FROM HIS LEAVING NEW ENGLAND TILL HIS ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND--LABORS
IN THE MIDDLE AND SOUTHERN STATES--THE BERMUDAS.
1745-1748.
Leaving New England, Whitefield proceeded first to New York, where
he preached as he had formerly done, and found that the seed sown in
past days had produced much fruit. Proceeding still southward, on
his way towards Philadelphia, arriving in New Jersey, he says, "I
had the pleasure of preaching by an interpreter to some converted
Indians, and of seeing nearly fifty young ones in one school, near
Freehold, learning the Assembly's Catechism." A blessed awakening
had before this time been begun and carried on among the Delaware
Indians, by the ministry of David Brainerd; no such work had been
heard of since the days of the apostolic Eliot in New England.
Arriving in Philadelphia, Whitefield was rejoiced to find that his
friend Gilbert Tennent was still blessed with success in his labors.
Many, he says, were under "soul-sickness," and Tennent's health
suffered much with walking from place to place to see them. The
gentlemen connected with the new house in which Tennent preached,
were, as well as Tennent himself, desirous of securing at least a
portion of Whitefield's labors, and offered him eight hundred pounds
a year, if he would become their pastor, and labor with them six
months in the year, travelling the other six months wherever he
thought proper. He thanked them, but declined.
Not unfrequently have we been told by frigid critics of the inferior
character of Whitefield's printed sermons. But have they not looked
too much for the beauties of style, and overlooked the simple energy
of their scriptural truths? Even these printed sermons have, under
God, accomplished wonders. In the year 1743, a young gentleman
from Scotland, then residing at Hanover, in Virginia, had obtained
a volume of Whitefield's sermons preached in Glasgow, and taken
in shorthand, which, after a gentleman of Hanover, named Hunt,
the father of a distinguished Presbyterian minister of that name,
had studied with great personal benefit, he invited his neighbors
to visit his house to hear read. By their plainness and fervor,
attended with the power of God, not a few became convinced of
their lost condition as sinners, and anxiously inquired the way of
salvation. The feelings of many were powerfully excited, and they
could not forbear bitter and violent weeping. The intelligence
spread, curiosity prompted the desire of many others to attend such
remarkable services; and one and another begged for admission,
till the houses were crowded. Numbers were pricked to the heart;
the word of God became quick and powerful; and, "What shall we
do?" was the general cry. What to do or say the principal leaders
knew not. They themselves had been led by a still small voice,
they hardly knew how, to an acquaintance with the truth; but now
the Lord was speaking as on mount Sinai, with a voice of thunder;
and sinners, like that mountain itself, trembled. It was not long
before Christians had the happiness to see a goodly number healed
by the same word that had wounded them, and brought to rejoice in
Christ, and his great salvation. "My dwelling-place," said Mr.
Morris, one of their number, "was at length too small to contain
the people, whereupon we determined to build a meeting-house merely
for _reading_. And having never been used to social prayer, none of
us durst attempt it." This _reading-house_, as it was called, was
followed by others of like character, and the number of attendants
and the power of divine influence were much increased. Mr. Morris,
as the report spread, was invited to several places at a distance to
read these sermons. The phrase, "Morris' reading-house," has come
down by tradition to the present age, as well as important details
of the opposition of the magistracy and other classes, who sought,
but in vain, to stop the progress of the work.
Such was the origin of the Presbyterian church at Hanover, where, in
after-days, William Robinson and President Davies accomplished such
mighty triumphs, and where the sacred cause still flourishes.
Whitefield does not seem to have been made acquainted with these
facts till he now arrived in the colony, and saw the happy effects
which had been produced by the labors of the Rev. Messrs. Robinson,
Tennent, Blair, and others. Of the visit of Whitefield among them,
one of them writes, "Mr. Whitefield came and preached four or five
days in these parts, which was the happy means of giving us further
encouragement, and engaging others to the Lord, especially among
the church people, who received his doctrine more readily than they
would from ministers of the Presbyterian denomination." We may add
here, that in 1747 there were four houses of worship in and around
Hanover, which had sprung from the "mustard-seed" of the sermons
taken in shorthand from Whitefield's lips at Glasgow.
