"BOSTON, _September 24, 1740_.
"And is dear brother Howell Harris yet alive in body and soul? I
rejoice in your success. I hope your conversation was blessed to
dear Mr. Wesley. O that the Lord may batter down his free-will,
and compel him to own His sovereignty and everlasting love! Some
of Fetter Lane Society, I fear, are running into sad errors. My
coming to England will try my fidelity to my Master. Nothing
but His strength can enable me to bear all contradictions with
meekness."
On September 25, Whitefield wrote a long letter to Wesley, in which
he tried to shew that, what he calls the doctrine of _sinless
perfection_ is unscriptural; and concludes with a reference to
the recent publication of Wesley's celebrated sermon, entitled
"Free Grace," in which he exhibited and refuted the doctrine of
predestination. Whitefield writes:--
"I find your sermon has had its expected success; it has set the
nation a disputing. You will have enough to do now to answer
pamphlets. Two I have already seen. O that you would be more
cautious in casting lots![381] O that you would not be rash and
precipitate! If you go on thus, honoured sir, how can I concur
with you? It is impossible. I must speak what I know. Thus I
write out of the fulness of my heart. About spring, you may
expect to see, ever, ever yours in Christ,
"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."
[381] Whitefield, in another place, asserts that Wesley received
a letter charging him with not preaching the gospel, because he
did not preach election. Upon this, Wesley drew a lot to determine
whether he should publish his Anti-Calvinistic views. The answer was
"_preach and print_;" and, accordingly, he preached and printed his
sermon on "Free Grace."
Things were approaching a crisis. Three days afterwards, Whitefield
wrote to Wesley another letter,--the least loving he had ever sent
to his "honoured friend."
"BOSTON, _September 28, 1740_.
"DEAR BROTHER WESLEY,--What mean you by disputing in all your
letters?[382] May God give you to know yourself; and then you
will not plead for _absolute perfection_, or call the doctrine
of _election_ a 'doctrine of devils.' My dear brother, take
heed. See you are in Christ a new creature. Beware of a false
peace. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; and give all
diligence to make your calling and election sure. Remember you
are but a babe in Christ, if so much. Be humble; talk little;
think and pray much. Let God teach you; and He will lead you
into all truth. I love you heartily. I pray you may be kept from
error, both in principle and practice. Salute all the brethren.
If you must dispute, stay till you are master of the subject;
otherwise you will hurt the cause you would defend. Study to
adorn the gospel of our Lord in all things; and forget not to
pray for your affectionate friend and servant,
"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."
[382] Probably letters had arrived during the three days' interval.
This hortatory letter was very different in tone from the letter
which Whitefield had previously addressed to Wesley; and,
considering Wesley's seniority and other circumstances, it was
scarcely modest. Whitefield was growing angry, though, perhaps, he
hardly knew it. To another friend he wrote, on September 26:--
"I hope nothing will cause a division between me and Messrs.
Wesley. But I must speak what I know, and confute error
wheresoever I find it."
On the same day he wrote to the Rev. Benjamin Ingham, the Moravian
evangelist in Yorkshire:--
"I find our friends are got into disputing one with another. O
that the God of peace may put a stop to it! If we are divided
among ourselves, what an advantage will Satan gain over us!
Let us love one another, excite all to come to Christ without
exception, and our Lord will shew us who are His."
Before proceeding with Whitefield's Journal, another letter must be
introduced. William Delamotte was acting as Ingham's coadjutor in
Yorkshire. He had left the Church of England, and become a Moravian.
About this period, he began to preach, but his career was soon
ended. He died February 22, 1743, and was buried at St. Dunstan's
in the East, London.[383] To this brother of the young lady, whom
Whitefield, in so strange a manner, had asked to become his wife,
the following was addressed:--
"BOSTON, _September 28, 1740_.
"DEAR BROTHER WILLIAM,--I thank you for your kind letter from
Osset. I wish it was written with more life. I fear you are
turning almost to a spirit of bondage; but it is good for you to
be sifted, to make an experienced minister of Jesus Christ.
"I could not but smile, to find you wink at the _decency of my
dress_. Alas! my brother, I have long since known what it is
to be in that state, into which I fear you are about to enter.
I once thought that Christianity required me to go nasty. I
neglected myself as much as you would have me, for about a
twelvemonth; but, when God gave me the spirit of adoption, I
then dressed _decently_, as you call it, out of principle; and I
am more and more convinced, that the Lord would have, me act, in
that respect, as I do.
