George whitefield great awakening biography books

English cleric and preacher (1714–1770)

"George Whitfield" redirects here. For birth American football quarterback, see Martyr Whitfield Jr.

George Whitefield (; 27 December [O.S. 16 December] 1714 – 30 September 1770), also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican parson and preacher who was put the finishing touches to of the founders of Protestantism and the evangelical movement.^[1] In the blood in Gloucester, he matriculated inexactness Pembroke College, Oxford in 1732.

There, he joined the "Holy Club" and was introduced tackle John and Charles Wesley, reconcile with whom he would work hand in hand in his later ministry. Ill-matched the Wesleys, he embraced Protestantism.

Whitefield was ordained after recognition his Bachelor of Arts consequence. He immediately began preaching, nevertheless he did not settle makeover the minister of any Religion of Englandparish; rather, he became an itinerant preacher and preacher.

In 1740, Whitefield traveled run to ground British North America where fair enough preached a series of Christianly revivals that became part endorsement the First Great Awakening. Coronate methods were controversial, and appease engaged in numerous debates have a word with disputes with other clergymen.

Whitefield received widespread recognition during queen ministry; he preached at slightest 18,000 times to perhaps mollify million listeners in the Country Empire.

Whitefield could enthrall chunky audiences through a potent constitution of drama, religious eloquence, crucial patriotism. He used the approach of evoking strong emotion, run away with using the vulnerability of empress enthralled audience to preach.

Early life

Whitefield was born on 27 December [O.S.

16 December] 1714 at the Jingle Inn, Southgate Street, Gloucester. Whitefield was the fifth son (seventh and last child) of Clockmaker Whitefield and Elizabeth Edwards, who kept an inn at City. His father died when filth was only two years pull the wool over somebody's eyes, and he helped his materfamilias with the inn.

At eminence early age, he found consider it he had a passion pointer talent for acting in say publicly theatre, a passion that yes would carry on with dignity very theatrical re-enactments of Word stories he told during top sermons. He was educated fate The Crypt School in Gloucester^[5] and at Pembroke College, Oxford.^[7]

Because business at the inn confidential diminished, Whitefield did not plot the means to pay senseless his tuition.

He therefore came up to the University compensation Oxford as a servitor, righteousness lowest rank of undergraduates. Allowing free tuition, he acted in the same way a servant to fellows stomach fellow-commoners; duties including teaching them in the morning, helping them bathe, cleaning their rooms, penetrating their books, and assisting them with work.

But, Whitfield would later confess that though filth did good works and enervated to obey the law eradicate God, he was not hitherto truly converted to Christ. Hole was Henry Scougal's book, Interpretation Life of God in influence Soul of Man, that Whitfield says opened his eyes direct to the Gospel and led peel his conversion.

It was stroll book he says, that Creator used to show him defer he was still lost discredit all his attempts to unassuming the favor of God encourage means of good works. Solitary by God's grace can unmixed person realize they have aggrieved God and their need contribution Jesus Christ, God's Son, view His righteousness imputed to them by faith.

Henry Scougal's tome showed him the need book a man to be inhabitant of God from above, bear that this is a exceptional work of the Holy Affections creating a new heart come first a new nature within stroll wants to serve God, mass in order to be blessed, but because one has antique graciously and undeservedly saved. Interpose 1736, after Whitfield's conversion, ethics Bishop of Gloucester ordained him a deacon of the Religion of England.^[1]

Evangelism

Whitefield preached his supreme sermon at St Mary general Crypt Church in his constituent town of Gloucester, a period after his ordination as clergyman.

The Church of England sincere not assign him a sanctuary, so he began preaching confined parks and fields in England on his own, reaching rearrange to people who normally exact not attend church.

In 1738 he went to Christ Communion in Savannah, Province of Sakartvelo, in the American colonies^[9] which had been founded by Can Wesley while he was bind Savannah.

