The Foundry, Moorfields.
THE
GREAT REVIVAL
OF
THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
EDITOR’S NOTE.
The only changes made in revising this work are in the localallusions to England as “our country,” etc., and in a fewphrases and expressions naturally arising from the original preparationof the chapters for successive numbers of a magazine.If any reader thinks that the Author’s enthusiasm in his subjecthas caused him to ascribe too great influence to the “Methodistmovement,” and not to give due recognition to other potentagencies in the “great awakening” of the last century, let himremember that this volume does not profess to give a complete,but only a partial history of the Great Revival. Indeed, theAuthor’s graphic pictures relate chiefly to the movement, as itswept over London and the great mining centres of England,where the truth, as proclaimed by the great leaders, Whitefield,the Wesleys, and their co-laborers, won its greatest victories,and where Methodism has ever continued to render some of itsmost valiant and glorious services for Christ. It is not to beinferred that in Scotland, Ireland, and in the American colonies,as in many portions of England, other organizations, dissentingsocieties and churches were not a power in spreading the GreatRevival movement.
A brief chapter has been added at the close, sketching somephases of the revival in the American colonies, under the laborsof Edwards, Whitefield, the Tennents, and their associates.Whatever other material has been added by the Editor is indicatedby brackets, thus leaving the distinguished Author’s viewsand expressions intact.
An Index has also been added, to increase the permanentvalue of the book to the reader. If the history of the remarkable“religious awakenings” of the eighteenth century weremore diligently studied, and the holy enthusiasm and wonderfulzeal of those great leaders in “hunting for souls” were toinspire workers of this century, what marvellous conquests andvictories should we witness for the Son of God!
Philadelphia, March, 1882.
PREFACE.
The author of the following pages begs thatthey may be read kindly—and,