who did not say near so much, was linked in the same prosecution,
and imprisoned with him. Mr. Jones, who was then at Frederica,
being informed of it, declared such a procedure to be illegal;
and his Excellency General Oglethorpe desired my friends to lay
the matter before the Board of the Honourable Trustees. They
have sent to me a particular account of what has passed, which
I will transmit to you, or, when I come to London, I will wait
upon you in person. I find, also, that my friends were denied
a copy of the proceedings in court; in which, I am persuaded,
you will think they have been wronged. My friends require no
satisfaction, but only desire that such a proceeding may be
animadverted upon; knowing that otherwise it will be a great
discouragement to people’s settling in Georgia.
“I am sorry, also, to inform you, honoured gentlemen, that
five very small children, (Swiss or Dutch,) whose parents lately
died in their passage from England, have had their goods sold
at Vendue, and are bound out till the age of twenty-one years.
This I think directly contrary to the grant given me by you; for,
thereby, I was empowered to take as many orphans into the house
as my fund would admit of.
“I understand, also, that the magistrates have been at the
Orphan House, and claim a power to take away the children when
they please, whether the children choose it, or complain of
ill-treatment, or not. This grieves some of the children, and
makes others of them insolent, who are, hereby, taught, that they
have a power to go away when they will. This must be discouraging
to those who are entrusted with their education; and who aim
at nothing but the glory of God, the welfare of the colony, and
the salvation of the children’s souls. I suppose the magistrates
have taken such a liberty from the instructions which were sent
from you some time ago; but Mr. Jones has told them, that, they
have misunderstood you; and his Excellency General Oglethorpe,
I find, has written to you about it.
“Our plantation thrives well; and Mr. Habersham hopes we shall
do with white servants alone. I will do all I can to promote the
good of Georgia: only I beg that the management of the Orphan
House and the orphans may be secured to me and my successors
for ever; and that the magistrates be not suffered to disturb
us, when there is no ground of complaint. They acknowledged,
when at the Orphan House last, that the children were taken good
care of, both as to their bodies and souls: will it not then
tend much to the welfare of the colony, that the Orphan House
should meet with all possible encouragement?
“His Excellency General Oglethorpe has informed my friend Mr.
Habersham, that, if I desired it, he thought you would grant
me a greater tract of land, which I should be obliged to give
away in a certain term of years; and that we might have our own
magistrates, as the people of Ebenezer have. I know not whether
I shall desire such a favour; but, if I should, I desire to know
what you, honoured gentlemen, would say to it. Many have applied
to me respecting their settling in Georgia; but, hitherto, I
could give them no encouragement. I wish I may be enabled to
give them a great deal in the future.
“Honoured gentlemen, I do not desire to find fault. I doubt not
but you have been prejudiced both against me and my friends.
The event will shew what friends we are to Georgia. The Orphan
House will certainly be of great utility to the colony; and the
children educated therein will, I trust, be the glory of the
society to which they belong. They are bred up to industry, as
well as to other things; and are taught to fear God and honour
the king. I heartily pray God to bless all who are concerned in
the management of Georgian affairs.
“I hope to be in London in about two months. In the meanwhile,
I would beg the favour of a line by your secretary, and I also
entreat you, honoured gentlemen, to write to the magistrates of
Savannah, to let the Orphan House managers alone. If I, or my
friends, should happen to say or do anything amiss, I assure you,
you shall have all possible satisfaction given you by them, and
also by, honoured gentlemen, your very humble servant,
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”
Such was Whitefield’s letter to the Trustees of Georgia, written in the
midst of the great revival at Cambuslang.
On the same day, he wrote a long letter to his good friend, the Rev.
Mr. Willison, of Dundee, who seems to have been far more anxious about
Whitefield’s reputation than Whitefield was himself. The letter is
historical, and extracts from it must be given.
“CAMBUSLANG, _August 17, 1742_.
“REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR,――I heartily thank you for your concern
about unworthy _me_. Though I am not very solicitous respecting
what the world says of me, yet I would not refuse to give to
any one, much less a minister of Jesus Christ, all reasonable
satisfaction about my doctrine or conduct.
“I am sorry that ‘The Associate Presbytery’ have done me much
wrong. As to what they say about the _supremacy_, my sentiments
agree with what is said in the Westminster Confession of Faith
(chapter xxiii.). I do own the Lord Jesus to be the blessed Head
and King of His Church. I never abjured the Solemn League and
Covenant; neither was it ever proposed to me to be abjured.
