Appendix

The following extract of a letter appeared in the Georgia Gazette, soon after Mr. Whitefield’s death: “The consideration of public calamities is never out of season; and if properly attended to, as they ought to be, will afford matter of great improvement to the mind, that views them as happening by the permission of an unerring divine Providence. And as the loss of eminent and public spirited persons, who have signally distinguished themselves by serving their country in a free, disinterested, and generous manner, is none of the least, so it deserveth a particular regard.

“In this light, I look upon the very much lamented death of the late Rev. George Whitefield, especially in respect to Georgia; for which he has demonstrated, by every means in his power, a most uncommonly warm, affectionate, and unabating regard, for near thirty-three years past; I say, by every means in his power, because it is well known that, until within a few years past, he has been constantly loaded with a heavy debt to support and carry on his benevolent institution, the Orphan-house, which he frequently felt so severely, that had not that God, whom he faithfully served, supported him, he must have sunk under the burden: notwithstanding he was at the same time maligned, traduced, and persecuted with unrelenting virulence, as a cheat, an impostor, and a public robber, who, under the specious pretence of promoting a charitable design, was amassing great wealth to himself; all which he bore with an unconmion degree of patience; and never to my knowledge said more, at these unmerited reproaches, than that the great day would show his accusers their mistake.

“When he was the stated minister of this parish, which was before the Orphan-house was settled, his liberal heart devised liberal things; and the then inhabitants of Savannah, of the villages of “Highgate and Hampstead, and of the other adjacent places; the Saltzburghers of Ebenezer, the inhabitants of Darien and Frederica, who were at that time not inconsiderable in number, all partook of his unbounded bounty to a very large amount; although he then almost denied himself the necessaries of life, with which I was intimately acquainted. In short, it was his whole study, in imitation of his great Master, to do good to the bodies, as well as to the souls, of all about him.

“He constantly performed divine service publicly very early every morning, and at the close of the day every evening, throughout the year, that he might not interrupt the new colonists in their labor in the day time, when he always expounded part of the first or second lesson. Every Sunday he administered the holy communion, and had public service four times, and his congregations were very numerous, in comparison of the number of people in his parish; for though there were many dissenters, there were few absentees; besides, he made it his daily practice to visit in rotation from house to house, without any regard to religious denominations, or party distinctions, which he often told me, he thought a very important and indispensable part of a minister’s duty, as by that means he had an opportunity of frequently dropping a word in season, as well as of being better acquainted with the spiritual and temporal circumstances of his parishioners; and thereby, as far as in his power, of assisting them in both. Thus he acted as a parish minister, considering himself as the steward of God, and accountable for every moment of time, which he had solemnly dedicated to his service. And it is no wonder, when, by a series of divine providences, his sphere of action became more enlarged and unconfined, that his zeal and activity were proportioned.

“These facts, of which there are some now living, besides myself, who can witness to the truth of them, I think it my honor and indispensable duty to communicate to the public, in memory of my very dear deceased friend.

“I could with great truth say much more, but I purposely confine my observations to his conduct in- Georgia, where his memory appears to be deeply engraven on the hearts of its grateful inhabitants.

“The very honorable and truly respectful notice the legislature have publicly shown to it, by causing the parish church in this town to be so decently and handsomely hung in mourning, and their attending as a body last Sunday on divine service, strongly mark their real concern for their loss. The rector, the Rev. Samuel Frink, gave a very suitable discourse in the morning, from Philippians i. 23, 24; and the Rev. Edward Ellington, another in the afternoon, from Hebrews ii. 26. Both of them afiectionately remarked the many amiable qualifications of the deceased, as a christian, a divine, and a gentleman; and especially his hberality to this province; as likewise did the Rev. Mr, Zubly, in his meeting, which was also in mourning, from Daniel xii, 3.

“An old and real friend to the deceased,
and to Georgia.^’

The following extract of a letter was published in the Gospel Magazine, for February, 1771:

“My very dear Sir,

“A great man is fallen in our Israel — the Rev. Mr. Whitefield is no more! he has left his charge, his flock, and gone to mansions of blessedness.

“I may safely say, a great man, a great christian, a humble follower of the divine Redeemer, and a zealous defender of the doctrines of grace died, when AYhitefield closed his eyes. That voice which was lifted up like a trumpet, and hew around the sacred roof, proclaiming salvation through the dyintr Jesus, teaching a sinful world the Savior’s name, is now lost in perpetual silence! That man, whose labors in the cause of God, have been so abundant, has ceased from his work. That eminent minister of the New Testament, that son of thunder to the careless and secure, that cheering son of consolation to the weary and heavy laden, who has been distinguished as the happy instrument of bringing strayed sheep to the fold of God, is gone to experience the truth of his doctrine; and will one day appear, with all those who have been savingly brought to the knowledge of Jesus by his means, at the right hand of God, to give an account of the ministry he received from, him; and in the presence of a surrounding world, say, ‘Lord, here am I, and the children thou hast given me.’

