George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

328 GEORGE WHITEFIELD
began to collect his numerous letters ; and to them we are
indebted, along with his journals, for the best story of his life.
He felt that another voyage to America, whither he must go again
on account of Bethesda's affairs, would probably be the last
and he begged his friends Keen and Hardy to let him have
his papers and letters, that he might revise and dispose of them
in a proper manner.
It was in June and July, 1768, that he paid his fourteenth
and last visit to Edinburgh, always a dear city to him. He
thanked God for ordering his steps thither. The congrega-
tions in the orphan-house park were as large and attentive as
those which he addressed when he was called ' a godly youth
by his friends, and a ' minister of the devil ' by his enemies.
Great was their affection for him, and his only danger was that
of ' being hugged to death ; ' for there were friends of twenty-
seven years' standing, and spiritual children of the same age,
who remembered the days of old. They were seeking after
their first love ; and the Spirit of God seemed to be moving
amongst them. He often got into the open air upon what he
was beginning fondly to call his ' throne ;
' and indeed he was
a king of men when there. ' O to die there !
' he exclaimed ;
then checking himself, he added, ' Too great, too great an
!
honour to be expected ' No
doubt the parting was as painful
as any he had ever known ; and he was wont to call parting
days ' execution days.'
Soon after his return to London, Mrs. Whitefield was seized
with an 'inflammatory fever,' and died on August 9, 1768.
He preached her funeral sermon from Romans viii. 20, ' For
the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by
reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope.'
Speaking of her fortitude, he observed :
' Do you remember my preaching in those fields by the old stump of a
tree? The multitude was great, and many were disposed to be riotous. A