Chapter L: Tyerman (21)

"Wonderful things have been done ever since my arrival at
Savannah. Such an awakening among little children, I never saw
before. Oh, my dear brother, how ought such manifestations of
God's glory to quicken our souls, and excite us to lay ourselves
out more and more in the service of the best of masters, Jesus
Christ! Every day, He fills me with Himself, and sometimes
brings me upon the confines of eternity. Methinks, I often stand
upon Mount Pisgah, and take a view of the heavenly Canaan, and
then long to be gathered to my people. But my work is scarce
begun. My trials are yet to come. What is a little scourge of
the tongue? what is a thrusting out of the synagogues? The time
of temptation will be when we are thrust into an inner prison.
But, 'if Thou, O dearest Redeemer, wilt strengthen me in the
inner man, let enemies plunge me into a fiery furnace, or throw
me into a den of lions!' In the meanwhile let us all keep a
close walk with Jesus.

"I am, etc.,
"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

Towards the end of the month, Whitefield visited the settlement of the Saltzburgh refugees, at Ebenezer. He writes:--

"Wednesday, June 25. Went on Monday to Ebenezer, and returned
to Savannah this evening. Surely there is a difference, even
in this life, between those who serve the Lord, and those
who serve Him not. All other places of the colony seem to be
like Egypt, where was darkness, but Ebenezer, like the land
of Goshen, wherein was great light. I walked near four miles
in almost one continued field, covered with a most plentiful
crop of corn, pease, potatoes, etc., all the product of a few
months' labour. But God gives the labourers a peculiar blessing.
They are unanimous, and the strong help the weak. I had sweet
communication with their ministers. Our sister Orphan House
there is blessed by their means; and yesterday was set apart
as a day of thanksgiving for some assistance, lately sent the
little ones, from Germany and Savannah.

At this period, Philip Henry Molther, the Moravian preacher, was occasioning great excitement in the meetings bf the Brethren in London. Molther's views of the means of grace were, to say the least, extremely confused and foggy. Both the Wesleys felt it their duty to expose his heresy. Charles writes:--"A new commandment, called '_stillness_,' has repealed all God's commandments, and given a full indulgence to corrupted nature." There were also disputes respecting a fitness to believe in Christ, and other matters, which it is needless to refer to here.[352] While the contention was proceeding, James Hutton wrote to Whitefield on the subject; and Whitefield's reply is too valuable, and too appropriate to the state of things at the present day, to be omitted.

[352] See "The Life and Times of Wesley," vol. i., pp. 297-310.

"SAVANNAH, _June 25, 1740_.

"DEAREST JAMES,--Your last letter I received on Saturday.
Blessed be God, that our friends preach up poverty of spirit,
for that is the only foundation whereon to build solid abiding
comfort. The stony ground received the word with joy; but how
did those hearers stand in the day of temptation? It is very
possible that the heart may have much joy floating on the top
of it, and yet be as hard as the nether millstone. Hence it is
that so many, who boast of rest in their flashes of joy, are
self-willed, impatient of reproof, despisers of others in a
mourning state, and wise in their own conceits. The believer who
has a truly broken and contrite heart hangs upon God, and thinks
before he speaks. This is the state which I want all our friends
to arrive at. How can they stand, who never felt themselves
condemned criminals? who were never truly burdened with a sense,
not only of their actual but of original sin, especially the
damning sin of unbelief? who were never brought to see and
heartily confess, that after they had done all, God might,
notwithstanding, deny them mercy; and that it is owing solely to
His sovereign love in Christ Jesus that we can have any hopes of
being delivered from the wrath to come?

"For preaching in this manner, I like Messrs. Tennents. They
wound deep before they heal. They know that there is no promise
made but to him that believeth; and, therefore, they are careful
not to comfort over-much those who are convicted. I fear I
have been too incautious in this respect, and have often given
comfort too soon. The Lord pardon me for what is past, and teach
me more rightly to divide the word of truth for the future!

"I am, etc.,
"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

One of the clerical friends of Whitefield and of the two Wesleys was the Rev. George Stonehouse, Vicar of Islington, who sold his living, and became a Moravian. The following letter was addressed to him:--

"SAVANNAH, _June 26, 1740_.

"REV. AND DEAR SIR,--And is one of the priests also obedient to
the word? Blessed be God! who has translated you from darkness
to light. He seems to be thrusting out more labourers into the
harvest. Glory be to His free grace that you are one of the
happy number! Oh, dear sir, rejoice and be exceeding glad. Let
the love of Jesus constrain you to go out into the highways and
hedges to compel poor sinners to come in. Some may say, 'This
is not proceeding with a zeal according to knowledge;' but I am
persuaded, when the power of religion revives, the gospel must
be propagated in the same manner as it was first established, by
_itinerant preaching_. Go on, dear sir, go on, and follow your
glorious Master without the camp, bearing His reproach. Never
fear the scourge of the tongue, or the threatenings that are
daily breathed out against the Lord, and against His Christ.
Suffer we must. Ere long, perhaps, we may sing in a prison, and
have our feet fast in the stocks; but faith in Jesus turns a
prison into a palace, and makes a bed of flames become a bed of
down. Let us be faithful to-day, and our Lord will support us
to-morrow.

"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

An extract of a letter to another Moravian, William Delamotte, will help to illustrate Whitefield's religious experience and ecstasies.

"SAVANNAH, _June 28, 1740_.

