the new building[271] would admirably suit such a proposal; and
I then determined to mention, in my next, some terms that might
be offered to the consideration of the trustees; but I now find
that you have done this already, and that matters are adjusted
agreeable to the minds of the majority of them. I hope your
agreement meets with the approbation of the inhabitants, and
that it will be serviceable to the cause of vital piety and good
education. If these ends are answered, a free school erected,
the debts paid, and a place preserved for public preaching,
I do not see what reason there is for anyone to complain. But
all this depends on the integrity, disinterestedness, and piety
of the gentlemen concerned. An institution, founded on such a
basis, God will bless and succeed; but, without these, the most
promising schemes will prove abortive, and the most flourishing
structures turn out Babels. I wish you and the gentlemen
concerned much prosperity; and pray the Lord of all lords to
direct you to the best means to promote the best end; I mean
the glory of God and the welfare of your fellow-creatures. Be
pleased to remember me to them and to all friends as they come
in your way, and believe me, dear sir,
“Yours, etc.,
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”
This long letter is interesting, as revealing Whitefield’s views of
youthful education, and his connection with the founding of one of
the oldest and most important colleges in America. It is difficult to
determine whether his interest in England or in America was greater.
He was a devoted lover of his native land; but he was also profoundly
attached to those transatlantic colonies, which, since his day, have
been developed into one of the greatest nations upon earth. On the same
day that he wrote his letter to Franklin, respecting the college at
Philadelphia, he also wrote to his old friend, the Honourable Jonathan
Belcher, Governor of the Province of New Jersey:――
“I purpose ranging this summer, and then to embark for my
beloved America. Whether I shall see your Excellency is
uncertain. You are upon the decline of life; but, I trust, I
shall meet you in heaven, where the wicked heart, the wicked
world, and the wicked devil, will cease from troubling, and
every soul enjoy an uninterrupted and eternal rest. This I am
waiting for every day. O that death may find me either praying
or preaching!”
Having preached twelve times, in six days, at Plymouth, Whitefield
set out for Cornwall, accompanied by two clergymen, the Rev. G.
Thompson, of St. Gennys, and the Rev. Mr. Grigg, who had come to
Plymouth purposely to be his escort. On Sunday, the 4th of March, the
church at St. Gennys presented a scene such as was not often witnessed.
Whitefield writes: “Four of Mr. Wesley’s preachers were present, and
also four clergymen in their gowns and cassocks――Mr. Bennet[272] (aged
fourscore), Mr. Thompson, Mr. Grigg, and myself. It was a glorious day
of the Son of man.”
Six days later, he wrote the following to the Countess of Huntingdon:――
“REDRUTH, _March 10, 1750_.
“Every day, since I left St. Gennys, I have been travelling
and preaching. At Port Isaac, the Redeemer’s stately steps were
seen indeed. At Camelford, I preached with great quietness in
the street. At St. Andrew’s, we had a very powerful season.
Yesterday, at Redruth, several thousands attended. Invitations
are sent to me from Falmouth and several other places. I want
more tongues, more bodies, more souls, for the Lord Jesus. Had
I ten thousand, He should have them all. After preaching, about
noon I am to go to St. Ives; and, in about nine days, I hope to
be at Exeter. Mr. Thompson is mighty hearty, and is gone to his
parish in a gospel flame.”
The account of Whitefield’s Cornish labours is continued in another
letter to her ladyship, dated “Exeter, March 21, 1750,” and in which
he says:――
“Immediately after writing my last, I preached to many thousands
at Gwennap. In the evening, I went to St. Ives. The next day,
Sunday, March 11th, I went to church in the morning, and heard
a virulent sermon from these words, ‘Beware of false prophets.’
The preacher had said, on the day before, ‘Now Whitefield is
coming, I must put on my old armour.’[273] I preached twice to
large auditories, and then rode back to Gwennap rejoicing. On
Monday, I preached again at Redruth, at ten in the morning, to
near ten thousand. Arrows of conviction seemed to fly fast. In
the evening, I preached to above five hundred, at a place twelve
miles distant, and then rode about sixteen miles to one Mr.
B――――’s, a wealthy man, convinced about two years ago. In riding,
my horse threw me violently on the ground, but I got up without
receiving much hurt. The next day,” (Tuesday, March 13,) “we had
a most delightful season at St. Mewan; and the day following,
a like time at Port Isaac. In the evening, I met my dear Mr.
