Chapter II: Part 2

It ought to be added that, immediately after the publication of Whitefield’s pamphlet, the Rev. Jonathan Edwards issued a very able and exhaustive treatise on the same subject, with the title, “Some Thoughts concerning the present Revival of Religion in New England, and the way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M., Pastor of the Church of Christ at Northampton.” This was first published in Boston, New England; and, in 1743, was reprinted in Edinburgh. (12mo. 221 pp.)

In some of the hostile publications already mentioned, Whitefield had been attacked respecting his Orphan-house collections; and probably this, and other reasons, led him to publish the following: “A Continuation of the Account of the Orphan House in Georgia, from January, 1741, to June, 1742; to which are subjoined some Extracts from an Account of a Work of a like Nature, carried on by the late Professor Francke, in Glaucha, near Halle, in Saxony. By George Whitefield, A.B., late of Pembroke College, Oxford. Edinburgh: printed by T. Lumisden and J. Robertson; and sold by J. Traill, Bookseller, in the Parliament Close. 1742.” (18mo. 86 pp.)

Whitefield’s Preface, dated “September 22, 1742,” contains the following curious paragraph――a paragraph which, of course, will shock both teetotallers and the members of the Anti-Slavery Society:――

“Once I am clear of all arrears, the Orphan House will be
supported at a very easy expense. The last Parliament have
altered the constitution of the colony of Georgia, in two
material points: they have allowed the importation of rum, and
free titles to the land. If they should see good hereafter to
grant a limited use of negroes, Georgia must, in all outward
appearances, be as flourishing a colony as South Carolina.”

Since his arrival in England, in March, 1741, Whitefield had collected, for his Orphan House, £1158 6s. 0½d.; and had expended £1302 17s. 2½d.

Before proceeding further, two more of his publications, in Scotland, must be mentioned; both of them _reprints_, but suited to the circumstances in which the now found himself. 1. “A Letter, from the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield to the Religious Societies of England, written during his voyage to Philadelphia, in 1739; and now particularly recommended to those who have lately formed themselves into Religious Societies in Scotland; to which is added an extract from a late Author, shewing that a Catholic Spirit is the only thing that can unite and make Christians happy one amongst another in this divided state of things. Edinburgh: 1742.” (18mo. 27 pp.) 2. “Nine Sermons, upon the following subjects, namely: 1. The Lord our Righteousness,”[17] etc. “By George Whitefield, A.B. Edinburgh, 1742.” (12mo. 199 pp.)

We now return to Whitefield’s correspondence, which, practically, is a journal of his proceedings. We left him at Edinburgh on July 7, 1742.

The ministers of “The Associate Presbytery” were, without doubt, the most violent of Whitefield’s opposers in Scotland; but there were also others who gave him trouble. The Rev. Mr. Willison, of Dundee, was one of the best of the Scottish clergy. Between him and Whitefield there had been considerable correspondence. Under his auspices Whitefield had preached in Dundee. Mr. Willison, also, sympathised with the present revival movement; but even he occasioned Whitefield some disquietude. Hence the following letter:――

“EDINBURGH, _July 7, 1742_.

“REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,――Your letter gave me some concern. I
thought it breathed a sectarian spirit, to which I hoped dear
Mr. Willison was quite averse. You seem not satisfied, unless
I declare myself a Presbyterian, and openly renounce the Church
of England. God knows that I have been faithful in bearing a
testimony against what I think is corrupt in that Church. I
have also shewn my freedom in communicating with the Church of
Scotland, and in baptizing children in their own way. I can go
no further.

“Dear sir, be not offended at my plain speaking. I find but few
of a truly catholic spirit. Most are catholics till they bring
persons over to their own party, and there they would fetter
them. I have not so learned Christ. I shall approve and join all
who are good, in every sect; and cast a mantle of love over all
who are bad, so far as is consistent with a good conscience.

“Morning and evening retirement is certainly good; but if,
through weakness of body, or frequency of preaching, I cannot
go to God at my usual set times, I think my spirit is not in
bondage. It is not for me to tell how often I use secret prayer.
If I did not use it――nay, if, in one sense, I did not pray
without ceasing――it would be difficult for me to keep up that
frame of mind, which, by the Divine blessing, I daily enjoy. If
the work of God prospers, and your hands become more full, you
will then know better what I mean.

“But enough of this. God knows I would do everything I possibly
could to satisfy all men, and give a reason of the hope that is
in me with meekness and fear; but I cannot satisfy all who are
waiting for an occasion to find fault. Our Lord could not; I,
therefore, despair of doing it. However, dear sir, I take what
you have said in good part; only I think you are too solicitous
to clear up my character to captious and prejudiced men. Let
my Master speak for me. Blessed be God! He will, so long as I
simply throw myself into His almighty arms.

“I am glad the work goes on with you. Glory be to God! we have
seen glorious things in the west.

“Yours, etc.,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

In the following letters, Whitefield refers to the opposition which he had to encounter in Scotland. The first was addressed to a minister in London:――

“INCHANNON, _July 21, 1742_.

“REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,――I heartily rejoice that the Lord is
blessing and owning you. Go on, dear sir, go on, and you will
certainly find the glorious Emmanuel will be with you more and
more. It is observable that there is but one thing in Scripture,
which we are commanded to do out of season――_preaching_. Be
instant, therefore, in season and out of season. The Lord will
stand by you and strengthen you, and deliver you from wicked and
unreasonable men. You will find the blessedness of the cross;
and the Spirit of Christ and of glory will rest upon your soul.

