Till

Ireland. I never heard any cries more piercing and affecting than the cries of some of the girls in that store last night; and some of these girls were the worst characters in the town-characters who were notorious in Port-Glasgow. After the meeting had been desired to separate, a great many remained behind, most anxious to hear the Word. Young men and young women, and two or three Roman Catholics, have been already arrested and turned, and before the meeting separated I found a little Roman Catholic boy sitting with his Bible in his hands, saying that there was no Mediator but Christ, and that he would have no other, and ever looking to Christ the Mediator to save him. There was a large crowded meeting outside, and on my asking if they wished to hear more, they said that they did. I spoke till ten o'clock, and they were unwilling even then to go away. an advanced hour of the night, I was visiting the persons thus stricken down, and I saw a number of them this morning who had found peace and were rejoicing in Christ. They are just like the converts in Ballymena already: they all know one another, speak the same language, and, like the Irish converts, are beginning to preach the gospel, saying to their friends and neighbours, "Come to Christ, come just as you are, without first trying to make yourself better. I just cast myself down at His feet, and told Him that I despaired of saving myself, and I believed that He saved me; I did not dare to doubt. And so I entered, through belief, into peace. I think God has begun this work in the small town of Port-Glasgow, just that, being near Glasgow, it may become known there and spread thither, too, just as he began in Connor and Ballymena, and then carried the work to the large town of Belfast."

From Port-Glasgow, the work soon spread to Glasgow itself. The Revival Record thus states the matter:

The interest in the Lord's work is deepening in this city. The prayer meetings are increasing in numbers and fervency. There is a spirit of inquiry abroad among the people which is truly encouraging. The out-door meetings have been during the past week attended by large numbers of serious, attentive hearers, and deep impressions have been made on several. In connexion with the meetings at the front of the Royal Infirmary, we understand about eighty persons have, during the last eight days, waited for conversation in regard to their soul's salvation. We have not space to-day for details, but the aspect of the revival movement here at present is very cheering.

A special meeting of the Free Presbytery of Glasgow was held on the 15th instant, for prayer and conference on the subject of the present religious awakenings. Dr. Roxburg occupied the chair. Several brethren who had visited Ireland related what they had seen of the extraordinary work of grace there, and were listened to with deep interest. After conference, it was agreed to submit to the Presbytery at their next ordinary meeting, for their adoption, certain resolutions relative to the appointment of prayer meetings to be held by the Presbytery and the congregations throughout their bounds, for a similar out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. At the usual monthly meeting, accordingly, Dr. Roxburgh gave in the report of the committee appointed to draw up the recommendations of the conference of Presbytery, recently held, regarding what steps should be taken to forward the present revival movement. It recommended-1, that a monthly presbyterial meeting for prayer be held; 2, that a public prayer-meeting be held weekly; 3, recommending the ministers and kirk-sessions to take the best means of deepening and extending the interest in congregational prayer-meetings; 4, that the congregations should hold fellowship meetings among themselves, and that the elders should hold fellowship prayer-meetings in their districts; and 5, that prayer-meeting exercises be varied, short, and pointed. The conference were quite unanimous in these recommendations; prayer for the out-pouring of the Spirit being the thing most wanted, in their opinion, to carry on the good work. After a short conversation the report was approved of, and the presbyterial prayer-meeting was fixed for the last Monday of the month, at three o'clock; and the general prayer-meetings are to be held on Thursdays, between three and four o'clock: members of presbytery, in rotation, to preside at them.

This may suffice as a sample of the spirit which animates the churches of the West of Scotland. We now pass on to Wales, which had received

the blessing more early than Scotland, and where the fire appears to have come, not from Ireland, but from the United States. The following is the published account of the matter, written by Mr. Joseph Morgan :

THE REVIVAL! This is the great subject of the day, the great subject of conversation whenever two persons meet, even in fair or market. It gives diversity to our periodical literature, and imparts additional interest to our newspaper press. Even in these exciting times, when poor Italy and her dreadful wars attract the attention of editors, space must be had, in some part or other, to speak of the victories of the King of Peace. It was spoken of as something wonderful occurring on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean a few months ago, but by this time it has come nearer and nearer-to France, England, Ireland, nay, to Wales!