“It is an aiilictive, awful, and alarming providence to the church of God. A great light extinguished, a bright star set, and a numerous people deprived of their pastor. Who shall supply his place? Who shall, with that pathetic language, strength of argument, and force of persuasion, compel sinners to partake of the gospel feast? Who shall animate our associations, and ditfuse a spirit of candor) charity, and moderation, throughout our assemblies? Who shall declare the glories, the riches, the freeness, the fulness of that complete salvation which Messiah finished? Who shall exhort, by precept and example, to that steady, uniform, constant character, which adorns the profession of the gospel? Who shall recommend a life of fellowship and communion with the Father, Son, and Spirit, as the most desirable blessing, and build up the saints in their most holy faith? Who shall! — I am stopped by the mouth of him who says, ‘Shall I not do what I will with my own? Is it not my prerogative to take and leave as seemelli me good.^ I demand the liberty of disposing my servants at my own pleasure — he has not slept as others do — it is your’s to wait and trust, mine to dispose and govern — on me be the care of ministers and churches — with me is the residue of the spirit — I set my laborers to work, and when I please, I take them to the rest I ?iave appointed for them — my power is not diminished, my arm not shortened, my love not abated, and my faithfulness still the same — I know my sheep, and they shall not stray into forbidden pastures, for want of a shepherd to feed them with knowledoe and undcrstandino.’

“With these thoughts my passions subside, my mind is softened and satisfied. But now for the wings of faith and divine contemplation, to view him among the celestial throng, partaking of the happiness, sharing the joys of yonder blissful regions — ascribing salvation to him who loved and washed him in his blood — having on that perfect robe of immaculate righteousness, wrought out by the dear Redeemer — having on his head a crown of never fading glory, and palms of eternal victory in his hands — drinking at the fountain head of blessedness, and refreshing Piimsclf continually at that river which flows in sweet murmurs from the right hand of the Majesty on high — forever out of the reach of scandal and reproach — where calumny can never penetrate, and the wicked cease from troubling — where God, even his own God, wipes away all tears from his eyes — where he will for ever bask in the boundless fruition of eternal love, continually receiving out of the divine fulness, fresh supplies of glory for glory, from which on earth, he had communication of grace for grace — sees the King in his beauty, rejoices in the beatific vision, follows the Lamb wheresoever he goes — and with those who are redeemed from among men, rests in the closest embraces of his Lord.

‘And now his voice is lost in death,

Praise will employ his noblest pow’rs,
While life, or thought, or being last,

Or immortality endures!’

“Here we must take our leave of the dear departed saint, till the happy time takes place, when we shall put off this body, and enter the confines of unmolested joy. And O! in what elevation of happiness, and refinement of felicity, shall we awake up in the likeness and express image of that God, who has loved us, and called us with a holy calling. Yet let us be persuaded of this, that when the important period commences, when the surprising signs, and descending inhabitants of heaven proclaim the second coming of our glorious Immanuel — when the hcavtuis open and disclose his radiant glory, the archangel’s trump shall sound, the Lord himself descend with a shout, and thf>, dead in Christ arise glorious and immortal — leave corruption, weakness, and dishonor behind them — we shall with him, and all the ransomed race, ascend to mansions of glory, bliss, and immortality, and join that universal chorus:

‘Say, live forever, glorious King!

Born to redeem, and sirong to save:
Then ask the monster, where’s thy sting 1

And where’s thy victory boasting grave V

“But my dear sir, this awful dispensation demands a suitable improvement. The death of ministers, and mankind in general, are so many mementos; be ye also ready, is their solemn language. Come then, O my soul, examine with impartiality thy state. Nothing but an interest in the perfectly finished, infinitely glorious, and everlastingly sufiicient, salvation of Jehovah Jesus, can be of any avail, can be any real ground of consolation, when the grim tyrant stares thee in the face. May thy evidence be clear, thy faith strong, and thy hope on tiptoe; that when the bridegroom comes, and summons thy attendance, thou mayest with joy answer. Lord, I come.

“Should not the death of one and another of God’s people, give fresh wings to our souls, make life less pleasant, and heaven more desirable; wean our affections from the beggarly enjoyments of time and sense, and make us long to dwell where Jesus reveals his beauties, glories, and matchless excellence, face to face? Here on earth we have some faint glimmerings, and O! how ought we to prize them, as they are drops from the ocean! but the ravishing blaze is reserved for the upper and better world.

‘O glorious hour, O bless’d abode!
I shall be near, and like my God;
And flesh and sense no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.’

“Though our interviews in the church militant are very sweet, yet they are very short. The world’s ten thousand baits, the devil’s ensnaring wiles, but above all, the flesh with its legions of corruptions, enslave the soul, and deaden our relish for divine things. O happy day! O blessed hour! when Christ shall have all enemies under his feet, and death itself be swallowed up of life; when we shall get within the enclosures of the New Jerusalem, and go out no more for ever!

“If faithful ministers are so soon removed from us, how should we prize them while we have them! O let us never give ear to, much less ])e the means of promoting the malevolent whispers of slander; but esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake! Should it not be our constant care, and studious concern, through divine grace, to improve by every sermon we hear, that the end of all ordinances may be obtained, even an increase in love to Jesus, and fellowship with him? That this desirable end may be answered, let us be earnest and frequent in our address to the throne of grace, for ministers and people, that God may be glorified by bringing home sinners to himself, and in the edification of saints; that each stone in the spiritual fabric may be edified and built up upon the foundation, Christ Jesus, till the top-stone is brought forth with shoutings, grace, grace, unto it!