Among the converts in the south who met Whitefield, was Isaac
Oliver, who was both deaf and dumb, and had been so from his birth.
Notwithstanding these great disadvantages, he could both feel and
evince his strong feelings by the most significant and expressive
signs. He could, for instance, so represent the crucifixion of the
Lord Jesus Christ, as to be understood by every one; and among
his own friends he could converse about the love of Christ in the
language of signs, till he was transported in rapture and dissolved
in tears. He was much beloved for his eminent piety.
Whitefield had not, during any portion of this time, forgotten
Bethesda. The public had warmly sustained it, and he now went
forward to see to its affairs, and to add to the orphan-house a
Latin school, intending, indeed, before a long time to found a
college.
The following account of the orphan-house in 1746, was written by
Mr. Whitefield in the form of a letter to a friend, and published
as a small pamphlet. We transcribe it from "White's Historical
Collections of Georgia," published in 1854:
"Provide things honest in the sight of all men."--Rom. 12:17.
"BETHESDA, in Georgia, March 21, 1745-6.
"Some have thought that the erecting such a building was only the
produce of my own brain; but they are much mistaken; for it was
first proposed to me by my dear friend the Rev. Mr. Charles Wesley,
who, with his excellency General Oglethorpe, had concerted a scheme
for carrying on such a design before I had any thoughts of going
abroad myself. It was natural to think that, as the government
intended this province for the refuge and support of many of our
poor countrymen, numbers of such adventurers must necessarily be
taken off, by being exposed to the hardships which unavoidably
attend a new settlement. I thought it, therefore, a noble design in
the general to erect a house for fatherless children; and believing
that such a provision for orphans would be some inducement with many
to come over, I fell in with the design, when mentioned to me by my
friend, and was resolved, in the strength of God, to prosecute it
with all my might. This was mentioned to the honorable trustees.
They took it kindly at my hands, and wrote to the bishop of Bath and
Wells for leave for me to preach a charity sermon on this occasion
in the Abbey church. This was granted, and I accordingly began
immediately to compose a suitable discourse. But knowing that my
first stay in Georgia would necessarily be short, on account of my
returning again to take priest's orders, I thought it most prudent
first to go and see for myself, and defer prosecuting the scheme
till I came home.... When I came to Georgia, I found many poor
orphans, who, though taken notice of by the honorable trustees,
yet, through the neglect of persons under them, were in miserable
circumstances. For want of a house to bring them up in, the poor
little ones were tabled out here and there; others were at hard
services, and likely to have no education at all.
"Upon seeing this, and finding that his Majesty and Parliament had
the interest of the colony much at heart, I thought I could not
better show my regard to God and my country than by getting a house
and land for these children, where they might learn to labor, read,
and write, and at the same time be brought up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord. Accordingly, at my return to England, in
the year 1738, to take priest's orders, I applied to the honorable
society for a grant of five hundred acres of land, and laid myself
under an obligation to build a house upon it, and to receive from
time to time as many orphans as the land and stock would maintain.
As I had always acted like a clergyman of the church of England,
having preached in a good part of the London churches, and but a
few months before collected near a thousand pounds sterling for the
children belonging to the charity schools in London and Westminster,
it was natural to think that I might now have the use at least
of some of these churches to preach in for the orphans hereafter
more immediately to be committed to my care. But by the time I had
taken priest's orders, the spirit of the clergy began to be much
imbittered. Churches were gradually denied me, and I must let this
good design drop, and thousands, and I might add ten thousands,
go without hearing the word of God, or preach in the fields.
