PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 5 (of 6) : Containing all his sermons and tracts, etc.
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770 · 189,652 words · 269 reading sections
Part 121
I suppose, I may take it for granted, that all of you amongst whom I am now preaching the kingdom of GOD, hope after death to go to a place which we call Heaven. And my heart’s desire and prayer to GOD for you is, that you all may have mansions prepared for you there. But give me leave to tell you, was you now to see t…
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If it be enquired, who is to be the potter? and by whose agency this marred clay is to be formed into another vessel? Or in other words, if it be asked, how this great and mighty change is to be effected? I answer, not by the mere dint and force of moral suasion. This is good in its place. And I am so far from thinking…
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These, these are the precious truths, which a scoffing world would fain rally or ridicule us out of. To produce this glorious change, this new creation, the glorious JESUS left his Father’s bosom. For this he led a persecuted life; for this he died an ignominious and accursed death; for this he rose again; and for this…
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You, that have in some degree experienced the quickening influence (for I must not conclude without dropping a word or two to GOD’s children) you know how to pity, and therefore, I beseech you also to pray for those, to whose circumstances this discourse is peculiarly adapted. But will you be content in praying for the…
379 wordsSECTION 125SERMON XIV.
The LORD our Righteousness. JEREMIAH xxiii. 6. _The LORD our Righteousness_. WHOEVER is acquainted with the nature of mankind in general, or the propensity of his own heart in particular, must acknowledge, that _self-righteousness_ is the last idol that is rooted out of the heart: being once born under a covenant of…
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If any Arians or Socinians are drawn by curiosity to hear what the babler has to say, let them be ashamed of denying the divinity of that LORD, who has bought poor sinners with his precious blood. For the person mentioned in the text, under the character of the LORD, is JESUS CHRIST. Verse 5. “Behold, the days come, sa…
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Here then we see the meaning of the word _righteousness_. It implies the active as well as passive obedience of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. We generally, when talking of the merits of CHRIST, only mention the latter,――his death; whereas, the former,――his life and active obedience, is equally necessary. CHRIST is not such a …
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But surely the men, who urge this objection, either never read, or never understood, our LORD’s blessed discourse, wherein the doctrine of an imputed righteousness is so plainly taught, that he who runs, if he has eyes that see, may read. Indeed our LORD does recommend morality and good works, (as all faithful ministe…
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This was what our Lord designed. The young man being self-righteous, and willing to justify himself, said, “All these have I observed from my youth:” but had he known himself, he would have confessed, all these have I broken from my youth. For, supposing he had not actually committed adultery, had he never lusted after…
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But that is no consequence at all; for GOD may justly damn any man for omitting the least duty of the moral law, and yet in himself is not obliged to give to any one any reward, supposing he has done all that he can. We are unprofitable servants; we have not done near so much as it was our duty to do, must be the langu…
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I remember a story of a certain prelate, who, after many arguments in vain urged to convince the Earl of _Rochester_ of the invisible realities of another world, took his leave of his lordship with some such words as these: “Well, my lord, if there be no hell, I am safe; but if there should be such a thing as hell, wha…
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Was this ever the language of your hearts? and, after these inward conflicts, were you ever enabled to reach out the arm of faith, and embrace the blessed JESUS in your souls, so that you could say, “my beloved is mine, and I am his?” If so, fear not, whoever you are. Hail, all hail, you happy souls! The LORD, the LORD…
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But thus it must be, if CHRIST be not your righteousness. For GOD’s justice must be satisfied; and, unless CHRIST’s righteousness is imputed and applied to you here, you must hereafter be satisfying the divine justice in hell-torments eternally; nay, CHRIST himself shall condemn you to that place of torment. And how cu…
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And what shall I say to you of a middle age, you _busy merchants_, you _cumbered Martha’s_, who, with all your gettings, have not yet gotten the LORD to be your righteousness? Alas! what profit will there be of all your labour under the sun, if you do not secure this pearl of invaluable price? this one thing, so absolu…
655 wordsSECTION 135SERMON XV.