“The clock strikes twelve, and tells me to conclude. But how can I do it, without commending you to that God, whose power alone is able to keep you from falling, and at last present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy? May he give you continual assurances of his grace, mercy and love, in his lower courts, thereby making them a heaven upon earth; and cause you at last to join the general assembly and church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven. This is the hearty, unfeigned, and constant prayer of him, who is with great esteem and affection,

“Your’s sincerely.”

The following is the substance of a letter addressed to the Rev. William Jay, of Bath, by the late venerable Cornelius Winter, minister of the gospel at Painswick in Gloucestershire. Mr. Winter was one of Whitefield’s most faithful fellow laborers; he accompanied him several times to America, and regularly supplied the chapels in Whitefield’s connection. On his first going to the Tabernacle, he was particularly struck with the largeness of the congregation; the solemnity that sat upon it; the melody of the singing; Whitefield’s striking appearance, and his earnestness in preaching. From this time prejudice had no more place in his breast; and he embraced every opportunity to hear him. Yet he had no loiowledge of the evil of sin, and the depravity of his nature. On the 9th of April, 1760, being Wednesday in Easter-week, and the close of the holiday, as he was playing at cards with some of his companions in iniquity; recollecting he might that evening hear Whitefield. he broke off in the midst of the game, which much discomposed and enraged his companions, who suspected where he was going. It was a night much to remembered.

The scales of ignorance then fell from his eyes, a sense of his misery opened gradually to him, and he diligently inqnired what he should do to be saved. He never more [tlayed a tanyj afterwards. Whitefield’s text was 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52. “The introduction to the sermon, “Come my brethren, we have from Sunday till yesterday been meditating upon the resurrection of our Lord, it is now time that we should think about our own.” “Could I recite the whole sermon,” says Mr. Winter, “and it would read acceptably, it would want the energy, viva voce, which was so very peculiar to tire preacher, that a resemblance is no where to be found. Cut it was God in the preacher that made the word efficacious; to him be the glory. It is a mercy he is not confined to the abilities of men whose talents are superior to those of their brethren. Much good was done at that time by the instrumentality of men whose gifts were very inconsiderable; and the Lord could have wrought upon my soul by an inferior preacher. It is ’ not by might, nor by power;’ which is but to say, it is not by human eloquence, but by the spirit of the Lord, that work is wrought upon the soul which is essential to salv’ation.”

“The time he set apart for preparation for the pulpit, during my connection with him, was not to be distinguished from the time he appropriated to other business. If he wanted to write a pamphlet upon any occasion, he was closeted; nor would he allow access to him. but on an emergency, while he was engaged in the work. But I never knew him engaged in the composition of a sermon until he was on board ship, when he employed himself partly in the composition of sermons, and reading very attentively the history of England, written by different authors. He had formed a design of writing the history of Methodism, but never entered upon it. He was never more in retirement on a Saturday than on another day; nor sequestered at any particular time for a longer period than he used for his ordinary devotions. I never met with any thing like the form of a skeleton of a sermon among his papers, with which I was permitted to be very familar, nor did he ever give me any idea of the importance of being habituated to the planning of a sermon. It is not injustice to his great character to say, I believe, he knew nothing about such a kind of exercise.

“Usually for an hour or two before he went into the pulpit, he claimed retirement; and on a Sabbath day morning, more particularly, he was accustomed to have Clarke’s Bible, Matthew Henry’s Comment, and Cruden’s Concordance within his reach; his frame at that time was more than ordinarily devotional. I say more than ordinarily, because, though there was a vast vein of pleasantry usually in him, the intervals of conversation evidently appeared to be filled up with private ejaculation connected with praise. Ilis rest was nuicii interrupted, and his thoug-hts were much engaged with God in the night. He has often said at the close of a very warm address, ’ this sermon I got when most of you who now hear me were fast asleep.’ He made very minute observations, and was much disposed to be conversant with life, from the lowest mechanic to the first characters in thebnd. He let nothing escape him, but turned all into gold that admitted of improvement, and. in one way or other, the occurrunce of the week or the day, furnished him with matter for the pulpit. A specimen — when an extraordinary trial was going forward, he would be present; and on observing the formality of the judge putting on his black cap to pronounce sentence, I have known him avail himself of it in the close of a sermon.*

“He had a most peculiar art of speaking personally to you, in a congregation of four thousand people, when no one would suspect his object. The famous comedian, Shuter, who had a great partiality for IVlx. Whitefield, showed him friendship, and often attended his ministry. At one period of his popularity, he was acting in a drama under the character of Ramble. During the riui of the performance, he attended service on Sabbath mornings at Tottenham court chapel, and was seated in the pew exactly opposite to the pulpit, and while JMr. Whitefield was giving full sally to his soul, and in his energetic address, was inviting sinners to the Savior, he fixed himself full against Shuter, and with his eyes upon him, adding, to what he had previously said, ’ and thou, poor rambler, vho hast long rambled from him, come you also. O end your rambhng by coming to Jesus.’ Shuter was exceedingly struck, and coming to Mr. Whitefield, said, ‘I thought I should have fainted, how could you serve me so?’ It was truly impressive to see him ascend the pulpit. My intimate knowledge of him admits of my acquitting him of the charge of aftbctation.

“Professed orators might object to his hands being lifted up too high, and it is to be lamented that in that attitude, rather than in any other, he is represented in inint His own reflections upon that print were, when it was first put into his hands, ‘Sure I do not look such a sour creature as this sets me forth; if I thought I did, I should hate m^5-elf.’ It is necessary to remark, that the attitude was very trr nsient, and always accompanied by some expressions which would justify it.

