NEW LIGHTS OR NEW LANTERNS
“For this let men revile my name,
I'd shun no cross, I'd fear no shame,
All hail reproach, and welcome pain,
Only Thy terrors, Lord, restrain.”
“If, on my head for Thy dear name,
Shame and disgrace shall be,
Welcome disgrace and welcome shame,
If Thou remember me!”
ON the 14th day of August, 1739, George Whitefield started again for America. In the course' of his life he visited the American continent seven times, and accomplished as great a work for Christ there as he did in the land of his birth. He took with him a number of persons who were intended to be the nucleus of his projected Orphan House During the voyage Whitefield occupied himself in diligent study of various books, which he hoped would be useful to him. In the month of October he reached land, and then he began in his own phase, "to hunt the woods of America for Christ.”
He could not rest content in his home with the discharge of a chaplain's duties, for a strong impulse urged him on to increasing labor. He commenced a tour through the American provinces, in the course of which he came to Brunswick. There he made the acquaintance of Gilbert Tennent, who became one of his warmest friends.
“He is a son of thunder, whose preaching must either convert or enrage multitudes," said Whitefield of his friend. "I never heard such preaching as his before. He went to the very bottom of the matter and he cleared away the rubbish without mercy, and convinced me more and more that we can preach the Gospel of Christ no further than we have experienced the power of it in our hearts. I find now what a babe and a novice I am in the things of Christ.”
“O Gilbert!" he said to his friend one evening as they sat before the fire after an evening service, "it is indeed a blessed thing to be a true Christian, and the first step to it is to have a broken heart; a heart that is melted down with the love of Christ toward us. Gilbert, if I had a hundred tongues and lives, they should all be employed for my dear Lord Jesus! I have not yet forgotten the reproof that your father gave me one day.”
“What did he say to you? Nothing unkind, of that I am quite certain," said Mr. Tennent.
“On, no! nothing unkind, but he gave me a very seasonable reproof," replied Whitefield." It was thus. One evening I lay down on a sofa quite worn out with the toil of the day. O Mr. Tennent! ' I said to him, I do wish that my work were done, and that I were at home in heaven. Do you not weary for heaven?'
‘Weary for heaven! ‘he asked, of course not! I was born to work, and saved in order to work for Jesus, and why should I weary for heaven? Suppose that I were to send toy man Tom into the field to plow, and instead of working he were to sit under the tree and to complain of the heat! I should not sympathize with him, of course nit; but I should call him an idle, worthless fellow! Brother Whitefield, you do your work with all your might and leave God to fix your time of rest”
“Well, that is true of course, and, Whitefield, there is abundant need for earnest service. The land is dark and sinful; it almost appears as if sincere gospel preaching had quite died out of the churches. We need a faithful setting forth of the rousing doctrines that are always efficacious in soul saving. Preach the total depravity of man and his utter helplessness without Christ; the all sufficiency of Christ and the virtue of His blood: these are the doctrines that America requires and that God will bless.”
“O that we were all flames of fire in the service of God! Alas, how quickly I become indifferent, and bow much I require the continual care of Christ!”
“Suppose you get married, George; do as I have often advised you. Marry some godly woman and I am sure you will be enabled thereby to live nearer to God, ay, and work far better for Him.”
“Well, I have been thinking of doing so; indeed, ever since you advised me to do so I have resolved to follow your advice, and, to confess the truth, I have fixed upon a lady to whom I intend paying my addresses.”
“Capital! capital! of course you will wait upon her parents and if they are agreeable you will speak to her at once.”
“Well, no, not exactly. I have written to her parents and I think that I shall do better by writing to her herself.”
“You know best; but have you written then?”
“No, and if you will not laugh at me I will read to you the letter that I intend to send to her. If you think that I can improve it, please be kind enough to point out what may be improved.”
“Of course, of course!”
“Here it is," and Whitefield read aloud as follows:—" Be not surprised at the contents of this letter, but I desire to make you an offer of marriage. Can you bear to leave father and mother and trust yourself entirely to God for support 'I Can you undertake to help a husband in the charge of a family which may consist of a hundred persons! Can you when you have a husband be as though you have none and willingly part with him even for a long season? If, after seeking God for direction, and searching your heart you can boldly answer yes, what do you say if you and I were to be joined together in the Lord, and you come to me as a helpmeet in the management of my orphan house I I think that I can call God to witness that I desire to take you, my sister, to wife. But if you think that marrying me will be in any way prejudicial to your best interests, please be so good as to send me a denial. Indeed I would not be a snare to you for the world, and you need not be afraid to speak your mind to me. I trust that I love you only by the command of Christ and for His sake.”
“Hem," said Gilbert Tennent," I hope you may succeed.”
“I want a truly gracious woman who shall be dead to everything but to Christ and who will not mind the worry and labor of the orphan house," said Whitefield." If Miss Donald is the right person and worthy of the responsibility she will say yes at once.”
Miss Donald, however, said "No" to this singular proposal of marriage; but although Mr. Tennent anticipated this result he said nothing at the time to his friend. George Whitefield folded up the letter and then after a silence his friend resumed:—
“Friend Whitefield, I hear that they intend prohibiting you from preaching in any of their churches here “Then the fields are open in America as they were in England; and, brother, I do not believe that the Gospel will ever win its way among the people until there is a renewal of out-door preaching. We should never have attempted it in England had we not been compelled to do so, but directly that we began in the open-air God poured out His blessing. The command is, Go. We must really have an itinerant ministry.”
“They denounce you bitterly and say that you are preaching a new gospel and therefore that you must be resisted.”
“Ah! brother, they do not see that the old truth requires new methods and new modes of presentation It is the old light in new lanterns, but the light was kindled at the brazen altar. There is no light but that which comes from the Atonement of Christ.”
“That is so, but what was it that you said to the children the other day? My friend, Jonathan Edwards, asked me what you really said, for he had heard such singular rumors about you. I wish that you knew Jonathan Edwards; I am sure that you would love him.”
“I should do so if he loves Jesus Christ and strives to serve Him.”
“Ay, that he does; that he does; and though he is a little reserved at times, he is really a gracious soul. The great revival in America, you know, began tinder his preaching, and no wonder.”
“Wherever Christ is faithfully preached, saving results must follow; only, friend Tennent, sometimes the success is delayed. But what I saw was at Boston where I was preaching at Well's chapel. A dying boy who had heard me preach the day before, said, I want to go to Mr. Whitefield's God; ' and immediately after saying so he expired. When I looked round upon the congregation, I noticed how many children were present, and my heart warmed towards them. I felt encouraged to speak to the children, but oh, how the old people were affected when I said, Little children, if your parents will not come to Christ, do you come now, and go to heaven without them!’ The children burst into a great sob, and then it seemed as if the whole mass of people were swayed like corn in the breeze. Oh, it is sweet to think that our children may come to Christ! I think that we do not sufficiently realize what powerful helpers children may be in the service of Christ.”
And he was right; for He who once took a little child, and set it in the midst, that He might instruct His disciples by means of the child's simple trust, still employs devout children in order to teach Christians, and to touch those who are obdurate to other religious agencies. Win the children for Christ, and then use them in order to win others also.