schools were continually applying to him to preach for the benefit of the children; for that purpose they procu red the liberty of the churches on other days of the week besides the Lord's day; and yet thousands went away from the largest churches, not being able to get in. The congregations were all attention, and seemed to hear as for eternity. He preached generally nine times a week, and often administered the sacrament early on the Lord's day morning, when you might see the streets filled with people going to the church with lanthorns in their hands, and hear them conversing about the things of God.

As his popularity increased, opposition increased proportionably. Some of the clergy became angry; two of them sent for him, and told him they would not let him preach in their pulpits any more, unless he renounced that part of the preface of his sermon on Regeneration (lately published) wherein he wished "that his brethren would entertain their auditories oftener with discourses upon the new birth." Probably some of them were irritated the more, by his free conversation with some of the serious Dissenters, who invited him to their houses, and repeatedly told him, "That if the doctrines of the new birth, and justification by faith, were preached powerfully in the churches, there would be few dissenters in England." Nor was he without opposition even from some of his friends. But, under these discouragements, he had great comfort in meeting every evening with a band of religious intimates, to spend an hour in prayer for the advancement of the gospel, and for all their acquaintance, so far as they knew their circumstances. In this he had uncommon satisfaction: once he spent a whole night with them in prayer and praise; and sometimes at midnight, after he had been quite wearied with the labors of the day, he found his strength renewed in this exercise, which made him compose his sermon upon Intercession.

The nearer the time of his embarkation approached, the more affectionate and eager the people grew. Thousands and thousands of prayers were put up for him. They would run and stop him in the alleys of the churches, and follow him with wishful looks. But, above all, it was hardest for him to part with his weeping friends at St, Dunstan's, where he helped to administer the sacra

ment to them, after spending the night before in This parting was to him almost insupportable.

prayer.

CHAP. III.

'From the time of his embarking for Georgia, to hin reembarking for England, 1738.

IN the latter end of December, 1737, he embarked for Georgia.* This was to him a new, and, at first appear ance, a very unpromising scene. The ship was full of soldiers, and there were near twenty women among them. The captains, both of the soldiers and sailors, with the surgeon, and a young cadet, gave him soon to understand that they looked upon him as an impostor, and for a while treated him as such. The first Lord's day, one of them played on the hautboy, and nothing was to be seen but cards, and little heard but cursing and blasphemy. This was a very disagreeable situation; but it is worth while to observe with what prudence he was helped to behave among them, and how God was pleased to bless his patient and persevering endeavors to do them good.

He began with the officers in the cabin, in the way of mild and gentle reproof; but this had little effect. He therefore tried what might be done between decks, among the soldiers. And, though the place was not very commodious, he read prayers and expounded twice a day. At first he could not see any fruit of his labor, yet it was encouraging to find it so kindly received by his new red-coat

*Here begins a manuscript of Mr. Whitefield, from which several passages are taken in the following account. It is referred to by M. S.

"I could do no more for a season, than, whilst I was "writing, now and then turn my head, by way of reproof, "to a lieutenant of the soldiers, who swore as though he was born of a swearing constitution. Now and then, be "would take the hint, return my nod with- Doctor, I "ask your pardon,' and then to his cards and swearing "again." M. S.

B

parishioners (as he calls them) many of whom submitted cheerfully to be catechised about the lesson they had heard expounded.

In this situation things continued for some time. But all this while, he had no place for retirement, and there was no divine service in the great cabin, both which he greatly desired. At last he obtained his wish: one day, finding the ship captain a little inclined to favor him, he asked him to suffer him now and then to retire into the round-house, where the captain slept, and offered him money for the loan of it. The captain would not take the money, but readily granted his request. Soon afterwards, the military captain having invited him to a dish of coffee, he took the liberty to tell him, "That though he was a "volunteer on board, yet, as he was on board, he looked "upon himself as his chaplain, and, as such, he thought "it a little odd to pray and preach to the servants, and not "to the master :" and added withal, "That if he thought 6: proper, he would make use of a short collect now and "then, to him and the other gentlemen in the great "cabin." After pausing a while, and shaking his head, he answered, "I think we may, when we have nothing "else to do." This awkward hint was all he got for the present; yet he was encouraged thereby to hope, that the desired point would be soon gained.

