The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 2 (of 2)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 2 (of 2)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770
“In what does Mr. Whitefield’s fervour turn? Is it not upon
getting money and popular applause, by perpetually roaring
out _hell-flames, fire and brimstone, incarnate devils, and
damnation_? Some are frightened out of their senses; others fall
into convulsions and epileptic fits; and others scream and roar
with hideous voices. These are, according to him, the _fruits of
the Spirit_, and _gales_ from the _Holy Ghost_.”
Gilbert Tennent, the friend of Whitefield, is similarly abused.
“In the pulpit, Gilbert Tennent is an awkward and ridiculous ape
of Whitefield, for his appearance is very clownish. His great
business, in his sermons, is either to puzzle or to frighten his
hearers, but especially the latter, which he does by roaring and
bellowing _damnation_, _devils_, and all the _dreadful words_ he
can think of. He is followed by all sorts of people, as much as
Whitefield was, and, by many, is ♦preferred to him.”
Of the Presbyterian helpers, employed by Whitefield and Tennent in New
England, the “Gentleman” remarks:――
“There is a creature here whom, perhaps, you never heard of
before. It is called an _Exhorter_. It is of both sexes, but
generally of the male, and young. Its distinguishing qualities
are _ignorance_, _impudence_, _zeal_. Numbers of these exhorters
are among the people here. They go from town to town; creep
into houses; lead captive silly women; and then the men. Such
of them as have good voices do _great execution_. They move
their hearers, and make them cry, faint, swoon, and fall into
convulsions.”
The _converts_ of Whitefield and Tennent are thus described:――
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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