From His Embarking for America, 1744, to His Going to the Bermudas, 1748
In the beginning of August 1744, as soon as the convoy came,* Mr. Whitefield embarked, though in a poor state of health; and after a tedious passage of eleven weeks! arrived at York in New England. Colonel Pepperell went with some friends in his own boat, to invite him to his house; but he declined the invitation, being so ill of a nervous cholic, that he was obliged immediately after his arrival to go to bed. His friends expressed much anxiety on his behalf An eminent physician attended him, who had been a deist, but was awakened the last time he was in New England. For some time he was, indeed very weak: “yet,” he writes,” in these three weeks, I was enabled to preach: but, imprudently going over the feriy to Portsmouth, I caught cold, immediately relapsed, and was taken, as every one thought, with death, in the house of my dear friend Mr, Sherburne. What concerned me was, that notice had been given of my coming to preach. While the
* “August 4. Our convoy is now come. I desire you all to bless God for what he is doing in these parts; for preaching in the Dock is now like preaching at the Tabernacle. Our morning lectures are very delightful. Oh the thousands that flock to the preaching of Christ’s gospel!”
“P. S. I must tell you one thing more. There is a feny over to Plymouth. The ferry-men are now so much my friends, that they will take multitudes that come to hear me preach; saying, ‘God forbid that we should sell the word of God.’
t His letter to the clergy of the Diocese of Litchfield and Coventry is dated during this voyage.
doctor was preparing a medicine, feeling my pains abated, I on a sudden cried, ‘Doctor, my pains are suspended: by the help of God, I will go and preach, and then come home and die.’ In my own apprehension, and in all appearance to others, I was a dying man. I preached, the people heard me as such. The invisible realities of another world lay open to my view. Expecting to stretch into eternity, and to be with my Master before the morning, I spoke with peculiar energy. Such effects followed the word, I thought it was worth dying for a thousand times. Though wonderfully comforted within, at my return home I thought I was dying indeed. I was laid on a bed upon the ground, near the fire, and I heard my friends say. ‘He is gone.’ But God was pleased to order it otherwise. I gradually recovered; and soon after, a poor negro woman would see me. She came, sat down upon the ground, and looked earnestly in my face, and then said, in broken language, ‘Master, you just go to heaven’s gate, but Jesus Christ said, Get you down, you must not come here yet, but go first and call some more poor negroes.’ I prayed to the Lord, that if I was to live, this might be the event.
“In about three weeks I was enabled, though in great weakness, to reach Boston; and, every day, was more and more confirmed in what I had heard about a glorious work that had been begun and carried on there, and in almost all parts of New England, for two years together. Before my last embarkation from Georgia, Mr. Colman and Mr. Cooper wrote me word, that upon Mr. Tennent’s going out as an itinerant, the awakening greatly increased in various places,* till, at length, the work so advanced every where, that many thought the latter day glory was indeed come, and that a nation was to be born in a day. But, as the same smi that lightens and warms the earth, gives life to noxious insects, so the same work, that for a while carried all before it, was sadly blemished, through the subtlety of Satan,t and the want of more experience in ministers and people, who had never seen such a scene before. Opposers, who waited for such an occasion, did all they could to aggravate every thing. One rode several hundred miles, to pick up all the accounts he could hear of what was wrong in what he called only ‘a religious stir.’ And God having been pleased to send me first, all was laid upon me. Testimonies signed by various ministers came out against me.t almost every day. And the disorders were also at the highest; so that for
* See Prince’s Christian Historj’, Vol. II. page 304, where are attestations of above a hundred and twenty ministers to the goodness of the work. t Thus it was at the reformation in Germany. t He wrote an answer to a testimony by Harvard College.
