CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY: ( CHAPTER 4 ) - { PT. 19 }


 ( CHAPTER  4 )  -  { PT.  19 } - Still, after all that has been said, there can be no doubt that overall he was a notably holy, self-denying, and consistent man. The faults of his character, says an American writer, were like spots on the sun-detected without much difficulty by and cool and careful observer who takes any effort to look for them, but to all practical purposes lost in one general and genial brightness. It would be good indeed for the churches of our day if God were to give them more ministers like the great evangelist of England a hundred years ago! A short extract from the conclusion of a sermon preached by Whitefield on Kennington Common may be interesting to some readers and might serve to give them a little idea of the great preacher's style. It was a sermon on the text, What do you think of Christ? ( MATTHEW  22:42 ). O my brethren, my heart is extended toward you. I trust I feel something of that hidden but powerful presence of Christ while I am preaching to you. Indeed it is sweet, but it is exceedingly comfortable. The only harm I wish upon you who without cause are my enemies is that you felt the same way. Believe me, although it would be hell to my soul to return to an unsaved condition again, yet I would willingly change places with you for a little while so that you might know what it is to have Christ dwelling in your hearts by faith.

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