_s_ _d._
A dozen tinder boxes 5 0
A dozen tin pots 3 6
Three dozen inkhorns 5 4
Two dozen leather ink-pots 2 0
Four dozen stone seals 4 0
Six claw hammers 4 0
Three dozen gun flints 2 0
A dozen of six case knives 5 0
A gross of sleeve buttons 2 6
Thirteen penknives for Savannah
school each 0 6
Sixteen dozens of corks 3 2
Fifty pounds of shot 7 3
A hundredweight and a
quarter of shot 18 9
Sixty-four pounds of gunpowder
per pound 0 7-1/2
Besides almost endless charges for scissors, buckles, corkscrews,
ivory combs, horn combs, spoons, pewter porringers, nails, gouges,
gimblets, axes, files, chisels, planes, hatchets, saws, shovels,
spades, locks, hinges, and fishing tackle.
The list of drugs, bought and paid for, comprises--rhubarb, senna,
manna, Jesuit's bark, pearl-barley, ipecacuanha, sago, saffron,
snake-root, gentian-root, cochineal, hartshorn powder, isinglass,
etc.
Among the household provisions are the following: a firkin of
butter, £1 8s.; a Cheshire cheese, at threepence halfpenny per
pound, 10s. 7 1/2 d.; a Gloucestershire cheese, at threepence
farthing, 8s. 6 1/2 d.; one hundred lemons, bought at Gibraltar,
two shillings; two hogsheads of fine white wine, £5 17s. 6d.; three
barrels of raisins, £1 19s. 6d.; to which must be added various
items of expenditure for cinnamon, sugar, brimstone, cloves,
mustard, pepper, oatmeal, oranges, potatoes, onions, and sage.
The stationery account includes four reams of foolscap writing
paper, £1 17s. 6d.; half a pound of wafers, one shilling; three
thousand second quills, £1 7s.; also sealing-wax, copy-books,
lead-pencils, slate-pencils, and ingredients to make ink.
In a long list of items of expenditure, after his arrival at
Savannah, are the following: "May 20, thirty pounds of fish, sent to
the poor of Highgate and Hampstead, three shillings and sixpence;
and 102 ells of Ossenbridge, for the poor for trowsers, shirts,
etc., £3 16s. 6d. May 27, eleven pounds of fresh beef for the
poor, 2s. 3 1/2 d.; and a cow and a calf for a poor housekeeper,
£2 15s.[114] June 15, a cow and a calf for a poor housekeeper of
Highgate, £3. June 17, eight sows with pig, for the poor of Highgate
and Hampstead. June 24, two barrels of flour, 432 lb., to set up a
poor baker, £2 12s. 10d.; and one barrel of ditto, 210 lb., made
into bread, and distributed to the poor of Savannah. July 14, two
pounds of tea for Savannah poor, 15s. July 26, thirty-three pounds
of fresh beef, 6s. 10 1/2 d.; and sixteen dozen corks and a brass
cock for the poor's wine; and, finally, at sundry times, payments
to and for Joseph Husbands, a servant whom the trustees allowed
Whitefield to take from England, £9 7s.
[114] This was repaid by the trustees of Georgia.
These, perhaps somewhat tedious, extracts from Whitefield's "Account
of Money received and expended, for the Poor of Georgia," are of
some importance. They furnish the names of some of his warm-hearted
friends. They supply an idea of market prices in 1737. They
evince the forethought and benevolence of the popular preacher,
at the early age of twenty-two. They, also, suggest one reason
why Whitefield was more successful in Georgia than his friend
Wesley. The latter had no friends to purchase gifts for the motley
colonists; the former had more than £300 for this important purpose.
Wesley's ritualism repelled the people; Whitefield's donatives
attracted them.
Wednesday, December 28, 1737, was a notable day in Whitefield's
history. First of all, he and his friends had a prayer meeting at
the house of Hutton, the Moravian. Then they received the holy
sacrament at the Church of St. Dunstan, Fleet Street, close to James
Hutton's place of business. After that, another meeting for united
prayer was held at the house of Hutton's father in Westminster. In
the evening, amid cold wintry darkness, Whitefield left London for
Savannah, and, accompanied by four of his faithful friends, arrived
at Deptford at ten o'clock. The excitement of the day was not ended
even now. Many of his admirers had preceded him on foot, and here,
in the house of "a widow woman," from two to three hours more were
spent, in singing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," and in
making intercession for their "friends and enemies and all mankind."
It was not, however, until five weeks after this that Whitefield
sailed from the English coast, and a brief account of the way in
which this interval was passed must be inserted. With a heart full
of the love of Christ, such a man could not be idle. He must be
about his Master's business.