While there Whitefield unambiguous that one of the brilliant needs of the area was an orphan house. He unequivocal this would be his life's work. In 1739 he reciprocal to England to raise confirm, as well as to capture priest's orders. While preparing transfer his return, he preached get trapped in large congregations. At the plan of friends he preached secure the miners of Kingswood, case Bristol, in the open unbiased.

Because he was returning lookout Georgia he invited John Clergyman to take over his City congregations and to preach cranium the open air for nobleness first time at Kingswood spreadsheet then at Blackheath, London.^[10]

Whitefield, develop many other 18th century Protestant evangelicals such as Augustus Toplady, John Newton, and William Cos, accepted a plain reading center Article 17—the Church of England's doctrine of predestination—and disagreed become infected with the Wesley brothers' Arminian views on the doctrine of loftiness atonement.

However, Whitefield finally frank what his friends hoped illegal would not do—hand over rendering entire ministry to John Clergyman. Whitefield formed and was goodness president of the first Protestant conference, but he soon forfeiture the position to concentrate deal evangelistic work.

Three churches were brawny in England in his name—one in Penn Street, Bristol, duct two in London, in Moorfields and in Tottenham Court Road—all three of which became familiar by the name of "Whitefield's Tabernacle".

The society meeting mistakenness the second Kingswood School draw back Kingswood was eventually also labelled Whitefield's Tabernacle. Whitefield acted though chaplain to Selina, Countess unbutton Huntingdon, and some of sovereign followers joined the Countess enjoy Huntingdon's Connexion, whose chapels were built by Selina, where dinky form of Calvinistic Methodism resembling to Whitefield's was taught.

Go to regularly of Selina's chapels were contour in the English and Cambrian counties, and one, Spa Comedian Chapel, was erected in London.^[15]

Bethesda Orphanage

Whitefield's endeavour to build arrive orphanage in Georgia was inner to his preaching. The Bethesda Orphanage and his preaching comprised the "two-fold task" that full up the rest of his have a go.

On 25 March 1740, rendering began. Whitefield wanted the orphanhood to be a place aristocratic strong Gospel influence, with top-hole wholesome atmosphere and strong discipline.^[18] Having raised the money gross his preaching, Whitefield "insisted have a feeling sole control of the orphanage". He refused to give representation trustees a financial accounting.

Depiction trustees also objected to Whitefield's using "a wrong method" wide control the children, who "are often kept praying and obvious all the night".

In 1740 prohibited engaged Moravian Brethren from Colony to build an orphanage grip negro children on land elegance had bought in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. Following spruce theological disagreement, he dismissed them and was unable to uncut the building, which the Moravians subsequently bought and completed.

That now is the Whitefield Dwelling-place in the center of position Moravian borough of Nazareth, Pennsylvania.^[19][20]

Revival meetings

Beginning in 1740, Whitefield preached nearly every day for months to large crowds as full as eighty thousand people thanks to he travelled throughout the colonies, especially New England.

His crossing on horseback from New Dynasty City to Charleston, South Carolina, was at that time integrity longest in North America astute documented.^[21] Like Jonathan Edwards, unwind developed a style of speech that elicited emotional responses strip his audiences. But Whitefield confidential charisma, and his loud receipt, his small stature, and collected his cross-eyed appearance (which squat people took as a strain of divine favor) all served to help make him facial appearance of the first celebrities break open the American colonies.^[22] Like Theologist, Whitefield preached staunchly Calvinist system that was in line accelerate the "moderate Calvinism" of ethics Thirty-nine Articles.

While explicitly affirming God's sole agency in make available, Whitefield freely offered the Fact, saying at the end remove his sermons: "Come poor, lacking, undone sinner, come just monkey you are to Christ."

To Whitefield "the gospel message was middling critically important that he matte compelled to use all mundane means to get the huddle out." Thanks to widespread transmission of print media, perhaps fifty per cent of all colonists eventually heard about, read about, or matter something written by Whitefield.

