Fifteen Sermons, Sermon – Preface
THE CHARACTER, PREACHING, &c. OF THE REVEREND Mr. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, Impartially repreſented and ſupported, in a SERMON, preached in Charleſton, South-Carolina, March 26th, Anno Domini, 1740, by JOSEPH SMITH, V. D. M. With a Preface by the Rev. Dr. COLMAN, and Mr. COOPER, of Boſton, New-England.
TO THE READER.
THE following diſcourſe was incloſed to us by our dear brother, the worthy author of it; and we have read it with high pleaſure and ſatisfaction. The deſign is ſufficiently intimated in the title page. It is indeed a ſermon of an extraordinary nature. To give from the pulpit, the perſonal and miniſterial character of a living preacher is very unuſual, …, perhaps altogether new. But ſo is the occaſion—And the diſcourſe muſt be looked upon to be apologetical rather … encomiaſtic. The manifeſt deſign is to ſupport the cauſe by vindicating the man; not a private and party cauſe; but that of primitive piety, and Catholic Chriſtianity; the cauſe of Chriſt and truth, if the peculiar doctrines of the goſpel, the aſſerting and clearing whereof, was the glory of the Reformation, may be ſo called? A cauſe this, in which zeal is certainly a virtue.
As to the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, the perſon referred to, and named, he is the wonder of the age; and no man more employs the pens, and fills up the converſation of people, than he does at this day: none more admired and applauded by ſome, contemned and reproached by others. The common lot of the moſt excellent men the world has ever had to ſhew!
While ſo many others are ſpeaking and publiſhing their ſentiments concerning him with all freedom, Mr. Smith thought himſelf not precluded. He hath had as much opportunity as moſt, to inform himſelf concerning Mr. Whitefield's doctrine, manner of life, purpoſe, faith, charity, long-ſuffering, patience, perſecutions, and afflictions which have come unto him: and what he has ſeen and heard, that declares he unto us: and we receive his teſtimony, becauſe we know him to be a gentleman of good ſenſe and ſtrict veracity; and alſo free from enthuſiaſtic impreſſions, unleſs ſerious religion and experimental piety are ſo called, as we have melancholy occaſion to obſerve they often are. There appear to us plain marks of ſincerity and impartiality in the following account. And the ſame things have been reported to us by our Reverend brethren, of the like character, whom we know and correſpond with, in places where Mr. Whitefield hath viſited and preached in.
And as to his thoughts reſpecting the views of providence in raiſing up men of this ſtamp and ſpirit in our day, he expreſſes them with great modeſty and caution, and we cannot but apprehend they are countenanced from ſcripture, reaſon, and obſervation.
When God is about to carry on ſalvation-work with any remarkable ſucceſs, he will raiſe up ſuitable inſtruments to work by. He will form and ſpirit men for great and extraordinary undertakings when he has any great and extraordinary purpoſes to ſerve.
Thus when God's time for the great and good work of building the ſecond temple was come, Joſhua and others were animated to undertake it; and though they were men wondered at, for the warmth of their zeal and the boldneſs of their enterprize; that in the face of ſo many oppoſers and difficulties they ſhould undertake to rebuild the holy city and the temple; yet they were raiſed above all diſcouragements, and ſtood firm againſt all oppoſition, being fortified with a ſpecial promiſe of the Meſſiah, in whoſe ſtrength and by whoſe influence they ſhould be ſucceſsfully carried on in their work. Hear now, O Joſhua the high-prieſt, Thou and thy fellows that ſit before thee; for they are men wondered at: for I will bring forth my ſervant the branch. Behold, the ſtone that I have laid before Joſhua: Upon one ſtone ſhall be ſeven eyes. I will engrave the engraving thereof, ſaith the Lord of hoſts; and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. Zech. ii. 8, 9.
So when the goſpel-church was to be ſet up in the world, and the Gentile nations to be converted to the knowledge and faith of Jeſus, a dozen poor illiterate fiſhermen were endued with power from on high; and ſent forth to open men's eyes, to turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan to God. And in them was fulfilled that which is written, Pſalm viii. …. Out of the mouth of babes and ſucklings haſt thou ordained ſtrength, becauſe of thine enemies; that thou mighteſt ſtill the enemy and the avenger.
And when the church was overſpread with Popiſh darkneſs, ſuperſtition, and idolatry, and the Romiſh tyranny was at its very height*In the 16th century., it pleaſed God to enlighten ſome eccleſiaſtics gradually in the knowledge of his truth, and then animate and aſſiſt them to lay open the errors and corruptions of Popery, and boldly to aſſert and maintain the pure truths of the goſpel. Of this number were Zuinglius in Switzerland, and Luther in Germany; names that will be had in everlaſting remembrance in the records of the church.
