PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 4 (of 6) : Containing all his sermons and tracts, etc.
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770 · 165,962 words · 259 reading sections
WHEREIN
Several Mistakes in some Parts of my past Writings and Conduct are acknowledged, and my present Sentiments concerning the METHODISTS explained. IN A LETTER to the AUTHOR. _Out of the eater came forth meat._ Judges xiv. 4. REMARKS, &c.…
40 wordsSECTION 122SIR,
I HAVE perused your _anonymous Pamphlet_; and though upon some accounts it does not deserve an answer, yet, as it may serve a good purpose, and be a means of rectifying some mistakes, I shall trouble you with a few remarks upon it. Who, or what you are, the world is left to guess. If a _clergyman_, you have done well …
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“For the better advancement of their purposes, both, commonly (you say, page 11. section 4.) begin their _adventures_ with _field preaching_. In which particular, though the practice of the Methodists be notorious, it may not be amiss to produce some of their own words, were it only for the sake of the comparison.” But…
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Another of your cursory remarks on field-preaching, is this; “Have not the Methodist preachers, as well as St. _Anthony_, been attended with a _sturdy set_ of followers, as their guards, armed with clubs under their cloaths, menacing and terrifying such as should dare to speak lightly of their apostle?” You add, “I hav…
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But, if the Methodists have been so much to blame, for carrying on this pious work of defamation, in the church and their journals; will that authorise you in practising the same _black art_ in your pamphlet? Give me leave (since you have taken that liberty with me) to gather some of your flowers on this occasion. “Th…
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“Upon the same account, you say, section 9. page _ibid._ _fine cloaths_ and _rich furniture_ stand absolutely condemned:” (not by me, it seems, for I find no quotations out of my Journals annexed) “But oh! (as a part or consequence of this) how good and saint-like it is, to go dirty, ragged, and slovenly! And how pious…
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Had I a mind to return your false and low wit, I might reply, “There is a greater windmill in thine own;” but at present, I am too serious to make sport with my own deceivings. Surely, Sir, you forget yourself, or you never would write thus at random: for is there any thing, that the blessed Author of our religion more…
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But it is time to follow you to your 14th section page 31. “The pious cruelty of _corporal severities_, or mortification by tormenting the flesh, is another common method of gaining a reputation for sanctity. Such as long and rigorous fastings, gashing and flaying the body with scourges, armed with rowels and sharp tag…
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But this only by the by. In your 18th section, page 43. you return to me. “After these _sudden conversions_, usually they receive their _assurances of salvation_; and these (as also the proofs of their conversion) are certainly known, heard, seen or felt; they can ascertain the particular time and place of their receiv…
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――――YESTERDAY I made an end of revising all my Journals. Blessed be GOD for letting me have leisure to do it. I purpose to have a new edition before I see _America_. Alas! alas! in how many things have I judged, and acted wrong! I have been too rash and hasty in giving characters both of places and persons. Being fond …
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And now, Sir, I am somewhat prepared to hear what follows in your 48th page. “Nothing less than _inspirations_, _revelations_, _illuminations_, and all the extraordinary and immediate actions of all the persons in the _sacred Trinity_, will serve their turn. So that now every flash of zeal and devotion; every wild pret…
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The doctrines which they chiefly insist upon, are the great doctrines of the reformation: “That man is very far gone from original righteousness. That he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon GOD. That we are accounted righteous before GOD, only for the mer…
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This is what some of all denominations want to be reminded of; and to stir them up to seek after the life and power of godliness, that they may be christians not only in word and profession, but in spirit and in truth, is, and, through JESUS CHRIST strengthening me, shall be the one sole business of my life. “As for al…
205 wordsSECTION 134_G. W._
AN Expostulatory Letter, ADDRESSED TO NICHOLAS LEWIS, COUNT ZINZENDORFF, AND Lord Advocate of the UNITAS FRATRUM. _O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?_ Galatians iii. 1. AN Expostulatory Letter, &c. _London, April 24, 1753._ _My Lord_, ALTHOUGH I am persuaded, that nothing hath a greater tendency to stren…
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¹ I might here take notice of the married women’s being ordered to wear blue knots, the single women pink, and those that are just marriageable, pink and white; the widows that are past child-bearing, to wear white, and those that are not so, blue and white knots; and also of the _episcopal knot_ of Mrs. _Hannah Nitsch…
