became helps meet for each other in the great work of their salvation."

In the same spirit he also exerted himself on behalf of his relations and friends, at Gloucester. His discovery of the necessity of regeneration, like Melancthon's discovery of the truth, led him to imagine, that no one could resist the evidence which convinced his own mind. 66 Upon this, like the woman of Samaria, when Christ revealed himself to her at the well, I had no rest in my soul, till I wrote letters to my relations, telling them there was such a thing as the new birth. I imagined they would have gladly received it: but alas! my words seemed to them as idle tales. They thought I was going beside myself."

I have not been able to obtain any of the letters on this subject, which he addressed to his own family; but the following extract from one to a friend, will be a sufficient specimen of their character.

"Lest you should imagine that true religion consists in any thing besides an entire renewal of our nature into the image of God, I have sent you a book, entitled, The Life of God in the Soul of Man,' written by a young, but an eminent Christian ;-which will inform you what true religion is, and how you may attain it; as, likewise, how wretchedly most people err in their sentiments about it, who suppose it to be nothing else (as he tells us, page 3) but a mere model of outward performances; without ever considering, that all our corrupt passions must be subdued, and a complex habit of virtues such as meekness, lowliness, faith, hope, and the love of God and of man-be implanted in their room, before we can have the least title to enter into the kingdom of God. Our Divine Master having expressly told us, that unless we ' renounce ourselves, and take up our cross daily, we cannot be his disciples.' And again, unless we have the spirit of Christ, we are none of his.""

This advice met, we are informed, "with a cold reception," and was an ungrateful subject to his friend at first; and yet, even while it was so, such were his confused notions of religion, that he urges his friend to receive "the holy communion" frequently; assuring him, that "nothing so much bedwarfs us in religion, as staying away from the heavenly banquet." As if a man, who had no relish for the doctrine of regeneration, could have any religion!

Having thus noticed the line of conduct which, notwith

standing all his crude notions, he pursued at Oxford,-I proceed now to record the means by which he was supported during his stay at the University. It will be recollected that his chief dependence was upon the emoluments of servitorship.

"Soon after my acceptance I went and resided, and found my having been used to a public-house was now of service to me. For, many of the servitors being sick, at my first coming up, by my diligent and steady attendance, I ingratiated myself into the gentlemen's favour so far, that many who had it in their power chose me to be their servitor. This much lessened my expense; and, indeed, God was so gracious, that with the profits of my place, and some little presents made me by my kind tutor, for almost the first three years I did not put all my relations together to above £24 expense." When he joined himself to the methodists, the profits of his place were, as might be expected, diminished: a number "took away their pay from me; but other sources of supply were soon opened for him. Some of the methodists having left Oxford about this time, and being solicitous to keep up the society, wrote to Sir John Philips of London, commending Whitefield to his patronage, "as a proper person" to say and encourage their friends in fighting the good fight of faith. "Accordingly he immediately offered me an annuity of twenty pounds. To show his disinterestedness, he has promised me that, whether I continue here or not; and if I resolve to stay at Oxon, he'll give me thirty pounds a year. If that will not do, I may have more." In this manner was he provided for, when his original resources failed.

The state of his health, however, compelled him to quit, for a time, his "sweet retirement" at Oxford. So long as he could, he resisted all the persuasions of his tutor and physician, and all the invitations of his mother to visit Glouces ter. Their urgency at length prevailed, and he returned home. My friends were surprised to see me look and behave so cheerfully, after the many reports they had heard concerning me."

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"However, I soon found myself to be as a sheep sent forth amongst wolves in sheep's clothing; for they immediately endeavoured to dissuade me from a constant use of the means of grace; especially from weekly abstinence, and receiving the blessed sacrament. But God enabled me to resist them, steadfast in the faith; and, by keeping close to him in his holy ordinances, I was made to triumph over all."

"Being unaccustomed for some time to live without spiritual companions, and finding none that would heartily join me-no, not one-I watched unto prayer all the day long; beseeching God to raise me some religious associates in his own way and time. I will endeavour either to find or make a friend' had been my resolution now for some time, and therefore after importunate prayer one day, I resolved to go to the house of one Mrs. W- to whom I had formerly read plays, Spectators, Pope's Homer, and such like trifling books; hoping the alteration she now would find in my sentiments, might, under God, influence her soul. God was pleased to bless the visit with the desired effect: she received the word gladly she wanted to be taught the way of God more perfectly, and soon became a fool for Christ's sake.' Not long after, God made me instrumental to awaken several young persons, who soon formed themselves into a little society, and had quickly the honour of being despised at Gloucester, as we had been before them at Oxford. Thus, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution."

As his efforts and usefulness, during the period of this visit to Gloucester, may be viewed as the dawn of his future zeal and success, it will be proper, before enumerating more instances, to record, distinctly, the manner in which he prepared himself for doing good to others.

