powerful and overwhelming. Multitudes, who had never before heard the sound of the gospel, now inquired "what must we do to be saved?"

Consigning this opening work to the care of Mr. Wesley, Mr. Whitefield visited various parts of the country, uniformly keeping in view the interests of the Orphanhouse. In some few places he had access to the churches, but nearly all were eventually closed; and when this was the case, he took his stand in bowling-greens, at market-crosses, and in high ways, or fields, to deliver to the assembled thousands, the truths of the everlasting gospel. At the close of this excursion, he attempted to preach in the church at Islington, having obtained liberty of Mr. Stonehouse the incumbent, but in the midst of the prayers the churchwardens forbidding him, he waited till the service was concluded, and preached in the church-yard.

Every church being now closed, he resolved on the following Sunday to attempt preaching in Moorfields. His intentions having been made public, an incredible number assembled, from whose appearance much danger was to be apprehended; and not a few of Mr. Whitefield's friends feared that he would never be permitted to leave the place alive. At the time appointed, accompanied by two friends, he reached this formidable body in a coach; on leaving which, they pressed towards the centre, but were soon separated by the throng. Mr. Whitefield, however, urged his way among them, and reached the fragments of a table, that had been placed there for his reception, but which the mob had broken to pieces. He then retired to a wall, and preached without any molestation, to a multitude of which we will not attempt to estimate the amount. From Moorfields he repaired on the evening of the same day, to Kennington common; and preached to an amazing assembly, whose behaviour would not have dishonoured any church in the metropolis.

Having collected in the open air about one thousand pounds for the Orphan-house, from congregations, which, on a moderate computation, amounted on the average to about twenty thousand; assembled chiefly on Black-heath, Kennington-common, and in Moorfields; Mr. Whitefield embarked a second time for America, on the 14th of August 1739, and after a passage of nine weeks landed at Philadelphia. In this city the churches were open for his reception, and all were thronged with attentive hearers, among whom very many were evidently serious. Several other places were visited in the surrounding country during his stay; and it was evident that God every where owned and blessed his labour.

In the meanwhile, the goods which had been purchased for the American market, with the money collected for the Orphan-house, sold well, and considerably augmented the funds. With this sum, and additional collections made during his journeyings in America, he repaired to Georgia, and having completed his arrangements, laid the foundation of the Orphan-house on the 25th of March 1740. At this time he had nearly forty orphans under his care, for whom a temporary habitation had been procured.. These, together with the workmen, amounted to nearly one hundred, for whose sustenance he had daily to provide, with no other resources than those of public charity.

Every thing being in order at Georgia, Mr. Whitefield again visited Pennsylvania, but found, on his arrival at Philadelphia, that the doors of the churches were now shut against him.. Large congregations however assembled in the open air, to whom he preached, and from their benevolence, in a short period, he collected in money and provisions upwards of five hundred pounds sterling, with which amount he returned to his orphan family in Georgia.

His case and design being made known, assistance was rendered him from various quarters, and the building went forward without interruption. The most unremitting exertions, however, were necessary to keep alive that general interest, which had been awakened; and to do this, he continued to preach and travel until exhausted nature partially sunk under the incessant toil. During these journeyings, in seventyfive days, he preached one hundred and seventy-five times in public, besides giving private exhortations; travelled upwards of eight hundred miles; and in goods, provisions, and money collected for his orphan establishment, upwards of seven hundred pounds sterling. Having made this provision for his intended absence, on the 3d of January 1741, he embarked for England, and landing at Falmouth on the 11th of March, preached at Kennington common on the Sunday following..

On arriving in England, he found the aspect of things considerably changed. Some of his writings published in America had given offence, the extreme of Calvinistic principles, which he had now embraced, his most steady friends hesitated to receive, and his popularity seemed to have found a grave. This ebb was, however, of no long continuance. A few friends agreed to erect a shed to shield the congregation that might attend, from the inclemency of the weather. This they called a Tabernacle; and a strong and permanent building, is now become the successor of that temporary shelter near City-road, and still retains its original name The Tabernacle.

