MEMOIRS OF WHITEFIELD.

bethtown, New Jersey. And it being the New Jersey com mencement, the president and trustees presented Mr. Whitefield with the degree of A. M. The meeting of the Synod succeeded, before whom he preached several times. He had much satisfaction in their company. "To-morrow," says he, "October 1, God willing, I shall set out with the worthy president, Mr. Burr, for New England, and expect to return back to the Orphan-house, through Virginia. This will be about a Two THOUSAND miles circuit; but the Redeemer's strength will be more than sufficient." He likewise wished, had it been practicable, to stop some time at the West Indies, before he returned to England.

October 9, he arrived at Boston, accompanied by President Burr, where he remained a week, preaching with great success. "In Rhode Island and Boston," he gospel, like doves to their windows. Opposition seems to fall says, "souls fly to the daily." To his great joy, while at Boston, he heard the welcome news, that a governor was at last appointed for Georgia, to whom his friend, Mr. Habersham, was made secretary. To

When Whitefield was in this country, the Rev. William Tennent paid him a visit; and dined, together with him and other ministers, at a gentlemar's house. After dinner, Mr. Whitefield adverted to the difficulties attending the gospel ministry; lamented that all their zeal availed but little; said that he was weary with the burdens of the day; declared his great consolation was, that in a short time his work would be done, when he should depart and be with Christ; he then appealed to the ministers, if it was not their great comfort that they should soon go to rest. They generally assented, except Mr. Tennent who sat next to Whitefield in silence; and by his countenance discovered but little pleasure in the conversation. Whitefield tapping him on the knee, said, "Well! brother Tennent, you are the oldest man amongst us, do you not rejoice to think that your time is so near at hand, when you will be called home?" Mr. T. bluntly answered, "I have no wish about it.” Whitefield pressed him again; and Mr. T. again answered, “No, sir, it is no pleasure to me at all; and if you knew your duty, it would be none to you. have nothing to do with death; my business is to live as long as I can, as well as I can, and to serve my master as faithfully as I can, until he shall think proper to call me home." to his question, in case the time of death were left to his own choice. Mr. T. Whitefield still urged for an explicit answer replied, "I have no choice about it: I am God's servant, and have engaged to do his business as long as he pleases to continue me therein. But now, brother, let me ask you a question. What do you think I would say, if I was to send my man Tom into the field to plough; and if at noon I should go to the field, and find him lounging under a tree, and complaining, 'Master, the sun is very hot, and the ploughing very hard, I am weary of the work yon have appointed me, and am overdone with the heat and burden of the day: do master, let me return home, and be discharged from this hard service? What would I say? Why, that he was a lazy fellow; that it was his business to do the work I had appointed him, until I should think fit to call him home." The pleasant manner in which this reproof was administered, rather increased the social harmony of the company; who became satisfied that it was very possible to err, even in desiring with undue earnestness" to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" than to remain in this imperfect state; and that it is the duty of the christian in this respect to say, "all the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come "

him he writes, "may the King of kings enable you to dis charge your trust, as becomes a good patriot, subject, and christian!"

He now traveled north as far as Portsmouth, New Hampshire, always preaching two or three times a day. At Boston he met with a far more agreeable reception than formerly; and his ministry, in general, seemed to be attended with as great a blessing as ever.

November 7, at four o'clock in the morning, he took an af fectionate leave of his friends in Boston, proceeded to Rhode Island, and went onward through Maryland and Virginia, with a prospect so pleasing, that he lamented he had not come sooner. The whole country seemed eager to hear the gospel, many coming forty or fifty miles, and a spirit of conviction and consolation appeared in every congregation. Prejudices seemed to have fled-churches were opened to him-high and low, rich and poor, now seemed to think favorably of his ministrations; and many acknowledged what God had done for their souls, through his preaching, when he was there before.

In February, 1755, he went back to Charleston, and then to Savannah, preaching as usual; till in the latter end of March he embarked for England, and arrived safe, on the 8th of May, at New Haven in Sussex.

The chief thing which he took notice of, on his landing once more in his native country, was the wonderful success of the gospel. Glory be to the great head of the church! the word hath still free course. The poor despised Methodists are as lively as ever; and in several churches the gospel is now preached with power. Many in Oxford are awakened to the knowledge of the truth; and I have heard almost every week of some fresh minister, or another, that seems determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified."* This consideration re-animated him. He seemed to preach with increasing energy and success in London, Bristol, Bath, and in Gloucestershire, till the month of August. He then went to open the Tabernacle at Norwich. "At this last place," he says, "notwithstanding offenses have come, there has been a glorious work begun, and is now carrying on, (August 30, 1755.) The polite and great seem to hear with much attention; and I scarce ever preached a week together with greater freedom."

Soon after this, he set out on his northern circuit; and the Lord wonderfully blessed his labors all the way, especially at Northampton, Liverpool, Bolton, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford,

In the MS. he puts down the names of Jones, Romaine, and Madan, of hom it appears he intended to have written more particularly.

York, &c. He proposed to go to Ireland; but after spending a few days at Newcastle, he found it was too late to go there, or even to Scotland; he therefore returned to London, having preached two or three times a day for two months, to many thousands. "Next to Jesus," says he, "my king and country, were upon my heart. I hope I shall always think it my bounden duty, next to inviting sinners to the blessed Jesus, to exhort my hearers to exert themselves against the first approaches of popish tyranny, and arbitrary power. O that we may be enabled to watch and pray, against all the opposition of antichrist in our hearts! for after all, there lies the most dangerous man of sin."

In November he caught cold, and preached in much pain, having a sore throat: this obliged him to be silent a few days; as it was feared, it would end in an inflammatory quinsy. But as soon as the danger was over, he could not be restrained from his master's work.‡

Application being now made to him, by many persons, to preach twice a week at Long Acre chapel, near the theaters, upon being assured that the place was licensed, he preached his first sermon there, December 23, 1755; but not without great opposition. He received a prohibition from the bishop of B- -. A number of soldiers, drummers, and many other malicious persons were employed to make a noise in an adjoin ing house, or yard, belonging to a Mr. C- : these raised a dreadful uproar, and that as often as Mr. Whitefield preached. They were hired by subscription, and supplied with drums, bells, &c., thus keeping up a continual din, from the beginning to the end of his sermon. Thus mobs were excited to riot at the doors of the chapel, insulting and abusing both preacher and hearers, as soon as service was over. They repeatedly broke the windows with large stones, by which several of the congregation were severely wounded. In consequence of these unwarrantable proceedings, Whitefield wrote several spirited letters to the bishop of B- ; in one of them he thanks his lordship for his candor, favorable opinion, and good wishes, the bishop having answered his first letter; but yet, in a manly style, and with a just sense of British liberty, defended his own conduct, and powerfully remonstrated against

"At York, I hope a fine gentleman was touched; and several, I find, were awakened there, and at Newcastle, at my last visit."

This refers to the encroachments made by the French upon the British colonies in America; and their threatening Great Britain with an invasion; which occasioned a declaration of war against France next year.

"One physician prescribed a perpetual blister; but I have found perpetual preaching to be a better remedy. When this great catholicon fails, it is over with me."