"MY DEAR BROTHER,--I have abundant reason to bless God for
sending me abroad. I cannot say, I have improved my retirement
as I ought; but I can say, it has been highly beneficial to my
soul. I have a garden near at hand, where I go to meet and talk
with my God, at the cool of every day. I often sit in silence,
offering my soul, as so much clay, to be stamped just as my
heavenly potter pleases; and, whilst I am musing, I am often
filled, as it were, with the fulness of God. I am frequently
at Calvary, and frequently on Mount Tabor; but always assured
of my Lord's everlasting love. Oh, continue to pray for me. I
want to have a proper mixture of the lion and the lamb, of the
serpent and the dove. I do not despair of attaining it. Jesus
is love; Jesus willeth my perfection; Jesus hath died for me;
Jesus can deny me nothing. He has given me Himself; will He not
then freely give me all things besides? I wait for Thy complete
salvation, O Lord! O grace, grace! O Jesu! Jesu! Was there ever
love like Thine? Lord, I abhor myself in dust and ashes. O that
I could praise and love Thee as I ought!

"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

The following, addressed to Wesley, refers, not only to Calvinian disputes, but, to the action which Wesley had taken in resisting the "_stillness_" of Philip Henry Molther.

"SAVANNAH, _June 25, 1740_.

"MY HONOURED FRIEND AND BROTHER,--I thank you for all the
petitions you have put up in my behalf. I want to be as my
Master would have me; I mean, meek and lowly in heart.

"For Christ's sake, dear sir, if possible, never speak against
election in your sermons. No one can say that I ever mentioned
it in public discourses, whatever my private sentiments may be.
For Christ's sake, let us not be divided amongst ourselves.
Nothing will so much prevent a division as your being silent on
this head.

"I should have rejoiced at the sight of your Journal. I long to
sing a hymn of praise for what God has done for your soul.

"I am glad to hear that you speak up for an attendance on the
means of grace, and do not encourage persons who run before they
are called. The work of God will suffer much by such imprudence.
I trust you will still persist in field-preaching. Others are
strangers to our call. I know infinite good has been done by it
already, and greater good will yet be done thereby every day.
May God bless you more and more, and cause you to triumph in
every place!

"Next Monday, God willing, I go to Charleston. My family is
well regulated. I have nearly a hundred and thirty to maintain
daily, without any fund. The Lord gives me a full undisturbed
confidence in His power and goodness. Dear sir, adieu! I can
write no more. My heart is full. I want to be a little child.
O continue to pray for your most unworthy, but affectionate
brother and servant in our dear Lord Jesus Christ,

"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

It is difficult to define the position which Whitefield now occupied. He was a clergyman of the Church of England, and Savannah was his parish. He had been eight months in America; but he had spent far more time in preaching for Dissenters, and in the open air, than he had spent in his own parochial church.[353] He had also practised other ecclesiastical irregularities. Mr. Stephens, in his "Journal of the Proceedings in Georgia," writes:--

"1740, June 22. Mr. Whitefield always prays and preaches
extempore. For some time past he has laid aside his surplice;
and has managed to get justification by faith, and the new
birth, into every sermon.

"June 30. Mr. Whitefield went off to Carolina, and appointed Mr.
Habersham to read prayers and sermons during his absence. When
he returned, a Mr. Tilly, an Anabaptist teacher, came with him,
and preached and expounded several times in his church."

[353] It cannot be denied that, throughout his marvellous career,
Whitefield was, practically, a Dissenter. Thomas Olivers, who knew
him well, observes: "That Mr. Whitefield was strongly prejudiced
in favour of the Dissenters, as Dissenters, is notorious. I
myself have, perhaps on forty occasions, both at my own house and
elsewhere, heard him speak, with great partiality, of our English
Dissenters in general--particularly of the Puritans of old, and also
of our modern Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists. The whole
world knows how uncommonly fond he was of the Scotch Presbyterians,
and of the American Independents; while the Episcopalians, in both
these countries, were almost entirely overlooked by him." (Olivers'
"Rod for a Reviler," 1777, p. 22.)

Of course, Whitefield knew that all this was ecclesiastically wrong; and it is not surprising that he expected, what he considered to be, persecution. His previsions were soon realised. He again left his parish, Savannah, on June 30, and arrived at Charleston on July 2. In his Journal he writes:--

"Sunday, July 6. Charleston. Preached twice yesterday, and twice
to-day, and had great reason to believe our Lord got Himself
the victory in some hearts. Went to church in the morning
and afternoon, and heard the commissary preach as virulent,
unorthodox, and inconsistent a discourse as ever I heard in my
life. His heart seemed full of choler and resentment; and, out
of the abundance thereof, he poured forth so many bitter words
against the Methodists in general, and me in particular, that
several, who intended to receive the sacrament at his hands,
withdrew. Never, I believe, was such a preparation sermon
preached before. I could not help thinking the preacher was of
the same spirit as Bishop Gardner in Queen Mary's days. After
the sermon, he sent his clerk to desire me not to come to the
sacrament, till he had spoken with me. I immediately retired
to my lodging, rejoicing that I was accounted worthy to suffer
this further degree of contempt for my dear Lord's sake. Blessed
Jesus, lay it not to the commissary's charge! Amen and Amen!"

The commissary was angry, too angry, perhaps, to be prudent and dignified. At all events, on the next day, he issued the following formidable document:--

"Alexander Garden, lawfully constituted Commissary of the Right
Reverend Father in Christ, Edmund, by Divine permission,
Lord Bishop of London, supportedby the Royal authority
underwritten.

