A CONTINUATION OF THE REV MR WHITEFIELD's JOURNAL, FROM HIS ARRIVAL AT Savannah, to his return to London.* SUNDAY, May 7. Arrived at Savannah town about seven this evening, and joined in prayer, and a psalm of thanksgiving with Mr Delamotte, and some pious souls that were rejoiced at my arrival: the good Lord sanctify our meeting to his glory, and his people's welfare. Spent the remainder of the evening in taking sweet counsel with Mr Delamotte, who seems providentially left behind at Savannah against my coming. How Though the journals already published were printed without my knowledge, yet as God has been pleased to let me see, by letters sent to me, that he has greatly blessed them, I now, upon the importunity of friends, consent to the publishing a continuation of them, that those pious persons who have interceded in my behalf, may see what God, in answer to their prayers, has done for my soul. I am sensible that this, as well as every thing else of such a nature, must necessarily meet with great contempt from natural men, who are strangers to the influences of the Holy Ghost upon the heart. But what have I to do with them? If any of God's children receive the least consolation from my experiences, let almost, formal Christians be offended, and the scoffers of these last days mock on.-I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. sweetly does Providence order things for us! Oh, may I constantly follow it as the wise men did the star in the east. Monday, May 8. Begun to read public prayers, and expound the second lesson at five in the morning to seventeen adults and twenty-five children. May God open their hearts that they may attend to the things that were spoken. In the afternoon, Mr Causlon sent word, that he and the magistrates would wait upon me, but I chose rather to wait upon them. I was received with great civility, and our chief conversation ran upon the place of my settlement; at last it was resolved that I should have a house and tabernacle built at Frederica, and serve at Savannah, when, and as long as I pleased. I find there are many divisions amongst the inhabitants, but God, I hope, will make me an instrument of composing them grant this, O Lord, for thy dear Son's sake. Sunday, May 14. After another week's confinement, by the return of my fever, under which God showed me great mercies, and which went off with a fit of the ague, I attempted to read prayers, but was so exceedingly faint and weak, that I was obliged to leave off before I began the second service. Oh, that my friends had seen me at that hour, they then might have learnt not to have any man's person in admiration, and not to think more highly of me than they ought to think. Tuesday, May 16. Having by the blessing of God gotten a little strength, I went to see Tomo Chachi, who, I heard, was near expiring at a neighbour's house. He lay on a blanket thin and meagre, and little else but skin and bones. Senauki sat by fanning him with some Indian feathers. There was nobody that could talk English, so I could only shake hands and leave him. Friday, May 19. God still strengthening me more and more, I went this morning to two little villages, Hampstead and Highgate, about five miles off Savannah. The former consists of three families, making in all eleven souls, one man a Jew; two men, one woman and seven children Swissers. I was much delighted with seeing the improvements a few pair of hands had made in their respective plantations, and was surprised to see what industry will do. Surely they speak not truth, who say that the Georgia people have been idle; for I never saw more laborious people than are in these villages. They live exceedingly hard, but with a little assistance may do very well. I was at a loss, because I could not talk French; but however I resolved, under God, to follow my worthy predecessor's example, and to visit them once a week, and read prayers to as many as could understand me. I also inquired into the state of their children, and found there were many who might prove useful members of the colony, if there were a proper place provided for their maintenance and education. Nothing can effect this but an orphanhouse, which might easily be erected at Savannah, would some of those that are rich in this world's good, contribute towards it. May God in his due time stir up the wills of his faithful people, to be ready to distribute, and willing to communicate on this commendable occasion. Saturday, May 20. Went once more to see Tomo Chachi, hearing his nephew Tooanoowee was there, who could talk English. I desired him to inquire of his uncle," whether he thought he should die?" who answered, "he could not tell :" I then asked, where he thought he should go after death? He replied, "To heaven." But alas, how can a drunkard enter there? I then exhorted Tooanoowee, who is a tall proper youth, not to get drunk, telling him, he understood English, and therefore would be punished the more, if he did not live better. I then asked him, whether he believed a heaven? He answered, "Yes." I then asked, whether he believed a hell? and described it by pointing to the fire; he replied, "No." From whence we may easily gather, how natural it is to all mankind to believe there is a place of happiness, because they wish it may be so, and on the contrary, how averse they are to believe a place of torment, because they wish it may not be so. But God is true and just, and as surely as the good shall go into everlasting happiness, so the wicked shall go into everlasting punist ment. Wednesday, May 24. Went to-day to Thunderbolt, a village about six miles off Savannah, situated very pleasantly near the river, and consisting of three families, four men and two women, and ten servants; I was kindly received, expounded a chapter, used a few collects, called on a family or two that lay near our way, and returned home to Savannah very comfortably, with my friend Delamotte, about six o'clock in the evening. Blessed be God for strengthening my weak body. Friday, June 2. This evening parted with kind captain Whiting, and my dear friend Delamotte, who embarked for England about seven at night. The poor people lamented the loss of him, and went to the waterside to take a last farewell. And good reason had they to do so for he has been indefatigable in feeding Christ's lambs with the sincere milk of the word, and many of them, blessed be God, have grown thereby. Surely, I must labour most heartily, sirce I come after such worthy predecessors. The good Mr John Wesley has done in America, under God, is inexpressible. His name is very precious among the people; and he has laid such a foundation, that I hope neither men nor devils will ever be able to shake. Oh, that I may follow him, as he has Christ. Monday, June 5. Had a conference with a certain person of the parish, who, I heard last night, had been broaching many heretical doctrines to one of my friends, particularly in denying the eternity of hell torments. I therefore invited him this morning to breakfast; and after imploring God's assistance, in the spirit of meekness, I asked him, whether he believed the eternity of hell torments? He answered frankly, "No." I replied, "What do you mean, sir, when you repeat the twelfth article of our creed?" He said, "He believed wicked men were to be annihilated." I then read Pearson's "Exposition" of the last article, but he denied it all, said he thought himself in the right, and believed it his duty to inform mankind, that they were to be annihilated. Upon which I repeated to him that passage out of the Revelations, "If any man shall take away from, or add unto the words that are written in this book, God shall take away his name out of the Book of Life, and add unto him all the plagues that are written in this book." This, he said, he believed. Afterwards we discoursed afresh, but finding him resolute to propagate his principles, I then told him with the utmost calmness, that I was sorry that I gave him the cup yesterday at the sacrament; but for the future, he must pardon me, if I refused ever to give it him again. This staggered him a little, but he bore it pretty patiently, yet thought me uncharitable. But 1 told him I should meet him at the judgment-seat of Christ, and then he would see upon what principles I acted. May God give me grace not to regard the faces of men, but with a humble, well-guided zeal and courage to watch the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made me overseer. Saturday, July 10. Placed one that came with me, at Highgate, to teach the children English, that belong to that village and Hampstead. They are about twenty in all, of French extraction, but some few of them are able to speak a little in our vulgar tongue. I thought placing a master there, would be of great consequer.ce. First, because I cannot think children will ever be naturalized to the colony, till they can talk our language. Secondly, because the present generation will soon wear off, and these children, being well instructed in ours, will make them forget their own tongue, and should they marry and have children, they would naturally teach their children the same; so that at length we shall all be of one speech. Thirdly, as they are but few in number, and no likelihood of any French minister to come amongst them, I or my successors shall be unable to catechise or bring them to hear the word |