REVIVAL SCENES - Burns, William Chalmers

Chapter iv

1839

The subject of the revival of religion as the great want of the times had been already, and for a long time, much in the minds both of the pastor and the people of kilsyth. The memorable scenes of the years 1742-3, when, under the ministry of the rev. James robe, this parish shared with that of cambuslang in so remarkable an effusion of the spirit of grace, still lived as a cherished tradition in the hearts of the people, and there were still here and there little companies of praying souls, “who spake one to another” of the good days of the past, and who “sighed and cried” over the sub- sequence times of declension and backsliding. There was, i believe, at least one society for religious fellowship which had survived, in the uninterrupted succession of its members, all through the intervening period, and whose lamp of faith and prayer was still found faintly burning, when the light of a new morning broke upon them, and the whole parish seemed to awake as “from a dream of a hundred years. into those sacred reminiscences and aspirations my father entered most profoundly from the first day of his ministry here in 1821, and labored unceasingly thenceforward to keep them alive both in his own heart and in those of his people. In the words of his own biography, “his public instructions as well as private conversation, at visitations and elsewhere, abounded with allusions to those happy days of the past, and with expressions of ardent longing for their return; and to this point might the whole course of his ministry be said more or less to turn. In1822, the second year of his ministry, we find him along with another congenial spirit, the humble and godly dr. George wright of Stirling, bending over the old records of the kirk-session bearing on the dates1742-9, and with solemn interest deciphering the dim and fading lines that referred to the incidents of the work as then in progress. Towards the close of the same year (DEC. 1822), on two successive sabbaths, he preached directly and fully on the subject, taking for his text those singularly appropriate and impressive words in Micah 7:1 ‘ woe is me, for i am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape-gleanings of the vintage; there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe fruit: ‘ bringing the whole case of past attainment and subsequent declension before the congregation, and calling upon them again to arise and seek -the lord. In 1830, in consequence of some unusual outbreaks of sin, in connection with runken brawls, a parochial day of fasting and prayer, in the view of prevailing sins and backs ladings, was appointed by the kirk-session, and observed with marked seriousness and solemnity.

In 1832 the near approach of the cholera, which fell heavily on the neighboring village of kirkintilloch, but never actually entered kilsyth, while sounding its own terrible peal, at the same time summoned the pastor to lift up his voice in another earnest call to repentance and newness of life. In 1836 he read an elaborate essay before a clerical society in Glasgow with the twofold object of calling more extensive attention to the subject, and of drawing forth the suggestions of his brethren in regard to some signs of awakening life which were eventhen appearing in his own parish. about the same time he sought by means of brief but pointed pastor addresses to “heads of families, ” and on “family-worship, ” which he printed and presented to every household in his parish, to revive the spirit of personal and family religion amongst his people. Finally, on sabbath afternoon in august, 1838, standing on the grave of his revered predecessor mr. Robe, on the anniversary of his death, and taking as his text the words inscribed in Hebrew letters on his tomb, isaiah26:19, he pled before a vast assemblage of his people in behalf of Christ and the new birth unto eternal life, in tones of unaccustomed earnestness, and which stirred the hearts of many in a manner never to be forgotten. By such means as these did he seek through successive years to strengthen the things that remained and were ready to die, and, if so it might be, fan the feeble spark once more into a flame. The result was seen in a growing heightened tone of moral and religious life in the congregation and parish-generally, as well as latterly in more specific tokens of the divine power and presence, which seemed the precursors of a still richer blessing yet to come. There was a marked increase of seriousness and devout earnestness in public worship. Prayer-meetings became at once more numerous and more fervent.

One or two sermons at communion times, marked by a peculiar unction and power, had fallen with visibly solemnizing effect on the congregation one in particular, by the rev. A. N. Somerville of anderston, Glasgow, on the words, “behold i stand at the door and knock, ” which imprinted itself on many hearts, and was afterwards often referred to as marking an era in the religious history of the parish. Conversions, infinite, of a more than usually striking kind, became more frequent, and contributed at once to arrest the attention of the careless, and to animate the hopes and quicken the prayers of those who were looking and longing for the heavenly shower.

