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 heat of the weather made it indispensable for his health that
he should go to sea, and July 5th he once more arrived in England,
on his last return voyage from America. He says, "We have had but
a twenty-eight days' passage. The transition has been so sudden,
that I can scarcely believe that I am in England. I hope, ere long,
to have a more sudden transition into a better country." When he
arrived in his native land, he was ill of a nervous fever, which
left him extremely weak in body, and unable to exert himself as
formerly. Yet, still intent on his work, he did what he could, in
expectation of soon entering into his eternal rest. "Oh, to end life
well!" he writes; "methinks I have now but one river to pass over.
And we know of One who can carry us over without being ankle deep."
On Whitefield's arrival in England, he found that his excellent
friend the Countess of Huntingdon was erecting a large and beautiful
church edifice in the fashionable city of Bath, and to that place he
at once repaired. There he found several of his clerical brethren
preaching in the private chapel at Bretby Hall, belonging to the
Earl of Chesterfield, who had placed it for the time being at the
disposal of Lady Huntingdon. On Whitefield's arrival, this place was
of necessity exchanged for the Park, where the concourse of people
was as vast as ever.
October 6, he preached the dedicatory sermon of Lady Huntingdon's
church at Bath, to an immense crowd. To his friend Robert Keen,
Esq., one of the managers of his London houses, he wrote, "Could
you have come, and have been present at the opening of the chapel,
you would have been much pleased. The building is extremely plain,
and yet equally grand. A most beautiful original! All was conducted
with great solemnity. Though a wet day, the place was very full, and
assuredly the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls consecrated and
made it holy ground by his presence."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account