102 His Ton y of Methodism 



Prompts thee the rage of winds and seas to scorn, 

 T" effect the work for which thy soul was born. 

 What multitudes, whom pagan dreams deceive, 

 Shall, when they hear thy powerful voice, believe! 



Long as Savannah, peaceful stream, shall glide, 

 Your worth renowned shall be extended wide; 

 Children as yet unborn shall bless your lore, 

 Who thus to save them left your native shore. 

 Th' apostle thus, with ardent zeal inspired, 

 To gain all nations for their Lord desired. 



On Sunday, January 14, 1739, being in his twenty- 

 fifth year, he was ordained priest, at Oxford, by his 

 worthy friend, Bishop Benson. Mr. Whiteneld did 

 not forget his absent friends. During his passage to 

 England he wrote a sort of pastoral letter " to the in- 

 habitants of Savannah," in which he strongly insists 

 upon that which had been the subject of his sermons — ■ 

 "the new birth in Christ Jesus, that ineffable change 

 which must pass upon our hearts before we can see 

 God." It is a remarkable fact, however, that while 

 specifying the means of obtaining it, as (1) self-de- 

 nial, (2) public worship, (3) reading the Scriptures, 

 (4) secret prayer, (5) self-examination, and (6) receiv- 

 ing the holy sacrament, there is not a word said about 

 faith in Christ; and further it is equally remarkable 

 that until after this first visit to America the doctrine 

 of salvation by faith in Christ only is never even 

 mentioned in any of his sermons, nor in any of his 

 private letters to his friends. 



"While Mr. Whiteneld was in Georgia, Charles Wes- 

 ley had formed an intimate acquaintance with Dr. 

 Henry Piers, of Bexley, and with the Delamotte fam- 

 ily, at Blendon; John AVesley had met with Peter 

 Bolder, the Moravian; and under the spiritual guid- 

 ance and instruction of these both had come experi- 



