The following reading from the letters of George Whitfield are taken from his collected works, containing all his sermons and tracts which have been already published with a select collection of his letters. Volume 2. Published in 1771. To Mr. R. In Edinburgh, Scotland. London. December 24th, 1742. It has given me some concern that I could not answer your kind and acceptable letter before. As our Savior will give me freedom, I shall send you a few lines now. I think I may say to you as Luther said to Melanchthon, Nimess es nullus. You are kept in bondage by a false humility. It is good to see ourselves poor and exceeding vile, but if the sight and feeling prevent our looking up to and exerting ourselves for our dear Savior, it becomes criminal and robs us all of much comfort. I can speak this by dear-bod experience. How often have I been kept from speaking and acting for God by a side of my own unworthiness. But now I see that the more unworthy I am, the more fit to work for Jesus, because He will get much glory in working by such mean instruments. And the more He is given for me, the more I ought to love and serve Him. Fired with a sense of his unspeakable love and kindness, I dare to go out and tell poor sinners that a lamb was slain for them, and that he will have mercy on sinners as such, of whom indeed I am chief. I wish my dear friend was in this respect not almost, but altogether such as I am. Well would it be with him, and happy would he then be. Upon the receipt of yours, I pray the Lord, open your mouth. The language of my heart for you, myself, and all the Redeemer's witnesses is this. O Lord, enlarge their scanty thought to see the wonders thou hast wrought, and loose the stammering tongue to tell thy love immense, unsearchable. I bless our Lord for giving you such freedom with himself, though you cannot speak so freely to others. Prayers wrought by His own Spirit, He will hear and answer. It is most God-like to be frequent and intercessioned. It is the constant employment of the Son of God in heaven. I rejoice to hear the work of God goes on among you in Scotland. Blessed be God, it prospers in our hands here in Wales and in various places. that it may prosper more and more and be daily carried on in your precious soul is the hearty prayer of dear Mr. R, yours most affectionately in Christ Jesus George Whitfield. Letter 500 to Miss S in Edinburgh. Dear Miss S, London, December 24th, 1742. Continual avocations about my Master's business have prevented my answering your kind letter. It gladdened my heart because it brought me the glad tidings of your being accepted in the Beloved. And knowing that you are so, what does the Lord require of you now but to walk humbly with Him? Beg Him to show you more and more of your evil heart, that you may ever remain a poor sinner at the feet of one's crucified but now exalted Lamb of God. There you will be happy. There you will find shelter from all your enemies. My prayer, therefore, for you, dear Miss, is this. Continue still thy love, dear Lamb. Safe hide her in thy wounds. There may she dwell in all that love the ransomed soul surrounds. The comforts you have already experienced, as well as your trials, abut earnest of what you will hereafter meet with in the spiritual life. But fear nothing, neither be over-thoughtful for tomorrow. You have an all-gracious and almighty Savior to guide and protect you. He will not leave you until he has lodged you safe in glory. There the wicked shell sees from troubling, and your weary soul will enjoy an eternal rest. Perhaps I may not see you again till I meet you in the world of spirits. That grace and peace may be multiplied upon your dear soul is a hearty prayer of dear miss as your most affectionate friend and servant in Jesus Christ George Whitfield letter 501 To Mr. T. January 9th, 1743 Dear Sir, I remember when in Scotland last year how hardly your good people joined in praise and thanksgiving for the deliverance God had wrought out for the inhabitants of Georgia. And I hope I shall never forget how liberally they contributed to the necessities of the orphans, though they knew not that at that time both orphans and orphan house were in the enemy's hand. As this was an uncommon event, I send you herewith part of the proclamation for a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God. for putting an end to this Spanish invasion. It runs thus, Almighty God has in all ages shown his power and mercy in the marvelous and gracious deliverance of his church and in the protection of righteous and religious king and states professing his holy and eternal truth. from the open invasions, wicked conspiracies, and malicious practices of all the enemies thereof. He has, by the manifestation of his providence, delivered us from the hands of the Spaniards. They, with forty cell of small galleys and other craft, came into Cumberland