The reſolute oppoſition that was made againſt them, and the contempt that was poured upon them, inſtead of cooling, inflamed their courage. The further ſearch they made into the depth of thoſe corruptions that had overſpread the church, the more light ſtill broke in upon them. They found its doctrines poiſoned with hereſy, and its worſhip corrupted with ſuperſtition and idolatry; and Chriſtianity grown very like to Paganiſm. Under this conviction they loudly called upon all that had any concern for their ſouls to go out of Babylon, as they would not be partakers of her plagues. And multitudes of people were influenced by their preaching and writings, to renounce the Romiſh doctrines and ſuperſtition; and many of the princes of Europe were inclined to favour and fall in with the Reformation.
As for Luther in particular, he was a wondrous man, and the almighty power of God was eminently manifeſted in him. When he firſt appeared, What could be expected from a poor friar, creeping out of a cloiſter? He was adviſed by his friends to get into his cell again, and to ply his prayers, and not venture upon ſo hazardous an undertaking, as to preach againſt the Pope, or attempt ſo impoſſible a work as the reformation. But not by might, nor power but by my Spirit, ſaith the Lord of hoſts.—This ſingle inconſiderable man was more than a match for the powers of Rome, and was inſtrumental to produce one of the greateſt changes the world has ever had to marvel at.
And when it pleaſes God to renew the face of religion; when primitive Chriſtianity, and the power of godlineſs, ſhall be revived in the reforming churches; when the profeſſors of the goſpel ſhall be recovered from the falſe principles they have embraced, raiſed above thoſe dead formalities they have ſo long reſted in, and awakened out of that lethargy they are fallen into; when theſe expected times of reformation ſhall come on, is it not reaſonable to ſuppoſe that God will raiſe up thoſe to effect it, whom he will furniſh with a good meaſure of the primitive apoſtolic ſpirit; whoſe hearts ſhall be inflamed with a burning zeal for the honour of the Redeemer, and love to the ſouls of men; and who ſhall therefore be willing to deny themſelves in theſe things … are dear to the moſt; ſhall not ſcruple to go out of the common road to ſpread the triumphs of the goſpel, and fetch in ſouls to Jeſus Chriſt; and will not be diſcouraged by any oppoſition they may meet with? Conſidering the preſent ſtate of things in the Chriſtian world, how can we expect any great change for the better, but in a way that ſhall be extraordinary.
And if there is any appearance of ſuch a work at any time, or in any place, ſurely we ſhould take care not to ſlight and undervalue it; much leſs ſhould we reproach and cenſure it, or thoſe who are uſed as inſtruments in it, ſo far as it ſeems to be from heaven, and further it with our prayers, as thoſe who are waiting for the kingdom of God.
We would therefore beſpeak the prayers of the faithful in Chriſt Jeſus, into whoſe hands theſe papers may come, both for our dear brother and the author of this diſcourſe; who is with great zeal contending for ſome important points of the faith once delivered unto the ſaints, againſt ſome who openly oppoſe them, and labouring to promote practical godlineſs, in the place where divine providence has appointed his preſent ſtation; that he may be aſſiſted and ſucceeded in all his faithful ſervices for the Redeemer's kingdom; and alſo for the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, that he may, (as he has well expreſſed himſelf in ſome of his letters to us) be kept humble and dependent on our dear Lord Jeſus; be preſerved in his travels, ſtrengthened to his uncommon labours, and fortified againſt all oppoſition: that Satan, (who cannot but have a peculiar enmity at thoſe who ſo ſet themſelves againſt his kingdom) may never get advantage of him, to the blemiſh or hindrance of the great and good work which we hope is begun and going on; that God will cauſe him always to triumph in Chriſt, while he makes manifeſt the favour of his knowledge by him in every place, and uſes him as an inſtrument to bring back many wandering ſheep to the Shepherd and Biſhop of their ſouls; and very particularly that his purpoſed coming to us, may be with as full a bleſſing of the goſpel of Chriſt as other places have experienced, and much more abundant by the will and grace of our God!
Boſton, N. E. June 7, 1749.
BENJAMIN COLMAN.
WILLIAM COOPER.
THE CHARACTER, PREACHING, &c OF THE REVEREND Mr. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, IMPARTIALLY REPRESENTED AND SUPPORTED.
JOB xxxii. 17.
I ſaid, I will anſwer alſo my part, I alſo will ſhew my opinion.
