PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 3 (of 6) : Containing all his sermons and tracts, etc.
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770 · 178,550 words · 629 reading sections
Part 1
The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Transcriber’s Notes │ │ │ │…
193 wordsSECTION 2THE WORKS OF THE REVEREND GEORGE WHITEFIELD, M.A.
Late of PEMBROKE-COLLEGE, OXFORD, And Chaplain to the Rt. Hon. the Countess of HUNTINGDON.…
14 wordsSECTION 3CONTAINING
All his SERMONS and TRACTS Which have been already published:…
10 wordsSECTION 4WITH
A SELECT COLLECTION of LETTERS, Written to his most intimate Friends, and Persons of Distinction, in _England_, _Scotland_, _Ireland_, and _America_, from the Year 1734, to 1770, including the whole Period of his Ministry.…
34 wordsSECTION 5ALSO
Some other PIECES on IMPORTANT SUBJECTS, never before printed; prepared by Himself for the Press. To which is prefixed, An ACCOUNT of his LIFE, Compiled from his Original PAPERS and LETTERS.…
31 wordsSECTION 6LONDON:
Printed for EDWARD and CHARLES DILLY, in the Poultry; and Messrs. KINCAID and BELL, at Edinburgh.…
16 wordsSECTION 7LETTER DCCCCLXV.
_To Mr. J―――― B――――._ _London, February 1, 1753._ _My very dear friend_, THOUGH I have had no answer to my last, yet I suppose it hath reached your hands, and I am glad to hear that ♦_Ephrata_ plantation is in some degree opened, and thereby a preparation made for a future progress this spring. Mr. _Fox_ not coming,…
586 wordsSECTION 8_G. W._
♦ “Ephratah” replaced with “Ephrata” for consistency.…
6 wordsSECTION 9LETTER DCCCCLXVI.
_To Lady H――――n._ _London, February 9, 1753._ _Ever-honoured Madam_, IT gives me pain, when any of your Ladyship’s letters lie by me unanswered,――I would always write immediately if I could. For many days I have been much engaged, but can now refrain no longer. Your Ladyship’s letter was immediately forwarded to _Ph…
303 wordsSECTION 10LETTER DCCCCLXVII.
_To Mr. G――――._ _London, February 19, 1753._ _Reverend and very dear Sir_, I HAVE two of your kind letters lying by me unanswered.――I am not usually so dilatory, but business and bodily weakness have prevented me. At present, I have a cold and fever upon me, but I preach on, hoping one day or another to die in my wo…
391 wordsSECTION 11_G. W._
♦ duplicate word “I” removed…
4 wordsSECTION 12LETTER DCCCCLXVIII.
_To C―――― W――――._ _London, March 3, 1753._ _My dear Friend_, I THANK you and your brother most heartily for the loan of the chapel. Blessed be GOD, the work goes on well.――On _Thursday_ morning, the first brick of our new tabernacle was laid with awful solemnity. I preached from _Exodus_ the twentieth, and the latte…
348 wordsSECTION 13LETTER ♦DCCCCLXIX.
_To Mr. M――――._ _London, March 10, 1753._ _My dear Mr. M――――_, I AM glad you have had such good times. I was grieved that Mr. _E――――_ was taken from _London_, because Mr. _M――――_ was taken ill, and a carnal preacher put up in his room. But GOD’s thoughts are not as our thoughts. Let this consideration reconcile you …
369 wordsSECTION 14_G. W._
♦ “DCCLXIX.” replaced with “DCCCCLXIX.”…
4 wordsSECTION 15LETTER DCCCCLXX.
_To Mr. S――――._ _London, March 21, 1753._ _My very dear friend_, BY last _Monday_’s waggon there was sent a box of books. May the Redeemer own and bless what is sent in it! Then all will be well. I know your prayers will not be wanting. I am glad you have found out another thief, that lay hid in the chambers of imag…
482 wordsSECTION 16LETTER DCCCCLXXI.
