From His Arrival in Scotland, 1742, to His Return to London the Same Year
Soon after this he embarked a second time for Scotland, and ,irrived at Leith, June 3, 1742.*
But here it is proper to take a view of the state of things in that country upon his arrival. It had pleased God to bless his first visit to Scotland, not only for the conversion of particular persons, and the comforting and quickening of private clvistians, but to rouse them to more than ordinary concern about the salvation of their neighbors, and to excite pious and conscientious ministers to greater diligence in their work. Prayers were put up, with some degree of faith and hope, that God would now give success to their labors, and not suifer them always to complain that they spent their strength in vain. Nor were these prayers long unanswered: for in the month of February, 1742, an extraordinary religious concern began to appear publicly at Cambuslang, and soon after at Kilsyth and other places; the news of which spread quickly through the land, and engaged general attention. Of this a just though short description is given in the following letter, written by the Rev. Mr. Hamilton (then minister in the Barony parish, now in the High Church of Glasgow) to Mr. Prince, minister in Boston. “Glasgow, Sept. 13, 1742. We, in the south and west of Scotland, have great reason to join in thankfulness to God, with you, for the days of the Redeemer’s power, that we
“Edinburgh, Sabbath, June, 6 1742. On Thursday last our dear friend. Mr. Whitefield returned to this place, to the great comfort of many honest christians, especially of those to whom he was made a means of conviction and conversion when last here. He seems to have improved much in christian knowledge. He is much refreshed with the accounts of the work of God in the west countiy. I have heard him preach five excellent discourses, all calculated for the building up of christians (though he never fails to put in a word for the conviction of sinners;) and, I think, can say, that I have never heard him without some influence attending his preaching, especially in private houses. Oh may the impressions made on my heart never wear off, lest at any time I should be in danger of dropping my watch, and becoming untcnder.”
“Oct. 17, 1742. It is a great recommendation of Mr. Whitefield to me, that, though the seceders give him every bad character that can be devised, viz. a sorcerer, &c. yet he takes all patiently, and, wherever he goes, speaks well of them so far as he can: for none can approve of those gross parts of their conduct; therefore these he chooses to cast a mantle of love over.”
are favored with. Mr. Whitefield came to Scotland in the summer of 1741, for the first time; and in many places where he preached, his ministrations were evidently blessed, particularly in the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, where a considerable lunnber of persons were brought under such impressions of religion as have never yet left them; but they are still following on to know the Lord. However, this was only the beginning of far greater things: for, about the middle of February last, a very great concern appeared among the people of Cambuslang, a small parish, lying four miles south east of Glasgow, under the pastoral inspection of the Rev. Mr. William McCulloch, a man of considerable parts, and great piety. This concern appeared with some circumstances very unusual among us: to wit, severe bodily agonies, outcryings and faintings, in the congregation. This made the report of it spread like fiie, and drew vast multitudes of people from all quarters to that place: and I believe, in less than two months after the commencement of it, there were few parishes within twelve miles of Cambuslang but had some, more or fewer, awakened there, to a very deep, piercing sense of sin; and many at a much greater distance. I am verily persuaded, with your worthy brother, Mr. Cooper, in his preface to Mr. Edward’s sermon, that God has made use of these uncommon circumstances to make his work spread the faster. But, blessed be God, Cambuslang is not the only place where these impressions are felt. The same work is spreading in other parishes, and under their own ministers, particularly at Calder, Kilsyth, and Cumbernaud, all to the north east of Glasgow; and I doubt not, that since the middle of February, when this work began at Cambuslang, upwards of two thousand persons have been awakened, and almost all of them, by the best accounts I have, in a promising condition; there being very few instances of impostors, or such as have lost their impressions, and many whom we are bound to think true scripture converts, and who evidence it by a suitable walk and conversation. There is evidently a greater seriousness and concern about religion appearing in most of our congregations, than formerly; a greater desire after the word; people applying themselves more closely to their duty, and erecting new societies for prayer and spiritual conference: which gives us the joyful prospect of a considerable enlargement in the Messiah’s kingdom.