The Righteousness of CHRIST, an everlasting Righteousness. DANIEL ix. 24. _And to bring in everlasting Righteousness._ ON reading these words, I cannot help addressing you in the language of the angels to the poor shepherds, who kept watch over their flocks by night, “Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy,” …
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It is plain from the accounts we have in Scripture, that the Prophet _Daniel_ was one of these; he is stiled by the angel, not only a “man that was beloved,” but a “man that was _greatly_ beloved,” or as it is in the margin of your bibles, “he was a man of desires,” of large and extensive desires to promote the glory o…
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Well, here is not only mention made of the angel’s flying swiftly, but there is mention made of the time that he came; “He came and touched me, about the time of the evening oblation,” that is, about three o’clock in the afternoon; at this time there was a sacrifice made to GOD, and this sacrifice was in a peculiar man…
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It likewise signifies inward holiness, wrought in us by the blessed Spirit of GOD. But, I believe, the word righteousness in my text signifies, what, I trust most, I should be glad if I could say, all who attend this night, will be glad to hear of: What is that? It is what all reformed divines, that have clear heads an…
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♦ duplicate word “will” removed In the fulness of time descends the eternal Logos, “In the fulness of time GOD sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that are under the law from the curse of it, being made a curse for us.” The LORD JESUS CHRIST being cloathed in human nature, fulfilled …
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_Secondly_, It is called an everlasting righteousness, because the efficacy of CHRIST’s death took place immediately upon _Adam_’s fall. Christianity, in one sense, is as old as the creation. Great Professor _Franck_, of _Germany_, says, “That CHRIST is the sum and substance of all righteousness.” Mr. _Henry_ observes,…
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_Fourthly_, CHRIST’s righteousness may be called an everlasting righteousness, because the benefit of it is to endure to everlasting life. Indeed, some people tell us, that a person may be in CHRIST to-day, and go to the devil to-morrow: but, blessed be GOD, ye have not so learned CHRIST! No, my dear friends, thanks be…
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Again, The LORD JESUS CHRIST brought in this righteousness, as he wrought it out for sinners upon the cross. Some Antinomians, for want of a proper distinction, run into a grievous error, telling us, Because GOD intended to justify by the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, therefore man is justified from all eternity: whic…
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I must address myself to you, poor souls, who cannot say, that this righteousness has been brought home to your souls; but if it was never brought home before, may GOD, for the LORD JESUS CHRIST’s sake, bring it home now! Are any of you depending upon a righteousness of your own? Do any of you here, think to save yours…
724 wordsSECTION 144SERMON XVI.
The Observation of the Birth of CHRIST, the Duty of all Christians; or the true Way of keeping Christmas. MATTHEW i. 21. _And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his Name Jesus: For he shall save his People from their Sins._ THE celebration of the birth of CHRIST hath been esteemed a duty by most who pr…
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And _First_, you do not celebrate this aright, when you spend most of your time in cards, dice, or gaming of any sort. This is a season, for which there is no more allowance for wasting of your precious time in those unlawful entertainments, than any other. Persons are apt to flatter themselves that they are free and …
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How can you say, “Lead us not into temptation,” when you are resolved to lead yourselves into it, by running into the occasions of sins. You are commanded to keep from the appearance of evil; and do you do that, by running into the place and company where it is like to be committed? No, this is so far from avoiding, an…
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What can we do to employ our time to a more noble purpose, than reading of what our dear Redeemer has done and suffered; to read, that the King of kings, and the LORD of lords, came from his throne and took upon him the form of the meanest of his servants; and what great ♦things he underwent. This, this is an history w…
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Do not, my dear brethren, be forgetful of the poor of this world; consider, if providence has smiled upon you, and blessed you with abundance of the things of this life, GOD calls for some returns of gratitude from you: be ye mindful of the poor, and when you are so, then you may be said to have a true regard for that …
800 wordsSECTION 149SERMON XVII.
