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
"Wednesday, December 26. Mr. Whitefield having sent us an invitation
last night to make his house our home during our stay here, we
were perplexed what to do, lest we should blast the success of our
mission among the dissenters, who are generally disaffected to him.
We at length concluded, with the advice of our friends and his, that
a public intercourse with him would be imprudent, in our present
situation, and visited him privately this evening; and the kind
reception he gave us revived dear Mr. Tennent. He spoke in the most
encouraging manner as to the success of our mission. And in all
his conversation discovered so much zeal and candor, that I could
not but admire the man as the wonder of the age. When we returned,
Mr. Tennent's heart was all on fire, and after we had gone to bed,
he suggested that we should watch and pray; and we rose and prayed
together till about three o'clock in the morning.
"Jan. 1. Went in the evening to hear Mr. Whitefield in the
Tabernacle, a large, spacious building. The assembly was very
numerous, though not equal to what is common. He preached on the
parable of the barren fig-tree; and though the discourse was
incoherent, yet it seemed to me better calculated to do good to
mankind than all the accurate, languid discourses I ever heard.
After sermon I enjoyed his pleasing conversation at his house."
It would seem that Messrs. Davies and Tennent had their trials, as
well as their encouragements. Writing Jan. 14, Mr. Davies says,
"Spent an hour with Mr. Whitefield. He thinks we have not taken
the best method in endeavoring to keep in with all parties, but
should 'come out boldly,' as he expressed it, which would secure the
affections of the pious people, from whom we might expect the most
generous contributions." On the evening after this, they dined with
Whitefield at the house of a common friend, and he rejoiced in the
abundant success they afterwards met with from nearly all parties.
"Jan. 25. Dined with Mr. Bradbury, who has been in the ministry
about fifty-seven years. He read us some letters which passed
between Mr. Whitefield and him, _anno_ 1741; occasioned by Mr.
Whitefield's reproving him in a letter for singing a song in a
tavern, in a large company, in praise of old English beef. The old
gentleman sung it to us, and we found it was partly composed by
himself, in the high-flying days of Queen Anne. He is a man of a
singular turn, which would be offensive to the greatest number of
serious people; but for my part I could say,
'I knew 'twas his peculiar whim,
Nor took it ill, as't came from him.'"
In March, 1754, Whitefield, in company with twenty-two poor
destitute children, sailed the fifth time for America.
CHAPTER XIII.
FIFTH VISIT TO AMERICA--RENEWED LABORS IN GREAT
BRITAIN--TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD CHAPEL.
1754-1763.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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