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¹ M. _Rimius_, aulic counsellor to the late King of _Prussia_, in a treatise he lately published, I think makes it plainly appear, that the agents for the _Moravian_ affairs, have misinformed the parliament in several respects, and upon the whole, treated that august body little better than the _Gibeonitish_ ambassador…
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The distress and anguish of mind that hundreds have been involved in upon this very account, is, I believe, unspeakable¹. And the bare reflection upon it, whilst I am writing, makes my heart almost to bleed within me. Who, who, but themselves, my Lord, can tell the late perplexity of their minds, who have been already …
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Of this, my Lord, the _Royal-Exchange_ hath long since rung; and if the same part hath been acted abroad,¹ how many families must have been ruined there, and how many more may be yet ruined, in order to fill up the present _English_ chasm; and consequently, what loads of guilt must needs lie at the door of somebody? Su…
505 wordsSECTION 139GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
A SHORT ADDRESS TO Persons of all Denominations, OCCASIONED BY THE Alarm of an Intended INVASION, in the Year 1756. _I also will shew my Opinion._ Job xxxii. 10. A SHORT ADDRESS, &c. _Men, Brethren, and Fathers_, THOUGH so many alarming warnings, pathetic exhortations, and suitable directions, have already been giv…
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I am very sensible, that artful insinuations have been industriously published, in order to lay all the blame of this war upon us. But bold assertions and solid proofs are two different things; for it is plain, beyond all contradiction, that the _French_, fond of rivalling us both at home and abroad, have most unjustly…
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Such an appellation as this, methinks, may sufficiently justify the lawfulness of bearing arms, and drawing the sword in defence of our civil and religious liberties. For if GOD himself is pleased to stile himself a man of war, surely in a just and righteous cause (such as the _British_ war at present is) we may as law…
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Awful and tremendous are the judgments that have lately been abroad. Twice hath the earth on which this great metropolis stands, unable, as it were, any longer to sustain the weight of its inhabitants sins, been made to tremble and totter under us. Since that, how amazingly hath the shock been extended! _Africa_, (nor …
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“Being informed, that there have sprung up, and still are springing up, daily in our realm, a great number of preachers, whose sole business is to stir up the people to rebellion, and to dissuade them from the practice of the _Roman_ catholic and apostolic religion; we do command that all preachers, who shall call asse…
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But I humbly hope, vile as we are, a gracious, long-suffering and merciful GOD, will not suffer us to fall into their blood-thirsty and cruel hands. He hath formerly most remarkably interposed in _England_’s favour; and why should we in the least doubt, but that he will again reveal his omnipotent arm, and make our ext…
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Now what the Evangelist _Philip_ was then to this devout _Ethiopian_, that, spiritual and gospel commentators are to us now. For though the grand lines of our christian faith and practice, are written in such plain and legible characters, “that he who runs may read;” yet if we duly search the scriptures, we shall find …
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At the same time, I must confess, it gave me pleasure about a year ago, to find this very book recommended in the strongest manner, in the second volume of Dr. _Calamy_’s lives. His words are these, “I cannot forbear here adding a particular account of the Bible which he published. He first formed the design in his you…
827 wordsSECTION 147GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
_London, October 1, 1759._ OBSERVATIONS ON SOME FATAL MISTAKES, In a Book lately published, and intitled, “The DOCTRINE OF GRACE; or, The OFFICE and OPERATIONS of the HOLY SPIRIT vindicated from the Insults of Infidelity, and the Abuses of Fanaticism. By _William_ Lord Bishop of _Gloucester_.” In a LETTER to a FRIEN…
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Sorry am I to send you word, that a writer of this unhappy stamp now lies upon my table: a writer, who, although he entitles his book, “The Offices and Operations of the Holy Ghost vindicated from the Insults of Infidelity and Abuses of Fanaticism,” yet, in his great zeal against the latter, and to the no small encoura…
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Surely, was the Apostle _Paul_ to rise from the dead, and read over, or hear of such strange positions, his spirit, as once at _Athens_, would again be stirred in him; to see a writer thus attempting to erect an altar for the public worship of an unknown GOD: I say, an unknown GOD. For how is it possible, in the very n…
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I might here add, my dear friend, some other specimens of our Author’s manner of explaining scripture, by his fine human reason: for instance, ‘Keeping ourselves unspotted from the world, he says, page 157, signifies only our using the means of grace.’ And again, when the Apostle informs us, _Ephesians_ v. 9. “that the…
