i< 
 
 
 Mb. S P R U TT's 
 
 FUNERAL DISCOURSE 
 
 ON THE DEATH OF THE 
 
 Revd. GEORGE WHITEF1ELD, A. M. 
 
 WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE AT 
 
 Vewlury-Porti in New- England, September^ ijjo, 
 
 AGED 56. 
 
 • : w&-'£ztm r * 
 
 1 
 

 L 
 
 M - 
 

 
 ■DISCOURSE, 
 
 
 OCCASIONED 
 
 
 By the Death of the Reverend 
 
 
 ■george whitefield, a.m.I 
 
 BHr .^ _ /->! I • . ^ . . 1 . -r» • i . t t i i t 
 
 
 Late Chaplain to the Right Honourable th 
 COUNTESS of HUNTINGDON ; 
 
 
 Xwv/X 
 
 DELIVERED Odober 14, 1770, 
 
 [in the Second Prefbyterian Church, in| 
 the City of Philadelphia, 
 
 , B Y 
 
 JAMES SPROUTT, A.M. 
 
 Paftor of faid Church. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 ?rinted and Sold by W. and T. Bradford, at tht\ 
 London Coffee- Houfe. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXI 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 ON the Thurfday preceding the deli- 
 very of this Sermon, the Seflion and 
 Committee of the Church fignified to the 
 author, their deiire that a difcourfe on 
 the occafion^ might be prepared for the 
 enfuing Sabbath ; and the Church be put 
 into mourning. — Alfo at their defire and 
 expence the bells of Chrift's Church, in 
 this city, were rung muffled. The Con- 
 gregation, at their annual Meeting, January 
 iff, 1771, requefled a copy of the Sermon 
 for publication. 
 
 
 t 
 
Discourse, 
 
 Acts 
 
 XI. 
 
 24. 
 
 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghoft, 
 and of faith, and much 'people was added unto the 
 Lord. 
 
 THE occafion of the words now read to you 
 was this : The Apoftles and Brethren who 
 were in Judea having heard that the Gentiles 
 had alio received the word of God *, they who were 
 of the circumcifion contended with Peter, when he 
 came up to Jerufalem, accufing him for going in to 
 men that were uncircumciled, affociating and eating 
 with them. Peter owns the fact, rehearfes the mat- 
 ter from the beginning in proper order unto them, 
 and pleads, for his juftification, a remarkable vifion 
 he had from the 1 ,ord in the city of Joppa. A full 
 explanation of this vifion, and an account of the 
 plentiful effufion of the Holy Gholt at Cefaria, when 
 Peter began to fpeak to Cornelius and his company, 
 
 A 2 being 
 
(•4 ) 
 
 being laid before the Apoftles and Brethren, they 
 were entirely iatisfied, and glorified God j faying, 
 ',* /Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repent- 
 ance unto life." Now this being effected, and a door 
 opened unto the Gentiles to receive the gofpel, certain 
 perfons who had been difperfed by the periecution 
 that arofe about Stephen, went every where preac hing 
 the word : Some of them travelled as far as Phenice* 
 and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none, 
 but unto the Jaws, only : Some of them were men 
 of Cyprus anjd Cyrene ; who, when they were come to 
 Antioch, fpake to the Grecians alfo, preaching the 
 Lord Jefus. And the hand of the Lord was with 
 them : And a great number believed, and turned to 
 the Lord. Tidings of thefe things came to the ears 
 oi the Church, which was at Jerufalem ; and they 
 fent forth Barnabas^ an eminent minifter of the word, 
 and truly a fon of confolation (as his name fignifics*) 
 that he fhouki go as far as Antioch : Who, when he 
 came, and had Teen the grace of God, was glad, and 
 exhorted them all that with purpole of heart, they 
 would cleave unto the Lord.- -An agreeable gra- 
 dation here ieems worthy of notice : He came— 
 he faw — he rejoiced — and exhorted them all that, 
 with purpofe ot heart, they would cleave unto the 
 Lord. This narrative introduces the words of our 
 text, which give us the character of this moft ex- 
 cellent fervant of the Lord Jefus Chrift, with an 
 account of the glorious fuccefs he had in his minifte- 
 rial teftimony foF him. For be was a good man, and 
 full of the Holy Ghoft and of faith : And much people 
 was added unto the. Lord, 
 
 By a good man fome feem to underftand, a man 
 of a fweet, kind and benevolent difpofition. But 
 I am rather incliaed to think that, by a goodmar^ 
 
 m 
 
 • A«5t$ iv. 2$. 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 in this paffage of fcripture, is to be underftood an 
 holy man \ a man, who is conformed to God in heart 
 and life, by the power of divine Grace. This ex- 
 planation appears to be confirmed by what is added 
 in the text : He vjas a good man, end full of the Holy 
 Ghcfi and of faith. Thefe feem to be characters made 
 life of, to point out wherein his holintfs and goodneis 
 confined in an eminent manner. 
 