"ALEXANDER GARDEN,

"To all and singular Clerks and literate persons whomsoever, in
and throughout the whole Province of South Carolina, wheresoever
appointed, greeting; to you conjunctly and severally, we commit,
and, strictly enjoining, command that you do cite, or cause to
be cited, peremptorily, George Whitefield, Clerk and Presbyter
of the Church of England, that he lawfully appear before us,
in the Parish Church of St. Philip's, Charleston, and in the
judicial place of the same, on Tuesday, the fifteenth day of
this instant July, betwixt the hours of nine and ten in the
forenoon, then and there in justice to answer certain articles,
heads, or interrogatories, which will be objected and ministered
unto him concerning the mere health of his soul, and reformation
and correction of his manners and excesses, and chiefly for
omitting to use the Form of Prayers prescribed in the Communion
Book. And further to do and receive what shall be just in that
behalf, on pain of law and contempt. And what you shall do in
the premises, you shall duly certify us, together with these
presents.

"Given under our hands, and seals of our office, at Charleston,
this seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand
seven hundred and forty."

On the morning of the day in which this curious document was published, Whitefield "went to the house of one Mr. Chandler,[354] a gracious Baptist minister, about fourteen miles from Charleston, and, according to appointment, preached in his meeting-house." The next day, he "hastened to Dorchester, and preached twice in Mr. Osgood's[355] meeting-house, a young but worthy Independent minister." The following evening, July 9, he "preached under a tree near Mr. C.'s meeting-house," the congregation being too large to be accommodated in the building. He then rode to Charleston, and "preached, about six in the evening, in the usual place." On Thursday, July 10, he "went over the water, and read prayers and preached, at the request of the churchwardens and vestry, in Christ's Church." On Friday, he preached twice in Charleston, and received, from the commissary, by the hands of his apparitor, the following citation:--

"You are hereby cited to appear at the Church of St. Philip's,
Charleston, on Tuesday the fifteenth day of this instant July,
betwixt the hours of nine and ten in the forenoon, before
the Reverend Alexander Garden, Commissary, to answer to such
articles as shall there be objected to you.

"WILLIAM SMITH, Apparitor."

[354] Isaac Chandler was born at Bristol in 1701; but, in 1733, went
to South Carolina. Three years afterwards, he became pastor of a
Baptist church on Ashley River, where he continued until his death,
in 1749. Among his other publications was a sermon on "Establishment
in Grace," preached at Charleston, in 1740, by the desire of
Whitefield, at the commencement of a course of lectures by ministers
of different denominations.

[355] The Rev. John Osgood was born at Dorchester, South Carolina;
graduated at Harvard College; and, in 1735, was ordained minister
of the Independent church in his native town. In 1754, he followed
a part of his church to a new settlement, about thirty miles from
Savannah, where he remained until his death, in 1773.

Whitefield had thus four days' notice to answer questions and accusations, not specified, and concerning which he could only form conjectures. How did he spend the interval?

On Saturday, July 12, he went to John's Island, about twenty miles up the river, and read prayers and preached twice, in the church. On Sunday, July 13, he preached, morning and evening, in Charleston; and, in the forenoon, went to church, and heard Commissary Garden preach, or rather rave. Whitefield writes:--

"Had some infernal spirit been sent to draw my picture, I think
it scarcely possible that he could have painted me in more
horrid colours. I think, if ever, then was the time that all
manner of evil was spoken against me falsely for Christ's sake.
The commissary seemed to ransack church history for instances
of enthusiasm and abused grace. He drew a parallel between me
and all the _Oliverians_, _Ranters_, _Quakers_, and _French
Prophets_, till he came down to a family of the _Dutarts_,
who lived, not many years ago, in South Carolina, and were
guilty of the most notorious incests and murders. To the honour
of God's free grace be it spoken, whilst the commissary was
representing me thus, I felt the blessed Spirit strengthening
and refreshing my soul. God, at the same time, gave me to see
what I was by nature, and how I had deserved His eternal wrath;
and, therefore, I did not feel the least resentment against
the preacher. No; I pitied, I prayed for him; and wished, from
my soul, that the Lord would convert him, as He once did the
persecutor Saul."

Notwithstanding this violent outpouring, from Whitefield's ecclesiastical accuser and judge, only forty-eight hours before the trial was to take place, Whitefield, on the following day, again preached twice in Charleston, as though nought had happened.

The next day, July 15, the court assembled at St. Philip's Church, and consisted of the commissary, and the Rev. Messrs. Guy, Millichamp, Roe, and Orr.[356] The spectators, of course, were numerous. First of all, the commissary handed Whitefield a paper, containing a list of the accusations against him, and which he was desired to answer. Whitefield refused to answer, until he was satisfied concerning the authority of the court to examine him. The commissary said, "They would proceed to censure him." Whitefield reminded his judges of the example of the heathen magistrates, who exceeded their authority in condemning St. Paul unheard. Mr. Garden then sent his apparitor for his commission, from the Bishop of London, to act as commissary. Whitefield examined it, and objected that the Royal authority was not underwritten. Upon this, a Latin commission without a seal was read. Whitefield replied, that, though there might be a _general power_ given the bishop to exercise ecclesiastical jurisdiction in that province, yet the extent of that jurisdiction was to be determined by _particular_ Acts of Assembly. And, further, that he belonged to Georgia, a different province, and was in South Carolina only as an itinerant. He also added, that, though he had preached in the fields near London, the bishop had never attempted to exercise such authority over him; and that the Trustees of Georgia, to his knowledge, doubted whether the Bishop of London had any jurisdiction in the transatlantic colonies. He, therefore, requested that he might have till to-morrow morning, to inform himself of the extent of jurisdiction of the commissary's court in South Carolina. The request was grudgingly granted; and, leaving the court, Whitefield concluded the day by preaching twice in Charleston.

[356] Messrs. Guy, Millichamp, Roe, and Orr, are totally unknown
to fame. Except for this incident in the life of Whitefield, their
names would have been forgotten.