"God only knows whether you have done right in leaving the
University, or in declining to exhort. If you do not preach till
you are perfectly free from all sin, I believe you will never
preach again. I could never hear of such a minister or Christian
yet. Jesus Christ sent His disciples to preach before they were
perfect; nay, when they were weak in grace. Exercise the talents
you have; that is the way to get more. Thus God has dealt with
me for these seven years.
"Many of our friends talk against election. A good reason may be
given. I believe they have never taken pains to search into the
true state of the case. But I will say no more. Our dear Master
is doing wonders amongst us. Praise Him lustily, and with a good
courage, Adieu!
"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."
[383] "Memoirs of James Hutton," pp. 94, 229.
We must now return to Whitefield's itinerary. Leaving Boston on
Monday morning, September 29, he rode forty miles to Ipswich;
and, during the day, preached twice, at Marble Head and Salem, to
assembled thousands. Next day, he had two immense congregations at
Ipswich and Newbury. On Wednesday, October 1, he wrote:--
"Preached in the morning, though not with so much freedom
as usual, at Hampton, to some thousands in the open air.
Some, though not many, were affected. After dinner, rode to
Portsmouth, fourteen miles from Hampton, and preached to a
polite auditory, and so very unconcerned, that I began to
question whether I had been preaching to rational or brute
creatures. Immediately after sermon, I went over a very stony
way to York, thirteen miles from Portsmouth, to see one Mr.
Moody, a worthy, plain, and powerful minister of Jesus Christ,
though now much impaired by old age. He has lived by faith for
many years, has been much despised by bad men, and as much
respected by the true lovers of the blessed Jesus.
"Thursday, October 3. Was comforted to hear good Mr. Moody tell
me, that he believed I should preach to a hundred new creatures
in his congregation this morning. And, indeed, I believe I did.
I preached both morning and evening. The hearers looked plain
and simple; and tears trickled apace down their cheeks.
"Friday, October 3. Preached this morning, at Portsmouth, to a
far greater congregation than before; but, instead of preaching
to dead stocks, I had now reason to believe I was preaching to
living men. People began to melt soon after I began to pray, and
the influence increased more and more during the whole sermon.
Good Mr. Shutlif, the minister, when he afterwards sent me £97,
collected at this time for the orphans, wrote thus: 'You have
left great numbers under deep impressions, and I trust in God
they will not wear off.' After dinner, I hastened to Hampstead,
and preached to several thousands of people with a great deal of
life and power. Collected £41 for the orphan children, and set
out directly for Newbury, which we reached about eight at night.
"Saturday, October 4. Preached in the morning to a very thronged
congregation. Collected £80. Hasted to Ipswich. Preached to a
larger congregation than when there last. Collected £79 for the
orphans. Got to Salem at night.
"Sunday, October 5. Preached, at eight in the morning, in the
meeting-house, at the minister's request. Read prayers, and
assisted at the sacrament, in the Church of England. Preached
again, in the afternoon, in the meeting-house; and collected £72
for the orphans.
"Monday, October 6. Preached at Marble Head about eleven. The
two ministers presented me with £70 for the Orphan House, which
they had collected yesterday in their own private meetings. Went
to Maulden, fourteen miles from Marble Head, and preached, but
not with so much enlargement as in the morning. Got privately
into Boston about seven at night; and, though I had ridden a
hundred and seventy-eight miles, and preached sixteen times, yet
I was not in the least wearied."
Whitefield might have added to this account of his week's work in
the country, that, he had collected £359 for his orphans in Georgia.
Further extracts from his Journal, which now will soon be ended,
cannot fail to interest the thoughtful reader:--
"Tuesday, October 7. Preached, both morning and evening, in Dr.
Colman's meeting-house, with much power. I now, almost hourly,
receive letters from persons under convictions.
"Wednesday, October 8. Went with the governor, in his coach,
to Mr. Webb's meeting-house, where I preached, morning and
evening, to very great auditories. Both times, many hearts were
melted down. I think I never was so drawn out to pray for little
children, and invite them to Jesus Christ. I had just heard of a
child, who, after hearing me preach, was immediately taken sick,
and said, 'I will go to Mr. Whitefield's God.' In a short time
he died. This encouraged me to speak to little ones; but, oh,
how were the old people affected, when I said, 'Little children,
if your parents will not come to Christ, do you come, and go to
heaven without them.' There seemed to be but few dry eyes. I
have not seen a greater commotion during my preaching at Boston.