Indeed, two churches, one in London, namely, Spitalfields, and one
in Bristol, namely, St. Philip's and Jacob, were lent me on this
occasion, but those were all. I collected for the orphan-house in
Moorfields two hundred and fifty pounds one Sabbath-day morning,
twenty-two pounds of which were in copper. In the afternoon I
collected again at Kennington Common, and continued to do so at
most of the places where I preached. Besides this, two or three of
the bishops, and several persons of distinction contributed, until
at length, having gotten about a thousand and ten pounds, I gave
over collecting, and went with what I had to Georgia. At that time
multitudes offered to accompany me; but I chose to take over only a
surgeon and a few more of both sexes, that I thought would be useful
in carrying on my design. My dear fellow-traveller William Seward,
Esq., also joined with them. Our first voyage was to Philadelphia,
where I was willing to go for the sake of laying in provision. I
laid out in London a good part of the thousand pounds for goods, and
got as much by them in Philadelphia as nearly defrayed the families'
expenses of coming over. Here God blessed my ministry daily....
"January following, 1739, I met my family at Georgia, and being
unwilling to lose any time, I hired a large house, and took in all
the orphans I could find in the colony. A great many also of the
town's children came to school gratis, and many poor people that
could not maintain their children, upon application, had leave given
them to send their little ones for a month or two, or more as they
could spare them, till at length my family consisted of between
sixty and seventy. Most of the orphans were in poor case, and three
or four almost eaten up with lice. I likewise erected an infirmary,
in which many sick people were cured and taken care of gratis. I
have now by me a list of upwards of a hundred and thirty patients,
which were under the surgeon's hands, exclusive of my own private
family. About March I began the great house, having only about one
hundred and fifty pounds in cash. I called it _Bethesda_, because
I hoped it would be a house of mercy to many souls. Many boys have
been put out to trades, and many girls put out to service. I had
the pleasure, the other day, to see three boys work at the house in
which they were bred, one of them out of his time, a journeyman,
and the others serving under their masters. One that I brought from
New England is handsomely settled in Carolina; and another from
Philadelphia is married, and lives very comfortably in Savannah. We
have lately begun to use the plough, and next year I hope to have
many acres of good oats and barley. We have nearly twenty sheep and
lambs, fifty head of cattle, and seven horses. We hope to kill a
thousand weight of pork this season. Our garden is very beautiful,
furnishes us with all sorts of greens, etc., etc. We have plenty
of milk, eggs, poultry, and make a good deal of butter weekly. A
good quantity of wool and cotton have been given me, and we hope to
have sufficient spun and wove for the next winter's clothing. The
family now consists of twenty-six persons. Two of the orphan boys
are blind, one is little better than an idiot. I have two women to
take care of the household work, and two men and three boys employed
about the plantation and cattle. A set of Dutch servants has been
lately sent over. The magistrates were pleased to give me two; and I
took in a poor widow, aged near seventy, whom nobody else cared to
have. A valuable young man from New England is my schoolmaster, and
in my absence performs duty in the family. On Sabbaths, the grown
people attend on public worship at Savannah, or at White Bluff, a
village near Bethesda, where a Dutch minister officiates. The house
is a noble, commodious building, and every thing sweetly adapted
for bringing up youth. Georgia is very healthy; not above one, and
that a little child, has died out of our family since it removed to
Bethesda."
A tabular statement follows this account, giving full particulars of
the eighty-six children who to that period had been admitted into
the establishment.
Old newspapers, as daguerreotyping the facts, and even the feelings
of any particular period, are sometimes invaluable. In New York, as
everywhere else, Whitefield had his enemies, and many charges were
brought against him. But that there were those who took a strongly
favorable view of his character and conduct, is very clear from an
extract we give from "The New York Post-Boy," of April, 1746: "Mr.