Next morning, July 16, Whitefield, by the advice of his friends, presented an _exception_ against Garden acting as his judge, because he had reason to believe he was prejudiced against him. The commissary read the _exception_, and refused to accept it. Whitefield protested against all further proceedings, as null and void; and left the court. Being recalled by the apparitor and registrar, he returned, and handed in his _exception_ to be read and filed. Mr. Graham, the commissary's attorney, insisted upon having the _exception_ tried in court; but, as Whitefield had referred it to the examination of six arbitrators (three to be nominated by him, and three by the commissary), Mr. Rutledge, Whitefield's attorney, protested against all further proceedings, and against Whitefield having to appear in court again, until the arbitrators had met, and come to an agreement. Such were the proceedings of the second day. On leaving the court, Whitefield went to James' Island, and read prayers and preached.

On the day following, Whitefield appeared again before his self-constituted judges, and asked if his _exception_ was to be referred to arbitration, or to be repelled? Being told that the _exception_ was repelled, he then lodged an appeal to his Majesty in the High Court of Chancery; and went again to James' Island, and preached in Madam Woodward's barn.

Nothing remarkable occurred during the next three days, except that the irrepressible evangelist preached twice every day in Charleston; and that, on Saturday afternoon, the apparitor again brought him before the commissary, to take an oath that he would lodge his appeal within a twelvemonth, and deposit £10 sterling as a guarantee that his oath would be fulfilled. Finding that the commissary had authority to require this, the oath was taken, and the £10 deposited.

Thus ended the first trial in the first Episcopal Court in the British Colonies.[357] Appealing to the High Court of Chancery was an expensive business; but Whitefield did appeal. It so happened, however, that the hearing of his appeal was so deferred as to give the ecclesiastical judge of Charleston a new opportunity to vent his anger. For a year and a day, all proceedings in Commissary Garden's court were stayed; but, at the expiration of that time, Whitefield was again summoned to attend before his Charleston judges; and, as he neither appeared nor put in an answer, the following decree was pronounced against him. After reciting that his frequently preaching in Dissenting meeting-houses, without using the forms of prayer prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer, had been proved by Hugh Anderson, Stephen Hartley, and John Redman, the decree, in a cloud of high-sounding words, continued,--

"Therefore we, Alexander Garden, the Judge aforesaid, having
first invoked the name of Christ, and setting and having God
Himself alone before our eyes, and by and with the advice of
the Reverend persons, William Guy, Timothy Millichamp, Stephen
Roe, and William Orr, with whom in that part we have advised
and maturely deliberated, do pronounce, decree, and declare the
aforesaid George Whitefield, clerk, to have been at the times
articled, and now to be a priest of the Church of England, and
at the times and days in that part articled to have officiated
as a minister in divers meeting-houses in Charleston, in the
province of South Carolina, by praying and preaching to public
congregations; and at such times to have omitted to use the
Form of Prayer prescribed in the Communion Book, or Book of
Common Prayer; or at least according to the laws, canons, and
constitutions ecclesiastical in that part made, provided, and
promulged, not to have used the same according to the lawful
proofs before us in that part judicially had and made. We,
therefore, pronounce, decree, and declare that the said George
Whitefield, for his excesses and faults, ought, duly and
canonically, and according to the exigence of the law in that
part of the premises, to be corrected and punished, and also
to be suspended from his office; and, accordingly, by these
presents, we do suspend him, the said George Whitefield; and,
for being so suspended, we also pronounce, decree, and declare
him to be denounced, declared, and published openly and publicly
in the face of the Church."[358]

[357] "Answer to the Rev. Mr. Garden's Letters to the Rev. Mr.
Whitefield; with an Appendix concerning Mr. Garden's Treatment of
Mr. Whitefield. By A. Crosswell. Boston, 1741."

[358] _Nashville Christian Advocate_, March 4, 1871.

As to how far the proceedings of this petty court of colonial clergymen, and their high-flown decree, were legal, I am not able to express an opinion; but it is scarcely possible to repress a smile at the official pomposity of Whitefield's judges. How was Whitefield himself affected? Writing to a friend four days before the trial commenced, he says:--

"July 11, 1740. I have been at Charleston a week. The Lord
has been pleased to work on many hearts. On Sunday, the
commissary denied me the sacrament; but, my dear Master fed me,
notwithstanding, with the bread which cometh down from heaven.
Persecution seems to be coming on more and more. On Tuesday,
I am cited to appear before the commissary and his court in a
judicial way. I leave the event to my Lord Jesus. If we suffer,
we shall reign with Him."

To other friends, the day after the trial was concluded, Whitefield wrote:--

"Praise the Lord, O my soul! Our glorious Emmanuel seems to
have girded His sword upon His thigh, and to be riding on
from conquering to conquer. He is getting Himself the victory
in Charleston. A glorious work is begun here. Many souls are
awakened. The alteration in the people, since I came here at
first, is surprising. I preach twice a day generally, either in
the town or in the villages around. The commissary shoots out
his arrows, even bitter words. He has denied me the sacrament,
and cited me to appear before him and his court. I was obliged
to appeal home. Oh, my dear brother, pray that I may be humble,
and of a childlike spirit. Every day God shews me fresh
instances of His love. There are some faithful ministers among
the Baptists.

"God seems to be carrying on as great a work in Charleston as
in Philadelphia. Surely our Lord intends to set the world in
a flame. O that the holy fire of His divine love were kindled
in every heart! Do not let us forsake Him, though we live in a
crooked and perverse generation. Last night, I appeared a third
time in a public court; but they did not accept my _recusatio
judicis_, and I appealed home; so that now I have free liberty
to embark when Providence pleaseth.

