PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 6 (of 6) : Containing all his sermons and tracts, etc.
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770 · 155,592 words · 214 reading sections
Part 61
Do not then say you are unworthy; for this is a faithful and true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, “that JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save sinners;” and if you are the chief of sinners, if you feel yourselves such, verily JESUS CHRIST came into the world chiefly to save you. When _Joseph_ was called…
686 wordsSECTION 62SERMON XXXIX.
The Resurrection of _Lazarus_. JOHN xi. 43, 44. _And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth. And he that was dead, came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths: and his face was bound about with a napkin. JESUS saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go._ WHEN JESUS CHRIST, the…
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The evangelist in the first verse, makes mention of the sickness of _Lazarus_. “Now, a certain man mas sick, named _Lazarus_ of _Bethany_, the town of _Mary_, and her sister _Martha_.” Some think these sisters were very wealthy, so as to own good part of the town, or, as the original word seems to imply, the village. B…
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JESUS loved _Lazarus_, and yet _Lazarus_ was sick. And what do his sisters do for him now he is sick? No doubt they applied to a physician, for it is tempting GOD to neglect making use of means for the recovery of our health, when it is impaired. But then they were not guilty of _Asa_’s crime, “who sought to the physic…
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Verse 5. that “JESUS loved _Martha_ and her sister, and _Lazarus_.” Oh happy family! Three in it beloved of JESUS, with a peculiar, everlasting love. “Very often it so happens, (to use the words of the pious Bishop _Beveridge_) that there is but one in a city, and two in a country of this stamp.” But here are two siste…
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Though our LORD abode two days where he was, to try the faith of these sisters, yet after this, he said unto his disciples, verse 7. “Let us go into _Judea_ again.” With what a holy familiarity does JESUS converse with his dear children! Our Saviour seems to speak to his disciples, as though he was only their brother, …
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“These things (the evangelist tells us, verse 11.) said JESUS, and after that, (to satisfy them that he was not going into _Judea_ without a proper call) he saith unto them, Our friend _Lazarus_ sleepeth.” Our friend. Amazing! For what is a friend? As one’s own soul. How dear then, and near are true believers to the mo…
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“Nevertheless, says our LORD, let us go unto him.” This was a sufficient hint, if they knew how to improve it, that he intended to do something extraordinary, though he would not tell them directly what he intended. For the LORD JESUS will keep those whom he loves, at his foot, and dependant on him. “Let us go unto him…
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How their thoughts were exercised on the road, we are not told. But I am apt to believe they were a little discouraged when they came to _Bethany_. For “When JESUS came, he found that _Lazarus_ had lien in the grave for four days already.” And what would it avail them, to come so many miles only to see a dead man’s tom…
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_Mary_, perhaps, through the prevalence of this, and being also naturally of a sedentary disposition, “sat still in the house,” while her sister _Martha_ got the start of her, and went out to meet JESUS. And how does she accost him? Why, in a language bespeaking the distress of a burdened and disordered mind. For she s…
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Glad tidings these of great joy. This should comfort us concerning our deceased, pious relations, that ere long they shall rise again, and soul and body be for ever with the LORD. Howbeit JESUS spake here of an immediate resurrection, though he did not speak plainly: For CHRIST loves to exercise the faith and patience …
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For we are told, verse 29. “When she heard that, she rose quickly, and came to JESUS.” Sinners, when will you do so? Or why do you not do so? How know you whether JESUS will call for you any more, before he calls you by death to judgment? Linger, O linger no longer. Fly, fly for your lives. Arise quickly, and with _Mar…
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But alas, though all were affected, yet, it seems, all were not well affected at seeing JESUS weep! For we are told, verse 37. that some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?” One would imagine, that Satan himself could scarce have utte…
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And now the hour of our Saviour’s performing this long-expected miracle, is come. Verse 43. “When he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, _Lazarus_, come forth.” With the word there went an irresistible power: he spake, and it was done: he cried, and behold, “He that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with…
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This hath been always the method of Pharisees and high-priests, when they have been taking counsel against the LORD JESUS, and his dear anointed ones. But they need not have been afraid on this account: for our Saviour’s kingdom neither was, nor is of this world; and the only way to have preserved their place and natio…
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Methinks I see some of you affected at this part of my discourse. What say you? Are there not some ready to complain, alas! we have some relations present, who are so notoriously wicked, that they not only hug their chains, but make a mock of sin, and stink not only in the sight of GOD, but man. Dear souls! you are rea…
558 wordsSECTION 77SERMON XL.