They were detained in the Downs, by contrary winds, for near a month; the soldiers on board became by this time more and more civilized, and the people at Deal heard him gladly. There he preached thrice, at the invitation of the ministers, and often expounded in the house where he lodged. This work was very delightful to him; but he was suddenly called away by a fair wind, about the end of Jan. 1738, just after he had preached in Upper Deal church.

Being returned to the ship, he began to comfort himself with some promising appearances of doing good in the great cabin. As he had no better place, he generally every night retired with his friend, Mr. Habersham, and his brother, and two servants, behind the round-house, for prayer and other religious exercises. Sometimes he perceived Captain Whiting was hearkening within. One day, finding on the Captain's pillow the Independent Whig,

he exchanged it for a book entitled, The Self-Deceiver. Next morning the Captain came smiling, and enquired who made the exchange; Mr. Whitefield confessed the charge, and begged his acceptance of the book, which he said he had read, and liked very well. From thenceforward a visible alteration was seen in him. The other captain also, about the same time, met him as he was coming from between decks, and desired, "that they might have public service, and expounding, twice a day, in the great cabin."

In about a fortnight they reached Gibraltar, whither they were bound to take in some more soldiers. There, one Major Sinclair, had been so kind as to provide a lodging for him unasked, who, with the other military gentlemen, even Governor Sabine, and General Columbine, received him most courteously. Being apprehensive that at a public military table he might be more than hospitably entertained, by way of prevention, he begged leave to remind his Excellency of an observation made in the book of Esther, on the court of the great Ahasuerus, "That none did compel." He took the hint, and genteelly replied, "That no compulsion of any kind should be used at his table." And every thing was carried on with great decorum. The officers attended at public worship with order and gravity; the ministers also behaved with great civility; and all concurred to give him invitations to preach, which he did twice or thrice in a week :* and in the evenings and mornings, when not on board, he expounded, conversed and prayed, with a religious society. of soldiers, who had liberty from the Governor to assemble at any time in the church. His evening expositions were attended, not only by the soldiers, but by officers, ministers and town's people; and, from all that could be judged, his labors were not without the divine blessing.

* "Strange and unusual was the scene, both with res(6 pect to the place and people. The adjacent promonto"ries, and the largeness of the rock of Gibraltar, helped "me to enlarge my ideas of Him, who 'in his strength set"teth fast the mountains, and is girded about with power.' "And the place being, as it were, a public rendezvous of "all nations, I thought I saw the world in epitome." M. S.

Finding another society of religious soldiers there, belonging to the Church of Scotland, he sent them, as well as the former, some proper books, talked with several of them, and endeavoured to unite both societies together; urging on them the necessity of a catholic, disinterested love, and of joining in prayer for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. This exhortation also, by the blessing of God, had a good effect; and two or three of the latter society, being draughted out for Georgia, desired leave to go in the ship with Mr. Whitefield, which was readily allowed them.

Before the embarkation of the soldiers, by the General's consent, he gave them a parting discourse in the ́ church. And after embarkation, from time to time, as the weather permitted, he preached to them on board their respective ships.* Colonel Cochran, who commanded, was extremely civil; and, soon after their setting sail, there was such a change upon Captain Mackay, that he desired Mr. Whitefield would not give himself the trouble of expounding and praying in the cabin and between decks; for he would order a drum to be beat morning and evening, and himself would attend with the soldiers on the deck. This produced a very agreeable alteration; they were now as regular as in a church. Mr. Whitefield preached with a Captain on each side of him, and soldiers all around; and the two other ships' companies, being now in the trade-winds, drew near, and joined in the worship of God. The great cabin was now become a Bethel; both Captains were daily more and more affected; and a crucified Saviour, and the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, were the usual topics of their conversation. Once, after a public sermon, Captain Mackay desired the soldiers to stop, whilst he informed them, that, to his great shame, he had been a notorious swearer himself, but by the instrumentality of that gentleman, point

* He not only preached to them, but gave them notice that he intended speaking to them one by one, to see what account they could give of their faith....M. S. At this time he began his "Observations on Select Passages of Scripture turned into Catechetical Questions," printed in Vol. IV. of his Works.