George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

1 32 GEORGE WHITEF1ELD
to labour also for that meat which endureth to everlasting life. Thursday,
January 24th.—Went this morning and took possession of my lot. I hope it
is cast in a fair ground, and God, in answer to our prayers, will show that
He has given us a goodly heritage. I called it Bethesda, that is, the house
of mercy ; for I hope many acts of mercy will be shown there, and that
many will thereby be stirred up to praise the Lord, as a God whose mercy
endureth for ever. Tuesday, January 29th.—Took in three German orphans,
the most pitiful objects, I think, that I ever saw. No new Negroes could
possibly look more despicable, or require more pains to instruct them.
Was all the money I have collected to be spent in freeing these three
children from slavery, it would be well laid out. I have also in my house
near twenty more, who, in all probability, if not taken in, would be as
ignorant of God and Christ, comparatively speaking, as the Indians.
Blessed be God, they begin to live in order. Continue this and all other
blessings to them, for Thy infinite mercy's sake, O Lord, my strength and
my Redeemer. Wednesday, January 30th.—Went this day with the
carpenter and surveyor, and laid out the ground whereon the orphan-
house is to be built. It is to be sixty feet long and forty wide ; a yard
and garden before and behind. The foundation is to be brick, and is to
be sunk four feet within, and raised three feet above, the ground. The
house is to be two story high with a hip roof; the first ten, the second
nine feet high. In all there will be nearly twenty commodious rooms.
Behind are to be two small houses, the one for an infirmary, the other for
a workhouse. There is also to be a still-house for the apothecary ; and I
trust ere my return to England, I shall see the children and family quite
settled in it. I find it will be an expensive work ; but it is for the Lord
Christ. He will take care to defray all charges. The money that will be
spent on this occasion will keep many families from leaving the colony ;
there are near thirty working at the plantation already, and I would employ
as many more if they were to be had. Whatsoever is done for God ought to
be done speedily, as well as with all our might. Monday, February 4.
Met, according to appointment, with all the magistrates, and the former
trustee of the orphans, who heard the recorder read over the grant given
me by the Trustees, and took a minute of their approbation of the same.
Lord, grant that I and my friends may carefully watch over every soul
that is or shall be committed to our charge !
Whitefield did not wait until the orphanage was ready
before beginning his philanthropic work, but at once hired a
large house, and took in all the orphans he could find in the
colony ; and that he might get all, he went to several of the