The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 2 (of 2) — John Shaqi
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
“As for my _missives_, if ‘The Associate Presbytery’ will be
pleased to print them, the world will see that they had no
reason to expect I would act in any other manner than I have
done.
“What that part of my _experience_ is that savours of the
grossest _enthusiasm_, I know not. It is not specified; but
this one thing I know, when I conversed with them, they were
satisfied with the account I then gave of my experience, and
also of the validity of my mission. Only, when they found I
would preach the gospel promiscuously to _all_, and _for every
minister_ that would invite me, and not adhere only to them,
one of them said, ‘That they were satisfied with all the other
accounts which I gave of myself, except of my call to Scotland
at that time.’ They would have been glad of my help, and would
have received me as a minister of Jesus Christ, had I consented
to preach only at the invitation of them and their people. I
thought their foundation was too narrow for any high house to
be built upon. When I was last in Scotland, I declared freely,
(and I am more and more convinced of it since,) that they were
building a Babel.
“At the same time, they knew very well, I was far from being
against all church government. How can any church subsist
without it? I only urged, as I do now, that, since holy men
differ so much about the form, we should bear with one another,
though, in this respect, we are not of one mind. I have often
declared, in the most public manner, that I believe the Church
of Scotland to be the best constituted National Church in the
world; but, then, I would bear and converse with all others,
who do not err in fundamentals, and who give evidence that they
are true lovers of the Lord Jesus. This is what I mean by a
_catholic spirit_.
“You know how strongly I assert all the doctrines of grace as
contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and in the
doctrinal Articles of the Church of England. I trust, I shall
adhere to these as long as I live; because I verily believe they
are the truths of God, and because I have felt the power of them
in my heart.
“I am only concerned that good men should be guilty of such
misrepresentations; but this teaches me, more and more, to
exercise compassion towards all the children of God, and to be
more jealous over my own heart, knowing what a fallible creature
I am. I acknowledge that I am a poor blind sinner, liable to
err; and I would be obliged to an enemy, much more to so dear
a friend as you are, to point out to me my mistakes, as to my
practice, or as to unguarded expressions in my preaching or
writing.
“I am just about to print a further account of the Orphan House
in Georgia; and, having many other affairs of importance before
me, can only now entreat the continuance of your prayers, and
beg to subscribe myself,
“Yours, etc.,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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