PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 2 (of 6) : Containing all his sermons and tracts, etc.
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770 · 175,502 words · 500 reading sections
LETTER DCCXVIII.
_To the Rev. Mr. H――――._ _London, December 18, 1748._ _Reverend and dear Sir_, THOUGH I am not personally acquainted with you, yet I owe you much love. Thanks be to our great high Priest for giving you such light and heat, and enabling you to preach among poor sinners the unsearchable riches of redeeming love. Earth…
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_To Doctor D――――._ _London, Dec. 21, 1748._ _Reverend and very dear Sir_, GLAD was I, yea very glad to receive your letter dated _November_ 7th, though it did not reach me till last night. I thank you for it a thousand times. It has led me to the throne of grace, where I have been crying, “LORD, counsel my counsello…
933 wordsSECTION 243LETTER DCCXX.
_Dear Mr. T――――._ _London, Dec. 21, 1748._ HAVE you not thought it unkind, that I answered not your letter before now. You will be pacified when I tell you, that not want of love but leisure hath been the cause of so long a silence. I will now redeem a few moments to pay this debt, and acknowledge a much greater debt…
472 wordsSECTION 244LETTER DCCXXI.
_To Mr. B――――._ _London, Dec. 26, 1748._ _My dear Brother_, AS soon as I received your kind letter, I was willing, but till now could not get leisure, to answer it. Accept my thanks, though late, and let the glorious _Emmanuel_ have eternal thanks ascribed unto him, if he has been pleased to work upon your soul by a…
276 wordsSECTION 245LETTER DCCXXII.
_To Lord B――――._ _London, Dec. 30, 1748._ _My Lord_, I Had the honour of your Lordship’s letter. Gratitude constrains me to send my heartiest acknowledgments. Though absent from, yet I am often present with you. That benign, that sweet disposition of which your Lordship is possessed, must make you appear amiable to …
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_To Lady B――――._ _London, Dec. 30, 1748._ _Honoured Madam_, HAVE you not wondered at my not answering your Ladyship’s kind letter before now? But I am persuaded you are well assured, that a variety of avocations, and multiplicity of business for the best of masters, not want of respect, hath been the cause. My Lady,…
324 wordsSECTION 247LETTER DCCXXIV.
_To Mr. H―――― H――――._ _Chelsea, Jan. 12, 1749._ _My dear Brother_, I Can now send you but a few lines. Thanks be to GOD, that weeping doth not hinder sowing. I think it is cruel to wish our little ones back into this cold world again. Go on, JESUS will be better to you and yours than seven daughters. I hope Mrs. _H―…
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_To the Reverend Mr. H――――._ _Chelsea, Jan. 13, 1749._ _Reverend and very dear Sir_, YOUR kind and loving answer to my last poor scrawl, humbled me much before Him who alone worketh all things in and by us. But if he will work, who shall hinder? I trust the language of my heart to the ever-blessed JESUS is this, _I…
380 wordsSECTION 249LETTER DCCXXVI.
_To Dr. S――――._ _London, Jan. 17, 1749._ _Very dear Sir_, I Received your last kind letter, soon after I had been informing dear Mr. _H――――_ that I did not chuse to bring my friends into trouble; but that if providence should give me a clear call, I might accept of his invitation. This perhaps may never happen. But …
647 wordsSECTION 250LETTER DCCXXVII.
_To Mr. S――――._ _London, Jan. 18, 1749._ _My very dear Mr. S――――_, I Have received from you two very kind letters, the last of which made me to smile indeed. Alas, my dear man, what airy castles are you building? Were your sanguine expectations to take place, might I not justly say to my friends, “_Quid vultis, ut p…
329 wordsSECTION 251LETTER DCCXXVIII.
_To Lady H――――n._ _Bristol, Jan. 28, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, I Think it is now high time for me to trouble your Ladyship with a few lines. They come to thank your Ladyship ten thousand times for all favours, and to inform you that our glorious Redeemer orders all things well. On _Wednesday_, through winds, rain and…
382 wordsSECTION 252LETTER DCCXXIX.
