The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 2 (of 6)

I Thank you for your kind letter. It bespoke the language of an honest heart. If I am not mistaken, your name is Nathaniel. This is what I fain would be, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no allowed guile. Such will Jesus guide in his way. I therefore have no doubt of your receiving a blessing, a blessing, in what you intend doing next Christmas. You have openly called Jesus and his disciples to the marriage: and such proceedings are always owned of God, whilst contrary methods are as surely either blasted or embittered by him, who loves a single eye and an upright heart. You will remember me kindly to Mrs. H——, and all that love the blessed Jesus in sincerity. I desire to be thankful for the favour that was left behind a preached gospel. It is the Lord’s doings. Let us continue praying, and we shall yet see far greater things than these. You do well to meet at Rotheram. My cordial salutations, attend Mr. C——, Mr. H——, and their respective families. May the Lord bless them, as he did the house of Obededom, for the ark’s sake! My advice is, quit yourselves like men, and be strong. If our Lord shall open a door, I fully purpose to have another stroke at Satan’s strong-holds in R——. Jesus can and will make us more than conquerors over all. Blessed be his name for leading you, my dear friend, more and more into the knowledge of his divine, compleat, and everlasting righteousness. That is a rock against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. If we have a mind to go pleasantly to Canaan, we must lean, not on our frames, not on a stock received, but on our Beloved. Looking to him is the only way of being saved from every evil that annoys and disturbs us. It is his blood, sprinkled by the blessed Spirit upon the conscience, and that alone, which cleanseth from all sin. Whatever, therefore, you want, go to Jesus: that is his name. And why? Because he is to save his people from their sins. And what amazing grace is it, that we should be in the number of his people? Surely that God-exalting, that self-abasing expression, “Why me, Lord, why me?” should always be in the mouth of one redeemed of the Lamb. But I must stop, though with regret. Whilst I am writing the fire kindles. I beg all your prayers;—no one wants them more. My wife returns her love. I believe good Lady H—— hath no place suitable for the person you mention. Why should she fly from her cross? Sometimes we do best when surrounded by enemies: they keep us upon our watch. Jesus is able to preserve us, though in a burning bush. To his never-failing mercy do I commend you all, and am, dear Sir,

YOUR kind letter almost made me to blush. I little thought, when I left N——, that you should have written first; but I have been so engaged since I came to town, that I could not well write to you before now. However, you have generally been in my thoughts; and I have not failed to remember you before him, who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to the Father in and through him. I see you are still under the rod, and I trust are enabled to kiss the hand that holds it. These afflictions, at present are not joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, through these many tribulations, we shall at length enter into eternal glory. By doing, or suffering, or by both, our active and passive graces must be kept in continual exercise. Your sufferings are of a peculiar nature; peculiar grace shall be given under, and a peculiar conquest granted over them. Look, my dear Sir, not to the Mysticks, but to Jesus. Indeed, his righteousness is the only rock on which you can build any solid comfort. In this, and in this only are you compleat. This is the only breast-plate; and faith in this, a true, living, operative faith in this, is the only shield whereby the believer will be enabled to repel all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Thanks be to God, who hitherto hath given you to triumph, hath raised you from a bed of sickness, and set you on a throne, I mean your pulpit again. May the glorious Emmanuel enable you to speak from thence both to him and his people, as becometh the lively oracles of God. I find Satan does all that he can to prevent your using your pen. The Lord will rebuke him in due time, and cause it yet to become the pen of a ready writer. I am glad you have opened a correspondence with our elect Lady. Keep it open I entreat you, my dear friend, and be not nimis nullus. Alas! if differences of every kind were to hinder any one, surely I must be the man. But in Jesus is my strength found; and as my day is, so he causes my strength to be. Thanks be to his holy name, we have seen his outgoings frequently of late in London. His glory hath filled the Tabernacle, and many have been brought under fresh concern for their souls. I shall be glad to hear that Dr. S—— hath begun to speak for the Lord. But what can be done, till we are delivered from worldly hopes and worldly fears? Perfect, unfeigned love to the blessed Jesus, can only expel these. That your dear soul may constantly overflow with it, and that you may increase with all the increase of God, is the earnest prayer of, my very dear Mr. H——,