The Holy Spirit convincing the World of Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment. JOHN xvi. 8. _And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment._ THESE words contain part of a gracious promise, which the blessed JESUS was pleased to make to his weeping and sorrowful disciples. Th…
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If any of you ridicule inward religion, or think there is no such thing as our feeling or receiving the Holy Ghost, I fear my preaching will be quite foolishness to you, and that you will understand me no more than if I spoke to you in an unknown tongue. But as the promise in the text, is made to the world, and as I kn…
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And did the Comforter, my dear friends, ever come with such a convincing power as this into your hearts? Were you ever made to see and feel, that in your flesh dwelleth no good thing; that you are conceived and born in sin; that you are by nature children of wrath; that GOD would be just if he damned you, though you ne…
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But does the christian world, or any of you that hear me this day, want the Holy Ghost to convince you of unbelief? Are there any infidels here? Yes, (O that I had not too great reason to think so!) I fear most are such: not indeed such infidels as professedly deny the LORD that bought us (though I fear too many even o…
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The light of conscience will accuse or convince us of any common sin; but the light of natural conscience never did, never will, and never can, convince of unbelief. If it could, how comes it to pass, that not one of the heathens, who improved the light of nature in such an eminent degree, was ever convinced of unbelie…
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By the word _judgment_, I understand that well-grounded peace, that settled judgment, which the soul forms of itself, when it is enabled by the Spirit of GOD to lay hold on CHRIST’s righteousness, which I believe it always does, when convinced in the matter before-mentioned. “Of judgment (says our LORD) because the Pri…
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But perhaps you had rather be filled with wine than with the Spirit, and are daily chasing that Holy Ghost from your souls. What shall I say for you to GOD? “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” What shall I say from GOD to you? Why? That “GOD was in CHRIST reconciling the world unto himself:” Therefo…
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O Christless sinners, you are alive, and who knows but GOD intends to bring you to repentance? Could my prayers or tears effect it, you should have vollies of the one, and floods of the other. My heart is touched with a sense of your condition: May our merciful High-priest now send down the Comforter, and make you sens…
540 wordsSECTION 85SERMON XLI.
_Saul_’s Conversion. ACTS ix. 22. _But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very CHRIST._ IT is an undoubted truth, however paradoxical it may seem to natural men, that “whosoever will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer persecution.” And the…
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“And _Saul_ yet breathing out.” This implies that he had been a persecutor before. To prove which, we need only look back to the 7th chapter, where we shall find him so very remarkably active at _Stephen_’s death, that “the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was _Saul_.” He seems, thoug…
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But “He that sitteth in heaven laughs them to scorn, the LORD has them in derision.” And therefore, verse 3. “As _Saul_ journeyed, and came even near unto _Damascus_,” perhaps to the very gates, (our LORD permitting this, to try the faith of his disciples, and more conspicuously to baffle the designs of his enemies) “s…
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Verse 6. “And he, trembling and astonished, said, LORD, what wilt thou have me to do?” Those, who think _Saul_ had a discovery of JESUS made to his heart before, think that this question is the result of his faith, and that he now desires to know what he shall do, out of gratitude, for what the LORD had done for his so…
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But will the LORD leave his poor servant in this distress? no; his JESUS (though _Saul_ persecuted him) promised (and he will perform) that “it should be told him what he must do. And there was a certain disciple at _Damascus_, named _Ananias_; and unto him, said the LORD, in a vision, _Ananias_; and he said, Behold, I…
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Doubtless, _Ananias_ was a good man; but shall I commend him for his answer to our LORD? I commend him not: for says he, verse 13. “LORD, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at _Jerusalem_: And here, he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.” I …
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Verse 18. “Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, and he received sight forthwith;” not only bodily, but spiritual sight; he emerged as it were into a new world; he saw, and felt too, things unutterable: he felt a union of soul with GOD; he received the spirit of adoption; he could now, with a full…
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What a hurry and confusion may we suppose the chief priests were now in! I warrant they were ready to cry out, What! is he also deceived? As for the common people, who knew not the law, and are accursed, for them to be carried away, is no such wonder; but for a man bred up at the feet of _Gamaliel_, for such a scholar,…
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And therefore (that I may draw towards a conclusion) let the ministers and disciples of CHRIST learn from _Saul_, not to fear men or their revilings; but, like him, increase in strength, the more wicked men endeavour to weaken their hands. We cannot be christians without being opposed: no; disciples in general must suf…
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Who is there among you fearing the LORD? Whose hearts hath the LORD now opened to hearken to the voice of his poor unworthy servant? Surely, the LORD will not let me preach in vain. Who is the happy soul that is this day to be washed in the blood of the Lamb? Will no poor sinner take encouragement from _Saul_ to come t…
321 wordsSECTION 95SERMON XLII.
