Free Republic

George Whitefield had attended Oxford with John and Charles Wesley, who began the Methodist revival movement within the Anglican Church. In 1733, when he finally understood and believed the Gospel, George Whitefield exclaimed: "Joy-joy unspeakable-joy that's full of, big with glory!" Beginning in 1740, George Whitefield preached seven times in America. He spread the Great Awakening Revival, which helped unite the Colonies prior to the Revolutionary War. Whitefield 's preaching stirred crowds with enthusiasm, which was criticized by the formal, established churches of the day. When they closed their doors to him, Whitefield began preaching out-of-doors. Crowds grew so large...

300,000 miles on horseback -Francis Asbury, Circuit Riding Preacher "one of the builders of our nation" The King of England was the head of the Anglican Church from the time of Henry VIII. Beginning in 1535, all English subjects, including those in English colonies, were required to the Oath of Supremacy: "I (state your name) do utterly testify and declare in my Conscience, that the King's Highness is the only Supreme Governor of this Realm ... in all Spiritual or Eclesiastical things ... So help me God." For most of England's history from 1535 to 1829, not to take the...

In time for the three hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Whitefield (pronounced Whit-field), my co-blogger Thomas Kidd has just published a biography of the man he terms America’s Spiritual Founding Father. [Yale University Press identifies October 28 as the book's release date, but it is already shipping].portrait-of-george-whitefield.jpg!Blog Kidd’s George Whitefield is an eminently readable and informative book. It begins with a simple yet critical argument: “George Whitefield was the key figure in the first generation of Anglo-American evangelical Christianity.” Wesley started what became a major denomination. Edwards made far more serious and sustained theological contributions. Whitefield, though, tied...

The Potter and the Clay George Whitefield Jeremiah 18:1–6 — “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make [it]. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of...

"...(Y)ou may value yourselves as fine rational creatures, and that you are noble beings; and you were so, as you first came out of God's hands; but now you are fallen, there is nothing lovely, nothing desirable in man; his heart is a sink of pollution, full of sin and uncleanness: Yet, though a man's own heart is so desperately wicked, he is told by our modern polite preachers, that there is a fitness in men, and that God seeing you a good creature, gives you his grace; but this, though it is a modern, polite, and fashionable way of...

A Penitent Heart, the Best New Year's Gift  by George Whitefield (1714-1770)   Luke 13:3 - "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." When we consider how heinous and aggravating our offenses are, in the sight of a just and holy God, that they bring down his wrath upon our heads, and occasion us to live under his indignation; how ought we thereby to be deterred from evil, or at least engaged to study to repent thereof, and not commit the same again; but man is so thoughtless of an eternal state, and has so little consideration of the...

Whitefield's Letter to Wesley George Whitefield Bethesda in Georgia, Dec. 24, 1740 Reverend and very dear Brother, God only knows what unspeakable sorrow of heart I have felt on your account since I left England last. Whether it be my infirmity or not, I frankly confess, that Jonah could not go with more reluctance against Nineveh, than I now take pen in hand to write against you. Was nature to speak, I had rather die than do it; and yet if I am faithful to God, and to my own and others' souls, I must not stand neutral any longer....

The Observation of the Birth of Christ, the Duty of all Christians; or the True Way of Keeping Christmas  by George Whitefield (1714-1770) Matthew 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a Son, and then shalt call his Name Jesus: For he shall save his People from their Sins." The celebration of the birth of Christ hath been esteemed a duty by most who profess Christianity. When we consider the condescension and love of the Lord Jesus Christ, in submitting to be born of a virgin, a poor sinful creature; and especially as he knew how he was to be...

  CHAPTER XI. Two Sorts of Methodists. Whitefield's Calvinism.--Arminians.--" The Queen of the Methodists."-- Trevecca College.-- Lady Huntingdon's Connection.--Time Heals the Wounds.--Whitefield's Candle Burns to the Socket. WHILE John Wesley was organizing societies and building preaching houses in England, George Whitefield was ranging through the American colonies kindling the old churches into new zeal by his flaming eloquence. He returned to England in March, 1741, prepared to take issue with his former leader on the doctrine of election. His intercourse with the New England Calvinists had made him a militant opponent of the doctrine of universal redemption as taught by...

Letters to the Editor of The Lincoln County News in Damariscotta, Maine speak out in July 8th weekly edition on "anonymous[4th of July]parade float" depicting former President Reagan bobbing in and out of his coffin with a reference to his Alzheimer's disease, "Nancy who"? GOOD TASTE NOT CENSORSHIPTo the Editor: I attended the 4th of July parade in Rond Pond this year for the first time. Even though I don't agree with their politics, I found the anti-Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld floats quite amusing. But the float showing Ronald Reagan in a coffin with a headstone was in extremely poor taste. Also the...

The Countess of Huntingdons CHAPTER IX THE COUNTESS AND HER CONNEXION In the world of today we have become familiar with evangelistic enterprises which bear the name of their founder. A case in point is the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. There is precedent for this in the eighteenth century. Evangelical leaders tended to draw together those closely associated with them. Men such as John Wesley and Rowland Hill had linked with them a "Connexion" made up of men and women who had declared their willingness to support them in their work wholeheartedly and to take their directions from them. The...

I see many of you affected: but are your passions only a little wrought upon, or are your souls really touched with a lively sense of the heinousness of your sins, your want of faith, and the preciousness of the righteousness of Jesus Christ? If so, I hope the Lord has been gracious, and that the Comforter is coming into your hearts. Do not stifle these convictions! Do not go away, and straightway forget what manner of doctrine you have heard, and thereby show that these are only common workings of a few transient convictions, floating upon the surface of...

George Whitefield Sermon 49On Regeneration 2 Corinthians 5:17, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." That I may therefore contribute my mite towards curing the fatal mistake of such persons, who would thus put asunder what God has inseparably joined together, and vainly think they are justified by Christ, or have their sins forgiven, and his perfect obedience imputed to them, when they are not sanctified, have not their natures changed, and made holy, I shall beg leave to enlarge on the words of the text in the following manner:FIRST, I shall endeavor to explain...

Iain Murray on Whitefield and Wesley This article first appeared in the 1960 edition of Whitefield's Journals, published by The Banner of Truth Trust.[1] Here Iain Murray discusses the historical background that led to George Whitefield's famous letter to John Wesley. The occasion and background of [Whitefield's letter to Wesley] requires a few words of explanation. From the time of his conversion in 1735, Whitefield had been profoundly conscious of man's entire depravity, his need of the new birth, and the fact that God can save and God alone. Describing an experience which occurred a few weeks after his conversion,...

Walking with God Genesis 5:24 -- "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Various are the pleas and arguments which men of corrupt minds frequently urge against yielding obedience to the just and holy commands of God. But, perhaps, one of the most common objections that they make is this, that our Lord's commands are not practicable, because contrary to flesh and blood; and consequently, that he is 'an hard master, reaping where he has not sown, and gathering where he has not strewed'. These we find were the sentiments entertained by that wicked...

The Folly and Danger of Parting with Christ for the Pleasures and Profits of Life Matthew 8:23-34 -- quot;And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to [him], and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the...