George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

A DREAM 27
would not do, because his judgment and his conscience were
not fully convinced, is evident from the way in which his mind
ran in his dreams ; for though he calls the dream spoken of in
the next sentence 'a notice from God,' it was undoubtedly the
consequence of his state of mind about the ministry. He
says
' Long ere I had the least prospect of being called before the bishop, I
dreamed one night I was talking with him in his palace, and that he gave
me some gold, which seemed to sound again in my hand. Afterward this
dream would often come into my mind ; and, whenever I saw the bishop at
church, a strong persuasion would rise in my mind that I should very
shortly go to him. I always checked it, and prayed to God to preserve me
from ever desiring that honour which cometh of man. One afternoon it
happened that the bishop took a solitary walk—as I was afterwards told
to Lady Selwyn's, near Gloucester, who not long before had made me a
present of a piece of gold. She, I found, recommended me to the bishop ;
and, a few days after, as I was coming from the cathedral prayers, thinking
of no such thing, one of the vergers called after me, and said the bishop
desired to speak with me. I— forgetful at that time of my dream—imme-
diately turned back, considering what I had done to deserve his lordship's
displeasure. When I came to the top of the palace stairs, the bishop took
me by the hand, told me he was glad to see me, and bid me wait a little
till he had put off his habit, and he would return to me again. This gave
me the opportunity of praying to God for His assistance, and for His
providence over me.
' At his coming again into the room, the bishop told me he had heard of
my character, liked my behaviour at church, and inquiring my age, " Not-
withstanding," says he, " I have declared I would not ordain any one under
three-and-twenty, yet I shall think it my duty to ordain you whenever you
come for holy orders." He then made me a present of five guineas, to buy
a book, which, sounding again in my hand, put me in mind of my dream ;
whereupon my heart was filled with a sense of God's love.'
Whitefield determined to offer himself for ordination the
next Ember days. That determination made, the next question
was as to his place of labour ; and here contending interests
disturbed him. At Gloucester he had been useful, and his
friends wished to have him with them. But when he went up
to Oxford, his old friends there made out a still more urgent