeply affeiSied.. I cannot well " defcribe with what power the word was attende'd. *^ Dear Mr. Hervey, one of our firft Methodifts at Ox- *' ford^ and who was lately a curate here, had laid the " fundation." Letter DXL. (/) " Many prayers were put up by the worthy *' Reflor and others, for an outpouring of God's blefled *' Spirit. They were anfwered. Arrows of convicSlion " flew fo thick, and fo faft, and fuch an univerfal weep- *' ing prevailed from one end of the congregation to the ^' other, that good Mr. J their minifter, could not *' help going from feat to feat to fpeak, encourage, and *' comfort the wounded fouls." Letter DXLI. («) " It is near eleven at night, and nature calls for ^' reft. I have preached five times this day, and, weak *' as I am, through ChriJ} ftrengthening me, I could " preach five times more." Letter DXLIII. [x) " I was kindly received by Mr. JVilliams. Many ^* friends were at his houfe. 1 was greatly refreflied to *' find what a fweet favour of good Mr. Baxter s do<^rine, " works, and difcipline remained to this day." Letter pxLiy. K 3 Fi^ 134 Memoirs of the Life of February 1744, an event happened to him, which, amidft all his. fuccefs, tended to keep him humble, and ferved to cure him of a weaknefs to which he had been liable, the trufting to ground- lefs impreffions. It was the death of his only child, concerning whom he was fo imprefied, tha^ he made no fcruple of declaring before the birth, that the child would be a fon, and that he hoped he would live to preach the gofpel. Several nar- row efcapes which Mrs. White field had during her pregnancy, confirmed him in his expedations ; which were fo high, that after he had publicly baptized the child at the Tabernacle, all went away big with hopes of his being fpared to be emr ployed in the work of God. But thefe fond ex-? pedations were foon blafted by the child's death, when he was about four months old. This was, no doubt, very humbling to the father \ but he was helped to make the wifefl and, beR" improve- ment of it. " Though I am difappointed (fays, ** he, writing to his friend (y)^ of a living preacher " by the death of my fon \ yet I hope what hap- " pened before his birth, and fince at his death^ •* has taught me fuch IcfTons, as if duly improved, ** may render his miftaken parent more cautious, ^' more fober-minded, more experienced in Satan's <' devices^ and confequently more ufeful in his fu- " turc labours to the church of God." March 3, he attended the afTizes at Glouceftef. The occafion was, in the Summer 1743, the M^- (y) Letter DXLVII. thodifls ihe Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. i 35 thodifts had been perfecuted and abiifed by the mob, particularly at Hamptcn^ where feveral were hurt, and the life of their preachers threatened. Mr. Whitefield having tried other me- thods in vain, refolved, with the advice and aflift- ance of his brethren^ to feek the protedion of law : and accordingly got an information lodged againfl the Hampton rioters in the court of King's-Bench. Fadts being proved by a variety of evidence, and the defendants making no reply, the rule was made abfolute; and an information filed againft them. To this they pleaded Not guilty^ and there- fore the caufe was referred in courfe to the afTizes in Gloucejier. There he attended, and got the better of his adverfaries. After a full hearing on both fides, a v€rdi<5l was given for the profecutors, and all the defendants were brought in guilty of the whole information lodged againft them. This profecution had a very good efFed. The rioters were greatly alarmed at the thoughts of having an execution ifllied out againft them. But the inten- tion of the Methodifts was, to let them fee what they could do, and then to forgive them (2:). Some time before this, feveral anonym.ous pa- pers, entitled, " Obfervations upon the Condu<5l and Behaviour of a certain Sed, ufually diftin- guifhed by the name of Methodifts," had been printed, and handed about in the religious focieties (z) Letter DXLIX, DL. See an account of this trial in his VVgiksj Vol. IV, K 4 ©f 13^ Memoirs of the Life of of London and IFeftminfter^ and given to many private perlbns, with flrid injundions to part with them to no one. Mr. Whitejield having accidentally had the hafty perufal of them ; and finding many queries concerning him and his condu6t contained in them *, and having applied for a copy, which was refufed him, he thought it his duty to publifli an advertilement, defiring (as he knew not how ibon he might embark for Georgia) a fpeedy, open publication of the faid papers, that he might make a candid and impartial anfwer. He had reafon to believe the Bifliop of London was concerned in compofing or revifing them : but that he might not be miftaken, after the publication of the ad- vertifement, he wrote the Bifhop a letter, wherein he defired to know, whether his Lordfhip was the author or not •, and alfo defired a copy. The Bi- fhop fent word, '^ He fiiould hear from him." Some time after, one Mr. Owen^ printer to the Bifhop, left a letter for Mr. Whitefidd^ informing him that he had orders horn fever cl of the Eifliops^ to print the Obfervations^ Sec. with fome few addi- tions., for their ufe ; and when the imprefiion was finifhed, Mr. Whitefield fhould have a copy. — For thefe reafons, Mr. Whitefield thought it proper to direft his Anfwer to the Obfervations^ to the Bifnop of London., and the other Billiops concerned in the publication of them. This Anfwer occafioned the liev. Mr. Church's Expoflulatory Letter to Mr, IVhitefehj -^ the Rev. Mt\ George Whitefield. 1 37 JVhitefield ^ to which he foon replied, with thanks CO the author for prefixing his name (zz). Havino; refolved to make another vifit to Ame^ rica^ whither Mr. Smithy a merchant, then in Eng- land^ in the name of thoufands invited him. With him he took pafiage in a fliip going from Portf- mouth ; but being informed, juft before he was about to take his farewell, that the captain refufed to take him, for fear, as he alledged, of fpoiling the failors, he was obliged to go as far as Plymouth, " In my way, fays he, I preached at IVelliiigtcn^ *' where one Mr. Darracott had been a blcficd in- " ftrument of doing much good. At Exeter alfo, *^ I revifited, where many fouls were awakened to *^ the divine life. At Biddeford^ where good Mr. ^' Hervey had been curate, we had much of the ^' power of God ; and alio at King /bridge. But ^' the chief fcene was at Plymouth and the dock, ^' where 1 expeded leaft fuccefs {a)" It is re- (%%) See his Works, Vol. IV. where is alfo his An- fwer to the Second Part of the Obfervations, &c. in a fecond letter to the Bifhops, written during his voyage to America that year, {a) AI. S, Upon mentioning Bid4eford^ he adds here a character of Mr. Hcrvey \ it is pity he. did not write it down. — However, we have a (ketch of it in Letter DCCLXIII. " Your fentiments concerning *' Mr. H 's book, are very jufl. The author of it ^' is my old friend; a mod heavenly-minded creature, ?' one of the firft of the Meihodifls, who is contented f* with a fmall cure, and gives all that he has to the ^' poor. He is vsry weak, and daily v/aits for his diflb- f* jution." 7 m^rkable, 138 Memoirs of the Life of niarkable, that juft before his fuccefs at Plymouth^ he was in danger of being killed. Four gentle- men, it feems, came to the houfe of one of his particular friends, kindly enquiring after him, and defiring to know where he lodged. Soon after* •wards, Mr. Whitefield received a letter, informing him, that the writer was a nephew. of Mr. ^ , an attorney at New-Tcrk ; that he had the pleafurc of fupping with Mr. Whitefield at his uncle's houfe ; and defired his company to fup with him, and a few more friends, at a tavern. Mr. Whitefield fent him word, that it was not cuftomary for him to fup abroad at taverns, but (hould be glad of the gentleman's company to [eat a morfel with him at his lodging ; he accordingly came and fupped *, but was obferved frequently to look around him, and to be very abfent. At laft he took his leave, and returned to his companions in the tavern ; and be- ing by them interrogated, what he had done, he anfwered, " That he had been ufed fo civilly, he " had not the heart to touch him." Upon which, it feems, another of the company, a lieutenant of a man of war, laid a wager of ten guineas, that he would do his bufmefs for him. His companions, however, had the precaution to take away his fword. It was now about midnight, and Mr. White- fidd having that day preached to a large congrega- tion, and vifited the French prifoners, was gone to bed : when the landlady came and told him that a well-drefTed gentleman defired to fpeak with him, Mr. Whitefield,^ imagining it was fomebody under con- the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 139 convidion, defired him to be brought up. He came, and Tat down by the bed fide, congratulated him upon the ruccels of his miniftry, and cxprefled much concern at being detained from hearing him. Soon after he broke out into the moll abufive language, and in a cruel and cowardly manner, beat him in his bed. The landlady and her daughter hearing the noifc, rufhed into the room, and feized upon him •, but he foon difengaged himfelf from them, and repeated his blows on Mr. Whitefield^ who being apprehenfive tliat he intended to fhoot or flab him, underwent all the furprize of a fudden and violent death. After- wards, a fecond came into the houfe, and cried out from the bottom of the ftairs, " Take cou- ** rage, I am ready to help you." But by the repeated cry of murder^ the alarm was now fo great, that they both made off. " The next " morning, fays Mr. Whitef.eld {b)^ I was to ex- ^* pound at a private houfe, and then ro fet out " for Biddefcrd. Some urged me to flay and *' profecute •, but being better employed, I went ♦' on my intended journey, was greatly bleffed " in preaching the everlafting gofpel, and upon *' my return was well paid for what I had fuffered: ** curiofity having led perhaps two thoufand more ^' than ordinary, to fee and hear a man that had " like to have been m.urdered in his bed. /ind ♦' I truft in the five weeks time (r), while I waited {b) Letter DLII. [c] M. S, -" for 1 40 Memoirs of the Life of ♦^ for the convoy, hundreds were awakened and ♦' turned unto the Lord. At the dock alfo, *^ near Plymouth^ a glorious work was begun. " Could the fields between Plymouth and the Dock, ^' fpeak, they could tell what blefled fcafons were \^ enjoyed there.'^ CHAP, fie Rev. Mr. George "Whiiedcld. 141 CHAP. XII. From his embarking for Amcncdi in 1744, to his going to the Bermudas, in the Tear 1748. AS foon as the convoy^ came (Jj, IVTr. White- field embarked in the beginning of Auguft 1744, though in a poor flate of health. The tedioufnefs of the voyage, he imagined, occafion- ed no fmall addition to a violent pain in his fide* However, he fays, *' BlefTed be God, in a week " or two after we failed, we began to have a " church in our fhip. We had regular public '' prayer morning and evening, frequent com- " munion, and days of humiliation and fading.'* After a paffage of eleven weeks {ej^ he arrived at {d) " ^uguji 4. Our convoy is now come. I defire " you all to blefs God for what he is doing in thefe *' parts j for preaching in the Dock is now like preach- ** ing at the Tabernacle. Our morning le6lures are «« very delightful. O ! the thoufands that flock to the « preaching of Cbriji^s Gofpel." Letter DLVIIL DLIX. P, S. " I muft tell you one thing more. There is a " ferry over to Plymouth, The ferrymen are now io *' much my friends, that they will take nothing of the " multitudes that come to hear me preach ; faying, * God forbid that wefhould fell the word of God.' {e) His Letter to the Clergy of the DIocefs of LiUh- field and Coventry^ is dated during this voyage. Tcrk 142 Memoirs of the Life of Tork in Nezv England. Colonel Pepperell went with fome friends in his own boat, to invite him to his hoLife. But he was not in a proper condi- tion to accept the invitation, being fo ill of a ner- vous cholic, that he was obliged, immediately after his arrival, to go to bed. His friends were very apprehenfive -, but he himfelf had much in- ward peace. Great care was taken of him by a phyfician who had been a notorious Deift, but was awakened, the laft time he was in New Eng- land, For fome time he was, indeed, very weak : *' Yet (he writes) (f) in three weeks, I was en- *' abled to preach : but, imprudently going over *' the ferry to Portfmouth^ 1 caught cold, imme- *' diately relapfed, and was taken, as every one *' thought, with death, in my dear friend Mr* "^^ Sherburne's houfe. What gave me moil con- *'• cern was, that notice had been given of my ** being to preach. Whilft the Dodlor was pre- *' paring a medicine, feeling my pains abated, I *' on a fudden cried, * Do6tor, my pains are fuf- ' pended : by the help of God, I will go and * preach, and then come home and die.' " In my *' own apprehenfion, and in all appearance to *' others, I was a dying man. 1 preached. The *' people heard me as fuch. The invifible reali- *' ties of another v^/orld lay open to my view. '' Expecting to ftretch into eternity, and to be *' with my mailer before the morning, I fpoke (f) M. S. and Letter DLXII. See Works, Vol. IV. *' with the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 14-5 " with peculiar energy. Such effeds followed the " word, I thought it was worth dying for a thou- " fand times. Though wonderfully comforted *' within, at my return home, I thought I was *' dying indeed. I was laid on a bed upon the *' ground, near the fire, and I heard my friends *' fay, ' He is gone.' But God was pleafed to *' order it otherwife. I gradually recovered j and " foon after, a poor negro- woman would fee me. " She came, fat down upon the ground, and " looked earneftly in my face, and then faid, in " broken language; ' Mailer, you juft go to * Heaven's gate. But Jefus Chriji faid, Get you * down, get you down, you muft not come here * yet ; but go firft, and call fome more poor ne-> ' groes.' " I prayed to the Lord, that if I was " to live, this might be the event. *' In about three weeks I was enabled, thouorh ■*' in great weaknefs, to reach Bofton-, and everyday " was more and more confirmed, in what I had " heard about a glorious work, that had been " begun and carried on there, and in almoft all " parts of New England^ for two years together. *^ Before my lad embarkation from Georgia^ Mr. *' Cohnan^ and Mr. Cocper^ wrote me word, that " upon Mr. Temnl's going out as an itinerant, the " awakening greatly increafed in various places {g\ (g) See Princis Chriftian Hiftory, (or Hiftorical Collections, &c. Vol. II. page 304) where are attefta- tions of above a hundred^and- twenty minifters to the goodnefs of the work, ** till 1 44 Memoirs of the Life of " till, at length, the work fo advanced cvCiy •* where, that many thought the latter-day glory " was indeed come, and that a nation was to be '^ born in a day. But, as the fame fun that en- *' Ijorhtens and warms the earth, o-ives vent to *' noxious infedts ; fo the fame work, that for a *' while carried all before it, was fadly blemiflied *' through the fubtility of Satan (b)^ and the? ^' want of more experience in minifters and *' people, who had never {ztn fuch a fcene be- " fore. Oppofers, who waited for fuch an occa- *' fion, did all they could to aggravate every " thinf^. One rode feveral hundred miles, to " pick up all the accounts he could get of what *^ was wrong, in what he called only, ' a reli- ' gious ftir.' " And God having been pleafed *^ to fend me firft, all was laid upon me. Tefti- *' monies figned by various minifters came out '*- againft me (i), almoft every day. And the dif- '^ orders were alio at the higheft •, fo that for a *' while, my fituation was rendered uncomfort- " able (k). But amidft all this fmoke, a bleffed " fire (h) Thus It was at the Reformation In Germany. (i) He wrote an Anfwer, to a Teftimony by Har^ mrd College. See Works, Vol. IV^ (k) While fome publifhed teftimonials againft Mr. Whitejieldy others publifhed teftimonials in his favour: as Mr. Hohhy^ Mr. Loring ; Fifteen minifters convened nt Taunton^ March ^, 1745. And the following para* crraph is in Princes Chriftian Hiftory, No. XCIV. ^ « Saturday y November 24, 1744. The Rev. Mr. Whiie^ *< field was fo far revived, as to be able to fct out from *' Porifmouth the Rev, Mr. George Whitefield. 145 ^' fire broke out. The awakened fouls were as *' eager as ever to hear the word (k). Having heard cc *' Portfmouth to Bofton^ whither he came in a very feeble " ftace the Monday evening after: fince which, he has '' been able to preach in leveral of our hirgeft houfes of *' pubhc worfhip, particularly the Rev. Dr. Colmans^ *' Dr. S^wall's, Mr. l^^M'sy and Mr. Gcc^'s, to crowded *' aiTemblies of people, and v/ith great and growing ac- *•■ ceptance. At Dr. Colmans defire, and the confent of " the church, on the Lord's-day after his arrival, he *' adminiftercd to them the Holy Communion. And laft *' Lord's-day he preached for Mr. Cheevcr of Chelfea^ *' and adminiftered the Holy Supper there. The next *' day preached for the Rev. Mr. Emerjon of Maiden. *' Yefterday he fet out to preach at fome towns to the *' northward, propofes to return hither the next Wednef- *' day evening, and after a fev/ days, to comply with the *' earneft invitations of feveral minifters, to go and " preach to their congregations in the fouthern parts of *' the province. He comes with the fame extraordi- *' nary fpirit of meeknefs, fweetnefs, and unlverfal be- '' nevolence, as before. In oppofition to the fpirit of ^^ feparation and bigotry, is If ill for holding communion '' with all proteftant churches. In oppofition to enthu- '^ fiafm, he preaches a clofe adherence to the Scrip- *' tures, the neceffity of trying all impreffions by them, *' and of rejeding whatever is not agreeable to thei/,, ' *' as delufions. In oppofition to Antimmlanifm, he *' preaches up all kinds of relative and religious duties, though to be performed in the ftrength of Chriji : and in fhort, the doiSlrines of the Church of Eng- land^ and of the firft fathers of this country. As before, he firft applies himfelf to the underftandings *' of his hearers, and then to the aft*e " rican woods, and fometimes think I fliall never re- " turn to England any more. *< OSioher 8. I have had fome fweet times with feve- *' ral of the Lutheran miniilers at Philadelphia, '' November 8. I have lately been in feven counties *' in Maryland^ and preached to great congregations. May 21, 1747. I have now been upon the ftrctch, *' preaching conftantly for almoft three weeks. My *' body is often extremely weak, but the joy of ths *' Lord is my ftrength ; and by the help of God, I *' intend going on till I drop, or' this poor carcafe can *^ hold out no m.ore. Thefe fouthern colonics lie in " darknefs, and yet, as far as I find, are as willing to " receive the Gol'pel, as others. If fome good books *« could be purchafed, to djfpofe among poor people, ** much good might be done. *' June I. The congregations yefterday wercexceed- *' ing large. I am fick and well, as I ufed to be ia •' England'^ but the Redeemer fills me with comfoit, *^ I am determined, in his ftrength, to die fighting. *' June 4. I have omitted preaching one night to *' oblige my friends, that they may not charge me \vith *' murdering myfelf ; but I hope yet to die in the pul- '' pit, or foon after I come out of it. " June 23. Since m.y laft, I have been fcvera] times *' on the verge of eternity. At prefent, 1 am fo weak: *' that I cannot preach. It is hard work to be lileiU, *' but I muft be tried every way. " June 29. God has been pleafed to bring my body ** to the very brink of the grave, by convullions, gra- *' vel, a nervous cholic, and a violent fever. For this '' week pafl, I have not preached ; but fmce my *' leaving Philadelphia^ about three days ago, I feem- *' ed to have gathered ftrength, and hope once more, *' to-morrow, to proclaim amongft poor fmr.ers, the '' unfcarchable riches of Jefus Chrifi, I purpofe to go *' 10 the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 153 " to BcJIon, and return by land, fo as to reach Charles- *' town by Nove?nb€r, " 7^b 4' ^^ prefent, T am very weakly, and fcarcc *' able to preach above once or twice a week. •' September ii. We faw great things in New Eng^ *' lajid. The flocking and power that attended the word, " was like unto that feven years ago. Weak as I was, '^ and have been, I was enabled to travel eleven hun- *' dred miles, and preach daily. I am now going to ^' Georgia to winter." C IT A P. 154- Memoirs of the Life of CHAP. XIII. From his Arrival at the Bermudas, to his Return to London in July 1748. MR. Whitejield met with the kindeft reception at Bermudas^ and for above a month, he preached generally twice a day, traverfing the ifland from one end to the other : but his adivity, ufefulnefs, and treatment, will befl appear by an extrad from his manufcript journal of that pe- riod. " The fimplicity and plainnefs of the people, *' together with the pleafant fituation of the *' ifland, much delighted me. The Rev. Mr. *' Holiday^ minifter of Spanijh-Point^ received me •" in a mofl: affedionate chriftian manner, and *' begged I would make his houfe my home. — *' In the evening, I expounded at the houfe of ^' Mr. Savage of Port- Roy aly which was very *' commodious, and which alfo he would have *' me make my home. 1 went with Mr. Sa- " vage^ in a boat lent us by Captain , ** to the town of St, George^ in order to pay our *' refpedls to the Governor. All along we had a " moil pleafant profped of the other part of the *' ifland ; but a more pleafant one I never faw. *' One Mrs. Smithy of St, George's^ for whom I had *^ a letter of recommendation from my dear old '^ friend the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. j 55 ^^ friend Mr. Smith of CharJes-'Town^ received me ^' into *»i^ her houie. About noon^ \vith one of ^' the council and Mr. Sava^e^ I waited upon the ** Governor. He received us courteoufly, and ^' invited us to dine with him and the council at a *' tavern. We accepted the invitation, and all *' behaved with great civility and refpedl. After ^' the Governor rofe from table, he defired, if I " flayed in town on the Sunday^ that I would dine " with him at his own houfe, *' Sunday^ March 20, read prayers, and preached " twice this day, to what were efteemed here large ^' auditories, in the morning ^tSpaniJIi-Pomt chmchj *' and in the evening at Bracki/h-pond church, about " two miles diftant from each other. In the af^ " ternoon I fpoke with greater freedom than in *' the morning, and I truft not altogether in vain. *' All were attentive -^fome wept. I dined with " Colonel Butterfield^ one of the council, and re- " ceived feveral invitations to other gentlemen's " houfes. May God blefs and reward them, and " incline them to open their heart to receive the ^' Lord Jefus ! Amen and Amen I '' Wednefday^ March 23, dined with Capt. Gihhs^ " and went from thence and expounded at the " houfe of Capt. F /^, at Htinbay^ about two " miles diftant. The company was here alfo large, " attentive, and affcded. Our Lord gave me " utterance : I expounded on the firft part of the " viiith chapter of Jeremiah. After icdure, Mr. ^' Riddle^ a counfellor, invited me to his houfe, l^ as did Mr, Paul^ an aged prefbyterian minifter, " tQ 156 Memoirs of the Life of " to his pulpit ', which I complied with upon con- " dition the report was true, that the Governor *' had ferved the minifters with an injundion that ^^' I Ihould not preach in the churches, " Friday^ March 25, Was prevented preaching " yefterday by the rain, which continued from " morning till night •, but this afternoon God gave *' me another opportunity of declaring his eternal *' truths to a large company at the houfe of one " Mr. B Sy who laft night fent me a letter of *' invitation, *' Sunday^ March 27. Glory be to God ! I hope ** this has been a profitable fabbath to many fouls: *' It has been a pleafant one to mine. Both m.orn- *' ing and afternoon I preached to a large auditory, •' for Bermudas^ in Mr. PauPs meeting- houfe, *' which I fuppofe contains above four hundred. ** Abundance of negroes, and many others, were ** in the veilry, porch, and about the houfe. •' The word feemed to be clothed with a convinc- ** ing power, and to make its way into the hearts *' of the hearers. Between fermons, I was enter- *' tained very civilly in a neighbouring houfe : *' Judge Bafcom and three more of the council ^' came thither •, each gave me an invitation to " his houfe. — O how does the Lord make way ^^ for a poor flranger in a ftrange land ! — After " the fecond fermon, I dined with Mr. Paul^ and " in the evening expounded to a very large com- " pany at Counfellor Riddle's. — My body was " fomewhat weak, but the Lord carried me " through, and caufed me to go to reft rejoicing. *' May the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 157 May I thus go to my grave, when my ceafelels uninterrupted refl fhall begin ! " Monday^ March 28. Dined this day at Mrs: B — ^-/*s, mother-in-law to my dear friend the Rev. Mr. Smith •, and afterwards preached to more than a large houfe full of people, on Matt. ix. 12. lowards the conclufion of the fermon, the hearers began to be more affeded than I have yet feen them. Surely the I.ord Jefus wiiU give me fome leals in this iiland ! Grant this, O Redeemer, for thy infinite mercy's fake ! "-"•Thtirfday., March '^i. Dined on Tuefday at Colonel Corhufiers ; and on Wednefday^ at Colonel Gtlhert\^ both of the council, and found, by what I could hear, that fome good had been done, and many prejudices removed. Who fhall hinder, if God will work ? Went to an ifland this afternoon, called Ireland., upon which live a few families, and to my furprize, found a great many gentlemen and other people, with my friend Mr. Holyday^ who came from different quarters to hear me. — Before I began preach- ing, I went round to fee a mod remarkable cave, which very much difplayed the exquifite workmanlhip of Him, who in his ftrength fet- teth fad the mountains, and is girded about with power. Whilft I was in the cave, quite unexpedledly I turned and faw Counfellor Rid- die, who with his fon came to hear me, and whilft we were in the boat told me, that he had " been "I^S Memoirs of the Life of ^ been with the Governor, who declared he fiad *' no perfonal prejudice againft me, and wondered *' I did not come to town and preach there, for it *' was the defire of the people ; and that any houfe *' in the town, the court- houfe not excepted, fhould ** be at my^ fervice. Thanks be to God for fo *' much favour !— If his caufe reqliires it, I fhall *' have more. — He knows my heart : I value the >' favour of man no farther than as it makes room ** for the gofpelj and gives me a larger fcope to " promote the glory of God. There being no " capacious houfe upon the ifland, I preached for " the firfl time here in the open air. All heard *' very attentive, and it was very pleafant after '^ fermon to fee fo many boats full of people re- " turning from the worfhip of God. I talked fe- *' rioufly to fome in our own 'boat, and began to " fmg apfalm, in which they readily joined. " Sunday^ April 3. Preached twice this day at *' Mr. FauW meeting-houfe, as on the laft fabbath, *' but with greater freedom and power, efpecially " in the morning, and I think to as great, if not *' greater auditories. Dined with Colonel H — vy^ *' another of the council -, vifited a fick v/oman, " where many came to hear, and expounded after- *' wards to a great company at Capt. John DorreVs^: *' Mrs. D — -/'s fon, who with his wife courte- *' oufly entertained me, and defired me to make *' his houfe my home. — So true is that promife of " our Lord's, * That whofoever leaves father or' " mother, houfes or lands, fhall have in this life ' a huBi^ the Rev. Mr. George Whitefidd. 1 59 '* a hundred-fold with perfecution, and in the " world to come life everlafting.* Lord, I have •* experienced the one -, in thy good time grant " that I may experience the other alfo ! " PFednefday, April 6. Preached yefterday at " the houfc of Mr. Anthony Smithy of Bay lis Bay^ *' with a confiderable degree of warmth, and rode " afterwards to St. George^s, the only town on the *' ifland. The gentlemen of the town had fent " me an invitation by Judge Bafcome^ and he with " feveral others came to vifit me at my lodgings, " and informed me, that the Governor defired to " fee me. — About ten I waited upon his Excel- " lency, who received me with great civility, and " told me he had no objedion againft my perfon *' or my principles, having never yet heard me, " and he knew nothing in refpedt to my condudt " in moral life, that might prejudice him againft ''' me; but his inftru6tions were, to let none preach " in the ifland, unlefs he had a written licence to " preach fomewhere in America or the Weft - Indie s : *' at the fame time he acknowledged it was but a " matter of mere form. I informed his Excel- " lency, that I had been regularly inducted to the *' parifli of Savannah •, that I was ordained prieil '^ by letters dimifTory from my Lord of London^ " and under no church cenfure from his Lordfliip ; " and would always read the church prayers, if *' the clergy would give me the ufe of their *' churches. I added farther, that a minifter's ^J pulpit was looked upon as hia freehold, and that '^ 1 knew 5 l6o Memoirs of the Life of *' I knew one clergyman who had denied his own *' Diocefan the uie of his pulpit. But I told his *' Excellency, I was fatisfied with the liberty he " allowed me, and would not ad contrary to his " injundlion. 1 then begged leave to be difmifTed, " bccaufe I was to preach at eleven o'clock. His *' Excellency faid he intended to do himfelf the " pleafure to hear me. At eleven the church- bell •' rung, the church-bible, prayer-book, and cu- " fhion were fent to the town-houfe. — The Go- *' vernor, feveral of the council, the minifter of " the parifh, and alTembly-mcn, with a great " number of the town's-people, alTembled in great " order. I was very Tick, through a cold I catched *' lad night •, but 1 read the church prayers, (the ** firft leffon was the xvth of the firfl book of Sa- *' muel) and preached on thofe words, " Righte- " tcoufnefs exalteth a nation." Being weak and " faint, and having much of the head-ach, I did " not do that juftice to my fubjed, as I fometimes " am enabled to do ; but the Lord fo helped me, *' that, as 1 found afterwards, the Governor and " the other gendcmen exprefTed their approbation, *^ and acknowledged they did not exped to be fo " well entertained. — Not unto me, O Lord, not " unto me, but unto ihy free grace be all the *' glory ! " After fermon, Dr. F h, and Mr. P /, *' the colledor, came to me, and defired me to " favour them and the gentlemen of the towPA " with my company to dine with them. I accepted ihc Rev. Mr. George Whitefield* 1 6 1 ^■^ the invitation. — The Governor and the Prefident *** and Judge Bafcome were there. All wondered '' at my fpeaking ib freely and fluently without " notes. The Governor afked me whether I nfed *' minutes. — I anfwered, No. He faid it was a *' great gift. At table his Excellency introduced " fomething of religion, by afking me the mean- *' ing of the word Hades. Several other things *' were flarted about free-will, Adam^s fall, pre- " deftination, &c. to all which God enabled me to ^' anfwer fo pertinently, and taught me to mix the " utile and duke fo together, that all at table *' feemed highly pleafed, fhook me by the hand, *' and invited me to their refpedlive houfes. The *' Governor, in particular, afked me to dine with *' him on the morrow, and Dr. F-— — h^ one of " his particular intimates, invited me to drink tea " in the afternoon. I thanked all, returned pro- " per refpe<5ls, and went to my lodgings wich " fome degree of thankfulnefs for the aEftance " vouchfafed me, and abafed before God at the " confideration of my unfpeakable unworthinefs. " In the afternoon, about five o'clock, I ex- " pounded the parable of the prodigal fon to *' many people at a private houfe, and in the " evening had liberty to fpeak freely and cloreiy *• to thofe that fupped with me. O that this may ** be the beginning of good gofpel times to the in- *' habitants of this town ! Lord, teach me to deal *' prudently with them, and caufe them to mek ** under thy word ! M " Fri- 1 6 2 MefKolrs of the Life of •* Friday^ April 8. Preached yeftertky with *' great clearnefs and freedom, to about fourfcore '' people at a houfe on David*s ifland, over *' againft St. George's town \ went and lay at Mr. " Holiday's^ who came in a boat to fetch me; and •' this day I heard him preach and read prayers, *' after which I took the facrament from him. *' Honeft man, he would have had me adminifter " and officiate ; but I chofe not to do it, left I *' Ihould bring him into trouble after my depar- " ture. However, in the afternoon I preached at " one Mr. ^od's^ in the fame parilh, to a very " large company indeed. The Lord was with me. *' My heart was warm, and what went from the '' heart, I truft went to the heart, for many were '' affedled. O that they may be converted alfo ? " Then will it be a good Friday indeed to their " fouls. " Sunday^ April lo. Dined and converfed yef- *' terday very agreeably with ]u6g^ Bafccme -, who *' i(itms to have the greateft infight into the dif- *' ference between the Arminian and Calviniftical ** fcheme of any one 1 have yet met with upon the " iiland. — In the afternoon, I vifited a fick para- " lytic, and this day 1 preached twice again at *' Mr. PauPs meeting-houfe. The congregations *' were rather larger than ever, and the power " of God feemed to be more amongil them. I " think 1 fee a vifible alteration for the better '' every Lord's day. BlefTed be God ! In the ^' evening 1 expounded at Mr. Jofepb Vorrelih^ 7 *' (where the Rsv. Mr. George Whitcfield. 