_To Mr. G――――._ _Norwich, April 17, 1753._ _Dear Mr. G――――_, IT hath given me concern, that your letter, with Mr. _D――――_’s and Miss _A――――_’s, have lain by me so long unanswered. Business, and not want of love, hath prevented my writing. Was it not sinful, I could wish for a thousand hands, a thousand tongues, and …
380 wordsSECTION 17LETTER DCCCCLXXII.
_To Mr. R―――― K――――n._ _Norwich, April 18, 1753._ _My very dear Friend_, HOW does GOD delight to exceed even the hopes, and to disappoint the fears of his weak, though honest-hearted people! In spite of all opposition, he hath caused us to triumph even in _Norwich_. Thousands attend twice every day, and hear with th…
266 wordsSECTION 18LETTER DCCCCLXXIII.
_To Mr. D――――._ _London, April 27, 1753._ _Dear Sir_, ON _Saturday_ evening a never-failing Redeemer brought me safe to _London_, where I have been indisposed ever since. But I shall little regard the weakness and indisposition of my body, if I can but have the pleasure of hearing, if not before, yet at the great da…
253 wordsSECTION 19LETTER DCCCCLXXIV.
_London, May 1, 1753._ _My dear David_, DO you enquire where I am? I answer, in _London_, longing to come to _Leeds_, and yet withheld hitherto by His providence who ordereth all things well. Let us have a little more patience, and then in a few weeks I hope to have a blessed range in the _North_. GOD’s time I have a…
402 wordsSECTION 20LETTER DCCCCLXXV.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Haverford-west, May 27, 1753._ _My dear Man_, THOUGH my wife hath not sent me the letter, yet she writes me, “That you have sent me a threatening one.” I thank you for it, though unseen, and say unto thee, if thou art thus minded, “What thou doest, do quickly.” Blessed be GOD, I am ready to receive …
572 wordsSECTION 21LETTER DCCCCLXXVI.
_To Mr. R―――― K――――n._ _Newman, June 2, 1753._ DO not think that I have forgotten either you or yours, or my promise of writing to you. Travelling and preaching have prevented me. Within a little more than a fortnight, I have rode three hundred and fifty miles, and preached above twenty times: with what success the g…
266 wordsSECTION 22LETTER DCCCCLXXVII.
_To Mr. ――――._ _London, June 8, 1753._ _My very dear Friend_, I WAS glad, at my return from a late excursion, to find a letter from you, especially as it bespoke your heart to be nearer than usual to the ever-loving, ever-lovely JESUS. May this intimacy increase daily, and the fruits of it appear in your abounding i…
531 wordsSECTION 23LETTER DCCCCLXXVIII.
_To Lady H――――n._ _London, June 20, 1753._ _Ever-honoured Madam_, I HAVE been unaccountably detained in _London_ longer than I expected, but am just now setting out for _Portsmouth_. However, I cannot help sending your Ladyship the inclosed. It hath set me at liberty, and fully convinced me, against what a disguised…
171 wordsSECTION 24LETTER DCCCCLXXIX.
_To the Reverend Mr. T――――._ _Portsmouth, June 23, 1753._ _My very dear Friend_, FROM _April_ to near _July_, is a long time for a kind letter to lie by unanswered; but necessity hath no law. A great variety of circumstances hath occurred lately to prevent my corresponding with you, and many other dear friends. Some…
255 wordsSECTION 25LETTER DCCCCLXXX.
