George Whitefield was an influential 18th-century English Anglican evangelist and one of the founders of Methodism, known for his powerful preaching and pivotal role in the Great Awakening in both Britain and the American colonies. He was a champion of the Reformed doctrine of unconditional election and the necessity of the new birth, often engaging in theological debate with John Wesley on these very points.
George Whitefield was a man whose ministry was anchored in the glorious truth that salvation is entirely of the Lord. As a Particular Baptist, I hold that his zeal was not for a general, uncertain offer of salvation, but for the effective, irresistible calling of the elect—a theme central to the ministry of any Reformed preacher. Whitefield’s theology of grace mirrors that described in The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, emphasizing that Christ’s atonement effectively secured the salvation of His people. As Charles Spurgeon aptly notes in All of Grace (Spurgeon), the aim of such preaching is not to entertain or merely inform, but to lead the thirsty sinner to the fountain of life that is Christ alone.
Whitefield’s life and work illustrate the principles laid out in William Perkins’s The Art of Prophesying. He possessed a 'demonstration of the Spirit' that transcended mere human eloquence. While the world may remember him for his oratorical skill, his ministry was defined by a commitment to the Word as the only proper matter for preaching. He did not seek to advance the pride of man or his free-will, but sought to pull down human pretension, ensuring that the glory remained with the Triune God, as seen in The Art of Prophesying §1.