Chapter IX: Part 9

“At present, my whole frame of nature seems to be shocked. I
have had several returns of my convulsions, and have almost a
continual burning fever. To oblige my friends, and with great
regret, I have omitted preaching one night, and purpose to do
so once more, that they may not charge me with murdering myself;
but I hope yet to die in the pulpit, or soon after I come out
of it. Dying is exceeding pleasant to me; for though my body is
so weak, the Lord causes my soul to rejoice exceedingly. Letters
from England have refreshed me. All of them call me home loudly.
Congregations here are as large as ever. Next Monday-week, I
purpose to set out for New York.”

Whitefield’s journey to New York had to be postponed. Hence the following:――

“PHILADELPHIA, _June 23, 1747_.

“I have been several times on the verge of eternity. To-morrow,
God willing, I set out for New York, to see if I can gain
strength. At present, I am so weak, that I cannot preach. It is
hard work to be silent; but I must be tried every way. Friends
are exceeding kind; but the best of all is, the Friend of
sinners looks in upon me, and comforts my heart.”

On reaching New York, Whitefield wrote to Howell Harris:――

“NEW YORK, _June 27, 1747_.

“MY VERY DEAR, DEAR BROTHER,――It is with much pleasure I now sit
down to answer your kind and welcome letters. They have had such
an effect upon me, that, God willing, I am determined to embark
for England, or Scotland, early next spring. Till Christmas, I
am already under indissoluble engagements. I am making a strong
effort to get free from my outward embarrassments; and hope,
before the year is ended, to stock my new plantation in South
Carolina, as a _visible_ fund for the Orphan House.

“For some weeks past, I have been exceedingly indisposed. God
has been pleased to bring me to the very brink of the grave, by
convulsions, gravel, nervous colic, and a violent fever; but as
afflictions abounded, consolations much more abounded, and my
soul longed to take its flight to Jesus. I have not preached for
a week past; but since my leaving Philadelphia, three days ago,
I seem to have gathered strength, and hope once more, to-morrow,
to proclaim amongst poor sinners the unsearchable riches of
Christ. From hence, I purpose to go to Boston, and return by
land, so as to reach Charleston in November.

“You will return my most humble and dutiful respects to good
Lady Huntingdon, the Marquis, and Mrs. Edwin.[174] If possible,
I will write to them. I leave my affairs to you, and depend
on you, under God, to transact them all. The trouble is great,
but Jesus will reward thee. Near £40 yearly were subscribed in
England to the Orphan House; but I have received, I think, not
above £5.”[175]

With the slightest improvement in his health, Whitefield resumed preaching. The following was addressed to Thomas Adams, one of his preachers in England:――

“NEW YORK, _July 4, 1747_.

“MY VERY DEAR BROTHER ADAMS,――Your kind letter has affected me
much. It and the other letters have constrained me to set my
face towards England. I hope to discharge what is due in America,
for the Orphan House, this year. I am of your mind respecting
the work in England; and, therefore, am willing so to settle
my affairs, that, when I come, I may stay with you for a long
season.

“At present, I am very weakly, and scarce able to preach above
once or twice a week; but if our Saviour has further work
for me to do, He can make me young and lusty as the eagle. If
not, I shall go to Him whom my soul loveth, and whom I long to
see.”[176]

In another letter, of the same date, Whitefield wrote:――

“I have recovered a little strength, and find my appetite
restored. I have been here eight days; and, to-morrow, intend
posting away to Boston; and then I shall take a long, if not
a final, farewell of all my northward friends. I have preached
twice with great freedom. People flock rather more than ever,
and the Lord vouchsafes us solemn meetings. I have left my dear
yoke-fellow at Philadelphia, and expect to meet her again, in
New York, in six weeks. In these three northward provinces, I
trust something considerable will be done towards paying off the
Orphan-house arrears. When that is effected, I care not how soon
I sing my _Nunc dimittis_.”

Another letter, written at New York, must be added. It was addressed to John Cennick, who had seceded from Whitefield’s connexion, and joined the Moravians:――

“NEW YORK, _July 5, 1747_.

“MY DEAR JOHN,――Though sick and weak in body, the love I owe
thee, for Jesus’ sake, constrains me to answer thy last kind
letter, dated February 5. The other, mentioned therein, never
came to hand.

“I am sorry to hear there are yet disputings amongst us
about brick walls. After our contests of that kind about seven
years ago,[177] I hoped such a scene would never appear again;
but I find fresh offences must come, to discover to us fresh
corruptions, to try our faith, to teach us to cease from man,
and to lean more upon God.

“It has been thy meat and drink to preach the unsearchable
riches of Christ. Mayest thou continue in this plan! I wish
thee much success, and shall always pray that the work of the
Lord may prosper in thy hands. Whether thou hast changed thy
principles with thy situation, I know not. I would only caution
thee against taking anything for gospel upon the mere authority
of man. Go where thou wilt, though thou shouldest be in the
purest society under heaven, thou wilt find that the best of men
are but men at best, and wilt meet with stumbling-blocks enough,
to teach thee the necessity of a continual dependence on the
Lord Jesus, who alone is infallible, and will not give that
glory to another.

“My dear man, thou wilt excuse me, as my heart, at present, is
affected with the divisions that subsist between the servants
and churches of Jesus Christ. May Jesus heal them, and hasten
the blessed time, when we shall all see eye to eye, and there
shall be no disputings about houses, doctrine, or discipline,
in all God’s holy mountain!”