Whitefield's excellent parts, fine elocution, and masterly address;
his admirable talent of opening the Scriptures, and enforcing
the most weighty subjects upon the conscience; his polite and
serious behavior, his unaffected and superior piety, his prudence,
humility, and catholic spirit, are things which must silence and
disarm prejudice itself. By these qualifications of the orator, the
divine, and the Christian, he has not only fixed himself deeper in
the affections of his former friends, but greatly increased the
number wherever he has preached; and made his way into the hearts of
several who, till this visit, had said all the severe things against
him that enmity itself seemed capable of."
From this period, this paper especially noticed the various
movements of this apostolic man; his arrivals in the city, his
engagements in it, his departures from it, and the places of his
destination, were all given with the minutiæ with which even the
movements of monarchs are recorded.
It was not without its use that the organs of the public thus
expressed their high sense of his character. In 1745, suspicions
were whispered abroad as to the entire integrity of this excellent
man in the appropriation of the funds collected for Bethesda. But
happily for all parties, the magistrates of Savannah published in
the Philadelphia Gazette an affidavit, that they had carefully
examined Mr. Whitefield's receipts and disbursements, and found that
what he had collected in behalf of the orphans, had been honestly
applied, and that besides, he had given considerably to them of his
own property.
Having done what he could at Bethesda, feeling his health failing
him, needing resources for his orphans, and urged on by his love of
preaching, Whitefield was soon again in the field, far away from
his home. In the autumn of 1746, we find many passages in his
journals and letters like these, while in Maryland: "I trust the
time for favoring this and the neighboring southern provinces is
come. Everywhere, almost, the door is opened for preaching, great
numbers flock to hear, and the power of an ascended Saviour attends
the word. For it is surprising how the Lord causes prejudices to
subside, and makes my former most bitter enemies to be at peace
with me.... Lately I have been in seven counties in Maryland, and
preached with abundant success." At Charleston, South Carolina, he
writes, January 1747, "The Lord Jesus is pleased to give me great
access to multitudes of souls." A few weeks later, he writes from
the same place, that Bethesda was never in a better condition; that
he had opened a Latin school there during the winter, and that he
hoped yet to see ministers furnished from Georgia.
In April, we again find him in Maryland, as he writes on the
twenty-fifth of that month from Bohemia, in that province, and
speaks of the success of Mr. Samuel, afterwards President Davies,
in Virginia, but adds that a proclamation had been issued in that
state against itinerants, so that he himself was shut out of it. In
the middle of May he exults, "Maryland is yielding converts to the
blessed Jesus. The gospel seems to be moving southward. The harvest
is promising. The time of the singing birds is come;" and five days
afterwards he says, "I have been now a three hundred miles' circuit
in Maryland, and through one or two counties in Pennsylvania.
Everywhere the people have a hearing ear, and I trust some have an
obedient heart."
On the first of June we find him in Philadelphia, from whence
he writes, "At present I have full work here. The congregations
yesterday were large, and for this month past I have been preaching
to thousands in different places." During the whole of this month
his health was in a very critical state. Here we have a few
sentences from his pen, as given on different days: "I am sick and
well, as I used to be in England; but the Redeemer fills me with
comfort. I am determined, in his strength, to die fighting.... I
have almost a continual burning fever. With great regret I have
omitted preaching _one_ night to oblige my friends, and purpose to
do so once more, that they may not charge me with murdering myself.
But I hope yet to die in the pulpit, or soon after I come out of
it.... Since my last, I have been several times on the verge of
eternity. At present I am so weak that I cannot preach. It is hard
work to be silent, but I must be tried every way."
Sickness did not interrupt Whitefield's labors, if he could move or
preach at all. "I am determined," he says to Gilbert Tennent, "to
die fighting, though it be on my _stumps_." He was soon after at
New York, Newport, Portsmouth, and Boston. At New York he writes,
"I am as willing to hunt for souls as ever. I am not weary of my
work." On the next day he writes, "I have preached to a very large
auditory, and do not find myself much worse for it." He did so again
with success. He then says, "I shall go to Boston like an arrow
out of a bow, if Jesus strengthen me. I am resolved to preach and
work for Him until I can preach and work no more. I have been upon
the water three or four days, and now eat like a sailor." He went
on to Boston, where he heard of the sudden but joyful death of his
venerable and excellent friend Dr. Colman. He adds, "My reception at
Boston and elsewhere was like unto the first. Arrows of conviction
fled and stuck fast. Congregations were larger than ever, and
opposers' mouths were stopped."