163 ^* (where I dined) to a very large company ; then *' went to his kinfman's, my ufual lodging on Sa- *' iurday and Sunday evenings^ who with his wife *' and other friends, feemed kinder and kinder *' daily. — Good meafure prefTed down and running *' over, may the Lord, both as to fpirituals and " temporals, return into all their bofoms ! " Saturday y April 16. Preached fince Lord'5- " day at five different houfeSj to concerned and •' affedcd congregations, at different parts of the *' ifland, but was more indifpofed one night after ** going to bed, than I had been for fome time. *' On two of the days of this week, I dined with *' the Prefident and Captain Spafford^ one of the *' council, both which entertained me wi:h the *' utmofl civility* " Sunday 17. Still God magnifies his power •* and goodnefs more and more. This morning *' we had a pleafing fight at Mr. Paulas meeting- *' houfe* I began to preach, and the people to '' hear and be affedled as in days of old at home. *' Indeed the profpe^t is encouraging. Praife the *' Lord, O my foul ! After preaching twice to " large congregations in the meeting-houfe, I at *' the defire of the parents, preached in the even- " ing a fermon at the funeral of a little boy about " five years of age. A great number of people ^' attended, and the Lord enabled me fo to fpeak *•' as to affect many of the hearers. BlefTed be *^ the Lord for this day's work 1 Not unto me, M 2 ** O Lord, 164 Memoirs of the Life of " O Lord, not unto me, but unto thy free grace *« be all the glory ! *' Sunday^ April 24. The laft week being rainy, " I preached only five times in private houfes, " and this day but once in the meeting-houfe ; *' but I hope neither time without effed:. This *' evening expounded at Counlellor Riddle's^ who *' with the other gentlemen, treats me with greater '' refpect every day. Colonel Gilbert^ one of the *' council, has lent me his horfe during my (lay, *' and Mr. B // this morning informed me of ** a defign the gentlemen had, to raife a contribu- *' tion to help me to difcharge my arrears, and fup- *' port my orphan family. Thanks be given to thy *' name, O God! Thou knoweil: all things; thou " knoweft that I want to owe no man any thing, " but love and provide for Bethefda after my de- " ceafe. Thou had promifed thou wilt fulfil the *' defires of them that fear thee. I believe, Lord, '' help my unbelief, that thou wilt fulfil this defire *' of my foul. Even fo. Amen ! " Saturday^ April 30. Preached fmce Lord's- *' day, two funeral fermons, and at five difi^erent *' houfcs in difi^erent parts of the ifland to ftill " larger and larger auditories, and perceived the " people to be aflfcdled more and more. Twice *' or thrice I preached without doors. Riding in *' the fun, and preaching very earneftly, a little " fatigued me •, fo that this evening I was obliged *' to lie down for fome time. Faint^ yet purfuing 5 •' muft be my motto ftill. 5. *^ Sunday^ the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 165 " Sunday^ Mny^ i. This morning was a little fick ; but I truft God gave us a happy begin- ning of the new month. I preached twice with power, efpecially in the morning, to a very great congregation in the meeting-houfe •, and in the evening, having given previous notice, I preached about four miles diftanr, in the fiekls, to a large company of negroes, and a number of white people who came to hear what I had to fay to them. I believe, in all, there were near fifteen hundred people. As the fermon was intended for the negroes, I gave the auditory warning, that my difcourfe would be chiefly directed to them, and that I fliould endeavour to imitate the example of Elijah^ who when he was about to raife the child, contradled himfelf to its length. The negroes feemed very fenfible and attentive. When I aflced them, whether all of them did not defire to go to heaven, one of them with a very audible voice faid, * Yes, Sir.* This caufed a little fmilino; • but in general, every thing was carried on with great decency ; and 1 believe the Lord enabled me fo to dif- courfe, as to touch the negroes, and yet not to give them the leaft umbrao;c to flight or behave imperioufly to their maflcrs. If ever a minifler in preaching, need the wifdom of the ferpent to be joined with the harmleflliefs of the dove, it mull be when difcourfing to negroes. Vouch- fafe me this favour, O God, for thy dear Son's fake ! M 2 *' Mon- 1 66 Memoirs of the Life of " Mcr,da\\ May 2. Upon enquiry, I found *' that fome of the negroes did not like my *' preaching, becaufe 1 told them of their curfc- *' ing, fwearing, thieving, and lying. One or ♦' two of the worit of them, as I was in- *' formed, went away. Some faid, they would •' not go any more : They liked Mr. M r " better, for he never told them of thefc *' things •, and I faid, their hearts were as black as *' their faces. They expe6led, they faid, to hear ♦' me fpcak againft their mafters. BlefTed . be *- God, that I was diredled not to fay any thing, ^' this firfi: time, to the mailers at all, though ^' my text led me to it. It might have been of *' bad confequence, to tell them their duty, or *•> charge them too roundly with the negledl of *\ it, before their flaves. They would mind all I *' faid to their mailers, and, perhaps, nothing *' that I faid to them. Every thing is beautiful ** in its feafon. Lord, teach me always that due *' fealbn, v/herever I am called, to give either *' black or white, a portion of thy word ! How- ^' ever, others of the poor creatures, I hear, were '' very thankful, and came home to their maftcr's ^' houles, frying, that they would drive to fin ^' no more. Poor hearts ! Thefe different ac- ^' counts affected me-, and upon the whole, \ *' could not help rejoicing, to find that their con- ^' fciences were fo far awake, *^ Saturday^ May 7. In my Gonverfation thefe *' ;wo days, with feme of my friends, I was di- ^' Ytrte^ the Rev. Mr. George Whitefitld. 167 " verted much, in hearing feveral things that *' pafled among the poor negroes, fincc my prcach- '' ing to them lafl Sunday. One of the women, " it Teems, faid, ' That if the book I preached * out of was the beft book that was ever bouorht * at, and come out of Londcn^ (he was furc ic ' had never all that in it, which I fpoke to the * negroes.' " The old man, who fpoke out loud " laft Sunday^ and faid, ' Yes,' when I afl^ed *' them, Whether all the negroes would not go " to heaven ? Being queftioned by fomebody, " Why he fpoke out fo ? Anfwercd, * That the * gentleman put the q'ueftion once or twice to * therri, and the other fools had not the manners * to make me any anfwer, till, at laft, I feemed * to point at him, and he was aftjamed that no * body fhould anfwer me, and therefore he did.' " Another, wondering why I faid, ' Negroes had * black hearts i' was anfwercd by his black bro- " ther thus : ' Ah, thou fool, dofl thou not un- * derftand it ? He means black with fin.' Two " more girls were overheard by their miftref?, *' talking about religion, and they faid, ' They * knew, if they did not repent, they muft be ' damned.' From all which 1 infer, that thefe " Bermudas negroes are more knowing than I fup- ** pofed-j that their confciences are awake, and " confequently prepared, in a good meafure, for^ " hearing the Gofpel preached unto them. *' Sunday^ May 8. This alfr., 1 truft, has been *' a good fabbath. In the morning I was helped M 4 "to 1 68 Memoirs of the Life of *' to preach powerfLilly to a melting, and rather a " larger congregation than ever, in Mr. Paulh *' Meeting-hoiile j and in the evening, to aln^oft ^^ as large a congregation of black and white as " lafl Sunday^ in the fields, near my hearty friend ^' Mr, Holyday^s houfe. To fee fo many black ^' faces was affeding. Th'ey heard very atten- ^' tively, and fome of them now began to weep. " May Qod grant them a godly ibrrow, that ^' worketh repentance not to be repented of! '* Friday^ May 13. This afternoon preache4 " over the corpfe of Mr. Paurs eldeft fon, about " twenty-four years of age-, and by all I could " hear and judge of by converfing with him, he ^' did, indeed, die in the Lord, I vifited him *•■' twice lail Lord's-day, and was quite fatisfied ^' with what he faid, though he had not much ^' of the fenfible prefenceof God. I find he was a *•' preacher upon his death-bed. For he exhort- " ed all his companions to love Chrift in fincerity, «' and blefied his brother and fifler, and, I think, *' his father and mother juft before his departure. ^' A great many people attended the funeral. I "preached on Luke v\u 13. ^ And when the ' Lord faw her, he had compa/Tion on her, and * faid unto her, weep not.* ^^ Many were afteded *' in the application of my difcourfe, and, I ^' truft, fome will be induced, by this young man's " good example, to remember their Redeemer in ^' the days of their youth. Grant it, O Lord, ^^ fqr thy dear Son's fake ! ^^ Sunday^ the Rev» Mr. George Whitefield. 169 " Sunday, May 15. Praife the Lord, O my ** foul, and all that is within thee praife his holy *' name ! This morning I preached my farewel *' Sermon at Mr. Paul's Meeting-houfe, it was *' quite full, and, as the Prefident faid, above a ^' hundred and fifty whites, befides blacks, were *' "round the houfe. Attention fat on every face ; *' and when I came to take my leave, oh, what *' a fweet unaffeded weeping was there to be *^ feen every where. I believe there were few *' dry eyes. The negroes likewife without doors, ^' I heard wept plentifully. My own heart was ** affedled, and though I have parted from friends ^' fo often, yet 1 find every frefh parting almoft *' unman's me, and very much affeds my heart. *' Surely, a great work is begun in fome fouls *' at Bermudas. Carry it on, O Lord, and if ic '' be thy will fend me to this dear people again, *' Even fo, l^oxdjefus. Amen! " After Termon, I dined with three of the " Council, and other Gentlemen and Ladies, at " Captain Bafcomes ; and from tlience we went *' to a funeral, at which Mr. M — — r preached ^ *' and after that I expounded on our Lord's " Transfiguration, at the houfe of one Mrs. ♦' Harvey, fifter to dear Mr. Smith of Charles- *' town. The houfe w^as exceeding full, and it *' was fuppofed above three hundred flood in the ^' yard. The Lord enabled me to lift up my " voice like a trumpet. Many wept. Mr. ♦^ M r returned from the funeral with me, " and lyo Memoirs- of the Life of *' and attended the ledlure, as did the three *' Counfellors, with whom I converfed very free- " ly. May God reward them, and all the dear " people of the ifland, for thofe many and great ** favours they have conferred on me, who am *^ the chief of finners, and lefs than the leaft of *' all faints 1 " Sunday^ May 22. BlefTed be God! the little *' leaven thrown into the three mcafures of meal *' begins to ferment, and work almoft every day, *'' for the week pad. I have converfed with fouls ** loaded with a fenfe of their fms, and, as far *' as I can judge, really pricked to the heart. *' I preached only three times, but to almofl three " times larger auditories than ufual. Indeed the •' fields are white, ready unto harveft. God has ** been pleafcd to blefs private vifits. Go where *' I will, upon the leaf): notice, houfes are crowded, " and the poor fouls that follow arefoon drenched " in tears. This day 1 took, as it were, another " farewel. As the Ihip did not fail, I preached *-'" at Somerfei in the morning, to a large congre- *' gation in the fields, and expounded in the *' evening to as large one at Mr. Harvey\ houfe, *' round which flood many hundreds of people. *' But in the morning and evening how did the *' poor fouls weep. The Lord feemed to be with ^' me in a peculiar manner, and though I was ^^ ready to die with heat and ftraining, yet I *' was enabled to fpeak louder, and with greater '^ power, I think, than I have been before. " Gifts the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 171 »« Gifts and grace, efpecially ia the evening, « were both in excrcife. After the fervice, when ^' I lay down on the bed to reft, many came " weeping bitterly around me, and took their " laft farcwel. Though my body was very weak, *' yet my foul was full of comfort. It magnified " the Lord, and my fpirit rejoiced in God my " Saviour. Abundance of prayers and bleflings *' were put up for my fafe paffage to England^ " and fpeedy return to Bermudas again. May " they enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth ! " For, God willing, I intend vifiting thcfe dear " people once more. In the mean while, with " all humility and thankfulncfs of heart will I ** here, O Lord, let up my Ehenezer. For ** hitherto furely thou haft helped me ! I cannot '^ help thinking that I was led to this Ifland *' by a peculiar providence. My dear friend, «' Mr. Smith of Charles^town^ has been made " efpecially inftrumental thereto. Thanks be to ** the Lord for fending me hither. I have been ♦' received in a manner I dared not exped, and «' have met with litde, very little oppofuion in- ♦' deed. The inhabitants feem to be plain and *' open hearted. They have alfo been open *' handed. For they have loaded me with pro- *' vifions for my fea-ftore -, and in the feveral " parifhes, by a private voluntary contribution, *' have raifcd me upwards of a hundred pounds ^^ priing. This will pay a little of Bethefda's ** debta and enable mc to make fuch a rcmit- ^' tance 172 Memoirs of the Life of *' tance to my dear yoke-fellow, as may keep *' her from being embarrafTcd, or too much be- *' holden in my abfence. Blefled be God, for *' bringing me out of my embarrafTments by de- *' grees! May the Lord reward all my bene- *^ fadors a thoufand fold! I hear that what *' was given, was given exceeding heartily, and *' people only lamented that they could do no « more.'* After having tranfmittcd to Georgia^ what was given to him for the Orphan -houfe, and dreading to go back to America in that feafon of heat, for fear of relapfmg, and having prefTing calls to England^ he took the opportunity of- a brig, and in twenty-eight days arrived at Deal (a). The next {a) During this voyage, among other Letters, he wrote the following : *' June 24r-i 1748. (onboard). Yeflerday I made an *' end of revlnng all my Journals. Alas ! alas I in *' how many things have I judged and a6led wrong. ** I have been too rafh and hafty in" giving characters *' both of places and perfons. Being fond of Scripture ^' language, I have often ufed a ftile too apoftolical, *' and at the fame time, I have been too bitter in my ** zeal. Wild fire has been mixt with it, and I find *' that I frequently wrote and fpoke in my own fpirit, *' when I thought I was writing and fpeaking by the' *' afiiftance of the Spirit of God. I have likewife too *' much made inward impreflions my rule of a6ting, *' and too foon and too explicitly publifhed what had *' been better kept in longer, or told after my death;, <' By thefe things, I have hurt the blefTed caufe I ^' would defend, and alfo flirred up needlefs oppofition. ^' This has humbled mc much, and made me think of a '^ faying the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 173 next evening, July 6, 1748, he reached L(?«i(?;/, after an abfence of near four years, *« faying of Mr. Henrys^ * J^fep^ ^^^ n^ore honefty * than he had policy, or he never would have told his ' dreams.' " At the fame time, I cannot but praife *' God, who filled me with fo much of his holy fire, *' and carried me, a poor weak youth, through luch a *' torrent both of popularity and contempt, and fet fo *' many feals to my unworthy miniftrations. I blefs *' him for ripening my judgment a little more, for giv- *' ing me to fee and confefs, and I hope, in fome dc- *' gree, to corre when Mr. Tennent and Mr. Davies applied to the General Aflembly, and obtained an ap- pointment of a general colledion. He alfo be- gan to think of making his Orphan-houfe not only a receptacle for fathcrlefs children, but alfo a place of literature and academical fludies. Such a placcj he thought, was much wanted in the fouthern parts o^ America 'y and if conduced in a proper manner, would be of great fervice to the colony. He therefore^ niier his return to England, wrote to the Truftees, fignifying that this wai his intention, if they would be pleafed to put the celony upon another footings and allow a limited ufe of negroes, without which he had long been of opinion^ that Georgia never could be a flourilhing province (;2). Mean time, he went 6n in his ufual way, and with his ufual fuccefs at London y Srijlol, and Ghucejier, during the winter. And in February 1749, made an excurfion to Exeter and Plymouthy where he found a flrange alteration in the people, fince he had been firft therej about five years before % they now received him with the greateft joy, and were importunate to hear him •, and many of them gave proofs of a folid converfion to God {a), " Now (fays he) *' Plymoutk feems to be quite a new place to me/' f s) Letter DCCXlV. (\ Come particulars relating to Mr. Wbitefield!^ vifits to Scotland, which he continued till within a few years of his death. Though after the years 1741, and 1742, there was no fuch extenfive new awakenings, Mr. IVhiteJield's coming was- always refrefhing to ferious perfons, and feemed to put new life into them : and alfo to be the means of in- creafmg their number. His preaching was ftill emi- nendy ufeful in various refpedls. In the firft place, it had an excellent tendency to deftroy the hurtful fpirit of bigotry, and exceffive zeal for fmaller matters ; and to turn men's attention to the great and fubftantial things of religion. Another effect v/as, that it drew feveral perfons to hear the gofpel, who feldom went to hear it from other minifters. Again, young people in general were much benefited by his miniftry, and particularly young ftudents, who became afterwards ferious evange- lical preachers. Laftly, his morning difcourfes, which were moftly intended for fincere but difconfolate fouls, were peculiarly fitted to direct and encourage all fuch in the chriflian life. And his addrelTes in the evening to the promifcuous multitudes who then attended him, were of a very alarming kind. There was fomething exceedingly ftriking in the folemnlty of his evening-con- gregations in the Orphan- houfe park at Edinburgh^ and High-Church-yard of Glafgow \ efpecially towards the conclufion of his fermons (which were commonly very long, though they feemed fhort to the hearers) when the whole multitude flood fixt, and like one man hung upon his lips, with filent attention, and many under deep imprefTions of the great objeds of religion, and the concerns of eternity. Thefe things will hot foon be forgotten j and it is hoped, the many good effe<5ls, which by the divine blcfTing attended them, never will. His the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 19 j iland that Mr. Dinwiddle, brother-in-law to the Rev. Mr. MacCulloch of Camhujlang^ was made Governor His converiatlbh was no lefs reviving than his fcr- mons. Many in Edinburgh and Glafgoiv are witnefles of this, efpecially at Glafgowy when in company with his good friends, Mr. MacLaurih^ Mr. EMert Scott, ^c. one might challenge the fons of pleafure with all their wir; good humour and gaiety to furnifh entertainment (o agreeable. At the fame time every part of it was not more agreeable, than it was ufeful and edifying. His friends in Scotland, among whom were many of all ranks, from the higheft to the Idweft, were very con- ftant and fteady in their great regard for him. And his oppofers grew more and more mild. Some anonymous pamphlets were written againft him at his firft coming : But thefe foon died and were forgotten. Afterwards a iiumber of ftories were handed about to his difadvan- tage ; but upon enquiry, it was found either that mat- ters were mifreprefented or exaggerated ; or that there was no foundation for fuch reports at all. Jn fhort, when they were traced to their origin, they rather turned out to his honour. He ufed to fmile at good Mr. A^ac Lmirins honeft zeal, who oil fuch occafions fpared no f)ains to come at the truth, and when he had difcovered it, was no lefs eager to communicate the difcovery to others, for the vindication of Mr. WhitcfielcC% character, in which he thought the credit of religion Wi^s concerned^ The following inftance is well remembered. One Lieu- tenant Wright alledged that Mr. TPHntefi'dd had kept back money fent by a gentlewoman to her fon in Ame- rica. This coming to Mr. MacLaurins ears, he was. reftlefs till he procured a meeting betwixt Mr. fVhitefield and his accufer. They met; Mr. /i^/^^if did not retra«5t what he had faid. Upon which a letter v/as inrtantly wrote to the mother at Lcmion'^ and her anfvver being re- ceived, a confutation of the calumny was publifhed in the Glafgow Courant in the following terms: O^ober 3!^ 1748. " A ftory having been fpread in this tovvn of Mr. *' lVhitefidd'% having received twenty pounds fterling " O ' *' fiom 1 94 Memoirs of the Life of Governor of Virginia. In that province there had been a confiderable awakening for fome years pad, *' from a gendewoman in London^ to give her fon in " Georgia : whereas he had received only three guineas, " which he had returned to the gentlewoman when he " came back from Georgia, her fan having been gone " from thence before his arrival ; a letter was wrote to ** London to clear up this affair, to which the gentle- *' woman has fent this anfwer : 'Sir, this is to aiTure *' you that I received of Mr. Jolm Stevens the three gui- " neas, which was the full fum that I gave you for my " fon. I hope it is only a falfe afperfion on him ; for I " never heard that he fhould fay any fuch thing, being " three months in England. I am, &c. September 13, *' 1748.' There is likewife a receipt come down, " dated September 3, to Mr. Stevens. Both the letter " and receipt are to be feen in the hands of the pub- '' lifher." But, indeed, Mr. JVJntefield's whole behaviour was fo open to the eyes of the world ; and his. chara»5ter, after it had flood many attacks from all quarters, came at laft to be fo throughly eftablifhed, that feveral of his oppo- fers in Scotland feemed rather to acquire a certain degree of efteem for him j at leaft, they all thought proper to give over fpeaking againft him. When he was at GlafgoWy he always lodged with Mr. yames Niven Merchant above the Crofs ; till towards the end of his life, his afthmatic diforder made the town air difagrce with him. And then lie went out in the even- ings, and flayed with his good friend Mr. MacCulloch at Cambujlang. ■ A perfon of eminence, whom a fmccre efteem of Mr. /;^/!;//^'W<3' made attentive to his reception and miniHra- tions in Scotland, from iirll to laft ; writes thus to the compiler : Edinburgh, 'January 1772. " I think more might be '* faid with great jullice, concerning the efi'eils of his " niin;ftry in Scotland, after the firft two years ; as there '^^ was always a remarkable revival followed each of his ** vifiu ; which many of the miniilers teftified from their 5 * '' particular ihe kev. Mr. George Whitefield. 195 pad, efpccially in Hanover county and the places adjacent. As the mlnifters of the eftablifhment did not favour the work, and the people had put themfelves under the care of the Ndzv Tork fynod, they met with difcouragements from thofe in power. However, Mr. Samuel Davies (afterwards prefident of the college of New Jerfey) being licenfed, was fettled over a congregation j and the religious concern fo increafed, that One congrega- tion Was multiplied to feven. There was now ah agreeable profped that thefe good people would have the fame privileges fccured to them, which dilTenting proteftants enjoy at home (c). Auguft 6. he fet out from Edinburgh for LofU doriy in order to embark a fourth time for America, He had thrown up much blood iri Edinburgh \ but the journey he was now upon had a good effe6l in recovering him from that illnefs : and as he went along, he was much refrefhed with the accounts he received of the happy fruits of his miniftry at *' particular knowledge, efpecially by the number of *' new communicants. — Mention might be made of the *' great number of minifters in Scotland^ that employed *' him, and of the many affectionate letters he received *^ from them, of which there were a good many printed *' both in the London and Glajgow Weekly Hiftories, *' froiti fome of the moft eminent men in the Church, " who had employed him to preach in their pulpits, and " continued fo to do, when opportunity offered ; ex- *' cept in the Prefbytery of Edinburgh ; and even there, " the Magiftrates always allowed him a Church ta *' preach in, every time he came." (0 Letter DCCCCI. O 2 Kendal 196 Memoirs of the Life of Kendal the year before. After a forrowful parting with his friends in England^ which grew dill more diftrefTing to him, he went aboard the Antelope^ Captain M^.cLellaH^ bound for Georgia with Ger- mans \ and took along with him feveral children. He arrived at Sava?imby OoJokr 27, and found the Orphan-houfe in a flourifhing condition. " Thanks be to God, (fays he) all is well at Be- " the/da, A mod excellent trad of land is " granted to me very near the houfe, which in a " few years, I hope, will make a fufficient pro- " vifion for it (d)," From November 1751, to the beginning oi April 1752, he was partly at Bethefday and partly in South Carolina^ ftill upon the ftretch in his Mailer's work. " I intend, (fays *' he) by his afliftance, now to begin ; for as yet, ** alas ! 1 have done nothing." And again, " O *' that I may begin to be in earneft ! It is a new " year-, God quicken my tardy pace, and help *' me to do much work in a little time ! this is " my highcft ambition {e).^* Being v/arned by what had happened to him formerly, he did not venture to flay the fummer feafon in America •, but took his paflage in the end of April for London., At his arrival, he per- ceived he had returned in a very good time ; for Georgia was foon to be taken into the hands of Government, and put on the fame footing with {d) Letter DCCCCXII. {e) Letter DCCCCX, DCCCCXL Other the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 197 other colonies, which gave ground to hope that it would foon become a flourifhing province. This was joyful news. He now thought provi- dence was appearing for Georgia and Bethefda. He determined therefore to fell his plantation, and to carry all his flrength to the Orphan-houfe. About the middle of June^ he planned a new jout. " Next week, (fays he) God willing, I (hall " go to Pcrtfmoiith^ from thence to Bath^ then to " the wefl, then to Wales^ and from thence, may " be, to (f) Scotland and Ireland,'^ Accordingly we find his letters of this period, dated at Port/- mouthy Brijiol^ Cardiff^ Haverford-zvejl, In re- turning to Briftol^ he attended an afTociation, where were prefent about nine clergy, and near forty other labourers, of whom he writes (g) : '* I truft all are born of God, and defirous to pro- " mote his glory, and his people's good. All was " harmony and love." Augiiji 17. he was in London. His letter of this date to his acquaintance Dr. F - . •,^ the cele- brated eledVrical philofopher, deferves particular notice. " 1 find you grow more and more fa- " mous in the learned world, As you have made '* a pretty confiderable progrefs in the myileries " of electricity, I would nqw humbly recommend " to your diligent unprejudiced purfuit and ftudy, '* the myftery of the new birth. It is a moil im- (/) Letter DCCCCXVU. [g) Letter DCCCCXXV. O 3 " portant. igS Memoirs of the Life oj " portant, interefting ftudy, and when maftered, *^ will richly anfwer and repay you for all your *' pains. One at vvhofe bar we are fhortly to ap- " pear, hath folemnly declared, that without it, ^^ we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. You *' will excufe this freedom. I muft have aliquid *' Chrijii in all my letters (/&;." From London he took another tour to Edinburgh^ where he arrived in the beginning of September 1752. In his way he preached twice at Lutter- worth (the famous John IVickUff's parilh) and at Leicejier -, and in both places was informed after- wards that good was done. At Newcajlky he was as it were arrefted to ftay, and preached four times to great congregations. At Edinburgh and Glafgow (in which places he continued till the loth of Cdober) he was em- ployed as ufual. He writes from Glafgow^ Sep- tember 29. " At Edinburgh great multitudes, *' among whom were abundance of the better *' fort, attended twice every day. Many young *' minifters and ftudents have given clofe atten- " dance, and I hear of feveral perfons that have " been brought under deep convictions. I in- '' tend to fend you copies of two letters from a " Highla7id fchoolmafter, who is honoured of God " to do much good among the poor Highland ^' children (?).'* " I have brave news fent {h) Letter DCCCCXXVI. (I) Letter DCCCCXXXL the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 199- " me from Leicejler and Newco.file^ and have *' flrong invitations to Tork/Jiire and Lancafliire. " What a pity it is that the year goes round fo " foon (z^)." In his way back to Lcndoit^ he preached at Ber- wkky Alnwick^ Morpeth^ Newcajile. From Shef- field he writes, November i, *' Since I left New- " caftle^ I have fcarce known fometimes, whether *' I have been in heaven or on earth. At Leeds, " Burftall^ Howarth^ Halifax^ ^c, thoufands and " thoufands have flocked twice or thrice a-dav *' to hear the word of life. I am now come from " Bolton^ Manchefter^ Stockport^ and Cbinh\ Yef- " terday I preached in a Church, Four or- *' dained minifters, friends to the work of God, ** have been with me. The word hath run fo " fwiftly at Leeds, that friends are come to fetch *^ me back, and I am now going to Rotheram, ** Wakefield^ Leeds, York, and Epivorth, God fa- .