Thompson, at Mr. Bennet’s, a friendly minister aged fourscore;
and, on Thursday, preached in both his churches. Blessed seasons
both! On Friday, we went to Bideford, where there is perhaps
one of the best little flocks in all England.[274] The power
of God so came down, while I was expounding to them, that Mr.
Thompson could scarce stand under it. I preached twice. On Monday
evening” (March 19), “I came to Exeter, and, with great regret,
shall stay till Friday; for I think every day lost that is not
spent in field-preaching. An unexpectedly wide door is opened in
Cornwall, so that I have sometimes almost determined to go back
again.”
Thus did Whitefield requite his abusive foe, the Bishop of Exeter.
Lavington, in the most scurrilous language, blackguarded Whitefield
and the Methodists in the notorious pamphlets which he was now writing
and publishing, without having the manliness to acknowledge them as his
own; and Whitefield, in return, quietly invaded the bishop’s diocese,
and, from Land’s End to Exeter, tried to revive religion, where it was
almost, if not entirely, dead. No wonder that the bishop raved!
After spending about a month in London, Whitefield made, what he calls,
“a short elopement to Portsmouth.” His supreme work was preaching,
and saving souls; but he was always ready to throw his influence
and energies into any scheme that would be subsidiary to the great
object of his life. For this purpose, he had erected his Orphan House
in Georgia, and, as the reader has already seen, wished to have, in
connection with it, an academy or college for the training of ministers.
At this very time, he was taking an active interest in founding what
afterwards became the university of Philadelphia. Added to all this,
he now cheerily devoted himself to the establishment of a kindred
institution in New Jersey. Three years ago, his friend, Jonathan
Belcher, had been appointed the governor of that province. The governor
was an aged man, in his seventieth year; but, before he died, he wished
to found a Presbyterian college for the benefit of the people whom
he ruled. In 1748, he had obtained a royal charter from George II.,
but, to carry out his purpose, he needed money. To collect this,
Mr. Allen and Colonel Williams had come to England, bringing letters
of introduction from Governor Belcher and the Rev. Aaron Burr, who
had been elected president of the New College. Whitefield presented
these gentlemen to the Countess of Huntingdon. A statement of Belcher’s
scheme, with a recommendation of it, was printed, and signed by
her ladyship, Whitefield, Dr. Doddridge, and others. Whitefield
preached sermons for the college; and, in the course of a few months,
considerable sums were collected, and transmitted to America.[275] To
illustrate Whitefield’s interest in this important matter, two extracts
from his letters may be useful, while at Portsmouth, he wrote to
Governor Belcher, as follows:――
“PORTSMOUTH, _April 27, 1750_.
“I am glad your Excellency has been honoured, by Providence,
to put New Jersey College on such a footing, that it may be a
nursery for future labourers. I have had the pleasure of seeing
Mr. Allen and Colonel Williams, and have introduced them to
such of my friends as I believe may serve the interest in which
they are engaged. By the Divine blessing, I hope that something
considerable will be done in England and Scotland.”
A few days afterwards, he wrote to the Rev. Mr. McCulloch, Presbyterian
minister of Cambuslang:――
“Mr. Allen, a friend of Governor Belcher, is come over with a
commission to negotiate the matter concerning the Presbyterian
College in New Jersey. He has brought with him a copy of the
letter which Mr. Pemberton sent you some time ago. This letter
has been shewn to Dr. Doddridge and several of the London
ministers, who all approve of the thing, and promise their
assistance. Last week, I conversed with Dr. Doddridge concerning
it; and the scheme that was then judged most practicable was
this――‘That Mr. Pemberton’s letter should be printed, and that
a recommendation of the affair, subscribed by Dr. Doddridge and
others, should be annexed; and, further, that a subscription
and collections should be set on foot in England, and that
afterwards Mr. Allen should go to Scotland.’ I think it is an
affair that requires despatch. Governor Belcher is old, but
a most hearty man for promoting God’s glory, and the good of
mankind. He looks upon the College as his own daughter, and will
do all he can to endow her with proper privileges. The present
president, Mr. Burr,[276] and most of the trustees, I am well
acquainted with. They are friends to vital piety; and, I trust,
this work of the Lord will prosper in their hands. The spreading
of the gospel in Maryland and Virginia, in a great measure,
depends on it.”
Thus, in more respects than one, was America greatly indebted to the
English Whitefield. The effects of his services on behalf of that
country cannot be estimated.
