Thorpe, an eminent preacher of the gospel, was before his conversion one of the greatest antagonists and enemies of Whitefield, the well-known English evangelist. He not only delighted in heckling him in public meetings and hindering his activity as a proclaimer of the message of the cross, but whenever he had an opportunity he tried to make a fool of him. He possessed an unusual talent for mimicry and could imitate in an astonishing way the preacher's motions, voice, posture, and expressions. He used this ability to ridicule him and his words whenever possible.
On one occasion while a group of young people were together at a pleasure party, he and three of his friends each wagered they could imitate the evangelist perfectly. They were supposed to open the Bible at random, and in turn preach a sermon on the first verse their eyes caught sight of. After all the sermons had been heard, the audience was to judge who was best.
Thorpe's three friends had performed their part in a ribald, godless manner when at last his turn came. Thorpe mounted the table, which was the impromptu stage, and declared: "I shall beat you all!”
He was handed the Bible. He opened it and God directed his eyes to fall on the solemn words of Luke 13:5: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise Perish.”
He read the words slowly, in Whitefield's best style. In the same moment that he uttered them he felt their full power. The sharp two-edged sword of the Word of God penetrated his own soul like a bolt of lightning. His conscience awoke. He saw himself a guilty, blasphemous sinner before God. A deep horror took hold of him. He felt that the words he had just read were intended for him alone. This conviction overwhelmed him, and with irresistible power, he preached his first sermon.
Perhaps never had the mighty truths of guilt, death, eternity, and coming judgment, been painted in darker colors than in this address. "Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh"; and in Thorpe's poor heart he was convinced by the Spirit of his great sin, God's righteousness, and of judgment to come. He was totally ignorant of God's infinite grace, and so was unable to proclaim it to others.
In later years Thorpe often said that, if ever in his life he preached with God's help, it was at that time. The profound solemnity of the inevitability of an awful eternity for the lost sinner, the necessity for true repentance toward God, the threatened perdition of the unsaved soul and the terrors of the second death weighed upon him. He preached to his guilty, lost friends from his knowledge of his own guilty and lost estate. The solemnity that fell upon his listeners only deepened the sense of guilt in his own soul; and, his emotion increasing moment by moment, words poured over his lips with such force, sharpness and power of language that, as he said later, the hair on his head must have stood on end from fear and dread!
No one dared to interrupt him, for it was evident to all that he spoke with complete sincerity and earnestness. Even though the first surprise of some soon turned into rage, in other cases a growing astonishment replaced their anger and all sat spellbound, gazing at him and listening.
When finally he stepped off the table, not a sound could be heard. Deep silence prevailed, and the wager was completely forgotten. His three friends, and competitors hurriedly left the company without another word. As for Thorpe, it need hardly be mentioned that he was through with his old friends.
After a time of deep inner suffering, conflict, and prayerful poring over the Word of God, there shone in his soul the radiant light of the full blessed gospel. He became a much used preacher of repentance toward God and of His fathomless grace.
"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.
"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8.