[ CHAPTER 3 ] - ( CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE 18TH CENTURY ) - { PT. 4 }


 { PT.  4 } - Whitefield's first sermon was preached in the very town where he was born, at the church of St. Mary-le-Crypt, in Gloucester. His own description of it is the best account that can be given: Last Sunday, in the afternoon, I preached my first sermon in the church of St. Mary-le-Crypt, where I was baptized and also first received the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Curiosity, as you may easily guess, drew a large congregation together upon this occasion. The sight awed me a little at first, but I was comforted with a heartfelt sense of the divine presence. I soon found the unspeakable advantage of having been used to public speaking when a boy at school, and of exhorting the prisoner and poor people at their private houses while at the university. By these means I was kept from being overly daunted. As I proceeded, I perceived the fire kindled, until at last, though so young and amid a crowd of those who knew me in my childish days, I trust I was enable to speak with some degree of gospel authority. A few people mocked, but most seemed for the present affected. I have since heard that a complaint was made to the bishop that I drove fifteen people mad the first sermon! The worthy prelate wished that the madness might not be forgotten before the next Sunday. 

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