Every one who wishes to understand and rightly estimate the
Methodist movement of the last century, must, not only read the
lives of the two Wesleys, but also, make himself acquainted
with the history of Whitefield, and the career of the Methodist
contemporaries of the illustrious trio.
John Wesley was Methodism's founder, and Charles its
hymnologist. John Clayton became a man of mark among the High
Church clergymen of the Episcopal Communion. James Hervey
belonged to the Evangelical section of the Church of England,
and, by his writings, influenced not a few of the country's
aristocracy. Benjamin Ingham, by his preaching, left a deep
impress on Yorkshire, and other parts of the North of England.
John Gambold rendered inestimable service, in moderating and
correcting the extravagances of the Moravian Brotherhood. Thomas
Broughton gave an impetus to the Society for Promoting Christian
Knowledge, which is felt to the present day. Richard Hutchins,
as Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, helped to mould the
character of students, who afterwards rose to great distinction.
To each of these distinguished men, Providence assigned a sphere
of unusual usefulness. They moved in different orbits, but all
were made a blessing to the world.
George Whitefield was pre-eminently the outdoor preacher;--the
most popular evangelist of the age;--a roving revivalist,--who,
with unequalled eloquence and power, spent above thirty years
in testifying to enormous crowds, in Great Britain and America,
the gospel of the grace of God. Practically, he belonged to
no denomination of Christians, but was the friend of all. His
labours, popularity, and success were marvellous, perhaps
unparalleled. All churches in England, Wales, Scotland, and
the British settlements in America, were permanently benefited
by his piety, his example, and the few great truths which he
continually preached; whilst the Methodism organised by his
friend Wesley--especially in the northern counties of the
kingdom--was, by his itinerant services, promoted to a far
greater extent than the Methodists have ever yet acknowledged.
The world has a right to know all that can be told of such a
man. To say nothing of almost innumerable sketches, at least
half a dozen lives of Whitefield have been already published.
If the reader asks why I have dared to add to the number of
these biographies? I answer, because I possessed a large amount
of biographical material which previous biographers had not
employed, and much of which seems to have been unknown to them.
This is not an empty boast, as will be evident to every one who
compares the present work with the lives of Whitefield which
have preceded it.
In collecting materials for the "Life and Times of Wesley,"
and for the "Oxford Methodists," I met with much concerning
Whitefield; and, since then, I have spared neither time, toil,
nor money in making further researches relating to the great
evangelist. With the exception of a few instances, all of which
are acknowledged, my facts are taken from original sources; and,
though to say so may savour of vanity, I believe there is now
no information concerning Whitefield, of any public importance,
which is not contained in the present volumes.
I have been obliged to employ a few of Whitefield's letters,
which I had previously published in the "Life and Times of
Wesley." This was unavoidable; but the repetition is extremely
limited, and is never used except when justice made it necessary.
Whitefield was a Calvinist: I am an Arminian; but the book is
not controversial. Whitefield's sentiments and language have
been honestly and truly quoted; and I have not attempted to
refute his theological opinions. On such subjects, men, at
present, must agree to differ.
The Life is not written with special regard to the interests of
any Church whatever,--Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Independent,
Baptist, or even Methodist. Whitefield, indeed, called himself a
member and minister of the Church of England; but, in reality,
he belonged to the Church Catholic. He loved all who loved Jesus
Christ, and was always ready to be their fellow-labourer. It
is right to add, however, that, as a matter of fact, I have
felt bound to shew that the friendship between Whitefield and
the Wesleys was much more loving and constant than it has been
represented by previous biographers; and that Whitefield's
services to Methodism were more important than the public
generally have imagined.
Without the least desire to depreciate any of the lives of
Whitefield already published, I may be allowed to say, they are
not without errors. Instead, however, of confuting the errors,
one by one, as I have met with them, I have, as a rule, not
noticed them; but have simply narrated facts, bearing on the
respective cases, without comment and without colouring.
The foot-notes are more numerous than I like, and this has
prevented my adding to their number by giving _all_ the
references for the statements I have made; but, if the
truthfulness of any statement be called in question, it will
be an easy task to adduce the authority in support of it. For
the notices of American ministers and gentlemen, I am chiefly
indebted to the "Biographical and Historical Dictionary" of the
Rev. William Allen, D.D., President of Bowdoin College, and
Member of the Historical Society of Maine, New Hampshire, and
New York.
The book is neither artistic nor philosophic. I have merely done
my utmost to collect information concerning Whitefield, and
have related the facts as clearly, concisely, and honestly as I
could. I have also, as far as possible, acted upon the principle
of making Whitefield his own biographer. Perhaps, I ought to
apologise for the introduction of such lengthened details
concerning the first few years of Whitefield's public life.
Apart from being influenced by the fact, that, it was during
this eventful period that Whitefield's character was formed,
and his unique mission among men determined, I was wishful to
give to the Christian Church, at least, the _substance_ of his
Journals--Journals which, unlike those of his friend Wesley,
have never been republished, and which, in consequence of their
rareness, are almost quite unknown.
The two portraits are copied from original engravings, which Dr.
Gillies, Whitefield's friend and first biographer, pronounced
the most exact likenesses of the great preacher ever published.
Whitefield's power was not in his talents, nor even in his
oratory, but in his piety. In some respects, he has had no
successors; but in prayer, in faith, in religious experience, in
devotedness to God, and in a bold and steadfast declaration of
the few great Christian truths which aroused the churches and
created Methodism,--he may have many. May Whitefield's God raise
them up, and thrust them out! The Church and the world greatly
need them.