Replies

Here is the history of the controversy between Whitfield and Wesley. You will notice that Wesley preached the sermon that started this thread after hearing from Whitfield in a letter:

"I hear, honoured sir, you are about to print a sermon on predestination. It shocks me to think of it; what will be the consequences but controversy? If people ask me my opinion, what shall I do? I have a critical part to act, God enable me to behave aright! Silence on both sides will be best. It is noised abroad already, that there is a division between you and me. Oh, my heart within me is grieved..."

Note that Wesley published this sermon even though Whitfield had pleaded with him not to do so in order to preserve unity. Wesley cared nothing for unity, and showed himself to be a schismatic.

Whitfield certainly felt that this sermon was a personal attack against him, he stated "I have been supplanted, despised, censured, maligned, judged by and separated from my nearest, dearest friends." as a result. Take the time to read Whitfield's letter to Wesley (found here). You will notice, I hope, just how gracious and accomodating Whitfield was in this controversy. If you were to take the time to research all of the correspondence between these two men during this period, you would see that Wesley really was a bit hypocritical to heap such praise on Whitfield at his funeral, especially when he took as many pot-shots at him as he did during his life.

As I re-read Whitfield's response to this sermon (and yes, I did read Wesley's sermon, and not for the first time), I could not help but notice just how good a job Whitfield did in refuting Wesley's arguments.

If anything, we could all learn a thing or two about how to conduct ourselves in these doctrinal discussions from the tone and nature of Whitfield's response.

In order to conserve bandwidth, I will not post Whitfield's answer on this thread, but will provide a link that you can follow.

Note that Wesley published this sermon even though Whitfield had pleaded with him not to do so in order to preserve unity. Wesley cared nothing for unity, and showed himself to be a schismatic.

Calvinism was already splitting apart the Methodist movement. Wesley had to give his views on it. I will be posting what he said at Whitfields funeral shortly.

Whitfield certainly felt that this sermon was a personal attack against him, he stated "I have been supplanted, despised, censured, maligned, judged by and separated from my nearest, dearest friends."

That seems to the usual reaction by Calvinists! Whitfield was a great man of God and a great soul winner despite his Calvinism.

Take the time to read Whitfield's letter to Wesley (found here). You will notice, I hope, just how gracious and accomodating Whitfield was in this controversy. If you were to take the time to research all of the correspondence between these two men during this period, you would see that Wesley really was a bit hypocritical to heap such praise on Whitfield at his funeral, especially when he took as many pot-shots at him as he did during his life.

Both men were gracious and kind, Christian men. That is why Wesley spoke at Whitefields funeral. If the Christian love that was shown by those two men could be shown on these sites there would a lot less shouting and a lot more frank discussion.

But ye would not