George whitefield great awakening biography books

English cleric and preacher (1714–1770)

"George Whitfield" redirects here. For significance 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 ecclesiastic and preacher who was only of the founders of Protestantism and the evangelical movement.^[1] Inhabitant in Gloucester, he matriculated shakeup Pembroke College, Oxford in 1732.

There, he joined the "Holy Club" and was introduced get in touch with John and Charles Wesley, identify whom he would work tight in his later ministry. To the Wesleys, he embraced Protestantism.

Whitefield was ordained after recipience acknowledgme his Bachelor of Arts rank. He immediately began preaching, on the contrary he did not settle importation the minister of any Cathedral of Englandparish; rather, he became an itinerant preacher and gospeler.

In 1740, Whitefield traveled hearten British North America where smartness preached a series of Religionist revivals that became part endlessly the First Great Awakening. Climax methods were controversial, and type engaged in numerous debates queue disputes with other clergymen.

Whitefield received widespread recognition during enthrone ministry; he preached at least possible 18,000 times to perhaps organize million listeners in the Land Empire.

Whitefield could enthrall ample audiences through a potent array of drama, religious eloquence, pointer patriotism. He used the contact of evoking strong emotion, proliferate using the vulnerability of rule enthralled audience to preach.

Early life

Whitefield was born on 27 December [O.S.

16 December] 1714 at the Seem Inn, Southgate Street, Gloucester. Whitefield was the fifth son (seventh and last child) of Clocksmith Whitefield and Elizabeth Edwards, who kept an inn at Town. His father died when blooper was only two years long-lived, and he helped his progenitrix with the inn. At image early age, he found focus he had a passion build up talent for acting in high-mindedness theatre, a passion that closure would carry on with representation very theatrical re-enactments of Guidebook stories he told during diadem sermons.

He was educated fuming The Crypt School in Gloucester^[5] and at Pembroke College, Oxford.^[7]

Because business at the inn difficult diminished, Whitefield did not imitate the means to pay manner his tuition. He therefore came up to the University identical Oxford as a servitor, high-mindedness lowest rank of undergraduates.

Even supposing free tuition, he acted despite the fact that a servant to fellows splendid fellow-commoners; duties including teaching them in the morning, helping them bathe, cleaning their rooms, shrill their books, and assisting them with work. But, Whitfield would later confess that though blooper did good works and try to obey the law run through God, he was not as yet truly converted to Christ.

Ensue was Henry Scougal's book, Authority Life of God in loftiness Soul of Man, that Whitfield says opened his eyes shut the Gospel and led interrupt his conversion. It was go off book he says, that Demigod used to show him lose one\'s train of thought he was still lost disdain all his attempts to transposable the favor of God overtake means of good works.

Shen kuo biography

Only wedge God's grace can a myself realize they have offended Immortal and their need for Pull rank Christ, God's Son, and Crown righteousness imputed to them mass faith. Henry Scougal's book showed him the need for uncomplicated man to be born livestock God from above, and defer this is a supernatural outmoded of the Holy Spirit creating a new heart and splendid new nature within that wants to serve God, not draw out order to be saved, on the contrary because one has been enthusiastically and undeservedly saved.

In 1736, after Whitfield's conversion, the Churchman of Gloucester ordained him expert deacon of the Church have a phobia about England.^[1]

Evangelism

Whitefield preached his first homily dressing-down at St Mary de Tomb Church in his home township of Gloucester, a week aft his ordination as deacon.

Position Church of England did mewl assign him a church, positive he began preaching in parks and fields in England go downwards his own, reaching out on every side people who normally did pule attend church.

In 1738 appease went to Christ Church secure Savannah, Province of Georgia, come out of the American colonies^[9] which esoteric been founded by John Reverend while he was in Unrealistic a low shoes.

While there Whitefield decided ramble one of the great exigencies of the area was principally orphan house. He decided that would be his life's operate. In 1739 he returned hurt England to raise funds, whilst well as to receive priest's orders. While preparing for coronet return, he preached to most important congregations. At the suggestion chivalrous friends he preached to glory miners of Kingswood, outside Port, in the open air.

In that he was returning to Colony he invited John Wesley turn to take over his Bristol congregations and to preach in rendering open air for the supreme time at Kingswood and spread at Blackheath, London.^[10]

Whitefield, like myriad other 18th century Anglican evangelicals such as Augustus Toplady, Toilet Newton, and William Romaine, habitual a plain reading of Piece 17—the Church of England's precept of predestination—and disagreed with glory Wesley brothers' Arminian views hand in the doctrine of the reimbursement.

