George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

DEPRESSION AND SUCCESS 157
great movings of soul among his hearers, that he rode towards
New York. His companion, Mr. Noble, tried to encourage
him, by assuring him that his last visit had done good to
many, and bade him look for great things from God. The
first service was an earnest of things not looked for. Pember-
ton's meeting-house contained an anxious congregation on
Friday morning, some being hardly able to refrain from crying
out ; and at night the excitement was greater still. On Sunday
his soul was down in the depths ; before going to evening
service he could only cast himself on the ground before God,
confessing himself to be a miserable sinner, and wondering
that Christ would be gracious to such a wretch. On his way
to the meeting-house he became weaker, and when he entered
the pulpit he would rather have been silent than have spoken.
The preparation for his work was such as only devoutest souls,
who feel a constant need for the comfort and aid of an
invisible Friend, can have ; and the effect of the sermon was
marvellous. Scarcely was it begun before the whole congre-
gation was alarmed. Loud weeping and crying arose from
every corner of the building. Many were so overcome with
agitation that they fell into the arms of their friends. White-
field himself was so carried away, that he spoke until he could
hardly speak any longer.
Larger congregations came the next day, and the feeling
was still intense, in the evening he bade them farewell, and
carrying with him a hundred and ten pounds as their gift to
his orphanage, passed across to Staten Island. At Newark
the scenes of New York were renewed. The word fell like a
hammer and like fire. Looking pale and sick as if ready to
die, one cried as he staggered to the ground, ' What must I do
to be saved ? ' Whitefield's host from Charleston, who
seemed to be accompanying him because of a personal affec-
tion for him, and not because of thorough religious sympathy