Sound. but such a terror came upon them that they fled, and so on. Having taken the premises into consideration, I do hereby order that Sunday the 25th, instead, be observed as a day of public thanksgiving to Almighty God for His great deliverance. and having put an end to the Spanish invasion, and that all persons do solemnize the same in a Christian and religious manner, and abstain from drunkenness and any other wicked and dissolute testimonies of joy, given under my hand and sealed this 24th day of July at Frederica in Georgia, Anno Domini, 1742. Business prevents my enlarging further at this time, and indeed I choose rather to leave you to make your own remarks on the enclosed. I only observe in general that as the tincture of piety run through the whole, and all the glory given to him, to whom all glorious due, it will be acceptable to you as it was to yours, George Whitefield. Letter 502 to Mr. H. Gloucester, London, February 4th, 1743. My very dear Mr. H., I bless God on your behalf. I thank him for visiting your dear soul and making you useful to others. Assuredly, the Lord has called you to your present work. Abide in it. Go on and prosper. The Lord be with you. If we have an association in Wiltshire soon, will you choose to be with us? I expect shortly now to move hence, but my way's quite blocked up from going abroad. I will send you word when I shall be at Bristol. I will salute you and your friend with, come in, you blessed of the Lord. I've just published a fresh account of the orphan house and prefixed a plan. I shall be glad to hear from you often. Be as particular in respect to the society as you can. The Lord is still with us. Blessed be His holy name. My tender love to all that the glorious Emmanuel may be with your soul more and more in the hearty prayer of my dear Mr. H, your most affectionately, George Whitefield. Letter 503 to Mr. S. Gloucester, March 24th, 1743. My dear sir, an effectual door is open in these parts. On Saturday night I preached here and the Lord was with me. On Sunday morning I preached again in the barn. It was a good time to me and the people. Dear Mr. P. was here and tears of love and joy were running down his aged cheeks almost all the while. He was like good old Simeon, ready to cry out, Lord, now let us thy servanty part in peace. At noon I preached at Mr. Ferber's on the hill to a glorious auditorium deed. Here Jesus Christ displayed his power and caused much of his glory to pass before us. At four I preached again in a field near Stroud. where was a great congregation consisting of many, many thousands. The Lord helped and blessed me much here also. Afterwards, I went to the new house at Hampton, and the glory of the Lord filled it. It is exceeding commodious for our purpose. I preached in the courtyard on Monday noon to a large auditory. Monday evening the Lord gave me a good time at Pitchcombe. Both Brother C and Brother A's society met at Hampton and the Lord met with us. Brother C is certainly called of God. I call him a second John Bunyan. I believe he must give himself wholly to the work. Such a hardy worker with his hands and hardy preacher at the same time I have scarce known. On Tuesday a man was hung in chains at Hampton Common, a more miserable spectacle I have not seen. I preached in the morning to a great auditory about a mile off the place of execution. I intended doing the same after the criminal was turned off, but the weather was very violent. Thousands and thousands came and stayed to hear, but through misinformation kept on the top of the hill while I preached in the bottom. After this I came to Gloucester and preached an evening in a barn, a night much to be remembered. This morning I preached again, and never did I see people more hungry and simple in Gloucester. Many come telling me what the Lord did for their souls when I was here last. To Him be all the glory. Brother Andrew is now with me. He must be in the country till the house is more settled. I am sure God called me here. Yours, and so on, George Whitfield. Letter 504 to Mr. S. Gloucester, March 29th, 1743. My dear sir, I now sit down to fulfill my promise made to you last night. I think in a former letter I gave you an account of what the Lord had done for and by me since I left London, though indeed I cannot tell you the hundreds part. On Tuesday evening I preached at Gloucester with as convincing, solidifying powers ever I felt in my life. The barn, though made more commodious, was and is generally quite crowded. On Friday morning I preached again and afterwards went to Hampton, the snow falling and freezing on us all the way. An evening I preached at Chalford, upon the subject of walking with God. He was with me, in the auditory. On Saturday I preached at Ruthscombe in the morning and at King Stanley in the afternoon. In the evening I visited Brother C's Gracious Society and afterwards rode to