After again making short visits to Philadelphia and Bohemia,
Whitefield, according to previous arrangements, went to spend the
winter in North Carolina. Before he left Bohemia, however, he wrote
to his friends at New York, who were intensely anxious about his
health, but he could only say it was yet fluctuating. Even so was
it when he arrived in North Carolina, yet he writes, "I am here,
hunting in the woods, these _ungospelized_ wilds, for sinners. It is
pleasant work, though my body is weak and crazy. But after a short
_fermentation_ in the grave, it will be fashioned like unto Christ's
glorious body. The thought of this rejoices my soul, and makes me
long to _leap_ my seventy years. I sometimes think all will go to
heaven before me. Pray for me as a dying man; but Oh, pray that I
may not go off as a _snuff_. I would fain die _blazing_--not with
human glory, but with the love of Jesus."
Such was his weakness, that his journey to Bathtown, in North
Carolina, was long and slow. Even a short ride was fatiguing and
painful. Still, he preached with considerable power; cheered on from
stage to stage by the hope that the conversion of "North Carolina
sinners would be glad news in heaven." His letters indicated
lively hopes of an extensive revival, but his expectations were not
fully realized. His health was still exceedingly feeble, and his
physicians ordered him to try a change of climate. He accordingly
embarked for the Bermudas, where he landed, March 15, 1748.
The Bermudas are a group of four small islands lying about nine
hundred miles east of Georgia. The largest of the islands is called
St. George's, with a capital of the same name; the climate is
remarkably fine, and well adapted for the temporary residence and
recovery of invalids. Here Whitefield met with an exceedingly kind
reception, and remained on the island with great benefit to his
health, more than a month. We scarcely need to say that he was not
idle during his residence here, but traversed the island from one
end to the other, generally preaching twice a day. A few passages
from his journal will best show the facts.
"The simplicity and plainness of the people, together with the
pleasant situation of the island, much delighted me. The Rev.
Mr. Holiday, minister of Spanish Point, received me in a most
affectionate, Christian manner; and begged I would make his house
my home. In the evening, I expounded at the house of Mr. Savage, at
Port Royal, which was very commodious; and which also he would have
me make my home. I went with Mr. Savage in a boat to the town of
St. George, in order to pay our respects to the governor. All along
we had a most pleasant prospect of the other part of the island; a
more pleasant one I never saw. Mrs. Smith, of St. George, for whom
I had a letter of recommendation from my dear old friend Mr. Smith,
of Charlestown, received me into her house. About noon, with one of
the council and Mr. Savage, I waited upon the governor. He received
us courteously, and invited us to dine with him and the council. We
accepted the invitation, and all behaved with great civility and
respect. After the governor rose from the table, he desired, if I
stayed in town on the Sunday, that I would dine with him at his own
house.
"Sunday, March 20. Read prayers and preached twice this day, to
what were esteemed here large auditories--in the morning at Spanish
Point church, and in the evening at Brackish Pond church, about two
miles distant from each other. In the afternoon I spoke with greater
freedom than in the morning, and I trust not altogether in vain. All
were attentive, some wept. I dined with Colonel Butterfield, one of
the council; and received several invitations to other gentlemen's
houses. May God bless and reward them, and incline them to open
their hearts to receive the Lord Jesus.
"Wednesday, March 23. Dined with Captain Gibbs, and went from thence
and expounded at the house of Captain F----le, at Hunbay, about
two miles distant. The company here also was large, attentive,
and affected. Our Lord gave me utterance. I expounded the first
part of the eighth chapter of Jeremiah. After lecture, Mr. Riddle,
a counsellor, invited me to his house; as did Mr. Paul, an aged
Presbyterian minister, to his pulpit; which I complied with upon
condition that the rumor was true, that the governor had served
the ministers with an injunction that I should not preach in the
churches.
