The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-03
Anecdotes of Whitefield.

Anecdotes of Whitefield.
The September number Of the Inter-
national -ReUieaO gives an interesting
sketch OF the great preacher, whose con-
nectlon with Mr.. Wesley makes his re-
markable pulpit power and success a
legacy OF Methodism. A mere boy when
ne left college, he at once entered the
ministry, where he speedily became
power. His natural gifts of oratory
were aided by his splendid voice, which
IN the open air could penetrate to the
extreme outskirts of mighty audiences.
DR.. Franklin, by actual computation.
found that he could be well heard by
an audience Of 10000; while he some
times preached to congregation of So,
600.
Much of the secret of his power, too,
lay in his graceful figure and the con
summate skill of his acting. Such con
duct as he INDUCED in would have been
extrememly offensive but for that. AS
he warmed with his theme he would
stamp loudly with his feet, beat franti-
cally on the pulpit-stand, the veins in
his head and neck swelling meanwhile
to an enormous size, and his eyes stream
ing with tears.
.Whitefeld was fully aware of his his
trlomc genius and carefully cultivated
1T. Both Garrick and Foote declared
that he never reached his greatest per-
lection IN sermon until he had preach
ed 1T forty times Educated and cool
headed men equally with the masses
came under the spell of his fascination
hume sad ne would go twenty miles
to hear him. DR.. Franklin's record of
the effect on him of one of Whitefeld's
sermons, is familiar to all. Boiling
broke, himself one of the greatest ora
tors OF the age, declared him to be
possessed of the most commanding in
fiuences he had ever heard in any per
son. Chesterfield bore the same testi-
mony.
His dramatization stopped at nothing.
He was fond of depicting the agonies
OF the dying Christ. "Look yonderl"
ne would exclaim, starting back with
an unutterable horror on his face. and
pointing to some object as though it were
plainly before him, "What is it l see?
1t is my agonizing Lord Hark Hank
Do you not hear? Oh, my Father if it
be possible let this cup pass from me
Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be
donel"
Whitefeld used to attend noted trials
and borrow the language of the dock for
the pulpit. He would close touching
aPPeal, to sinners, by saying with a
choked voice and streaming eyes, al am
now going to put on the condemning cap.
Sinner, l must do it; I must pronounce
sentence upon you" And then in an
lmpetuous burst Of eloquence, describing
the terrible torture of the damned. he
Numbered out: Depart from me We
cursed into everlasting fire !" He never
spoke OF Peters weeping without having
fold OF his gown ready in which to
bury his face. On one occasion he was
making a powerful appeal when a ter
rible thunder shower arose "See there /
ne cried, as the lightning shot across the
pulpit; :" 1T Is glance from the angry
eye OF Jehovah and'-as a deafeninp
crash OF thunder burst over the building
=" Hank it was the voice of the AL
mighty as he passed by in His anger r'|
People who listened to him lost ali self
consciousness. Once, when addressing
negro congregation in Georgia, he asked
II they did not all desire to go to heaven,
when one old negro amused the others
by promptly responding, Eyes, sirl"
Being asked afteward why he interrupted
the speaker, he answered chat the gen
tleman had put the question once or
twice, and no one answered; till at last
he pointed at him, and he was ashamed
that nobody should answer, SO he did,
While preaching to congregation Of
sailors, he compared the state Of a sinner
to a ship to be lost at sea. "How the
waves arise and dash against the ship"I
he exclaimed "The sky is dark, the
tempest RACES Our masts are gone, the
ship is on her beam ends What next?'
The long boat Take the long boatr'
naively shouted the sailors, springing to
their feet
On another occasion, 50 graphically did
he portray the peril Of the sinner by de-
scribing blind old man deserted by his
dog and cropping along with his cane, un-
consciously drawing nearer and nearer
to frightful abyss, that just as he had