IF you was rejoiced in hearing from me, I can assure you, I was delighted, when I received letters from my dear Maryland and Bohemia friends. Upon reading them, I hoped that our Lord was purging you, that you might bring forth more fruit to his glory. I hope you have found it a sanctifying rod, and that it hath only whipped you so much nearer to the ever-blessed Lamb of God. Now, my dear Sir, now is the time to shew your gratitude; now is the time to begin steadily to pursue the one thing needful. What avail the many things of this poor transitory world, in a sick and dying hour? Alas! they are nothing, and less than nothing. Jesus alone is all in all. He is the pearl of great price, which a wise merchant will gladly sell all to purchase. It is worth all, or worth nothing. O when shall it once be, that the children of this world shall not be wiser in their generations than the children of light! I trust my dear Mr. B—— will labour to fulfil this wish, and with full purpose of heart cleave unto his once dying, but now risen, ascended, and interceding Lord. When shall I love him more; when shall unworthy I serve him better? My obligations to do so, are increasing every moment. This last fall has been a glorious seed-time indeed. I have been in six or seven Northern counties, and thousands and ten thousands flocked to hear the word. I am now in my Winter quarters. Our Lord is pleased to bow the heavens, and come down amongst his people. His glory fills the Tabernacle, and the shout of a king is heard in our camp. I wish I could hear of the revival of God’s work among you. Let us pray, and not faint. You know who has commanded us to let him have no rest till Jerusalem be made a praise through the earth. Methinks I wish the months may fly away, wherein I am detained from coming to my dear America again. I entreat you to pray me over, and then I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace. The glorious Jesus deals bountifully with me here. I am better in health, than I have been some years.—My wife hath much improved in hers, since her arrival in her native country. She joins in sending most affectionate respects. Pray remember us to all in the tenderest, and most endearing manner; and believe me to be, my very dear Mr. B——,

YOUR Ladyship’s letter gave me uncommon joy. I cannot help being delighted, when any thing I write gives your Ladyship any peculiar satisfaction. The inclosed I immediately shewed to Colonel G——, who was very glad, but is still concerned because he does not hear from your Ladyship; and on Saturday, God willing, I shall read it to Lady H—— and Mrs. K——. At that time, I am to give them the holy sacrament. Last Saturday I prayed with them; and in conversation, an aged gentlewoman was struck: I shall see how the physic works next visit. Thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit has not done striving with sinners. I have had glorious accounts of the success attending the word in my last Northern circuit. Three or four fresh instances of conviction and conversion I have heard of here, within these few days. Whatever seems worthy of your Ladyship’s notice shall be sent. I wish I knew how a parcel might be best conveyed to your Ladyship. If your Ladyship remembers, last Winter application was made in behalf of one Hill, a Corporal. O that I could do any thing to express my gratitude to your Ladyship and honoured sisters. In public and private you have my prayers, which I trust will enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. I think your Ladyship hath great encouragement to go on, striving to win souls to the blessed Jesus. Mrs. T—— is another jewel in your Ladyship’s crown. May the glorious Emmanuel add daily to the number of them! We have golden seasons here. Poor Mr. H—— was quite revived with your Ladyship’s letter. He is under the cross indeed. I am ashamed to think how little I do or suffer for Jesus Christ. Next Saturday I am thirty-five years old; fy upon me, fy upon me! I beg the continuance of your Ladyship’s prayers, that I may now begin in earnest to glorify my blessed Master. Nothing else can satisfy, honoured Madam,

