George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

GROUNDS OF CHRISTIAN UNION 241
quoted from, and others presently to be referred to, amply
sustain the generous eulogy of his friend Charles Wesley :
said :
' When Satan strove the brethren to divide,
And turn their zeal to " Who is on my side?"
One moment warmed with controversial fire,
He felt the spark as suddenly expire ;
He felt revived the pure ethereal flame,
The love for all that bowed to Jesus' name,
Nor ever more would for opinions fight
With men whose life, like his, was in the right.'
On September 11, 1747, he wrote to John Wesley, and
' Not long ago I received your kind letter, dated in February last. Your
others, I believe, came to hand, and I hope ere now you have received my
answer. My heart is really for an outward as well as for an inward I
union. Nothing shall be wanting on my part to bring it about, but I /
cannot see how it can possibly be effected till we all think and speak the /
same things. I rejoice to hear that you and your brothers are more mode- /
rate with respect to sinless perfection. Time and experience, I believe, /
will convince you that attaining such a state in this life is not a doctrine of/
the everlasting gospel. As for universal redemption, if we omit from each/
side the talking for or against reprobation, which we may do fairly, ana
agree as we already do in giving a universal offer to all poor sinners thai
will come and taste the water of life, I think we may manage very well.' *
Thus reprobation sank into oblivion—really died without a
struggle. The same day he wrote a shorter but perhaps still
warmer letter to Charles.
At the end of his summer's labours he turned his face again
to Bethesda. A little riding tired him, but still he felt that,
near as he had been to the kingdom of heaven, some of his
friends had prayed him back again into the world. His heart
was all gratitude for the success of his word :
' the barren
wilderness was made to smile all the way.' What he did
during the winter of 1747-48, whether he went about Georgia
17