Awakening in Ulster
Table of Contents
Awakening in Ulster: Part 1
The Editor has received letters from various friends and correspondents, in reference to the remarkable movement in the North of Ireland; and it has occurred to him that a page or two of this magazine might he devoted to a matter so profoundly interesting to every lover of Christ and of souls. He is the rather induced to refer to the subject, in this way, having been prevented, by pressure of work, from replying to the numerous communications which have come to hand.
The most conflicting opinions have been formed and uttered, with respect to this movement, but, in order to have anything approaching to a correct idea, one must be an eye witness of it in its progress and practical results. Above all, one needs to contemplate it from a divine point of view, in order to arrive at a sound conclusion respecting it.
Many have felt disposed to call in question the spirituality of the entire movement, because of the attendant circumstances, in certain individual cases. This would be a serious mistake. It, most assuredly, is not our province, nor is it within the range of our capacity, to dictate to the Almighty Workman, the exact mode in which He is to do His work. He may, in some cases, carry on His new creation, so softly, so gently, so silently, that those who are standing by may be wholly unconscious of the mighty work. In other cases, He may see fit to conduct the soul through such deep exercises as to evoke the most heart-rending cries and groans. Are we competent to account for the contrast? Are we called upon to do so? Surely not. Look, for example, at the contrast between Lydia and the jailor, in Acts 16 Of the former, we read, " whose heart the Lord opened that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul." The latter, on the other hand, " sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas." Now, it would be as unwarrantable to object to the excitement connected with the jailor's conversion, as to question the reality of Lydia's case because all was done so quietly. Neither the excitement nor the quietness had aught to do with the salvation of the soul. The one was struck down; the other was not; both were saved by Christ.
See, also, the striking contrast between the quiet conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch, in Acts viii. and the overwhelming conversion of Saul of Tarsus, in Acts ix. The one was as real as the other, though the attendant circumstances were so widely different. A person may be converted without ever moving from his seat, as in the case of the Eunuch; or he may fall to the earth, like Saul. He may be led into instant joy and peace, in believing, or he may remain stunned and prostrate for three days; the circumstances, in no wise, affect the genuineness of the conversion. It is the Christ I reach, and not the way I reach Him, that saves my soul. To question the truth of a conversion because of certain exciting circumstances, attendant thereon, would be as unwarrantable as to make such circumstances at all essential.
Regeneration is a divine work. The Agent in that work is the Holy Ghost. The instrument is the word of God. And, as to the mode, it is as completely above and beyond us, as either the instrument or the Agent. God is sovereign. He giveth not account of any of His matters; and if we presume to set up our own judgment as a rule of what ought to be, in any given case, we shall find ourselves wholly astray. The mysteries and marvels of God's new creation will baffle and confound the most sagacious and deep-thinking. Circumstances will be continually occurring which the poor human mind cannot account for, and concerning which we have only to say, "It is the finger of God."
When anything presents itself before us which is palpably opposed to the word of God, it is our place to judge it, inasmuch as the word and Spirit of God can never, by any means, clash. But, then, we must be very sure of our authority; and, moreover, we must ever remember what deep need there is for the exercise of an humble spirit and a sober mind, when the things of God are in question.
The writer of these lines has, during the last two months, visited almost all the principal scenes of this most interesting movement in the province of Ulster. He has done this with a double object, namely, first, to judge for himself; and, secondly, to help, so far as the Lord might enable him, by ministering the word to exercised souls. The result of all that he has seen and heard, is a deep and settled conviction that the work is of God.
That Satan should seek to mar such a work, is only what might be expected. Wherever the Holy Ghost has been specially manifesting His precious operations, there, the enemy is sure to intrude himself in order to soil and tarnish what he cannot prevent. The agencies of which he makes use, in his malignant opposition, are manifold and various. He will produce counterfeit cases. He will make use of physical and mental infirmity. He will bring forward corrupt and designing persons who "by good words and fair speeches will deceive the hearts of the simple," and make a gain of godliness. He will even make use of the mistakes, infirmities, and failures, of really sincere and earnest men. In a word, he will make use of any and every instrumentality, in order to bring discredit upon a work which is as manifestly of God, so far as it goes, as was the work at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
It is easy to account for Satan's intense opposition to this most blessed work. One has only to look at some of the practical results, in order to see how his kingdom is interfered with. The public house closed. The drunkard reclaimed. The language of obscenity and blasphemy exchanged for the accents of prayer and praise. These and such like fruits declare the origin of the work, and fully account for the enemy's opposition thereto.
But what proves, more than anything else, the truly spiritual nature of this work, is, that when souls are brought under conviction, nothing seems to meet their need, but the name of Jesus. Some passage of Scripture in which the Person or the sacrifice of Christ is unfolded, is sure to act as a precious balm to the smitten conscience and the troubled heart. Was it ever known that Satan led any one to feel his guilt, or crave the knowledge of Jesus? Is there a name in all the universe that Satan hates more intensely than the name of Jesus? Is Satan divided against himself? Is it not obvious that, when a man is brought to feel his lost and ruined condition-when he is led to cry out, " What must I do to be saved?"-when he is led to find rest and peace in the precious blood of Christ, it must be the operation of the Holy Ghost-the drawing of the Father's hand? Unquestionably. There may be many things connected with the work of the Spirit, which must be traced to the infirmity of the person who is the subject of that work; but this does not, in the least, interfere with the fact that God is working. We must separate the precious from the vile, and give God the glory of all that which wears the distinct stamp of His hand upon it.