“The Messrs. Erskine and their adherents have appointed a public
fast, to humble themselves, among other things, for my being
received in Scotland, and for the delusion, as they term it,
at Cambuslang and other places; and all this because I would
not consent to preach only for them, till I had light into, and
could take the Solemn League and Covenant. To what lengths may
prejudice carry even good men! From giving way to the first
risings of bigotry and a party spirit, good Lord, deliver us!”

The next letter seems to have been addressed to the Rev. John McLaurin, of Glasgow, and was accompanied by a number of young people who appear to have come all the way from Glasgow to Edinburgh, to hear Whitefield preach.

“EDINBURGH, _July 28, 1742_.

“REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,――With this, I suppose, you will receive
several young ones, who, I think, have acted wrong in leaving
their respective employments, under parents and masters, to go
after me. Be pleased to examine them, and send them home.

“The Lord was with me at Falkirk, and is pleased to work by
me here. O free grace! I am persuaded I shall have more power,
since dear Mr. Gibb has printed such a bitter pamphlet. Now
I begin to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I rejoice and am
exceeding glad. The archers shot sore at me that I might fall,
but the Lord is, and the Lord will be, my helper.”

To a friend in London, Whitefield wrote:――

“EDINBURGH, _July 31, 1742_.

“One of ‘The Associate Presbytery’ has published the most
virulent pamphlet I ever saw, ascribing all that has been done
here, and even in New England, to the influence of the devil.
O how prejudice will blind the eyes of even good men!”

Whitefield had other troubles besides the bitter pamphlets that were published against him. The Spaniards had invaded Georgia. With forty sail of small galleys, and other craft, they had come into Cumberland Sound. With another fleet of thirty-six ships, they had entered Jekyl Sound. They had landed four thousand five hundred men, and marched, through the woods, to Frederica. Half of their galleys also approached the same town, and twenty-eight sail attacked Fort William. Oglethorpe’s military force was small, but proved victorious; and July 25, 1742, was appointed, by the General, “as a day of public thanksgiving to Almighty God for His great deliverance in having put an end to the Spanish invasion.”[18] Whitefield had heard of the invasion; but, as yet, he had not heard of the defeat. In a series of letters, written in July, his superintendent, Mr. Habersham, had informed him, that, finding the Orphan House in great danger of attack, they had removed all its inmates, eighty-five in number, to Mr. Jonathan Bryan’s plantation, in South Carolina. They arrived at midnight on July 10; and, within six weeks afterwards, were safely back to Bethesda.[19] Hence the following letter to Whitefield:――

“BETHESDA, _August 19, 1742_.

“MY DEAREST FRIEND AND BROTHER,――I hope, before this reaches
you, you will have received mine of the 4th, 11th, 14th,
and 27th of July; and that you see your way clear to come
to us. Blessed be God! we have reason to conclude the Spaniards
have entirely left the colony; and we are now again very
comfortably settled. The deliverance the Lord has wrought for
us, by General Oglethorpe, I think, is the most remarkable I
ever heard or read of, except some instances recorded in the
Old Testament. I cannot now mention particulars. At Savannah,
the poor people are almost all sick; at Frederica likewise,
and at Mr. Bryan’s, and at other neighbours’, they are in the
same condition. We also have many down. We have a good crop
on the ground; but, except a few boys, have none to gather it.
Brother Hunter” (the surgeon belonging to the Orphan House)
“has his hands full, and is chiefly at Savannah. It is but
little we buy abroad. We hunt, and kill our own stock; and
have potatoes and corn enough of our own. I hope you are now
on your passage to us. We cannot but expect you.”

Besides the Spanish invasion, Whitefield had another trouble in Georgia. Mr. Jonathan Barber, his lay-chaplain at the Orphan House, and Mr. Hunter, the house surgeon, had been arrested at Savannah, and imprisoned above a week, for privately insulting the Savannah clergyman. These and other matters are mentioned in the following letters. At the time when they were written, Whitefield was in the midst of the marvellous revival scenes at Cambuslang. The first was addressed to Mr. Barber, his recently imprisoned chaplain.

“CAMBUSLANG, _August 17, 1742_.

“And has my dear brother Barber got the start of me? What, put
into prison before me? I wish you joy, my dear brother, with
all my heart. Had I been at Savannah, I would have come, and, if
there had been need, would gladly have washed your feet. I doubt
not but your imprisonment was for Christ’s sake. I wish you had
told me who stood by at Savannah, and brought you refreshment.
Greet them, and give them particular thanks in my name. I must
write to the Trustees, and to others. I heard nothing of the
affair, till I received your letter last week. A word or two of
yours, to Mr.O――――,” (the Savannah clergyman,) “I think a little
too harsh; but Paul spoke once a little too harsh to the high
priest. Our Jesus will overlook this, and will reward you for
your imprisonment by-and-by.

“I cannot help believing that Georgia will yet be a glorious
colony. The counsel of God shall stand. He surely put it into
my heart to build the Orphan House. He certainly brought you to
Georgia to superintend it. He will bless you and yours. I join
in blessing God with you, and in admiring how He has spread a
table for my dear family in that wilderness. I am kept from the
least doubting. I am just now about to publish a further account
of the Orphan House, and hope shortly to collect some more money
towards its support.

“I am blessed with far greater success than ever; and Satan
roars louder. You will see, by what I here send, how the archers,
of different classes, shoot at me; but the Lord causes my bow
to abide in strength, and enables me to triumph in every place.
Last Lord’s-day, I believe, there were here thirty thousand
people, and above two thousand five hundred communicants. The
work spreads, and, I believe, will yet spread.”

