Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-11-05
ANECDOTES OF WHITEFIED.

Who can tell the results of single sermon,
or trace the consequences Of one conversion
When MIR. Whitefled was preaching in New
England, lady became the subject of di-
vine grace, and her spirit was peculiarly draw n
out in prayer for others. She could persuade
no one to pray with her hut her little daugl :
ter, about ten yeats OF age. After time it
pleased God TO touch the heart of the child
N 70, mother, il all the world know this!
wish l could tell everybody. Pray, mother,
let me run to some of the neighbors and tell
them, that they may be happy and love my
Saviour"
All, my child" said the mother, " that
would be useless, for suppose that were yon
10 tell your experience, there is not one with
in many miles who would not laugh at you,
and say it was all delusiOn."
go, mother" replied tho little girl, 81
think they would believe me. l must go
over TO the shoemaker and tell him; he will
believe me-"
She ran over, and found him at work in his
shop. She began by telling him that he must
die, and he was sinner, and that she was
sinner, but that her blessed Saviour had heard
her mothers prayers, and had forgiven all her
sins and now thnt she was so happy, she did
not know how to tell it.
The shoemaker was struck with surprise, and
his tears flowed down like rain he threw
aside his work, and by prayer and supplica-
tion sought mercy. The neighborhood was
awakened and within few months, more
than fifty persons were brought to the knowl-
edge of esus, and rejoiced in his power and
| grace.
Several incidents are related OF WhiteAeld
to show the skill and power with which he
| could seize upon passing circumstances, and
apply them to the great purpose which he al
| ways had in view.
On one occasion, near Edinburgh, poor
unhappy man placed himself on one Of the
boughs OF tree, under the shade OF which
Whitefeld was to preach, and mimcking his
gestures with monkey-like dexterity, endeay-
ored to raise laugh in the audience. Guided
by the looks of some of his hearers, White
field caught glance of him, but without
seeming tonotice him, continued his discourse
With the skill Of q wise orator, he reserved
the incident for the proper place and time
While forcibly speaking OF the power and
! sovereignty of divine grace, with increasing
earnestness he spoke of the unlikely objects i
had often chosen, and the unlooked-for trl
umphs it had achieved. As he rose TO th'
climax of his inspiring theme, when in th'
full sweep of his eloquence, he suddenly
! paused, and turning round and pointing slow
TO the poor creature above him, he exclaimed
, in tone of deep and thrilling pathos 3
"Eyen he may yet be the subject of tina
' resistless grace" ls.M.
by the divine Spirit; it struck the scotier Z
the heart, and realized in his conversion III
, glorious truth it contained.
/ In connection with Whitefeld's first visit {
Edinburgh, 1t is related that a gentleman, o
returning from one Of his sermons, was me
b by au eminent minister whom he usually hear
and who expressed great surprise that h
e should go to hear such man. The gehtle
man replied =
"Sir, when hear you an planting tree
all the time; but during the whole of Mi
: Whitefeld's sermon / could not find time
plant one."
, A similar instance is related of a ship build
er, who conld build a ship, from stem
= stern during the sermon, but under White
5 field could not lay single plank" .-i..s.s.
i In the early period Of Whiteheld's ministr
! in England, many OF tho tayerns became pli
+ ces where his doctrines and zeal were talke
Of and ridlculed. A Mr.. Thorpe and sever
other young men in Yorkshire undertook
one of these parties to mimic the preaching
Mr.. Whiteheld. One after another stood
:e the table to perform his part, and it devolve
Y upon MIR. Thorpe to close this irreyerent seen
n Much elated and confident of success, he o!
in claimed as he aseended the table.
"I shall beat you ALL" As
ia The Bible was handed him, and by the gu
dance of an unerring Providence, he opene
n, at the vsrse, Sc Except ye repent ye shaii
y likewise PERISH" The moment he read u
So text his mind was impressed in most exti'
4. 4. ordinary manner he saw clearly the natu
ny and importance Of the subject, and as he
ny ny terward said, II he ever preached with the a
sistance of the Holy Spirit it was at that tim
~ - His address produced feeling OF depressl'
m unou his auditors and whom he had hnisht
ps pH he Instantly retired to weep over his sins.
nd He soon after became associated with Il
re- people of God and died a Successful minist
of Christ. -ai.5