Marks of having received the Holy Ghost. ACTS xix. 2. _Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?_ TWO different significations have been given of these words. Some have supposed, that the question here put, is, Whether these disciples, whom St. _Paul_ found at _Ephesus_, had received the Holy Ghost by impos…
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Accordingly we read, that soon after _Adam_ had fallen, he complained that he was naked; naked, not only as to his body, but naked and destitute of those divine graces which before decked and beautified his soul. The unhappy mutiny and disorder which the visible creation fell into, the briars and thorns which now sprun…
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But as for the formal believer, it is not so with him: no; he either prays not at all, or if he does enter into his closet, it is with reluctance, out of custom, or to satisfy the checks of his conscience. Whereas the true believer can no more live without prayer, than without food day by day. And he finds his soul as …
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On the contrary, an unconverted man being of the earth, is earthy; and having no spiritual eye to discern spiritual things, he is always seeking for happiness in this life, where it never was, will, or can be found. Being not born again from above, he is bowed down by a spirit of natural infirmity: the serpent’s curse …
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This is a difficult duty to the natural man; but whosoever is made partaker of the promise of the Spirit, will find it practicable and easy: for if we are born again of GOD, we must be like him, and consequently delight to be perfect in this duty of doing good to our worst enemies in the same manner, though not in the …
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Think not, therefore, to dress yourselves up in the ornaments of a good nature, and civil education, and say with _Agag_, “surely the bitterness of death is past:” for GOD’s justice, notwithstanding that, like _Samuel_, shall hew you to pieces. However you may be highly esteemed in the sight of men, yet, in the sight o…
562 wordsSECTION 101SERMON XLIII.
The Almost Christian. ACTS xxvi. 28. _Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian._ THESE words contain the ingenuous confession of king _Agrippa_; which having some reference to, it may not be improper to relate the substance of the preceding verses, with which the words are so closely connected. The chapter, out …
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An almost christian, if we consider him in respect to his duty to GOD, is one that halts between two opinions; that wavers between CHRIST and the world; that would reconcile GOD and _Mammon_, light and darkness, CHRIST and _Belial_. It is true, he has an inclination to religion, but then he is very cautious how he goes…
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But to proceed in the character of an _almost christian_: If we consider him in respect of himself; as we said he was strictly honest to his neighbour, so he is likewise strictly sober in himself: but then both his honesty and sobriety proceed from the same principle of a false self-love. It is true, he runs not into t…
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2. A second reason that may be assigned why so many are no more than almost christians, is a servile fear of man: multitudes there are and have been, who, though awakened to a sense of the divine life, and have tasted and felt the powers of the world to come; yet out of a base sinful fear of being counted singular, or …
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It has been, no doubt, a misfortune that many a minister and sincere christian has met with, to weep and wail over numbers of promising converts, who seemingly began in the Spirit, but after a while fell away, and basely ended in the flesh; and this not for want of right notions in religion, nor out of a servile fear o…
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3. But, _thirdly_, As it is most prejudicial to ourselves and hurtful to others, so it is the greatest instance of ingratitude we can express towards our LORD and Master JESUS CHRIST. For did he come down from heaven, and shed his precious blood, to purchase these hearts of ours, and shall we only give him half of them…
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Let me therefore, to conclude, exhort you, my brethren, to have always before you the unspeakable happiness of enjoying GOD. And think withal, that every degree of holiness you neglect, every act of piety you omit, is a jewel taken out of your crown, a degree of blessedness lost in the vision of GOD. O! do but always t…
143 wordsSECTION 108SERMON XLIV.
