Wesley
A sermon on the death of the
Reverend George Shitef ield
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
SERMON
On the DEATH of the
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
PREACHED
At the CHAPEL in Tottenbam-Cburt-Kotid,
AND
At the TARERNACLE near Moorfidds,
On SUND LMBER 1 3, 1770.
By JOHN WESLEY, M. A.
Late FELLOW of Lincoln-College^ Ox;n : and
CHAPLAIN to the Right Honourable the Counted
Dowager of B U C PI A N.
2 S A M. xii. 23.
''fare ficuld I /?/// ? Can I
lack a~mn ? I jbiill go to him, ! . ?;;/ return to 71
LONDON:
by J. and W. ()i.i\
M.ncc.i.xx.
f Prcc SIX
*
N. B. This SERMON is entered
in the Hall-Book of the Company of
STATIONERS.
NUMBERS xxm. 10.
' \ I V\ t.
Let me die the death of the Righteous^ and Iff
my laft end be like his !
i. T E*T my la ft end be like his ! How many
*~* of you join in this wiih ? Perhaps
there are few of you who do not, even in this
numerous congregation. And O that this wifh
may reft upon your minds ! that it may not
die away till your fouls alfo are lodged where
the wicked ceafe from troubling, and where tbe
weary are at reft !
2. An elaborate expofition of the text, will
not be expected on this occafion. It would
detain you too long from the fadly-pleafing
thought of your beloved Brother, Friend, and
Paftor j yea, and Father too : for how many
are here whom he hath begotten in the Lord ?
Will it not then be more fuitable to your in-
clinations, as well as to this folemnity, directly
to fpeak of this Man of GOD, whom you have
fo often heard fpeaking in this place ? The end
ofwhefe converfation ye know, Jefus Chrift, the
fam-e yefterday, to-day , and for ever.
A 2 And
869795
4 A S E R M O N en tie
And may we not,
Firft, Obferve a few particulars of his life
and death.
Secondly, Take fome view of his character.
And,
Thirdly, Inquire how we may improve this
awful Providence, his fudden removal
from us.
1. i. We may, in the firft place, obferve a
few particulars of his life and death. He was
born at Gloucefter, in December, 1714, and put
to a Grammar - School there, when about
twelve years old. When he was feventeen he
began to be ferioufly religious, and ierved GOD
to the beft of his knowledge. About eighteen
he removed to theUniverfity, and was admitted
at Prcfo-College in Oxford. And about a
year after, he became acquainted with the
Methodijls (fo called) whom from that time he
toved as his own foul.
2. By them he was convinced, That we muft
be born again, or outward Religion will profit
us nothing. He joined with them in fading
on Wedncjdays and Fridays, in vifiting the fick
and the prifoners, and in gathering up the very
fragments of time, that no moment might be
loft \ and he changed the courfe of his fludies,
reading
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 5
reading chiefly fuch books as entered into the
heart of Religion, and led dire&ly to an expe-
rimental knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, and him
crucified.
3. Fie was foon tried as with fire. Not only
his reputation was loft, and fome of his deareft
friends forfook him , but he was exercifedwith
inward trials, and thofe of the fevereft kind.
Many nights he lay fleeplefs upon his bed -,
many days proftrate on the ground. But after
he had groaned feveral months under the fpirit
of bondage^ GOD was pleafed to remove the
heavy load, by giving him the Spirit of adop-
tion^ enabling him, through a living faith, to
lay hold on the Son of his love.
4. However, it was thought needful, for the
recovery of his health, which was much im-
paired, that he mould go into the country.
He accordingly went to Gloucejier, where GOD
enabled him to awaken feveral young perfons.
Thefe foon formed themfelves into a little
fociety, and were fome of the firll fruits of his
labour. Shortly after he began to read twice
or thrice a week to fome poor people in the
town, and every day to read to and pray with
the prifoners in the county goal.
5. Being now about twenty-one years of age,
he was folicited to enter into holy Orders. Of
this he was greatly afraid, being deeply fenfible
of his own iafufficicncy. But the Bilhop him-
fclf
6 A S E R M O N on tie
felf fending for him, and telling him, " Tho*
* I had purpofed to ordain none under three
" and twenty, yet I will ordain you whenever
" you come ;" and feveral other providential
circumftances concurring, he fubmitted, and
was ordained on Trinity-Sunday ', 1736. The
next Sunday he preached to a crouded auditory,
in the church wherein he was baptized. The
week following he returned to Oxford, and
took his Batchelor's degree. And he was now
fully employed, the care of the prifoners and
the poor lying chiefly on him.
