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
"O man! whosoever thou art that deniest the doctrine of original
sin, if thy conscience be not scared as with a hot iron, tell me
if thou dost not find thyself, by nature, to be a motley mixture
of brute and devil? I know these terms will stir up the whole
Pharisee in thy heart; but stop a little, and let us reason
together. Dost thou not find that, by nature, thou art prone to
pride? Otherwise, wherefore art thou now offended? Again, dost
not thou find in thyself the seeds of malice, revenge, and all
uncharitableness? And what are these but the very tempers of the
devil? Again, do we not all, by nature, suffer ourselves to be
led by our natural appetites, always looking downwards, never
looking upwards to that God, in whom we live, move, and have our
being? And what is this but the very nature of the beasts that
perish? Out of thy own heart, therefore, will I oblige thee to
confess, what an inspired apostle has long since told us, that
the whole world, by nature, lies in the wicked one, that is, the
devil; and that we are no better than those whom St. Jude calls
_brute beasts_; for we have tempers, by nature, that prove to
a demonstration that we are altogether earthly, sensual, and
devilish."
One more extract must suffice. It presents Whitefield in another
aspect,--pathetically and lovingly entreating sinners to be
reconciled to God:--
"When Joseph was called out of the prison-house to Pharaoh's
court, we are told, he stayed some time to prepare himself; but
do you come with all your prison clothes about you. Come, poor,
and miserable, and blind, and naked, as you are; and God will
receive you, with open arms, as He did the prodigal. O let there
be joy in heaven over some of you believing. Let me not go back
to my Master, and say, Lord, they will not believe my report.
Believe me, I am willing to go to prison or death for you; but
I am not willing to go to heaven without you. The love of Christ
constrains me to lift up my voice like a trumpet. My heart is
now full. Out of the abundance of the love which I have for your
precious and immortal souls, my mouth now speaketh. Why should
I despair of any? No, I can despair of no one, when I consider
Jesus Christ has had mercy on such a wretch as I am. However you
may think of yourselves, I know that, by nature, I am but half a
devil, and half a beast. The free grace of Christ prevented me.
He saw me in my blood; He passed by; and said unto me, '_Live!_'
And the same grace, which was sufficient for me, is sufficient
for you also. Come, then, my guilty brethren, come and believe
on the Lord who brought you with His precious blood. Look up by
faith, and see Him whom you have pierced. Behold Him bleeding,
panting, dying. Behold Him with arms stretched out ready to
receive you all."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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