sent to Whitefield, and it hurried him away from Frederica. He had the pleasure, however, on his arrival at Savannah, to find his "lost sheep."

Here an instance of refusing to read the burial service occurred, which is more creditable to him than its omission in the case of the poor negro boy. It will be best told in his own words. "I was obliged to-day to express my resentment against infidelity, by refusing to read the Burial Office over the most professed unbeliever I ever yet met with. God was pleased to visit him with lingering illness; during which I went to see him frequently. About five weeks ago, I asked him, what religion he was of? He answered, Religion was of so many sects, he knew not which to choose.' Another time, I offered to pray with him, but he would not accept it. Upon which I resolved to go to see him no more. But being told, two days before he died, that he had an inclination to see me, I went again, and, after a little conversation, put the following questions to him: Do you believe Jesus Christ to be God, and the one Mediator between God and man?' He said, 'I believe Jesus Christ was a good man.' 'Do you believe the holy Scriptures?' 'I believe something of the Old Testament: the New I do not believe at all.' Do you believe, sir, a judgment to come?' He turned himself about and replied, 'I know not what to say to that.' 'Alas, sir!' said I-'if all these things should be true, what-?' which words, I believe, gave him great concern; for he seemed after to be very uneasy, grew delirious, and in a day or two departed. Unhappy man-how quickly he was convinced! The day after his decease he was carried to the ground, and I refused to read the office over him ;-but I went to the grave, and told the people what had passed between him and me: and, warning all against infidelity, I asked them, whether I could safely say, 'As our hope is, this our brother doth?' Upon which, I believe, they were thoroughly satisfied that I had done right." This was equally creditable to the preacher and the people!

A few days after this event, Whitefield preached his farewell sermon at Savannah; it being necessary for him to return to England. How much he loved and was beloved, although only" as a wayfaring man turning aside to tarry for a night," may be judged from his own account. "I preached my farewell sermon, to the great grief of my dear parishioners, whose hearts were full as well as mine, which we all showed by many

tears. But a sensible alteration appeared in their countenances, when I promised solemnly, before God, to return as soon as possible."

Next day he went to Charleston, in South Carolina, to embark for England. Gillies says, that Commissary Garden entreated him to preach in the church. This is true: but Garden was the ecclesiastical, not the civil commissary. I mention this, because his kindness to Whitefield was great at first. It is thus recorded in the revised journals: "The bishop of London's commissary, the Rev. M. G. received me very courteously, and offered me a lodging. How does God raise up friends wherever I go!" Gillies's account will now be better appreciated: "Mr. G. thanked him most cordially, (he had preached twice in the church,) and assured him that he would defend him with his life and property, should the same arbitrary proceedings commence against him, which Mr. Wesley met with in Georgia. He also said something about the colony of Georgia, which much encouraged Whitefield; as if he thought its flourishing not far off;" and instanced Charleston, "as now fifteen times bigger than when he came there." This "life and fortune" friend put on a new face afterwards!

Gillies sums up Whitefield's labours in Georgia thus : "It had been his practice to read prayers and expound (besides visiting the sick) twice a day. On Sunday, he expounded at five in the morning; at ten, read prayers and preached; and at three in the afternoon; and at seven in the evening, he expounded the Church Catechism. How much easier it is for the clergy in England, Scotland, and Ireland, to find fault with such a faithful brother in the ministry, than to follow his example! "

The following note from Whitefield's diary will explain, in some measure, how he bore the hardships of his perilous voyage home. "During my stay (in Georgia) the weather was most intensely hot, burning me almost through my shoes. Seeing others do it, who were as unable, I determined to inure myself to hardships, by lying constantly on the ground; which, by use, I found to be so far from being a hardship, that, afterwards, it became so to lie on a bed." It was well it did: for, all the way home, he had no bed, until he reached Ireland. Nor was this his only privation on the voyage. At the outset they were tossed from "bar to bar," for nearly a fortnight, by contrary winds. Their provision

began to fail before they had accomplished a third of the passage: and when they reached Ireland, they were so worn out by famine and fatigue, that Whitefield says, "they were weak and hollow-eyed," even in the great cabin. On landing, however, he soon rallied, and preached with great power at Limerick and Dublin for some days. The account of his reception and success will be found in the chapter, "Whitefield in Ireland."

