The first collection he made in America was at the Rev. Mr. Smith's meeting honse in Charleston, whither he went about the middle of March, to see his brother, the captain of a ship from England. He was desired, by some of the inhabitants, to speak in behalf of the poor orphans; and the collection amounted to seventy pounds sterling. This was no small encouragement to him at that time, especially as he had reason to think it came from those who had received spiritual benefit by his ministrations.

Having returned to Savannah, he went to the spot of ground where he intended the Orphan-house should be built; and, upon the 25th day of March, 1740, laid the first brick of the great house, which he called BETHESDA, i. e. a house of mercy.* By this time, near forty children were taken in, to be provided with food and raiment; and, counting the workmen and all, he had near a hundred to be daily fed. He had very little money in the bank, and yet he was not discouraged; being persuaded that the best thing he could do at present for the infant colony was to carry on the work.

CHAPTER VI.

From his laying the foundation of his Orphan-house in Georgia, to his arrival in England, 1741.

MR. WHITEFIELD again set off in a sloop for Newcastle, in Delaware, where he arrived in ten days, extremely weak in body, and his spirits much depressed; yet, as he afterwards observed, Providence was infinitely better to him than his fears, and exceeded his most sanguine expectations; for his strength was surprisingly increased, insomuch, that during the space of two months, he was enabled to preach two or three times a day.

At Philadelphia the churches were now denied him. He therefore preached in the fields, and large collections were made for the Orphan-house; once, one hundred and ten pounds sterling. Societies for praying and singing were set on foot, and in every part of the town, many were concerned about their salvation.t "Many negroes came," says Mr. Whitefield, "some inquiring, have I a soul?"

Long after this he writes, "Blessed be God, I have not been disappointed in the hope, that it would be a house and place of mercy to many, both in respect to body and soul."

A church was formed by the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, out of those who were Jenominated the followers and converts of Mr. Whitefield. No less than 140 individuals were received at first, after a strict examination, as members of

At New York, New Brunswick, Staten Island, Baskenridge, Whitely Creek, Frog's Manor, and Reedy Island, there was great concern upon the minds both of the preacher and hearers.

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Sometimes he was almost dead with heat and fatigue. Thrice a day he was lifted upon his horse, unable to mount otherwise; then rode and preached, and came in and laid himself along upon two or three chairs. He did not doubt that such a course would soon take him to his desired rest. Yet he had many delightful hours with Messrs. Tennents, Blair, &c. "Night," says he, was as it were turned into day, when we rode singing through the woods. I could not help recommending these men, wherever I went, in the strongest manner, because I saw they gloried in the cross of Christ." In a Journal written by Mr. William Seward, (Mr. Whitefield's companion in traveling,) we have the following particulars relating to this period.

"April 9, 1740. Mr. Whitefield proposed my going to England upon several important affairs, particularly to bring over Mr. Hutchins to take care of the Orphan-house in his absence to acquaint the trustees of Georgia with the state of the colony, and the means under God, for the better establishment thereof, it being now upheld almost wholly by the soldiery and Orphan-house, most of the people who are unconcerned in either, being gone or about to go. The proper means are principally three: 1. An allowance of negroes. 2. A free title to the lands. 3. An independent magistracy, viz. such as are able and willing to serve without fee or reward. My business with the trustees will be farther, to bring over the money lodged in their hands for building the church at Savannah. I am, moreover, to collect subscriptions for a negro school in Pennsylvania, where Mr. Whitefield proposes to take up land, in order to settle a town for the reception of those English friends, whose hearts God shall incline to come and settle there.

"April 13. Mr. Tennent informed us of the great success which had attended Mr. Whitefield's preaching when here last. For some time a general silence was fixed by the Lord on the people's minds, and many began seriously to think on what foundation they stood. A general outward reformation has been visible. Many ministers have been quickened in their zeal to preach the word in season and out of season. Congrega

this newly constituted church. The admission of a large number more was delayed, only because their exercises and spiritual state had not yet attained such maturity as to afford satisfaction to themselves, or to the officers of the church.-See Memoirs of Mrs. H. Hodge.

tions are increased, and some few, it is hoped, will be brought through their convictions, into a sound and saving conversion.

"April 14. Mr. Jones, the Baptist minister, told us of two other ministers, Mr. Treat and Mr. Morgan, who were so affected with Mr. Whitefield's spirit, that the latter had gone forth preaching the glad tidings of salvation towards the sea coast in New Jersey, and many other places which lay in darkness and the shadow of death. The former told his congregation that he had been hitherto deceiving himself and them, and he could not preach to them at present, but desired they would join in prayer with him.

"April 15. We were informed that an Indian trader was so affected with Mr. Whitefield's doctrine, that he was gone to teach the Indians, with whom he used to trade.

"April 18. This day was published, Mr. Whitefield's letter to the inhabitants of Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, about the abuse of the poor negroes.

"Heard of a drinking club that had a negro boy attending them, who used to mimic people for their diversion. The gentlemen bid him mimic Mr. Whitefield, which he was unwilling to do: but they insisting upon it, he stood up and said, 'I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not; unless you repent, you will all be damned.' This unexpected speech broke up the club, which has not met since.

"Notice was given of a new lecture at Germantown every Thursday, by four ministers.

