Continuation of Journal from Arrival at Savannah to Leaving Stanford, Journal · Journal entry 8 – Journal entry 9
Chriſt Church, Charles-Town, and John's-Iſland.
Saturday, July 12. Went over the Water on Thurſday, and read Prayers and preached, at the Requeſt of the Church-Wardens and Veſtry, at Chriſt Church. Returned in the Evening to Charles-Town. Preached twice there Yeſterday, and went this Morning to John's-Iſland, about Twenty Miles up the River, whither I was invited by Col. Gibbs. He received me and my Friends moſt hoſpitably, provided ſeveral Horſes, Chairs, &c. for us and his Family. We rode very pleaſantly to the Church; there was a great Congregation; GOD ſtrength'ned me to read Prayers and preach twice, with much Freedom. About Four we returned to the Colonel's. I eat with ſome Appetite; was enabled to give a warm and cloſe Exhortation to the Rich that ſat round about me, and returned to Charles-Town in the Evening with my dear Friends, praiſing and bleſſing GOD. Glory be to his moſt holy Name. Dagon ſeems daily to fall before the Ark. A laſting Impreſſion, I am perſuaded, is made on many Hearts; and GOD, I believe, will yet ſhew, that he hath much People in Charles-Town and the Countries round about. LORD thou haſt viſited them with thy Judgments, melt them down now with thy Mercies. Stretch out the golden Scepter of thy Favour, and bruiſe them no more with thy Iron Rod! Even ſo, LORD JESUS, Amen.
Sunday, July 13. Preached this Morning with much Power, and collected in the Evening for my poor Orphans. Great Numbers ſtood without the Doors, and it raining very hard in the Time of divine Service, many of them were driven away. However GOD cauſed the other People's Hearts to deviſe liberal Things, Upwards of Fifty Pounds Sterl. were collected on the Occaſion. Moſt ſhewed a great Readineſs to aſſiſt me, and the LORD was pleaſed much to enlarge my Heart to give Praiſe unto his Name.
In the Morning I went to Church, and heard the Commiſſary preach: But had ſome infernal Spirit been ſent to draw my Picture, I think it ſcarcely poſſible he could paint me in more horrid Colours. I think, if ever, then was the Time that all Manner of Evil was ſpoken againſt me falſly for CHRIST's Sake. The Commiſſary ſeem'd to ranſack Church Hiſtory, for Inſtances of Enthuſiaſm and abuſed Grace. He drew a Parallel between me and all the Oliverians, Ranters, Quakers, French-Prophets, till he came down to a Family of the Dutarts, who lived not many Years ago in South-Carolina, and were guilty of the moſt notorious Inceſts and Murders. To the Honour of GOD's Free Grace be it ſpoken, whilſt he was repreſenting me thus, I felt the bleſſed Spirit ſtrength'ning and refreſhing my Soul. GOD at the ſame Time gave me to ſee what I was by Nature; how I had deſerved his eternal Wrath; and therefore I did not feel the leaſt Reſentment againſt the Preacher. No, I pitied, I prayed for him, and wiſhed from my Soul, that the LORD would convert him, as he did once the Perſecutor Saul, and let him know that it is JESUS whom he perſecutes. In the Evening many came, as I was informed, to hear what I would ſay; but as the Commiſſary hinted, that his Sermons ſhould be printed, and as they were full of invidious Falſhoods, I held my Tongue and made little or no Reply. Father forgive him, for he knows not what he does!