Without entering into details respecting Georgia, it may be shortly
stated that, at this particular time, the colony was exceedingly
unsettled. On Oglethorpe's return, he reported, to a special meeting
of the trustees, held January 19, 1737, that "the people on the
frontiers suffered under constant apprehension of invasion, as the
insolent demands and threats of the Spanish Commissioner from Cuba
virtually amounted to an infraction of the treaty which had been
formed with the governor of Florida." Because of this, Oglethorpe
urged upon the trustees the necessity of applying to His Majesty
for a military force adequate to the defence of Georgia and South
Carolina. A petition was presented. The request was granted; and,
in the month of June following, the king appointed Oglethorpe
general of all his forces in Carolina as well as in Georgia, and
likewise commissioned him to raise a regiment. As, however, it was
deemed expedient to reinforce Georgia before Oglethorpe's regiment
was complete,[115] a small body of troops was sent from England,
with as little delay as possible, and others were forwarded from
Gibraltar.[116] Whitefield had been presented to the living of
Savannah, and had long been eager to be among his parishioners.
The embarkation of the troops offered an opportunity; and hence,
accompanied by his servant, Joseph Husbands, and his friend and
fellow-traveller, James Habersham,[117] he now started to his
distant destination, acting as chaplain to the troops, until his
arrival among the colonists who had been committed to his care.
[115] Oglethorpe did not sail until July 5th, 1738.
[116] Memoir of General Oglethorpe.
[117] James Habersham was born at Beverley, in 1712. He was married,
by Whitefield, to Mary Bolton, on December 26, 1740. He was the
manager of Bethesda till 1744, when he entered into business at
Savannah. He became President of Georgia in 1769; and died in
1775. In all respects, he was a highly honourable man. (Belcher's
Biography of Whitefield.)
A day was spent at Deptford, most of it in prayer and in "chanting
and singing psalms," while at night he preached for the first time
without the use of notes.
On December 30th, he went on board the _Whitaker_, at Purfleet, and
on the day following began his ministerial services by having public
prayers on open deck. After prayers, he preached from the words, "I
am determined to know nothing among you save Jesus, Christ and Him
crucified." At noon, he went on shore, and, with his London friends,
"spent two or three delightful hours in praising and blessing God."
While there, a deputation from the clergyman at Gravesend came,
requesting him to preach in Gravesend Church; and he heartily
complied. Thus was spent the last day of the eventful year 1737.
Next morning, he and his friends rose early, retired to an adjacent
hill, and began the year 1738 by holding a prayer meeting in the
open air. This, being ended, he was agreeably surprised with the
coming of another group of his metropolitan admirers, who had been
sailing down the Thames the whole of the winter's night purposely
to see him. At ten, they all went to church, Whitefield preached,
and the curate, at their request, administered to them the holy
sacrament. In the afternoon, he "preached again to a more numerous
congregation than in the morning." He adds, "I was pressed to preach
a third time at six in the evening. This was a thing entirely new;
but, upon the curate's readily complying to lend the pulpit, I
looked upon it as a call of Providence, and accordingly read prayers
and preached to a crowded auditory; and this I did without notes,
having brought but two written sermons with me."
Five days more were spent in the vicinity of Gravesend before the
ship set sail; but every day Whitefield went on board and performed
his ministerial duties. His floating flock, "exclusive of the ship's
company," consisted of above a hundred souls. "The ship," writes
Dr. Gillies, "was full of soldiers, and there were near twenty
women among them. The captains, both of the soldiers and sailors,
with a surgeon and a young cadet, soon gave him to understand that
they looked upon him as an impostor, and for a while treated him as
such. The first Lord's-day, one of them played on the hautboy, and
nothing was to be seen but cards, and little heard but cursing and
blasphemy. He began mildly and gently to reprove the officers in the
cabin, but this had little effect. 'I could,' he writes, 'do no more
for a season than, whilst I was writing, now and then turn my head,
by way of reproof, to a lieutenant of the soldiers, who swore as
though he was born of a swearing constitution. Now and then he would
take the hint, return my nod with, "Doctor, I ask your pardon," and
then to his cards and swearing again.'"
On shore at Gravesend, Whitefield greatly enjoyed the society
of his London friends, who refused to leave him until the vessel
started. They conversed, they prayed, and sung psalms together.
Among others, Charles Wesley paid him a flying visit.[118] He
writes, "We prayed, sung psalms, commended one another to God, and
parted the next morning like Christian brethren."
[118] Under date of "Gravesend, January 3, 1738," Charles Wesley
writes: "I am here with G. Whitefield, my brothers Hall and Hutton,
and a long 'etc.' of zealous friends. God has poured out His Spirit
upon them, so that the whole nation is in an uproar." (Life of C.
Wesley, vol. i., p. 100.)