“As for my _missives_, if ‘The Associate Presbytery’ will be
pleased to print them, the world will see that they had no
reason to expect I would act in any other manner than I have
done.
“What that part of my _experience_ is that savours of the
grossest _enthusiasm_, I know not. It is not specified; but
this one thing I know, when I conversed with them, they were
satisfied with the account I then gave of my experience, and
also of the validity of my mission. Only, when they found I
would preach the gospel promiscuously to _all_, and _for every
minister_ that would invite me, and not adhere only to them,
one of them said, ‘That they were satisfied with all the other
accounts which I gave of myself, except of my call to Scotland
at that time.’ They would have been glad of my help, and would
have received me as a minister of Jesus Christ, had I consented
to preach only at the invitation of them and their people. I
thought their foundation was too narrow for any high house to
be built upon. When I was last in Scotland, I declared freely,
(and I am more and more convinced of it since,) that they were
building a Babel.
“At the same time, they knew very well, I was far from being
against all church government. How can any church subsist
without it? I only urged, as I do now, that, since holy men
differ so much about the form, we should bear with one another,
though, in this respect, we are not of one mind. I have often
declared, in the most public manner, that I believe the Church
of Scotland to be the best constituted National Church in the
world; but, then, I would bear and converse with all others,
who do not err in fundamentals, and who give evidence that they
are true lovers of the Lord Jesus. This is what I mean by a
_catholic spirit_.
“You know how strongly I assert all the doctrines of grace as
contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and in the
doctrinal Articles of the Church of England. I trust, I shall
adhere to these as long as I live; because I verily believe they
are the truths of God, and because I have felt the power of them
in my heart.
“I am only concerned that good men should be guilty of such
misrepresentations; but this teaches me, more and more, to
exercise compassion towards all the children of God, and to be
more jealous over my own heart, knowing what a fallible creature
I am. I acknowledge that I am a poor blind sinner, liable to
err; and I would be obliged to an enemy, much more to so dear
a friend as you are, to point out to me my mistakes, as to my
practice, or as to unguarded expressions in my preaching or
writing.
“I am just about to print a further account of the Orphan House
in Georgia; and, having many other affairs of importance before
me, can only now entreat the continuance of your prayers, and
beg to subscribe myself,
“Yours, etc.,
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”
Unfortunately, Whitefield’s troubles were not confined to Scotland
and Georgia. Methodist affairs in Wales were far from being in a
satisfactory state. Hence the following letter to Howell Harris:――
“CAMBUSLANG, _August 26, 1742_.
“MY VERY DEAR BROTHER,――I was glad, last night, to receive your
letter. I love your simple, honest heart.
“The account, sent with this, will shew you how often I have
been enabled to preach; but with what efficacy and success, pen
cannot describe. The glorious Redeemer seems to be advancing
from congregation to congregation, carrying all before Him.
“I am opposed on every side. The Messrs. Erskines’ people have
kept a fast for me, and given out that all the work now in
Scotland is only delusion, and by the agency of the devil.
“What you said about poor Wales affected me. I lay upon my face
this day, and, for some time, pleaded, with groans unutterable,
for direction in that and several other matters of great
consequence. I fear my dear brother thinks too highly of me;
but, if Christ is pleased to honour me so far, I shall be glad
to help the brethren in Wales. I am sorry to hear there have been
such divisions; but dividing times generally precede settling
times.”
In the midst of all these altercations, it is refreshing to be able to
introduce one of Whitefield’s filial outpourings to his mother, who was
now an inmate of Whitefield’s house in Bristol.
“CAMBUSLANG, _August 26, 1742_.
“HONOURED MOTHER,――I rejoice to hear that you have been so
long under my roof. Blessed be God that I have a house for my
honoured mother to come to! You are heartily welcome to anything
it affords, as long as you please. I am of the same mind now,
as formerly. If need were, these hands should administer to your
necessities. I had rather want myself, than you should. I shall
be highly pleased when I come to Bristol, and find you sitting
in your youngest son’s house. O that I may sit with you in the
house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens!
“My honoured mother, I am happier and happier every day. If
any at Bristol enquire after me, please to tell them, I am well
both in body and soul, and desire them to help me to praise
free and sovereign grace. O that my dear mother may be made an
everlasting monument of it! How does my heart burn with love
and duty to you! Gladly would I wash your aged feet, and lean
upon your neck, and weep and pray until I could pray no more.
