THE KING’S BUSINESS
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ing and salvation. After visiting one or two other towns in the north o f England, he returned to Edinburgh. SUNDAY -TRA IN QUESTION. Just about the time he arrived in Edin burgh the directors o f the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway announced their purpose o f establishing a Sunday train service, ' which was a decided innovation in Scot land. Mr. Burns published a strong letter o f remonstrance addressed to the share holders (Mr. McCheyne published an open letter to the man who made the proposition at the meeting o f the shareholders). He also denounced the proposal from his pul pit'. On (he Sunday morning that the first train was to be run, Mr. Burns appeared at the ^Railway station bright and early, as he had announced he would do, and preached a strong sermon to the assembled multitude. He did the same again in the evening and for several Sundays. He also held special meetings for prayer on Mon days, Wednesdays and Fridays about the same matter. His weekly schedule was a full one. He had the regular morning and evening services on the Sabbath and added to this the two open air meetings at the railway station. On Monday evening he had two Bible classes, one for young women and following it one for young men. On Sunday afternoon he had a class . for the children o f the congregation. Through the week he had one class in Greek and another class in Hebrew for the young men o f the college, who greatly enjoyed his instruction. This seemed to be enough for one man, and yet he found time to work in four short evangelistic tours during this period. One o f the most interesting events of his life occurred about this time on that eventful day, May 18, 1843, when walking between his father and his uncle he joined in that great procession o f 451 ministers o f Christ led by Dr. Chalmers and Dr. Guthrie, who for the sake o f principle, resigned churches and manses, and stepped out o f the Established Church o f Scot land to form the Free Church. »
spiritual experiences during this tour, due no doubt to the fact that he was very tired physically and mentally, as the result' o f his many activities. Sometimes he would enjoy the very .conscious presence o f the Holy Spirit while he was preaching, and spoke with great freedom and power, but at other times he confesses to a sense of being left alone and ^t such times it was no uncommon thing for him to confess this experience ' to his congregation and close the service rather abruptly, sending them home to pray while he himself retired for the same purpose. It was always a char acteristic o f Mr. Burns that his message had to be not merely Biblical and evangel ical, but the very personal message of God to his own soul for that particular occasion. Lacking this assurance preach ing was always a labor to him. On this tour, howjever, he had abundant proofs o f the Lord’s presence, for great com panies o f people were aroused and con verted. V IS ITS ENGLAND. About this time Mr. Burns paid a visit to Newcastle, the spiritual condition of which was a great burden to his heart. Perhaps no feature o f the life o f the city pained him more than its" desecration of the Lord’s Day. The intrepid soldier of Christ determined to attack the sin o f the city in that particular phase. He had a large poster printed denouncing Sabbath desecration, to which he was not - afraid to affix his own name. This was posted over the city. He prepared also a series of tracts which he had printed and distributed, he himself taking a large part in the dis tribution. As the people were not coming into the churches he followed his usual practice and went to them in the open air. At some o f these open air meetings the mob grew rather noisy and rough, but he escaped bodily harm, apparently, however, no impression being made, and Mr. Burns himself, as well as many o f his friends, began to feel just a little bit discouraged. Suddenly the power o f God came upon them and it was a real time o f heart-break
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