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“BUT now,” (a dreadful _but_ it is!) “the profession of christianity is attended with ease and honour;” and we are now, it seems, so far from being “rude and uninformed, and utterly averse to the dictates of the everlasting gospel, that whatever there may be of prejudice, it draws another way. Consequently, a rule of f…
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But, by this time, my dear friend, I imagine you would be glad to know against whom these _bruta fulmina_, this unscriptural artillery is levelled. Our Author shall inform you: “All modern pretenders to divine influence in general;” and you may be assured “the _poor Methodists_ (those scourges and eye-sores of formal, …
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♦ “nick-game” replaced with “nick-name” But, methinks, I see you now begin to be impatient to know, (and indeed I have neither inclination nor leisure at present to pursue our author any further) who this can be that takes such gigantic strides? I assure you, he is a _perfect Goliah_ in the retinue of human learning.―…
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What says his Lordship when pronouncing the blessing? “The peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of GOD.” But what says his Lordship when retired to his study? “All supernatural influence, manifesting itself in grace and knowledge, is miraculous, and therefo…
733 wordsSECTION 155GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
A RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE TO THE WORKS OF Mr. JOHN BUNYAN. A RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE to the Works of Mr. JOHN BUNYAN. _Christian Reader_, IF such thou art in reality, or if only a bare outward professor, thou needest not be informed, that the all-gracious _Emmanuel_, in the days of his flesh, after he had given us a g…
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This consideration, hath induced me to preface the present large and elegant edition of the Reverend Mr. _John Bunyan_’s works; which, with the unparalleled commentary of the good Mr. _Matthew Henry_, the pious and practical writings of the excellent Mr. _Flavel_, and the critical and judicious commentaries and tracts …
329 wordsSECTION 157GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
_London, January 3, 1767._ A LETTER TO THE Reverend Dr. DURELL, VICE-CHANCELLOR of the University of OXFORD. OCCASIONED BY A late EXPULSION of SIX STUDENTS from EDMUND-HALL. _Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?_ Luke xii. 57. _Judge righteous judgment._ John vii. 24. A LETTER TO THE Reverend…
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Hence, no doubt, it is, that as the angels are sent forth to be ministring spirits, to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, that there is said to be “joy in heaven over every sinner that repenteth.” And as there is joy in heaven, so in proportion as men rise into the nature of angels, will there be joy al…
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But why speak I of _David_? When JESUS of _Nazareth_, _David_’s LORD, and _David_’s King, had for his reputed father a carpenter, and in all probability, as it was a common proverb among the _Jews_, that “he who did not teach his son a trade, taught him to be a thief;” he worked at the trade of a carpenter himself? For…
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The sick, the lame, the blind, the lepers that came to our LORD for healing, wanted no book to teach them how to express their wants. Though some were only poor beggars, and others, as the self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees superciliously chose to term them, “_Gentile_ dogs,” yet, conscious of their wants, and having…
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What spirit then must those be of, _Reverend Sir_, who have lately joined in pronouncing the sentence of expulsion against six religious students, not only for having been of trades, and praying extempore, but for _reading_ and _singing hymns_ also? His Royal Highness the late Duke of _Cumberland_, was of a very differ…
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The private meetings that are in any wise deemed and denounced _illegal_, are such, and such only, as are seditious, and composed of seditious persons; who associate, indeed under a pretence of religion, but in reality to plot against the state. The sooner any that can be convicted of this, are made to forsake the asse…
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But, reverend Sir, may we not presume to hope, that this voluntary speaker for the whole university, whoever he be, it maketh no matter to me, was somewhat out, and mistaken in his calculation. For it seems, not above three or four doctors, if so many, were present, at least sat as judges at this extraordinary tribunal…
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Alas! alas! in what a disadvantageous point of light, must all concerned in such an extraordinary stretch of university-discipline stand, among all foreign universities whatsoever? In what point of light it will be viewed by our ecclesiastical superiors at home, a very little time will discover. Nay, it is to be feared…
