where Wesley had formed Societies, and everywhere his gigantic labours
were attended with marvellous success. The following extracts from two
letters to the Countess of Huntingdon will convey an idea of the scenes
he witnessed:――
“YORK, _September 11, 1753_.
“Last Saturday, I returned to Leeds, whence I had been absent
a fortnight. What the glorious Emmanuel gave us to see and
feel, is inexpressible. What a sacrament at Haworth! We used
thirty-five bottles of wine on the occasion. I have been as far
as Bolton, Manchester, and Stockport. At the last place, so much
of the Divine presence came amongst us, that it was almost too
much for our frail natures to bear. Everywhere the congregations
looked like swarms of bees; and the more I preached, the more
eager they seemed to be. At Birstal, last Lord’s-day, there were
near twenty thousand; and, on Monday morning, the parting at
Leeds was the most affecting I ever saw. Last night, I came
hither, and preached with quietness. This morning, I am setting
out for Lincolnshire. Besides travelling, I have been enabled
to preach thrice a day frequently. I hear of scores of souls who
have been awakened. They tell me that a hundred have been added
to the Sunderland Society.[335] Never did I see the work more
promising. God be merciful to me a sinner, and give me an humble,
thankful heart!”
“LONDON, _September 26, 1753_.
“Yesterday, the good and never-failing Redeemer brought me and
mine to London, where I expect to stay only a few days. During
the last three months, I have been enabled to travel about
twelve hundred miles, and to preach about one hundred and eighty
sermons, to many, very many, thousands of souls. More glorious
seasons I never saw. My last excursion has been to York,
Lincolnshire, Rotherham, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Northampton,
where, I believe, near ten thousand came to hear last Lord’s-day.”
Though Whitefield had built and opened his new Tabernacle, he was not
inclined to “_nestle_” in it. Within ten days after his arrival in
London, he resumed his itinerancy. On Saturday, October 6th, he had “a
blessed season at Olney;” and, next day, “two glorious opportunities”
at Northampton. On Monday, October 8th, he preached at Oxenden and
Bosworth; on Tuesday, at Kettering and Bedford; and on Wednesday, at
Bedford and Olney. He then set out for Staffordshire, and preached
“at Birmingham and several adjacent places.” Three weeks after his
departure from London, he wrote as follows:――
“WOLVERHAMPTON, _October 27, 1753_.
“My last, I think, was from Nantwich. Since then, I have been
breaking up new ground.[336] I have preached four times at
Alpraham, in Cheshire, where the Lord was with us of a truth;
and where He had prepared my way, by blessing several of my poor
writings. At Chester, I preached four times; a great concourse
attended; all was quiet;[337] several of the clergy were present;
and the word came with power. I have since heard that the most
noted rebel in the town was brought under deep conviction,
and could not sleep night or day. At Liverpool, the way was
equally prepared. A person, who had been wrought on by some
of my printed sermons, met me at landing, and took me to his
house.[338] A great number, at a short notice, were convened;
all were quiet; and some came under immediate conviction. Wrexham
has been a rude place; and, upon my coming there, the town was
alarmed, and several thousands came to hear. Some of the baser
sort made a great noise, and threw stones, but none touched me,
and, I trust, our Lord got Himself the victory. The next day,
near Alpraham, we had another heaven upon earth. The morning
after, I intended to preach near Nantwich, where a Methodist
meeting-house has lately been pulled down. Here Satan roared.
The mob pelted Mr. D――――[339] and others much, but I got off
pretty free, and had opportunity of preaching quietly a little
out of town. Last night, I preached here, in the dark, to a
great number of hearers. I am now bound for Wednesbury, Dudley,
and Kidderminster.”
Eleven days after writing this, Whitefield had returned to London; but,
two days afterwards, he was off to Gloucester, and the west of England.
The following was addressed to the Rev. Mr. Gillies, of Glasgow, who
had requested him to point out those parts of his Journals which it
might be desirable to insert in the “Historical Collections,” then in
course of preparation for the press:――
“GLOUCESTER, _November 16, 1753_.
“REVEREND AND VERY DEAR SIR,――I received your kind letter, and
would have sent the Journals immediately, but knew not how. My
wife promised to embrace the first opportunity that offered;
and I hope, ere long, they will come safe to hand. As for my
pointing out particular passages, it is impracticable. I have
neither leisure nor inclination so to do. My doings and writings
appear to me in so mean a light, that I think they deserve no
other treatment than to be buried in eternal oblivion.