a while my situation was rendered uncomfortable.* But amidst all this smoke, a blessed fire broke out. The awakened souls were as eager as ever to hear the word.t Having heard that I had expounded early in Scotland, they begged I would do the same in Boston. I complied, and opened a lecture at six in the morning. I seldom preached to less than two thousand. It was delightful to see so many of both sexes, neatly dressed, flocking to hear the word, and returning home to family prayer and breakfast before the opposers were out of their beds. So that it was commonly said, that between early rising and tar water the physicians would have no business.” It was now spring, 1745, and at that time the first expedition was set on foot against Cape Breton. Colonel Pepperell, who was then at Boston, and constantly attended Mr. Whitefield’s lecture, was pleased, the day before he accepted a commission to be general in that expedition, to ask Mr. Whitefield’s opinion of the matter. He told him, with his usual frankness,” That
* While some published testimonials against Mr. Whitefield, others published testimonials in his favor; as Mr. Hcjbby, Mr. Loring, fifteen ministers convened at Taimton, March 5, 1745. The following paragraph is in Prince’s Christian History, No. XCIV:
“Saturday, November 24, 1744, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield was so far revived as to be able to set out from Portsmouth to Boston, whither he came in a very feeble state the Monday evening after; since which, he has been able to preach in several of our largest houses of public worship, particularly the Rev. Dr. Coleman’s, Dr. Sewall’s, Mr. Webb’s, and Mr. Gee’s, to crowded assemblies of people, and with great and growing acceptance. At Dr. Colman’s desire, and with the consent of the church, on the Lord’s day after his arrival he atlministered to them the holy communion. And last Lord’s day he preached for Mr. Cheever of Chelsea, and administered the holy supper there. The next day he preached for the Rev. Mr. Emerson of Maiden. Yesterday he set out to preach in some towns north, and purposes to return hither the next Wednesday evening, and after a few days to comply with the earnest invitations of several ministers to go and preach to their congregations in the southern parts of the province. He comes with the same extraordinary spirit of meekness, sweetness, and universal benevolence, as before. In opposition to the spirit of separation and bigotry, he is still for holding communion with all Protestant churches. In opposition to enthusiasm, he preaches a close adherence to the scriptures, the necessity of trying all impressions by them, and of rejecting whatever is not agreeable to them, as delusions. In opposition to Antinomianism, he preaches up all kinds of relative and religious duties, though to be performed in the strength of Christ; and, in short, the doctrines of the Church of England, and of the first fathers of this country. As before, he first applies himself to the understandings of his hearers, and then to the affections. And the more he preaches, the more he convinces people of their mistakes about him, and increases their satisfaction.”
t “A man of good parts, ready wit, and lively imagination, who had made it his business, in order to furnish matter for preaching over a bottle, to come iind hear, and then carry away scraps of my sermons, having one night got sufficient matter to work upon, as he thought, attempted to go out; but bemg pent in on every side, he found his endeavors fruitless. Obliged thus to stay, and looking up to me, waiting for some fresh matter for ridicule, God was pleased to prick him to the heart. He came to Mr. P. full of horror, confessed his crimes, and longed to ask pardon.”
WHITEFIELD PREACHING TO SOLDIERS.
“As many as were in debt came to David, and ha became a captain over them.” r., ]()5 he did not. indeed, think the scheme proposed for taking Louishmgh very promising; that the eyes of all would be upon him. If he did not succeed, the widows and orphans of the slain soldiers would be like lions robbed of their whelps; but if it pleased God to give him success, envy would endeavor to eclipse his glory; he had need, therefore, if he went, to go with a single eye; and then there was no doubt, but if Providence really called him, he would find his strength proportioned to the day.” About the same time, Mr. Sherburne, another of Mr. WTiitefield’s friends, being appointed one of the commissioners, told him, “He must favor the expedition, otherwise the serious people would be discouraged from enlisting; not only so, but insisted he should give him a motto for his flag, for the encouragement of the soldiers.” This he refused to” do, as it would be actuig out of character. But JMi*. Sherburne would take no denial. He therefore, at last, gave them one, AHl desperandum, Christo Duce. “If Christ be captain, no fear of a defeat.” Upon which great numbers enlisted. And before their embarkation, the officers desired him to give them a sermon. This he readily complied with, and preached from these words: “As many as were in debt, came to David, and he became a captain over them.” He spiritualized the subject, and told them, how distressed sinners came to Jesus Christ the son of David; and in his application, exhorted the soldiers to behave like the soldiers of David, and the officers to act like David’s worthies; then he made no manner of doubt, there woidd be good news from Cape Breton. After this he preached to the general himself, who asked him if he would not be one of his chaplains. But he excused himself, and said, “He should think it an honor, but believed, as he generally preached three times a day, in various places, to large congregations, he could do more service by stirring up the people to pray, and thereby strengthening his and his soldiers’ hands.” And in this practice he persisted during the siege of Louisburgh. “I believe (adds he) if ever people went with a disinterested view, the New Englanders did then. Though many of them were raw and undTsciplined, yet mmibers were substantial persons, who left their farms, and willingly ventured all for their country’s good. An amazuig scene of providences appeared, and though some discouraging accounts were sent during the latter end of the siege, yet in about six weeks news came of the surrender of Louisburgh. Numbers flocked from all quarters to hear a thanksgiving sermon upon the occasion. And I trust the blessing bestowed on the country through the thanksgivings of many, redounded to the glory of God.”