Whitefield was young, but plucky. He was not disposed to submit silently to the high-handed acts of the small officials at Savannah. Hence the following, addressed to their superiors, the Honourable Trustees for Georgia:――

“CAMBUSLANG, _August 17, 1742_.

“HONOURED GENTLEMEN,――Letters, which I received last week
from Georgia, occasion my troubling you with this. I find that
Mr. Hunter and Mr. Barber have been taken up by a warrant, and
were imprisoned above a week, for a thing which, I believe,
none of you will judge cognisable by the civil magistrates. It
seems that Mr. Barber, in a private conversation with Mr. O――――,
(who I suppose is the present minister of Savannah,) told him,
‘he was no Christian; that he wondered at the impudence of young
men in subscribing articles they did not believe; and that he
should think it his duty to warn his friends not to hear him.’

“I acknowledge, that such language was too harsh; but Mr. Hunter,
who did not say near so much, was linked in the same prosecution,
and imprisoned with him. Mr. Jones, who was then at Frederica,
being informed of it, declared such a procedure to be illegal;
and his Excellency General Oglethorpe desired my friends to lay
the matter before the Board of the Honourable Trustees. They
have sent to me a particular account of what has passed, which
I will transmit to you, or, when I come to London, I will wait
upon you in person. I find, also, that my friends were denied
a copy of the proceedings in court; in which, I am persuaded,
you will think they have been wronged. My friends require no
satisfaction, but only desire that such a proceeding may be
animadverted upon; knowing that otherwise it will be a great
discouragement to people’s settling in Georgia.

“I am sorry, also, to inform you, honoured gentlemen, that
five very small children, (Swiss or Dutch,) whose parents lately
died in their passage from England, have had their goods sold
at Vendue, and are bound out till the age of twenty-one years.
This I think directly contrary to the grant given me by you; for,
thereby, I was empowered to take as many orphans into the house
as my fund would admit of.

“I understand, also, that the magistrates have been at the
Orphan House, and claim a power to take away the children when
they please, whether the children choose it, or complain of
ill-treatment, or not. This grieves some of the children, and
makes others of them insolent, who are, hereby, taught, that they
have a power to go away when they will. This must be discouraging
to those who are entrusted with their education; and who aim
at nothing but the glory of God, the welfare of the colony, and
the salvation of the children’s souls. I suppose the magistrates
have taken such a liberty from the instructions which were sent
from you some time ago; but Mr. Jones has told them, that, they
have misunderstood you; and his Excellency General Oglethorpe,
I find, has written to you about it.

“Our plantation thrives well; and Mr. Habersham hopes we shall
do with white servants alone. I will do all I can to promote the
good of Georgia: only I beg that the management of the Orphan
House and the orphans may be secured to me and my successors
for ever; and that the magistrates be not suffered to disturb
us, when there is no ground of complaint. They acknowledged,
when at the Orphan House last, that the children were taken good
care of, both as to their bodies and souls: will it not then
tend much to the welfare of the colony, that the Orphan House
should meet with all possible encouragement?

“His Excellency General Oglethorpe has informed my friend Mr.
Habersham, that, if I desired it, he thought you would grant
me a greater tract of land, which I should be obliged to give
away in a certain term of years; and that we might have our own
magistrates, as the people of Ebenezer have. I know not whether
I shall desire such a favour; but, if I should, I desire to know
what you, honoured gentlemen, would say to it. Many have applied
to me respecting their settling in Georgia; but, hitherto, I
could give them no encouragement. I wish I may be enabled to
give them a great deal in the future.

“Honoured gentlemen, I do not desire to find fault. I doubt not
but you have been prejudiced both against me and my friends.
The event will shew what friends we are to Georgia. The Orphan
House will certainly be of great utility to the colony; and the
children educated therein will, I trust, be the glory of the
society to which they belong. They are bred up to industry, as
well as to other things; and are taught to fear God and honour
the king. I heartily pray God to bless all who are concerned in
the management of Georgian affairs.

“I hope to be in London in about two months. In the meanwhile,
I would beg the favour of a line by your secretary, and I also
entreat you, honoured gentlemen, to write to the magistrates of
Savannah, to let the Orphan House managers alone. If I, or my
friends, should happen to say or do anything amiss, I assure you,
you shall have all possible satisfaction given you by them, and
also by, honoured gentlemen, your very humble servant,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

Such was Whitefield’s letter to the Trustees of Georgia, written in the midst of the great revival at Cambuslang.

On the same day, he wrote a long letter to his good friend, the Rev. Mr. Willison, of Dundee, who seems to have been far more anxious about Whitefield’s reputation than Whitefield was himself. The letter is historical, and extracts from it must be given.

“CAMBUSLANG, _August 17, 1742_.

“REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR,――I heartily thank you for your concern
about unworthy _me_. Though I am not very solicitous respecting
what the world says of me, yet I would not refuse to give to
any one, much less a minister of Jesus Christ, all reasonable
satisfaction about my doctrine or conduct.

“I am sorry that ‘The Associate Presbytery’ have done me much
wrong. As to what they say about the _supremacy_, my sentiments
agree with what is said in the Westminster Confession of Faith
(chapter xxiii.). I do own the Lord Jesus to be the blessed Head
and King of His Church. I never abjured the Solemn League and
Covenant; neither was it ever proposed to me to be abjured.

“As for my _missives_, if ‘The Associate Presbytery’ will be
pleased to print them, the world will see that they had no
reason to expect I would act in any other manner than I have
done.

