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
Not only was Whitefield anxious to establish the orphan-house
for the benefit of the whole colony of Georgia, but having been
ordained priest, for the purpose of instructing the inhabitants of
the town of Savannah, he was desirous of making full proof of his
ministry among them. After a passage of nine weeks he landed at
Philadelphia, and was immediately invited to preach in the churches;
to which people of all denominations thronged as in England. He
was especially pleased to find that they preferred sermons when
"not delivered within the church walls." And it was well they did,
for his fame had arrived in the city before him, and crowds were
collected to hear him which no church could contain.
A letter written on this voyage to America has recently come to
light, which beautifully illustrates the spirit by which Whitefield
was now animated. It was addressed to the Rev. John Cumming of
Andover, Hampshire, England.
"Wrote at Sea, dated at Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1739.
"REVEREND AND DEAR SIR--You see by my writing this how willing
I am to cultivate a correspondence with you. I wish Christians
in general, and ministers of Christ in particular, were better
acquainted. The cause of Christ thereby must be necessarily
promoted. But bigotry and sectarian zeal have been the bane of
our holy religion. Though we have one Lord, one faith, and one
baptism, yet if we do not all worship God in one particular
way, we behave to each other like Jews and Samaritans. Dear
sir, I hope that neither of us have so learned Christ. Blessed
be God for his free grace in Christ. The partition wall has
for some time been broken down out of my heart, and I can truly
say, whosoever loves the Lord Jesus, 'the same is my brother,
and sister, and mother.' For this reason, dear sir, I love you.
For this reason, though I decrease, yet I heartily wish you may
increase, even with all the increase of God. I am persuaded
you are like-minded. I believe my friends have prayed for me.
The Lord hath dealt most lovingly with me his servant. He has
chastened and corrected, but hath not given me over into the
hands of the enemy. A future journal will acquaint you with
particulars. What I have sent over to be published will afford
you abundant matter for thanksgiving in behalf of,
"Dear sir, your affectionate friend,
Brother, and servant,
"G. WHITEFIELD."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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