_To Mr. N――――._ _Portsmouth, June 23, 1753._ _Dear Sir_, NOT want of love, but leisure, prevented my answering your kind letter much sooner. As I lead a pilgrim life, have a weak body, and am almost continually surrounded with a variety of trials and temptations, I cannot write so frequently as I otherwise would cho…
374 wordsSECTION 26LETTER DCCCCLXXXI.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Leicester, July 1, 1753._ _My very dear Friend_, I CANNOT go farther (as Mr. _Middleton_ returns to _London_ to-morrow) without sending you a few lines. They bring good news, even that the Redeemer hath much owned and blessed the first part of my circuit. At _Oulney_ we had two good meetings; and at…
221 wordsSECTION 27LETTER DCCCCLXXXII.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Leeds, July 7, 1753._ _My dear D――――_, WHAT! just come from the borders of the grave, and still capitulating! Will you never give up your whole heart to Him, who hath dealt so bountifully with you? Was this once done, you would not (especially as you have a competency) talk of a hundred a year, but …
248 wordsSECTION 28LETTER DCCCCLXXXIII.
_York, July 11, 1753._ _My dear Mr. D――――_, THUS far, but no farther, am I as yet advanced in my way to _Scotland_, and was I to comply with the pressing invitations of the _Yorkshire_ people, I know not when I should get there. The fields are exceeding white, ready unto harvest; but by preaching thrice a day to grea…
180 wordsSECTION 29LETTER DCCCCLXXXIV.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Newcastle, July 14, 1753._ _My very dear Sir_, BEING, through the goodness of a never-failing Redeemer, just come hither, I sit down to perform my promise by writing to you. But where shall I begin, or where shall I end? Surely the goodness of the LORD to such a wretch as I am, is unspeakable. I wil…
480 wordsSECTION 30_G. W._
♦ Ending quote not shown in original text. Transcriber added it at his best guess. ♠ “Bunstall” replaced with “Burstall”…
18 wordsSECTION 31LETTER DCCCCLXXXV.
_To Lady H――――――n._ _Newcastle, July 17, 1753._ _Ever-honoured Madam_, I WROTE to your Ladyship just before I set out for _Portsmouth_, and thought to have written again at my return, but was hindered by staying only one night at _London_. Ever since I have been upon the range for lost sinners, and blessed be GOD, h…
392 wordsSECTION 32LETTER [DCCCCLXXXV.]
_To Mr. G――――, at Glasgow._ _Edinburgh, July 21, 1753._ YOURS I just now received, but know not what to say by way of answer. The inward discouragements I have felt for above a week, against coming to _Scotland_, have been very many. I have left a people full of fire. Thousands and thousands flocked to hear the glori…
362 wordsSECTION 33LETTER DCCCCLXXXVI.
_To Mr. B―――― S――――._ _Glasgow, July 25, 1753._ BOTH your letters came safe to hand, and met with such a reception, as none but those who are knit together in the love of GOD can either experience, or have any idea of. What you mentioned concerning a certain gentleman, melted me down.――For having met with some unexpe…
385 wordsSECTION 34LETTER DCCCCLXXXVII.
_To Mr. G――――, at Glasgow._ _Newcastle, August 12, 1753._ _My very dear Sir_, I WOULD have answered your kind letter before I left _Edinburgh_, but I had not a moment’s leisure. With great difficulty I got away, after a heart-breaking parting on _Tuesday_ about noon. On _Wednesday_ evening, and the _Thursday_ mornin…
413 wordsSECTION 35LETTER DCCCCLXXXVIII.
_To Mr. B―――― S――――._ _Newcastle, August 13, 1753._ _My very dear Friend_, MY rout is now fixed. After having preached here and hereabouts three times each day, I am to leave this place on _Thursday_, to be at _Stockton_ on _Sunday_, at _Osmotherly_ on _Monday_ noon, lie at _Topcliff_, and reach _York_, GOD willing,…
308 wordsSECTION 36LETTER ♦DCCCCLXXXIX.
_To Lady H――――._ _Newcastle, August 13, 1753._ _Ever-honoured Madam_, NOT want of respect, but leisure, hath prevented my writing to your Ladyship. Since my last, I have been travelling and preaching twice or thrice, and once five times a day. I cannot tell your Ladyship of one thousandth part of what we have seen a…
296 wordsSECTION 37_G. W._
♦ “DCCCCLXXXX” replaced with “DCCCCLXXXIX”…
4 wordsSECTION 38LETTER DCCCCXC.