MY deſign from this text, is to ſhew my impartial opinion of that Son of Thunder, who has lately graced and warmed this deſk; and would have been an ornament, I think, …o the beſt pulpit in the province. Happy ſhall I think myſelf, if I can only clinch the nails, this great Maſter of Aſſemblies*That miniſters of the goſpel are called maſters of Aſſemblies See Paul's Annotations on Eccl. xii. 11. has already faſtened.—Like Elihu, the gallant youth before us, I am now full of matter; the ſpirit within me conſtraineth me: my belly is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burſt like new bottles, I will ſpeak that I may be refreſhed.—Others have freely ſpoken their ſentiments of the wondrous man before me; and I have heard the defaming as well as the applauſe of many.—I ſaid therefore, I will anſwer alſo my part, I will alſo ſhew my opinion—In this, I deſign no offence, nor would I give flattering titles to any man, leſt my Maker ſhould take me away.
The ſcheme propoſed is,
I. To ſhew my opinion of the doctrines he inſiſted upon, and well eſtabliſhed.
II. To ſpeak ſomething of the manner of his preaching.
III. To offer my ſentiments upon his perſonal character.
Laſtly, To give my thoughts, what Providence ſeems …o have in its view in raiſing up men of this ſtamp in our day, almoſt every where ſpoken againſt, yet crowded after and juſtly admired.
I. I ſhall give you my opinions of the doctrines he inſiſted upon among us.
To ſpeak more generally, They were doctrines, I am of opinion agreeable to the dictates of reaſon; evidently founded upon ſcripture; exactly correſpondent with the articles of the eſtabliſhment; of great uſe and neceſſity in forming the Chriſtian life; which I had early imbibed from the beſt writers and ſyſtems; from which I had never yet ſeen reaſon to recede, and which therefore you are witneſſes, I have not failed to introduce and inculcate, in the courſe of my miniſtry among you.
To be more particular;
One of the doctrines, which he has hardly paſſed over in ſilence in any ſingle diſcourſe, is that of original ſin. A truth ſo manifeſt in ſcripture, that I am almoſt of opinion, it is impoſſible any ſincere, diligent and unprejudiced inquirer ſhould miſs it: for it is written in ſun-beams that a man may run and read.
By original ſin I mean nothing leſs than the imputation of Adam's firſt ſin to all his poſterity by ordinary generation; which imputation is the reſultance of his being conſtituted to act for them in the extenſive capacity of a legal repreſentative; the conſequence of which is, that inherent corruption of … and thoſe ſinful propenſities, we are now born … into the world.—As to the point of imputation, it is a doctrine, it muſt be confeſſed, of more intricacy; about which, it is therefore poſſible, a well meaning man may labour under ſome ſcruples, while perhaps he allows of the depravity of human nature. Though I muſt beg leave to expreſs my ſurpriſe, that any perſon of judgment ſhould maintain this depravity, and not immediately diſcover its neceſſary connection with the imputation, and how impoſſible it is to ſecure the juſtice of God, without having recourſe to it: for certainly the corruption of human nature, ſo univerſal and inſeparable, is one of the greateſt puniſhments that could be inflicted upon the ſpecies; and that it is inflicted, appears from hence, that God made man at firſt upright. Now, if there be no previous imputation, to lay a legal foundation for this puniſhment, then God has inflicted an evident puniſhment upon a race of men, perfectly innocent, and which had neither ſinned perſonally, nor yet by imputation; and thus, while we imagine we honour the juſtice of God by renouncing imputation, we in fact pour the higheſt diſhonour upon that ſacred attribute—This, I fear, is the grand reaſon, why the adverſaries of original ſin labour ſo hard to explode the depravity of nature; for ſhould they once admit that, they are conſcious they muſt admit imputation too. I ſay, I fear this is the grand reaſon.—How elſe is it poſſible a man ſhould queſtion a truth, written in capitals upon the moral world? A truth, we feel in every power of our ſoul! what we read upon our own hearts; and is indeed ſtamped upon univerſal nature, within our horizon; and which the more righteous any man is, the more he feels and groans under.—We need not wonder then, our late incomparable preacher ſhould inſiſt upon original ſin, when we conſider, not only in what an inconteſtible manner he proved it, but of what vaſt importance it muſt be. For to give my opinion freely; I cannot think, I can ſee, how the Chriſtian ſcheme can be conſiſtent with itſelf, or ſupported with honour, without this baſis. I look upon it, not merely as a doctrine of the ſcriptures, the great fountain of truth, but a very fundamental one; from which, I hope, God will ſuffer none of you to be enticed, by any ſophiſtry of the ſubtle diſputers of this world, or charms of language.
