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
CHAPTER IV.
4. Q. _Why must CHRIST needs go through |Samaria|?_ _A._ Because there was a woman to be converted there. Q. _What learn you from thence?_ _A._ That where GOD has got people to be called, he will find means to bring them to himself. 6. Q. _What may you observe from CHRIST’s being weary?_ _A._ That he was tru…
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53. Q. _What learn we from this verse?_ _A._ That bodily distempers are all cured by the power of CHRIST, and that those who are now recovered from sickness, are raised up as certainly though not so visibly by him, as was the Nobleman’s son.…
47 wordsSECTION 183CHAPTER V.
6. Q. _What learn you from CHRIST’s asking this question? “Wilt thou be made whole?”_ _A._ That he will know our wants from ourselves. 8. Q. _What learn you from CHRIST’s bidding him to take up his bed and walk?_ _A._ That though CHRIST is the first mover in recovering us from our natural and spiritual impoten…
324 wordsSECTION 184CHAPTER VI.
2. Q. _What do you learn from hence?_ _A._ That it is too common, for people to follow a minister through curiosity, more than to be edified by his doctrine. 5. Q. _What learn you from CHRIST being solicitous for the feeding of his hearers bodies?_ _A._ That the body is to be taken care of, and that CHRIST is …
437 wordsSECTION 185CHAPTER VII.
1. Q. _What learn you from CHRIST’s walking no more in |Judea| when the |Jews| sought to kill him?_ _A._ That it is our duty, not to expose ourselves to needless dangers; and when we are persecuted at one place, to flee to another, when the glory of GOD and the good of the church do not require our staying. 7. …
302 wordsSECTION 186CHAPTER VIII.
11. Q. _Why would not CHRIST condemn the woman caught in adultery?_ _A._ Not because he approved of her sin, but because it did not belong to him as a prophet, to be the judge of such matters. 9. Q. _What learn you from the persons being convicted from their own consciences, and going out one by one?_ _A._ That…
666 wordsSECTION 187CHAPTER IX.
2. Q. _What learn you from this question, put by our blessed LORD’s Disciples to him?_ _A._ That they believed either the transmigration, or pre-existence of souls; for otherwise how could a man sin before he was born? 3. Q. _What learn you from CHRIST’s answer?_ _A._ That all our infirmities and bodily afflic…
664 wordsSECTION 188CHAPTER X.
20. Q. _What learn you from this verse?_ _A._ That if they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, much more will they those of his houshold. CHRIST’s children were always the world’s fools. 22. Q. _What learn you from hence?_ _A._ That as JESUS was present at the feast of dedication, which was purely of human…
229 wordsSECTION 189CHAPTER XI.
3. Q. _What learn you hence?_ _A._ That it is not our piety will exempt us from sickness and other calamities of life, since he whom CHRIST loved, was sick: That when any of our relations are sick, we should apply, as these sisters did, to JESUS CHRIST to heal them: That it is a peculiar encouragement to pray, when…
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_A._ Probably, on seeing and considering what havoc sin had made, to show sympathy for the afflicted relations; but more particularly for the hardness of the people’s hearts, who he knew would not be converted, though he was about to shew them so great a miracle. 36. Q. _What learn you hence?_ _A._ That if the _Jew…
303 wordsSECTION 191CHAPTER XII.
2. Q. _What learn you from |Martha|’s serving, though CHRIST before this had condemned her too great solicitude?_ _A._ That religion does not call us from our common business, but teaches us to follow it, with a proper principle, obedience to GOD; and that too not at the expence of the one thing needful. 5. Q. …
250 wordsSECTION 192CHAPTER XIII.
10. Q. _What is the meaning of this verse?_ _A._ It seems to be this. He that is once really converted, needs not that justification and sanctification, which other sinners want; but yet should mourn over his daily sins, and daily seek to have them washed away by the blood of CHRIST. 14. Q. _Ought we to make a ri…
282 wordsSECTION 193CHAPTER XIV.
