George Whitefield - Philip - XXXI - Chapter 33

Required reading
Life and times of George Whitefield by Robert Philip (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 33 (Whitefield preaching).

My summary
For the last chapter Philip gives some excerpts from Whitefield's sermons.  The topics include:
(i) Peter on the Holy Mount;
(ii) Old and infirm saints;
(iii) Hear Christ;
(iv) Beseeching sinners;
(v) Christless sinners;
(vi) Pleadings;
(vii) Mount Moriah;
(viii) Peter.

What grabbed me
A terrific example of presenting the gospel plainly to sinners: 'But thus it must be, if Christ be not your righteousness : for God's justice must be satisfied; and, unless Christ's righteousness is imputed and applied to you here, you must hereafter be satisfying the divine justice in hell-torments eternally; nay, Christ himself shall condemn you to that place of torment. And how cutting is that thought! Methinks I see poor, trembling, Christless wretches, standing before the bar of God, crying out, Lord, if we must be damned, let some angel, or some archangel, pronounce the damnatory sentence: but all in vain. Christ himself shall pronounce the irrevocable sentence. Knowing, therefore, the terrors of the Lord, let me persuade you to close with Christ, and never rest till you can say, ' The Lord our righteousness.' Who knows but the Lord may have mercy on, nay, abundantly pardon, you ? Beg of God to give you faith ; and, if the Lord give you that, you will by it receive Christ, with his righteousness, and his all. You need not fear the greatness or number of your sins. For, are you sinners ? so am I. Are you the chief of sinners ? so am I. Are you backsliding sinners ? so am I. And yet the Lord, (for ever adored be his rich, free, and sovereign grace,) the Lord is my righteousness.'

Substitutionary atonement presented in all its fulness.

One Sentence Final Verdict
Although verbose and a little uneven at times, Philip's humble biography draws us close to one of the greatest preachers the world has ever known and in drawing close to Whitefield we cannot help but be encouraged.

Next week's reading
Commence Life and Diary of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading the Preface and Part 1.

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