CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

  { PT.  10 } - On the morning of Saturday, September 29, the day before he died, Whitefield set out on horseback from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in order to fulfill an engagement to preach at Newburyport on Sunday. On the way, unfortunately, he was earnestly pleaded with to preach at a place called Exeter, and although feeling very ill, he did not have the heart to refuse. A friend remarked before he preached that he looked more uneasy than usual, and said to him, Sir, you are more fit to go to bed than to preach! To this Whitefield replied, True Sir. Then turning aside, he clasped his hands together, looked up, and said, Lord Jesus, I am weary in Your work, but not of Your work. If I have not yet finished my course, let me go and speak for You once more in the fields, seal Your truth, and come home to die. He than went and preached to a very great multitude in the fields from 2 CORINTHIANS  13:5 for about two hours. It was his last sermon, and was a fitting conclusion t...