George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

STONED IN DUBLIN 309
story of the man who borrowed money for the collection at
Philadelphia is matched by a story of Whitefield's power in
this Scotch city. An officer, who knew Whitefield's influence,
laid a wager with another who was going to hear him with
a prejudiced mind, that he would feel himself obliged to
give something, notwithstanding his dislike. The wager was
accepted ; and the challenged man went to church with
empty pockets. But Whitefield so moved his heart that he
was fain to borrow from his neighbour, and his bet was lost.
In May, 1757, Whitefield was the most highly honoured
man in Edinburgh, the next month he was mobbed and
stoned in Dublin. Several Scotch towns had previously made
him a freeman ; and this year he received the marked respect
of the ministers of the General Assembly and of the Lord High
Commissioner. From the aristocracy of Scotland he went to
the Ormond and Liberty Boys of Ireland, and at their hands
received the last violence to which he was to be subjected.
It was their custom to meet and fight on Oxmanton Green, on
Sunday, but when Whitefield had appeared once on the ground,
and then came a second time, they turned their strength
against him, after he had preached to a vast multitude, and
stoned him as, all alone, he was returning home. He writes to
a friend that every step he took a fresh stone struck him, and
made him reel backwards and forwards, till he ' was almost
breathless, and all over a gore of blood.' He thought he
should have gone off ' in this bloody triumph to the immediate
presence of his Master.' Hatless, wounded, and bleeding, he
found a brief shelter in a minister's house, and some friends
bringing him a coach, he rode ' in gospel triumph through the
oaths, curses, and imprecations of whole streets of Papists,'
and without further injury reached Wesley's room. This
assault, of which he bore the scar all his life, was entirely
owing to his having exhorted all ranks to be faithful to the
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