It would be impossible to enter upon anything like a detail of the localities in which the Holy Ghost has been carrying on His work, or of the cases in which His work has been manifested. In some instances, as many as 100 persons, have been smitten down, at one meeting; and when the reader is informed that this work has been going on, for many weeks, throughout the counties of Antrim and Derry, he will see, at once, that details are wholly out of the question. The simple object of this brief and hasty article, is to give a judgment of the work, as a whole, and to point out to the reader, one or two of its more prominent characteristics.
Looking at the work, in the main, there can he hut one judgment formed by every well-adjusted mind, and that is, that God the Holy Ghost has been displaying, in our midst, the mighty wonders of His new creation. Souls are springing up into life, before our eyes, throughout the length and breadth of the land! Regions where Satan seemed to have planted his seat, have received the beams of gospel light. Districts over which cold religious formality had cast its mantle, have heard the life-giving voice of Jesus. Streets and houses from whence had issued the sounds of revelry and debauchery, now send forth the strains of prayer and praise. Families in which strife and confusion prevailed, now gather in peaceful communion and worship, round the family altar. These are facts; and with such facts before us, we cannot hesitate as to our judgment of the work, as a whole. There may be, and there are, mistakes, errors, infirmities, and failures; but the work, as a whole, is the work of God the Holy Ghost.
And, now, one word, as to some of the remarkable characteristics. It is well worthy of notice that, in many cases, the work of conviction is carried on without reference to any special agency in the shape of ministry. In the field, by the wayside, in the house, souls are stricken in a moment, and led to cry, in excessive anguish, for mercy. When in this state, it is of the very last importance that the pure gospel of salvation-salvation by grace-salvation by blood -salvation by faith, should be poured into their ears. Convicted souls must be set on the rock of ages. They must be led to see the fullness, the extent, the efficacy, the infinite preciousness of the sacrifice of the cross, else they are sure to fall back upon themselves and get into a state of extreme wretchedness, darkness, bondage, and mental gloom. The writer has come in contact with many of what are called "relapsed cases;" that is, persons who have lost the sense of pardon, or who have never, it may be, been thoroughly grounded in the knowledge of salvation through the finished work of Christ. Many have been stricken, several times, with conviction. It is not easy to account, with accuracy, either for those frequently stricken, or for the relapsed; but, in many instances, both the one and the other may be attributed to imperfect apprehensions of the true ground of a sinner's peace. The quickened soul has not been fully emancipated. He has not been so firmly fixed on the rock, as to be able to resist the surging tide of legal thought and feeling. The case of the relapsed or the frequently stricken, forms a deeply interesting subject for observation and reflection.
One more feature may be noticed. It is this. In almost every locality, the Lord seems to have laid hold of some notorious character as if He would have a signal monument of mercy to hold up to the view of the enemy and the objector. Some one who has been the pest of the neighborhood has been stricken down by the convicting power of the Spirit of God, and brought to sit at the feet of Jesus " clothed and in his right mind," and then sent among his neighbors to " tell what great things the Lord hath done for him."
I shall here furnish the reader with a description of one of these striking cases. It is that of a drunkard, who was in the habit of blaspheming this entire work and cursing all who had come, in any measure, under its influence. On the very evening of his conversion, he had succeeded in extorting money from his mother, for the purpose of procuring more drink; but as he was on his way forth, the hand of God was laid upon him, in a most remarkable manner. He was smitten down, in a moment, by the convicting power of the Spirit of God; and, ere the morning dawned, the drunken blasphemer had become a happy worshipper of God; and those who visited him during the following day, found him calmly meditating upon some precious portions of the Word.
The following case of conversion was detailed to the writer by the person, who was, herself, the subject. She said, 'I had been into town, and felt under much concern, all the morning. When I came home, 1 Sat down to my work, find, all in a moment, a flash of light passed through me; 1 sprang to my feet, ran out to a neighbor's house, and, for four hours, I could do nothing but cry for mercy." The above may be regarded as a tolerably fair specimen of many of the cases. Persons are stricken down, while sitting at their work, and, sometimes, remain in agony for 36 hours, neither eating nor sleeping, but crying out " Ο Jesus, come! O, come, and apply thy blood to me."
It is well worthy of notice that, in cases where the convicted persons have been, previously, well taught in the letter of Scripture, or much under the sound of clear gospel preaching, they are far more speedily brought into the enjoyment of settled peace in Jesus. This is an important and interesting fact, and one well calculated to illustrate the value of having young people grounded in the knowledge of Scripture.
In conclusion, whether we look at the work as a whole, or examine its salient points-whether we consider its origin, or mark its practical results in individuals and localities, our hearts should be stirred up to pray that the tide of the Spirit's reviving grace may roll onward, from province to province, from county to county, from town to town; yea, that it may pass through the entire compass of the vineyard of Christ, so that the number of God's elect may be gathered out, and the day of glory hastened. Thank God, this movement has had a most decided influence upon the ranks of the people of God. It has roused the indifferent, it has stirred up the lethargic, it has awakened the slumbering. These are happy results for which we have to be deeply thankful.
May the Lord endow all His servants with the needed grace and wisdom for this most solemn and interesting time, that they may be enabled rightly to divide the word of truth, and to give to each his portion of meat in season.
Note-Lest, by any means, this paper should fall into the hands of any one who might feel disposed to make light of this most solemn work, I shall mention a circumstance which was related to me, by two or three credible witnesses. Some young men agreed together that one of their party should fall down and pretend to be stricken, while the others were to call to some person whom they saw approaching, to pray with the pretended case of conviction. The unhappy young man had the hardihood to carry on this piece of daring and blasphemous mockery. It was begun as a farce; but, alas! it ended as a most awful tragedy. He was struck dead on the spot!
Now, many mockers and scoffers are left alive, for this is the day of God's long-suffering; but this unhappy young man was struck dead, for God, in His moral government, sees fit, at times, to make a signal and solemn example. Hence, therefore, let mockers and scoffers beware.
