Whitefield left Edinburgh on October 29, 1741, and rode on Earl
Leven's horse, three hundred miles, to Abergavenny in Wales, for the
purpose of marrying Mrs. James, a widow lady, who, up to this period
of his history, is never even mentioned in any of Whitefield's
letters. The marriage ceremony was performed at St. Martin's Chapel,
near Caerphilly, in the parish of Eglws Ilan. The following is a
copy of the register, in the handwriting of the Rev. John Smith, the
then vicar of Eglws Ilan:--
GEORGE WHITEFIELD
AND
ELIZABETH JAMES,
_Married, November 14, 1741_.[489]
[489] "Memoirs of Christmas Evans," p. 176.
Of Mrs. James's previous history, nothing has been published.[490]
She was a friend of the Methodists, and of Wesley, as well as of
Whitefield. Only six weeks before her marriage, Wesley was her
guest, at Abergavenny, and writes, "She received us gladly, as she
had done aforetime."[491] Exactly a month before she became Mrs.
Whitefield, Wesley was again in the same neighbourhood, and was
warmly attacked by his quondam friends, but now his Calvinistic
foes, Thomas Bissicks and Joseph Humphreys. Mrs. James kindly
interfered, and Wesley, not without reason, calls her "a woman of
candour and humanity."[492]
[490] Her maiden name was Burnell. (Gillies' "Memoirs of
Whitefield.")
[491] Wesley's Works, vol. i.; p. 319.
[492] Ibid., vol. i., p. 321.
Whitefield did everything religiously. On the day before his
marriage, writing to Earl Leven, he remarks:--
"I find a restraint upon me now, so that I cannot write. God
calls me to retirement, being to enter the marriage state
to-morrow. I am persuaded your lordship will not fail to pray,
that we may, like Zacharias and Elisabeth, walk in all the
ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless."
Five days subsequent to his marriage, he says, to a friend at
Edinburgh, "On Saturday, I was married, in the fear of God, to one
who, I hope, will be a helpmeet to me. I expect to be in London in
about three weeks. My wife I shall leave in the country for some
time."
To another friend in Edinburgh he writes: "Jesus was called to,
Jesus was present at, the marriage." In a letter to James Habersham,
he says: "The Lord has given me a wife. Her name was James, a widow,
between thirty and forty years of age. She has been a housekeeper
many years. Once gay; but, for three years last past, a despised
follower of the Lamb of God. I left her about three weeks ago,
and am going to settle affairs, and bring her up to London."
Shortly after, writing to his friend Gilbert Tennent, he remarked:
"About eleven weeks ago, I married, in the fear of God, one who
was a widow, of about thirty-six years of age, and who has been
a housekeeper for many years; neither rich in fortune,[493] nor
beautiful as to her person, but, I believe, a true child of God, and
one who would not, I think, attempt to hinder me in His work for
the world. In that respect, I am just the same as before marriage.
I hope God will never suffer me to say, 'I have married a wife, and
therefore I cannot come.'"
[493] The _Gentleman's Magazine_, in announcing Whitefield's
marriage, stated that his wife had a fortune of £10,000!
(_Gentleman's Magazine_, 1741, p. 608.)
These are all the references which Whitefield makes to the new
relationship into which he had so recently entered. Why did he
marry? That is a question which cannot easily be answered, unless
it be supposed that he wanted a matron for his Orphan House, in
Georgia. Men like Whitefield and Wesley, almost always from home,
ought to remain unmarried. Their wives, naturally enough, very often
become _Xantippes_.
