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) - Conclude Chapter 18 (The controversy in Massachusetts).
My summary
Today we continue to hear of the controversy that surrounded Whitefield in Massachusetts.
We learn about further objections from ministers and theological lecturers toward Whitefield. The charges laid against Whitefield primarily focus on his condemnation of unconverted ministers and faculty members.
Whitefield responds to some of the accusations, but also continues preaching widely with some effect.
What grabbed me
I liked Whitefield's defence of extempore preaching: 'Extempore preaching, he decidedly preferred to any other. Yet he did not preach, or pretend to preach, without previous study. His sermons cost him as much previous labor, as if they were written ; so that this way was not a lazy manner of preaching. The dangerous errors, which they said he had uttered, were mere slips of the tongue, and had been retracted as soon as he was informed of "them. '
A lot of work may certainly go into an extempore sermon.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 19 (The revival continued at the South).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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