On July 20, Whitefield arrived at Boston, and next day wrote to Herbert Jenkins:――[178]

“I hear the glorious Emmanuel has prospered the work of your
hands at Plymouth, and elsewhere. May He bless and prosper you,
and the rest of my dear brethren, yet more and more! I hope you
will live in unity, and let Satan get no advantage over you.
‘_Divide and destroy_,’ is the devil’s motto. ‘Force united,’
is the Christian’s. Oh that when I come to see you, I may see
you walking in love!”[179]

On August 9th, he wrote as follows to Howell Harris:――

“I have been in New England nearly three weeks. The Lord is with
me. Congregations are as great as ever. I could gladly stay in
New England, but I must return to the southern provinces. Though
faint, I am still pursuing, and, in the strength of Jesus, hope
to die fighting.”[180]

Whitefield’s labours in the north were not confined to Boston. The following is taken from the _New England Gazette_:――

“Mr. Whitefield came, on Tuesday evening, July 21, to the seat
of his friend, Isaac Royal, Esq., at Charlestown; where, on
the next day, several gentlemen of note from Boston paid him a
friendly visit. On Thursday, the 23rd, he set out for Portsmouth,
where he arrived on Friday, and, that evening, preached there,
to a crowded audience, with as great acceptance as ever. Thence,
he was invited to dine with Sir William Pepperell and his
lady at Kittery, who entertained him with their usual great
politeness and generosity. Thence, he went and preached at York;
the Rev. Mr. Moody and his people received him with the most
hearty welcome. Thence, he returned to Portsmouth, where he
preached again, all the people treating him with gentleman-like
civility. On July 29, he preached at Newbury, and would have
come on to Boston, but was so earnestly solicited to go back
and preach at Exeter and Durham, that he could not resist the
importunity.”

Returning southwards, Whitefield reached New York on August 27, where he wrote half a dozen letters, from which the following sentences are culled:――

“We were detained three or four days upon the water; but it
was over-ruled for good. I recovered my appetite, and eat like
a sailor. My health is considerably recruited. My obligations
to my glorious Jesus are increased by my late excursion to
Charlestown, Portsmouth, Boston, and other places in New England.
I am of the same mind as when at Boston,――resolved to preach and
work for Jesus, till I can preach and work no more. He is a good
Master, and is worthy of all our time, and of everything that
we possess. Is not one heart too little for Him? And, yet, He
requires no more. Amazing love! I am lost when I think of it. I
can only say, ‘Lord, I adore and worship!’”

On August 31, Whitefield set out for Philadelphia. At the risk of being tedious, further extracts from his letters must be given. To Howell Harris, he addressed the following:――

“PHILADELPHIA, _September 11, 1747_.

“MY VERY DEAR, DEAR BROTHER,――I have good news from Georgia,
and from my new plantation in South Carolina. Many negroes are
brought under conviction. We saw great things in New England.
The flocking, and the power that attended the word, were like
what we witnessed seven years ago. Weak as I was, I travelled
eleven hundred miles, and preached daily. I am now going to
Georgia, to settle all my affairs, and get ready to embark
for England. My dear yoke-fellow is gone forwards. I find no
inclination to settle. I am determined to die fighting. I am
here travelling through a wilderness, but, I trust, leaning on
my Beloved. Jesus is my rock, my stay, my God, my all. Various
are the scenes I pass through; and various are the comforts and
supports with which I meet. Sometimes, the Lord feeds me as it
were by the ravens; and He daily teaches me that man’s extremity
is His opportunity, to help and succour.”[181]

On the same day, Whitefield wrote letters to John and Charles Wesley. To the former, he says:――

“DEAR AND REVEREND SIR,――Not long ago, I received your kind
letter, dated in February last. Your others, I believe, came to
hand, and I hope ere now you have received my answer. My heart
is really for an outward, as well as inward union. Nothing shall
be wanting on my part to bring it about; but I cannot see how
it can be effected, till we all think and speak the same things.
I rejoice to hear, that you and your brother are more moderate
with respect to _sinless perfection_. As for _universal
redemption_, if we omit on each side the talking for or against
_reprobation_, which we may do fairly, and agree, as we already
do, in giving a universal offer to all poor sinners that will
come and taste the water of life, I think we may manage very
well. But it is difficult to manage such matters at a distance.
Some time next year, I hope to see you face to face.”

So much concerning the amalgamation of their respective Societies. In reference to the battle of Culloden, and Whitefield’s Thanksgiving Sermon, on “Britain’s Mercies and Britain’s Duty,” he proceeds to say:――

“I rejoice to find that the Rebellion has been over-ruled
for the awakening of many souls. Our Lord generally builds
His temple in troublesome times. I cannot, upon the maturest
deliberation, charge myself with a design to flatter in my
sermon upon that occasion.[182] You know my attachment to the
present Establishment. Out of the fulness of my heart, my pen
wrote.”

Passing to his Orphan-house affairs, Whitefield continues:――

“I have news of the awakening of several negroes at my new
plantation, lately purchased in South Carolina. I hope ere
long to be delivered from my outward embarrassments. I long to
owe no man anything but love. This is a debt, reverend sir, I
shall never be able to discharge to you, or your brother. Jesus
will pay you all. I love and honour you very much, and rejoice
in your success as much as in my own. O for heaven! where we
shall mistake, judge, and grieve one another no more. Lately, I
thought myself sailing into the blessed harbour; but it seems I
must put out to sea again. Forgive, reverend sir, the prolixity
of this. Love indites. I salute you for my dear fellow-pilgrim,
who is gone forwards. Continue to pray for us, and assure
yourself that you are always remembered by,

“Reverend and very dear sir, yours, etc.,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

Whitefield’s letter to Charles Wesley was equally affectionate. He writes:――

“PHILADELPHIA, _September 11, 1747_.

