It is with feelings of real interest and pleasure that we, once more, call the attention of our readers to the subject of the work of the Spirit of God in Ireland. Twelve months have passed away since we first adverted, in the pages of this Magazine, to the remarkable awakening in the province of Ulster. Since then, we have carefully marked the progress of matters, the growth or decline of individuals, and the general working of principles; moreover, we have, during the last two months, visited many of the principal scenes of the awakening, for the purpose of observing the present tone and aspect of things, and also of collecting information from authentic sources, as to the walk and conversation of those who were, last year, brought under the convicting and converting power of the Holy Ghost. The effect of all that we have seen and heard, has been to strengthen and deepen the conviction to which we ventured to give expression, last year, namely, that the work was, in the main, of God.
When this marvelous movement commenced, many sought to pour contempt upon it. They spoke of it as a mere piece of excitement and fanaticism, as a bubble on the surface of the stream of time which would speedily burst and be forever forgotten. Many participated in this feeling from whom we should have expected better things. It would have argued more prudence and modesty, on their part, to have paused and allowed time for a fuller development of the real nature and character of the movement. We may always rest satisfied in the assurance that time will test every man and every movement. Whatever is of God must endure. Whatever is not must pass away. God’s work will prove itself. It needs not any apology or defense from us. On the other hand, man’s work comes to naught; it crumbles into dust, like the doer of it, and passes away. Hence, it would be our wisdom, in reference to any special work that may claim attention or awaken interest, to be “swift to hear, slow to speak.” Human judgment cannot alter the real truth of things; and one may often have to recant, with shame and confusion of face, an opinion hastily formed and rashly uttered. Besides, it is better far to be hopeful than suspicious; and the tear which charity drops over a blighted expectation is far more noble than the self-complacent smile of one who sees his dark suspicion realized.
But, then, it is one thing to be hopeful, and quite another to be over-sanguine. Though we should shrink from cold suspicion, we should also be on our guard against a blind credulity. We believe that many sincere and earnest friends of the gospel were far too sanguine about this movement. If, on the one hand, some made or sought to make nothing of it, many, on the other hand, sought to make entirely too much of it. The former could see nothing right, the latter nothing wrong. The truth lay between those two extremes. The work was, unquestionably, of God. It has proved itself. Its origin, its progress, its abiding results, its general characteristics, prove it to be from heaven. But the enemy sought to mar, to thwart, and oppose. And, further, we believe that human error and infirmity have largely mingled themselves with the work of the Spirit of God. No impartial observer will deny this; indeed, it is only what every intelligent and experienced Christian would expect. It has ever been thus in the history of the Church of God; and to look for aught else, is but to deceive ourselves with vain and shadowy expectations.
However, we have neither time, space, nor inclination, to dwell upon Satan’s efforts, or man’s mistakes and failures, in reference to the blessed work of God. Our only object in this brief article, is to give our readers some idea of the present aspect of the work of God in Ireland, and more particularly in the province of Ulster.
It is more than probable, that, were a mere cursory observer or visitor called to report upon the present condition of things in the North of Ireland, he might give it as his opinion, that the wave of blessing had rolled on and left matters very much as they were. This would be a great mistake. It needs one to be a resident in the very midst of the revival in order to form a sound judgment respecting its true character and permanent results. True, the outward aspect of things, so far as public meetings are concerned, is widely different from what it was in the summer of 1859. The meetings are not nearly so large, so frequent, or so exciting; but we have no hesitation in saying that, from what has come under our own immediate observation, there is a tone and character pervading such meetings as are held, far more interesting and encouraging to the truly spiritual and reflecting mind. We have observed an earnest desire, yea, in many cases, an intense thirst for the Word of God. This is a fine evidence of the divine life. The new-born babe” is sure to “desire the sincere milk of the word.” Nothing else can satisfy. The new life must be nourished by God’s pure and eternal word, else there will not be growth, strength, or fruitfulness. The grand want of the present moment is an earnest, fervid, intelligent, spiritual ministry. Divinely qualified pastors and teachers are needed in all quarters. We want divinely gifted and divinely taught men—men of zeal, energy, and self-denial, competent to teach publicly and from house to house. Let us earnestly pray that such men may be raised up and sent forth.