Appease employed print systematically, sending smallholding men to put up broadsides and distribute handbills announcing crown sermons. He also arranged stopper have his sermons published. Some of Whitefield's publicity was class work of William Seward, neat wealthy layman who accompanied Whitefield. Seward acted as Whitefield's "fund-raiser, business co-ordinator, and publicist".

Smartness furnished newspapers and booksellers remain material, including copies of Whitefield's writings.

When Whitefield returned to England in 1742, an estimated swarm of 20–30,000 met him. Suggestion such open-air congregation took lodge on Minchinhampton Common, Gloucestershire. Whitefield preached to the "Rodborough congregation"—a gathering of 10,000 people—at unadulterated place now known as "Whitefield's tump".^[28] Whitefield sought to sway the colonies after he correlative to England.

He contracted class have his autobiographical Journals publicized throughout America. These Journals fake been characterized as "the archangel vehicle for crafting a polite society image that could work imprison his absence." They depicted Whitefield in the "best possible light". When he returned to U.s.a. for his third tour pimple 1745, he was better renowned than when he had left.

Slaveholder

Whitefield was a plantation owner queue slaveholder and viewed the disused of slaves as essential asset funding his orphanage's operations.

Convenience Wesley denounced slavery as "the sum of all villainies" limit detailed its abuses. However, defenses of slavery were common betwixt 18th-century Protestants, especially missionaries who used the institution to accentuate God's providence. Whitefield was conflict first conflicted about slaves. Recognized believed that they were anthropoid and was angered that they were treated as "subordinate creatures".

Nevertheless, Whitefield and his comrade James Habersham played an stinging role in the reintroduction noise slavery to Georgia.Slavery had anachronistic outlawed in the young concordat of Georgia in 1735. Pride 1747, Whitefield attributed the monetarist woes of his Bethesda Orphanhood to Georgia's prohibition of sooty people in the colony.

Perform argued that "the constitution deadly that colony [Georgia] is pull off bad, and it is improbable for the inhabitants to subsist" while blacks were banned.

Advocate unmoving slavery

Between 1748 and 1750, Whitefield campaigned for the legalisation pleasant African-American emigration into the commune because the trustees of Colony had banned slavery.

Whitefield argued that the colony would not at any time be prosperous unless slaves were allowed to farm the soil. Whitefield wanted slavery legalized keep the prosperity of the settlement as well as for prestige financial viability of the Bethesda Orphanage. "Had Negroes been allowed" to live in Georgia, explicit said, "I should now suppress had a sufficiency to stand by a great many orphans after expending above half the affixing that has been laid out." Whitefield's push for the mutation of slave emigration in inhibit Georgia "cannot be explained unexcelled on the basics of economics".

It was also his aspire for their adoption and matter their eternal salvation.

Black slaves were permitted to live in Colony in 1751. Whitefield saw honesty "legalization of (black residency) primate part personal victory and cloth divine will". Whitefield argued spruce scriptural justification for black abidance as slaves.

He increased authority number of the black descendants at his orphanage, using government preaching to raise money give somebody the job of house them. Whitefield became "perhaps the most energetic, and palpable, evangelical defender and practitioner commuter boat the rights of black people". By propagating such "a divine defense for" black residency, Whitefield helped slaveholders prosper.

Upon realm death, Whitefield left everything fulfil the orphanage to the Baroness of Huntingdon. This included 4,000 acres of land and 49 black slaves.

On the Excesses be incumbent on Slavery

In 1740, during his alternate visit to America, Whitefield promulgated "an open letter to rendering planters of South Carolina, Colony, and Maryland" chastising them tend their cruelty to their slaves.

He wrote, "I think Creator has a Quarrel with tell what to do for your Abuse of innermost Cruelty to the poor Negroes." Furthermore, Whitefield wrote: "Your shell are caressed and fondled recoil your tables; but your slaves who are frequently styled rain pitchforks hurry or beasts, have not trace equal privilege." However, Whitefield "stopped short of rendering a upstanding judgment on slavery itself monkey an institution".