“You may be sure, from what has been said, that when he treated upon the sufferings of our Savior, it was not without

* See p. 264. great pntlios. He was very ready at tJiat kind of painting, which frequently answered the end of real scenery. As though Gethsemene were within sight, he would say, stretching out his hand — ‘Look yonder. What is that I see? It is my agonizing Lord!’ And, as though it were no difficult matter to catch the sound of the Savior praying, he would exclaim, ‘Hark! Hark! Do you not hear him .^’ You may suppose that as this occurred frequently, the efficacy of it was destroyed: but no; though we often knew what was comiiisT; it was as new to us as thou gh we had never heard it before.

“That beautiful apostrophe, used by the prophet Jeremiah, ‘O earth, earth, earth, Jiear the words of the Lord,’ was very subservient to him. and never used impertinently.

“He abounded with anecdotes, which, though not always recited verbatim, were very just as to the matter of them. One, for instance. I remember, tending to illustrate the efficacy of prayer, though I have not been able to meet with it in English history. It was the case of the London apprentices before Henry YIIL, pleading his pardon of their insurrection. The monarch, moved by their sight, and their plea, ‘Mercy! Mercy!’ cried, ‘Take them away, I cannot bear it.’ The application, you may suppose, was, that if an earthly monarch of Henry’s description, could be so moved, how forcible is the sinner’s plea in the ears of Jesus Christ. The case of two Scotchmen, in the convulsion of the state, at th? time of Charles II., subserved his design; vrho, unavoidably obliged to pass some of the troops, were coiiceiving of tlicir danger, and meditating what method was to be adopted to come off safe. One proposed the wearing of a skull-cap: the other, supposing that would imply distrust of the prolndence of God, determined to proceed bare headed. The latter, being first laid hold of, and beinsr interrogated, ‘Are you for the covenant T replied, Yes;’ and being further asked, ‘• What covenant T answered, ‘The covenant of grace;’ by which reply, eluding further inquiry, he was let pass; the other, not answering satisfactorily, received a blow with the sabre, which, penetratinsr through the cap, struck him dead. In the application. ]Mr. Whitefield. warninor against vain confidence, cried, ‘Beware of your skull-caps.’ But here likewise the description upon paper, wanting the reality, as exemplified by him with voice and motion, conveys but a very faint idea. However, it is a disadvantage which must be submitted to, especially as coming from my pen.

“The ‘difference of the times in which Mi. Whitefield made his public appearance, materially determined the matter of his sermons, and. in some measure, the manner of his address. He dealt far more in the explanatory and a doctrinal mode of preaching on a Sabbath day mornino’, than perhaps at any other time; and sometimes made a little, but by no means improper show of learning. If lie had read upon astronomy in the course of the week, you would be sure to discover it. He knew how to convert the centripetal motion of the heavenly bodies to the disposition of the christian toward Christ, and the fatal attraction of the world, would be very properly represented by a reference to the centrifugal. Whatever the world might think of him, he Iiad his charms for the learned as well as the uulearned; and as he held himself to be a debtor both to the wise and to the unwise, each received his due at such times. The peer and the peasant alike went away satisfied.

“As though he heard the voice of God ever soundino: in his ears the important admonition, ’ work while it is called to-day;’ this was his work in London at one period of his life. After administering the Lord’s supper to several hundred communicants, at half an hour after six in the morning; reading the first and second service in the desk, which tie did with the greatest propriety, and preaching full an hour, he read prayers and preached in the afternoon, previous to the evening service, at half an hour after five; and afterwards addressed a large society in public. His afternoon sermon used to be more general and exhortatory. In the evening he drew his bow at a venture, vindicated the doctrines of grace, fenced them with articles and homilies, referred to the martyrs’ zeal, and exemplified the power of divine grace in their sufferings, by quotations from the venerable Fox. Sinners were then closely plied, numbers of whom from curiosity coming to hear a sentence or two, were often compelled to hear the whole sermon. How many in the judgment day will rise to prove that they heard to the salvation of the soul.

“Perhaps Mr. Whitefield never preached greater sermons than at six in the morning, for at that hour he did preach, winter and summer, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. At these times his congregations were of the select description, and young men received admonitions similar with what were given in the society ;* and were cautioned, while they neglected the duty required from them under the bond of an indenture, not to anticipate the pleasures and advantages of future life.

* This society, consisting of several hundreds of widows, married people, young men, and spinsters, placed separately in the area of the Tabernacle, used, after sermon, to receive from Mr. Whitefield, in the colloquial style, various exhortations, comprised in short sentences, and suitable to their various stations. The practice of Christianity in all its branches, was then usually inculcated, not without some pertinent anecdote of a character worthy to be held up for an example, and in whose conduct the hints recommended were exemplified.

