[298] It was not without reason, that, thirty-eight years after this, Wesley said: "Mr. Whitefield, by conversing with the Dissenters, chiefly the Presbyterians in New England, contracted strong prejudices against the Established Church." (Wesley's Answer to Rowland Hill's "Imposture Detected," p. 4.)
[299] Glasgow Weekly History, No. 3.
[300] This was "a young gentleman, once a minister of the Church of England, but now secretary to Mr. Penn."
[301] Oldmixon, in his "British Empire in America," published in 1708, says, "German Town, a corporation of high and low Dutch. There are above 200 houses in it. Peach trees are planted all along before the doors, which, in the time of bloom, make a beautiful road for a mile together. The town is very pleasant and airy, being wonderfully cleared from trees."
[302] In the Pennsylvania Gazette, a newspaper published by Franklin, appeared the following notice, November 15, 1739:—
"The Rev. George Whitefield having given me copies of his Journals and Sermons, with leave to print the same, I propose to publish them with all expedition, if I find sufficient encouragement. The Sermons will make two volumes, and the Journals two more, which will be delivered to subscribers at two shillings for each volume, bound. Those, therefore, who are inclined to encourage this work are desired speedily to send in their names to me, that I may take measures accordingly."
[303] This occurred in the spring of 1740.
[304] "Memoirs of Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin," vol. i. 4to. London, 1818.
[305] Benjamin Franklin's newspaper, of this date, contains the following:—"On Thursday last, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield left this city" (Philadelphia), "and was accompanied to Chester by about one hundred and fifty horse, and preached there to about seven thousand people. On Friday, he preached twice at Wilmington, to about five thousand; on Saturday, at Newcastle, to about two thousand five hundred; and the same evening, at Christiana Bridge, to about three thousand; on Sunday, at Whiteclay Creek, he preached twice, resting about half an hour between the sermons, to about eight thousand, of whom three thousand, it is computed, came on horseback. It rained most of the time, and yet they stood in the open air."
[306] These references to hunger, and kitchen accommodation, may appear strange, but are sufficiently explained by the following extract from a letter which Whitefield wrote to Gilbert Tennent: "In these parts, Satan seems to lead people captive at his will. The distance of the plantations prevents people assembling together. Here are no great towns, as in other provinces, and the commonalty is made up of negroes and convicts; and if they pretend to serve God, their masters, Pharaoh-like, cry out, 'Ye are idle, ye are idle.'"