CHAPTER IV.

WHITEFIELD'S FIRST GREAT MEASURES IN LONDON, 1739.

THESE had so much influence upon his subsequent character and career, that I shall not interrupt their narrative, by his occasional excursions into the country, until his position in the metropolis is fully understood. That was, indeed, influenced by his proceedings in Bristol and Wales: but he would have become a field preacher, even if he had not begun at Bristol.

He arrived in London again at the close of 1738, after a perilous voyage. This sudden return was forced upon him; not sought by him. "I was really happy in my little foreign cure, and could have cheerfully remained among them, had I not been obliged to return to England, to receive priest's orders, and make a beginning towards laying the foundation of the orphan-house. And thus-the place where I intended to hide myself in, became, through my being obliged to return for these purposes, a mean of increasing that popularity which was already begun ;-but which by me was absolutely unforeseen, and absolutely undesigned."

His diary at sea, written amidst hurricanes and famine, illustrates the truth of this explanation. "Had I my own will, I could wish myself a speedy passage, that I might return the sooner to those few sheep I have left in Savannah." was thus with a single eye and a simple purpose, that Whitefield returned to London.

It

The first thing he did on his arrival, was, to wait on the archbishop of Canterbury, and the bishop of London. Dr. Gillies says, "he was coldly received by them: " Whitefield himself says, "I met with a favourable reception from both; but was not so civilly treated by some of the clergy; for five churches have been already (in two days) denied me. However, I had an opportunity of preaching at St. Helen's and at Islington, to large congregations indeed; and in the evening (of that first Sabbath) I went to a society in Fetter Lane, where we had, what might not be improperly called, a love feast;

eating a little bread and water, and spending two hours in singing and prayers."

It was now Christmas, and he spent almost every evening in expounding to, and praying with, societies of this kind. On Christmas eve, he continued the exercise until four in the morning. "At six," he says, with his characteristic simplicity, "I went to another in Crutched Friars, and expounded as well as I could;-but (no wonder !) perceived myself a little oppressed with drowsiness." He had been from four till six o'clock that morning in a large meeting in Red Crossstreet; which is memorable from the fact, that there, for the first time in his life, he ventured to pray extempore, "before many witnesses." He mentions this fact in a note of his diary. "Dec. 25. The first time I ever prayed extempore, before such a number." Extempore preaching soon followed this prayer!

On new-year's day he writes thus: "Received the holy sacrament, preached twice, and expounded twice; and found this the happiest new-year's day that I ever saw. Afterwards spent the whole night in close prayer, psalms, and thanksgivings, with the Fetter Lane society." Well might Dr. Gillies say, of Whitefield and his friends, "religious exercises seemed to be their meat and drink."

As might be expected, work of this kind offended many. It was shared, however, for a long time, by some of the clergy. "Jan. 5th. Held a conference at Islington, concerning many things of importance, with seven ministers of Jesus Christ, despised methodists, whom God in his providence brought together. We continued in fasting and prayer till three o'clock; and then parted with a full conviction that God was about to do great things amongst us. Oh that we may be in any way instrumental to his glory! O that he would make the vessels pure and holy; meet for such a dear Master's use!"

Such were Whitefield's habits, and such the state of his mind, when he went to Oxford to be ordained a priest. “He was ordained," says Gillies, "by his good friend Bishop Benson." Benson deserved this epithet from Whitefield's biographer. It is well known, however, that he afterwards repented, for a time, of having "ever laid his hands upon George Whitefield:" but he repented of this repentance; and sent, from his dying bed to Whitefield, a present, with a kind request to be remembered in his prayers.

The ordinary explanation of all this seems to be warranted