THIS CENOTAPH
is ERECTED, WITH AFFECTIONATE VENERATION,
To the Memory
OF
THE REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD,
BORN AT GLOUCESTER, ENGLAND, DECEMBER 16, 1714;
EDUCATED AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY; ORDAINED 1736.
IN A MINISTRY OF THIRTY-FOUR YEARS,
HE CROSSED THE ATLANTIC THIRTEEN TIMES,
AND PREACHED MORE THAN EIGHTEEN THOUSAND SERMONS.
AS A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS, HUMBLE, DEVOUT, ARDENT,
HE PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD:
PREFERRING THE HONOR OF CHRIST TO HIS OWN INTEREST, REPOSE,
REPUTATION, AND LIFE.
AS A CHRISTIAN ORATOR, HIS DEEP PIETY, DISINTERESTED ZEAL,
AND VIVID IMAGINATION,
GAVE UNEXAMPLED ENERGY TO HIS LOOK, UTTERANCE, AND ACTION.
BOLD, FERVENT, PUNGENT, AND POPULAR IN HIS ELOQUENCE,
NO OTHER UNINSPIRED MAN EVER PREACHED TO SO LARGE ASSEMBLIES,
OR ENFORCED THE SIMPLE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL BY MOTIVES
SO PERSUASIVE AND AWFUL, AND WITH AN INFLUENCE SO POWERFUL,
ON THE HEARTS OF HIS HEARERS.
HE DIED OF ASTHMA, SEPTEMBER 30, 1770.
SUDDENLY EXCHANGING HIS LIFE OF UNPARALLELED LABORS
FOR HIS ETERNAL REST.
OLD SOUTH CHURCH, BOSTON.
MONUMENT
