Five Sermons, Title page – Table of contents
SERMONS ON THE Following SUBJECTS, VIZ
I. CHRIST the Believer's Huſband.
II. The Goſpel Supper.
III. Blind Bartimeus.
IV. Walking with GOD.
V. The Reſurrection of Lazarus.
By GEORGE WHITEFIELD, A. B. Late of Pembroke-College, Oxford.
With a Preface by the Rev. Mr. GILBERT TENNENT.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed and Sold by B. FRANKLIN▪
M,DCC,XLVI.
THE PREFACE.
Candid Reader,
HAVING had the Opportunity of peruſing the following Diſcourſes, I do with pleaſure recommend them to the World, as found, ſeaſonable, and ſolid Compoſures. They appear to me to contain, the Words of Truth and Soberneſs; and to be well adapted to correct the Errors of the preſent Day, as well as to promote vital and practical Godlineſs.—The Obſervations in them are pious, pertinent, and inſtructive; and ſo well ſuited to the Times we live in, that they are like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. The Stile is eaſy and natural, and the practical Inferences, affectionate and poignant, equally fitted to alarm Sinners, and comfort the Saints of God amidſt the various Miſeries that attend their preſent Pilgrimage, thro' this Valley of Tears, this uncertain and difficult State of Probation. In a Word, I am humbly of Opinion, that the Diſcourſes aforeſaid, are grave and maſ…uline; that they indicate a ſober, humble, well-informed Mind, and a warm Heart. I therefore earneſtly beſeech the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to bleſs them to thoſe noble Ends for which they are ſpecially adapted, for the Sake of his dear Son!
Upon hearing the Reverend Author of the aforeſaid Diſcourſes, preach frequently in this …ity, particularly in his laſt Viſit, and after frequent Converſation with him in private, I find, to my great Satisfaction, that he is clear and …ound in the great Doctrines of Religion, and preaches exactly agreeable to the Doctrinal Articles of the Church of England, and our Weſtminſter Confeſſion of Faith, between which there is the ſweeteſt Harmony.—
It was likewiſe peculiarly agreeable to me, to hear the aforeſaid Gentleman openly and boldly declare in his publick Diſcourſes, againſt that deteſtable and dangerous Error of the Antinomians, viz. That Perſons are actually juſtified before Faith; which is the proton pſeudos, or firſt Riſe of all their Abominations.—
And I think it my Duty, having this Opportunity, to inform the Publick, that the Author of the following Diſcourſes, has declared his Sentiments in this City, againſt that perilous ignis fatuus, Enthuſiaſm, (particularly in his laſt agreeable Viſit) with equal Zeal; the Quinteſſence of which, as I conceive, conſiſts in following Impulſes, or our own Fancy, as a Rule of Conduct, without the written Word, while the ſober Uſe of Reaſon is rejected; This, the Reverend Mr. WHITEFIELD has expreſly oppoſed and declar'd againſt.—There are ſome Things in this faithful Servant of Chriſt, which I cannot but admire as very uncommon, viz. His continued burning Zeal for the Kingdom of Chriſt for ſo many Years, with but little Interruption comparatively: His indefatigable Labours for God, eſpecially in preaching the everlaſting Goſpel daily, for ſo long a Space of Time: The Preſervation of his weak Conſtitution, from being entirely ruin'd by ſuch an extraordinary Courſe of vehement Labours and fatiguing Travel: The Preſervation of his Soul, from being either quite lifted up, and carried away with Pride, in the midſt of ſo much Popularity and Applauſe, or at times quite ſunk in melancholly Deſpondency, under the Withdrawings of God's comfortable Preſence, the Jealouſies and Deſertions of dear Friends and Enemies, whereby his Character has been with Art and Elegance, exceedingly and unjuſtly blackened; tho'… by ſome, at leaſt in all Probability, with an honeſt Intention: Add to theſe Sources of Grief, the Apoſtacies of divers promiſing Profeſſors; ſome from the ſound Doctrines of Religion, and ſome from Truth and practical Godlineſs both together; with the fiery Darts of Satan's Temptations, ſuited to the aforeſaid Circumſtances of Diſtreſs.
I may add to theſe, his extraordinary Succeſs in winning poor Sinners to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and building up Saints in Knowledge, Faith, Holineſs, and Comfort!