Meanwhile influences of a concurrent kind were at work elsewhere, and tended still further to quicken the pulse of religious life in the place. Similar tokens of reviving earnestness were appearing more or less extensively amongst the members of the other christian denominations around, and particularly in connection with a small but very fervent society of Wesleyan Methodists, whose distinctive teaching tended greatly to emphasize in the minds of the people the great ideas of conversion, the new birth, and the conscious peace and life of god, and whose unwearied activity and zeal for the gathering in of souls spread by a happy infection to the hearts of others.

It was in these circumstances, and to a field thus prepared, that the young evangelist now came, bearing the precious seed which he had already sown with such hopeful promise in Dundee. The remarkable scene which followed has been already often described, and i should have almost shrunk from attempting any fresh account of it, did there not happily survive a full and deliberate statement from my brother’s own hand, which will enable us to survey it from a new and deeply interesting point of view. It was written during a quiet interval in the manse of kilsyth exactly a year after the occurrences to which it refers, and is couched in a tone of solemn thoughtfulness and utter self-abnegation, in the presence of him whose wondrous works he records, which imparts a peculiar weight to every word, and the impression of which would be marred only, not helped, by any labored description of ours : “having a spare hour, it has occurred to my mind that it may be for the glory of god that i should at last record my recollections of the marvellous commencement of the lord’s glorious work in this place in the month of July, 1839, and entreat the special aid of the holy ghost, that i may write according to his own will and for the divine glory regarding these wonders of the lord Jehovah. During the first four months of my ministry, which were spent at Dundee, i enjoyed much of the lord’s presence in my own soul, and laid in large stores of divine knowledge in preparing from week to week for my pulpit services in st. Peter’s church. But though endeavored to speak the truth fully, and to press it earnestly on the souls of the people, there was still defect in my preaching at that time which i have since learned to correct, viz. That, partly from unbelieving doubts regarding the truth in all its infinite magnitude, and partly from a tendency to shrink back from speaking in such a way as visibly and generally to alarm the people, i never came, as it were, to throw down the gauntlet to the enemy by the unreserved declaration and urgent application of the divine testimony regarding the state of fallen man and the necessity of an unreserved surrender to the lord Jesus in all his offices in order that he may be saved. However, i was gradually approaching to this point, which i had had in my eye as the grand means of success in converting souls, from the first time i entered the pulpit, and even from the day of my own remarkable conversion, of which i trust the lord may enable me to leave some record behind on this earth for the glory of his own infinite sovereign and everlasting love in Christ. During the last three sabbaths that i was at Dundee, before coming to kilsyth, i was led in a great measure to preach without writing, not because i neglected to study, but in order that i might study and pray for longer time; and in preaching on the subjects which i had thus prepared, i was more than usually sensible of the divine support. The people also seemed to feel more deeply solemnized, and i was told of some whowere shedding silent tears under the word of the lord. I was to have preached on the evening of the fast-day at kilsyth, july 18th, but the burial of my dear brother-in-law, george moody, at paisley, was fixed forthat day, and i was of course obliged to be present thereat. His death was accompanied with a blessingfrom jehovah to my soul. I never enjoyed, i think, sweeter realizations of the glory and love of Jesus, and of the certainty and blessedness of his eternal kingdom, than when at paisley on this solemn occasion. The beautifully consistent and holy walk of our dear departed brother, with the sweet divine serenity that marked the closing scene of his life, made his death very affecting, and eminently fitted to draw away the heart of the believer after him to Jesus in the heavenly glory.

