Pithy gems from George Whitefield

(1714 – 1770)

~ ~ ~ ~

You may have orthodox heads—and yet you may have the devil in your hearts!

~ ~ ~ ~

How sweet is rest after fatigue! How sweet will Heaven be when our journey is ended!

~ ~ ~ ~

Be humble, talk little, think and pray much.

~ ~ ~ ~

The Christian world is in a deep sleep!

~ ~ ~ ~

All our afflictions, all our temptations—are to make Heaven more desirable, and earth more loathsome!

~ ~ ~ ~

The Lord Jesus sits in Heaven, ruling over all, and causing all things to work for his children's good.

~ ~ ~ ~

Oh for a thousand lives to be spent in the service of Christ!

~ ~ ~ ~

Left to himself—man is half beast and half devil.

~ ~ ~ ~

God, give me a deep humility, a well-guided zeal, a burning love and a single eye—and then let men or devils do their worst!

~ ~ ~ ~

If one evil thought, if one evil word, if one evil action, deserves eternal damnation—then how many Hells do every one of us deserve, whose whole lives have been one continued rebellion against God!

~ ~ ~ ~

The reason why congregations have been so dead—is because they have dead men preaching to them. How can dead men beget living children?

~ ~ ~ ~

I expect perpetual conflicts and struggles in this life. I expect only a cross, while on this side of eternity.

~ ~ ~ ~

There are many who go on in a round of religious duties, who think that they will go to Heaven when they die. But if you examine them, though they have a Christ in their heads—they have no Christ in their hearts.

~ ~ ~ ~

My mind being now more open and enlarged, I began to read the Holy Scriptures upon my knees, laying aside all other books and praying over, if possible, every line and word. This proved food indeed and drink indeed to my soul. I daily received fresh life, light and power from above. I got more true knowledge from reading the Book of God in one month—than I could ever have acquired from all the writings of men.

~ ~ ~ ~

What! Get to Heaven on your own strength? Why, you might as well try to climb to the moon on a rope of sand!

~ ~ ~ ~

We are immortal—until our work is done.

~ ~ ~ ~

Mere heathen morality, and not Jesus Christ, is preached in most of our churches!

~ ~ ~ ~

I am ashamed I can do no more for Him who has done so much for me.

~ ~ ~ ~

You blame me for weeping—but how can I help it when you will not weep for yourselves, though your immortal souls are on the verge of destruction!

~ ~ ~ ~

You who preach to others—see that you feel the truths that you speak!

~ ~ ~ ~

You might as reasonably expect to find a living man without breath—as a true Christian without the spirit of prayer and supplication. The true believer can no more live without prayer, than without food day by day.

~ ~ ~ ~

Ministers never write or preach so well—as when under the cross!

~ ~ ~ ~

If you are going to walk with Jesus Christ—then you are going to be opposed. In our days, to be a true Christian is really to become a scandal.

~ ~ ~ ~

Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey—but strive for the mark set before you.

~ ~ ~ ~

True conversion means turning not only from sin—but also from depending on self-made righteousness. This is the reason that self-righteous people are so angry with gospel preachers, because the gospel does not spare those who will not submit to the righteousness of Jesus Christ!

~ ~ ~ ~

God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them.

~ ~ ~ ~

If we once get above our Bibles and cease making the written Word of God our sole rule both as to faith and practice—we shall soon lie open to all manner of delusion and be in great danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.

~ ~ ~ ~

I was honored today with having a few stones, dirt, rotten eggs, and pieces of dead cat thrown at me.

~ ~ ~ ~

Study to know Him more and more—for the more you know, the more you will love Him!

~ ~ ~ ~

Congregations are lifeless—because dead men preach to them.

~ ~ ~ ~

It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself, nor with the preacher.

~ ~ ~ ~

If we are not inwardly wrought upon, and changed by the powerful operations of the Holy Spirit, and our moral actions proceed from a principle of a new nature—however we may call ourselves Christians, we shall be found naked at the great day.

~ ~ ~ ~

Christ is worth all—or He is worth nothing.

~ ~ ~ ~

Let my name die, let even my friends forget me—if by that means the cause of the blessed Jesus may be promoted.

~ ~ ~ ~

If we have not love—then we are not Christians. Love is the great duty of Christians.

~ ~ ~ ~

When you hear of a notorious sinner, instead of becoming angry with him—beg of Jesus Christ to convert and make him a monument of his free grace.

~ ~ ~ ~

True repentance will entirely change you; the bias of your souls will be changed—then you will delight in God, in Christ, in His Word, and in His people.

~ ~ ~ ~

Other men may preach the gospel better than I—but no man can preach a better gospel.

~ ~ ~ ~

It is an undoubted truth that every doctrine which comes from God—leads to God. That doctrine which does not tend to promote holiness, is not of God.

~ ~ ~ ~

Come poor, lost, undone sinner, come just as you are to Christ.

