The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 2 (of 2)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
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The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 2 (of 2)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770
“MY VERY DEAR, DEAR BROTHER,――I have good news from Georgia,
and from my new plantation in South Carolina. Many negroes are
brought under conviction. We saw great things in New England.
The flocking, and the power that attended the word, were like
what we witnessed seven years ago. Weak as I was, I travelled
eleven hundred miles, and preached daily. I am now going to
Georgia, to settle all my affairs, and get ready to embark
for England. My dear yoke-fellow is gone forwards. I find no
inclination to settle. I am determined to die fighting. I am
here travelling through a wilderness, but, I trust, leaning on
my Beloved. Jesus is my rock, my stay, my God, my all. Various
are the scenes I pass through; and various are the comforts and
supports with which I meet. Sometimes, the Lord feeds me as it
were by the ravens; and He daily teaches me that man’s extremity
is His opportunity, to help and succour.”[181]
On the same day, Whitefield wrote letters to John and Charles Wesley.
To the former, he says:――
“DEAR AND REVEREND SIR,――Not long ago, I received your kind
letter, dated in February last. Your others, I believe, came to
hand, and I hope ere now you have received my answer. My heart
is really for an outward, as well as inward union. Nothing shall
be wanting on my part to bring it about; but I cannot see how
it can be effected, till we all think and speak the same things.
I rejoice to hear, that you and your brother are more moderate
with respect to _sinless perfection_. As for _universal
redemption_, if we omit on each side the talking for or against
_reprobation_, which we may do fairly, and agree, as we already
do, in giving a universal offer to all poor sinners that will
come and taste the water of life, I think we may manage very
well. But it is difficult to manage such matters at a distance.
Some time next year, I hope to see you face to face.”
So much concerning the amalgamation of their respective Societies.
In reference to the battle of Culloden, and Whitefield’s Thanksgiving
Sermon, on “Britain’s Mercies and Britain’s Duty,” he proceeds to
say:――
“I rejoice to find that the Rebellion has been over-ruled
for the awakening of many souls. Our Lord generally builds
His temple in troublesome times. I cannot, upon the maturest
deliberation, charge myself with a design to flatter in my
sermon upon that occasion.[182] You know my attachment to the
present Establishment. Out of the fulness of my heart, my pen
wrote.”
Passing to his Orphan-house affairs, Whitefield continues:――
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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