The Temptation of CHRIST. MATTHEW iv. 1‒11. _Then was JESUS led up of the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of GOD, command that these stones may be ma…
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During these forty days, we may suppose, our LORD felt no hunger: converse with heaven, to him was instead of meat and drink; but “afterwards he was an hungered;” exceedingly so, no doubt. And now, the important fight begins. For, then “the tempter,” emphatically so called, because he first tempted our first parents to…
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Thus is the tempter foiled in the first onset; but he hath other arrows in his quiver, with which he will farther strive to wound the immaculate Lamb of GOD. Since he cannot draw him in either to distrust, or despair, he will now try if he cannot prevail on him to presume. In order to effect this, “He taketh the blesse…
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Thus our great _Michael_ comes off conqueror in the second assault. And doth not the serpent feel his head bruised enough yet? Not at all: on the contrary, being more and more enraged at such unusual opposition, and want of success, “He again taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, (what mountain is not very mat…
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Hell, we may well suppose, like the Philistines of old, was confounded, and gave a horrible groan, when they saw their great _Goliah_, in whom they had so long trusted, thus shamefully and totally defeated in no less than three pitched battles. The first _Adam_ was attacked but once, and was conquered; but the second _…
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_Secondly_, Did our LORD by prayer, fasting, and temptation, prepare himself for his public ministry? Surely then, all those who profess to be inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon them the office and administration of the church, should be prepared in the same manner. For though the knowledge of books and men,…
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I charge, therefore, all of you, who are rich and high in this world, to watch and pray, lest ye fall by Satan’s temptation. Those especially of you, that are placed as on the pinnacle of the temple, exalted above your fellows in the church of GOD, take heed in an especial manner unto yourselves, lest by spiritual prid…
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_Fourthly_, Whether beset with this or any other temptation, let all of us learn of our LORD to fight the devil with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD. Though he had the Spirit without measure, yet he always made use of this. We may say of it, as _David_ did of _Goliah_’s sword, “none like this,” none l…
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But I have not time to follow such as you any farther. This discourse, and the present frame of my mind, lead me rather to speak to those, who by feeling Satan’s fiery darts, know assuredly that there is a devil. Comfort thou, comfort thou, these afflicted ones, O LORD. O thou all-merciful and all-bountiful GOD, and th…
140 wordsSECTION 158SERMON XVIII.
The Heinous Sin of Profane Cursing and Swearing. MATTHEW v. 34. _But I say unto you, Swear not at all._ AMONG the many heinous sins for which this nation is grown infamous, perhaps there is no one more crying, but withal more common, than the abominable custom of profane swearing and cursing. Our streets abound with…
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But, before I proceed directly to the prosecution of this point, it will be proper to clear this precept of our LORD from a misrepresentation that has been put on it by some, who infer from hence, that our Saviour prohibits swearing before a magistrate, when required on a solemn and proper occasion. But that all sweari…
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And here, not to mention that it is a direct breach of our blessed master’s and great law-giver’s command in the words of the text, as likewise of the third commandment, wherein GOD positively declares, “he will not hold him guiltless (that is, will assuredly punish him) that taketh his name in vain:” not to mention th…
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This is another consideration which always serves to lessen or increase the guilt and malignity of any sin. It was some excuse for the drunkenness of _Noah_, and the adultery of _David_, that they committed these crimes but once: as, on the contrary, of the patriarch _Abraham_’s distrust of GOD, that he repeated the di…
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But this is not all; As profane swearing must undoubtedly harden those in their infidelity, that are without, so must it no less grieve and give great offence to those honest and sincere persons that are within the church. We hear of _David_’s complaining and crying out, “Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with …
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1. And first then, if these things be so, and the sin of profane swearing, as hath been in some measure shewn, is so exceeding sinful, what shall we say to such unhappy men, who think it not only allowable, but fashionable and polite, to “take the name of GOD in vain;” who imagine that swearing makes them look big amon…
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2. But farther, if the sin of swearing is so exceeding heinous, and withal so common, then it is every particular person’s duty, especially those that are in authority, to do their utmost towards discountenancing and suppressing so malignant a crime. The duty we owe both to GOD and our neighbour, requires this at our h…
574 wordsSECTION 165SERMON XIX.