This was its effect on my soul through the lord’s power. On the way to the grave i wept with joy, and could have praised the lord aloud for his. Love in allowing me to assist in carrying to the bed of rest a member of his ‘own body, of his flesh, and of his bones; ‘ and when i looked for the last time on the coffined body in its narrow, low, solitary, cold resting-place, i had a glorious anticipation of the second coming of the lord, when he would himself raise up in glory everlasting that dear body which he had appointed us to bury in its corruption and decay. i have taken this retrospect of circumstances in my own history previewing; but a steadfast keeping within lines of received truth, as not expecting conversion by any special way of stating the gospel, but byte power of the spirit accompanying it. For a season, however, before the kilsyth communion, he seemed two different men in private and public his own spiritual strength so far exceeding what appeared in the pulpit. But then the lord, who had strengthened David to slay the lion and the bear in the recesses of the mountains, sent him forth to triumph over Goliath before the hosts of Israel. He had been asking, seeking, knocking for the holy spirit; that spirit came upon him with power; and the lord added unto the church daily such as should be saved, multitudes both of men and women. “the movement thus begun in a manner so remarkable, went on steadily, and for weeks thereafter seemed only to grow in solidity and depth. Meetings for prayer and preaching of the gospel were held every successive night, generally in the church, and occasionally, when the weather favored, in the market- placer in the church-yard. Crowds of inquirers flocked at every invitation to the vestry or the manse to seek spiritual counsel from the minister and his assistants. Prayer-meetings both of the old and young sprang up everywhere in the village and the surrounding hamlets. The neighboring extension church of baton, erected through my father’s exertions a short time before, and then under the pastoral care of the rev. John Lyon, now of brought-ferry, became the scene of a similar work of awakening and spiritual blessing. Ministers from all parts of the country, and especially from the neighboring city of Glasgow, came to the help of the over tasked pastor, and greatly contributed by the richness and variety of their instructions to impart stability and spiritual substance to a movement which might otherwise have largely evaporated in mere excitement. The mountain glen, the solitary ha-ugh, even the noisy loom shop, became vocal often with the sounds of prayer and praise, or witnessed the solemn converse of brethren who, at eventide, talked with burning hearts of the things that had come to pass in those days. The whole tone and spirit of the place seemed for the moment changed, and an air almost sabbatical brooded over it, which strangers recognized as with instinctive reverence they approached the spot. In the words of a statement read at the time by the minister of the parish to the presbytery of the bounds “the waiting on of young and older people at the close of each meeting, and the anxious asking of so many ‘ what to do; ‘ the lively singing of the praises of god, which every visitor remarks; the complete desuetude of swearing and of foolish talking in our streets; the order and solemnity at all hours prevailing; the voice of praise and prayer almost in every house; the cessation of the tumults of the people; the consignment to the flames of volumes of infidelity and impurity; the coming together for divine worship of such a multitude of our population day after day; the large catalogue of new intending communicants giving in their names, and conversing in the most interesting manner on the most important subjects; not a few of the old careless sinners and frozen formalists awakened and made alive to god; the conversion of several poor colliers, who have come to means given the most satisfactory account of their change of mind and heart, are truly wonderful proofs ofa most surprising and delightful revival. The public-houses, the coal-pits, the harvest reaping fields, the weaving loom steads, the recesses of our glens, and the sequestered laughs around, all may be called tow itness that there is a mighty change in this place for the better. the subject of this memoir had been obliged to leave a few days after the commencement of ther emarkable scenes just described, in order to resume his duties at Dundee, where his work was becoming every day more interesting; but on the 21st of September he was again at kilsyth, taking part in the services of a second communion, which the new birth of so many souls, and the fresh baptism and abounding joy of others, had rendered necessary. It was a season long to be remembered, alike for the solemnity and sacred sweetness of its services, and for the rich tokens of blessing which both accompanied and followed it.