“What that part of my _experience_ is that savours of the
grossest _enthusiasm_, I know not. It is not specified; but
this one thing I know, when I conversed with them, they were
satisfied with the account I then gave of my experience, and
also of the validity of my mission. Only, when they found I
would preach the gospel promiscuously to _all_, and _for every
minister_ that would invite me, and not adhere only to them,
one of them said, ‘That they were satisfied with all the other
accounts which I gave of myself, except of my call to Scotland
at that time.’ They would have been glad of my help, and would
have received me as a minister of Jesus Christ, had I consented
to preach only at the invitation of them and their people. I
thought their foundation was too narrow for any high house to
be built upon. When I was last in Scotland, I declared freely,
(and I am more and more convinced of it since,) that they were
building a Babel.

“At the same time, they knew very well, I was far from being
against all church government. How can any church subsist
without it? I only urged, as I do now, that, since holy men
differ so much about the form, we should bear with one another,
though, in this respect, we are not of one mind. I have often
declared, in the most public manner, that I believe the Church
of Scotland to be the best constituted National Church in the
world; but, then, I would bear and converse with all others,
who do not err in fundamentals, and who give evidence that they
are true lovers of the Lord Jesus. This is what I mean by a
_catholic spirit_.

“You know how strongly I assert all the doctrines of grace as
contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and in the
doctrinal Articles of the Church of England. I trust, I shall
adhere to these as long as I live; because I verily believe they
are the truths of God, and because I have felt the power of them
in my heart.

“I am only concerned that good men should be guilty of such
misrepresentations; but this teaches me, more and more, to
exercise compassion towards all the children of God, and to be
more jealous over my own heart, knowing what a fallible creature
I am. I acknowledge that I am a poor blind sinner, liable to
err; and I would be obliged to an enemy, much more to so dear
a friend as you are, to point out to me my mistakes, as to my
practice, or as to unguarded expressions in my preaching or
writing.

“I am just about to print a further account of the Orphan House
in Georgia; and, having many other affairs of importance before
me, can only now entreat the continuance of your prayers, and
beg to subscribe myself,

“Yours, etc.,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

Unfortunately, Whitefield’s troubles were not confined to Scotland and Georgia. Methodist affairs in Wales were far from being in a satisfactory state. Hence the following letter to Howell Harris:――

“CAMBUSLANG, _August 26, 1742_.

“MY VERY DEAR BROTHER,――I was glad, last night, to receive your
letter. I love your simple, honest heart.

“The account, sent with this, will shew you how often I have
been enabled to preach; but with what efficacy and success, pen
cannot describe. The glorious Redeemer seems to be advancing
from congregation to congregation, carrying all before Him.

“I am opposed on every side. The Messrs. Erskines’ people have
kept a fast for me, and given out that all the work now in
Scotland is only delusion, and by the agency of the devil.

“What you said about poor Wales affected me. I lay upon my face
this day, and, for some time, pleaded, with groans unutterable,
for direction in that and several other matters of great
consequence. I fear my dear brother thinks too highly of me;
but, if Christ is pleased to honour me so far, I shall be glad
to help the brethren in Wales. I am sorry to hear there have been
such divisions; but dividing times generally precede settling
times.”

In the midst of all these altercations, it is refreshing to be able to introduce one of Whitefield’s filial outpourings to his mother, who was now an inmate of Whitefield’s house in Bristol.

“CAMBUSLANG, _August 26, 1742_.

“HONOURED MOTHER,――I rejoice to hear that you have been so
long under my roof. Blessed be God that I have a house for my
honoured mother to come to! You are heartily welcome to anything
it affords, as long as you please. I am of the same mind now,
as formerly. If need were, these hands should administer to your
necessities. I had rather want myself, than you should. I shall
be highly pleased when I come to Bristol, and find you sitting
in your youngest son’s house. O that I may sit with you in the
house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens!

“My honoured mother, I am happier and happier every day. If
any at Bristol enquire after me, please to tell them, I am well
both in body and soul, and desire them to help me to praise
free and sovereign grace. O that my dear mother may be made an
everlasting monument of it! How does my heart burn with love
and duty to you! Gladly would I wash your aged feet, and lean
upon your neck, and weep and pray until I could pray no more.
With this, I send you a thousand dutiful salutations, and ten
thousand hearty and most humble thanks, for all the pains you
underwent in conceiving, bringing forth, nursing, and bringing
up your most unworthy, though most dutiful son, till death.

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

Whitefield’s second visit to Cambuslang was on Friday, August 13, 1742; and here, and in the surrounding neighbourhood, he spent the next three weeks. A glimpse of his enormous labours may be obtained from the following, which was written to a friend in London:――

“CAMBUSLANG, _August 27, 1742_.

“A fortnight ago, I came to this place, to assist at the
sacramental occasion, with several worthy ministers of the
Church of Scotland. Such a passover has not been heard of. I
preached once on the Saturday. On the Lord’s-day, I preached in
the morning; served five tables; and preached again, about ten
o’clock at night, to a great number in the churchyard. Though
it rained very much, there was a great awakening. The voice of
prayer and praise was heard all night. It was supposed, that,
between thirty and forty thousand people were assembled; and
that three thousand communicated. There were three tents. The
ministers were enlarged, and great grace was among the people.

“On Monday, August 16th, at seven in the morning, the Rev. Mr.
Webster preached, and there was a great commotion; and also in
the third sermon of the day, when I preached.