^* vours us v/ith weather, and I would fain ma];e [k) In 1752, the general afTembly of thu'Clmrch of Scotland, upon a divifion of the houfe, by a izw votes depofed Mr. Gillefpie ; which afterwards gave occafion to the fociety called the Prpjbytery of Relief . Mr. IVh'ite- field being informed of the circumi!ances of that affair, writes thus (Letter DCCCCXIV.) " I wi(h Mr. G;7- *' lefpie ]oy. The Pope I find has turned Prefbyterian — *' The Lord reigns, that is enough for us." And again (Letter DCCCCXX.) " Now will Mr. Gillefpie '' do more good in a week, than before, in a year. *' How blind is Satan! What does he get by carting " out Chrifi\ fervants ? I expe«5l that fome great good .^* will come out of thefe confufions." o " hay fi.oo Memoirs of the Life of " hay whilil the fun fhines.— O that I had aj; 1' many tongues, as there are hairs upon my ^' head ! the ever-loving, ever-lovely Jefus fhoul^ " have them all. Fain would I die preach- « ing (I):*- November lo. he arrived at London^ and pro- ceeded in his ufual way at the Tabernacle. Be- cemher 15, he fays, '^ My hands are full of work \ '' and I truft I can fay, the Lord caufes his work *' to profper in my unworthy hands. More blef- *' fed feafons we pever enjoyed. Our facramental *' occafions have be^n exceedingly awful and re- J' freeing.'' He now began to think of eredling a new Ta- bernacle, a large building eighty foot fquare ; which he accpmplilhed in the fpring and fummer following. About this tim^ alfp, we find Mr. Hervey and him employed in revifing each others manufcripts. Of Mr. Hervey's he fays. ^' For me to play the *' critic on them, would be hke holding up a ** candle tp the fun. However, I will juft mark " a few places, as you defire. I foretell their " fate ; nothing but your fcenery can fcreen you. *' Self will never bear to die, though flain in fo *' genteel a manner, without fhewing fome refent- *' ment againft its artful murderer." Again, {rn) V I thank you a thoufand times for the trouble (/) Letter DCCCCXXXV, DCCCCXXXVL (m) Letter DCCCCXV, DCCC^LXIII. "you the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 201 f' you have been at in revifing my poor compoli- ** tions, which I am afraid you have not treated ^' with a becoming feverity. How many pardons *' (hall I afk for mangling, and I fear murdering ♦^ your Theron and Afpofio, If you think my two ^' fcrmons will do for the public, pray return ^' them immediately. I have nothing to comfort " me but this, that the Lord chufes the weak ^' things of this world to confound the ftrong, ^' and things that are nor, to bring to nought *^ things that are. I write for the poor, you for ^' the polite and noble ; God will afiuredly own ^' and blefs what you write." He was much affedled about this time with the death of one Mr, Steward^ a Miniiler that be- gan to be popular in the church, but foon en- tered into his reft. " When I met the workmen *' to contrad about the building, I could fcarce *' bear to think of buildino; Tabernacles. Strano-e! '' that fo many ihould be fo foon difcharged, and " we continued. Mr. Steward fpoke for his *' Lord, as long as he could fpeak at all. He *' had no clouds nor darknefs. 1 was with him f' till a few minutes before he flept in Jefus (n)'* March i, 1753. ^"'^ ^^^^ the foundation of the new Tabernacle, and preached from Exod. xx. 24. During the building thereof, he preached in Moorfields^ Spittaljields^ and other places in London y and made excurfions to Chatham^ Sheernefs^ and Braintree, {n) Letter DCCCCLXVHL In 202 Memoirs of the Life of In the month of April y he went to Norwich for a few days, preaching twice a day to thoufands, who attended with the greateft eagernefs. At his evening fermons, fome rude people made oppofi- tion, but without efFedt. At this time alfo he publifhed his Expoftulatory Letter to Count Zin- ^endoffy which is in the 4th vol. of his works. In May he made another excurfion to Narhoth^ Pembroke^ Haverford-weft^ &c, where congrega- tions were large, and a gracious melting feemed to be among the people. Within little more than a fortnight he rode three hundred and fifty miles, and preached above twenty times (0). Sunday June 10, 1753. he opened his new Tabernacle, preaching in the morning from i Kings v'liu 11, and in the evening from i Cbron^ xxix. 9. (n) Letter DCCCCLXXVI, C H A P* the Rev, Mr. George Whiteficld. 203 CHAP. XVI. prom his open'uig the New ^ahernach in Moorfieldsj to his preaching at the Chapel in Tottenham- Court Road 1756, MR. WhitefieU having preached in London aC his Tabernacle for a few days with his ufual fervor and fuccels, and to large congrega- tions, in the end of the month of Jiine^ {^x. out fowards Scotland, In his way he had defirablc meetings at Oulney and Northampton. He preached alfo at Leicejier^ and Nottingham., where a o-reac multitude came to hear, and at Sheffield. In his way to Leeds^ next morning, he preached at Ro^ theram 2iV\^- Wakefield. At the former place he had been diflurbed twice or thrice, and was al- moft determined to preach there no more. But he (a) found this would have been a rafh determina- tion \ for fome who had been bitter perfecutors, now received him gladly into their houfe, and owned that God had made him inftrumental in their converfion. At Leeds he had great fuccefs. At TorkaKo he preached four times. Twice they were difturbed, and twice had very agreeable fea* (a) Letter DCCCCLXXXIV. fons. 204 Memoirs of the Life of fons. At Neivcajlle he preached feven times, and once at Sunderland to great multitudes who were deeply imprefied. At five in the morning the great room was filled, and on the Lord's day, the congregation without was exceeding large. In fliort, the profpedl all around was fo promifing, that he almoft repented of his engagement to go to Scotland^ and refolved to come back as foon a^ poflible. He proceeded however, according to his pro* mife, and having fpent fome days at Edinburgh and Glafgow in his ufual laborious and earnefv manner, and with ufual acceptance, he returned (0 England Augujl 7. (h). All {h) After he had been in Glafgow^ the following para« graph appeared in i\\t NeivcaJlle^owxwdX Augufl li, 1753. *' By a Letter from Edinburgh we are informed, that on *' the fecond inftant Mr. Whitefield^ the Itinerant, being *' at Glajgow^ and preaching to a numerous audience " near the Play-houfe lately built, he inflamed the mob *' fo much againft it, that they ran dirediy frofn before " him, and pulled it down to the ground. Several of *' the rioters are fince taken up, and committed tQ *« goal." It would not have been v/orth while to tranfcribe this, were it not another fpecimcn of the unaccountable liber- ties taken by fome of the oppofers of Mr. IVhitefield^ \x\ telling their ftories concerning him. The fa6l was this. Mr. IVhiteJield h^'ing informed that the Players had lately come to Glafgow^ and had met with fome encourage- ment, took occafion in his fermons to preach againft Play-houfes, and to reprefent their pernicious influence on religion and morality, efpecially in a populous, com- mercial city, and the feat of a Univerfity. But there was no riot. It was ihe proprietor of the Play-houfe (at that the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield* 205 All this time he preached twice or thrice a day, and once five times. This he found rather too much for his ftrength. But he ftill went on, often exprefTing his defires and hopes foon to fee his Divine Mafter in Glory. On his return to E)igland^ he went from New- caftle to Stocktoiu Ofmotherly^ York and Leeds, He aflifted at the facrament at Howarth^ where they had a very extraordinary feafon, and a vaft num- ber of communicants. He went as far as Bolton^ Manchefter^ and Stockport. The more he preach- ed, the more eager the people feemed to be. The laft part of his circuit was to Lincolnfliire^ Ro- theram^ Sheffield^ Nottingham^ and Northampton. He returned to London in the latter end of Sep- tember^ having travelled about twelve hundred miles, and preached a hundred and eighty times to many thoufands (c). His flay in London was but (hort, for in the month of OEloher he took another tour to Stafford- /litre. A new fcene of ufefulnefs feemed to open to him, while he preached at Oulney^ at Oy:en near Harbor ough^ Bofworth^ Kettering and Bedford , at all which places he preached in one week. Ac Binnmgham alfo, and feveral adjacent places, the people flocked to hear the golpel. At a place near Dudley, called Guarnall^ he was informed of a that time a flight temporary booth fupported by the old walls of the Bifhop's Caftle) who ordered his vvorkmen to take it down. (c) Letter DCCCCXCII, whole 2o6 Memoirs of the Life of whole company that were awakened by reading his fermons (d). He met with others awakened years ago, and heard of a notorious periecutof and drunkard, who had been powerfully ftruck. He loved to break up new ground, as he ex- prefTes it ; and had the plealure to find fometimes that his way was prepared by the blelTing which God had given to his writings, particularly at Alperam in Chefldre^ and at Lherpool^ where a per- fon that had received benefit by reading his fer- mons, met him at landing, and took him to his houfe. All was quiet here, and at Chejter^ where he preached four times, and had feveral of the clergy in his congregations. But, at Wrexham and Nantmch (where a Methodift meeting- houfe had lately been pulled down) he v;as difturbed by the mob, and forced to remove his congregation to a place a little out of town (e). Thus he VvTnt on, returning at times for a few days to Li??/^(?7/. And November 16, writes from Gloucejier^ " After Lord's day, I am bound for '* Brijiol and Plymouth^ and hope to get into my *' winter quarters fome time before Chrifimas. ^^ Glad iliould I be to travel for Jefiis all the year " round. It is more to me than my neceliliry ^' food (f)r {d) Letter DCCCCXCVI. {e) Letter DCCCCXCVil. (f) Letter DCCCCXCIX. On the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 207 On Sunday^ November 25. he opened the new Tabernacle at Brijlol^ which he obferves " was " large, but not half large enough ; for if the *' place could contain them, riear as many would " attend as in London" He alfo preached twice, in his brother's great houfe to the quality. Though it was fo late in the year, he fet out for Somerfet- JJiire^ and preached feveral times in the open air, at fcven o'clock at night. " My hands and body, " (fays he) were pierced with cold j but what are " outward things, when the foul within is warmed *' with the love of God ? The flats fhone exceed- *' ing bright: by an eye of faith, I faw Him who " calleth them all by their names. My foul " was filled with a holy ambition, and I longed ^' to be one of thofe who fhall fliine as the liars •' for ever and ever {g)'^ At this time his friend and fellow-labourer, the ^tv.yix.JohnWeJley^ had by his extraordinary labours brought his life into great danger, of which Mr. Whitefield thus writes, (h) Brijlol, December 3, 1753. " I am now haf- " tening to London to pay my laft refpecfls to my " dying friend. The phyficians think his dilcaie *' is a galloping confumption. I pity the church, " I pity myfelf, but not him. Poor Mr. Charles " will now have double work. But we can do all " things through Chriji flrengthening us!" His Letters to both the brothers on this occafion are very affedionate and fympathizing (i). And he foon had {g) Letter MIV, MV. [h) Letter MV, (/) Letter MVI, VII, and VIII. the 2oS Memoirs of the Life of the pleafure of feeing Mr. Wepy recover. Decemkr 26, he had a vifit from Meflieurs Tennent and DavieS from America^ who came over to procure contri- butions for the College of New Jerfcy. As they were commiflioned to apply for a general collec- tion in ScQllmid^ he gave them recommendatory letters, and heartily endeavoured to promote their defign. He flayed in London all the winter of 1753, (k) longing for a fpring campaign fas he exprefles it) that he might begin to do fomething for his divine mailer. March 7, 1754. having got twenty-two poor deftitute children under his care, he embarked with them for America^ by way of Lijhon^ where he flayed from the 20th of March^ to the 13th of JpriL From Lijbon he writes (I) : " The air agrees *' with my poor conflicution extremely^ and ** through divine afTiflancCj I hope what I fee will " alfo much improve my better part, and help ta *' qualify me better for preaching the everlafling *^ gofpel : again a gentleman hath moil gladly {k) His letters v/ritten about the beginning of the new year, fhew the habitual frame of his mind. " Near *' forty years old, and fuch a dwarf! The winter come « already, and fo little done in the fummer." Again, *' I heartily wifli your Lordfhip, not the compliments *' but the blelfings of the feafon ; even all thofe blef- ** fings that have been purchafed for a loft world, by *' the death and fufFerings of an incarnate God.*' Let- terxVLXV, MXVI. (/} Letter MXXIX. J ^' received the Rev. Mr, George Whi'tefield. 20^ *' received me into his hoiife, and behaves like a " friend indeed. To day I dine with the Conlul. *' Every day 1 have ieen or heard fomething, that *' hath had a native tendency to make me thankful *' for the glorious reformation (m)." Afterafighc of fome popiHi procefTions, which were new and very ftriking to him, he fays, *' I returned to my *' lodgings not a little affefled, to fee fo many •' thoufands led away from the fimplicity of the '' gofpel, by fuch a mixture of human artifice and " blind fuperftition, of which, indeed, I could *' have formed no idea, had I not been an eye- *' witnefs (?t).'^ He was ftill more fhocked at the proceffion of Sl Francis •, ^nd moil of all at the fight of near two hundred penitents pafilng along the ftreets in a moon-fhine ni^-ht, dragoino- alons heavy chains failened to their ancles, which made a difmal rattling, moil of whom whipped and lalhed themielves with cords, and with flat bits of iron -, and fome of them ilruck fb hard, that their backs were quite red, and very much fvvelled. He wrote a defcription of this to his friend {o)^ with expreflions of praife and gratitude to Provi- dence for the great wonder of the Reformation, jind for delivering Britain from the return of fuch fpiriiual (lavery, by defeating the unnatural rebel- lion. " BlelTed be God, (fays he) x.\\(z fnare is *' broken, and we are delivered. O for Protel- {m) Letter MXXX, MXXXII. {n) Letter MXXXV. {0) Letter MXXXVL P '' tanc 210 M rr.oirs of the Life of *' tant pracflices to be added to Protellant prin* *' ciples." He further obferves, " The preachers *' here have alfo taught me fomething-, their ac- *^ tion is graceful, Vividi cculiy vivid^ manus^ cm- *' nia vivida. Surely our Englifh preachers *■' would do well, to be a little more fervent ia *' their addrel's. They iiave truth on their fide -, ^' why fliould fuperftition and falfhood run away " with all that is pathetic and afFeding (p) ?" His two laft Letters from Lijhon (q) contain a long and lively defcription of the fupcrflitious farces which he faw acled on Holy Thurfday as they call ir, and Good Friday j which he concludes with very ferious reflexions, and expreflions of pity towards the poor deluded people, who are not al- lowed to examine matters by the word of God. After a palTage of fix weeks from Lijhon^ he arrived at Beaufort in South Carolina^ May 27. with his Orphan charge, all quite well. Having fettled them in his family in Georgia^ which now confided of above a hundred, and fpent fome lime in Carolina^ he took a journey to the north- ward. " At Charles Town (fays he) and other ••' parts of Carolina my poor labours have met with *' the ufual acceptance, and I have reafon to hope " a Clergyman hath been brought under very " ferious imprefiions. My health is wonderfully " prclerved. My wonted vomitings have left " me, and though I ride whole nights, and have •f, I.cucr MXXXVII. {q) Letter MXL, MXLL ':; " been the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 2 i t " been frequently expofed to great thunders, vio* *' lent lightnings, and heavy rains,, yet I am ra- *' ther better than ufual, and as far as I can " judge, am not yet to die. O that I may at *' length learn to begin to live. I am afhamed of " my floth and lukewarmnefs, and long to be on " the ftretch for God CfJ." He arrived at New Tork by water July 27, and preached backwards and forwards from New Tork to Philadelphia^ and Whitely Creek^ till the middle of September, " Every " where, he obfervcs, a divine power accompa- " nied the word, prejudices were removed, and a *' more effedtual door opened than ever, for *' preaching the gofpel (r),^' The latter end of September^ he had once more the plealure of fee- ing his good old friend Governor Belchier at Eli- %aheth Town (New Jerfey,) And it being the New Jerfey commencement, the Prefident and the Truftees prefented Mr. Whitefield with the degree of A. M. The meeting of the fynod fucceeded, before whom he preached feveral times, and had much fatisfadion in their company. *' To-mor- *' row (fays he) Ocloher i, God willing, I (hall *' fet out with the worthy Prefident (Mr. Burr) " for New England^ and expedl to return back to *' the Orphan-houfe, through Virginia, This will " be about a two thoufand mile circuit ; but the " Redeemer's (Irength will be more than fufH- " cient." He had alfo fome thoughts of going (t) Letter MXLVIIL {r) Letter xMLX., P 2 to 2 1 2 Memoirs of the Life of to the JVeft Indies^ had it been pradllcable, before his return to England (s). He arrived with Prefident Burr at Bo/Ion^ Oc- tober 9, and preached there a week with great ac- ceptance. " At Rhode IJland and Bofton (lays he) *' fouls fly to the golpel, like doves to the win- " dows. Oppofition feems to fall daily." When he was at Bojlon^ he heard to his great joy that a Governor was at length nominated for Georgia^ and that his friend Mr. Haberjhmn was made fecre- tary ; to whom he writes, " May the King of *' kings enable you to difcharge your trufl:, as " becomes a good patriot, fubjefl, and chrif- " tian (t) !" At this time, he went as far north as Pcrtfmouth (New Hampjhire) preaching always twice, and fometimes thrice a day : his reception at Bcfton was more favourable than that fourteen years before ; and in general his labours feemed to be attended v/ith as great a blefling as ever (u), J-ie took leave of the Bcfton people at four in th^ morning, November 7, and went to Rhode JJland •, from thence through Maryland {x) and Virginia^ where the profped of doing good was fo promiA ing, that he was forry he had not come fooner. Many came forty or. fifty miles to hear him j and (j) Letter MLXI. (/) Letter MLXII, MLXIV. («j Letter MLXVIIL (x) " At length ! have got into Maryland, and into «< a family, out of which, I truft, five have been born of God." Letter MLXX. a fpirit the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 213 a fpirit of convidion and confolation feemed to run through all the aflemblics. Three churches were opened to him. Prejudices fubfided •, Ibme of the rich and great began to think favourably of his miniflrations •, and ieveral of the lower clafs came to hiin, and acknowledged what God had done for them by his preaching, when there be- fore (y). In the month of February 1755, he got back to Charks'Town^ and from thence went to Savan- nah-, continuing in thefe places till the latter end of March^ when he embarked for England, And on the 8th of May^ arrived at Newhavcn in Sujfex (z). The firft thing he took notice of, was the fuc- cefs of the gofpel in his native country : " Glory *^ be to the great head of the Church ! the word *' hath ftill free courfe. The poor defpiled Me- ** thodifls are as lively as ever ^ and in f^-veral *' churches, the gofpel is now preached with " power. Many in Oxford are awakened to the " knowledge of the truth, and I have heard al- '' mofl every week of fome frefli Minifter or ano- " ther, that feems determined to know nothing *' but Jefus Chrift^ and him crucified [a).*^ This (y) Letter MLXXI, MLXXIV. (x) Letter MLXXVIL {a) Letter MLXXXI, MLXXXIL In the M. S. he puts down the names of yones^ RoTTwhiCy Madam of whom it appears he intended to have written more par- ticularly. P 3 con- 2 1 4 Memoirs of the Lifo of confideration feems to have reanimated him. He went on preaching earneftly at London^ Brijloly Bath^ and in Gloucejierjhire^ till the month of Auguft, Then he went to Norwich^ and opened the Tabernacle there. " At this laft place (fays " he) notwithftanding offences have come, there *' has been a glorious work begun, and is now " carrying on, (Auguft 30, 1755.) The polite '^ and great feem to hear with much attention, ^' and 1 Tcarce ever preached a week together with '' greater freedom (b)*^ After this he went his northern circuit, and found reafon to blefs God for giving countenance to his labours all the way •, particularly, at Norths ampton^ LiverpocI^ Bolton^ Manchefter^ Leeds, Brad- ford, and York (c). But when he had been fome days at Newcafik, he found it too late to go to Ireland, (as he once propofed) or even to Scotland: He returned therefore to London, 06loher 30, after preaching twice and thrice a day for two months, to many thoufands. At this time, he fays, *' Next " to Jefiis, my King and Country were upon my *' heart. I hope, I Iliall always think it my ^' bounden duty, next to inviting finners to the " bleffed Jejus, to exhort my hearers to exert ^' themfelves againft the firft approaches of popifh (h) Letter MXCV. (<:) " At York, I hope, a fine gentleman was touch- " e(3 ; and feveral I find were av/akcned there, an4 at *' A^^tx;f/7/?/t', at nay lafl vifit." Letter Meil. " tyranny. the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 215 ** tyranny, and arbitrary power (^). O that we " . may be enabled to watch and pray, againft all the " opofition of yf;2//V/^;7^ in our hearts; for after *' all, there lies the moft dangerous man cf " fin (e).'' About the end of November^ he preached in pain, occafioned by a fore throat, which was like to have terminated in an inflam- matory quincey. This obliged him, much againft his will, to be filent a few days. As ibon as the danger feemed to be over, he fell to work again C/). He was now applied, to by noany ferious perfons, to preach twice a week at Long-acre Chapel, near the play-houfes. Be- ing informed that the place was licenfed, he complied, and preached there for the firft time, on December 23, 1755 •, but met with great diffi- culties. The Bifliop of B fcnt him a pro- hibition. There was alfo a number of foldiers, drummers, and many of the lower fort of people, hired to difturb him, by making a nolle in the neighbouring houfe, or yard, of one Mr. C ; and this not once or twice, but everv time he preached at that Chapel ; being hired by fub- (d) This refers to the encroachments made bv the prench^ upon the Britifli Colonies in America \ and tbcir threatening Great Britain with an invafion ; which o:- eafioned a declaration of war againft France^ next year. (e) Letter MCIV, MCV. (f) " One Phyfician prefcribed n prrpetual hlijler ; but <' I have found perpetual preaching to be a better remedy. *' When this grand catholicon fails, it is over with ** me." Letter MCXIV. P 4 fcviprion. 2 1 6 Memoirs of the Life of fcription, and provided with a copper furnace^ bells, drums, clappers, ^c, they made it their bufincfs to raife the loudeft din they pofTibly could, from the moment he began preaching to the end of his fermon. By which, alfo, mobbers were encouraged to come and riot at the chapel- door, during the time of divine fervice, and then infult and abufe him, and the congregation, after it was over. The Chapel windows, while he was preaching, were repeatedly broken by large ftones, which fadly wounded fome of the hearers. Upon this occafion, Mr. Whitefield wrote feveral fpirited letters to the BiHiop of B , acknowledging, indeed, his Lordfhip's candor, and thanking him for his favourable opinion and good wifhes ; (for the Bifhop had wrote an anfwer to his firft letter) but, at the fame time, with great llrength of reafon, and a becoming fenfe of BritiJJi liberty, defending his own conducl, and remonftrating againft the riotous proceedings of his adverfaries, " Laft T'uefday night, (fays he) all was huflied. *' And in order to throw off all popular odium, " 1 gave it as my opinion, that it was owing to *' your LorJihip's kind interpofition. One Mr. *' C. and one Mr. M. 1 am informed, are greatly *' concerned. I know them not •, and I pray the *' Lord of all lords never to lay this ill and un- *' merited treatment to their charge. If no more ** noife is made on their part, I afllire your Lord- *' fliip, no further refentment fnall be made on ♦' mine. Bur, if they perfift, I have the au- ^' thority the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 217 ** thority of the Apoille on a like occafion, to " appeal unto C^far, And thanks be to God» *' we have a Cd'far to appeal to, whofe laws will *' not fufFer any of his loyal rubje6ls to be ufed ** in fuch an inhuman manner. I have only one *' favour to beg of your Lordfhip, that you *' would fend (as they are your Lordfliip's *' parifhioners) to the above gentlemen, and de- *' fire them, henceforward, to defiil from fuch *' unchriftian, (and efpecially, at this critical junc- *' ture) fuch riotous and dangerous proceedings, *' Whether as a Chaplain to a moft worthy Peerefs, " and a Prelbyter of the Church of England^ and '' a fteady difinterefted friend to our prefent hap- " py conilitution, I have not a right to afk fuch " a favour, I leave to your LordOiip's mature *' deliberation (g),'^ In the mean time, his preach- ing was owned by God : particularly, as to one, who had been a fubfcriber to hire men to make the noife (h). In the beginning of February 175^, he fenc eighty pounds of the colledion which he had made at the Tabernacle, on the day of the pub- lic fafl, to the foclety for relieving the poor per- fecuted French Proteftants|/). {g^ Letter MCXII, MCXVII, MCXIX, MCXX» MCXXII, MCXXIV. ■ {h) Letter MCXVI. {i) Letter MCXVIIL This year, 1756, he publifli- ed, " A fhort Addrcfs to Perfons of all Denominations, " occafioned by the Alarm of an intended Invafion." Inferted in Vol. IV. of his Works. As 21 8 Memoirs of the Life of As the uproar was flill continued at Long-acre Chapel, and the fadls were fo flagrant, he wa^ advifed to profecute the offenders by law. This being underftood, his life was threatened. A man came up to him, in the pulpit at the Taber- nacle f^), and three anonymous letters were fent him, denouncing, a certain, fudden, and un- avoidable ilroke, unlefs he defiRed from preach- ing, and purfuing the offenders. Judging that others were concerned as well as himfelf, and that it was an affair that had reference to the welfare of civil government, he fent a copy of one of the letters to the Honourable Hume C //,"" begging the favour of his advice ; and was advifed by all means, to put all concerned into the Court of King*s-Bench (I), The Earl of Holdernefs, (one of the fecretaries of ftate) to whom he was in- troduced on this occafion, received him very courteoufly, and feemed to have no objedion agalnil iffuing a reward for the difcovery of the letter- writer. " I find," fays Mr. Whitefield^ in his letter to Lady H — ;/, Moy 2, 1756, that all things happen for the furtherance of the Gofpel. I fuppofe, your Ladyfhip has ^t^n his Majedy's promife of a pardon, to any that will difcover the letter-writer •, and this brings the further news of my having taken a piece of ground, very commodious to build on,, not {k) Letter MCXXIX. (/) Letter iVICXXVIL MCXXIX. A n^ \ ^T ct V- i<*r t the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 219 *^ far from the FGundling Hofpital. I have open- «' ed the fubfcription, and through God's blefT- " ing, it hath already amounted to near fix hun- ** dred pounds. I hope, in a few months, to *' have what hath been long wanted, a place for ** the Gofpel, at the other end of the town. ^' This evening, God willing, I venture once *' more to preach at Long-acre'^ The place he here fpeaks of, is the chapel in Tottenham-Court- Road^ which he began to build May 10, 1756. After this he fet out on one of his wonted tours, and having fpent three weeks in preaching, with ufual fuccefs, at Briftol^ and in Gloucejlcr/Jiire^ at Bradford^ Frome^ IFarminJier^ and at P or tf mouth (m)^ he returned to London in the beginning of June. July 27. he writes, " The Gofpel flourifhes in ** London. I am jufl returned from preaching it at Sheernefs^ Chatham^ and in the camp/' Next day he fet off for Scotland (n). How he employ- ed his time in his way thither, appears from the following letter. '' Sunderland^ Augujl 14, 1756. " How iwiftly doth my precious time fly away 1 *' It is now a fortnight fince I came to Leeds^ in *' and about which, I preached eight days, thrice " almoft every day, to thronged and affecled *' auditories. On Sunday lad at Bradford^ in the " morning, the auditory confilled of about ten '' thoufand ^ at noon, and in the evening at Bur- *' Jlall^ to near double the number. Though [m) Letter MCXXXIX, [n) Letter MCXLV. '' hoarfe, 220 Memoirs of the "Life of *' hoarfe, I was helped to fpeak fo, that all heard. *' Next morning, I took a forrowful leave of •' Leeds^ preached at Doncafter at noon, and at *' York the fame night •, on IVednefday at Wawftall^ *' about Efty miles off; on Thurfday^ twice at " Tarm^ and lafl: night, and this morning here/* All the way he heard of a great concern, fince he was in thefe parts laft year. Upon prefling invitations from friends in the north, he proceeded to Edinburgh^ where he ar- rived Auguft 20. and preached there {0) and at GiafgoWy as nfual, till September 22 -, about which time he received a meflage from the new Gover- nor of Georgia in London^ defiring to fee and con- verfe with him before he embarked (p). In his way to London, he again vifited LeedSy and went fome days into good Mr. G and Mr. y 's round, preaching upon the moun- (0) " Edinburgh^ September g, 1 756. For near thefe *' three weeks, the Rev. Mr. JVhitefieldhTnih been preach- " ing in the Orphan-Hofpital-Park to very crouded au- *' ditories, twice every day. As he was frequently very •' explicit in opening the miferies of popifli tyranny, '' and arbitrary power ; and very warm in exhorting *' his hearers to loyalty and courage at home, and in *^ ftirring them up to pray for the fuccefs of his Majef* *' ty's forces, both by fea and land abroad ; we have ^' reafon to believe, that his vifit at this juncture hath *' been particularly ufeful/' Glafgciv Courant. *' Edwburgh^ September i^,. On 7/j, and much care lying upon his mind, enfeebled his body exceedingly. *' But (fays he) the joy of the Lord is my *' ftrength, and my greateft grief is, that I can do " no more for Him, who hath done and fufFered fc^ *' much for me (s)'^ His new Chapel fucceeded according to h?s wifh. On Sunday mornings, hundreds went away not being able to get in (t). Some people of dif- tindion came, and begged they might have a conftant feat ^ and he received a very ferious let- ter, from a perfon who was brought under con- cern there, though he came at firft out of curiofi- ty, to fee what fort of place it was («)» In (r) " I could enlarge, but it is near fix in the morn- ♦* ing, and I muft away to preach." Letter MCLVL {s) Letter MCLIIL - (/) MCLVII. (u) Letters MCLVI, LVIL *' A neighbouring *«^ Dodor calls the place IVintefield'^ Soul-trap, I pray tha *' ffkndl the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 223 In fpring 1757, he fet out again on his nonhern circuit, and came to Edinburgh in the month of May^ when the General Aflembly of the Church of Scotland held their annual meeting. He was much pkafed with this circumllance. Many ininifters attended his fermons, perhaps a hun- dred ac a time. Thereby prejudices were re- moved, and many of them feemed to be deeply affedlcd. About thirty of them, as a token of refped, invited him to a public entertainment. The King's CommifTioner alfo invited him to his cable {x), Thoufands, among whom were a great many of the beil rank, daily attended his minif- trarions, and the longer he (laid, the more the congregations increafed (j). From Edinburgh he went to Glafgow^ where, having preached twice by the way, he arrived " friend of finners, to make it a Soul-trap indeed, *' to many wandering creatures." Letter MCLVJL *' S , ■ the player, makes always one of " the auditory, and, as I hear, is much imprefled, *' and brings others with him.'