“My parish has likewise had some share in this good work. There have been above a hundred new communicants among them this summer, who never did partake of the blessed sacrament before; which is five times as many as ever I admitted in any former year; most of them were awakened at Cambuslang, some of them in their own chiircli, and in others the impressions have been more gradnal, and not attended with these uncommon circumstances before mentioned. And it is to be observed, that before we admit any to the Lord’s table, we particularly examine them, and are satisfied with their knowledge of the principles of religion, of the nature and ends of the sacrament, and the impressions of religion they have on their minds.”*
To the same purpose is the Rev. Mr. Willison’s letter to Dr. Colman, minister in Boston, dated Dundee, Feb. 28, 1743.” I must inform ^’•ou a little of the work of God begun here. I told you in my last, that after Mr. Whitefield’s first coming and preaching three months in Scotland, there were some beginnings of a revival of religion in some of our principal cities — at Edinburgh and Glasgow — which still continue and increase, especially since Mr. Whitefield’s second coming, in June last. But, besides these cities, the Lord hath been pleased to begin a work much IDfe that in New England, in the west of Scotland. The first parish awakened was Cambuslang; the next was the parish of Kilsyth, about nine miles north east of Glasgow; and afterwards the parishes of Calder, Kirkintilloch, Cumbernaud, Campfie, Kilmarnock, Gargunnock, and a great many others in the country. The awakenings of people have been, in a good many, attended with outcryings, faintings, and bodily distresses; but in many more the work has proceeded with great calmness. But the effects in both sorts are alike good and desirable, and hitherto we hear nothing of their falling back from what they have professed at the beginning; and still we hear of new parishes falling under great concern, here and there, though the great cryings and outward distresses are much ceased.
“The Lord, in this backsliding time, is willing to pity us, and see our ways and heal them, however crooked and perverse they have been. Oh shall not this wonderful step of divine condescension lead us all to repentance, and to go out to meet a returning God, in the way of humiliation and reformation? The magistrates and ministers in Edinburgh are beginning to set up societies for reformation of manners, and new lectures
* Extract of a letter from a person of distinction to the complier. “Edinburgh, February, 1742. I would not ascribe all the revival of religion in Scotland to the instrumentality of Mr. Whitefield. At Cambuslang it began before he had been there; but in Edinburgh, and all the other places in Scotland that I heard of after dilligent inquiry, it began wiih his first visit. This honor he had from his divine Master, and it ought not to be taken from him. And every time he came to Scotland, it is an undoubted fact, that an uncommon power attended his ministry; and many were always brought under serious and lEisting impressions.”
on week days. May all our cities follow their example. There is a great increase of praying societies also in Edinburgh and other towns and villages; and in them they are keeping days of thanksgiving for the partial waterings the Lord is giving us. Those in Edinburgh send printed memorials to others through the nation, to excite them to it.*
“The greatest strangers to religion could not avoid hearing of these things, but they were very differently affected with Ihein. Whilst some became more thoughtful and serious, many mocked, and some were even filled with rage. On the other hand, the temper and behavior of those who were the subjects of this remarkable work, were strong evidences that it came from above. Their earnest desire to be rightly directed in the way to heaven, their tender and conscientious walk, their faithfulness in the duties of their stations, their readiness to make ample restitution for any act of injustice they had formerly committed, their disposition to judge mildly of others, but severely of themselves, their laying aside quarrels and law suits, and desiring to be reconciled, and to live peaceably with all men; such amiable and heavenly qualities, especially when appearing in some who had formerly been of a very opposite character, could not fail to strike every serious observer. In short, it was such a time for the revival of religion, as had never before been seen in Scotland.