“On Thursday, August 19th,[21] I preached twice at Greenock; on
Friday, three times at Kilbride; on Saturday, once at Kilbride,
and twice at Stevenson. On Sunday, August 22nd, four times at
Irvine; on Monday, once at Irvine, and three times at Kilmarnock;
on Tuesday, once at Kilmarnock, and four times at Stewarton;
on Wednesday, once at Stewarton, and twice at ♦Mearns; and
yesterday, twice at this place. I never preached with so much
apparent success before. The work seems to spread more and
more. Oh, my friend, pray and give praise on behalf of the most
unworthy wretch that was ever employed in the dear Redeemer’s
service!”

This is a mere outline of a fortnight’s stupendous labours in the west of Scotland. The sacrament at Cambuslang was an event never to be forgotten. Thirteen ministers were present on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; and, on Monday, twenty-four. “All of them,” wrote the Rev. Mr. McCulloch, the pastor of Cambuslang, “appeared to be very much assisted in their work. Four of them preached on the fast-day; four on Saturday; on the Sabbath I cannot tell how many; and five on Monday. Mr. Whitefield’s sermons, on Saturday and the two following days, were attended with much power, particularly on Sunday night, and on Monday; several crying out, and a great weeping being observable throughout his auditories. While he was serving some of the tables, he appeared to be so filled with the love of God, as to be in a kind of ecstasy, and he communicated with much of that blessed frame. The number present, on the Lord’s-day, was so great, that, so far as I can hear, none ever saw the like since the revolution, in Scotland, or even anywhere else, at any sacrament occasion. This vast concourse of people came, not only from the city of Glasgow, but, from many places at a considerable distance. It was reckoned, that, there were two hundred communicants from Edinburgh, two hundred from Kilmarnock, a hundred from Irvine, and a hundred from Stewarton. Some, also, were from England and Ireland. A considerable number of Quakers were hearers. The tables were all served in the open air, beside the tent below the brae. Some estimated the number of persons present at fifty thousand; some at forty thousand; and the lowest estimate was upwards of thirty thousand. Not a few were awakened to a sense of sin; others had their bands loosed, and were brought into the liberty of the sons of God; and many of God’s children were filled with joy and peace in believing.”[22]

Whitefield came back to ♦Edinburgh early in September, and here he _chiefly_ remained and laboured until his return to England at the end of October. His letters, during this interval of two months, are full of interest, and extracts from them must be given.

Already a scheme was contemplated to unite the Methodists in Wales into a separate connexion; and the following, addressed “to Howell Harris, in Hoxton, near London,” refers to this:――

“_September 3, 1742._

“MY VERY DEAR BROTHER,――Wales is upon my heart. I think to meet
all the Brethren there together. As the awakening seems, in some
measure, to be over, and there are so many living stones, it
may be time to think of putting them together. May the great
Builder of the Church guide and direct us! I am glad to hear that
matters at Bristol are better than I expected. We have had most
blessed days here. I and the people have been in the suburbs of
heaven. Blessed be God! I live in heaven daily. O free grace! I
feel myself viler, and yet happier, every day.”[23]

Whitefield’s friend, Gilbert Tennent, had been brought into contact with the Moravians, and had not liked them. Hence the following, which Whitefield wrote to a gentleman in America:――

“EDINBURGH, _September 13, 1742_.

“I have just been writing to our dear brother, Gilbert Tennent.
He speaks many things, which, I know, are too true of the
Moravian Brethren; but his spirit seems to be too much heated,
and, I fear, some of his own wildfire is mixed with that sacred
zeal, which comes from ♦God. I want to be more like Jesus, who
sees all the quarrels and heart-risings of His children, and
yet bears with, and loves them still. I confess, I am jealous
over many, who talk and write of the Lamb, and who mimic some
particular person in their outward way, but yet are not truly
poor in spirit. They act too much like me, who, at my first
setting out, imitated the outward show of humility in Monsieur
Dezenly, before I got true simplicity of heart. At the same time,
I would love all who love Jesus, though they differ from me in
some points. The angels love all the true worshippers of Jesus
everywhere, and why should not we? If our brethren will quarrel
with us, let us not quarrel with them.”

In the same catholic spirit, Whitefield wrote as follows, to a friend in Pennsylvania:――

“EDINBURGH, _September 22, 1742_.

“You cannot have a scene of greater confusion among you, than
there has been in England. But, blessed be God! matters are
brought to a better issue, and, though we cannot agree in
principles, yet we agree in love. I have not given way to the
Moravian Brethren, or to Mr. Wesley, or to any whom I thought
in an error, no, not for an hour. But I think it best not to
dispute, when there is no probability of convincing. Disputing
embitters the spirit, ruffles the soul, and hinders it from
hearing the still small voice of the Holy Ghost.”

To Mr. Habersham, the superintendent of his Orphan House, he wrote:――

“EDINBURGH, _September 24, 1742_.

“MY MOST ENDEARED FRIEND AND BROTHER,――With this, I send you a
‘Continuation of the Orphan House Account,’ which I have printed
to satisfy the public, and to promote future collections. I yet
owe upwards of £250 in England, upon the Orphan House account,
and have nothing towards it. How is the world mistaken about
my circumstances! worth nothing myself, embarrassed for others,
and yet looked upon to abound in riches! Our extremity is God’s
opportunity. O faith, thou hast an all-conquering power! I put
my trust in God, and, through His mercy, I shall not miscarry.
I pray for you. I think and dream of you almost continually. I
long, I long to be with you, and, methinks, could willingly be
found at the head of you, though a Spaniard’s sword should be
put to my throat.