At length, on January 6, the ship set sail from Gravesend. "God,"
says Whitefield, "gave me great comfort, and I went between decks,
and sat down on the floor, and read Arndt's 'True Christianity.'
Part of the time, I stood on deck, and admired the wonders of God
in the deep. I read prayers and preached near the stern, having
no place for retirement; talked to the sailors on the forecastle;
wrote my journal; and climbed up into my cabin bed, where my friend
Habersham and I lay as comfortably as on a bed of state."
The ship was detained two days at the Nore, during which the
officers began to look upon the young evangelist more favourably,
and the captain offered him the use of his own cabin as a place
of privacy.[119] On January 9, the ship anchored before Margate.
Whitefield went on shore and visited the curate, with whom he
conversed on the necessity of preaching the new birth, and the
benefit of visiting from house to house. He also gave him Law's
"Serious Call," and "Christian Perfection," and other kindred books.
Here, likewise, he wrote "to Mr. H." (probably James Hutton, the
Moravian) a letter full of catholicity, zeal, and faith, from which
the following is an extract:--
"MARGATE, _January 9, 1738_.
[119] Whitefield read prayers and preached to his "red-coat
parishioners," as he called them, twice every day, and "the very
soldiers stood out to say their catechism."
"Hither the good providence of God has safely brought us. Our
ship cast anchor near this town, and my dear fellow-traveller
and I came on shore to buy some things we wanted. We have been
most courteously treated by the curate of the place, and had
some Christian conversation. The winds and storms are blustering
about our ears, and teaching us lessons of obedience to Him
whom winds and seas obey. Divine goodness attends us wherever we
go. Oh, dear sir! who would not leave their few ragged, tattered
nets to follow Jesus Christ? The favours I have received from
you, and others of your Christian brethren, will never go out
of my mind, though you differ from me in some outward modes. I
would willingly be of so catholic a spirit as to love the image
of my Divine Master wherever I see it. I am far from thinking
God's grace is confined to any set of men whatever. No. I know
the partition wall is now broken down, and that Jesus Christ
came to redeem people out of all nations and languages and
tongues; and therefore His benefits are not to be confined to
this or that particular set of professors.
"You know, sir, upon what a design I am going, and what a
stripling I am for so great a work; but I stand forth as David
against Goliath in the name of the Lord of hosts. God give me a
deep humility, a well-guided zeal, a burning love, and a single
eye; and, then let men or devils do their worst."
On January 11, they again set sail, and came to Deal, where there
was another detention of three weeks' continuance. Besides attending
to his ministerial duties on board, Whitefield every day went on
shore. At the first visit to the town, he and Habersham were so
delighted with the scenery, that they "expressed their thankfulness
in singing psalms all the way." His occupations, both on sea
and land, were multifarious. He finished his expositions of the
Apostles' Creed. He wrote letters. He taught Latin to his friend
Habersham. He tried to save a soldier from punishment, who had been
"tied neck and heels" for mutiny. When he entered the ship three
weeks ago, he united four couples in the bond of marriage; but
already one of the men, a soldier, was tired of his newly-acquired
wife, and wanted to be rid of her. He was reminded of his marriage
vow, and "he immediately took to her again." Whitefield commenced
expounding the Church Catechism. He visited the _Amy_ and the
_Lightfoot_, two accompanying transport ships, also conveying troops
to the transatlantic colonies. He preached in the house of his
landlady on shore, and the people came in such numbers, that the
poor woman feared "the floor would break under them." "All Deal,"
said Whitefield, "seems to be in a holy flame." A Baptist "teacher"
came to discourse with him. He thought the Baptist "was a spiritual
man;" but "asked him several questions about taking the ministerial
function, without being called as was Aaron." Whitefield writes:
"He did not answer to my satisfaction; but we both agreed in
this, that unless 'a man be born again, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God.'" Several of Whitefield's London friends, hearing
of his detention, came to Deal to visit him, and many a happy hour
was spent with them in Christian conversation, in prayer, and in
singing Psalms. On Sunday, January 29, after his usual service in
the ship, he "returned on shore, and, accompanied with a troop of
pious friends, hastened to a church about a mile and a half from
Deal," where he "preached to a weeping, thronged congregation, at
the request of the minister." In the afternoon, he preached at Upper
Deal, and writes: "The church was quite crowded, and many went away
for want of room; some stood on the leads of the church outside, and
looked in at the top windows, and all seemed eager to hear the word
of God. In the evening, such numbers came to hear that I was obliged
to divide them into four companies, and God enabled me to expound
from six till ten."
Next morning, he preached again in the church at Upper Deal, to a
crowded audience. Soon after the service ended, the wind changed,
and a cry came, "Prepare yourselves for sailing." Whitefield
hastened to the shore, the people "running in droves after him."