IF this finds you in the land of the living, or rather this land of the dying, it comes to assure you that your dear letter and the other letters received from your dear family, gave me great satisfaction. Blessed be God, even the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for wounding and healing. This is his way. He wounds, in order to heal, and in the midst of judgment remembers mercy. Surely he is good in holding your soul in life, and being so much a staff to you in your old age. He has been a promise-keeping God. He has not forsaken you when grey-headed, and when your natural strength must necessarily begin to fail you. Though it is cruel to hope you will be kept out of heaven so long, yet who knows, but I may see you, dear Madam, on this side eternity. God willing, I purpose to embark some time next year without fail. The infinitely condescending Redeemer vouchsafes to crown my labours with great success; but in the midst of all, America, dear America, is not forgotten by me. Your family is peculiarly dear. I look upon you as my mother, and on your children as my brethren and sisters. I have lately been in Yorkshire, where I saw a widow, whose husband lately died in triumph, and who has five sons and one daughter all walking in the love of God. Let this strengthen your faith, dear Madam, and encourage you to hope that you shall still see the travail of the Redeemer’s soul in the salvation of all your children, and be satisfied. The Lord’s Spirit seems still to be striving with them; and I trust he will not let them go, till they are enabled to give him spirit, soul, and body to be sanctified throughout. My poor prayers shall not be wanting. We often think and talk of you. My wife, with me, sends you and yours a thousand thanks for all your kindnesses. We are both pretty well, and have the satisfaction of seeing the glory of the Lord manifested in the great congregation. O what a blessed master is Jesus Christ. I am just now come to my thirty-fifth year of age. I blush and am confounded, when I think for what little purpose I have lived. It is time now to begin to do something for Him, who has done and suffered so much for me. I beg, dear Madam, you will pray for me while life lasts. I am the chief of sinners, less than the least of all saints; but for Christ’s sake under manifold obligations to, and am, dear Madam,

I Have been quite uneasy because your things have not been sent. The woman that was to procure them disappointed me. I hope you will not miss of them another week. Pray be not uneasy. I should never forgive myself, was I by my negligence, or any wrong conduct, to give you a moment’s needless pain. To-morrow will be thirty-five years since you brought unworthy me into the world. Alas! how little have I done for you, and how much less for Him who formed me, and has heaped innumerable mercies upon me ever since I was born. O that my head was water, and mine eyes fountains of tears, that I might bewail my barrenness and unfruitfulness in the church of God! By his grace, I hope now to begin to work for Him, who stretched himself on the cross, and groaned and died for me. His care for his tender mother, excites me to wish I could do any thing for you. This is my comfort, I hope you want for nothing. Thanks be to the Lord of all lords for his goodness to you in your old age! I hope you comfort yourself in him, who I trust will be your portion for ever. After Christmas I hope to see you. My wife sends you her most dutiful respects. If you would have any thing brought more than you have mentioned, pray write to, honoured mother,

I Received your letter, and had thoughts of writing to you before it came; but had forgotten your name, and knew not how to direct. I rejoice that any good impressions have been made upon your heart by the blessed Spirit, under my poor unworthy administrations. I hope this will find you coming up out of the wilderness, leaning upon your beloved. You know whom I mean. It is the ever-loving, altogether lovely Jesus, even he who hath loved and given himself for you. I know his love will constrain you to give yourself, even your whole self to him in return. This is all he requires, “Give me thy heart.” Amazing! Who can help echoing back, “My heart, Lord Jesus, will I give.” But we must give it him as it is. We must come as poor, to be made rich, naked, to be cloathed, and miserable, to be made happy. O glorious exchange! precious redemption! May the Lord Jesus shed a sense of it abroad abundantly in your heart by the Holy Ghost! It is he that must apply, and bring home what Christ has done and suffered for our souls; and when this is done, the kingdom of God is erected in our hearts, and it is our privilege to go on from strength to strength, till grace is swallowed up in endless glory. This I hope, dear Madam, you will find true by happy experience. Your business is to look up continually to the Lord Jesus, not only as the author, but also as the finisher of your faith. This will strengthen you under every weakness, and in the end make you more than conqueror over all. Your concern for Mr. B——, the Redeemer takes kind at your hand. Fear not, only believe. Press him with arguments, and God with prayers. And who knows but ere long your husband may draw in the same yoke, and you may live together as heirs of the grace of life. All things are possible to that Jesus, who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to the Father in and through him. To his tender never-failing mercy do I commend you, and am, dear Madam,

