answer in a scurrilous and bantering style like this; and, therefore,
he wisely determined not to write at all. Hence the following to Lady
Huntingdon:――
“BIDEFORD, _August 24, 1749_.
“I have seen the bishop’s second pamphlet, in which he has
served the Methodists, as the Bishop of Constance served John
Huss, when he ordered some painted devils to be put round his
head before he burned him. His preface to me is most virulent.
Everything I wrote, in my answer, is turned into the vilest
ridicule, and nothing will satisfy but giving up the glorious
work of the ever-blessed God, as entirely cheat and imposture.
I cannot see that it calls for any further answer from me.
Mr. Wesley, I think, had best attack him now, as he is largely
concerned in this second part. I think of leaving this place
to-morrow, and of preaching at Exeter next Lord’s-day.”
Whitefield would not reply to the bishop’s pamphlet, but he would
preach in his episcopal city. It was rather a bold step to take; and
the following is Whitefield’s own account of it. This, like the former
letter, was addressed to Lady Huntingdon:――
“LONDON, _September 4, 1749_.
“HONOURED MADAM,――I came to town on Thursday, the 31st ultimo,
after having had a pleasant circuit in the west.
“The day after I wrote to your ladyship, I preached twice at
Exeter, and, in the evening, I believe I had near ten thousand
hearers. The bishop and several of his clergy stood very near me,
as I am informed. A good season it was. All was quiet, and there
was a great solemnity in the congregation; but a drunken man
threw at me three great stones. One of them cut my head deeply,
and was likely to knock me off the table; but, blessed be God!
I was not at all discomposed. One of the other stones struck a
poor man quite down.
“As I came from Exeter, I visited one John Haime, the soldier,
who, under God, began the great awakening in Flanders. He is in
Dorchester gaol for preaching at Shaftesbury, where there has
been, and is now, a great awakening.[248]
“Everywhere the work is spreading; and, since I have been here,
we have had some of the most awful, solemn, powerful meetings,
I ever saw at the Tabernacle. Congregations have been very large,
and I have had several meetings with the preachers.”[249]
Whitefield’s stay in London was of short duration. In a few days,
he set out for Yorkshire and the North of England. On his way, in
Hertfordshire, he wrote as follows to his friend Hervey:――
“BENNINGTON, _September 17, 1749_.
“REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR,――Perhaps I have heard from what corner
your cross comes. It is a very near one indeed. A saying of Mr.
B―――― has often comforted me: ‘I would often have nestled, but
God always put a thorn in my nest.’ Is not this suffered, my
dear brother, to prick you out, and to compel you to appear for
the Lord Jesus Christ? Preaching is my grand _catholicon_, under
all domestic, as well as other trials. I fear Dr. Stonehouse has
done you hurt, and kept you in shackles too long. For Christ’s
sake, my dear Mr. Hervey, exhort him, now that he has taken the
gown, to play the man, and let the world see, that, not worldly
motives, but God’s glory and a love for souls, have sent him
into the ministry. I hope he will turn out a flamer at last.
O when shall this once be! Who would lose a moment? Amazing!
that the followers of a crucified Redeemer should be afraid of
contempt! Rise, Hervey, rise, and see thy Jesus reaching out a
crown with this motto, ‘_Vincenti dabo_.’ Excuse this freedom.
I write out of the fulness of my heart, not to draw you over to
me, or to a party, but to excite you to appear openly for God.
“A letter may be directed (if you write immediately) to be left
at the Rev. Mr. Ingham’s, Yorkshire. Thither I am bound now,
and, if the season of the year should permit, I would stretch
to Scotland. We have had most delightful seasons in London.
The glory of the Redeemer filled the Tabernacle. If any doubt
whether the cause we are embarked in be the cause of God, I say,
‘Come and see.’ Are you free that I should call upon you in my
return to town? I think to come by way of Northampton. You shall
hear what is done in Yorkshire. God has blessed my preaching at
Oundle.”
It is evident that Whitefield wished Hervey to itinerate like himself;
but this was a work for which the gentle rector of Weston-Favell was
physically and mentally unfit. No good end would have been answered
by his attempting it. Besides, by his pen, he was doing a great
work, which Whitefield, had he tried, could not have done; and which
itinerancy would have set aside. The fact is, though Whitefield and
Hervey were both Oxford Methodists, Whitefield had not seen his old
acquaintance for many years, and seems to have had no idea of the
extreme delicacy of his health.
