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) - Continue Chapter 18 (The controversy in Massachusetts) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'Next came the "The Sentiments and Resolution of an Association of Ministers, convened at Weymouth, January 15, 1745, concerning the Revelation. Mr. George Whitefield."'
My summary
This week Whitefield returns to New England.
We initially hear about his brush with a severe illness.
Then we learn about Whitefield's preaching efforts.
But the bulk of today's reading begins an account of the opposition that springs up against Whitefield, including letters signed by minister associations and the faculty of Harvard.
What grabbed me
I was interested to see the faculty of Harvard object to Whitefield because of his style of preaching: ' First, they thought his extempore manner of preaching " by no means proper," because extempore preachers are, of necessity, less instructive, the greater part of the sermon being commonly ''the same kind of harangue which they have often used before, — so that this is a most lazy manner" of preaching ; and because it exposes the preacher to utter rash expressions, and even dangerous errors, as Whitefield had done in several instances, probably from that cause. '
I find it troubling when people start to dictate to others one style of preaching over another.
Each preacher is differently gifted by God and we should be careful in trying to make other preachers simply fit our own mould.
Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 18 (The controversy in Massachusetts).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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