"fifth day since I arrived at Rhode-Island, exceeding "weak in body. Yet God has enabled me to preach "an hundred and seventy-five times in public, beside "exhorting frequently in private. Never did God

vouchsafe me greater comforts: never did I per"form my journies with less fatigue, or see such a "continuance of the divine presence in the congre"gations to whom I preached.". In December he returned to Sanvannah, and in the March following arrived in England.

17. You may easily observe, that the preceding account is chiefly extracted from his own journals, which, for their artless and unaffected simplicity, may vie with any writings of the kind. And how exact a speci-, men is this of his labours both in Europe and America, for the honour of his beloved Master, during the thirty years that followed! As well as of the uninterrupted shower of blessings wherewith God was pleased to succeed his labours! Is it not much to be lamented, that any thing should have prevented his continuing this account, till at least near the time when he was called by his Lord to enjoy the fruit of his labour?—If he has left any papers of this kind, and his friends account me worthy of the honour, it would be my glory and joy to methodize, transcribe, and prepare them for the public view.

18. A particular account of the last scene of his life is thus given by a gentleman of Boston: "After being "about a month with us in Boston and it vicinity, and "preaching every day, he went to Old-York, preached

on Thursday, September 27, there: proceeded to Ports"mouth, and preached there on Friday. On Saturday "morning he set out for Boston: but before he came "to Newbury, where he had engaged to preach the "next morning, he was importuned to preach by the way. The house not being large enough to contain the

people, he preached in an open field. But having "been infirm for several weeks, this so exhausted his "strength, that when he came to Newbury, he could "not get out of the ferry-boat without the help of two men. In the evening, however, he recovered his spirits, and appeared with his usual chearfulness.

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"He went to his chamber at nine, his fixt time, which no company could divert him from: and slept "better than he had done for some weeks before. He

rose at four in the morning, September 30, and went "into his closet; and his companion observed he was "unusually long in private. He left his closet, re"turned to his companion, threw himself on the bed, "and lay about ten minutes. Then he fell upon his

knees, and prayed most fervently to God, "That if "it was consistent with his will he might that day "finish his Master's work." He then desired his man "to call Mr. Parsons, the clergyman, at whose house "he was: but in a minute, before Mr. Parsons could "reach, him he died, without a sigh or groan. On the "news of his death, six gentleman set out for Newbury " in order to bring his remains hither, but he could not be moved, so that his precious ashes must remain "at Newbury. Hundreds would have gone from this "town to attend his funeral, had they not expected "he would have been interred here.-May this stroke "be sanctified to the church of God in general, and to "this province in particular!"

II. 1. We are in the second place, to take some view of his character. A little sketch of this was, soon after published in the Boston Gazette: an extract of which is subjoined: "In his public labours he has for many

years astonished the world with his eloquence and "devotion. With what divine pathos did he persuade "the impenitent sinner to embrace the practice of "piety and virtue! He spoke from the heart, and with "a fervency of zeal, perhaps unequalled since the "days of the apostles. From the pulpit he was unri"valled in the command of an ever-crowded auditory. "Nor was he less agreeable and instructive in his private conversation: happy in a remarkable ease of ad"dress, willing to communicate, studious to edify. May the rising generation catch a spark of that flame "which shone with such distinguished lustre in the spirit and practice of this faithful servant of the most high God!"

2. A more

2. A more particular, and equally just character of him, has appeared in one of the English papers. It may not be disagreeable to you, to add the substance of this likewise: The character of this truly pious person, "must be imprest on the heart of every friend to vital religion. In spite of a tender constitution, he conti"nued, to the last day of his life, preaching with a έσ frequency and a fervor, that seemed to exceed the "natural strength of the most robust. Being called "to the exercise of his function at an age, when most young men are only beginning to qualify themselves for it, he had not time to make a very considerable progress in the learned languages. But this défect was amply supplied, by a lively and fertile genius, by fervent zeal, and by a forcible and most persua"sive delivery. And though in the pulpit he often found it needful, by the terrors of the Lord to persuade men, he had nothing gloomy in his nature, being siagularly chearful, as well as charitable and tender-hearted. He was as ready to relieve the bodily as the spiritual necessities of those that applied to him.

ought also to be observed, that he constantly en"forced upon his audience every moral duty, particu"larly industry in their several callings, and obedience

to their superiors. He endeavoured, by the most "extraordinary efforts, of preaching in different places, and even in the open fields, to rouse the lower class "of people, from the last degree of inattention and ignorance, to a sense of religion. For this, and his other labours, the name of George Whitefield, i will long be remembered with esteem and venera

i

"tion."