_To Lady H――――n._ _Bristol, Feb. 1, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, YESTERDAY I had the favour of your Ladyship’s letter; and am glad to find that Lady _G――――_’s journey will not be altogether in vain. Our LORD will note, in his book, your Ladyship’s endeavour to serve her, and reward you openly before men and angels, for …
450 wordsSECTION 253LETTER DCCXXX.
_To the Countess of D――――._ _Bristol, Feb. 1, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, WILL your Ladyship pardon me, if I inform you, that love and gratitude constrain me to send your Ladyship a few lines? As I am daily praying for the temporal and eternal welfare of your Ladyship, and your honourable sister, so I cannot help infor…
279 wordsSECTION 254LETTER DCCXXXI.
_To Mr. ――――._ _Bristol, Feb. 4, 1749._ _My dear Sir_, THE contents of your letter surprized me; and yet it is time for me to learn to be surprized at nothing. But what shall we say? It must needs be that these trials should come, to wean us from every creature, and teach us to live by faith in the Son of GOD. Had y…
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_Leave to his sovereign sway_ _To choose and to command;_ _So shalt thou wond’ring own his way,_ _How wise, how strong his hand._…
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_Far, far above thy thoughts,_ _His counsel shall appear,_ _When fully he the work hath wrought,_ _Which caus’d thy needless fear._ You see, dear Sir, my concern for you by the length of this letter. As you are, I trust, my own son in the faith, so I cannot avoid naturally caring for you. My letter shall be followed w…
99 wordsSECTION 257LETTER DCCXXXII.
_To Lady H――――n._ _Exon, Feb. 9, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, YOUR Ladyship’s laying your commands upon me to write often, makes me uneasy unless I can redeem time to send to your Ladyship at least once a week. Blessed be GOD, I can inform your Ladyship, that there was a great stirring among the dry bones at _Bristol_ a…
423 wordsSECTION 258LETTER DCCXXXIII.
_To Lady H――――n._ _Plymouth, Feb. 16, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, THE last time I wrote to your Ladyship, I was at _Exeter_, where I begun on _Sunday_ evening to preach in the open air.――Abundance of souls attended, and I trust real good was done. In the morning, grace flowed richly round the congregation; and many kne…
610 wordsSECTION 259LETTER DCXXXIV.
_To the Reverend Mr. C――――._ _Plymouth, Feb. 20, 1749._ _Reverend and dear Sir_, I Had the pleasure of receiving your letters dated _December_ 29th and 31st. I thank you a thousand times for this, and all your other favours. I did not think Mr. _H――――_’s friendship would hold long. It will be time enough for me to s…
476 wordsSECTION 260LETTER DCCXXXV.
_To Lady H――――._ _Plymouth, Feb. 21, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, I Believe it will much rejoice your Ladyship’s heart to hear what is doing in the _West_. I could not have thought that the seed sown four years ago, would have met with such a great increase. But what cannot GOD do? I have now proclaimed here seven times…
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_Thoughts are vain against the LORD,_ _All subserve his powerful word;_ _Wheels encircling wheels must run,_ _Each in course to bring it on._…
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_Blest is faith, that trusts his power,_ _Blest are saints that wait his hour;_ _Haste, great conqueror, bring it near,_ _Let the glorious close appear._ I know that your Ladyship will say heartily, _Amen_. I doubt not but your Ladyship enjoys much of his presence, which is better than life. I hope your honourable and…
94 wordsSECTION 263LETTER DCCXXXVI.
