George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

A CALL TO GEORGIA 37
unexpected are the changes which come over the course of
events in life that Wesley, who was shortly to leave America
and never again visit it, could write in this urgent and confident
way :
' Only Mr. Delamotte is with me, till God shall stir up
the hearts of some of His servants, who, putting their lives in
their hands, shall come over and help us, where the harvest is
so great and the labourers so few. What if thou art the man,
Mr. Whitefield ? ' Another of his letters, by presenting to
Whitefield's mind nothing but heavenly rewards, was still
better calculated to secure his co-operation. ' Do
you ask
me,' he says, 'what you shall have? Food to eat and raiment
to put on, a house to lay your head in such as your Master had
not, and a crown of glory that fadeth not away.' As White-
field read, his heart leaped within him, and echoed to the call.
The call was heaven-sent, if any call has ever been.
The United States, then a line of English colonies on the
Atlantic coast, were to share largely in Whitefield's labours,
and he as largely in their kindness and generosity ; and that
hand which was beckoning him to their shore was quietly and
effectually undoing the ties which held him to England. Mr.
Kinchin obtained the appointment of Dean of Corpus Christi,
and could take Whitefield's place as the leader of Methodism
at Oxford. Mr. Hervey was ready to serve the cure of
Dummer. No place would suffer from Whitefield's departure,
and there seemed to be a necessity for him to help Georgia,
which was a young, increasing colony, enjoying much favour
from the home government. Besides, there were many Indians
near the colony, and Whitefield felt the stirrings of a mis-
sionary spirit. The decision was given in favour of Georgia,
and in a way that made alteration almost out of the question.
Neither Oxford friends nor Gloucester relations were this time
consulted, but a firm, personal resolution was made which
nothing was to be allowed to assail. Relations were informed