6. But it was not long before he was invited
to London, to ferve the cure of a friend going
into the country. He continued there two
months, lodging in the Tower, reading prayers
in the chapel twice a week, catechizing and
preaching once, befide daily vifiting the fol-
diers in the barracks and the infirmary. He
allo read prayers every evening at Wappitig-
chapel, and preached at Ludgate-prifon every
Tuefday. While he was here, letters came
from his friends in Georgia, which made him
long to go and help them. But not feeing his
call clear, at the appointed time he returned
to his little charge atOx/W; where feveral
youths met daily at his room, to build up each
ether in their moft holy faith.
7. But
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 7
7. But he was quickly called from hence again,
to fupply the cure of Dummer in Hampjhire.
Here he read prayers twice a day, early in the
morning, and in the evening, after the people
came from work. He alfo daily catechized
the children, and vifited from houfe to houfe.
He now divided the day into three parts,
allotting eight hours for fleep and meals,
eight for ftudy and retirement, and eight for
reading prayers, catechizing, and vifiting the
people Is there a more excellent way for a
iervant of Chrift and his church ? If not, Who
will go and do likewife?
8. Yet his mind flill ran on going abroad.
And being now fully convinced he was called
of GOD thereto, he fet all things in order, and
in January 1737, went down to take leave of
his friends in Gloucefter. It was in this journey
that GOD began to blefs his miniftry in an un-
common manner. Wherever he preached,
amazing multitudes of hearers flocked toge-
ther, in Gkucefter^ in Stonehoufe, in Bath, in
Brijlol -, fo that the heat of the churches was
fcarce fupportable. And the impreflions made
on the minds of many, were no lefs extraor-
dinary. After his return to London, while he
was detained by general Oglethorpe, from week
to week, and from month to month, it pleafed
Gop to blefs his word ftill more. And he was.
inde-
3 A S E R M O N en tbe
indefatigable in his labour : generally on Sun-
day he preached four times, to exceeding large
auditories ; befide reading prayers twice or
thrice, and walking to and fro ten or twelve
miles.
9. On December 28 he left London. It was
on the 29th that he firft preached without
notes. December 30 he went on board -, but it
was above a month before they cleared the
land. One happy effect of their very flow
pafiage, he mentions in April following :
" Blefied be GOD, we now live very comfort-
" ably in the great cabbin. We talk of little
" elfe but GOD and CHRIST : And fcarce a
* word is heard among us when together, but
" what has reference to our fall in the firft,
" and our new birth in the fecond Adam" It
feems likewife to have been a peculiar Provi-
dence, that he mould fpend a little time at
Gibraltar ; where both citizens and foldiers,
high and low, young and old, acknowledged
the day of their vifitation.
10. From Sunday -, May 7, 1738, till the
latter end of Auguft following, he made full
^roof of his miniftry in Georgia, particularly at
Savannah : He read prayers and expounded
twice a day, and vifited the fick daily. On
Sunday he expounded at five in the morning ;
at ten read prayers and preached, and at three
in
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 9
in the afternoon : And at feven in the evening
expounded the church-catechifm. How much
cafier is it for our brethrert in the miniftry,
either in England, Scotland, or Ireland, to find
fault with fuch a labourer in our Lord's vine-
yard, than to tread in his fteps ?
1 1. It was now that he obferved the deplor-
able condition of many children here , and that
GOD put into his heart the firft thought of
founding an Orphan-Houfe : for which he de-
termined to raife contributions in England, if
GOD mould give him a fafe return thither. In
December following he did return to London :
and on Sunday, January the i4th, 1739, he was
ordained Prieft at Cbrift-Cburch, Oxford. The
next day he came to London again ; and on
Sunday the 21 ft preached twice. But though
the churches were large, and crouded exceed-
ingly, yet many hundreds flood in the church-
yard, and hundreds more returned home.
This put him upon the firft thought of preach-
ing in the open air. But when he mentioned
it to fome of his friends, they judged it to be
mere madnefs. So he did not 'carry it into
execution, till after he had left London. It was
on Wednefday, February 21, that finding all
the church-doors to be fhut in Brijtol, (befide
that no church was able to contain one half
t>f the congregation) ar three in the afternoon
B he
io A S E R M O N on tbe
he went to Kingfwood, and preached abroad, to
near two thoufand people. On Friday he
preached there to four or five thoufand , and
on Sunday to (it was fuppofed) ten thoufand.
The number continually increafed all the time
he flayed at Brifiol And a flame of holy love
was kindled, which will not eafily be put out.