‘• The enmity which wicked and profane men discovered against this work, and the derision with which they treated it, is no more than what might naturally be expected. But it is not easy to account for the conduct of the seceders. These, not satisfied with forbearing to approve of it, went the length even to appoint a general fast among themselves, one of the grounds of which was, the receiving Mi-. Whitefield in Scotland; and another, the delusion, as they called it, at Cambuslang and other places. And Mr. Gibb, one of their ministers, wrote a pamphlet inveighing against both in the most virulent language. Such was the bigotry and misguided zeal of the bulk of the party at that time. It is to be hoped their successors Jiave juster views of this subject.f With respect to Mr. Whitefield, the
* The Rev. Mr. Macknight of Irvine, llius writes to Mr. Whitefield, June 21, 1742. “Blessed be our glorious God, there are some awakenings among us at Irvine, not only of those who have been at Cambuslang, but several others are lately brought into concern about their eternal state, and among them several children; the news of which I know will rejoice you, and I hope will encourage you to visit us to help forward this great and glorious work of converting sinners.”
t The reader who wants to see the objections against the work at Cambuslang, fully refuted, may consult Mr. Robe’s Letters to Mr. Fisher: and Mr. Jonathan Edwards’ Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God. And, as to the argument from the goodness of the fruits, which is level to the spring of their first, opposition to him sufficiently appears from his conversation with them at Dunfernihne, formerly mentioned. And the following- letter, which he wrote at Cambuslang, August, 1742, and which was afterwards printed at Glasgow, gives an account of their objections and his answers, which are perfectly agreeable to the spirit of both: ‘I heartily thank you for your concern about unworthy me. Though I am not very solcitious what the world say of me, yet I would not refuse to give any one, much less a minister of Jesus Christ (and such a one I take you to be) all reasonable satisfaction about any part of my doctrine or conduct. I am sorry that the Associate Presbytery, besides the other tlhngs exceptionable in the grounds of their late fast, have done me much wrong. As to what they say about the supremacy, my sentiments, as to the power and authority of the civil magistrate as to sacred things, agree with what is said in the Westminster Confession of faith, chap, xxiii. paragraphs 3 and 4. And I do own the Lord Jesus to be the blessed head and king of his church.
“‘The Solemn League and Covenant I never abjured, neither was it ever proposed to me to be abjured; and as for my missives, if the iVssociate Presbytery will be pleased to print them, the world will see that they had no reason to expect I would act in any other mamier than I have done. What that part of my experience is that savors of the grossest enthusiasm, 1 know not, because not specified; but this one thing I know, when I conversed with them they were satisfied with the account I then gave of my experiences, and also of the validity of my mission; only, when they found I would preach the gospel promiscuously to all, and for every minister that would invite me, and not adhere only to them, one of them, particularly, said, ‘They were satisfied with all th’e other accounts which I gave of myself, except of my call to Scotland at that time.’ They would have been glad of my help, and have received me as a mhiister of Jesus Christ, had I consented to have preached only at the invitation of them and their people. But that was contrary to the dictates of my conscience, and therefore I could not comply. I thought their foundation too narrow for any high house to be built upon. 1 declared freely, when last in Scotland, (and am more and more convinced of it since) that they were building a Babel.* At the same time,
capacities of all, the Compiler thinks it his duly to add, that, among his acquaintance who were the subjects of that work, the fruits were generally both good and lasting.