At the commencement of this movement we observed a class of men who took a prominent place in the work, earnest men, we doubt not, who, having been recently converted to Christ, and being filled with a deep sense of the value of immortal souls, sought to press upon others the one or two points of truth of which they themselves had got hold. These men, however they might have been, and assuredly were, used of God, have not proved efficient instruments in the important work of building up souls. They filled a place at a moment when the Spirit of God was striking down; but they do not appear to be available now that He is building up. What we want, just now, is a class of men who have entered, in some degree, into the meaning and power of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, “Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” (Tim. 4:15.)
It is a great mistake to suppose that anyone can minister in the word and doctrine, who is not divinely qualified for such work. Nor is it sufficient that a man be qualified, in the way of gift, as an evangelist, a pastor, or teacher; he must also have the habit of meditation upon the Word of God. Timothy had a gift; but he was also exhorted to cultivate the habit of meditation, in order that his profiting or advancement might appear to all. If there be not the divinely imparted gift, all attempt at ministry must prove a ludicrous caricature; and if there be not the cultivated habit of meditation, the ministry must degenerate into a barren and tiresome repetition of one or two points of truth which, so far from promoting edification, can only tend to disgust and irritate those who are obliged to listen to it.
However, we must not forget that our present theme is not ministry, but the work of God in Ireland, and we hasten to assure our readers that there is very much in the present aspect of that work for which the true Christian has to be profoundly thankful to the God of all grace. To say that many who seemed or professed to be affected, during the course of last summer, have not proved to be genuine cases of conversion, is only what the experienced Christian reader would anticipate. But, then, it is an unspeakable mercy to know that, in the main, those who were truly converted to God have gone on steadily, notwithstanding manifold hindrances and disadvantages.
We speak of the work as it stands before us, in its own intrinsic character. We are anxious to keep our own thoughts and the thoughts of our readers entirely free from everything sectarian and denominational. The work of God is our theme, and not the failures or the errors of men. We delight to trace the precious operations of the Spirit of God, and, in so doing, to rise above all the petty strife’s and divisions of men.
“This is our joy, which ne’er can fail,
To see the Saviour’s arm prevail,
And mark His steps of grace;
Now, new-born souls convinced of sin,
His blood revealed to them within,
Extol the Lamb in every place.”
This is literally true of many localities throughout the province of Ulster. Hundreds are now “extolling the Lamb in every place.” The desire for the Word of God is most remarkable. From all quarters, the most earnest invitations reach the evangelist. The difficulty is to respond to them all. The people really love the gospel, and will come miles to hear it. The tone of many of the open-air meetings is truly delightful. Few sights are more soul-stirring than to see hundreds of earnest people gathered on the green sward, beneath the open canopy of heaven, listening with breathless interest, to the glad tidings of a full, free, present, personal, and everlasting salvation, through simple faith in the blood of the Lamb. The heart that would not be moved by such a spectacle must be cold indeed. We speak of what we have actually witnessed, within the last few weeks. Others might receive a different impression from the present aspect of things in this country, but, for our own part, we feel called upon to declare that we have—never felt a more profound interest in the work of evangelization than during the last two months, in the counties of Tyrone, Derry, and Antrim.
The following letter from a fellow-laborer, at Newtown Limavady, will, we doubt not, be read with interest. It may be regarded as a tolerably fair example of the testimony which we have received from several competent witnesses, in different localities.
Newtown Limavady, July 26, 1860.
