Calvin and Missions - World Evangelical Alliance

McFetridge: Calvinism as an Evangelizing Force (1882) 25
Whitefield, whilst “Wesley was dragged into it reluctantly.” In the polite
language of the day “Calvinism” and “Methodism” were synonymous
terms, and the Methodists were called “another sect of Presbyterians.” 42
The sainted Toplady said of the time, “Arminianism is the great religious
evil of this age and country. It has more or less infected every Protestant
denomination amongst us, and bids fair for leaving us, in a short time, not
so much as the very profession of godliness … We have generally forsaken
the principles of the Reformation, and ‘Ichabod,’ the glory is departed, has
been written on most of our pulpits and church-doors ever since.”
It was Calvinism, and not Arminianism, which originated (so far as any
system of doctrines originated) the great religious movement in which the
Methodist Church was born.
While, therefore, Wesley is to be honored for his work in behalf of that
Church, we should not fail to remember the great Calvinist, George Whitefield,
who gave that Church her first beginnings and her most distinctive
character. Had he lived longer, and not shrunk from the thought of being
the founder of a Church, far different would have been the results of his
labors. As it was, he gathered congregations for others to form into
churches, and built chapels for others to preach in.
In all that awakening in this country it was such Calvinists as Whitefield,
Tennent, Edwards, Brainerd, and, at a later day, Nettleton and Griffin, who
were the chief actors. “The Great Revival of 1800,” as it is called, began
toward the close of the last century and continued for a generation into this.
During that time it was one series of awakenings. It spread far and wide,
refreshing and multiplying the churches. It was the beginning of all those
great religious movements for which our century is so noted. The doctrines
which were employed to bring it about were those, as a recent writer remarks,
“which are commonly distinguished as Calvinistic.” 43 “The work,”
says the another, “was begun and carried on in this country under the
preaching and influence of the doctrines contained in the Confession of
Faith of the Presybeterian Church.” 44 “It is wonderful how the holy influence
of Jonathan Edwards, David Brainerd and others of that day is to be
traced at the root of the revival and missionary efforts of all sects and
lands.” 45
42 Bampton Lectures, for 1812. 22 Speer’s Great Revival of 1800, p. 52.
43 Speer’s Great Revival. p. 52.
44 Dr. Smil. Ralston’s Letters.
45 Speer’s Great Revival. p. 112.