After a few days spent at Portsmouth, Whitefield returned to London,
and then, early in the month of May, set out on his northern tour.
On Sunday, May 6th, he preached twice, to great multitudes, at Olney.
On the day following, he rode to Northampton, and “had a private
interview” with Dr. Stonehouse, Dr. Doddridge, the Rev. James Hervey,
and the Rev. Thomas Hartley.[277] On Tuesday, the 8th, he preached,
in the morning, “to Dr. Doddridge’s family;” and, in the afternoon, to
above two thousand in a field, his friends, with whom he had held “a
private interview,” to his great gratification, walking with him along
the street. After preaching twice, “to several thousands,” at Kettering,
he made his way to Ashby, the country residence of the Countess of
Huntingdon. Here he remained for above a week, preaching daily in the
house of her ladyship, and also in four neighbouring churches. Resuming
his journey, on May 20, he preached four times at Nottingham, where,
says he, “several came to me, enquiring what they should do to be saved.
One evening, Lord S―――― and several gentlemen were present, and behaved
with great decency. Many thousands attended.” He also preached at
Sutton; thrice at Mansfield; and, on May 25, arrived at Rotherham,
where he met with an adventure worth relating. In a letter to Lady
Huntingdon, dated “Leeds, May 30, 1750,” he writes:――
“Satan rallied his forces at Rotherham;[278] but I preached
twice, on the Friday evening and Saturday morning. The crier
was employed to give notice of a bear-baiting. Your ladyship
may guess who was the _bear_. About seven in the morning, the
drum was heard, and several watermen attended it with great
staves. The constable was struck, and two of the mobbers were
apprehended, but were rescued afterwards. I preached on these
words, ‘Fear not, little flock.’ They were both fed and feasted.
After a short stay, I left Rotherham, when I knew it was become
more pacific.[279]
“In the evening, I preached at Sheffield, where the people
received the word gladly. A great alteration was discernible
in their looks, since I was there last.[280] On Sunday, great
multitudes attended, and, in the evening, many went away, who
could not get near enough to hear. On Monday, we had a parting
blessing; and, in the evening, the Lord Jesus fed us plentifully,
with the bread that cometh down from heaven, at Barley Hall.
“Last night, I preached in Leeds, to many, many thousands; and
this morning also, at five o’clock. Methinks, I am now got into
another climate. It must be a warm one, where there are so many
of God’s people. Our Pentecost is to be kept at Mr. Grimshaw’s.
I have seen him and Mr. Ingham.”
Concerning the “Pentecost” kept at Haworth, on Sunday, June 3rd, no
record has been preserved, except a mere notice, which will be found
in a subsequent letter. The reader must imagine the great preacher,
standing on his temporary scaffold, by the side of Grimshaw’s church,
with thousands upon thousands listening to his impassioned eloquence,
and the surrounding hills and dales echoing with his unequalled voice.
Leaving Haworth, Whitefield proceeded to Manchester, where he wrote, as
follows, to Lady Gertrude Hotham, daughter of the Earl of Chesterfield,
and wife of Sir Charles Hotham, Bart:――
“MANCHESTER, _June 8, 1750_.
“HONOURED MADAM,――Thousands and thousands, for some time past,
have flocked to hear the word twice every day, and the power
of God has attended it in a glorious manner. I left good Lady
Huntingdon, some time ago, weak in body, but strong in the grace
which is in Christ Jesus. The good people of Ashby were so kind
as to mob round her ladyship’s door, whilst the gospel was being
preached. Alas! how great and irreconcilable is the enmity of
the serpent! This is my comfort――the seed of the woman shall be
more than conqueror over all. I hope your ladyship, every day,
experiences more and more of this conquest in your heart. This
is the Christian’s daily employ and daily triumph――to die to
self and sin, and to rise more and more into the image of the
blessed Jesus. As it is our duty, so it is our unspeakable
privilege.”
From Manchester, Whitefield set out on a tour through what was called
“Ingham’s Circuit,” a large mountainous tract of country where Ingham
had preached with great success, and had founded Societies. The
following, addressed to the Countess of Huntingdon, will give the
reader an idea of Whitefield’s labours:――
“NEWBY-COTE, _June 16, 1750_.
“HONOURED MADAM,――Blessed be God! I have still good news to send
your ladyship. All was quiet at Manchester; and, I humbly hope,
the Redeemer will gather to Himself a people there.[281] Kind
Captain Galatin and his lady will acquaint you with particulars.