“His style was now colloquial, with little use of motion; pertinent expositions, with suitable remarks; and all comprehended within the hour. Christian experience principally made the subject of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening lectures; when, frequently having- funeral sermons to preach, the character and experience of the dead helped to elucidate the subject, led to press diligence in the christian course, to reflect upon the bleising of faith on earth, and glory in heaven. Mr. Whitefield adopted the custom of the inhabitants of New England in their best days, of begimiing the Sabbath at six o clock on Satu rday evenings. The custom could not be observed by many, but it was convenient to a few; a few compared with the multitudes, but abstractedly considered, a large and respectable company. Now ministers of every description found a peculiar pleasure in relaxing their minds from the fatigues of study, and were highly entertained by his peculiarly excellent subjects, which were so suitable to the auditory, that I believe it was seldom disajipointed. It was an opportunity peculiarly suited to apprentices and jcurneymen in some businesses, which allowed of their leaving work sooner than on other days, and availing themselves at least of the sermon; from which I also occasionally obtained many blessings. Had my memory been retentive, and I had studiously treasured up his rich remarks, how much more easily might I have met your wishes, and have answered the design of this letter! But though I have lost much of the letter of his sermons, the savor of them yet remains. The peculiar talents he possessed, subservient to great usefulness, can be but faintly guessed from his sermons in print; though, as formerly, God has made the reading of them useful, I have no doubt but in future they will have their use. The eighteen taken in short hand, and faithfully transcribed by Mr. “Gurney, have been supposed to do discredit to his memory, and therefore they were suppressed. But they who have been accustomed to hear him, may collect from them much of his genuine preaching. They were far from being the best specimens that might have been produced. He preached many of them, when, in fact, he was almost incapable of preaching at all. His constitution, long before they were taken, had received its material shock, and they were all, except the two last, the production of a Wednesday evening; when by the current business of the day, he was fatigued and worn out. The ‘Good Shepherd’ was sent him on board the ship. He was much disgusted with it, and expressed himself to me as in the 1440tii letter of the third volume of his works; ‘It is not v^Tbatim as I delivered it. In some places it makes me speak false concord, and even nonsense; in others the sense and connection is destroyed by the injudicious disjointed paragraphs, and the whole is entirely unfit for the public review.’ His manuscript journal notes; ‘September 15. This mornino came a surrejftitious copy of my Tabernacle farewell sen.ion, taken, as the sjiort hand writer professes, verbatim as I spoke it; but surely he is mistaken. The whole is so injudiciously paragraphed, and so wretchedly connected, that I owe no thanks to the misguided, though it may be well meant zeal of the writer and publisher, be they whom they will. But such conduct is an unavoidable tax upon popularity.’ He was then like an ascending Elijah, and many were eager to catch his dropping mantle.” In the sermons referred to, there are certainly many jewels, though they may not be connected in a proper order.

“Whatever fault criticism may find with his sermons from the press, they were, in the delivery, powerful to command the most devoted attention. I have been informed by good judges, that if many of the speeches in our two houses were to be given in dieir original state, they would not appear to the first advantage, nor would Mr. Whitefield’s sermons have had criminal defects, had they been revised with his own pen. In the fifth and sixth volumes of his works, all the sermons he ever print -d are comprised. It is very easy to distinguish them which were pre-composed, from others which were preached extemporary. Of the latter, I notice Peter’s denial of his Lord, and the true way of beholding the Lamb of God; Abraham ofiering up his son Isaac; Christ the believer’s husband, and the resurrection of Lazarus. These and others preserve the extemporary style, and fully serve to discover the exactness of the preacher. He shines brightest with a long text, on which fancy has scope to play, and the mind has liberty to range. However exact he may appear in the page, it is impossible for the natural man, who discerneth not the things of the spirit, to understand him. God may make the page printed, the instrument in his hand to convert the sinner, and then he will no longer ask, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’ But till then, as living he was, so dead, he is liable to the lash of severity; but the same Providence that preserved his person, will maintain his works; and then he being dead, yet speaketh, and will continue to speak for a great while to come. Whatever invidious remarks they may make upon his written discourses, they cannot invalidate his preaching. Mr. Toplady called him the prince of preachers, and with good reason, for none in our day preached with the like effect.” This following is an attempt towards a concise character of the late Rev. George Whitefield, by the Rev. Augustus Montague Toplady, A. B., late vicar of Broad Hembury, Devon.

“I deem myself happy in having an opportunity of thus pubUcly avowing the inexpressible esteem, in which I held this wonderful man; and the affectionate veneration which I must ever retain for the memory of one, whose acquaintance and ministry were attended with the most important spiritual benefit to me, and to tens of thousands besides.

“It will not be saying too much, if I term him, the Apostle OP THE English Empire: in point of zeal for God, a long course of indefatigable and incessant labors, unparalleled disinterestedness, and astonishingly extensive usefulness.

“He was a true and faithful son of the Church of England; and invincibly asserted her doctrines, to the last; and that, not in a merely doctrinal way, ihough he was a most excellent systematic divine, but with an unction of power from God, unequaled in the present day.

“He would never have quitted even the walls of the church, had not either the ignorance, or the malevolence of some, who ought to have known better, compelled him to a seeming separation.

“If the absolute command over the passions of immense auditories, be the mark of a consummate orator, he was the greatest of the age. If the strongest good sense, the most generous expansions of heart, the most artless but captivating affability, the most liberal exemption from bigotry, the purest and most transpicuous integrity, the brightest cheerfulness and the promptest wit, enter into the composition of social excellence, he was one of the best companions in the world.

“If to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the works of the Lord; if a union of the most brilliant, with the most solid ministerial gifts, ballasted by a deep and humbling experience of grace, and crowned with the most extended suc cess in the conversion of sinners, and edification of saints, besignatures of a commission from heaven, George Whitefield cannot but stand highest on the modern fist of christian ministers.

