I.
THIRTY years ago, the state of religion in this island was exceedingly low. “Darkness covered the land, and gross darkness the people.” But, through the tender mercy of God, the day-spring from on high visited it. Divine light arose on them that sat in darkness, and the cause of Christ has gained much ground in this part of His vineyard, since the year 1804. In that year, and the year following, many were awakened at the north end of the island, especially about the farms of Sannox and their neighbourhood. And although this awakening, as to its power and progress, was not of long continuance, yet a considerable number of the subjects of it testified by their after lives and conversation, that they had undergone a gracious change. This day of small things was the commencement of the revival which followed. From this time, a change for the better might be observed in the religious sentiments and conduct of many among the people. Many seemed now to be awakened from the slumber of spiritual death; being disposed to attend to the things which belonged to their everlasting peace. Their eyes were now opened to see the evil of their former wicked ways, their perishing condition as sinners, and their need of Christ as a Saviour. They now began also to distinguish between truth and error; to relish evangelical doctrine; to attend with diligence on the means of grace; and, in general, to set up the worship of God, morning and evening, in their families. Religious meetings were also set up in many places; and, in the course of a few years, a kind of reformation was thus visible throughout many parts of the island. This was the case more especially, though not exclusively, in the parish of Kilmorie, which was at this time favoured with the ministry of the late pious and laborious Mr. McBride. It may be remarked, respecting his usual style of preaching, that he was by no means what might be called an alarming preacher, but rather the opposite. His sermons were frequently close and searching; but he dwelt more on the consolations of the Gospel than on the terrors of the law; and the excitement seemed to be, in general, greater under the sermons in which the riches of divine grace and the consolations of the Gospel were exhibited, than under such as were more awful, and apparently better fitted to awaken. Mr. McBride’s manner of preaching was very much distinguished for seriousness, fervour, and great zeal for the salvation of sinners; and this often led him to make very close appeals to the conscience. But the revival itself was not of a sudden. It was gradual, and spread from one place to another. Neither was it in all cases saving as to its effects. Many under it assumed a form of godliness, who were altogether destitute of its power. In other cases, however, there was something more deep and precious— even the quickening, saving, and soul-transforming influence of the Holy Spirit. During its progress, a considerable number were accordingly brought under deep convictions of their guilt and unworthiness as sinners, of their liability to eternal misery, and of their utter helplessness as concerned themselves. Now, they began in earnest to say, What shall we do to be saved?— and to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus—for an interest in Him. And the God of all grace, who thus visited them with the awakening influences of His Spirit, was pleased also to enlighten their minds as to the way of salvation; and thus to lead them, by faith, for peace and rest to the only Saviour of sinners. And being thus quickened, enlightened, and comforted, by the teaching of the same Spirit, they were also united together in the bonds of love and Christian fellowship, while they travelled together Zionward.
*This Narrative is extracted from No. V. of a series of Tracts published at Glasgow.
The subjects of these spiritual influences were, however, only as a little flock, when compared with the multitude who remained yet stout-hearted and far from righteousness. And these, becoming impatient under the restraints which the late reformation had laid on them, with regard to unholy practices, began to break out anew with greater violence; so that, in 1810 and 1811, many were bolder in sin, and more abandoned to wickedness, than they had been at any former period. The enemy of souls now came in as a flood, and threatened to carry all before him. It is right, however, to observe that this was in no respect true of professors, or of such as there was reason to believe had been the subjects of divine grace. These were for the most part remarkably consistent in their walk and conversation. The breaking out of sin here referred to, was among the bulk of the people who made no particular profession of religion—and especially among the young, who had been brought under temporary restraint. These circumstances, however, affected the tender heart, and stirred up the pious zeal of Mr. McBride, and led him to be even more earnest in his warnings and remonstrances from the pulpit and otherwise against abounding iniquity. The little flock of tender-hearted Christians scattered throughout his parish, were, at the same time, moved with a sense of the prevalence of sin and the desolations of Zion. They felt an increased concern for the conversion and salvation of sinners, and a deeper interest in the prosperity and enlargement of the kingdom of Christ. They began to be more frequent and earnest in their supplications at a throne of grace for a time of revival—of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Several little parties of them, by mutual consent, set apart some days for private fasting and prayer, sending up their united supplications to the Hearer of prayer, for the downpouring of the Spirit, in His awakening and converting influences on sinners around them. They kept several such days for nearly a twelvemonth before the commencement of what is generally called, “The Revival of Religion in Arran.” In these devotional exercises, some of them enjoyed uncommon nearness to God, and great freedom at a throne of grace, when pouring out their hearts in earnest supplication for the manifestation of divine power and glory in the sanctuary, especially in the congregation with which they were themselves connected. Their minds were much stirred up to press after these things in secret, and at their fellowship meetings, and also when attending public ordinances. They seemed, indeed, to be animated by the spirit of Him who said, “For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” While this little flock of Christ, and their pastor at their head, were thus engaged, and about the beginning of March 1812, the Lord began to work in an unusual way among them, in a way of which they had not till this time any expectation, and which, accordingly, caused some surprise. It was at this time that the outcrying commenced, which was afterwards so common for a considerable time. It began at first in some private meetings, but afterwards extended to the public assembly under Mr. McBride’s ministry. What made the thing the more remarkable was, that it made its first appearance among the people of God. Yea, the most tender, humble, and spiritual-minded among them were the first affected in this manner, and it continued for a short time among them only. But the influence which