In the year 1743, George Whitefield had resolved to go to America, and had engaged his passage in a ship that was to sail from Portsmouth; but, as the Captain afterwards refused to take him, ‘for fear of his spoiling the sailors,’ he was obliged to go to Plymouth. While staying there, he frequently preached; and an attempt having recently been made to murder him in his bed, much attention was excited, and many thousands flocked to hear him. While he was one day preaching Mr Tanner, who was at work as a shipbuilder at a distance, heard his voice, and resolved, with five or six of his companions, to go and drive him from the place where he stood, and for this purpose filled their pockets with stones.
When, however, Mr Tanner drew near, and heard Mr Whitefield earnestly inviting sinners to Christ, he was filled with astonishment, his resolution failed him, and he went home with his mind deeply impressed. On the following evening he again attended and heard Mr Whitefield on the sin of those who crucified the Redeemer. After he had expatiated on their guilt, he appeared to look intently on Mr Tanner, as he exclaimed with energy, ‘Thou art the man!’ These words powerfully affected Mr Tanner; he felt his iniquities to be awfully great; he cried, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’ and he was heard.