"My mind being now more open and enlarged, I began to read the holy Scriptures upon my knees; laying aside all other books, and praying over, if possible, every line and word. This proved meat indeed, and drink indeed, to my soul. I daily received fresh life, light, and power from above. I got more true knowledge from reading the book of God, in one month, than I could ever have acquired from all the writings of men. In one word, I found it profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction; every way sufficient to make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished for every good work and word. About this time God was pleased to enlighten my soul, and bring me into the knowledge of his free grace and the necessity of being justified in His sight by faith only. This was more extraordinary, because my friends at Oxford had rather inclined to the mystic divinity. Burkitt's and Henry's Expositions were of admirable use, to lead me into this and all other gospel truths. It is the good old doctrine of the church of England; it is what the holy martyrs, in Queen Mary's time, sealed with their blood." To

these habits of reading, Whitefield added much secret prayer. "Oh, what sweet communion had I daily vouchsafed with God in prayer after my coming to Gloucester! How often have I been carried out beyond myself, when meditating in the fields! How assuredly I felt that Christ dwelt in me and I in Him, and how daily did I walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and was edified and refreshed in the multitude of peace!"

Such were Whitefield's private habits while attempting to be useful in public. His zeal and success will now be understood.

"I always observed that as my inward strength increased, so my outward sphere of action increased proportionably. In a short time, therefore, I began to read to some poor people twice or thrice a week. I likewise visited two other little societies besides my own. Occasionally, as business and opportunity permitted, I generally visited one or two sick persons every day; and though silver and gold I had little of my own, yet in imitation of my Lord's disciples, who entreated in behalf of the fainting multitude, I used to pray unto Him; and he, from time to time, inclined several that were rich in this world, to give me money; so that I generally had a little stock for the poor always in my hand. One of the poor, whom I visited in this manner, was called effectually by God at the eleventh hour: she was a woman above threescore years old; and, I really believe, died in the true faith of Jesus Christ.

"At my first coming to Gloucester, being used to visit the prisoners at Oxford, I prayed most earnestly that God would open a door for me to visit the prisoners here also. Quickly after, I dreamed that one of the prisoners came to be instructed by me: it was much impressed upon my heart. In the morning I went to the door of the county gaol;—I knocked, but nobody came to open it. I waited still upon God in prayer; and in some months after, came a letter from a friend at Oxford, desiring me to go to one Pebworth, who had broken out of Oxford gaol, and was re-taken at Gloucester. As soon as I read this letter, it appeared to me that my prayer was now answered. Immediately I went to the prison: I met with the person, and finding him and some others willing to hear the word of God, (having gained leave of the keeper and two ordinaries,) I constantly read to and prayed with them, every day I was in town. I also begged money for them, whereby I was enabled to release some of them, and

cause provision to be distributed weekly among them; as also to put such books into their hands as I judged most proper. I cannot say that any one of the prisoners was effectually wrought upon; however, much evil was prevented, many were convinced, and my own soul was much edified and strengthened in the love of God and man.

"During my stay here, God enabled me to give a public testimony of my repentance,-as to seeing and acting plays; for, hearing the strollers had come to town, and knowing what an egregious offender I had been, I was stirred up to extract Mr. Law's excellent treatise, entitled, "The Absolute Unlawfulness of the Stage Entertainment.' The printer at my request put a little of it in the news, for six weeks successively; and God was pleased to give it his blessing." In this manner Whitefield employed himself during nine months; and one effect of pursuing such plans was, that "the partitionwall of bigotry and sect religion was soon broken down" in his heart. "I loved all, of whatever denomination, that loved the Lord Jesus in sincerity." This acknowledgment stands, in his diary, connected with an account of the benefit he derived from studying the works of the non-conformists. Baxter's "Call" and Allein's "Alarm," accorded so with his own ideas of fidelity and unction, that wherever he recognized their spirit he acknowledged "a brother beloved."

Upon this portion of his history the mind dwells with almost unmixed delight: the only drawback is, the undue importance attached by him to dreams; and even those, considered as an index to his waking thoughts, are interesting; revealing, as they do, his deep solicitude on behalf of souls. His zeal was now according to knowledge ;-his object, at once, definite and scriptural;-his measures direct and rational, and his motives truly evangelical. Drawing his own hope and consolation immediately from the oracles of God, he led others direct to the same source; shutting up to the faith those he associated with. In this respect Whitefield presents a striking contrast to Wesley, at the commencement of his public exertions. The latter, although equally conscientious, was so crazed with the crude notions of the mystics, that when he left Oxford to visit Georgia, Law's “Christian Perfection" was almost his text-book, while instructing his fellow-passengers. Accordingly the success of the two, at the time, was as different as the means which they severally adopted. While Whitefield won souls by reading the