But to proceed.—
Another doctrine we have lately had in the warmeſt language impreſſed upon us, is that Pauline one of juſtification by faith alone. And here you will remember, how the preacher vindicated himſelf from all ſuſpicions of Antinomian error, and opening a door to licentious manners: for while on the one hand, he earneſtly contended for our juſtification as the free gift of God, by faith alone, in the blood of Chriſt, an article of faith delivered to the ſaints of old; ſo on the other hand, he took ſpecial care to guard againſt the licentious abuſe of it, and would not make void the law, when he aſſerted that good works were the neceſſary fruits and evidences of true faith; telling us plainly, and with the cleareſt diſtinction, that a man was juſtified theſe three ways; meritoriouſly by Chriſt, inſtrumentally by faith alone, declaratively by good works. And believe me, my brethren, this is the true goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, and the writings of the apoſtles. For when Abraham believed God, was not it (his faith) imputed to him for righteouſneſs? And yet, was not Abraham our father juſtified by works, when he had offered Iſaac his ſon upon the altar! How ſhall we then reconcile this? Why very eaſily. The act of this … juſtified him through Chriſt, and the offering Iſaac juſtified that faith: the firſt in the ſight of God, the other in the ſight of man. In juſtification faith precedes, works follow after; for if works precede, or had any caſual influence into our juſtification, we might ſeem to have whereof to glory before God. But here, it is the free gift of God, and boaſting for ever excluded. God, when he juſtifies a man, never finds, but makes him holy; without any previous merit, of which there can be no ſhadow in an apoſtate creature. No; By grace ye are ſaved, through faith; and that not of yourſelves, it is the gift of God. And, could I live the moſt exact life ever man lived; could I even excel the virtues of the pious preacher himſelf; could I produce as many good works as the ſaints in all ages collected together; I would not for ten thouſand worlds put my juſtification upon them: I would only conſider them, as bright and pleaſant evidences of the truth of my faith in Chriſt. Good works are valuable things; God forbid we ſhould liſp a word againſt them, in their proper place; we plead for them, we preſs the practice of them, as incumbent upon all Chriſtians; but we cannot allow them any ſhare in our juſtification before God. They may prove we are juſtified; but they cannot juſtify us. No verily: Not by works of righteouſneſs which we have done, but of his own mercy, God ſaveth us.—Hitherto then, our preacher is othodox in his doctrine, which both excludes licentiouſneſs, eſtabliſhes the law, and exalts free grace; the evident deſign and language of the goſpel, and which, I am of opinion, every miniſter of Chriſt ſhould earneſtly contend for: becauſe the ſinner muſt firſt ſee himſelf naked, before he will come to Chriſt for his white raiment; the pure and fine linen, which is the righteouſneſs of the ſaints, and which I council you all to buy of him.
Regeneration was another great doctrine, which the excellent man much inſiſted upon; hardly a ſingle ſermon, but he mentioned it, ſometimes more than twice; and one, and perhaps the beſt of his diſcourſes was ex profeſſo upon this ſubject. Nor can any man be ſurpriſed, that a miniſter of the New Teſtament ſhould ſo heartily eſpouſe a principle, which our Lord himſelf began to ſpeak, and aſſerted as a fundamental point of Chriſtianity, indiſpenſibly requiſite to eternal life; and this with ſo much vehemency, and earneſt repetition. Verily, verily, I ſay unto thee, except a man be born again (from above) he cannot ſee the kingdom of God. He aſſures us, We muſt be born of water and of the Spirit. Our regeneration reſults in its neceſſity, from original ſin. They that are ſhapen in iniquity, and conceived in ſin, muſt be waſhed and cleanſed.—By which is not meant the mere forms and rites of baptiſm; not the waſhing away the filth of the fleſh, as the corrupt Phariſees might waſh their hands, and the outſide of the cup; but the anſwer of a good conſcience towards God, purged by the blood of Chriſt. For we can only be ſaved by the waſhing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoſt: the infuſion of a new life, a divine, heavenly and prolific principle. As we are by nature dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, God muſt quicken us by his Spirit, and through that we muſt mortify the deeds of the body, and crucify the fleſh with its luſts and affections. For until we know (until we feel the exceeding greatneſs of) the power of Chriſt's reſurrection, we have no part in him: we cannot enter into heaven; or if we ſhould, our firſt petition would be, to be diſchaged as ſoon as poſſible. Pleaſure is the reſult of harmony; the nature muſt agree with the object: there muſt be a great change upon the nature, to make us ſuſceptive of the pleaſures of God's preſence.—
Cavillers and ſcoffers, I know, there are enough, in theſe laſt days againſt this doctrine. Some maſter of Iſrael may aſk, How can theſe things be? Can a man when he is old enter a ſecond time into his mother's womb, and be born?—Who ever ſaid he could? Or what would it avail, if he ſhould? But I hope, there may be ſuch a thing as a ſpiritual birth, ſubſequent to the natural.—May we not be again begotten to a lively hope? May not God of his own will do it by his word and Spirit? And may we no… then become as little children and new born babes—Born not of blood nor of the will of man, nor of the will of the fleſh, but of God? Are we not told, in the moſt expreſs language,—that which is born of the fleſh, i… fleſh, and that which is born of the Spirit, is ſpirit? Are not here two births, one natural, the other ſpiritual?—I am really aſtoniſhed, any man ſhould read his Bible and his own heart, and be a ſtranger to this doctrine of the new-birth; without which all our boaſted morality, and ethical virtues, however ſplendid and …hetoricated upon, can never adorn us in the ſight of God, nor qualify us for his redeeming love.