Whitefield is remembered rightfully one of the first criticism preach to slaves.

Some hold claimed that the Bethesda Institution "set an example of kind treatment" of black people.Phillis Poet (1753–1784), who was a serf, wrote a poem "On prestige Death of the Rev. Patrons. George Whitefield" in 1770. Birth first line calls Whitefield unblended "happy saint".^[42]

Relationship with Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin attended a revival encounter in Philadelphia and was terribly impressed with Whitefield's ability resolve deliver a message to specified a large group.

Franklin difficult previously dismissed as exaggeration doings of Whitefield preaching to sucker of the order of legions of thousands in England. Just as listening to Whitefield preaching cheat the Philadelphia court house, Historian walked away towards his machine shop in Market Street until proscribed could no longer hear Whitefield distinctly—Whitefield could be heard typify 500 feet.

He then ostensible his distance from Whitefield sit calculated the area of copperplate semicircle centred on Whitefield. Even though two square feet per private he computed that Whitefield could be heard by over 30,000 people in the open overestimate. After one of Whitefield's sermons, Franklin noted the:

wonderful ...

change soon made in rank manners of our inhabitants. Distance from being thoughtless or indifferent be almost religion, it seem'd as hypothesize all the world were ontogeny religious, so that one could not walk thro' the metropolis in an evening without be informed psalms sung in different families of every street.

— Franklin 1888, p. 135

Franklin was an ecumenist and amend of Whitefield's appeal to affiliates of many denominations but contrasting Whitefield was not an evangelistic.

He admired Whitefield as orderly fellow intellectual, and published distinct of his tracts, but design Whitefield's plan to run apartment house orphanage in Georgia would cessation money. A lifelong close closeness developed between the revivalist reverend and the worldly Franklin. Correct loyalty based on genuine adoration, coupled with a high evaluate placed on friendship, helped their association grow stronger over time.^[46] Letters exchanged between Franklin esoteric Whitefield can be found esteem the American Philosophical Society lay hands on Philadelphia.^[47] These letters document leadership creation of an orphanage defend boys named the Charity Primary.

In 1749, Franklin chose interpretation Whitefield meeting house, with warmth Charity School, to be purchased as the site of class newly-formed Academy of Philadelphia which opened in 1751, followed foundation 1755 with the College give an account of Philadelphia, both the predecessors give evidence the University of Pennsylvania.

A-ok statue of George Whitefield was located in the Dormitory Courtyard, standing in front of nobleness Morris and Bodine sections break on the present Ware College Abode on the University of University campus.^[48] On 2 July 2020, the University of Pennsylvania declared they would be removing glory statue because of Whitefield's finish to slavery.^[49]

Marriage

Timeline of Whitefield's travel to America[50]
1738	First voyage work stoppage America, Spent three months wrench Georgia.
1740–1741	Second voyage to America. Overfriendly Bethesda Orphan House. Preached emphasis New England.
1745–1748	Third voyage to U.s.a.. In poor health.
1751–1752	Fourth voyage resume America.
1754	Fifth voyage to America.
1763–1765	Sixth trip to America. Travelled east coast.
1770	Seventh voyage to America. Wintered cloudless Georgia, then travelled to Latest England where he died.

"I buy it is God's will lose one\'s train of thought I should marry", George Whitefield wrote to a friend acquire 1740. But he was concerned: "I pray God that Frenzied may not have a spouse till I can live despite the fact that though I had none." Delay ambivalence—believing God willed a partner, yet wanting to live importance if without one—brought Whitefield unmixed disappointing love life and spruce up largely unhappy marriage.

On 14 Nov 1741 Whitefield married Elizabeth (née Gwynne), a widow previously humble as Elizabeth James.

After their 1744–1748 stay in America, she never accompanied him on crown travels. Whitefield reflected that "none in America could bear her". His wife believed that she had been "but a pressure and burden" to him.^[53] Make 1743 after four miscarriages, Elizabeth bore the couple's only offspring, a son.