The fame was afterwards kindled in various
parts of Wales, of Glcucefterfiire, and Worcefter-
Jhire. Indeed wherever he went, GOD abun-
dantly confirmed the word of his meflenger.
12. On Sunday, April 29, he .preached the
firft time in Moorfields, and on Kennington-
common. And the thoufands of hearers were
as quiet as they could have been in a church.
Being again detained in England from month
to month, he made little excurfions into feve-
ral counties, and received the contributions of
willing multitudes, for an Orphan-houfe in
Georgia. The embargo which was now laid on
the (hipping, gave him leifure for morejour-
nies, through various parts of England, for
which many will have reafon to blcis GOD to
all eternity. At length, on Auguft 14 he em-
barked. But he did not land in Penfyhania
till Oftober 30. Afterwards he went through
Penfyhania, the Jerftys, New york, Maryland,
Virginia, North and South Carolina, preaching
all along to immenfe congregations, with full
as
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 1 1
as great efFeft as in England \ on January 10,
1 740, he arrived at Savannah.
13. January 29 he added three defol ate or-
phans to near twenty which he had in his houfe
before. The next day he laid out the ground
for the houfe, about ten miles from Savannah.
February 1 1 he took in four orphans more, and
fet out for Frederica, in order to fetcli the or-
phans that were in the fouthern parts of the
colony. In his return he fixt a fchool, both
for children and grown perfons, at Darien^
and took four orphans thence. March 25 he
laid the firft ftone of the orphan-houie, to
which, with great propriety, he gave the name
of Betbefda , a work for which the children
yet unborn fhall praife the LORD. He had
now about forty orphans, fo that there were
near an hundred mouths to be fed daily. But
he was careful for nothing, cafting his care on
HIM vthofeedetb the young ravens that call upon
him.
14. In April he made another tour through
Penfyhania-i the Jerfeys, and Neiv-york. Incre-
dible multitudes flocked to hear, among whom
were abundance of Negroes. In all places the
greater part of the hearers were affecled to an
amazing degree. Many were deeply convinced
of their loit ftate ; many truly converted to
GOD. In fome places thoufands cried out
s 2 aloud i
12 A S E R M O N on tie
aloud , many as in the agonies of death , moft
were drowned in tears , Come turned pale as
death , others were wringing their hands j
others lying on the ground ; others finking into
the arms of their friends j almoft all lifting np
their eyes, and calling for mercy.
1 5. He returned to Savannah Jtme 5. The
next evening, during the public fervice, the
whole congregation, young and old, were dif-
folved in tears ; after fervice, feveral of the
parifhioners, and all his family, particularly
the little children, returned home crying along
the ftreet, and fome could not help praying
aloud. The groans and cries of the children
continued all night, and great part of the next
day.
1 6. In Auguft he fet out again, and through
various provinces came to Baft en. While he
was here, and in the neighbouring places, he
was extremely weak in body. Yet the multi-
tudes of hearers were Ib great, and the effects
wrought on them fo ai'cqnifhing, as the oldeft
men then alive in the town had never feen be-
fore. The fame, power attended his preaching
at Newr-yorkt particularly on Sunday^ November
2, almoft as foon as he began, crying, weep-
ing, and waiiinp;, were to be heard on every
fide. Many funk down to the ground, cut to
the heart : and many were filled with divine
confolation.
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 13
confutation. Toward the clofe of his journey
he made this reflection : It is the feventy-
" fifth day fince I arrived at Rhode-IJland, ex-
" ceeding weak in body. Yet Goo has enab-
" led me to preach an hundred and feventy-
" five times in public, befide exhorting fre-
" quently in private. Never did GOD vouch-
" fafe me greater comforts : Never did I per-
" form my journies with lefs fatigue, or fee
" fuch a continuance of the divine prefence
" in the congregations to whom I preached."
In December he returned to Savannah, and in
the March following arrived in England.
17. You may eafily obferve, that the pre-
ceding account is chiefly extracted from his
own Journals, which, for their artlefs and un-
affected fimplicity, may vie with any writings
of the kind. And how exact a fpecimen is this
of his labours both in Europe and America, for
the honour of his beloved Mafter, during the
thirty years that followed ! As well as of the
uninterrupted mower of bleflings wherewith
GOD was pleafed to fucceed his labours ! Is it
not much to be lamented, that any thing
mould have prevented his continuing this ac-
count, till at lead near the time when he was
called by his LORD to enjoy the fruit of his la-
bour ? If he has left any papers of this kind,
and his friends count me worthy of the honour,
it
, 4 A S E R M O N on the
it would be my glory and joy to methodize-,
tranfcribe, and prepare them for the public
view.
