A Day In The Life Of George Whitefield

A Day In The Life Of George Whitefield

What would it have been like to spend a day with George Whitefield, the famous Anglican evangelist of the Great Awakening?

LET WHITEFIELD tell you in the words of his journal for Sunday, November 9, 1740. He was just twenty-five years old at the time and was preaching in Philadelphia.

Several came to see me with whom I prayed. Preached at eleven in the morning, to several thousands in a house built for that purpose since my departure from Philadelphia. It is a hundred feet long and seventy feet broad. Both in the morning and the evening, God’s glory filled the house. . . . Great was the joy of most of the hearers when they saw me; but some still mocked. Between services . . . many friends being in the room, I kneeled down, prayed and exhorted them all. I was greatly rejoiced to look around them, because there were some who had been marvelous offenders against God. I shall mention two only. The first is a Mr. Brockden, recorder of deeds, etc., a man eminent in his profession, but for many days a notorious Deist. In his younger days, he told me, he had some religious impressions, but coming into business, the cares of the world so choked the good seed, that he not only forgot his God, but at length began to doubt of, and to dispute His very Being. . . . When I came to Philadelphia this time twelve-month, he had no curiosity to hear me. But a brother Deist, his choicest companion, pressing him to come to hear me, to satisfy his curiosity he at length complied with his request. It was night. I was preaching at the Court House stairs, upon the conference which our Lord had with Nicodemus. I had not spoken much before God struck his heart. . . . His family did not know he had come to hear me. After he came home, his wife, who had been at the sermon, came in also, and wished heartily that he had heard me. He said nothing. After this another of his family came in, repeating the same wish; and, if I mistake not, after that another, till at last being unable to refrain any longer, with tears in his eyes, he told them that he had been hearing me. . . . Though upwards of threescore years old, he is now, I believe, born again of God.

The other is Captain H——l, formerly as great a reprobate as I have ever heard of, almost a scandal and reproach to human nature. . . . By God’s grace, he is now, I believe a Christian. Not only reformed but renewed. The effectual stroke, he told me, was given when I preached last spring at Pennytack. . . . Ever since, he has been zealous for the truth, stood firm when he was beaten, and in danger of being murdered sometime ago by many of my opposers; and in short shows forth his faith by his works. I mention these cases in particular, because I think they are remarkable proofs of the doctrine of God’s eternal election and everlasting love. Whatever men’s reasoning may suggest, if the children of God fairly examine their own experiences—if they do God justice, they must acknowledge that they did not choose God, but that God chose them.

Reflection

What do you think of Whitefield’s statement that these converts did not choose God but God chose them? Our culture tells us that we have free will and that we are the captains of our own fate. If you are a Christian, have you considered the possibility that God chose you before you chose him?

You didn’t choose me. I chose you.

John 15:16