place of worship. Few ventured to walk even in their neighbourhood; and when provoked, they were the terror of Bristol. But none of these things moved' Whitefield, although he was told them all by his timid friends. The fact is, the chancellor had told him something he dreaded more than insult,-that he must be silent; and that, he could not endure. Instead of insult or opposition at Kingswood, however, 'the barbarous people,' although they had never been in a church, showed him no small kindness.' His first audience amounted to nearly two thousand, who heard him with great attention and decorum for nearly an hour. His third audience increased to five thousand; and thus they went on increasing to ten, fourteen, and twenty thousand. On one of these occasions he says, The day was fine-the sun shone very bright-and the people standing in such an awful manner around the mount, in the profoundest silence, filled me with holy admiration. Blessed be God for such a plentiful harvest. Lord, do thou send forth more labourers into thy harvest.'

"I hasted to Kingswood. At a moderate computation, there were above ten thousand people. The trees and hedges were full. All was hush when I began. The sun shone bright, and God enabled me to preach with great power, and so loud, that all (I was told) could hear me. Blessed be God, Mr. spoke right-the fire is kindled in the country. May the gates of hell never be able to prevail against it! To behold such crowds standing together in such awful silence, and to hear the echo of their singing run from one end of them to the other, was very solemn and striking. How infinitely more solemn and striking will the general assembly of the spirits of just men made perfect be, when they join in singing the song of Moses and the Lamb in heaven! -As the scene was new, and I had just began to be an extempore preacher, it often occasioned many inward conflicts. Sometimes when twenty thousand people were before me, I had not in my own apprehension, a word to say either to God or them! But I was never totally deserted; and frequently (for to deny it would be to sin against God) so assisted, that I knew by happy experience what our Lord meant by saying, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters." The gladness and eagerness with which these poor despised outcasts, who had never been in a church in their lives, received the truth, is beyond description! Having no righteousness of their own to renounce, they were glad to hear of a Jesus, who was the friend of publicans, and came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. The first discovery of their being affected, was to see the white gutters made by their tears which plentifully fell down their black faces; black as they came out of the coal-pits. Hundreds and hundreds of them were soon brought under deep conviction, which, as the event proved, ended in a sound and thorough conversion. The change was visible to all; though numbers chose to impute it to any thing rather than the finger of God.'

Many too, of the shamefully wronged, basely injured, foully degraded negroes in America were converted through his preaching.

"Money was, however, the least part of his success. Many souls were both awakened and won. Negroes came to him, asking,' Have I a soul?' Societies for prayer and mutual edification were set up in various parts of the city. Scoffers were silent, or only muttered their curses over the punch-bowl in taverns, because,' says he, I did not preach up more morality!' Seward relates an anecdote in his journal, at this time, which deserves to be extracted. A drinking club, whereVIII.

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of a clergyman was a member, had a negro boy attending them, who used to mimic people for their diversion. The gentlemen had him mimic our brother Whitefield; which he was very unwilling to do (Whitefield had just published an appeal on behalf of the negroes); but they insisting upon it, he stood up and said, "I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not; unless you repent, you will all be damned." This unexpected speech broke up the club, which has never met since.''

“Whitefield having repelled the charge of antinomianism in Philadelphia, had next to justify his zeal. That was attacked on the following sabbath in church, whilst he himself was present. The clergyman took for his text, I bear them record, they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.' It was an unfortunate selection for the accuser; and Whitefield turned the context upon him with tremendous point and power, in the evening, before an audience of twenty thou sand. I could have wished he had considered the next words-" for they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."' Rom. x. 3, 4. That night fifty negroes, besides many other converts, came to tell him what God had done for their souls.'"

Thus was Whitefield successful among the lower grades of mankind. No less remarkable was his success among those who, in both riches and intellect, occupy the higher walks of life. The following extract is a specimen of the good he did among the nobility.

"In 1766, he and Romaine preached in it alternately, to splendid audiences. Amongst others who heard them with profit, was Lady Glenorchy-the Selina of Scotland; for Lady Huntingdon was her model, although her biographer seems to have forgotten the fact. She derived great spiritual benefit, and caught her inspiration in the cause of God from the example and the chaplains of the countess. It was through her, also, that Lord and Lady Sutherland were introduced into this circle, when they fled from the grave of their eldest daughter, to seek relief in the amusements of Bath. They were led, however, to hear Whitefield, and continued to do so, until their untimely death. They were in the prime of life; and their funeral sermon at the chapel drew out all the nobility, and produced a deep impression. The Duchess dowager of Sutherland, if alive still, knows that Whitefield ministered to her suffering parents, when she was an unconscious infant. A remarkable circumstance aggravated this bereavement to the family. The death of Lady Sutherland had been concealed from her mother, and only that of Lord Sutherland communicated. Lady Alva hastened from the north to Bath, to be with her daughter. She met by the way two hearses, and learnt that they were carrying Lord and Lady Sutherland to be interred in the royal chapel at Holyrood.