Whitefield’s progress to Ingham’s, at Aberford; to Grimshaw’s, at
Haworth; and to other places, will be seen in the following extracts
from his letters:――
“NEWCASTLE, _September 29, 1749_.
“I have had many proofs that God’s providence directed my way
into Yorkshire. I preached four times at Aberford, four times at
Leeds, and thrice at Haworth, where lives one Mr. Grimshaw. At
his church, I believe, we had above a thousand communicants, and,
in the churchyard, about six thousand hearers. It was a great
day of the Son of man. About Leeds are Mr. Wesley’s Societies.
I was invited thither by them and one of their preachers; and
Mr. Charles Wesley, coming thither, published me himself. I
have preached here once, and am to preach again this evening. On
Monday next, October 2nd, I propose to return to Yorkshire, and,
from thence, to London. I have given over the immediate care of
all my Societies to Mr. Harris; so that now I am a preacher at
large. Everything is turning round strangely. O for simplicity
and honesty to the end!”
To Lady Huntingdon, Whitefield wrote as follows:――
“NEWCASTLE, _October 1, 1749_.
“Never did I see more of the hand of God, in any of my journeys,
than in this. At Mr. Grimshaw’s, I believe, there were above
six thousand hearers. The sacramental occasion was most awful.
At Leeds, the congregation consisted of above ten thousand.
In the morning, at five, I was obliged to preach out of doors.
In my way hither, I met Mr. Charles Wesley, who returned, and
introduced me to the pulpit in Newcastle. As I am a debtor to
all, and intend to be at the head of no party, I thought it my
duty to comply. I have preached in their room four times, and,
this morning, I preached to many thousands in a large close.
This evening, I am to do the same. The power of God has attended
His word, and there seems to be a quickening of souls. To-morrow,
God willing, we set out for Leeds. As it is so late in the year,
my Scotch friends advise me to defer my going thither. Had I
known that, I should have embarked for America this autumn.”
In these and other letters, written while in the north of England,
Whitefield makes no mention of an event too important to be entirely
omitted. It was now that Charles Wesley succeeded in preventing his
brother marrying Grace Murray, by getting her married to John Bennet.
This unpleasant, almost romantic, incident occupies so large a space
in “The Life and Times of Wesley,” that I here purposely refrain from
entering into details. The account there introduced has been severely
criticised and censured by some of Wesley’s admirers, who seem to be
unwilling to admit that he shared any of the infirmities common to
human beings. I can only say, that while I could add to the details I
have already given, I know of nothing that I ought either to retract or
to modify. There can be no doubt that Whitefield was cognisant of the
intentions of Charles Wesley; for the marriage with Bennet took place
in Newcastle, the very day Whitefield left that town for Leeds; and,
further, on the night previous to the marriage, Wesley, at Whitehaven,
received a letter from Whitefield, requesting that he would meet him
and Charles Wesley, at Leeds, two days afterwards. Nothing more shall
be added, except to give Wesley’s own account of the distressing
interview. He writes:――
“October 4, 1749. At Leeds, I found, not my brother, but Mr.
Whitefield. I lay down by him on the bed. He told me my brother
would not come till John Bennet and Grace Murray were married.
I was troubled; he perceived it; he wept and prayed over me, but
I could not shed a tear. He said all that was in his power to
comfort me; but it was in vain. He told me it was his judgment
that she was _my_ wife,[250] and that he had said so to John
Bennet, that he would fain have persuaded them to wait, and
not to marry till they had seen me; but that my brother’s
impetuosity prevailed and bore down all before it. On Thursday,
October 5, about eight, one came in from Newcastle, and told
us ‘They were married on Tuesday.’ My brother came an hour
after. I felt no anger, yet I did not desire to see him; but
Mr. Whitefield constrained me. After a few words had passed, he
accosted me with, ‘I renounce all intercourse with you, but what
I would have with a heathen man or a publican.’ I felt little
emotion; it was only adding a drop of water to a drowning man;
yet I calmly accepted his renunciation, and acquiesced therein.
Poor Mr. Whitefield and John Nelson burst into tears. They
prayed, cried, and entreated, till the storm passed away. We
could not speak, but only fell on each other’s neck.”