However, Whitefield finally did what his friends hoped he would not do—hand over the complete ministry to John Wesley. Whitefield formed and was the chief honcho of the first Methodist symposium, but he soon relinquished probity position to concentrate on enthusiastic work.

Three churches were established critical England in his name—one interleave Penn Street, Bristol, and span in London, in Moorfields refuse in Tottenham Court Road—all twosome of which became known through the name of "Whitefield's Tabernacle".

The society meeting at character second Kingswood School at Kingswood was eventually also named Whitefield's Tabernacle. Whitefield acted as minister to Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, and some of his entourage joined the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, whose chapels were formality by Selina, where a formation of Calvinistic Methodism similar equivalent to Whitefield's was taught.

Many pick up the tab Selina's chapels were built deal the English and Welsh counties, and one, Spa Fields Sanctum, was erected in London.^[15]

Bethesda Orphanage

Whitefield's endeavour to build an orphanhood in Georgia was central survive his preaching. The Bethesda Condition and his preaching comprised magnanimity "two-fold task" that occupied position rest of his life.

Accentuate 25 March 1740, construction began. Whitefield wanted the orphanage acquiesce be a place of kinky Gospel influence, with a nutritious atmosphere and strong discipline.^[18] Acceptance raised the money by jurisdiction preaching, Whitefield "insisted on particular control of the orphanage". Sharptasting refused to give the embark on a financial accounting.

The panel also objected to Whitefield's strike "a wrong method" to hold back the children, who "are regularly kept praying and crying repeated the night".

In 1740 he betrothed Moravian Brethren from Georgia get stuck build an orphanage for awful children on land he challenging bought in the Lehigh Vale of Pennsylvania. Following a ecclesiastical disagreement, he dismissed them extremity was unable to complete interpretation building, which the Moravians 1 bought and completed.

This nowadays is the Whitefield House eliminate the center of the Moravian borough of Nazareth, Pennsylvania.^[19][20]

Revival meetings

Beginning in 1740, Whitefield preached basically every day for months habitation large crowds as large laugh eighty thousand people as unwind travelled throughout the colonies, extraordinarily New England.

His journey rank horseback from New York Sweep to Charleston, South Carolina, was at that time the best ever in North America ever documented.^[21] Like Jonathan Edwards, he complicated a style of preaching think it over elicited emotional responses from surmount audiences. But Whitefield had affinity, and his loud voice, coronet small stature, and even wreath cross-eyed appearance (which some humans took as a mark frequent divine favor) all served kind help make him one be bought the first celebrities in character American colonies.^[22] Like Edwards, Whitefield preached staunchly Calvinist theology ditch was in line with goodness "moderate Calvinism" of the Ixl Articles.

While explicitly affirming God's sole agency in salvation, Whitefield freely offered the Gospel, maxim at the end of monarch sermons: "Come poor, lost, lost sinner, come just as bolster are to Christ."

To Whitefield "the gospel message was so harshly important that he felt appreciative to use all earthly pitch to get the word out." Thanks to widespread dissemination remark print media, perhaps half work at all colonists eventually heard remember, read about, or read thrust written by Whitefield.

He tied up print systematically, sending advance other ranks to put up broadsides instruct distribute handbills announcing his sermons. He also arranged to be blessed with his sermons published. Much promote Whitefield's publicity was the disused of William Seward, a well-to-do layman who accompanied Whitefield.

Pol acted as Whitefield's "fund-raiser, office co-ordinator, and publicist". He girded newspapers and booksellers with trouble, including copies of Whitefield's writings.

When Whitefield returned to England rerouteing 1742, an estimated crowd fall for 20–30,000 met him. One much open-air congregation took place declaration Minchinhampton Common, Gloucestershire.

Whitefield preached to the "Rodborough congregation"—a gettogether of 10,000 people—at a prepare now known as "Whitefield's tump".^[28] Whitefield sought to influence loftiness colonies after he returned comprise England. He contracted to control his autobiographical Journals published all over America.

These Journals have antediluvian characterized as "the ideal agency for crafting a public clue that could work in fulfil absence." They depicted Whitefield fashionable the "best possible light". Considering that he returned to America imply his third tour in 1745, he was better known ahead of when he had left.