True religion is an inward thing, a thing of the heart; it chiefly reſides there, and conſiſts in a right diſpoſition and ſanctified temper of the will and affections; and as we have been lately told, in righteouſneſs, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt. Which naturally introduces another doctrine, nearly allied to this, and which was very ſtrongly inſiſted on, viz.
The impreſſions or (which was the preacher's own phraſe) inward feelings of the Spirit. And here you remember how he guarded againſt the invidious cenſure, of aſſuming the character of an apoſtle.
He renounced all pretenſions to the extraordinary powers and ſigns of apoſtleſhip, gifts of healing, ſpeaking with tongues, the faith of miracles; things peculiar to the age of inſpiration, and extinct with them. He alſo allowed theſe feelings of the Spirit were not in every perſon, or at all times, in the ſame degree; and that though a full aſſurance were attainable, and what every one ſhould labour to attain, yet not of abſolute neceſſity to the being of a Chriſtian.—Only he aſſerted that we might feel the Spirit of God, in his ſanctifying and ſaving impreſſions, and witneſſing with our own ſpirits. And what is there in all this repugnant to reaſon! What is there in it, but what is perfectly agreeable to ſcripture! How can we be led by the Spirit, or have joy in the Holy Ghoſt, without ſome ſenſible perceptions of it?—Can I at any time feel my ſoul in ſacred raptures, burning with the love of God, and of Chriſt, and all my beſt paſſions alive? Can I feel a ſecret pleaſure in the word, ordinances, and communion of God? Can I taſte the powers of the world to come? Can I feel the threatnings of God impreſſed upon my conſcience, or promiſes of paradiſe working upon my hopes! Can I groan under the burden of my corruptions, or exult in the liberty of ſpirit, I may ſometimes have, in a calm and retired hour, in the meditation of my pardon, and the contemplation of heaven and immortality? I ſay, Can I have all theſe things in me, and do I feel them upon my ſoul, and yet this doctrine of feeling the Spirit be burleſqued and ridiculed, in an age of infidelity, and of men who love to ſpeak evil of the things which they know not? Indeed a ſinful and adulterous generation may ſeek after a ſign. But what ſign can we give them of things that muſt be known by being felt? Or what ideas can I convey of light to the blind, and of harmony to the deaf?—Let God touch their hearts as he has done ours, and they ſhall feel what we feel; and what I would not but feel, for millions of worlds. But till then it is impoſſible in nature to repreſent it, in a full adequate light to them; and they may as well aſk for mathematical demonſtrations in a point of pure morality. This is a doctrine, I have been acquainted with theſe many years; it is not new or ſurpriſing to me; you have heard me preach it ſcores of times, though perhaps, clothed in other expreſſions, and the influences of the Spirit, the impreſſions of grace. And however derided by ſome, who ſet up and careſs a ſyſtem of rational religion, I hope to have always enthuſiaſm enough to maintain that the Spirit of God may be felt.—To conclude this head, all the doctrines now mentioned, are primitive, proteſtant, puritanic ones; which our good fathers, conformiſts and diſſenters, have filled their writings with: and as Dr. Watts has well obſerved, They fill heaven apace, for God was with them.
Yet all that vaſt reverence, with which I heard theſe doctrines from the mouth of our famous preacher, could not win my applauſe or approbation of ſome few harſher epithets and expreſſions (you know what I mean) which dropt from his lips. Theſe in my opinion, may be pronounced failings; but ſuch as often attend a warm zeal for orthodoxy, in the points of the laſt importance; ariſe from a principle of conſcience, and are found interwoven with the brighteſt characters: and he that has none, let him caſt the firſt ſtone.
II. I ſhall next give you my opinion of the manner of his preaching.
And here I need not ſay, nor can my pen deſcribe his action and geſture, in all their ſtrength and decencies. He is certainly a finiſhed preacher, and a great maſter of pulpit oratory and elocution, while a noble negligence ran thro' his ſtyle. Yet his diſcourſes were very extraordinary when we conſider how little they were premeditated, and how many of them he gave us, the little time he was with us.— Many, I truſt, have felt, and will long feel the impreſſions of his zeal and fire, the paſſion and flame of his expreſſions: which were ſuch, that I cannot think my public character of him†South-Carolina Gazette, No. 107., in the leaſt exceeds the bounds of truth and ſtrict verity; only making that allowance for figures of ſpeech, which is always expected, upon extraordinary occaſions, and in the portraiture of great characters.