"The sea was boisterous, and the waves rose mountains high;" but,
in their boat, Whitefield and Habersham "went on singing psalms and
praising God, the waters dashing in their faces all the way."
It is a remarkable fact, that two days after this, while the ship
_Whitaker_ was still at anchor, Wesley, at half-past four o'clock in
the morning, landed at Deal, on his return from Georgia. Great was
his surprise to hear that Whitefield was close at hand; and, still
smarting from the wrongs he had suffered at Savannah, he immediately
despatched a letter advising the young evangelist to relinquish his
mission.[120] Whitefield's answer, written on board the _Whitaker_,
was as follows:
"DOWNS, _February 1, 1738_.
"I received the news of your arrival (blessed be God!) with the
utmost composure, and sent a servant immediately on shore to
wait on you, but found that you were gone. Since that, your kind
letter has reached me. But I think many reasons may be urged
against my coming to London. For, first, I cannot be hid if I
come there; and the enemies of the Lord will think I am turning
back, and so blaspheme that holy name wherewith I am called.
Secondly, I cannot leave the flock committed to my care on
shipboard, and perhaps while I am at London the ship may sail.
Thirdly, I see no cause for not going forwards to Georgia. Your
coming rather confirms (as far as I can see) than disannuls
my call. It is not fit the colony should be left without a
shepherd. And though they are a stiff-necked and rebellious
people, yet as God hath given me the affections of all where I
have been, why should I despair of finding His presence in a
foreign land?"[121]
[120] It is a well-known fact, that, in early life, Wesley publicly
maintained that, in matters of importance, when the reasons on each
side appeared to be of equal weight, it was right to decide the
question by casting lots. (See Wesley's "Principles of a Methodist
further explained," 1746.) Strangely enough, this was the method
he adopted to ascertain whether Whitefield ought to abandon his
mission to Georgia. In his letter to Wesley, in 1740, during their
Calvinistic quarrel, Whitefield wrote: "The morning I sailed from
Deal for Gibraltar, you arrived from Georgia. Instead of giving me
an opportunity to converse with you, though the ship was not far
from shore, you drew a lot, and immediately set forwards to London.
You left a letter behind you, in which were words to this effect:
'When I saw God, by the wind which was carrying you out, brought me
in, I asked counsel of God. His answer you have enclosed.' This was
a piece of paper, in which were written these words: 'Let him return
to London.' Whitefield adds, he would 'never have published this
private transaction to the world,' if Wesley had not again used the
lot to determine whether he should 'preach and print' his memorable
sermon on 'Free Grace.'" (Whitefield's Works, vol. iv., p. 56.) It
would not be honest to omit this curious fact; but this is not the
place to discuss its propriety. Sortilege was one of the things
which Wesley learned from the devout Moravians.
[121] Life of C. Wesley, vol. i. p. 100.
Whitefield's answer was worthy of himself. Who can estimate what
would have been the consequences of Whitefield's yielding to
Wesley's wish? Had he now returned to London, the probability is he
would never again have started for America; and, in such a case,
many of the brightest chapters of his history could never have been
penned. Wesley's advice was natural; but Whitefield's reply was
right. Had Wesley known all that had transpired, he would not have
given the counsel that he did. Whitefield's services in Georgia
were engaged by the Georgian Trustees. He was the bearer of a large
number of useful presents, purchased by the money of his friends for
the Georgian colonists. He was the recognised chaplain of a ship
conveying troops sent for the defence of those distant emigrants.
If Whitefield had relinquished his mission, he would have justly
inherited indelible disgrace.
On the day after the letter to Wesley was written, the long-detained
ship again set sail, and on February 19th arrived at Gibraltar.
As usual, Whitefield read prayers, and preached to the soldiers
daily. He explained the Catechism to the women, and exhorted them
particularly to be obedient to their husbands, "which they had
lately been wanting in." At the request of Captain Whiting, he
began "to have full public prayers," and to expound the lessons to
the officers in the "great cabin." On Wednesday, February 8th, he
writes:--
"Had public worship and expounded, as usual, to both my
congregations. In the afternoon, I preached and read prayers
on open deck, at the captain's desire, who ordered chairs to
be brought, and boards put across them for the soldiers to sit
upon. My subject was _The Eternity of Hell Torments_, and I was
earnest in delivering it, being desirous that none of my dear
hearers should experience them."
This was a fearful topic, in such a place, and before such a
congregation; and great must have been the young preacher's courage
in selecting it. The sermon was published in the year following, and
the ensuing extracts will serve to exhibit Whitefield's boldness
in uttering, face to face, sentiments so terrible, to the men and
officers with whom he was so closely associated in his floating
church.
