of his character. A little sketch of this, was, soon after, published in the Boston Gazette; an Extract of which is subjoined :-

"Little can be said of him, but what every friend to vital Christianity, who has sat under his ministry, will attest. 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! Filled with the Spirit of Grace, he spoke from the heart, and, with a fervency of zeal, perhaps unequalled since the days of the Apostles, adorned the truths he delivered with the most graceful charms of rhetoric and oratory. From the pulpit he was unrivalled 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 address, 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 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 deeply impressed on the heart of every friend to vital Religion. In spite of a tender and delicate constitution, he continued, to the last day of his life, preaching with a frequency and fervour 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 consider. able progress in the learned languages. But this defect was amply supplied, by a lively and fertile genius, by fervent zeal, and by a forcible and most persuasive 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 singularly cheerful, as well as

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charitable and tender-hearted. He was as ready to relieve the bodily as the spiritual necessities of those that applied to him. It ought also to be observed, that he constantly enforced upon his audience every moral duty, particularly 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, will long be remembered with esteem and veneration."

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 Christian, 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 to speak at 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 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, "Entreat 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 he was as far removed from rudeness on the one hand, as from guile and disguise on the 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 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."

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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 steadiness 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 entreated," easy to be either convinced or persuaded. But he was immovable 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 steadfast as a wall of brass."

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8. If it he enquired, 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; no, nor the advice of his friends. 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 his heart by the Holy Ghost, which was given unto him," filling his soul with tender, disinterested love to every child of man. From this source arose that torrent of Eloquence which frequently bore down all before it. From this, that astonishing force of Persuasion, which the most hardened sinners could not resist. This it was, which often made his "head as waters, and his eyes a fountain of tears.' This it was, which enabled him to pour out his soul in Prayer, in a manner peculiar to himself, with such fulness and ease united together, with such strength and variety both of sentiment and expression.

9. I may close this head with observing, What an honour it pleased God to put upon his faithful servant, by allowing him to declare his everlasting gospel in so many various countries, to such numbers of people, and with so great an effect, on so many of their precious souls! Have we read or heard of any person since the Apostles, who testified the gospel of the grace of God, through so widely ex

tended a space, through so large a part of the habitable world? Have we read or heard of any person, who called so many thousands, so many myriads of sinners to repentance? Above all, have we read or heard of any, who has been a blessed instrument, in his hand, of bringing so many sinners from "darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God?" It is true, were we to talk thus to the gay world, we should be judged to speak as barbarians. But you understand the language of the country to which you are going, and whither our dear Friend is gone a little before us.

III. But how shall we improve this awful Providence ? This is the Third thing which we have to consider. And the answer to this important question is easy: (may God write it in all our hearts!) By keeping close to the grand doctrines which he delivered: and by drinking into his spirit.

1. And First, let us keep close to the grand scriptural doctrines, which he every where delivered. There are many doctrines of a less essential nature, with regard to which, even the sincere children of God, (such is the present weakness of human understanding!) are, and have been divided for many ages. In these we may think and let think; we may 66 agree to disagree.' But mean time let us hold fast the essentials of "the faith, which was once delivered to the saints;" and which this champion of God so strongly insisted on, at all times, and in all places.

2. His fundamental point was, Give God all the glory of whatever is good in man. And, in the business of salvation, Set Christ as high, and man as low as possible. With this point, he, and his friends at Oxford, the original Methodists, so called, set out. Their grand principle was, There is no power, by nature, and no merit in man. They insisted, All power to think, speak, or act aright, is in and from the Spirit of Christ: and all merit is (not in man, how high soever in grace, but merely) in the Blood of Christ. So he and they taught: There is no power in man, till it is given him from above, to do one good work, to

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