Thus did Whitefield help to prevent a breach of the lifelong and
ardent friendship of the Wesley brothers. Three days afterwards,
Charles Wesley wrote to Mr. Ebenezer Blackwell, the London banker, as
follows:――
“SHEFFIELD, _Sunday Morning, October 8, 1749_.
“George Whitefield, and my brother, and I, are one,――a threefold
cord which shall no more be broken. The week before last, I
waited on our friend George to our house in Newcastle, and gave
him full possession of our pulpit and people’s hearts, as full
as was in my power to give. The Lord united all our hearts. I
attended his successful ministry for some days. He was never
more blessed or better satisfied. Whole troops of the Dissenters
he mowed down. They also are so reconciled to us, as you cannot
conceive. The world is confounded. The hearts of those who seek
the Lord rejoice. At Leeds, we met my brother, who gave honest
George the right hand of fellowship, and attended him everywhere
to our Societies. Some in London will be alarmed at the news;
but it is the Lord’s doing, as they, I doubt not, will by-and-by
acknowledge.”[251]
It is a fact worth noting, that, on the memorable day, when Whitefield,
the two Wesleys, John Bennet and his newly wedded wife met at Leeds,
Whitefield preached in that town at five in the morning, and at Birstal,
at five in the evening.[252] On both occasions, stricken-hearted
Wesley was present, and says, “God gave Mr. Whitefield both strong and
persuasive words.”[253] Five days afterwards, Wesley was in Newcastle,
and, in soberer language than that used by his brother, pronounced the
following judgment on Whitefield’s visit there: “I was now satisfied
that God had sent Mr. Whitefield to Newcastle in an acceptable time;
many of those who had little thought of God before, still retain the
impressions they received from him.”[254]
On leaving Leeds, Whitefield, accompanied by Ingham, set out on another
evangelizing tour through Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire.[255] “Go
on,” wrote Howell Harris, in a letter to Whitefield, dated “October 15,
1749,”――“Go on, and blaze abroad the fame of Jesus, till you take your
flight, to bow, among the innumerable company, before His unalterable
glory!”[256] And “go on” Whitefield did. The following was written to
Lady Fanny Shirley, at Ewood, (or Estwood, as Whitefield calls it,)
a place whence Grimshaw had married his first wife, and where he
occasionally resided.
“ESTWOOD, IN LANCASHIRE, _October 25, 1749_.
“HONOURED MADAM,――Since I wrote to your ladyship from Newcastle,
I have preached about thirty times in Yorkshire, and above
ten times in Cheshire and Lancashire. Congregations have been
very large, and a convincing and comforting influence has
everywhere attended the word. In one or two places, I have had
a little rough treatment; but elsewhere all has been quiet. At
the importunity of many, I am now returning from Manchester to
Leeds; from thence I purpose going to Sheffield; next week I hope
to see good Lady Huntingdon at Ashby; and the week following I
hope to be in London. Thus do I lead a pilgrim life. God give
me a pilgrim heart, and enable me to speak of redeeming love
to a lost world, till I can speak no more. Mrs. Galatin, at
Manchester, goes on well, and is not ashamed to confess Him, who,
I trust, has called her out of darkness into marvellous light.”
Colonel and Mrs. Galatin were sincere and warm-hearted friends both of
Whitefield and the Wesleys. Whitefield met them in Manchester, where
the colonel[257] was then stationed, and made the best use of his
opportunity to benefit him and his subordinate officers. Hence the
following to the Countess of Huntingdon:――
“LEEDS, _October 30, 1749_.
“I forwarded your letter to Mrs. Galatin, at Manchester. She
seems to be quite in earnest. I conversed for about two hours
with the captain and some other officers, upon the nature and
necessity of the new birth. He was affected; and, I hope, the
conversation was blessed. Since I left them, I have preached to
many thousands in Rosendale, Aywood” (Ewood?) “and Halifax; also
at Birstal, Pudsey, and Armley; and I have had three precious
seasons here. Congregations are exceeding large, and both the
Established and Dissenting Clergy are very angry. I hear that
yesterday they thundered heartily. But truth is great, and will
prevail, though preached in the fields and streets.
“I thought to have been at Ashby next Lord’s-day, but a door
seems to be opened at Nottingham, and I have thoughts of
trying what can be done there. This morning I shall set out for
Sheffield. This day week, your ladyship may depend on seeing me
at Ashby.”