 Among all the characters given to the chrldren of 
 men, this of a good man, as now explained, is, by 
 itfelf, the mod excellent, and that which excites the 
 greateft confidence : For fcarcely for a righteous man 
 will one die ; yet pr adventure for a good man fome 
 would even dare to die," § This was the character of 
 Barnabas, that fon of confolation. He was a good 
 man,-— eminently—uncommonly fo. For he was/#// 
 of the Holy Ghoft, and of faith.- -The Holy Ghoft 
 dwelt in him in a very remarkable manner, in its 
 gracious, fanclifying, comforting and quickening 
 influences ; fo that with the greateft propriety it 
 might be laid, he was/«// of the Holy Ghoft. \I fay 
 nothing of the miraculous influences of the fpirit - 9 
 for I think thefe, by'themielves, are not certain ot 
 diftinguilhing characienftics of a good man in the 
 
 fenfe we underftand the text. And he was full 
 
 of faith. Not only had he faith that was genuine, 
 juftifying and faving \ but he had it in a high de- 
 grve,--in fuch an eminent manner, that it might 
 properly be faid of him, in this refpecl alfo, that he 
 was full of faith. By thefe graces of the Holy Spirk, 
 which dwelt in him richly, he became zealoufly en- 
 gaged in the great work of the gofpel mlniftry, and 
 
 was admirably qualified for it And it pleafed God 
 
 to crown his labours in the gofpel with glorious fu£- 
 cefs, giving him many early feals of his mini (try. 
 
 For 
 
 | Rom. v, > 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 For, in this tour to Antioch, much "people was added 
 to the Lord. Many fouls were fo effectually wrought 
 upon by the power ot divine grace, as 10 be con- 
 vinced of the truth of the chnftian doctrine, and 
 difpofed from the heart chearfully to embrace it •, by 
 which they were happily delivered from the power 
 of darknefs, and tranflated into the kingdom of Goa's 
 dear fon. Here you (tc an inftrumenc raifed up by 
 God wonderfully qualified for, and remarkably fuc- 
 ceeded in, the bufinefs of gathering a plentiful harveft 
 of immortal fouls to the Lord Jefus Chrift. A 
 character this, vaftly more glorious than that of 
 erecting kingdoms, founding empires, and by fword 
 and arms arriving to universal monarchy : For the 
 lacred oracles declare, 7 hey that be wi/e Jhall Jhine as 
 the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many 
 to rightecnfnefsy as the Jiars for ever and ever, f 
 
 In further difcourfing on this fubject, I propofe 
 more particularly to confider, 
 
 The perfonal character of this fervant of God and 
 minifter of the word : 
 
 Take notice of the fuccefs with which God ho- 
 noured him in his miniftry : And, 
 
 Conclude with fome reflections excited by the 
 prefent mournful occafion. 
 
 I am now in the firft place, more particularly to 
 confider the perfonal character of this fervant of God, 
 and minifter of the word. 
 
 He was a good man : that is, an holy man, as hath i 
 been obferved. There may be men of very great 
 powers of mind; wife ftatei'men, deep politicians, 
 
 great 
 
 f Daniel iii. 3. 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 great fcholars ; of vaft acquirements, and .fhining 
 accomplifhm. nts. Yet thefe may not be good men. 
 They may be deftitute of all real holineis ; or any 
 true conrbrmicy to God in heart and life. The heart 
 is the frat of all real religion. Faith and repentance 
 that are not feated in the heart are of no avail in 
 God's account. It belongs to the character of a 
 good man that his heart is right in the fight of God. 
 Without this rectitude of heart, which is only effect- 
 ed by the power of divine grace, he cannot be deno- 
 minated a good man, in God's view, who fees things 
 as, in reality, they are. 1 his is the doctrine infifted 
 upon bv our Lord and Saviour JVtus Chrift : Either 
 make the tree good, ' and its fruit good ; or elfe make the 
 tree corrupt, and its fruit co rupt : Jcr the tree is known 
 by its fruit. * Naturally men are exceeding bad, and 
 amazingly corrupt ♦, their hearts are full of all man- 
 ner of wickedheis ; yea, they are deceitful above all 
 things and defperately wicked. § This is the repre- 
 . ion, by God himieif, of the exceeding wicked- 
 neis of the heart, That every imagination of the thoughts 
 of his heart was only evil continually, -f- And the 
 A oitle txprefsly declares that 'The carnal mind is en- 
 mity agahft God, not fubjetl to his law, nor indeed can 
 be. J In order therefore for men's. becoming good 
 men, their hearts muft be changed by the effectual 
 Operations of the Holy Spirit of God : They muLt be 
 regenerated. This is a do£bnne not only repeate ily 
 taught in the Holy Scriptures •, but a doctrine that 
 our Lord maintained in his difcourfe with Rabbi 
 Nicodemus, when he unfolded its nature, and urged 
 its necefiity in the ftrongeft terms' f This was the 
 character of Barnabas : He was a good man -, in- 
 wardly holy, and at heart upright. 
 
 It 
 
 * Matt, xn 33, \ Rom. viii. 7. 
 
 § Jer. xvii. 9. «J John iii. 3. 4. 5. 
 
 •f- Gen. vi. 5. 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 It belongs to the character of a good man that he- 
 not only is poffefTed with an holy principle, but that 
 he is alio engaged in an holy practice. i his will as 
 naturally flow irom a truely fanctified heart ; as wood 
 fruit will grow upon a good tree, or the dreams of 
 water gently glide from a living fpring. Time and 
 opportunity may not be allowed to every good man, 
 whofe heart is right with God, to perform a lcries of 
 obedience to the commands of his maker, as in the 
 cafe of the thief upon the crois. But this is the ge- 
 nuine and natural effect •, and, time and opportunity 
 being allowed, it will be the neceifary conlequence 
 of the heart's being fet right with God by the power 
 of divine grace. Hence it is that an holy practice, 
 a fleady courfe of obedience to all God's commands, 
 is con dandy made the finifliing character of a good 
 man in the facred pages. This is the love cfGod, that 
 we keep his commandment s y and his commandments are 
 not grievous. * Hence, fays our Lord, Then are ye 
 my difciples indeed, if ye do whatever T command you. § 
 And, Herein is my Father glorified^ that yi hear much 
 fruit ; fo fhallye be my difciples. -\ 
 
 Hence it appears that an holy heart, and an holy 
 life ; or good principles, and a good practice, are 
 eflential to the character of a good man. This is one 
 part of the perfon 1 character of that eminent fen ant 
 of God in the words of our text, tie was a good 
 
 MAN. 
 
