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As we observed George Whitefield\u2019s 300th birthday last week, here\u2019s a post on his 1739 Christmas travels and preaching, from the Anxious Bench archive:<\/p>\n

In December 1739, George Whitefield was completing a treacherous overland trip from Maryland to South Carolina, and he stopped for Christmas in New Bern (\u201cNewborn\u201d), a relatively new parish in North Carolina, which was also one of the newer southern colonies. He had already seen phenomenal crowds attend his outdoor meetings in England, and now he stood at the threshold of America\u2019s Great Awakening, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cMonday,\u00a0December\u00a024. Crossed\u00a0Pamplico\u00a0River, about Five Miles wide, Yesterday Evening.\u2014Lay at an Ordinary near the Water-side.\u2014Set out by break of Day; crossed\u00a0New\u00a0River\u00a0about Four in the Afternoon, and reached $\"\"$ \u00a0Newborn\u00a0Town,\u00a0Thirty Two Miles from\u00a0Bath Town,\u00a0by Six at Night.\u2014Perceived my Appetite to grow better; experienced some inward Teachings of\u00a0God\u2019s\u00a0Spirit by the Way.\u00a0Had a sweet Communion in Spirit, after I came to the Inn, with my dear Friends at\u00a0England, who I supposed were joining with one Accord in fervent Prayer, and ushering in the Festival of our dear Lord\u2019s Nativity, by singing of Hymns and Spiritual Songs. . .<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Tuesday,\u00a0December\u00a025. Endeavoured still to keep my Mind as much as possible in Union with all those pious Souls who I knew were rejoicing in the Glad Tidings of Salvation by\u00a0Jesus\u00a0Christ.\u2014Went to publick Worship, and received the Holy Sacrament, which was celebrated in the Court-House; but mourned much in Spirit, to see in what an indifferent Manner every Thing was carried on.\u2014I cried mightily to the Lord in my secret Devotions, and in the Afternoon when I read Prayers and preached, he was pleased to show that he had heard me, for I scarce know when we have had a more visible Manifestation of the Divine Presence since our coming into\u00a0America.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
The People were uncommonly attentive, most melted into Tears, and shewed what a great Impression the Word made upon their Hearts.\u2014I myself was much carried out, I felt the Power of\u00a0God\u00a0come upon me, and I spoke with Demonstration of the Spirit to the Hearers\u2019 Souls.\u2014After Sermon, a poor Woman, with a Heart full of Concern, ran to me, desiring that I would come and preach where she lived; another told me I had given him a home Stroke; and indeed all, I believe, felt an unusual Effect upon their Minds. The Woman where we lodged would take nothing for our\u00a0Christmas Dinner, and wished we could stay with them longer.<\/em><\/p>\n
This unexpected Success rejoiced me the more, because I looked upon it as an Earnest of future and more plentiful Effusions of\u00a0God\u2019s\u00a0Spirit in these Parts.\u2014I really believe, whenever the Gospel is preached in these Parts with Power, it will be remarkably bless\u2019d. I have scarcely heard of one faithful Minister sent over among them; and how shall\u00a0they\u00a0believe\u00a0on\u00a0him\u00a0of\u00a0whom\u00a0they\u00a0have\u00a0not\u00a0heard?\u00a0And\u00a0how shall\u00a0they\u00a0hear\u00a0without\u00a0a Preacher?\u00a0And\u00a0how shall\u00a0they\u00a0preach, unless\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0sent\u00a0by\u00a0and\u00a0taught\u00a0of\u00a0GOD?\u00a0Oh how will it rejoice me to hear that some poor Soul this Day was born again! Then it would be a\u00a0Christmas\u00a0Day indeed!\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

[Friends, you can\u00a0sign up here<\/a>\u00a0for my Thomas S. Kidd author\u00a0newsletter.\u00a0Each newsletter will update you\u00a0on what\u2019s happening in the world of American, a religious and political history, and current events. It will contain unique material available only to subscribers, and each will help you keep up with my blog posts, books, and other writings from around the web. Your e-mail information will never be\u00a0shared. Thanks!]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"