Hampton, which made about 20 miles. The congregation, on account of the weather, were not so great, but our Saviour Most richly fed us. The word distilled of like to do, and at Stanley I think I was in the very suburbs of heaven. Oh, free grace! On Sunday morning I preached at Dunley, about seven miles from Hampton, where our dear Brother A had been taken down the Sunday before. But no one was permitted to touch or molest us. The congregation consisted of some thousands, and the word came with the most glorious, convincing power. I came away rejoicing, and in the afternoon preached to about ten thousand on Hampton Common, at what the people now call Whitfield's Tump. because I preached there first. I cannot tell you what a solemn occasion that was. I perceive a great alteration in the people since I was in these parts last. They did indeed hang on me to hear the word. It ran and was glorified. In the evening we had a most precious meeting with the two United Societies in the house at Hampton. Surely many thereabouts will walk with God. Last night and this morning I preached again with great power. Preaching in Gloucester is now like preaching at the Tabernacle at London. This evening I am to preach again and after that to hold our first love feast. What our Lord does for us hereafter you shall hear in my next letter. And now my dear sir help me to be thankful and bless the Lord for all of his mercies conferred on your unworthy friend and his worthless servant George Whitfield. Letter 505 To the same From Gloucester, April 2, 1743 Dear Sir, My soul has kept exceedingly cheerful and greater and more continued freedom in preaching. I never experienced zen since I have been in Gloucester, in Gloucestershire. On Tuesday evening we had a blessed love feast. On Wednesday morning I preach here with great sweetness, and at noon at Penswick, and evening I preach at Mr. Firthurst and the place where the Lord met us remarkably one night about a twelve month ago. He met us again most delightfully, not in terror, but in love. by which I guessed how the gospel had gained ground in a 12-month time. After this, I visited Dear Brother C's Society and then rode to Hampton with Brother A and G, praising and blessing God. On Wednesday noon, I preached at Core House. from the stump where old Mr. Cole used to stand. It was an alarming time. My soul enjoyed exceeding great liberty. An evening I preached in a new house at Hampton to many hundreds and afterwards met this society. Yesterday morning I came here. At noon in the night I preached in the barn and it was quite crowded. It would have rejoiced you to have been with us. This morning I am to preach again and shall take my leave at night. My dear sir, help me to extol free grace and expect to hear of greater things than these from every yours and so on, George Whitefield. Letter 506 to Brother S. Waterford, South Wales, April 7th, 1743. My dear brother, on Monday I received your letter of April 2nd, but till now have had no opportunity of answering it. I preached and took my leave of the Gloucester people with mutual and great concern on Sunday evening last. It was past one in the morning before I could lay my weary body down. At five I rose again, sick for lack of rest, but I was unable to get on horseback and ride to Mr. F. where I preached to a large congregation who came there at seven in the morning, hoping to feel the power of a risen Lord. They were not disappointed of their hope. At ten, I read prayers and preached from these words, I am the resurrection and the life, and afterwards was helped to administer the sacrament in Stonehouse Church. Then I wrote to Stroud, where I was enabled to preach to about 12,000 with uncommon freedom and power. and Mr. G's field. Much of the divine presence was there. About six in the evening I preached to about the like number in Hampton Common, but scarce ever with a more pleasing, convincing power. The order and solemnity wherewith the people broke up was very instructive. After this I went to Hampton and held a general love feast with the United Societies. My soul was kept close to Jesus. My bodily strength renewed and I went to bed about midnight, very cheerful and very happy. The next morning I went and preached near Dunsley to some thousands with great convictions accompanying the Word. About seven I reached Bristol and preached with wonderful power to a full congregation at Smith Hall. and afterwards spent the evening very agreeably with Mr. C of Bath and some other dear friends. On Tuesday morning I preached again to a full congregation and then set out for this place where we came about eating in the evening and had sweet and profitable conversation with Mr. B and some others of the brethren. We sung in hymn, preached and parted in great harmony. On Wednesday about noon, I opened the association with the close and solemn discourse upon walking