"Mr. Whitefield behaved at first in part like a clergyman, but
never altogether so. Then he was looked upon as an impudent bold
man; but since as a wicked man. When, though an ecclesiastic,
he opposed all ecclesiastical maxims, and ran counter to all
authority of the Church, he was deemed a novelist; but when
he daringly pleaded the impulse of the Holy Spirit for these
irregular proceedings, he was then, with equal justice, deemed
an enthusiast. Whether he is an impostor, God only knows."
After asserting that Whitefield has "sunk the house of God below a
play-house, and turned religion into a farce," the writer adds:--
"I think it beyond all contradiction that he is in practice a
Dissenter. He has long thought fit to renounce the Liturgy of
the Church of England, and to pray extempore in his own words.
The more we consider his words and works, the more will he
appear an enthusiast, a blasphemer, and a wavering, wandering
preacher of no establishment. He at first touched upon the
Church, but transgressed its order, so as not to continue in it.
At present, he seems near attached to the Dissenting communion,
though he does not omit to blend his notions with a good spice
both of the Roman Catholic and the Mahometan."
All this wrathful outpouring was bad enough; but _one_ of the
_most ribald_ publications against Whitefield was (No. 41) "The
Methodists: an Humorous Burlesque Poem, addressed to the Rev. Mr.
Whitefield and his Followers." Some parts of this foul production
cannot be quoted with decency. Two extracts, both relating to
Whitefield, must suffice. After describing the devil's journey from
Rome to Oxford, the scurrilous poetaster writes:--
"On holy Pembroke's ragged top
He first of all did choose to stop;
There spread his dusky dew around,
To quite _unconsecrate_ the ground;
Then to his _fav'rite Whitefield_ flies;
But first, because he'd not surprise
One to his heart and mind so dear,
He chose his horrid form to clear.
He straightway _shod_ his _cloven foot_,
Pull'd off his _horns_ and all to boot;
Then dress'd him in a student's gown,
And, thus equipp'd, to George went down.
He found the dinner on the table,
All eating fast as they were able,
(For Methodists still love to _eat_,
And always fondly praise a treat.)"