Great Awakening - Tracy - V - Chapter 4 (Whitefield's labors)

--> Required reading
The Great Awakening: A history of the revival of religion in the time of Edwards & Whitefield by Joseph Tracy (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 4 (Whitefield's labors).

My summary
Today George Whitefield really gets to work in the United States, particularly in Philadelphia and New York.

We hear about Whitefield:
(i) being rejected by some ministers and accepted by others;
(ii) developing a relationship with Gilbert Tennent;
(iii) allowing his sermons to be published by American printers;
(iv) corresponding with an Episcopal clergyman about justification by faith;
(v) being reported on in the newspapers;
(vi) fundraising for orphans;
(vii) preaching with great effect.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed reading about Whitefield and Gilbert Tennent: 'One of the most important incidents of this journey was, the meeting of Whitefield with Gilbert Tennent. Two powerful preachers could not well resemble each other less ; and the great strength of each lay in traits in which the other was deficient. In one point, Whitefield felt and recorded his new friend's superiority. He heard Tennent preach. " 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 hearts. I found what a babe and novice I was in the things of God." These men, having once met, could not but be friends and allies for life ; and their alliance could not fail to be felt by thousands.'

The United States was truly blessed to have, not just one, but two godly men at the same time.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 5 (Parties in the Presbyterian Church).

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