1 8. A particular account of the laft fcene of
his life, is thus given by a gentleman of Eoflon :
w After being about a month with us in Eofton
* fc and its vicinity, and preaching every day,
** he went to Qld-york, preached on Tburfday,
" September 27, there , proceeded to Portf-
*' mouthy and preached there on Friday. On
4t Saturday morning he fet out for Bofton ; but
" before he came to Newbitry* where he had
4t engaged to preach the next morning, he was
" importuned to preach by the way. The
" houfe not being large enough to contain the
" people, he preached in an open field. But
** having been infirm for feveral weeks, this fo
** exhaufted his ftrength, that when he came
" to Newbury^ he could not get out of the
" ferry-boat without the help of two men. In
* the evening, however, he recovered his
" fpirits, and appeared with his ufual chearful-
" nefs. He went to his chamber at nine, 'his
c fixt time, which no company could divert
" him from ; and ilept better than he had done
" for fome weeks before. He rofe at four in
" the morning, September 30, and went into
" hisclofet; and his 'companion obferved he
" was unufually long in private. He left his
" clofet,
Reo. Mr GEORGE WHITEF1ELD. 15
" clofet, returned to his companion, threw
' himfelf on the bed, and lay about ten mi-
*' nutes. Then he fell upon his knees, and
" prayed moft fervently to GOD, " That if it
" was confident with his will, he might that
" day finifh his Mafter's work." He then de-
' fired his man to call Mr PARSONS, the cler-
" gyman at whofe houfe he was : But in a mi-
" nute, before Mr PARSONS could reach him,
" died without a figh or groan. On the news
" of his death, fix gentlemen fet out for New-
" bury-) in order to bring his remains hither,
" but he could not be moved, fo that his pre-
" cious alhes muft remain at Newbury. Hun-
" dreds would have gone from this town to
" attend his funeral, had they not expected he
" would have been interred here. May this
" ftroke be fanctified to the church of GOD m
" general, and to this province in particular !"
II. i. We are, in the fecond place, to take
fome view of his character. A little fketch of
this, was foon after publifhed in the Bofton
Gazette : An extract of which is fubjoined :
" Little can be faid of him, but what every
" friend to vital chriflianity, who has fat un-
4 der his miniltry, will attefl. In his public
" labours he has for many years aftonifhed
< the world with his eloquence and devo-
" tion.
16 A SERMON on tie
" tion. With what divine pathos did he per-
" fuade the impenitent (inner to embrace the
" practice of piety and virtue ! Filled with the
" fpirit of grace, he fpoke from the heart, and
" with a fervency of zeal, perhaps unequalled
" fince the days of the apoftles, adorned the
" truths he delivered with the moil graceful
" charms of rhetoric and oratory. From the
* pulpit he was unrivalled in the command of
*' an ever-crowded auditory. Nor was he lefs
'* agreeable and inftrucYive in his private con-
" verfation : Happy in a remarkable eafe of
" addrefs, willing to communicate, ftudious to
" edify. May the rifing generation catch a
" fpark of that flame which fhone with fuch
diftinguifhed luftre in the fpirit and practice
" of this faithful fervant of the moil high
GOD ! "
2. A more particular, and equally juft
character of him, has appeared in one of the
Englijh papers. It may not be difagreeable to
you, to add the fubftance of this like wife :
" The character of this truly pious perfon,
" muft be deeply impreft on the heart of
" every friend to vital religion. In fpite of a
" tender and delicate conftitution, he con-
** tinued, to the laft day of his life, preaching
" with a frequency and a fervor that feemed
" to exceed the natural ftrength of the molt
robuit.
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 17
* robuft. Being called to the exercife of his
tc function at an age, when moft young men
" are only beginning to qualify themfelves for
" it, he had not time to make a very confider-
" able progrefs in the learned languages. But
" this defect was amply fupplted,jby a lively
" and fertile genius, by fervent zeal, and by
" a forcible and moft perfuafive delivery. And
" though in the pulpit he often found it need-
*' ful, by the terrors of the Lord toperfuade men y
" he had nothing gloomy in his nature, being
" fingularly chearful, as well as charitable
" and tender-hearted. He was as ready to re-
" lieve the bodily as the fpiritual neceffities of
" thofe that applied to him. It ought Slfo to
" be obferved, that he conftantly enforced
" upon his audience every moral duty, parti-
" cularly induftry in their feveral callings,
*' and obedience to their fuperiors. He en-
" deavoured, by the moft extraordinary ef-
'* forts, of preaching in different places, and
" even in the open fields, to rouf the lower
" clafs of people, from the laft degree of in-
" attention and ignorance, to a fenfe of reli-
" gion. For this, and his other labours, the
" name of GEORGE WHITEFIELD, will long be
" remembred with efteem and veneration."