 Another thing that belonged to his character* 
 was, that he was full of the Holy Ghoft. Every rood 
 man hath the Holy Ghoft, in fome good meaiure, 
 dwelling in him. But as there are degrees of good- 
 nefs, fo there are degrees of the Holy Ghoft, as to 
 its facred in-dwelling. Every good man hath a mea- 
 
 fure 
 
 • i. John v. j. § John viii. gt. f John xv. 3. 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 fore of it ; but feme good men have a much greater 
 meafure than others. Thus it was with Barnabas: 
 He was full of the Holy Ghoft : The Holy Ghoft: 
 had not only taken up its blerkrd refidence in his 
 heart ; but dwelt there in a moil plentiful manner 
 by its facrcd influences. 
 
 He was full of the Holy Ghoft as a fpring and 
 principle of fpiritual life and aclion. He had in a 
 molt plentiful manner drank of the water which 
 Chrift moll liberally gives to dry and thirfty fouls ; 
 and it became in him a well of living water fp ring- 
 ing up to everlafting life.* 1 his indwelling of the 
 Holv Spirit, as a principle and fountain of fpiritual 
 life. and aclion, is admirably defcribed by our Lord 
 himielf under the metaphor of water in this mod 
 affeclionate language : In the loft day, that great day 
 of the feaft, Jefus flood, and cried, frying, if any man 
 thirft, let hhn come unto me end drink. He that be- 
 lievetb on me\ as the fcriplure hath ftud, cut of his belly 
 Jhall flow rivers of living water : But this fpake he of 
 the Spirit, which they that believe on him fhould receive \ 
 for the Holy Ghoft was rot yet given, bscaufe that Jefus 
 was not yet glorified, f The nature, origin and influ- 
 ence ot the Holy Spirit, .as a divine principle of ipi- 
 ntual life in the fouls of the children of men, is 
 elegantly defcribed by the Apoftle James, under the 
 name of wifdom : That zvifdom that is from above, is, 
 fly ft pure, then peaceable, gentle and eafy to be intreatcd% 
 full of mercy a*d good fruits \ without partiality, and 
 without hypocrify. J 
 
 He was full of the Holy Ghoft as a divine teacher, 
 to teach, inftrucl: and guide into all truth neceffary 
 for the adv ncement of the divine life, and obtaining 
 eternal falvation. If we confider Barnabas as an 
 
 B infpired 
 
 * John iv. ii. -j- John vii. 37, 38, 39, \ James iii. 17- 
 
( io ) 
 
 infpired perfon, and as one who had the power of 
 working miracles -> as many, befides the Apoftles, 
 Jiad in the early ages of chriftianity-, in thefe refpects, 
 the blefjfed Spirit was with him in an extraordinary 
 manner •, in a manner peculiar to the Apoftolic age. 
 Bur the Holy Spirit dwelt in him alfo as a divine 
 teacher, to open and apply revealed truths to his 
 mind ; and to teach him the undoubted certainty 
 of the great doctrine of finners falvation by the me- 
 diatorial undertaking of the Lord Jefus Chi 'ft. Con- 
 fonant to the promife of our Saviour : Thefe things 
 hrve Tfpoken unto you, being yet prefent with you : But 
 the comforter, which is the Holy Gh oft whom the Father 
 will fend in rny name, he /hall teach you all things, and 
 bring all things to your remembrance, what fo ever 1 have 
 faid to you* The divine Spirit, in its ordinary 
 teachings, doth not bring new truths into the mind 
 that are not contained in the fcriptures •, but opens 
 and applies the truths therein revealed : Then opened 
 he their under ft anding, that they might under ft and the 
 fcrip ures. f In this way, douhtlcf , the H>ly Ghoil 
 dwells in all true chriftians, to inllrudb and teach 
 them in a moft comfortable and gracious manner. 
 
 Bar#abas was full of the Holy Ghoft : It dwelt 
 in him, in an eminent manner, as a fpirit of prayer 
 and fupplication. He was delivered from the fpirit 
 of bondage, and had received the fpirit of adop- 
 tion, whereby he cried Abba, Father : For ye have 
 net received the fpirit of bondage again unto fear : Bui 
 ye have received the fpirit of adoption, by which we 
 cry, Abba, Father. J The indwelling of the fpirit, 
 as a fpirit of adoption, of grace and fupplication, is 
 a Decuiiar blefling that belongs to every real chriftian. 
 No fooner had the bleffed Spirit taken full poffcfii >n 
 of the heart of Paul, than ir was laid of him, Be- 
 hold 
 
 * John xiv. zs> *6> t Luke xxir. »s, f &om« viii. is 
 
( II ) 
 
 hold he prayeth. * Likewife The fpirit alfo help th our 
 infirmities : For we know not what to pro.y 'or as -ue 
 ought; but the fpirit it f elf mak\h inter cefjion for US, 
 with groanings which cannot be utter c'.f By the fpirit 
 of grace and fuppftcation that dwelt in this excellent 
 fervant of Chrijl, in a remarkable manner, h.- had 
 accefs to God in prayer, with boldnefs and confi- 
 dence, through the blood of Jefus; — he cane boldly 
 to the throne of grace ; and was not only like a 
 wreftling Jacob, but like a prevailing Ifrael, by the 
 Spirit that dwelt in him. 
 