In several parts of England new and unexpected doors were opened, and on his visiting Scotland, a considerable sensation was created throughout the towns and cities into which he entered. His reception was rather of a chequered character among the leading officers of the church, but their pulpits were open to him, though the buildings would not contain the congregations. During this tour he collected above five hundred pounds in money and goods, and proceeded through Wales in his way to London.

Arriving at Abergavenny in October 1741, Mr. Whitefield entered into the marriage state with a Mrs. James, a widow lady, between thirty and forty years of age, "who," he observes in one of his letters, "has been a housekeeper many years; once gay, but for three years last past, a despised follower of the Lamb of God."

After visiting many places, towns, and cities during his journey from Wales to England, Mr. Whitefield reached the metropolis in February 1742, and resolved to venture among the mountebanks, players, and puppet-show men who infested Moorfields. Accordingly on Whit Monday, accompanied by many pious persons, he began in the morning at six, and collected round him some thousands that were waiting there for their usual diversion. Encouraged by their peaceable behaviour, he ventured again at noon, and soon drew from the merry-andrews and mountebanks, all their congregations. Several attempts were made to drive him from the field, but all proved abortive, and God seemed to honour this bold endeavour with unexampled

success.

The accounts received from Georgia on Mr. Whitefield's arrival at London, were rather of a discouraging nature, but his letters from Scotland respecting his late vis!t, induced him to go thither again. He accordingly embarked a second time, and reached Leith early in June 1742. In passing through this portion of the British empire, he found that a great revival of religion had taken place, and many were ready to ascribe it to his instrumentality. Here he continued to preach and make collections for his orphan establishment until the end of October, when he again returned to London.

During his absence, a powerful awakening had taken place at the Tabernacle, and the congregations had become exceedingly large. On visiting the country, a great out-pouring of the Spirit was also felt, and his congregations were every where overwhelming. Persecution had however reared its head; but some of the ringleaders being prosecuted to conviction, peace was restored. At Plymouth on one occasion his life was endangered, by a brutal officer, who found his way into his bedroom, and beat him most unmercifully.

Having made preparations for his departure for America, he embarked in the beginning of August 1744, and, after a tedious voyage of eleven weeks, landed at York in New England, in a very weak and emaciated condition. The flourishing state of religion was however a cordial to his spirit, and this in some measure `compensated for his bodily weakness. His illness continuing, he was advised to visit the Bermudas, to which place he repaired when unable any longer to bear the fatigues of preaching.

On reaching the Somer's Islands, his health being somewhat better, he preached for about a month twice every day, and much success attended his ministry. His Journal during his stay in these islands is remarkably interesting, but we cannot enter into its particulars.

Having transmitted to Georgia what had been given him for the Orphan-house, he once more embarked for England, and arrived at Deal in twenty-eight days. The next day he reached London, after an absence of about four years. The countess of Huntingdon, hearing of his arrival, invited him to her house, and at her request he preached before many of the nobility, among whom were the Earl of Chesterfield and Lord Bolingbroke, who expressed themselves highly gratified with what they had heard.

In September 1718, he again visited Scotland, with his usual success. On returning to England, he laid before the trustees of the colony in Georgia, a plan for making the Orphan-house also a seminary of learning. This plan was afterwards carried into execution with some alterations, and the beneficial effects are felt and acknowledged even in the present day.

Having traversed through the western part of the kingdom, and preached to about one hundred thousand souls, he again returned to London. Here also he preached, and his word was attended with divine power. In 1750 he again visited Scotland,

and was received in many places with tears of joy. On returning to England he preached in London, and visited many other places until May 1751 when he sailed for Ireland, where his fame had already reached, and where he was most cordially received. Here he continued until the following July, when, after preaching about eighty times, he again visited Scotland.

