with a fever, and have a violent cold; but Christ's presence makes me smile at pain, and the fire of his love burns up all fevers whatsoever." He left Edinburgh, August 4, and soon found himself much better for riding. At Berwick, one of the ministers sent him an offer of his pulpit, and he was informed that many more round that town were willing to do the same. At his return to London, he preached several times at West-street Chapel. He had also the pleasure of Mr. Hervey's company, who, at his desire, came up to town, .and lodged in his house. In the months of September and October he made excursions to Portsmouth, Chatham, Gloucester, Birmingham, Eversham, Wednesbury and Nottingham; "ranging about (as he expresses it) to see who would believe the Gospelreport;" and was particularly successful at Chatham and Canterbury.

He spent the winter in London, in his usual busy and laborious way, and with equal success. He was confined near a fortnight to his room by a violent fever and inflammation of the lungs; but before the 17th of December, he was able to preach again. And in the latter end of January, 1751, he rode post to Ashby, being alarmed with the accounts of Lady Huntingdon's dangerous illness, and the afflictions with which it had pleased God to visit her family. He writes from Ashby, January 29" Blessed be God, Lady Huntingdon is somewhat better. Entreat all our friends to pray for her. Her sister-in-law, Lady Frances H-, lies dead in the house. She was a retired christian, lived silently, and died suddenly without a groan. May my exit be like hers. Almost all the family have been sick in their turns."

Having left London, March 5, he went again into Gloucestershire, and to Bristol, and preached at Taunton and Wellington, in his way to Plymouth. April 11, he was at Exeter, and writes thus to Mr. Hervey: "Some good, I trust, is to be done this spring to many souls. This western circuit, I believe, has been blessed already. I have preached about forty times since I left London, and have been enabled several times to ride forty miles a day. I find this sensibly refreshes me. I wish you could say so too. At Plymouth we had sweet seasons; and on Tuesday last I met with a young clergyman who was awakened under my preaching seven years ago. He has been at

Cambridge, and was ordained by the Bishop of Exeter. He is followed much, and I suppose will soon be reproached for his Master's sake. I hope you will find strength to proceed in your book."

From Exeter he set out on a tour through Wales, where in about three weeks he rode near five hundred miles, and preached generally twice a day; and from hence he made his visit to Ireland, which had been in his thoughts some time.

From his first visit to Ireland, to his opening the New Tabernacle at London, in the Year 1753.

AFTER a passage of five days from Wales, he ar -rived, May 24, 1751, at Dublin, where he was gladly received, and lodged at the house of Mr. L, and preached every morning and evening, as usual, in other places: "Surely (says he) here are many converted souls, among whom are two or three students, and several soldiers. At first the greatness and hurry of the place surprised me; but, thanks be to the Lord of the harvest, here, as well as elsewhere, the fields are white, ready unto harvest. Congregations are large, and hear as for eternity." And again: "Athlone, June 10. For this week past I have been preaching twice almost every day in some country towns. I find, through the many offences that have lately been given, matters were brought to a low ebb. But the cry now is, "Methodism is revived again." At Lime

rick he preached seven times to large and affected auditories, and twice at Cork, (where the Methodists had lately been mobbed) to a great body of people, with all quietness. From thence he went to Bandon and Kinsale, where a

* In the MSS. he says, "I took a journey from near Haverfordwest to Ireland, where a yet greater work had been begun, and carried on to a high degree, amidst prodigious opposition; numbers converted, not only from Popery, but to Jesus Christ, at Athlone, Dublin, Limevick, Cork, and various other places."

like blessing attended his preaching. At his return to Cork, the numbers and affections of his hearers increased. At Belfast also he was detained some days beyond his intention, by the people's importunity, and preached at Lisburn, Lurgun, the Maize, and Lambag, towns and places adjacent. So many attended, and the prospect of doing good was so promising, that he was sorry he had not come to the north of Ireland sooner. But he hasted to pay an other visit to Scotland, before he embarked for America, which he was intent upon doing before winter.

He therefore came over in the beginning of July, 1751, from Belfast to Irvine, where, at the desire of the magistrates, he preached to a great congregation; and so proceeded to Glasgow. From this place he writes, July 12"Though I preached near eighty times in Ireland, and God was pleased to bless his word, yet Scotland seems to be a new world to me. To see the people bring so many Bibles, turn to every passage when I am expounding, and hanging, as it were, upon me to hear every word, is very encouraging. I feel an uncommon freedom here; and talking with the winter as well as with the summer saints, feeds and delights my. 27 heart." At this time he was glad

* Here it may be proper, once for all, to take notice of some particulars relating to Mr. Whitefield's visits to Scotland, which he continued till within a few years of his death.