“VERY DEAR SIR,――Both your letters and your prayers, I trust,
have reached me. May mine reach you also, and then it will not
be long ere we shall be one fold under one Shepherd. However, if
this be not on earth, it will certainly be in heaven. Thither,
I trust, we are hastening apace. Blessed be God! that your
spiritual children are increasing. May they increase more and
more! Jesus can maintain them all. He wills that His house
should be full. Some have written me things to your disadvantage.
I do not believe them. Love thinks no evil of a friend. Such
are you to me. I love you most dearly. You will see my letter to
your dear brother. That you may be guided into all truth, turn
thousands and tens of thousands more unto righteousness, and
shine as stars for ever and ever, is the hearty prayer of,

“Very dear sir, yours most affectionately,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

In the foregoing extract from the _New England Gazette_, the Rev. Mr. Moody is mentioned. Samuel Moody was a memorable man. Having graduated in Harvard College, he was ordained in 1700, and, for forty-seven years, had been minister of York. He was eccentric, but eminent for piety and usefulness. In his younger years, he himself had been an itinerant, and had often preached beyond the limits of his own parish. Wherever he went, he was welcomed. Even the irreligious were impressed with the sanctity of his character, and were inspired with awe. He refused to have a fixed salary, as was usual, and elected to depend entirely on the free contributions of the people. He was frequently in straits, and almost dinnerless; but always felt confident that, in his extremity, a meal would be furnished by the providence of God. One day, he had no provisions and no money, but insisted upon having the cloth laid, saying to his wife, “The Lord will provide.” No sooner were the words uttered, than there was a rap at the door, and a person presented him with a dinner. He was now in the seventy-first year of his age; and, within four months after the date of Whitefield’s visit, peacefully expired. The following touching letter was addressed to this venerable man only eight weeks before his death:――

“BOHEMIA, MARYLAND, _September 17, 1747_.

“HONOURED SIR,――Will you permit a young soldier of Jesus Christ
to write to an experienced veteran, before he goes hence and is
no more seen? I am sorry that my visit to York was short, yet
glad that our Lord gave me to see you once more ready to sing
your ‘Nunc dimittis,’ with steadiness and composure, if not with
joy unspeakable. Happy, thrice happy, reverend sir! You have
gone through that wilderness, which, if hoary hairs should be my
lot, awaits me, your younger son and servant. Well! this is my
comfort: I have the same Beloved to lean upon, as you have had.
The way, though narrow, is not long; the gate, though strait,
opens into life eternal. O that I might pass through it when
young! But, Father, not my will, but Thine be done!

“Honoured sir, be pleased to pray for me. I remember you and
your dear flock. May He, who kissed away the soul of His beloved
Moses, appoint a Joshua to succeed you, when He bids you come
up to the mount and die! I hope my cordial respects will find
acceptance with your dear yoke-fellow; and I beg leave to
subscribe myself, honoured sir, your most affectionate, though
unworthy, younger son and willing servant in Him who liveth for
ever,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

Little more remains to be recorded respecting the year 1747. After spending a few days in Maryland, Whitefield passed into Virginia, where he “preached once, and would have preached oftener, but the small-pox was spreading.” He then “posted” to Bath-Town, North Carolina. Writing to a friend, he says:――

“I am hunting after poor lost sinners in these ungospelized
wilds. People are willing to hear, and I am willing to preach.
My body is weak, and a little riding fatigues me. I long to be
dissolved, and to be with Jesus, but cannot die. I would have
you still pray for me as a _dying_ man; but O pray that I may
not go off as a snuff. I would fain die blazing, not with human
glory, but, with the love of Jesus.”

After riding “on horseback through the woods a hundred and sixty miles,” and preaching as he went, Whitefield, on October 18, arrived at Wilmington, Cape Fear. He then proceeded to Charleston; and, on October 26, set out for Georgia.[183] He closed the year, however, at Charleston. Hence the following, addressed to John Edwards, one of his preachers:――

“CHARLESTON, _December 28, 1747_.

“MY VERY DEAR BROTHER EDWARDS,――I have but just time to inform
you that I wait for answers, to my last letters, from dear
brother Harris and you, in order to be determined about my
coming to England. My affairs here are brought under foot.
If friends at home exert themselves, I may be freed from all
outward embarrassments. The Lord is yet with me. All is well at
Bethesda, and at my new plantation. My dear yoke-fellow is at
the Orphan House. We are always praying for you _all_. The Lord
be with you! That we may keep an eternal new year in the New
Jerusalem, is the hearty prayer of, my very dear man,

“Ever yours, whilst

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”[184]

Early in the year 1748, Whitefield, instead of embarking for England, set sail for Bermudas. The following letters, to Howell Harris, will explain the reason:――

“CHARLESTON, _February 28, 1748_.

“By this time, I hoped to have been on my way to England; but,
having received no answers to the letters I sent you from New
York and elsewhere, and in consequence of other concurring
providences, I have been induced to believe it my duty to go to
Bermudas. My dear yoke-fellow will stay behind, in these parts;
and I purpose to return to her early in the fall. Meanwhile, I
expect to hear from you; and, if my way seems clear, I do not
despair of seeing you before Christmas next. Think not hard of
me, my dear man, for thus deferring to come to you.