"Thursday, October 9. Every morning, since my return, I have
been applied to by many souls under deep distress. Expounded at
Dr. Sewall's meeting-house, which was very much crowded. The
Lord enabled me to open my mouth boldly against unconverted
ministers; for, I am persuaded, the generality of preachers talk
of an unknown and unfelt Christ. The reason why congregations
have been so dead is, because they have had dead men preaching
to them. O that the Lord may quicken and revive them! How can
dead men beget living children? It is true, indeed, that God
may convert men by the devil, if He chooses; and so He may by
unconverted ministers; but, I believe; He seldom makes use of
either of them for this purpose. No: He chooses vessels made
meet by the operations of His blessed Spirit. For my own part,
I would not lay hands on an unconverted man for ten thousand
worlds. Unspeakable freedom God gave me while treating on
this head: and many ministers were present. In the afternoon,
I preached, on the common, to about fifteen thousand people,
and collected upwards of £200 of New England currency for the
orphans. In the evening, I went to the almshouse, and preached
for near half an hour; then I went to the workhouse, where I
exhorted a great number of people for near an hour more; and
then, hearing there was a considerable number waiting for a word
of exhortation at my lodgings, God strengthened me to give them
a spiritual morsel. Soon after I retired to rest.
"Friday, October 10. Was still busied, from the very moment I
arose until I went out, in answering those that came to me under
great distress. Went over Charlestown ferry, where I preached
with much freedom of spirit. Hastened to Redding, twelve
miles from Charlestown, where I preached to many thousands. A
considerable moving was discernible in the congregation.
"Saturday, October 11. Went again to Cambridge, and preached,
at the meeting-house door, to a great body of people, who stood
very attentively (though it rained), and were much affected. It
being the town of the University, I discoursed on these words,
'Noah, a preacher of righteousness' and endeavoured to shew
the qualifications for a true evangelical preacher of Christ's
righteousness. After sermon, the president kindly entertained
me and my friends.[384] About four, we reached Boston, where I
preached, immediately, in Ur. Sewall's meeting-house. I exhorted
a great number afterwards at my lodgings; and then was employed,
till near midnight, in settling my private affairs, answering
letters, and speaking to those under conviction.
[384] Dr. Colman, in a letter written at the time, says: "The
college is entirely changed. The students are full of God. Many
of them appear truly born again. The voice of prayer and of
praise fills their chambers; and joy, with seriousness of heart,
sits visibly on their faces. I was told yesterday that not
seven, out of the one hundred in attendance, remain unaffected."
("Wesley and his Coadjutors," by Larrabee, vol. ii., p. 140.)
"Sunday, October 12. Spoke to as many as I could, who came for
spiritual advice. Preached, with great power, at Dr. Sewall's
meeting-house, which was so exceedingly thronged, that I was
obliged to get in at one of the windows. Went with the governor,
in his coach, to the common, where I preached my farewell sermon
to near twenty thousand people,--a sight I have not seen since
I left Blackheath. Numbers, great numbers, melted into tears.
After sermon, the governor went with me to my lodgings. I stood
in the passage, and spoke to a great company, both within and
without doors. The remainder of the evening was almost entirely
spent in speaking to persons under great distress of soul.
"Monday, October 13. Took an affectionate leave of many dear
friends. Went with the governor, in his coach, to Charlestown
ferry, where he handed me into the boat, kissed me, and with
tears bid me farewell. Blessed be God! for what He has done
at Boston. I hope a glorious work is begun, and that the Lord
will stir up faithful labourers to carry it on. Boston is a
large populous place, and very wealthy. It has the form kept
up very well, but has lost much of the power of religion. I
have not heard of any remarkable stir in it for many years.
Ministers and people are obliged to confess that the love
of many is waxed cold. Both seem too much conformed to the
world. There is much of the pride of life to be seen in their
assemblies. Jewels, patches, and gay apparel are commonly worn
by the female sex. I observed little boys and girls commonly
dressed up in the pride of life; and the infants, that were
brought to baptism, were wrapped in such finery, that one would
think they were brought thither, to be initiated into, rather
than to renounce, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world.
Boston, however, is remarkable for the external observance of
the Sabbath. Men in civil offices have a regard for religion.
The governor encourages them; and the ministers and magistrates
seem to be more united, than those in any other place where I
have been. I never saw so little scoffing; never had so little
opposition. Still, I fear, many rest in a head-knowledge, are
close Pharisees, and have only a name to live. Boston people are
dear to my soul, and were very liberal to my dear orphans. I
promised to visit them again. There are nine meeting-houses of
the Congregational persuasion; one Baptist; one French; and one
belonging to the Scotch-Irish."
