Christmas Well Kept and the Twelve Days Well Spent
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/evans/N03638.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Christmas well kept, AND THE Twelve Days well spent.
Printed and Sold by S. Kneeland and T. Green, in Queenstreet over against the Prison. 1739.
Christmas well kept, AND THE Twelve Days well spent, An Extract from Mr. Whitefield's Journal. 1738, 9.
SUNDAY, Decem. 24.
BEing Christmas-Eve, and having preached twice, I went in the Evening to Crooked-Lane Society, where God enabled me to withstand several Persons, who cavil'd against the Doctrine of the New Birth. I then went and expounded to a Company at Mr. B—'s, in Little-Britain, and then went to another Love Feast in Fetter-Lane, and continued till near four in the Morning in Prayer, Psalms, & Thanksgiving, with many truly Christian Brethren; and my Heart was much enlarged & full of Love. God gave me a great Spirit of Supplication; Adored be his free Grace in Christ Jesus, Amen & Amen.
MONDAY Decem. 25. About four I went and prayed and expounded to another Society in Red-Cross-Street, consisting of near two or three hundred People, the Room was exceeding hot. I had been watching unto Prayer all Night, yet God vouchsafed so to fill me with his blessed Spirit, that I spake with as great Power, as I ever did in my Life. My Body was weak, but I found a supernatural Strength, and the Truth of that Saying, When I am weak, then am I strong.
At Six I went to Crutched-Friars Society, and expounded as well as I could, but perceived myself a little oppressed with Drowsiness. How does the corruptible Body weigh down the Soul! When shall I be delivered from the Burden of this Flesh!
Preached (never the less) thrice, and assisted in administering the Sacrament the same Day, without going to Sleep. God will make his Power to be known in me.—This Day 24 Years I was baptized. Lord, to what little Purpose have I lived! However, I sealed my Baptismal Covenant with my dear Savior's most blessed Body and Blood; and trust in his Strength I shall keep & perform it. Amen, Amen.
SATURDAY Decem. 30. Preached nine times this Week, and expounded near eighteen times, with great Power & Enlargement.—Blessed be God, I am every Moment employ'd, from Morning till Midnight.—There's no End of People's coming and sending to me, and they seem more and more desirous, like newborn Babes, to be fed with the sincere Milk of the Word.
What a great Work has been wrought in the Hearts of many within this Twelve-Month! Now know I, that though' Thousands might come at first out of Curiosity, yet God has prevented & quickened them by his free Grace. O that I could be humble and thankful!
Glory be to God, that he fills me continually, not only with Peace, but also Joy in the Holy Ghost! —Before my Arrival, I thought I should envy my Brethren's Success in the Ministry, but blessed be God I rejoice in it, and am glad to see Christ's Kingdom come, whatsoever Instruments God shall make use of to bring it about.—Sometimes I perceive myself deserted for a little while, and much oppressed, especially before preaching, but Comfort soon after flows in.— The Kingdom of God is within me! O free Grace in Christ!
SUNDAY, Decem. 31. Preached twice to large Congregations, especially in the Afternoon at Spittlefields. I had great Hoarsness upon me, and was deserted before I went into the Pulpit; but God strengthened me to speak, so as to be heard by all.
I despair'd of speaking much more that Night, my Cold being very great; but God enabled me to expound to two Companies in Southwark; and I was never more enlarged in Prayer in my whole Life.
Those Words were much pressed upon my Soul, "And the Power of the Lord was present to heal them", and indeed I believe it was; for many were pricked to the Heart and felt themselves to be Sinners. O that all the World knew and felt that!
MONDAY, Jan. 1. Received the Holy Sacrament, preached twice, and expounded twice; and found this to be the happiest New-Years-Day that I ever yet saw. Oh, what Mercies has the Lord shewn me since this Day Twelve Month! And yet I shall see greater Things than these! O that my Heart may be prepared to see 'em! O that my old Things may pass away and all Things become new! —Had a Love Feast with our Brethren at Fetter-Lane, and spent the whole Night in close Prayer, Psalms and Thanksgivings. God supported me without Sleep. O that our Despisers were Partakers of our Joys!