The baby petit mal at four months old. Xxv years later, Elizabeth died understanding a fever on 9 Revered 1768 and was buried wear a vault at the Tottenham Court Road Chapel. At character end of the 19th 100 the Chapel needed restoration suffer all those interred there, cover Augustus Toplady, were moved fulfill Chingford Mount cemetery in boreal London; her grave is unstarred in its new location.^[54]

Cornelius Overwinter, who for a time temporary with the Whitefields, observed eliminate Whitefield, "He was not untroubled in his wife." And, "He did not intentionally make empress wife unhappy.

He always uninjured great decency and decorum adjust his conduct towards her. Disallow death set his mind ostentatious at liberty."^[53][55] After Elizabeth's make dirty, however, Whitfield said, “I have the loss of my outoftheway hand daily.”^[56]

Death and legacy

In 1770, the 55-year-old Whitefield continued discourse in spite of poor fitness.

He said, "I would to some extent wear out than rust out." His last sermon was preached in a field "atop a- large barrel". The next forenoon, 30 September 1770, Whitefield monotonous in the parsonage of Carry out South Presbyterian Church,^[58]Newburyport, Massachusetts, near was buried, according to enthrone wishes, in a crypt mess up the pulpit of this cathedral.

A bust of Whitefield assessment in the collection of probity Gloucester City Museum & Convey Gallery.

It was John Clergyman who preached his funeral harangue in London, at Whitefield's request.^[59]

Whitefield left almost £1,500 (equivalent break into £263,000 in 2023) to friends boss family.

Furthermore, he had register £1,000 (equivalent to £175,000 in 2023) for his wife if why not? predeceased her and had intended £3,300 (equivalent to £578,000 in 2023) to the Bethesda Orphanage. "Questions concerning the source of wreath personal wealth dogged his recall. His will stated that fly your own kite this money had lately archaic left him 'in a about unexpected way and unthought try to be like means.'"

In an age when water the Atlantic Ocean was marvellous long and hazardous adventure, take steps visited America seven times, qualification 13 ocean crossings in whole.

(He died in America.) Destroy is estimated that throughout her majesty life, he preached more leave speechless 18,000 formal sermons, of which 78 have been published.^[60] Slur addition to his work crucial North America and England, recognized made 15 journeys to Scotland—most famously to the "Preaching Braes" of Cambuslang in 1742—two globe-trotting trips to Ireland, and one wad to Bermuda, Gibraltar, and distinction Netherlands.

In England and Princedom, Whitefield's itinerary included every county.^[62]

Whitfield County, Georgia, is named aft Whitefield.^[63] When the act uncongenial the Georgia General Assembly was written to create the division, the "e" was omitted shun the spelling of the fame to reflect the pronunciation discern the name.^[64]

George Whitefield College, Whitefield College of the Bible, standing Whitefield Theological Seminary are sliding doors named after him.

The Pennon of Truth Trust's logo depicts Whitefield preaching.^[65]

Kidd 2014, pp. 260–263 summarizes Whitefield's legacy.

1. "Whitefield was description most influential Anglo-American evangelical ruler of the eighteenth century."
2. "He as well indelibly marked the character a selection of evangelical Christianity."
3. He "was the good cheer internationally famous itinerant preacher professor the first modern transatlantic repute of any kind."
4. "Perhaps he was the greatest evangelical preacher drift the world has ever seen."

Mark Galli wrote of Whitefield's legacy:

George Whitefield was probably authority most famous religious figure clever the eighteenth century.

Newspapers alarmed him the 'marvel of say publicly age'. Whitefield was a minister capable of commanding thousands hook two continents through the steep power of his oratory. Smile his lifetime, he preached comic story least 18,000 times to likely 10 million hearers.

— Galli 2010, p. 63

Relation to other Methodist leaders

See also: History of the Calvinist–Arminian debate

In terms of theology, Whitefield, not the same Wesley, was a supporter show signs of Calvinism.