with God. Indeed, much of God was with us. The brethren and the people felt much of the divine presence. Afterwards, we betook ourselves to business. Several matters of great importance were dispatched. We broke up about 7 and met again about 10 and continued settling the affairs of the societies till about 2 in the morning. On Thursday, we sat again till about 4 in the afternoon. Then after taking a little refreshment and talking warmly of the things of God, I preached with great freedom upon the believers' rest. And then we went on with our business and finished our association about midnight. All acknowledged that God had been with us, and blessed him for the same. Perhaps in a month I may come to London, but it seems to be the will of the Lord I should stay in Wales about a fortnight, and took a tour into Prunebrookshire. Great doors are open there. Our Saviour keeps me very happy indeed, and is, I believe, preparing greater blessings for yours." And so on, George Whitfield. Letter, 507, to the same. Lentronsington, Wales, April 10th, 1743. Dear Sir, Our blessed Master still countenances my feeble labors. Yesterday I preached at Cardiff to a large congregation. The greatest scoffers sat quiet and the children of God felt the divine presence. An evening I went to Fulmung. Mrs. I received us kindly. God was pleased to speak for me in the society where I preached. This morning I preached again. It was a most remarkable time. I've been just now preaching with great power here. Dear Brother H is preaching and well. The people are very simple. I wrote to you from Waterford. I must write a letter or two more and then away out of town. My kind and tender love to all, the Lord be with you. I am yours and so on. George Whitfield Letter 508 to the same, Swansea, April 12th, 1743. I hope all is well with you. Great things are doing in Wales. An effectual door is open for preaching the everlasting gospel. Yesterday I preached at Neath, seven miles from this place, from a balcony to about 3,000 souls in the street. The Lord was with me of a truth. This morning I preach here to about 4,000 with great power. About one I preached at Harbrook four miles off, and am now returning to preach here again. Our Saviour has prepared a way before Him, all free grace. Dear Brother H has discoursed in Welsh yesterday and today. Ever yours, George Whitefield. P.S. Past seven in the evening. I've just now done preaching. Swansea is taken. I never preach with a more convincing power. Many of the rich and great were present. The congregation larger than in the morning. Free grace forever. Letter, 509 to the same, Lorne, April 15th, 1743. My dear friend, I wrote to you from several places and all my letters have, for a will I trust, come to hand. I can yet send you more glad tidings, but words cannot express what the Lord has done for your unworthy friend and his own dear people's souls. On Monday I preached at a place in the way, and afterwards at Neath, a seaport town, to about three thousand people. All was quiet, and the power of Jesus was much there. Then I went to Swansea, seven miles from Neath. On Tuesday I preached and the Lord was with me. In the evening I went to Lennockley, eight miles from Swansea. There I preached twice on Wednesday with great power to a large congregation, and in the evening near Aberquilly, five miles from Thames. On Thursday I preached at Karmathin, one of the greatest and most polite places in Wales. In the morning from the top of the cross, in the evening from a table near it. It was a great session. The justices desired I would stay till they rose and they would come. Accordingly they did, and many thousands more, and several people of quality. Jesus was much with me, and I hope much good work was done. Several sent for me to their houses. Dear Brother H exhorts in every place. I've just been preaching and I would rejoice your heart to see what it's doing. I want room and time to tell you all. In about ten days I hope to be at Bristol. In the meanwhile, I'm dear friend Every Yours, George Whitefield. LETTER 510 TO THE SAME HARVARD SWORD WEST APRIL 17, 1743 MY DEAR FRIEND, SINCE I LEFT LORNE FROM WHENCE I WROTE TO YOU, THE LORD HAS DEALT MOST BONAFULLY WITH ME. I WENT THAT EVENING TO NARBAT. where I preach to some thousands with great power. On Saturday I preached at noon and afterwards at Jefferson to several thousand souls, very like the Kingswood Colliers. This morning I preached at Larvis Run and, as it were, a Mooresville congregation. And this afternoon I preached to about the same number near this town. I also read prayers where I've been. The people call loudly again. A most effectual door is open in South Wells. I hope to be with you in a few weeks. I am glad of such news from Georgia. Blessed be God, He will take care of me and mine. Hearty love attends you and all from yours and so on, George Whitfield.