3. That both thefe accounts are juft and im-
partial, will readily be allowed \ that is, as far
C as
j 8 A SERMON en the
as they go. But they go little farther than the
citt/ide of his character. They fhew you the
Preacher, but not the Man^ the Cbriftian, the
Saint of GOD. May I be permitted to add a
little on this head, from a perfonal knowledge
of near forty years ? Indeed, I am thoroughly
fenfible how difficult it is to fpeak on fo deli-
cate a fubject ; what prudence is required to
avoid both extremes, to fay neither too little,
nor too much ? Nay, I know it is impoffiblc
to fpeak at all, to fay either lefs or more, with-
out incurring from fome the former, from
others the latter cenfure. Some will ferioufly
think, that too little is faid , and others, that
it is too much. But without attending to this,
I will fpeak juft what I know, before HIM to
whom we are all to give an account.
4. Mention has already been made of his un-
paralleled Zeal, his indefatigable Attiinty, his
Tender-keartednefs to the afflicted, and Cbarita-
llenefs toward the poor. But mould we not
likewife mention his deep Gratitude^ to all
whom GOD had ufed as inftruments of good to
him ? Of whom he did not ceafe to fpeak in
the moft refpeftful manner, even to his dying
day. Should we not mention, that he had an
heart fufceptible of the moft generous and the
moft tender Friendjbip ? I have frequently
thought, that this, of all others, was the dif-
tinguifliing
Rev. Mr. GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 19
tinguifhing part of his character. How few
have we known of fo kind a temper, of fuch
large and flowing affections ? Was it not prin-
cipally by this, that the hearts of others were
fo ftrangely drawn and knit to him ? Can any
thing but love beget love ? This Ihone in his
very countenance, and continually breathed in
all his words, whether in public or private.
Was it not this, which, quick and penetrating
as lightning, flew from heart to heart ? Which
gave that life to his Sermons, hisConverfations,
his Letters ? Ye are witnefies.
5. But away with the vile mifconftruction of
men of corrupt minds, who know of no love
but what is earthly and fcnfuaL Beit remem-
bered, at the fame time, that he was endued
with the mod nice and unblemifhed wodejly.
His office called him to converfe very fre-
quently and largely, with women as well as
men ; and thofe of every age and condition.
But his whole behaviour toward them, was a
practical comment on that advice of St Paul
to Timothy, Intrcat the elder women as mothers,
the younger as fifters, with all purity.
6. Mean time, how fuitable to the friendli-
nefs of his fpirit, was \htfranknefs and opennefs
of his converfation ? Although it was as far
removed from rudenefs on the one hand, as
from guile and difguife on the other. Was not
c 2 this
20 A S E R M O N on the
this franknefs at once a fruit and a proof of
his courage and intrepidity ? Armed with thefc,
he feared not the faces of men, but ttfed great
flainnefs offpeech to perfons of every rank and
Condition, high and low, rich and poor ; en-
deavouring only by manifeftaticn of the truth, to
commend bimfelf to every man's conference in the
fight of God.
7. Neither was he afraid of labour or pain,
any more than of what man could do unto him^
being equally
*' Patient in bearing ill and doing well."
And this appeared in theJleaUintft wherewith;
he purfued whatever he undertook for his
Matter's fake. Witnefs one inftance for all, the
Orphan-houie in Georgia, which he began and
perfected, in fpite of all difcouragements. In-
deed, in whatever concerned himiclf, he was
pliant and flexible. In this cafe he was eafy to
le intreaied, eafy to be either convinced or per-
fuaded. But he was immpveable in the things
of GOD, or wherever his confcience was con-
cerned. None could perfnade, any more than
affright him, to vary in the leaft point from
that Integrity, which was infeparable from his
whole character, and regulated all his words
and actions. Herein he did
Stand
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 21
" Stand as an iron pillar rtrong,
" And ftedfaft as a wall of brals."
8. If it be inquired, What was the founda-
tion of this integrity, or of his fincerity, cou-
rage, patience, and every other valuable and ami-
able quality, it is eafy to give the anfwer. It
was not the excellence of his natural temper :
Not the ftrength of his underftanding : It was
not the force of education ; no, nor the advice
of his friends. It was no other than faith in a
bleeding LORD , Faith of the operation of God.
