Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ... I THE NECESSITY AND BENEFITS OF RELIGIOUS SOCIETY1 'Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.'--Eccles. iv. 9-12. AMONG the many reasons assignable for the sad decay of true Christianity, perhaps the neglecting to assemble ourselves together, in 1 Preached in the Church of St Mary de Crypt, Gloucester-- the church in which Whitefield was baptised, where he had first received the Holy Communion, and contiguous then to the school in which he had been educated--on the afternoon of June 27, 1736. Mr Tyerman (i. 51) thinks it 'probably the same sermon he afterwards preached before the Religious Societies, at one of their quarterly meetings, in Bow Church, London.' A large crowd, drawn together, Whitefield tells us, by curiosity, filled the church at Gloucester. The results of the sermon were remarkable: 'A few mocked, but most for the present seemed struck; and I have since heard that a complaint has been made to the Bishop that I drove fifteen mad.' On the following day the Bishop sent the young preacher five guineas -- 'a great supply for one who had not a guinea in the world.' religious societies, may not be one of the least. That I may therefore do my endeavour towards promoting so excellent a means of piety, I have selected a passage of Scripture, drawn from the experiences of the wisest of men, which being a little enlarged on, and illustrated, will fully answer my present design; being to...
