George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

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GEORGE WHITEEIELD
preaching to little companies, as in the days when he first
entered the colony, at the same time watching the affairs of the
orphan-house, or rested to recruit himself, cannot be told. It
is certain that in the spring following he was much weighed
down with travelling, with care, and with his orphan-house
debts—was, in fact, in such poor health that his friends advised
him to try the air of Bermudas
' So sweet the air, so moderate the clime,
None sickly lives, or dies before the time.'
Were we to judge of the clime of the Summer Islands by
Whitefield's labours in them, Waller's praise might be taken for
literal truth; but Whitefield was an energetic invalid. The
diary of his two months' stay on the island is an agreeable
renewal of that journal which he unfortunately ceased too soon
to write. Its only remarkable difference from his general run
of narrative is the half-amused way in which he records the
wonder of the great men at his preaching without notes. A
clergyman invalid who could preach twice a day and travel
considerable distances was a great marvel, but a clergyman
who used no ' minutes ' in the pulpit was a greater. There was
only one greater degree of marvel possible, and that would
have been a clergyman preaching from notes to Kingswood
colliers on Hannam Mount, to London rabble at Moorfields
Fair, to thirty thousand Scotchmen who were full of anxiety
about their salvation, and holding them in rapt attention.
One entry from the journal may be given :
' Sunday, May 15th.—Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within
thee praise His holy name !
This morning I preached my farewell sermon
at Mr. Paul's meeting-house ; it was quite full, and as the president said,
above one hundred and fifty whites, besides blacks, were round the house.
Attention sat on every face; and when I came to take my leave, oh ! what
a sweet unaffected weeping was to be seen everywhere. I believe there