Soon after we went on board the steamer at Greenock, we found several passengers, from different parts of Scotland, on their way to the scene of the “Revival” in Ireland. We moved off at eight o’clock precisely. The evening was fine, but it soon became too dark to trace the bold outline of the beautiful scenery on the Clyde; still, it was sufficiently light to make walking and conversation on the deck very pleasant.
The revival, in the North of Ireland, and in the West of Scotland, was the general subject talked of. All seemed greatly interested in it, and disposed to speak about it. Those who had seen, or read, something of it, were free to communicate what they knew. An important point, immediately connected with the revival, became the subject of an interesting conversation.
It was plainly stated by several, who took part in the conversation, that the pressing need in Ireland, at the present moment, is a calm, clear, full statement of the gospel of the grace of God. Exciting preaching, which acts on the feelings, and leads the awakened one to be occupied with self, is most injurious. A soothing, instructing, peace-giving gospel, is the character of truth needed at present. There is no balm for a sin-sick soul, like the precious blood of Jesus. The Holy Spirit Himself is evidently at work in the present movement. He is awakening many to a sense of their need as sinners, apart from the instrumentality of preaching. And when that is the case, nothing will meet the felt need of such, but the love of Jesus, and the work which He finished on the cross. All other remedies will only increase their anguish. Several other points connected with the work of the gospel, were happily, and we trust profitably conversed upon. By and by the company began to retire, but the deck was not cleared until near twelve o’clock.
By the good hand of our God upon us, we reached Belfast, a little before five o’clock the following morning. We found the sailors quite free to speak about the revival in connection with their own line of things. We spoke to some of them as to their own individual salvation, and gave them some tracts. We then got on to a car for the Ballymena railway station. In speaking to the carman about the meetings in Belfast, we found he had been at some of them, but had little apprehension of their spiritual importance. We spoke to him about the Saviour, and gave him several tracts, which he promised faithfully to read.
As we had nearly an hour to wait for the six o’clock train, we had an opportunity of speaking to people at the station. One of the porters on the platform said to us, “There is a wonderful change come over this town, Sir. Where there used to be nothing but drinking, and swearing, and fighting, there are prayer meetings now. And as you go along the street of an evening, you hear psalm singing everywhere.” The police told us, substantially, the same thing. We felt it well to avail ourselves of every source of evidence, as to the genuineness of the work. We had no difficulty in introducing the subject of religion to anyone. All seemed impressed by what God was doing in their midst. In the railway carriage it was the same.
Through mercy we reached—about nine o’clock.
After breakfast, and the usual questioning of the children on scriptural subjects, the bell rang at ten o’clock precisely, for the morning meeting. This was to us a deeply interesting meeting. It is composed of the family, farm-laborers, and neighbors. A large room, in the stable yard, has been fitted up to accommodate upwards of a hundred persons. It was well filled every morning, but crowded on Lord’s day morning. Then, they meet at eight o’clock, as many who attend have several miles to walk to their different places of worship. The number of conversions in the immediate neighborhood, and the earnest desire of many now to hear the word, have increased the importance of this meeting. The gospel was preached. All were deeply interested. The Lord has wonderfully blessed souls there. It was most refreshing, and gave wondrous joy to our hearts, to hear from the lips of so many, that they were now happy in Jesus, and saved by His precious blood. At twelve o’clock, the children of the Sunday school, met in the lecture hall, to receive their annual treat. This was a most blessed sight, viewing it as the fruit of the love of Jesus in those who were now seeking the spiritual and the temporal good of all around. About two hundred children were feasting very happily on the good things of this life, and waited upon by many kind and godly friends. Oh! what has the Spirit of Christ done here! so many poor, humbly-clad children, thus cared for, thus treated with such kindness. The Lord’s own name be praised; His grace has done it. Here, we had an excellent opportunity of conversing with many who had been “stricken;” for the Lord had done a great work in this place, and was still working. Three days after this, in the same room, we were present when three persons were “stricken,” besides witnessing many under deep emotion, and the greater part of the large assembly in tears. This lecture hall was fitted up by the same kind friend as the other. It accommodates about one thousand persons. On a Lord’s day evening, when the gospel is preached, it is generally well filled; sometimes crowded. After the dear children had partaken heartily of the abundance that was placed before them, they were addressed and questioned on the solemn subjects of the soul’s salvation, and on what fitted us to feed on the rich provisions of God’s love forever. For many of their answers, we felt truly thankful to the Lord. The Lord bless, a thousand-fold in every quarter, this work of faith and labor of love. Surely this is beginning at the right time. But as a detailed history of even one day’s conversation, visiting, and preaching, amongst those dear and interesting people, would fill up more than our space, we will condense our remarks under distinct heads, and endeavor, briefly, to give the substance of our nine days’ sojourn in the scene of the revival, and amongst the young converts.
