George Whitefield: A Biography, with special reference to his labors in AmericaBelcher, Joseph
Religion
George Whitefield: A Biography, with special reference to his labors in America
Belcher, Joseph
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770
The late Rev. Dr. Archibald Alexander tells us, that when he was
at Boston, in 1800, he found in the Old South church a lingering
relic of Whitefield's times, in a convert of his day, a lady between
eighty and ninety years of age, who belonged to a prayer-meeting
founded then, which had been kept up weekly until within a few
years. Of this, she was the only surviving member.
The "Evening Post," which seems to have been on the side of
those who opposed Whitefield, in its issue of March 11, 1745,
says, "Prince, Webb, Foxcroft, and Gee, are the directors of Mr.
Whitefield's public conduct, as he himself has lately declared at
Newbury." He had other powerful friends among the clergy, and still
more among the laity, who invited him by vote into some pulpits
where the pastors were "shy" of him.
On the 7th of February, we find him at Ipswich, where he spent
several days. Mr. Pickering, of the Second church, declined
admitting him into his pulpit, and assigned his reasons in a letter,
which was published. It contains the usual objections set forth in
the various "testimonies," and is remarkable only for one convenient
metaphor. The Bishop of London had published on "Lukewarmness and
Enthusiasm." Whitefield had said in reply, "All ought to be thankful
to that pilot who will teach them to steer a safe and middle
course;" and Pickering wittily asks, "But what if the pilot should
take the vane for the compass?"
Early in March we find him making an excursion into the east, as we
hear of him both at Berwick and Portland, in the then territory of
Maine. In the latter place, he not only made a powerful impression
on the people, but on their minister. In the outset a strong feeling
existed against his preaching in the pulpit of the First church. Mr.
Smith, the pastor, says in his "Journal," "The parish are like to be
in a flame on account of Mr. Whitefield's coming; the leading men
violently opposing." Under the date of May 19, after Whitefield's
departure, we find in the "Journal" a remarkable passage: "For
several Sabbaths, and the lecture, I have been all in a blaze; never
in such a flame, and what I would attend to is, that it was not only
involuntary, but actually determined against. I went to meeting
resolving to be calm and moderate, lest people should think it was
wildness and affectation to ape Mr. Whitefield; but God, I see,
makes use of me as he pleases, and I am only a machine in his hand."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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