_To Lady F―――― S――――._ _Leeds, August 23, 1753._ _Honoured Madam_, HITHERTO the LORD hath helped me. Blessed be his glorious name, the fields have been every where white, ready unto harvest. I have been of late generally enabled to preach thrice a day, and in all appearance the word never was attended with more succ…
360 wordsSECTION 39LETTER DCCCCXCI.
_To Lady H――――n._ _York, September 11, 1753._ _Ever-honoured Madam_, LAST _Saturday_ I returned to _Leeds_, from whence I had been absent a fortnight. But what the glorious _Emmanuel_ gave us to see and feel, is indeed inexpressible. What a sacrament at _Howarth_! We used thirty-five bottles of wine on the occasion.…
369 wordsSECTION 40_G. W._
♦ “Bustall” replaced with “Burstall”…
4 wordsSECTION 41LETTER DCCCCXCII.
_To Lady H――――._ _London, September 26, 1753._ _Ever-honoured Madam_, YESTERDAY about noon, a good and never-failing Redeemer brought me and mine in safety to town, where I expect to stay only a few days. Thanks be to GOD for this last circuit! I think this day three months I left _London_; since which time I have b…
314 wordsSECTION 42LETTER DCCCCXCIII.
_To Mr. D――――._ _Northampton, October 7, 1753._ WHAT! have the birds of prey been pursuing, pecking at, and wounding one of CHRIST’s doves? Come, my dear man, play the man, be strong in the grace which is in CHRIST JESUS, and be not like a silly dove that hath no heart. Look to him, and you shall be saved; He will g…
281 wordsSECTION 43LETTER DCCCCXCIV.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Northampton, October 10, 1753._ _My very dear Sir_, IT is now near eleven at night, and I am to ride beyond _Coventry_ to-morrow: but I cannot close my eyes without sending you a short account of my week’s work. On _Saturday_ last, I preached at _Oulney_, and had a blessed season. On the Lord’s day …
337 wordsSECTION 44LETTER DCCCCXCV.
_To Dear A――――._ _Birmingham, October 13, 1753._ “HAVING loved his own, he loved them unto the end,” says the beloved disciple, concerning JESUS CHRIST. I would copy after this great exemplar, and have my love like his, steady and disinterested. Thus you have found, and I trust always will find my love to you. Works …
276 wordsSECTION 45LETTER DCCCCXCVI.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Nantwich, October 18, 1753._ _My very dear Sir_, I am now at an Inn, but cannot go farther, without giving you an account of my last week’s circuit. Since my last, I have been at _Birmingham_, and several adjacent places. Still fresh work hath been done, and souls fled to the gospel like doves to th…
280 wordsSECTION 46LETTER DCCCCXCVII.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Wolverhampton, October 27, 1753._ _My very dear Sir_, MY last, I think was from _Nantwich_. Since that, the ever-loving, ever-lovely JESUS, hath vouchsafed to employ me in breaking up new ground. I have preached four times at _Alperam_ in _Cheshire_, where the LORD was with us of a truth, and where …
422 wordsSECTION 47LETTER DCCCCXCVIII.
_To Mr. E――――._ _London, November 8, 1753._ _Dear Mr. E――――_, MAN appoints, but it is GOD’s prerogative to disappoint, when disappointments are necessary for our good. But how hard is it to believe this? How apt are we in our haste to say, all these things are against us! But what says Doctor _Watts_? Where reason …
204 wordsSECTION 48LETTER DCCCCXCIX.
_To Mr. P――――._ _Gloucester, November 16, 1753._ _My dear P――――_, I THANK you for your kind letter; it found me just returned from another tour in the north, which, like the former, I trust hath been owned and blessed to many precious and immortal souls. At _Liverpool_, _Chester_, _Dudley_, _Wednesbury_, _Birmingham…
403 wordsSECTION 49LETTER M.
