"Hail, O saint _Whitefield, ape of grace_,
Thou holy sinner, with a formal face;
Like a young _pelican_, with stomach good,
Prey on thy _mother's_ vital blood;
The place that foster'd thee despise,
And by _enthusiasm_ rise;
Content thyself to lead the _throng_,
And charm the vulgar right or wrong.
When Trapp, with solid, lasting sense,
Displays thy fatal influence,
Stare thou the reverend preacher in the face,
And squint and fleer at all he says:
Let boys and girls thy foll'wers be,
While men of sense thy converse flee:
Religion's sacred name degrade,
And sink thy calling to a trade.
For _orphans_, charity--always,
By fictitious means the money raise;
Rob _masters_ of their _servants' time_,
And rifle _beauty_ in its _prime_;
Make _wives_ their husbands rob, and then
Sing them a _hymn_, and rob ag'n.
Preach, chatter, throw thy arms, and prate,
Be formal as thou canst, and cheat;
But know, howe'er you've form'd your plan,
The _moral_ is the _honest_ man."
More than enough of this. Only one other of the attacks on
Whitefield can be noticed. This, however, was the most authoritative
and serious. Edmund Gibson, D.D., was a man of great ability and
learning, a laborious student, and one whose piety, it is said, was
equal to his erudition. He had now reached the age of three-score
years and ten, was Bishop of London, and Whitefield's diocesan.
It is no mean proof of the enormous excitement created by young
Whitefield and his friends, that this venerable and distinguished
man deemed it his duty to enter the lists against them. He had
already published three Pastoral Letters, "in defence of the
Gospel-revelation, and by way of preservative against the late
writings in favour of Infidelity." He now, on August 1, issued a
fourth, with the title, "The Bishop of London's Pastoral Letter to
the People of his Diocese; especially those of the two great Cities
of London and Westminster; by way of Caution, against Lukewarmness
on one hand, and Enthusiasm on the other." (8vo. 55 pp.) Before
the year was ended, this letter passed, at least, through
three editions. Nineteen pages were devoted to "lukewarmness;"
the remainder to "enthusiasm." The charges brought against the
Methodists are nine in number; and it is a remarkable fact, that all
of them are supported, exclusively, by quotations from Whitefield's
loosely worded Journals. The charges against Whitefield and his
friends are these:--1. A claim to _extraordinary communications_
with God, and more than ordinary assurances of a _special presence_
with them. 2. Talking in the language of those who have a special
and immediate _mission_ from God. 3. Professing to think and act
under the immediate guidance of a _Divine inspiration_. 4. Speaking
of their preaching and expounding, and the effects of them, as the
sole work of a _Divine power_. 5. Boasting of sudden and surprising
effects as wrought by the _Holy Ghost_, in consequence of their
preaching. 6. Claiming the spirit of _prophecy_. 7. Speaking of
themselves in the language, and under the character, of _apostles_
of Christ, and even of _Christ_ Himself. 8. Professing to plant
and propagate a _new Gospel_, as unknown to the generality of
ministers and people, in a Christian country. 9. Endeavouring to
justify their own _extraordinary_ methods of teaching, by casting
unworthy reflections upon the parochial clergy, as deficient in the
discharge of their duty, and not instructing their people in the
true doctrines of Christianity.
In support of these accusations, not fewer than ninety quotations
are made from Whitefield's Journals; but, excepting one in proof
of the last-mentioned allegation, there are none which are not
capable of an interpretation widely different from that supplied
by Bishop Gibson. No doubt, many are unfortunately expressed.[251]
In not a few, there is a semblance of ostentation, and even of
religious pride, which all educated and sober-minded Christians will
condemn. But, while honestly admitting such facts as these, it is
preposterous to affirm that either Whitefield or the Wesleys ever
made pretensions like those ascribed to them by the conscientious
bishop of the London diocese. He thought they did; but he was
prejudiced and mistaken.
[251] Poor Whitefield's Journals were a sore perplexity. Under date
"November 12, 1739," Wesley writes: "A young gentleman overtook me
on the road from Wycombe to Oxford, and, after a while, asked me if
I had seen Whitefield's Journals? I told him I had. 'And what do
you think of them?' said he. 'Don't you think they are d--n'd cant,
enthusiasm, from end to end? I think so.' I asked him, 'Why do you
think so?' He replied, 'Why, he talks so much about joy and stuff,
and inward feelings. As I hope to be saved, I cannot tell what to
make of it.'"
Whitefield was impulsive, and pre-eminently a man of action. The
Bishop's Pastoral Letter is dated, "August 1, 1739." On August 11,
Whitefield began his answer to the bishop's pamphlet; and, two days
afterwards, sent it to the press. It was composed at Blendon, and
is one of the smartest productions of his pen; its style firm, but
quiet and respectful; its language pure, pointed, forcible, and
without the diffusiveness which often characterised Whitefield's
writings. He had no assistance from the Wesleys, for John was in
the west of England, and Charles in London. The celerity with which
it was written deserves notice; for, during the two days and a half
devoted to it, Whitefield preached four sermons, read prayers once,
and, in Bexley church, assisted in administering the sacrament
to nearly six hundred persons. The title was, "The Rev. Mr.
