Sermons of George Whitefield

New Ipswich, New Hampshire: Pietan Publications (1991)

George Whitefield was the greatest evangelist of the eighteenth century, and one of the greatest preachers who has ever lived. This collection of seventy-eight of his sermons can rightly be described as some of the finest evangelistic preaching ever published as a set.

Before the printing of these sermons, no extensive collection of Whitefield’s sermons was available. Only about 115 of Whitefield’s sermons have survived to the present day, and the three-volume set under review is now the largest collection of Whitefield’s preaching ever to be printed.

To read Whitefield is a heart-stirring and life-changing experience. In my opinion, he is unmatched by any other preacher in combining all the elements of true evangelical preaching -biblical content, doctrinal orthodoxy, pathos, simplicity, and fearless, passionate application of truth to the consciences of his hearers. It is said that Whitefield seldom preached without tears streaming down his cheeks. Reading these sermons is an evangelical education in itself.

In most instances, contemporary preachers simply do not preach like Whitefield. In fact, modern evangelicals are often grossly ignorant of how the old-school evangelical leaders preached. Even if the facts were known, ministers might be afraid to imitate the content and delivery of their predecessors. Certainly there would be a great deal of opposition to, and criticism of, such preaching. Indeed, such preaching seems lost forever, apart from God again raising up men as bold as Whitefield.

Whitefield often preached sermons over and over again in the different locations where he traveled as an evangelist, yet this did not lessen the effect his preaching had on hearers. Much of his preaching was directed to unconverted persons; however, many of Whitefield’s sermons were also pastoral, designed for building up and encouraging believers.

It should be noted that Whitefield’s sermons are not difficult reading. Each one is a simple, straightforward, passionate application of the gospel to the human heart. Whitefield destroyed men’s gods by fearlessly removing every hope they might have apart from Christ. He excelled, probably as no other preacher before or since, in exposing and destroying man’s self righteousness in depending upon anything other than Christ for salvation.

The following excerpt from a sermon entitled “Christ Our Righteousness” is an excellent example of how Whitefield applied the truth to individual hearts and passionately exhorted every unconverted person toward faith in Christ alone:

And do you think that you will be able to stand in the day of judgment, if Christ is not your righteousness? No, that alone is the wedding garment in which you must appear, O Christless sinner! I am distressed for you. O, that this day may be an acceptable time! O, that the Lord may become your righteousness! Indeed, there is no hiding yourselves from His presence. The pitiful fig leaves of your own righteousness will not cover your nakedness, when God shall call you to stand before Him. What will become of you, if Christ does not become your righteousness? Do you think that Christ will then spare you? No, He will then Himself pronounce you damned. Can you bear the thought of being damned by Christ? Can you bear to hear the Lord Jesus say to you, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels?” For Christ’s sake, arise and come home! You are lost, undone, damned forever without Christ’s righteousness. Come then, come guilty prodigals, come home to Jesus Christ, your righteousness.

I warmly recommend these volumes, convinced that they are some of the finest and most heart-filling reading any Christian could ever discover. These sermons ought to be read by every pastor and preacher of the gospel. The reading of them could light a fire, by God’s blessing, in any pulpit where Christ is preached and in any heart where He is enthroned.
MT-Editor

Village Discourses
John Cennick
First published in 1862; reprinted by Dr. Curt Daniel, Scholarly Reprints

This wonderful volume, which has been unavailable until its current reprinting, is a rare jewel of eighteenth century revival literature. John Cennick, one of the foremost evangelical leaders of the period, was an English pastor and open-air preacher along with George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers.

The first section of the book provides an autobiographical account of the early part of Cennick’s life and Christian experience. This portion reveals the great extent to which he tried to perform good works to make himself acceptable to God and to earn salvation, as well as the process by which he came to recognize the futility and ugliness of self-made righteousness.

The remainder of the volume consists of thirty-nine of Cennick’s sermons, which can be described as biblical, devotional, evangelistic, and pastoral. These sermons are filled with rich application to the conscience and life.

Cennick had a masterful grasp of the four Gospels, and twenty-one of his sermons printed in this book come from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Seven additional sermons are from the Old Testament, two are from Acts, five are from Hebrews, and four are from Paul’s epistles.

Like most of the evangelical leaders from the eighteenth century, Cennick’s preaching was thoroughly biblical and richly applicatory. He courageously and passionately applied the truth personally to all who came to hear him preach. In a sermon on the Good Samaritan, Cennick said to his hearers:

You wounded souls who complain, “My wounds stink and are corrupt, through my foolishness; my sores run and do not cease in the night; my soul refuses to find comfort.” Why do you complain as though there was no balm in Gilead? As if there were no physician? Have you not heard of Jesus? Do you not know what He has done in all the world? Many, many can tell you how they were in misery, ready to perish, and He rescued them. I was ready to perish, and was lying helpless, ruined, and robbed when He passed by, had compassion on me, and healed me.

The Lord Jesus passes by and looks down upon you. Let not the greatness of your misery or the long continuing of your wounds and poverty tempt you to think it is too late. You are not yet in hell, and who knows but this day Christ Jesus may begin the work of His salvation in your waiting soul? Miserable as you are, look up toward His throne, show Him how you have grieved Him and have lost all; like a beggar, let your needs, pain, and shame plead for His mercy.

These sermons reveal what preaching was like in the First Great Awakening. Cennick was a master applicator of gospel truth, and his preaching is an exceptional example of true gospel preaching. This volume is rich reading for the soul. This is a marvelous and rare work, and I am thankful that the publisher has made it available for Christians today. I heartily recommend it to you.
MT

Please note that Cennick’s Village Discourses is available only through the publisher’s address: Dr. Curt Daniel, Scholarly Reprints, 2456 Devonshire Road, Springfield, IL 62703