With this, I send you a thousand dutiful salutations, and ten
thousand hearty and most humble thanks, for all the pains you
underwent in conceiving, bringing forth, nursing, and bringing
up your most unworthy, though most dutiful son, till death.
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”
Whitefield’s second visit to Cambuslang was on Friday, August 13, 1742;
and here, and in the surrounding neighbourhood, he spent the next
three weeks. A glimpse of his enormous labours may be obtained from the
following, which was written to a friend in London:――
“CAMBUSLANG, _August 27, 1742_.
“A fortnight ago, I came to this place, to assist at the
sacramental occasion, with several worthy ministers of the
Church of Scotland. Such a passover has not been heard of. I
preached once on the Saturday. On the Lord’s-day, I preached in
the morning; served five tables; and preached again, about ten
o’clock at night, to a great number in the churchyard. Though
it rained very much, there was a great awakening. The voice of
prayer and praise was heard all night. It was supposed, that,
between thirty and forty thousand people were assembled; and
that three thousand communicated. There were three tents. The
ministers were enlarged, and great grace was among the people.
“On Monday, August 16th, at seven in the morning, the Rev. Mr.
Webster preached, and there was a great commotion; and also in
the third sermon of the day, when I preached.
“On Thursday, August 19th,[21] I preached twice at Greenock; on
Friday, three times at Kilbride; on Saturday, once at Kilbride,
and twice at Stevenson. On Sunday, August 22nd, four times at
Irvine; on Monday, once at Irvine, and three times at Kilmarnock;
on Tuesday, once at Kilmarnock, and four times at Stewarton;
on Wednesday, once at Stewarton, and twice at ♦Mearns; and
yesterday, twice at this place. I never preached with so much
apparent success before. The work seems to spread more and
more. Oh, my friend, pray and give praise on behalf of the most
unworthy wretch that was ever employed in the dear Redeemer’s
service!”
This is a mere outline of a fortnight’s stupendous labours in the
west of Scotland. The sacrament at Cambuslang was an event never to
be forgotten. Thirteen ministers were present on Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday; and, on Monday, twenty-four. “All of them,” wrote the Rev.
Mr. McCulloch, the pastor of Cambuslang, “appeared to be very much
assisted in their work. Four of them preached on the fast-day; four on
Saturday; on the Sabbath I cannot tell how many; and five on Monday.
Mr. Whitefield’s sermons, on Saturday and the two following days, were
attended with much power, particularly on Sunday night, and on Monday;
several crying out, and a great weeping being observable throughout his
auditories. While he was serving some of the tables, he appeared to be
so filled with the love of God, as to be in a kind of ecstasy, and he
communicated with much of that blessed frame. The number present, on
the Lord’s-day, was so great, that, so far as I can hear, none ever
saw the like since the revolution, in Scotland, or even anywhere else,
at any sacrament occasion. This vast concourse of people came, not
only from the city of Glasgow, but, from many places at a considerable
distance. It was reckoned, that, there were two hundred communicants
from Edinburgh, two hundred from Kilmarnock, a hundred from Irvine, and
a hundred from Stewarton. Some, also, were from England and Ireland. A
considerable number of Quakers were hearers. The tables were all served
in the open air, beside the tent below the brae. Some estimated the
number of persons present at fifty thousand; some at forty thousand;
and the lowest estimate was upwards of thirty thousand. Not a few were
awakened to a sense of sin; others had their bands loosed, and were
brought into the liberty of the sons of God; and many of God’s children
were filled with joy and peace in believing.”[22]
Whitefield came back to ♦Edinburgh early in September, and here he
_chiefly_ remained and laboured until his return to England at the end
of October. His letters, during this interval of two months, are full
of interest, and extracts from them must be given.
Already a scheme was contemplated to unite the Methodists in Wales into
a separate connexion; and the following, addressed “to Howell Harris,
in Hoxton, near London,” refers to this:――
“_September 3, 1742._
“MY VERY DEAR BROTHER,――Wales is upon my heart. I think to meet
all the Brethren there together. As the awakening seems, in some
measure, to be over, and there are so many living stones, it
may be time to think of putting them together. May the great
Builder of the Church guide and direct us! I am glad to hear that
matters at Bristol are better than I expected. We have had most
blessed days here. I and the people have been in the suburbs of
heaven. Blessed be God! I live in heaven daily. O free grace! I
feel myself viler, and yet happier, every day.”[23]
Whitefield’s friend, Gilbert Tennent, had been brought into contact
with the Moravians, and had not liked them. Hence the following, which
Whitefield wrote to a gentleman in America:――
“EDINBURGH, _September 13, 1742_.