"God will work, and who shall hinder? The commissary's detaining
me here, has much tended to the furtherance of the gospel. I
put in my _exception_ against his sitting as my judge, and
it was repelled; so that I have appealed home, and all other
proceedings here are stopped. By this means, I shall have
liberty to preach the gospel without further interruption, and
my call to England will be more clear. The Philadelphia people
are building a house for me, one hundred and six feet long and
seventy-four wide. The Lord is bringing mighty things to pass.
The inhabitants here are wondrous kind. We often see the stately
steps of our dear Lord in His sanctuary. I am more than happy. I
am amazed at the Divine goodness. Lord, I abhor myself in dust
and ashes! See the wonders of the Lord. Help us to praise Him.
O pray that an humble, childlike spirit may be given to ever
yours in Christ,

"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

Appropriately might Whitefield have applied to himself the words of St. Paul: "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." His success in Charleston had been marvellous. He wrote:[359]--

"At my first coming, the people of Charleston seemed to be
wholly devoted to pleasure. One, well acquainted with their
manners and circumstances, told me that they spent more on their
polite entertainments than the amount raised by their rates
for the poor. But now the jewellers and dancing-masters begin
to cry out that their craft is in danger. A vast alteration is
discernible in ladies' dresses; and some, while I have been
speaking, have been so convinced of the sin of wearing jewels,
that, I have seen them, with blushes, put their hands to their
ears, and cover them with their fans. The reformation, also, has
gone further than externals. Many moral, good sort of men, who
before were settled on their lees, have been awakened to seek
after Jesus Christ; and many a Lydia's heart has been opened to
receive the things that were spoken. Indeed, the word came like
a hammer and a fire. Several of the negroes did their work in
less time than usual, that they might come to hear me; and many
of their owners, who have been awakened, have resolved to teach
them Christianity. Had I time and proper schoolmasters, I might
immediately erect a negro school in South Carolina, as well as
in Pennsylvania. Many would willingly contribute both money and
land."

[359] Whitefield's Journal. First edition.

This was the man whom Commissary Garden wished to silence. His effort was a futile one. As jubilant as ever, Whitefield, on July 24, set sail for Savannah, where, though seriously unwell, on Sunday, August 3, at the almost imperative request of several friends who had come a great distance to hear him, he _tried_ to preach. He writes:--

"Before I had prayed long, Mr. B. dropped down, as though shot
with a gun. The influence spread. The greatest part of the
congregation were under great concern. Tears trickled down
apace, and God comforted us much at the sacrament."

On the following Sunday, he expounded, as usual, early in the morning; "and read part of the prayers at ten o'clock, but got Mr. Tilly, a Baptist minister, to preach." The Rev. Mr. Jones, of Port Royal, officiated for him in the afternoon; and the day was concluded with the following scene in Whitefield's house. He says:--

"I began to speak to my friends around me of the things of God.
A great alteration was discernible in most of the company, and
many burst into tears. Ere I had done, some of my parishioners
came up, and joined with the rest of my family. I was enabled
to wrestle with God in their behalf. The room was filled with
cries, and many sought Jesus sorrowing. Several were in great
agonies of soul, and a Cherokee Indian trader, who was present,
said he never saw or felt the like before."

Whitefield spent a third Sunday, August 17, with his parishioners, at the close of which, he went on board his sloop, and was absent for the next four months. Before following him, two or three extracts from his letters may be useful. To Mr. Noble, of New York, he wrote as follows:--

"SAVANNAH, _August 15, 1740_.

"God has been pleased to bring me low, by inward weakness and
faintness of spirits. I have sometimes been kept from preaching;
but, when I have spoken, the word has come with power. A
serious, lively Baptist minister, named Tilly, is here. He has
preached often for me; and, last Sunday, received the sacrament
in our way. O bigotry, thou art tumbling down apace! Blessed be
God! Next week, God willing, I embark for Charleston, and from
thence purpose going to New England. God wonderfully provides
for my orphans. I am kept from every degree of doubting."

To his mother he addressed the following:--

"CHARLESTON, _August 22, 1740_.

"Every day I love and honour you more and more; and, when you
come to judgment, God will shew you how many tears I have shed
in secret for you, and for my dear sister. Honoured mother, flee
to Jesus. Behold, with open arms, yonder He stands ready to
embrace you, if you feel your misery, and are willing to come
to Him to find rest. For near six weeks past, I have been under
great weakness of body. I am now somewhat better; but, without a
miracle, cannot think of being long below. Every day I long to
be dissolved and to be with Christ."

Whitefield's correspondence with Wesley was chiefly on the doctrines of election and final perseverance. The ensuing is too characteristic to be omitted:--

"CHARLESTON, _August 25, 1740_.

"Dear and honoured Sir,--Last night I had the pleasure of
receiving an extract from your Journal.[360] This morning I read
it. I pray God to give it His blessing. Many things, I trust,
will prove beneficial, especially the account of yourself.
Only, give me leave, with all humility, to exhort you not to
be strenuous in opposing the doctrines of election and final
perseverance, when, by your own confession,[361] 'you have not
the witness of the Spirit within yourself,' and, consequently,
are not a proper judge. I remember dear brother E---- told me
one day, that he was 'convinced of the perseverance of the
saints.' I told him, you were not. He replied, 'But he will be
convinced when he has got the Spirit himself.' For some years,
God has given me this living witness in my soul. I have not,
since then, indulged any doubts (at least, for no considerable
time), about the forgiveness of my sins. Nay, I can scarce say
that I have ever doubted at all. When I have been nearest death,
my evidences have been the clearest. I have been on the borders
of Canaan, and do every day long for the appearance of our Lord
Jesus Christ; not to evade sufferings, but with a single desire
to see His blessed face.