Having proved his doctrine from Scripture, and answered several
objections, Whitefield proceeded:--
"Knowest thou, O worm, what blasphemy thou art guilty of in
charging God with injustice? Shall the thing formed say to Him
that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Wilt thou presume to
arraign the Almighty at the bar of thy shallow reason? Hath God
said it, and shall He not do it? He hath said it, and let God be
true, though every man be a liar. Shall not the Judge of all the
earth do right? Assuredly He will. And if sinners will not own
His justice in His threatenings here, they will be compelled,
ere long, to own and feel them when tormented by Him hereafter.
Would we now and then meditate a while by faith on the miseries
of the damned, I doubt not we should hear many an unhappy soul
venting his fruitless sorrows in some such piteous moans as
these: 'O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from
this body of death! O foolish mortal that I was, thus to bring
myself into these never-ceasing tortures for the transitory
enjoyment of a few short-lived pleasures, which scarcely
afforded me any satisfaction, even when I most indulged myself
in them! Alas! are these the wages, the effects of sin? Are all
the grand deceiver's promises come to this? O damned apostate!
First to delude me with pretended promises of happiness, and,
after years of drudgery in his service, thus to involve me in
eternal woe! Oh that I had never hearkened to his beguiling
insinuations! Oh that I had taken up my cross and followed
Christ! Oh that I had never ridiculed serious godliness, and
condemned the truly pious as too severe, enthusiastic, or
superstitious! Alas! these reflections come too late. I have in
effect denied the Lord that bought me, and therefore justly am I
now denied by Him. But must I live for ever tormented in these
flames? Must my body, which not long since lay in state, was
clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every
day--must this be here eternally confined and made the mockery
of insulting devils? Oh, eternity! That thought fills me with
despair--I _cannot, will not_, yet _I must be_ miserable for
ever!'
"But I can no more. These thoughts are too melancholy for me
to dwell upon, as well as for you to hear; and God knows, as
punishing is His strange work, so denouncing His threatenings is
mine. But if the bare mentioning the torments of the damned is
so shocking--good God! terrible must the enduring of them be!"
A sermon in such a strain would give offence in many of the costly
churches and pretentious chapels of the present day; but it was
devoutly listened to on board the _Whitaker_. Why? Perhaps, one
reason may be found in the solemn fact that it is the sovereign
prerogative of God, not only to raise up faithful preachers, but, to
give ears to hear, and hearts to understand.
For more than a fortnight, Whitefield was detained at Gibraltar,
where he received the greatest kindness. Major Sinclair, a gentleman
whom he had never seen before, hearing of his arrival, provided him
two handsome rooms in a merchant's house,[122] and ministered to his
wants. General Columbine and many others treated him with the utmost
courtesy. Governor Sabine gave him a general invitation to dine with
him every day during his stay, an invitation which was frequently
accepted. The governor was an exemplary man, and, except when
prevented by ill-health, had not been absent from public prayers for
seven years.[123] His table was sumptuous; but his guests, officers
and others, indulged in no excesses. "We had," says Whitefield, the
once Oxford ascetic, "what an Epicurean would call _coena dubia_;
but the law at the governor's table was the same with that of
Ahasuerus, 'No one was compelled;' and all the officers behaved in
such a decent manner every time I dined there, that they pleased me
very much."[124]
[122] Whitefield's Works, vol. i., pp. 37 and 39.
[123] Ibid. p. 38.
[124] In Cooper's edition of Whitefield's Journal, which was
published without his sanction, and which occasioned the publishing
of Hutton's edition, he writes under date of February 22: "We had
an elegant entertainment; but my thoughts were mostly employed in
pitying the unhappiness of great men who are in such a continual
danger of having their table become a snare to them." James Hutton
left this out.
While on this subject, it may be added, that there are many remarks
and reflections in Whitefield's "Journal of a Voyage from London
to Savannah" which it is probable, with all his impulsiveness, he
himself would not have published. The facts of the case are these:
1. Whitefield sent his Journal in manuscript for the private perusal
of his friends. 2. T. Cooper, "at the Globe in Paternoster Row,"
saw it, and printed it, without the writer's knowledge or consent.
3. James Hutton, himself a publisher, was wroth--denounced Cooper's
edition as surreptitious, and said the Journal was sent to him
(Hutton) to be communicated to Whitefield's friends; "but not to be
made public without the advice and correction of certain persons
particularly known to himself." 4. Hutton added that, "Whitefield
knew himself too well to obtrude his little private concerns upon
the world--especially when intermixed with such passages relating
to others as none but an unthinking person could judge proper
to divulge." 5. Nevertheless, Mr. Cooper having published his
surreptitious copy, he (Hutton) "at the earnest solicitation of
several of Mr. Whitefield's friends, now determined to print the
whole." 6. T. Cooper resented this, and, in the _Weekly Miscellany_
for August 11, 1738, there was an advertisement of Cooper's edition
with the following postscript: "Notwithstanding the clamour that
has been made about this copy being surreptitious, I can, with
the utmost veracity, assure the public that it is genuine to
a great degree of exactness; and the advertiser against it is
desired to point out, for the notice of the public, any _passage_,
_circumstance_, or even _any word_, that has been altered, or which
varies from the copy which (he says) he has in his hand, and which
he has owned he never designed to have published.--T. C."
