喚醒美国的乔治
两个乔治角力：乔治华盛顿（George Washington, 1732-1799）打败了英国的乔治三世（George III, 1738-1820）。结果，在地球的表面上，原来英国的美洲殖民地，产生了独立的美利坚合众国（United States of America）。
 George Washington |
 George III |
但在十八世纪，还有另一个乔治。他是三个乔治中最年长的，他把美洲殖民地的部分人民，带进了天国。
他是乔治．威特腓（George Whitefield, 1714-1770）。他的工作早，也更持久。
耶稣说：“真理必叫你们得以自由。”（约翰福音8:32）
乔治．华盛顿率领美洲人民，脫离英国，得到政治上的自由。乔治．威特腓使美洲殖民地的人，皈信基督，得到灵里的自由。很难说，哪一个影响美国更大。
什么是神所重用的人呢？是改变时代的人。无疑的，两个乔治都是。
威特腓 George Whitefield
威特腓
William Cowper
卢克耐模（在希腊语音下面
隐约有个名字诗人不敢宣称）
站在刑枷公开羞辱的高台上，
忍受攻击的风暴已经半生；
最低贱的诽谤者，
射尽所有的箭恶毒无情。
那提到他的人，立即从他的脣间
摒除怜悯，只发出讥笑和嘶声；
说他的罪远超过所多玛；
用虛谎立誓言竟说是真诚；
他的目的伤害，他的热心是装假，
他的演讲是反叛常识普通；
简直是个傻瓜，如果以理智来论评，
他是个骗徒，若以诚实的标准权衡；
世界最上好的事，就是他的毀灭，
当他死后，必定受审判永刑。
现在，真理，来掌权；
揭开骄傲和成见的幕帘，
（他已经死了）向惊奇的眼睛呈现，
这实在超越巨怪的装扮。
他爱那恨他的世界；
落在圣经上的眼淚诚实不假。
受到口舌的爭闹毀谤咒骂，
他只以无可指摘的生活回答；
对那些铸造枪箭和投射的人，
他都报以弟兄般的爱心。
保罗爱基督並且坚贞不渝，
他完全效法也完美的表露。
他跟从保罗；热诚爱骨肉的火焰，
爱心范模也正是如同使徒。
像保罗欢然橫渡波危涛急的海洋，
放棄家园，亲戚，朋友，和舒畅；
像保罗，他劳苦，也像他，知足，
忍受一切，背负羞辱，不论何往。
惭愧啊，诽谤的人！写在他的墓上，
如果真实的颂扬还有足夠的地方，
要深切的悔改你千万的虛谎，
虽然是对他，卻射伤获罪於上苍；
要说：涂抹我的罪，认罪，忧伤，
啊，主！我敌对你圣徒有你的形像！
译注：卢克耐模（Leuconomus）可能希腊语根隐有“白其名”的意思：“白”（White）是威特腓名字的字首；也可能意在表白或洁白；更可能“白石新名”（启示录2:17）的意思。
Whitefield
From Hope
Leuconomus (beneath well-sounding Greek
I slur a name a poet may not speak)
Stood pilloried on infamy's high stage,
And bore the pelting storm of half an age;
The very butt of slander, and the blot
For every dart that malice ever shot.
The man that mentioned him at once dismissed
All mercy from his lips, and sneered and hissed;
His crimes were such as Sodom never knew,
And perjury stood up to swear all true;
His aim was mischief, and his zeal pretence,
His speech rebellion against common sense;
A knave, when tried on honesty's plain rule,
And when by that of reason, a mere fool;
The world 's best comfort was, his doom was past;
Die when he might, he must be damned at last.
Now, truth, perform thine office; waft aside
The curtain drawn by prejudice and pride,
Reveal (the man is dead) to wondering eyes
This more than monster in his proper guise.
He loved the world that hated him; the tear
That droped upon his Bible was sincere;
Assailed by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life;
And he that forged and he that threw the dart
Had each a brother's interest in his heart.
Paul's love of Christ and steadiness unbribed
Were copied close in him, and well transcribed.
He followed Paul; his zeal a kindred flame,
His apostolic charity the same.
Like him crossed cheerfully tempestuous seas,
Forsaking country, kindred, friends, and ease;
Like him he laboured, and like him, content
To bear it, suffered shame where'er he went.
Blush, Calumny! and write upon his tomb,
If honest Eulogy can spare thee room,
The deep repentance of thy thousand lies,
Which, aimed at him, has pierced the offended skies;
And say, Blot out my sin, confessed, deplored,
Against thine image in thy saint, O Lord!
William Cowper （1731-1800）
English hymn writer & poet