“England has had the honor of producing the greatest men, in almost every walk of useful knowledge. At the head of these are: 1st. Archbishop Bradwardine, the prince of divines; 2d, Milton, the prince of poets; 3d, Sir Isaac Newton, the prince of philosophers; and 4th, Whitepield, the prince of preachers.

“Bishop Benson was the prelate who had the distinguished honor of ordaining the greatest, the most eloquent, and the most useful minister that has, perhaps, been produced since the days of the apostles.

“It appears from a passage in one of Mr. Whitefield’s own

288 APrr.MJix.

letters, piiblislied since his decease, that he was the person, whom the gracious spirit and pro idetice of Cod raised up and sent forth, to begin that gre.-it work of spiritual revival in the Church of England, which has continued ever since, and still continues, with increasing spreiid, to replenish and enrich the evangelical vineyard by law established. In the remarkable passage to which I refer, jMr. Whitelleld expresses himself verbatim, thus, to the Rev. John Wesley: ‘As Cod was pleased to send me out first and to enlighten me first; so, I think, he still continues to do it; rny business seems to be chiefly in planting. If God sends you to water, I praise his name.’ On the whole, he was the least imperfect character I ever knew; and yet, no person was ever more shockingly traduced and vilified, by those who either were unacquainted with him, or who hated him for his virtues, and for his attachment to the gospel of Christ. But the pen of faithful history, and the suffi’ages of unprejudiced posterity, will do justice to the memory of a man, of whom the present generation was not worthy.”

The following lines, by the inimitable pen of Cowper, who did not disdain to tune his harp to themes, which formerly vibrated on the harp of the son of Jesse, and whose poetical characteristic is truth and taste, are transcribed, as descriptive of that invaluable man, and by being inserted in proximity with the character given by Mr. Toplady, it is presumed cannot fail of being interesting to the reader.

Leuconnmas, beneath well sounding Greek

I slur a name, a poet mutt not speak,

Stood pilloried on infamy’s high stage,

And bore the pelting scorn of half an age.

The very bust of slander, and the blot

For ev’ry dart that malice ever shot.

The man that mentioned him, at once dismiss’d

All mercy from his lips, and sneer’d and hiss’d.

His crimes were such as Sodom never knew,

And perjury stood up to swear all true:

His aim was mischief and his zeal pretense,

His speech rebellion against common sense:

A knave when tried on honesty’s plain rule,

And when by that of reason a mere fool.

The world’s best comfort was, his doom was pass’d,

Die when he might, he must be damn’d at last.

Now truth perform thine office, waft aside
The curtain drawn by prejudice and pride;
Reveal, the man is dead, to wond’ring eyes,
This more than monster in his proper guise.

He loved the world that hated him: the tear
Thai dropp’d upon his Bible was sincere,
Assail’d by scandal, and the tongue of strife,
His (jnly answer was — a blameless life:
Ana he’ that forged; and he that threw the dart,
. Had each a brother’s interest in his heart.

Paul’s love of Christ, and steadiness unbrib’d,
Were copied close in him, and well transcrib’d;
He followed Paul — his zeal a kindred flame,
His apostolic charity the same.
Like him cross’d cheerfully tempestuous seas,
Forsaking country, kindred, friends, and ease;
Like him he labor’d, and like him, content
To bear it, sufler’d shame where’er he went.
Blush calumny! and write upon his tomb.
If honest eulog:y can spare thee room,
Thy deep repentance of thy thousand lies.
Which aimed at him, have pierced th’ offended skies;
And say, blot out my sin, confess’d, deplor’d.
Against thine image, in thy SEiint, O Lord!

Whitefield’s executors having received the probate of his will, February 6, 1771, Mr. Keen, who was well acquainted wath the whole of his affairs, published it, with the following introduction:

‘•As we make no doubt the numerous friends of the Rev. Mr. George “VYhitefield, will be glad of an opportunity of seeing a genuine copy of his last will and testament, his executors have favored us with a copy of the same, transmitted to them from the Orphan-house, in Georgia, and which they have proved in the prerogative court of Canterbury. And, as it was Mr. Whitefield’s constant declaration, that he never meant to raise either a purse or a party, it is to be remarked, that almost the whole sum he died possessed of, came to him within two or three years of his death, in the following manner, viz. Mrs. Thomson, of Tower Hill, bequeathed him 500/.; by the death of his wife, (mcluding a iDond of 300/.) he got 700/.; Mr. Whitmore bequeathed him 100/., and Mr. Winder 100/. And it is highly probable, that had he lived to reach Georgia, from his last northern tour, he would have lessened the above sums, by disposing of them in the same noble and disinterested manner, in which all the public or private sums he was intrusted with, were bestowed. Georgia.”

“By his Excellency, James Wright, Captain General, Governor and Commander in chief of his Majesty’s said province of Georgia, Chancellor and Vice- Admiral of the same:

“To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting — Know ye, that Thomas Moodie, who has certified the annexed copy fi”om the original, in the secretary’s office, is deputy secretary of the said prolance; and therefore all due faith and credit is, and ought to be had and given to such his certificate.

“In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the great seal of this his majesty’s said province, to be put and affixed, dated at Savannah, the 10th day of December.

in the year of our Lord, 1770, and in the eleventh year of the reign of his majesty King George the third.

