George Whitefield

English minister and preacher

George Whitefield ( 27 December [O.S. 16 December] 1714 – 30 September 1770), also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican minister and preacher who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. Born in Gloucester, he matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford in 1732.

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About the George Whitefield

George Whitefield ( 27 December [O.S. 16 December] 1714 – 30 September 1770), also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican minister and preacher who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. Born in Gloucester, he matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford in 1732. There, he joined the “Holy Club” and was introduced to John and Charles Wesley, with whom he would work closely in his later ministry. Unlike the Wesleys, he embraced Calvinism.

Whitefield was ordained after receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree. He immediately began preaching, but he did not settle as the minister of any Church of England parish; rather, he became an itinerant preacher and evangelist. In 1740, Whitefield traveled to British North America where he preached a series of Christian revivals that became part of the First Great Awakening. His methods were controversial, and he engaged in numerous debates and disputes with other clergymen.

Whitefield received widespread recognition during his ministry; he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps ten million listeners in the British Empire. Whitefield could enthrall large audiences through a potent combination of drama, religious eloquence, and patriotism. He used the technique of evoking strong emotion, then using the vulnerability of his enthralled audience to preach.

31 Quotes by George Whitefield

  1. 1.

    Fight the good fight of faith, and God will give you spiritual mercies.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  2. 2.

    Nothing is more generally known than our duties which belong to Christianity; and yet, how amazing is it, nothing is less practiced?

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  3. 3.

    Take care of your life and the Lord will take care of your death.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  4. 4.

    But he is unworthy the name of a minister of the gospel of peace, who is unwilling, not only to have his name cast out as evil, but also to die for the truths of the Lord Jesus.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  5. 5.

    To preach more than half an hour, a man should be an angel himself or have angels for hearers.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  6. 6.

    This discourse, and the present frame of my mind, lead me rather to speak to those, who by feeling Satan’s fiery darts, know assuredly that there is a devil.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  7. 7.

    When our Lord says, we must be converted and become as little children, I suppose he means also, that we must be sensible of our weakness, comparatively speaking, as a little child.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  8. 8.

    As for the extraordinary operations of the Holy Ghost, such as working of miracles, or speaking with divers kinds of tongues, they are long since ceased.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  9. 9.

    At the day of judgment we shall all meet again.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  10. 10.

    Thus was the King and the Lord of glory judged by man’s judgment, when manifest in flesh: far be it from any of his ministers to expect better treatment.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  11. 11.

    If your souls were not immortal, and you in danger of losing them, I would not thus speak unto you; but the love of your souls constrains me to speak: methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you forever.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  12. 12.

    Let us, therefore, not be weary of well-doing; for we shall reap an eternal harvest of comfort, if we faint not.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  13. 13.

    And now let me address all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to accept of mercy and grace while it is offered to you; Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation; and will you not accept it, now it is offered unto you?

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  14. 14.

    For it pleased God, after he had made all things by the word of his power, to create man after his own image.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  15. 15.

    Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  16. 16.

    Various are the pleas and arguments which men of corrupt minds frequently urge against yielding obedience to the just and holy commands of God.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  17. 17.

    O my brethren, my heart is enlarge towards you. I trust I feel something of that hidden, but powerful presence of Christ, whilst I am preaching to you.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  18. 18.

    No, the religion of Jesus is a social religion.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  19. 19.

    It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  20. 20.

    It is very remarkable, that in the book of life, we find some almost of all kinds of occupations, who notwithstanding served God in their respective generations, and shone as so many lights in the world.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  21. 21.

    We are immortal until our work on earth is done.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  22. 22.

    You see, my brethren, my heart is full; I could almost say it is too big to speak, and yet too big to be silent, without dropping a word to you.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  23. 23.

    For in Jesus Christ there is neither male nor female, bond nor free; even you may be the children of God, if you believe in Jesus.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  24. 24.

    Among the many reasons assignable for the sad decay of true Christianity, perhaps the neglecting to assemble ourselves together, in religious societies, may not be one of the least.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  25. 25.

    The Judge is before the door: he that cometh will come, and will not tarry: his reward is with him.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  26. 26.

    The reason why the Son of God took upon him our nature, was, the fall of our first parents.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  27. 27.

    The righteousness of Jesus Christ is one of those great mysteries, which the angels desire to look into, and seems to be one of the first lessons that God taught men after the fall.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  28. 28.

    Mere heathen morality, and not Jesus Christ, is preached in most of our churches.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  29. 29.

    The great and important duty which is incumbent on Christians, is to guard against all appearance of evil; to watch against the first risings in the heart to evil; and to have a guard upon our actions, that they may not be sinful, or so much as seem to be so.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  30. 30.

    O that unbelievers would learn of faithful Abraham, and believe whatever is revealed from God, though they cannot fully comprehend it! Abraham knew God commanded him to offer up his son, and therefore believed, notwithstanding carnal reasoning might suggest may objections.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher

  31. 31.

    Although believers by nature, are far from God, and children of wrath, even as others, yet it is amazing to think how nigh they are brought to him again by the blood of Jesus Christ.

    George Whitefield

    English minister and preacher