'Tis not for man to trifle! life is brief;
And sin is here.
Our age is but the falling of a leaf,
A dropping tear.
We have no time to sport away the hours;
All must be earnest in a world like ours.
Awakening in Ulster: Part 2
As some of our readers may, possibly, be desirous of knowing something of the origin of this remarkable awakening, we are induced to furnish another paper on the subject, not only because of the uncommon interest attaching thereto, but also because it tends to prove the immense value and importance of prayer and the word of God.
So far as we have been able, amidst so many conflicting reports and opinions, to glean anything like accurate information, we believe that this marvelous work of God commenced at a place called Connor, in the County of Antrim, from thence it extended to Kells, Ahoghill, Ballymena, Hasharkin, Ballymoney, Moorefort, Coleraine, Newtownlimavady; and, in short, through large districts of the counties of Antrim and Derry.
Thus much as to localities. And now, as to instrumentality. Nothing, perhaps, in this entire movement, is more remarkable than the way in which the Spirit of God has swept away every pedestal on which man could presume to exhibit himself. He has written folly upon all human pretension, cast a cloud over all human glory, and leveled with the dust all human assumption. One of the most distinct utterances of this entire movement is, " No flesh shall glory in his presence." A very few words both as to the origin and progress of the work, will suffice to illustrate and confirm this remark.
The writer had an interview, some weeks ago, in the presence of a beloved fellow-laborer, with one of those who were the means in God's hand of commencing this work. He is a man in humble life, with but little education. Having been awakened, by the Spirit of God, to a sense of his guilt and danger, he continued, for the space of two years, in a state of intense mental anguish, endeavoring, like hundreds of others, to " establish his own righteousness," but finding no rest whatever for his troubled heart and burdened conscience, in aught that he could do. In this condition of soul, he heard of a Christian lady who had been stopping in Ballymena, and, who feeling discouraged by the deadness and coldness of all around her, was about to leave the country. This earnest man resolved to seek out this person, and from her lips he learned the emancipating tidings of a full, free, present, personal, and perfect salvation, through the one offering of Jesus Christ, on the cross. Feeling deeply impressed with a sense of the low condition of things, in the professing church, he and one or two others, of a kindred spirit, united in fervent prayer to God for a revival of His work. They prayed. God heard- heard and answered-answered, as He ever does, in a way they never anticipated.
" Yea, in that sphere I stand, poor worn,
Where thou wilt for thy name perform
Above whate'er I ask or think."
Here, then, my reader has, in few words, the source of a stream of blessing which has, already, flowed through a large and important portion of the province of Ulster. And let him carefully note and deeply ponder the fact, that when he gazes upon that source, he finds it to be, simply, " the word of God and prayer" This, truly, is an impressive fact, and one which ought to be carefully weighed. Men may argue, reason, object. They may point to second causes and such like; but he it remembered, the source of this copious stream of blessing, when carefully sought out, will be found in " the word of God and prayer."
Is it not obvious, then, in contemplating the origin of the awakening in Ulster, that man has nothing to glory in? An illiterate man, in humble life, learns from the lips of a stranger, the simple gospel of Christ. He, with one or two others, equally humble, equally illiterate, begins to pray and preach, to preach and pray; and here you have the origin of the great work of awakening in Ulster. The stream has flowed onward, with marvelous rapidity. It has deepened and widened, as it flowed. Thousands have been refreshed by it. The enemy has sought to interrupt its course, to muddy its water; but, let me repeat, it has its source in " the word of God and prayer."
I am deeply anxious that my reader should rise from the perusal of this paper with the distinct impression upon his mind, that the remarkable movement in Ulster had its origin in " the word of God and prayer." No man, nor body of men, can boast. The Holy Ghost has proved Himself sovereign, in this, as in all beside. He has wrought, without the slightest reference to creed, caste, or denomination. The tide has risen majestically, and its undulations have been felt in every department of the professing church. No intelligent person can contemplate this work, either in its origin or its progress, and not be struck with this remarkable feature. The most illiterate men have been taken up, by the Holy Ghost, and used in the glorious work of turning sinners from darkness to light. The writer has seen assembled thousands hanging on the lips of persons who, literally, could not utter a sentence of good grammar. He has seen persons smitten down without any apparent reference to ordinary ministration.
These are facts; but, let it not be supposed that we undervalue education or mental culture. Still less, let it be imagined, that we refuse to recognize divinely gifted and divinely appointed evangelists and pastors. God forbid. We fully own the divine institution of the Christian ministry; nor could we say how highly we prize habits of profound and prayerful meditation upon the word of God. We do not believe that all are fitted or called of God to be evangelists, pastors, or teachers; and, moreover, we have, during the last few weeks, heard many attempting to expound the word of God, of whom charity itself should declare, " they know neither what they say nor whereof they affirm." We have generally observed that where those recently converted confined themselves to a simple, earnest, heartfelt, statement of what God had done for their souls, or fervent appeals to the heart and conscience, they were heard with interest and profit; but, directly they approached to anything like ex Î position or sermonizing, their statements were crude, profitless, and often intolerable.
Still, let the professing church weigh the fact. The Holy Ghost has used illiterate men. He used them, in apostolic times; He used them, in the middle ages; He is using them, now. An illiterate plowman, with Christ in his heart, is better far than a Christless scholar with all the learning of the schools at his fingers' ends. There cannot be a greater mistake than to imagine that a man, dead in trespasses and sins, however deeply read in classics, is capable of dealing with souls. This has been made fully manifest, in the present movement. Unconverted men are completely at sea, when called upon to deal with cases of spiritual conviction, whereas the most unlearned person who has found Christ for himself, can minister Christ to another. He may not be a divinely qualified, evangelist, pastor, or teacher; but he can point to " the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."
