In early life, George Whitefield could feel the impressions of the Spirit of God, and in after life, he said, "God loved me with an everlasting love, and separated me, even from my mother's womb, for the work (the ministry) to which He afterwards was pleased to call me." When about ten years of age, the reading, of Bishop Ken's Manual for Winchester Scholars, affected his heart greatly. He afterwards entered the University of Oxford, and became the associate of a number of pious young men, which proved beneficial to him. Subsequently, in reading a treatise, entitled The Life of God in the Soul of Man, wherein he learned, that true religion is a union of the soul with God or Christ, formed within us, "a ray of light divine," he says, "instantaneously darted in upon me, and from that moment I knew that I must be a new creature."

      He then commenced to seek after that "peace of mind which passeth understanding." He describes himself as having all sensibility withdrawn from him, overwhelmed with a horrible fearfulness and dread, his whole soul barren and dry. [121] "Whenever I knelt down," he says, "I felt great pressure both on soul and body, and have often prayed under the weight of my sorrows, till the sweat came through me. God only knows how many nights I have lain upon my bed, groaning under what I felt. Whole days and weeks have I spent in lying prostrate on the ground in silent or vocal prayer." He denied himself many of the comforts of life, and sustained pecuniary losses, and by his austere discipline reduced his body to such a degree of weakness, that sickness ensued, which kept him under the physician's hands for many weeks.

      Upon recovering from sickness, a happy change took place. He says: "Notwithstanding my fit of sickness continued six or seven weeks, I trust I shall have reason to bless God for it through the endless ages of eternity. For, about the end of the seventh week, after having undergone innumerable buffetings of Satan, and many months inexpressible trials, by night and by day, under the spirit of bondage, God was pleased at length to remove the heavy load, to enable me to lay hold on His dear Son by a living faith, and, by giving me the spirit of adoption, to seal me, as I humbly hope, even to the day of everlasting redemption. But O! with what joy, joy unspeakable, even joy that was full of, and big with glory, was my soul filled, when the weight of sin went off, and an abiding sense of the pardoning [122] love of God, and a full assurance of faith broke in upon my disobedient soul! Surely, it was the day of my espousal--a day to be had in everlasting remembrance. At first my joys were like a spring tide, and, as it were, overflowed the banks. Go where I would, I could not avoid singing of psalms almost aloud; afterwards they became more settled, and, blessed be God, saving a few casual intervals, have abode and increased in my soul ever since."

      Mr. Whitefield was young, when he experienced the change of heart--was soon after ordained a minister of the gospel--and after laboring many years, with much success, he died in the faith that saved him at first from his sins. Let the poor penitent sinner remember the struggle of Whitefield, and not be discouraged, but seek on with all his heart, till the merciful Saviour removes the burden and sets his soul at liberty in the gospel.

[THW 121-123]