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
On the 6th of March, he and William Seward went off to Wales;
the Rev. Richard Hutchins, afterwards Rector of Lincoln College,
taking his place at Bristol. This, in its ultimate results, was an
important visit; and, though only of four days' duration, was full
of incident.
Here, however, an extract from a letter written by William Seward
may be interjected.
"NEW PASSAGE, BRISTOL-SIDE, _March 6, 1739_.
"REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER,--Our dear brother Whitefield goes
on from conquering to conquer. Thousands and ten thousands
flock to hear the word. He has been in but three churches,
and that was at his first coming. The chancellor threatened
excommunication, but soon dropt it. However, the glory of God
was to be promoted another way; for, being thrust out of the
synagogues, our brother has settled a lecture or exposition at
Newgate every morning; the place being more convenient than
Oxford Castle Chapel. He generally expounds to one, two, or
three Societies every night; and has preached seven or eight
times on a mount, about two miles from Bristol, where have been
from fifteen hundred to fifteen thousand hearers. Last Sunday
evening, we sung the hundredth psalm, and all could hear. It
is much like singing at a scaffold or stake with multitudes
around. At another place, the church not being big enough, he
preached from the cross. He preaches once a week on the steps
of a workhouse, with a hall behind, and a courtyard almost full
before. He has preached in two other parts of Kingswood, among
the colliers; and thousands come--horsemen, coaches, chaises,
etc. Thus the gospel spreads round the country, for divers
come from far--_some_ twenty miles. You may be sure we are set
up for being stark mad. We are now going to meet our brother
Howell Harris at Cardiff, the minister of which place being
here will not even go over in the passage-boat with us. He says
our brother shall not have the church; so I hope the fields
will be white at Cardiff, as well as at Bristol. There is also
a Society there who long for our coming. Our brother Hutchins
is at Bristol, and stays till brother Kinchin comes to supply
his place. Our dear brother Whitefield would have none of you
('the Oxford Methodists') hidden, but wishes that you would all
come out, and be itinerant. The harvest is great, and great
encouragement there is to spend and be spent for the good of
souls. I hear brother J. Wesley is at Oxford; and that forty
gownsmen were lately to hear brother Kinchin expound. O praise
the Lord for these His great mercies!
"I am, etc.,
"WILLIAM SEWARD."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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