* Letter MCLXllL (at) Some of the Scotch clergy, who were prejudiced againft A^r. JVhitf fields took upon them to fignify to the Commiffioner, (Lord C-thc-rt) by fome of their friends, that it would be better not to invite Mr. IVhitefield to his table ; and that it would give offence. I'his overture his Grace received with indignation. The Earl of L- alfo, who was King's Com- milTioner before Ivord C-thc-ri^ fhevved particular atten- tention to Mr. IVlnlefuld: And from the time of his firfl coming to ^coiland^ (hewed a great and coniiant regard for him. [y) Letter MCLXVIL ^une 224 Memoirs of the Life of 'June 8, and continued till the 14th, preachings as ufual, in the High Church-yard, to great mul- titudes, morning and evening -, befides on the Lord's-day, both forenoon and afternoon, in one of the churches of the city. The poor in Glaf. gow being at this time in very mournful circum- flances, notwithftanding the various fources of fupply, he (with the countenance of the magif- trates) made a coUecftion for them, at his fermon on Monday evening, which amounted to near {\yiVf pounds. Next day he preached at Faijley j and from thence fet out for Ireland. His firft reception was promifing as formerly* Congregations at Dublin were very large, and much atfedled. One of the Biiliops told a No- bleman, (who repeated it to Mr. Whitejield) that he was glad he was come to roufe the people. All forts attended, and all forts feemed to be llruck with a religious concern (z). But on ^un- day afternoon, July 3. after preaching in Oxman- town-green^ (a place frequented by the Ormond. and Liberty boys, as they call them, who often fight there) he narrowly efcaped with his life. It being war time, he took occafion to exhort his hearers, (as was his ufual pradice) not only to fear God, but to honour the King j and prayed for fuccefs to the King of Pruffia, In the time of fermon and prayer, a few ftones were thrown ac him, which did no hurt. But when he had done, (%; Letter MCLXVIII, LXIX. and the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 2^5 SLtid thought to return home, the way he came, by the Barracks, to his great furprize accefs was denied; and he was obliged to go near half a mile, from one end of the Green to the other, through hundreds of papilb, &V. who finding him un- attended, (for a foldier, and four preachers who came with him, had fled) threw vollies of flones upon him from all quarters, and made him reel backwards and forwards, till he was almoft breath- lefs, and all over a gore of b\ood(a). At lad, with great difficulty, he daggered to the door of a minifter^s houfe lying next to the Green, which was kindly opened to him. For a while he continued fpeechlefs and panting for breath ; but his weep- ing friends having given him fome cordials, and vvaidied his wounds, a coach was procured,- In which, amidft the oaths, imprecations, arid threat- rings of the popifh rabble, he got fafe home 5 and joined in a hymn of th^nkfgividg with his friends, by whom, he fays, '' none but fpeda- *' tors could form an idea of the affection with " which he was received*" Next morning he fee out for Port Arlmgtoii^ *' leaving, (fays he) my •* perfecutors to iiis mercy, who of perfecutofs *' has often made preachers. I pray God, I may ** thus be avenged of them {})." {a) " I received many blows and wounds ; one was •' particularly large, and near my temples. 1 thought *' of Stephen^ and was in hopes^ like him, to go off la *' this bloody triumph, to the irhmediate prefencc of my ^ mailer." Letter MCLXX. {b) Letter MCLXX, Q^ After 226 Memoirs of the Life of After preaching at Fori Arlington, Athlone^ Li- merick, and C(?r^ ; in the beginning oi Auguft \\t TCturncd io England y and, while the weather per- mitted, continued to range, (as he exprefles it) preaching with great earneftnefs every where. " This Ipiritual hunting, (fays he) is delightful " fport, when the heart is in the v/ork (c)" At Plymouth he had the pleafure of feeing officers, foldiers, failors, ^c. attending his fermons with the utmoft folemnity. In Exeter alfo, Brijlol^ Gloucejlery and Glouc eft erP lire, he had delightful feafons. About the miJdle of OEloher 1757, he returned to London, His attendance this winter on both the Chapel and the Tabernacle, together with his thought- fulnefs, greatly impaired his health. He was troubled with continual vomitings, got little fleep, and had no appetite. Still, however, he went on as well as he could. *' I am brought, " now {d)^ (fays he) to the fliort allowance of " preaching but once a day, and thrice on a " Sunday^* But when he was not preaching, he was projeding fome fchcme or other for the ad- vancement of religion : for inftance, the building of alms-houfes for pious widows, on tlie ground that furroundcd his Chapel. " I have a plan, " (fays he) for twelve. The whole expence will '^ be four hundred pounds. I have got a prof- " pefl of two. I propofe allowing each widow: " half a crown a week. The lacrament money [i) Letter MCLXXIV. {d) Letter M^LXXXVIL " Will th^ Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 227 ** will more than do. If this be effeded, many *' godly widows will be provided for, and a {land- " ing monument left that the Methodifls were *' not againft good works (e).^^ It was not long till this plan was put into execution. The foun- dation of the alms-houfes was laid February 16^ 1758, and the widows began to be admitted in June following. He began his fummer-circuit this year at GIou- cefter : from thence he went to Brijiol^ and then to Wales, When he was in tVaks^ he was brought very low in his health. He was not able to fit up in company, as he ufed to do ; and could take very litde food. Yet continued travelling and preaching twice a day, through various tov^ns in South IVales^ where multitudes attended ; on Sun- days the numbers were almofl incredible C/}. In the month of July he fet off for Scotland, In his way he preached at Everton^ St. Neots^ Kayfo^ Bedford^ Oulney, JVeJlon, Underwood^ Raven- ftone^ Northampton^ and Newcajlle. Four clergy- men lent him their pulpits. His bodily flrcngth increafed fo little by this journey, that he fome- times had thoughts of turning back. But this he did not think to be his duty. " Through divine *' ftrength, (fays he) I hope to go forward, and *' (hall ftrive^ as much 2^ in me lies, to die in ** this glorious work (g-)." Yet it pleafed God to {e) Letters MCLXXXVII, MCLXXXIX. (/) Letters MCCUI, MCCVL (g) Letter MCCJX. Q^ 2 reftorc 228 Memoirs of the Life of redore his health in a good meallire, focm after his arrival in Scotland. From Edinburgh he writes, Augiifi 19 and 24. " For thefe four " months lad paft, I have been brought fo ex- " ceeding low in my body, that I was in hopes, " every fermon I preached would waft me to my '' wiQied for^home. Scotland^ 1 hoped, would " finifh my warfare •, but it has rather driven me *' back, to fea again. On Tuefday next, I thought " to have moved •, but as it is race-v/eck, and *' my health is improving, friends advife me to " (lay, to ftir them up to run with patience the " race that is fet before us (i?)." Having Xtix. Edinburgh^ September 13, he preach- ed in a great many places in the north of Evgland^ Alnwick^ Newcajlky Durham^ BiJJiop'Ankland^ Leeds y [h) <' Edinburgh^ September 14, 1758. Mr. IVhite- ** field's prefence, at this time, has been particularly '* ufeful to the Orphan-Hofpital, for which upwards of two hundred pounds hath been raifed from the col- letStion at the doors, and feat- rents. Before he left GlaJgQw^ he made a colleclion for the Glafgeio Cha- ritable Highland ^oc'\9ty ^ for fupporting and educating poor ///^/;^n^ children ; a fcheme particularly ufeful ** at this time, when fo many of their parents and «' friends are abroad in America^ in his Majelty's fervice. *' During his ftay here, he has had occafion to preach *' three thankfgiving fermons, for the vi£lory at Grevelly *' the taking of Cape Breton^ and the hue defeat of the " Rujftans, By his warm and repeated exhortations to ** loyalty, and a fteady adherence to the proteftant in- *' tereft, on this, and all other occafions, it muft be *' acknowledged, even in this view, his vifit here has •* been ufeful to the community in a civil, as weJl as a •' religious light.'* Gbfgoiv Csurant. the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 229 &c. and came to London about the end of OMer, He now talked of going over again to Ame- rica^ where his affairs were in a good fituation : *' BlefiTcd be God, (fays he) that I can fend you *' word, a never-failing Providence hath put *' it into my power to pay off all Bethefda^s " arrears. I am talking every day of coming ** over ; but how to do it in war-time, or *' how to get the Chapel and Tabernacle fupplied, ** I cannot as yet be clear in (/J." Not being able, it feems, to get over thefe difficulties, he continued all winter 1758 in London^ and about the middle of May 1759, opened his fpring Cam- paign, at BriftoL In the month of June he was in Gloucefter/Jiire and Tcrkjhire^ where people, high and low, rich and poor, flocked, as ufual, to hear him, twice a day (k) ; and from thence re-vifited Scotland, (/J Letters MCCXIX, MCCXX. {k) ♦* I am growing fat •, but, as I take it to be a " diieafe, I hope I Ihall go home the fooner/* Letter MCCXXV. Q. 3 C H A Pc ^^o Memoin of the Life of CHAP, XVIIL .from his Arrival at /Ed^xnhmgh 1759, to his opening . Lady Huntingdon'j Chapel at Bath, in the Tear ABOUT the beginning of July 1759, he came to Edinburgh. His congregations here, and at Ghifgow were very large, and very atten- tive, as formerly (Ij, But he complains in his^ letters, " that with refped to the power of religion,^ , *' it was a dead time in Scotland in comparifoal^ *' with London^ and feveral other parts of Eng- *' land(m):' (I) " EdiJihurgh^ ^tigufl 15, 1759. On Tuefday " morning the Rev. Mr. Whitefield fet out on his return «^ iox England It is faid, that here and at Ghfgow^ within " thefe hx weeks he has preached near a hundred times, " and yet the congregations were always increafing. ^' Whatever this be owing to, every body rnuft judge ^' for themfelyes : but it is certain he continually ex- ^' erted all his rhetoric in iiirring up a zeal for his God, " his King, and his Country in this time of danger ; and <-' Teemed particularly pleafcd, as were thoufands more, *' that he had an opportunity laft Lord's Day evening, •^' of preaching a thankfgiving fermon to a moft thronged *' auditory, on account of the glorious victory lately ^' vouchfafed to Prince Ferdinand over the French. '« The fum collected for the benefit of the Orphan *' Hofpital, during his flay here, amountecl to two hwn- *^ dred and fifteen pounds." (r^) LencTS MCCJCXVI, XXVIII, His j the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 231 His vifit to Scotla7jd this year, gave occarion to a pafiage, which was much for his honour, and a full confutation of the mercenary motives alcrib- ed to him by fome of his adverfaries. One Mifs Hunter,, a young lady of confiderable fortune, made a full offer to him of her eftate, both money and lands, amounting to about feven thoufand pounds, which he generoufly refufed. And upon his refu- fing it for himfelf, Ihe offered it to him for the benefit of his orphan-houfe in Georgia,, which he alfo abfolutely refufed. Thefe fadls the compiler has from undoubted authority. He fpent the winter (n) in London^ and got his chapel enlarged. March 14, 1760, he made a colleftion at his Chapel and Tabernacle, of above four hundred pounds, for the diflrefled PruJJlans,, who had fuf- fered fo much from the cruelty of the Rvjjians^ at Newmark,, Cojlrin^ &c. (o). In fummer 1760, he went into GloiiceJlcr/Jih-e and Walesy and from thence to Briftol. When he preached at the Tabernacle in Brijloly there were more in the evenings than it could well hold ; and in the fields his congregations confided of not lefs than ten thoufand (p), {n) O^ober 1759, he wrote a preface to Mr. Samuel Clarke's Bible. See his Works, Vol. IV. (0) For this difinterefted a£l of benevolence, it is fald, he received the thanks of his Prujpan majefty. (/>) Letter MCCXXXVII. 0^4 He t^2 Memoirs of the Life of He now began to undergo a new kind of per-* fecution (which however has Ibmetinrjes tallen upon men of the greateft eminence j tharof being mi- micked and burlefqued upon the flage (^). His enemies had in vain ufed violence againft him, and having found that the law would not fuffer them to proceed in that way, they therefore thought they wouki try what they could do by mockery. For this purpofc, they got for their tool one Samuel Foote^ a mimic, who having had fome iuccefs in imitating ^Ax.lVhitejieW^ perfon, and fpeaking a few ludicrous fentences in his manner, -\vas encouraged to proceed farther, and to write a farce (called the Minor) to be aded at the Theatre in Drury4ane (r). This performance is otherwife very dull and uninterefting-, but by its impiety, i^ cannot fail of exciting the indignation of the reli- gious and fober-miinded. For, in order to cxpofe Mr. Whitefield to contempt, the author makes no fjcruple to treat the very exprefiions and fentiments of the Bible v^ith ridicule \ or (to put the moil fa- (^) The compiler is uncertain z?, to the time when this- was hril done. Mr. f H^ it e/it I d fir (\: takes notice of it in his 1 tter.dated Ji^gujf 15, 17(0. It fcems to have taken its rife from the refentment of the playhoufe peo- ple, after they failed in their attempt to fr^ighten him from prej^ching at Lone- ncre ch^i^e]^ and were fariherex- afperated by feeing him ere6l a chapel of his own in Toi^ fcnham- court- road. (r) See a I^etter to David Garrick, Efq; occafioned by the intended reprefentation of the Miiior at Drury-lane ^h^iitre, faid to be written by the Rev, Mr. Madan. yourable the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 233 yourable conftruclion upon the matter) he and thofe whom he lent to the Tabernacle and Chapel to procure materials, were lb Httle acquainted •with the facred writings, as not to know, that what they took for Mr. Whitefield's pecuhar language^ was the language of the word of God (s). Be this (i) Mr. Foote being manager of the Edinburgh Theatre in winter 1770, the Minor was atwo pounds eight fliillings and nine pence ; and at the other, one hundred and eighty-two pounds fifteen lljillings and nine pence, for the dif- trelfed Proteftants in Fruffia. No man was a more ftrift obferver of public occurrences, or more en-, deavoured to improve them. In the months o^ September and Ooiober iy6o^ he made a tour through TorkJJdre \ and was in Lon- don^ during the winter, employed as ufual. On thefaft-day, Feb. 13, 1761, he preached early in the morning at the Tabernacle on Exod, xxxiv. i. ^c. and collected one hundred and twelve pounds •, in the forenoon he laboured at the Chapel, and dif- courfed on J^^/ii. 15, and afterwards colle6fed two hundred and forty-two pounds •, and in the even- ing he preached at the Tabernacle from Gen. vii. i, and collcd:ed two hundred and ten pounds. Thefe fums were immediately applied to the noble pur- pofes for which they were coUeded, the' relief of the the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 23 j the German Proteftants, and the fuffcrcrs by fire at Bqfton (t). But his health, which had often been very bad («J, now grew worfe and worie, fo that in Jpril 1 761, he was brought to the gates of death. After his recovery, being flill exceeding weak, and not able to preach as formerly, he left London^ and made a vifit to Brijiol^ Exeter ^ and Plymouth^ by which he found himfelf fomewhat better; but could not bear long journies and frequent preach- ing as he ufed to do (x), (t) Four hundred pounds were ailigned to the Germans^ and given into the hands of the Rev, Mr. Ziegmhag^n* Letters MCCXLI, XLII, XLVI. *' B^Jioriy Feb. 27, 1 764. At a meeting of the free- *' holders and other inhabitants of the tovi'n of Bofion on *' Friday laft, it was voted unanimouily, that the thanks ♦* of the town be given to the Rev. Mr. George JVhite- *' fieldy for his charitable care and pains in colIe£ting a " confiderable fum of money in Great Britain^ for the *' diftrefTed fufFerers by the great fire in Bo/ion 1760; and ** a refpe^Slable committee was appointed to wait on Mr. •* JVhiiefieldy to inform him of the vote, and prefent him <• with a copy thereof." Bojlon Gazette, (u) It was happy for him that he frequently got the afliftance of clergymen from the country ; and at this time particularly of the Rev. Mr, Bcrridge^ late Mode- rator oi Cambridge^ of whom he writes (Let. MCCXLIII, XLV) *' A new inftrument is raifed up out oi Cambridge ♦' Univerfity. He has been here preaching with great ^' flame, and like an angel of the churches indeed." The compiler is informed that the Rev. Mr. Berridge, at EverioTiy ftill continues zealous and fuccefsful, (x) Letter MCCL, The MS. (which after the year 1748, contains only rery fhort and imperfedl hints) ends here, 7 Ocloher 2:36 Memoirs of the Life ef \ Othher 1761, he complains ** I have not preach- '' ed a iingle fermon for fomc weeks, Lafl Sunday " 1 fpoke a little ; but I feel its eflfeds ever fince, 'f A fea voyage feems more neceflary to me now *' than ever. 1 know now what nervous difor- *' ders are. BlelTed be God that they were con- *^ traded in his fervice ; I do not repent - *: though I am frequently tempted to wifh the ** report of my death had been true, fince my '' diforder keeps me from my old delightful work *' of preaching (y;*'* In ^ journey to Leeds and Neweajlle^ this month, he could bear riding in a a, poft-chaife, but preached feldom, his friends be- ing fo prudent as not to prefs him to it : "I hope, *' however, fays he, I am travelling in order to ** preach (z).*' Accordingly he prolonged his jour- ney the length of Edinburgh and Glafgow^ and did not return to London till the month of December ; when he found himfelf confiderably better, which (under God) he attributed to his following the fimple prefcriptions of four eminent phyficians in Edinburgh \ being fenfible, as he faid, that their advice had been more blefTed, for his recovery, than all the medicines and diredlions he had clfe- where [a). As foon as his health was in fome meafure re- ilored, he fell to his beloved work again. From Brijlol^ ylpril 1762, he writes, *' BriftQl air agrees {y) Letters MCCLII, LIII, LIV. (a) Letter MCCLV. (a) Letter MCCLIX. '' with the Rev. Mr. Geofge Whitefield, 237 •* with me. I have been enabled to preach five ** times, this laft week, without being hurt. Who ** knows but I may yet be reftored fo far as to *' found the Gofpel trumpet for my God ? The *' quietnefs I enjoy here, with daily riding our, " fcems to be one very proper means {l?y* He continued thus to preach four or five times a week, notwithftanding his weaknefs, till about the middle of May ; and was fometimes enabled to " take the field," as he exprefTcs it, which gave him great joy ; " Mounts," fays he, " are " the beft pulpits, and the heavens the bed *' founding boards. O for power equal to my " will ! I would fly from pole to pole, publilhing *' the everlafting gofpel of the Son of God (c),*' When he returned to LondoHy the cares and la- bours that thronged upon him were ready to bring him low again. In the month of Juljy therefore, he made a voyage to Holland (^), and found him- fclf fo much the better for it, that he writes from Norwich^ July 31, " The expedition to Holland^ " was, I trull, profitable to myfclf and others ; *' and if ever my ufefulnefs is to be continued at *' London^ I mufl be prepared for it by a longer " itineration both by land and water. At pre- " fent, blefled be God, I can preach once a day ; ** and it would do your heart good to fee what an {h) Lcttfifs MCCLX, LXI. {c) Letter MCCLXV, {J) He preached ai RotUrdam four times. <* infliience 238 Memoirs of the Life of *' influence attends the word. All my old time§ " arc revived again (^)." Auguft 18, he arrived at Edinburgh^ made a vifit to GlafgGWy where he preached every dzy (and twice at Camhujlafig) and continued preaching once a day at Edinburgh till September 13, when he re- turned to England : and was glad (now that peace was expelled) of the profped of embarking foon for America. While in England^ he found that preaching once a day did not hurt him, but dared not venture oftencr. At Leeds^ Briftol^ and Plymouth^ he had very dedrable feafons •, but with refpedt to London^ he fays, (f) *' As affairs are circumftanced, every ** thing there tends to weigh me down." Having therefore perfuaded fome of his intimate friends, as truftees, to take upon them the whole care of the affairs of his Chapel and Tabernacle, and all his other concerns at home ^ he refolved to fail from Greenock in Scotland, On his way thither, in the month of March 1763, he preached at Everton, Leeds^ Aberford^ Kippay:^ and Newcaflle-, and was alfo employed in writing his obfervations, ^c. in aufwer to Bilhop Warburton {g). When he came to Scotland^ he continued to preach once a day, for Ibme weeks-, but being taken ill of his old diforder at Edinburgh^ he was obliged to be filcnt (for the moft part) for near {e) Letter MCCLXVII. (/) Letter MCCLXXIV. ig) Letter MCCLXXVIII, LXXIX. See hia Works, Vol. iV. fix the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. I39 fix weeks afterwards. At Ia[l, in the beginning of June ^ he embarked the fixth {.\m(^ for A^n erica ^ in the fliip Fanny^ Captain Archibald Galbread\ bound from Greenock to Virgi7iia: where (after a voyage of twelve weeks) he arrived in the latter end of Auguft (b). His letters in September^ O^oher^ and November 1763, are dated from Philadelphia. He found him- felf ilill an invalid •, yet made a (liift to preach twice a week. " Here," fays he, " are fomc young *' bright vi^itnefifes rifing up in the church. Pcr- ** haps I have already converfed with forty nevv- *' creature minifters of various denominations. " Sixteen hopeful fludents, I am credibly inform- *' ed, were converted at New-Jerfey College lail ** year. What an open door, if I had ftrength ! ** Laft Tuefday we had a remarkable fcafon among *' the Lutherans \ children and grown people *' were much imprelTed (i)." He wanted much to go forward to Georgia^ but the phyficians were abfolutely againft: it, till he got more ftrength. In the latter end of November he {h) '* Thanks to a never failing Redeemer, I *' have not been laid by an hour through ficknefs, fince *' I came on board A kind captain, and a nioft or- *' derly and quiet fhip's company, who gladly attended *' when I had breath to preach. Scarce an oath have I *' heard upon deck and fuch a ftillnefs through the " whole fhip, both on week-days and the Lord's day, " as hath from time to time furprized me.*' Letter MCCXC. (/j Letter MCCXCIV. fe: 2.\c> Memoi'rs of the Life of let out from Philadelphia for Netv-Tork^ and on Km way preached feveral times at l^ew-Jerfey College and Elizabeth Town^ with much acceptance. His fpirits now grew better, and he could fometimes preach thrice a week (/). While he continued at "New-York during the winter, he writes, " Preju- " dices in this place have moft ftrangely fubfided, ** The better fort flock as eagerly as the common *' people, and are fond of coming for private gof- *' pel-converfation. Congregations continue *' very large, and I truft faving imprefTions are •' made upon many {g)P After leaving New-York^ he preached at Eafi^ Hampton^ Bridge-Hampton^ and South-Hcldy upon (f) Letter MCCXCVIIL [g] Letters MCCCII, MCCCIIL « Keto-Tor^, ** January 23, 1764. The Rev. Mr. George IVhltefield •' has fpent hw^n. weeks with us, preaching twice a *' week to more general acceptance than ever ; and been *' treated with great refpedt by many of the gentlemen *' and merchants of this place. During his ftay, he *' preached two charit}' fermons ; the one on the occa- *' fion of the annual colledion for the poor, in which *' double the fum was colle£led that ever was upon the *' like occafion ; the other was for the benefit of A4r, ** Wheelock'% Indian School at Lchano?i^ in New-England^ ** for which he coile6led (notwithftanding the prefent <* prejudices of many people againd the Indians) the fum ** of one hundred and twenty pounds. In his lalt fermon *' he took a very affectionate leave of the people of this *' city, who exprefTed great concern at his departure. ** May God reftore this great and good man (in whom " the gentleman, the chriftian, and accomplifhed orator *' {hine forth with fuch peculiar luftre) to a perfect ftate *' of health, and continue him long a bleffing to the *' world, and the church of Chrifl." Bojlon Gazette* Long- the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 241 Long'ljland \ at Shelter-Ifland alfo; and at New- London^ Norwich^ and Pr evidence on the Main Land, Then proceeded to Bofton^ where he arrived in the latter end of February 1764, and was received with ufual warmth of affe6lion {h). But as the famll-pox was fpreading through the town, he thofe to preach for a while in the adjacent places. At Nezvbiiry a great influence attended his preach- ing. He writes from Concord to his friend Mr* 8 S , " How would you have been de- *' lighted to have k^n Mr. Wheehck'% Indians? " Such a promifing nurfery of future milTionaries, ^' I believe, was never feen in New-Engla7id be- *' fore :, pray encourage it with all your might, *' I alio wifli you could give fome ufeful purita- *' nical books to Harvard College Library lately .*' burnt down (i)}^ [h) Letter MCCCIV. *^ (/) Letter MCCCV. Some years after the gentlemen of Harvard College expreiled their gratitude to Mr, Whitefield by the following vote. " At a meeting of the *' Prefident and Fellows of iY^ri;^ri College, Auguf} 22, " 1768. The Rev. Mr. George Whitefield h2.v\ng, m ad- *' dition to his former kindnefs to Harvard College, lately *« prefented to the Library, a New Edition of his Jour- *' naif, and having procured large benefa6^ions from fe-. " veral benevolent and refpeclable gentlemen ; Voted, *' That the Thanks of the Corporation be given to the " Rev. Mr, Whitefield, for thefe inftances cf Candour ^' and Generofity. PRESENT, The Prefident, Mr. Appleton^ Mr. ProfelTor Wlnthrop, Dr. Eliot^ Dr. Cooper^ Treafurer Hubbard, J R Id A true Copy, ptr Edward Holyoke^ Prefident, 242 Memoirs of the Life of In the month of April he had a return of his diforderj but it did not long keep him from preaching : and the Bcjlon people were exceeding- ly eager to hear. He was thinking to proceed immediately fouthward, but they fent after him, and perfuaded him to come back. June i, 1764. He writes, " Friends have even conitrained me to " flay here, for fear of running into the fummer's " heat. Hitherto I find the benefit of it. What- *' ever it is owing to, through mercy I am much *' better in health than I was this time twelve " months j and can now preach thrice a week to *' very large auditories, without hurt. And every *' day I hear of fome brought under concern.— " This is all of grace (^).*' After a very forrowful parting, he left Bofton^ and came back to I^ew-Tork^ from whence his letters are dated from the end of June till the lat- ter end of Auguji, " At prefent," fays he, " my *' health is better than ufual, and as yet I have " felt no inconvenience from the fummer's heat.— " I have preached twice lately in the fields, and *' we fat under the blefied Redeemer's fiiadow *' with great delight. My late excurfions upon *' Long'IJland^ I truft, have been blefled. It " would furprize you to fee above one hundred " carriages at every fermon, in this new world (/). {k) Letter MCCCXI. (/) Letters MCCCXU, MCCCXIII, MCCCXV. In the Rev. Mr. George Whltefieid. 24;^ In September and 05loher he was at Philadelphia \ the provoft of the college there read prayers for him. Both the prefent and late governor, with the principal gentlemen of the city attended, and thanks were fent to him from the truftees, for Ipeaking for the charity-children, and countenan- cing the inftitution {771), From Philadelphia he proceeded fouthward thro' Virginia, And Noveml?er 22^ at New-Brunfwick in Carolina^ he writes, " At Newhurn laft Sunday^ good *' imprefiions were made. — From that place to this ♦' I have met with what they call New-Lights («) *' almoft every ftage. — I have the names of fix or *' eight of their preachers. This, with every *' other place, being open and exceedingly defi- *' rous to hear the Gofpel, makes me almoft de- *' termine to come back early in the fpring." After preaching at Charkftown^ he arrived at Savannah in December^ where he found affairs prof- pering to his wilh, " The colony," fays he, " is *' rifing faft \ nothing but plenty at Bethefda^ and " all arrears, I truft, will be paid off before I *' leave it j fo that in a Ihort time 1 hope to be " free from thefe outward incumbrances (i?)." And he was not difappointed in his expedations; for he writes, " Bsthefda^ January 14, 1765, God (m) Letter MCCCXVIII. («) A name given to thofe who favoured the revival of religion under the miniftrv of Mr. fp%itefe!cly Mr* Tennent, Sic- Letter MCCCXIX. (0) Letter MCCCXXL R a hath 244 Memoirs of the Life of " hath given me great favour in the fight of the go- " vernor, council, and aflembly. A memorial was " prefented for an additional grant of lands, con- " fifting of two thoufand acres. It was immedi- *' atcly complied with. Both houfes addrefled the " governor in behalf of the intended college. As *' warm an anfwer was given (p). Every haart feems " to leap for joy at the profpe6t of its future uti- *' lity (q)" Again, " Bethefda^ February 13. (r) " Yefterday morning the Governor and Lord J. A, <« Q. n^ with feveral other gentlemen, fa- '' voured me with their company to breakfaft. *' But how was my lord furprized and delighted ! " After exprefling himfelf in the ftrongeft terms, ".he took me afide and informed me, that the " Governor had fhewed him the accounts, by *' which he found what a great benefaftor I had " been ; that the intended college would be of " the utmoft utility, to this and the neighbouring " provinces -, that the plan was beautiful, rati- " onal, and pradicable -, and that he was perfuaded *' his Majefty would highly approve of, and alfo *' favour it, with fome peculiar marks of his royal " bounty (j)." Having (p) See the memorial, addrefs, and anfwer in Vol. IIL of his Works, page 469, i^c, {q) Letter MCCCXXII. (r) Letter MCCCXXIV. (ij He adds, in the fame letter, " Now farewell, my ** beloved Bcthefda ; furely the moft delightfully fituated *' place in all the fouthern parts of America. — What a " blefTed ^the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 245 Having left Bethefda in fuch comfortable cir- cumftances February 18, (/) he delayed his pro- pofed tour to the northward, and thought it bed to embark diredly for England^ to finifli the affair about the college. He fpent fome time, how- ever, at Cbarks-Town in the month of March^ and after a very affedlionate parting, fet out for Phi- Jadelphia^ preaching as he went along in feveral places (u) : but no fliip offering at Philadelphia^ he failed from New-Tor k in the Earl of Halifax pacquet, and arrived once more in England, July 5, J765 {x). After his arrival he found himfelf ftill very weak in body, and obliged to go on much more ^' bleffed winter have T had ! Peace, and love, and har- " mony, and plenty reign here. Mr. W ~t hath " done much in a little time. All are furprized at it. " But he hath worked night and day, and not ftirred a *' a mile for many weeks," (/) " Thanks be io God, all outward things are fet- ** tied on this fide the water. The auditing the ac- " counts, and laying a foundation for a college, hath *' filenced enemies, and comforted friends. The finifh- *' ing this affair confirms my call to England^ at this " time." Letter MCCCXXIX. (u) " All along from Charles-Town to this place *' (Newcajlle) the cry is ' For Chrift's fake ftay and '' preach to us.' O for a thoufand lives to fpend for *' Jefus ! " Letter MCCCXXIX. (x) " We have had but a twenty-eight days paffage. — *' The tranfition hath been fo fudden, that I can fcarce *' believe that I am in Englmid, I hope, ere long, to *' have a more fudden tranfition into a better country." Letter MCCCXXXI. [When he arrived at London^ July 21, he was very ill of a nervous fever.] R 3 flowly 246 Memoirs of the Life of flowly than he ufed to do. Yet this did not diJ-^ courage him from doing what he could, in hopes of foon entering into his reft. " O to end life **^ well! (fays he) Methinks I have now but one ^' more river to pafs over. And we know of one *^ that can carry us over, without being ankle- *^ deep (y)r OUoher 6, he was called to open Lady Hunting" donh chapel at Bath (2), when he preached from 2 Cor. vi. 16. {y) Letter MCCCXXXIII. (z) " The chapel is extremely plain, and yet equally f' grand. A mod beautiful original. AH was condu6led *' with great folemnity. Though a very wet day, the " place was very full. 1 preached in the morning, ^\ Mr. r^it';2;W in the evening." Let.MCCCXXXVll; CHAR the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 247 CHAP. XIX, From his opening Lady Huntingdon'j Chapel at Bath, to his embarking for America in the Year 1769. AFTER preaching fome little time at Bath^ he returned to London^ from whence, Jayiu- ary 18, 1766, he writes (a) to a friend at Sheer- nefs^ " I am forry to acquaint you, that it is not *^ in my power to comply with your requeft. For *' want of more afilftance, I am confined in town *' with the care of two important pofls, when I " am only fit to be put into fome garrifon among " the invalids." But he was relieved, for a little fpace, early in the fpring ; for we find him in the month of March at Bath and Brijiol, March 17, he fays, " The uncertainty of my mo- " tions hath made me flow in writing ; and a de- ^^ fire to be a while free from London cares, hath " made me indifferent about frequent hearing *' from thence. — Lad Friday evening, and twice *' yefterday (^), I preached at Bath to very *' thronged and brilliant auditories.'