"I find your sermon has had its expected success; it has set the nation a disputing. You will have enough to do now to answer pamphlets. Two I have already seen. O that you would be more cautious in casting lots![381] O that you would not be rash and precipitate! If you go on thus, honoured sir, how can I concur with you? It is impossible. I must speak what I know. Thus I write out of the fulness of my heart. About spring, you may expect to see, ever, ever yours in Christ,
"George Whitefield."
Things were approaching a crisis. Three days afterwards, Whitefield wrote to Wesley another letter,—the least loving he had ever sent to his "honoured friend."
"Boston, September 28, 1740.
"Dear Brother Wesley,—What mean you by disputing in all your letters?[382] May God give you to know yourself; and then you will not plead for absolute perfection, or call the doctrine of election a 'doctrine of devils.' My dear brother, take heed. See you are in Christ a new creature. Beware of a false peace. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; and give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. Remember you are but a babe in Christ, if so much. Be humble; talk little; think and pray much. Let God teach you; and He will lead you into all truth. I love you heartily. I pray you may be kept from error, both in principle and practice. Salute all the brethren. If you must dispute, stay till you are master of the subject; otherwise you will hurt the cause you would defend. Study to adorn the gospel of our Lord in all things; and forget not to pray for your affectionate friend and servant,
"George Whitefield."
This hortatory letter was very different in tone from the letter which Whitefield had previously addressed to Wesley; and, considering Wesley's seniority and other circumstances, it was scarcely modest. Whitefield was growing angry, though, perhaps, he hardly knew it. To another friend he wrote, on September 26:—
"I hope nothing will cause a division between me and Messrs. Wesley. But I must speak what I know, and confute error wheresoever I find it."
On the same day he wrote to the Rev. Benjamin Ingham, the Moravian evangelist in Yorkshire:—
"I find our friends are got into disputing one with another. O that the God of peace may put a stop to it! If we are divided among ourselves, what an advantage will Satan gain over us! Let us love one another, excite all to come to Christ without exception, and our Lord will shew us who are His."
Before proceeding with Whitefield's Journal, another letter must be introduced. William Delamotte was acting as Ingham's coadjutor in Yorkshire. He had left the Church of England, and become a Moravian. About this period, he began to preach, but his career was soon ended. He died February 22, 1743, and was buried at St. Dunstan's in the East, London.[383] To this brother of the young lady, whom Whitefield, in so strange a manner, had asked to become his wife, the following was addressed:—
"Boston, September 28, 1740.
"Dear Brother William,—I thank you for your kind letter from Osset. I wish it was written with more life. I fear you are turning almost to a spirit of bondage; but it is good for you to be sifted, to make an experienced minister of Jesus Christ.
"I could not but smile, to find you wink at the decency of my dress. Alas! my brother, I have long since known what it is to be in that state, into which I fear you are about to enter. I once thought that Christianity required me to go nasty. I neglected myself as much as you would have me, for about a twelvemonth; but, when God gave me the spirit of adoption, I then dressed decently, as you call it, out of principle; and I am more and more convinced, that the Lord would have, me act, in that respect, as I do.
"God only knows whether you have done right in leaving the University, or in declining to exhort. If you do not preach till you are perfectly free from all sin, I believe you will never preach again. I could never hear of such a minister or Christian yet. Jesus Christ sent His disciples to preach before they were perfect; nay, when they were weak in grace. Exercise the talents you have; that is the way to get more. Thus God has dealt with me for these seven years.
"Many of our friends talk against election. A good reason may be given. I believe they have never taken pains to search into the true state of the case. But I will say no more. Our dear Master is doing wonders amongst us. Praise Him lustily, and with a good courage, Adieu!