“I hope I have now got very near a sufficiency for the future
support of Bethesda. If my friends in England will help me, I
hope my arrears will be paid, and my heart be freed from a load
which has lain on me for years. If not, the Friend of all will
help me. On Him, my eyes wait; and, in obedience to Him, I go
once more upon the mighty waters. My dear wife will have a trial
in my being absent so long.

“Yours most affectionately and eternally in Christ Jesus,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”[185]

“ON BOARD THE ‘ANN,’ (Captain Tucker,) _bound from
Charleston to Bermudas, March 6, 1748_.

“MY VERY DEAR, DEAR BROTHER,――Just as I was coming on board,
yours, dated October 16, was put into my hands. I have read it,
and now believe I shall see you sooner than I expected. I have
a great mind to come to you from New England. But what will
_Sarah_ say? I have left her behind me in the tent; and, should
I bring her to England, my two families, in America, must be
left without a head. Should I go without her, I fear, the trial
will be too hard for her; but, if the Lord calls, I can put both
her and myself into His all-bountiful hands.

“I am now going, on a fresh embassage, to Bermudas, after having
had a profitable winter in these southern parts. Congregations
in Charleston have been greater than ever; and Jesus has helped
me to deliver my soul. Had I ten thousand lives, He should have
them all. Excuse this scribble; I am just come on board.

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”[186]

As every one knows, the Bermudas are a cluster of small islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, nearly four hundred in number, but, for the greater part, diminutive and barren. They were discovered by Juan Bermudas, a Spaniard, about the year 1522; but were not inhabited till 1609, when Sir George Somers was cast away upon them, and established a small settlement. The length of the colony is less than thirty miles, and the population, even at the present day, is not more than ten thousand, one half of whom are black and coloured persons. The soil of the inhabited islands (about five in number) is exceedingly fertile; vegetation is rapid; spring may be said to be perpetual; and fields and forests are clad with unfading verdure. In these clustered islets Whitefield landed on March 15; and here he spent eleven weeks, generally preaching once, and often twice, a day. In England, it was reported that he was dead. The _Gentleman’s Magazine_, for the month of May, in its “List of Deaths,” had the following:――

“April.――Rev. Mr. Whitefield, the famous itinerant preacher, and
founder of the Methodists in Georgia.”

Fortunately, the rumour had afterwards to be corrected.

Whitefield met with the greatest courtesy and kindness in Bermudas. The Rev. Mr. Holiday, clergyman of Spanish-Point, received him in the most affectionate manner, and begged him to become his guest. The governor and the council invited him to dine with them. The Rev. Mr. Paul, an aged Presbyterian minister, offered him his pulpit. Colonels Butterfield, Corbusiers, and Gilbert, Captain Dorrel, and Judge Bascombe, gave him hospitable entertainments. He preached in the churches, in the Presbyterian meeting-house, in mansions, in cottages, and in the open air. Colonel Gilbert lent him his horse during his stay; and the gentlemen of the islands subscribed more than £100 sterling for his Orphan House. Some of the negroes were offended at him, because he reproved “their cursing, thieving, and lying,” and said, “their hearts were as black as their faces;” but, as a rule, they flocked to hear him, and were powerfully affected by his discourses.

Gillies gives extracts from the Journal which Whitefield wrote in Bermudas,――extracts filling fifteen printed pages; but the substance of the whole is contained in the following letter, addressed to a minister at Boston:――

“BERMUDAS, _May 17, 1748_.

“REV. AND DEAR SIR,――Nine weeks ago, I arrived here from
Charleston. We had a safe and pleasant passage. We were nine
days on board; and I do not remember hearing one single oath,
from land to land.

“Mr. Holiday, a clergyman of the Church of England, received me
with open heart and arms. The first Lord’s-day, after my arrival,
I read prayers and preached in two of his parish churches; and
the longer I stayed, the more kindly he behaved to me. The two
other Church clergy chose to keep at a distance; but Mr. Paul,
an aged Presbyterian minister, was very free to let me have
the use of his meeting-house, and, as it was pretty large and
in a central part of the island, I preached in it for eight
Lord’s-days successively.

“His excellency, the governor, was pleased to come and hear
me, when I preached in town, with most of the council and the
principal gentlemen in the island. He treated me with great
respect, and invited me more than once to dine with him. I
have preached nearly seventy times; on the week-days chiefly
in private houses, but sometimes in the open air, to larger
assemblies, they tell me, than were ever seen upon the island
before. The word has frequently been attended with Divine power,
and many have been brought under convictions. I have spent nine
happy weeks among them, and was never so little opposed, during
so long a stay in any place. In a few days, I hope to embark, in
the brig _Betsy_, (Captain Eastern,) for England.”[187]

Respecting his farewell sermon, Whitefield wrote:――

“After the service, many came weeping bitterly around me.
Abundance of prayers were put up for my safe passage to England,
and speedy return to Bermudas. Thanks be to the Lord for
sending me hither! I have been received in a manner I dared not
expect, and have met with little, very little, opposition. The
inhabitants seem to be plain and open-hearted. They have also
been open-handed; for they have loaded me with provisions for my
voyage, and, by a private voluntary contribution, have raised me
upwards of £100 sterling. This will pay a little of Bethesda’s
debt, and enable me to make such a remittance to my dear
yoke-fellow, as may keep her from being embarrassed in my
absence.”[188]

This was Whitefield’s only visit to Bermudas. He wrote: “An entrance is now made into the islands. The Lord, who has begun, can and will carry on His own work.” It was long before Whitefield’s hope was realized. Fifty-one years afterwards, Wesley’s Methodist Conference sent to the islands the Rev. John Stephenson. The white population hated the missionary, because he was the friend of the enslaved blacks; and, before long, he was apprehended, tried, condemned, and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, besides having to pay a fine of £50, and all the expenses of his trial. At the end of his imprisonment, Mr. Stephenson was expelled the colony, and the Methodist mission was abandoned. Eight years afterwards, it was resumed by the Rev. Joshua Marsden; in due time, it had the honour of giving to Methodism the well-known Rev. Edward Frazer; and, in this year, 1876, it has three missionaries, and between four and five hundred church members.