“Great things were done in and about Newcastle; but far greater
did we see afterwards in Yorkshire, Lancashire, etc. Since
then, I have been another tour, and have preached at Liverpool,
Chester, Coventry, Birmingham, Dudley, Wednesbury, Kidderminster,
Northampton, Bedford, etc. At present, I am in my native county,
where the Lord has given us several precious meetings. After a
few days’ sojourning here, I am bound for Bristol and Plymouth;
and, in about three weeks, I purpose to betake myself to my
winter quarters.”
Whitefield arrived at Bristol on November 19th, and wrote, as follows,
to Thomas Adams:――
“BRISTOL, _November 21, 1753_.
“Never before had I such freedom in Gloucestershire. Showers of
blessings descended from above. I came here on Monday evening,
and to my great disappointment, found that the new Tabernacle
is not finished, so that I know not well what to do. However,
we had a good time last night at the Hall.
“Your motion to go to Norwich, I much approve of. Whatever
others design, that is nothing to us. Simplicity and godly
sincerity will carry all before them in the end. O that the
sons of Zeruiah could be persuaded to let us alone! But how
then should we be able to approve ourselves sons of David? By
thorns and briars, the old man must be scratched to death. O
this crucifixion work! Lord Jesus, help us to go through with
it! He will, He will. I commend thee and thine to His almighty
protection and never-failing mercy: and remain, my very dear man,
“Yours most affectionately,
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”
A word of explanation. After the termination of James Wheatley’s
ministry at Norwich, it became a serious question who was to occupy his
Tabernacle there. The Society he had gathered was composed of persons
far from perfect. Considerable wrangling ensued; but, until 1758, the
Norwich Tabernacle was chiefly supplied by the preachers connected with
Whitefield’s Tabernacle in Moorfields. It then passed into the hands of
Wesley; who, in 1763, gave it up as a hopeless undertaking. For twelve
years after that, it was occupied by the Rev. John Hook, grandfather
of the Rev. Dr. Hook, Dean of Worcester, and of Theodore Hook, the
celebrated novelist. In 1775, James Wheatley let it to Lady Huntingdon,
at an annual rent of £40. It is not necessary to pursue its history
further.[340]
Then, in reference to the Bristol Tabernacle. Almost from the
commencement of their career, the followers of Whitefield and of Wesley
had held separate services at Bristol. Wesley had had a chapel there
ever since the year 1739. Up to the present, Whitefield had none.
Considering the peculiar position held by Whitefield, as belonging to
no party and yet the friend of all, it is difficult to imagine why he
now sanctioned the erection of a chapel for himself, except that he
and his special adherents were well aware, that many, belonging to
the upper classes of society, who were in the habit of visiting the
Hotwells, would not attend Wesley’s meeting-house, but would be likely
to sit under the more popular ministry of his friend Whitefield. Be
that as it may, the Countess of Huntingdon exerted her influence to
obtain the necessary funds for a new erection. Lord Chesterfield sent
her £20;[341] but added, “I must beg _my name_ not to appear _in any
way_. Lady Chesterfield is active among her friends, and, I doubt
not, you will reap the benefit of her solicitations.” The Earl of Bath
sent £50, and said, “It gives me unfeigned pleasure to hear of the
good effects of Mr. Whitefield’s preaching at Bristol, and amongst
the colliers.” The result of Lady Huntingdon’s efforts was, the
new Tabernacle was now nearly completed, and Whitefield had come to
open it.[342] The dedication services were held on Sunday, November
25th.[343] Hence the following letter to a friend:――
“BRISTOL, _December 1, 1753_.
“We have enjoyed much of God at Bristol. Twice I preached in
my brother’s great house to the quality, amongst whom was one
of Cæsar’s household.[344] On Sunday last, I opened the new
Tabernacle. It is large, but not half large enough. Would the
place contain them, I believe near as many would attend as do in
London.”
This is all that Whitefield has recorded concerning the consecration
of the Bristol Tabernacle. The day after its opening, he set out on a
preaching tour in Somersetshire; but says:――
“The weather was so violent, and my call to London likely to
be so speedy, that I turned back. On Tuesday, at seven in the
evening, I preached in the open air to a great multitude. All
was hushed and exceeding solemn. The stars shone very bright,
and my hands and body were pierced with cold; but what are
outward things, when the soul within is warmed with the love
of God?”