“Some of my friends in Philadelphia are suspicious that I am
joined with the Moravian Brethren; but, indeed, I am not. My
principles are still the same; only, as I believe many of them
love the Lord Jesus, I would be friendly to them, as I would
be to all others who bear the image of our common Master,
notwithstanding some of my principles are as far distant from
theirs as the east is from the west.”

The next extract, from a letter to a minister in Wales, affords a glimpse of Whitefield’s labours in Scotland, and announces his purpose to return to England. Perhaps, it ought to be premised, that, on Sunday, the 3rd of October, a sacrament was held at Kilsyth, in which a dozen ministers took part. The solemnities of the day began at half-past eight in the morning, and continued, without intermission, till half-past eight at night. During the day, twenty-two different services were held; and the number of communicants were nearly fifteen hundred. At Muthel, also, a gracious revival had been vouchsafed. After public worship in the kirk, crowds of people were wont to flock to the manse of the Rev. William Hally, the minister, who wrote, “Their mourning cries frequently drown my voice, so that I am often obliged to stop till they compose themselves.”[24]

“EDINBURGH, _October 6, 1742_.

“The Lord has dealt bountifully with me. He gives me to rejoice
in all His dispensations towards me. I am taught more and more,
every day, to live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave Himself for me. God keeps me, and brings me where I would
desire to be――at His feet, waiting His will, and watching the
motions of His blessed Spirit, word, and providence. Here I
find safety and refuge amidst the various storms of opposition
and reproach with which I daily meet. God is on my side: I will
not fear what men or devils can say of or do unto me. The dear
Messrs. Erskine have dressed me in very black colours. Dear men,
I pity them. Surely they must grieve the Holy Spirit much. O for
a mind divested of all sects and names and parties! I think, it
is my one single aim to promote the kingdom of Jesus, without
partiality and without hypocrisy, indefinitely amongst all. I
care not if the name of George Whitefield be banished out of the
world, so that Jesus be exalted in it.

“Glory be to His great name! we have seen much of His power
in Scotland. The work in the west goes on and increases. Last
Sabbath and Monday, things greater than ever were seen at
Kilsyth. There is a great awakening also at Muthel. I preach
twice every day with great power, and walk in liberty and love.
In about three weeks, I purpose to leave Scotland; and hope,
before long, to spend a month in Wales. I intend to travel
through Newcastle and Yorkshire.[25]

“I have been much strengthened since the Spaniards invaded
Georgia. I am, like the ark, surrounded with waves; but, through
free grace, I am enabled to swim above all. Ere long, I shall
rest on Mount Zion, in the arms of my beloved Jesus.”

Among the distinguished persons with whom Whitefield became acquainted in Scotland, was Lady Frances Gardiner, daughter of the Earl of Buchan, and wife of the celebrated Colonel Gardiner, who fell, in the service of his country, at the battle of Prestonpans, in 1745. The Colonel was now with his soldiers at Ghent; and to him Whitefield addressed the following characteristic letter:――

“EDINBURGH, _October 17, 1742_.

“HONOURED SIR,――Though I never had the pleasure of seeing you, I
have often prayed for you. I hope you will not be offended with
me for troubling you with this. Your honoured lady tells me you
will not.

“Dear sir, I rejoice to hear that you are a good soldier of
Jesus Christ, and that you delight to fight the Redeemer’s
battles. May you be covered with all His armour, and be filled
with all His fulness!

“I have the pleasure often to go without the camp, and to bear
a little of His sacred reproach; and I prefer it to all the
treasures in the world. Weak as I am, my Jesus makes me more
than conqueror, through His love. He has brought mighty things
to pass here, and gotten Himself the victory in many hearts. I
trust not a day passes without some poor creature being plucked
as a brand from the burning.

“I wish I could hear that God was more in the camp. Blessed be
His name! for raising you up, to lift a standard for Him. May
you be endued with the _meekness_ of Moses, the _courage_ of
Joshua, the _zeal_ of Paul, and a large portion of the blessed
spirit of Christ!

“I hope, honoured sir, you will, now and then, remember me, a
poor sinner, and speak a word for me to the King of kings and
Lord of lords, that I may not turn my head in the day of battle,
but rather die for Him, than, in any wise, deny Him. Neither you
nor yours are forgotten by me. I am a poor creature, but happy,
very happy, in the once crucified, but now exalted Jesus. For
His sake, and in His great name, I beg leave to subscribe myself,
honoured sir, your affectionate, humble servant,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

Colonel Gardiner was as distinguished a Christian as he was a soldier. Nine days after the date of Whitefield’s letter, the Colonel wrote, as follows, to his friend Dr. Doddridge, of Northampton:――

“GHENT, _October 16, 1742_.

“I have received a letter from Mr. Whitefield. The accounts I
have had of that man, both when in England and since I came here,
have ravished my soul. If my heart deceives me not, I would
rather be the persecuted, despised Whitefield, to be an
instrument in the hand of the Spirit, for converting so many
souls, and building up others in their most holy faith, than be
the emperor of the whole world.”[26]

Towards the close of his visit to Scotland, Whitefield re-opened his correspondence with Wesley, the result of which was a perfect reconciliation. From this time, their mutual regard and friendly intercourse suffered no interruption, until Whitefield’s death, twenty-eight years afterwards. The following is one of the letters which, at this important period, passed between them:――

“EDINBURGH, _October 11, 1742_.

“REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,――About ten days ago, I sent you a packet,
by my dear wife, which I hope you will have received ere this
comes to hand. Yesterday morning, I had your kind letter, dated
October 5.

