he was invited to New-York, by Mr. Noel, the only person with whom he had any acquaintance in that part of America. Upon his arrival, they waited on the Commissary; but he refused him the use of his church. Mr. Whitefield there preached in the fields, and on the evening of the same day, to a very thronged and attentive audience in the Rev. Mr. Pemberton's meeting-house; and continued to do so twice or thrice a day for above a week; and by all that could be judged, with very great

success.

On his way to and from Philadelphia, he also preached at Elizabethtown, Maidenhead, Abingdon, Neshamini, Burlington, and New-Brunswick, in the New-Jerseys, to some thousands gathered from various parts, among whom there had been a considerable awakening, by the instrumentality of one Mr. Freelinghausen, a Dutch minister, and the Messrs. Tennents, Blair, and Rowland. He had also the pleasure of meeting with old Mr. Tennent, as well as his sons, and with Mr. Dickinson.* It was no less pleasing than strange to him, to see such gatherings in a foreign land: ministers and people shed

Mr. Tennent, and his brethren in presbytery, intend breeding up gracious youths for our Lord's vineyard. The place wherein the young men study now is a log-house, about twenty feet long, and near as many broad. From this despised place seven or eight worthy ministers of Jesus have lately been sent forth, and a foundation is now laying for the instruction of many others. The work, I am persuaded, is of God, and therefore will not come to nought." Journals, November 22, 1739.

The event has verified his judgment about this institution. It is now a large college at Princetown in NewJersey; and has already had many worthy Presidents, (some of whose names are well known in the learned world) such as Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Burr, Mr. Jonathan Edwards, Mr. Samuel Davies, Dr. Finly, and at present Dr. Witherspoon, by whose abilities, care and activity it is, under Providence, in a very flourishing condition.

And there has been lately (summer 1770) a remarkable revival of religion among the students, both in the college and grammar-school.

ding tears; sinners struck with awe; and serious persons, who had been much run down and despised, filled with joy. Mean-time the Orphan-house affairs went on well. The things brought from England were sold for their benefit. A sloop was purchased, of which Captain Gladman was master; and a young man, who had lately received serious impressions under Mr. Whitefield's preaching, willingly offered himself as mate. Many little presents were made to his family for sea stores, and the intended house. And about the end of November, he took his leave of his family, and ordered them to proceed in their voyage to Savannah, while himself, with Mr. Seward and two more, determined to go thither by land.

Numbers followed, some twenty, some sixty miles out from Philadelphia. He preached at Chester, Wilming ton, Newcastle (where he was met on the way by Mr. Ross, minister of the place) Christianbridge, and Whitely Creek, where Mr. William Tennent (whose meetinghouse is in the neighbourhood) had erected a tent for him. Here he observed new scenes of field preaching, or rather preaching in the woods, opened to him. At WhitelyCreek, perhaps the congregation did not consist of less than ten thousand. Earnest invitations were given him to come and preach elsewhere; which he had great encouragement to do, from the visible success of his labours; but he hasted to be with his family at Savannah.

In his way thither, he also preached in Maryland, at North-East and Joppa, and at Annapolis, the capital, where he was received with much civility by the Governor; and at Upper-Marlborough.

In Virginia also, he preached at Williamsburgh, where he was courteously received by the Governor, and by Mr. Blair, the Commissary, whom he speaks of with great regard.

When he came to North-Carolina, he thought it seemed to be the greatest waste, and the most uncultivated of spots, both in a temporal and spiritual sense. Yet here, in a place called Newbern-Town, his preaching was at tended with an uncommon influence. And it was not without effect at Newton, on Cape-Fear river, where were many from Scotland amongst the congregation, who had Jately come over to settle in North-Carolina,

Immediately on coming into South-Carolina province (he says) a visible change was observable in the manners of the people. And when he came to Charleston, (which was on Saturday, January 3, 1740) he could scarce believe but he was amongst Londoners, both in respect of gaiety of dress, and politeness of manners.

Here he soon perceived, that by field-preaching he had lost his old friend the Commissary, who once promised to defend him with life and fortune. However, at the request of the Independent minister (who continued his friend to his dying day) he preached in his meeting-house. At the first sermon, all was gay and trifling, no impression seemingly made at all. But next morning, in the French church, the scene was quite altered. A visible and almost universal concern appeared. Many of the inhabitants earnestly desired him to give them one sermon more; for which purpose he was prevailed upon to put off his journey till the next day; and there was reason to think his stay was not in vain.

