was almost breathless, and all over a gore of blood. My strong beaver hat served me as it were for a scull cap for a while; but at last it was knocked off, and my head left quite defenceless. I received many blows and wounds; one was particularly large, and near my temples. I thought of Stephen, and as I believed that I received more blows, I was in great hopes that like him I should be despatched, and go off in this bloody triumph to the immediate presence of my Master. But providentially a minister's house lay next door to the Green; with great difficulty I staggered to the door, which was kindly opened to, and shut upon, me. Some of the mob in the mean time having broke part of the boards of the pulpit into large splinters, they beat and wounded my servant grievously in his head and arms, and then came and drove him from the door. For a while I continued speechless, panting for, and expecting every breath to be my last. Two or three of the hearers, my friends, by some means or other, got admission, and kindly with weeping eyes washed my bloody wounds, and gave me something to smell to and to drink. I gradually revived, but soon found the lady of the house desired my absence, for fear the house should be pulled down. What to do I knew not, being near two miles from Mr. W's place; some advised one thing, and some another. At length, a carpenter, one of the friends that came in, offered me his wig and coat, that I might go off in disguise. I accepted of and put them on, but was soon ashamed of not trusting my Master to secure me in my proper habit, and threw them off with disdain. I determined to go out (since I found my presence was so troublesome) in my proper habit; immediately deliverance came. A methodist preacher, with two friends, brought a coach; I leaped into it, and rode in gospel triumph through the oaths, curses, and imprecations of whole streets of papists unhurt, though threatened every step of the ground. None but those who were spectators of the scene, can form an idea of the affection with which I was received by the weeping, mourning, but now joyful methodists. A christian surgeon was ready to dress our wounds, which being done, I went into the preaching-place, and after giving a word of exhortation, joined in a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to Him

who makes our extremity his opportunity, who stills the noise of the waves, and the madness of the most malignant people. The next morning I set out for Port Arlington, and left my persecutors to His mercy, who out of persecutors hath often made preachers. That I may be thus revenged of them, is my hearty prayer."

CHAPTER XVIII.

WHITEFIELD'S CHARACTERISTIC SAYINGS.

CONTENTMENT.

1734 TO 1745.

"I find all uneasiness arises from having a will of my own; therefore I would desire to will only what God wills."

CONDITION." Alas! that any one should inquire after such a wretch as I am. As for my quality; I was a poor, mean drawer (tapster); but, by the grace of God, I am now intended for the ministry. As for my estate; I am a servitor. And as to my condition and circumstances; I have not (of my own) where to lay my head. But my friends, by God's providence, minister daily to me: and, in return for such unmerited, unspeakable blessings, I trust the same good Being will give me grace to dedicate myself without reserve to his service-to spend and be spent for the welfare of my fellow-creatures, and in endeavouring to promote the gospel of his Son as much as lieth in my poor power." Whitefield's early purpose turned out an accurate prophecy! He became what he wished to be, and did what he designed.

HUMILITY. "Catch an old christian without humility-if you can! It is nothing but this flesh of ours, and those cursed seeds of the proud apostate, which lie lurking within us, that make us think ourselves worthy of the air we breathe. When our eyes are opened by the influence of divine grace, we then shall begin to think of ourselves as we ought to think ;' even that Christ is all in all, and we less than nothing."

INEXPERIENCE. "Oh let us young, inexperienced soldiers, be always upon our guard. The moment we desert our post, the

enemy rushes in: and if he can but so divert our eyes from looking heavenward, (often,) he will soon so blind us, that we shall not look towards it at all. A great deal may be learnt from a little fall."

EXAMPLE. "The degeneracy of the age is not the least objection against advances in piety. It is true, indeed, that instances of exalted piety are rarely to be met with in the present age: one would think, if we were to take an estimate of our religion from the lives of most of its professors, that christianity was nothing but a dead letter. But then-it is not our religion but ourselves that is to blame for this."

Such were some of Whitefield's "first principles," when he began to study at Oxford. How well they lasted, and how much they influenced him, all through life, will appear equally from his history, and from their frequent recurrence in other and more powerful forms, in this sketch of his governing maxims. The sketch itself I have made with some care, in order to illustrate both his talents and piety; that those who speak of him, may judge of him from his " sayings," as well as from his "doings." Had Dr. Doddridge reviewed the following Miscellany of Whitefield's maxims, he would have retracted the charge of "weakness" he made against him, and heightened all his eulogiums on the piety and zeal of his friend. But Doddridge saw Whitefield chiefly, if not only, when Whitefield had preached away all his strength and spirits, in "the great congregations," and could speak only of his work and warfare. Thus he judged of his talents, as a Scotch minister did of his devotion, when he was jaded by hard labour. Posterity will now judge of both for themselves, from the following specimens of both.

SELF-RENUNCIATION. "What is there so monstrously terrible in a doctrine, that is the constant subject of our prayers, whenever we put up that petition,' Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?' The import of which seems to be this, that we do every thing God wills, and nothing but what he willeth; that we do those things he willeth, only because he willeth. This cannot, indeed, be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but also an old one to pull down."

TEMPTATION. "We find our Saviour was led into the wil

derness before he entered upon his public ministry: and so must we too, if we would tread in his steps."

PRAYERS REQUESTED. "If Pauncefort's petitions for me should run in this manner, I should be thankful:-That God should finish the good work he has begun in me; that I may never seek nor be fond of worldly preferment; but may employ every mite of those talents it shall please God to intrust me with, to His glory and the church's good; and likewise, that the endeavours of my friends to revive pure religion in the world, may meet with proper success.'

CONSECRATION. "I can call heaven and earth to witness, that when the bishop laid his hand upon me, I gave myself up a martyr to him who hung upon the cross for me. Known unto him are all future events and contingencies: I have thrown myself blindfold, and I trust without reserve, into His almighty hands." FIRST SERMON. "It was my intention to have at least a hundred sermons with which to begin my ministry: I have not a single one by me, except one which I sent to a neighbouring clergyman-to convince him how unfit I was to take upon me the important work of preaching. He kept it a fortnight, and then sent it back with a guinea for the loan; telling me he had preached it morning and evening to his congregation, by dividing it."

REPROACH. "Strange, that any one should let a little reproach deprive them of an eternal crown! Lord, what is man! In a short time we shall have praise enough. Heaven will echo with the applause given to the true followers of the Lamb."

A WIFE'S PORTRAIT. "I live in hopes of seeing you and your wife again (growing in grace) in England. You told me, she desired I would draw her picture; but, alas! she has applied to an improper limner. However, though I cannot describe what she is, I can tell what she ought to be:-Meek, patient, longsuffering, obedient in all things, not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, swift to hear, slow to speak, and ready to every good word and work. But I can no more; I dare not go on in telling another what she ought to be, when I want so much myself; only this I know, when possessed of those good qualities beforementioned, she will then be as happy as her heart can wish."