We must, now, close; but ere doing so, we would desire to press upon the reader the need, value, and importance of earnest, persevering prayer. If he be one whose lot is cast in a barren land where all is sterile and dreary, where the gospel is never heard and conversions are unknown; what should he do? Let him imitate our friends at Connor, Rasharkin, and elsewhere. Let him betake himself to " prayer and the word of God." If he cannot find some kindred spirit with whom to work, in holy fellowship, then, let him begin alone. Let him wait on God. Yes; let him wait, wait, wait; and he shall, assuredly get an answer. Let him not say " I know, of a surety, that all God's elect will, in due time, be gathered out, and I must not run before Him." This is just Satan drawing an inference from God's premises. It is true that God will gather out His own; hut it is equally true that the means He uses to reach that end are " the word of God and prayer."
Hence, therefore, we earnestly and affectionately exhort all christians to he instant in prayer to God, that He will not only deepen and consolidate His work in those regions where it has begun, but also carry it into " the regions beyond," so that multitudes may be gathered to Christ, and those who are gathered may be built up on their most holy faith.
The following letter from a dear and valued fellow-laborer who has been, for many years, engaged in the work at Newtownlimavady, will, we doubt not, be read with much interest in connection with the foregoing paper. It supplies what many of our readers may be desirous of obtaining, namely, accurate details from the pen of an intelligent eye-witness.
Newtownlimavady, July, 1859.
Beloved Brother,
As it may tend to the glory of God to make known through the medium of the press the wonderful work of His Holy Spirit in this immediate neighborhood, I shall proceed to detail what took place under my own eye during the first seven days of the revival in this extensive valley.
Having seen, at Moorefort and elsewhere, in the county of Antrim, very many cases of conviction among the people, I thought it well to call together the inhabitants of New-town, on the following Lord's day, the 5th June, in order to relate the wonders I had seen there, and to pray God to pour out a similar blessing upon us.
A large assembly took place, and another meeting was decided on for Monday. After the speaking in the open-air on that evening, two cases took place, attended, as usual, by violent and irresistible screaming, the body prostrate and reduced to a helpless condition. Presently, this state of things subsides, and with subdued voice, a call "for Jesus" escapes their lips, the body becomes quiet, and, in due time, (varying very much as to its duration) a full confession of His blessed name flows from their hearts and lips, and they stand up, declaring they have found peace with God through the atoning blood of His beloved Son. On Tuesday, six cases occurred; on Wednesday, about thirty; on Thursday, to avoid any disunion, all parties assembled in a public place of worship, but there was no manifestation. On Friday, in a field in front of my own house, an immense work of God, and that in wonderful power, was presented to the astonished eyes and hearts of a vast concourse of beholders; not less than one hundred souls were brought under conviction of sin, the greater part being "struck down" to the ground. Some of the women and children were conveyed into the house; others followed to assist them, and, shortly, nearly every room was crowded with persons, crying out, and praying for mercy. The lawn was literally strewed, like a battle field, with deeply wounded-sin-stricken ones, under conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit, who was revealing Christ to their souls, and giving them victory over the enemy, by the blood of the Lamb.
But who can describe what was going on in the house? In one large room were gathered no less than thirty persons, on their knees, waiting and calling upon God in silent prayer for the remission of their sins; while the other rooms were filled with souls either calling out for mercy, praying, or singing praises to God for mercy received. This was going on in all parts of the house. It was wonderful to see strong men, whose well-known lives could, ere this, bear no examination, leap up from the ground an 1 rejoice in God their Savior, and begin at once to preach Christ to their companions and fellow-townsmen, beseeching them to cry for mercy and forgiveness.
This effusion embraced all ages from the little child up to the age of threescore and ten, but the converting power of the Holy Spirit was not confined to the outward manifestation, for it is believed that numbers of persons present that night were convicted of sin, and found peace with God, without being struck down. This truly wonderful time was followed, on Saturday night, by another display of power little less in extent. A much esteemed servant of Christ was unexpectedly present. The Lord blessed his visit. A very large shower of blessing took place, and his testimony was, that he had never witnessed anything in Antrim to equal it. This house was not emptied till 7 o'clock oh the Lord's day morning. Up to this day, the 12Th June, the manifestation had been, I believe, entirely confined to this locality, so much so, that many from the country flocked down to attend the meetings so much blessed. This was particularly the case on the annual fair-day, the 13th, when not less than, 5000 persons (some say 7000) were assembled in the field, to hear the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Another scene of the gracious power of God was again manifested, and the field covered with groups of saved souls, ministering to the newly stricken ones, who were to be met with in all directions, and, as usual, seeking for mercy and pardon through the perfect atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.
During the services on the Lord's day, this wonderful manifestation of the actual presence of God in the midst of us, broke forth in two places of public worship in the town, and afterward spread over the country with great rapidity. Persons were struck down everywhere; in the cabins, fields, "highways and hedges," apart from the ministry of the word. And now, the whole country is greatly reformed as to its outward conduct. Everywhere you may find persons meeting together, singing, praying, reading, and rejoicing. The results appear to be abiding; those who believe, (as the vast majority certainly do,) that the whole work is of God, look up, take courage and adore. Men and women who were abandoned characters, others well trained in all the usual morality of religion, are now alike rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven, by the sacrifice once offered. No pen can adequately describe the scenes of this never-to-be-forgotten week; the Lord's name alone be praised for His wondrous grace, in richest blessing, to so many precious souls!
