RANGING, BUT PERSISTENT
“The butt of slander and the blot
For every dart that malice ever shot,
The man that mentioned him at once dismissed
All mercy from his lips, and sneered and hissed.”
“He offered what he did himself receive,
A greater gift not God Himself can give,
He urged the need of it to everyone,
It was no less than God's co-equal Son.
Ye thirsty, come to this life-giving stream;
Ye preachers, take Him for your theme.”
SHORTLY after his great success at Moorfields, Whitefield again visited Scotland. This time he was accompanied by his wife. During the voyage he was much occupied in writing letters to various friends who continued and consolidated his work. To a friend in Wales he wrote, "To stir up the gift of God within is an apostolic injunction, and if we do not keep on our watch, we shall fall into a false stillness. Nature loves ease, and we readily yield to the temptation to be still, and our lukewarmness keeps us very often silent when we might speak out with profit.”
He began his work in Scotland at this time at Cambuslang, a suburb of Glasgow. The pastor of the church in Cambuslang was the Rev. William M'Culloch, a man of fervent piety. For some months previous to this time both Mr. M'Culloch and his people had been earnestly wrestling for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church and neighborhood.
“I am persuaded that I shall have more power here than in any place," said George Whitefield to the pastor.
He was not disappointed, for the outburst of hatred which assailed Whitefield's preaching at this time was followed by surprising success. On the first day of the mission, Whitefield preached three times to immense congregations, which gathered from all the neighboring villages. The last service concluded at eleven o'clock at night, but the people would not retire, and then Mr. M'Culloch continued the service until past one o'clock in the morning.
“Did you ever see such a thing?" asked Whitefield. "Thousands and thousands upon a bleak hillside upon a cold February night. For nearly an hour and a half there was such weeping, and so many falling into deep distress, and the people seemed to be slain by scores. They were carried off, and came into the house like wounded soldiers who had been carried off the field of battle. Why you could scarcely walk a yard without treading upon people who were either praising God for mercies received, or who were crying to God for more grace.”
“I am sure that they will make mischief out of the excitement of this revival," said M'Culloch. "You little know how deep is the hatred that some truly godly persons feel towards any gracious work that at all departs from their ideas.”
“Never mind so long as we have new access to the Father of Mercies," said Whitefield. "If only I attain a passive, tender, truly broken heart, and am kept leaning upon Christ, I shall walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and not heed them at all.”
“But while I am deeply grateful to God for this wonderful revival, I must say that I myself wish that there were more quiet and less noise," said M'Culloch. "Their outcries and convulsions a little disturb me, and they are not exactly my idea of what a work of grace should be. The fruit of the Spirit is peace, and He gently leads the contrite soul through repentance into faith in Christ.”
“We cannot limit the Divine Spirit," replied Whitefield, " or prescribe to Him as to how He shall act upon the soul. He who framed the soul best understands its needs and its wants, and He is able to adapt His methods as He shall please. The fact that He has been pleased to employ certain agencies in the conversion of the soul, does not bind Him never to vary His methods. He leads some by gracious and gentle influences, and others He drives by terror into grace. What matter so long as they are saved!”
“But surely you admit that there is a regular progress by which souls are awakened, led to repentance, and then saved by faith in Christ.”
“I don't know that there is any process that is always binding, or is laid down in the Scriptures; all that is essential is that the soul shall be convinced of sin, and led to trust in Christ for entire salvation. This is the work of the Divine Spirit alone, and He sovereignly varies His operations according to His pleasure.”
“Of course, you Englishmen don't understand how we logical Scotch are shocked by such excitement.”
“You don't object to excitement in political matters, and if a man is keenly sensitive to business matters, you praise him. Why then should not the important concerns of the soul be equally interesting? Is it not almost incredible that men can speak calmly about the loss of the immortal soul, or be placid all the time that the wrath of God is resting upon them. I must say that I think that contentment requires an apology for more than lawful excitement in religious matters.”
And so will the reader think if he will but reflect upon the solemn interests that are involved in the salvation of the soul. Therefore break thine heart and never be contented until thou art quite discontented with thyself, and as a helpless sinner hast trusted in Christ Jesus for salvation.
Sometimes the plain appeals of Whitefield aroused such bitter hostility on the part of unbelievers that they attempted to take his life. After he left Scotland, for instance, he went upon a preaching tour through England and came in due course to Plymouth. While resting over night, after the fatigues of a day of preaching, Whitefield was told that a well-dressed gentleman wished to speak to him.
“He is perhaps some Nicodemus," said Whitefield, who was always ready to think the very best of every one. “I am tired indeed, but how delighted I shall be to see him! Please to show him upstairs at once.
The man came into the room, and walking up to the bed-side he sat down.
“Who are you, dear friend?" asked Whitefield. "I am delighted to see you. Have we ever met before?”
“I am a lieutenant on board of a man-of-war, and my name is Cadogan; do you know me?”
“I knew a Mr. Cadogan, who was an officer in Georgia; I met with him almost a fortnight since at Bristol.”
“You must make a fine thing out of the preaching; about what salary do you get?”
“The reward of having done my duty, and the joy of seeing lost souls brought to Christ. Beyond the plainest food and raiment, I obtain no more.”
“I am sorry that I have not yet been able to hear you preach; some day perhaps I may be more fortunate.”
“The chief thing, dear friend, is not to be anxious about me, so much as to be earnest in seeking Christ and peace through Him. Dear friend, Jesus loves you, and died in order that He might save your soul.”
“You dog! you rogue! you villain!" yelled Cadogan, rising from his seat, "I will kill you. How dare you frighten people by calling them sinners and talking about hell? Take that! and that! and that!”
And he beat Mr. Whitefield most unmercifully with his cane.
“Please don't kill me. I never harmed you!" pleaded Whitefield, but his entreaties were in vain.
At this time the hostess and her daughter rushed into the room and seized the would-be murderer by the collar. But he soon freed himself from them, and recommenced his blows upon Whitefield. The women shrieked "Murder," which somewhat alarmed the ruffian, and he made towards the door. The women pushed him down-stairs; but an accomplice of his hurried up the stairs, and would certainly have killed Whitefield outright had not the neighbors rushed in. The two ruffians managed to escape, and Whitefield refused to have them prosecuted.
“No, I have something else to do," he said. "This is my private quarrel, and that I can leave in God's hands. My business is to preach the Gospel, and if my blood will be the conversion of any soul, I will die most cheerfully. God forgive him as readily as I do.”
This forgiving spirit Whitefield manifested upon many other similar occasions. For while all who will live godly must suffer persecution, all who are bold for Christ must expect especial enmity on the part of those who are opposed to the gospel. The servant is not greater than his lord. The Lord Jesus, "when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”
There are compensating joys that fidelity to Christ imparts to them, which also shall be thine if thou too wilt dare to be faithful unto death.