my heart. I should think myself safer in your family, because so many of you love the Lord Jesus, and consequently would be more watchful over my precious and immortal soul. After strong crying and tears at the throne of grace for direction, and after unspeakable troubles with my own heart, I write this. Be pleased to spread the letter before the Lord, and, if you think this motion to be of him, be pleased to deliver the inclosed to your daughter; if not, say nothing, only let me know you disapprove of it, and that shall satisfy, dear sir and madam,

"Your obliged friend and servant in Christ, "GEORGE WHITEFIELD."

LETTER TO THE DAUGHTER.

The letter to the daughter was as curious as that to the parents. Whitefield was awkward at courting, and he did not understand writing loveletters. Such letters would never win the heart of any intelligent young lady. It shows the purity of his heart more than the wisdom of his head. It shows his artless simplicity-that he was perfectly transparent.

"On board the Savannah, April 4, 1740.

you

"Be not surprised at the contents of this; the letter sent to your honored father and mother will acquaint you with the reasons. Do you think could undergo the fatigues that must necessarily attend being joined to one who is every day liable to be called out to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ? Can you bear to leave your father and

kindred's house, and to trust on Him who feedeth the young ravens that call upon him for your own and children's support, supposing it should please him to bless you with any? Can you bear the inclemencies of the air, both as to cold and heat, in a foreign climate? Can you, when you have a husband, be as though you had none, and willingly part with him, even for a long season, when his Lord and Master shall call him forth to preach the Gospel, and command him to leave you behind? If, after seeking to God for direction, and searching your heart, you can say, 'I can do all these things, through Christ strengthening me,' what if you and I were joined together in the Lord, and you came with me, at my return from England, to be a helpmate for me in the management of the orphan house? I have great reason to believe it is the divine will that I should alter my condition, and have often thought you were the person appointed for me. I shall still wait on God for direction, and heartily entreat him that if this motion be not of him it may come to naught. I write thus plainly, because I trust I write not from any other principles but the love of God. I shall make it my business to call on the Lord Jesus, and would advise you to consult both him and your friends; for, in order to obtain a blessing, we should call both the Lord Jesus and his disciples to the marriage. I much like the manner of Isaac's marrying with Rebekah, and think no marriage can succeed well unless both parties concerned are like-minded with Tobias and his wife.

I think I can call the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to witness that I desire to take you, my sister, to wife, not for lust, but uprightly,' and therefore I hope he will mercifully ordain, if it be his blessed will we should be joined together, that we may walk as Zachary and Elizabeth did, in all the ordinances of the Lord blameless. I make no great profession to you, because I believe you think me sincere. The passionate expressions which carnal courtiers use I think ought to be avoided by those who marry in the Lord. I can only promise, by the help of God, 'to keep my matrimonial vow, and to do what I can toward helping you forward in the great work of your salvation.' If you think marriage will be any way prejudicial to your better part, be so kind as to send me a denial. I would not be a snare to you for the world. You need not be afraid of speaking your mind. I trust I love you only for God, and desire to be joined to you only by his command, and for his sake. With fear and much trembling I write, and shall patiently tarry the Lord's leisure till he is pleased to incline you, dear Miss E., to send an answer to

"Your affectionate brother, friend, and servant in Christ, G. WHITEFIELD."

Whitefield and his Wife

Whitefield received no favorable answer from the young lady whose hand he had solicited,

Still feeling it his duty to marry, he the following year (1741) was united in matrimony to a Mrs. James in Wales. She was a widow, ten years older than himself. Washington, John Wesley, and Whitefield married widows. The marriage

of Whitefield has been represented as unhappy, like John Wesley's, but this appears to be a mistake. He always spoke of his wife in the highest terms, and he speaks well of her piety. He wrote to Gilbert Tennent with reference to his marriage, saying that Mrs. Whitefield, "although not rich in fortune nor beautiful in person, was a true child of God," and who would not "for the world hinder him in God's work." To another American friend he writes, "The Lord has given me a daughter of Abraham." He speaks of her in the most endearing manner as his "dear partner," his "dear fellow-pilgrim," his "dear yoke-fellow." She must have been quite a heroine. At one time when he was preaching the mob rallied, stones flew, and, being in great danger, he began to have fears. His wife, who was standing behind him, pulled his gown, and said, "Now, George, play the man for God." This inspired him with more than mortal strength, the enemy retreated, and victory was proclaimed on the Lord's side. Again, in 1744, when they were on board the ship Wilmington, bound for America, and were about to be attacked by an enemy's vessel, he says, " All except myself seemed ready for fire and smoke. My wife, after having dressed herself to prepare for all events, set about making cartridges, while the husband wanted to

go into the hold of the ship, hearing that was the chaplain's usual place."

He writes to one not "to forget his widow-wife. Blessed be God, her Maker is her husband, and ere long we shall sit down together at the marriage-supper of the Lamb." Again, in 1768, he writes to a friend, "My wife is as well as can be expected. Both of us are descending in order to ascend

'Where sin, and pain, and sorrow cease,

And all is calm, and joy, and peace.'

She died in 1768, two years before her husband, and Whitefield preached her funeral sermon, and praised her many virtues. He very soon joined her where "they neither marry nor are given in marriage," but are equal to the angels of God. It was a custom in those days for one relative to preach the funeral sermon of another. John Wesley preached his mother's, Whitefield his wife's.

Whitefield and the Bishop of Gloucester.

The Bishop of Gloucester had sent a letter to Mr. Whitefield, saying that he ought only to preach in that congregation to which he was lawfully appointed. The Bishop cautioned him against acting contrary to the commission given him at his ordination. Mr. Whitefield in his reply said, "Then all persons act contrary to their commission when they preach occasionally in a strange