On the 2nd of June, Whitefield embarked for England, the wife of the governor of Bermudas being one of his fellow passengers. When approaching the end of his voyage, he wrote, as follows, to a friend:――

“ON BOARD THE ‘BETSY,’ _June 24, 1748_.

“REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR,――Though we are about two hundred
leagues from land, yet, lest hurry of business should prevent
me when we get ashore, I think proper to write you a few lines
whilst I am on board.

“We sailed from Bermudas twenty-one days ago, and have lived,
as to the conveniences of eating and drinking, like people from
the continent, rather than from one of the islands; so bountiful
were our friends, whom we left behind us. Hitherto, we have met
with no storms or contrary winds. The first day we came out, we
were chased; and, yesterday, a large French vessel shot thrice
at us, and bore down upon us. We gave up all for lost; and I
was dressing to receive our expected visitors; when our captain
cried, ‘The danger is over;’ and the Frenchman turned about and
left us. He was quite near, and we were almost defenceless. Now
we are so near the Channel, we expect such alarms daily.

“The captain is exceedingly civil, and I have my passage free;
but all I have been able to do, in respect to religious duties,
is to read the Church prayers once every evening, and twice on
Sundays. I have not preached yet. This may spare my lungs, but
it grieves my heart. I long to be ashore, if it were for no
other reason.

“Besides, I can do little in respect to writing. You may guess
how it is, when I tell you we have four gentlewomen in the cabin.
However, they have been very civil, and I believe my being on
board has been serviceable. I have finished my abridgment of Mr.
Law’s ‘Serious Call,’ which I have endeavoured to _gospelize_.
Yesterday, I made an end of revising all my Journals. I purpose
to have a new edition before I see America.

“Alas, alas! In how many things have I judged and acted wrong!
I have been too rash and hasty in giving characters, both of
places and persons. Being fond of Scripture language, I have
often used a style too apostolical; and, at the same time, I
have been too bitter in my zeal. Wild-fire has been mixed with
it: and I frequently wrote and spoke in my own spirit, when
I thought I was writing and speaking by the assistance of the
Spirit of God. I have, likewise, too much made impressions my
rule of acting; and have published too soon, and too explicitly,
what had been better told after my death. By these things, I
have hurt the blessed cause I would defend, and have stirred
up needless opposition. This has much humbled me, since I have
been on board, and has made me think of a saying of Mr. Henry’s,
‘Joseph had more _honesty_ than he had _policy_, or he would
never have told his dreams.’

“At the same time, I cannot but bless and praise that good and
gracious God, who filled me with so much of His holy fire, and
carried me, a poor weak youth, through such a torrent both of
popularity and contempt, and set so many seals to my unworthy
ministrations. I bless Him for ripening my judgment a little
more, and for giving me to see and confess, and, I hope, in some
degree, to correct and amend, some of my mistakes. If I have
time before we land, I think to write a short account of what
has happened for these seven years last past; and, when I get
on shore, I purpose to revise and correct the first part of my
Life.”

All must admire this ingenuous confession. Never was the Latin proverb better illustrated than in the case of Whitefield: “Fas est ab hoste doceri.” In both mild and savage language, Whitefield had often been accused of such faults and errors; and now, when he has time to think, he honestly confesses them.

Whitefield landed at Deal on June 30th, and six days afterwards arrived in London.[189] One of his first acts, when he stepped ashore, was to write the following hearty and loving letter “to the Rev. Mr. John or Charles Wesley.”

“DEAL, _July, 1748_.

“Will you not be glad to hear that the God of the seas and of
the dry land has brought me to my native country once more? I
came last from the Bermudas, where the Friend of sinners was
pleased to own my poor labours abundantly. I hope, I come in the
spirit of love, desiring to study and pursue those things which
make for peace. This is the language of my heart:――

‘O let us find the ancient way,
Our wondering foes to move;
And force the heathen world to say,
See how these Christians love.’

“I purpose to be in London in a few days. Meanwhile, I salute
you and all the followers of the blessed Lamb of God most
heartily. Be pleased to pray for, and give thanks in behalf of,
reverend and dear brother, yours most affectionately in Christ,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

Apart from his first visit to America, Whitefield had now spent about four years and a half in itinerant preaching throughout England’s transatlantic colonies. Except the religious movement, which began at Northampton in 1734, and declined in 1736, the time spent in Whitefield’s second and third visits to America covered the entire period of what has been termed “the great awakening.” What were the results of that remarkable work of God? In reference to the churches of New England only, it has been carefully estimated that from thirty to forty thousand persons were permanently added to their membership. With these also must be joined a large number who, after a time, “fell away;” and likewise the multitudes who were “melted” and made to weep by Whitefield’s eloquence, but were not converted. Further, it must be kept in mind, that, up to this period, the practice of admitting to the communion all persons, though unconverted, who were neither heretical nor scandalous, was general in the Presbyterian Church, and prevailed extensively among the Congregational churches; the result being, that a large proportion of the members of these churches, though orthodox and moral, were unregenerated. Multitudes of these were now, for the first time, made the subjects of a saving change. Indeed, in some cases, the revival seems to have been almost wholly within the Church, and to have resulted in the conversion of nearly all the members. These, at the best, had been dead weights to their respective communities; but now they became active and valuable workers.

