A SERMON BY GEORGE WHITEFIELD ENTITLED: “Christ the Only Rest for the Weary and Heavy-Laden.”

GEORGE WHITEFIELD THE GREATEST EVANGELIST IN AMERICAN HISTORY PREACHED OVER 18,000 SERMONS FROM 1740-1770 WHEN GEORGE WAHASHINGTON, JOHN ADAMS, JAMES MADISON, THOMAS JEFFERSON WERE JUST KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS. HERE ARE SOME EXCERPTS FROM THE SERMON ENTITLED: Christ the Only Rest for the Weary and Heavy-Laden. Matthew 11:28 — “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Nothing is more generally known than our duties which belong to Christianity; and yet, how amazing is it, nothing is less practiced? There is much of it in name and show, but little of it in the heart and conversation; indeed, if going to church, and to the sacrament, or, if our being called after the name of Christ, and being baptized into that name; if that will make us Christians, I believe all of us would have a claim thereto: but if it consists in the heart, that THERE MUST be an INWARD principle WROUGHT in US by FAITH; that there must be a CHANGE of the WHOLE NATURE, a putting off the old man with his deeds, a turning from sin unto God, a cleaving only unto the Son of RIGHTEOUSNESS; and that there must be a NEW BIRTH, and we EXPERIENCE the PANGS thereof; and that you must FEEL YOURSELVES WEARY and HEAVY LADEN with your SINS, before you will SEEK for DELIVERANCE from them; if this is to be the case, if there is so much in being children of God, alas! how many who please themselves with an outside show, a name to live whilst they are dead; and how few that have any share in this spiritual state, in this true and living name? HOW FEW are they who are WEARY and heavy laden with their sins, and seek to Christ for REST? They say, in a formal customary manner, we are sinners, and there is no health in us; but how few feel themselves sinners, and are so oppressed in their own spirits, that they have no quiet nor rest in them, because of the burden of their sins, and the weight that is fallen and lays on their minds…Come, come unto him. If your souls were not immortal, and you in danger of losing them, I would not thus speak unto you; but the love of your souls constrains me to speak: methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you forever. Come then by faith, and lay hold of the Lord Jesus; though he be in heaven, he now calleth thee. COME, all ye DRUNKARDS, SWEARERS, Sabbath-breakers, adulterers, FORNICATORS; come, all ye scoffers, HARLOTS, thieves, and murderers, and Jesus Christ will save you; he will give you rest, if you are weary of your sins. O come lay hold upon him. Had I less love for your souls, I might speak less; but that love of God, which is shed abroad in my heart, will not permit me to leave you, till I see whether you will come to Christ or no. O for your life receive him, for fear he may never call you any more. Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; it may be this night the cry may be made. Now would you hear this, if you were sure to die before the morning light? God grant you may begin to live, that when the king of terrors shall come, you may have nothing to do but to commit your souls into the hands of a faithful Redeemer.”