"LONDON, _June 9, 1741_.
"REV. AND DEAR SIR,--Blessed be God, the word runs and is
glorified. The heat of the battle is now, I hope, pretty well
over. God is pleased to give me great power, and to strengthen
me both in body and soul. Our congregations are large and
awful. We generally see and feel much of the Divine presence
in the sanctuary. Many are pricked to the heart. I have three
truly experienced young men who have joined me.[446] Affairs
being somewhat settled here, I am going a long journey of
several months, through several counties in England, Wales, and
Scotland. The door was never opened wider for my preaching the
everlasting gospel.
[446] Probably his three lay preachers, Howell Harris, John
Cennick, and Joseph Humphreys.
"At present, there is no great fear of opposition from the men
in power; though I hear the House of Lords intend to give a
hearing to my appeal.[447] However it be, I am easy. The Lord
Jesus over-rules everything for the good of His church.
[447] Against the decisions of Commissary Garden's court at
Charleston.
"I suppose I cannot come over to you till about next spring. In
the meanwhile, I am, etc.,
"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."
From the letter Whitefield wrote to Cennick, it is evident he was
still seriously in debt on account of his orphans in America; but he
was full of faith that God would provide for his necessities. His
confidence was not misplaced. On the 11th of June, Mr. Habersham,
his superintendent, wrote to him, saying:--
"You would be surprised to see Bethesda. God has given us the
appearance of a plentiful crop. The garden and plantation now
afford us many comfortable things, and in great plenty. Our
stores are well stocked with flour and beef. The house would
be soon finished, if we could get bricks. J. S---- is ready
to do all our bricklayers' work _gratis_. Brother W---- is a
great blessing to the family, and has spun and woven a great
deal for us. All the boys now sleep in the great house. They
have also coats, and lie in sheets of their own making. By this
means, they are kept sweet and clean. We have a fine growing
stock of cattle; and, if God should so order it that we should
have a plantation in Carolina, we should need but little, if
any, assistance from abroad. If our building were now done, our
expenses would be trifling to what they have been."[448]
Besides cheering intelligence like this, Whitefield began to receive
considerable assistance from friends in England. On one day, June
13, 1741, he had occasion to write to three different clergymen,
thanking them for their contributions. To the "Rev. Mr. U----" he
says: "Dear sir, I most heartily thank you for promising me your
assistance in respect to the orphans. I am persuaded our Lord will
be well pleased. He gives me great encouragement." To the "Rev. Mr.
S----, at Worcester," he writes: "As you are so aged and infirm, I
take it as an especial favour that you are pleased to write to me.
You need make no apology, reverend sir, for your plain dealing. I
love those best, who deal most sincerely with me. I also thank you
for your kind benefaction. My arrears upon the Orphan House are
yet large; but, I hope, ere long, the Lord will enable me to pay
them all. At present, I am kept from doubting." And to the third
clergyman, "the Rev. Mr. F----, at Southampton," he says, with a
characteristic gush of gratitude, "Just now I have received your
kind letter, and the generous benefaction of you and your friends
for the Orphan House. It came very opportunely, and strengthens my
faith in the blessed Jesus. I find He helps me by ways I know not."
Towards the end of June, Whitefield left London, to preach in the
provinces, and to make collections for his Orphanage.[449] In a
letter to John Cennick, dated "Hertford, July I, 1741," he says:--
[448] _Weekly History_, September 5, 1741.
[449] The following list of the collections for his Orphan House,
which Whitefield made in _England_, during the year 1741, will
shew, at least some of the country towns he visited. The list is
taken from his "Continuation of the Account of the Orphan House in
Georgia, from January 1741 to June 1742."