I hope he will prove a good soldier of Jesus Christ. We had
sweet seasons at places adjacent to Manchester. Only, at Bolton,
a drunkard stood up to preach behind me; and a woman attempted
twice to stab the person who was putting up a stand, for me
to preach on, in her husband’s field. Since that, we have had
very large and powerful meetings, where formerly were the most
violent outrages.[282] Perhaps, within these three weeks, sixty
thousand souls have heard the gospel. I am now in Mr. Ingham’s
circuit, and purpose being at Kendal next Thursday.”
To this Whitefield appends the following postscript:――
“June 17th, seven in the morning. Last night Satan shewed his
teeth. Some persons got into the barn and stable, and cut my
chaise, and one of the horse’s tails. What would men do, if they
could?”
Whitefield arrived at Kendal four days after this, where he wrote the
following to his friend Hervey:――
“KENDAL, _June 21, 1750_.
“REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR,――I arrived at Kendal this morning,
where I shall preach this evening. An entrance is now made into
Westmoreland. Pen cannot well describe the glorious scenes that
have opened in Yorkshire, etc. Perhaps, since I saw you, seventy
or eighty thousand have attended the word preached, in divers
places. At Haworth, on Whit-Sunday, the church was almost thrice
filled with communicants; and, at Kirby-Stephen, the people
behaved exceedingly well.
“In my way, I have read Mr. Law’s second part of ‘The Spirit of
Prayer.’ His scheme about the fall is quite chimerical; but he
says many noble things. The sun has its spots, and so have the
best of men. I want to see my own faults more, and those of
others less. It will be so, when I am more humble. If mercies
would make a creature humble, I should be a mirror of humility.
But I am far from the mind that was in Jesus. You must pray,
while I go on fighting. Next week, I hope to reach Edinburgh.
You shall have notice of my return. Glad shall I be to meet such
a friend upon the road.”
On the same day, he wrote to the Rev. William Baddiley, domestic
chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon. Mr. Baddiley was now in London,
and his place at Ashby was supplied by the Rev. Charles Caspar Graves
and the Rev. Mr. Simpson, the former a brave-hearted Oxford Methodist,
who, in 1742, had accompanied Charles Wesley to Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
and helped him in forming the Methodist Society in that important town,
and who, in the year following, preached, for months, among the almost
incarnate fiends in Wednesbury, and in other parishes adjacent, but who
now had a church not far from Lady Huntingdon’s country residence. Mr.
Simpson, also, was one of the Oxford Methodists, and had been ordained,
and presented to a living of considerable value in Leicestershire. This,
however, he resigned, and, having left the Church of England, was now a
Moravian minister at Ockbrook.
“KENDAL, _June 21, 1750_.
“REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR,――I am glad you have sounded the silver
trumpet in London. ‘_Crescit eundo_’ must be your motto and mine.
There is nothing like keeping the wheels oiled by action. The
more we do, the more we may do; every act strengthens the habit;
and the best preparation for preaching on Sundays, is to preach
every day in the week.
“I am glad there is peace at Ashby. What a fool is Satan always
to overshoot his mark! I hope Mr. Graves, as well as Mr. Simpson,
will hold on. They will be glorious monuments of free grace. I
am like-minded with you in respect to Dr. Doddridge’s Commentary.
He is a glorious writer. May the Lord Jesus strengthen him to
finish the work!
“My dear Mr. Baddiley, what blessed opportunities do you enjoy
for meditation, study, and prayer! Now is your time to get
rich in grace. Such an example, and such advantages, no one in
England is favoured with but yourself. I do not envy you. I am
called forth to battle. O remember a poor cowardly soldier, and
pray that I may have the honour to die fighting. I would have
all my scars in my breast. I would not be wounded running away,
or skulking into a hiding-place. It is not for ministers of
Christ to flee, or be afraid.”
Five days afterwards, Whitefield wrote to the Countess of Huntingdon:――
“KENDAL, _June 26, 1750_.
“HONOURED MADAM,――Still the Lord vouchsafes to prosper the
gospel plough. Such an entrance has been made into Kendal,
as could not have been expected. I preached twice, to several
thousands, last week; and the people were so importunate, that
I was prevailed on to return last night. The congregation was
greatly increased, and the power of the Lord was displayed in
the midst of them.
“Last Saturday evening, and on the Lord’s-day, I preached at
Ulverstone. There Satan made some resistance. A clergyman, who
looked more like a butcher than a minister, came with two others,
and charged a constable with me; but I never saw a poor creature
sent off in such disgrace. I believe good was done in the town.