~ ~ ~ ~

Let us once and forever put an end to that lie which says that Calvinism and an interest in evangelism are not comparable.

~ ~ ~ ~

As God can send a nation or people no greater blessing, than to give them faithful, sincere and holy ministers—so the greatest curse that God can possibly send upon a people in this world is to give them over to blind, unregenerate, carnal, lukewarm and unskilled guides.

~ ~ ~ ~

Take care of your life—and the Lord will take care of your death.

~ ~ ~ ~

There is not a thing on the face of the earth that I abhor so much as idleness or idle people!

~ ~ ~ ~

I would rather wear out—than rust out.

~ ~ ~ ~

My prayer today is that God would make me an extraordinary Christian.

~ ~ ~ ~

I got more true knowledge from reading the Book of God in one month, than I could ever have acquired from all the writings of men.

~ ~ ~ ~

We must all have the spirit of martyrdom—though we may not all die martyrs.

~ ~ ~ ~

True conversion means turning not only from sin—but also from depending on self-righteousness.

~ ~ ~ ~

Among the many reasons assignable for the sad decay of true Christianity, perhaps the neglecting to assemble ourselves together, in religious societies, may not be one of the least.

~ ~ ~ ~

O that unbelievers would learn of faithful Abraham, and believe whatever is revealed from God, though they cannot fully comprehend it! Abraham knew God commanded him to offer up his son, and therefore believed, notwithstanding carnal reasoning might suggest may objections.

~ ~ ~ ~

I offer you salvation this day; the door of mercy is not yet shut, there does yet remain a sacrifice for sin, for all that will accept of the Lord Jesus Christ. He will embrace you in the arms of His love.

~ ~ ~ ~

I began to read the Holy Scriptures upon my knees, laying aside all other books, and praying over, if possible, every line and word. This proved food indeed and drink indeed to my soul. I daily received fresh life, light and power from above.

~ ~ ~ ~

Man has a free will to go to Hell—but none to go to Heaven, until God works in him. You dishonor God by denying sovereign election. You plainly make salvation depend, not on God's 'free grace'—but on Man's 'free will.'

~ ~ ~ ~

The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up—but an old one to pull down.

~ ~ ~ ~

The riches of His free grace cause me daily to triumph over all the temptations of the wicked one, who is very vigilant, and seeks all occasions to disturb me.

~ ~ ~ ~

We can preach the Gospel of Christ no further than we have experienced the power of it in our own hearts.

~ ~ ~ ~

O my brethren, my heart is enlarged towards you. I trust I feel something of that hidden, but powerful presence of Christ, while I am preaching to you.

~ ~ ~ ~

Fight the good fight of faith, and God will give you spiritual mercies.

~ ~ ~ ~

You need not fear the greatness or number of your sins.

~ ~ ~ ~

What could the Lord Jesus Christ have done for you more than he has? Then do not abuse his mercy—but let your time be spent in thinking and talking of the love of Jesus, who was incarnate for us, who was born of a woman, and made under the law, to redeem us from the wrath to come.

~ ~ ~ ~

Believers keep up and maintain their walk with God by secret prayer. The spirit of grace is always accompanied with the spirit of supplication. It is the very breath of the new creature, the fan of the divine life, whereby the spark of holy fire, kindled in the soul by God, is not only kept in—but raised into a flame.

~ ~ ~ ~

I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields. I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.

~ ~ ~ ~

People want to recommend themselves to God by their sincerity. They think, 'If we do all we can, if we are but sincere, Jesus Christ will have mercy on us.' But what is there in our sincerity to recommend us to God? If you depend on your sincerity for your salvation—then your sincerity will damn you!

~ ~ ~ ~

As Christ was born of the Virgin's womb—so must He be spiritually formed in our hearts. As He died for sin—so must we die to sin. And as He rose again from the dead—so must we also rise to a divine life.

~ ~ ~ ~

God has condescended to become an author, and yet people will not read his writings. There are very few that ever gave this Book of God, the grand charter of salvation, one fair reading through.

~ ~ ~ ~

It is God alone who can subdue and govern the unruly wills of sinful men.

~ ~ ~ ~

A true faith in Jesus Christ will not suffer us to be idle. No, faith is an active, lively, restless principle—it fills the heart, so that it cannot be easy until it is doing something for Jesus Christ.

~ ~ ~ ~

Would ministers preach for eternity! They would then act the part of true Christian orators, and not only calmly and coolly inform the understanding—but, by persuasive, pathetic address, endeavor to move the affections and warm the heart.

~ ~ ~ ~

Lord Jesus, I am weary in Your work—but not of it. If I have not yet finished my course, let me go and speak for You once more in the field, seal Your truth, and come home to die.

~ ~ ~ ~

Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on the ground in silent or vocal prayer.