It may be added that Hutton's publication went through four editions
in 1738. It was issued in 12mo., pp. 70.
Whitefield often went on board the _Whitaker_, where he read
prayers, and expounded to his military flock. Such, however, had
been the result of his labours among them, that, when he was
detained on shore, the soldiers had meetings of their own, and read
prayers and sang psalms by themselves. The Protestant ministers
of Gibraltar received the youthful missionary with the greatest
kindness; and, in compliance with their request, and that of the
governor, he preached several times in their churches. He writes:
"I was asked by Dr. C., in the name of the governor, to preach every
Prayer Day whilst I stayed at Gibraltar, which I promised to do."
In accordance with this, there are the following entries in his
Journal:--
"Feb. 26. Preached in the morning at Gibraltar, before such a
congregation of officers and soldiers as I never before saw.
The church, though very large, was quite thronged; and God was
pleased to shew me that He had given extraordinary success to my
sermon.
"March 1. Preached, according to my promise, to a numerous and
affected audience of officers, soldiers, etc.
"March 3. About ten, I preached my sermon against _Swearing_,
and made a farewell application to the soldiers who were going
to Georgia out of the garrison. The governor had that morning
reviewed them; and, as I could not be in the same ship with
them, I desired that they might be ordered to come to church,
that I might have an opportunity of telling them how to behave
in that land which they were going to protect. The colonel and
governor most readily consented; there was a most thronged
audience, and God was pleased to set His seal to my sermon. Many
officers and soldiers wept sorely, and a visible alteration was
observed in the garrison for some days after.
"March 5. Went to the church belonging to the garrison; preached
to a most thronged audience, and received (what my soul longed
after) the sacrament of Christ's most blessed body and blood.
Both the generals were there, and near fifty communicants. The
weekly collection for the poor was larger than was ever known;
and ---- was so affected, that he wished himself a despised
Methodist. Dined at Governor Sabine's, and, at the request of
the inhabitants and gentlemen of the garrison, preached again in
the afternoon."
Such extracts are full of interest. The young Methodist chaplain
of the Oxford prisoners was now, by request, preaching, with power
and success, to crowded military congregations, assembled in the
strongest fortress in the world.
These public sermons, however, were but a small part of Whitefield's
efforts to benefit and bless the Gibraltar population. Six days
after his arrival, he writes:--
"Saturday, Feb. 25. About six this morning, I went with friend
Habersham to the church to pray with some devout soldiers, who I
heard used to meet there at that time, and with whom my soul was
knit immediately. After we had finished our devotion, I found
that their Society had been subsisting about twelve years, and
that Sergeant B., now amongst them, was the beginner of it. At
first, they used to meet in dens, and mountains, and caves in
the rocks; but, afterwards, upon their applying for leave to
build a little place to retire in, Dr. C. and Governor Sabine
gave them the free use of the church, where they constantly met
three times a day to pray, read, and sing psalms, and at any
other season when they pleased. They have met with contempt, and
are now, in derision, called 'The New Lights.' A glorious light
they are indeed; for I conversed closely with several of them,
and they made me quite ashamed of my little proficiency in the
school of Christ. Governor Sabine countenances them much, and
has spoken of them to me with respect."
The circumstances which gave birth to this Society of praying
soldiers are now unknown; but the existence of such a Society, and
its unpretentious meetings, are facts of no ordinary interest and
importance. God is not confined to pulpits to carry on His work. In
all ages there have been devout fraternities, not recognised by men,
but cheered by His countenance and blessing. When Elijah thought
himself the only one "faithful among the faithless," God had seven
thousand left in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Who,
except God Himself, can tell the number of pious brotherhoods now
existing in India, China, Japan, and all the world over, bearing a
resemblance to the Society of "New Lights," with whom Whitefield so
strangely met at the Rock of Gibraltar?
The "New Lights," indeed, were not the only Society of a religious
kind in this famous garrison. These were evidently members of the
Church of England; but there was another coterie, called, with
equal derisiveness, "Dark Lanthorns," who belonged to the Church of
Scotland. Whitefield "did not think it agreeable to visit these."
Even in his eyes, they were a sort of tabooed Dissenters, with whom
it would not be orthodox to mingle; but he "sent them some proper
books, had religious talk with several of them, and endeavoured to
unite both Societies together."