I may add an instance of His mighty grace, by stating the fact of a young man who was in the act of mocking the affected ones being struck down suddenly, and soon after finding peace through the knowledge of forgiveness. Another, one of the wildest of men and one who would readily have used his strength against others, under any little provocation, told me " he now stood before God clear of sin by the blood of His dear Son, and as white as the whitewashed wall before him." But I need not proceed with special cases. God has wrought a work here eternally to be remembered by very many souls, whose sins have been forgiven, and who now rejoice in God their Savior, with a full consciousness of eternal life being their everlasting portion.
O.B.T.
Awakening in Ulster: Part 3
Having, in our September number, endeavored to show that this blessed work had its origin in the Word of God and prayer, there is one point which we earnestly desire further to press upon the attention of our readers, and that is, the immense importance-yea, the urgent need of giving God the Holy Ghost His own place. That the work is, in very deed, His, no rightly instructed mind will question. We are aware, alas! that some do question it-that some oppose it-that many are indifferent to it. We mourn for all such; but we cannot presume to hope that minds which will not be convinced by the grand practical results of this most glorious, soul-stirring movement, will be, in any wise, swayed by aught that we could advance on the subject. Indeed, we are not careful to argue in defense of a work which so clearly proves itself to be of God, in the judgment of all who are really capable of appreciating the proof. If it were not so manifestly of God, it might be needful, in some sort, for man to undertake its defense; but the Holy Ghost wants no defenders. He can carry on His own work, and prove it, too, without man's aid or man's arguments.
We believe, most firmly, that the work has been begun and continued by the Holy Ghost; and our sole object in penning this paper is to press this conviction upon the mind of the reader in such a way as will lead him to a devout and reverent recognition of its truth. We endeavored to show, in our last, that there is no pedestal for human pride; we are anxious to show, now, that there is no food for human curiosity. Man's bustling self-importance has been cut up by the roots by the mode in which the Holy Ghost has worked; man's pride and curiosity have been rebuked by the fact, that the Holy Ghost has been working. "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which arc not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Cor. 1:26-29.)
This statement applies, in the most marked manner, to the present awakening in Ulster. It is, at once, unwarrantable and unbecoming for man to meddle or to vaunt himself. It would be his wisdom to tread, with unshod foot, the hallowed precincts of the divine presence. The Lord is gone forth; let us follow in a spirit of holy worship and adoration, not in a spirit of self-importance or idle curiosity. Let us beware of running before the Lord-of meddling with, or prying into, His work. We shall find an abundance of suited occupation in following His wondrous footsteps-admiring His precious workmanship, and worshipping in His holy presence.
This is true, always-true, everywhere. It was true, in the days of Wesley and Whitfield. It was true, in the days of Jonathan Edwards. It is true, in America; true, in Scotland; true, in Wales; true, in the province of Ulster. " No flesh shall glory in his presence;" and no flesh shall pry into His doings. It is most needful to remember this. God the Holy Ghost will not brook human interference, or human curiosity, in any department of His work. He will use men as His instruments, and they have to be thankful for the high honor and holy privilege; but He knows full well how to wither up man's pride and self-importance. Man may bow his head and worship, in νίβλν of the Spirit's mighty operations; but, the moment it becomes a question of human excitement or vain curiosity, the Holy Ghost is grieved and He must resent it, in His own peculiar way.
In looking through the gospel narrative, we can easily sec how utterly offensive to the spirit of our blessed Lord was everything in the shape of popular demonstration, fleshly excitement, and idle curiosity. He shrank from them, on every occasion. He could not work where they were manifested, and, therefore invariably retired. Take, as an instance, John 6 He could feed five thousand people with " five barley loaves, and two small fishes;" but He did this because there was a needs be, and not for the purpose of working a miracle. He did it to feed the hungry, not to astonish the curious. He did it to supply man's want, not to display His own power. Hence, "when Jesus perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." He could willingly minister to every form of human need; but he sensitively shrank from human excitement and popular demonstration. He came to be the Servant of man's necessities, not the object of his vain applause. He came to be used, not to be gazed at. He was always ready whenever man was empty. It needed no laborious effort to find Him. He pursued, in heavenly energy and untiring zeal, His path of service, but could not tolerate man's bustling self-importance or prying curiosity.
The same is true, with respect to God the Holy Ghost. He came down to earth on the day of Pentecost, and has been here, ever since. He, too, came to be the Servant of human need wherever He could find it, not to elicit human applause, or feed idle curiosity. If He wrought miracles or spoke with tongues, it was not to draw attention to Himself, but to overcome the unbelief of the human heart, and exalt the name of Jesus. Man, ever shallow and short-sighted, would make a great ado about the miracle or the tongue, and lose sight of the divine object therein. He would make it an occasion of superstitious wonder, instead of a ground of holy worship. This, the Holy Ghost must always resent. He is sure to retire when man thus intrudes upon the hallowed sphere of His most precious operations.
He can minister; He can bless; He can enlighten; He can quicken; He can emancipate; He can travel hither and thither in His glorious majesty and divine independence; but the very moment man intrudes to meddle or interfere, the Holy Ghost must resent the intrusion.
Now, it is because we are most fully persuaded that the awakening in Ulster is the work of the Holy Ghost, that we desire that our readers should recognize its truly spiritual character, and carefully avoid mingling the human with the divine. The work is of God, and oh! let God have all the glory. Let there be no anxiety, on man's part, to show himself as an actor, or to set forth what great things he has done. We are all far too ready, like the chief Captain Lysias, to say, " then came 7." This will never do. It can only have the effect of grieving and hindering the Holy Ghost. If He is pleased, in His sovereign grace, to make use of some "younger brother"-some "left-handed man;" or if He takes up "an ox-goad," "a cake of barley meal," or " a sling," let us be thankful, not boastful; let us be full of praise and adoration, not of vain excitement, or self-importance. Let us not, like Saul in 1 Sam. 14 spoil, by our busy meddling, a victory which we had no hand in obtaining. We have nothing to boast of. We were very much settled upon our lees when the Holy Ghost began His gracious work in our midst; and it would, therefore, ill become us, now to bustle forth as though we were the people. If the Lord do but condescend to take us up to accomplish any little service, let us humbly bless His name, and seek His grace to serve him more effectually; but oh! let self be trampled in the dust.