CHRIST the Believer’s Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption. 1 CORINTHIANS i. 30. _But of him are ye in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption._ OF all the verses in the book of GOD, this which I have now read to you, is, I believe, one of the …
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1. _First_, CHRIST is made to them _wisdom_; but wherein does true wisdom consist? Was I to ask some of you, perhaps you would say, in indulging the lust of the flesh, and saying to your souls, eat, drink, and be merry; but this is only the wisdom of brutes; they have as good a gust and relish for sensual pleasures, as…
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And what a privilege is here! Well might the angels at the birth of CHRIST, say to the humble shepherds, “Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy;” unto you that believe in CHRIST, “a Saviour is born.” And well may angels rejoice at the conversion of poor sinners: for the LORD is their righteousness; they have pe…
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Thus is CHRIST made to believers sanctification. And O what a privilege is this! to be changed from beasts into saints, and from a devilish, to be made partakers of a divine nature; to be translated from the kingdom of Satan, into the kingdom of GOD’s dear Son! to put off the old man, which is corrupt, and to put on th…
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_Secondly_, From hence also, the Antinomians and formal hypocrites may be confuted, who talk of CHRIST without, but know nothing, experimentally, of a work of sanctification wrought within them. Whatever they may pretend to, since CHRIST is not in them, the LORD is not their righteousness, and they have no well-grounde…
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By the word _redemption_, we are to understand, not only a compleat deliverance from all evil, but also a full enjoyment of all good both in body and soul: I say, both in body and soul; for the LORD is also for the body; the bodies of the saints in this life are temples of the Holy Ghost; GOD makes a covenant with the …
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But what is the redemption of the body, in comparison of the redemption of the better part, our souls? I must, therefore, say to you believers, as the angel said to _John_, “Come up higher,” and let us take as clear a view as we can, at such a distance, of the redemption CHRIST has purchased for, and will shortly put y…
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And now, where are the scoffers of these last days, who count the lives of christians to be madness, and their end to be without honour? Unhappy men! you know not what you do. Were your eyes open, and had you senses to discern spiritual things, you would not speak all manner of evil against the children of GOD, but you…
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But I must turn again to believers, for whose instruction, as I observed before, this discourse was particularly intended. You see, brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, what great blessings are treasured up for you in JESUS CHRIST your head, and what you are entitled to by believing on his name. Take heed, ther…
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The Knowledge of JESUS CHRIST the best Knowledge. 1 CORINTHIANS ii. 2. _I determined not to know any thing among you, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified._ THE persons to whom these words were written, were the members of the church of _Corinth_; who, as appears by the foregoing chapter, were not only divided into …
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I know this doctrine of our _original sin_, or fall in _Adam_, is esteemed foolishness by the wise disputer of this world, who will reply, How does it suit the goodness of GOD, to impute one man’s sin to an innocent posterity? But has it not been proved to a demonstration, that it is so? And therefore, supposing we can…
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The author of the words now before us, was a remarkable instance of this; never, perhaps, was a greater scholar, in all what the world calls fine learning, than he: for he was bred up at the feet of _Gamaliel_, and profited in the knowledge of books, as well as in the _Jewish_ religion, above many of his equals, as app…
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This our blessed LORD himself intimates in the xxvth of _Matthew_, where he tells those who had been rich in good works, “That inasmuch as they did it unto one of the least of his brethren, they did it unto him.” From whence we may plainly infer, that it is seeing CHRIST in his members, and doing good to them out of an…
834 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.