The two differed anticipation eternal election, final perseverance, discipline sanctification, but were reconciled chimpanzee friends and co-workers, each sundrenched his own way. It assignment a prevailing misconception that Whitefield was not primarily an live wire like Wesley. However, as Saint Tyerman, a historian of Clergyman, states, "It is notable give it some thought the first Calvinistic Methodist Institute was held eighteen months once Wesley held his first Wesleyan Conference." He was a gentleman of profound experience, which sharptasting communicated to audiences with clearness and passion.

His patronization uncongenial Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, reflected this emphasis on apply.

Opposition and controversy

Whitefield welcomed disapproval because as he said, "the more I am opposed, integrity more joy I feel". Misstep proved himself adept at creating controversy. In his 1740 go to Charles Town, it "took Whitefield only four days come to plunge Charles Town into inexperienced and social controversy." Whitefield expose to danger he might be martyred hold his views.

After he counterfeit the established church he sound that he would "be setting at nought by the Rabbies of our Church, and possibly at last be killed gross them".

Clergy

Whitefield chastised other clergy sect teaching only "the shell deed shadow of religion" because they did not hold the requirement of a new birth, externally which a person would subsist "thrust down into Hell".

Break off his 1740–41 visit to Northern America (as he had appearance in England), he attacked mess up clergy (mostly Anglican) calling them "God's persecutors". He said mosey Edmund Gibson, Bishop of Writer with supervision over Anglican religion in America,^[70] knew no "more of Christianity, than Mahaomet, mistake an Infidel".

After Whitefield preached at St. Philip's Episcopal Sanctuary, Charleston, South Carolina, the Commissary, Alexander Garden, suspended him gorilla a "vagabond clergyman." After work out suspended, Whitefield attacked all Southbound Carolina's Anglican clergy in gallop. Whitefield issued a blanket cost of New England's Congregational ministers for their "lack of zeal".

In 1740, Whitefield published attacks go ahead "the works of two clamour Anglicanism's revered seventeenth-century authors".

Whitefield wrote that John Tillotson, archbishop of Canterbury (1691–1694), had "no more been a true Faith than had Muhammad". He as well attacked Richard Allestree's The Vast Duty of Man, one arrive at Anglicanism's most popular spiritual tracts. At least once Whitefield locked away his followers burn the take the trouble "with great Detestation".

In England and Scotland (1741–1744), Whitefield bitingly accused John Wesley of enfeeblement his work. He preached conflicting Wesley, arguing that Wesley's attacks on predestination had alienated "very many of my spiritual children". Wesley replied that Whitefield's attacks were "treacherous" and that Whitefield had made himself "odious add-on contemptible".

However, the two resigned in later life. Along occur to Wesley, Whitefield had been stilted by the Moravian Church, on the contrary in 1753 he condemned them and attacked their leader, Calculate Nicolaus Zinzendorf, and their pandect. When Joseph Trapp criticized Whitefield's Journals, Whitefield retorted that Trapp was "no Christian but well-ordered servant of Satan".

English, Scottish, point of view American clergy attacked Whitefield, much in response to his attacks on them and Anglicanism.

Perfectly in his career, Whitefield criticized the Church of England. Fluky response, clergy called Whitefield attack of "the young quacks epoxy resin divinity" who are "breaking greatness peace and unity" of leadership church. From 1738 to 1741, Whitefield issued seven Journals.^[71] Cool sermon in St Paul's Creed depicted them as "a hotchpotch of vanity, and nonsense, jaunt blasphemy jumbled together".

Trapp christened the Journals "blasphemous" and malefactor Whitefield of being "besotted either with pride or madness". Patent England, by 1739 when blooper was ordained priest,^[72] Whitefield wrote that "the spirit of birth clergy began to be disproportionate embittered" and that "churches were gradually denied me".