To use again the grave words of the pastor, “having been preceded, accompanied, and followed by a very unusual copiousness of prayer; the showers in answer were very copious and refreshing. We are daily hearing of good done to strangers who came zaccheus-like to see what it was, who have been pierced in heart and have gone away new men. Our own people of christian spirit have been greatly enlivened and strengthened, and some very hopeful cases of apparently real beginnings of new life have been brought tour knowledge. I feel grateful to the god of grace and god of order in the churches, that there has been such a concurrence of what is true; venerable, pure, just, lovely, and of good report, and that little in deedhas escaped from any of us which can justly cause regret the solemn appearance of the noncommunicable, and the delightful manner in which they were exhorted the presence of not a few unusually young disciples at the tables the seriousness of aspect in all, and the softening and melting look of others made upon every rightly disposed witness a very delightful impression for ninety years, doubtless, there has not been in this parish such a season of prayer and holy communing and conferences, nor at any period such a number of precious sermons delivered. The spiritual awakenings and genuine conversions at this time are not few, and it is hoped will come forth to victory; but the annals of eternity only will divulge the whole. at this point my brother’s personal journal, which the exciting and absorbing labors of the last month had almost wholly interrupted, becomes again available, and i gladly return to it, as furnishing atonce the most authentic and most impressive account both of the work in which he was engaged and of the part which he himself bore in it. Saturday, 21st September, 1839. I stayed at Mr. Guthrie’s all night, and started at seven a. M. , by the boat for kilsyth. The boat was nearly filled in the cabin by dear brothers and sisters in Christ, going to the communion at kilsyth. We had much blessed converse together, and engaged twice in prayer and once in praise. We arrived at a quarter to one, and found that i was expected to officiate at half-past two o’clock. Accordingly preached to about a thousand from Romans 10:4, with much assistance. On sabbath, after mr. Rose had preached at the tent, i was called on to follow him; and accordingly preached for about two hours from isaiah 54:5, to a congregation which, according to a calculation founded on the extent of the ground which it occupied, is thought to have been little short often thousand. They were very solemn and attentive, hardly one removing during the sermon; and though i did not notice many under visible impression, i was told that not a few were in tears, young men as well as others. After leaving the tent i went to the communion table, which was addressed in a most interesting way upon the love of Christ byre. Rose. I did not, however, experience much near communion with my blessed lord and savior, but had to complain of much blindness and deafness, while my soul was not altogether unmoved through his freeand infinite grace. After Dr. Dewar, Mr. Middleton of strategical, and Mr. Some rville, had preached at the tent, i was called again to preach the evening sermon there at seven o’clock, while Mr. Rose did so in the church. The subject was Isaiah 54:10, “the mountains shall depart, &c”; and i was so much assisted both in exposition and exhortation, that there was visible among the people a far greater awakening than during any part of the day. We continued together till between nine and ten, the moon being full and the sky unclouded, though the mist began to settle in the hollow in which the tent was placed. After we had gone home, my father and Mr. Rose not having yet come in, it struck me, while at tea, that we ought to have a meeting still in the church, and continue all night in prayer to god for the outpouring of the spirit. Some objected, but Charles brown was completely on my side, saying that he was put in mind of that occasion on which the friends of jesus sought to lay hold of him, saying, ‘he is beside himself; ‘ and accordingly we again repaired to the church, where many were already assembled joining in prayer with mr. Martin of bath gateand Mr. Middleton, and after the bell had been rung and the church was filled, Charles j. Brown sang and spoke upon a part of psalm 72, and then prayed. When he had concluded, Mr. Martin spoke on psalm 14. To those still awakened, and engaged in prayer according to concert especially for the same class. Mr. Some rville then addressed the awakened, but not yet converted, from the account of the conversion of saul, and afterwards prayed for them as Mr. Martin had before done for the others. I was then called in conclusion to speak more generally to all, and did so at considerable length and very calmly from the first four verses of the 116th psalm, which having been sung the whole was concluded with prayer. We separated from this most precious meeting, in which not a few were awakened, at three a. M. Of Monday,and after leaving the church mr. Some rville and i were forced to remain in the session-house with the distressed, instructing and praying till between five and six o’clock, when we went home to rest. The casein the session-house were numerous and very interesting. “September 23d. Having risen from a refreshing sleep at twelve noon, i was told that i was expected to preach the second sermon about two at the tent.