"April 22. Agreed with Mr. Allen for five thousand acres af land on the forks of Delaware, at 2,2001. sterling, the conveyance to be made to Mr. Whitefield, and after that assigned to me, as security for my advancing the money. Mr. Whitefield proposes to give orders for building the negro school on the purchased land, before he leaves the province.

"April 24. Came to Christopher Wigner's plantation in Skippack, where many Dutch people are settled, and where the famous Mr. Spalemburg lately resided. It was surprising to see such a multitude of people gathered together in such a wilderness country, thirty miles distant from Philadelphia. Mr. Whitefield was exceedingly carried out, in his sermon, to press poor sinners to come to Christ by faith, and claim all their privileges; viz. not only righteousness and peace, but joy in the Holy Ghost; and after he had done, our dear friend, Peter Bohler, preached in Dutch, to those who could not understand Mr. Whitefield in English.

"Before Mr. Whitefield left Philadelphia, he was desired to visit one who was under a deep sense of sin, from hearing him preach. In praying with this person, he was so carried be

the Wesleys, whatever his private opinion might be. But many things combined to sour him at this time. He had writ ten against Archbishop Tillotson's works, and the whole Duty of Man, a book in those days of unrivalled popularity, in a manner which he himself then felt to be injudicious; and this had offended persons, who were otherwise favorably disposed towards him. His celebrity also seemed to have passed away; the twenty thousands who used to assemble at his preaching had dwindled down to two or three hundred; and in one exhibition at Kennington common, the former scene of his triumphs, scarcely a hundred were gathered together to hear lum. Worldly anxieties, too, were fretting him, and those of a kind which made the loss of his celebrity a serious evil. The Orphan-house in Georgia was to be maintained: he had now nearly a hundred persons in that establishment, who were to be supported by his exertions: there were not the slightest funds provided, and Georgia was the dearest part of the British dominions. He was above a thousand pounds in debt upon that score, and he himself not worth twenty. Seward, the wealthiest and most attached of his disciples, was dead, and had made no provision for him, nor for the payment of a heavy bill on the Orphan-house account, which he had drawn, and for which Whitefield was now responsible, and threatened with an arrest. He called it truly a trying time: "Many, very many of my spiritual children," says he, "who, at my last departure from England, would have plucked out their own eyes for me, are so prejudiced by the dear Messrs. Wesleys dressing up the doctrine of election in such horrible colors, that they will neither hear, see nor give me the least assistance; yea, some of them send threatening letters that God will speedily destroy me." This folly on the part of Wesley's adherents irritated him, and that irritation was fomented by his own feelings and when Wesley, who had been summoned by his brother Charles to London on this occasion, went to him, to see if the breach might yet be closed, Whitefield honestly told him, that they preached two different gospels, and therefore he not only would not join with him, or give him the right hand of fellowship, but would publicly preach against him wheresoever he preached at all. He was reminded of the promise which he had but a few days before made, that whatever his opinion might be he would not do this: but he replied, that promise was only an effect of human weakness, and he was now of another mind.

Thus was the breach consummated between these co-workers with Christ; who, in a more confined sense, may be said to have now ceased being co-workers with each other.

At the end of August, having received letters of invitation from the Rev. Dr. Colman and Mr. Cooper, ministers in Boston; and longing to see the descendants of the stern old Puritans, and their seats of learning, he sailed in the Orphanhouse sloop for New England, in company with several Charleston friends, and arrived in Rhode Island, September 14. Here he was visited (among others) by the Rev. Mr. Clap, a very venerable and aged dissenting minister, (in whom he thought he saw what manner of men the old Puritans were) who procured him the church, in which he preached twice a day, to numerous and deeply affected auditories.

This was a good entrance into New England, and before he reached Boston his encouragement increased; for being met ten miles from that city by the governor's son, and a train of the clergy and principal inhabitants, they conducted him to Mr. St-nf-rd's, brother-in-law to Dr. Colman, who with Mr. Cooper and others came and joined in prayer.

Jonathan Belcher, Esq. was then governor of the Massachusetts colony, and Josiah Willard, secretary. Both these gentlemen were his sincere friends: so were the ministers, Messrs. Webb, Foxcraft, Prince, Dr. Sewall, Gee, &c. To avoid, however, giving any just offense, he went to the English church; but not being permitted to preach there, he began at Dr. Colman's meeting-house, and then preached in all the rest, and sometimes on the common.

The governor, the secretary, and several of the council generally attended, treating him with the greatest respect. Old Mr. Walter, successor to Mr. Elliot, commonly called the apostle of the Indians, at Roxbury, said, "it was Puritanism revived." And Dr. Colman said, "that it was the happiest day he ever saw in his life."

He preached also at many other places, to great multitudes of people. Gentlemen of the greatest repute had their houses open in every place: collections were readily made for the orphans and in about a week, having preached sixteen times, and rode one hundred and seventy miles, he returned to Boston, October 6.

Here the congregations still increased, and his labors were crowned with increasing success. At his farewell sermon, it was supposed there were about TWENTY THOUSAND people. He received a great number of letters, and could have spent whole days in conversing with those that came to him under soul concern. Ministers and students attended, and even little children were impressed. The contributions for the orphans amounted to nearly five hundred pounds sterling.

He next went to Northampton, having an earnest desire to