“In reviewing the effects of the late revival in this district, where so many precious souls have received the knowledge of salvation, there is every reason to praise God for His exceeding mercy. The large majority of those who were stricken, continue in the faith, and the whole valley appears to be impressed with a religious feeling. Some few have not acted up to their profession; but my own experience of the converts is very satisfactory. Their altered habits, and anxiety to hear the Word of God betoken, beyond doubt, the new nature which the Lord has imparted to them. Some few isolated cases of prostration have occurred lately under the ministration of the Word, and many prayer-meetings are constantly carried on; but, up to this date, we have had none of those wondrous manifestations which we beheld last year, when hundreds of souls were brought under conviction.
Yours affectionately,
W. L.”
Very similar to the above is the oral testimony of a dear brother, laboring at Moorefort, Ballymoney, whose position, and intimate knowledge of the people, are such as to enable him to form a sound judgment respecting them. We have also sought information from intelligent persons, in other districts, and the tendency of all is to confirm us in the conviction of the reality and permanence of that blessed work which the Lord has wrought in our midst. No doubt, we have very much to lament as to our own failure in faith and personal devotedness. We might have reaped a far larger harvest, had we entered the field with more self-emptiness and spiritual energy. All this, and much more, is, alas! too true of us; but we have abundant cause of thankfulness in the past and present, and abundant ground of confidence and encouragement as to the future.
May the Lord lead us forth in more whole-hearted consecration to His service, and His name shall have all the praise, world without end.
SONG IN THE DAY OF THE EAST WIND.
Is God for me? I fear not, though all against me rise;
When I call on Christ my Saviour, the host of evil flies;
My Friend, the Lord Almighty, and He who loves me, God,
What enemy shall harm me, though coming as a flood?
I know it, I believe it, I say it fearlessly.
That God, the Highest, mightiest, forever loveth me.
At all times, in all places, He standeth at my side;
He rules the battle fury, the tempest, and the tide.
A Rock that stands forever, is Christ my Righteousness,
And there I stand unfearing in everlasting bliss;
No earthly thing is needful to this my life from heaven,
And naught of love is worthy, save that which Christ has given;
Christ, all my praise and glory, my light most sweet and fair,
The ship wherein He saileth, is scathless everywhere.
In Him I dare be joyful, as a hero in the war;
The judgment of the sinner affrighteth me no more.
There is no condemnation, there is no hell for me,
The torment and the fire my eyes shall never see;
For me there is no sentence, for me has death no sting,
Because the Lord who loves me shall shield me with His wing,
Above my soul’s dark waters His Spirit hovers still,
He guards me from all sorrows, from terror and from ill,
In me He works, and blesses the life-seed He has sown,
From Him I learn the “Abba,” that prayer of faith alone.
And if in lonely places, a fearful child, I shrink,
He prays the prayers within me, I cannot ask or think,—
The deep unspoken language known only to that love,
Which fathoms the heart’s mystery from the throne of light above
His Spirit to my spirit sweet words of comfort saith,
How God the weak one strengthens who leans on him in faith:
How He hath built a city of love and light and song,
Where the eye at last beholdeth what the heart had loved so long.
And there is mine inheritance, my kingly palace, home:
The leaf may fall and perish, not less the spring will come;
Like wind and rain of winter, our earthly sighs and tears,
Till the golden summer dawneth of the endless year of years.
The world may pass and perish, Thou God wilt not remove
No hatred of all devils, can part me from Thy love;
No hungering nor thirsting, no poverty nor care,
No wrath of mighty princes, can reach my shelter there;
No angel and no heaven, no throne nor power nor might,
No love, no tribulation, no danger, fear, nor fight,
No height, no depth, no creature that has been or can be,
Can drive me from Thy bosom, can sever me from Thee;
My heart in joy upleapeth, grief cannot linger there,
She singeth high in glory amidst the sunshine fair;
The Sun that shines upon me is Jesus, and His love;
The fountain of my singing is deep in heaven above.
Paul Gerhardt.