_To Lady G――――._ _Plymouth, Feb. 22, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, YOUR Ladyship’s letter I received yesterday; I trust under some sense of the honour your Ladyship has done me, through the King of kings making me instrumental in quickening or building up your Ladyship’s precious and immortal soul. Like a pure chrystal, …
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_With joy we meditate the grace_ _Of our High-priest above;_ _His heart is made of tenderness,_ _His bowels melt with love._…
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_Touch’d with a sympathy within,_ _He knows our feeble frame;_ _He knows what sore temptations mean,_ _For he has felt the same._…
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_He, in the days of feeble flesh,_ _Pour’d out his cries and tears;_ _And in his measure feels afresh,_ _What every member bears._…
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_Then let our humble faith address_ _His mercy and his power;_ _We shall obtain delivering grace,_ _In the distressing hour._ This is, and shall be, honoured Madam, my daily prayer on your behalf. Fear not; our LORD will take care that all shall work for good. Those who are sincere, will soon get over such stumbling b…
338 wordsSECTION 268LETTER DCCXXXVII.
_To the Countess of D――――._ _Plymouth, Feb. 22, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, YESTERDAY I had the favour of your Ladyship’s letter, which I would have answered immediately, but was engaged both in company, and in preaching the everlasting gospel. Your Ladyship’s answering my poor scrawl, was an honour I did not expect; b…
567 wordsSECTION 269LETTER DCCXXXVIII.
_To the Countess of H――――n._ _Exeter, Feb. 24, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, AFTER I wrote to your Ladyship last post, from _Plymouth_, I received the letters you was pleased to communicate to Mr. _C――――_. They came quite unexpected. I think it is enough, that my letters are received, not without being answered; but the …
580 wordsSECTION 270LETTER DCCXXXIX.
_To Mr. C――――._ _Exeter, Feb. 25, 1749._ _My dear Mr. C――――_, YOUR last, with the inclosed, you may be sure gave me satisfaction, at the same time as they, I trust, humbled me before him, who will send by whom he will send. This post carries answers to the honourable women. I suppose that you will be pleased to find…
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_To Mr. S――――._ _Exeter, Feb. 27, 1749._ _Very dear Mr. S――――_, I Am ashamed to think that your last kind letter has lain by so long unanswered; but journeying, preaching, and a multiplicity of other business has prevented me. I shall not carry on the debate; only I must thank you for receiving my letter in so frien…
463 wordsSECTION 272LETTER DCCXLI.
_To the Rev. Mr. H――――._ _Bristol, March 1, 1749._ _Reverend and dear Sir_, I Am much obliged to you for your last kind letter. It was so agreeable, that I sent it to good Lady _H――――_. Her Ladyship writes me word “that it was a letter after her own heart.” She loves a Catholic spirit, and I trust you are not deceiv…
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_To Lady H――――._ _Gloucester, March 4, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, HAVING been moving this week from place to place, I could not write to your Ladyship as usual, and even now my body is so fatigued, that I cannot say much. However, I would beg leave to inform your Ladyship that the glorious _Emmanuel_ continues to smil…
233 wordsSECTION 274LETTER DCCXLIII.
_To Mr. B――――._ _London, March 10, 1749._ _Dear Billy_, I Have just now heard, that a ship will sail for _Philadelphia_ in a day or two. I cannot therefore miss the opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your last kind letter. I am sorry it brought me such bad news concerning the state of religion in your parts…
395 wordsSECTION 275LETTER DCCXLIV.
_To Mr. S――――._ _London, March 11, 1749._ _My very dear Mr. S――――_, I Wish you joy. I trust you may now say, “Now I begin to be a disciple of JESUS CHRIST.” You know who has commanded us to rejoice and be exceeding glad when men separate from our company, and speak all manner of evil against us falsely for his name’…
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_To the Rev. Mr. G――――._ _London, March 17, 1749._ _My dear Brother_, WHAT a blessed thing it is, that we can write to, when we cannot see one another! By this means we increase our joys, and lessen our sorrows, and as it were exchange hearts. Thanks be to the LORD JESUS, that the work flourishes with you. I am glad…
331 wordsSECTION 277LETTER DCCXLVI.