Saturday, July 19. Preached all this Week twice every Day at Charles-Town, except on Wedneſday and Thurſday Evening, the laſt of which Days I was called upon to appear in Court; and on the former was deſired to go to James's Iſland, to preach at the Houſe of one Madam Woodard. This Gentlewoman, as ſhe informed me herſelf, was once much prejudiced againſt me, inſomuch that ſhe thought it dangerous to come and hear me: But having read my Sermons, ſhe changed her Mind, and coming both to Town and to John's Iſland to hear me preach, was, with her Daughter and another Gentlewoman, much melted down. Being given to Hoſpitality, ſhe provided Food ſufficient for a great Multitude. People came from Town and all the other neighbouring Places. Her Barn was put into proper Order, and I read Prayers and preached in it, with much of GOD's bleſſed Spirit in my Soul. A lovely Melting was viſible in ſeveral Parts of the Auditory. After Sermon, GOD enabled me to ſpeak many Goſpel Truths a midſt a polite Set of People; and at the Requeſt of Madam Woodard I ſtayed all Night. This gave me an Opportunity of teaching her Family the Way of GOD more perfectly, and alſo of reſting my weary Body, which ſeems to be declining more and more every Day. — Bleſſed be GOD! If it be conſiſtent with his Glory and the Good of Souls, I hope it will not be long e… Worms deſtroy it, and my Soul carried to ſee my GOD.
JESUS, to thy dear faithful Hand
My naked Soul I truſt:
My Fleſh awaits thy bleſt Command,
To drop into my Duſt.
I have purpoſely given a more general Account of this Week's Labours than uſual, that I might be the more particular in relating the Commiſſary's Dealing with me, from whom, by the Hands of his Apparitor on Friday, July Eleven, I received the following Citation.
You are hereby cited to appear at the Church of St. Philips, Charles-Town, on Tueſday the Fifteenth Day of this Inſtant July, betwixt the Hours of Nine and Ten in the Forenoon, before the Rev. Alexander Garden, Commiſſary, to anſwer to ſuch Articles as ſhall there be objected to you.
Wm. Smith, Apparitor.
At my Requeſt, the ſaid Apparitor brought me the underwritten, as a Copy of my Charge.
Locus Sigilli. Alexander Garden.
Alexander Garden, lawfully conſtituded Commiſſary of the Right Reverend Father in CHRIST, EDMUND, by divine Permiſſion, Lord Biſhop of London, ſupported by the Royal Authority underwritten. To all and ſingular Clerks and literate Perſons whomſoever, in and throughout the whole Province of South-Carolina, whereſoever appointed, Greeting. To you conjunctly and ſeverally we commit, and, ſtrictly injoining, command, that you do cite or cauſe to be cited, peremptorily George Whitefield, Clerk and Preſbyter of the Church of England, that he lawfully appear before us, in the Pariſh-Church of St. Philips, Charles-Town, and in the judicial Place of the ſame, on Tueſday, the Fifteenth Day of this Inſtant July, 'twixt the Hours of Nine and Ten in the Forenoon, then and there in Juſtice, to anſwer to certain Articles, Heads or Interrogatories, which will be objected and miniſtred unto him, concerning the mere Health of his Soul, and the Reformation and Correction of his Manners and Exceſſes, and chiefly for omitting to uſe the Form of Prayers preſcribed in the Communion Book. And further to do and receive what ſhall be juſt in that Behalf, on Pain of Law and Contempt. And what you ſhall do in the Premiſes, you ſhall duly certify us, together with theſe Preſents.
GIVEN under our Hands and Seals of our Office, at Charles-Town, this Seventh Day of July, in the Year of our LORD, One Thouſand Seven Hundred and Forty.
Copia Vera.