It was a lively hope of an inheritance incorruptible^
undefiledj and that fadeth not away. It was the
love of God foed abroad in his heart by the Holy
Ghoft, which was given unto him^ filling his foul
with tender, difinterefted love to every child of
man. From this fource arofe that torrent of
Eloquence which frequently bore down all be-
fore it : From this, that aftonifhing force of
Perfuajion^ which the moft hardened finners
could not refift. This it was, which often
made his head as waters^ and his eyes a fountain
of tears. This it was which enabled him to
pour out his foul in Prayer^ in a manner pecu-
liar to himfelf, with fuch fulnefs and eafc
united together, with fuch ftrength and variety
both of fentiment and expreffion.
9.1
2i A S E R M O N on the
9. I may clofe this head with obferving,
What an honour it pleafed GOD to put upon
his faithful fervank by allowing him to declare
his everlafting gofpel in fo many various
countries, to fuch numbers of people, and
with fo great an effect, on fo many of their
precious fouls ! Have we read or heard of any
perfon fince the apoftles, who teftified the gof-
pel of the grace of GOD, through fo widely
extended a fpace, through fo large a part of
the habitable world ? Have we read or heard
of any perfon, who called fo many thoufands,
fo many myriads of finners to repentance ?
Above all, have we read or heard of any, who
has been a blefied inftrument in his hand of
bringing fo many finners from darknefs to light*
find from the power of Satan unto God? It is
true, were we to talk thus to the gay world,
we mould be judged to fpeak as barbarians.
But you underftand the language of the country
to which you are going, and whither our dear
friend is gone a little before us.
III. But how mall we improve this awful
providence ? This is the Third thing which
we have to confider. And the anfwer to this
important queftion is eafy ; (may GOD write it
in all our hearts !) By keeping clofe to the
grand
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 23
grand doftrines which he delivered : And by
drinking into hisfpirit.
1. And firft, let us keep clofe to the grand
fcriptural do&rines, which he every where de-
livered. There are many doctrines of a lefs
efiential nature, with regard to which, even
the fincere children of GOD (fuch is the prefent
weaknefs of human underftanding !) are and
have been divided for many ages. In thefe we
may think and let think ; we may " agree to
" difagree." But mean time let us hold faft the
eflentials of the fat tb, which 'was once delivered
to the faints; and which this champion of GOD
fo ftrongly infifted on, at all times, and in all
places.
2. His fundamental point was, give GOD all
the glory of whatever is good in man. And
in the bufmefs of falvation, fet CHRIST as high,
and man as low as poffible. With this point,
he and his friends at Oxford^ the original
Methodijls (fo called) fet out. Their grand
principle was, there is no power (by nature)
and no merit in man. They infifted, All power
to think, fpeak, or ad righr, is in and from
the Spirit of CHRIST : And ail merit is (not in
man, how high foever in grace, but merely)
in the blood of CHRIST. So he and they
taught : There is no power in man, till it is
given him from above, to do one good work,
to
24 A S E R M O N on the
to fpeak one good word, or to form one good
defire. For it is not enough to fay, all men
zrcjick of Jin : No, we are all DEAD in trefpaffes
and Jim. It follows, that all the children of
men are by nature children of wrath. We are
z\\ guilty before God, liable to death temporal
and eternal.
3. And we are all helplefs, both with regard
to the power and to the guilt of fin. For who
can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? None
lefs than the Almighty. Who can raife thofe
that are dead, fpiritually dead in fin ? None
but He who raifed us from the duft of the
earth. But on what confideration will he do
this ? Not for works of righteoufnefs that we
lave done. The dead cannot praife thee, O Lord !
Nor do any thing for the fake of which they
fhould be raifed to life. Whatever therefore
GOD does, he does it merely for the fake of
his well-beloved Son : He was wounded for our
tranfgrej/ions, he was bruifed for our iniquities.
He himfelf lore all our fins in his own body upon
the tree. He was delivered for our offences, and
rofe again for our juftificatien. Here then is the
fole meritorious caufe of every blefiing we do
or can enjoy : In particular of our pardon and
acceptance with GOD, of our full and free juf-
tification. But by what means do we become
interested in what CHRIST has done and fuf-
fered ?
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 25
fered ? Not by works, Utt any man fhould boaft ;
but by faith alone. We conclude, fays the apof-
tle, that a man is jujlified by faith, without the
works of the law. And to as many as thus re-
ceive Him, giveth he power to become the fons of
God : Even to thofi that believe in his name,
who are born, not of the will of man, but of
God.
