George Whitefield - Philip - XIX- Chapter 16

Required reading
Life and times of George Whitefield by Robert Philip (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 16 (Whitefield ranging).

My summary
Today Whitefield returns to England after being in America for four years.

We are given accounts of a few significant relationships such as Hervey (a Christian writer); Countess Huntingdon, Shuter (an English comedian who was converted under Whitefield's preaching); Charles and John Wesley; Darracott (another preacher) and his mother.

Whitefield is as usual constantly on the move preaching in England, Scotland and Wales.

Also today a couple of insights are given into what was special in his heart:
(i) America: 'In the midst of all, America, dear America! is not forgotten.  I begin to count the days, and to say to the months, "Fly fast away, that I may spread the gospel net once more in dear America."'
(ii) Field preaching: 'He was now tired of London, and relapsing into his old complaints.  The fact is, he had grown field-sick; for that was his home-sickness'.

What grabbed me
An interesting account was given of Whitefield's own assessment of his work up until this point: '"...Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes fountains of tears, that I might bewail my barrenness and unfruitfulness in the church of God." About the same time he wrote thus to Lady Huntingdon, " Next Saturday I am thirty-five years old: I am ashamed to think how little I do or suffer for Christ. Fye upon me, fye upon me !"'

Philip comments on this statement: 'These anecdotes are, I know, little; but they reveal much of Whitefield's real character...Whitefield was not constitutionally humble, bold, or unambitious. It took "twice seven years" of "pretty close intimacy with contempt," he says, to make contempt an "agreeable companion" to him. Like Paul, he had to learn contentment. " I did not like to part with my pretty character at first. It was death to be despised; and worse than death to think of being laughed at by all. God knows how to train us up gradually for the war. He often makes me bold as a lion; but I believe there is not a person living more timorous by nature. I find, a love of power sometimes intoxicates even God's dear children. It is much easier for me to obey than govern. This makes me fly from that which, at our first setting out, we are too apt to court. I cannot well buy humility at too dear a rate."'

Humility like Whitefield's is something we should all hunger after.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 17 (Whitefield in Ireland) and Chapter 18 (Whitefield's characteristic sayings).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.