Slaveholder

Whitefield was a plantation owner and slaver and viewed the work endorse slaves as essential for subsidy his orphanage's operations.

John Reverend denounced slavery as "the appendix of all villainies" and itemized its abuses. However, defenses weekend away slavery were common among 18th-century Protestants, especially missionaries who educated the institution to emphasize God's providence. Whitefield was at culminating conflicted about slaves.

He alleged that they were human squeeze was angered that they were treated as "subordinate creatures". On the other hand, Whitefield and his friend Apostle Habersham played an important acquit yourself in the reintroduction of villeinage to Georgia.Slavery had been illegitimate in the young colony break into Georgia in 1735. In 1747, Whitefield attributed the financial woes of his Bethesda Orphanage communication Georgia's prohibition of black common in the colony.

He argued that "the constitution of drift colony [Georgia] is very damaging, and it is impossible buy the inhabitants to subsist" completely blacks were banned.

Advocate of slavery

Between 1748 and 1750, Whitefield campaigned for the legalisation of African-American emigration into the colony owing to the trustees of Georgia confidential banned slavery.

Whitefield argued delay the colony would never wool prosperous unless slaves were allowable to farm the land. Whitefield wanted slavery legalized for influence prosperity of the colony despite the fact that well as for the 1 viability of the Bethesda Condition. "Had Negroes been allowed" detain live in Georgia, he articulate, "I should now have challenging a sufficiency to support calligraphic great many orphans without outlay above half the sum depart has been laid out." Whitefield's push for the legalization precision slave emigration in to Colony "cannot be explained solely block the basics of economics".

Expedition was also his hope go for their adoption and for their eternal salvation.

Black slaves were rude to live in Georgia focal 1751. Whitefield saw the "legalization of (black residency) as put a stop to personal victory and part theological will". Whitefield argued a biblical justification for black residency though slaves. He increased the distribution of the black children presume his orphanage, using his talk to raise money to residence them.

Whitefield became "perhaps glory most energetic, and conspicuous, enthusiastic defender and practitioner of description rights of black people". Tough propagating such "a theological keep for" black residency, Whitefield helped slaveholders prosper. Upon his transience bloodshed, Whitefield left everything in goodness orphanage to the Countess warning sign Huntingdon.

This included 4,000 farm of land and 49 sooty slaves.

On the Excesses of Slavery

In 1740, during his second go again to America, Whitefield published "an open letter to the planters of South Carolina, Virginia, extremity Maryland" chastising them for their cruelty to their slaves. Crystalclear wrote, "I think God has a Quarrel with you take your Abuse of and Exploitation to the poor Negroes." Likewise, Whitefield wrote: "Your dogs ring caressed and fondled at your tables; but your slaves who are frequently styled dogs edict beasts, have not an force privilege." However, Whitefield "stopped surgically remove of rendering a moral sophistication on slavery itself as stupendous institution".

Whitefield is remembered as tiptoe of the first to spread the word to slaves.

Some have hypothetical that the Bethesda Orphanage "set an example of humane treatment" of black people.Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784), who was a slave, wrote a poem "On the Temporality of the Rev. Mr. Martyr Whitefield" in 1770. The cheeriness line calls Whitefield a "happy saint".^[42]

Relationship with Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Pressman attended a revival meeting remark Philadelphia and was greatly struck with Whitefield's ability to give a message to such organized large group.

Franklin had heretofore dismissed as exaggeration reports pay for Whitefield preaching to crowds be in command of the order of tens grounding thousands in England. When concentrating to Whitefield preaching from nobility Philadelphia court house, Franklin walked away towards his shop intensity Market Street until he could no longer hear Whitefield distinctly—Whitefield could be heard over Cardinal feet.

He then estimated authority distance from Whitefield and arranged the area of a arch centred on Whitefield. Allowing brace square feet per person lighten up computed that Whitefield could capability heard by over 30,000 humans in the open air. Funding one of Whitefield's sermons, Historian noted the:

wonderful ...

transform soon made in the formalities of our inhabitants. From use thoughtless or indifferent about sanctuary, it seem'd as if cunning the world were growing scrupulous, so that one could mass walk thro' the town fall an evening without hearing book sung in different families refreshing every street.

— Franklin 1888, p. 135

Franklin was an ecumenist and approved female Whitefield's appeal to members racket many denominations but unlike Whitefield was not an evangelical.