While Whitefield was opening the Bristol Tabernacle, Wesley was seized
with an illness, which all his friends expected to prove fatal. Just
at the same time, the wife of Charles Wesley caught the small-pox at
Bristol, and was in the greatest danger. Between this excellent lady
and the Countess of Huntingdon there existed a close intimacy and
friendship; and, whenever the Countess was in Bristol, Charles Wesley
and his wife always received a warm welcome to her house. Charles was
now in London, visiting his apparently dying brother; but was greatly
needed by his wife in Bristol. In this emergency, Lady Huntingdon
hurried Whitefield to the metropolis, to enable Charles Wesley to pay
a visit to his seemingly dying wife.[345] This brief statement will
help to explain the following beautifully pathetic letters, written by
Whitefield, at this afflictive period. The first was probably addressed
to the noted Methodist at Leeds, William Shent:――
“BRISTOL, _December 3, 1753_.
“I have been preaching the last week in Somersetshire. The fire
there warmed and inflamed me, though I preached in the open air
on Tuesday evening at seven o’clock, as well as on Wednesday and
Thursday. I purposed to go as far as Plymouth, but Providence
has brought me back, and I am now hastening to London, to pay
my last respects to my dying friend. It may be, that shortly
Mr. John Wesley will be no more. The physicians think his disease
a galloping consumption. I pity the Church; I pity myself; but
not him. We must stay behind in this cold climate, whilst he
takes his flight to a radiant throne. Poor Mr. Charles will now
have double work.”
On the same day, Whitefield wrote to both the Wesleys. The first of the
ensuing letters was addressed to Charles; the second to John.
“BRISTOL, _December 3, 1753_.
“Being unexpectedly brought back from Somersetshire, and hearing
you are gone on such a mournful errand, I cannot help sending
after you a few sympathising lines. The Lord help and support
you! May a double spirit of the ascending Elijah descend and
rest on the surviving Elisha! Now is the time to prove the
strength of Jesus yours. A wife, a friend, and brother, ill
together! Well, this is our comfort, all things shall work
together for good to those that love God.
“If you think proper, be pleased to deliver the enclosed. It
is written out of the fulness of my heart. To-morrow, I leave
Bristol, and purpose reaching London on Saturday. Glad shall
I be to reach heaven first; but faith and patience hold out a
little longer. Yet a little while, and we shall be all together
with our common Lord. I commend you to His everlasting love, and
am, my dear friend, with much sympathy, yours, etc.,
“G. WHITEFIELD.”
“BRISTOL, _December 3, 1753_.
“REVEREND AND VERY DEAR SIR,――If seeing you so very weak, when
leaving London, distressed me, the news and prospect of your
approaching dissolution have quite weighed me down. I pity
myself and the Church, but not you. A radiant throne awaits you,
and, ere long, you will enter into your Master’s joy. Yonder He
stands with a massy crown, ready to put it on your head, amidst
an admiring throng of saints and angels; but I, poor I, who have
been waiting for my dissolution these nineteen years, must be
left behind, to grovel here below! Well, this is my comfort, it
cannot be long ere the chariots will be sent even for worthless
me. If prayers can detain them, even you, reverend and very dear
sir, shall not leave us yet; but, if the decree is gone forth,
that you must now fall asleep in Jesus, may He kiss your soul
away, and give you to die in the embraces of triumphant love! If
in the land of the dying, I hope to pay my last respects to you
next week. If not, reverend and very dear sir, F-a-r-e-w-e-ll!
_I prae sequar, etsi non passibus aequis._ My heart is too big:
tears trickle down too fast; and you, I fear, are too weak for
me to enlarge. Underneath you may there be Christ’s everlasting
arms! I commend you to His never-failing mercy, and am, reverend
and very dear sir, your most affectionate, sympathising, and
afflicted younger brother, in the gospel of our common Lord,
“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”[346]
Ten days later, Whitefield wrote again to Charles Wesley, as follows:――
“LONDON, _December 13, 1753_.
“MY DEAR FRIEND,――The Searcher of hearts alone knows the
sympathy I have felt for you and yours; and in what suspense my
mind has been concerning the event of your present circumstances.