In August 1751 he again returned to London, to embark a fourth time for America. But his constitution had received a shock, from which it never fully recovered. In Edinburgh he had thrown up much blood, and most of his friends became alarmed on account of his precarious state of health. Being somewhat restored, he sailed in the Antelope for Georgia, and reached Savannah on the 27th of October 1751, and found the Orphan-house in a flourishing condition.

After preaching in numerous places, he once more embarked for London, and thence again visited Scotland. On returning to London, he laid the foundation of the New Tabernacle in Moorfields, which was completed during the following summer. Here he continued to preach with his usual fervour and success, from June 10th, 1753, the day it was opened, until the end of the month, when he again preached his way towards Scotland, visiting such towns as lay in his road.

Returning to London in August 1753 he preached frequently in the metropolis, and after making various excursions into different parts of the kingdom, once more embarked for America in March 1754, by way of Lisbon, where he tarried about a week, and found his spirit stirred within him when he saw the whole city given to idolatry. Of the processions which he witnessed, he gives an account written in a strain of animated melancholy.

After a passage of six weeks, he reached Beaufort in South Carolina, and having seen his family in Georgia, which now consisted of above a hundred orphans, he visited the Northern States, and in most places met with a very favourable reception. At New Jersey the President and Trustees presented him with the degree of Master of Arts. He thus continued travelling and preaching until the end of March, when he again crossed the Atlantic, and landed at Newhaven in Sussex on the 8th of May, 1755.

In London he found the work of God in a state of prosperity, and in travelling through the country his hopes were almost uniformly confirmed. Persecution had indeed been in many places experienced, particularly by himself and congregation in Longacre, but by having recourse to authority it soon died away. Thus encouraged, he took a piece of ground, and on the 10th of May 1756 laid the foundation of the large chapel in Tottenham-Court road.

While this chapel was being built, Mr. Whitefield visited many towns and counties, and made another excursion into Scotland, and in all places found his congregations as large and attentive as ever: the work of the Lord seemed every where to prosper in his hands. Having returned to London, and opened his large chapel in Tottenham-Court road, he again revisited Scotland, and preached to all ranks with great success.

From Scotland he again visited Ireland, where, while his preaching was attended with divine power to many, his life was endangered by a popish rabble, to whose fury he became sometimes exposed. After again visiting Scotland, and preaching in numerous places, he repaired to London in the end of October, and once more turned his face towards America. Prior however to his embarkation, he again visited Scotland, preaching in numerous places, but returned to London, where he spent the winter of 1759. In the spring and summer of 1760 he again made excursions into the country, and had to endure a new species of persecution, being exhibited on the stage in a comedy called the Minor, which was written by the celebrated comedian Samuel Foote. This, however, rather tended to increase than to diminish his popularity; for many thousands, viewing the profane attempt with abhorrence, from this very circumstance attended his ministry, and became his friends.

Finding his health decline, and his inability to preach as usual increase, he made a voyage to Holland in 1762, and found himself much better; but his stay was short, and his relief only temporary. From Holland he returned to Scotland, and embarked from Greenock, the sixth time, for America, which he reached after a passage of twelve weeks. Here he continued preaching as he was able, but with much success, until he again returned to England, which he reached in July 1765.

Having opened in October Lady Huntingdon's chapel in Bath, he visited many places, as his strength would allow. On the 3d of August Mrs. Whitefield was attacked with an inflammatory fever, of which she died on the 9th, and on the 14th he preached her funeral sermon. His health however still continued more than precarious. He was frequently attacked, and every onset seemed to make a new inroad on his constitution. His preaching was much interrupted by his complaint, but being still resolved, if possible, snce more to visit America, and being somewhat better, he embarked in September 1769 at London, the seventh and last time, for the New World, and reached Charles Town in South Carolina on the 30th of November following.

Arriving at his establishment, he found every thing agreeable to his wishes, the colony having increased in an almost incredible mannner. From this place he visited

b

many adjacent, and even distant towns, as his strength permitted, but the day of his vigour was gone, to return no more.

