FOR MARCH, 1833.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. GEORGE WHITFIELD,
Of Tottenham:

BY THE REV. EDWARD OAKES.

THE Rev. George Whitfield, the subject of the following memoir, was a native of Northumberland. The place of his birth was called Park-Shields, near the town of Hexham. His parents were persons of respectability, and farmers. As they wished to support the appearance of religion by an outward morality, they were steady and regular in their attendance on the service of the Church of England, and were honest and upright in their dealings with men; but beyond these outward semblances of Christianity they had not the least thought of going. To the spirit and power of vital godliness they were altogether strangers, and quite ignorant of the way of salvation through faith in the Redeemer's atonement. It was their unhappiness to live in days when darkness was upon the land. Their son George lived to enjoy clearer views and more substantial happiness. From a very early period of his life he appears, to have been much under the influence of the Holy Spirit, though, like young Samuel, he, did not understand fully the meaning of the voice which spoke to him; but in his after-experience he could trace how the Lord, was gently opening his heart to receive the truth. In this state of mind he was anxious to hear some one who could show him the way of the Lord more perfectly. Just at this period, Mr. Wesley's Ministers came to preach within a few miles of his father's house. He went to hear them, the word of God came with power to his soul, he was thoroughly convinced of the evil of sin, his heart was broken with deep conviction; and as he had been directed by the servants of the Lord to the Lamb of God, so he went to a throne of grace, pleaded for mercy most earnestly; and “in a field," to use his own words, "the Lord most gloriously manifested himself to him in all the power of a sinpardoning God." He was then accepted in the Beloved; and to the last hour of his life, he retained a clear sense of the Spirit's witness with his spirit that he was a child of God. His new light and life soon discovered themselves to others. O yes! they who have been with Jesus, and have felt his heart-cheering love, will show it in their countenances and behaviour. So it was with young Whitfield; and this drew down upon him the frown of his family; and his father, especially, did not fail soon to express his displeasure at his going to hear VOL. XVII. Third Series. MARCH, 1838.

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the Methodist Preachers. However, his parents were soon obliged to acknowledge that he was equally dutiful, and equally attentive to business, as he was before this change took place in his views and feelings. George pointedly appealed on the subject to his father, who could only return him an affirmative answer.

Here it may be proper to remark, that, in the early history of Methodism, its Ministers were almost universally despised and persecuted, and by no persons more so than those who, like Mr. Whitfield's father, knew only the form without the power of religion.

Mr. Whitfield was born in 1753, and was about twenty when he came to London for the first time. He now became more decidedly pious, and joined the Methodist society; an act which is highly to be recommended to all young converts, especially those who come to settle in the metropolis. The temptations are there so varied, and the dangers to young men so abounding, that the longer they keep aloof from the people of God, the easier they will become a prey to the devices of the enemy; therefore the sooner they take shelter under the wholesome doctrines and discipline of the church of God, the more advantage they will derive.

Such is the fact in Mr. Whitfield's case: for as he made proficiency in the divine life, he was anxious to make the Saviour known to his fellow-men; which he did by attending public meetings, giving, in the first instance, general exhortations, and praying with the people. Afterwards, as he became more acquainted with the word of God, and more spiritually-minded, he was led to consult his fathers in the ministry, by whom he was encouraged to proceed in the good work, as they perceived that he had something to do for Christ. He was therefore placed on the Local Preachers' plan, and was afterwards called into the itinerant ministry, in which he laboured with great zeal and success.

By his pious feelings he was prompted to visit the place of his birth in the year 1780 but he was very coolly received by his relations, because he was a Methodist; and more so, because he had now become a Methodist Preacher. Such was the apathy of his nearest kindred towards him, that he was obliged, for the comfort of his own mind, to take up his abode at the house of some friend in Hexham; and that friend, to this day, has fresh in his remembrance the blessed seasons that he and Mr. Whitfield spent together during his short visit in that country.

A mere visit of Mr. Whitfield to his family and friends was far below his design. He had in view the welfare of souls and his Redeemer's glory; he was found, therefore, in the market-place of Hexham, and in the villages round about, declaring the Gospel of our Lord Jesus to perishing sinners. He was not afraid to cry aloud, and tell his countrymen of all grades and character, that they must repent or perish; that they must be born again, or they could not

enter into the kingdom of heaven; and with strong cries and tears did he beseech them to leave their sins, and be reconciled to God. This was new doctrine to the multitudes, who at different times assembled; even the Minister of the parish came out and railed against it, and endeavoured to persuade the people that such men would lead them astray. He then rudely accosted the Preacher himself, by asking, What is your name?" "George Whitfield," was the reply. "George Whitfield!" he vociferated, "that great impostor: he died many years ago;" but finding that Mr. Whitfield was able to answer him any other question he chose to ask, he walked away evidently as much disappointed as he was displeased.

This kind visit of Mr. Whitfield to Northumberland was attended with much good, notwithstanding the first appearances were so unfavourable; for the Lord can at any time make the "wrath of man to praise him ;" and so he did at Hexham, and in the villages adjacent, as respectable societies have been raised, good chapels have been erected, and Mr. Whitfield himself lived to see several of his own family, as well as many other persons, brought to God, as the happy result of this timely visit.

On Mr. Whitfield's return to London, he was chosen by the Rev. John Wesley to be his travelling friend and companion, because of the high opinion Mr. Wesley had of both his piety and prudence. These were essential qualifications for the man who had occasionally to be trusted with the very secrets of his revered Pastor; and such was the sterling worth of Mr. Whitfield, that Mr. Wesley deemed him a suitable fellow-labourer in the vineyard of Christ. Mr. Whitfield esteemed it an honour of the highest class to be thus selected, when there were so many of his beloved brethren who had given unequivocal proofs of attachment to the cause of Methodism, and who, for zeal in the best of causes, were, he well knew, second to none. Yet amidst such worthies in the sanctuary of God, Mr. Wesley fixed his choice on Mr. Whitfield; and the post in which he was thus placed he filled for several years, with credit to himself, and with no less pleasure to Mr. Wesley.

But now another scene of usefulness was opened to Mr. Whitfield. A painful schism had taken place in the Dewsbury Circuit, in Yorkshire, which was fostered and headed by Mr. John Atlay, who at the time was Mr. Wesley's Book-Steward at the City-road. This separation gave Mr. Wesley much uneasiness, and the more so, because Mr. Atlay was one for whom he had great respect, and in whom he had placed almost unbounded confidence. Mr. Atlay left the Book-room, went to Dewsbury, and preached there for some years, but with what success the day of the Lord will reveal.

To supply his place in London, Mr. Wesley selected Mr. Whitfield. He gave him up as his travelling companion, and placed him in the very important office of Book-Steward. Sound judgment,