“I have just been writing to our dear brother, Gilbert Tennent.
He speaks many things, which, I know, are too true of the
Moravian Brethren; but his spirit seems to be too much heated,
and, I fear, some of his own wildfire is mixed with that sacred
zeal, which comes from ♦God. I want to be more like Jesus, who
sees all the quarrels and heart-risings of His children, and
yet bears with, and loves them still. I confess, I am jealous
over many, who talk and write of the Lamb, and who mimic some
particular person in their outward way, but yet are not truly
poor in spirit. They act too much like me, who, at my first
setting out, imitated the outward show of humility in Monsieur
Dezenly, before I got true simplicity of heart. At the same time,
I would love all who love Jesus, though they differ from me in
some points. The angels love all the true worshippers of Jesus
everywhere, and why should not we? If our brethren will quarrel
with us, let us not quarrel with them.”
In the same catholic spirit, Whitefield wrote as follows, to a friend
in Pennsylvania:――
“EDINBURGH, _September 22, 1742_.
“You cannot have a scene of greater confusion among you, than
there has been in England. But, blessed be God! matters are
brought to a better issue, and, though we cannot agree in
principles, yet we agree in love. I have not given way to the
Moravian Brethren, or to Mr. Wesley, or to any whom I thought
in an error, no, not for an hour. But I think it best not to
dispute, when there is no probability of convincing. Disputing
embitters the spirit, ruffles the soul, and hinders it from
hearing the still small voice of the Holy Ghost.”
To Mr. Habersham, the superintendent of his Orphan House, he wrote:――
“EDINBURGH, _September 24, 1742_.
“MY MOST ENDEARED FRIEND AND BROTHER,――With this, I send you a
‘Continuation of the Orphan House Account,’ which I have printed
to satisfy the public, and to promote future collections. I yet
owe upwards of £250 in England, upon the Orphan House account,
and have nothing towards it. How is the world mistaken about
my circumstances! worth nothing myself, embarrassed for others,
and yet looked upon to abound in riches! Our extremity is God’s
opportunity. O faith, thou hast an all-conquering power! I put
my trust in God, and, through His mercy, I shall not miscarry.
I pray for you. I think and dream of you almost continually. I
long, I long to be with you, and, methinks, could willingly be
found at the head of you, though a Spaniard’s sword should be
put to my throat.
“Some of my friends in Philadelphia are suspicious that I am
joined with the Moravian Brethren; but, indeed, I am not. My
principles are still the same; only, as I believe many of them
love the Lord Jesus, I would be friendly to them, as I would
be to all others who bear the image of our common Master,
notwithstanding some of my principles are as far distant from
theirs as the east is from the west.”
The next extract, from a letter to a minister in Wales, affords a
glimpse of Whitefield’s labours in Scotland, and announces his purpose
to return to England. Perhaps, it ought to be premised, that, on Sunday,
the 3rd of October, a sacrament was held at Kilsyth, in which a dozen
ministers took part. The solemnities of the day began at half-past
eight in the morning, and continued, without intermission, till
half-past eight at night. During the day, twenty-two different services
were held; and the number of communicants were nearly fifteen hundred.
At Muthel, also, a gracious revival had been vouchsafed. After public
worship in the kirk, crowds of people were wont to flock to the manse
of the Rev. William Hally, the minister, who wrote, “Their mourning
cries frequently drown my voice, so that I am often obliged to stop
till they compose themselves.”[24]
“EDINBURGH, _October 6, 1742_.
“The Lord has dealt bountifully with me. He gives me to rejoice
in all His dispensations towards me. I am taught more and more,
every day, to live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave Himself for me. God keeps me, and brings me where I would
desire to be――at His feet, waiting His will, and watching the
motions of His blessed Spirit, word, and providence. Here I
find safety and refuge amidst the various storms of opposition
and reproach with which I daily meet. God is on my side: I will
not fear what men or devils can say of or do unto me. The dear
Messrs. Erskine have dressed me in very black colours. Dear men,
I pity them. Surely they must grieve the Holy Spirit much. O for
a mind divested of all sects and names and parties! I think, it
is my one single aim to promote the kingdom of Jesus, without
partiality and without hypocrisy, indefinitely amongst all. I
care not if the name of George Whitefield be banished out of the
world, so that Jesus be exalted in it.