I pray and enquire, and enquire and pray again; always expecting
to hear the worst. Ere this can reach you, I expect the lot will
be cast, either for life or death. I long to hear, that I may
partake, like a friend, either of your joy or sorrow. Blessed
be God for the promise, whereby we are assured that all things
work together for good to those who love Him! This may make us,
at least, resigned, when called to part with our Isaacs. But
who knows the pain of parting, when the wife and the friend
are conjoined? To have the desire of one’s eyes cut off with a
stroke, what but grace, omnipotent grace, can enable us to bear
it? But who knows? perhaps the threatened stroke may be recalled;
and my dear friend enjoy his dear yoke-fellow’s company a
little longer. Surely the Lord of all lords is preparing you for
further usefulness by these complex trials. We must be purged,
if we would bring forth more fruit.
“Your brother, I hear, is better. To-day I intended to have seen
him; but Mr. Blackwell sent me word, he thought he would be out
for the air. I hope Mr. Hutchinson[347] is better. But I can
scarce mention anybody now, but dear Mrs. Wesley. Pray let me
know how it goes with you. My wife truly joins in sympathy and
love. Night and day indeed you are remembered by, my dear friend,
yours, etc.,
“G. WHITEFIELD.”[348]
A week afterwards, Whitefield wrote another letter to his beloved
friend, full of jubilant thankfulness that the health of the afflicted
ones was improving.
“LONDON, _December 20, 1753_.
“MY DEAR FRIEND,――I most sincerely rejoice, and have given
private and public thanks, for the recovery of your dear
yoke-fellow. My pleasure is increased by seeing your brother so
well, as I found him on Tuesday at Lewisham. O that you may both
spring afresh, and your latter end increase more and more! Talk
not of having no more work to do in the vineyard! I hope all our
work is but just beginning. I am sure it is high time for me to
do something for Him who has done and suffered so much for me.
Near forty years old, and such a dwarf! The winter come already,
and so little done in the summer! I am ashamed, I blush, and am
confounded. And yet, God blesseth us here. Truly, His outgoings
are seen in the Tabernacle. The top-stone is brought forth: we
will now cry, ‘Grace! grace!’ I must away. Our joint respects
attend you all. I hope Mr. Hutchinson mends. I hear his brother
is dead. My most dutiful respects await our elect lady.”[349]
These touching letters not only exhibit the warm friendship existing
between Whitefield and the two Wesleys, but also unfold the tenderness
of Whitefield’s feelings, and his profound sympathy with distress.
Many others might have been inserted, as illustrative of the same moral
excellencies; but, for want of space, they have been excluded.
Mrs. Grinfield, one of the ladies at the court of King George II., has
been mentioned, as having been greatly blessed by Whitefield’s ministry.
On his return to London, Whitefield visited her; and wrote as follows
to the Countess of Huntingdon:――
“LONDON, _December 15, 1753_.
“Yesterday morning, I obeyed your ladyship’s commands, and
carried the enclosed to Mrs. Grinfield, at St. James’s Palace.
I was much satisfied with my visit, and am much rejoiced to
find that she seems resolved to shew out at once. The court, I
believe, rings of her, and, if she stands, I trust she will make
a glorious martyr for her blessed Lord. Oh that your ladyship
could see your way clear to come up! Now seems to be the time
for a fresh stir. Few have either courage or conduct to head a
Christian party amongst persons of high life. That honour seems
to be put upon your ladyship,――and a glorious honour it is.
“On Tuesday, I am to dine with Mr. John Wesley, who was
yesterday, for a few minutes, at the Foundery; but, I hear, his
lungs are touched. I cannot wish him to survive his usefulness.
It is poor living to be nursed; but our Lord knows what is best
for His children. I wish I might have the use of West Street
Chapel once or twice a week. Many want to hear at that end of
the town. The Messrs. Wesley are quite welcome to all the help
I can give them.”
At Christmas, Whitefield’s old friend, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, and
the great Virginian preacher, the Rev. Samuel Davies, came to England,
as a deputation, to solicit subscriptions for the new college, founded
by Governor Belcher, at Princeton. Their mission was an important
one. The Presbyterian churches in the six colonies of New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina were looking
to this college for their future supply of ministers.[350] Under such
circumstances, and quite apart from the respect which Whitefield felt
for Governor Belcher, the errand of the two American ministers was
sure to have his sympathy and help. He wrote a recommendatory letter
to the Marquis of Lothian, and, through him, introduced the strangers
to the Presbyterians of Scotland. The result of their visit was, they
obtained contributions from England and Scotland, which “amply enabled
the trustees to erect a convenient edifice for the accommodation of
the students, and to lay a foundation for a fund for the support of
necessary instructors.”[351]
Whitefield refers to this in the following letter to the Rev. Mr.