On November 13th, Whitefield left the country residence of Lady
Huntingdon for London. On arriving there, he found letters, which
turned his attention to Ireland.
After John Cennick seceded from Whitefield, he, in June 1746, went to
Dublin, and commenced preaching in Skinner’s Alley. Soon after this,
Cennick had to attend a Moravian Synod in Germany; and, during his
absence, Thomas Williams, one of Wesley’s itinerants, visited Dublin,
began to preach, and formed a Society. In August, 1747, Wesley himself
went to Dublin, and became the guest of Mr. William Lunell, a banker,
a man of wealth and great respectability, who had been converted under
the preaching of Cennick and Williams. A year afterwards, Charles
Wesley found him mourning the loss of his wife and child, and did
all he could to comfort him. Mr. Lunell became one of Wesley’s most
liberal supporters. He gave £400 towards the erection of Dublin chapel;
and, more than twenty years subsequent to this, Wesley declared that
Mr. Lunell, of Dublin, and Mr. Thomas ♦James, of Cork, were the most
munificent benefactors that Methodism had ever had.[258]
From the first, Methodism in Ireland had to encounter persecution. In
Dublin, the pulpit and benches of Marlborough Street chapel had been
burnt in the open street, and several of the Methodists beaten with
shillalahs. At Athlone, Jonathan Healey, one of Wesley’s itinerants,
had been almost murdered. In the present year, 1749, the Methodists
at Cork, with the connivance of the mayor and magistrates, had
been subjected to the most cruel treatment. Both men and women were
attacked with clubs and swords, and many were stabbed, gashed, slashed,
stoned, and seriously wounded. Their houses were demolished, and their
furniture and goods destroyed. As in Dublin, the pews, benches, and
even flooring of the chapel, were dragged into the streets, and were
set on fire. These horrible outrages were continued during the whole
of the months of May and June.[259] Mr. Lunell wrote to Whitefield
on the subject, and wished him to visit Ireland. Whitefield was quite
willing to accede to this request; but, for the present, was unable
to comply with it. Meanwhile, however, he deeply sympathised with the
sufferers at Cork, and, as will be seen hereafter, took active steps,
in conjunction with the Countess of Huntingdon, to obtain for them the
protection of Government. The following letter, to Mr. Lunell, refers
to the matters just mentioned:――
“LONDON, _November 22, 1749_.
“VERY DEAR SIR,――I received your kind letter on Monday last, and
take the first opportunity of answering it.
“I believe my particular province is to go about and preach
the gospel to all. My being obliged to keep up a large
correspondence in America, and the necessity I am under of going
thither myself, entirely prevent my taking care of any Societies.
Whether it will ever be my lot to come to Ireland, I cannot say.
I have some thought of being there next spring; but I would not
intrude on any one’s labours. The world is large, and there is
sufficient work for all. I profess to be of a catholic spirit:
I am a debtor to all. I have no party to be the head of, and I
will have none; but, as much as in me lies, will strengthen the
hands of all, of every denomination, who preach Jesus Christ in
sincerity.
“Pray how are the poor people at Cork? Lady Huntingdon writes
concerning them,――‘I hope the poor persecuted people in Cork
will be helped. I should be glad, if you could write in my name
to any of them, and inform them that I would have written myself,
but I know not how to direct. You may give them my assurance
of serving them upon any occasion, and a hint that I believe
they will meet with no more of the like rough usage.’ Thus far
my good lady. I am persuaded you will, in a prudent manner,
communicate this to all concerned.”
Whitefield’s health was generally best when he was on his gospel
rambles. In London, it almost invariably suffered. Well or ill, however,
when he could, Whitefield must be allowed to work. Writing to Lady
Huntingdon, he says:――
“LONDON, _November 30, 1749_.
“London already begins to disagree with my outward man, but the
Lord’s smiling upon my poor labours sweetens all. I have begun
to preach at six in the morning. We have large congregations
even then. I trust we shall have a warm winter. I have not been
at the other end of the town this week; but I find all hold on.
However, a leader is wanting. This honour has been put on your
ladyship by the great Head of the Church an honour conferred on
few. That you may every day add to the splendour of your future
crown, by always abounding in the work of the Lord, is the
fervent prayer of your unworthy servant,
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”
Nine days later, he wrote again to Mr. Lunell, of Dublin:――
“LONDON, _December 9, 1749_.