appeared first moving on them, in this unusual way, was soon extended to others; and the next subjects of it were those who had been before seriously disposed, or who had been at one time or other under serious impressions. But soon after it was extended to the gay and thoughtless, the moral, and the openly wicked. Persons of almost every description and age, from nine years or under, to that of sixty or upwards, were affected; but the number of old people was small compared with that of the young. The crying at first—and while confined to the people of God—was attended with very little bodily agitation; but after others were affected, it was generally attended with these, such as panting, trembling, and other convulsive appearances. The writer of these pages did not reside in Arran till about six months after the commencement of this revival; but he enquired particularly concerning the beginning of it, from such as were best able to inform him, and is satisfied in his own mind, that the Spirit of the Lord was at work in preparing for it—that his mighty power was revealed in the commencement of it—and that he had a gracious and merciful design in ordering the circumstances of it. Although this revival did in some measure degenerate latterly, through the weakness and folly of men, yet the beginning of it was truly the doing of the Lord and marvellous in our eyes. Some, who were among the first affected, told the writer, that they had not the most remote idea of crying out before they were constrained to do so. So much was this the case, that they said they could not have refrained, even if they had been threatened with instant death. They added, that their outcries and bodily agitations arose entirely from the state of their minds, when powerfully impressed and affected with a sense of divine truth. But it is proper to observe, that the writer is here speaking only of such as were lively exercised Christians previous to this revival. On examining others, who knew nothing of Christian experience before the beginning of this work, he found that the first impressions of many of them were accompanied with deep convictions of sin, with a painful sense of their helplessness and misery as sinners, and also with earnest desires after an interest in Christ; which it is to be hoped many of them attained. But it must be acknowledged that the accounts given by all were not alike satisfactory. Many were deeply affected externally, who could give little account of the matter. Their affections were moved, but convictions of sin did not take any deep hold on their hearts and consciences, and so their awakening soon passed away; at least, it was so with some. But if there be joy in heaven over even one sinner that repenteth, we have reason to think that there must have been much joy, in that world of light and love, over many that were brought to true repentance, in this place, during the progress of that work. About the beginning of 1812, the awakening became general, and continued to make progress about three months. After this, it seemed to be at a stand, till the beginning of the following December, when it again revived, and continued to spread considerably for about three months more; during which period it extended over a great part of the parish of Kilmorie, which is nearly thirty miles long, and it extended also to some parts of the parish of Kilbride. The writer cannot pretend to give the exact number of the subjects of this awakening; but the number from first to last, was very considerable. It must have amounted to two or three hundred persons, old and young taken together. He may state them at two hundred and fifty; which is rather below than above the real number. But he does not mean to insinuate that the whole of these proved true believers. This will appear from the statements already made. For some months after the commencement of the awakening, the subjects of it manifested an uncommon thirst after the means of grace. Both old and young flocked in multitudes to hear the Word of God. His house, and the place employed for private meetings, were frequently so crowded, that the people, as it were, trod one on another. To travel ten or fifteen miles to hear sermon, was considered as a very small matter; and after sermon was over, it was no uncommon thing for many of them to meet together in private houses, or in barns, and to spend several hours in religious exercises. Some of them spent even whole nights in this way. They also longed for the return of the Sabbath. They rejoiced when it was said unto them, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” They eagerly sought after renewed opportunities of receiving spiritual instruction. Their desire was so great as not to be easily satisfied. In our religious assemblies at this time, some might be seen filled with divine love, others with fear; some rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, and others trembling lest they should come short of it; some crying out in accents of praise, and others indicating, by their cries, their dread of everlasting wrath. At this time, our meetings were frequent and well attended; and almost every sermon seemed to be effective in awakening, quickening, or refreshing. Satan and his agents, indeed, made strong efforts to counteract the designs and operations of the Spirit of God, by throwing all manner of stumbling-blocks in the way of his people; but, notwithstanding all the opposition of earth and hell, the Word of the Lord grew and multiplied. Some who were lively Christians before, enjoyed at this time much of the refreshing influences of the Spirit, and were often filled, in an extraordinary measure, with peace and joy in believing. As illustrative of this, I may mention, that, in the spring of 1813, I was catechising one day at a particular farm, in the district of ———, and when speaking of the character of Christ as the Redeemer of God’s elect, and attempting to describe the preciousness of His blood, and the riches of His grace, an excellent Christian, who is now in the world of spirits, cried out, in an elevated tone of voice, “O the infinite virtue of the blood of Christ—the preciousness of His blood! What am I, what am I, that He should ever spend one thought concerning me! O my nothingness, my nothingness, my nothingness!” And, soon after that, she exclaimed, “I shall soon be with Thee—I shall soon be with Thee—be for ever with Thee, Lord!” I have seen others, also, on various occasions, affected much in the same way. And these ecstasies of spiritual joy among the people of God, were generally accompanied with great humility and tenderness of spirit. Instead of being puffed up, they were, on the contrary, bowed down to the very dust, under a sense of their privileges. When the glory of the King of Zion was manifested to their souls, in the light of the Spirit, they were ready to exclaim, with Job, “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” I have heard others, under awakenings of conscience, cry out, “O what shall we do? what shall we do? Wash us from sin; let us not deceive ourselves, for we cannot deceive Thee.” It was pleasing thus to see many of them really afraid of self-deception, and earnest in their inquiries after the only sure foundation, the only hope set before them in the Gospel.
(To be continued.)