* About this time, the Stamp A61 was repealed ; on which occafion he greatly exulted. The inte- (a) Letter MCCCXXXIX. {b) Letter MCCCXL. R 4 reft 248 Memoirs of the. Life of reft of the colonies always lay near his heart, and he hoped this flep would reftore peace and happi- nefs to his country. In his letter book is the fol- lowing fentence, " March 16, 1766, Stamp Ad *' repealed, Gloria Deo.'* Mr. Occtim^ an Indian preacher, and Mr. Wbitaker^ came over from America to follicit con- tributions for Mr. Wheelock's Indian fchool, an in- flitution which Mr. Whitefield greatly approved. Concerning this he writes, [c) London^ Jprii 25^ " The profped of a large and efieclual door *' opening among the heathens, blefied be God, *^' is very promifing. Mr. Occum is a fettled, hum- *' ble chriftian ; the good and great, with a mul- " titude of a lower degree, heard him preach laft " v/eek at "Tottenbam-Court Chapel, and felt much *' of the pov/er and prcfence of our common Lord- " Mr. R n hath preached, and colleded one " hundred pounds ; and I believe feven or eight *' hundred pounds more are fubfcribed. The " truly noble Lord D h efpoufes the caufe moil ^' heartily, and his Majelly is become a contri- *' butor. The King of Kings, and Lord of all " Lords, will blefs them for it fJJ." (0 Letter MCCCXLI. (d) Mr. Occum and Mr. JVhitaher came afterwards to Scotland.^ and preached at Edinburgh and Glafgoiv^ where they got very confiderable contributions; particularly from Mr. SpreudFs family in Glafgow^ and trom the Rev, Mr. M'Culloch at Camhujlaig, I Jiais the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 249 June 19, we find him at Collam near Brijlol^ from whence {e) he writes, " As my feverifh heat ^' continues, and the weather is too wet to travel, '' I have complied with the advice of friends, and *' have commenced a hot-well water drinker twice " a day. However, twice this week, at fix in the " morning, I have been enabled to call thirfty " fouls to come and drink of the water of life " freely. To-morrow evening, God willing, the ^' call is to be repeated, and again on Sunday. He was alfo at Bath and Briftol in the month of "November this year. At Briftol he preached to a very crowded auditory (though the weather was exceeding bad) and adminiftred the facrament ; and at Bath he preached to the moil: numerous afi^embly of the nobility he had ever feen attend there. In the month of January 1767, he wrote a re- commendatory preface to a new edition of Bun- yan's Works ; which is infcrted with his Tra6ls in Vol. ly. and March 20, he was called to open Lady Huntingdon^ new chapel at Brighthelmftone in Sujfe^^ when he preached on 2 Peter iil. 1 8. After an excurfion to Ncrivich^ in Jpril 1767, he fays, " I fear my fpring and fummer fever is *' returning. If fo, my intended plan of operatic *' ens will be much contradled. But future " things belong to Him who orders all things " well (/;." {e) Letter MCCCXLV, (/) Letter MCCCLIL Yet 250 Memoirs of the Life of Yet the very next month we find him preach- ing at Rodhoroughy Gloncefter^ and Haverford-JVejl in Wales'^ from whence he writes. May 31," Thou- *' fands and thouiands attended by eight in the *' morning. T-ife and light feemed to fly all *' around. On ^ue[day^ God willing, I am to *' preach at Wcodfiock \ on Friday at Pembroke ^ here '' again next Sunday by eight, and then for Eng- " Ipjid (^)" And when he returned to Gloucejfer, " June 10, " BlefTed be God," fays he, " I am got *' on this fide the fFelcb mountains. BleflTed be *' God, I have been on the other fide. What a *' fcene laft Simdayl What a cry for more of the " bread of life ^ but I was quite worn down C^J." September 1 1. He was at Leeds^ having preached at Northampton and She^eld in the way : and Sep- tember 20, at Newcajlle^ from whence he writes, '' (/■) I have now a bleffed Methodiil field-ftreet- *' preaching plan before me. This afternoon in *' the Cajile-Garth^ to-morrow for Sunderland^ then '^ to Tarnty &c. &c.— — I have been enabled to *^ preach in the ftreet at feveral places, and hope *' to go to Gejhorough^ Whitby^ Scarborough^ New- *' Malt on ^ Tcrk^ Leeds^ Liverpool^ Chefter^ Man- " chejier^ &c."- Again (from 'Thirjk^ September 28 j " My body feels much fatigued in travelling; " comforts in the foul over-ballance." And (g) Letter MCCCLVII. [h) Letter MCCCLIX. (i) Let. iMCCCLXlV, MCCCLXV, MCCCLXVI, MCCCLXLX, ( Leeds y the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 251 (Leeds^ O^oh. 3) " Field and ftreet preaching hath ^' rather bettered than hurt bodily my health." This winter his negociations about the intended college at Bethefda came to an iflue. A memorial, addrefled to his Majeily, was put into the hands of the clerk of the privy council, fetting forth the great utility of a college in that place to the inha- bitants of the fouthern provinces, and praying that a charter might be granted upon the plan of the col- lege at New-Jerfey. This mem.orial was by him tranfmitted to the Lord Prefident, and by his lord- lliip referred to the confideration of the Archbifliop of Canterbury^ to whom alfo a draft of an intended charter was prefented by the Earl of D h. Upon which an epiflolary correfpondence enfued betwixt the Archbifhop and Mr, Whitefield \ the fum of which was, the Archbifhop put the draft of the charter into the hands of the Lord Prefident, who promifed to confider it \ and gave it as his opinion, that, ' ■ the head of the college ought to *' be a member of the church oi England, That " this was a qualification not to be difpenfed with, ** And alfo that the public prayers fhould not be " extempore ones, but the liturgy of the church, " or fome other fettled and eftablifhed form." Mr. Whitefield anfwered, he could not agree to either of thefe reftridlions, becaufe the greateft part of the Orphan-houfe coUedlions and contributions came from difTenters ; and becaufe he had frequently de- clared the inteaded college was to be founded upon ^' a broad bottom^ and no other. This," fays he. 252 Memoirs of the Life of *' I judged I was fufficiently warranted to do, from '' the known, long ellablifhed, mild, and uncoer- *' cive genius of the EnglijJi government ; alfo ** from your grace's moderation towards protef- *' tant difienters ; from the unconquerable at- *' tachment of the Americans to toleration-princi- ** pies, as well as from the avowed habitual feel- " ings and fentiments of my own heart. This *' being the cafe,^ and as your grace by your *' filence feems to be like-minded with the Lord *' P 1-, and as your grace*s and his lordfhip's '' influence will undoubtedly extend itfelf to others, *' I would beg leave, after returning all due ac- *' knowledgments, to inform your grace that I " intend troubling your grace and his lordfhip no. *' more about this fo long depending concern, *' As it hath pleafed the great head of the church *' in fome degree to renew my bodily ftrength, I *' purpofe now to renew my feeble efforts, and ^' turn the charity into a more generous, and con- *' fequently into a more extenfively ufeful channel. " I have no ambition to be looked upon as the " founder of a college ; but 1 would fain a6l the *' part of an honeft man, a difinterefted minifler *' of Jefus Chrift, .and a truly catholic, moderate " prefby ter of the church of England {k)^ Accord- (k) See his Works, Vol. III. page 472 — 484, where the fleps he took in this affair are more fully narrated ia a letter to Governor Wright— 2.nd Let. MCCCLXXVII, in which he complains to his intimate friend Mr. K «, '* None the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 253 Accordingly he refolved, in the mean time, to add a public academy to the Orphan-houie, like what was done at Philadelphia^ before it's college charter was granted -, and to wait for a more favourable opportunity of making frefh applica- tion, for a charter upon a broad bottom. 05fober 28. he preached at the Tabernacle, to the Society for promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor, when the colledlion amounted to above a hundred pounds, (about four times as much as ufual) and eighty perfons became new fubfcri- bers (/). In the beginning of the year 1768, fix pious (ludents were expelled from Edmund-Hall in Ox- ford^ for ufing extempore prayer, reading and Tinging hymns, and exhorting one another in pri- vate religious meetings. Upon this occafion, *^ None but God knows what a concern lies upon me *' now in refped: to Bethejda. As another voyage, per- «' haps, may be the iffue and refult of all at laft, I *' would beg you, and my dear Mr. H y^ to let me «' have my papers and letters, that I may revife and dif- *' pofe of them in a proper manner. This can do no ** hurt, come life, or come death." [I) His text was, Luke xi> 2. " Thy kingdom come." The place was quite full, and many went away for want of room. A great number of difTenting miniflers were prefent ; probably, more than ever before met to hear a church clergyman preach. He afterwards dined with the minifters and whole company at Draper s-Hall^ where he was treated with great refpedt. ^11 was very harmo- nious, and gave him great pleafure in refledion. See Letter MCCCLXXV. 1 Mr. ^54 Memoirs of the Life of Mr» Whitefield wrote his letter to Dr. Burell^ Vice- chancellor of the univerfity (//). In the fummer^ he went once more to Edinburgk^ where his Orphan-houf'e-Park congregations were as large, attentive, and affedionate as ever (m). Juguft 3. foon after his return to London^ Mrs, Whitefield vi^as attacked with an inflammatory- fever, and the 9th of Auguji fhe died. The 14th of the month he preached her funeral fermon,^ from Rom, viii. 20 : and September 11, he writes, *' I have been in hopes of my own departure* *' Through hard ridings and frequent preaching, *' I have buric a vein. The flux is in a great *' meafure Hopped, but refl: and quietnefs are *' ftri6lly enjoined. We were favoured with glo- *' rious Gofpel-gales this day fortnight, and feve- ** ral preceding days^ at opening good Lady *' Huntingdon's chapel, and place of pious edu- ** cation in Wales (n),'* (II) See his Works, VoL IV. {m) Letter MCCCLXXXVII, MCCCLXXXVIIL [n) From his Memorandum Book. *' y^^^gHft 24^ ** 1768, Opened good Lady Hu72tingdons Chapel and *' College, in the parifli of Talgarth^ Brecknockjhirey *' South Wales, Preached from Exodus xx. 24. ' In * all places where I record my name, I will come unto * thee, and I will blefs thee.* '* Jugujl 2^. Gave art *' exhortation to the ftiidents in the College-chapel •' from Luke i. 15. 'He lliull be great in the fight of * the Lord.' '' Sunday^ Auguji 28. Preached in the *' court before the College, (the congregation confift- *' ing of fome thoufands) from i Cor, iii. ii; ' Other * foundation can no man lay, than that which is \-^\^^ * which is Jc'fus Chr'if: 7 September the Rev. Mr. George Wliitefield. 255 September 26. he writes concerning his friend and fellow-labourer Mr. Middleton: " He is now " made perfedly whole. He was buried from " the Tabernacle lad Wednefday evening, and a " fubfcription is opened for his four orphans. " In the midft of his torturing pains, being afked *' by his daughter, How he was ? He anfwered, * A heaven upon earth.' " Soon afterwards he " fell aHeep in Jefus (o)r JFrom his letters dated in November and Z)frm- her^ it appears he was in a very poor flate of health, yet ftill continued to preach, as often as he was able. " Briftol^ November 12. Lafl night, I hope, •« the Redeemer manifefted forth his glory. Ai- " day evenings and the following Sunday^ I fhall •* preach at Bath. In three weeks I expecb to *' reach London, except called before that period, " to refide at the New Jerufalem. The pleaf- " ing profpedt lies day and night open before *' mit(p)r Next fpring, 1769, he feen>s to have recovered a little J for we find him preaching more frequent- ly. It gave him great pleafure to fee fome more of the nobility joined to Lady H n's fociety. " Some more coroners, I hear, are likely to be ^ laid at the Redeemers feet. They glitter glo- {0) Letter MCCCXCVII. (p) Letter MCCCXCVIIL rioufly 256 ' Memoirs of the Life of " rioufly when fet in, and furrounded with a " crown of thorns (q)'^ In the month of May he preached at Kingfwood^ Briftol^ Bradford^ Frome, Chippenham^ Rodhoroiighi Caftleccmh^ Durjley, But deferred his weftern- circuit on account of the opening the Chapel at Ttmhidge (r), July 2^^ iy6g^ he opened Lady Huntingdon's New Chapel at ^unbridge Wells, Preached from Gen. xxviii. 17. " This is none other but the " Houfe of God, and this is the Gate of Hea- ** ven." In the evening, the congregation being too large to be contained in the chapel, he preached out of doors, from a mount in the court before the chapel 5 after which he gave a general exhortation ; and next day adminiftered the facrament, and preached from i "Tbejf, ii. II, 12. Now he feriouily began to prepare for another voyage-, and in the beginning of *S^^/^;;2/^^r he embarked the feventh and laft time for Jme^ rica (s). (q) Letter MCCCCIX. (r) Letter MCCCCXIII. (s) lni\\tFrlendJhlp,Cz^t.BalL Let. MCCCCXXV, *' I am comforted on every fide. A civil captain and *' pafTengers. All v/illing to attend on divine worfhip^ •' and to hear of religious things," CHAP, ^hc Rev. Mr. George Whltefield. 257 CHAP. XX. Froin his bft embarking for America, to his Death. September 30, 1770. MR. Whltefield was detained near a month in the Downs by contrary winds (t) \ but he improved his time, as ufualj in writing many excellent letters, preaching on board ; and fome- times came afhore and preached, both at Deal and Ramfgate. The following extrad of Mv.lVhitefieWs Manu- fcript Journal, relative to this period, cannot be unacceptable. '^ Saturday, September 2. Had a mofl: awful *' parting feafon at Tottenham-Court Chapel Sacra- " ment, lad Sunday morning, the Sermon from " Gen. xxviii. 12. And the fame at Tabernacle " (which was more than full) on Wednefday morn- *<^ ing at feven o'clock. This day dined at my ^' worthy, fad, and tried friend Mr. Keen's •, and ** having comfortably fettled and left all my out- ^' ward concerns in his hands, I took an affec- *' tionate leave, and in company with fome dear " friends, this evening reached Grave/end-, where *' others met us. We fupped and converfed to- (t) One (hip was loft, but the paflcngers efcaped in the boat. Letter MCCCCXXX* S *' gether 258 Memoirs of the Life of " gether in fome degree, I trufl:, like perfons " who hoped, ere long, to fit down together *' at the marriage-feaft of the fupper of the " Lamb. Haften, O Lord, that wiflied for *' time ! *' Sunday^ Septemher 3. Preached this morning ^' at the Methodifl Tabernacle from John xiith. " verfe 32d. The congregation was not very *' large. But God gave me great freedom of " fpeech, and made it indeed a Houfe of God, " and Gate of Heaven. In the afternoon, I " preached in the market-place from Gen, iii. *' verfe 13th, to a much larger, but not more *' devout auditory. In the out-fkirts, as might " naturally be expedled, fome were a little noify, *' but a great body was very attentive, and 1 was " enabled to lift up my voice like a trumpet. *' The remainder of the evening was fpent as the *' night before, with my chriflian London friends ; " who with me, lefs than the leafl of all, exceed- *' ingly rejoiced at the opportunity of a parting " flreet-market-place preaching, where, I trufl, *•• fome pennylefs bankrupt finners were made " willing to buy Gofpel wine and milk, without ," money, and without price. May the great day *' fiiow that this hope was not altogether ill- '' grounded ! " Monday^ Septemher 4. Had my dear chriflian " friends on board to breakfafl with me this " morning. Converfation was fweer, but part- *' ing bitter. * Wliat mean you (faid the Apoftle) '" to the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 259 * to weep and break my heart?' " However, " through infinite mercy, I was helped to bear « up, and after their departure the Divine Pre- " fence made up the lofs of all, even with new *' creature comforts. Lord, if this Divine Pre- *' fence go not with, and accompany me all the *' way, for thy infinite mercies fake, fuffer me not *' to go one ftep farther* " But I believe thy promife Lord, " Oh! help my unbelief* " Tuefday, Septemher 5. The Captain not com- *' ing down as was expeded, we did not weigh " anchor till this morning's ebb. " The winds being contrary, and the Weather " hazy, we did not arrive in the Downs till the " Friday following. Interim, I had the oppor- " tunity of converfing a little with the pilot, " and fleerage pafTengers. All attended divine *' worlhip very orderly, and thanked me for my " offer of lending them books, and giving them " what affiftance lay in my power towards mak- ** ing their voyage comfortable. All feemed « thankful, and the pilot parted with tears in " his eyes. May the great, and never-failing *' pilot, the Almighty Jefus, renew us, and take *' us all into his holy protedion, and then all *' muft ncceffarily end in our fafe arrival in the •• haven of eternal reft 1 •' Tuefday, September 12.- Preached laft Sun- «* day morning to my little flock on board, and 26o Memoirs of the Life of *' was mod agreeably furprized to-day, with a " kind nnexpeded vifit from the Kev. Dr. Gih- •' hons. His difcourfe was very friendly and •' devout. *' IVedncfday^ September 13. I went afhore and •' attended on an ordination folemnity, at the *' diflenting-meeting. Several minifters officiated, " Several very important queftions were a(ls:ed^ *' and anfwered before, and a Iblemn charge *' given after, impofition of hands. But the " prayer put up in the very a6l of laying, on " of hands, by Dr. Gihbcns, was fo affeding, " and the looks and behaviour of thofe that " joined ib ferious and folemn, that I hardly *' know when I was more flruck under any " ones minirtration. The ordination being over, " at the defire of the minifters, and other gen- " tlemen, I went and dined with them. Our " converfation was edifying. And being inform- " ed, that many were defirous to hear me *' preach, I willingly complied, and I truft fome " feed was fown the fame evening at Deal^ which, *' by God's heavenly blefTing, will fpring up to " life eternal. The people of Deal feemed very *' civil, and fome came to me vsho had not " forgotten my preaching to them, and their *' deceafed friends and parents, thirty-two years " ago. " Friday^ September 14, 15. I had received *' moil preffing invitations to vifit Ramfgati^ ".many weeks ago. Thefe were now repeated 7 *' "^1 the Rev. Mr, George Whltefield. 26 r <* by many of that place, who came to the or- •' dination at Deal -y h there was no refifting " their importunity. We reached Ravifgate about *' two, took Ibme rcfreflimcnr, and there 1 " preached about four, not to a very large, " but an attcnnve and atfcc^led auditory. This " 1 did alio the morning following-, and was " mod agreeably entertained with the difcourfe, *« and good memory of one, in particular, who *' had been my fellow-pafTcnger, and frequent *• hearer many years ago, in the Wilmington^ " Captain Barlings bound to Pifcataway in New " England, The people's behaviour here was fo *' undilTembltdly generous, frank, genteel, and *' chriftian, that 1 know not where I have been " more plcafed and delighted. Being quite un- " eafy, left by ftaying longer I fhould be un- " ready, if the wind fhould turn favourable, I *' went early on Sunday morning to Deal^ and *' from thence immediately on board, and preach- " ed in the afternoon. This morning, came a *' furreptitious copy of my Tabernacle Farewell " Sermon, taken, as the Ihort-hand writer pro- " fefles, verbatim^ as I fpoke it. But furely he *' is miftaken. The whole is fo injudicioudy ** paragraphed, and fo wretchedly unconnected, " that I owe no thanks to the mifguided, though " it may be well-meant zeal of the writer and *' publifhcr, be they who they will. But fuch " conduct is an unavoidable tax upon popularity. '^ And all that appear for Jefm Cbrijf, and his S3 " blefied ^62 Memoirs of the Life of " blelTcd Gofpel, mud like their mafter, expeft " to luiTer from the falle fire of profefling friends, " as well as fecret malice of avowed enemies, *' However, if any one fentence is blefTed to the ^' convi6l:ir^,n of one fmner, or the edification of any *' individual faint, I care not what becomes of my ^' chara6ler, though I would always pray to bepre- «' ferved from bringing upon myfelf, or others, ^' needlefs, unnecefiary contempt. " Monday^ September 25. Weighed anchor lall ^' I'tiefday morning, with a fmall favourable gale *' and fine weather. So many fhips which had *' lain in the Downs, moving at the fame time, *' and gently gliding by us, together with the " profpe61: of the adjacent fhore, made a mod *' agreeable fcene. But it proved oply a very *' tranfient one. For by that time v/e got to *' Fairlee^ the wind backened, clouds gathered, ^' very violent gales fucceeded, and for feveral ^' days v/e were fo toffed, that after coming over *' againft Brighthelmftone, the Captain rightly *' judging, turned back, (as did many other ** fhips) and anchored over againft New Riimfey ^' and Bungenefs. Lord, in thine own time, thou ^' wilt give the winds a commifTion to carry us ^' forward towards our defired port.'- At laft they got out of the channel, and on the 30th of November, arrived at Charles-Town in ^outh Carolina. It had been a dangerous and try- jng pafTage •, yet, on his arrival, he found (lim- fcjf in better health than at the end of any voyage he the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 263 he had made for feveral years ; and the fame day that he came afhore, he preached at Charles-Town^ where his reception was as hearty, or heartier than tyQr(u). Here Mr. Wright came to meet him, and ac- quainted him that all was in great forwardnefs at Bethefda, And when he arrived there, he writes, ^'^ January 1770. Everything exceeds " my mod fanguine expedations. And the in- *^ creafe of this colony is almoft incredible (x).^* The great regard which the Colony of Georgia thought themfelves bound to exprefs towards Mr. Whitefield^ at this time particularly, appears from the following authentic papers. " Commons Houfe of AfTembly, Monday^ «' January 29, 1770. Mr. Speaker reported, (tt) From his Memorandum Book. " For the laft *' week (Nove?nber 1769) we were beating about our *' port, within fight of it, and confined for two days « in Five -fathom-hole, juft over the bar. A dangerous «^ fituation, as the wind blew hard, and our (hip, like *' a young Chriftian, for want of more ballaft, would '< not obey the helm. But through infinite mercy, on <' November 30, a pilot-boat came and took us fafe " afhore to Charles-Town^ after being on board almoft *' thirteen weeks. Friends received me moft cordially. «' Praife the Lord, O my foul, and forget not all his ^« mercies. Oh, to begin to be a Chriftian, and Mi- « nifter of Jeftis:' See Letter MCCCCXLL (x) Letters MCCCCXLV, MCCCCXLVL Two wings were added to the Orphan-houfe, for the accom- modation of ftudents ; of which, Governor Wright^ condefcended to lay the foundation, March i^^ 1769. See Vol. in. S J. " that 264 Memoirs of the Life of " that he, with the Houle, having waited on *' the Rev. Mr. Wbitefield^ in confequence of his " invitation, at the Orphan-houfe Academy ^ " heard him preach a very fuitable and pious *' fermon on the occafion •, and with great, plea- *' fure oblerved the promifing appearance of im- *' provement, towards the good purpofes intend- *' ed, and the decency and propriety of behavi- *' our of the feveral refidents there \ and were *' fenfibly affefted, when they faw the happy *' fucccfs which has attended Mr. JVhitefiel^s in- " defatigable zeal for promoting the welfare of *' the province in general, and the Orphan-houfe *' in particular. Ordered, That this report be *' printed in the Gazette, " John Simpfon, Clerk." Extradl from the Georgia Gazette. " Savannah^ *' January 31, 1770. Lafl Sunday^ his Excel- " Icncy the Governor, Council, and AfTembly, " having been invited by the Rev. Mr. George " Whttefidd^ attended at divine fervice in the *' Chapel of the Orphan-houfe Academy, where *' prayer^ were read by the Rev. Mr. Ellington^ " and a very fuitable fermon was preached by •' the Rev, Mr. Whitejield from Zechariab iv. 10. ♦' For who hath defpifed the day of fmall things? " to the general fatisfadion of the auditory ; in " which he took occafion to mention the many " difcouragem.ents he met with, well known to *' many there, in carrying on this inftitution for «* upwards of thirty years paft, and the prefent •* prom ng the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 265 •« promifing profpcd of its future and more ex- *' tcnfive ufefulnefs. After divine fervicc, the *' company were very politely entertained with *' a handlbme and plentiful dinner; and were ** greatly pleafed to fee the ufeful improvenients ** made in the houfe, the two additional wings *' for apartments for (Indents, one hundred and *' fifty feet each in length, and other lefler build- ^' ings, in fo much forwardnefs ; and the whole ♦' executed with tafte, and in a mafterly manner; " and being fcnfible of the truly generous and *' difinterefted benefadlion? derived to the Pro- " vince through his means, they exprefled their " gratitude in the mod refpedful terms." Soon after this he writes from Charles-Town^ February 10. " Through mercy, I enjoy a greater *' (hare of bodily health than I have known for " many years. I am now enabled to preach al- *' moft every day. Ble(red be God, all things are •' in great forwardnefs at Bethefda, I have con- *' verfed with the Governor, concerning an A6t ♦' of A(rembly, for the eftabli(hment of the in- ** tended Orphan-houfe College 0^ J. He mo(t (y) See a paper of College Rules, at the end of Vol, III. which was found written with his own hand, and in which he orders the following authors in divinity to be read : Heriry^ Doddridge^ Guyfe^ Burkitt^ lVillifo7i^ Prof. Franck^ Bojion^ Jenks^ Hervey^ Hall^ Edwards^ Trappy Pool^ Warner^ Leighton^ Peoffon^ Owen^ Bun-^ van. And the Homilies to be read publicly by rotation. He intended to publilh a new edition of the Homilies, the Preface to which (with Prayers on fcvcral Occa- fioqs) is to be fe^n in YqI. IV, ** readily 266 Memoirs of the Life of *' readily confents. I have fliown him a draught, *' which he much approves of •, and all will be " finifhed at my return from the northward. ■^^ In the mean while the buildings will be car- ^' ried on (yy)** • His letters of a later date are in the fame ftrain, full of exprefTions of gratitude to Providence for the good flate of his health (z)^ and how exeed- ingly happy he was at Bethefda (a). And of his purpofe, (after he had travelled in the northern parts all fummer) to return to his beloved Be- the/da^ late in the fall (h). But this event never happened. From Phikdelphia^ May 24 (c). he writes, " I " have now been here near three weeks. People " of all ranks flock as much as ever. Impref- *' fions are made on many, and, I truft, they will " abide. Notwithftanding, I preach twice on (yy) Letter MCCCCXLVIL where he adds, '<- Since *' my being in Charles-Town^ I have fhewn the draught *' to Tome perfons of great eminence and influence. *' They highly approve of it, and willingly confent to <' be fome of the Wardens. Near twenty are to be oi " Georgia, and about fix of this place; one of Phila- " delphia •, one of New Tork\ one of Bojion -, three of " Edinburgh j two of Glafgow ; and fix of London,. " Thofe of Georgia and South Carolina^ are to be qua- ** lified ; the others, to be only honorary correfponding « Wardens." (2,) Lee. MCCCCL, MCCCCLVII, MCCCCLIX, MCCeCLX. (a) Let.xMCCCCXLVIII, MCCCCLII,MCCCCLIV, (b) Letter MCCCCLIX. {c) Letter MCCCCLX. " the the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 267 ^ the Lord's-day, and three or four times a week " befides, yet I am rather better than 1 have been *' for many years/' Again, Philadelphia^ June 14, (d) " This leaves *^ riie jiifl: returned from a one hundred and fifty " miles circuit, in which, bleffed be God, I have ** been enabled to preach every day. So many ^' invitations are fent from various quarters, that ** I know not which way to turn myfelf." And, NeW'Tork^ June 30, (e) " Next week I *' purpofe to go to Albany. From thence, per- *' haps, to the Oneida Indians. There is to be a "very large Indian congrefs. Mr. Kirkland ac- " companies me. He is a truly chriftian mini- " Iter, and miflionary. Every thing poflible Ihould *' be done to ftrengthen his hands. -Perhaps I *' may not fee Georgia till Chriftmas^ In his me- ^^ morandum-book is the following remark (f). And again, from New-Tork, July 29, he writes, (f) " During this month I have been above a five (d) Letter MCCCCLXl. [e) Letter MCCCCLXIL (t) " 7«^:)' 2, 1770. Sailed from New-Tork with Mr. *« Kirklarid^ and two kind old friends, and arrived at Jl^ " bany^ July 6. Was kindly received by Mr. Bays and " Domine IVeftahe. Preached the fame evening, and «' went the next day to fee the Cohoes Falls^ twelve miles *' from Albany. O thou wonder-working God ! Preached *' twice on the Lord's day at Albany., and the next day " at Shenecdady^ and was ftruck at the delightful fituation ** of the place. Heard afterwards that the word ran, »< and was glorified both there and at Albany. Grace, *« Grace!" (f) Letter MCCCCLXIIL 5 ^[ hundred 268 ^kmoirs of the Life of *-*- hundred miles circuit, and have been enabled *' to preach and travel through the heat every day. *' The congregations have been very large, atten- *' tive, and affeded, particularly at Albany^ Scbe* *' necdady^ Great Bamingtony Norfolk^ Sdijbury^ " Sharon^ Smithfield, Powkepfeyy FiJli-liilU New- *' Rumbarty New-Windfo}\ and Peckjhill Invi- *' tations crowd upon me both from minillers and ** people, from many, many quarters. 