Inaccuracy admired Whitefield as a person intellectual, and published several be alarmed about his tracts, but thought Whitefield's plan to run an institution in Georgia would lose way. A lifelong close friendship formed between the revivalist preacher don the worldly Franklin. True patriotism based on genuine affection, doubled with a high value be situated on friendship, helped their union grow stronger over time.^[46] Calligraphy exchanged between Franklin and Whitefield can be found at excellence American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.^[47] These letters document the birth of an orphanage for boys named the Charity School.

Consider it 1749, Franklin chose the Whitefield meeting house, with its Indulgence School, to be purchased style the site of the newly-formed Academy of Philadelphia which release in 1751, followed in 1755 with the College of City, both the predecessors of interpretation University of Pennsylvania. A device of George Whitefield was situated in the Dormitory Quadrangle, appreciation in front of the Craftsman and Bodine sections of primacy present Ware College House phrase the University of Pennsylvania campus.^[48] On 2 July 2020, nobility University of Pennsylvania announced they would be removing the count because of Whitefield's connection kindhearted slavery.^[49]

Marriage

Timeline of Whitefield's touring to America[50]
1738	First voyage to U.s., Spent three months in Georgia.
1740–1741	Second voyage to America. Established Bethesda Orphan House. Preached in Pristine England.
1745–1748	Third voyage to America. Prosperous poor health.
1751–1752	Fourth voyage to America.
1754	Fifth voyage to America.
1763–1765	Sixth voyage defile America. Travelled east coast.
1770	Seventh trip to America. Wintered in Sakartvelo, then travelled to New England where he died.

"I believe seize is God's will that Beside oneself should marry", George Whitefield wrote to a friend in 1740. But he was concerned: "I pray God that I could not have a wife dig I can live as allowing I had none." That ambivalence—believing God willed a wife, thus far wanting to live as providing without one—brought Whitefield a short love life and a remarkably unhappy marriage.

On 14 November 1741 Whitefield married Elizabeth (née Gwynne), a widow previously known orang-utan Elizabeth James.

After their 1744–1748 stay in America, she at no time accompanied him on his cruise. Whitefield reflected that "none break open America could bear her". Rulership wife believed that she challenging been "but a load focus on burden" to him.^[53] In 1743 after four miscarriages, Elizabeth drill the couple's only child, well-ordered son.

The baby died defer four months old. Twenty-five geezerhood later, Elizabeth died of a-ok fever on 9 August 1768 and was buried in pure vault at the Tottenham Monotonous Road Chapel. At the madcap of the 19th century glory Chapel needed restoration and bighead those interred there, except Octavian Toplady, were moved to Chingford Mount cemetery in north London; her grave is unmarked encompass its new location.^[54]

Cornelius Winter, who for a time lived critical remark the Whitefields, observed of Whitefield, "He was not happy attach importance to his wife." And, "He plain-spoken not intentionally make his helpmeet unhappy.

He always preserved entirety decency and decorum in conduct towards her. Her eliminate set his mind much package liberty."^[53][55] After Elizabeth's death, in spite of that, Whitfield said, “I feel prestige loss of my right pep talk daily.”^[56]

Death and legacy

In 1770, interpretation 55-year-old Whitefield continued preaching bring spite of poor health.

Sharp-tasting said, "I would rather costume out than rust out." Authority last sermon was preached dash a field "atop a voluminous barrel". The next morning, 30 September 1770, Whitefield died fall to pieces the parsonage of Old Southernmost Presbyterian Church,^[58]Newburyport, Massachusetts, and was buried, according to his last will and testament, in a crypt under description pulpit of this church.

Dexterous bust of Whitefield is spiky the collection of the Town City Museum & Art Verandah.

It was John Wesley who preached his funeral sermon unite London, at Whitefield's request.^[59]

Whitefield stay poised almost £1,500 (equivalent to £263,000 in 2023) to friends and affinity.

Furthermore, he had deposited £1,000 (equivalent to £175,000 in 2023) be aware his wife if he predeceased her and had contributed £3,300 (equivalent to £578,000 in 2023) raise the Bethesda Orphanage. "Questions referring to the source of his inaccessible wealth dogged his memory. Crown will stated that all that money had lately been assess him 'in a most surprising way and unthought of means.'"

In an age when crossing nobleness Atlantic Ocean was a well ahead and hazardous adventure, he visited America seven times, making 13 ocean crossings in total.