Again, let us carefully guard against eyeing this movement as the means of subserving the interests of a party. Let us seek to breathe more the air of heaven where the tide of joy deepens and widens when one sinner is brought to the feet of Jesus. Î It is not said, there is joy in heaven when the ranks of this or that denomination are augmented. Ah! no; the grand paramount object is to win souls to Christ and build them up in Him. One soul linked on to Christ is a work done for eternity-a work which shall endure when denominational distinctions shall have vanished like the vapors of the morning. We claim for ourselves, and we cede to others, the privilege of worshipping God according to the light which He may impart; but we would rather be the honored instrument in bringing one soul into the fold of Christ, than to conduct ten thousand into any denominational enclosure. Let my party as well as myself be wholly set aside, so that Christ may be glorified.
Finally, let us beware of treating this great work of God the Holy Ghost, merely as a curious phenomenon-as something for the intellect to speculate upon-for curiosity to feed upon. True, it is a great work, a glorious work, a gracious work, a work which may well be placed side by side, with the awakening in the last century, the Reformation, in the sixteenth century, yea, with the day of Pentecost itself. But, as in all these gracious visitations, the Christian traces, with deep thankfulness, the distinct actings of the Holy Ghost, so should it be, with respect to the awakening in Ulster, in 1859. There may be, and there is, much to engage the attention of the philosopher, and gratify the heart of the philanthropist; but it is the spiritually minded Christian alone who can really enter into its true character, and its true results.
And, now, a word or two, ere we close, in answer to two special objections which we have heard urged against the spirituality of this movement. These objections are founded, first, upon peculiar features; secondly, upon counterfeit cases.
I. As to the first of these objections, we most fully admit that the present awakening in Ulster exhibits features quite peculiar to itself-features which cannot always be satisfactorily explained. But what of that? Must we question the whole movement because we cannot understand some of its incidental features? Surely not. For one case which, we cannot understand, there are fifty which we can. We can understand a drunkard made sober-an immoral man made chaste-a thief made honest-a scene of family brawls made a scene of family worship. We can fully understand these things. We may not be able to account, with accuracy, for the relapses, the dreams, the visions, or the prophecies; but are we called upon to do so? Are these the main features of the movement? No; they are but comparatively rare incidents. The main features we can understand, and on these we should base our judgment. As to the special cases, a sound mind would suspend its decision, and patiently wait for further light.
ΙΓ. Then, as to counterfeit cases, it is an admitted fact that counterfeit money proves the existence of genuine coin. Did the fact of there being a Judas amongst the apostles prove the mission of the twelve to be a fallacy? Why then should a few counterfeit cases be urged as an objection to a movement which numbers by thousands its genuine conversions? We admit the counterfeit cases, but we are thankful for the genuine. It is a mercy to be able to detect the former, but it is a greater mercy to be able to appreciate the latter. Like a cashier in a bank, he is thankful for the ability to detect a forgery, but that does not hinder his accepting a genuine note. Thank God for the thousands of genuine cases-the thousands of true spiritual conversions-the thousands who are able to say, with scriptural clearness and spiritual decision, "I know that my sins are forgiven; I have peace with God; I am happy, now-quite happy; I am on the Rock. Thank God, for all such! We think of these, when the infidel objects; we think of these, when the skeptic sneers; we think of these, when the Pharisee speaks in terms of cold contempt; and we earnestly pray for all opposers, that God may grant them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
The work is of God; and our present object is not so much to convince those who deny this fact, as to admonish, in true brotherly love, those who admit it. We would affectionately exhort all true lovers of Christ and lovers of souls, to give God the Holy Ghost His true and proper place -to watch His movements-to honor His leadings-to follow His current-to let Him have free course. We are free to acknowledge that we have a great dread of human interference, lest the Spirit should be grieved and quenched, and the good work hindered. We heartily rejoice in the cheering tidings which daily reach us, of the progress of this blessed awakening. God grant it may go forward! May nothing hinder its course! May the four quarters of the globe and the islands which stud the bosom of the ocean be visited by its holy influence, and the Eternal Trinity shall have all the praise forever and ever. Amen.
Awakening in Ulster: Part 4
We feel it, in some measure, due to our readers to notice a special feature of this movement which has come more prominently out within the last few weeks. We allude to the matter of dreams, visions, and prophecies, many of which are most striking and solemnizing. Some have seen the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, and on the throne. Others have seen an awful pit yawning to receive them, and then the Lord Jesus nailed to the cross to save them from that pit. Some have fallen into a trance and been carried, in spirit, into heaven where they saw marvelous visions. Others, again, have been struck dumb and blind for a certain period, and, on recovery, have foretold when they would be struck again. In many cases, these prophecies have been literally and punctually fulfilled. In one instance, the person affected declared that she was so visited, not on her own account, but to convince sinners. In short, many of the cases are attended with circumstances of deep interest and awful solemnity. Our space does not admit of detail; we can merely give a brief statement of the extraordinary facts, and offer a remark or two thereon.
