¹ On the death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. Preached at the Chappel in Tottenham-Court-Road, and at the Tabernacle near Moorfields, on Sunday, November 18, 1770.
NUMB. xxiii. 10.
_Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!_
1. _LET my last end be like his!_ How many of you join in this wish? Perhaps there are few of you who do not, even in this numerous congregation. And O that this wish may rest upon your minds! That it may not die away, till your souls also are lodged _where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest_!
2. An elaborate exposition of the text, will not be expected on this occasion. It would detain you too long from the sadly-pleasing thought of your beloved brother, friend, and pastor; yea, and father too: for how many are here whom he hath _begotten in the Lord_? Will it not then be more suitable to your inclinations, as well as to this solemnity, directly to speak of this man of God, whom you have so often heard speaking in this place? _The end of whose conversation_ ye know, _Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever_.
And may we not,
_First_, Observe a few particulars of his life and death.
_Secondly_, Take some view of his character. And,
_Thirdly_, Inquire how we may improve this awful providence, his sudden removal from us.
I. 1. We may, in the first place, observe a few particulars of his life and death. He was born at _Glocester_, in _December_, 1714, and put to a Grammar-school there, when about twelve years old. When he was seventeen he began to be seriously religious, and served God to the best of his knowledge. About eighteen he removed to the university, and was admitted at _Pembroke_-College in _Oxford_. And about a year after, he became acquainted with the _Methodists_, (so called) whom from that time he loved as his own soul.
2. By them he was convinced, that we _must be born again_, or outward religion will profit us nothing. He joined with them in fasting on _Wednesdays_ and _Fridays_, in visiting the sick and the prisoners, and in gathering up the very fragments of time, that no moment might be lost. And he changed the course of his studies, reading chiefly such books as entered into the heart of religion, and led directly to an experimental knowledge of Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3. He was soon tried as with fire. Not only his reputation was lost, and some of his dearest friends forsook him; but he was exercised with inward trials, and those of the severest kind. Many nights he lay sleepless upon his bed; many days prostrate on the ground. But after he had groaned several months under _the Spirit of bondage_, God was pleased to remove the heavy load, by giving him _the Spirit of adoption_, enabling him, through a living faith, to lay hold on _the Son of his love_.
4. However, it was thought needful, for the recovery of his health, which was much impaired, that he should go into the country. He accordingly went to _Glocester_, where God enabled him to awaken several young persons. These soon formed themselves into a little society, and were some of the first fruits of his labour. Shortly after he began to read twice or thrice a week to some poor people in the town, and every day to read to, and pray with the prisoners in the county ♦gaol.
♦ ‘goal’ replaced with ‘gaol’
5. Being now about twenty-one years of age, he was solicited to enter into holy orders. Of this he was greatly afraid, being deeply sensible of his own insufficiency. But the bishop himself sending for him, and telling him, “Tho’ I had purposed to ordain none under three and twenty, yet I will ordain _you_ whenever you come;” and several other providential circumstances concurring, he submitted, and was ordained on _Trinity-Sunday_, 1736. The next _Sunday_ he preached to a crouded auditory, in the church wherein he was baptized. The week following he returned to _Oxford_, and took his Batchelor’s degree. And he was now fully employed, the care of the prisoners and the poor lying chiefly on him.
6. But it was not long before he was invited to _London_, to serve the cure of a friend going into the country. He continued there two months, lodging in the _Tower_, reading prayers in the chappel twice a week, catechizing and preaching once, beside daily visiting the soldiers in the barracks and the infirmary. He also read prayers every evening at _Wapping_-chappel, and preached at _Ludgate_-prison every _Tuesday_. While he was here, letters came from his friends in _Georgia_, which made him long to go and help them. But not seeing his call clear, at the appointed time he returned to his little charge at _Oxford_; where several youths met daily at his room, to _build up each other in their most holy faith_.