"Another impressive scene took place at Bath, on the death of the Earl of Buchan. 'He died,' says Whitefield, like the patriarch Jacob. He laid his hands on, and blessed his children; assured them of his personal interest in Jesus; called most gloriously on the Holy Ghost; cried, "Happy, happy," as long as he could speak.' The coffin was removed from Buchan House to the chapel, where it lay a week. Whitefield preached twice a day, and all the family, besides the other rank in the city, attended. The scene must have been solemn at the funeral service. In the morning the family attended an early sacrament, and seated themselves at the feet of the corpse,' whilst communicating.

This was followed by a special address to them, and closed by the sublime benediction, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you; the Lord cause his face to shine upon you, and give you peace." They then retired to Lady Huntingdon's house, until eleven o'clock, when the public service began. The chapel was more than crowded.' Nearly three hundred tickets, signed by the young earl, were given out to the nobility and gentry. All was hushed and solemn. Attention sat on every face, and deep and almost universal impressions were made,' whilst Whitefield preached the funeral sermon. The like scene, and if possible, more solemn, was exhibited in the evening,' and repeated during five days. He says of it, A like I never expect to see on this side eternity! Surely the death of this noble earl, thus improved, will prove the life of many.' It did. Amongst others who publicly avowed themselves, was the young earl. This drew upon him the laugh and lash of all the wits and witlings of the rooms; but he stood impregnable as a rock.'"

"Pulteney, also, the Earl of Bath, and the well-known political antagonist of Sir Robert Walpole, was deeply impressed under Whitefield's ministry, at the same time as the Countess of Chesterfield. He attended Tottenham Court chapel regularly for some years, and was a munificent benefactor to the orphan-house. Both Lady Huntingdon and Lady Fanny Shirley were his intimate friends. Whatever, therefore, may be thought of his political character, he must have been rather more than moral, to have secured their esteem. But amongst the peers, none stood higher in Whitefield's estimation, for piety or prudence, than Lord Dartmouth. George III. confirmed this estimate of Dartmouth's character. Queen Charlotte also thought him one of the best of men.' The king said to Dr. Beattie, the essayist on Truth, They call his Lordship an enthusiast; but surely he says nothing on the subject of religion but what any Christian may and ought to say.' John Newton thought so. Dartmouth was his patron: and to him he addressed the first twenty-six letters of the Cardiphonia.' It was a fit return. Newton had been refused ordination by the Archbishop of York: (not a very arch refusal certainly!) and Dartmouth prevailed on Dr. Green, the Bishop of Lincoln, to ordain him; and then gave him the curacy of Olney. How much the church of Christ owes to this act of kindness!"

A great work was also commenced, by his instrumentality among the students in the American colleges. The following is an example.

"In like manner, at Harvard College the effect was great. The honourable Secretary Willard says, in a letter to Whitefield, That which forebodes the most lasting advantage is, the new state of things in the college, where the impressions of religion have been, and still are, very general; and many, in a judgment of charity, brought home to Christ. Divers gentlemen's sons, that were sent there only for a more polite education, are now so full of zeal for the cause of Christ, and of love to souls as to devote themselves entirely to the studies of divinity.' Dr. Colman also informed Whitefield of this fact. At Cambridge, the college is entirely changed; the students are full of God, and will, I hope, come out blessings in their generation; and, I trust, are so now to each other. Many of them are now, we think, truly born again, and several of them happy instruments of conversion to their fellows. The voice of prayer and praise fills their chambers; and sincerity, fervency, and joy, with seriousness of heart, sit visibly on their faces. I was told yesterday, that not seven of a hundred remain unaffected. know how the good tidings will affect you. God give you like joy every

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where in the fruit of your labours.' Thus Whitefield was then to the churches and colleges, what Washington was afterwards to the States."

A large body of able ministers, in various countries, owed their conversion to Whitefield's preaching and among the number was the admired Hervey.

"There were at this time not less than twenty ministers, in the neighbourhood of Boston, who did not hesitate to call Whitefield their spiritual father; thus tracing their conversion to his ministry. One of them, who went merely to pick a hole in his coat,' (to find fault,) said, God picked a hole in my heart, and afterwards healed it by the blood of sprinkling.'