26. Q. _What learn you hence?_ _A._ That it is one of the peculiar offices of the Holy Ghost, to bring to our remembrance what CHRIST has told us. And this every sincere christian knows by experience. 30. Q. _What learn you hence?_ _A._ That the less corruption we have in our hearts, the less power will the devi…
66 wordsSECTION 194CHAPTER XV.
2. Q. _What learn you hence?_ _A._ That every unprofitable servant, and all mere professing christians, will perish; and that those who are true christians must expect afflictions and trials to prepare them for greater services. 9. Q. _What learn you hence?_ _A._ That the world hates christians on account of t…
126 wordsSECTION 195BEING
An Attempt to render Mr. LAW’s _Serious Call_ more useful to the Children of GOD, by excluding whatever is not truly Evangelical, and illustrating the subject more fully from the Holy Scriptures. _He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love._…
74 wordsSECTION 196CHAPTER I.¹
_The Nature and Extent of Christian Devotion._ ¹ By Letter 640, Volume II. page 144. it appears that this tract was written about _June 1748_. CHRISTIAN devotion, signifies a life given or devoted to GOD; he consequently, and he alone, is the _devout man_, who lives no longer to his own will, or after the way and spi…
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But to return. The same Apostle, in his epistle to the _Ephesians_, commands servants “to be obedient to their masters in singleness of heart, as unto CHRIST; not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of CHRIST, doing the will of GOD from the heart: with good-will doing service as unto the LORD, and no…
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This is the _common devotion_, which our blessed Saviour and his Apostles taught, in order to make it the common life of all christians. But yet, though it is thus plain, that this, and this alone, is true christianity, yet it is as plain, that there is little or nothing of this to be found, not only among professed ra…
678 wordsSECTION 199CHAPTER II.
_Persons free from the necessities of labour and employments, are to consider themselves as devoted to GOD in a higher degree._ AS it has been proved in the foregoing chapter, that all professors of christianity, do lie under manifold obligations to live a life wholly devoted unto GOD; so those who have no _particular…
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A gentleman that spends great part of his estate in sports, and a woman that lays out all her fortune upon herself, can hardly be persuaded, that the spirit of religion cannot subsist in such a way of life. Much less will they be easily convinced, that such a turn of mind, however they may live free from debaucheries, …
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If you visit _Flavia_ on the LORD’s day, you will always meet good company; you will know what is doing in the world, and who is meant by every name that is in it. You will hear what plays were acted that week, and which is the finest song in the opera; who was intolerable at the last assembly, and what games are most …
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But not so _Miranda_ (the sister of _Flavia_); she is a sober reasonable christian. As soon as she was mistress of her time and fortune, it was her first thought, how she might best fulfil every thing that GOD required of her in the use of them, and how she might make the best and happiest use of this short life. She d…
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Books also of devotion, and especially such as enter into the heart of religion, and describe the _inward holiness_ of the christian life, have such a large place in her closet, that she is sometimes afraid that she lays out too much money in them, because she cannot forbear buying all the practical books of any note. …
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_Miranda_ never wants compassion even to _common beggars_; especially those that are old or sick, or full of sores, and that want eyes or limbs. _Miranda_ considers that _Lazarus_ was a common beggar, that notwithstanding he was the care of angels, and carried into _Abraham_’s bosom. She considers that our blessed Savi…
636 wordsSECTION 205CHAPTER III.
_An enquiry into the first and chief reason, why the generality of christians fall so far short of the holiness and devotion of christianity._ SINCE christian devotion is nothing less than a life wholly devoted unto GOD, and persons who are free from the necessities of labour and employments, are to consider themselve…
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Though this be a matter that we can easily pass over at present, whilst the health of our bodies, the passions of our minds, the noise, and hurry, and pleasures, and business of the world, lead us on with “eyes that see not, and ears that hear not:” yet at death, it will set itself before us in a dreadful magnitude; it…
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Just as you came into my chamber, I was thinking with myself, what numbers of souls there are in the world, in my condition at this very time, surprized with a summons to the other world: some taken from their shops and farms, others from their sports and pleasures; these at suits at law, those at gaming-tables; some o…
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It is true indeed, you have frequently seen me at church and the sacrament; but alas, you little think what remorse of conscience I now feel for so frequently saying, “the remembrance of our sins is grievous unto us, and the burden of them is intolerable,” when I never experienced the meaning of them in all my life. Yo…
682 wordsSECTION 209CHAPTER IV.
