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
"The very idea of what we are to be in glory transports me.
There, there, we shall see the blessed Jesus, whom our souls
have so eagerly thirsted after in this life, surrounded with
glory, and attended with myriads of His holy angels, who will
rejoice at our safe arrival to their holy mansions, and with
repeated echoes will welcome us to heaven. There, there,
we shall not only see, but live with Him, not for a day, a
month, a year, an age, but to all eternity. And who can tell
the pleasure, comfort, peace, joy, delight, and transport a
glorified saint will feel in the possession of his wished-for,
longed-for, ever adorable, ever gracious, blessed, beloved
triune God, and that for ever? Surely the happiness will be so
great, that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither can the
heart of man conceive the thousandth part thereof."
For a few weeks Whitefield devoted himself to the work of
endeavouring to benefit the prisoners in Oxford gaol; and then wrote
as follows:--
"I began to be more than content in my present state of life,
and had thoughts of abiding at the University, at least for some
years, to finish my studies, and do what good I could amongst
the poor despised Methodists. But, by a series of unforeseen,
unexpected, and unsought-for providences, I was called from
my beloved retirement to take a journey to the Metropolis.
Whilst I was an undergraduate, I was very intimate with one
Mr. Broughton,[63] a professed Methodist, who had lately taken
orders, and was curate at the Tower of London. With him, when
absent, I frequently corresponded; and, when present, we took
sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God as
friends. Being called down into Hampshire, he wrote me to be
of good courage, and bid me hasten to town to officiate in his
absence. Accordingly, on Wednesday, August 4th, (the prisoners
being provided for by the coming of Mr. Hervey,[64] another
young worthy Methodist, who had lately taken Deacon's Orders,)
with fear and trembling, I obeyed the summons, and went in
the stage coach to London. There being no other passenger, I
employed myself a good part of the way in earnest supplication
to the God of all grace to be my guide and comforter. In the
evening, I reached the Tower, and was kindly received by my dear
friend. The remainder of the week was spent in visiting Sir
John Philips, etc., who were too glad to see me. But God sent
me something to ballast it; for, as I passed along the streets,
many came out of their shops to see so young a person in a gown
and cassock; and one cried out, 'There's a boy parson;' which
served to mortify my pride, and put me also upon turning the
apostolical exhortation into prayer, 'Let no man despise thy
youth.'"[65]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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