By his Excellency’s command, J. Wright.

Thomas Aloodie, Deputy iiecrctary.

‘■In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons, but one God; I, George Whitefield, clerk, at present residing at the Orphan-house academy, in the province of Georgia, in North America, being, through infinite mercy, in more than ordinary bodily health, and of a perfect, sound and composed mind, knowing the certainty of death, and yet the uncertainty of the time I shall be called by it to my long wished for home, do make this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, viz.:

^’■Imprimis — In sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, I commit my body to the dust, to be buried in the most plain and decent manner; and knowing in whom I have believed, and being persuaded that lie will keep that which I have committed unto him, in the fullest assurance of faith I commend my soul into the hands of the ever loving, altogether lovely, never failing Jesus, on whose complete and everlasting righteousness I entirely depend, for the justification of my person, and acceptance of my poor, worthless, though I trust sincere, performances, at that day when he shall come in the glory of his father, his own glory, and the glory of his holy angels, to judge both the quick and dead. In respect to my American concerns, which I have engaged in simply and solely for his great name’s sake, I leave that building, commonly called the Orphan-house, at Bethesda, in the province of Georgia, together with all the other buildings lately erected thereon; and likewise all other buildings, lands, negroes, books, furniture, and every other thing whatsoever, which I now stand possessed of in the province of Georgia aforesaid, to that elect lady, that mother in Israel, that mirror of true and undefiled religion, the Right Honorable Selina, Countess Dowager of Huntingdon; desiring, that as soon as may be after my decease, the plan of the intended Orphan-house Bethesda college may be prosecuted; if not practicable, or eligible, to pursue the present plan of the Orphan-house academy, on its old foundation and usual channel; but if her ladyship should be called to enter her glorious rest before my decease — I bequeath all the buildings, lands, negroes, and every thing before mentioned, which I now stand possessed of in the province of Georgia aforesaid, to my dear fellow traveler, and faithful, invariable friend, the Honorable James Habersham, president of his majesty’s honorable council: and should he survive her ladyship, 1 earnestly recommend him as the most proper person to succeed her ladyship, or to act for her during her ladyship’s life time, in the Orphan-house academy. With regard to my outward ali’airs in England; whereas there is a building, conmionly called the Tabernacle, set apart many years ago for divuie worship; I give and bequeath the said Tabernacle, with the adjacent house in which I usually reside when in London, with the stable and coach house in the yard adjoining, together with all books, furniture, and every thing else whatsoever, that shall be found in the house and premises aforesaid; and also the building, commonly called Tottenham court chapel, together with all the other buildings, houses, stable, coach house, and every thing else whatsoever, which I stand possessed of in that part of the town, to my worthy, trusty, tried friends, Daniel West, Esq., in Church street, Spitallields, and Mr. Robert Iveen,* woolen draper, in the Minories, or the longer survivor of the two. As to the moneys, which a kind Providence, especially of late, in a most unexpected way, and unthought of means, has vouchsafed to intrust me with — I give and bequeath the sum of 100/. sterling to the Right Honorable the Countess Dowager of Huntingdon aforesaid, humbly beseeching her ladyship’s acceptance of so small a mite, as a pepper corn acknowledgment, for the undeserved, unsought for hon-

* Two persons could not have been more happily associated, than Mr. West and Mr. Keen. They were always regular and exact in the discharge of the weighty duties that devolved upon them. An uninterrupted harmony cJiaracterized all their public transactions. It was ever their study to conciliate the affections of the ministers, to promote the glory of Jesus Christ, and the spiritual interests of the congregations; and they had the happiness to see the pleasure of the Lord prosper in their hands.

Mr. Keen breathed out his happy soul into the hands of his p,edeemer, on the 30th of January, 1703. His name deserves to be recorded in the annals of the church, as an illustrious example of holiness and zeal in the cause of God.

Mr. West fell asleep in Jesus, on the 30th of September, 1796, in the seventieth year of his age. He was for many years a happy subject of divine grace, and a zealous antl approved friend of the gospel. For thirteen years before his death, he was greatly affected with a painful malady in his bladder. His sufferings were extreme, both night and day; but he was never heard to utter a murmuring expression.

His corpse was carried to Tottenham court chapel, attended by a vast number of mourning coaches, and interred under the communion table, in a vault that contained the remains of Mrs. Whitefield, Mrs. West, and Mr. Keen. The Rev. Mr. Edwards read the burial service, and the Rev. Joel Abraham Knight delivered an oration. Two funeral sermons were preached on the following Sabbath; that in the morning, at Tottenham court chapel, by the Rev. Torial Joss, from Psalm cxii. 6, and that in the evening, at the Tabernacle, by the Rev. Matthew Wilks, from John xii. 26.

It is a singular circumstance, that Mr. Whitefield, Mr. Keen, and Mr. West, all died on the 30th day of the month, and the two latter, on the 30th of September.

