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
“Satan rallied his forces at Rotherham;[278] but I preached
twice, on the Friday evening and Saturday morning. The crier
was employed to give notice of a bear-baiting. Your ladyship
may guess who was the _bear_. About seven in the morning, the
drum was heard, and several watermen attended it with great
staves. The constable was struck, and two of the mobbers were
apprehended, but were rescued afterwards. I preached on these
words, ‘Fear not, little flock.’ They were both fed and feasted.
After a short stay, I left Rotherham, when I knew it was become
more pacific.[279]
“In the evening, I preached at Sheffield, where the people
received the word gladly. A great alteration was discernible
in their looks, since I was there last.[280] On Sunday, great
multitudes attended, and, in the evening, many went away, who
could not get near enough to hear. On Monday, we had a parting
blessing; and, in the evening, the Lord Jesus fed us plentifully,
with the bread that cometh down from heaven, at Barley Hall.
“Last night, I preached in Leeds, to many, many thousands; and
this morning also, at five o’clock. Methinks, I am now got into
another climate. It must be a warm one, where there are so many
of God’s people. Our Pentecost is to be kept at Mr. Grimshaw’s.
I have seen him and Mr. Ingham.”
Concerning the “Pentecost” kept at Haworth, on Sunday, June 3rd, no
record has been preserved, except a mere notice, which will be found
in a subsequent letter. The reader must imagine the great preacher,
standing on his temporary scaffold, by the side of Grimshaw’s church,
with thousands upon thousands listening to his impassioned eloquence,
and the surrounding hills and dales echoing with his unequalled voice.
Leaving Haworth, Whitefield proceeded to Manchester, where he wrote, as
follows, to Lady Gertrude Hotham, daughter of the Earl of Chesterfield,
and wife of Sir Charles Hotham, Bart:――
“MANCHESTER, _June 8, 1750_.
“HONOURED MADAM,――Thousands and thousands, for some time past,
have flocked to hear the word twice every day, and the power
of God has attended it in a glorious manner. I left good Lady
Huntingdon, some time ago, weak in body, but strong in the grace
which is in Christ Jesus. The good people of Ashby were so kind
as to mob round her ladyship’s door, whilst the gospel was being
preached. Alas! how great and irreconcilable is the enmity of
the serpent! This is my comfort――the seed of the woman shall be
more than conqueror over all. I hope your ladyship, every day,
experiences more and more of this conquest in your heart. This
is the Christian’s daily employ and daily triumph――to die to
self and sin, and to rise more and more into the image of the
blessed Jesus. As it is our duty, so it is our unspeakable
privilege.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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