_To the Rev. Mr. W――――._ _London, April 5, 1749._ _Reverend and dear Sir_, YOU cannot well tell how much satisfaction your last kind letter gave me. It was like yourself, like a father in CHRIST, to write to strengthen the hands of one, who is not yet half your age, but I trust ready to spend and be spent for the go…
331 wordsSECTION 278LETTER DCCXLVII.
_To the Rev. Mr. H――――._ _London, April 5, 1749._ _Rev. and dear Sir_, YOUR kind letter would not have lain by me unanswered so long, had I not been necessarily employed in affairs of immediate consequence. At Lady _H――――_’s request, I read part of it to some of the nobility, who approved of it very much. By your le…
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_To Lady H――――n._ _Gloucester, April 15, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, IT has given me some concern, to think that I was so long in town after I took leave of your Ladyship, and could neither see nor write to you. The last letter I was about to write, I found myself too ill to hold a pen long enough in my hand to finish …
302 wordsSECTION 280LETTER DCCXLIX.
_To the Countess D――――._ _Bristol, April 19, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, THE unfeigned regard I have for your Ladyship, will not suffer me to be long out of _London_ without sending a line to enquire after your Ladyship’s welfare. I hope this will find you perfectly recovered from, or meekly resigned under, your late b…
267 wordsSECTION 281LETTER DCCL.
_To Lady H――――n._ _Portsmouth, May 8, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, GLAD, very glad was I to hear, in a letter sent me by Mr. _H――――_, that your Ladyship was better; and glad am I, yea very glad, that I can send your Ladyship good news from this part of the country. The night after I came here, I preached to many thousan…
378 wordsSECTION 282LETTER DCCLI.
_To the Rev. Mr. M――――._ _Portsmouth, May 11, 1749._ _Rev. and very dear Sir_, IT concerns me much, that one whom I so much honour, and so dearly love in the bowels of JESUS, should hear so seldom from me. Twice have I endeavoured to answer your last kind letter, but have been prevented, by want of health, a multipl…
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_To the Countess D――――._ _Portsmouth, May 12, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, I Just now rose from my knees, and have been interceding for you at the throne of grace. The same principle that led me to pray for, excites me also to write a few lines to your Ladyship. Ere now your late bodily indisposition, I hope is entirely…
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_To Lady F―――― S――――._ _Portsmouth, May 12, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, AS I am uncertain whether good Lady _H――――_ be in town, I make bold to inclose a line to your Ladyship in a letter I have just written to the elect Countess _D――――_. Gratitude constrains me to take the freedom, and the conviction I have that your L…
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_To the Countess of H――――._ _Portsmouth, May 13, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, WITH some degree of impatience have I been waiting to hear from your Ladyship, being very solicitous for your Ladyship’s welfare. This morning your Ladyship’s unexpected letter surprized me. I only expected to have a line from Mrs. _C――――_. Yo…
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_To Lady H――――n._ _Bristol, May 22, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, SINCE I wrote last to your Ladyship, several things have concurred to prove that Providence directed my way hither. I have preached three times, and each time our LORD caused the word to leave a blessing behind it. Yesterday, congregations were very large …
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_To Lady H――――._ _Abergavenny, May 27, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, THOUGH I suppose your Ladyship will not be at _Bristol_ so soon as this reaches it, yet as this is the most leisure time I am likely to have these three weeks, I cannot help writing a few lines to wait for your Ladyship at my brother’s house. I think (a…
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_Abergavenny, May 27, 1749._ _My very dear Brother_, INCLOSED you have a letter for our good Lady _H――――_, whom I suppose you will have the honour of receiving in a few days under your roof. Both before, and ever since I left _Bristol_, I have been frequently thinking of the unspeakable mercies, that the infinitely g…
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_To Mr. D――――._ _Abergavenny, May 27, 1749._ _My very dear Friend_, YOUR kind letter I received at _Bristol_, but have not had time to answer it till now. You know what a moving life I lead. It is for one, who laid down his life for me. I want my last remove to come. Blessed be GOD for your recovery from your late i…
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_To Mr. I―――― C――――._ _Carmarthen, June 5, 1749._ _Dear Jemmy_, AS I have a peculiar love for you and your wife, I need not inform you that your letter, which gave me an account of her great illness, affected me much. I have not failed to remember her at the throne of grace, and I trust this will find her either rel…
277 wordsSECTION 291LETTER DCCLX.