* The event verified this conjecture. In his (MS.) notes, several years after, he makes the following remark: “Such a work, (the religious concern at Cambuslang) so very exten.sive, must meet with great opposition. My collections for the orphans gave a great handle; but the chief opposition was they knew very well I was for from beinor against all church government (for how can any church subsist without it?) I only urged, as I do now, that since holy men differ so much about the outward form, we should bear with and forbear one another, though in this respect we are not of one mind. I have often declared, in the most public manner, that I believe the Church of Scotland to be the best constituted national church in the world. At the same time I would bear with and converse freely with all others, who do not err in fundamentals, and who give evidence that they are true lovers of the Lord Jesus. This is what I mean by a catholic spirit. Not that I believe a Jew or pagan, continuing such, can be a true christian, or have true Christianity in them; and if there be any thing tending that way in the late extract which I sent you, I utterly disavow it. And I am sure I observed no such thing in it when I published it, though, upon a closer review, some expressions seem justly exceptionable. You loiow how strongly I assert all the doctrines of grace, as held forth in the Westminster Confession of faith, and doctrinal articles of the Church of England. These I trust I shall adhere to as long as I live, because I verily believe they are the truths of God, and have felt the power of them in my own heart. I am only concerned that good men should be guilty of such misrepresentations. But this teaches me more and more to exercise compassion toward all the children of God, and to be more jealous over my own heart, Imowing what fallible creatures we all are. I acknowledge that I am a poor, blind sinner, hable to err, and would be obliged to an enemy, much more to so dear a friend as you are, to point out my mistakes, as to my practice, or unguarded expressions in preaching or writing. At the same time I would humble myself before my Master for any thing I may say or do amiss, and beg the influence and assistance of his blessed Spirit, that I maysay and do so no more.’”
So much for Mr. Whitefield’s difference with the seceders. But, notwithstanding all this, upon his second arrival in Scotland, June, 1742, he was received by great numbers, among
made by the seceders, who, though they had prayed for me at a most extravagant rate, now gave out that I was agitated by the devil. Taking it for granted that all converted persons must take the covenant, and that God had left the Scotch established churches long ago, and that he would never work by the hand of a curate of the Church of England, they condemned the whole work as the work of the devil, and kept a fast through all Scotland, to humble themselves, because the devil was come down in his wrath, and to pray that the Lord would rebuke the destroyer, (for that was my title.) But the Lord rebuked these good men; for they split among themselves, and excommunicated one another. Having afterwards a short interview with Mr. Ralph Erskine, we embraced each other, and he said, ‘We have seen strange things.’”
92 MEMOIRS OF WfllTEFIELD.
whom were some persons of distinction, with much joy; and had the satisfaction of seein^ and hearing more and more of the happy fruits of his ministry.* At Edinburgh he preached twice a day, as usual, in the hospital park, where a number of seats and shades, in the form of an amphitheatre, were erected for the accomiTiodation of his hearers. And in consequence of earnest invitations, he went to the west country, particularly to Cambuslang, where he preached three times, upon the very day of his arrival, to a vast body of people, although he had preached that same morning at Glasgow. The last of these exercises began at nine at night, continuing till eleven, when he said he observed such a commotion among the people as he had never seen in America. Mr. McCuUoch preached after him, till past one in the morning, and even then could hardly persuade the people to depart. All night in the fields might be heard the voice of prayer and praise. As Mr. Whitefield was frequently at Cambuslang during this season, a description of what he observed there at different times will be best given in his own words: “Persons from all parts flocked to see, and many, from many parts, went home convinced and converted unto God. A brae, or hill, near the manse at Cambuslang, seemed to be formed by Providence for containing a large congregation. People sat unwearied tiU two in the morning, to hear sermons, disregarding the weather. You could scarce walk a yard, but you must tread upon some, either rejoicing in God. for mercies received, or crying out for more. Thousands and thousands have I seen, before it was possible to catch it by sympathy, melted down under the word and power of God. At the celebration of the holy communion, their joy was so great, that, at the desire of many, both ministers and people, in imitation of Hezekiah’s passover, they had, a month or two afterwards, a second, which was a general rendezvous of the people of God. The communion table was in the field; three tents at proper distances, all surrounded with a multitude of hearers: above twenty ministers (among whom was good old Mr. Bonner) attending to preach and assist, all enlivening and enlivened by one another.”