_Shewing, how the fear of being singular, and making the world their rule of action, is a second great cause, why so few devote themselves to GOD._ ANOTHER cause why so few devote themselves to GOD, is a _fear of contempt_ from the world, and their making its modes and customs the general rule of all their actions. T…
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We may deceive ourselves, if we please, with vain and softening comments upon these words; but they are and will be understood in their first simplicity and plainness, by every one who reads them in the same spirit that our blessed LORD spoke them. And to understand them in any lower and less significant meaning, is to…
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And indeed the world, by professing christianity, is so far from being a less dangerous enemy than it was before, that it has by its favour destroyed more christians, than ever it did by the most violent persecution. It is a greater and more dangerous enemy, because it has greater power over christians by its favours,…
317 wordsSECTION 212CHAPTER V.
_Shewing that the education which men generally receive in their youth, makes a devout life difficult to be practised; and the spirit of a better education represented in the character of |Paternus|._ ANOTHER obstruction to a devout life, arises from our _education_. We are all of us, for the most part, corruptly educ…
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PATERNUS lived about two hundred years ago; he had but one son, whom he educated himself, in his own house. As they were sitting together in the garden, when the child was _ten years_ old, _Paternus_ thus addressed him. “The little time that you have been in the world, my child, you have spent wholly with me; and my l…
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GOD keepeth a book of life, wherein all the actions of all men are written; and when you die, my child, this book will be laid open before men and angels; and according as your actions are there found to have been done in, and proceeded from a living faith in JESUS CHRIST, you will either be received into the happiness…
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An education which is not wholly intent upon this, is as much beside the point, as an art of physic that had little or no regard to the restoration of health: or rather, it is like administering poison instead of physic. For as the only end of the physician, is to restore nature to its own state; so the only end of ed…
218 wordsSECTION 216CHAPTER VI.
_Shewing how the method of educating daughters, makes it difficult for them to enter into the spirit of christianity; how miserably they are injured and abused by such an education; and the spirit of a better education represented in the character of |Eusebia|._ THAT turn of mind which is taught and encouraged in the …
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Their minds are turned as much to the care of beauty and dress, and the indulgence of vain desires, as in the present case, without having such rules of devotion to stand against it. So that if solid piety is much wanted in that sex, it is the plain and natural consequence of a vain and corrupt education. If they are o…
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These considerations have made me think it my duty to teach you nothing that was dangerous for you to learn. I have kept you from every thing that might betray you into weakness and folly, or make you think any thing fine, but a _fine mind_; any thing happy, but an interest in the favour of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST; o…
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In short, my dear children, strive to do every thing that is praise-worthy, but do nothing in order to be praised; nor think of any reward of all your works of faith and labours of love, till JESUS CHRIST cometh with all his holy angels. Think, my children, that the soul of your good father, now with GOD, speaks to you…
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Some people that judge hastily, will perhaps say, I have been exercising too great a severity against the sex. But more reasonable persons will easily observe, that I entirely spare the sex, and only arraign their education; that, I profess, I cannot spare; but the only reason is, because it is their greatest enemy, be…
110 wordsSECTION 221CHAPTER VII.