"Amongst all Whitefield's converts, no one has been more useful than Hervey, as a writer. That he was one of them is certain, although seldom remembered. In a letter to Whitefield, he says, Your journals and sermons, and especially that sweet sermon, on What think ye of Christ?' were a mean of bringing me to the knowledge of the truth.' Brown's Memoirs of Hervey. This will account for the deference he paid to his spiritual father, and for the eulogium he pronounced on him at Doddridge's: 'I never beheld,' he said, so fair a copy of our Lord; such a living image of the Saviour; such exalted delight in God; such unbounded benevolence to man; such steady faith in the divine promises; such fervent zeal for the divine glory; and all this, without the least moroseness of humour, or extravagances of behaviour; but sweetened with the most engaging cheerfulness of temper, and regulated by all the sobriety of reason and wisdom of Scripture: insomuch, that I cannot forbear applying the wise man's encomium on an illustrious woman, to this eminent minister of the everlasting gospel- Many sons have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.'

"Accordingly, his letters to the Countess at this time, whilst they report briefly the abundance of the better sort,' who came out to hear him twice a day, in common with the multitude, dwell chiefly upon the case of a poor highland schoolmaster, who had been very useful amongst the young Gaels; and upon the claims of a poor student, who had not the means of finishing his ministerial education. In none of his letters at this time, is there any reference to the personal honours paid to him, although they were neither few nor small. What he mentions with most complacency, is an account he had received of "a dozen young men, that were awakened' under his ministry, 'ten years ago, and who were now useful preachers. This was emphatically good news to Whitefield; for although he was not far-sighted, he saw clearly all the bearings of his own favourite maxim, that every student's name is legion;' catching him is catching thousands; helping him, helping many.'

"At Philadelphia, also, a still higher gratification awaited him: not less than forty new-creature ministers, of various denominations,' visited him; some of them young and bright witnesses' for Christ. He heard, also, that sixteen students had been converted last year, at New Jersey college. This was medicine to him for every thing but his asthma; and even that he tried to forget: for now the Lutherans in Philadelphia thronged to hear the friend of the German protestants. Accordingly, he preached twice a week, and with remarkable' success amongst all ranks.'

These facts are a sufficient refutation of the assertions of those who represent Whitefield as a mere noisy declaimer, fitted only to harangue those who regard sound, not sense, and always deem that the best sermon which is delivered with the most boisterous noise.

Another proof of the powerful and salutary effect produced by his preaching is to be found in the spirit of liberality it excited. That is effective preaching indeed, which, by a fervid presentation of evangelical truth can burn off those strong cords of covetousness which bind our possessions to our hearts, and let them drop, not with a sigh but a shout into the treasury of the Lord. To what an extent this was done by Whitefield's efforts the following examples will shew.

"But to return to the metropolis. He was much disappointed and grieved to find that, notwithstanding all the money he had formerly obtained for the London charities, he was not allowed to collect for Georgia, except in a few churches. He had, therefore, to carry his 'begging case' into the fields with him. Gillies says, Having no other method to take, he was obliged to collect for the orphan-house in the fields, or not at all, which was humbling to himself, and to the friends who assisted him in that work ; but the readiness with which the people gave, and the prayers they put up while throwing in their mites, were very encouraging." They were so: for he thus obtained upwards of a thousand pounds for his orphan-house. He himself says, The readiness with which the people gave is inexpressible: for I think they could not have expressed more earnestness, or taken more pains, had they all been to have received an alms. One sign this, I hope, that the word of God has taken hold of their hearts.''

"On one occasion he collected in Moorfields, £52 19s. 6d., of which above twenty pounds was in halfpence.' On another, at Kennington, sixteen, of £47, was in copper. He says, I was one of the collectors; and methinks it would have delighted almost any one to have seen with what eagerness the people came up both sides of the eminence on which I stood, and afterwards to the coach doors, to throw in their mites!' He saw, however, how all this would seem to the Pharisees, and antici pated them thus, in his public journal: Preached to nearly sixty thousand people in Moorfields, and collected £29 17s. 8d. and came home deeply humbled with a sense of what God had done for my soul.'

"On the following sabbath he collected, in two of the chapels, upwards of £1000 currency for his orphan-house."

A singular anecdote related of Franklin bearing on this point may be quoted here.

"Franklin died in 1790. Whitefield's letter to him was in 1752. Their acquaintanceship seems to have commenced when the claims of the orphan-house were first pleaded in Philadelphia. Then Franklin, although he approved of the object, refused to contribute to it, when applied to in private, because he disapproved of the situation. He went to hear Whitefield, therefore, resolved to give nothing. He had, however, in his pocket, a handful of copper, three or four dollars, and five pistoles in gold. As the sermon began to kindle, Franklin began to soften, and was willing to give the copper. The next stroke won the silver; and the finishing stroke was so admirable, he says, that I emptied my pocket wholly into the collector's dish-gold and all.''

The volume contains a narration of a number of most interesting cases of individual conversion. We have space only for the following.

"At one of them, a very singular Bostonian visited him ;-a man of ready wit and racy humour, who delighted in preaching over a bottle to