~ ~ ~ ~

Oh that I was humble in heart! Honor and dishonor, good report and evil report would then be alike, and prove a furtherance to me in my Christian cause.

~ ~ ~ ~

Nothing is more generally known than our duties which belong to Christianity; and yet, how amazing is it, nothing is less practiced?

~ ~ ~ ~

No doubt holy women of faith in the past were reproached for His name's sake, and accounted mad women; but they had a faith which enabled them at that time to overcome the world, and by which they climbed up to Heaven.

~ ~ ~ ~

Lord, help me to begin to begin.

~ ~ ~ ~

God is well pleased when all our actions proceed from love—love to Himself, and love to immortal souls.

~ ~ ~ ~

Let us, therefore, not be weary of well-doing; for we shall reap an eternal harvest of comfort, if we faint not.

~ ~ ~ ~

Thus was the King and the Lord of glory condemned by man's judgment, when manifest in flesh. Far be it from any of his ministers to expect better treatment.

~ ~ ~ ~

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, even persecutors, the worst of sinners. His righteousness is sufficient for them; his Spirit is able to purify and change their hearts.

~ ~ ~ ~

As for the extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit, such as working of miracles, or speaking with divers kinds of tongues—they are long since ceased.

~ ~ ~ ~

He is unworthy of the name of a minister of the gospel—who is unwilling, not only to have his name cast out as evil—but also to die for the truths of the Lord Jesus.

~ ~ ~ ~

My printed journals and sermons have been blessed in an uncommon manner. I am only afraid lest people should idolize the instrument, and not look enough to the glorious Jesus, in whom alone I desire to glory.

~ ~ ~ ~

Our food and our rest, our trades and our labors, are to be attended to, and all the offices of humanity performed in obedience to the will of God, for the glory of Christ.

~ ~ ~ ~

Give diligent heed to the things that are spoken from the Word of God.

~ ~ ~ ~

Oh let us continually keep faith in exercise—until it are entirely swallowed up in the boundless ocean of beatific vision!

~ ~ ~ ~

The great and important duty which is incumbent on Christians, is to guard against all appearance of evil; to watch against the first risings in the heart to evil; and to have a guard upon our actions, that they may not be sinful, or so much as seem to be so.

~ ~ ~ ~

Had I a hundred hands—I could employ them all. The harvest is very great.

~ ~ ~ ~

If an earthly king was to issue out a royal proclamation, on performing or not performing the conditions therein contained, the life or death of his subjects entirely depended—then how solicitous would they be to hear what those conditions were? And shall not we pay the same respect to the King of kings and Lord of lords and lend an attentive ear to his ministers, when they are declaring, in his name, how our pardon, peace, and happiness may be secured?

~ ~ ~ ~

Pray that I may be very little in my own eyes, and not rob my dear Master of any part of his glory.

~ ~ ~ ~

Various are the pleas and arguments which men of corrupt minds frequently urge against yielding obedience to the just and holy commands of God.

~ ~ ~ ~

I have just put my soul as a blank check into the hand of Jesus, my Redeemer—and asked Him to write on it what He pleases.

~ ~ ~ ~

Although believers by nature are far from God, and children of wrath, even as others—yet it is amazing to think how near they are brought to him again by the blood of Jesus Christ.

~ ~ ~ ~

I began to read the Holy Scriptures upon my knees, laying aside all other books, and praying over, if possible, every line and word. I would be so overpowered with a sense of God's Infinite Majesty, that I would be constrained to throw myself on the ground, and offer my soul as a blank check in His hands, to write on it what He pleased.

~ ~ ~ ~

O poor New England! There is a deep laid plot against your civil and religious liberties—and they will be lost. Your golden days are at an end. You have nothing but trouble before you. Your liberties will be lost.

~ ~ ~ ~

Indeed, I have been enlisted under Jesus' banner only for a few years—but I have enjoyed more solid pleasure in one moment's communion with my God—than I would or could have enjoyed in the ways of sin, though I had continued to have gone on in them for thousands of years.

~ ~ ~ ~

The sinner can no more raise himself from the deadness of sin—than Lazarus, who had been dead four days, until Jesus came.

~ ~ ~ ~

May God enable me to speak with the demonstration of the Spirit, and with power.

~ ~ ~ ~

Be content with no degree of sanctification.

~ ~ ~ ~

I know, by sad experience, what it is to be lulled to sleep with a false peace. Long was I lulled asleep—long did I think myself a Christian, when I knew nothing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ ~ ~ ~

If you know Christ and Him crucified, you know enough to make you happy—supposing you know nothing else. And without this—all your other knowledge cannot keep you from being everlastingly miserable.

~ ~ ~ ~

Prayer brings and keeps God and man together. It raises up man to God, and brings down God to man.

~ ~ ~ ~

If people cannot use so much self-denial as to rise early to pray—then how will they be able to die at a stake for Jesus Christ!