Tueſday, July 15. I appeared, according to the Citation, at the appointed Hour and Place. There were very many Spectators; and the Rev. Mr. Garden, Commiſſary, The Rev. Mr. Guy, The Rev. Mr. Mellichamp, The Rev. Mr. Roe, The Rev. Mr. Orr, ſat as Judges: They received me with good Manners; and after the Clerk of the Court had taken a Minute of their Appearing, the Commiſſary tender'd to me a Paper, deſiring my Anſwer to thoſe Articles, but I refuſed taking it, till I was ſatisfied of the Authority of the Court in Queſtion, adding, do you think I would in…ur a Premunire of doing what I could not anſwer? (or Words to that Effect) He then ſaid, they would proceed to cenſure; upon which, I reminded them of the Example of the Magiſtrates, who exceeded their Authority, in condemning and ſcourging St. Paul; being a Roman, unheard. At this one of the Clergy ſneer'd; but the Commi…ary replied, We ſhall not go beyond o… Power, or ſcourge you. After a ſhort Debate the Commiſſary ſent his Apparitor to his Houſe for his Commiſſion, in order to give me Satisfaction. In about a Quarter of an Hour he return'd, with ſeveral Bundles of Papers, out of which the Commiſſary firſt produced his Commiſſion to act as Commiſſary from the Biſhop of London. I read and approved of it: But at the ſame Time deſired to be ſatisfied of the Biſhop of London's Authority in this Province, not finding the Royal Authority underwritten, as mention'd in his publick Citation: Upon this a Latin Commiſſion without a Seal, was order'd to be read by the Clerk of the Court. I objected, That it was in Latin contrary to our late Act, ordering every Thing to be in Engliſh; and not well underſtanding the Clerk as he read it, I deſired the Peruſal of it myſelf, which was granted. I read it with an audible Voice; and after reading it, I objected, That tho' there might be a general Power given to the Biſhop, to exerciſe eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction in this Province; yet the Extent of that Power was to be determined by particular Acts of Aſſembly. I farther urged, That a Court of this Nature was intirely unpreſidented in America: that I belonged to Georgia, a different Province, and was here only as an Itinerate. I alſo added, That my Lord of London, tho' I preached in the Fields for ſome Months, never attempted to exerciſe ſuch Authority againſt me. The Commiſſary replied, Tho' I belonged to Georgia, yet I had committed Irregularities here, and therefore came under his Cognizance; and that what he had to lay to my Charge might be Crimes of a different Nature.
Not ſatisfied with my Objections, he order'd the Clerk to minute down, That I contumaciouſly contemned the Authority of the Court. But I deſired that Expreſſion might be ſoftned, declaring from my Heart, That what I did, proceeded from a real Scruple concerning their Authority, urging the Example of King Charles, who, before he made Anſwer to his Accuſers, …ſiſted on knowing the Authority his Judges had to call him to an Account. I further objected, That the Commiſſaries in Maryland and Pennſylvania were mere Cyphers, That the Truſtees, to my Knowledge, queſtion'd the Biſhop of London's having any Juriſdiction in theſe Parts; and that the Governor of Maryland, acting as Ordinary, had ſummoned his Clergy lately to meet him as ſuch, which accordingly they did. I therefore upon the whole, humbly deſired, as a Favour from the Court, that I might have till to Morrow Nine a Clock, the Time to which the Court was adjourned, to inform myſelf of the Extent of their eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction in this Province, aſſuring them, that upon finding their Authority valid, I would immediately anſwer to any Interrogatories, and would be ready to receive any Sentence they could with Juſtice paſs upon me. Tho' at my firſt aſking he ſaid, He had indulged me too far already; yet, after ſome Conſideration, Mr. Commiſſary ordered the Clerk to raze out the former Minute, and to record, That upon my ſcrupling the Authority of the Court I was indulged my Requeſt.
Our LORD was pleaſed to fulfil his Promiſe made to thoſe that ſhould be called before Rulers and Governors for his Name-Sake. My Soul was full of Peace. I pitied, but did not feel the leaſt Emotion of Reſentment againſt my Judges. The People behaved pretty quiet; but ſome broke out into a Laughter, ſomething irregular, when I ſaid, the Commiſſaries in Pennſylvania and Maryland were but Cyphers. This I diſapproved of, and checked immediately. After the Court was adjourned and the Commiſſary roſe from his Seat, I made my Obeiſance and returned to my Lodgings, thinking myſelf more highly honour'd, by my LORD, this Morning than in any other Part of my Life. LORD ſtrengthen me in all my other impending Trials, for thy great Name's Sake. Amen and Amen.