Again: it is useless to deny that there were a large number of unconverted ministers, especially in New England. Young men, without even the appearance of piety, were received into the colleges to prepare for the ministry. Graduates, if found to possess competent knowledge, were ordained as a matter of course, quite irrespective of their being born again. The result was, that in New England and in all the colonies, an unconverted ministry, to a lamentable extent, was the bane of the churches. “The great awakening,” however, reached not only the pews, but the pulpits and the colleges of the Christian community. In the vicinity of Boston only, there were not fewer than twenty ministers who acknowledged Whitefield as the means of their conversion; and in other parts of the country, there were proportionate numbers. This was an incalculable gain. The great curse of the Church was turned into an equally great blessing. Yea, more than this, the revival fully and finally killed the doctrine that an unconverted ministry might be tolerated; and, henceforth, parents felt that they were not doing a worthy deed by consecrating their unregenerated sons to the office of the Christian ministry, and sending them to colleges to be prepared for it.[190]

Other immediate results of “the great awakening” might be mentioned, but these are sufficient to evoke the grateful exclamation, “_What hath God wrought!_”

_THREE YEARS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND._

JULY 1, 1748, TO AUGUST 29, 1751.

TWO days after his arrival in London, Whitefield wrote to his much-loved friend, the gentle James Hervey, who was now completing his “Meditations”:――

“I am very pleased that you appear in print, and that such
encouragement is given to you to print again. My bodily health
is much impaired; but, through Divine assistance, I will go on
working for Jesus, till I can work no more.”

And again, eight days later:――

“Blessed be God, for causing you to write so as to suit the
taste of the polite world! O that they may be won over to admire
Him who is altogether lovely! But what shall I say to your
kind intended present? It is like my dear old friend. My health
somewhat improves. Oh, when shall we get within the veil? Thanks
be to God! it cannot be long. We are both sickly. Lord, give us
patience to wait till our blessed change comes! Our Lord makes
it exceedingly pleasant to me to preach His unsearchable riches.
Multitudes flock to hear; and many seem to be quickened.”

The welcome given to Whitefield in the metropolis was marvellous. It is true that the only church in which he was allowed to preach was that of the Rev. Richard Thomas Bateman, who, only five years before, had been one of Whitefield’s enemies; but there was the wooden tabernacle, and, above all, his grand old open-air cathedral adjoining it. On Tuesday, July 12, he wrote:――

“I have preached twice in St. Bartholomew’s Church, and helped
to administer the sacrament once. I believe, on Sunday last,
we had a thousand communicants. Moorfields are as white as ever
unto harvest, and multitudes flock to hear the word. The old
spirit of love and power seems to be revived amongst us.”

In another letter, written eight days later, he says:――

“It is too much for one man to be received as I have been by
thousands. The thoughts of it lay me low, but I cannot get low
enough. I would willingly sink into nothing before the blessed
Jesus, my All in all.”

Whitefield, however, was not exempt from anxieties. His Bethesda debt was still a burden. Besides this, he wrote:――

“Satan has been sifting all our poor Societies. This is no more
than I expected. Antinomianism has made havoc here; but, I trust,
the worst is over. Our scattered troops begin to unite again,
and the shout of a king is amongst us.”

There can be no question, that Whitefield’s presence was greatly needed by the Societies, of which he was moderator. Howell Harris was one of the most devoted and laborious preachers that ever lived; but his influence was not equal to that of Whitefield. In a letter, dated March 3, 1748, he speaks of having travelled about a thousand miles, in the depth of winter, since he left London on December 20th, and of having preached two, three, or four times every day.[191] Still the people were clamorous to have Whitefield back.

The Countess of Huntingdon, also, had lately been associated with the Societies with which Whitefield was connected; and, within the last two months, had been present at a series of memorable services in Wales. In the month of May, her ladyship and her daughters, accompanied by Lady Anne and Lady Frances Hastings, were met, in Bristol, by Howell Harris, and the Revs. Griffith Jones, Daniel Rowlands, and Howell Davies, three Methodist clergymen of the Church of England; and, as a sort of evangelistic cavalcade, the whole set out for the neighbouring principality. For fifteen days successively, two of the ministers, who accompanied the Countess, preached in the Welsh towns and villages, through which they passed. On their arrival at Trevecca, they were joined by five other clergymen, also by several pious and laborious Dissenting ministers, and a number of Whitefield’s preachers. Here they had preaching four or five times every day, immense crowds flocking together from all the adjacent country. The scenes witnessed by the Countess and the ladies attending her, were, to them, new and startling. Numbers of the people, convinced of their guilt and misery, gave utterance to loud and bitter cries; whilst others, filled with “joy unspeakable,” magnified the Lord, and rejoiced in God their Saviour. No wonder, that, after this, the Countess of Huntingdon deeply sympathised with these earnest clergymen and powerful preachers.

