The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 1 (of 2)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 1 (of 2)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770
"Not that all spoke well of me. No; as my popularity increased,
opposition increased also. At first, many of the clergy were my
hearers and admirers; but some soon grew angry, and complaints
were made that the churches were so crowded that there was no
room for the parishioners, and that the pews were spoiled. Some
called me a spiritual pickpocket, and others thought I made
use of a kind of charm to get the people's money. A report was
spread that the Bishop of London, upon the complaint of the
clergy, intended to _silence_ me. I immediately waited upon his
lordship, and enquired whether any complaint of this nature had
been lodged against me? He answered, 'No.' I asked his lordship
whether any objection could be made against my doctrine? He
said, 'No; for he knew a clergyman who had heard me preach a
plain scriptural sermon.' I asked his lordship whether he would
grant me a license? He said, 'I needed none, since I was going
to Georgia.' I replied, 'Then your lordship will not forbid me?'
He gave me a satisfactory answer, and I took my leave. Soon
after this, two clergymen sent for me, and told me they would
not let me preach in their pulpits any more, unless I renounced
that part of my sermon on regeneration, wherein I wished 'that
my brethren would entertain their auditories oftener with
discourses upon the new birth.' This I had no freedom to do, and
so they continued my opposers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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