From the 17th to the 29th of September 1770, he preached almost every day, but on this latter day, preaching at Exeter in the open air, no house being sufficient to contain the multitudes, he continued his discourse nearly two hours, and was greatly fatigued. He however set out for Newbury Port, where he arrived in the evening and went early to bed, it being Saturday night, intending to preach the next day. He awoke several times in the night, and complained much of a difficulty in breathing. His friends being apprehensive of danger, sent for medical aid, but it was too late, for on the Sunday morning about six o'clock, September 30th, 1770, he expired in a fit of the asthma, in the 56th year of his age.

Thus lived and thus died this eminent servant of the Lord Jesus. His mortal remains were interred at Newbury Port near Boston, in New England, there to await the resurrection unto eternal life.

That Mr. Whitefield was a man of most extraordinary eloquence, and of a powerfully commanding voice, Dr. Franklin, whom all must allow to be a competent judge, has not hesitated to assert.

In reference to the latter, he observes, that he has no doubt he could command a congregation of 30,000 persons. To this conclusion he was led by the following experiment. On one occasion, when attending Mr. Whitefield's preaching, Dr. Franklin receded from him at the greatest distance in which he could distinctly hear, and understand what was delivered. He then travelled round the speaker, always taking his ability to hear and understand, as the line of that circle which he formed. Having fixed these boundaries, he proceeded, after the congregation had withdrawn, to measure the enclosed area, which he found would contain the above number, without causing them to be immoderately thronged.

On the subject of Mr. Whitefield's eloquence, the same venerable philosopher relates the following circumstances. Having frequently heard of its magic influence, whenever the preacher had to advocate any charity, he one day resolved to attend his discourse, but with a fixed determination to give nothing to the collection at that time, that he might thus prove himself above the common weakness of his countrymen. At first, the language of the speaker made little or no impression, any further than to excite Dr. Franklin's admiration. At length came a powerful stroke, that operated like an electrical shock. Scarcely had he recovered from this, before he was assailed with another, and his determination to give nothing began to soften. Another burst of eloquence came, and Dr. F. resolved he would give to the collection all the copper money he had in his pocket. Here he fixed for some time, till an impassioned torrent of thought and language attacked the pocket containing the silver, and before he had exactly adjusted the sum he intended to give, he resolved to surrender the whole. The speaker still continuing to assail, and the hearer to resist, remained equally balanced for some time. A flash of oratory at length so far excited Dr. F.'s admiration, that, thinking such noble coruscations of mental energy ought not to be expended in vain, he came to the conclusion of rewarding it with a small piece of gold. The discourse continued, and so did Dr. Franklin, but not the money in his pocket, for at the termination of the service, when the collection was made, copper, silver, and gold all went into the hat together, and the philosopher went home penniless.

Present at the same discourse was another gentleman, who, having less confidence in his own resolution to give nothing, than Dr. Franklin had in his, went to the preaching with empty pockets. The fascinations of the preacher's eloquence, however, soon brought him to repentance; and when the collection was about to be made, he turned to an acquaintance, a Quaker, who stood near him, and asked him to lend some money. To this application he received the following reply: "I will lend thee money to-morrow, friend, but at present I fear thou art a little beside thyself." "This," says the relater, "was probably the only person in the whole congregation, who was not affected."

Many similar anecdotes have been recorded of the powerful effects produced by Mr. Whitefield's preaching, but our limits forbid us to insert them. Men of his gigantic stature are not to be drawn in miniature.

The outlines of his character may be found in the preceding narrative, and his works continue to praise him, both in England and America. His name every

where carries with it its own eulogy. On both sides the Atlantic, thousands have been raised up to call him blessed. We have heard the voices of many, and we must wait for eternity to communicate the rest.

EARNEST INVITATION TO YOUNG WOMEN THE FOLLY AND DANGER OF NOT BEING