George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

io6 GEORGE WHITEFIELD
vanities, let the consequences, as to my own private person, be what they
would. They immediately consenting, I rode back to town, got upon the
stage erected for the wrestlers, and began to show them the error of their
ways. Many seemed ready to hear what I had to say ; but one, more
zealous than the rest for his master, and fearing conviction every time
I attempted to speak, set the boys on repeating their huzzahs.
' My soul, I perceived, was in a sweet frame, willing to be offered up,
so that I might save some of those to whom I was about to speak ; but all
in vain !
While I was on the stage, one struck me with his cudgel, which
I received with the utmost love. At last, finding the devil would not
permit them to give me audience, I got off; and after much pushing and
thronging me, I got on my horse with unspeakable satisfaction within my-
self, that I had now begun to attack the devil in his strongest holds,
and had borne my testimony against the detestable diversions of this
generation.'
There had been more danger in Basingstoke than he saw,
and it was well that he went to an inn and not to a friend's
house, as had been expected. A band of twelve ruffians had
been lying in wait in that quarter of the town where he was
expected to sleep, determined to give him ' a secret blow and
prevent his making disturbances ; ' and
one of them had the
audacity to confess their intentions to a Quaker friend of
Whitefield— J. Portsmouth—the day after Whitefield left the
town.
Nothing daunted by his late peril— full particulars of which
were sent after him — he, within a week, made another
experiment, almost as bold, which was more successful. He
announced that he would preach at Hackney Marsh, on the
day of a horse-race, and ten thousand gathered around him,
hardly any of whom left him for the race. Some who left
returned very quickly, and to them he addressed a few words
specially.
Before any censure for rashness or recklessness is pronounced
upon him for these efforts, it should be well understood that
he did not boast of them ; that he did not covet notoriety
and that he did not act without either prayer or consideration.