George Whitefield - Philip - XXVI - Chapters 26, 27 & 28

Required reading
Life and times of George Whitefield by Robert Philip (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapters 26 (Whitefield's last labours at home), 27 (Whitefield and Edmund-Hall) and 28 (Whitefield's last voyage).

My summary
Today we read three short chapters.

In Chapter 26 we read about the last efforts of Whitefield in Britain.  He is still preaching but not moving around as much due to poor health.  One of his main functions now is quickening the zeal of stronger ministers.  Whitefield is also involved in opening a college abroad - Trevecca in Wales.

Chapter 27 is an unusual chapter - it concerns the matter of six students who were expelled from Emdund-Hall at Oxford for 'holding methodistical tenets, and taking upon them to pray, read and expound the Scriptures, and singing hymns in a private house.'  This expulsion caused quite a stir and even prompted a letter from Whitefield which is given in the text of the chapter.

Chapter 28 concerns Whitefield's last voyage to America.  Before Whitefield left he gave his last sermon at the Tabernacle and Tottenham court from John 10:27-28.  There is some unfavourable comment about his traveling companions at this time and then the chapter closes with his trip to the orphanage in Georgia.

What grabbed me
Some really nice excerpts were given from Whitefield's sermon on John 10.  One really nails the dangers of denominations: 'On the words, " My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me," he says, " There are but two sorts of people. Christ does not say, Are you an independent, a baptist, a presbyterian, or are you a church of England man ? Nor did he ask, Are you a methodist ? The Lord divides the whole world into sheep and goats. O sinners, you are come to hear a poor creature take his last farewell: but I want you to forget the creature and his preaching. I want to lead further than the Tabernacle—even to mount Calvary, to see with what expense of blood, Jesus Christ purchased ' his own.' Now, before I go any further, will you be so good, before the world gets into your hearts, to inquire whether you belong to Christ or not ? Surely the world did not get into your hearts before you rose from your beds! Many of you were up sooner than usual." (The sermon was preached at seven o'clock in the morning.) " I hope the world does not get into your hearts before nine. Man, woman, sinner! put thy hand upon thy heart, and say, didst thou ever hear Christ's voice so as to follow him ?"'

It doesn't matter whether you are Baptist, Presbyterian or Anglican, what matters is whether you are a sheep and not a goat.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 29 (Whitefield and nobility).

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