Gillies, of Glasgow:――
“LONDON, _December 27, 1753_.
“REVEREND AND VERY DEAR SIR,――I am surprised to find, by your
last kind letter, that my poor Journals are not come to hand.
My wife informs me that they were sent to one Mr. E――――, who was
to send off goods the very next day.
“Perhaps it will please you to hear that Messrs. Tennent and
Davies supped with me last night. May the good Lord prosper
the work of their hands! I hope they will be introduced soon
to the Marquis of Lothian, and, by him, to Lord Leven. I shall
help them all I can. At the great day, all things will be laid
open.[352]
“Would you think it, I am this day thirty-nine years of
age.[353] Did not business require my attendance, I could
lock myself up, and lie prostrate all the day long in deep
humiliation before God. My dear sir, let none of my friends cry
to such a sluggish, unprofitable worm, ‘Spare thyself.’ Rather,
spur me on, I pray you, with an ‘Awake, sleeper, and begin to
do something for thy God!’ The Lord being my helper, I will. Do
Thou strengthen me, my Lord and my God! and I will go for Thee,
at Thy command, to the uttermost parts of the earth. O break,
break my heart; Look to Him, whom thou hast pierced! Look and
love; look and mourn; look and praise! Thy God is yet thy God!
“Every day, sir, we hear of fresh work. Scores of notes are put
up by persons brought under conviction; and God’s people are
abundantly refreshed. Last night, the glory of the Lord filled
the Tabernacle. I cannot tell you half. I am lost in wonder. For
the present, my dear sir, adieu!”
In such a spirit Whitefield ended the year 1753. On Tuesday, January 1,
1754, he preached, in the Tabernacle, to a densely crowded congregation,
from the parable of the barren fig-tree. His American friends, Tennent
and Davies, were present, and the latter wrote: “Though the discourse
was incoherent, it seemed to me better calculated to do good to mankind
than all the accurate, languid discourses I had ever heard. After the
sermon, I enjoyed his pleasing conversation at his house.”
Whitefield spent the first two months of 1754 in London, and was fully
occupied, partly in preaching, and partly in preparing for his intended
voyage to America. He wrote: “I meet with my share of trials. Every
sermon preached this winter has been fetched out of the furnace. But
what are we to expect, as Christians and ministers, but afflictions?
Our new Tabernacle is completed, and the workmen all paid. What is best
of all, the Redeemer manifests His glory in it. Every day, souls come
crying, ‘What shall we do to be saved?’ I expect, in a fortnight, once
more to launch into the great deep, with about ten or twelve destitute
orphans under my care.”[354] He embarked at Gravesend, on the 7th of
March; and, in another chapter, we must follow him.
_FIFTH VISIT TO AMERICA._
MARCH 1754 TO MAY 1755.
NINE days after leaving England, the ship, in which Whitefield sailed,
anchored in Lisbon harbour, where it remained about a month. This
was a long detention for Whitefield and his “destitute orphans;” but
he usefully employed the time in making himself acquainted with the
full-blown Popery of the metropolis of Portugal. His letters on this
subject fill twenty-four closely printed pages, in his collected works.
At his return to England, in 1755, four of these letters were printed,
with the title, “A brief Account of some Lent and other Extraordinary
Processions and Ecclesiastical Entertainments, seen last Year at Lisbon.
In four Letters to an English Friend. By George Whitefield.” (8vo. 29
pp.) Whitefield’s letters were extensively quoted by the newspapers and
magazines of the day; and even the _Monthly Review_――no great friend to
Whitefield――said, “Our celebrated itinerant preacher expresses a just
and manly resentment of the miserable bigotry of the Portuguese, and
the priestly delusion with which they are led into even more ridiculous
fopperies than ever disgraced the pagan theology.”[355]
What did Whitefield see? Extracts from the letters――as brief as
possible――shall supply an answer.
“LISBON HARBOUR, _March 17, 1754_.
“Yesterday we anchored in this port. We are now lying before
a large place, where we see hundreds going to worship in their
way. We have just been at ours. Though sent without a friend,
yet I am not left alone. ‘O my God, Thy presence on earth, Thy
presence in heaven, will make amends for all!’ Indeed, Jesus
Christ is a good master. He has given me the affections of all
on board, and as kind a captain as we could desire.”
“LISBON HARBOUR, _March 19, 1754_.