_To Lady H――――._ _Haverford-west, June 8, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, SINCE my coming into _Wales_, and leaving _Carmarthen_, the infinitely great and infinitely condescending Redeemer has been pleased to ride on in the chariot of the everlasting gospel. Congregations grow larger and larger, and all the towns here abou…
343 wordsSECTION 292LETTER DCCLXI.
_To Dr. S――――._ _Landovery, June 14, 1749._ _Dear Sir_, A Few days ago, I received a letter from Mr. _C――――_, in which yours to him dated _May_ 20th was inclosed. It gave me some concern, and would have given me more had not the same letter informed me that good Lady _H――――n_ had written to you herself. Alas, my dea…
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_To the Reverend Mr. H――――._ _Landovery, June 14, 1749._ _Reverend and dear Sir_, YOURS, dated _May_ 24th, gave me both pleasure and pain. I was pleased to read the sweet observations made up and down in it, but pained to find that you have been much indisposed. But what says our LORD? “Those that abide in him, he w…
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_To the Reverend Mr. P――――._ _London, July 10, 1749._ _Reverend and dear Sir_, YOUR kind letter came safe to hand, and it was the more welcome, because it gave me a proof of your being recovered from your late threatening indisposition. Blessed be GOD, it found me as well as can be expected in my body, and I trust s…
361 wordsSECTION 295LETTER DCCLXIV.
_To Mr. J―――― D――――._ _London, July 12, 1749._ _My dear Friend_, I Am obliged to you for your kind letters; for the trouble you have been at about the money, and for all favours. Was I to follow my own inclinations, I would come and thank you in person; but I fear providence will not permit me to embark for _America…
535 wordsSECTION 296LETTER DCCLXV.
_To Lady Fanny S――――._ _Bristol, Aug. 1, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, THOUGH I had the pleasure of hearing of your welfare, by your last to good Lady _H――――n_, yet I cannot help taking the freedom of sending your Ladyship a few lines. They come to inform you, that you never are, and, by divine assistance, never shall be…
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_To Mr. L――――._ _Bristol, Aug. 4, 1749._ _Dear Mr. L――――_, PROVIDENCE, for wise reasons, prevented my seeing you both at _Gloucester_, and at the _Hill_. This comforts me, “What is, is best.” Since I came here, I have seen your letter about the intended charity-school, and wish you success in the name of the LORD. I…
294 wordsSECTION 298LETTER DCCLXVII.
_To the Bishop of W――――._ _Bristol, Aug. 7, 1749._ _My Lord_, THE occasion of my troubling your Lordship in this manner, is as follows. I have, more then once, been very credibly informed, that your Lordship has been pleased to charge me, at the public Wells, with being guilty of _Perjury_. This comes, therefore, to…
117 wordsSECTION 299LETTER DCCLXVIII.
_To the Bishop of W――――._ _Bristol, Aug. 7, 1749._ _My Lord_, I Thank your Lordship for your kind and cordial letter. I shall take care to do your Lordship justice, by shewing it to such persons as I think have been more immediately concerned. This, I imagine, will be as much satisfaction as your Lordship will desir…
365 wordsSECTION 300LETTER DCCLXIX.
_To Lady H――――._ _Plymouth, Aug. 15, 1749._ _Honoured Madam_, I Hope this will find your Ladyship recovered from the fatigue of your journey, and sitting under the Redeemer’s shadow with unspeakable delight at _Ashby-Place_. My prayers have constantly followed you, ever since I left your Ladyship at _Bristol_; and t…
408 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.