And first, then, we would ask, why should it be thought a thing incredible that God should speak to his creatures "in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed?" (Job 33:15) He has done so in all ages. Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles have been so addressed; Abraham was thus addressed, in Gen. 15 Abimelech was thus admonished, in Gen. 20 We have Jacob's dream, in Gen. 28 Laban's dream, in Gen. 31 Joseph's dreams, in Gen. 38 The dreams of Pharaoh's butler and baker, in Gen. 40 And Pharaoh's own dreams in Gen. 41 We have Nebuchadnezzar's dream, in Dan. 2 We have Daniel's dreams and visions, in Dan. 7 Paul saw a vision, in Acts 16 Various other instances might be adduced, but the above will suffice for our present purpose. God has thought proper, in all ages, to address His people and direct His servants by dreams and visions.
However, it will most probably be objected, that the cases which we have above brought forward, were all prior to the completion of the canon of Holy Scripture. True; but do they not prove that God did, in those times, make use of dreams and visions as means of communication with His people? Undoubtedly. Well, it devolves upon the objector to prove that He cannot and does not do the same, at the present day. We believe He can and does. We believe that many have been awakened to a sense of their danger, and brought to think seriously of their souls and eternity, by means of a dream. To rest in, or build upon, a dream, would be, obviously, quite a different thing. I could never find peace for my guilty conscience in visions or dreams, for the simplest of all reasons, that visions and dreams could not cancel my guilt or satisfy the claims of the holiness of God. I may be aroused to a sense of need, by a vision or dream; but my need can only be satisfied by Jesus and His precious blood, as unfolded in the Word, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
We most fully admit the need and importance of judging all dreams, visions, and prophecies, by the truth of God, and rejecting everything contrary thereto. This is the plain duty of every child of God. We are responsible to " try " the visions as well as "the spirits;" but to deny the fact that God can communicate with His creatures in the way of a dream or a vision, must be pronounced a most unwarrantable assumption. Who can limit the Almighty? Who can prescribe His mode of acting? Can He not arrest a man, by a vision of the night, now, as well as in the days of Nebuchadnezzar? Can he not cause a person to see a vision, now, as well as in the days of the Apostle Paul? Who can doubt it, save one who makes his own limited understanding the measure of what the Almighty can or ought to do, and rejects everything which lies beyond the narrow range of his own reason. This is infidelity, than which nothing can be more contemptible and absurd, though it seems so uncommonly clever and far-seeing.
The human mind vainly undertakes to account for everything that comes under its notice; and all which cannot be satisfactorily explained upon certain known laws and principles of science, must be rejected. God is excluded. He cannot possibly act in any way beyond the reach of man's reason. Pitiable skepticism! Wretched reasoning, which depends for its truth upon the exclusion of God! The very moment you introduce God, faith says, " He can do anything." This is faith's simple, artless, happy, safe way of settling everything. If God is pleased to speak to us in dreams and visions, He can do so. If He is pleased to endow us with a knowledge of what shall be on the morrow, He can do so. If He is pleased to strike a man down and evoke from the depths of his agonized and convicted heart the piercing cry of anguish and terror, He can do so. He can cause a man to see with his mental eye the gulf of fire-the eternal pit of hell yawning to receive him. He can cause him to see the great white throne, prepared, in awful majesty, to try his case. He can cause him to see the roll, containing the black catalog of all his crimes, unfolded to the gaze of his alarmed conscience.
Now, need we marvel if, when such solemn realities are made to pass before the vision of the soul, the very strongest frame should be convulsed and laid prostrate? Must we have recourse to the medical profession to explain the various phenomena of the new creation? If a man is struck down to the earth, and made to cry out for mercy, is this hysteria or nervous affection? Has the Holy Ghost nothing to do with it? When the jailor "came trembling, fell down, and cried out," was it hysteria or nervousness?
Had the Holy Ghost nothing to do with it? We need hardly say, we admit the existence of hysteria and nervous affection, in every possible form; but directly men attempt to explain by these things the beauteous mysteries of God's new creation, we hesitate not to pronounce them the vain speculations of unbelief, the object of which is to shut out the Holy Ghost from His own proper sphere, or to confine His mighty operations within the limits prescribed by man's puny understanding.
It is of the very last importance, at the present moment, that christians should fully understand and faithfully confess the grand truth of the presence and sovereign rule of God -the Holy Ghost. If we contemplate His operations abroad amongst men, the word is, "The wind bloweth where it listeth.'''' (John 3:8.) And if we contemplate His actings in the church, the word is, "Dividing to every man severally as he will.'" (1 Cor. 12:11.) In a word, the Holy Ghost is sovereign in all things. He will work when, where, and as He pleases; and if we presume to apply to His mighty, and marvelous doings the rule and square of human reason, or to account for them on the principles of science and philosophy, we shall find ourselves entirely astray. We are wholly incompetent to give a reason for any special mode of acting which the sovereign Spirit may be pleased to adopt. He may see fit, in an age of cold religious formality, and uninfluential orthodoxy, to carry on His work of conversion amid circumstances of a most astounding, exciting, and solemnizing nature. If professing christians have been proving by their principles and practices that they have very little, if any, faith in the presence of the Holy Ghost on earth, need we marvel if He should manifest Himself in such a way as to confound and astonish? If men, and even christians, have fallen very much into the habit of trying everything by the standard of reason and common sense, of arraigning all that meets their view before the tribunal of science and philosophy, need we marvel if the Holy Ghost should display His power after such a fashion as to write folly and confusion upon science and philosophy, and to baffle and confound reason and common sense? " It is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" 1 Cor. 1:19. 20.