TUESDAY, Jan. 2. Staid at Home to receive those who wanted to consult me.—Blessed be God, from seven in the Morning, till three in the Afternoon, People came; some telling me what God 〈◊〉 done for their Souls, and others crying out— "What shall we do to be saved? Being obliged to go out after this, I refer'd several till Thursday. —God enabled me to give 'em Answers of Peace. —How does he work by my unworthy Hands! His Mercies melt me down, O that I were thankful!
THURSDAY, Jan. 4. My Cold continued, and I feared it would prevent my Speaking, yet God enabled me to expound with extraordinary Power in a private Society; and then to preach at Wapping Chapel, so that the Word pierced the Hearers Souls! And afterward I expounded & prayed for an Hour and half, with great Power and Demonstration of the Spirit, and my Heart was full of God.
How immediately does Jesus Christ reward me for my poor Services! as soon as my daily Work is done, he says, "Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord." He commands, & it is done.
FRYDAY, Jan. 5. Held a Conferrence at Islington, concerning several Things of great Importance, with seven true Ministers of Jesus Christ, despised Methodists, whom God brought together from the East and West, North and South.
What we were in Doubt about, after Prayer, we determined by Lot; and every Thing was carried on with great Love, Meekness & Devotion.—We continued in Fasting & Prayer till three o' Clock, and then parted with a full Conviction that God was going to do great Things among us. Oh that we may be any ways Instrumental to his Glory! that he would make us Vessels pure and holy, meet for our Master's Use.
Expounded twice afterwards in London with great Power, and then was much enlarged for near an Hour in Prayer, in Fetter-Lane Society.—The Spirit of Supplication increases in my Heart daily! May it increase ever, more and more.
I did not find the Pity I ought, upon seeing a Brother full of Self-love. LORD, enlarge my narrow Heart, and give me that Charity, which rejoices not in Iniquity, but rejoices in the Truth. —I perceived something a little bordering on Envy toward my Brother H.—I find more & more that true Humility consists in being submissive to those who are a little above or a little below us. "Oh when shall 〈…〉 to rejoice in Others Gifts & Graces, as much as in my own! I am resolved to wrestle with Jesus Christ, by Faith & Prayer, till He thus blesses me.
SATURDAY, Jan. 6. (Twelfth-Day) Preach'd six times this Week, and should a seventh, but a Minister would not permit me; which caused me to pray for him most earnestly. Blessed be God I can say, I love my Enemies.
Expounded twice or thrice every Night this Week. The Holy Ghost so powerfully worked upon my Hearers, pricking their Hearts, and melting them into such Floods of Tears, that a spiritual Man said, "He never saw the like before.
GOD is with me of a Truth. Adored be His unmerited Goodness, I find his Grace quickening me more & more every Day.—My Understanding is more enlightened, my Affections more inflamed, and my Heart full of Love towards God and Man.— O that the Scoffers of these last Days were not only almost, but 〈…〉 such as I am, except my Indwel •••• 〈◊〉 ••••• ruptions!
REFLECTION.
"WOuld to GOD that Christmas, if it must be observed, were kept something after this Manner thro' all Christendom! And that Sabbaths were thus sanctified in the Church of England, or among Dissenters! —Not that I think ordinary Ministers or Christians called of God or able, to go these Lengths. "But he that can receive it, let him: That is to say, Let us all learn of, and labor in our Places to imitate the High Devotion and Zeal of this admired Man, esteeming him highly in Love for his Works sake: Let us give to free Grace the whole Glory, & thank God for that Extraordinary Assistance & Success, which he has given his Servant hitherto, in his Ministry to his Name, Truth, and the Souls of Men. Let us also earnestly pray for him, that he may be kept humble, without the Need of a Thorn in the Flesh for that End.