I was counseled by my mother to beware of harshexpressions in preaching and prayer, and told by j. That she thought there was a danger of my losing the former sweetness, as she said, of my manner in preaching for an unpleasant sternness. I thanked the lord for this counsel, and was told by her afterwards that i had been enabled to correct the fault. There were an immense number of ministers and preachers at the tent on Monday, and i went down under some anxiety, as i had no special preparation. However, i was enabled in private and public prayer to cast myself on the lord, and he did not prove a wilderness to me, a land of darkness, but aided me beyond all my expectations. The text from which i spoke was Ezekiel 36:26, “a new heart also will i give you, ” and i found so much laid to my hand, both in expounding and applying the subject, that i could hardly get done. There was great attention among the audience, which might amount to two thousand, and blessed be god, some of the ministers present seemed to be convinced that the lord had helped me to be faithful; Charles j. Brown and john Duncan spoke particularly in this way. In the evening Charles j. Brown preached a mostexcellent discourse in the church at eight o’clock, from the words in Matthew, ‘what do ye more than others? ‘ showing its. Why Christians might be expected to do more than others, and 2nd. What more they were expected to do. After he had concluded i felt deeply impressed with the desirableness of continuing in prayer to god, especially with and for the unconverted, whom we were, alas! To leave at the close of this blessed season farther in many cases from Jesus than before. I accordingly proposed to Charles j. Brown that i should ask the unconverted to stay behind, not excluding others who might also desire to do so. He said i should do as i thought best, and accordingly after the praise was ended, i asked those who knew that they were still unconverted to remain, coming down into the front seats below to be addressed and prayed for. My thus assigning those particular seats rather alarmed and staggered Mr. Brown, and, as i after wards found, my father also and many other of the ministers present; but as no remonstrance was at the time made, and after so many had come forward that the seats were fully occupied, and even (a young gentleman from Glasgow whom i had been conversing with a little before under considerable concern about his soul) went into them with a younger brother also much affected, as i noticed, during the sermon, when the love of Christ was spoken of, Mr. Brown’s doubts appeared to vanish, and i proceeded, after singing and long-continued prayer, to exhort at great length those in the seats and also the congregation at large to an immediate closing with Christ. In this work i was assisted, i think, as much as ever before in my life, having a degree of tenderness and affection which my hard, hard heart is rarely privileged to feel, and in prayer i was favored with peculiar nearness to god, insomuch that at one time i felt as if really in contact with the divine presence, and could hardly go on; while at the same blessed season there seemed to be ageneral and sweet melting of heart among the audience, and many of the unconverted were weeping bitterly aloud, though i spoke throughout with perfect calmness and solemnity. We separated between one and two o’clock from this the last, and i think, without doubt, the most eminently blessed part of the whole communion season, at least in as far as i was a witness to it. After the meeting had broken up many went to the session-house, where my father had been with not a few in distress during the greater part of the meeting, and then he and Mr. Rose continued for several hours longer, witnessing, as they told us when they came home, the most wonderful displays of the holy spirit’s work. “so mightily grew the word of god and prevailed. the rest of the history, so far as it can be written or read in this world, is soon told. The high spring-tide of exalted feeling, necessarily mingled more or less with mere sympathetic excitement, gradually passed away, and the currents alike of religious experience and of ordinary human life flowed once more in their customary channels. There were some temporary professors, there were some”imperfect conversions, ” there were some whose bright early promise, though not wholly darkened, did not shine forth with an altogether unclouded luster “more and more unto the perfect day; ” but there everywhere many to whose shining consistency and purity, and steadfast perseverance to the end, declared plainly that they had been with Jesus, and that in that terrible moment of their soul’s agony they had been indeed born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of god. The history of the kilsyth279revival, in short, as of every other true revival, whether ushered in by the earthquake and the whirlwind orby the still small voice, had in truth been written eighteen hundred years before by him who knoweth the end from the beginning: “behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and, because they had no root, they withered away; and some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up and choked them: but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold. “