Note 45 — WHITEFIELD ORDAINED.
Reading edition
This escaped prisoner is referred to in the following letter, written at the time to Wesley, in Georgia:—
"Rev. Sir,—At length, I have an opportunity of writing to my spiritual father in Christ. I must first acquaint you that I am not yet returned to Oxford. God hath opened to me a door into our Castle. The manner of it was a little surprising. A youth broke out of Oxford prison, under strong convictions of sin, and was apprehended here again. Mr. Broughton heard of it, and bid me visit him. I went, and so have continued reading to the prisoners ever since.
"God has been pleased, in some measure, to succeed my labours here; and I hope, in time, we shall have a set of altogether Christians. The Holy Spirit seems to be moving on the hearts of some young ladies. One I observed quickened in an instant, who immediately set out for Carmarthen, and, I believe, continues steadfast amidst a world of temptations. Here are others, also, that seem to have some pangs of the new birth. A young country lad came to me the other day, and brought me a peck of apples, seven miles, on his back, as a token of gratitude for benefits received, under God, by my hands. He has such a sense of the Divine Presence, that he walks, for the most part, with his hat off.
"The devil, I find, has a particular spite against weekly communion; yet I am in hopes we shall have the sacrament administered every Sunday at the cathedral. It would have been mentioned to the bishop before now, but Oxford friends advised to defer it till next summer.
"But now I have mentioned the bishop: alas! how should I tremble to tell you how I have been continually disturbed with thoughts that I, a worm, taken from a common public-house, should, ere I die, be one myself! If you remember, sir, in my greatest affliction last Lent, it was told me I should be a bishop, and therefore must be poor in spirit. That thought came home upon me with so much force, and so many circumstances have since occurred to favour the temptation, that I knew not what to do. I communicated it to Mr. Broughton, and, thanks be to God, it is somewhat abated. O heavenly Father! for Thy dear Son's sake, keep me from climbing. Let me hate preferment! For Thy infinite mercies' sake, let me love a low, contemptible life; and never think to compound matters between the happiness of this world and the next!
"My friends here are for drawing me into orders; but I trust God will still provide for me without it. I know I am not qualified, and, therefore, by the help of the Lord Jesus, I will not comply.
"I hope all our friends continue steadfast and zealous at Oxford. I have been with Madam Grenville" (query, Mary Granville, afterwards the celebrated Mrs. Delany), "who seems to be a Christian indeed. My love, rev. sir, to the young merchant, whose example I hope we shall all be enabled to follow, if God requires our assistance in Georgia. Mr. Charles and Mr. Ingham, I hope, will accept the same from my unworthy hands.
"Your very humble servant and son in Christ Jesus, "George Whitefield."*
* Methodist Magazine, 1798, p. 359.