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 sun 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, 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, almost every day. And the disorders were also at the highest; so that for

See Prince's Christian History, Vol. II. page 304, where are attestations of above a hundred and twenty ministers to the goodness of the work.

+. Thus it was at the reformation in Germany.

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.† 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 publish ed testimonials in his favor; as Mr. Hobby, Mr. Loring, fifteen ministers convened at Taunton, 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. Col man's desire, and with the consent of the church, on the Lord's day after his arrival he administered 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 Malden. 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 congrega tions in the southern parts of the province. He comes with the same extraor dinary 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 im pressions 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."

+"A man of good parts, ready wit, and lively imagination, who had made this business, in order to furnish matter for preaching over a bottle, to come and 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 being pent in on every side, he found his endeavors fruitless. Obliged thus to tay, 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."

PREACHING TO SOLDIERS.

As many as were in debt came to David, and he became captain over them.

he did not, indeed, think the scheme proposed for taking Louisburgh 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. Whitefield'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 acting out of character. But Mr. Sherburne would take no denial. He therefore, at last, gave them one, Nil 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 would 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 undisciplined, yet numbers were substantial persons, who left their farms, and willingly ventured all for their country's good. An amazing 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, offered to