His voice startled England like a trumpet blast.
I love those that thunder out the Word. The Christian World is in a dead sleep. Nothing but a loud voice can awaken them out of it. -George Whitefield
Part of the First Great Awakening, George Whitefield greatly influenced America, a topic I once mentioned to 18th century black British pastor, Gowan Pamphlet, which resulted in his eyes lighting up with joy.
Born on December 16, 1714, in Gloucester, Great Britain, Whitefield attended grammar school as part of his classical education, while also dabbled with acting in the theater.
As a result, dramatically performing Bible stories and obtaining oratorical skills stayed with him for the rest of his life.
While attending Oxford, White turned to Christ and befriended the Wesley brothers.
Although ordained by the Anglican church in 1736, Whitefield eventually wasn’t allowed to preach inside a church.
ORATORICAL SKILLS
Undaunted, Whitefield took his preaching outdoors, his resonant voice carrying to crowds of up to 20,000.
I would give a hundred guineas if I could say ‘Oh’ like Mr. Whitefield. -David Garrick, famous 18th century British actor and playwright
Hark! Methinks I hear [the saints] chanting their everlasting hallelujahs, and spending an eternal day in echoing forth triumphant songs of joy. And do you not long, my brethren, to join this heavenly choir? -George Whitefield, The Extent and Reasonableness of Self-Denial
PHILADELPHIA
Arriving in the American colonies, the man known as the Heavenly Comet preached first in Philadelphia at Christ Church on November 6, 1739.
In 1739 arriv’d among us from England the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, who had made himself remarkable there as an itinerant Preacher. He was at first permitted to preach in some of our Churches; but the Clergy taking a Dislike to him, soon refus’d him their Pulpits and he was oblig’d to preach in the Fields. The Multitudes of all Sects and Denominations that attended his Sermons were enormous…It was wonderful to see the Change soon made in the Manners [behavior] of our Inhabitants; from being thoughtless or indifferent about Religion, it seem’d as if all the World were growing Religious; so that one could not walk thro’ the Town in an Evening without Hearing Psalms sung in different Families of every Street…He had a loud and clear Voice, and articulated his Words and Sentences so perfectly that he might be heard and understood at a great Distance. -Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography
WILLIAMSBURG
On George Whitefield’s twenty-fifth birthday, he preached What Think Ye of Christ? to a packed Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, on December 16, 1739.
Warmly receiving George Whitefield the day before, Reverand Blair received word the next day from the Anglican Bishop of London to NOT allow Whitefield to speak at Bruton Parish Church.
Whitefield’s crime was his message speaking against unconverted church members and ministers, through sermons such as What Think Ye of Christ?
These bold messages evangelized the thirteen colonies, unifying them to understand that virtue is needed to have liberty.
Our Founding Fathers thusly sought Independence.
REENACTMENT
Waiting for another year, the day arrived.
Appropriately on December 16, 2011, in an historically accurate packed Bruton Parish Church, we heard George Whitefield preach, What Think Ye of Christ?
Afterwards some of the guests reflected with the historical interpreter portraying George Whitefield, noting the relevance of the message of the sermon today, as it was over 200 years ago.
GEORGE WHITEFIELD, CHARLES WESLEY, AND A CHRISTMAS CAROL
For this Christmastide in Colonial Williamsburg, I found a great story about George Whitefield, Charles Wesley, and a Christmas carol.
In 1739, Charles Wesley had published Hymns and Sacred Poems, in which a Christmas Carol read:
Hark how all the Welkin rings
Glory to the King of Kings.
Popular in English poetry was usage of the word welkin, meaning sky or heavens, which one hymn scholar explains reflected a 1735 poem about fox hunting, where the word welkin was used to describe huntsmen and hunting dogs crying out to the skies.
Apparently, not everyone caught the deep reference between the two as quickly as Wesley did, so George Whitefield changed a few words when he wrote Hymns for Social Worship, in 1753, which included along with 21 hymns by the Wesley’s:
Hark! the Herald Angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
In 1780, the Wesleys had published A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists, where they included Whitefield’s wording for their Christmas carol.