But let it not be supposed that we would, by any means, undertake to endorse, as genuine, all the physical manifestations, or all the dreams, visions, and prophecies of the past few months. Far from it. We are quite prepared to admit a vast amount of infirmity, affectation, imitation, and even gross imposition and dishonesty. Nor is this all; we feel assured that just in proportion as the Holy Ghost manifests His power, will Satan manifest his in opposition. This has ever been the case. A strong belief in the Person and actings of the Holy Ghost, will always be attended by an equally strong belief in the person and actings of Satan. But, allowing the widest possible margin for human failure and Satanic power, we are fully persuaded that the Lord may, and does see fit, at times, to allow visions of the eternal world to break in upon the soul, in order to rouse men to a sense of the reality of things which appear on the page of inspiration, and which have been read and heard for years, without impression or practical result. And we are as fully persuaded that, when the Lord does permit such visions or dreams, no one can possibly account either for the measure or the mode of the physical effects and manifestations. We do not believe that the soul will ever be allowed to rest in such dreams or visions, if the Holy Ghost is really working. We can only rest in the revealed truth of God-"the holy scriptures;" but He may and does make use of dreams and visions to arouse the slumbering conscience, alarm the skeptic mind; and, at times too, to confirm a wavering heart.
One thing is certain, we are sure to err when we venture to lay down an iron rule, or frame a rigid system; the Holy Ghost will never be confined by such. He is sovereign in His doings. Let us remember this. His operations lie beyond the range of the most enlarged and vigorous understanding. He can cause people to dream dreams, see visions, and utter prophecies. Who will question this? Who will attempt to prescribe a limit to the power of the Holy Ghost, or to the mode of His operations? Who will undertake to say that there is not, at the present moment, an urgent need for the peculiarly solemn and arresting manner in which He is pleased to manifest His power? Have we not all had to complain of coldness, barrenness, and dead ness? Has there not been a deplorable amount of skepticism and practical infidelity, even amongst professing christians? And should we not hail, with unmingled thankfulness, anything and everything calculated, in any measure, to meet such a condition of things? For our own part, we can only say, with hearts full to overflowing, the Lord be praised for every exhibition of His right hand and holy arm-for every display of the lighting down of His power-for every utterance of His solemn voice, in the ear of this iron age of unbelief and formal profession!
We would, however, venture a word of faithful admonition: first, to those who are the subjects of the dreams and visions; and, secondly, to all who may see or hear of such.
I. And, first, to all who have seen visions or dreamed dreams, or uttered prophecies, we would affectionately say, beware of resting in such things-beware of building upon, or boasting of, such things. You must rest only in Christ- build only upon Christ-boast only in Christ. All beside will prove utterly insufficient. Keep close to His precious sacrifice, and close to that eternal Word which testifies thereof. Thus you will be secure, peaceful, and happy. In the cross of Christ, God is glorified, conscience satisfied, and Satan silenced. This could never be said in reference to a dream, a vision, or a prophecy. These latter may be very good in their place, but they can never form the foundation either of the glory of God or the sinners peace. Christ is all.
Furthermore, we would add, beware of spiritual pride and self-complacency. Satan may craftily whisper into your ear, " Very few have seen visions, dreamed dreams, or uttered prophecies, like you. You are peculiarly privileged, specially favored, highly honored. You are no ordinary Christian." In this way, he would completely upset you, by tempting you out of the only safe position, of self-emptied humble dependence upon Christ. If you turn to 2 Cor. xii. you will find that, when Paul had been favored with extraordinary "visions and revelations of the Lord," in "the third heaven," he needed "a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet éé him down here, "lest he should be exalted above measure." From this we learn, very plainly, that "visions and revelations" cannot improve that evil nature which every true believer carries about with him. Paul's old nature was as bad, when he came down from the third heaven, as when he traveled, in the fury of his zeal, from Jerusalem to Damascus, to imbrue his hands in the blood of the saints of God. Had it not been so, there would have been no need for "a thorn in the flesh."' But Paul was in danger of being " exalted above measure," and hence there was given him the " thorn," but, with the thorn, a deeper sense of the all-sufficient grace of Christ, so that he was led to glory, not in " visions and revelations of the Lord," but in his own personal "infirmities." He found Christ amid the visions and revelations of paradise, and Christ amid the buffetings and infirmities of earth. To him it was Christ, only; Christ, everywhere; Christ, in all. So may it be with you, through the grace of the in-dwelling Spirit.
II. And, now, one word to those who may see or hear of persons having the visions and dreams, or uttering the prophecies. Beware of undue excitement, or a spirit of mere curiosity. No doubt, such things are very wonderful, very solemnizing, very arresting; but let us express our amazement in the presence of God, not in the presence of poor, feeble, erring mortals, who are in danger of being puffed up thereby In dealing with the latter, it should be our constant aim to lead them to cling simply to Christ, and to glory in Him alone. Thus we shall really benefit them, and God will be glorified. It is a very serious thing to injure, by our actings or expressions, the very feeblest lamb of the flock of Christ; and we fear that very great damage has been done by crowds of persons flocking to see those who have had visions and dreams. It is not only calculated to do injury to the really genuine cases, but also to tempt persons to affectation, imitation, and positive dishonesty and wickedness. Let us consider these things. Let us remember our holy responsibilities to the souls of men, and to the cause of Christ.
During the progress of this movement, we have been forcibly reminded of the following passage of scripture, "Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead." (John 12:9.) It is one thing to come for the purpose of seeing Lazarus, and quite another thing to come in order to see Jesus. No doubt, it is most glorious to behold the works of God, either in nature or in grace. Far be it from us to seek, in any way, to check a right desire to " behold the works of the Lord." We merely offer a word of brotherly admonition, because of the infirmity of the flesh and the craft of Satan.
May the Lord, in His infinite mercy, continue to hold this work in His own hand, that so it may be protected from every hostile influence. May the shining river flow onwards, until every corner of the vineyard shall have felt its fertilizing and refreshing virtue!