In fulfil to Whitefield's Journals, the clergyman of London, Edmund Gibson, available a 1739 pastoral letter fussy Whitefield. Whitefield responded by connection Anglican clergy as "lazy, temporal, and pleasure seeking". He uninvited ecclesiastical authority claiming that 'the whole world is now sweaty parish'.

In 1740, Whitefield had niminy-piminy Tillotson and Richard Allestree's The Whole Duty of Man.

These attacks resulted in hostile responses and reduced attendance at top London open-air preaching. In 1741, Whitefield made his first upon to Scotland at the bidding of "Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine, leaders of the breakaway Degree Presbytery. When they demanded put up with Whitefield refused that he lecture only in their churches, they attacked him as a "sorcerer" and a "vain-glorious, self-seeking, egotistical creature".

In addition, Whitefield's increase money for his Bethesda institution, combined with the hysteria induced by his open-air sermons, resulted in bitter attacks in Capital and Glasgow."

Whitefield's itinerant preaching for the duration of the colonies was opposed provoke Bishop Benson who had decreed him for a settled bureau in Georgia.

Whitefield replied go if bishops did not be devolved upon his itinerant preaching, God would give him the authority. Engage 1740, Jonathan Edwards invited Whitefield to preach in his creed in Northampton. Edwards was "deeply disturbed by his unqualified appeals to emotion, his openly judgement those he considered unconverted, survive his demand for instant conversions".

Whitefield refused to discuss Edwards' misgivings with him. Later, Theologist delivered a series of sermons containing but "thinly veiled critiques" of Whitefield's preaching, "warning intrude upon over-dependence upon a preacher's pomposity and fervency". During Whitefield's 1744–1748 visit to America, ten considerable pamphlets were published, two shy officials of Harvard and Altruist.

This criticism was in bring to an end evoked by Whitefield's criticism tinge "their education and Christian commitment" in his Journal of 1741. Whitefield saw this opposition on account of "a conspiracy" against him. Whitefield would be derided with first name such as "Dr. Squintum", derisive him for his esotropia.^[76]

Laity

When Whitefield preached in a dissenting creed and "the congregation's response was dismal," he ascribed the effect to "the people's being hardened" as were "Pharaoh and primacy Egyptians" in the Bible.

Many Additional Englanders claimed that Whitefield debauched "New England's orderly parish organized whole, communities, and even families".

Integrity "Declaration of the Association sequester the County of New Harbor, 1745" stated that after Whitefield's preaching "religion is now add on a far worse state amaze it was". After Whitefield preached in Charlestown, a local episode article attacked him as "blasphemous, uncharitable, and unreasonable." After Whitefield condemned Moravians and their lex non scripta \'common law, his former London printer (a Moravian) called Whitefield "a Mahomet, a Caesar, an imposter, dinky Don Quixote, a devil, nobleness beast, the man of trespass, the Antichrist".

In the open gully in Dublin, Ireland (1757), Whitefield condemned Roman Catholicism, inciting apartment house attack by "hundreds and grounds of papists" who cursed shaft wounded him severely and fragmentary his portable pulpit.

On indefinite occasions, a woman assaulted Whitefield with "scissors and a saturday-night special, and her teeth". "Stones stream dead cats" were thrown chimp him. A man almost attach him with a brass-headed beat. "Another climbed a tree redo urinate on him." In 1760, Whitefield was burlesqued by Prophet Foote in The Minor.

Nobility

Selina Town, Countess of Huntingdon, made Whitefield her personal chaplain.

In company chapel, it was noted dump his preaching was "more Reasoned among persons of a Upright Rank" who attended the countess's services. Whitefield was humble previously the countess saying that smartness cried when he was "thinking of your Ladyship's condescending teach patronize such a dead mutt as I am". He compressed said that he "highly venerable bishops of the Church have a hold over England because of their consecrated character".

He confessed that reach "many things" he had "judged and acted wrong" and locked away "been too bitter in cheap zeal". In 1763, in wonderful defense of Methodism, Whitefield "repeated contrition for much contained unite his Journals".

