George Whitefield - Philip - XVII - Chapter 14

Required reading
Life and times of George Whitefield by Robert Philip (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 14 (Whitefield itinerating in America).

My summary
Now we return to America again with Whitefield.

We firstly hear of his precarious journey on the boat and the illness that he experienced at his arrival.

Then we are given an account of Whitefield's preaching intermingled with accounts of conversions under his preaching on this occasion, but also accounts of those who were converted on his previous tour.

Of course included in the chapter we read of persecutions from ministers and also professors of colleges such as Harvard.

What grabbed me
Whitefield's determination to preach is remarkable, even when terribly sick: 'With his usual simplicity, he says, " My pains returned; but what gave me most concern was, that notice had been given of my being to preach next evening. I felt a divine life distinct from my animal life, which made me, as it were, laugh at my pains, though every one thought I was ' taken with death. My dear York physician was then about to administer a medicine. I, on a sudden, cried out, Doctor, my pains are suspended : by the help of God, I'll go and preach,—and then come home and die ! With some difficulty I reached the pulpit. All looked quite surprised, as though they saw one risen from the dead. Indeed, I was as pale as death, and told them they must look upon me as a dying man, come to bear my dying testimony to the truths I had formerly preached to them. All seemed melted, and were drowned in tears. The cry after me, when I left the pulpit, was like the cry of sincere mourners when attending the funeral of a dear departed friend. Upon my coming home, I was laid on a bed upon the ground, near the fire, and I heard them say,' He is gone!' But God was pleased to order it otherwise. I gradually recovered."

Not hard to tell that the work of his master is the priority in Whitefield's life!

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 15 (Whitefield in Bermudas).

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