Though after the years 1741 and 1742 there was no such extensive new awakenings, Mr. Whitefield's coming was always refreshing to serious persons, and seemed to put new life into them, and also to be the means of increasing their number. His preaching was still eminently useful in various respects. In the first place, it had an excellent tendency to destroy the hurtful spirit of bigotry, and excessive zeal for smaller matters, and to turn men's attention to the great and substantial things of religion. Another effect was, that it drew several persons to hear the gospel, who seldom went to hear it from other minis ters. Again, young people in general, were much benefited by his ministry, and particularly young students, who became afterwards serious evangelical preachers. Lastly, his morning discourses, which were mostly intended for

to understand that Mr. Dinwiddie, brother-in-law to the Rev Mr. MacCulloch, of Cambuslang, was made Governor of Virginia. In that province there had been a con

sincere but disconsolate souls, were peculiarly fitted to direct and encourage all such in the Christian life. And his addresses in the evening to the promiscuous multitudes who then attended him, were of a very alarming kind. There was something exceedingly striking in the solemnity of his evening congregations in the Orphan house park at Edinburgh, and High-church yard of Glasgow, especially towards the conclusion of his sermons (which were commonly very long, though they seemed short to the hearers) when the whole multitude stood fixed, and, like one man, hung upon his lips with silent at→ tention, and many under deep impressions of the great objects of religion, and the concerns of eternity. These things will not soon be forgotten; and it is hoped the ma. `ny good effects which by the divine blessing attended them, never will.

His conversation was no less reviving than his sermons. Many in Edinburgh and Glasgow are witnesses of this, especially at Glasgow, when in company with his good friends, Mr. MacLaurin, Mr. Robert Scott, &c. One might challenge the sons of pleasure, with all their wit good humor and gaiety, to furnish entertainment so agreeable. At the same time, no part of it was more agreeable than it was useful and edifying.

His friends in Scotland, among whom were many of all ranks, from the highest to the lowest, were very constant and steady in their great regard for him. And his opposers grew more and more mild. Some anonymous pamphlets were written against him at his first coming, but these soon died and were forgotten. Afterwards a number of stories were handed about to his disadvantage; but, upon inquiry, it was found either that matters were misrepresented or exaggerated, or that there was no foundation for such reports at all: in short, when they were traced to their origin, they rather turned out to his honor.He used to smile at good Mr. MacLaurin's honest zeal, who on such occasions spared no pains to come at the truth, and, when he had discovered it, was no less eager

siderable awakening for some years past, especially in Hanover county and the places adjacent. As the ministers of the establishment did not favor the work, and the

to communicate the discovery to others, for the vindication of Mr. Whitefield's character, in which he thought the credit of religion was concerned. The following instance is well remembered:-One Lieutenant Wright alleged, that Mr. Whitefield had kept back money sent by a gentlewoman to her son in America. This coming to Mr. MacLaurin's ears, he was restless till he procured a meet'ing betwixt Mr. Whitefield and his accuser. They met ; Mr. Wright did not retract what he had said. Upon which a letter was instantly written to the mother at London; and her answer being received, a confutation of the calumny was published in the Glasgow Courant, in the following terms: "October 31, 1748. A story having been spread in this town of Mr. Whitefield's having received twenty pounds sterling from a gentlewoman in London, to give to her son in Georgia, (whereas he had received only three guineas, which he had returned to the gentlewoman when he came back from Georgia, her son having been gone from thence before his arrival) a letter was written to London to clear up this affair, to which the gentlewoman has sent this answer: Sir, this is to assure you that I received of Mr John Stevens the three guineas, which was the full sum that I gave you for my son. I hope it is only a false aspersion on him; for I never heard that he should say any such thing, being three months in England. I am, &c. September 13, 1748. There is likewise a receipt come down, dated September 3, to Mr. Stevens. Both the letter and the receipt are to be seen in the hands of the publisher."

·

But, indeed, Mr. Whitefield's whole behavior was so open to the eyes of the world, and his character, after it had stood many attacks from all quarters, came at last to be so thoroughly established, that several of his opposers in Scotland seemed rather to acquire a certain degree of esteem for him; at least, they all thought proper to give over speaking against him.

When he was at Glasgow, he always lodged with Mr. James Niven, merchant, above the Cross; till, towards