The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 1 (of 2)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
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The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 1 (of 2)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770
"I think it every Christian's duty to be particularly careful
to glorify God in places where He is most dishonoured. Some can
sing the songs of the drunkard in public houses; others can
spend whole nights in chambering and wantonness; why should
Christians be ashamed to sing songs of the Lamb, and spend
nights in devotion?"
The sermon preached at Bexley was founded upon John vii. 37-39, and
soon after was published with the following title: "The Indwelling
of the Spirit, the Common Privilege of all Believers. A Sermon
preached at the Parish Church of Bexley, in Kent, on Whitsunday,
1739. By George Whitefield, A.B., of Pembroke College, Oxford.
London: printed for C. Whitefield, in the year 1739." (12mo. 26
pp.) Two or three extracts from it will help to convey an idea of
the style of Whitefield's preaching at this important period of his
history, and of his apparent severity towards the clergy of the
Established Church.
Having laid down the doctrine, that the indwelling of the "Holy
Spirit is the common privilege and portion of believers in all
ages," he proceeds:--
"I am astonished that any who call themselves members, much
more, that many who are preachers of the Church of England,
should dare so much as open their lips against this. And yet,
with grief I speak it, persons of the Established Church seem to
be more generally ignorant of it than any Dissenters whatsoever.
But, good God! my dear brethren, what have you been doing? How
often have your hearts given your lips the lie! How often have
you offered God the sacrifice of fools, and had your prayers
turned into sin, if you approve of, and use our excellent
Church Liturgy, and yet deny the Holy Spirit to be the portion
of all believers! Oh that I had no reason to speak it! but
many, who use our forms, talk and preach against the necessity
of receiving the Holy Ghost now, as well as formerly; and not
only so, but cry out against those who do insist upon it, as
_madmen_, _enthusiasts_, _schismatics_, and _underminers_ of the
Established Constitution.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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