[360] "An extract of the Rev. John Wesley's Journal from August
12, 1738, to November 1, 1739. No. III."

[361] No doubt the reference here is to Wesley's remarkable
confessions, in the Journal afore-mentioned, under the dates of
October 14, and December 16, 1738.

"Perhaps the doctrines of election and final perseverance have
been abused; but, notwithstanding, they are children's bread,
and ought not to be withheld from them, supposing they are
always mentioned with proper cautions against the abuse.

"Dear and honoured sir, I write not this to enter into
disputation. I hope I feel something of the meekness and
gentleness of Christ. I cannot bear the thought of opposing
you; but how can I avoid it, if you go about, as your brother
Charles once said, to drive John Calvin out of Bristol? Alas! I
never read anything that Calvin wrote. My doctrines I had from
Christ and His apostles. I was taught them of God; and, as God
was pleased to send me out first, and to enlighten me first,
so I think He still continues to do it. My business seems to
be chiefly in planting; if God send you to water, I praise His
name. I wish you a thousandfold increase.

"I find, by young Mr. W----'s letter, there is disputing
among you about election and perfection. I pray God to put a
stop to it; for what good end will it answer? I wish I knew
your principles fully. If you were to write oftener, and more
frankly, it might have a better effect than silence and reserve.

"I have lately had many domestic trials, and that about points
of doctrine, not from myself, but from others in my absence. I
daily wait upon God, depending on His promise, that all things,
even this, shall work together for my good. Many in Charleston,
I believe, are called of God. You may now find a Christian,
without searching the town as with a candle. Mr. Garden is less
furious, at least in public. He has expended all his strength,
and finds he cannot prevail.

"Adieu! honoured sir, adieu! With almost tears of love to you
and the brethren, do I subscribe myself,

"Your most affectionate brother and servant in Christ,
"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

Commissary Garden had done his utmost to silence the young evangelist, but had failed. Whitefield arrived again in Charleston on August 21; and, though in feeble health, he preached, during his brief sojourn, once every day, and twice on Sundays. He writes:--

"The audiences were more numerous than ever. It was supposed
that not less than four thousand were in and about the
meeting-house, when I preached my farewell sermon. Being denied
the sacrament at church, I administered it thrice in a private
house; namely, yesterday, yesterday seven-night, and this
morning. Never did I see anything more solemn. The room was
large, and most of the communicants were dissolved in tears.
Surely Jesus Christ was evidently set forth before us. Baptists,
Churchmen, and Presbyterians, all joined together, and received
according to the Church of England, excepting two, who desired
to have it sitting. I willingly complied, knowing it was a thing
quite indifferent."

Of course all this was scandalous in the eyes of Mr. Garden; but to keep Whitefield within the grooves of church order was impossible. Having, for the present, finished his work at Charleston, he again embarked, and proceeded to Rhode Island. During the voyage, he wrote the following letter to "The Right Reverend Father in God, Edmund Lord Bishop of London."

"ON BOARD THE SAVANNAH, _September, 1740_.

"MY LORD,--Although your lordship has been pleased to caution
the people against running into those extremes, to which your
lordship apprehended my doctrine would lead men; yet I am
persuaded that will not any way influence your lordship as
to the contents of this letter. The one single point which
it contains, is this query, Whether the commissary of South
Carolina has power given him, from your lordship, to exercise
any _judicial_ authority against me, or against any other
clergyman, who does not belong to his province?

"The reason of my putting this question, I suppose, your
lordship will be apprised of, before this reaches your
lordship's hands. I have been lately cited to appear in an
ecclesiastical court, erected by the Rev. Mr. Garden, for not
reading the Common Prayer in the meeting-house, which, unless
I would be silent, I was obliged to preach in at Charleston,
because the commissary would not let me have the use of his
church. I appeared; and have appealed, according to law, to four
of His Majesty's commissioners for reviewing appeals, to know
whether the commissary ought not to have accepted a _recusatio
judicis_, which I lodged in the court. This, I suppose, they
will determine. I only desire your lordship's explicit opinion,
whether Mr. Garden, (supposing he has power over his own clergy)
has authority to erect such a court to arraign me, belonging to
the province of Georgia. The bearer hereof will give me your
lordship's answer; in favouring me with which, your lordship
will oblige your obedient son and servant,

"GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

It is doubtful whether the words "obedient son and servant" were quite appropriate. At all events, it is certain, that, there had been several things in the past career of the "obedient son and servant," of which his _lordship_ disapproved. The reply of Bishop Gibson has not been published; but that the impeachment by Commissary Garden's court caused Whitefield considerable thought, if not anxiety, is evident from another letter, which Whitefield sent to a friend in London, probably by the same messenger as conveyed the letter addressed to his Diocesan. He writes:--

"The bearer brings the authentic copy of my appeal. I sent you
another copy from Carolina. Be pleased to keep this I have now
sent, till you hear of my coming to England. If I come in the
spring, I will lodge it myself; if not, be pleased to lodge it
for me, and I will pay all expenses."

Whitefield landed at Newport, in Rhode Island, on Sunday evening, September 14, and immediately became acquainted with the "Rev. Mr. Clap,[362] who had been the minister of a Dissenting congregation in the island upwards of forty years. "He was," says Whitefield, "the most venerable man I ever saw. He looked like a good old Puritan. His countenance was very heavenly, and I could not but think, whilst at his table, that I was sitting with one of the patriarchs. People of all denominations respect him. He abounds in good works; gives all he has away; and is wonderfully tender of little children. He rejoiced much to see me, and prayed most affectionately for a blessing on my coming." Whitefield and this venerable Dissenting minister waited on the clergyman of the Church of England, and desired the use of his pulpit. The request was granted, and, on the two succeeding days, Whitefield read prayers and preached in the consecrated edifice, "at ten in the morning and three in the afternoon." The congregations were very large; and, at the conclusion of the afternoon service of the second day, more than a thousand people followed the young evangelist to the house where he lodged. "I therefore," says he, "stood upon the threshold, and spake for near an hour on these words, 'Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.' It was a very solemn meeting. Glory be to God's great name!"

