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
To narrate the particulars of this journey would be little more
than a repetition of scenes of insult and of success with which the
reader has already become familiar. At Ulverston he says, "Satan
made some small resistance. A clergyman, who looked more like a
_butcher_ than a minister, came with two others, and charged a
constable with me; but I never saw a poor creature sent off with
such disgrace."
One of the most remarkable conversions recorded in the history of
the church occurred during this journey by the ministry of Mr.
Whitefield. The full particulars are recorded in the Life of the
Countess of Huntingdon, and can only be briefly mentioned here.
In the early period of Whitefield's ministry, many of the taverns
became places where his doctrines and zeal were talked of and
ridiculed. A Mr. Thorpe, and several other young men in Yorkshire,
undertook at one of these parties to mimic the preaching of Mr.
Whitefield. The proposition met with applause; one after another
stood on a table to perform his part, and it devolved on Mr. Thorpe
to close this irreverent scene. Much elated, and confident of
success, he exclaimed, as he ascended the table, "I shall beat you
all." Who would have supposed that the mercy of God was now about to
be extended to this transgressor of his law? The Bible was handed to
him; and by the guidance of unerring Providence, it opened at Luke
13:3: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." The moment
he read the text his mind was impressed in a most extraordinary
manner; he saw clearly the nature and importance of the subject;
and as he afterwards said, if he ever preached with the assistance
of the Holy Spirit, it was at that time. His address produced a
feeling of depression in his auditors; and when he had finished,
he instantly retired to weep over his sins. He soon after became
associated with the people of God, and died a successful minister of
Christ, at Masborough, in Yorkshire, in 1776, about six years after
the death of Mr. Whitefield. He was the father of the distinguished
Rev. William Thorpe, of Bristol.
Passing on to Edinburgh, Whitefield was, as usual, received with the
most unfeigned tenderness and joy, preaching to great multitudes
of attentive and serious people, whose earnest desire to hear him
made him exert himself beyond his strength. He says, "By preaching
always twice, once thrice, and once four times in a day, I am quite
weakened; but I hope to recruit again. Christ's presence makes me
smile at pain." He returned to London, having preached about one
hundred times, it was believed to not less than one hundred thousand
people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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