4. And except a. man be thus born again, be
cannot fee the kingdom of God. But all who are
thus born of the Spirit, have the kingdom of God
within them. Chrifl fets up his kingdom in
their hearts -, Righteoufnefs, peace, and joy in
the Holy Ghoft. That mind is in them, which
was in Chrijl Jefus, enabling them to walk as
Chrift alfo walked. His indwelling-Spirit makes
them both holy in heart, and holy in all manner
of converfa.tion. But ftill, feeing all this is a free
gift, through the righteoufnefs and blood of
CHRIST, there is eternally the fame reafon to
remember, He t'hat glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord.
5. You are not ignorant, that thefe are the
fundamental doctrines which he every where
infilled on. And may they not be fummed up,
as it were, in two words, The new birth, and
fuftification by faith ? Thefe let us infift upon
with all boldnefe, at all times, and in all
places : In public (thofe of us who are called
D thereto)
^6 A S E R M O N on tie
thereto) and at all opportunities, in private.
Keep clofe to thefe good, old, unfalhionable
doctrines, how many foever contradict and
blafpheme. Go on, my brethren, in the name
of the Lord) and in the po"j:er of his might.
With all care and diligence, keep that fafe
which is committed to y cur truft : Knowing that
heaven and earth Jhall pafs away ; but this truth
Jball not pafs away.
6. But will it be fufficient, to keep clofe to
his DoEfrir.eSi how pure foever they are ? Ts
there not a point of ftill greater importance
than this, namely, to drink into his Spirit ?
Herein to be a follower of him, even as he was
of Cbrift ? Without this, the purity of our
doctrines, would only increafe our condemna-
tion. This therefore is the principal thing, to
copy after his fpirit. And allowing that in
fome points, we muft be content, to admire
what we cannot imitate ; yet in many others
we may, through the fame free grace, be par-
takers of the fame blefiing. Confcious then
of your own wants, and of his bounteous love,
who giveth liberally and upbraideth not, cry to
Him that worketh all in all, for a meafure of
the fame precious faith : of the fame zeal and
activity, the fame tender-heartednefs, charita-
blenefs, bowels of mercies. Wreftle with GOD
for fome degree of the fame grateful, friendly,
affectionate temper; of the fame opennefs, fim-
plicity,
. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 27
plicity, and godly fincerity, Lcve without dijjlmu-
latien. Wreftle on, till the Power from on high
works in you the fame fteady courage and pa-
tience : And above all, becaufe it is the crown
of all, the fame invariable integrity.
7. Is there any other fruit of the grace of
GOD, with which he was eminently endowed,
and the want of which among the children of
GOD he frequently and paffionately lamented ?
There is One, that is, Catholic love: That fincere
and tender affection, which is due to all thofe,
who, we have reafon to believe, are children of
GOD by faith : In other words, all thofe in
every perfuafion, who fear God and work righ-
teoufnefs. He longed to fee all who had taftcd
of the good word, of a truly c atholic fpirit, (a
word little underftood and ftill lefs experienced
by many, who have it frequently in their
mouth.) Who is he that anfwers this charac-
ter ? Who is a man of a catholic Spirit ? One
who loves as friends, as brethren in the LORD,
as joint partakers of the prefent kingdom of
heaven, and fellow-heirs of his eternal king-
dom, all of whatever opinion, modeofwor-
(hip, or congregation, who believe in the LORD
JESUS-, who love GOD and man , who rejoic-
ing to pleafe, and fearing to offend GOD, are
careful to abftain from evil, and zealous of
good works. He is a man of a truly catholic
5 * f
D 2 fpint,
28 A S E R M O N en the
fpirit, who bears all thefe continually upon his
heart : Who having an unfpeakable tenderneis
for their perfons, and an earneft def?re of their
welfare, does not ceafe to commend them to
GOD in prayer, as well as to plead their caufe
before men : Who fpeaks comfortably to them,
and labours by all his words, to flrengthen their
hands in GOD. He afiifts them to the utter-
moft of his power, in all things, fpiritual and
temporal. He is ready to fpend and to be /pent
for them ; yea, to lay down his life for his
brethren.