“MY DEAR MR. LUNELL,――I find by your last kind letter that
the king’s business requires haste. I, therefore, immediately
dispatched it to good Lady Huntingdon, who, I am persuaded,
will think it her highest privilege to serve the dear people of
Cork. Whether your account of their sufferings has reached her
ladyship, I cannot tell, but you will soon know. However, this
we know, they have reached the ears of the blessed Jesus, who
sits in heaven, and laughs all His enemies to scorn. He will
take care that the bush, though burning, shall not be consumed:
nay, He will take care that it shall flourish, even in the midst
of fire. It will be melancholy to have any preachers transported;
but the thoughts of this do not affect me so much, because I
know what a field of action there is for them abroad. It has
been my settled opinion for a long time, that Christ’s labourers
(at least, some of them) love home too much, and do not care
enough for those thousands of precious souls, that are ready to
perish for lack of knowledge, in yonder wilderness. We propose
having an academy, or college, at the Orphan House in Georgia.
Supposing the worst to happen, hundreds may find a sweet retreat
there. The house is large; it will hold a hundred. I trust my
heart is larger, and will hold ten thousand. Be they who they
may, if they belong to Jesus, the language of my heart shall be,
‘Come in, ye blessed of the Lord.’ But, perhaps, this may not be
the issue. The threatening storm may blow over. It is always
darkest before break of day.”
Whitefield’s heart was large and warm. His life was a wandering one,
and he saw but little of his relatives; but his affection for them
never failed. In anticipation of his birthday, he wrote to his mother
the following:――
“LONDON, _December 15, 1749_.
“MY DEAR AND HONOURED MOTHER,――To-morrow it will be thirty-five
years since you brought unworthy me into the world. Alas! how
little have I done for you, and how much less for Him who formed
me. This is my comfort; I hope you want for nothing. Thanks
be to God for His goodness to you in your old age! I hope you
comfort yourself in Him, who, I trust, will be your portion for
ever. After Christmas, I hope to see you. My wife sends you her
most dutiful respects. If you would have anything brought more
than you have mentioned, pray write to, honoured mother, your
ever dutiful, though unworthy son,
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”
Whitefield and his Tabernacle friends began the New Year, 1750, by
reading letters respecting the work of God, in different places; and
by singing devout and enthusiastic doggerel. To one of his distant
correspondents, he wrote thus:――
“LONDON, _January 2, 1750_.
“Yesterday was a blessed letter-day. These verses were sung for
you, etc.:――
‘Thy work in the north,
O Saviour, increase;
And kindly send forth
The preachers of peace:
Till throughout the nation
Thy gospel shall ring,
And peace and salvation
Each village shall sing.’
Thousands said, ‘Amen, and amen!’ Let me know when you set out
for Newcastle, and whether the books shall be sent by land or
water. I get very little by them. I do not desire it should be
otherwise. I believe, as many are given away as answer to the
profits of what are sold. If souls are profited, I desire no
more.”
The reading of letters, at stated times, respecting revivals of
the work of God, was an established practice, both in Whitefield’s
Tabernacle and Wesley’s Foundery. The chief difference between the two
places was――in the Tabernacle, each letter was followed by the singing
of hymns, of which the lines just given are too good a specimen; in the
Foundery, the hymns sung were some of the finest that Charles Wesley
ever wrote.
The poor Methodists at Cork were again in the furnace of affliction.
Butler, the ballad singer, was as violent as ever; and, until the Lent
assizes, pursued his murderous career with increasing zest. Accompanied
by his mob, he several times assaulted the house of William Jewell,
a clothier; and, at last, took forcible possession of it, swore he
would blow out the brains of the first who resisted him, beat Jewell’s
wife, and then smashed all the windows. He abused Mary Philips in the
grossest terms, and struck her on the head. Elizabeth Gardelet was
literally almost murdered by him and his ruffians; and others were
similarly abused. On January 3, 1750, Whitefield wrote:――
“Mr. Lunell sends me dreadful news from Cork. Butler is there
again, making havoc of the people. Mr. Haughton,[260] some time
ago, expected to be murdered every minute. I have been with some
who will go to the Speaker of the House of Commons and represent
the case. I hope I have but one common interest to serve; I mean
that of the blessed Jesus.”