WILL your Ladyship and honoured sister be pleased to accept, though late, my most hearty and grateful acknowledgments for all the kindnesses you conferred on me when at A—— place. They are noted in his book, who has promised, “That a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose its reward.” What a beneficent master does the christian serve! Who would but be his disciple, whose service is perfect freedom here, and who hath reserved in heaven a crown of glory for those that love him hereafter? I thank him ten thousand times for calling unworthy me to embark in his blessed cause! It is indeed a cause worth embarking in. It gives me great Pleasure to think, that some poor souls at A—— are under awakenings, and seem inclined to list under the Redeemer’s banner. Your Ladyship and honoured sister, I trust, will now have repeated opportunities of seeing not only how Jesus receives publicans and sinners, but also how the Spirit of God strips the Pharisee of his pitiful fig-leaves, hunts him out of the trees of the garden (I mean his own tinsel performances), brings him naked to the bar, makes him see himself on a level with the worst of sinners, and then sweetly reveals unto him a saviour. Thanks be to God, I have had some blessed instances of this very lately; especially a boatswain of a ship, who a few weeks ago knew no more of the corruption of his nature, and the righteousness of Christ, comparatively speaking, than the whistle he used to make use of on board ship; but now hath undergone a wonderful change. What cannot grace do? Honoured Madam, I could say much of it, was I not afraid of being tedious. I hope your Ladyship will not be offended at my presenting you with Bishop Hall’s works. I thought your Ladyship and honoured sister might now and then like to read one of the contemplations, which, in my opinion, are very delightful. That both you and her Ladyship, and every branch of your noble family, may be every moment under the guidance and direction of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, is the earnest prayer of, honoured Madam,

THOUGH I am really very much busied, yet I cannot help complying with your request, lest it should be any disappointment. I love you in the bowels of Jesus Christ, and earnestly pray our common Head, that you may be a scribe more and more instructed to the kingdom of God, and out of the good treasure of your heart, bring forth things new and old, for the Redeemer’s people. The more you are acquainted with, and see your compleatness in him, the more you will long after an entire conformity to him, and apply with greater boldness for fresh supplies of life and strength. His faithfulness must make us faithful. He must be the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. When we are once taught this, not notionally, but by the Spirit of God, then we shall go on our way rejoicing, and experience the glorious liberty of the children of God. Thanks be to his name for enlightening you into these truths; but I love to see the Lord Jesus bringing this about in his own way and time. He gives us glorious seasons here. Yesterday was a blessed Letter day. These verses were sung for you, &c.

May God bless you among the students! Their names are Legion. He that catches one of them, catches many at once. We have blessed seasons here. I have good news from Virginia. I hear every day of fresh persons lately brought under conviction. A learned gospel minister, who was lately turned out for the sake of Jesus, I believe will be up here soon. Grace! grace! The more we are cast out, the more will Jesus come in unto us. You must remember me to all. Want of leisure, not of love, prevents my writing. I have frequently scarce time to eat bread: and little of that serves me. But Jesus is the bread of life. Whilst his servants feed others, he feasts them. Do you not find this true by happy experience? I know you do. Go on, press forward, dear Sir, and you shall find it more and more. Excuse this hasty scribble. I hope to answer Mr. N—— shortly. My wife joins in cordial salutations to all, with, reverend and dear Sir,

LETTER DCCCIV.

To the Rev. Mr. C——.

London, Jan. 3, 1750.

My dear Friend,

YOUR letter surprized me; but benefacere & male pati hoc vere christianus est. If your friend does not hurt himself, he is in no danger from me. I think sometimes of Joseph; He that appeared for him, will in time appear for me, and plead my injured cause. But all is well. The returns I have hitherto met with, shall not discourage me, or at least make me to give over and cease from serving you and yours. Mr. L—— sends me dreadful news from Cork. B—— is there again, making havock of the people. Mr. H—— expected to be murdered every minute some time ago. I have been with some, who will go to the Speaker of the House of Commons, and represent the case. I hope I have but one common interest to serve; I mean, that of the blessed Jesus. O for simplicity, and godly sincerity! Our Lord abhors guile in all shapes, and sooner or later it will meet with its own reward. I am glad you are supported—Our Lord is a ready help in time of need. We have golden seasons here. Grace! grace! I wish you and yours a happy new year, and am,

Yours most affectionately in our common Lord,

G. W.

LETTER DCCCV.

