In South Carolina* 95 



served in the neighboring hotel; school-fellows, with 

 whom he had been associated in many a spree; and a 

 mixed multitude, who knew him only as the Gloucester 

 boy who by his own exertions had made himself an 

 honor to his native town. The key-note of this ser- 

 mon — by which the audience was stirred with profound 

 emotion, and, as was alleged, " fifteen were driven mad " 

 — is sounded in the following extract: 



I warn you of the great danger those are in who, either by their 

 subscriptions, presence, or approbation, promote societies of a quite 

 opposite nature to religion. And here I would not be understood to 

 mean only those public meetings which are designed manifestly for 

 nothing else but revelings and banquetings, for chambering and 

 wantonness, and at which a modest heathen would blush to be pres- 

 ent, but also those seemingly innocent entertainments and meetings 

 which the politer part of the world are so very fond of, and spend so 

 much time in, but which, notwithstanding, keep as many persons 

 out of a sense of true religion as intemperance, debauchery, or any 

 other crime whatever. Indeed, whilst we are in this world, we must 

 have proper relaxations to fit us both for the business of our profes- 

 sion and religion. But then for persons who call themselves Chris- 

 tians, that have solemnly vowed at their baptism to renounce the 

 vanities of this sinful world, and that are commanded in Scripture 

 to abstain from all. appearance of evil, and to have their conversation in 

 heaven — for such persons as these to support meetings that (to say no 

 worse of them) are vain and trifling, and have a natural tendency to 

 draw off our minds from God, is absurd, ridiculous, and sinful. 



Mr. Whitefield returned to Oxford June 30, and 

 purposed to spend " some years " in that seat of learn- 

 ing to fit himself better for the work of the ministry. 

 His friends made him Mr. Wesley's successor in the 

 unendowed chaplaincy of Oxford Castle, and to his 

 great surprise Sir John Philips sent him word that 

 he would allow him thirty pounds sterling a year if he 

 would remain and superintend the affairs of the Meth- 

 odists. 