Whitefield's Answer to the Bishop of London's last Pastoral Letter."
(8vo. 28 pp.) Want of space precludes the insertion here of copious
extracts. It is enough to say, 1. That, Whitefield distinctly and
truthfully affirms, "I never did pretend to the _extraordinary_
operations of the Holy Spirit. I only lay claim to His ordinary
gifts and influences." 2. That, so far from setting aside the
teaching of the Established Church, he says, "My constant way of
preaching is, first, to prove my propositions by Scripture, and
then to illustrate them by the Articles and Collects of the Church
of England. Those who have heard me can witness how often I have
exhorted them to be constant at the public service of the Church; I
attend on it myself; and would read the public Liturgy every day, if
your lordship's clergy would give me leave."
It is only fair to add, that, Whitefield honestly meets all the
charges brought against him; and that, upon the whole, his "Answer"
is complete and victorious.
This was Whitefield's only reply to the scores of antagonistic
pamphlets published during the year 1739. In the same year, however,
he issued a considerable number of other publications, of which the
following is a list:--
1. "A Journal of a Voyage from London to Savannah in Georgia.
In two parts. Part I. From London to Gibraltar. Part II. From
Gibraltar to Savannah. With a short Preface, shewing the reason
of its publication." 8vo. 55 pp.
2. "A Continuation of the Rev. Mr. Whitefield's Journal, from
his Arrival at Savannah to his return to London." 8vo. 38 pp.
3. "A Continuation of the Rev. Mr. Whitefield's Journal, from
his Arrival at London to his Departure thence on his way to
Georgia." 8vo. 115 pp.
4. "A Continuation of the Rev. Mr. Whitefield's Journal, during
the time he was detained in England by the Embargo." 8vo. 40 pp.
5. "An Account of Money, received and expended by the Rev. Mr.
Whitefield, for the Poor of Georgia." 8vo. 23 pp.[252]
[252] Another publication may be mentioned, namely, "An Abstract
of the Life and Death of the Reverend, Learned, and Pious Mr.
Thomas Halyburton, M.A., Professor of Divinity in the University
of St. Andrews. With a Recommendatory Epistle by the Rev. George
Whitefield, and a Preface by the Rev. John Wesley. 1739." 102 pp.
Whitefield's "Epistle" is dated February 5, 1739. Speaking of
Halyburton, he says, "I cannot but look upon his life as the most
perfect copy of his blessed Master's that I have yet seen; and, as
such, I recommend it to all my friends."
These five publications have been so freely used in the foregoing
pages as to render further description unnecessary.
In the same year, 1739, appeared, 1. "Sermons on Various Subjects.
In two Volumes." (12mo. 161 and 150 pp.) And, 2. "The Christian's
Companion; or, Sermons on Several Subjects." (12mo. 335 pp.) The
sermons, however, contained in these volumes were partly sermons
already published in the years 1737 and 1738; and partly sermons
found in the following list,[253] and published separately.
[253] No sermon already noticed is included in the list.
1. "Directions how to hear Sermons. A Sermon preached at
Christ's Church in Spitalfields, London." 8vo. 18 pp.
2. "Worldly Business no Plea for the Neglect of Religion. A
Sermon preached at the Parish Church of St. Lawrence, Old Jewry,
London." 8vo. 17 pp.
3. "Satan's Devices. A Sermon preached at Great St. Helen's,
London." 8vo. 25 pp.
4. "The Marks of the New Birth. A Sermon preached at the Parish
Church of St. Mary, Whitechapel, London." 8vo. 23 pp.
5. "The Knowledge of Jesus Christ, the best Knowledge. A Sermon
preached at Great St. Helen's, London." 8vo. 18 pp.
6. "The Power of Christ's Resurrection. A Sermon preached at
Werburgh's, in the city of Bristol." 8vo. 20 pp.
7. "The Duty of Searching the Scriptures. A Sermon preached at
St. Michael, Cornhill." 8vo. 19 pp.
8. "The Folly and Danger of being not Righteous enough. A Sermon
preached at Kennington Common, Moorfields, and Blackheath." 8vo.
34 pp.
9. "The Necessity of the Righteousness of Christ. A Farewell
Sermon preached at Moorfields, June 3, 1739." 8vo. 25 pp.
10. "The Care of the Soul urged as the One Thing Needful. A
Sermon preached on Kennington Common, May 19, 1739." 8vo. 35 pp.
11. "Watching, the peculiar Duty of a Christian.[254] A Sermon
preached at Mary-le-bone, Moorfields, and Kennington Common."
8vo. 25 pp.
[254] This, in Whitefield's collected works, is entitled, "The
Wise and Foolish Virgins."
12. "An Exhortation to come and see Jesus.[255] A Sermon
preached at Moorfields, May 20, 1739." 8vo. 14 pp.
[255] In Whitefield's collected works, the title of this sermon
is "The Conversion of Zacchæus;" but there is a great difference
between the two.
13. "Jesus Christ the only Way to Salvation. A Sermon preached
on Kennington Common." 8vo. 24 pp.