George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

A SCOFFER CAUGHT 235
he was obliged to go in at the window. Immediately after
him came the high sheriff, who had been hostile to the 'new
lights,' and the sight of whose face, as it appeared through the
window, almost made the astonished people cry out, ' Is Saul
also among the prophets ? '
Another day his friend Mr. Prince told him he should
shortly be visited by a very pensive and uncommon person,
one of good parts, ready wit, and lively imagination, who, to
procure matter for tavern amusement, had often gone to hear
Whitefield preach, and then returned to his bottle and his
friends, and recounted what he could remember, at the same
time adorning it with further exposition. He went once too
often for his fun. The crowd which bore him easily into
Dr. S 's meeting-house as Whitefield entered, was like a
solid rock behind him, when he wished to return with what
he thought was sufficient food for sport. Obliged to stay, he
kept looking up at Whitefield and waiting for anything he
could ridicule. But soon he began to feel miserable under
what he heard, and when he withdrew, it was to go to Mr.
Prince and confess his sins, and his desire to ask Whitefield's
pardon, only he was afraid to see him. Mr. Prince encour-
aged him to venture. He went, and Whitefield, on opening
the door for him, saw in his pale, pensive, and horrified
countenance, the story of his life. In a low, plaintive voice he
said, ' Sir, can you forgive me ? ' ' Yes, sir, very readily,' said
Whitefield with a smile. The visitor thought that the tale of
all his wrong-doings would make that impossible; but White-
field asked him to sit down, and then spoke to him such
comfort as the gospel has provided for broken hearts.
The stay among his New England friends was more pro-
longed than usual. Upon the renewal of his journeys his
course is not easily traced. Such glimpses of him, however,
as we do get lend fresh charm both to him and his work.