“On a review,” she writes, “of all I have seen and heard, during
the last few weeks, I am constrained to exclaim, ‘Bless the
Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!’
The sermons were, in general, lively and awakening, containing
the most solemn and awful truths, such as the utter ruin of
man by the fall, and his redemption and recovery by the Lord
Jesus Christ, the energetic declaration of which produced great
and visible effects in many. I enquired the meaning of the
outcry which sometimes spread through the congregation; and,
when informed that it arose from a deep conviction of sin,
working powerfully on the awakened conscience, I could not but
acknowledge, ‘This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous
in our eyes.’ Many, on these solemn occasions, there is reason
to believe, were brought out of nature’s deepest darkness into
the marvellous light of the all-glorious gospel of Christ. My
earnest prayer to God for them is, that they may continue in His
grace and love.”[192]

Accompanied by Howell Harris and Howell Davies, the Countess of Huntingdon arrived in London on the 15th of June,[193] exactly three weeks before Whitefield’s arrival there. Her ladyship, through Howell Harris, invited Whitefield to her house at Chelsea, where he, at once, began to preach to crowded and fashionable congregations.[194] This, to Whitefield, was the beginning of a new career. Henceforth, Hervey by his writings, and Whitefield by his preaching, began to mould the character of not a few of the highest nobility in the land.

Howell Harris was a glorious evangelist; but, somehow, he hardly succeeded in keeping Whitefield’s preachers in proper order. The Countess of Huntingdon was a remarkable woman; but she could scarcely preside, as a female prelate, in the “Associations,” or conferences of the Calvinistic Methodists. Five years ago, the preachers had elected Whitefield to be their moderator at all times when he was resident in England, and had decided that, in his absence, Howell Harris should be his substitute. For nearly four years past, Whitefield had been in America, and Harris had done his best, in governing as well as preaching. Affairs, however, had got into confusion; and, hence, a fortnight after Whitefield’s arrival in London, he resumed his place as moderator. The following is taken from the “Life and Times of Howell Harris,” and is an abridgment of the minutes entered in the “Conference Book,” already mentioned:――

“Association held in London, July 20, 1748. Present, Whitefield,
(moderator), Bateman, Harris, and others. Whitefield, after
prayer and singing, opened his mind on several points.” He
told the exhorters and preachers present, that, “he had seen so
much confusion occasioned by young men going out rashly beyond
their line, that, he was resolved not to labour with any who
did not shew a teachable mind and a willingness to submit.” He
admonished them “to use all means for improving their talents
and abilities.” And added, that, “though he hated to affect
headship, yet he must see every one acquainted with his own
place, and that they must consider themselves as candidates
on approbation.” The result of this faithful dealing was, “the
Brethren viewed him as a father; and declared their willingness
to use all possible means for their personal improvement.”

Thus began Whitefield’s ecclesiastical administration on his return from America. Like a wise man, he, first of all, tried to put the preachers right. Without this, it would have been useless to attempt to amend the people.

The effort was a temporary one. Having spent nearly a month in London, Whitefield set out to attend a quarterly “Association,” at Waterford, in Wales. A month later, he wrote a surprising letter to his friend Wesley.

“LONDON, _September 1, 1748_.

“REV. AND DEAR SIR,――My not meeting you in London has been a
disappointment to me. What have you thought about a union? I am
afraid an external one is impracticable. I find, by your sermons,
that we differ in principles more than I thought; and I believe
we are upon two different plans. My attachment to America will
not permit me to abide very long in England; consequently, I
should weave but a Penelope’s web, if I formed Societies; and,
if I should form them, I have not proper assistants to take care
of them. I intend, therefore, to go about preaching the gospel
to every creature. You, I suppose, are for settling Societies
everywhere; but more of this when we meet.”

This, on the part of Whitefield, was not an inconsiderate utterance. The present was really a turning-point in his eventful life. Strictly speaking, with perhaps a few exceptions, he had not “_formed_” Societies, as Wesley had; but, for five years past, he had been the “moderator” of all the Societies founded by Howell Harris, and by the preachers, who, in the title-page of the _Christian History_, were constantly designated Whitefield’s “fellow-labourers and assistants.” Many of Wesley’s Societies were “_formed_” not by Wesley himself, but by his “assistants;” and the same must be said respecting Whitefield and the Societies of which he was president. If Whitefield had not _actually_ “settled” Societies, he had consented to this being done by his “fellow-labourers and assistants;” and, by accepting the office of moderator, he had encouraged the proceeding. Now, however, he declared his intention to take a new position; and, by degrees, his intention was carried out. At an Association, held in London, April 27, 1749, at which Whitefield, Harris, and others were present, it was agreed, that “Harris should take the oversight of the Tabernacle in London, and of the other _English_ Societies and preachers; and that Whitefield should do all he could to strengthen the hands of Harris and others, consistent with his going out to preach the gospel at home and abroad.”[195] By this resolution, the office of moderator was practically transferred from Whitefield to Harris. Whitefield was no longer the head of the Calvinistic Methodists, but his friend Harris, who first founded them.

For the present, Whitefield did not abandon them. He simply ceased to be their chief officer. During the first week of September, 1749, he spent not fewer than five days in conference with them, at the Tabernacle, London; when, besides settling the “rounds” of the preachers, it was determined, not only “to preach the Lord Jesus in a catholic spirit to all the churches,” but “to continue in communion” with the Church of England.[196]

Harris, however, in his new office, was far from being happy. “In Wales,” he writes, “great jars and disputes arose amongst us.”[197] He became dissatisfied with some of the preachers and with many of the people; and, at an Association held at ♦Llanidloes in 1751, there was a rupture, and Harris seceded from them. In the year following, Harris founded his remarkable and well-known settlement at Trevecca; and here, in comparative seclusion, he continued to reside until his death, in 1773. For twenty years, he had a small community of his own; but, though separated from the Calvinistic Methodists, whom he had founded, he was not an opponent and an enemy. His heart was too warm and large to be vindictive. To the last, he was a sincere friend of Whitefield, and of his old companions in toil, tribulation, and success.