"Sunday, March 27. Glory be to God! I hope this has been a
profitable Sabbath to many souls; it has been a pleasant one to
mine. Both morning and afternoon I preached to a large auditory, for
the Bermudas, in Mr. Paul's meeting-house, which I suppose contains
about four hundred. Abundance of negroes, and many others, were
in the porch, and about the house. The word seemed to be clothed
with a convincing power, and to make its way into the hearts of
the hearers. Between sermons, I was entertained very civilly in a
neighboring house. Judge Bascom, and three more of the council,
came thither, and each gave me an invitation to his house. How does
the Lord make way for a poor stranger in a strange land. After the
second sermon I dined with Mr. Paul; and in the evening expounded to
a very large company at Councillor Riddle's. My body was somewhat
weak; but the Lord carried me through, and caused me to go to
rest rejoicing. May I thus go to my grave, when my ceaseless and
uninterrupted rest shall begin.
"Thursday, March 31. Dined on Tuesday at Colonel Corbusier's, and on
Wednesday at Colonel Gilbert's, both of the council; and found, by
what I could hear, that some good had been done, and many prejudices
removed. Who shall hinder, if God will work? Went to an island this
afternoon called Ireland, upon which live a few families; and to my
surprise, found a great many gentlemen, and other people, with my
friend Mr. Holiday, who came from different quarters to hear me.
Before I began preaching, I went round to see a most remarkable
cave, which very much displayed the exquisite workmanship of Him,
who in 'his strength setteth fast the mountains, and is girded
about with power.' While I was in the cave, quite unexpectedly I
turned and saw Councillor Riddle, who, with his son, came to hear
me; and while we were in the boat, told me that he had been with
the governor, who declared he had no personal prejudice against
me, and wondered I did not come to town and preach there, for it
was the desire of the people; and that any house in the town, the
court-house not excepted, should be at my service. Thanks be to God
for so much favor. If his cause requires it, I shall have more.
He knows my heart; I value the favor of man no farther than as it
makes room for the gospel, and gives me a larger scope to promote
the glory of God. There being no capacious house upon the island,
I preached for the first time here in the open air. All heard very
attentively; and it was very pleasant, after sermon, to see so many
boats full of people returning from the worship of God. I talked
seriously to some in our own boat, and sung a psalm, in which they
readily joined.
"Sunday, April 3. Preached twice this day at Mr. Paul's
meeting-house, as on the last Sabbath, but with greater freedom
and power, especially in the morning; and I think to as great,
if not greater auditories. Dined with Colonel Harvy, another of
the council; visited a sick woman, where many came to hear; and
expounded afterwards to a great company, at Captain John Dorrel's,
Mrs. Dorrel's son, who with his wife courteously entertained me, and
desired me to make his house my home. So true is that promise of
our Lord, that 'whosoever leaves father or mother, houses or lands,
shall have in this life a hundred-fold with persecution, and in the
world to come, life everlasting.' Lord, I have experienced the one;
in thy good time grant that I may experience the other also.
"Wednesday, April 6. Preached yesterday at the house of Mr. Anthony
Smith, of Baylis Bay, with a considerable degree of warmth; and
rode afterwards to St. George, the only town on the island. The
gentlemen of the town had sent me an invitation by Judge Bascom;
and he, with several others, came to visit me at my lodgings;
and informed me that the governor desired to see me. About ten I
waited upon his excellency, who received me with great civility,
and told me he had no objection against my person or my principles,
having never yet heard me; and he knew nothing with respect to my
conduct in moral life, that might prejudice him against me; but his
intentions were to let none preach in the island, unless he had a
written license to preach somewhere in America, or the West Indies;
at the same time he acknowledged that it was but a matter of mere
form. I informed his excellency that I had been regularly inducted
into the parish of Savannah; that I was ordained priest by letters
dismissory from my lord of London, and was under no church censure
from his lordship; and would always read the church prayers, if the
clergy would give me the use of their churches. I added farther,
that a minister's pulpit was always looked upon as his freehold; and
that I knew one clergyman who had denied his own diocesan the use
of his pulpit. But I told his excellency I was satisfied with the
liberty he allowed me, and would not act contrary to his injunction.