“Glory be to His great name! we have seen much of His power
in Scotland. The work in the west goes on and increases. Last
Sabbath and Monday, things greater than ever were seen at
Kilsyth. There is a great awakening also at Muthel. I preach
twice every day with great power, and walk in liberty and love.
In about three weeks, I purpose to leave Scotland; and hope,
before long, to spend a month in Wales. I intend to travel
through Newcastle and Yorkshire.[25]
“I have been much strengthened since the Spaniards invaded
Georgia. I am, like the ark, surrounded with waves; but, through
free grace, I am enabled to swim above all. Ere long, I shall
rest on Mount Zion, in the arms of my beloved Jesus.”
Among the distinguished persons with whom Whitefield became acquainted
in Scotland, was Lady Frances Gardiner, daughter of the Earl of Buchan,
and wife of the celebrated Colonel Gardiner, who fell, in the service
of his country, at the battle of Prestonpans, in 1745. The Colonel was
now with his soldiers at Ghent; and to him Whitefield addressed the
following characteristic letter:――
“EDINBURGH, _October 17, 1742_.
“HONOURED SIR,――Though I never had the pleasure of seeing you, I
have often prayed for you. I hope you will not be offended with
me for troubling you with this. Your honoured lady tells me you
will not.
“Dear sir, I rejoice to hear that you are a good soldier of
Jesus Christ, and that you delight to fight the Redeemer’s
battles. May you be covered with all His armour, and be filled
with all His fulness!
“I have the pleasure often to go without the camp, and to bear
a little of His sacred reproach; and I prefer it to all the
treasures in the world. Weak as I am, my Jesus makes me more
than conqueror, through His love. He has brought mighty things
to pass here, and gotten Himself the victory in many hearts. I
trust not a day passes without some poor creature being plucked
as a brand from the burning.
“I wish I could hear that God was more in the camp. Blessed be
His name! for raising you up, to lift a standard for Him. May
you be endued with the _meekness_ of Moses, the _courage_ of
Joshua, the _zeal_ of Paul, and a large portion of the blessed
spirit of Christ!
“I hope, honoured sir, you will, now and then, remember me, a
poor sinner, and speak a word for me to the King of kings and
Lord of lords, that I may not turn my head in the day of battle,
but rather die for Him, than, in any wise, deny Him. Neither you
nor yours are forgotten by me. I am a poor creature, but happy,
very happy, in the once crucified, but now exalted Jesus. For
His sake, and in His great name, I beg leave to subscribe myself,
honoured sir, your affectionate, humble servant,
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”
Colonel Gardiner was as distinguished a Christian as he was a soldier.
Nine days after the date of Whitefield’s letter, the Colonel wrote, as
follows, to his friend Dr. Doddridge, of Northampton:――
“GHENT, _October 16, 1742_.
“I have received a letter from Mr. Whitefield. The accounts I
have had of that man, both when in England and since I came here,
have ravished my soul. If my heart deceives me not, I would
rather be the persecuted, despised Whitefield, to be an
instrument in the hand of the Spirit, for converting so many
souls, and building up others in their most holy faith, than be
the emperor of the whole world.”[26]
Towards the close of his visit to Scotland, Whitefield re-opened
his correspondence with Wesley, the result of which was a perfect
reconciliation. From this time, their mutual regard and friendly
intercourse suffered no interruption, until Whitefield’s death,
twenty-eight years afterwards. The following is one of the letters
which, at this important period, passed between them:――
“EDINBURGH, _October 11, 1742_.
“REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,――About ten days ago, I sent you a packet,
by my dear wife, which I hope you will have received ere this
comes to hand. Yesterday morning, I had your kind letter, dated
October 5.
“In answer to the first part of it, I say, ‘Let old things
pass away, and all things become new.’ I can heartily say ‘Amen’
to the latter part of it. ‘Let the king live for ever, and
controversy die.’ It has died with me long ago.
“I shall not leave Scotland in less than three weeks. Before
yours came, I had engaged to go through Newcastle,[27] in my
way to London. I rejoice to hear the Lord has blessed your dear
brother’s labours.