“In answer to the first part of it, I say, ‘Let old things
pass away, and all things become new.’ I can heartily say ‘Amen’
to the latter part of it. ‘Let the king live for ever, and
controversy die.’ It has died with me long ago.

“I shall not leave Scotland in less than three weeks. Before
yours came, I had engaged to go through Newcastle,[27] in my
way to London. I rejoice to hear the Lord has blessed your dear
brother’s labours.

“I am enabled to preach twice daily, and find I walk in light
and liberty continually. I thank you, dear sir, for praying for
me, and thank our common Lord for putting it into your heart so
to do. I have been upon my knees praying for you and yours. O
that nothing but love, lowliness, and simplicity may be among
us! The work is still increasing in Scotland. Dear friend, my
soul is on fire. O let us not fall out in the way! Let us bear
with one another in love. God be praised! for giving you such a
mind. My kind love to all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity.
In much haste, and with great thanks for your last letter,
I subscribe myself, reverend and very dear sir, your most
affectionate, though younger, brother in the gospel of our
glorious Emmanuel,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

Before leaving Scotland, Whitefield made three collections for his Orphan House. In the park, at Edinburgh, on October 6, his congregation gave him the noble sum of £128 10s. 7d.;[28] and, on another occasion, they contributed £44. At Glasgow, also, the public collection and private donations amounted to the same sum as the first collection in Edinburgh, making £300 in all. Even the liberality of his friends excited the anger of his enemies. The _Scots’ Magazine_ sneeringly remarked (pp. 459, 464):――

“By his affecting comments on the widow’s throwing her two mites
into the treasury, many, who live on charity, have literally
given him the whole of their living, and been obliged to beg
their next meal. At his diets for collecting, when he has raised
the passions of his audience by a suitable sermon, his next
care is to ply them while in a right frame. For this purpose,
he makes his last prayer very short; thereafter pronounces the
blessing without singing psalms; and then immediately falls a
collecting, in which he shews great dexterity.”

_IN ENGLAND AND WALES._

NOVEMBER 1742 TO AUGUST 1744.

WHITEFIELD left Scotland on November 1st, 1742; and arrived in London five days afterwards. He now resumed his ministry in his wooden Tabernacle, where, for some time past, Howell Harris had been officiating as his substitute. One of his first letters, in London, was addressed to his friend Habersham.

“LONDON, _November 12, 1742_.

“MY DEAREST FRIEND AND BROTHER IN A CRUCIFIED JESUS,――How do
I long to come over to see you, and the rest of my dear family!
The cloud seems now to be moving towards America. I trust I
shall be with you in a few months.

“The Lord did wonderful things for me and His people in Scotland.
The concern expressed at my departure was unspeakable. I rode
post from Edinburgh, and came here, in rather less than five
days, on Saturday last.

“There seems to be a new awakening in London. We have been
obliged to enlarge the Tabernacle. Dear Brother Harris has been
sent with a sweet, searching commission. Brother Cennick is much
blessed in Wiltshire. The word runs and is glorified in Wales.
God is raising some fresh witnesses of the power of His dear
Son’s blood in Gloucestershire. Blessed are the eyes which see
the things that we see.

“The collections in Scotland were large. In Edinburgh, I
collected £128 at one time, and £44 at another; and in Glasgow,
about £128, with private donations. Blessed be God! I owe
nothing now in England on the Orphan-house account; what is due
is abroad. I think, since I have been in England, we have got
near £1500. The Lord will provide what we want further. Glory be
to His name!

“My wife lies now very weak. She was tossed for ten days in her
voyage from Scotland. The ship was in imminent danger, but the
Lord gave her much of His presence. I trust she will be ready
shortly for another voyage.”

Whitefield spent nearly four months in London. His congregations, of course, were very large, and, in another respect, were remarkable. His friend Wesley was pre-eminently and almost exclusively the poor man’s preacher. It was otherwise with Whitefield. During the winter of 1742, the Earl and Countess of Huntingdon were constant in their attendance upon his ministry, and were often accompanied by his lordship’s sisters, the Ladies Hastings. Occasionally, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, and Catherine, Duchess of Buckingham, two of the most celebrated and remarkable women of their day, were among his hearers; so also was Lord Lonsdale, who had been one of the lords of the bedchamber, and constable of the tower. Charles, third Duke of Bolton; Lord Hervey, who had distinguished himself as an orator in both houses of Parliament, and who had held the offices of vice-chamberlain, and keeper of the privy-seal; and Lord Sidney Beauclerk, fifth son of the Duke of St. Albans, were likewise numbered among the young preacher’s auditors. Yea, even royalty itself, in the persons of William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, youngest son of George II., and his brother Frederick, Prince of Wales, helped to swell some of Whitefield’s congregations.[29]

This is a remarkable fact, and, perhaps, may be partly accounted for by the favour with which Whitefield had been honoured by some of the aristocracy of Scotland. Between him and them a warm friendship had been created; and there can hardly be a doubt that this helped to secure him the attention of not a few of the nobility of England. As shewing his Christian intimacy with persons of distinguished rank in Scotland, the following letters, written within a fortnight after his arrival in London, will be useful. The first was addressed to Lady Frances Gardiner, the wife of the celebrated colonel.

“LONDON, _November 13, 1742_.

