George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

198 GEORGE WHITEFIELD
not all left in Whitefield's hands. Webster, of Edinburgh,
vindicated the work in the west of Scotland with great calm-
ness and charity towards adversaries. His words, after those
of the Cameronians and Associate Presbyterians, were like
summer breezes after an east wind. Jonathan Edwards also
wrote his ' Thoughts on the Present Revival in New Eng-
land,' &c.
The short retirement which Whitefield managed to snatch
from the revival work was devoted to domestic concerns, as
well as to the defence of preaching and its fruits. His mother
had sought a temporary home in his house at Bristol— probably
his sister's house had come into his possession—and the event
so delighted him that he must write to welcome her as if he
had been present :
' Honoured Mother,—I rejoice to hear that you have been so long under
my roof. Blessed be God that I have a house for my honoured mother to
come to. You are heartily welcome to anything my house affords as long
as you please. I am of the same mind now as formerly. If need was,
indeed, these hands should administer to your necessities. I had rather
want myself than you should. I shall be highly pleased when I come to
Bristol and find you sitting in your youngest son's house. O that I may
sit with you in the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens !
Ere long your doom, honoured mother, will be fixed. You must shortly
go hence and be no more seen. Your only daughter, I trust, is now in the
paradise of God: methinks I hear her say, "Mother, come up hither."
Jesus, I am sure, calls you in His word. May His Spirit enable you to
say, " Lord, lo I come." .'
. .
The orphans were still a great, though pleasant burden,
troubles having overtaken the institution from two sources.
The magistrates had' been acting with a high hand both
towards the masters and the children, but General Oglethorpe
had proved a warm and useful friend. The Spaniards had
also raided the coast, and the orphans had to be carried to a
place of safety. News of these alarms and troubles came with