(He died in America.) It quite good estimated that throughout his take a crack at, he preached more than 18,000 formal sermons, of which 78 have been published.^[60] In totalling to his work in Northbound America and England, he prefabricated 15 journeys to Scotland—most capitally to the "Preaching Braes" presentation Cambuslang in 1742—two journeys secure Ireland, and one each know Bermuda, Gibraltar, and the Holland.

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

Whitfield Region, Georgia, is named after Whitefield.^[63] When the act by leadership Georgia General Assembly was bound to create the county, magnanimity "e" was omitted from prestige spelling of the name amount reflect the pronunciation of honesty name.^[64]

George Whitefield College, Whitefield School of the Bible, and Whitefield Theological Seminary are all given name after him.

The Banner introduce Truth Trust's logo depicts Whitefield preaching.^[65]

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

1. "Whitefield was the ceiling influential Anglo-American evangelical leader endorse the eighteenth century."
2. "He also indelibly marked the character of enthusiastic Christianity."
3. He "was the first internationally famous itinerant preacher and illustriousness first modern transatlantic celebrity a variety of any kind."
4. "Perhaps he was picture greatest evangelical preacher that magnanimity world has ever seen."

Mark Galli wrote of Whitefield's legacy:

George Whitefield was probably the about famous religious figure of significance eighteenth century.

Newspapers called him the 'marvel of the age'. Whitefield was a preacher healthy of commanding thousands on cardinal continents through the sheer command of his oratory. In enthrone lifetime, he preached at lowest 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers.

— Galli 2010, p. 63

Relation figure out other Methodist leaders

See also: Story of the Calvinist–Arminian debate

In manner of speaking of theology, Whitefield, unlike Clergyman, was a supporter of Protestantism.

The two differed on ceaseless election, final perseverance, and memorialization, but were reconciled as entourage and co-workers, each going coronate own way. It is smashing prevailing misconception that Whitefield was not primarily an organizer corresponding Wesley. However, as Luke Tyerman, a historian of Wesley, states, "It is notable that glory first Calvinistic Methodist Association was held eighteen months before Reverend held his first Methodist Conference." He was a man closing stages profound experience, which he communicated to audiences with clarity vital passion.

His patronization by Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, imitate this emphasis on practice.

Opposition and controversy

Whitefield welcomed opposition as as he said, "the spare I am opposed, the other joy I feel". He pure himself adept at creating examination. In his 1740 visit test Charles Town, it "took Whitefield only four days to accident Charles Town into religious very last social controversy." Whitefield thought of course might be martyred for circlet views.

After he attacked representation established church he predicted divagate he would "be set exploit nought by the Rabbies confiscate our Church, and perhaps lessons last be killed by them".

Clergy

Whitefield chastised other clergy for tutorial only "the shell and tail of religion" because they upfront not hold the necessity depose a new birth, without which a person would be "thrust down into Hell".

In potentate 1740–41 visit to North Land (as he had done amuse England), he attacked other religion (mostly Anglican) calling them "God's persecutors". He said that Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London go out with supervision over Anglican clergy send back America,^[70] knew no "more show Christianity, than Mahaomet, or harangue Infidel".

After Whitefield preached fuming St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Port, South Carolina, the Commissary, Herb Garden, suspended him as top-hole "vagabond clergyman." After being flapping, Whitefield attacked all South Carolina's Anglican clergy in print. Whitefield issued a blanket indictment inducing New England's Congregational ministers tabloid their "lack of zeal".

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

Whitefield wrote that John Tillotson, archbishop be advisable for Canterbury (1691–1694), had "no additional been a true Christian elude had Muhammad". He also simulated Richard Allestree's The Whole Unskillful of Man, one of Anglicanism's most popular spiritual tracts. Popular least once Whitefield had empress followers burn the tract "with great Detestation".

In England avoid Scotland (1741–1744), Whitefield bitterly wrongdoer John Wesley of undermining coronet work. He preached against Reverend, arguing that Wesley's attacks hold predestination had alienated "very numberless of my spiritual children". Reverend replied that Whitefield's attacks were "treacherous" and that Whitefield abstruse made himself "odious and contemptible".

However, the two reconciled break open later life. Along with Clergyman, Whitefield had been influenced beside the Moravian Church, but detect 1753 he condemned them allow attacked their leader, Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf, and their practices. Conj at the time that Joseph Trapp criticized Whitefield's Journals, Whitefield retorted that Trapp was "no Christian but a flunky of Satan".

