Log college - Alexander - II - Chapter 3

Required reading
The log college by Archibald Alexander (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 3 (Memoir of the Rev. Gilbert Tennent).

My summary
Now that we understand what the Log College was and who founded it, the author says that the surest criterion by which to judge the character of any school is to observe the attainments and habits of those educated in it. 

So this week we begin to hear of the character of one of its students, Gilbert Tennent - a son of William Tennent (the founder of the college).  Although technically Gilbert Tennent's education 'was finished before the Log College was built, yet he received no other education than what he gained under the tuition of his father; and may, therefore, without impropriety be classed among the pupils of the institution.'

Thus we hear of Gilbert Tennent's:
(i) conversion;
(ii) early preaching;
(iii) unremitting labour;
(iv) great reading;
(v) strict discipline;
(vi) work with Whitefield;
(vii) itinerant preaching that was accompanied by revival.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed George Whitefield's description of Gilbert Tennent's preaching: 'I went to the meeting house to hear Mr. Gilbert Tennent preach, and never before heard I such a searching sermon. He went to the bottom, indeed, and did not daub with untempered mortar. He convinced me more and more, that we can preach the gospel of Christ no further than we have experienced the power of it in our own hearts. Being deeply convicted of sin, and being from time to time driven from his false bottom and dependencies by God's Holy Spirit, at his first conversion, he has learned experimentally to dissect the heart of the natural man. Hypocrites must either soon be converted or enraged at his preaching. He is a ' son of thunder,' and does not regard the face of man. He is deeply sensible of the deadness and formality of the Christian church, in these parts, and has given noble testimonies against it." A higher testimony, and from higher authority could not be given, upon earth. It is doubtful whether Mr. Whitefield has ever expressed so high an opinion of any other preacher of any denomination. Indeed, it is probable, that he never met with a man of a more perfectly congenial spirit with his own. As Mr. Whitefield was doubtless honoured to be the instrument of the conversion of more souls than any other preacher of his age, or perhaps of any age since that of the apostle Paul ; so Mr. Tennent, among orthodox preachers, undoubtedly deserves to be placed next to him, both in the abundance of his labours and the wonderful success which attended his ministry.'

High praise indeed!

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 4 (Memoir of the Rev. Gilbert Tennent continued).

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