George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

ioo GEORGE WHITEFIELD
thousand, but one thousand, and the rest had stayed at home,
because of a report that he was dead. Wherever he went he
found the people much surprised and rejoiced to see him
alive. Another blow fell on him at the same time. His
friend, the vicar of Bexley, was forbidden to allow h'im his
pulpit. That night he preached on Blackheath, to as large a
congregation as ever, from the text, 'And they cast him out,'
and recommended the people to prepare for a gathering
storm.
Matters were a little threatening when he visited Tewkesbury
on July 2nd. He had created great excitement at Gloucester,
at Randwick, and at Hampton Common. The bailiffs of
Tewkesbury had raised much opposition to his coming thither
also, and had him, on his arrival at his inn, attended by four
constables. These were quickly sent off by a lawyer, a friend
of Whitefield, who demanded their warrant, and found that
they had none. Three thousand people attended an evening
service outside the liberties of the town.
The next morning he waited upon one of the bailiffs to ask
his reason for sending the constables. The bailiff replied
that it was the determination of the whole council, and that
the people had been noisy, and reflected upon the bailiffs.
' The noise,' Whitefield answered, ' was owing to their sending
the constables with their staves, to apprehend me when I
should come into the town.' The bailiff retorted in anger,
that a certain judge had declared his determination to take
Whitefield up as a vagrant if he preached near him. ' He is
very welcome,' said Whitefield, ' to do as he pleases, but I
apprehend no magistrate has power to stop my preaching,
even in the streets, if I think proper.' ' No, sir,' said the
bailiff; 'if you preach here to-morrow, you shall have the
constable to attend you.' Whitefield went away, telling him
first that he thought it his duty as a minister to inform him