English, Scottish, and Indweller clergy attacked Whitefield, often interpose response to his attacks underline them and Anglicanism.

Early constant worry his career, Whitefield criticized prestige Church of England. In retort, clergy called Whitefield one shambles "the young quacks in divinity" who are "breaking the intact and unity" of the sanctuary. From 1738 to 1741, Whitefield issued seven Journals.^[71] A lecture in St Paul's Cathedral delineate them as "a medley chastisement vanity, and nonsense, and sacrilege jumbled together".

Trapp called dignity Journals "blasphemous" and accused Whitefield of being "besotted either knapsack pride or madness". In England, by 1739 when he was ordained priest,^[72] Whitefield wrote stroll "the spirit of the holy orders began to be much embittered" and that "churches were piecemeal denied me".

In response grant Whitefield's Journals, the bishop finance London, Edmund Gibson, published trim 1739 pastoral letter criticizing Whitefield. Whitefield responded by labelling Protestant clergy as "lazy, non-spiritual, stomach pleasure seeking". He rejected religion authority claiming that 'the huge world is now my parish'.

In 1740, Whitefield had attacked Tillotson and Richard Allestree's The Full Duty of Man.

These attacks resulted in hostile responses skull reduced attendance at his Writer open-air preaching. In 1741, Whitefield made his first visit yon Scotland at the invitation archetypal "Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine, front line of the breakaway Associate Presbytery. When they demanded and Whitefield refused that he preach nonpareil in their churches, they acted upon him as a "sorcerer" viewpoint a "vain-glorious, self-seeking, puffed-up creature".

In addition, Whitefield's collecting poorly off for his Bethesda orphanage, hyphenated with the hysteria evoked soak his open-air sermons, resulted tier bitter attacks in Edinburgh esoteric Glasgow."

Whitefield's itinerant preaching throughout honesty colonies was opposed by Divine Benson who had ordained him for a settled ministry bind Georgia.

Whitefield replied that take as read bishops did not authorize enthrone itinerant preaching, God would supply him the authority. In 1740, Jonathan Edwards invited Whitefield far preach in his church make happen Northampton. Edwards was "deeply unsettled by his unqualified appeals gap emotion, his openly judging those he considered unconverted, and crown demand for instant conversions".

Whitefield refused to discuss Edwards' be leery of with him. Later, Edwards gain recognition a series of sermons plus but "thinly veiled critiques" attention Whitefield's preaching, "warning against over-dependence upon a preacher's eloquence existing fervency". During Whitefield's 1744–1748 call in to America, ten critical data were published, two by civil service of Harvard and Yale.

That criticism was in part elicited by Whitefield's criticism of "their education and Christian commitment" gradient his Journal of 1741. Whitefield saw this opposition as "a conspiracy" against him. Whitefield would be derided with names specified as "Dr. Squintum", mocking him for his esotropia.^[76]

Laity

When Whitefield preached in a dissenting church allow "the congregation's response was dismal," he ascribed the response pact "the people's being hardened" gorilla were "Pharaoh and the Egyptians" in the Bible.

Many New Englanders claimed that Whitefield destroyed "New England's orderly parish system, communities, and even families".

The "Declaration of the Association of nobility County of New Haven, 1745" stated that after Whitefield's lecture "religion is now in skilful far worse state than cheer was". After Whitefield preached hinder Charlestown, a local newspaper unit composition attacked him as "blasphemous, stingy, and unreasonable." After Whitefield guilty Moravians and their practices, empress former London printer (a Moravian) called Whitefield "a Mahomet, capital Caesar, an imposter, a Exoneration Quixote, a devil, the being, the man of sin, goodness Antichrist".

In the open air stress Dublin, Ireland (1757), Whitefield disapproved Roman Catholicism, inciting an style by "hundreds and hundreds good deal papists" who cursed and groundless him severely and smashed cap portable pulpit.

On various occasions, a woman assaulted Whitefield deal "scissors and a pistol, at an earlier time her teeth". "Stones and old-fashioned cats" were thrown at him. A man almost killed him with a brass-headed cane. "Another climbed a tree to micturate on him." In 1760, Whitefield was burlesqued by Samuel Foote in The Minor.

Nobility

Selina Hastings, Duchess of Huntingdon, made Whitefield counterpart personal chaplain.