_Shewing, how true devotion fills our lives the greatest peace and happiness that can be enjoyed in this world._ SOME people perhaps may object, that by thus living wholly unto GOD, and introducing a regard to his glory in all that we do, too great a restraint will be put upon human nature; and that by thus depriving …
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The next attempt after happiness, carried him into the field. For two or three years nothing made him so happy as _hunting_; he entered upon it with all his soul, and leaped more hedges and ditches than had ever been known in so short a time. You never saw him but in a _green coat_; he was the envy of all that blew the…
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If you was to live with _Feliciana_ but one half year, you would see all the happiness that she is to have as long as she lives. She has no more to come, but the poor repetition of that which could never have pleased once, but through a wrong turn of mind, and want of thought. She is to be again dressed fine, and keep…
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How often had I envied his great learning, his skill in languages, his knowledge of antiquity, his address, and fine manner of expressing himself upon all subjects! But when I saw how poorly it all ended, what was to be the last year of such a life, and how foolishly the master of all these accomplishments was then for…
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But to see and consider the emptiness and error of all worldly happiness; to see the grossness of sensuality, the poorness of pride, the stupidity of covetousness, the vanity of dress, the delusion of honour, the blindness of our passions, the uncertainty of our lives, and the shortness of all worldly projects; these a…
175 wordsSECTION 226CHAPTER VIII.
_Shewing the excellency and greatness of a devout spirit, and proving that a contrary spirit, is an indication of great ignorance and stupidity._ I HAVE now finished what was intended; I have explained the nature of _christian devotion_, and shewn that it belongs to all orders, and more especially to those whose fortu…
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But to proceed: Courage and bravery are words of a great sound, and seem to signify an heroic spirit; but yet humility, which seems to be the lowest, meanest part of devotion, is a more certain argument of a noble and courageous mind. A man that dares be poor and contemptible in the eyes of the world, to approve himsel…
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If a Judge had fine skill in painting, architecture, and music, but at the same time had gross and confused notions of equity, and a poor, dull apprehension of the value of justice, who would scruple to reckon him a poor ignorant Judge? If a Bishop should be a man of great address and skill in the art of preferment, an…
710 wordsSECTION 229PREFACE To a NEW EDITION of the HOMILIES, As intended to have been published by Mr. WHITEFIELD.
THE word _Homily_ signifies a sermon. Consequently the book of homilies, implies a book of sermons. Particularly that book, which was composed by those great reformers, _Cranmer_, _Ridley_, _Latimer_, _Hooper_, and others, in the beginning of the reign of that _Josiah_ of his age, _Edward the sixth_. It was again repub…
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If our societies at home, or missionaries abroad, should urge in excuse for their not reading or dispersing this book of Homilies, that its language and diction is too antique and obsolete; I humbly apprehend, they might with equal propriety make the same objection against the use of, and dispersing the book of _Common…
397 wordsSECTION 231I.
BLESSED LORD, who hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our …
172 wordsSECTION 232II.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee the GOD of all mercy, perfect remission and forgivenes…
274 wordsSECTION 233III.
ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, maker of all things, judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, against thy divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. …
240 wordsSECTION 234IV.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, who hast given unto us thy servants, grace, by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine Majesty to worship the Unity; we beseech thee, that thou wouldst keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adv…
179 wordsSECTION 235V.
LORD, we pray thee, that thy grace may always prevent and follow us; and make us continually to be given to all good works, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen! GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty GOD, that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may through thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our h…
184 wordsSECTION 236VI.
ALMIGHTY GOD, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name, through CHRIST our LORD. Amen! O LORD, who hast taught us, that all our doings…
188 wordsSECTION 237VII.
ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast given us thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; grant that we being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who liveth and reigneth with thee and th…
243 wordsSECTION 238VIII.
WE are chiefly bound to praise thee for thy Son JESUS CHRIST our LORD: for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again, hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with angels and archangels, …
285 wordsSECTION 239IX.
ALMIGHTY GOD, who through thine only begotten Son JESUS CHRIST, hath overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; we humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace preventing us, thou dost put into our minds good desires; so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect, through JESU…
189 wordsSECTION 240X.
GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort, through the merits of CHRIST JESUS our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in …
389 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.