1 hope " to fet out for Bofton in two or three days." When he was at Bofton^ September 17, he writes to Mr. W / at Bethefda, (g) " Fain would I *' contrive to come by Captain Souder from Phila- *' delphia^ but people are fo importunate for my •* flay in thefe parts, that I fear it will be imprac- *' ticable. Two or three evenings ago, I was *' taken in the night with a violent lax, attended *' with reaching and fhivering — but through mer- *' cy I am reftored, and to-morrow morning hope " to begin again. — I hope it hath been well with *' you, and all my family j hoping, ere long, to *' fee you, ^c'' And laftly, to his dear friend Mr. R K n in London, Portfmouth^ Ncw-Ham-pJliire^ September 23. (k) " By this time I thought to be moving *' fouthward •, but never was greater importunity *' ufed to detain me longer in thefe northern parrs. *' Poor New -England is much to be pitied : Bojion *' people moft of all. How grofsly mifrepre- (g) Letter MCCCCLXIV. (/;) Letter MCCCCLXV. '*fented! the Rev, Mr, George Whiteficld. 269 Tented ! You will fee by the many invitati- ons, what a door is opened for preaching the everlafting Gofpel. I was fo ill on Fridays that I could not preach, though thoulands were waiting to hear. Well! the day of releafe will fliortly come ; but it does not feem yet : for by riding fixty miles I am better, and hope to preach here to-morrow. If fpared fo long, I hope to fee Georgia about Chrijlmas. Still pray and praife. Hoping to fee all dear friends about the time propofed, and earneftiy defiring a continued interefl in all your prayers. £ffr." From the 17th to the 20th of September he preached daily at BoJlon\ September 20, at Newton: September 21, he fet out from B oft on upon a tour to the eallward, pretty much indifpofed : preached at Port/mouth and Nezv-Hamp/Jdre^ September 2^ : And from that to the 29th continued preaching every day ; thrice at Portfmoiith^ once at Kittery^ and once at Old'Tork, Saturday morning, September 29, he fet out for Bofton •, but before he came to Newbury- Port, where he had engaged to preach next morn- ing, he was importuned to preach by the way, at Exeter. At this laft place he preached in the open air, to accommodate the multitudes that came to hear him, no houfe being able to contain them. He continued his difcourfe near two hours, was greatly fatigued, and in the afternoon fet out for Newbury-Port, where he arrived that evening ; went early to bed, it being Saturday night, intend- ins 270 Memoirs of the Life of ing to preach the next day. He awaked fevera! times in the night, and complained much of a dif^ ficulty of breathing. At fix o'clock on the Lord's day morning, he expired in a fit of the afthma. Mr. Richard Smithy who accompanied Mr. White" field from England to America the laft time, and in his journeyings when there^ to the time of his death, hath given a particular account of his death and interment, which it may not be improper to infert. "On Saturday^ September 29, 1770^ Mr, Whit e-^ '' field rode from Portfmouth to Eoceter (fifteen miles) *' in the morning, and preached there to a very " great multitude, in the fields. It is remarkable *' that before he went out to preach that day " (which proved to be his laft fermon) Mrc " Clark/on fenior, obferving him more uneafy " than ufual, faid to him, ' Sir, you are more fit *' to go to bed than to preach.' To which Mr- " Whitefield anfwered, ' True, Sir :' but turning " afide, he clafped his hands together, and, look- *' ing up, fpoke, ' Lord Jefus, I am weary in " thy work, but not of thy work. If I have not yet " finiflied my courfe, let me go and fpeak for thee *' once more in the fields, feal thy truth, and come *' home and die.' The text he preached from " was 2 Corinth, xiii. 5. He dined at Captain " Gillman's, After dinner, Mr, Whitefield and *' Mr. Parfons rode to Neivhury. I did not get ^' there till two hours after them. I found them '' at fuppen I aiked Mr. Whitefield how he fek *' himfelf the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 271 *' himfclf after his journey. He faid, ' he was *' tired, therefore he fupped early, and would *• go to bed.' He eat a very little fupper, talked *' but little, afked Mr. Parfons to difcharge the *' table, and perform family duty ^ and then re- *' tired up flairs. He faid, ' that he would fit *' and read till I came to him,' which I did as *' foon as poflible, and found him reading in *' the Bible, with Dr. PFaUs's Pfalms lying open " before him. He afked me for fome water- " gruel, and took about half his ufual quantity ; *' and kneeling down by the bedfide, clofed the " evening with prayer. After a little converfa- " tion, he went to refl and flept till two in the " morning, when he awoke me, and afked for a " little cyder ; he drank about a wine glafs full. " I afked him how he felt, for he feemed to pant '' for breath. He told me ' His afthma was com- " ino" on him again j I mufl have two or three " days refl. Two or three days riding, without *' preaching, would fet me up again.' Soon after- " wards he afked me to put the window up ^ " little higher (though it was half up all night) *' for, faid he, ' I cannot breathe, but I hope I " fhall be better by and by ; a good pulpit-fweat " to-day may give me relief; 1 fhall be better *' after preaching.' I faid to him, I wifhed he " would not preach fo often. He replied, ' I had *' rather wear out, than rufl out.' I then told *' him, I was afraid he took cold in preaching " yefterday. He faid, ' He believed he had j* " and 272 Memoirs of the Life of *' and then fat up in the bed and prayed, that *' God would be pleafed to blefs his preaching " where he had been, and alfo blefs his preaching *' that day, that more fouls might be brought to *' Chrift, and prayed for diredion, whether he *' fliould winter at Bojlon, or hailen to the fouth- *' ward : prayed for a blciling on his Bethefda CoU *' lege, and his dear family there ; for Tabernacle " and Chapel congregations, and all his conncc- *' tions on the other fide the water, and then laid *' himfelf down to fleep again* This was nigh ** three o'clock. At a quarter pad four, he waked, " and faid, ' My afthma, my afthma is coming on, ** I wifli I had not given out word to preach at *' Haverhill on Monday •, I don't think I fliall be *' able : but, I (hall fee what to-day will bring " forth. If I am no better to-morrow, I will take *' a two or three days ride.* He then dcfired me ♦' to warm him a little gruel, and in breaking the ** fire-wood, I waked Mr. Parfons \ who thinking •* I knocked for him, rofe and came in. He ** went to Mr. WhitefieWs bed- fide, and aflced him •* how he felt himfelf. He anfwered, ' I am al* *' moft fufFocatcd, I can fcarce breathe : my aflhma *' quite choaks me.' I was then not a little fur- ** prized, to hear how quick and with what difH- *' cuky 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 fpace of five minutes, I faw no ** danger, only that he had a great difficulty in " breath- the Rev, Mr, George V/hitefield. ^73 ** breathing, as I had often fcen before. Soon " afterwards he turned himfelf to me, and faid^ " I am dying, I faid, I hope nor, Sir. He ran *' to the other window panting for breath, but *' could get no relief. It was agreed I rtiould go *' for Dr. Satvyer\ and on my coming back, I faw *' death on his face, and he again faid, ' I am dy- '' ing,"" His eyes were fixed, his under lip draw- *' ing inward every time he drew breath ; he went " towards the window, and we offered him fome " warm wine with Lavender drops, which he re- *' fufed. I perfuaded him to fit down in the " chair, and have his cloak on ; he confented by " a fign, but could not (peak. I then offered him " the glafs of warm wine-, he took half of it, but " it feemed as if it would have flopped his breath " entirely. In a little time he brought up a confi- '' derable quantity of phlegm and wind. I then ** began to have fome fmall hopes. Mr. Parfons " faid, he thought Mr. Whhefield breathed m.ore " freely than he did, and would recover. I faid, *' No Sir, he is certainly dying. I was continu- " ally employed in taking the phlegm out of his ^^ mouth with a handkerchief, and bathing his ^^ temples with drops, rubbing his wrifls, ^c, to " give him relief, if pofiible •, but all in vain, his " hands and feet were cold as clay. When the *' dodlor came in, and faw him in the chair lean- " ing on my breafl, he felt his pulfe, and faid, " He is a dead man.' Mr. Parfons faid, ' I do *' not believe it, you mufl do fomething dodtor.' T " He 274 Memoirs of the Life of " He faid, ' I cannot ♦, he is now near his lafl ^' breath.' And indeed fo it was, for he fetched *' but one gafp, and ftretched out his feet, and " breathed no more. This was exadlly at fix *' o'clock. We continued rubbing his legs and " hands and feet with warm cloths, and bathed '' him with fpirits for fome time, but all in vain, " I then put him into a warm bed, the do6lor " {landing by, and often raifed him upright, con- " tinued rubbing him and putting fpirits to his. *'• nofe for an hour, till all hopes were gone. The " people came in crowds to fee himj I begged " the dodor to fnut the door. " The Rev. Mr. Parfons, at whofe houfe my " dear Mailer died, fent for Captain Fetcomb^ and " Mr. Boadmany and others of his Elders and " Deacons, and they took the whole care of the '^ burial upon themfelves, prepared the vault, " and fent and invited the beavers. Many mini- '' ilers of all perfuafions came to the houfe of the *' Rev. Mr. Parfons^ where feveral of them gave *' a very particular account of their firfl: awaken- '' ing under his miniftry, feveral years ago, and *' alfo of many in their congregations, that to *' their knowledge, under God, owed their con- *•' vcrfion wholly to his coming among them, often *' repeating the bleffed feafons they had enjoyed " under his preaching: and all faid, that this lad *' vifit was attended with more power than any '' other, and that all oppofition fell before him. " Tiien one and another of them would pity and I " pray it the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. ±fg pray for his dear Tabernacle and Chapel con- *' gregations, and it was truly affedting to hear *' them bemoan America and England's lofs. Thus *' they continued for two hours converfing about " his great ufefulnefs, and praying that God '' would fcatter his gifts and drop his mantle ** among them. When the corpfe was placed at " the foot of the pulpit, clofe to the vault, the *' Rev. Mr. Daniel Rogers made a very affeding " prayer, and openly confeiTed, that under God, **= he owed his convcrfidn to the labours of that *' dear Man of God, whofe precious remains now ** lay before them. Then he cried out^ ' O my *' father, my father!' then flopt and wept, as *' though his heart would break, and the people ** weeping all through the place. Then he reco- ^' vered, arid finifhed his prayer, and fat dowii ** and wept. Then one of the deacons gave out ** that hymn, ^ fP^by do we mourn departing friends T *' Some of the people weeping, fome finging, and " fo on alternately. The Rev. Mr. Jewel preached *' a funeral difcourfe, and made an affedlionate *' addrefs to his brethren to lay to heart the death " of that ufeful man of God*, begging that he *' and they might be upon their watch-tower, and *' endeavour to follow his blelTed example. The *' corpfe was then put into the vault, and all con- " eluded with a fhort prayer, and difmiffion of ^' the people, who went weeping through the f ^ ftreets to their refpedive places of abode,'' T2 The 27^ Memoirs of the Life of The melancholy news of Mr. lVhitefield*s death reached London on Monday November 5, 1770, by the Bojion Gazette, and by three letters from diffe- rent perfons at Bofton^ to his friend Mr. Keen^ who alfo by the fame paft received two of his own hand-writing, written in health : one feven, and the other five days before his death. Mr. Keen had the melancholy event notified the fame night at the Tabernacle, and the next night at lotten- bam-Court Chapel. His next ilep was to confider of a proper perfon to preach the funeral fermon \ and recoUedling he had often faid to Mr. White- Jieldy If you Ihouid die abroad, whom (hall we get to preach your funeral fermon.^ Mull it be your old friend the Rev. Mr. John Wef^ey? And having received conftantly for anfwer, '*He is the *' man." Mr. Keen accordingly waited on the Rev. Mr. JVeftley on the Saturday following, and engaged him to preach it on the Lord's day, No- vember 18, which he did to a very large, crowded, and mournful auditory : many hundreds going away, who could not pofTibly get in. In both the places of worfhip the pulpits, ^c. were hung with black cloth, and the galleries with fine black baize. The pulpits had efcutcheons placed in the front, and on each of the houfes ad- joining, hatchments were put up: the motto on each was " Mea vita Salus it were, into another world." Letter XCVI. (h) " I preach till I fvveat through and through." Letter XLVl.. they the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 283 |hey fwelled to ten, fometimes fourteen : and upon fbme occafions the concourfe was fo great, that they have been computed to be from twenty to ihirty thoufand. It is wonderful to think how he commanded the attention of fuch multitudes ; with what compofure they liftened when he began to fpeak ; how they hung upon his lips, and were often diffolved in tears : and this was the cafe with perfons of the moft hardy and rugged, as well as thole of fofter tempers. His eloquence was indeed very great, and of the trueft and nobleft kind. He was utterly de- void of all appearance of affedation. He feemiCd to be quite unconfcious of the talents he pofielTed. The importance of his fubjedi:, and the regard due to his hearers, engroffed all his concern. He fpake like one who did not feek their applaufe, but was concerned for their befl interefts, and who, from a principle of unfeigned love, carneftly endeavoured to lead them in the right way. And the effedt in fome meafure correfponded to the dc- flgn. They did not amufe themfelves with com- mending his difcourfes ^ but being m.ovcd and perfuaded by what he laid, entered into his views, felt his paflions, and v^ere willing, for that time at leaft, to comply with all his requefts. T'his was ^fpecially remarkable at his charity fermons (c), [c) Which he preached for a great many others, befidc bis own orphans in Georgia. See his Life. when 284 Memoirs of the Life of when the moll worldly-minded were made to part with their money in fo generous a manner, that when they returned to their former temper, they were ready to think that it had been conjured from them by ibme inexplicable charm. The charm, however, was nothing elfe than the power of his irrefiftible eloquence, in which rerpe6t it is not eafy to fay, whether he was ever excelled either in ancient or modern times. He had a ftrong and mufical voice, and a won- derful command of it. His pronunciation was not only proper, but manly and graceful. Nor was he ever at a lofs for the mod natural and llrong exprefTions. Yet thefe in him were but lower qualities. The grand fources of his eloquence were an exceeding lively imagination, which made people think they faw what he defcribed ; an ac- tion dill more lively if pofTible, by which, while every accent of his voice fpoke to the ear, every feature of his face, every motion of his hands, and every gefture fpoke to the eye ; fo that the moft diffipated and thoughtlefs found their attention in- voluntarily fixed, and the dulled and mod igno- rant could not but underdand. He had likewife a certain elevation of mind, which raifed him equally above praife and cenfure, and added great authority to whatever he faid {d). But what was per- [d] The natural languaire of this chridlan fortitude we have in Letter CCLXXXIII. " The Lord only <' knows how he will be pleafed to difpofeof me ; great siHidlions the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 28^ perhaps the moft important of all, he had a heart deeply cxercifed in all the focial, as well as th« pious and religious affedtions, and was at the fame tim€ moft remarkably communicative, by which means he was peculiarly fitted to awaken like feelings in others, and to fympathize with every one that had them. This laft, fome have thought was the diflinguifh- ing part of his charadler. It was certainly, how- ever, an eminent part of it. Jn his journals and letters, an impartial reader will find inftances thereof almoft in every page : fuch as, lively gratitude to God in the firft place, and to all whom God had ufed as inftruments of good to him : fin- cere love in dealing fo plainly with his correfpon- dents about the intereft of their fouls (e) : fre- quent and particular interceffion for his friends, his enemies, and all mankind : great delight in the fociety of chriftian acquaintance : many very forrowful partings, and joyful meetings with his friends : tender heartednefs to the afflided : the Pleafurc in procuring and adminillring feafonable fupply to the indigent: and condefcenfion to people of the loweft rank, to inftrud and converfc with them for their good, in as kind and fociable ♦' affliilions I am fure of having ; and a fudden death, ** blefTed be God, will not be terrible. I know that *' my Redeemer liveth. I every day long to fee him, *' th^t I may be free from the remainder of fin, and en- *' joy him without interruption, for ever." (0 See particularly Letter CXVIII. 2S6 Memoirs of the Life of a manner, as if he had been their brother or inti- mate friend. Thefe are manifeft proofs that he had a heart eafily fufceptible of every humane, tender, and compaflionate feeling* And this was certainly a great mean of enabhng him fo flrong- ly to afFed the hearts of others. Had his natural talents for oratory been em- ployed in fecular affairs, and been fomewhat more iniproved by the refinements of art, and the em- bellifhments of erudition, it is probable they would foon have advanced him to dillinguifhed wealth and renown* But his fole ambition was to ferve a crucified Saviour^ in the miniflry of the gofpeL And being early convinced of the great hurt that has been done to chriftianityj by a bigotted fpirit,- he infiited not upon the peculiar (X) tenets of a party, but upon the univerfaliy-interefting doc- trines of Holy Scripture concerning the ruin of mankind by fm, and their recovery by Divine Grace ; dottrines, the truth of which, he himfelf had deeply felt. To make men fenfible of the mi- fery of their alienation from God; and of the ne- ceiTity of juftincation by faith in the Lord Jcfus (f) " I love all that love our Lord Jefus Chrift." Letter LVIII. " Oh how do I long to fee bigotry and party-zeal «^ taken awav, and all the Lord's fervants more knit to- « gecher." 'Letter LXVIIL ^' I vvjfh all names among the faints of God, were *' fvvallov.'ed up in that one of CbriJiianJ'* Letter CXX. And to the fame purpofe in many other places. Ghrift, the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 287 Chrlft, of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and of a life of devotcdnefs to God, was the principal aim of all his difcourfes. " The only Methodifm, I *' defire to know," fays he, (g) " is a holy method *' of dying to ourfelves, and of living to God." By this defcription, he was far from intending to confine true religion to the exercifes of devotion. By '* living to God" he meant a conftant endea- vour after conformity to the Divine Will in all things. For, fays he, in another (b) place, " It " is a great miftake to fuppofe religion confifts *' only in faying our prayers. Every chriftian lies *' under a neceflity to have fome particular calling '' whereby he may be a ufeful member of the fo- *' ciety to which he belongs. A man is no far- *' ther holy than he is relatively holy : and he only " will adorn the Gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift '* in all things, who is careful to perform all the *' civil offices of life, with a fingle eye to God's " glory, and from a principle of lively faith in ** Jefus Chriil our Saviour. This is the morality ** whch we preach." He ufed alfo to give this definition of true religion, " that it is a univerfai " morality founded upon love of God, and faith " in the Lord Jefus Chrift." Licentioufnefs and luxury, and all forts of time-wafting and dilTipa- ting amufements, how fafhionable fo ever, he conflantly inveighed againft. Thefe were the to- pics on which he employed his eloquence. (g) Preface to the Journals, in the edition of 1756. fh) Journals, May 1739, But 288 Memoirs of the Life of But not to dwell any longer on his accomplilTi* mcnts as an orator, and the excellent purpofes to which, through the grace of God, he devoted them-, one thing remains to be mentioned, of an infinitely higher order than any human powers whatever : and that is, the power of God, which fo remarkably accompanied the labours of his fer- vant> and without which both fcripture and expe- rience teach us, that all external means, however excellent, are ineffedual and vain. It is here Mr. IVhitefield is mod to be envied, were it lawful to envy any man. When we confider the multitudes that were not only awakened, but brought under lading religious imprefTions by his miniftry ; and the multitudes that were wrought upon in the fame manner by the miniftry of others excited by his (i) example, both in Great Britain and America^ we are naturally led into the fame fentiments with Mr. JVfJley in his funeral fermon, " What an ho- *• nour hath it pleafed God to put upon his faith- *' ful fervant ! Have we read or heard of any per- '^ fon fince the apoftles, who teftified the gofpel *' of the grace of God, through fo widely extend- " cd a fpace, through fo large a part of the habi- *' table world ? Have we read or heard of any *' perfon, who called fo many thoufands, fo many *' myriads of finners to repentance. Above all, " have we read or heard of any who has been a {/; See Hifl. Coll. of the Succefs of the Gorpel. Vol. II. ^' blefled the Rev. Mr0eorge Whitefield. 589 *' blefled inftrument in his hand of bringing (b " many finners from darknefs to light, and from *' the power of fatan unto God?'* This excellent charadler joined to talents fo ex. traordinary, and to labours, which God was plcafcd to blefs with almofh unequalled fucceis, was fliaded with Ibme infirmities. And what elfe could be expedled in the prefent conditi(jn of.ht^manity ? Thefe have been lufficiently laid open in the pre- ceding Narrative of his Life. And it ought to be obferved, that as there was fomething very amia- ble in the franknefs and unrefervednefs which pre- vented his concealing them ; fo through his open- nefs to convidlion, his teachablenefs, (k) and his readinefa {k) " May God reward you for watching over my *' foul. It is difficult, I believe, to go through the "*' fiery trial of popularity and applaufe, untainted.'* Letter LXI. " When I am unwilling to be told of my faults, cor- •* refpond with me no more. If I know any thing of " my heart, I love thofe moft who are moft f'aithful to *' me in this refpe6l. Henceforward, dear Sir, I be- " feech you by the mercies of God in Chrift Jefus, fpare *' me not." Letter LXXXV. " We muft be helps to each other on this fide eter- '' nity. Nothing gives me more comfort, next to the *' alTurance of the eternal continuance of God's love, *' than the pleafing rcfledion of having fo many chrif- '• tian friends to watch with my foul. I wiih they would *' fm.ite me friendly, and reprove me oftener than they *' do." Letter CIIL " I rejoice that you begin to know your felf. If pof- *' fible, fatan will make us think more highly of our- *' felves than we ought to think. I can tell this by fata! *' experience. It is not fudden flafhes of joy, but having U '* th? 290 Memoirs of we Lifi of readjnefs 10 confcfs and corred his miflakcs, they became flill fewer and fmaller, and decreafed con- tinually as he advanced in knowledge and expe- rience. It would be unjuft to his memory not to take notice upon this occafion of that uniformity of fentimcnt which runs through all his fermons and writings, after he was thoroughly enlightened in the truth. Indeed, when he firfl: fet out in the miniftry, his youth and inexperience led him into many exprefTions which were contrary to found doctrine, and which made many of the fermons he firil printed juftly exceptionable -, but reading, ex- perience, and a deeper knowledge of his own heart, convinced him of his errors, and upon all occafi- ons he avowed his belief of the 39 articles of the church oi England, and the ftandards of the church of Scotland^ as exprefsly founded on the word o^ God. He loved his friend, but he would not part with a grain of facred truth for the brother of * the humlh'ty ©f Chrift Jefus, that muft denommate " us Chriftians. If we hate rcprooF, we are fo far from " being true followers of the Lamb of God, that in *' the opinion of the wifeft of men we are brutifh." Let- ter CXiL " O my dear brother, ftill continue faithful to my ^* foul; do not hate me in your heart ; in any wife re- " prove me." Letter CCIV. *' You need make no apology for your plain dealing. *' I love thofe bcft who deal moft iincerely with me. *' Whatever errors I have been, or Ihnll be guihy of in ** my miniftry, I hope the Lord will lliew me, and give *' me grace to amend.'' Letter CCXCV^III^ See alfo Letter DCXL, his the Rev. Afri^rGeorge Whitefield. ^g i his heart. Thus we fee him conftrained to write and print againft the Arminian tenets of Mr. John Wefieyy whom he loved in the bowels of Chrift Jefus. And it appears from feveral other tra£ts in the 4th Vol. of his Works, that he negleded no opportunity of ftepping forth as a bold champion^ in defence of that faith which was once delivered to the faints* V 2 EXTRACTS 292 Memoirs of the Life of EXTRACTS FROM Some of the FUNERAL SERMONS which were preached on the Occafion of his Death. ANY Sermons were preached upon oc- cafion of his death, both in America and England. From thefe, though they contain no- thing materially different from the above accounts, yet the reader will probably not be difpleafed to fee the following extrads j as they not only fee the character of Mr. IVhitefield in a variety of lights, but are fo many tellimonies to it, by v/it- neiTes of undoubted credit, in different parts of the v/orld. The firft was preached by Mr. Parfons^ the very day on which he died, (I) from Phil. i. 21. " To me to live is Chrift^ and to die is gain." And this is the character he gives of his departed " friend. " Chrift (/) Early next morning Mr. Sherburn of Port/mouthy fenc Squire Clarkfon and Dr. Haven with a meiiage to Mr. Parfoniy defiring Mr. lVhitefdd\ remains might be buried in his own new tomb, ac his own expence : and in ihe evening fcvcral gentlemen from BoJic?2 came to Mr, Parfcm^ deiuing the body might be carried there. But as Mr. fyj/iitfitdd had repeatedly defircd he might be byried before Mr. Parfon^\ pulpit, if he died at Newbury- ^:2V^* i(4iK-i^7^f thought himfelf obliged to deny both of thcfe icqucilb-. The following account of his interment, is the Rev. Mr. George Whitsfield. 293- " Chrijl became a principle of fpiritual life in ' his foul, while he was an Under-graduate at ' the Univerfity in Oxford. Before his conver- ' fion he was a Pharifec of the Pharifees, as ' Itrid as ever Paul was, before Gad met him ' on his way to Darr.afcus^ according to his own^ ' declaration in his hft fermon, vv'hich I heard ' him preach at Exeter^ yeflerday. He was, by ' means of reading, a very fearchi-ng, puritani- ' cal writer, convinced of the rottcnnefs of all ' the duties he had done, and the danger of a s fubjoined to this fermon, -l'/z. *' GSJohrr 2, 1770. At ' one o'clock all the bells in town were tolled for hrilfan hour, and all the vefiels in the harbour gave iheir proper fignals of mourning. At two o'clock the bells tolled « a fecond time. At three the bells called to attend the funeral. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Haven o^ Portf- ' mouthy the Rev. Mefficurs Daniel Rogers of Exeter, 'Jedediah Jewet, and Ja?r.cs Chandler of Rowley^ Afojes Parfons of Newbury^ and Edward Bafs of Newbury- ' Port, were pall -bearers. The procelfion v/as from the Rev. Mr. Parfonsh, of Newbury-Port, where Mr. lyhitefald d\Q6. Mr. Parfons and his family, ~ together with many other refpetStable perfons, followed the corpfe in mourning. The proceffion was only one ' mile, and then the corpfe was carried into ths prefay- terian church, and placed on the bier in the broad« alley, when the Rev. Mr. Rogers made a very fuit- able prayer in the prefence of about fix thoufand per- fons, within the walls of the church, while many ' thoufands were on the outfide, not being able to find admittance. Then, the third hymn ot the fecond ' book of Dr. JFatts's SpiritualSongs v/as fung by the ' congregation. After this, the corpfe was put into ' a new tomb, before Mr. Pajfons's pulpir, which the ' gentlemen of the congregation had prepared for that ' purpofe ; and before it was fealed, the Rev. Mr. ' Jeivet gave a fuitablc exhortation, vjV." U 3 the 3»5[4 Memoirs of the Life of ♦' felf-rightcous foundation of hope. When he ♦' heard Ckrifi fpeak to him in the Gofpel, he Jn Reverendum Virum G E R G lU M JV H I r E F I E L D, Laboribus facrls olim abundantem ; nunc vero, ut bene fperatur c(xleitern ct immortalem vitam cum Chrijh^ agentem, EPITAPHIUM. {h\xaoxtTl3o?nd Gibbons^ S. T. P,) 5Ie£liim et drvinum vas, Whitefielde, fuifti Ingenio pollens, dlvitiifque facris : His opibus populo longe lateque tribytis, Tandem perfrueris Istitid fuperum Inque banc intrafti, Domino plaudente minlfi:rum; Expertum in multis, afliduumque bonum : Ecce mei portus, et clara pajatia coeli Delicijs plenis omnia aperta tibi. Purn matutjnam Stellam, quam dulce rubentem ! Vivifi^os rorefque ofla fepulta manent, ENGLISHED thus: ^* A vefTel chofen and divine, replete ^* With Nature's gifts, and Grace's richer ftores, ^* Thou lyhiiefeld waft : thefe thro' the world difpens'dj^ " In long laborious travels, thou at length ^^ Haft reach'd the realms of reft, to which thy Lo;-d *t Has welcom'd thee with his Immenre applaufe. *' All hail, my fervant, in thy various trufts ** Found vigilant and faithful : Sep the pprts^ " See the eternal kingdoms of the fkies, ^' With all their b^oundlefs glory, houndlefs joy ^' Open'd for thy reception, and thy blifs. *' Mean time, the body in it's peaceful cell *♦ Repofing from its toils, awaits the Star, .*^ Whoie living lyftrcs lead that promis'd morn, *!^ Whofe vivifying dews thy moulder'd corfe ^' Shall vifit, and im^nortal \\iQ infpire.'