Next morning, he and his companions set out in a canoe for Savannah; and in their way, for the first time, lay in the woods, upon the ground, near a large fire, which keeps off the wild beasts; upon which he makes this reflection, "An emblem, I thought, of the divine love "and presence keeping off evils and corruptions from the

"soul."

On his arrival at Savannah, January 11, he was very happy to meet his family, who had got there three weeks before him; and to find by letters from England, NewYork, &c. that the work of God prospered. But it was a melancholy thing to see the colony of Georgia reduced even to a much lower ebb than when he left it, and almost deserted by all but such as could not well go away. Employing these, therefore, he thought would be of singular service, and the money expended might be also a means of keeping them in the colony.

Before his arrival, Mr. Habersham had pitched upon a plot of ground for the Orphan-house, of five hundred acres, about ten miles from Savannah, and had already begun to clear and stock it. The orphans, in the mean time, were accommodated in a hired house. On this, many years after he makes the following reflections: "Had I pro▾

❝ceeded according to the rules of prudence, I should have <first cleared the land, built the house, and then taken in "the orphans; but I found their condition so pitiable, and "the inhabitants so poor, that I immediately opened an "infirmary, hired a large house at a great rent, and took ❝ in, at different times, twenty-four orphans. To all this "I was encouraged by the example of Professor Franck. "But I forgot to recollect, that Professor Franck built in “Glaucha, in a populous country, and that I was building "in the very tail of the world, where I could not expect "the least supply, and which the badness of its constitu❝tion, which every day I expected would be altered, ren"dered by far the most expensive part of all his Majesty's "dominions. But had I received more, and ventured less, "I should have suffered less, and others more." M. S.

The first collection he made in America was at the Rev. Mr. Smith's meeting-house in Charleston, whither he went about the middle of March, to see his brother, the Captain of a ship from England. He was desired, by some of the inhabitants, to speak in behalf of the poor orphans; and the collection amounted to seventy pounds sterling. This was no small encouragement to him at that time, especially as he had reason to think it came from those who had received spiritual benefit by his ministrations.

Having returned to Savannah, he went to the spot of ground where he intended the Orphan-house should be built; and, upon the 25th day of March, 1740, laid the first brick of the great house, which he called BETHESDA, i. e. a house of mercy. .* By this time, near forty children were taken in, to be provided with food and raiment; and, counting the workmen and all, he had near a hundred to be daily fed. He had very little money in bank, and yet he was not discouraged; being persuaded that the best thing he could do at present for the infant colony was, to carry on the work.

* Long after this he writes, "Blessed be God, I have not been disappointed in the hope, that it would be a house and place of mercy to many, both in respect to body and soul." M. S.

CHAP. VI.

From his laying the Foundation of the Orphan-house in Georgia, to his Arrival in England, 1741.

MR. WHITEFIELD again, therefore, set off in a sloop for Newcastle in Pennsylvania, where he arrived about the middle of April. In this short passage of ten days, he was much discouraged both by weakness of body and low spirits; but, as he observed afterwards, Providence was infinitely better to him than his fears, and exceeded his most sanguine expectations; for, during the space of two months, he was strengthened to preach, generally twice, and frequently, besides travelling, thrice a day. At Philadelphia, the churches were no longer allowed him; but he preached in the fields to congregations that consisted sometimes of near ten thousand, and with great apparent success. Large collections were made for the Orphan-house; once, not less than an hundred and ten pounds sterling. Societies for praying and singing were set on foot; and in every part of the town many were concerned about their salvation. Some were wrought upon in a more instantaneous, others in a more progressive, some in a more silent, others in a more violent manner.*

At New-York, New-Brunswick, Staten-Island, Baskingridge, Whitely-Creek, Frogs-Manor, Reedy-Island, there was great cencern upon the mind both of the preacher and hearers.

Sometimes he was almost dead with heat and fatigue. Thrice a-day he was lifted up upon his horse, unable to mount otherwise; then rode and preached, and came in and laid himself along upon two or three chairs. He did not doubt but such a course would soon take him to his

desired rest. Yet he had many delightful hours with Messrs. Tennents, Blair, &c. "Night, says he, was as "it were turned into day, when we rode singing through "the woods. I could not help recommending these men,

"Many negroes came; some of them inquiring, 'Have I a soul?" M. S.