The _Gentleman's Magazine_, when it announced Whitefield's marriage,
referred its readers to a prayer, in his last Journal, which was as
follows:--
"Northampton, October 19, 1740. Mrs. Edwards" (wife of the
celebrated Jonathan Edwards) "is a woman adorned with a meek and
quiet spirit. She talked feelingly and solidly of the things
of God, and seemed to be such a helpmeet for her husband, that
she caused me to renew those prayers, which, for some months, I
have put up to God, that He would send me a daughter of Abraham
to be my wife. I find, upon many accounts, it is my duty to
marry. Lord, I desire to have no choice of my own. Thou knowest
my circumstances. Thou knowest I only desire to marry in and
for Thee. Thou didst choose a Rebecca for Isaac; choose one for
me, to be a helpmeet for me, in carrying on that great work
committed to my charge! Lord, hear me! Let my cry come unto
Thee!"
Southey flatly asserts that Whitefield's "marriage was not a happy
one,"[494] but adduces no evidence in proof of this. Cornelius
Winter also says: "Mr. Whitefield was not happy in his wife,
but I fear some, who had not all the religion they professed,
contributed to his infelicity. He did not intentionally make his
wife unhappy. He always preserved great decency and decorum in his
conduct towards her. Her death set his mind much at liberty. She
certainly did not behave in all respects as she ought. She could be
under no temptation from his conduct towards the sex, for he was a
very pure man, a strict example of the chastity he inculcated upon
others."[495] Great importance has been attached to this account,
because Cornelius Winter was an inmate of Whitefield's house; but
it is only fair to add, that Winter was not born until a year after
Whitefield's marriage, and that his introduction to Whitefield's
house was within a year and a half of Mrs. Whitefield's death. On
the other hand, as the reader will hereafter find, Whitefield not
unfrequently speaks of his wife in endearing terms; and, in 1768,
he preached her funeral sermon, and praised her many virtues. She
also, on more than one occasion, evinced qualities of mind deserving
more than ordinary commendation. Three years after her marriage,
whilst she and Whitefield were on their way to Georgia, the ship in
which they sailed was threatened by an enemy. Guns were mounted,
and chains put about the masts. The wildest confusion reigned, and
Whitefield confessed that he was "naturally a coward;" but his wife
"set about making cartridges," and did her utmost in having all
things ready for the "fire and smoke."[496] At another time, when a
mob gathered round her husband, and stones flew in all directions,
and the great preacher began to fear, she, who was standing by
his side, pulled his gown, and cried, with genuine heroism, "Now,
George, play the man for God." Such a woman would almost seem to
have deserved more attention than it was possible for her husband to
pay her.
[494] "Life of Wesley."
[495] "Memoirs of Rev. C. Winter," by William Jay, p. 80.
[496] Whitefield's Works, vol. ii., p. 68.
Be that as it may, it is a fact, that, within a week after his
marriage, Whitefield again started out on his evangelistic
ramblings, leaving his newly wedded wife behind him in Wales.[497]
A few extracts from his letters, written at this period, will
illustrate the principles and actions of the man.
[497] The _Weekly History_, for November 28, 1741, says: "On
Saturday, November 7, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield arrived at
Abergavenny, where he preached several times, as also at Trevecca,
Erwood, Pontypool, Waterford, etc. On Saturday last, he came to
Bristol, where he has continued to preach twice every day, to
crowded auditories; and visible success attends his labours."
Lady Dirleton was one of the "honourable women" with whom Whitefield
became acquainted in Scotland; and to her he addressed the
following:--
"BRISTOL, _November 22, 1741_.
"HONOURED MADAM,--Your ladyship enjoys great advantages, and
glorious means of making progress in spiritual things. You are
rich in this world's goods: may God make you rich in faith and
good works! It gives me comfort to think, what sweet freedom I
have enjoyed, when opening the Scriptures in your ladyship's
house. Surely, God was with us of a truth. In Wales, we had much
of the Divine presence. The people there are so hungry after
the word, that they are resolved not to leave wrestling with
the Most High, till He shall be pleased to send me thither. I
think I can say, that God brings me nearer and nearer to Himself
daily; and I will not rest, till I am moulded into the image of
my bleeding Lord. I pray God, that your ladyship may be content
with no degrees of holiness; but may be daily pressing forward,
till you arrive at the mark of the prize of the high calling in
Christ Jesus."