Thus ended Whitefield's first visit to the capital of New England.
"God works by me," he wrote, "more than ever. I am quite well in
bodily health. Ministers, as well as people, are stirred up, and
the Government is exceeding civil. I have already collected upwards
of £400 sterling for the Orphan House. God shews me that America
must be my place for action."[385] The following description of
Whitefield's preaching is extracted, from a work published in
Boston, entitled "The Rebels":--
"There is nothing in the appearance of this remarkable man which
would lead you to suppose that a Felix would tremble before him.
To have seen him when he first commenced, one would have thought
him anything but enthusiastic and glowing; but, as he proceeded,
his heart warmed with his subject, and his manner became
impetuous, till, forgetful of everything around him, he seemed
to kneel at the throne of Jehovah, and to beseech in agony for
his fellow-beings.
[385] Whitefield's Works, vol. i., p. 217.
"After he had finished his prayer, he knelt a long time in
profound silence; and so powerfully had it affected the most
heartless of his audience, that a stillness like that of the
tomb pervaded the whole house.
"Before he commenced his sermon, long, darkening columns crowded
the bright sunny sky of the morning, and swept their dull
shadows over, the building, in fearful augury of the storm that
was approaching.
"'See that emblem of human life,' said he, as he pointed to a
flitting, shadow. 'It passed for a moment, and concealed the
brightness of heaven from our view; but it is gone. And where
will you be, my hearers, when your lives have passed away like
that dark cloud? Oh, my dear friends, I see thousands sitting
attentive, with their eyes fixed on the poor unworthy preacher.
In a few days, we shall all meet at the judgment-seat of Christ.
We shall form a part of that vast assembly which will gather
before His throne. Every eye will behold the Judge. With a voice
whose call you must abide and answer, He will enquire, whether
on earth you strove to enter in at the strait gate; whether you
were supremely devoted to God; whether your hearts were absorbed
in Him. My blood runs cold when I think how many of you will
then seek to enter in, and shall not be able. O what plea can
you make before the Judge of the whole earth? Can you say it
has been your whole endeavour to mortify the flesh, with its
affections and lusts? No! you must answer, I made myself easy in
the world, by flattering myself that all would end well; but I
have deceived my own soul, and am lost.
"'O false and hollow Christians, of what avail will it be that
you have done many things? that you have read much in the sacred
Word? that you have made long prayers? that you have attended
religious duties, and appeared holy in the eyes of men? What
will all this be, if, instead of loving God supremely, you have
been supposing you should exalt yourselves in heaven by acts
really polluted and unholy?
"'And you, rich men, wherefore do you hoard your silver?
Wherefore count the price you have received for Him whom you
every day crucify in your love of gain? Why, that, when you are
too poor to buy a drop of cold water, your beloved son may be
rolled into hell in his chariot, pillowed and cushioned.
"'O sinner! by all your hopes of happiness, I beseech you to
repent. Let not the wrath of God be awakened! Let not the
fires of eternity be kindled against you! See there!' said the
impassioned preacher, pointing to a flash of lightning, 'It is
a glance from the angry eye of Jehovah! Hark!' continued he,
raising his finger in a listening attitude, as the thunder broke
in a tremendous crash, 'it was the voice of the Almighty as He
passed by in His anger!'
"As the sound died away, Whitefield covered his face with his
hands, and fell on his knees, apparently lost in prayer. The
storm passed rapidly by, and the sun, bursting forth, threw
across the heavens the magnificent arch of peace. Rising and
pointing to it, the young preacher cried, 'Look upon the
rainbow, and praise Him who made it. Very beautiful it is in the
brightness thereof. It compasseth the heavens about with glory,
and the hands of the Most High have bended it.'"[386]
[386] Wakeley's "Anecdotes of Whitefield."
This may be taken as a fair specimen of Whitefield's impromptu
eloquence. It is said, Whitefield was requested, by his hearers, to
furnish a copy of his sermon for publication. "I have no objection,"
said he, "if you will print the lightning, thunder, and rainbow with
it."
What were the results of Whitefield's preaching in the capital
of New England, and in its immediate vicinity? This question is
answered, in part, by the following extracts from letters, published
at the time in a folio newspaper, entitled, "Postscript to the
_South Carolina Gazette_, No. 361. Charleston: printed by Peter
Timothy, in King Street." The letters seem to have been addressed to
the Rev. Josiah Smith,[387] of Charleston, and were sent by him to
Mr. Timothy for publication.