Besides his labors at Glasgow and Cambuslang, it is somewhat surprising to think how many other places in the west of Scotland he visited within the compass of a few weeks, preaching once or twice at every one of them, and at several, three
“Edinburgh, June 4, 174-2. This morning I received glorious accounts of the carrying on of the Mediator’s kingdom. Three of the little boys that were converted when I was last here, earae to me and wept, and begged me to pray for and with them. A minister tells me, that scarce one is fallen back who was awakened, either among old or young. The Sergeant, whose letter brother C has, goes on well with his company.”
or four times. It is worth while to set down the journal of a week or two. In the beirinuing of July, he preached twice on Monday at Paisley; on Tuesday and Wednesday, three times each day at Irvine; on Thursday, twice at Mearns; on Friday, three times at Cumberland; and on Saturday, twice at Falkirk. And again in the latter end of August, on Thursday he preached twice at Greenock; on Friday, three times at Kilbride; on Saturday, once at Kilbride, and twice at Stevenson; on the Sabbath, four times at Irvine; on Monday once at Irvine, and three times at Kilmarnock; Tuesday, once at Kilmarnock,* and four times at Stewarton; on Weiiuesday, once at Stewarton, and twice at Mearns. He was also at Inchanned, New Kilpatrick, Calder and Kilsyth, (where the religious concern was still increasing) and at Torphichcn.t He was indeed sometimes taken very ill, and his friends thought he was going off; “But in the pulpit, (says he) the Lord, out of weakness, makes me to wax strong, and causes me to triumph more and more.” And even when he retired for a day or two, it was on purpose to write letters, and to prepare pieces for the press, so that he was as busy as ever.
When he was at Edinburgh, he received accounts that the Spaniards had landed at Georgia, and of the removal of his family from thence. He immediately wTote a very encouraging epistle to the honourable Mr. Habersham; in which he
* A gentleman now living, of an irreproachable character, thus writes to the compiler, April 8, 1771.” When Mr. Whitefield was preaching at Kilmarnock, on the 23d of August, 1742, from these words, ‘And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace,’ I thought I never heard such a sermon on the fulness of grace that is treasured up in Christ Jesus; and can truly.’■ay that I felt the efficacy of the Holy Spirit upon my soul, during that discourse. I afterwards shut up myself in my chamber during the remaining part of that day; and, before I laid myself down to rest, I made a solemn and serious dedication of myself to God, by way of covenant, extended and subscribed the same with my hands, and, I think, had commimion with God in so doing, to which I have often had recourse since, in adhering thereto, and in renewing thereof Though my life since has been attended with many backslidings from Grod, and I have been perfidious in his covenant, yet still I rejoice in his salvation through precious Christ. And it is refreshing to behold the place at this very day, as I have often done since. I, from the era above mentioned, always looked upon Mr, Whitefield as my spiritual father, and frequently heard him afterwards in Edinburgh and Glasgow with much satisfaction. The mentioning of his name always gave me joy, and grieved me when he was reproached. And I can very well remember, that when Cape Breton was taken, I happened to be then at Edinburgh, and, being invited to breakfast with Mr. Whitefield, I never in all my life enjoyed such another breakfast. He gave the company a fine and lively descant upon that part of the world, made us all join in a hymn of praise and thanksgivmg, and concluded with a most devout and fervent prayer. In the evening of that day he preached a most excellent thanksgiving sennon, from the first two verses of Psalm cxxvi.
+ “I never preached with so much apparent success before. At Greenock, Irvine, Kilbride, Kilmarnock, and Stewarton, the concern was great j at the three last, very extraordinary.”
94 MEMOIRS OF WHITEFrELD.
said, “I long to be with yon — -and, mcthinks, would willingly be found at the head of yon kneeling and praying, though a Spaniard’s sword should be put to my throat.”* In a few weelis after, he heard that the enemy were re])ulscd, and his family returned in safety to Bethesda. About the end of October, he left Scotland, and rode post to London, where he arrived in about five days.