The New England people had, some time ago, oflered to build him a large house to preach in; but as this scheme might have abridged his liberty of itinerating, he thanked them for their kind oifer, and at the same time begged leave to refuse the acceptance of it. As his bodily strength increased, and his health grew* better, he began to move farther southward; and, after preaching eastward as far as Casco Bay and North Yarmouth, he went through Connecticut, Plymouth, Rhode Island, preaching to thousands, generally twice a day.” And though (says he) there was much smoke, yet every day I had more and more convincing proof, that a blessed gospel fire had been kindled in the hearts both of ministers and people. At New York, where I preached as usual, I found that the seed sown had sprung up abundantly; and at the east end of Long Island I saw many instances. In my way to Philadelphia, 1 had the pleasure of preaching, by an interpreter, to some converted Indians, and of seeing near fifty young ones in one school, near Freehold, learning the Assembly’s catechism. A blessed awakening had been begun and carried on among the Delaware Indians, by the instrumentality of David Brainerd,* such as has not been heard of since the awakening of New England by the venerable Mr. Elliot, who used to be styled the apostle of the Indians; his brother followed him. Mr. William Tennent, whose party I found much upon the advance, seemed to encourage his endeavors with all his heart.
“His brother, Mr. Gilbert Tennent, being early solicited thereto, I found settled in the place formerly erected at the beginning of the awakening. The gentleman offered me eight hundred pounds a year, only to preach among them six months, and to travel the other six months where I would. Nothing remarkable happened during my way southward. But when I came to Virginia, I found that the word of the Lord had run and was glorified. During my preaching at Glasgow, some persons wrote some of my extempore sermons, and printed them almost as fast as I preached them. Some of these were carried to Virginia, and one of them fell into the hands of Samuel Morris. He read and found benefit. He then read them to others; they were awakened and convinced. A fii”e was kindled; opposition was made; other laborers were sent for; and
* It is a circumstance -worthy of note, that about the same period that the great Head of the church was preparing Messrs. Whitcfield, Wesleys, and others, in England, to stem the torrent of infidelity, and propagate divine truth, he manifested the same care and concern for the inhabitants of the new world, in raising up that burning and shining light, Dr. Jonathan Edwards, to disseminate the seed of eternal life in that barren soil.
In the year 1729, the spirit was poured out from on high, and the divine glory began to shine upon the land; but in the year 1733, there was a very remarkable revival of tnc work of God, in New England, and great numbers of sovils were savingly converted unto God.
many, both white people and negroes, were converted to the Lord.
“III North Carolina, where I stayed too short a time, little was done. At Georgia, through the badness of the institution, and the Trustees’ obstinacy in not altering it, my load of debt and care was greatly increased, and at times almost overwhelmed me. But I had the pleasure of seeing one, who came as a player from New Yorlv, now converted unto God, and a preacher of Josus Christ. One Mr. Ratteray brought me ten pounds; and, at my return noithward, fresh supplies were raised up. The generous Charleston people raised a subscription of three hundred pounds, with which I bought land, it being cheap during the war; and a plantation and a few negroes were purchased at Indian-land. Thus, for a while, the gap was stopped. I preached a sermon upon the rebelUon; was very sick at Philadelphia; kindly received at Bohemia and at New York,”
As itinerating was Iiis delight, and America, being a new world, particularly pleasing, he now began to think of returning no more to his native country. But traveling, care, and a load of debt, contracted not for himself but for the Orphan house, weighed him down.
In his letters during this period, are the following passages:
“August 20, 1746. The door for my usefulness, opens wider and wider. I love to range in the American woods, and sometimes think I shall never return to England any more.”
“October 8. I have had some sweet times with several of the Lutheran ministers at Philadelphia.”
“Jmie 1, 1747. The congregations yesterday were exceedingly large. I am sick and v/efl, as I usM to be in England; but the Redeemer fills me with comfort. I am determined, in his strength to die fighting.”
“June 4. I have omitted preaching one night to oblige my friends, that they may not charge me with murdering myself; but I hope yet to die in the pulpit, or soon after I come out of it.”
“June 23. Since my last, I have been several times on the verge of eternity. At present I am so weak thai I cannot preach. It is hard work to be silent, but I must be tried every way.”
“September 11. We saw great things in New England. The flocking and power that attended the word, was like unto that seven years ago. Weak as I was, and have been, I was enabled to travel eleven hundred miles, and preach daily,”
About this time, being much troubled with stitches in his side, he was advised to go to the Bermudas, for the recovery of his health. He accordingly embarked, and landed there March 15, 1748,