The Year of Grace

Rev. William Gibson

I shall narrate its progress in the words of a young friend who took part in the movement in his native town:-

“The week which began with May 17th can never be forgotten, though it cannot easily be described. When the great outpouring came, worldly men were silent with an indefinite fear, and Christians found themselves borne onward in the current, with scarce time for any feeling but the outpouring conviction that a great revival had come at last. Careless men were bowed in unaffected earnestness, and sobbed like children. Drunkards and boasting blasphemers were awed into solemnity and silence. Sabbath-school teachers and scholars became seekers of Christ together; and languid believers were stirred up to unusual exertion. There was great earnestness with all, and enthusiasm with some, but little extravagance or ridicule was known. Ministers who had often toiled in heartless sorrow suddenly found themselves beset by inquirers, and wholly unequal to the demands, which were made. Every day many were hopefully converted: passing through an ordeal of conviction more or less severe, to realise their great deliverance, and to throw themselves with every energy into the work of warning others, or of leading them to the Lord.

“All this came suddenly, and many thought it strange. It was little marvel that the world was astonished, but the incredulous wonder of many Christians showed how much we needed a revival. We were astonished that God took us at our word, and sent at last the quickening grace for which we had been dreamily praying so long. The theory of asking and receiving was common, but the getting of a blessing for which there was no room was rare. ‘Thy kingdom come’ was familiar; but the coming kingdom was the wonder of the day.

“It was in the opening summer that the revival came, when the daylight lingers so long, and the bright morning break so soon. We can remember how many lighted windows there were though the night was far-gone, and how prayer meetings were prolonged till the day had returned again. Every evening the churches were crowded, and family worship became almost universal. In the country large meetings were held in the open air, and hundreds were often visibly impressed by strong conviction. Part of the dinner hour was generally devoted to singing and prayer, and the sound from numerous groups of worshippers could be heard afar borne on the summer breeze. Thousands of tracts were circulated and read with avidity, and long-neglected Bibles came into general use. The order of an accustomed formality was gone; and while exhausted ministers were compelled to leave the meetings, the people reluctantly dispersed—some to pray over unimpressed friends, others to feel the workings of an awakened conscience, and many to rejoice in their new liberty, and to glory in their King.

“The order of procedure at the town meetings was little varied, yet the interest never failed while the summer lasted. Each evening had its own incidents, but one general sketch may give an idea of all.

“For some time before the appointed hour, many of the younger converts assemble to sing together some favourite hymns. A little later the people pour in rapidly and soon every seat is occupied, men of business sitting beside their workers, all in their usual attire. A large proportion is made up of the scholars in the Sabbath-school and of the lower classes, who were specially visited during the awakening. Some seem very anxious, and all are solemn. On the faces of the recent converts there is such a beaming gladness that even a stranger can tell their story at a look.

A few minutes after the single stroke of the hour is heard, the minister ascends the pulpit stairs, and reads the opening psalm, which is sung with thrilling fervency. The prayer, which follows, bears greatly on the three classes of worshippers, the converted, the anxious and the unawakened, and contains earnest pleadings for the Spirit’s presence and for the spread of the revival work. Very often as the petition passes, there is heard, far above the speaker’s voice the thrilling cry of some who were arrested as they prayed. And as many a conscience trembles at the arousing call, others silently offer a prayer to the Great Physician of souls, that the broken-hearted penitent may enjoy the healing of His grace.

“The addresses which follow from lay members or others are practical and earnest. The master-truths pressed home are the guilt and danger of every unconverted listener, and the full and present salvation of Jesus. Recent incidents are quoted, and each is brought to bear on the pressing appeal. At the close, the leader usually gives a short summary of the revival progress in the surrounding districts, and then reads the first line of the favourite hymn, ‘What’s the News?’ Then follows the closing prayer, and the benediction. On several occasions this had to be announced twice, and, though at midnight, all had not dispersed.

Experiences have varied greatly. Some have escaped so gently that they scarcely knew when their chains fell, and the freedom came. Others have writhed and struggled in their bonds so long that reason almost sank in the strife. We have heard of some who wandered about in morbid gloominess for months, while on a brother or sister the light has broken in a day. One can tell how he has hardly been saved from his diabolical enemy, whom a racked imagination made almost visible; and another can speak of nothing but the story of a wondrous Deliverer, and how He brought light and liberty to the darkened soul. When the mind has been stored by previous training, there is needed only the quickening life; but when conviction of peril finds no trust to fall back upon, there is a fearful groping in darkness and in doubt. This brings us many lessons in reference to the early teaching of the elements of truth. These life-seeds cannot perish; they lie till the life swells them, and the springtime of the soul comes round. ‘God’s Word,’ says Samuel Rutherford, ‘will come to God’s harvest.’ The psalms and lessons of the Sabbath-class have been reproduced so clearly that many thought the revival miraculous. A minister was astonished to hear a woman of his charge, who had been convicted, repeat with great feeling and striking accuracy the instructions of a communion class at which he had laboured about thirty years before. This quickening of the memory brings back the truth, when every nerve is strained in the grasping after safety, and fits workers for their duty when the need is felt.

“Another lesson may be inserted here. It is the power of urgent, personal dealing. We who work for the Master are too slack and listless with perishing men.

“As the work progressed, every rank felt its power, and shared in its good fruits. The labouring classes were first and largely impressed; but the awakening seemed as great among the rich and respectable. Among the young there has been a decided and special quickening. In a denominational point of view, no Church has been so favoured as the Calvinistic Presbyterian, though sectarian differences have been greatly overlooked. Many Unitarians and Roman Catholics were convinced of their errors, and hopefully changed. It would be untrue, on the one hand, to describe the sudden and complete check, which was given to current vice as a lasting change; and unjust, on the other, to consider the reflux of the interrupted current as an evidence of universal defection. Deep, real, enduring the work has been. A few abuses we admit, but unnumbered blessings we maintain. Christ’s credit is in it, and He will guard His own.”