 Barnabas was alfo full of the Holy Ghofl:, in a 
 very high degree, as a fpirit of confolation. We 
 read of the comfort of the Holy Ghoft : J This is that 
 divine and heavenly comforter, which our com- 
 panionate Saviour promiied to fend to his difciples, 
 to be a conftant affociate with them, upon his depar- 
 ture from them. For thus kindly he addrefies tn- m 
 upon this important, end vaftly interefting fubjeifih 
 7/ is expedient for you that I go away ; for, if I go not 
 away, the comforter will not come unto you : But if 
 I depart, I will fend him unto ycu. § And I will 
 pray the Father, and he jkall give you ancthef* cc?n- 
 forter, that he may abide with you for ever ; - ven the 
 fpirit of truth, whom the world cannot r ceive, beccufe 
 it feeth him not, neither knoweth him : But ye know ! 
 for he dwelleth with you, and /ball be in ycu. |! i 
 as a fpirit of confolation the Holy Ghoit dwelt in 
 B.rnabas in a very plentiful meafure. 
 
 He was alfo full of the Holy Ghoft as a fpirit of 
 
 fanclification. He was, indeed, chofen unto falva- 
 
 tion through fanctifkation or the Spirit, and belief 
 
 • of the truth. \ By the Holy Spirit dwelling in him, 
 
 in its fanflifying influences, he was enabled tc grow 
 
 B 2 in 
 
 * A£b \jl. ii, f Rom. viii. 16. \ AdH ix. 31. 
 
 § John xvi. 7. jj John xiv. 16, !> % i J'heiV. >i. :?. 
 
( ii ) 
 
 jn grace, and make advances in a divine life -,-- to 
 die to fin, and to live to God •,- -through the fofrit 
 to mortify the lulls and corruptions of the fiefh ; and 
 to put oft the oL; man, with all its corrupt affections, 
 day by day ; and put on the new man, which, after 
 God, is created in righteoufnefs and true holinefs. 
 
 The Koiy Ghoft alfo dwelled in Barnabas, to wit- 
 nefs to his adoption ; and as an earneil and ioretafte 
 of the heavenly inheritance. ITius faith the divinely 
 infpired Apoflle-, The Spirit it f elf alfo, beareth witnefs 
 with our Spirit, that we are the children of Gcd. slnd, 
 if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint heirs 
 with Chrifi. * Tv the fame purpofe, the fame Apoftle 
 fpekks in his epiftle to the Lphefians -, In whom alfo, 
 after ye believed* ye were fealed with the holy fpirit of 
 promife, which is the earnefi of our inheritance, until 
 the redemption of the pur chafed poffefjicn, to the praife cf 
 his glory. -J- 
 
 Thus, yon fee, as he was a good man', fo he was 
 full of the Holy Ghoil : It dwelt in him in thefe va- 
 rious cefpects, in an high degree, and very plentiful 
 meafure. 
 
 It alfo belonged to the perfonal character of this 
 fervant of God, and minifter of Chriit, that He was 
 full of faith. He had that faith which was true 
 and genuine ; that faith which is the fubftance of 
 things hoped for, and the evidence of things not 
 feen; § yea, the precious faith of God's elect. And 
 he had it in a plentiful meafure •, in an high degree: 
 Pie was flrong in the faith, giving glory to God. 
 By faith he was enabled to receive the chriRian doc- 
 trine as a mod glorious reality, not as the word of 
 man, but as in truth the word of God, which ef- 
 fectually 
 
 t Rom. viii. 16. 17. J Ephcf. i. 13. § Hcb. xi. j. 
 
( H ) 
 
 feclually worketh in them that believe:*— By faith 
 he was enabled to receive the Lord Jefus Chrifb in 
 ail his fatred characters, and faving offices, as he is 
 
 J in the gofpel : By faith, he was 
 
 enabied to commit his precious foul, with all its 
 invaluable intersfts,, and eternal concerns to his di- 
 vine Saviour; and could doubtlefs fay with the great 
 Apoftle, I know in whom I have believed, and am 
 perfuaded that he is able to keep that, which I have 
 committed unto him, againft that day.§ — By faith > 
 he was enabled to fly for refuge, and lay hold on the 
 onlv hope fee before him in the goipel ; f putting 
 his trull and confidence, only, in the meritorious 
 righteouinefs of Chrift for juftification: And to count 
 ail things but lois for the excellency of the knowledge 
 of Chritt his Lord, that he might win him and be 
 found in him, not having his own righteoufnefs, 
 which is of the law •, but that, which is through the 
 faith of Chriit •, the righteoufnefs, which is of God, 
 by faith. J Barnabas was full of faith. And, as by 
 faith, he received Chrift the Lord ; fo, by faith in 
 the Son of God, who loved him, and gave himfelf 
 for him, he lived that painful, laborious, felf-denying 
 life, which he lived in the flefh. || His faith was not 
 a dead faith ; but a lively, active, vigorous principle. 
 It worked by love ; purified the heart ; overcame the 
 world •, and was productive of chearful obedience to 
 all the commands of his Lord and Matter. It caufed 
 him to endure hardnefs as a good foldier of Chrift ; 
 and not to count his life dear, that he might finifh 
 his courfe, and fulfil the miniftry that he had re- 
 ceived from him. 
 