8. How amiable a character is this ? How
defifable to every child of GOD ! But why is
it then fo rarely found ? How is it, that there
are fo few inftances of it ? Indeed, fuppofing
we have tafted of the love of GOD, how can
any of us reft, till it is our own ? Why, there
is a delicate device, whereby Satan perfuades
thoufands, that they may flop fhort of it, and
yet "be guiltlefs. It is well, if many here pre-
fent are not in thisfnare of the devil, taken cap-
tive at his will. " O yes, fays one, I have all
" this love for thofe I believe to be children of
" GOD. But I will never believe, he is a child
" of GOD, who belongs to that vile congrega-
" tion ! Can he, do you think, be a child of
'' GOD, who holds fuch det eft able opinions?
** Or he that joins in fach fenfelefs and fuper-
" ftitious,
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 19
ftitious, if not idolatrous worjhip ? " So
we juftify ourfelves in one fin, by adding a fe-
cond to it ! We excufe the want of love in
ourfelves, by laying the blame on others. To
colour our own devilifti temper, we pronounce
our brethren children of the devil. O beware
of this ! And if you are already taken in the
fnare, efcape out of it as foon as pofilble. Go
and learn that truly catholic love, which is not
rafh or bafty in judging : That love which
thinketb no evil, which believe th and hopetb all
things : Which makes all the allowances for
others, that we defire others mould make for
us. Then we mall take knowledge of the grace
of GOD, which is in every man, whatever be
his opinion or mode of worfhip. Then will all
that fear GOD be near and dear unto us, in the
bowels ofjefus Chrift.
9. Was not this the fpirit of our dear friend ?
And why mould it not be ours ? O thou GOD
of love, how long mail thy people be a by-
word among the heathen ? How long mall they
laugh us to fcorn, and fay, " See how tbefe
" Chriftians love one another ? " When wilt
thou roll away our reproach ? Shall tbefword
devour for ever? How long will it be, ere tbou
bid thy people return from following each other?
Now at leaft, let all the people fland JHll^ and
purfue
30 A S E R M O N on tie
purfue after their brethren no more ! But whatr
ever others do, let all of us, my brethren, hear
the voice of him that being dead, yet fpeaketh !
Suppofe ye hear him fay, " Now at leaft, be
" ye followers of me as I was of Chrift ! Let
" brother no more lift up fword againft brother,
#/j
" on, as the eleft of God, bowels of mercies,
" humblenefs of mind, brotherly kindnefs, gen-
" tlenefs, kng-fuffering, forbearing one another
" in love. Let the time paft fuffice for ftrife,
* c envy, contention -, for biting and devouring
" one another. Blefied be GOD, that ye have
* not long ago been confumed one of another !
" From henceforth hold ye the unity of the
" Spirit in the bond of peace "
10. O GOD, with thee no word is impofil-
ble : Thou doft whatfoever pleafeth thee ! O
that thou wouldft caufe the mantle of thy pro-
phet, whomthou haft taken up, now to fall upon
us that remain ! Where is the Lord God of Eli-
jah ? Let \\isfpirit reft upon thefe thy fervants !
Shew thou art the GOD that anfwereft by fire !
Let the fire of thy love fall on every heart ! And
becaufe we love thee, let us love one another
with a loveftronger than death. 'Take away from
us all anger, and wrath, and bitternefs -, all cla-
mour, and evil-freaking. Let thy Spirit fo reft
upon
Rev. Mr GEORGE WHITEFIELD. 3 1
upon us, that from this hour, we may be kind
to each other, tender-hearted : Forgiving one ano-
ther, even as God, for CbrijFs fake, hath for-
given us!
An
HYMN.
i.
SE R V A N T of GOD, well done !
Thy glorious warfare's paft,
The battle's fought, the race is won,
And thou art crown'd at laft ;
Of all thy heart's defire
Triumphantly pofleft,
Lodg'd by the minifterial quire
In thy Redeemer's breaft.
II.
In condefcending love
Thy ceafelefs prayer He heard,
And bad thee fuddenly remove,
To thy complete reward :
Ready to bring the peace,
Thy beauteous feet were (hod,
When mercy fign'd thy foul's releafe
And caught thee up to GOD.
III. With
32 An H Y M N.
in.
With faints inthron'd on high
Thou doft thy Lord proclaim,
And ftill to Godfalvation cry,
Salvation to the Lamb !
O happy, happy foul !
In extacies of praife,
Long as eternal ages roll,
Thou ieeft thy Saviour's Face.
m
Redeem'd from earth and pain,
Ah ! when (hall we afcend,
And all in JESUS' prefence reign
With our tranflated Friend !
Come, Lord, and quickly come !
And when in Thee complete,
Receive thy longing fcrvants home,
To triumph at thy feet !
FINIS,
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
Los Angeles
Thisbook is DUE on the last date stamped below.
WCV6 1957
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