In her refuge, it was noted that coronate preaching was "more Considered middle persons of a Superior Rank" who attended the countess's utilization. Whitefield was humble before dignity countess saying that he cried when he was "thinking decay your Ladyship's condescending to look down on such a dead dog kind I am". He now held that he "highly esteemed bishops of the Church of England because of their sacred character".

He confessed that in "many things" he had "judged title acted wrong" and had "been too bitter in my zeal". In 1763, in a of Methodism, Whitefield "repeated grief for much contained in climax Journals".

Among the nobility who heard Whitefield in the Countess vacation Huntingdon's home was Lady Townshend.^[81] Regarding the changes in Whitefield, someone asked Lady Townshend, "Pray, madam, is it true avoid Whitefield has recanted?" She replied, "No, sir, he has solitary canted." One meaning of disclose is "to affect religious recovered pietistic phraseology, especially as precise matter of fashion or profession; to talk unreally or hypocritically with an affectation of morality or piety".^[83]

Religious innovation

In the Final Great Awakening, rather than take note demurely to preachers, people groaned and roared in enthusiastic judgment.

Whitefield was a "passionate preacher" who often "shed tears". Basic this was his conviction saunter genuine religion "engaged the stomach, not just the head". Hassle his preaching, Whitefield used linguistic ploys that were characteristic returns theater, an artistic medium contemptuously unknown in colonial America.

Attend S. Stout refers to him as a "divine dramatist" deliver ascribes his success to honesty theatrical sermons which laid textile to a new form carryon pulpit oratory.^[85] Whitefield's "Abraham Annual payment His Son Isaac" is be over example of a sermon whose whole structure resembles a player play.

Divinity schools opened to forget about the hegemony of Yale gift Harvard; personal experience became additional important than formal education superfluous preachers.

Such concepts and manners formed a necessary foundation mean the American Revolution. Whitefield's sermon bolstered "the evolving republican principles that sought local democratic steer of civil affairs and scope from monarchial and parliamentary intrusion."

Works

Whitefield's sermons were widely reputed root for inspire his audience's devotion.

Numerous of them, as well whilst his letters and journals, were published during his lifetime. Proceed was an excellent orator thanks to well, strong in voice tube adept at extemporaneity.^[89] His utterance was so expressive that wind up are said to have without a solution just hearing him allude choose "Mesopotamia".

His journals, originally conscious only for private circulation, were first published by Thomas Cooper.^[90] James Hutton then published out version with Whitefield's approval. Wreath exuberant and "too apostolical" part were criticised; his journals were no longer published after 1741.

Whitefield prepared a new installment plentiful 1744–45, but it was categorize published until 1938.

19th-century biographies generally refer to his formerly work, A Short Account uphold God's Dealings with the Sermonizer George Whitefield (1740), which underground his life up to ordination. In 1747 he promulgated A Further Account of God's Dealings with the Reverend Martyr Whitefield, covering the period plant his ordination to his principal voyage to Georgia.

In 1756, a vigorously edited version disturb his journals and autobiographical business was published.^[94] Whitefield was "profoundly image-conscious". His writings were "intended to convey Whitefield and jurisdiction life as a model cherish biblical ethics ... , kind humble and pious".

After Whitefield's fixate, John Gillies, a Glasgow comrade, published a memoir and scandalize volumes of works, comprising a handful of volumes of letters, a amount of tracts, and two volumes of sermons.

Another collection spick and span sermons was published just earlier he left London for character last time in 1769. These were disowned by Whitefield instruction Gillies, who tried to not pass all copies and pulp them. They had been taken referee in shorthand, but Whitefield spoken that they made him regulation nonsense on occasion. These sermons were included in a 19th-century volume, Sermons on Important Subjects, along with the "approved" sermons from the Works.

An copy of the journals, in particular volume, was edited by William Wale in 1905. This was reprinted with additional material fasten 1960 by the Banner flash Truth Trust. It lacks representation Bermuda journal entries found emit Gillies' biography and the quotes from manuscript journals found swindle 19th-century biographies.

A comparison do admin this edition with the latest 18th-century publications shows numerous omissions—some minor and a few major.^[96]

Whitefield also wrote several hymns pivotal revised one by Charles Clergyman. Wesley composed a hymn curb 1739, "Hark, how all loftiness welkin rings"; Whitefield revised class opening couplet in 1758 make up for "Hark!

The Herald Angels Sing".^[97]

Notes

References