[362] The Rev. Nathaniel Clap was now seventy-two years of age. He
died in 1745.

On Wednesday, September 18, Whitefield arrived at Boston, then the capital of New England.[363] This is not the place to write the remarkable history of this English settlement It has been estimated that more than twenty-one thousand emigrants settled in New England prior to the year 1640. The majority of these were Puritans, or Congregationalists; and Cotton Mather says four thousand were Presbyterians. Of the two thousand ministers cast out of the Church of England by the Act of Uniformity, in 1662, a considerable number fled for refuge to this distant colony. The revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685, drove hundreds of thousands of French Protestants from their native country; and of these not a few became New Englanders. To a great extent, the population consisted of godly refugees. A good general idea concerning the religious denominations of the settlement as a whole, may be gathered from Oldmixon's description of Boston in the year 1708. "Boston," says he, "is the capital of New England, and the biggest city in America, excepting two or three on the Spanish continent. There are abundance of fine buildings in it, public and private: as the court-house, market-place, Sir William Phip's house, and others. There are several handsome streets. It contains ten or twelve thousand souls; the militia consisting of four companies of foot. There are three parish churches, a French church, and two meeting-houses in the city. The Old Church, North Church, and South Church belong to the Presbyterians, who are the _Church of England as by law established_; the French church belongs to the French Protestants; and the meeting-houses, to a congregation of Church of _England_ men and Anabaptists."

[363] The name of the northern states of the North American Union,
namely, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
and Connecticut.

As to the creed of these miscellaneous religionists, there cannot be a doubt that, speaking generally, it was Calvinistic, and quite in harmony with those views of election and final perseverance which Whitefield had embraced. In such a colony, Wesley would have been branded as a heretic; whereas Whitefield was warmly welcomed as a friend, whose faith was gloriously orthodox.

Whitefield was invited to Boston by the Rev. Dr. Colman, was warmly welcomed by almost all the Bostonians, except a famous doctor of divinity, who met him in the streets, and said, "I am sorry to see _you_ here;" and to which Whitefield quietly remarked, "So is the devil."[364]

[364] Wakeley's "Anecdotes of Whitefield," p. 142.

On September 19, Whitefield commenced his preaching work in the capital of New England. He writes:--

"Friday, September 19. I was visited by several gentlemen and
ministers, and went to the governor's with Mr. Willard,[365] the
secretary of the province, a man fearing God, and with whom I
have corresponded, though before unknown in person. The governor
received me with the utmost respect, and desired to see me as
often as I could. At eleven, I went to public worship at the
Church of England, and afterwards went home with the commissary.
He treated me very courteously; and, it being the day whereon
the clergy of the Established Church met, I had an opportunity
of conversing with five of them. In the afternoon I preached
to about four thousand in Dr. Colman's meeting-house; and
afterwards exhorted and prayed with many who came to my lodgings.

[365] Josiah Willard was the son of the Rev. Samuel Willard,
minister in Boston, and vice-president of Harvard College.
In 1717, King George the First appointed him Secretary of
the Province of Massachusetts, an office which he held for
thirty-nine years. He was also a judge of the probate court, and
a member of the Council. He died in 1756, aged 75.

"Saturday, September 20. Preached in the morning, to about six
thousand hearers, in the Rev. Dr. Sewall's[366] meeting-house;
and afterwards, on the common, to about eight thousand; and
again, at night, to a thronged company at my lodgings.

[366] The Rev. Joseph Sewall, D.D., was son of the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, and was ordained minister
of the Old South Church, in Boston, in the year 1713. He died in
1769, aged 80, having been the pastor of the Old South Church
for fifty-six years.

"Sunday, September 21. Went in the morning, and heard Dr. Colman
preach. Dined with his colleague, the Rev. Mr. Cooper.[367]
Preached in the afternoon at Mr. Foxcroft's[368] meeting.
Immediately after, on the common, to about fifteen thousand; and
again, at my lodgings, to a greater company than before.

[367] The Rev. William Cooper, having graduated at Harvard
College, became the colleague of Dr. Colman in 1716. He died
in 1743, at the early age of 49; and declared, just before his
death, that "since the year 1740, more people had come to him in
concern about their souls" than had come during the whole of his
previous ministry.

[368] The Rev. Thomas Foxcroft was ordained minister of the
first Congregational Church in Boston, in the year 1717. No
minister was more universally admired. He was the author of a
large number of publications, including a sermon occasioned by
the visit and labours of Whitefield in 1740, and an apology
for Whitefield in 1745. After a ministry of more than half a
century, he died in 1769, aged 72.

"Monday, September 22. Preached this morning, at the Rev. Mr.
Webb's[369] meeting-house, to six thousand hearers in the house,
besides great numbers standing about the doors. In the afternoon
I went to preach at the Rev. Mr. Checkley's[370] meeting-house;
but God was pleased to humble us by a very awful providence.
The meeting-house being filled, on a sudden all the people were
in an uproar, and so unaccountably surprised, that some threw
themselves out of the windows, others threw themselves out of
the gallery, and others trampled upon one another; so that five
were actually killed, and others dangerously wounded. I happened
to come in the midst of the uproar, and saw two or three lying
on the ground in a pitiable condition. I gave notice I would
immediately preach upon the common. The weather was wet, but
many thousands followed in the field.