I then begged leave to be dismissed, as I was obliged to preach at
eleven o'clock. His excellency said he intended to do himself the
pleasure to hear me. At eleven, the church bell rung. The church
Bible, prayer-book, and cushion, were sent to the town-house. The
governor, several of the council, the minister of the parish, and
assembly-men, with a great number of the town's people, assembled in
great order. I was very sick, through a cold I caught last night;
but read the church prayers. The first lesson was the fifteenth
chapter of the first book of Samuel. I preached on those words,
'Righteousness exalteth a nation.' Being weak and faint, and
afflicted much with the headache, I did not do that justice to my
subject which I sometimes am enabled to do; but the Lord so helped
me that, as I found afterwards, the governor and the other gentlemen
expressed their approbation, and acknowledged they did not expect to
be so well entertained. Not unto me, Lord, not unto me, but to thy
free grace be all the glory!
"After sermon, Dr. F----bs, and Mr. P----t, the collector, came
to me, and desired me to favor them and the gentlemen of the town
with my company at dinner. I accepted the invitation. The governor,
and the president, and Judge Bascom were there. All wondered at my
speaking so freely and fluently without notes. The governor asked
whether I used minutes. I answered, 'No.' He said it was a great
gift. At table, his excellency introduced something of religion by
asking me the meaning of the word HADES. Several other things were
started about freewill, Adam's fall, predestination, etc., to all
which God enabled me to answer so pertinently, and taught me to mix
the _utile_ and _dulce_ [useful and pleasant] so together, that all
at table seemed highly pleased, shook me by the hand, and invited me
to their respective houses. The governor, in particular, asked me to
dine with him on the morrow; and Dr. F----, one of his particular
intimates, invited me to drink tea in the afternoon. I thanked
all, returned proper respects, and went to my lodgings with some
degree of thankfulness for the assistance vouchsafed me, and abased
before God at the consideration of my unspeakable unworthiness. In
the afternoon, about five o'clock, I expounded the parable of the
prodigal son to many people at a private house; and in the evening
had liberty to speak freely and closely to those who supped with
me. O that this may be the beginning of good gospel times to the
inhabitants of this town."
We might fill other pages from Whitefield's journal, but will only
give two more passages. The first will show him in connection with
the African race, in whose highest welfare he always took a special
interest.
"Saturday, May 7. In my conversation these two days with some of my
friends, I was diverted much in hearing several things that passed
among the poor negroes, since I preached to them last Sunday. One of
the women, it seems, said that 'if the book I preached out of was
the best book that was ever bought at London, she was sure it had
never all that in it which I spoke to the negroes,' The old man who
spoke out loud last Sunday, and said 'yes' when I asked them whether
all the negroes would not go to heaven, being questioned by somebody
why he spoke out so, answered, that 'the gentleman put the question
once or twice to them, and the other fools had not the manners to
make any answer; till at last I seemed to point at him, and he
was ashamed that nobody should answer me, and therefore he did.'
Another, wondering why I said negroes had black hearts, was answered
by his black brother, 'Ah, thou fool, dost not thou understand it?
He means black with sin.' Two girls were overheard by their mistress
talking about religion, and they said 'they knew, if they did not
repent, they must be damned.' From all which I infer that these
negroes on the Bermudas are more awake than I supposed; that their
consciences are awake, and consequently prepared in a good measure
for hearing the gospel preached to them."