“HONOURED MADAM,――Mindful of my promise, which I made before I
left Edinburgh, I now steal a few moments to send your ladyship
a letter of thanks. I trust it will find you sitting under the
Redeemer’s shadow with great delight. It rejoiced me when I
heard that God had blessed my unworthy ministry, to recover your
ladyship from a state of darkness and spiritual desertion. Glory,
glory be to rich, free, and sovereign grace! I trust you will
now be kept in the love of God, and that no idol will interpose
between you and the Redeemer. I hope the dear Colonel is now in
his proper place, and that you can think of him without anxiety
or distracting care. This is that freedom wherewith Jesus Christ
makes us free: to love all things in Him, and for Him, and to
love Him above all. Thus we have peace and joy. Whenever we
deviate from it, we fall into darkness and distress of soul.

“We have blessed seasons in London. O who can express the
loving-kindness of the Lord, or shew forth all His praise? We
beg your prayers; and wishing you and your honoured Colonel all
manner of prosperity, I am, etc.,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

The following also was addressed to a titled lady in Edinburgh:――

“LONDON, _November 13, 1742_.

“I hope this will find you a very poor sinner, sitting at the
feet of Jesus. If I mistake not, your soul is athirst for God,
yea, to be filled with all the fulness of God. Go on, dear madam.
God will satisfy all your desires. He has promised, and He will
perform. There is no end of His goodness.

“I believe your ladyship will hear shortly from Mr. Harris.
He is a dear soul, and left London on Thursday last, full of
simplicity and love. The work goes on bravely in Wales, and
elsewhere. Surely it is the midnight cry. Surely the Bridegroom
is coming. Methinks I hear your ladyship say, ‘Then I will make
ready to go forth to meet Him.’ That you may be always ready to
obey the most sudden call, is the hearty prayer of, etc.,

“GEORGE WHITEFIELD.”

The next was written to one of the Scottish nobles:――

“LONDON, _November 15, 1742_.

“MY LORD,――My departure from Edinburgh was very sudden, and
it was but a few days before I left, that I heard of your
lordship’s illness. I have not been unmindful of you, and I
trust, that, in answer to prayer, our Lord has rebuked your
fever, and that this will find you risen and ministering unto
Him. How apt are we, when in health, to follow Jesus afar off,
and to fall into a Laodicæan spirit. May this sickness be a
means of drawing you nearer to God!

“I am now in my winter quarters, preparing for a fresh campaign.
Happy they who fight under the Redeemer’s banner!”

Whitefield’s “fresh campaign” included more than preaching. He lived in troublous times, and needed both “the sword and trowel.” Affairs in New England made him anxious. Hence the following to the Rev. Dr. Colman, of Boston:――

“LONDON, _November 18, 1742_.

“REV. AND DEAR SIR,――The confusion in New England has given me
concern; but our Lord will over-rule all for good. When I shall
come to Boston, the Lord Jesus only knows. I believe it will
not be long. I find I shall come in perilous times; but the
all-gracious Saviour, who has helped me hitherto, will guide me
by His counsel, and give me a true scriptural zeal. How hard it
is to keep in the true narrow path, when speaking for the Lord
Jesus! God preserve me, and all His ministers, from defending
His truths and cause in our own, or under the influence of a
false spirit! It destroys the cause we would defend. In Scotland,
there have been, as yet, but few of the disorders complained
of amongst you; but, as the work increases, I suppose, the
stratagems of the enemy will increase also. This is my
comfort――Jesus reigns.”

The Rev. John Meriton was encountering bitter opposition in the Isle of Man, and wished for Whitefield’s advice respecting his going to Georgia. Whitefield’s answer was as follows:――

“LONDON, _November 19, 1742_.

“REV. AND DEAR SIR,――If the Lord has given you more zeal, I
wonder not that you meet with more opposition. However, I would
not have you rash or over-hasty in leaving the Isle of Man.
Wait; continue instant in prayer; and you shall see the salvation
of God. I have not heard from my family abroad for some time,
and cannot give you any determinate answer about your going to
Georgia, because I know not how their affairs stand. God will
yet shew you what He would have you to do. Even so, Lord Jesus.
Amen and amen!”

From New England and the Isle of Man, the reader must follow Whitefield to the principality of Wales. One of the Methodist Exhorters there had been indicted for holding a conventicle. Whitefield’s services were solicited on behalf of this luckless brother. He, at once, opened a correspondence with the Bishop of Bangor, on the subject; and the following is one of the letters that passed between them:――

“LONDON, _November 19, 1742_.

“MY LORD,――I received your lordship’s letter this evening. It
confirmed me in the character given me of your lordship’s spirit.
I verily believe you abhor everything that has a tendency to
persecution; and yet, in my humble opinion, if Mr. C―――― is not
somewhat redressed, he is persecuted.

“My Lord, the whole of the matter seems to be this: In Wales,
they have fellowship meetings, where some well-meaning people
meet together, simply to tell what God has done for their souls.
In some of these meetings, I believe, Mr. C―――― used to tell
his experience, and to invite his companions to come and be
happy in Jesus Christ. He is, therefore, indicted as holding
a conventicle; and I find this is the case of one, if not two,
more.

“Now, my Lord, as far as I can judge, these persons, thus
indicted, are loyal subjects of his Majesty, and true friends of
the Church of England service, and attendants upon it. You will
see, by the enclosed letters, how unwilling they are to leave
the Church; and yet, if the Acts, made against persons meeting
together to plot against Church and State, be put in execution
against them, what must they do? They must be obliged to declare
themselves Dissenters. I assure your lordship, it is a critical
time in Wales. Hundreds, if not thousands, will go in a body
from the Church, if such proceedings are countenanced. I lately
wrote them a letter, dissuading them from separating from
the Church; and I write thus to your lordship, because of the
excellent spirit of moderation discernible in your lordship, and
because I would not have (to use your lordship’s own expression)
‘such a fire kindled in or from your diocese.’”