 Thus, you fee the perfonal character of this emi- 
 nent fervant of God, and minifter of Chrift : He was 
 
 a good 
 
 * i ThefT. ii. 9. §2 Tim. i. iz. f Heb. vi 8. 
 \ Fail. iii. 8, $. j| Gal. ii. »o. 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 zgcodman, end full of the Holy Ghojl and of faith. 
 I am now lead to confider the fuccefs with which it 
 pleaied God to honour him in his miniftry. 
 
 And much people was adaed to the Lord, 
 
 The great bufinefs of Barnabas, as a gofpel mi- 
 niftcr, was to cfpoufe fouls to his Lord and Mifter ; 
 and to build them up in holinefs and comfort through 
 fauii un.o falvation. In this arduous undertaking, 
 and mod glorious employment, God was pleated 
 greatly to honour him ♦,- -much people was added to 
 the Lord by his miniftry, unto whom he gave the 
 warmeft exhortations, that, with purpofe of heart, 
 they would cleave unto him. Satan's kingdom, by 
 his miniftry, received a wonderful (hock : Great 
 numbers of immortal fouls were turned from dark- 
 nefs to light ; delivered from the power of Satan - 9 
 and transited into the kingdom cf God's dear Son. 
 Multitudes were encouraged, comforted, mightily 
 ftrengthened, greatlv edified, and built up in the 
 moft holy faith, by his miniftry. God, by the good 
 fpirit, accompanied the gofpel which he diipenied 
 with an overcoming energy •, and made it the power 
 of God, and the wiidom of God, unto the falvation 
 of great numbers of never-dying fouls. The in- 
 terring truths, which he delivered, concerning 
 Chrift and his great falvation, being cloathed with 
 almighty authority, left abiding impreflions upon 
 the hearts and confeiences of his hearers. By his 
 miniftry fecure finners were awakened •, hard hearts 
 were broken ; ftubborn wills bowed ; and weary 
 heavy laden finners brought to clofe in with £hrift, 
 according to gofpel offers •, and found reft in hinte 
 according to gofpel promifes. Thefe, indeed, are? 
 things that the hearts of (Thrift's true mimfters are 
 much fet upon •, and they efteem themfelves honored 
 by God, in proportion as thefe great and precious 
 
 thin 
 
( »5 ) 
 
 things are effected by their administrations. By this, 
 they judge of their fuccefs in the important work of 
 the gofpel miniftry. Some, there may be, who mea- 
 fure their fuccefs according to the number of profe- 
 lites they gain to this, that, or the other party, or 
 particular denomination of Chriftians : But, lure I 
 am, that the fucceis of every true mimfter of Chrift 
 will be meafured according to the number of fouls 
 that are added to the Lord-— built up in faith and ho- 
 linefs ; in the fear, knowledge and love of God. In 
 this way God greatly honored Barnabas, one of the 
 firft minifteis of Chrift's kingdom, giving him many 
 feals of his miniftry, and many fouls for the crown 
 of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord. 
 
 From what has been faid on this fubjeel, we may 
 learn, that the mofc excellent of all characters that 
 are given to the children of men, is that of a gocd 
 man:— -One who is conformed to God in heart and 
 life. This being our true character, we are favorites 
 of the glorious God, and made for time and eternity : 
 Deftitute of this whatever our characters otherwife 
 may be, we are, indeed, in a mod dangerous and 
 wretched fituation •, and, fo continuing, fhail be 
 miicrabie for ever and ever. 
 
 From what has been faid we alfo may allure our- 
 felves, that there is fuch a thing in reality, as the in- 
 dwelling of the Holy Ghoft in the hearts of God's 
 people : and that in a greater or lefler degree, it is 
 peculiar to every real chriftian : So that If any man 
 have not the Spirit of Chrift he is none of his, * 
 
 We may alfo infer that faith is a mod excellent 
 grace - y and that it hath a wonderful influence in the 
 commencement, prpgrefs and completion of the 
 
 evangelical 
 
 • Rom. viii, j, 
 
( i6 > 
 
 evangelical divine life in the renewed foul ; fo t\r<z 
 the chrillian, the good man, begins, proiccutes, and 
 flnifhes his heavenly courie by the faith of the Son 
 of God. 
 
 FINALLY, from what we have heard concerning 
 the perfonal virtues, minifterial accomplilhmerus, 
 and glorious fuccefs of tha: eminent ion of coniola- 
 tion in the early ages of chrittiamty, 1 beg leave to 
 direct your meditations to the perion, character, and 
 m.niftry of a late eminent and very iucceisful minifter 
 ofChrill:. Your thoughts, I doubt not, will anti- 
 cipate me in mentioning; the reverend and renowned 
 GEORGE WHITE FIELD, who departed this 
 life (according to our public accounts) on the 30th 
 of September laif, at Newbury Port, in the Province 
 of Maflachufetts Bay, in New- England, by a fudden 
 and violent fit of the afthma. 
 
 I am very fcnfible, my brethren, of my incapacity 
 of doing juftice to the memory of this truly gri u, 
 and excellent perfonage. It really needs a genius like 
 his own ♦, and that eloquence, which was peculiar to 
 himfelf; fully to delineate his character, and defcribe 
 his virtues. I know not one character in the facred 
 pages, in which there is a greater fimilarity, than the 
 words of the text. He was a good man, and Fui.tf 
 of the Holy Ghost, and of faith : And much 
 people was added to the lord. 
 
