R e v i v a l s a n d E v a n g e l i s t s By JOHN H. HUNTER WILLIAM C. BURNS (Continued) Copyright, 1915, by JohnH. Hunter
G r e a t V.
in sin, that I intimated I would again address them before bidding them fare well—it might be never to meet again on earth; and that I would do so in the mar ket-place, in order to reach the many who absented themselves from the house of God, and after whom I longed in the bowels o f Jesus Christ. This meeting was fixed for Tuesday at 10 A. M., as I intended that day to leave Kilsyth on my return to Dundee. On Monday evening we had a meeting o f the Missionary Society—Dr. Burns preached an excellent sermon from Isaiah 52:1, in which some things wefe said upon Christ’s wedding-garment which touched my heart. In speaking I felt the case o f the heathen lying nearer my heart than I think ever before or since, and was enabled, though without any previous idea o f what I was to say, to speak with liberty and power of-the Holy Ghost. “This arid all other similar facts I would testify as in the sight o f Jehovah, and as being obliged to do so for his glory. May He enable me to give the glory all to Him, and take none o f it at all to my own cursed flesh-! The people seemed much impressed. The meeting, however, was not very large. I can hardly recall the feelings with which I went to preach on Tuesday morning—a morning fixed from all eternity in Jého- vah’s counsels as an era in the history of redemption. May the Holy Spirit breathe upon my soul and revive in my memory too faithless, alas! to the records o f the Lord’s wondrous works, the recollection of the marvelous scene which was then dis played before the wondering eyes o f many favored sinners in this place. A MEMORABLE DAY “Though I cannot speak with precision o f the frame o f soul in which I went to the
1HE account o f the remarkable \ visitation o f God’s Spirit upon the parish o f Kilsyth in |Q (W July, 1839, is continued in Mr. Burns’ own words. Last month’s installment o f the narrative brought it up to the Saturday evening pre ceding communion Sabbath. On that even ing, two or three persons under deep con viction o f sin had met with him for per sonal conversation, and one had found Christ. This evidence o f the presence o f the Holy Spirit made a profound impres sion upon Mr. Burns. “ On Sabbath everything went on as usual Until the conclusion o f the third table ser vice, if I remember right, when Dr. Burns kindly shortened his own address and intro duced me to the people, that I might give a short address not only to the communi cants, but to all present in the church. I had no precise subject in view on which to speak, but when rising was led to John 20, if I mistake not, simply by its opening to me and appearing suitable. This- subject I tried to generalize as depicting the exper ience o f a saint in seeking communion with Jesus, and the manner in which Jesus often deals with such. I had much assistance and was especially enabled to charge hun d re d s o f the communicants with betraying Christ at His table. I heard afterwards of some that were much moved at this time, and in particular o f one woman who was then first apprehended by the Spirit and has been to all appearance converted. In the evening I preached from Matthew 11:28, but, as far as I can recollect, without remarkable assistance or remarkable effects. At the close, however, I felt such yearning o f heart over the poor people among whom I had spent so many o f my youthful years
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