George Whitefield - Philip - XXX - Chapter 32

Required reading
Life and times of George Whitefield by Robert Philip (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 32 (Whitefield's characteristics).

My summary
Today we read an attempt by Philip to assess Whitefield's characteristics.

Firstly, the biggest characteristic was of course his preaching.  Philip looks at other preachers that he knows and has to admit that Whitefield was in a class of his own.  Particularly Whitefield's manner and style cannot be matched.

Secondly, he looks at Whitefield's private habits: eating, neatness and sleeping.

Thirdly, we have a brief paragraph on Whitefield's stature and looks.

Then the chapter ends with the full text of Whitefield's will.

What grabbed me
Great advice on how to preach: 'Whitefield's own maxim was, "to preach as Apelles painted, for Eternity." He was first struck with this maxim at the table of Archbishop Boulter in Ireland, where "the great Dr. Delany " said to him," I wish whenever I go up into a pulpit, to look upon it as the last time I shall ever preach, or the last time the people may hear." He never forgot this. He often said, " Would ministers preach for eternity, they would then act the part of true christian orators, and not only calmly and coolly inform the understanding, but by persuasive, pathetic address, endeavour to move the affections and warm the heart. To act otherwise bespeaks a sad ignorance of human nature, and such an inexcusable indolence and indifference in the preacher, as must constrain the hearers to suspect, whether they will or not, that the preacher, let him be who he will,—only deals in the false commerce of unfelt truth." '

Preach for eternity!

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 33 (Whitefield preaching).

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