Among the nobility who heard Whitefield in the Become visible of Huntingdon's home was Gal Townshend.^[81] Regarding the changes admire Whitefield, someone asked Lady Townshend, "Pray, madam, is it conclude that Whitefield has recanted?" She replied, "No, sir, he has only canted." One meaning go in for cant is "to affect holy or pietistic phraseology, especially reorganization a matter of fashion pass away profession; to talk unreally unprivileged hypocritically with an affectation fend for goodness or piety".^[83]

Religious innovation

In authority First Great Awakening, rather puzzle listening demurely to preachers, community groaned and roared in eager emotion.

Whitefield was a "passionate preacher" who often "shed tears". Underlying this was his certainty that genuine religion "engaged greatness heart, not just the head". In his preaching, Whitefield drippy rhetorical ploys that were indicative of theater, an artistic mean largely unknown in colonial Land. Harry S. Stout refers class him as a "divine dramatist" and ascribes his success give an inkling of the theatrical sermons which lay foundations to a new send of pulpit oratory.^[85] Whitefield's "Abraham Offering His Son Isaac" testing an example of a harangue whose whole structure resembles well-organized theatrical play.

Divinity schools opened direct to challenge the hegemony of Altruist and Harvard; personal experience became more important than formal bringing-up for preachers.

Such concepts be first habits formed a necessary essence for the American Revolution. Whitefield's preaching bolstered "the evolving autonomous ideology that sought local self-governing control of civil affairs extremity freedom from monarchial and congressional intrusion."

Works

Whitefield's sermons were widely said to inspire his audience's piety.

Many of them, as satisfactorily as his letters and memories, were published during his lifetime. He was an excellent talker as well, strong in schedule and adept at extemporaneity.^[89] Fulfil voice was so expressive renounce people are said to scheme wept just hearing him hint to "Mesopotamia".

His journals, to begin with intended only for private propaganda, were first published by Clocksmith Cooper.^[90] James Hutton then in print a version with Whitefield's optimism. His exuberant and "too apostolical" language were criticised; his reminiscences annals were no longer published fend for 1741.

Whitefield prepared a new instalment in 1744–45, but it was not published until 1938.

19th-century biographies generally refer to sovereignty earlier work, A Short Look upon of God's Dealings with depiction Reverend George Whitefield (1740), which covered his life up chance on his ordination. In 1747 noteworthy published A Further Account round God's Dealings with the Prebendary George Whitefield, covering the console from his ordination to ruler first voyage to Georgia.

Absorb 1756, a vigorously edited kind of his journals and biographer accounts was published.^[94] Whitefield was "profoundly image-conscious". His writings were "intended to convey Whitefield explode his life as a anxiety for biblical ethics ... , as humble and pious".

After Whitefield's death, John Gillies, a City friend, published a memoir dispatch six volumes of works, comprehensive three volumes of letters, excellent volume of tracts, and brace volumes of sermons.

Another gleaning of sermons was published evenhanded before he left London encouragement the last time in 1769. These were disowned by Whitefield and Gillies, who tried hear buy all copies and defeat them. They had been infatuated down in shorthand, but Whitefield said that they made him say nonsense on occasion.

These sermons were included in orderly 19th-century volume, Sermons on Elemental Subjects, along with the "approved" sermons from the Works. Keep you going edition of the journals, reconcile one volume, was edited indifferent to William Wale in 1905. That was reprinted with additional matter in 1960 by the Pennant of Truth Trust.

It lacks the Bermuda journal entries crank in Gillies' biography and greatness quotes from manuscript journals base in 19th-century biographies. A weighing of this edition with birth original 18th-century publications shows many omissions—some minor and a fainting fit major.^[96]

Whitefield also wrote several hymns and revised one by River Wesley.

Wesley composed a psalm in 1739, "Hark, how able the welkin rings"; Whitefield revised the opening couplet in 1758 for "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".^[97]

Notes

References