 As to his perfon, we have all of us had frequent 
 opportunities of admiring his graceful countenance 
 and manly deportment-, which commanded reverence 
 and -n-i peer, ; excited efteem and aileclion ia peribns 
 
 of every rank nnd quality. His birth, parentage, 
 
 and education, the world has long ago been favoured 
 with accounts of, in his printed journals. — He 
 
 early 
 
( i7 ) 
 
 * early difcovered a fingolar tafte for fcience, joined 
 with a fprightly and florid genius. His education 
 was com pleated at Oxford, one of the moil illuitri- 
 
 ous univerfuies in Europe. -It pleafed God, who 
 
 defigned him for very great and eminent fervices in 
 his church, early to change his heart by the power 
 of Divine grace ; and by a thorough and remarkable 
 converfion, to turn him from darknefs to light, and 
 from the power of Satan unto God •, that he might 
 receive forgivenefs of fins, and an inheritance among 
 them that are fanclified by faith which is in Chrift 
 Jefus. Thus all the powers of his mind became 
 ftrongly engaged to the iludy of divinity. The im- 
 portant doctrines of grace, and the admirable fcheme 
 of redemption by the Lord Jefus Chrift ; — the con- 
 demned, miferable ftate of finners •, — free juftiflca- 
 tion by the imputed righteoufnefs of Chrift received 
 by faith alone •, — the powerful operations of the. holy 
 and bleffed Spirit to regenerate and fandify the hu- 
 man heart, were iubje&s of his moil folemn and de- 
 lightful contemplation. Under the lively impref- 
 fions of thofe things, his pious heart was turned to 
 the great work of the Goipel miniftry. In this im- 
 portant bufinefs he engaged, and to this glorious 
 work he devoted himfelf, as foon as the rules of that 
 church, of which he was a member, would permit. 
 Joeing a good man, and full of the Holy Ghoft and 
 of faith -, fired with a flaming zeal for his Lord and 
 matter ; filled with bowels of tender compaflion to 
 immortal fouls ; and favoured with more than Cice- 
 ronian eloquence •, — he foon became the wonder of 
 the world as a preacher. The attention of perfons 
 of all ranks, feds and denominations, was attracted 
 by him : And the hand of the Lord was with him 
 in fuch a powerful manner, that great numbers were 
 prefent!) joined to the Lord by his miniftry. Tho' 
 he always maniiefted a peculiar regard for the Church 
 
 C of 
 
( x8 ) 
 
 of England, in which he had been educated -, yet as 
 he fet out in the rniniftry upon principles truly ca- 
 tholic and noble, fo he Readily and vigorously re- 
 tained them to his expiring moments : PuiTuant to 
 thefe principles of catholicifm, he was determined not 
 to know any thing among the people, but jejus 
 Chrift and him crucified. Upon this plan he let 
 out •, and upon this plan he profecuted the great 
 work of preaching the gofpel to all forts of people 
 that would give him an hearing: To Jews, infidels, 
 freethinkers, as well as to all denominations of chiif- 
 tians without exception. And th ; s grand bufincfs 
 of publishing the gofpel of peace he purfued for a 
 great number of years with the molt indefatigable 
 alfiduity, prodigious eloquence, and flaming zeal, 
 through England, Scotland, Ireland, and the. widely 
 extended dominions of Britifo America. As a fpeaker, 
 he was furniflied with fuch admirable talents, w,th 
 fuch an eafy method of addrefs, and was fuch a per- 
 fect matter of the art of perfuafion. that he trium- 
 phed over the paffions of the moft croucled audito- 
 ries, with all the charms of fa c red eloquence. - — He 
 was of undaunted courage and heroic rtfolution, in 1 
 the caufe of his divine Matter. Nor the frowns nor 
 the flatteries of the world ; with all its intuits and 
 outrages, its allurements or charms, could ever turn 
 h;m afide from endeavouring to win immortal fouls 
 to the i ord Jefus Chrift. Mr. White ft eld was not 
 only the admiration of the populace, and lower clafTes 
 of mankind ; but had the graces of fome of the 
 principal perfoliate in the kingdom. That noble 
 Lady the Countefs of Huntingdon in electing him for 
 her chaplain, gave an evidence of her diftinguifhing 
 favor. An acl this, expreflive of the religion and 
 piety of that noble Lady'* heart! Mr. VVhi iefield 
 was not only an admirable, zealous, pathetic, divine 
 preacher ; but it pleafcd the adorable Jehovah to 
 
 crown 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 crown his labors with uncommon fuccefs. I doubt 
 not but thoufands now in the church triumphant, 
 and ten thoufands in the church militant, will blefs 
 God to eternity for all the benefits they have re- 
 ceived from Mr. White field's miniftry. Much 
 people was added to the Lord by his means : Com* 
 panibns, indeed, are odious ; but probably more 
 than by any one man fince the Apoffolic age. — As 
 to his perfonal piety, we cannot without a blufli, 
 methinks, admit a hefitation concerning his real 
 holinefs, and unfeigned devotednefs to God. Oh ! 
 my brethren ; he was truly a good man, eminently 
 fo -, he was full of the Holy Ghofl •, and full of faith: 
 Yea he was ftrong in the faith, giving glory to God. 
 In adverfity or profperity •, in fickneis or health ; he 
 