^ •' pried:, the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 295 <« cried, « Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?' " And it fccms as if, at that time, it had been " made known to him that he was a chofcn •' vefiel, to bear the name of Cbrijl Jefus through *' the Brili/^i Nation and her Colonies : to ftand •' before Kings and Nobles, and all forts of " people, to preach Cbriji, and him crucified. *' From that time the dawns of falvation had ** living power in his heart, and he had an ardent " defire to furnifhhimfelf for theGofpel-miniftry. " To this end, befides the ufual ftudies at the ** college, he gave himfelf to reading the Holy *' Scriptures, to meditation and prayer ; and par- " ticularly, he read Mr. Henry's Annotations on ** the Bible, upon his knees before God. " Since my firft acquaintance with him, which ** is about thirty years ago, I have highly efteem- " ed him, as an excellent ChriiVian, and an cmi- " nent Minifterof the Gofpel. An heart fo bent " for Chrijl^ with fuch a fprightly, adive genius, " could not admit of his dated, fixed refidence, *' in one place, as the pallor of a particular con- " gregation •, and therefore, he chofe to itinerate ** from place to place, and from one country to «*^ another-, which indeed was much better fuited '* to his talents, than a fixed abode would have ♦* been. I often confidered him as an angel fly- *' ing through the midft of heaven, with the •' everlafting Gofpel, to preach unto them that *' dwell on the earth ; for he preached the un- '* corrupted word of God, and gave folemn y 4 " warnings 2()6 Memoirs of the Life of *' warnings againft all corruptions of the Gofpcl ^' of Chrift (in). When he came the firft time *' to Bojlon., the venerable Dr. Coleman^ (with ^' whom 1 had a fmall acquaintance) condefcend-r '^ ed to write to me, ' That the wonderful man * was come, and they had had a week of fab- ' buths 5 that his zeal for Chrift was extraordinary ; * and yet he recommended himfelf to his many * thoufand hearers, by his engaged nefs for holi- * nefs and fouls.' " I foon had opportunity to. *' obfcrve that wherever he flew, like a flame of ^' fire, his minifl:ry gave a general alarm to all *' forts of people, though before, they had, for ** a long time, been amjazingly funk down into " dead formality. It was then a time in Nei^ *' England., that real Chrifl:ians generally hadl " flackened their zeal for Chrift., and fallen into a " remifs and carelefs frame of fplrit ; and hypo- ^' critical profeflTors were funk into a deep fleep *' of carnal fecurity. Miniflers, and their con- *' gregations, feemed to be at eafe. But his ^' preaching appeared to be from the hear't, *■' though too many, who fpake the fame things, [m) This may be a proper place to mention what the compiler is jiift now informed of. The late Dr. Grof- vemr^ who wa5 reputed one of the moft eminent divines of his time, upon hearing Mr. JVhiteJieJd preach at Charles-fquare^ Hoxto?t^ about the year 1741, exprefled himfelf in thefe very ftrong terms, in the prefence of a very refpe6^able gentleman now living, " That if the " Apoftle Paul had preached to this auditory, he would ^' have preached in the fame manner," " preached the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 297 " preached as if it were indifferent, whether they *^ were received or reje6led. We were convinced " that he believed the meflage he brought us, to " be of the laft importance. Neverthelefs, as " foon as there was time for refledion, the ene- " mies of Chrift began to cavil, and hold up *' fome of his (allies, as if they were unpardon- " able faults. By fuch means he met with a " ftorm as tempefluous as the troubled fea, that *' cafls up mire and dirt. Some of every ftarion " were too fond of their old way of formality^ *' to part with it, for fuch a defpifed caufe as *' living religion. But the fpirit of Chrift fet " home the mefiage of the Lord upon the con- ^' fciencies of fome, and fhook them off fromi ^' their falfe hopes : but many began to find " fauft, and fome to write aeainff his evang-eliz- ** ing through the country, while others threaten- *' ed fire-brands, arrows, and death. Yet God ^' gave room for his inter fe zeal to operate, and *' fit objects appeared, wherever he went, to en- *' gage him in preaching Chriji^ and him cru- ^' cified. " In his repeated vifits to America^ when his *' fervices had almoft exhaufted his animal fpirits, " and his friends were ready to cry. Spare thyfelf, " his hope of ferving Chrift^ and winning fouls to ^' him, animated and engaged him to run almofl: ^' any rifque. Neither did he ever crof& the Jt- " lantic^ on an itinerating vifitation, without ^' vifiting his numerous brethren here, to fee how I "reli to attend to the invita- ** tions of incarnate lo^e ; the dead were ani- *' mated with a divine principle of life •, many *' in all parts of the land, were turned from *' darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan *' unto God. Thefe dodtrines which We had " been in(lru6led in from our infancy by cur *' faithful pallors, feemed to acquire new force, '' and were attended with uncommon fuccefs when *' delivered by him. His difcourfes were not tri* " fling fpcculations, but contained the moft in- *' terefting truths ; they were not an empty play *' of wit, but folemn addrcfles to the hearts of ^' men. " To convince finners that they, were by na- *' cure children of wrath \ by pradice, trnnf- X '^ greffors 306 Memoirs of the Life of " greflbrs of the divine law •, and in confequcncc ** of this, expofed to the vengeance of offended " heaven ; to dilplay the tranfccndent excellency *' of a Saviour, and perfuade awakened minds *' to confide in his merits and righteoufnefs. as " the only hope of a guilty world-, to imprefs *' upon the profefTors of the Gofpel the necelTity, *' not only of an outward reformation, but an •' internal change, by the powerful influences of " the fpirit; to lead the faithful to a zealous *' practice of the various duties of the chriftian ** life, that they may evidence the fincerity of •' their faith, and adorn the do6lrine of God " their Saviour; thefe were the reigning rubjeds *' of his pulpit difcourfes. " If finners were converted j if faints were " built up in faith, holinefs, and comfort, he " attained his utmoft aim. *' He was no contraded bigot, but embraced " chriftians of every denomination in the arms " of his charity, and acknowledged them to be *' children of the fame father, fervants of the " fame mafter, heirs of the fame undcfiied in- " heritance. " That I am not complimenting the dead, *' but fpeaking the words of truth and fober- " nefs, I am perfuaded I have many witnefles in " this aflembly. " He was always received by multitudes with " pleafure, when he favoured thefe parts with ** his labours •, but he never had a more obliging ** reception the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 307 " reception than in his lail vifit. Men of the firfl: *' diilindion in the Province, not only attended " his miniftry^ but gave him the higheft marks •^ of their refped:. With what faithfulnefs did he ** declare unto us the whole counfel of God ? *' With what folemnity did he reprove us for our " incrcafing degeneracy ? With what zeal did he *' exhort us, to remember from whence we were •' fallen, and repent and do our firft works, left *' God fhould come and remove our candlefllck •' out of its place ? " Animated with a Godlike defign of promo- *' ting the temporal and fpiritual happincfs of " mankind, after the example of his Divine Maf- *' tcr, he went about doing good. In this he " perfevered with unremitting ardour and afliduity *' till death removed him to that reft which re- *' mains for the people of God. Perhaps no man, ** fince the apoftolic age, preached oftner or with *' greater fuccefs (n). *' If (n) As a fpecimen of hts indefatigable labours in the work of the miniftry, I have fet down an account of the fermons he preached after his arrival at New- Port, Rhode* IJIandy to the time of his death. He failed from New- Tork^ Tuefday, July 31, P. M. arrived at New-Poft^ Fri^ day^ Auguji 3, A. M. and preached Au^ii/i 4- At New^Port Auguji 9. At Providence 5- New-Port 10. Providence 6. New-Port Hi Providence I New-Port 12. Providence New-Port I 13 AuU^yrough > l^ Aug, 308 Memoirs of the Life of " If we view his private charader, he will ap- " pear in a mod amiable point of light. The " polite gentleman ♦, the faithful friend j the en- " gaging companion ^ above all, the fincere chrif- " tian, were vifible in the whole of his deport- " ment. " With large opportunities of accumulating- " wealth, he never difcovered the lead tiD^ture " of avarice. What he received from the kind- Jug. 14. AtWrentham 15. Bofton 16. Bofton jy. Bofton Bofton Maiden Bofton 21. Bofton 22. Boftqp Bofton Bofton Bofton 26. Medford 27. Charles-Town 28. Cambridge 18 20 23 24 25 Aug. 29. At Bofton 30. Bofton 31. Roxbury-Plain Sepicnu i. Milton 2. Roxbury 3. Bodon 5. Salem 6. Marble-Head 7. Salem 8. Cape-Ann g. Ipfwich 10. Newbury-Port 11. Newbury-Port 12. Rowley 13. Rowley. " From the thirteenth of September to the feventeenth, << he was detained from public fervice by a fevere indif- *' pofition. When recovered he preached Sepiem. 17. At Bofton 18. Bofton I Septem, 19. At Bofton 20. Newton. *« The twehty-firft 0^ September he departed from Bofon " upon a tour to the eaftward, pretty much indifpofed. *' But on the twenty-third he preached Sept. 23. 24. . 25. At Portfmouth, New-Hamp(hire Portfiiiouth Portfmouth Sept. 26. At Kittery 27. Old-York 28. Portfmouth 29. Exeter. nefs the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 309 *' nefs of his friends, he generoufly employed in " offices of piety and charity. His benevolent mind was perpetually forming plans of exten- five ufefulnefs. The Orphan-houfe, which many years ago he ert^led in Gecrgia, and the College he was founding in that Province at the time of his death, will be lading monuments of his care, that religion and learning might be pro- pagated to future generations. *' I have nor, my brethren, drawn an imagi- " nary portrait, but defcribed a charader exhi- *' bited in real life. I have not mentioned his " natural abilities, which were vaftly above the " common ftandard. I confider him principally *' in the light of a chriflian, and a minifter of " Jefus Chrift, in which he flione with a fuperior " luftre, as a (lar of the firft magnitude. " After all, I am not reprefenting a perfedl " man -, there are fpots in the moft fliining cha- " raders upon earth. But this may be faid of '' Mr. IVbitefield with juftice, that after the moft " public appearances for above thirty years, and " the moft critical examination of his condu61:, no *' other blemifn could be fixed upon him, than *' what arofe from the common frailties of humr.n *' nature, and the peculiar circumftanccs which " attended his firft entrance into public life. *' The imprudencies of unexperienced youth, " he frequently acknowledged from the pulpit *' with a franknefs which will for ever do honour " to his memory. He took care to prevent any X 3 ♦' bad 3 1 o Memoirs of the Life of *' bad confcquences that might flow from his un- " guarded ceniures in the early days of his mini- *' dry. The longer he lived, the more he evi- " dently increafed in purity of do6lrine, in humi- *' lity, meekntrfs, prudence, patience, and the ^' other amiable virtues of the chriftian life." Anoeher Funeral Sermon on Mr. IVhitejield was preached by Mr. EUingtcn^ at Savannah in Georgia^ J^ovemher xi, 1770, upon Heb, xi. 26. '* Efteem- *' ing the reproach of Chrift greater riches than *' the trealures of Egypt : for he had refped unto *' the recompcnce of the reward." In which are the following paifages (0), *' The receiving the melancholy news of the *' mvich lamented death of a particular friend to "" this Province, a perfon who was once miniftcr *' of this Church, is the reafon of this difcourfe ; *' and my choice of this fubject before us, is to *' pay my grateful refpe6t to the memory of this *' well-known able minifter of the New Tefta- *' ment, and faithful fervant of the moft high God, " the Rev. George tVhitefields whofe life wasjuftly " efteemed, and whofe death will be greatly re- '^*^ gretted, by the fincerely religious part of man- *' kind of all denominations, as long as there is (c) " Savannah church was decently hung wih mourn-r <' ing, by the legiflative body of the Province." The farne public marks of regard were (hewn at one of the churches in Philadelphia^ of which Mr. Sproutt is paftor, which, by defire of ihe fefiion and committee, was put into mourning. Alfo, at their defire an-d expence, the bells of Chriji-Churchy in that city, were rung muffled. " one the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 3 1 1 " one remaining on earth, who knew him, to re- ** colle(fl the fervor of fpirit, and holy zeal with " which he fpake, when preaching the everlafting " Gofpel ; and every other part of his difinterefted " condud, confiflent with the minifterial charader ** in life and converfation. Mr. fVbueJield's Works ** praife him loud enough j I am not able to fay " any thing that can add greater luflre to them. **' May every one that minifters in holy things, " and all who partake of their miniftrations, have " equal right to the charaderiftic in the text as " he had. " It is the ruling opinion of many, that the *' offence of the crofs is long fince ceafed, and *• that whatever evil treatment fome of a Angular ** turn may meet with, it is only the fruit of their " own doings, and the reward of their own work, •' whereby they raife the refentment of mankind ** againft them for uncharitable flander, and fpiri- *' tual abufe. But whoever knoweth any thing of " the Gofpel, and hath experienced it to be the *' power of God unto falvation, knoweth this is '* the language of perfons who are unacquainted " with the depravity of their nature, and through ♦* the degeneracy of their hearts, are unwilling to *' be diflurbed •, therefore are faying to the mini- " fters of Chrift, * Prophecy unto us fmooth things.* *' But the minifters of the Gofpel are to be fons ^' of thunder, and fo to utter their voice, and con- " dud their lives, as to prove the nature of their '* work. X 4 '' Our 312 Memoirs of the Life of " Our dear and reverend friend was highly ho-* ♦* noured for many years in being an happy in- " ftmmcnc to do this fuccefsfully. With what a ** holy 2;eal he proceeded, long before he was ^' publickly ordained to the facred office, has been ^' long attefted ; and no perfon has been able to <' contradid the tcilimony. No fooner did he ap- *^ pear in the work of the fanduary, but he foon •' convinced liis numerous auditories, that his Al- ^' mighty Lord who had given him the commif- ■' fion, had by his grace v*TOught him for the feif- " fame thing •, and through the Holy Spirit, atf ^* tending his endeavours, made him a workman •' that needed not to be afliamed. One Vv'ould *' think his great fuccefs in his public labours, *' the frequent opportunities he embraced of do- ^' ing good, by the relief of people in didreffing *' circumllanges, every occafion he took to ufe " his influence for the good of mankind, and the *' whole of his behaviour through a life of fifty-fix " years, being (fo far ^s the frailty of our prefent ^' ftatewill admit) unblameable and unreproveable, " fhould have exempted him frorn contempt and *' reproach. But, quite the contrary, there was *' fo near a refcmblance with his blefled iMafter, ♦' that obliged him to bear his reproach. Hr has *' fuiTered with him on earth, and he is now glq- *' rifi^d with him in heaven. He has laboured ^' abundantly, and he has been as liberally re- " proached and maligned from every quarter. ^^ Clergy and iaity have whet their tongues like ^ I ^' fword C( i$ the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 3 1 j fword againft him, and bent their bows to fhooc their arrows; but the Lord, amongft all, has known and approved his righteous fervant. Though it is well known he has had opportu- nity long fince to enjoy epifcopal emolument, yet, in his opinion (and it will be found he *' judged like a wife man in the end) Tinners, " through his inftrumentality, being turned unto ** the Lord, and becoming his joy, and crown of " rejoicing, in the day of our Lord Jefus, was " efteemed a greater honour than any this world *' could afford him. His longing defire for the " falvation of immortal fouls, would not admit of " his being confined within the di{tri(5l of any " walls ; though it mufl be acknowledged, he *' never thought of commencing field-preacher, ** till his invidious enemies refufed him church- '' pulpits, with indignation of fpirit unbecomino- ^' the lowed and vulgar clafs of mankind, much *' lefs men profelTing themfelves preachers of " Godlinefs. Though he has, throughout the " whole courfe of his miniftry, given fuiiicienc ^' proof of his inviolable attachment to our happy " eftablifhment, he was defirous to countenance ^« the image of Chrift wherever he faw it, well ^' knowing, that political inllitutions in any nation *' whatever, (hould not dellroy the blefled union, *' or prevent the communion which ought to fub- «* fid thoughout the Holy Catholic Church, be- '* tween real and fincere chriftians of all denomi- nations. Some people may retain fuch a vene- " ration Hi 5 1 4 Memoirs of the Life of '** ration for apoftolic phrafes as to fuppofe they ^' ouo^ht not to be applied to other perfons •, forry ** am I to obferve, that few deferve the application ** of them. But of Mr. IVbitejield we may fay with *» the ftrideft truth, in journeyings often, in pe- *' rils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of ** his own countrymen, in perils in the city, in " perils in the wildernefs, in perils in the fea, in " perils among falfe brethren, in wearinefs and ♦^ painfulnefs, he hath approved himfelf a mini* " fter of God. All who knew and were ac- *•' quainted with him, foon difcovercd in him every " mark of good {tn^t and good manners; his •* company and converfation was fo enlivening ** and entertaining, and at the fame time fo inftruc- ** tive and edifying, that no perfon with the lead *' degree of common fenfe, could behave impro- *' perly in his prefence. In him met (which do *' not often meet in one perfon) the finifhcd and *"' compleat gentleman, and the real and true *' chriftian. Why then did he take pleafure in *' reproaches, and fubmit to the taunts and infults " both of the vulgar and politer part of mankind ? " He had refpedl to the recompence of reward, " Though the believer's work will never intitle *' him to a reward of debt, yet the reward of *' grace will always excite a holy defire to render . " fomething unto the Lord : What wouldft thou *' have me do ? is the inceffant inquiry of that " foul, who by the merits of the Redeemer's '•' deaih, and the virtue of his precious blood, is *" re- ' the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 315 " redeemed from fin, and made a partaker of the *' inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that " fadeth not away. Faith operates by good *' works : and let all the men of the world fay to *^ the contrary, or put ever fo bafe a conltrudlion " upon our do6trine, it will evidence itfelf by ** thefe good fruits. It was from thefe principles ^' that Mr. Whitefield afted, and they were pro- " dudive of the defired effects ; not only in aims '• crivino-, this was but a fmall matter, when com- «' pared with the happier and more important at- " tempt which he made for the good of mankind, ** at the hazard of his life, and the expence of an *^ unblcmilhed charadter. How he has preached^ ^' with (bowers of ftones, and many other inftru- " ments of malice and revenge about his ears, ** many of his furviving friends can witnefs ; but ** having the lalvation of finners at heart, and a " great defire to refcue them from the power of " eternal death ♦, he refolved to fpend and be fpenc " for the fervice of precious and immortal fouls •, •' and fpared no pains, and refufed no labour, fo ** that he might but adminifter to their real and " eternal good : And glory be to our good God, '* he hath perfevered and endured to the end of ^' his life, having refped unto the recompence of " the reward. Surely nothing elfe could fupport *' him under fuch a weight of care, and enable " him, amidft it all, for To many years, to bear it " with fo much chearfulnefs. The worthy inha- ** bitants of this Province do not want my attef^ ** tation, 3 1 6 Memoirs of' the Life of " taticn, either to the lofs the Province has fuf- *' taincd, or to the defire he has had for its prof- *' perity. His indefatigable endeavours to pro- *' mote it, and the many fervent prayers he has " night and day offered for it, fpeak loud enough. *' Happy oir.ens we would hope in favour of it, *' both as to its temporal increafe, and fpi ritual *' profperity. May God raife up fomc ufeful men *' to fupply his place, and carry on unto perfection •' what he hath fo difinterefledly begun, that the •' inftitution he hath founded in this Province ** may be of public utility to the latefl poftcrity ! *' As to his death, little more can be faid of it> *' than has been communicated to the public al- '♦' ready. He died like a hero in the field of bat- •* tie-, he has been fighting the battles of the •' Lord of Hods upwards of thirty years, againft •' the world, fin, and fatan ; and he hath been a *' conqueror, he hath fought fuccefsfully ; many, *' very many, converted finners are the trophies " of his vidlory : but now his warfare is accom- " plifhed, the Captain of his Salvation hath granted ** him a difcharge, he is entered into his evcrlaf- *' ting reft, and is reaping the benefits of a life *' fincerely dedicated to the fervice of the once *' crucified, but now exalted Jefus. He preached *' the day before his deceafe : though his death " was fudden, he was not furprized \ the morn- *' ing of his departure, not many hours before his " fpirit took its flight to the regions of blifs, he *' prayed to the God of his falvation, and com- " mitted the Rev. Mr, George Whitefield. 317 ** mitted his departing foul into his hands, as his " faithful Creator and ail-merciful Redeemer. " Soon after he faid, I am near my end, then fell •' afleepj he fainted, and died ; not one figh, or " groan -, the Lord heard his prayer, and granted •* him his requeft, and gave him an eafy difmiffioni " out of time into eternity : fudden death was his *' defire, and fudden death was to him fudden " glory. He has fought the good fight j few, if ** any, fince the apoftles, hath been more exten- ** fively ulcful, or laboured more abundantly. ** Thoufands, I believe I may with propriety *' fay, in England^ Scotland^ and America^ have *' great reafon to blefs God for his miniftrations ; " for he hath travelled far and wide proclaiming " the glad tidings of falvation, through faith in a " crucified Saviour. Adorable Emmanuel^ make " thou up the lofs of him to thy church and peo- •* pie! Let a double portion of thy fpirit be " poured out upon the remaining minifters ! Lcp ** that holy fire which burnt fo bright in thy de- " parted fervant, warm each of their hearts 1 " And, O thou Lord of the harveft, fend forth *' more fuch true and faithful labourers into thy " harveft!" A number of Funeral Sermons were preached for him in England as well as in America. In one by Mr. D, Edwards, November 11, 1770, upon Heb. xi. 4. " By it he being dead, yet fpeaketh,** we have the following charader'of Mr. JVhitefield. -iis.^- ** I. The 3 1 8 Memoirs of the Life of " I. The ardent love he bore to the Lord Jcfus *' Chritt was remarkable. This divine principle ** conftrained him to an unwearied application to '* the fervice of the Gofpel, and tranfported him, ** at times, in the eyes of fomc beyond the bounds " of fober reafon. He was content to be a " fool for Chrift's fake ; to be defpifed, fo Chrift: *' might be honoured ♦, to be nothing, that Jefus " might be all in all. He had fuch a fenfe of the *' incomparable excellence of the perfon of Chrift, *' of his adorable condefcenfion in taking our na- *' ture upon him, and enduring the curfes of the *' holy law ; his compleat fuitablenefs and fuffici- *' ency, as the wifdom, rightcoufnefs, fanfbifica- *' tion and redemption of his people, that he could ** never fay enough of him. He was fo convinced " of the happy tendency and efficacy of this prin- *' ciple in his own mind, that he made ufc of it, ** and propofed it to others, in the room of a *' thoufand arguments, whenever he would in- *' culcatc the moft unreferved obedience to the " whole will of God, or ftir up believers to' a *' holy diligence in adorning the do£trinc of God *' our Saviour in all things ; infpired by this prin- *' ciple, nothing frightened or flattered him from " his duty. ** 2. Another pleafing ingredient in hischarjic* ** ter, ^nd a fure evidence of the former, was love ** to the fouls of mankind. He rejoiced in theif ** profpcrity as one that had found great fpoiJj *' and with St. Paul was willing to fpcnd and be *vfpenc the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 319 •• fpent in promoting their happinefs. He loved *' all who loved Jcfus Chrilt in fincerity, however *' they might differ in fome circumflaatials. He •' embraced all opportunities to expole the malig- •' nant leaven of a party, and to remove preju- " dices and miiapprehenfions which good people ** too often entertain of one another, when under ** the influence of a fedtarian humour. *' 3. His attachment to the great dodrines of " the Gofpel was inflexible ; having known their •' worth, and experienced their power in his own '* heart, he plainly faw, that though they were *' unacceptable to the carnal heart, yet they bore •' the plain imprefs of the infinite wifdom of *' God, Thofe important truths, which tend to ** humble the flnner, to exalt Chrifl:, and promote " holinefs in heart and life, were his darling fub- " jedls. He did not diigulfe Gofpei-truths by ** fome artful fweetening, to render them more ** palatable to men of corrupt minds : he (ludied ** to preach the word in its purity, plainnefs, •' and flmplicity. The warmth of his zeal dif- ** gufted many who n^ake a mighty outcry about " candour and charity, and arc willing to extend *' it to every fentiment, except the truths in which ** the Apoilles gloried.. It was his love to the ** truths of God, and the fouls of men, that led .**, him to expofe thofe who plead for the reditude y and excellency of human nature; deny the pro- ,^' -per Godhead of Jefus Chrifl:, j unification by " faith in his rightcoufnefs imputed, or the New- 3 2a Memoirs of the Life of ** Birth, and the abfolute necefllcy of the opcra- *' tions of the Holy Ghoft. Faith and holinefs •' wcr€ ever united together in his fyftem, in op- *' pofition to thofe who pretend to faith without •* obedience to the law of God as the rule of life- *' He knew errors in the great truths of the Gof- •' pel are not indifferent, but dreadful and fatal j *' he knew it was not candor and charity to fay •' that errors in judgment are not hurtful, but ** the greateft unmercifulnefs and cruelty ; thcre- *' fore he often reproved fuch fharply. " Although he was fo tenacious of the founda- ** tion-truths of the Gofpel, yet none more candid *' in things that are not eflential ; herein he was " full of gentlenefs and forbearance. In things *' indifferent he became all things to all men (p), " 4. To the foregoing particulars in Mr. White-- ** fields chara6ler, I may add his zeal. His chrif- " tian zeal was like the light of the fun, which ** did warm, ffiine, and cherifh, but knew not ta •* deftroy ; full of generous philanthropy and be- *' nevolence, his zeal made him exceeding earned *' ^nd importunate in his addreffes to faints and •' (inners. His zeal returned bleffings for curfes, "and prayers for ill treat oi en t : it kindled in " him a becoming indignation againft the errors, (p) As to the difference between eflentials and non* cfTentials in religion, Mr. Edwards refers to the Rev. Mf. Newton % " Review of Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, fo far as k " concerns the progrefs, declenfions, and revivals of *« Evangelical Dodtrine and Pra(Stice." " fdli«(, the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 321 ^' follies, and fins of the times : it led him to " weep bitterly over thofe who would not be per- ** fuaded to fly from the wrath to come : it made •* him bold and intrepid in the caufe of God, and " kept him from that flatnefs and deadnefs which *' is too vifible in fome good minifters. In thefe " things he was an example to minifters of every ** denomination : andj if the limits of my dil^ *' courfe would admit, I could mention many •' things^ as to his great charity to the poor, his *' humility, ^r." On Sunday^ November 18, 1770, a Sermon was preached on his death at the Chapel in tottenbam- Court-Road^ and at the Tabernacle near Moorfieldsi by the Rev. Mr. John Wejley (q). The Text was^ Numb, xxiii. lo. " Let me die the death of the ** righteous, and let my laft end be like his." And in the fermon^ after giving fome particulars of his' life and death, Mr. fVeJley fays, *' I. We are next to take fome view of his cha- *' rader. A little fketch of this was foon after •* his death, publiilied in the 5^^)^ Gazette : ad ^' extradl of which is fubjoined : ' Little can Be' (q) London Chrohicky November 19, 1770. " Vefler- *< day the Rev. Mr. JVeJIey preached a Funeral Sermdri *' on Mr. Whitefield's death in the morning, at the Cha- *' pel ; and in the afternoon, at the Tabernacle : the *' infideofeach place was lined with black cloth, and *' an efciitcheoti hung on the pulpits. The multitudes ** that went with a defign to hear the Sermon exceed all *' belief. The Chapel and Tabernacle were both filled ** as fdofl as they were opened." Y '' faid 322 Memoirs of the Life of " faid of him, but what every friend to vital *' chriftianity, who has fat under his miniftry, will " atteft. In his public labours he has for many *' years aftonillied the world with his eloquence *' and devotion. With what divine pathos did he *' perfuade the impenitent finner to embrace the *' pradice of piety and virtue : filled with the fpi- " rit of grace, he fpoke from the heart, and with *' a fervency of zeal, perhaps unequalled, fince *' the days of the apoftles, adorned the truths he *' delivered with the mofl graceful charms of rhe- •' toric and oratory. From the pulpit he was un- '' rivalled in the command of an ever-crowded au- " ditory. Nor was he lefs agreeable and inftruc- *' tive in his private converfation : happy in a re- *• markable eafe of addrefs, willing to communi- *' cate, ftudious to edify 5 may the rifing genera- ** tion catch a fpark of that flame Vv-hich (hone ** with fuch diflinguifhed luftre in the fpirit and ** pra£lice of this faithful fervant of the moft: ** high God.' '^ 2, A more pafticular and equally juft charac- '* ter of him, has appeared in one of the Englifh *' papers (q^). It may not be difagreeable to you ^' to add the fubftance of this likewife : *• The cha- *' ra6ter of this truly pious perfon, muft be deeply *' imprcil on the heart of every friend to vital re- " ligion. In fpitc of a tender and delicate confli- " tution, he continued to the lad day of his life, (^) Lmd' With pity burn'd to finncrs loll: *' Straight, like a trumpet, he his voice did raife^ *^ The wonders of redeeming love to praife j *' Of health rcgardlefs, all things did forego, ** That finncrs Jcfus' boundlefs grace may konw ; «' Where'ef the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 337 To be the fubjed; of fo many funeral fermons, both at home and abroad, is fomething fingular ; thcugli *' Where'er he preach'd, attentive crowds were feen, '' Aftonifn'd at his youth and zealous mein : *' Let Ke?mlngton^ Blackheatby Moorfielch declare, '' How oft the Gofpel- trumpet founded there. ** Nor could his zeal the vaft Atlantic bound . " Throughout the weftcrn world he Chriji difplays, " And joyful hews to Georgia s coaft conveys. " There orphans yet unborn, fliall weeping tell «* How mourn'd, the founder of Bethefda fell . *' The love of Jefits was his darling theme ; *' An heaven he felt in that dear precious name : " Hence when his heart with facred ardor glow'd^ ^' His tongue in prompteft elocution flow'd. *' With what compaflion, energy, and fire, <« Would he the guilty heart for Chriji require ! *' Oft while his mailer's glorious jrrace he fhow*dii to An arrow dipt in Jefus' precious blood, <' Th' afpiring Tinner in the duft brought low, *' And forced him at the bleeding crofs to bow — <« Whene'er he meant the power of fin to kill, '' And carnal hearts with purcft love to fill, " TranfgrefTors he to Calvary's fummit led, <« Where Jefis, fpotlefs vidlim,' bowed his head. *' But, as a glafs, the fmner's guilt to (how, <' The Law he brought with all it's curfe and woe, *' The confcience wounded with this flaming fword.^ *' While Sinai feem'd to thunder in his word. *« But — whilft each terror of the Lord and threat, *^ With zeal and faithfulnefs he did repeat, <* He all diiTolv'd in forrow would appear, *^ While plenteous flow'd the fympathetic tear ; *' LikQ yefus, who o'er bloody Salem mourn'd, *' While wrath divine againft it vengeful burn'd— =■ *' In prayer, with a peculiar gift endow'd, *' Reverent before ihc throne of grace he bow'd 5 '' In tears, like Jacob, with the Angel ftrove, *' Prevail'dj likQ Jfrae I , with the God of Love.