Book Review: George Whitfield

Arnold Dallimore has written numerous biographies, including ones on Spurgeon, several on the Wesley family, and the definitive two-volume work on George Whitfield, which he latter summarized into a more manageable, one-volume, 200-page book: George Whitfield: God's Annointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century. (This latter book also may be accessed through Google Books.)

While he only lived for 56 years (1714-1770), Whitfield led a remarkable life. Like Spurgeon, he was involved in a variety of activities (an orphanage, several churches, the founding of the Methodist movement, and extensive travel, including seven cross-Atlantic trips to the United States). He spoke to thousands of people at a time in the open air (prior to amplification systems) — in fact, it is estimated that during the course of his lifetime, his voice was personally heard by more people than anyone in the history of mankind. Benjamin Franklin (yes, that Franklin), estimated that on one occasion while preaching in Philadelphia, Whitfield was heard by more than 30,000 people!

Dallimore points to a number of accomplishments in Whitfield's life, including:

• the breadth of his appeal to various listeners (he was embraced by both the poor, like coal miners and slaves, and the sophisticated nobility of both England and America, including the Prince of Wales and Benjamin Franklin).
• his ability to be readily understood and appreciated by both the educated and uneducated and children.
• the steady course of his life — unwavering and uncompromising in his doctrine, and his ability to avoid pitfalls of pride, asceticism, legalism, and mysticism.

As I read the book, however, I found myself encouraged and challenged by a man who regularly faced opposition, both theological (from both believers and unbelievers) and physical (several times he faced murderous attacks). Multiple times in my reading I made notes in the margin like "conflict," "more conflict," and "opposed again." Yet in spite of the criticism and personal attacks he faced, he maintained an attitude of grace toward his adversaries and strove to effect reconciliation, as much as he could.

On multiple occasions, those whom he left in charge of his church in England while he traveled to America abdicated their position and turned against him (to varying degrees) while he was away. Likewise, those who were his closest friends in ministry — the Wesleys — were estranged from him for many years over doctrinal issues. It is a testimony that at the end of his life, Charles Wesley wrote a 536-line elegy to his memory. Included in that work were these lines, that bespeak of friendly admiration and honor of a godly man:

Such for a length of years his glorious race
He ran, nor e'er looked back, or slack'd his pace,
Forgetting still the things already done,
And reaching forth to those not yet begun,
Eager he press'd to his high calling's prize,
By violent faith resolved to scale the skies,
And apprehend his Lord in paradise.

That Charles Wesley in particular was restored to fellowship with Whitfield is attributable to the grace of God working through Whitfield's repeated attempts to produce that reconciliation, and his humility in confession and his willingness to defer to others in non-essential matters.

When first picking up this book, I thought, "surely this will give me all I want about Whitfield — what more could be said in several hundred more pages?" Yet having now finished, I find myself yearning for more information about his relationship with Jonathan Edwards (a scant two pages in this book), the nature of his marriage (Doreen Moore offers far more information — and seemingly a more open and honest evaluation — of his marriage in Good Christians, Good Husbands? : Leaving a Legacy in Marriage and Ministry), and more samplings of the actual content of his sermons.

I suppose that's the mark of a good book, however: enough information written well, without producing excessively-bored yawning, and stimulating a yearning for more pages. Perhaps another year will induce me to attempt Dallimore's full treatment of Whitfield's life.