George Whitefield

2 Volume Set: Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the 18th Century Revival

Look Inside Price $62.10

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Weight 3.82 lbs
Dimensions 8.8 × 5.75 × 3.1 in
ISBN 9780851517308
Topic

18th Century, Pastoral Biography

Format

Book

Original Pub Date

1980

Banner Pub Date

Apr 1, 1980

Binding

Cloth-bound

Page Count

1,232

Endorsements

‘Justice has at last been done to the greatest preacher that England has ever produced.’ — D. M. LLOYD-JONES

‘One of the great monumental literary achievements of the 20th century. George Whitefield has come alive for me as I have been reading the book, a few pages at a time each evening.’ — Dr SHERWOOD E. WIRT

‘…My heart was tremendously stirred as I read it – more than it has been for many, many years.’ — Dr OSWALD J. SMITH

‘The full [two volume set] makes you want to preach . . . I insist on the two-volume. It gives the heart of the man.’ — Dr STEVE LAWSON

Book Description

Many reasons combine to make this full-scale portrait of Whitefield a biography of impressive importance.

First, Whitefield’s life provides in itself a story scarcely paralleled. From the age of 24 when he commanded the largest congregations yet seen in America, until his death 30 years later, his was the voice heard by the English-speaking world. By common consent he was the greatest preacher of the 18th Century, and of his preaching gifts J.C. Ryle wrote, ‘No Englishman, I believe, dead or alive, has ever equalled him.’

Second, Whitefield’s life is central in the historical epoch which shaped the subsequent history of Britain and America. the movements which saw the hitherto dormant doctrines of the Reformation preached in the open-air in England, which lifted the separate American colonies and forged a national religious consciousness, which broke the religious deadness of Scotland and made Wales a nation raised on the Bible, were all closely related to Whitefield.

Third, Whitefield’s life commencing as it did in an era of enormous religious indifference and scepticism provides a study in revival Christianity which is perhaps second only to the apostolic era itself. The hidden springs of the great evangelical revival did not lie in the men nor in the times, but rather in the fresh effusion of the Holy Spirit upon hearts and minds.

Volume 1 brings the story of George Whitefield, and of the evangelical revival, up to the end of the year 1740. In it we are told in vivid detail how a young man of Gloucester – ‘at 16 a tapster, at 26 the most brilliant and popular preacher the modern world has ever known’ – exercised a ministry of the gospel crammed full of arduous labour and crowned with divine blessing.

Volume 2 covers the period 1741-1770. It opened with the doctrinal conflict with the two Wesleys and with a serious division in Methodist ranks, quickly followed by a visit to Scotland in which revival reached its high watermark. It follows the remaining events onwards until his death in 1770.

An outstanding biography, popularly written, and with an urgent message for the present day.

Steve Lawson on Reading George Whitefield

REVIEWS

4 testimonials for George Whitefield

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  1. David J. Harris

    Every young man that has plans, or even ideas about going into the Christian ministry should purchase these books. I have enjoyed them and look forward to reading them again, and returning to look at the lives of one of my greatest heroes.

  2. Aaron D. Merck

    Despite the rather imposing length these two volumes present, readers will find themselves spellbound by the narrative and engrossed in the details of Whitfield’s life and the times in which he lived. Upon completing both volumes, I felt as if I had been riding along with this most blessed and dear brother in his journeys and I found myself longing for more. The fictional writings of Lewis and Tolkien cannot even come close to the magnificence of this historical record and are certainly no where near as captivating. I commend these two volumes with all my heart to any who would be willing to “Tolle Lege” (take up and read).

  3. D. Miller

    The best biographies on the greatest evangelist since the close of the apostolic era. The only person in the 18th century that could even remotely be compared to Whitefield would be the famous Welshman Daniel Rowlands. But Whitefield stands alone in his century, the centuries before him and indeed to date. People often admire him for his preaching ability but Whitefield had amazing Christ-like humility, a true Christ-like heart for sinners and an amazing gift of encouragement to his companions. There are many lessons to be learned from this man’s life and I would recommend it over any other outside of the Scriptures. God found it pleasing to bestow upon this man great power; it’s one thing to read his life and another to long for the same power from God in your own life. Our generation needs a Whitefield, but more than that it needs his God! God is the one responsible for all this man’s success; let us learn from his life and strive to serve God as he did so faithfully for over 30 years in preaching the gospel. Whitefield would have never wanted any fame, it wasn’t in his nature; he said himself; ‘let the name of Whitefield perish’ but as we know from Scripture, he that is humble shall be lifted up – this is why he is being spoken of to this generation today. I remember praying at the end of the second volume when that candle went out after he preached to the people one last time, God in heaven make me like Whitefield! I’m looking forward to meeting him in heaven, I’m sure his voice will still be able to be heard from a good distance! Long live his memory and the legacy he left behind. If these volumes fell into the right hands and burned in the right heart, nations could be changed, not because of Whitefield himself but because of the God-man that dwelt in him, the Lord Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God who still today takes away the sins of the world. I’m sure we can all say with Whitefield when he cried… ‘Oh to know a felt God.’

  4. David Kravish

    This biography gives a tremendous accounting of Whitefield’s life. One that not only informs, but lifts the reader to a higher standard of living through the life of one holy man used of God. It is appreciated that Dallimore did not simply gloss over the facts around Whitefield and slavery, and his other faults, but addresses them head on in a way Whitefield would deem truly worthy. 5/5 stars! Cannot recommend it enough!

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