— Z ^' For 358 . Memoirs df the Life of though quitcr fuitabk to his extraordinary man- ner of life. But it was ftill more fingular, to have a fermon preached upon his peribnal and minillerial charadVer, in his own life-time, and when he was but twenty-fix years of age. This fermon was preached by the Kev. Mr. Jofiab Smith of Charles-town^ South Carolina^ and was publifhcd at Bojlon^ with a recommendatory pre* face by the Rev. Dr. Colman and Mr. Cooper^ in the year 1740. Of this it is worth while to make a fhort extrad (t)^ after all that has been •* For all he pray'd and all in love rereiv'd, '* With heart capacious, who in Chrijl believed. *' In him there dwelt a fpirit generous, bold, *' Unaw'd by threatenings, unallur'd by gold. *' Preferments, honours, eafe, he deem'd but lofs, *' Vile and contemptible for Jefus* Crofs. — - *' Enur'd tofcandal, injuries, and pain, *' To him to live was Chri/I -, to die was gain." In a note upon the laft paragraph, the author faysj *' Whoever is acquainted witli Mr. JVhiteficld\ life, *' well knows that I have not exaggerated matters. *' For in a vifit to Ireland^ he was follicited by the Pri- *' mate of that kingdom, to accept of fome confider- *' able church preferment ; but declined the offer, be- " caufe he looked upon himfelf as called to an itinerant *' life ; and what makes this circumftance the more re- " markable, is, that Mr. Whitejield^ at that time, had *' no profpe(5l whatever, as to temporals". Seealfo, a Pafloral on Mr. Whhcfield^ fa id to be writ- t(y! by the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Shirley ; an Elegy, con- taining a (hort Hiftory of his J.ife, by the Rev. Mr. Knight of Halifax ; and another Elegy, and a Monody^ by anonymous authors. (t) A large Extract both of the Preface and Sermon, h to be found in Princes ChriftiarH H;(lory, No XCIX. ^ faid > the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 339 faid ; that by comparing it with the funeral fer^ hions, the reader may fee how confident and uniform Mr. JVbitifield's condud was, from that early period of his miniftry, till his death. ' After fpeaking of his do6lrine concerning Ori- ginal Sin— Juftification by faith alone — Regene- ration — The inward feelings of the Spirit — Mr, Smith adds, " As to the manner of his preach- ic incy— With what a flow of words did he fpeak " to us, upon the great concern of our fouls ! " In what a flaming light did he fet out eternity *' before us I How earneftly did he prefs CV//J '*''- upon us! Hov/ clofe, ftrong, and pungent " were his applications to the confcience ; mingle- " ing light and heat ♦, pointing the arrows of the " Almighty at the heart of flnners, while he *' poured in the balm on the v/ounds of the con- " trite 1 How bold and courageous did he look ? " He was no flatterer. He taught the way of ^' God in truth, and regarded not the perfons of " men. The politefl: and moft modilh of our *' vices he flruck at, the moft fafhionable enter- " tainments ; regardlefs of every ones prefence, *' but His in whofe name he fpake. " As to his perfonal character, while he preaches «« up faith alone in our juftification before God, «* he is careful to maintain good works. Thefe « thincTs the grace of God teaches us. And how " much of this do6lrine has he tranfcribed into »* his life! How rich has he been in all goQ,d ^* works ! What an eminent pattern of piety to* Z 2 " wards 34^ • Memoirs of the Life of " wards God ! How holy and unblameable in all " converfation and godlinefs! How fcafoned, how " much to the ufe of edifying all his difcourfes ! '' How naturally docs he turn them to religion ? '' How much is he given to devotion himfelf, *' and how does he labour to excite it in others! " He affeds no party in religion, nor fets him- *' felf at the head of any. He is not bigotted to " the lefTer rites and forms of religion, while " zealous enough in , all its efientials. He pro- '* fefies love to good men of every denomination, *' His heart feems fet upon doing good. He " goes- about his great Mailer's work with dili- *^ gence and application, and with fuch chearfuU *' nefs as would make one in love with a life of " religion. He is proof againfl reproach and in- " ve6live. When he is reviled, he revileth not " again ; but prays heartily for all his enemies. " He renders to all their due. While zealous " for the things of God, is a friend to Cafar, *' And for charity, as it confifts in compafTion ^' and ads of beneficence, we have few men like- " minded. Had he been under any criminal " influence of a mercenary temper; had he col- *' leded monies for himlelf in his journeys, un- ." der the pretext of doing it for the poor, as he " was flanderoufly reported, he had certainly a " fair opportunity to enrich himfelf. But we '' have Teen •, and plain fad cannot be denied; *' that he cads all into the Treafu^y, and ferves ^^ the tables of the poor with it. Strolling, and *' vagabond the Rev, Mr. George Whltefield. 341 " vagabond orphans, without father, and without *' mother, without purfe, and without friend, he " feeks out, picks up, and adopts into4iis family. *' He is now building accommodations, and lay- " ing the beft foundation for their fupport and " maintenance." Thus far Mr. J. SrrJlh, who had the pleafure of feeing this chara6ler of his friend verified in the whole of his future life-, and who, in his Funeral Sermon upon hini at CbarleS'town^ Ociober 1^^ lyyo, has this remark- able expreffion, concerning a vifit he made to Mr, JVhitefield at his Orphan- Houfe : " It was a fcene *' that made me think I was in heaven." By a paper, written with Mr. lFhiteJleld\ own hand, of the contents of his imperfe^l manufcript, frequently quoted 'in the above account of his life, it appears, that if he had lived to finidi it, the conclufion would have been, '' Refledlions '' upon the v/hole, containing arguments to prove *' the divinity of the work •, and anfwers to ob- " jedions againft Field-preaching — Lay-preach- *' ing — Irregularities — And the blemiflies that *' have attended it." As he did not live to execute this defign, the Reader is referred to what has been publilhed up- on the fubjecl by the Rev. Meflieurs Jonathan Edwards^ Hobhy^ Shurtliff^ &c. The Rev. Mr. Newton preached a fermon at Olne)\ NovCfvbtr II, 1770, on John v. o,^. '' He was a burn- *' ing, and a fliining light." In which he fpeaks of Mr. Whit'^field-, an extrad of which fol- Z 3 lows ! 342 . Memoirs of the Life of l(>ws : " Some minifters arc burning and fhin^ ^' ing lights in a peculiar and eminent degree. " Such a one, I doubt not, was the fervant of ^' God vvfiole death v;e now lament. I have had " fome opportunities of looking over the Hiftory *' of the Church in pad ages, and I am not back- *' ward to fay, that I have not read or heard of '-' any perfon fince the Apoftle's days, of whom *' it may more emphatically be faid, He was a <' burning and fhining light, than the late Mr, " Whitefield^ whether we confider the warmth of " his zeal, the greatnefs of his miniderial talents, '' or the extenfive ufefulnefs v;ith v/hich the ^' Lord honoured him. I do not mean to praife " the man, but the Lord who furnifhcd him, "and made him what he was. He was raifed *' up to fhine in a dark place. The flate of rer *^ ligion, when he fir(l appeared in public, was *' very low, in our ellabliflied church. I fpeak ** the truth, though to fome it may be an otFen- " five truth. The do6lrines of Grace, were fel- *•' dom heard from the pulpit, and the life and ^' power of godlinefs were little known. Many ^' of the mofl fpiritual among the Diflcnters, ♦' were mourning under the fenfe of a gre^t *' fpreading declenfion on their fide : what a ^' change has taken place throughout the land ^' within a little more than thirty years, that is, '' fince the tin-te when the firfl fet of defpifed ^' minifters cam.e from Oxford] and how much of <' this change has been owing to God's blelTing 7 '' QO the Rev. Mr. George Whftefield. 343 *' on Mr. JVhiteJield's labours, is well known to " many who have lived through this period ; *' and can hardly be denied by thofe who arc *' lead willing to allow k. Firft, He was a burn- " ing light. He had an ardent zeal for God, " an enflamed defire for the falvation of finners. '' So that no labours could weary him, no difH- *' cukies or oppofition difcourage him, hardly " any limits could confine him •, not content with *' the bounds of a county, or a kingdom, this *' meflcnger of good tidings preached the evcr- *' lading G( ipel in almoft every confiderable *V place in England^ Scotland^ and Ireland^ and " throughout the Briti/Ii empire in America^ " which is an extent of more than a t-houfand " miles. Mod of thefe places he vifited again " and again ; nor did he confine hiS attention " to places of note, but in the former part of " his minidry, was ready to preach to few, as '' well as to many, wherever a door was opened i " though in the latter part of his life, his frc- ** quent illnefs, and the n^cefllty of his more *^ immediate charge, confined him more at home. ^^ In fome of his mod early excurfions, the good *' Providence of God led him here, and many, *' I trud, were made willing to rejoice in his •* light, and have reafon to blefs God, that ever *' they favv and heard him. Secondly, He was a " diining light : his zeal was not like wild-fire, *' but directed by found principles, and a found ^' judgment. In this part of his ^charader, I Z 4 .\' would 344 Memoirs of the Life of " would obfervc, ifl. Though he was very " young when he came out, the Lord foor^ *' gave him a very clear view of the Gofpel. *' In the fermons he publiflied foon after his *' firft appearance, there is the fame evangelical '• ftrain obferveable, as in thofe which he preached ^' in his advanced years. Time and obfervation, *' what he felt, and what he fav/, enlarged hi? '' experience, and gave his preaching an in- *' creafing ripenefs and favour, as he gr^w older " in the work ; but from firft to laft he preached *' the fame Gofpel, and was determined to know *' nothing but Jefus Ckrift^ and him crucified. **• 2dly. His fteadinefs and perfeverance in the ^' truth was the more remarkable, confidering ■*' the difficulties and fnares he was fometimesi ^' befet with. But the Lord kept him fteady, fo that neither the example, nor friendfliip, " nor importunity of thofe he dearly loved, were '' capable of moving him. *' 3dly. The Lord gave him a manner of *' preaching, which was peculiarly his own. He " copied from none, and I never met any one *^ who could imitate him with fuccefs. They " who attempted generally made themfelves dil- ^' agreeable. His familiar addrcfs, the power of " his adion, his marvellous talent in fixing the *' attention even of the moft carelefs, I need not " dcfcribe to thofe who have heard him, and " to thofe who have not, the attempt would be ^' vain. Other niinifiers could, perhaps, preach cc the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 345 '^^ the Gofpel as clearly, and in general fay the ^^ fame things, but, I believe, no man living " could fay them in his way. Here I always " thought him unequalled, and I hardly expcd *' to fee his equal while 1 live. " 4th. But that which finilhed his charadVer ^' as a fhining light, and is now his crown of " rejoicing, was the fingular fuccefs which the " Lord was pleafed to give him in winning " fouls ; what numbers entered the Kingrdom of **^ Glory before him, and what numbers are " now lamenting his lofs, v/ho were awakened by " his miniflry ? It feemed as if he nev^r preached " in vain. Perhaps there is hardly a place, in " ail the extenfive compafs of his labours, where " fome may not yet be found who thankfully '' acknowledge him as their fpiritual father. ^^ Nor was he an awakening preacher only where- " ever he came •, if he preached but a fmgle ** difcourfe, he ufually brought a feafon of re- '^ frefhment and revival with him, to thofe who ** had already received the truth. Great as his *' immediate and perfonal ufefulntrfs was, his occa- ^' fional ufefulnefs (if I may fo call it) was perhaps " much greater. Many have caufe to be thankful ^' for him, who never law or heard him. I have al- ^' ready obferved that there was a fomething pe- '' culiar in his manner of preaching, in which " no perfon of found judgment would venture ^' to imitate him. But notwithftanding this, he '^ was, in other refpecls, a fignal and happy ^^ pattern and model for preachers. He iniro- " duced 346 Memoirs of the Life of *' duced a way of clofe and lively application to *' the confcience, for which I believe many of thQ *' mod admired and eminent preachers now living *' will not be afhamed, or unwilling to acknow* *^ ledge themlelves his debtors/* There was alfo a Sermon preached on the occa- fion by the Rev. Mr. Samuel Brewzr^ of Stepney^ London^ which his modedy would not permit him to print. And many others of the minifters, both of the Church, and among the Di (Tenters in Eng^ landy in their Sermons and Prayers upon the news of Mr. J>FhiteJield\ death, bewailed the lofs of fo great a man, and fo faithful and fuccefsful a fcr* vant of Chrift.f On the 6th of Fehruary 1771, the executors having received the probat of Mr. IVhitefieW^ Will, Mr. KeeUy who was perfe6lly acquainted with every particular of his temporal affairs, im- mediately publifhed it, with the following pre- amble : AS we make no doubt the numerous friends of the late Rev, Mr. George Whitefield will be glad of an opportunity of feeing a genuine copy of his l^ft Will and Teftament \ his Executors have fa- voured us with a copy of the fame, tranfmitted to them from the Orphan-houfe in Georgia^ and which they have proved in the Prerogative Court of Can- ierhury. And as it was Mr. lFhitefield'% conftant declaration he never meant to raife either a purfe t Among thefe were the Rev. Mr. Roinahie, Mr. Madan, Dr. Gibbons, ^nd Dr. Trcttcr. ar the Rev, Mr, George Whitefield. 347 or a party, it is to be remarked, that almoft the whole money he died pofTefled of came to him within two or three years of his death in the foU lowing manner, viz, Mrs. Thomfon, of ^ower-HUt^ bequeathed him 500/. By the death of his Wife» including a Bond of 300/, he got 700/. Mr. Whitmore bequeathed him 100/. and Mr, Winder jog/, and it is highly probable, that had he lived to reach Georgia from his late northern tour, he would have much lefTcned the above fums, by dif- pofmg of them in the fame noble and difintcrefted manner that all the public or private fums he has been entrulled with, have been. ' Georgia, * By his Excellency James Wright^ Efq^ Captain- * General, Governor and Commander in Chief ^ of his Majeily's faid Province of Georgia^ ' Chancellor and Vice- Admiral of the fame. ^ 'TpO all to whom thefe prefents Iball come, ' greeting : Know ye, that "Thomas Mocdie^ * who hath certified the annexed copy from the ' original, in the Secretary's Office, is Deputy^ * Secretary of the faid Province, and therefore all ^ due faith and credit is, and ought to be, had * and given to fuch his certificate, * In teftimony whereof, I have hereunto fet my * hand, and caufed the Great Seal of this his Ma- ^ jefly's faid Province to be put and affixed, dated ^ at Savannah the tenth day of December^ in the ^ ye^r of our Lord 1770, and in the eleventh ■ year 34S Memoirs of the Life of * year of the reign of his Majefly King Gmge thc ! Third. • ' By his Excellency's command, * J. W R I G H T, ' THO. MOODIE, D. Secretary/ * T N the name of the Father, Son, and Holy ' Ghoft, three Perfons, but one God \ I, George ' Whitejieldy Clerk, at prefent refiding at the Or- ' phan-houfe Academy, in the Province of Georgia^ ' in North' America^ being through infinite mercy ' in more than ordinarily bodily health, and a ' perfet^lly found and compofed mind, knowing ' the certainty of death, and yet the uncertainty ' of the time I fhall be called by it to my long ' wifhed-for home, do make this my laft Will ' and Teftament, in manner and form following, ' viz. Imprimis, In fure and certain hope of a ' refurre6lion to eternal life, through our Lord ' Jefus Chrift, I commit my body to the dufl:, ' to be buried in the moft plain and decent man- ' ner; and knowing in whom I have believed, ' and being perfuaded that he will keep that ' which I have committed unto him, in the fui- ' left affurance of faith I commend my foul into ' the hands of the everloving, altogether lovely, ' never-failing Jefus, on whofe compleat and ' everlafting righteoufnefs I entirely depend, for ' the juftification of my perfon and acceptance of ' my poor, worthlefs, though, I truft, fincere ' performances, at that day when he fhall come the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 34^ " in the glory of his Father, his own glory, and *' the glory of his holy Angels, to judge both the *' quick and dead. In refped: to my outward " American concerns, which 1 have engaged in " fimply and folely for his great name's, fake, I " leave that building, commonly called the Or- " phan-houfe^ at Bethefda^ in the Province oi Georgia^ *' together with all the other buildings lately *' ereded thereon, and likewife all other build- *' ings, lands, negroes, books, furniture, and " every other thing whatfoever which I now fland " poflefled of in the Province of Georgia aforefaid, " to that eled Lady, that mother in Ifrael^ that " mirror of true and undefiled religion, the Right '^ Honourable 5^//;/^, Countefs 'Dowager o^ Him- " tingdon ; defiring, that as foon as may be after " my deceafe, the plan of the intended Orphan- " houfe, Bethefda College, may be profecuted, or, " if not pradticable, or eligible, to purfue the *^ prefent plan of the Orphan-houfe Academy, on " its old foundation and ufual channel; but if " her Ladyfhip fhould be called to enter into her ^' glorious reft before my deceafe, I bequeath all " the buildings, lands, negroes, and every thing " before mentioned which I now ftand pofTefTed " of in the Province of Georgia aforefaid, to my " dear firft fellow-traveller, and faithful, invaria- " ble friend, the Honourable James HahcrJIiani^ '-' Efqi Prefident of his Majcfty's Honourable " Council : and fhould he furvive her Ladyfhip, *' I earneftly recommend him as the moft proper *' per- 2^6 Memoirs of tbd Ltfe of " perfon to fucceed her Ladyfliip, or to a6l foF *' her during her Ladyfhip*s life-time^ in the affairs *' of the Orphan^houfe Academy. With regard *' to my outward affairs in England'^ whereas *' there is a building commonly called the Taber- ** nacle^ fet apart many years ago for Divine Wor- *' fhip, I give and bequeath the faid Tabernacle, *' with the adjacent houfe in which I ufually re- *' fide, when in London^ with the liable and coach- ** houfe in the yard adjoining, together with all *' books, furniture, and every thing elfe whatib* ^' ever that (hall be found in the houfe and pre- ** miffes aforefaid; and alfo the building com- *' monly called Tiottenham-Court Chapel y together " with all the other buildings, houfes, liable, " coach-houfe, and every thing elfe whatfoever " which I Hand poflefled of in that part of the '' town, to my worthy, trully, tried friends, Da^ *' niel fVefty Efq-, in Churcbjlreet^ Spit Melds ^ and .^'' Mr. Robert Keen, Woollen-Draper, in the Mi- *' nories^ or the longer furvivor of the two. As *' to the monies, which a kind Providence^ ef- *' pecially of late, in a moll uncxpedled way, and " unthought of means, hath vouchfafed to cntrul^ *' me with; I give and bequeath the fum of one *' hundred pounds llerling to the Right Honou-* " rable Countefs Dowager of Huntingdon afore^ *' faid, humbly befeeching her Ladylhip's accep* ** tance of fo fmall a mite, as a pepper-corn of ac* *' knowledgement for the undefervcd, unfought'- ** for honour her Ladyfhip conferred upon me, ift ^' ap* the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 351 ^^ appointing me, leis than the leaft of all, to be " one of her Ladyfhip's Domcftic Chaplains. « Item, 1 give and bequeath to.piy dearly beloved '* friend, the HonoLrable James HaberJIiam afore- " faid, my late Wife's gold watch, and ten •' pounds for mourning 5 to my dear old friend, " Gabriel Harris, Elq-, of the city of Gloucefter, " who received and boarded me in his houfe when " I was helphfs and deftitute, above thirty-five '» years ago, I give and bequeath the fum of fifty " pounds 5 to my humble faithful fervant and " friend, Mr. Jmlrofe IVright, if in my fervicc « and employ, either in England or America, or " elfewhere, at the time of my deceafe, I give ** and bequeath the fum of five hundred pounds ; " to my brother, Mr. Richard JVhitefield, I " give and bequeath the fum of fifty pounds ; *' to my brother, Mr. Tborms Whitefield, I give " and bequeath the fum of fifty pounds, to be *' aivcn him at the difcrction of Mr. Robert Keen ; *' to my brother-in-law Mr. James Smith, Hofier, *' in the city of Briftol, 1 give and bequeath the *' fum of fifty pounds, and thirty pounds alfo for " family mourning; to my niece, Mrs. Frances " Hartford, of Bath, I give and l^equeath the fum " of fifty pounds, and twenty pounds tor family « mourning-, to Mr. J. Crane, now a faithful *' fteward at the Orphan-hcufe Academy, I give " and bequeath the fum of forty pounds-, to Mr. " Benjamin Stirk, as an acknowledgOKint of his '' paft 2^2 Memoirs of the Life of " pad fervices at Bethefda^ I give and bcqueatH *' the film of ten pounds for mourning; to Peter " Edwards^ now at the Orphan-houfe Academy, *' I give and bequeath the fum of fifty pounds ; *' to William ^rigg^ at the fame place, I give and *' bequeath the fum of fifty pounds ; both the *' fums aforefaid to be laid out, or laid up for " them, at the difcretion of Mr. y^/?;^^r^/^ /^r/^>&/ : **■ to Mr. 'Thomas Adams^ of Rodhorough in Gloucef- ** terfliire^ my only furviving firft fellow-labourer,- *' and beloved much in the Lord, I give and be- *' queath the fum of fifty pounds ; to the Rev. *' Mr. Howe! Davis ^ of Pembrokejliire^ in South *' Wales, that good fbldier of jefus Chriit; to Mr.- *' Torial Jofs, Mr. Cornelius IVinter, and all my *' other dearly beloved prefent flated afTiflant- *^ preachers at Tabernacle and Tottenham-Court *' Chapel, I give and bequeath ten pounds each " for mourning-, to the three brothers of Mr. '^ Amhrofe Wright, and the wife of his brother *' Mr. Robert Wright, now faithfully and fkilfully *' labouring and ferving at the Orphan-houfe Aca- *' demy, I give and bequeath the fum of ten *^ pounds each for mourning; to Mr. Richard *' Smith, now a diligent attendant on me, I give " and bequeath the fum of fifty pounds, and all *' my wearing apparel which I fhall have with m.e ** in iny journey through America, or on my voy- *' age to England, if it fhould pleafe an all- wife " God to fhorten my days in either of thofc fitua- " tions*' the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, 353 ^* tions. Finally, I give and bequeath the fum of *' one hundred pounds, to be diftributed at the *' difcretion of my executors, herein after-menti- *' oned, for mourning among my old London fer- " vants, the poor Widows at Tottenham-Court *' Chapel, and the Taberhacle poor^ efpecially " my old trufty, difinterefted friend and fervantj *' Mrs. Elizabeth Wood. All the other refidue, if *^ there be any refidue, of monies,- goods, and *' chattels, or whatever profits may arife from the '* fale of my books, or any manufcripts that I " may leave behind, I give and bequeath to the " Right Honourable the Countefs Dowager of *' Huntingdon^ or, in cafe of her Ladyfhip's being " deceafed at the time of my departure, to the *' Honourable James Unherjham^ Efqj before-men- " tioned, after my funeral expences and jufl debts " are difcharged, towards paying off my arrears *' that may bfe due on the account of the Orphan- '^ houfe Academy^ or for annual prizes as a re- ** ward for the beft three orations that fliall be " made in EngU/Ji on the fubjeds mentioned in a ^* paper annexed to this my will. And I do here- " by appoint the Honourable James Haber/Jiami ^' Efq-, aforefaid, to be my executor in refpe6l to " my affairs in the Province of Georgia., and my " trufly tried dearly beloved friends Charles liar" " dy, Efq^ Daniel V/efi, Efq; and Mr. Robert " Keen., to be executors of this my laft Will and *' Teftament, in refpecl of my affairs in England^ ^ begging each to accept of a mourning ring. A a " To 354 Memoirs of the Life of *' To all my other chriftian benefaftors, and more *' intimate acquaintance, I leave my mod hearty '' thanks and blefTing, aflliring them that I an> *' more and more convinced of the undoubted " reality, and infinite importance of the grand " gofpel truths which I have from time to time " delivered •, and am fo far from repenting my " delivering them in an itinerant way, that had I *' ilrength equal to my inclination^ I would preacK *' them from pole to pole, not only becaufe I " have found them to be the power of God to the ** falvation of my own foul, but becaufe I am as " much affured that the Great Head of the " Church hath called me by his word, pravi- " dence, and fpirit, to aft in this way, as that " the fun Ihines at noon day. As for niy ene- " mies, and misjudging, miftaken friends, I mod *' freely and heartily forgive them, and can only *' add, that the laft tremendous day will foon dif- *' cover what 1 have been, what I am, and what " I (hall be, when time itfelf fhall be no more ; " and therefore, from my inmoft foul, I clofe all^ '' by crying. Come, Lord Jefus, come quickly ^ *' even fo Lord Jefus, Amen and Amen. *^ GEORGE WHITEFIELD. ** This was written with the Teftator*s own " hand, and at hia defire, and in his pre- •* fence, fealed, figncd, and delivered, at the '• Orphan-houfe Academy, in the Province *' of the Rrj. Mr. George Whltefield. 3 SS '* of Georgia, before us witneflfes, Aino Do- " mini, March the twenty fecond, one tliou- ** fand feven hundred and feventy. *' Signed, " ROBERT BOLTON, « THOMAS DIXON, " CORNELIUS WINTER, «* N. B. I alfo leave a mourning ring to my « honoured and dear friends and difintcreftcd fel- «' low-labourers, the Rev. Meflrs. JoJm and Charles «' PFe/ley, in token of my indifToluble union with *' them, in heart and chriftian affedion, notwith- " Handing our difference in judgment about Tome ♦* particular points of dodlrine. — Grace be with " all them, of whatever denomination, that love ^' our Lord Jefus, our common Lord, in fmcerity.'* * Georgia, Secretary's Office. < A true copy, taken from the original in this * office, examined and certified : and I do further ' certify that the fame was duly proved -, and the ' Honourable James Haherfiam, Efq-, one of the * executors therein named, was duly qualified as * executor before his Excellency James Wright, * Efq-, Governor and Ordinary of the faid Pro- * vince this lOth day o^ December lyyo. 'THO. MOOD IE, D.Sec/ A a 2 Con- 35^ Memoirs of the Life of Concerning the manner in which Mr, WbitcfieW% Tabernacle and Chapel are at prefeni: fuppliedj^ the compiler has received the following infor- rriation : H A V I N G by his Will left both of his places of worlhip, his houfes, library, and all things appertaining thereto, to two of his execu- tors in furvivorfhip, they have been enabled, through the abundant goodnefs of Qod, to carry pn the work in the fame manner as in Mr. White* fieldh life-time, without the leaft diminution either qf the largenels of the congregations, or the vifi-» ble power of God attending the miniftry there* And as neither of them are minifters, but en- gaged in extenfive bufinefs, it appears the more wonderful, and (hews the work to be begun and carried on by the power of God alone •, and it. is their earncfl prayer and ft\idy that it may be tranf- mitted down, and faithful minifters and upright perfons ralfcd to carry it on when their h^ads arc laid in the dud. Two of his fellow-lab.ourer? were taken off by death, whilft he was laft abroad, viz. the Rev. Mr. Howel JOavies, a clergyman, and Mf. 'Thomas Adams., a layman •, ai^d a little be- fore, Mr. Middletcn, all tried and faithful minifters-^- but the Lord hath wonderfully raifed up others in their ftead. The prefent minifters are chiefly thefe, the Rev. Mr. Kinfman of Flymonth., the Rev, Mr. Edwards of Lads., the Rev, Mr. Knight of BaU Ufax^ ancl the Rev. Mr. AJJihunur^ of Pool in Dor- I fetjhire : the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 2 57 fetPiire : thefe vifit London once, and if wrote for, twice a year. The conftant ones upon the fpot are, Mr. Jofs and Mr. BrookJl>anks, The Rev. Mr. Vc Ccurcy^ and the Rev. Mr. Piercy, and other Clergymen, have often affifted. Befides thefe, the proprietors have been favoured with the occa- fionai labours of Mr. Rowland Bilk and Mr. Heath of Plymmlh : alfo of many worthy clergymen and dif- fenting minifters from the country, who efteemed it their privilege to preach to very large, ferious, and attentive congregations, whofe hearts have been filled with thankfulnefs, and at the fame time en- gaged in prayer for every fuch minifter; and an un- ufual bleffing has commonly attended both fowers and reapers ; and it is the earnefl defire of the proprietors that the pleafure of the Lord may thus profper in their hands. They purpofe, through the bleffing of God, to let the pulpits be open "to every difintereftcd minifter that may occafionally come to town, of good moral character, found in the faith, of moderate Calviniftical Principles, without diftindion of parties or denominations, >rvhole talents are fuitable to preach with life and power to large congregations. And hope for the concurrence of all well-wilhers to the profperity (^f Zion. F I N I %i London^ July 2, 1 7 72. SINCE this work was finifhed, the following par- ticulars have come to the Editor's knowledge, vizi That Mrs. Rachel Welh^ of Philadelphia^ famous iu America for her ingenious performances in wax-work, made a wax image of Mr. TFhitefeldy as large as life, properly drefled, before Mr. IVhitcfield died : and (from her regard to the memory of that great and good man) foon after his death, carried it, at her own expence, to Georgia^ (upwards of 900 miles) and made a prefent of it to Bethefda College. The likenefs is faid to be fo Striking, that it aftonifhes all who have feen it. Her lifter, Mrs. JVright^ of New-York^ who pofleiTes the fame uncommon genius for wax-work, is lately arrived in LovJon^ and has brought over with her feveral of her performances : among them is a wax image of Mr. TVloite- fields drefled in his own wig, band, ^c. fo like the ori- ginal, that all v/ho have feen it have in the ftrongeft terms exprefled their approbation. It is faid fhe is come over, at the defire of fome gentlemen in New-York^ to take off fome of the capital charadcrs in England^ viz. Lord Chatham^ Mrs. Macaulay^ Mr. Gar rick, l^c, and from the fpccimen fhe has given of her abilities in Mr, IfVttefield's image, will no doubt meet with encourage* meat fuitable to her merit. BOOKS Printed for, and Sold by Edward and Charles Dilly, in the Poultry. I. /TpHE WORKS of the Rev. George X Whitefield, M. a. containing his Sermons and Tracts which have been already publilhed : With a Select Collection of LET- TERS, written to his rnoft intimate Friends, and Perfons of Diilin6tion in England, Scotland, Ire- land, and America, from the Year 1734 to 1770, including the whole Period of his Miniftry. Alfo fome other Pieces on Important Subjedls, never before printed, prepared by Himfelf for the Prefs. 6 Vols. 8vo. Price il. us. 6d. boards, or il. i6s. bound. NotCy The Three Firft Volumes, containing his LETTERS, may be had alone. Price bound i8s. The Two laft Sermons of his Works, entitled, Peter'* s Denial of his Lordy and The true Way of beholding the Lamh of Gody are printed feparate. Price 6d. 2. Hiftorical Collcftions relating to remarkable Periods of the Succefs of the Gofpel, and emi- nent Inftruments employed in promoting it. By John Gillies, D. D. Minifter of Glafgow. 2 Vols. Svo. Price bound los. q. Devotional BOOKS printed for E. and C. Dilly, 3. 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