Since our return from Ireland, in the month of August, the above question has been asked by many, and asked by some, with an earnestness that indicates deep interest in the answer. This consideration has led us to feel that it deserves a public reply.
Last year, it was the impression of many, but chiefly of those who never were in the work, that what was called the Revival, would soon pass away, and that little fruit of its reality would remain. In this, the Lord be praised, they have been disappointed—happily disappointed, we may say. Having had much personal conversation with many of the young converts themselves, in different places, during a sojourn among them for twelve days, and with others also, who are fully competent to judge, we are truly happy in being able to state, that they are, as a whole, standing well. And not merely standing according to the profession they then made, but many of them are evidently growing in grace.
We say, observe, “as a whole,” for all have not stood. Some have grown cold, others, alas, have gone back; but the proportion, blessed be God, is exceedingly small. And by far the greater part are going on in a way that proves the divine origin, and eternal reality, of the great and glorious work of last year.
We witnessed a freshness about numbers of them, that was truly refreshing to our own hearts. They manifest great desire for the pure word of God, and much tenderness of heart when Christ is preached. Settled peace, through the knowledge of Christ, and the forgiveness of sins, still characterize them. The large meetings of last year, and the excitement connected with them, have passed away, but the reality remains. A blessed work of God’s Spirit goes on. On several occasions, we observed, during the preaching of the word, when the speaker was led to dwell on the love and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, numbers were bathed in tears. One, we particularly noticed one evening, wept very much. Sometime afterward we had an opportunity of speaking to her, and asked if she was happy in Jesus. “O, yes!” was her instant and joyous reply; “but I cannot hear you speak about Jesus without feeling this way.” You could not doubt the love of His heart, could you? “O, no! no!” Nor the cleansing power of His precious blood? “O, no! sir. It has washed all my sins away. I am quite happy in Him, glory be to His name, but I can’t help feeling.” Ah, dear Christian reader, and who would seek to hinder, or suppress, such sweet tenderness of heart at the mention of the name of Jesus? Would to God that we saw and felt more of it. It has power over the hearts of others. It had over ours.
In passing through the congregation, while they remained in the field, we met with many similar cases. Even some who were lying prostrate, told us they were quite happy. They had been “stricken” last year. An overcoming sense of bodily weakness seems to follow deep spiritual feeling, in this part of the country. Whether of joy or sorrow, it has been fitly termed “physical prostration.” We have not found the same thing, except in a few cases, either in Scotland or England, although we have witnessed scenes of as deep an awakening in both places. Neither has it been the same in the South of Ireland.
As we have again returned to this subject, and as the outward aspect of the work, namely, physical prostration, still continues, in a great measure, peculiar to the North of Ireland, we will give a few details of the evening already referred to. We are anxious that our readers, and especially our city readers, should be able to imagine themselves in a field-preaching scene, and in the midst of a general awakening.