[369] The Rev. John Webb was ordained the first minister of the
New North Church, in Boston, 1714. He died in 1750, aged 62. His
colleague pronounced him "one of the best of Christians and one
of the best of ministers."

[370] The Rev. Samuel Checkley was the first minister of the New
South Church, in Summer Street, Boston. He died in 1769, in the
fifty-first year of his ministry, aged 73.

"Tuesday, September 23. Went this morning, with Dr. Colman and
the Secretary, to Roxbury, to see the Rev. Mr. Walter,[371] a
good old Puritan. He and his predecessor, the Rev. Mr. Eliot,
commonly called the 'Apostle of the Indians,' have been pastors
of that congregation a hundred and six years. About eleven, I
preached in the Rev. Mr. Gee's[372] meeting-house, and also in
the afternoon, to thronged congregations.

[371] The Rev. Nehemiah Walter was born in Ireland. In 1688, he
was ordained, as colleague of the apostolic Eliot. He married
the daughter of Increase Mather; and, after a ministry of
sixty-eight years, died in 1750, aged 86.

[372] The Rev. Joshua Gee was ordained pastor of the Old North
Church, Boston, as colleague with Cotton Mather, in 1723. He
possessed a strong and penetrating mind, but "preferred talking
with his friends to everything else." He died in 1748, aged 50.
The Old North Church was demolished, by the British army, in
1776, and the timber of it used for fuel.

"Wednesday, September 24. Preached at Cambridge, the chief
college[373] in New England for training the sons of the
prophets. It has one president, four tutors, and about a hundred
students. The college is scarce as big as one of our least
colleges at Oxford; and, as far as I could gather from some
who knew the state of it, not far superior to our universities
in piety. Discipline is at a low ebb. Bad books are become
fashionable among the tutors and students. Tillotson and
Clark are read, instead of Sheppard, Stoddard, and such-like
evangelical writers; and, therefore, I chose to preach from
these words,--'We are not as many, who corrupt the word of God;'
and God gave me great freedom and boldness of speech. A great
number of neighbouring ministers attended, as indeed they do at
all other times. The president of the college and minister of
the parish treated me very civilly. In the afternoon, I preached
again, in the court. I believe there were about seven thousand
hearers. The Holy Spirit melted many hearts.[374]

[373] As early as 1708, Oldmixon wrote: "Cambridge is a
university, and has two colleges--Harvard College, and Stoughton
Hall."

[374] Whitefield preached under an elm at Cambridge; and
beneath the shade of the same tree Washington first drew his
sword in the cause of the revolution, on taking the command of
the American army. From this circumstance, the tree was ever
afterwards called "Washington's Elm." It may also be added,
that, one of the students, converted by Whitefield's sermon, on
this occasion, was Daniel Emerson, who was ordained, in 1743,
first minister of Hollis, New Hampshire, the pastorate of which
place he retained until his death in 1801. "He was truly a son
of thunder, a flaming light; and was almost incessantly engaged
in preaching, attending funerals, etc., far and wide. He was
made the means of extensive revivals of religion." (Belcher's
"Biography of Whitefield.")

"Thursday, September 25. Preached the weekly lecture at Mr.
Foxcroft's meeting-house. After public worship, I went, at
his Excellency's invitation, and dined with him. Most of the
ministers of the town were invited with me. Before dinner,
the governor sent for me into his chamber. He wept, wished me
good luck in the name of the Lord, and recommended himself,
ministers, and people to my prayers.[375] Immediately after
dinner, I prayed for them all; and then crossed the ferry, and
preached at Charlestown, lying on the north side of Boston. The
meeting-house was very capacious, and quite filled.

[375] The governor was the Honourable Jonathan Belcher, a native
of Massachusetts, where his father was a wealthy merchant.
After an academical education in his own country, he came to
Europe, was twice at Hanover, and was introduced to the Court
there when the Princess Sophia was the presumptive heiress to
the British crown. The gracefulness of his person, his talents,
and property, procured him considerable notice. In 1730, he
was appointed Governor of New England, and continued in that
office until the year 1740, the time of Whitefield's visit.
He lived in great state, was hospitable, fond of splendid
equipages, and of an aspiring turn of mind. In 1741, he became
Governor of the New Jerseys, and was succeeded in New England
by Governor Shirley. To enable the reader to estimate the value
of some of Whitefield's collections for the orphans, it may
be added that, when Belcher left New England, the currency
was so much depreciated, that £100 sterling was equal to £550
Massachusetts currency. Belcher, to the end of his life, was one
of Whitefield's most faithful friends. (Milner's "Life of Dr.
Watts," and Johnston's "History of Bristol and Bremen.")

"Friday, September 26. Preached in the morning at Roxbury to
many thousands of people. Dined at Judge Dudley's. In the
afternoon, preached from a scaffold erected without the Rev.
Mr. Byles's[376] meeting-house, to a congregation nearly double
of that in the morning.

[376] The Rev. Mather Byles, D. D., was the first pastor of the
church in Hollis Street, Boston. From 1733 to the revolution in
1776, he continued to discharge his ministerial functions with
great acceptance; but, because he then sympathised with the
royalists rather than with the revolutionists, he was brought
to a public trial, and was denounced as a person inimical to
America. After this, he was not connected with any church. His
literary merits introduced him to some of the most distinguished
men in England, including Pope and Watts. He died in 1788, aged
82.

"Saturday, September 27. In the morning, preached at the Rev.
Mr. Welstead's meeting-house; in the afternoon, on the common,
to about 15,000 people. Oh, how did the word run! I could scarce
abstain from crying out, 'This is no other than the house of God
and the gate of heaven.'