 ftaggered not at the promifes. In charity he 
 
 abounded. Let charity be defined to be love to 
 God, and love to our neighbor ; or let it be con- 
 sidered as to fome of its important exerciies •, luch 
 as tendernefs of fentiment to thofe who differ from 
 us in fome points not efTential, or beftowing alms 
 and relieving the miferable •,•-- in ail thofe ads of 
 charity, he was fecond to none in the compafs of 
 my acquaintance : — Let his holy life and exemplary 
 converfation •, his fruitful obedience and unwearied 
 labours teftify his love to God : — Let his willingnefs 
 to ipend and be fpent for the falvation of fouls wit ntfs 
 his love to man. Let the Orphan-Houfe in Gecrgia be 
 as a monumental pillar of his ardent love to his fel- 
 low creatures in mifery, and his hearty practical defire 
 to relieve their diftreffes. Yea, let the multitudes 
 on this continent, fome of whom are now in eafy 
 and comfortable, others in profperous and nourifh- 
 ing circumftances, moftly by his means, rife up, and 
 call him blefled. His meekneft and humility ap- 
 peared in his being deaf to all the applaufts that were 
 io liberally bellowed upon him on both fides the At- 
 C 2 lantic; 
 
( *0 ) 
 
 lafitic-, and alfo in that, when he was mod fhamefuliy 
 vilified and injurioufly reproached, he feldom, if 
 ever reviled again •, but committed himfelf to him 
 that judgeth righteoufly. He was in a great mea- 
 fure dead to the allurements and vanities of this 
 world ; looking down with an holy contempt, and 
 comparative difdain upon all thofe fading trifles, thofe 
 gilded nothings, which the men of the world are apt 
 to call great, rare, and excellent. For fuch were 
 the impreffions of the eternal Majefty upon his mind, 
 that he habitually lived, as feeing him that is invi- 
 fible: He lived with a wile reference to futurity, and 
 
 maintained a ciofe walk with God. He was truly 
 
 a man of prayer. Prayer was his foul's delight : 
 In this precious exercife he was enabled to draw near 
 to God upon the mod prefling emergencies, and had 
 accefs with boldnefs and confidence by the blood of 
 Jefus. He was indeed a mighty wreftler with Jeho- 
 vah. Many or you, my hearers, can teftify with 
 what holy fervor and devout affection he has plied 
 the throne of grace for perifhing immortals ; that 
 they might be turned to God, and made heirs of 
 falvation. Though he powerfully preached, and 
 earneftly denounced the terrors of the divine law 
 againft impenitent finners; yet his heart's defire, and 
 moft rervent prayer to God was that they might 
 be eternally fcved. — Praife was an employment 
 in which his foul was exceedingly delighted : In 
 this exercife he often appeared to anticipate the fa- 
 
 cred pleaiures of the upper world. Friendfhip 
 
 fat gracefully upon his countenance •, he was truly 
 acquainted with all its delicacies. He had his pecu- 
 liar iniimates, and thofe moftly of a religious turn 
 of mind : But he was a friend to mankind in gene- 
 ral ; and efpecially the poor man's friend. I am very- 
 far from fuppofing that even this bed of men was 
 tree from all imperfections > though I may ufe the 
 
 words 
 
( H ) 
 
 words of an ingenious divine in a fimiiar cafe, and 
 fay, with him, iC I fhali think myfelf at once fup- 
 " ported by truth, and acquitted as doing juftice 
 " to the memory of this truly great and good man, 
 <c while I fay that few of the human race had more 
 ** excellencies, attended with Ids defects than he." 
 But it has pleated the righteous Governor of the 
 world, and wife difpofer of all things, to difmifs; 
 this his dear and faithful fervant from his painful 
 labours in his church militant below ; and to join, 
 him to the general aiTembly of the church of the firft- 
 born which is triumphing in Heaven above. He is 
 gone to receive the reward of his labors, and the 
 plaudit of his unerring judge : Well pone thou 
 
 GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT : THOU HAST BEEN 
 FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS ; I WILL MAKE THEE 
 RULER OVER MANY THINGS: ENTER THOU INTO 
 THE JOY OF THY LORD. 
 
 My brethren, may we not fuppofe that Heaven's 
 high arches refounded, with loud hallelujahs, ajid 
 anthems of praife to God and the Lamb, upon 
 Whitefield's arrival in thole pure regions of eter- 
 nal felicity ! His work was done ; and we have good 
 reafon to believe it was well done. He lived long 
 enough to perform an excellent part on this flage of 
 action ;' to exemplify ajife of virtue and piety ; to 
 found the gofpel trumpet through almolt the whole of 
 ihcBritiJh empire-, and to gather in a plentiful harveft 
 of precious fouls to the Redeemer, that fhall be as fo 
 many fparkling diamonds in that untarnilhed crown 
 of glory, which adorns his victorious brow. He 
 lived God's time, which is the bed time. And God 
 continued him in this world, long enough, to con- 
 vince the moil malignant of his enemies, if a feries 
 of uniform conduct can afford conviction, that he 
 was truly an upright and honed man. Bur notwith- 
 