CHRIST the Support of the Tempted. MATTHEW vi. 13. _Lead us not into Temptation._ THE great and important duty which is incumbent on christians, is to guard against all appearance of evil; to watch against the first risings in the heart to evil; and to have a guard upon our actions, that they may not be sinful, or s…
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Do not many of you love to make a lie? And if it is done in your trade, you therefore look on it as excusable; but whether you believe it or not, it is sinful, it is exceedingly sinful. Though you may value yourselves as fine rational creatures, and that you are noble beings; and you were so, as you first came out of G…
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It is he that rules in thy heart, O scoffer, O _Pharisee_; the devil reigns there, and endeavours to blind your eyes, that you shall not see what danger you are in, and how much evil there is in those hearts of yours; and as long as he can keep you easy and unconcerned about having your hearts changed, he will be easy;…
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And here, my dear brethren, let me beseech you to go to JESUS CHRIST; tell him, how you are assaulted by the evil one, who lies in wait for your souls; tell him, you are not able to master him, in your own strength; beg his assistance, and you shall find him ready to help you; ready to assist you, and to be your Guide,…
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Do not waver, but give him that which he desires, your hearts; it is the heart the LORD JESUS CHRIST wanteth; and when you have an inward principle wrought in your hearts by this same JESUS, then you will feel the sweetness and pleasure of communion with GOD. O consider, my brethren, the love of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, …
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Therefore let me beseech you, in all love and compassion: Consider, you, who are Pharisees; you, who will not come to CHRIST, but are trusting to yourselves for righteousness; who think, because you lead civil, honest, decent lives, all will go well at last; but let me tell you, O ye Pharisees, that harlots, murderers,…
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Worldly business no Plea for the Neglect of Religion. MATTHEW viii. 22. _Let the dead bury their dead._ ST. _Paul_ preaching at _Athens_, tells them, that as he passed by and beheld their devotions, he perceived they were in all things too _superstitious_. But was this apostle to rise, and come publishing the glad t…
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Some indeed are for confining religion to the clergy, and think it only belongs to those who serve at the altar: but what a fatal mistake is this, seeing all persons are indifferently called by GOD to the same state of inward holiness. As we are all corrupt in our nature, so must we all be renewed and sanctified. And t…
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And now what need we any further proof? We have heard the decision out of CHRIST’s own mouth. But because it is so difficult to convince such of this important truth, whose hearts are blinded by the deceitfulness of riches, that we had need cry out to them in the language of the prophet, “O earth, earth, hear the word …
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But what will be the hope of such worldlings, when GOD shall take away their souls? What if the almighty should say to each of them, as he did to the rich fool in the gospel, “this night shall thy soul be required of thee;” O then, what would all those things profit them, which they are now so busy in providing? Was e…
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Let me therefore, by way of conclusion, exhort all persons, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to make the renewal of their fallen nature, the one business of their lives; and to let no worldly profit, no worldly pleasure, divert them from the thoughts of it. Let this cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh,” be…
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CHRIST the only Rest for the Weary and Heavy-Laden. MATTHEW xi. 28. _Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest._ NOTHING is more generally known than the duties which belong to christianity; and yet, how amazing is it, nothing is less practised? There is much of it in name and she…
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No, these Pharisees are not thus troubled; they laugh and jest at those who talk of feeling their sins, and think there is no occasion to make so much ado about religion: it is to be righteous over-much, and the means to destroy yourselves. They think if they do but mean well, and say their prayers, as they call them, …
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Ye pharisees, who are going about to establish your own righteousness; you, who are too polite to follow the LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity and truth; you, who are all for a little shew, a little outside work; who lead moral, civil, decent lives, CHRIST will not know you at the great day, but will say unto you, O ye Ph…
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They will say then of their laughter, it is mad; and of mirth, What dost thou? Their merry conceits, and witty jests against the poor despised people of GOD, are then over. Their mirth was but as the crackling of thorns under a pot; it made a great blaze and unseemly noise for a while, but it was presently gone, and wi…
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2. When you are obliged to cry out under the burden of your sins, and know not what to do for relief; when this is your case, you are weary of your sins. It does not consist in a weariness all of a sudden: no, it is the continual burden of your soul, it is your grief and concern that you cannot live without offending G…
825 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.