Mr. West, by his last will, bequeathed the management of the places to Samuel Foyster, Esq. and John Wilson, Esq., gentlemen well known in the christian world.

or her ladyship conferred upon me, in appointing me, less than the least of all, to be one of her ladyship’s domestic chaplains. ‘■’■Ilem. — I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved friend, the Honorable James Habersham aforesaid, my late wife’s gold watch, and lOZ. for mourning; to my dear old friend, Gabriel Harris, Esq. of the city of Gloucester, who received and boarded me in his house, when I was helpless and destitute, above thirty-five years ago, I give and bequeath the sum of 50Z.; to my humble, faithlul servant and friend, Mr. Ambrose Wright, if in my service and employ, either in England or America, or elsewhere, at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath the sum of 500/.; to my brother, Mr. Thomas Whitefield, I give and bequeath the sum of 50/., to be given him at the discretion of Mr. Robert Keen; to my brother-in-law, Mr. James Smith, hosier, in the city of Bristol, I give and bequeath the sum of 50/. and 30/. also for family mourning; to my niece, Mrs. Frances Hartford, of Bath, I give and bequeath the sum of 50/. and 20/. for family mourning; to Mr. J. Crane, now a faithful steward at the Orphan-house academy, I give and bequeath the sum of 40/.; to Mr. Benjamin Stirk, as an acknowledgment of his past services at Bcthesda, I give and bequeath the sum of 10/. for mourning; to Peter Edwards, now at the Orphan-house academy, I give and bequeath the sum of 50/.; to William Trigg, at the same place, I give and bequeath the sum of 50/.; both the sums aforesaid to be laid out, or laid up for them, at the discretion of Mr. Ambrose Wright; to Mr. Thomas Adams, of Rodborough, in Gloucestershire, my only surviving first fellow laborer, and beloved much in the liOrd, I give and bequeath the sum of 50/.; to the Rev. Mr. Howel Davies, of Pembrokeshire, in South Wales, that good soldier of Jesus Christ; to Mr. Torial Joss, Mr. Cornelius Winter, and all my other dearly beloved present stated assistant preachers at the Tabernacle and Tottenham court chapel, I give and liequeath 10/. each for mourning; to the three brothers of Mr. Ambrose Wright, Ann, the wife of his brother, Mr. Robert Wright, now faithfully and skillfully laboring and serving at the Orphan-house academy, I give and bequeath the sum of 10/. each for mourning; to Mr. Richard Smith, now a diligent attendant on me, 1 give and bequeath the sum of 50/. and all my wearing apparel, which I shall have with nie in my journey through America, or on my voyage to England, if it should please an all wise God to shorten my days in either of those situations. Finally, I give and bequeath the sum of 100/., to be distributed at the discretion of my executors, herein after mentioned, for mourning among my old London servants, the poor widows at Tottenham court chapel, and the Tabernacle poor; especially my old trusty, disinterested friend and servant, Mrs. Elizabeth Wood. All the other residue, if there be any other residues of moneys, goods, and chattels, or whatsoever profits may arise from the sale of any books, or any manuscripts that I may leave behind, I give and bequeath to the Right Honorable the Countess Dowager of Huntingdon; or in case of her ladyship being deceased at the time of my departure, to the Honorable James Habersham, Esq. before mentioned, after my funeral expenses and just debts are discharged, towards paying off any arrears that may be due on the account of the Orphan-house academy, or for annual prizes as a reward for the best three orations that shall be made in English, on the subjects mentioned in a paper annexed to this my will. And I hereby appohit the Honorable James Habersham, Esq. aforesaid, to be my executor in respect to my affairs in the province of Georgia, and my trusty, tried, dearly beloved friends, Charles Hardy, Esq., Daniel West, Esq., and Mr. Robert Keen, to be executors of this my last will and testament, in respect of my affairs in England, begging each to accept of a mourning ring.

“To all my other christian benefactors, and more intimate acquaintance, I leave my most hearty thanks and blessing, assuring them that I am more and more convinced of the undoubted reality and infinite importance of the grand gospel truths, which I have from time to time delivered; and am so far from repenting my delivering them in an itinerant way, that had I strength equal to my inclination, I would preach them from pole To pole; not only because I have found them to be the power of God to the salvation of my own soul, but because I am as much assured that the great Head of the church has called me by his word, providence, and spirit, to act in this way, as that the sun shines at noon day. As for my enemies and misjudging friends, I most freely and heartily forgive them, and can only add, that the last tremendous day will only discover what I have been, what I am, and what I shall be, when time itself shall be no more; and therefore from my inmost soul, I close all by crying, come Lord Jesus come quickly; even so, Lord Jesus. Anie?i and Amen!

“This was written with the testator’s own hand, and at his desire, and in his presence, sealed, signed, and delivered, at the Orphan-house academy, in the province of Georgia, before us witnesses. Anno Domini, March 22, 1770.

C Robert Bolton,
” Signed, I Thomas Dixon,

/ Cornelius Winter.”

“N. B. I also leave a mourning ring, to my honored and dear friends, and disinterested fellow laborers, the Rev. John and Charles Wesley, in token of my indissoluble union with them, in heart and christian aiFection, notwithstanding our difference in judgment about some particular points of doctrine. Grace be with all them, of whatever denomination, that love our Lord Jesus, our common Lord, in sincerity.”

“Georgia, Secretary’s Office. “A true copy, taken from the original in this office, examined and certified: and I do further certify, that the same was duly proved; and the Honorable James Habersham, one of the executors therein named, was duly qualified as executor, before his Excellency, James Wright, Esq., Governor and Ordinary of the said province, this lOth day of December, 1770. “Thomas Moodie, Deputy Secretary.

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