His relationship with the Episcopal "New Lights" was altogether
different. During the nine days after he became acquainted with
them, he met them every morning, to pray, to sing psalms, and to
expound the daily Lessons. Some of the soldiers often came as early
as two o'clock. Pure and precious were these morning meetings.
No wonder that Whitefield's ardent "soul was knit" to such early
worshippers; and no wonder that, having joined with them in their
matin songs, he should also regularly unite in their vesper
devotions. The numbers attending, especially at nights, grew into
large congregations, including "officers, and honourable women not
a few." On Thursday night, March 2, there were above three hundred
present; "among whom were many officers, ladies, and Dr. C., the
minister of the church himself," who wanted Whitefield, instead of
praying and expounding on the floor, to mount the reading desk,
where he could be better seen. The next evening, his congregation
consisted of above five hundred; and the next after that, of about a
thousand. On the last Sunday he spent at Gibraltar, at five o'clock,
he had his "morning exposition in the church;" after that, he "went
and saw the Roman Catholics at their high mass," and thought there
"needed no other argument against Popery than to see the pageantry,
superstition, and idolatry of their worship;" at ten, he preached in
the church belonging to the garrison, and received the sacrament; in
the afternoon, in the same place, he preached again; and "expounded
in the evening to above a thousand hearers of all denominations; and
went home full of unspeakable comfort," and remarking, "I am never
better than when I am on the full stretch for God."
Next morning--his last at Gibraltar--many came to him weeping,
telling him what God had done for their souls, and desiring his
prayers. Others gave and sent him tokens of their love, as cakes,
figs, wine, eggs, and other necessaries for his voyage. Nearly
two hundred soldiers, women, and officers accompanied him to the
seaside, sorrowing at his departure, and wishing him good luck
in the name of the Lord. He was gladly received on board the
_Whitaker_, and at once resumed his duties.
This was a strange episode in the life of the young evangelist. Like
his Divine Redeemer, he "increased in favour with God and man." His
heart was full of gratitude. In a letter, dated Gibraltar, February
25, 1738," he writes:--
"God has been with us of a truth. He has led us through the sea,
as through a wilderness, and brought us to a haven, where I am
honoured with many honours. About six o'clock this morning,
I went to the church, where was assembled a number of decent
soldiers, praying, and singing psalms to Christ as God. They
meet constantly three times a day, and I intend henceforward to
meet with them. They pray without ceasing, have overcome the
world, hate sin, love their enemies and one another. Oh, who
would not travel to see how the Spirit of God is moving poor
sinners' souls up and down the world! God, I find, has a people
everywhere; Christ has a flock, though but a little one, in all
places. God be praised that we are of this flock, and that it
will be our Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom."
On the 7th of March, the _Whitaker_ set sail for Savannah, and,
on Sunday, the 7th of May, cast anchor near Tybee Island. During
this two months' voyage, the duties of Whitefield's chaplaincy
were performed with his usual regularity and zeal. He finished his
exposition of the Creed, and then began to expound the Decalogue.
Habersham taught the children; and several of the soldiers began
learning to read and write. Occasionally, Whitefield visited the
_Lightfoot_ and the _Amy_, two accompanying ships, dined with the
officers, dispersed Bibles, Testaments, and Soldiers' Monitors among
the men, and, on one occasion, threw overboard their cards. On board
the _Amy_, he preached to above two hundred and twenty hearers; and
says, "I married a couple, who did not behave so well as I could
wish. The bridegroom laughed several times in the midst, of the
solemnity, upon which I shut up my Prayer-book. He began to weep,
and I then proceeded, and gave him and the bride a Bible, as the
best present I could make them."[125]
[125] It might be added, that he also began to speak to his hearers,
"one by one," respecting the subjects on which he preached;
and, to aid him in this, he commenced, on March 12th, to write
his "Observations on Select Passages of Scripture turned into
Catechetical Questions." These were published in his collected works
(vol. iv., pp. 345-373); but, though carefully prepared, contain but
little deserving further notice.
On board both the _Whitaker_ and _Lightfoot_, he preached his sermon
against _Drunkenness_, which was published, as soon as he returned
to England, and from which the following extracts are taken. The
text was Ephesians v. 6; and the divisions were,--Drunkenness is a
heinous sin, because, 1. It is an abuse of God's creatures. 2. By it
a man sinneth against his own body. 3. It robs a man of his reason.
4. It is an inlet to, and a forerunner of, many other sins. 5. It
separates the Holy Spirit from us. 6. It absolutely unfits a man for
the enjoyment of God in heaven, and exposes him to His eternal wrath.
The reader may easily imagine that, under such divisions, the bold
and ardent preacher would find employment for strong and scathing
language.
