|
"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 93
of 154
with him (being employed in printing his Sermons and Journals, etc.), never had
the least suspicion of his integrity, but am to this day decidedly of opinion
that he was in all his conduct a perfectly honest man, and methinks my testimony
in his favour ought to have the more weight, as we had no religious connection.
He us'd, indeed, sometimes to pray for my conversion, but never had the
satisfaction of believing that his prayers were heard. Ours was a mere civil
friendship, sincere on both sides, and lasted to his death.
The following instance will show something of the terms on which we stood. Upon
one of his arrivals from England at Boston, he wrote to me that he should come
soon to Philadelphia, but knew not where he could lodge when there, as he
understood his old friend and host, Mr. Benezet, was removed to Germantown. My
answer was, "You know my house; if you can make shift with its scanty
accommodations, you will be most heartily welcome." He reply'd, that if I made
that kind offer for Christ's sake, I should not miss of a reward. And I
returned, "Don't let me be mistaken; it was not for Christ's sake, but for your
sake." One of our common acquaintance jocosely remark'd, that, knowing it to be
the custom of the saints, when they received any favour, to shift the burden of
the obligation from off their own shoulders, and place it in heaven, I had
contriv'd to fix it on earth.
The last time I saw Mr. Whitefield was in London, when he consulted me about his
Orphan House concern, and his purpose of appropriating it to the establishment
of a college.
He had a loud and clear voice, and articulated his words and sentences so
perfectly, that he might be heard and understood at a great distance, especially
as his auditories, however numerous, observ'd the most exact silence. He
preach'd one evening from the top of the Court-house steps, which are in the
middle of Market-street, and on the west side of Second-street, which crosses it
at right angles. Both streets were fill'd with his hearers to a considerable
distance. Being among the hindmost in Market-street, I had the curiosity to
learn how far he could be heard, by retiring backwards down the street towards
the river; and I found his voice distinct till I came near Front-street, when
some noise in that street obscur'd it. Imagining then a semi-circle, of which my
distance should be the radius, and that it were fill'd with auditors, to each of
|