To Lady H——n.

London, Jan. 6, 1750.

Honoured Madam,

THE inclosed letters came to hand on Monday last, as a new-year’s-gift. As they bring such good news, I must communicate them to your Ladyship. The first writer is a Virginia planter, at whose house I lay, and who with some other gentlemen asked me to play a game at cards: I refused, and retired to pray for him. His present wife is my spiritual child. The letters will shew how God was pleased to answer our prayers. This, and other things I meet with, more and more convinces me, that a liberty to range and publish the gospel wherever providence shall call me, is what I am to maintain and preserve. Mr. A—— abides still, and as far as I can judge, disinterested. Blessed be God for stripping seasons! I would not lose the privilege of leaning only upon the Lord Jesus for thousands of worlds. He alone can make me happy, and he alone without foreign assistance can bless; and blessed be his name, he daily makes me so. He has been pleased to remove in some degree the pain of my breast, and gives me to determine more and more, that every breath I draw by divine assistance shall be his. I thank him ten thousand times that your Ladyship is so well pleased with Mr. B——. He expresses the strong sense he has of the obligations he lies under to the Lord Jesus Christ, and under him, to your Ladyship. O that neither of us may prove ungrateful in any respect! Next week I hope to let your Ladyship know how affairs go at Mrs. K——’s. I expect to see her then. Lately his Majesty seeing Lady Chesterfield at court with a grave gown, pleasantly asked her, “whether Mr. Whitefield advised her to that colour.” O that all were cloathed in the bright and spotless robe of the Redeemer’s righteousness! How beautiful would they then appear in the sight of the King of kings! This, honoured Madam, through free grace, is your dress. That your honoured sisters, and all your children, may be adorned in like manner, is the earnest prayer of, honoured Madam,

YOUR letter must not any longer lie by unanswered. It is a pleasure to me to steal a few minutes to keep up a correspondence with one I so dearly love, and with whom I am persuaded I shall live in the regions of peace and joy, through the endless ages of eternity. This the glorious Emmanuel hath purchased for us, and of this, (for ever adored be his free grace) he hath given us an earnest! Supported with this, I am still enabled to pursue my delightful work of preaching to poor sinners the unsearchable riches of redeeming love. Thousands and thousands flock to hear, and we have had a blessed Christmas and new year’s season indeed. In the midst of all, I want more retirement. I want to read, meditate, and write. But I despair of getting much time for these things, till I get upon the mighty waters. In the mean while, I thank the Redeemer for letting my hands be full of work. These words lately have followed me, “Dwell in the land, be doing good, and verily thou shalt be fed.” These words embolden me to inform you of two that love Christ, and therefore I believe you love them, and I think they want assistance; G—— F—— and I—— H——. The former I think has about eleven children, and scarce a crown a week to maintain them; and the latter writes me word, “He is about a guinea behind hand.” I am doing what I can for them, and if you would send them a small token, or now and then let me have a little to give to the many christian objects that apply to me, I know not how your generous heart could lay out a little to more advantage. You know the pleasure of doing for Christ’s disciples. I labour to contract every expence, and to save all I can for the good of others. Ought I not to do so, to express my gratitude to him, who for my sake had not where to lay his head, and though he was rich, yet he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. Much, yea very much of his divine unction do I pray may be given to my dear Mr. H—— in his present plan. May the Lord make your pen the pen of a ready writer, and after death may your writings be blest to thousands yet unborn! I believe they will. O my dear friend, whilst I am writing the fire kindles. Blessed be God for Jesus Christ! Blessed be God for all the mercies he hath conferred upon us! O that this new year may be filled with good works, flowing from a principle of love and a new nature! That the Lord may bless and keep you, and fill you with all his divine fulness, is the continual earnest prayer of, my dear, dear old friend,