1. As to the character of the work. We were fully and deeply persuaded, from what we witnessed, that the work is truly divine. That it is directly, and manifestly, a work of God’s Holy Spirit. Doubtless, much of human infirmity, acted upon by the subtlety of Satan, may be mixed up with it. But after making large allowance for such things, there still remains a great, a glorious, a blessed work of the Spirit of God. No one can deny it who visits the scene for himself, and we cannot understand how anyone can doubt it, that knows the preciousness of Jesus. It is more than a quarter of a century since some of us knew the Lord, and during all that time, we have never tasted such unmingled joy, as in seeing the grace of God shining so sweetly in such numbers of men, women, and children. We had many opportunities of conversing with the converts themselves. Most of them had been “stricken;” but many of them had been awakened, and brought into peace, through deep exercise of soul, without any outward manifestation, or prostration of body. Several were brought to Christ while we were there. Some were “stricken;” but we felt convinced that more were gathered without any outward manifestation. And that a real, deep, blessed work of God, was going on in souls. The morning meeting, which has already been referred to, gave us an excellent opportunity of speaking, from time to time, with those who were exercised.
No feature of this blessed work of God’s Spirit, struck us more forcibly, than the uniform testimony from the lips of the young converts, that they were quite happy in the love of Jesus. None of them seemed to have the least doubt on their minds, as to their own, present, personal, salvation. Not that they had much intelligence as to the value of the sacrifice of Christ, which is the alone ground of peace, but they had confidence in Himself, and in the power of His blood to put away their sins. They have, in some quarters, a habit of saying, “one drop” of the blood of Jesus is sufficient to put away all our sins. They mean to put honor on the blood by this expression, although it is not a Scriptural one. To us, who knew something of their state of mind before this blessed awakening, this testimony was the more surprising. We were only the more fully convinced that the work was God’s, and, in a great measure, accomplished outside of man’s instrumentality. No tongue or pen can adequately describe the joy of heart we experienced, in hearing so many, young and old, confess, with joyous countenances, the Lord Jesus, as their loving, gracious Saviour. Their confession, substantially, may be summed up in these beautiful words, “He loved me, and gave himself for me.” The name of Jesus is the grand attraction to their hearts. And this universal acknowledgment of Jesus as their one object and delight, proves, beyond a doubt, that they are led by the Spirit of God, whose mission into this world, is to testify of Jesus, glorify Jesus, and lead souls to confide in Jesus. The church is gathered round Christ as its center, and the Holy Ghost is the alone power of gathering to that divine center. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).) Not, observe, where two or three, “gather” or “meet,” but “where two or three are gathered.” This beautiful action of God’s Spirit in many of the young converts was manifest to us. We could see that Christ was the object of their new life, and the center round which they were gathered. Many of them, alas! had not the knowledge of this blessed truth. The instincts of the new life often go beyond the intelligence of the soul that possesses it. But what an honor and a privilege to be helpers of their faith and joy!
May the Lord lead His precious lambs to receive instruction from the lips of those who are taught, and led by the Holy Ghost!
(To be continued, if the Lord will.)