"Flee drunkenness!" he cried, "flee drunkenness, since he that
committeth that crime, sinneth against his own body. Who hath
pains in the head? Who hath rottenness in the bones? Who hath
redness of eyes? He that tarries long at the wine; he that rises
early to seek new wine. How many walking skeletons have you
seen, whose bodies were once exceeding fair to look upon; but,
by this sin of drinking, how has their beauty departed from
them, as though God intended to set them up, as He did Lot's
wife, for monuments of His justice?
"Think ye, O ye drunkards, that you shall be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light? No: as by drunkenness you
have made your hearts cages of unclean birds, with unclean
spirits must you dwell. A burning _Tophet_, kindled by God's
wrath, is prepared for your reception, where you must suffer the
vengeance of an eternal fire, and in vain cry out for a drop
of water to cool your tongues. Indeed, you shall drink, but
it shall be the cup of God's fury. I call heaven and earth to
witness against you this day, that, as surely as the Lord rained
fire and brimstone upon Sodom, so surely will He cast you into a
lake of fire and brimstone, when He shall come to take vengeance
on them that know not God, and have not obeyed the Gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, I have told you before. Remember
you were this day informed what the end of drunkenness would
be. And I summon you, in the name of that God whom I serve, to
meet me at the judgment-seat of Christ, that you may acquit both
my Master and me; and confess, with your own mouths, that your
damnation was of yourselves, and that we were freed from the
blood of you all."
This was hard hitting, and yet Whitefield seemed to make no enemies,
but, by his fidelity, increased the number of his friends. "Colonel
Cochrane was extremely civil; and such was the change upon Captain
Mackay, that he desired Whitefield not to give himself the trouble
of expounding and praying in the cabin and between decks; for he
would order a drum to be beat morning and evening, and himself
would attend with the soldiers on deck." Henceforward, Whitefield
preached with a captain on each side of him, and soldiers round
about him; the two other ships' companies often drawing near, and
joining in the worship of the great Creator. Once, after the public
sermon, Captain Mackay desired the soldiers to stop, whilst he
informed them that, to his great shame, he had been a notorious
swearer, but, by the instrumentality of that gentleman, pointing
to Whitefield, he had abandoned the sin, and wished them all to
copy his example.[126] After the sermon on drunkenness, also, the
captain seconded the effort of the chaplain, and "exhorted the men
to give good heed to the things that had been spoken." A fever
breaking out, Whitefield, "for many days and nights, visited between
twenty and thirty sick persons, crawling between decks upon his
knees, administering medicines and cordials," and giving suitable
advice. The result of the whole was a marvellous reformation. One of
the sailors, who had been a notorious scoffer, sent for Whitefield
in bitter agony, and loudly lamented his past wickedness. The
cadet, who had received a university education, and who, the first
Sunday after sailing from the Thames, amused himself and others by
playing on the hautboy, told Whitefield the history of his life,
and expressed his intention to devote himself to the service of the
Church.[127] Concerning the soldiers, Whitefield says: "I have no
reason to complain of them, for they come very regularly twice a
day to prayer, and an oath seems to be a strange thing amongst most
of them. Many marks of a sound conversion appear in several aboard,
and we live in perfect harmony and peace, loving and beloved of one
another. In the great cabin, we talk of little else but God and
Christ."
[126] Gillies' "Life of Whitefield."
[127] Ibid.
The voyage was long, and not without its incidents, in some of which
Whitefield himself was prominent. For instance, the captain's negro
servant died, was wrapped in a hammock, and thrown into the sea;
but, because the poor creature was not baptized, Whitefield was
Churchman enough to say, "I could not read the office over him." On
the other hand, a baptized soldier "killed himself by drinking," and
Whitefield writes: "I buried him in time of public prayers, chose
proper lessons, and gave the soldiers a suitable exhortation." A
little boy, four years old, refused to repeat the Lord's Prayer. The
young clergyman forced him upon his knees, and gave him "several
blows." The urchin then went through the Prayer, and Whitefield
rewarded him with figs. Another boy behaved improperly at public
worship. Captain Mackay handed over the culprit to the chaplain to
be punished. Whitefield ordered him to be tied with cords, and to
be kept tied till he learned, and could repeat, the fifty-first
Psalm from memory. The lad performed his penance, repeated the Psalm
with great solemnity, "in the midst of the congregation," and was
then released from his ignominious bonds.
Towards the end of the voyage, Whitefield was seized with the fever,
from which all in the ship, except three or four, had suffered.
Habersham and another friend sat up with him every night. He was
bled thrice, was blistered, and had an emetic. Gradually recovering
from this serious illness, he reached Savannah on Sunday evening,
May 7th, more than four months after he had parted with his friends
in London.