_To Mr. G――――._ _Gloucester, November 16, 1753._ _Reverend and very dear Sir_, YOUR kind letter I received, and would have answered it during my stay in _London_ (which was only a few days) but really I was almost killed with a multiplicity of business. The journals also I would have sent immediately, but knew not h…
398 wordsSECTION 50LETTER MI.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Gloucester, November 17, 1753._ _My very dear Sir_, IT is now just a week since I left _London_. I must not, I cannot go any further without writing to him, who doth so much to strengthen my hands in the LORD. And what shall I say? Truly the glorious _Emmanuel_ still continues to smile upon my feebl…
314 wordsSECTION 51LETTER MII.
_To Mr. A――――._ _Bristol, November 21, 1753._ _My very dear friend_, I HOPED a few days ago to send you glad tidings, and blessed be GOD, I am not disappointed. Never had I before such freedom in _Gloucestershire_. It was so pleasant, that I intend taking it again in my way to _London_. _Sunday_ was indeed an high d…
345 wordsSECTION 52LETTER MIII.
_Stroude, November 27, 1753._ _Dear Mrs. C――――_, YOUR letter came to my hands at _Wrexham_, but being upon the road I could not answer it. What said GOD to _Abraham_, “Fear not; I will be thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.” Now is your time to approve yourself his daughter.――My heart’s desire and prayer to th…
225 wordsSECTION 53_G. W._
_P. S._ We have had blessed seasons in the country: the LORD has been with us of a truth. Grace! grace!…
22 wordsSECTION 54LETTER MIV.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Bristol, December 1, 1753._ _My very dear friend_, THIS hath been a long fortnight, for so long it is since I wrote to my very dear friend; but I waited to send him a bundle of good news together. Blessed be GOD, I am not disappointed of my hope. Since my last, I have preached several times in _Glou…
413 wordsSECTION 55LETTER MV.
_To Mr. S――――._ _Bristol, December 3, 1753._ WHEN I saw the seal of your last sweet letter, I guessed at the contents of it. Blessed be GOD, I was not disappointed. The heart was soaring aloft, mounting on the wings of faith and love, and had fled out of sight of this poor and troublesome world. Thus may that GOD, wh…
580 wordsSECTION 56_G. W._
♦ “nor” replaced with “not”…
4 wordsSECTION 57LETTER MVI.
_To Mr. C―――― W――――._ _Bristol, December 3, 1753._ BEING unexpectedly brought back from _Somersetshire_, and hearing you are gone upon such a mournful errand, I cannot help sending after you a few sympathizing lines. The LORD help and support you! May a double spirit of the ascending _Elijah_, descend and rest on the…
174 wordsSECTION 58LETTER MVII.
_To the Reverend Mr. J―――― W――――._ _Bristol, December 3, 1753._ _Reverend and very dear Sir_, IF seeing you so weak when leaving _London_, distressed me, the news and prospect of your approaching dissolution hath quite weighed me down. I pity myself, and the church, but not you. A radiant throne awaits you, and ere …
264 wordsSECTION 59LETTER MVIII.
_To Mr. C―――― W――――._ _London, December 13, 1753._ _My dear Friend_, THE searcher of hearts alone knows the sympathy I have felt for you and yours, and what suspence my mind hath been in concerning the event of your present circumstances. I pray and enquire, enquire and pray again, always expecting to hear the worst…
282 wordsSECTION 60LETTER MIX.
_To Mr. S――――._ _London, December 13, 1753._ _My dear Friend_, THE mail not coming in till to-day, I began to fear lest something had happened to prevent your writing. But, blessed be GOD, my fears are dispelled, my friend is well, his temporals, his spirituals prosper: herein I rejoice, yea and will rejoice. But wh…
671 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.