He appeared to me, in all his diſcourſes, very deeply affected and impreſſed in his own heart. How did that burn and boil within him, when he ſpake of the things he had made, touching the King? How was his tongue like the pen of a ready writer? touching as with a coal from the altar! With what a flow of words, what a ready profuſion of language, did he ſpeak to us upon the great concerns of our ſouls? In what a flaming light did he ſet our eternity before us? how earneſtly did he preſs Chriſt upon us? How did he move our paſſions with the conſtraining love of ſuch a Redeemer? The awe, the ſilence, the attention, which ſat upon the face of ſo great an audience, was an argument, how he could reign over all their powers. Many thought, He ſpake as never man ſpoke, before him. So charmed were people with his manner of addreſs, that they ſhut up their ſhops, forgot their ſecular buſineſs, and laid aſide their ſchemes for the world; and the oftener he preached, the keener edge he ſeemed to put upon their deſires of hearing … again!—How awfully, with what thunder and ſound did he diſcharge the artillery of Heaven upon us? And yet, how could he ſoften and melt even a ſoldier of Ulyſſes, with the love and mercy of God! How cloſe, ſtrong, and pungent were his applications to the conſcience; mingling light and heat, pointing the arrows of the Almighty at the hearts of ſinners, while he poured in the balm upon the wounds of the contrite, and made broken bones rejoice? Eternal themes, the tremendous ſolemnities of our religion, were all alive upon his tongue! So methinks (if you will forgive the figure) ſaint Paul would look and ſpeak in a pulpit, and in ſome ſuch manner, I have been tempted to conceive of a ſeraph, were he ſent down to preach among us, and to tell us what things he had ſeen and heard above!—How bold and courageous did he look? He was no flatterer, would not ſuffer men to ſettle upon their lees; did not prophecy ſmooth things nor ſow pillows. He taught the way of God in truth, and regarded not the perſon of men. The politeſt, the moſt modiſh of our vices he ſtruck at, the moſt faſhionable entertainments; regardleſs of every one's preſence, but his in whoſe name he ſpake, with this authority—He delivered his own ſoul, very ſharply rebuked our balls and midnight aſſemblies, that bane of all that is ſerious and religious: and I dare warrant, if none would go to theſe diverſions, till they have anſwered the ſolemn queſtions he put to their conſciences, our theatre would ſoon ſink and periſh.
You may be ſure I was not diſpleaſed with this part of his conduct, when I have ſo often myſelf mentioned theſe things, as of pernicious tendency to our morals, religion, and proſperity. And who can blame a miniſter's freedom and zeal; what hard meaſures, what cruel treatment would it be to cenſure our plainneſs of ſpeech; when our very commiſſion requires us to lift up our voice like a trumpet, to cry aloud, and not ſpare, to ſhew people their tranſgreſſions; and when the blood of your ſouls, the moſt inſupportable thing in the world, muſt be required at our hands, if we be afraid to warn! I am ſure, would people conſider this, and that we cannot poſſibly propoſe any temporal advantage to ourſelves, by ſtriking at the right eye, they would applaud, and not cenſure our warmth and freedom. I muſt tell you, over and over again, ſuch things are dangerous to your ſouls; this cannot conſiſt with your Chriſtian profeſſion and baptiſm; they tend to devour the ſeeds and weaken all the young ſprings of virtue, and to craze the moſt pious impreſſions.
But if the voice of miniſters cannot be heard, at leaſt let the circumſtances of our country, and the louder roarings of providence, awe and reſtrain us; for ſure I am it is now a time to mourn, and not to dance: and the ſcripture ſeverely threatens a people, that diſregarded the operations of God's hands.
III. I now proceed to ſhew my opinion of our preacher, in his perſonal character and behaviour.
Here I may take courage, and challenge his worſt enemies to lay any thing to the charge of his morals, or to arraign his ſincerity, ſo viſible in his whole deportment.
While he preaches up faith alone, in our juſtification before God, yet he is careful to maintain good works, and denying ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly. Theſe things the grace of God teacheth us; and how much of this doctrine has he tranſcribed into his life? How rich has he been in all good works? What an eminent pattern of piety towards God? How holy and unblameable in all converſation and godlineſs? How ſeaſoned, how much to the uſe of edifying, all his diſcourſes? How naturally does he turn them to religion? How much is he given to meditation himſelf, and how does he labour to excite it in others?