Whitefield sums up the events which had occurred in connection with
himself on the Bermudas, the praise of which islands has also been
celebrated by the distinguished Bishop Berkeley, who resided there
for some time, and by Waller the poet.
"Sunday, May 22. Blessed be God, the little leaven thrown into the
three measures of meal begins to ferment and work almost every
day for the week past. I have conversed with souls loaded with a
sense of their sins, and as far as I can judge, really pricked to
the heart. I preached only three times, but to almost three times
larger auditories than usual. Indeed, the fields are white, ready
to harvest. God has been pleased to bless private visits. Go where
I will, upon the least notice, houses are crowded, and the poor
souls that follow are soon drenched in tears. This day I took, as
it were, another farewell. As the ship did not sail, I preached
at Somerset in the morning to a large congregation in the fields;
and expounded in the evening at Mr. Harvy's house, around which
stood many hundreds of people. But in the morning and evening how
did the poor souls weep. Abundance of prayers and blessings were
put up for my safe passage to England, and speedy return to the
Bermudas again. May they enter into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
With all humility and thankfulness of heart will I here, O Lord,
set up my _Ebenezer_, for hitherto surely hast thou helped me.
Thanks be to the Lord for sending me hither. I have been received
in a manner I dared not to expect, and have met with little, very
little opposition indeed. The inhabitants seem to be plain and
open-hearted. They have loaded me with provisions for my sea-store;
and in the several parishes, by a private voluntary contribution,
have raised me upwards of _one hundred pounds sterling_. This
will pay a little of Bethesda's debt, and enable me to make such
a remittance to my dear yoke-fellow, as may keep her from being
embarrassed, or too much beholden in my absence. Blessed be God for
bringing me out of my embarrassments by degrees. May the Lord reward
all my benefactors a thousand-fold. I hear that what was given,
was given heartily, and people only lamented that they could do no
more."
Whitefield now transmitted to Georgia what had been collected for
the orphan-house; but fearing a relapse, if he returned to the
south during the hot season, which was near commencing, and pressed
also again to visit England, he took his passage in a brig, and in
twenty-eight days arrived at Deal.
On his voyage, he completed an abridgment, which he had previously
begun, of "_Law's serious Call to a devout and holy Life_," which he
endeavored to make more useful by excluding whatever is not truly
evangelical, and illustrating the subject more fully, especially
from the holy Scriptures. He also wrote letters to his friends, one
of which strikingly illustrates his Christian humility. It bears
date June 24, 1748. "Yesterday I made an end of revising all my
journals. Alas, alas, in how many things I have judged and acted
wrong. I have been too rash and hasty in giving characters both
of places and persons. Being fond of Scripture language, I have
used a style too apostolical, and at the same time I have been too
bitter in my zeal. Wildfire has been mixed with it, and I find that
I frequently wrote and spoke in my own spirit, when I thought I
was writing and speaking by the assistance of the Spirit of God. I
have, likewise, too much made inward impressions my rule of acting,
and too soon and too explicitly published what had been better kept
in longer, or told after my death. By these things I have hurt
the blessed cause I would defend, and also stirred up a needless
opposition. This has humbled me much, and made me think of a saying
of Mr. Henry, 'Joseph had more honesty than he had policy, or he
never would have told his dreams.' At the same time, I cannot but
praise God, who fills me with so much of his holy fire, and carried
me, a poor weak youth, through such a torrent, both of popularity
and contempt, and set so many seals to my unworthy ministrations. I
bless him for ripening my judgment a little more, for giving me to
see and confess, and I hope in some degree to correct and amend some
of my former mistakes."
In the early part of this year, 1748, the "Gentleman's Magazine"
had announced Whitefield's death as having taken place in America.
One of his first letters on his arrival at Deal in that year, says,
"Words cannot express how joyful my friends were to see me once more
in the land of the living, for I find the newspapers had buried me
ever since April last. But it seems I am not to die, but live. O
that it may be to declare the works of the Lord."