the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第31节
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vested in trustees； expressly for the use of any preacher of any religious
persuasion who might desire to say something to the people at
Philadelphia； the design in building not being to accommodate any
particular sect； but the inhabitants in general； so that even if the Mufti of
Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to
us； he would find a pulpit at his service。
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Mr。 Whitefield； in leaving us； went preaching all the way thro' the
colonies to Georgia。 The settlement of that province had lately been begun；
but； instead of being made with hardy； industrious husbandmen；
accustomed to labor； the only people fit for such an enterprise； it was with
families of broken shop…keepers and other insolvent debtors； many of
indolent and idle habits； taken out of the jails； who； being set down in the
woods； unqualified for clearing land； and unable to endure the hardships
of a new settlement； perished in numbers； leaving many helpless children
unprovided for。 The sight of their miserable situation inspir'd the
benevolent heart of Mr。 Whitefield with the idea of building an Orphan
House there； in which they might be supported and educated。 Returning
northward； he preach'd up this charity； and made large collections； for his
eloquence had a wonderful power over the hearts and purses of his hearers；
of which I myself was an instance。
I did not disapprove of the design； but； as Georgia was then destitute
of materials and workmen； and it was proposed to send them from
Philadelphia at a great expense； I thought it would have been better to
have built the house here； and brought the children to it。 This I advis'd； but
he was resolute in his first project； rejected my counsel； and I therefore
refus'd to contribute。 I happened soon after to attend one of his sermons； in
the course of which I perceived he intended to finish with a collection； and
I silently resolved he should get nothing from me； I had in my pocket a
handful of copper money； three or four silver dollars； and five pistoles in
gold。 As he proceeded I began to soften； and concluded to give the coppers。
Another stroke of his oratory made me asham'd of that； and determin'd me
to give the silver； and he finish'd so admirably； that I empty'd my pocket
wholly into the collector's dish； gold and all。 At this sermon there was also
one of our club； who； being of my sentiments respecting the building in
Georgia； and suspecting a collection might be intended； had； by precaution；
emptied his pockets before he came from home。 Towards the conclusion
of the discourse； however； he felt a strong desire to give； and apply'd to a
neighbour； who stood near him； to borrow some money for the purpose。
The application was unfortunately ＇made＇ to perhaps the only man in the
company who had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher。 His
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answer was； 〃At any other time； Friend Hopkinson； I would lend to thee
freely； but not now； for thee seems to be out of thy right senses。〃
Some of Mr。 Whitefield's enemies affected to suppose that he would
apply these collections to his own private emolument； but I who was
intimately acquainted with him （being employed in printing his Sermons
and Journals； etc。）； never had the least suspicion of his integrity； but am to
this day decidedly of opinion that he was in all his conduct a perfectly
honest man； and methinks my testimony in his favour ought to have the
more weight； as we had no religious connection。 He us'd； indeed；
sometimes to pray for my conversion； but never had the satisfaction of
believing that his prayers were heard。 Ours was a mere civil friendship；
sincere on both sides； and lasted to his death。
The following instance will show something of the terms on which we
stood。 Upon one of his arrivals from England at Boston； he wrote to me
that he should come soon to Philadelphia； but knew not where he could
lodge when there； as he understood his old friend and host； Mr。 Benezet；
was removed to Germantown。 My answer was； 〃You know my house； if
you can make shift with its scanty accommodations； you will be most
heartily welcome。〃 He reply'd； that if I made that kind offer for Christ's
sake； I should not miss of a reward。 And I returned； 〃Don't let me be
mistaken； it was not for Christ's sake； but for your sake。〃 One of our
common acquaintance jocosely remark'd； that； knowing it to be the custom
of the saints； when they received any favour； to shift the burden of the
obligation from off their own shoulders； and place it in heaven； I had
contriv'd to fix it on earth。
The last time I saw Mr。 Whitefield was in London； when he consulted
me about his Orphan House concern； and his purpose of appropriating it to
the establishment of a college。
He had a loud and clear voice； and articulated his words and sentences
so perfectly； that he might be heard and understood at a great distance；
especially as his auditories； however numerous； observ'd the most exact
silence。 He preach'd one evening from the top of the Court…house steps；
which are in the middle of Market…street； and on the west side of Second…
street； which crosses it at right angles。 Both streets were fill'd with his
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hearers to a considerable distance。 Being among the hindmost in Market…
street； I had the curiosity to learn how far he could be heard； by retiring
backwards down the street towards the river； and I found his voice distinct
till I came near Front…street； when some noise in that street obscur'd it。
Imagining then a semi…circle； of which my distance should be the radius；
and that it were fill'd with auditors； to each of whom I allow'd two square
feet； I computed that he might well be heard by more than thirty thousand。
This reconcil'd me to the newspaper accounts of his having preach'd to
twenty…five thousand people in the fields； and to the antient histories of
generals haranguing whole armies； of which I had sometimes doubted。
By hearing him often； I came to distinguish easily between sermons
newly compos'd； and those which he had often preach'd in the course of
his travels。 His delivery of the latter was so improv'd by frequent
repetitions that every accent； every emphasis； every modulation of voice；
was so perfectly well turn'd and well plac'd； that； without being interested
in the subject； one could not help being pleas'd with the discourse； a
pleasure of much the same kind with that receiv'd from an excellent piece
of musick。 This is an advantage itinerant preachers have over those who
are stationary； as the latter can not well improve their delivery of a sermon
by so many rehearsals。
His writing and printing from time to time gave great advantage to his
enemies； unguarded expressions； and even erroneous opinions； delivered
in preaching； might have been afterwards explain'd or qualifi'd by
supposing others that might have accompani'd them； or they might have
been deny'd； but litera scripta monet。 Critics attack'd his writings violently；
and with so much appearance of reason as to diminish the number of his
votaries and prevent their encrease； so that I am of opinion if he had never
written any thing； he would have left behind him a much more numerous
and important sect； and his reputation might in that case have been still
growing； even after his death； as there being nothing of his writing on
which to found a censure and give him a lower character； his proselytes
would be left at liberty to feign for him as great a variety of excellence as
their enthusiastic admiration might wish him to have possessed。
My business was now continually augmenting； and my circumstances