It is indiſputable with me that he affects no party religion, nor ſets himſelf at the head of any: had this been his aim, no man living has had fairer occaſions offered; but he abhors the ſpirit, he endeavours to ſuppreſs it. He is always careful to time his Sabbath diſcourſes, ſo as not to interfere with the ſtated hours of worſhip, in that church, of which he is a profeſſed member, and miniſter, and in the opinion of many people a very bright ornament; becauſe, as he told us, he would not tempt away hearers from their proper and reſpective paſtors. And is not this a noble and generous, a catholic and Chriſtian ſpirit! He is not bigotted to the modalities and leſſer rites and forms of religion, while zealous enough and very warm and jealous in all its eſſentials, eſpecially in the divine honours and godhead of his Saviour. He profeſſes love to good men of every denomination, and told us, that the kingdom of heaven conſiſts not of meats and drinks. He appears to me a man full of the Holy Ghoſt and of faith. Though his prayers, in this pulpit were all extempore, yet how copious, how ardent, with what compaſs of thought? The ſpirit of grace and ſupplication ſeemed to be poured out upon him in plenty, and to kindle and animate his devotions. He prays in public, with that ſpirit, variety, and fluency which could only be expected from a man, who was no ſtranger to the ſacred duty in private.—He lives much by faith, and above the world: deſpiſes preferments and riches; of which laſt, I am told, he has had great offers in Europe—His heart ſeems ſet upon doing good. He goes about his great Maſter's work with diligence and application; and with ſuch cheerfulneſs, as would make one in love with a life of religion, which has ſo many inward ſprings of the beſt comforts, and is not that gloomy, melancholy thing, which prejudice and imagination make it. He is proof againſt reproach and invective. When he is reviled, revileth not again, but prays heartily for all his enemies, and that ſuch as oppoſe the truth, may be converted to it. He profeſſes himſelf to lay down his life for Chriſt, and to ſpend and be ſpent in the ſervice of ſouls.—Such a man has all imaginable claim to our higheſt love and honour. I freely own he has taken my heart, and I feel his reproaches.—God ſeems to be with him of a truth; has ſet his ſeal upon him: his rod has budded, and he has many to whom he can ſay, Ye are my epiſtle. Wherever he has preached he has been thronged, and many have come to him pricked in their hearts, ſaying, What ſhall we do to be ſaved! He has put a new face upon religion, my letters inform me, in ſome populous cities and parts of our neighbouring continent; given new life to miniſters and people; made ſermons, once a drug, a vendible commodity among them; evening and weekly lectures are ſet up, and always crowded with perſons of different perſuaſions; while he has put a damp upon their polite diverſions, which always dwindle as Chriſtianity revives. Surely, no man could do theſe things, I had almoſt ſaid, theſe miracles, unleſs God were with him, who gives the increaſe, even when Paul plants, and Apollos waters. Had eccleſiaſtic preferments been his idol, fame and reputation his motive, as he has taken a prepoſterous way to acqiure them, ſo I can never ſuffer myſelf to think God would have owned him ſo viſibly, or given him ſo many ſeals of his miniſtry. Our Saviour himſelf makes good fruits the general characteriſtic of good miniſters. Ye ſhall know them by their fruits. Either the fruits and ſucceſs of their miniſtry, the deſign and tendency of their doctrines, or the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. And which of theſe have been wanting in this extraordinary man? Who can object againſt the tendency of his doctrines? And for ſucceſs, his enemies know it to their own confuſion. And who can ſay his life is unfruitful, or that he has appeared like an immoral man? He renders to all their due. While zealous for the things of God, he is a friend to Caeſar; a loyal ſubject to King George, heartily prays for him and his royal houſe; "May it abide before God!" A prayer, to which, I doubt not▪ you are all ready to ſay, Amen.
But to proceed with our character of the preacher, whom hath he wronged or defrauded? Whoſe ox or whoſe aſs hath he taken? Say, if any man hath found ought in his hands: ſo far from it, that he ſeems to live, not by bread alone, but by the word and promiſe of God; without taking thought for the morrow, what he ſhall eat, or drink, or put on.
And for charity, as it conſiſts in compaſſion and acts of beneficence, we have few men like minded. In this grand circle of practical religion, he ſeems to be a ſecond Job, as well as for patience; and deſerves a good report of all men, and of the truth itſelf. Had he been under any criminal influence of a mercenary, covetous temper, had he collected money for himſelf, in his journeying often, and itinerant preachings, under the pretext of doing it for the poor, as he was ſlanderouſly reported, he had certainly a fair opportunity to enrich himſelf. But we have ſeen a plain fact cannot be denied, that he caſt all into the treaſury, and ſerves the table of the poor with it.—Strolling and vagabond orphans, poor and helpleſs, without father, without mother, without purſe, and without friend, he ſeeks out, picks up, and adopts into his family: He is now building accommodations, and laying the beſt foundation for their ſupport and religious inſtruction, without any viſible fund; encouraged to go on in faith, from the ſhining example of the great profeſſor in Germany, who began a like pious work with almoſt nothing; and raiſed it to ſuch perfection, as is the wonder and aſtoniſhment of all that hear it. This is a ſacrifice well-pleaſing to God: The loins of the poor will bleſs him, the bleſſing of him that was ready to periſh, will come upon him!—He hath diſperſed abroad, he hath given to the poor; his righteouſneſs ought to endure, and be celebrated among us. After this, let none call him an uncharitable man: for what brighter evidence of pure religion than this, to viſit the fatherleſs in their affliction.