Wedneſday, July 16. Appeared this Morning at the Hour of Ten, and exhibited a Recuſatio Judicis, i. e. my Exceptions againſt the Commiſſary's being my Judge in this Cauſe, having too great Reaſon to believe him prejudiced againſt me. At firſt the Commiſſary refuſed to read it, inſiſting to know firſt whether I acknowledged the Authority of the Court? Unwarily I anſwer'd, Yes. But upon the Motion of my Advocate, Mr. Rutledge, I recalled my W…rds and ſaid, I admitted and ſubmitted to an Eccleſiaſtical Court legally conſtituted. One of the Clergy on the Bench would have inſiſted on my firſt Anſwer. But I told him, It was mean-ſpirited and beneath a Court, conſiſting of thoſe that called themſelves Miniſters of JESUS CHRIST, to catch at an Expreſſion which I immediately corrected. Upon this, the Bench agreed to alter the Minute agreeable to my laſt Declaration. The Commiſſary then took my Paper, read it to himſelf, and ſaid, he would not accept of it. I then ſtood up according to Law and ſaid, I would go and proteſt againſt all further Proceedings, as null and void, and immediately left the Court. Upon Mr. Rutledge his Advice I returned and declared, That I appealed apud acta to the Biſhop of London, and then withdrew a ſecond Time.
We had not gone far from the Place of Judicature, but I was called back by the Apparitor and Regiſter. We returned, and at the Commiſſary's Deſire gave in my Exceptions to be read and filed.
By this Time Mr. Commiſſary had gotten one Mr. Graham, an Attorney, to appear in Behalf of the Court, who inſiſted on having the Merits of my Exceptions tried in Court. But, as according to Law, I had referred them to the Examination of Six Arbitrators, three nominated by me, and three by the Commiſſary, Mr. Rutledge, in my Behalf, proteſted againſt all further Proceedings, and againſt my appearing at the next Court, till my Reference to Arbitrators was complied with, it being quite improbable to imagine, that Mr. Commiſſary, who muſt be Judge (if my Exceptions ſhould be tried by that Court) ſhould allow himſelf prejudiced.
This Recuſatio Judicis I exhibited by the Advice of my Friends, not to quibble with or evade the Force or Rigour of any Law whatſoever, that I might juſtly fall under. For when the Articles of Impeachment were read, I found myſelf accuſed only of omitting to read the Common-Prayer in the Preſbyterian Meeting▪ at ſuch Times as I preached there. Oh that my Adverſaries may never have any Thing worſe to lay to my Charge!
The Spectators were rather more numerous than Yeſterday; they behaved quietly, and were much rejoiced to ſee my Oppoſers reduced to ſuch a Dilemma. Well ſaid the Pſalmiſt, the Wrath of Man ſhall turn to thy Praiſe. — Great GOD, the Remainder of it do thou reſtrain; and for thy own Name Sake deliver me from the Hands of unreaſonable Men, who, out of a miſguided Zeal and without Cauſe, are mine Enemies!
Thurſday, July 17. By Advice of Mr. Rutledge, appear'd in Court at the Time of their Meeting, to ſee if my Exceptions were admitted to Arbitration or repelled. The Court being open'd, Mr. Commiſſary aſked me, If I was prepared to anſwer the Articles objected againſt me? I replied, I could give no Anſwer, till my …onceptions …were referred to Arbitrators. Mr. Rutledge ſtood up and ſpoke ſome few… Word's in Vindication of my Objections proving, by a Book of Eccleſiaſtical Law, That my Proceedings were according to the Rules therein preſcribed
The Regiſter was ordered to read their Reaſons for repelling my Exceptions. Mr. Graham endeavoured to enforce, having firſt laboured to prove the Juriſdiction. of the Court, and to remove the Appehenſions the Country in general, or Diſſentels in particular, might entertain concerning the ill Conſequences of ſuch a Court's being …reated. He held on without Interruption for a conſiderable Time; but Mr. Rutledge riſing up to invalidate what he had ſaid, was ſtopped. A… …length therefore, finding my Exceptions repelled, I appealed to his Majeſty in the High Court of Chancery, and declared all other Proceedings in that Court againſt me to be null and void. This c…ſed many to rejoice and give Thanks into GOD in my Behalf. And my dear Redeemer, to comfort my Heart, by his good Providence, at my Return to my Lodgings, ſent me ſeveral Letters from Philadelphia,acquainting me how mightily the Word of GOD grew and prevailed in thoſe Parts. As alſo Mr. Bolten, who lately kept an Aſſembly-Houſe, and whoſe Daughter, not long ſince, was converted at Georgia, wrote me Word, that he had near Fifty Negroes now learning to read of him: And further, that the People of Philadelphia, at their own Expence and Accord, were building a Place for me againſt Winter, One Hundred Feet long and Seventy Foot wide. LORD, do thou fill it with thy Preſence, and grant, that all that come thither to worſhip, may worſhip thee in Spirit and in Truth!
