Whitefield preached under conditions and to audiences known to
no other orators. Passing over Hampton Common, he finds a crowd
of 12,000 people collected to see a man hung in chains. Here is
an audience, a pulpit, a text; and straightway he captures the
crowd! He preaches to another vast multitude assembled to see a
man hanged, and the hangman himself suspends his office while
Whitefield discourses. Some wandering players have set up their
stage at a country fair; the crowd rushes together to grin and
jest. But Whitefield suddenly appears, turns the whole scene
to religious uses, spoils the players’ harvest, and preaches a
sermon of overwhelming power.--W. H. FITCHETT, “Wesley
and His Century.”
(2252)