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Besides, if such proceedings should be continued, (which GOD forbid!) what little credit may we suppose will hereafter be given to future _university-testimonials_, that the bearers of them have behaved studiously, soberly, and piously; and how must we in time be put under a disagreeable necessity of having a new, or a…
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If this be enthusiasm, the true Methodists confess themselves to be enthusiasts. But then, they humbly apprehend, that they cannot with any just propriety of speech be termed modern enthusiasts; for it is an enthusiasm which our blessed LORD earnestly insists upon, in that prayer which he put up when he was about to ta…
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It is true, by thinking and acting thus, the Methodists have been, and it is presumed always will be, charged and condemned by men of corrupt minds, as thinking and acting irregularly and disorderly: but as such a charge, in the very nature of the thing, supposes a deviation from some settled standing rule, they would …
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You know, Reverend Sir, who it was, that when those who were bidden in a regular way refused to come to the wedding-supper, without asking any one’s leave for so doing, sent forth some irregulars into the lanes and streets of the city, into the highways and hedges, with that glorious encouraging commission, not by fine…
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What a pity therefore is it, Reverend Sir, that the book of homilies, which ought to be in every hand, and as common as our common prayer books, should never yet have found a place in the large catalogue of books given away by the truly laudable society for promoting christian knowledge, though founded soon after the g…
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Every body is loudly complaining of the badness of our times, and the degeneracy of our morals. Sinners now proclaim their sin like _Sodom_, and the nation hath suffered more than a _second deluge_ by an innundation of every sin, and every kind of corruption that was ever committed or practised under heaven: “The whole…
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I have dwelt the longer upon this particular, Reverend Sir, because the present learned Bishop of _Gloucester_, in his late volume, intitled, “The Doctrine of Grace,” is pleased to observe more than once, that he finds fault not so much with the matter, as the manner of the Methodists preaching. But if by the _manner_,…
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But why go I to the bar or stage to fetch vouchers in defence of earnestness in heart and action, when speaking for the most High GOD, and offering salvation to precious and immortal souls, for whom the ever-adorable Mediator shed his precious blood. You know, Reverend Sir, the character given of _Bucolspherus_, one of…
434 wordsSECTION 173GEORGE WHITEFIELD.
OBSERVATIONS ON Select PASSAGES of SCRIPTURE. TURNED INTO CATECHETICAL QUESTIONS. Begun, _March 12, 1738_. OBSERVATIONS on Select PASSAGES of SCRIPTURE.…
20 wordsSECTION 174LUKE, CHAPTER XXIII.
Ver. 8. Q. _WHY would not JESUS CHRIST shew |Herod| a miracle?_ _A._ Because in all probability, it was only to satisfy his curiosity that he desired to see one. Q. _What may we learn from |Herod|’s never having seen CHRIST before?_ _A._ That CHRIST was no friend to courts; that pomp and greatness keep thousands…
814 wordsSECTION 175CHAPTER XXIV.
1. Q. _What may we learn from this first verse?_ _A._ That we should rise early in the morning on the Lord’s-day, and offer him the spices and odours of praise and thanksgiving. 4. Q. _What is meant by the two men?_ _A._ Two angels in the shape of men. 7. Q. _Why must the Son of Man be crucified?_ _A._ Be…
644 wordsSECTION 176JOHN, CHAPTER I.
Q. _Who was the author of this gospel?_ _A._ _John_, the disciple whom JESUS loved. Q. _Why did he write it?_ _A._ To confound the heresy of _Ebion_ and _Cerinthus_, who denied the divinity of our blessed LORD: and therefore, through the whole gospel we find he takes all opportunities of proving, that JESUS CHRIST w…
168 wordsSECTION 177_A._ JESUS CHRIST.
Q. _Is there any proof in this verse, that JESUS CHRIST is GOD?_ _A._ Yes: “And the Word was GOD.” Q. _Why was it necessary that JESUS our Saviour should be GOD?_ _A._ Because it was impossible for any creature to satisfy for our sins. 3. Q. _Is here any proof of the Divinity of CHRIST?_ _A._ Yes: because the w…
490 wordsSECTION 178CHAPTER II.
2. Q. _What may we learn from CHRIST’s being at the marriage in Cana?_ _A._ That it is an honourable state, otherwise he would not have been present at it. Q. _What may we learn from these people’s calling CHRIST to the marriage?_ _A._ That those who are about to enter on a marriage state, ought above all things,…
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Q. _Was it not a bold thing of JESUS CHRIST to venture himself among such a company of persons?_ _A._ No doubt of it; and therefore some have thought, that this was the greatest miracle CHRIST performed; and by this our LORD would shew those in power, that if they will be zealous in reforming abuses, and go out in the…
250 wordsSECTION 180CHAPTER III.
1. Q. _What may we remark from |Nicodemus|’s coming to CHRIST?_ _A._ That it is a good thing to see rulers come to JESUS CHRIST; and though not many mighty, not many noble are called, yet some are. 2. Q. _Why did |Nicodemus| come by night?_ _A._ For fear of man. Q. _What may we learn hence?_ _A._ That when r…
395 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.