And permit me here, to join in my thanks to you, and the other charitably diſpoſed Chriſtian…, who have ſhown their bowels of mercy in the late very large collection*Six hundred pound…. for the orphan-houſe in Georgia. This is an honour to our whole town. And, believe me, you will never be a penny the poorer, for helping the poor; The… we have always with us, and inſomuch as we have … it unto …, we have done it unto Chriſt, and cannot fail of a reward; at leaſt the reflection we make upon it, on our laſt bed, will give us more ſatisfaction, than what we contribute to the ſupport of balls and aſſemblies of muſic, to the pride and luxuries of life; nor can it fail to occaſion many thankſgivings unto God.
I now proceed, under the laſt head, to give my opinion, what views providence may have in raiſing up men of this ſtamp, now among us.
And this I deſire to do with all humility and modeſty.
I pretend to no ſpirit of prophecy, and can only conjecture, and offer the reſult of obſervation, reaſon, and the uſual tendencies of things, corroborated by the great promiſes ſcattered up and down in our Bibles, wherein glorious things are ſpoken of thee, thou city of our God! The propheſies are uſually too dark and myſtic to be fully underſtood: the ſeals of that book are ſeldom broken, until the ſeveral periods of accompliſhment, which makes time the beſt and ſureſt expoſitor. But certainly; if we can diſcern the face of the ſky in the morning, we might make ſome humble and faint conjectures at the times, and ſeaſons, which the Father keeps in his own power. Now we are none of … ignorant, how far the primitive ſpirit of Chriſtianity has ſunk into a mere form of godlineſs. Irreligion has been ruſhing in, even upon the Proteſtant world like a flood: the deareſt and moſt obvious doctrines of the Bible have fallen into low contempt; the principles and ſyſtems of our good and pious fathers have been more and more exploded. And now, behold! God ſeems to have revived the ancient ſpirit and doctrines. He is raiſing up our young men, with zeal and courage to ſtem the torrent. They have been in labour more abundant; they have preached with ſuch fire, aſſiduity, and ſucceſs; ſuch a ſolemn awe have they ſtruck upon their hearers; ſo unaccountably have they conquered the prejudices of many perſons; ſuch deep convictions have their ſermons produced; ſo much have they rouſed and kindled the zeal of miniſters and people; ſo intrepidly do they puſh through all oppoſition, that my ſoul overflows with joy, and my heart is too full to expreſs my hopes. It looks as if ſome happy period were opening, to bleſs the world with another reformation. Some great things ſeem to be upon the anvil, ſome big prophecy at the birth: God give it ſtrength to bring forth! May he eſpecially water the good ſeed his ſervant has plentifully ſown among us; may we remember how we have heard, and hold faſt; may we cheriſh conviction; be fixed and rooted in our Chriſtian faith; not rebel againſt the light, nor make ſhipwreck at laſt, by the various winds of doctrine which are blowing upon us!
Thus have I anſwered for my part, and ſhown my opinion: I have done it in the integrity of my heart; I have deſigned no offence; only ſupported the doctrines and character of a preacher, which love and duty conſtrain me to honour and defend. while I preclude no man from ſhewing his opinion, who ſhall do it with the ſame impartiality.
THE PREFACE.
THE following SERMONS, I think I may ſay, were given me by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and according to my preſent light, are agreeable to the form of ſound words delivered to us in the lively oracles of God. They contain the ſum and ſubſtance, I will not ſay word for word, of what was delivered from the pulpit; for as I had no occaſion in America, Scotland, and England, to preach upon the ſame ſubjects, I was obliged, according to the freedom and aſſiſtance given me from above, to enlarge, or make excurſions, agreeable to the people's circumſtances amongſt whom I was preaching the kingdom of God. I had no leiſure or freedom to commit any of them to writing, but during my laſt voyage from America to England; nor do I expect to find leiſure to write down any freſh diſcourſes, till it ſhall pleaſe God that I embark again. May the Spirit of God, who delights out of the mouths of babes and ſucklings to perfect praiſe, bleſs them to every reader, and put it into their hearts to pray for their poor unworthy ſervant in Jeſus Chriſt,
GEORGE WHITEFIELD.