Having had more Opportunities to know the Fruits of …is Labours in the Goſpel-Miniſtry than many others, becauſe of my Travels in America; I can freely and ſafely declare, that I have met with many who have given a rational and ſcriptural Account of their Converſion by his Miniſtry, and do crown their Narrative by a holy Practice. I heartily wiſh that ſome ingenious Gentlemen of Figure and Character who have wrote againſt him, and have poſſibly been influenced thereto in a Meaſure, by a wrong Information reſpecting ſome Particulars in his Preaching and Conduct, had but the Opportunity of hearing him preach frequently, and pray, not only in Publick, but in private, as well as of free Converſation with him about the Things they object; I cannot but think that they would then alter their Sentiments concerning him. Surely their Jealouſies would be removed, and their preſent apparent Averſion, turned into Wonder and Love. For my own Part, I muſt ſpeak honourably of him, for God's Sake, and for Truth's Sake, ſhould it coſt me never ſo dear.—He comes out ſo clearly, ſo boldly and prudently, for the ſweet, ſweet, ſweet Truths of the ever-bleſſed LORD JESUS, that it charms my Heart into Admiration and Love. If he doth not preach the Goſpel of Chriſt, in my humble Opinion, it is not in the Bible. I believe in my Heart, and I think, with ſufficient Reaſon, that his Deſigns in travelling are pious and honourable, viz. To bring poor Sinners to Chriſt, and to build them up in him. And he is for the general, uncommonly enlivened and aſſiſted in his bleſſed Maſter's Service. He preaches the great Doctrines of the Reformed Churches, viz. Original Sin, Juſtification by Faith alone, Man's Impotency to do ſpiritual Good, Regeneration, Sanctification and Perſeverance.—Theſe important Points he mainly inſiſts upon, and that with Clearneſs, Pungency, and Pathos.
Moreover, he is meek and patient in Sufferings, and treats his Oppoſers with Temper and Kindneſs.—In a Word, his whole Life evidently appears to be devoted to Jehovah, and is filled with Acts of Piety towards God, and Mercy towards Mens Souls and Bodies.
Yea, ſuch is the Vehemence of his Deſires to do extenſive and manifold Service to the Church of God, that he is in Danger of loſing his Life in the Cauſe, by a Series of extraordinary Labours (to all Appearance quite diſproportioned to his bodily Strength.) Now what greater Evidence can we have of the Sincerity of any Man than theſe? Eſpecially if we add thereto, his peaceable, healing Diſpoſition in reſpect of the Church of God, and oppoſing Schiſms and Diviſions. What tho' there have been ſome exceptionable, unguarded Expreſſions, in ſome of his former Writings? Is this to be wonder'd at, conſidering his young Years, ſtrong Paſſions, Education in Arminian Principles, and the continued Hurry of his Labours in Preaching, writing Letters, and Diſcourſing with People in the Places where he travell'd having withal but little Time for Study and Reflection?
Shou'd not that Charity, that hopes all Things that are good, as far as there is any Reaſon for it, induce us to put a favourable Conſtruction on them, at leaſt on his Deſigns; eſpecially conſidering that his after Writings ſet many Things in a better Light?
If every doubtful Expreſſion in the Writings of Luther, and many other good and great Men, were put upon the Rack by ingenious Pens, and not compared with other Paſſages in the ſame, or other of their Performances, their Principles would appear in a ſable Dreſs, and might be eaſily burleſqued.
I deſign to offend no Man by this Preface—I deſire to entertain charitable Sentiments of all, as far as I have Scripture and Reaſon for it; and I doubt not, but divers who have oppoſed both the Reverend Mr. WHITEFIELD and my ſelf, have had a pious and honeſt Intention in ſo doing.—I only beg leave to expreſs my own Opinion, with all due Deference to ſuch as are otherwiſe minded.
But I muſt haſten to the Concluſion, and therefore beſeech the Reader to peruſe, without Prejudice, the following Diſcourſes; and to conſider ſeriouſly the Truths contained in them, as well as to apply in particular his own Portion.—In this Way, he will glorify God, and probably receive ſpecial Benefit to himſelf. I add no more, but imploring the Bleſſings of Heaven upon thy Endeavours, remain thy Servant for Chriſt's Sake.
GILBERT TENNENT. Philadelphia, May 30. 1746.
THE CONTENTS.
SERMON I. Chriſt the Believer's Huſband. Iſaiah liv. 5. For thy Maker is thy Huſband. Page 1
SERMON. II. The Goſpel Supper. Luke xiv. 22, 23. And the Lord ſaid unto the Servant, Go out into the High-ways and Hedges, and compel them to come in, that my Houſe may be filled—For I ſay unto you, that none of thoſe which were bidden, ſhall taſte of my Supper. Page 47
SERMON III. Blind Bartimeus. Mark x. 52. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, Go thy way; thy Faith hath made thee whole. And immediately be received his Sight, and followed Jeſus in the Way. Page 75
SERMON IV. Walking with God. Geneſis v. 24. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. Page 99
SERMON V. The Reſurrection of Lazarus. John xi. 43, 44. And when he had thus ſpoken, he cried with a loud Voice, Lazarus come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound Hand and Foot with Grave-cloaths: And his Face was …ound about with a Napkin. Jeſus ſaith unto them, Looſe him, and let him go. Page 129