Saturday, July 19. After Evening Meeting, was deſired by the Apparitor to come and wai… on Mr. Commiſſary, who was ſitting in Court▪ I went. He deſired me to depoſite Ten Pounds Sterl. and to ſwear, That I would lodge my Appeal within a Twelve-Month. My Lawyer not being preſent, … my Friends were too ſollicitous for my Non-compliance: But being to leave Town on Monday, and finding the Commiſſary's printed Orders gave him Authority to require it, I took the deſired Oath, promiſed to leave Ten Pounds in a Friend's Hands; but withal, moved for a Copy of the Court's Proceedings, which was readily complied with.
The Court being ended, the Commiſſary deſired to ſpeak with me. I aſked him to go my Lodgings. He choſe to walk in a Green near the Church. His Spirit was ſomething calmer than uſual; but after an Hour's Converſation we were as far from agreeing as before. He charged me with ſpeaking Blaſphemy, for ſaying, That if it was in my Power, I would place him at the Right Hand of GOD. Upon my deſiring to know wherein the Blaſphemy conſiſted: He replied, Where then will you put CHRIST? I aſked him▪ Why he was guilty of that Fault, which he charged me with, viz. In accuſing the Methodiſts in general, when he only referr'd to Things wrote or done by me in particular? He anſwered, Becauſe we were all of one Mind, he ſuppoſed. When I queſtion'd him, Why he ridiculed me for making Grimaces in the Pulpit, when he did not come to hear me? Why, ſays he, as I paſſed by one Day, I ſaw you ſpreading out your Hands. I replied, Did not Paul do ſo when he began to preach? In ſhort, all his Diſcourſe was ſo inconſiſtent, and contrary to the Goſpel of our LORD, that I was obliged to tell him, That I believed him to be an unconverted Man, an Enemy to GOD, and of a like Spirit with the Perſecutor Saul. At this he ſmiled; and after we had walked for a long while, we parted, and GOD gave me great Satisfaction, that I had delivered my Soul in my Private Converſation with the Commiſſary. O Father, give him alſo Peace and Joy in Believing through JESUS CHRIST, the Son of thy Love!
Sunday, July 20. Preached this Morning as uſual; and went afterwards to Church to hear the Commiſſary. His Text was, Take Heed how ye hear. At firſt I thought we ſhould have a peaceable Sermon, eſpecially ſince we had converſed before ſo amicably: but the Gall ſoon began to flow from his Tongue, tho' not with ſo much Bitterneſs as the laſt Sunday. He endeavour'd to apologiſe for his Proceedings, condemned all that followed me, and gave all Hopes of Heaven, that adhered to him and the Church. In the Evening (tho I went off my Bed to do it, and was carried in a Chaiſe) the LORD JESUS ſtrengthned me to take my laſt Farewel of the dear People of Charleſtown. My Soul was fu ll of Tenderneſs for them, and many ſeem'd to ſympathize with me. Bleſſed be GOD for ſending me once more among them! Tho' the Heat of the Weather and Frequency of Preaching has perhaps given an irrecoverable Stroke to the Health of my Body; yet I rejoice, knowing it has been for the Conviction and I believe Converſion of many Souls. Glory be to GOD on high! the Fields here, as well as …lſewhere, are now white ready unto Harv…ſt. Numbers are ſeeking after JESUS. And two or three gracious-diſſenting Miniſters, by my Advice, agreed to ſet up a Weekly Lecture. I adviſed the People, ſince the Goſpel was not preach'd in the Church, to go and hear it in the Meeting-Houſes. May the LORD be with both Miniſters and People, and cauſe them to preach and hear, as becomes the Goſpel of CHRIST. What makes the Change more remarkable in Charles-Town People, is, That they ſeemed to me at my firſt Coming, to be a People …olly devoted to Pleaſure. One well acquainted with their Circumſtances and Manners, told me, more had been annually ſpent on Polite Entertainments, that the Poor's Rate came to. But now the Jewellers and Dancing-Maſters begin to cry out, That their Craft is in Danger. A vaſt Alteration is diſcernable in the Ladies Dreſs: And ſome, whilſt I have been ſpeaking, have been ſo convinced of the Sin of Wearing Jewels, that I have ſeen them with Blu…ies, put their Hands to their Ears and cover them with their Mobs. But I hope the Reformation has went farther than Externals. Many moral, good Sort of Men, who before were ſettled upon their Lees, have been gloriouſly awakened to ſeek after JESUS CHRIST. And many a Lydia's Heart hath the LORD open'd to receive the Things that were ſpoken. Indeed the Word came often like a Hammer and a Fire. And a Door, I believe, will be opened for teaching the poor Negroes. Several of them have done their uſual Work in leſs Time, that they might come to hear me. Many of their Owners, who have been awakened, reſolve to teach them Chriſtianity. Had I Time and proper School-Maſters, I might immediately erect a Negreo-School in South-Carolina as well as Pennſylvania. Many would willingly, contribute … Money and Land. Every Day almo… ſomething or other was ſent for my Orphans at Georgia. The People were very follicitous about my Health, when they ſaw me weak; ſent me many, ſmall Preſents, and took Care to ſee the Lawyer who pleaded for me. I fear'd ſometimes they would be too hot; but I endeavour'd to ſtop their Reſentments againſt the Commiſſary, as much as poſſible, and recommended Peace and Moderation to them in moſt of my Diſcour… ▪ May the LORD JESUS reward them for all their Works of Faith, and Labours which have proceeded of Love; may he never leave them without a Teaching Prieſt, and may he grant, that the Seed ſown in their Hearts, may grow up into an eternal Harveſt! Amen and Amen.
Aſhley-Ferry and Pon-pon.
Monday, July 22. Left Charles-Town very early, accompanied by many of the Inhabitants, who I hope will prove true Followers of the Lamb. Read Prayers and preached at Aſhley-Ferry, to a large Congregation, and great Power was among them. The Weather continuing extream Hot, Sweating and Preaching weaken'd me very much. I went in a Chariot to Madam Bellinger's, who kindly invited me and my Friends to Dinner. I eat but little; took leave of my dear Fellow-Travellers as well as I could; took Horſe in the Evening; put in for Shelter from the Rain at Major Smith's; and reach'd Mr. Bee's, of Pon-pon, near Forty Miles from Town, about Midnight.
Here I had the Pleaſure of Meeting Mr. Hugh Bryan; but Nature being quite worn out, I went to Reſt as ſoon as poſſible, not doubting but the LORD would cauſe me to renew my Strength before the Morning. Why ſhould I doubt it, ſince the LORD hath ſaid, I will never leave or forſake Thee?
Tueſday, July 23. Slept pretty well; but found myſelf not ſtrong enough to engage in Family-Duty. Met with, and was civilly treated by Mr. Stobo and Mr. Steward, two Scotch Preſbyterian Miniſters, and Mr. Thompſon, a Church of England Miſſionary, who refuſed to preach or ſit in Judgment againſt me. About Noon GOD ſtrengthned me to ride a Mile, and preach under a great Tree, to an attentive Auditory. Some I obſerved were affected; and I wo…ld willingly have preached a ſecond Time, but my Body was ſo weak, that by the Advice of Friends, I reſolved to continue where I was all Night. Surely it cannot be long 'ere this earthly Tabernacle will be diſſolved! Never did the Hart pant more eagerly after the Water-Brooks, than my S…l thirſts after the Enjoyment of thee my GOD!