1739 George Whitefield's Answer to the Bishop of London's Pastoral Letter

A published sermon by one of the founders of the Methodist church, George Whitefield. 27pp + 9pp of Supplementary material, measuring 4.5" x 7.5", London, dated 1739. Printed by W. Strahan for J. Oswald. A publication of "The Rev. Mr. Whitefield's Answer to the Bishop of London's Last Pastoral Letter." The Supplement to the sermon contains Notes as well as a remark on the Weekly Miscellany of August 18, 1739 with an extract of a letter from W. Seward. The published sermon is toned throughout with foxing and staining. The binding is starting to come unbound with a few loosened pages at the back. Chipping at the edges. Overall good.

George Whitefield (1714-1770) was an Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. In 1740, he traveled to North America where he preached a series of revivals that became part of the "Great Awakening". His methods were controversial, and he engaged in numerous debates and disputes with other clergymen. From 1738 to 1741, Whitefield issued seven "Journals", criticizing the Church. The "Journals" angered numerous clergy, with Joseph Trapp calling them "blasphemous" and accusing Whitefield of being "besotted either with pride or madness". In response to the "Journals", the bishop of London, Edmund Gibson, published a 1739 pastoral letter that criticized Whitefield. Whitefield in turn responded by labeling Anglican clergy as "lazy, non-spiritual, and pleasure-seeking", and further went on to reject ecclesiastical authority, claiming that "the whole world is now my parish."

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