[387] The Rev. Josiah Smith graduated at Harvard College in 1725,
was ordained minister for Bermuda in 1726, and afterwards took
charge of the Presbyterian Church in Charleston. Having become a
prisoner of war at Charleston, he was sent on parole, in 1781, to
Philadelphia, where he died in the same year, aged 76. He published
a considerable number of sermons, including one on the preaching of
Whitefield, in 1740.
"_October 1, 1740._
"REV. AND DEAR SIR,--You raised our expectations of Mr.
Whitefield very much; but, now we have seen and heard him, we
all own that our expectations are answered and exceeded, not
only in his zealous and abounding labours, but in his command of
the hearts and affections of his hearers. He has been received
here" (Boston) "as an angel of God and servant of Jesus Christ."
"_October 22, 1740._
"I perceive you are impatient to know what manner of entering in
Mr. Whitefield had among us. _His own[388] received him not_;
but _we_ (ministers, rulers, and people,) generally received him
as an angel of God, or as Elias, or John the Baptist risen from
the dead. When he preached his farewell sermon, on our common,
there were, at a moderate computation, twenty-three thousand
present. Such a power and presence of God with a preacher, and
in religious assemblies, I never saw before, and am ready to
fear I shall never see again. The prejudices of many are quite
conquered, and the expectations of others vastly outdone, as
they freely own. A considerable number are _awakened_, and many
Christians seem to be greatly quickened. In this town" (Boston)
"whoever goes to lessen Mr. Whitefield's reputation, is in
danger of losing his own. He has preached twice at Cambridge. He
has there one warm friend, Mr. ----, the tutor, who has followed
him to Northampton, and will, for aught I know, follow him to
Georgia. But Mr. Whitefield has not a warmer friend anywhere
than in the first man among us. Our governor can call him
nothing less than the Apostle Paul. He has shewn him the highest
respect; carried him in his coach from place to place; and could
not help following him fifty miles out of town."
[388] The clergy of the Church of England.
"_November 1, 1740._
"I received yours by the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, with whom I
coveted a great deal more private conversation than I had
opportunity for, by reason of the throngs of people, that were
almost perpetually with him; but he appears to me to be full
of the love of God, and to be fired with an extraordinary zeal
for the cause of Christ. He applies himself, with the most
indefatigable diligence, to promoting the good of souls. His
head, his heart, and his hands seem to be full of his Master's
business. His discourses (especially when he goes into an
expository way) are very entertaining. Every eye is fixed upon
him, and every ear chained to his lips. Most are very much
affected; many awakened and convinced; and a general seriousness
is excited. His address to the passions is wonderful, and
beyond what I have ever seen. Although I can by no means go his
length in censuring, yet I can make allowance for such things,
when I see the fervour of his soul, and how the zeal of God's
house hath eaten him up. I can truly say that his preaching has
quickened _me_, and I believe it has many ministers besides,
as well as the people.[389] Several of my flock, especially
of the younger sort, have been with me, manifesting the great
convictions that were stirred up in them by Mr. Whitefield's
preaching; and there is this also among other good effects of
his preaching, that the word preached now by _us_ seems more
precious to them, and comes with more power upon them."
[389] Among other ministers, converted by Whitefield's preaching
at Boston, was John Porter, pastor at Bridgewater, who writes: "I
knew nothing rightly of my sin and danger, of my need of a Saviour,
of the way of salvation by Him; neither was I established in the
doctrines of grace, till I heard that man of God, Mr. Whitefield, at
Boston." Six months after this, a revival took place at Bridgewater,
and a large number of the population were converted. Another
minister similarly benefited was the Rev. Jonathan Parsons, of
the West Parish of Lyme, where, in the spring of 1741, occurred a
revival quite as wonderful as that at Bridgewater. At Portsmouth,
where Whitefield preached on October 3, 1740, God's work was
remarkably revived some months afterwards. In fact, as is well
known, for two or three years subsequent to Whitefield's visit,
nearly the whole of New England became another "valley of vision,"
where "the breath from the four winds" breathed, and, as the newly
quickened prophets "prophesied," in thousands of instances, "dry
bones" were made to live. It would be absurd to attribute the
_whole_ of this to Whitefield's visit; but there cannot be a doubt
that, in an indirect way, by the impressions he made on ministers
and churches, his usefulness was great. (See Gillies' "Historical
Collections," vol. ii., pp. 184-338.)