George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

A LOG-COLLEGE 125
The return of the party from New York was a preaching
tour, under the direction of Tennent, who in due time brought
them to Neshamini, where his father lived, and where White-
field was announced to preach. It may serve to keep alive an
interest in his feelings amidst his labours, to mention that, in
the early part of the service, the three thousand people who
were assembled to hear him seemed unaffected, that this caused
him to 'wrestle' much for them in himself, and that at night he
had to withdraw for a while from the conversation of the circle
of holy men, to recover in private his composure and joy.
Then they talked together of what plans would be the best
for promoting the kingdom of our Lord. The best plan,
however, was already in operation in that log-house which
stood hard by, old Mr. Tennent's Academy, 'the College,' as it
was contemptuously called by such as thought that learning
could not be nursed in such rude quarters, whatever might
become of any piety which sought its shelter. Seven or eight
good men had just gone forth from it to their work ; more
were almost ready to follow ; and a foundation was being laid
for the instruction of many others. The minister whose soul
was so hot about the ' Pharisee-teachers ' who knew nothing of
the new birth, had here a work which thoroughly commanded
his heart. They all felt sure that it was right. Out of the
log-house, which the dauntless, vehement, sarcastic Tennents
built in faith, rose Princeton College.
His wandering life, the excitement which his presence always
caused, and the curiosity of all to see and hear him, were sure
to bring to his notice some of the oddest phases of life, and
some of the saddest and tenderest too. One day he was taken
to see a hermit, who had lived a solitary life for forty years
a hermit, but not a misanthrope. The old man talked with
much feeling of his inward trials, and when asked by White-
field whether he had not many such in so close a retirement,