The incidents just enumerated deserve attention. It is impossible to conceive what would have been the result, if Whitefield and Harris had continued active chiefs of the Calvinistic Methodists; as it is equally impossible to conceive the probable consequences of Whitefield entering into an open union with Wesley; and of the Societies, “assistants, and fellow-labourers” of the two being amalgamated into one common body. Speculations on such matters would be fruitless. The plain facts are these: within two months after his return from America, in 1748, Whitefield determined to put an end to his official relationship to the Calvinistic Methodists; this determination was gradually carried out; and, during the last twenty years of his life, he occupied a new position, which must now be noticed.

The question naturally occurs, Why this change of situation? Was it because of the wild-fire of some of the preachers, and the consequent confusion of some of the Societies, with which Whitefield was officially connected? This is improbable; for, whatever might be Whitefield’s failings, shirking difficulties was not one of them. The only way to solve the propounded problem is to remember the close relationship which was now, unexpectedly, created between the Countess of Huntingdon and the great preacher. The Countess had recently been an eye-witness of some of the Societies in Wales, and had been filled with gratitude and praise for what she had seen and heard; but, now she seems to have entertained the idea, that both she and Whitefield might be more usefully employed, than by directly associating themselves with the Calvinistic Methodists, and by using their time, talents, and influence in the multiplication of such Societies. Instead of creating new sects out of the Church of England, was it not possible to reform and amend the Church of England itself? And was not the raising up of evangelical and converted ministers the most likely way to bring about such a reformation? Put the pulpits right, and the pews would certainly improve.

Though direct evidence may be wanting, there can be little doubt, that, this was the grand scheme now revolving in the mind of the illustrious Countess; and that this scheme, in less or greater detail, was revealed to Whitefield, and led to his separation from the Calvinistic Methodists. At all events, as will be seen hereafter, this was one of the chief objects to which Whitefield and her ladyship devoted their time and energies. Whitefield tried to raise up converted clergymen; and the Countess procured them ordination, and built them chapels. The idea was grand,――perhaps inspired,――and the working it out was unquestionably the principal means of effecting the marvellous change which has taken place, since then, in the Established Church. Wesley created a great Church outside the Church of England. Whitefield and the Countess of Huntingdon were pre-eminently employed in improving the Church of England itself. Where was evangelistic effort previous to the days of Wesley? And where were the converted clergymen of the Established Church previous to the year 1748? A few――a very few――might be mentioned; but even these were nicknamed Methodists. No one can estimate the service rendered to the cause of Christ, outside the Church, by Wesley and his “assistants;” and it is also equally impossible to estimate the service rendered _to_ the Church by the despised Whitefield and his female prelate, the grand, stately, strong-minded, godly, and self-sacrificing Countess of Huntingdon. All this will be amply illustrated by the further details of Whitefield’s history.

To return. The following fragments, taken from letters written to Lady Huntingdon, during the month of August, 1748, will serve to shew the friendship that now existed between her ladyship and the great preacher:――

“August 21. I received your ladyship’s letter late last night.
I am quite willing to comply with your invitation. As I am to
preach at St. Bartholomew’s on Wednesday evening, I will wait
upon your ladyship the next morning, and spend the whole day at
Chelsea. Blessed be God, that the rich and great begin to have
a hearing ear. Surely your ladyship and Madam Edwin are only
the firstfruits. A word in the lesson, when I was last at your
ladyship’s, struck me,――‘Paul preached privately to those who
were of reputation.’ This must be the way, I presume, of dealing
with the nobility who yet know not the Lord. O that I may be
enabled so to preach as to win their souls to the blessed Jesus!

“August 22. As there seems to be a door opening for the nobility
to hear the gospel, I will preach at your ladyship’s on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, I will wait upon or send to the Count, the Danish
Ambassador’s brother, who favours me with his company to dine on
Monday. As I am to preach four times to-morrow, I thought it my
duty to send these few lines to your ladyship to-night.”

The Countess made him her domestic chaplain,――the only ecclesiastical preferment, except the living at Savannah, he ever had; and, in acknowledgment of the honour, he wrote to her as follows:――

“LONDON, _September 1, 1748_.

“HONOURED MADAM,――Although it is time for me to be setting
out” (for Scotland), “I dare not leave town without dropping
a few lines, gratefully to acknowledge the many favours I have
received from your ladyship, especially the honour you have done
me in making me one of your ladyship’s chaplains. A sense of it
humbles me, and makes me pray more intensely for grace to walk
worthy of that God who has called me to His kingdom and glory.
As your ladyship has been pleased to confer this honour upon me,
I shall think it my duty to send you weekly accounts of what the
Lord Jesus is pleased to do for me and by me.

“Glory be to His great name, the prospect is promising. My
Lord Bath[198] received me yesterday morning very cordially,
and would give me five guineas for the orphans. God’s peculiar
providence has placed your ladyship at Chelsea. Upon the road, I
propose writing you my thoughts of what scheme seems to be most
practicable, in order to carry on the work of God, both here and
in America.”

To a friend, on the same day, Whitefield wrote:――

“LONDON, _September 1, 1748_.

“I have been a mile or two upon the road to Scotland, but turned
back because my chaise was not registered.