 Handing 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 ftanding all this, to me, and doubtlefs alfo to vou, 
 my hearers, his early, his conftant friends, the tolhng 
 bells, and this fable * cloth, have founded in me- 
 lancholy accents of woe, Whit ef eld is dead. T hough 
 according to his own defire, he died a fudden deach ; 
 on the morning of the Lord's Day ; after a week, as 
 well as life fpent in painfully preaching the everlaft- 
 ing gofpel, and his death was unfpeakably glorious 
 to himfelf •, yet is it an inexprefllule lofs to the 
 Church of Chrift •, which is bereaved of one of its 
 greateft champions. It is indeed a public lots that 
 we are to lament in his departure : A great m.-in,--- 
 a good man,— fullof theHoly Ghoft,---andof faith,— 
 who had added much people to the Lord ;— who 
 loved Chrift ? s Church as his own foul ;-- -is gone ! 
 Forgive the falling tear, for ever gone, fro:n our 
 worid, till the morning of the refurrection ! Mourn, 
 O ye children of Zion I Lament -over him, O ye 
 daughters of Jerufalem ! with holy lamentations, 
 over him, who has often comforted your hearts with 
 the fame comfort, wherewith his own foul had been 
 comforted. Mourn, O yefons of wickednefs ! over 
 him departed, who fhed floods of tears becaufe of 
 your obduracy, while he was living. Let England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland mourn ! Let all the American 
 colonies join the lamentation : Let this city be clad 
 in mourning, and this congregation, which, under 
 God, owes its origin to this beloved Servant of 
 Chrift ;— let it be clad in fable, and take its place in 
 the firft clafs of unfeigning mourners ! Who that has 
 any regard for the profperity of poor Zion, can re- 
 frain from tears, when we repeat the doleful found, 
 IPhitefield is dead ? We may, we ought to mourn, 
 my brethren : But we may not, we mud not mur- 
 mur. We may weep ; but not complain, left we 
 impeach the Divine conduct, and charge the Al- 
 mighty foolifhly. 
 
 I ET 
 * Sec the AJvcrtifcmcnt, prefixed to this Difcourfc. 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 Let us blefs God for having given this precious 
 gift to his Church, of iuch extenfive ufefulneis, 
 and fo long continued, a burning and mining light. 
 Lei us be deeply humbled under God's hand for his 
 removal. Above all, let us improve to the valuable 
 purpoies of religion, the pious exhortations he hath 
 fo frequently prefTed upon us-, and carefully imitate 
 the holy example, which he hath exhibited •, fo that 
 our laft end may be like his, which, we truft, is 
 peace. May God of his abundant grace, grant this to 
 us all, through J ejus Chrift our Lord. Amen. 
 
 The fervice was introduced with the fir ft following Hymn 
 from Br. Waits •, and the fecond, from Mr. White- 
 field'j collection, concluded the fervice, being fung by 
 a numb.r of young perfons belonging to the congre*- 
 gation. 
 
 H 
 
 A Funeral Thought. 
 
 Ark! from the tombs a doleful found, 
 My ears attend the cry, 
 " Ye living men, come view the ground, 
 " Where you mud Ihortly lie, 
 
 ss Princes, this clay muil be your bed, 
 " In fpite of all your tow'rs ; 
 
 (S The tall, the wife, the rev'rend head 
 " Mult lie as low as ours." 
 
 Great God ! is this our certain doom ? 
 
 And are we ftill fecure ! 
 Still walking downward to our tomb, 
 
 And yet prepare no more ? 
 
 Grant 
 
( 2 4 ) 
 
 Grant us the pow'rs of quick ning grace, 
 
 To fit our fouls to fly ; 
 Then, when we drop this dying flefh, 
 
 We'll rife above the fky. 
 
 AH ! lovely appearance of death, 
 No fight upon earth is fo fair : 
 Not all the gay pageants that breathe, 
 
 Can with a dead body compare. 
 With folemn delight I furvey 
 
 The corps when the fpirit is fled, 
 In love with the beautiful clay, 
 And longing to lie in his ftead. 
 
 How blefl is our brother, bereft 
 
 Of all that could burthen his mind ! 
 How eafy the foul, that hath left 
 
 This wearifome body behind ! 
 Of evil incapable thou, 
 
 Whofe relicks with envy I fee ; 
 No longer is mifery now, 
 
 No longer a finner like me. 
 
 This earth is affe&ed no more 
 
 With ficknefs, or fhaken with pain : 
 The war in the Members is o'er, 
 
 And never fhall vex him again. 
 No anger henceforward, or lhame, 
 
 Shall redden this innocent clay ; 
 Extinft is the animal flame, 
 
 And paflion is vanifh'd away. This 
 
( 2 5 ) 
 
 This languifhing head is at reft, 
 
 Its thinking and aching are o'er ; 
 This quiet immoveable breafl 
 
 Is heav'd by affliftion no more : 
 The heart is no longer the feat 
 
 Of trouble and torturing pain ; 
 It ceafes to flutter and beat, 
 
 It never fhall flutter again. 
 
 The lids he fo feldom could clofe, 
 
 By forrow forbidden to fleep, 
 Seal'd up in eternal repofe, 
 
 Have ftrangely forgotten to weep : 
 The fountains can yield no fupplies, 
 
 Thofe hollows from water are free ; 
 The Tears are all wip'd from thefe Eyes, 
 
 And evil they never (ball fee. 
 
 To mourn and to fuffer is mine, 
 
 While bound in a prifon I breathe, 
 And ftill for deliverance pne, 
 
 And prefs to the iffues of death : 
 What now with my tears I bedew, 
 
 O might I this moment become, 
 My fpirit created anew, 
 
 My flefh be configned to the tomb ! 
 
 FIN 
 
1