How I am to succeed at Whitehaven, your ladyship shall know
hereafter. I hear Mr. Wesley has been much abused in Ireland,
but that the mayor of Cork has quite overshot himself. I have
some thoughts of seeing Ireland before my return.”[284]
Whitefield reached Edinburgh on Friday, July 6th, having preached,
since he left London, two months before, above ninety times, and,
as he estimated, to a hundred and forty thousand people. He, at once,
commenced preaching in his open-air cathedral, the Orphan Hospital
Park;[285] and, on July 12th, wrote, as follows, to the Countess of
Huntingdon:――
“Though I am burning with a fever, and have a violent cold,
I must send your ladyship a few lines. They bring good news.
People flock rather more than ever, and earnestly entreat me not
to leave them soon. I preach generally twice a day,――early in
the morning, and at six in the evening. Great multitudes attend.
Praise the Lord, O my soul! Mr. Nimmo and his family are in the
number of those who are left in Sardis, and have not defiled
their garments. Your ladyship’s health is drunk every day.”
James Nimmo, Esq., Receiver-General of the Excise, was connected with
some of the first families in Scotland. His mother was a daughter of
Henry, Lord Cardross. His wife, Lady Jane Hume, was third daughter of
the Earl of Marchmont, and sister of Hugh, fourth Earl of Marchmont,
one of the executors of Pope the poet, and also of Sarah, Duchess of
Marlborough. Mr. Nimmo’s house was Whitefield’s Edinburgh home; and,
during his visit, Lady Jane Nimmo, in a letter to the Countess of
Huntingdon, remarked:――
“Greater crowds than ever flock to hear Mr. Whitefield. Dear
Lady Frances Gardiner is very active in bringing people to hear
him, to some of whom, there is reason to believe, the word has
been blessed. There is a great awakening among all classes.
Truth is great, and will prevail, though all manner of evil is
spoken against it. The fields are more than white, and ready
unto harvest, in Scotland.”[286]
Having preached twenty times in Edinburgh, Whitefield, on the 19th of
July, set out for Glasgow,[287] where, on the 23rd, he wrote:――
“Friends here received me most kindly, and the congregations,
I think, are larger than ever. Yesterday” (Sunday), “besides
preaching twice in the field, I preached in the College Kirk,
being forced by Mr. Gillies. It was a blessed season. I have met
and shaken hands with Mr. Ralph Erskine. Oh, when shall God’s
people learn war no more?”
On July 27, he returned to Edinburgh;[288] and, two days later, wrote
to Lady Huntingdon:――
“No one can well describe the order, attention, and earnestness
of the Scotch congregations. They are unwearied in hearing
the gospel. I left thousands sorrowful at Glasgow; and here I
was again most gladly received last night. By preaching always
twice, and once thrice, and once four times in a day, I am quite
weakened; but I hope to recruit again, and get fresh strength to
work for Jesus.”
On August 3rd, Whitefield set out for London,[289] and, at Berwick,
wrote again to the Countess:――
“BERWICK, _August 4, 1750_.
“I have taken a very sorrowful leave of Scotland. The longer
I continued there, the more the congregations, and the power
that attended the word, increased. I have reason to think that
many are under convictions, and am assured that hundreds have
received great benefit and consolation. I shall have reason to
bless God to all eternity for this last visit to Scotland. Not a
dog moved his tongue all the while I was there, and many enemies
were glad to be at peace with me. Preaching so frequently, and
paying so many religious visits, weakened me very much; but I am
already better for my riding thus far. One of the ministers here
has sent me an offer of his pulpit, and I hear of about ten more
round the town who would do the same. I came here this evening”
(Friday), “and purpose to set out for Newcastle on Monday
morning.”
Such extracts as these are fragments; but, put together, they form
a sort of diary, and exhibit Whitefield’s enormous labours, and his
marvellous popularity and success.
When Whitefield arrived in London, Hervey had become an inmate of his
house, and wrote: “Great care is taken of me. The house is very open
and airy, and has no bugs, a sort of city gentry for which I have
no fondness.”[290] The two friends visited Lady Gertrude Hotham, one
of whose daughters was dying; and, by their joint instrumentality,
the sufferer was led to the Saviour. Hervey attended Whitefield’s
ministry at the Tabernacle, and speaks of him as being “in labours
more abundant,” “a pattern of zeal and ministerial fidelity.”[291]