3. That both these accounts are just and impartial, will readily be allowed; that is, as far as they go. But they go little, farther than the outside of his character. They shew you the preacher, but not the man, the Chrisitan, the saint of God. May I be permitted to add a little on this head, from a personal knowledge of near forty years? Indeed, I am thoroughly sensible how difficult it is to speak on so delicate a subject; what prudence is required to avoid both extremes, to say neither too little, nor too much? Nay, I know it is impossible

impossible to speak to all, to say either less or more, without incurring from some the former, from others the latter censure. Some will seriously think, that too little is said; and others, that it is too much. But without attending to this, I will speak just what I know, before him to whom we are all to give an

account.

4. Mention has already been made of his unparalleled zeal, his indefatigable activity, his tender-heartedness to the afflicted, and charitableness toward the poor. But should we not likewise mention his deep gratitude, to all whom God had used as instruments of good to him? Of whom he did not cease to speak in the most respectful manner, even to his dying day. Should we not mention, that he had an heart susceptible of the most generous and the most tender friendship? I have frequently thought, that this, of all others, was the distinguishing part of his character. How few have we known of so kind a temper, of such large and flowing affections? Was it not principally by this, that the hearts of others were so strangely drawn and knit to him? Can any thing but love beget love? This shone in his very countenance, and continually breathed in all his words, whether in public or private. Was it not this, which, quick and penetrating as lightning, flew from heart to heart? Which gave that life to his sermons, his conversations, his letters? Ye are witnesses.

5. But away with the vile misconstruction of men of corrupt minds, who know of no love but what is earthly and sensual. Be it remembered, at the same time, that he was endued with the most nice and unblemished modesty. His office called him to converse very frequently and largely, with women as well as men; and those of every age and condition. But his whole behaviour toward them, was a practical.comment on that advice of St. Paul to Timothy, Intreat the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity.

6. Mean time, how suitable to the friendliness of his spirit, was the frankness and openness of his conversation? Although it was as far removed from rudeness on the one hand, as from guile and disguise on the No. XIII.

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other.

other. Was not this frankness at once a fruit and a proof of his courage and intrepidity? Armed with these, he feared not the faces of men, but used great plainness of speech to persons of every rank and condition, high and low, rich and poor: endeavouring only by manifestation of the truth, to commend himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

7. Neither was he afraid of labour or pain, any more than of what man could do unto him, being equally

"Patient in bearing ill and doing well."

And this appeared in the steddiness wherewith he pursued whatever he undertook for his Master's sake. Witness one instance for all, the Orphan-house in Georgia, which he began and perfected, in spite of all discouragements. Indeed, in whatever concerned himself, he was pliant and flexible. In this case he was easy to be intreated, easy to be either convinced or persuaded. But he was immoveable in the things of God, or wherever his conscience was concerned. None could persuade, any more than affright him, to vary in the least point from that integrity, which was inseparable from his whole character, and regulated all his words and actions. Herein he did

"Stand as an iron pillar strong,

“And stedfast as a wall of brafs.

8. If it be inquired, What was the foundation of this integrity, or of his sincerity, courage, patience, and every other valuable and amiable quality, it is easy to give the, answer. It was not the excellence of his natural temper not the strength of his understanding: it was not the force of education; nó, nor the advice of his friends. It was no other than faith in a bleeding Lord; Faith of the operation of God. It was a lively hope of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. It was the love of God shed abroad in bis heart by the Holy Ghost, which was given unto bim, filling his soul with tender disinterested love to every child of man. From this

source