The exciting and visible cause was the coming of the Rev. H. R. Jones to a Wesleyan church in this neighbourhood, about the end of September, 1858, with the view of being instrumental, if possible, in kindling a revival feeling there. Mr. H. R. Jones is a native of Taly-Pont (a village situated about seven miles north-east of Aberystwith), who, having resided for a season in the United States, and experienced a large measure of blessing during the great revival there, returned to his native land about a year ago, animated with an earnest desire to be made the medium of some blessing to it. This created an anxiety amongst the Calvinistic Methodists for a revival. One day the Rev. D. Morgan, a minister in connexion with the Calvinistic Methodists, called on Mr. Jones. No sooner were their salutations over, than they were deeply engaged in the discussion of religious matters. Mr. Jones would have it, that things were not as they should be amongst us; that there was something very defective in the preachers, in the preaching, and more than all in the measure of the Spirit of grace and prayer present amongst the professing people of God. Mr. Morgan felt this deeply, and to his joy Mr. Jones perceived that he did so. In a little while Mr. Morgan departed; but finding no rest for his spirit, in a few hours he called on Mr. Jones again. "It appears to me," said he, "that there would be no harm in attempting to stir up the mind of the county, and hold prayer meetings, even if there should be nothing but man in the whole," (i.e., even if it should all prove human after all.) "No, there would not; but if you do this, you may rest assured that God will be there ere long," was his friend's reply. This thought so possessed Mr. Morgan's mind, that he could not get rid of it, and he determined to keep prayer meetings in the ensuing week, which he accordingly did. Mr. Morgan was somewhat depressed in mind at the commencement, but he and Mr. Jones found such strength with God in secret prayer, that their minds were greatly cheered for the work. So mighty was the spirit of prayer felt in the meetings, that all were forced to confess that God was there, saving sinners. These meetings were held nightly, in the two chapels alternately, for about two months, and by that time more than 200 persons had been added to the church. About this time, Mr. Jones took his departure for Aberystwith, to visit the Wesleyan church in that place. Mr. Morgan continued to hold these meetings for a fortnight longer. It is astonishing how his mind has been strengthened by this time, for having so frequently experienced such mighty things, and seen his labours so crowned with success, his boldness has become such, that he neither fears man nor devil. He can no longer be satisfied with labouring at home simply, but he needs must attempt other places also, and wonderful results follow, and converts are added to the churches by scores. Thus, by his labours chiefly, with those of other respected brethren, such as the Rev. T. Edwards, Penllwyn, and Mr. James, Rhiwbwys, this county has become thoroughly pervaded with the most fervid religious feeling. The converts therein number about 9,000. "This thing" has by this time extended to the counties of Caermarthen and Brecknock, and a great company have united themselves to the Lord there. It has also extended to the counties of Montgomery and Merioneth, and many hundreds in each of these counties have enlisted into the army of the Lamb. Perhaps I should not err, if I said that all the churches of the Principality of Wales have been more or less benefited thereby.

I believe that there never has been such a revival in Wales, if, indeed, in the world. It has many unusual features, to which I can hardly refer with advantage on the present occasion, such as:

1. Its universality-manifesting itself amongst all orthodox denominations,

There have been powerful revivals in England, in the time of Wesley and Whitefield, Venn and Berridge, &c., and in Wales, in connexion with Harris and Rowlands, &c., but they were usually confined to some single denomination, and the others envied and despised them. But this is a revival manifesting itself amongst all orthodox churches; the Established Church, Independents, Baptists, Welsh Calvinistic Methodists, Wesleyan Methodists, alike. It has produced great unity and brotherly love amongst them.

2. The remarkable connexion between it and prayer.—It is wonderful to behold what a spirit of prayer has possessed the Lord's people, more especially the recently converted, and what immediate replies are vouchsafed to their prayers. These topics are highly interesting, had we time to devote to their consideration.

This is truly beautiful! Here, as in Ireland, all sects of the faithful share the blessing, and the result is unity and love! It is further remarked:

The correspondent in Monmouthshire, from whom we quoted last week, writes again :-"We have prayer meetings nightly at this place, for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit: all denominations apparently have forgotten that sectarian asperity that has, more than anything, stayed the chariot of salvation; and they unite at the throne of grace as children of one Father. They plead together for the salvation of souls, they give God the bow as well as the arrow, and I anticipate pleasing results. I understand that these prayer meetings are universal through Wales, and God meets His people."

This is the true, the natural, the Divine Alliance! The artificial has here no place. This is the only power that can make God's people visibly as well as really "One!" Another writer observes :—

So extraordinary is the religious interest, that the churches and chapels are crowded on Sundays and week-days. Prayer meetings in churches, school-rooms, in work-shops, and even in the fields, are held morning and evening. The clergy and ministers remain after the services, to converse with crowds of inquirers. Numbers of public-houses have been closed; eight in one small town. It is now spreading into North Wales, and the religious interest is very intense. "No enthusiasm," writes a clergyman of the Established Church, " but a deep, profound, and awfully solemn impression prevails." In some districts notorious for blasphemy an oath is now never heard; and drunkards in thousands have become total abstainers.

66

We have received from an esteemed brother the following letter :—

SIR,-Permit me to furnish you and your readers with a brief account of the wide-spread and still progressing revival of religion in Wales. This blessed awakening was first felt about the close of last year, in the neighbourhood of Aberystwith, Cardiganshire. Two local preachers of the Wesleyan and Calvinistic Methodist connexions were instrumental in originating it. It soon spread through the county of Cardigan, and parts of the adjoining counties of Montgomery and Merioneth on the north, and Brecon and Carmarthen on the south. Not long after, sparks of the heavenly fire descended on several churches in the counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan, and, according to the latest account, whole districts of the county of Carnarvon are in a blaze.

It is calculated that about 15,000 have been added to the churches of the different denominations in Cardiganshire since last December, and the additions to the Independent churches in the parish of Aberdare alone exceed 1,200. Besides these, there are hundreds of churches in several districts of South and North Wales to whom additions of from 50 to 100 each have been made since the beginning of this year.

This revival is distinguished from all former awakenings with which the Welsh churches have been blessed from time to time by the prominence which is given to prayer and prayer meetings, and the hearty union of Christians of all evangelical denominations in these blessed exercises. The services are but very seldom interrupted by any audible manifestations of feeling, but floods of tears are

generally shed, and sometimes the congregations remain after the close of the regular services for two or three hours, to listen to some warm-hearted Christians repeating striking passages of Scripture, hymns, and personal experiences in the most affecting tones.

A number of most striking conversions might be recorded. Two or three shall be 'specified. The drunkards of Merthyr Tydfil have been for some time accustomed to meet, early on Sunday mornings, on a secluded spot about a mile out of the town, to drink and revel. One Sabbath morning this summer, as early as five o'clock, a number of young and ardent professors, according to previous arrangements, met to hold a prayer meeting on that very spot. Soon after, the drunkards began to gather to the place, and to their terror and astonishment they found a prayer meeting there. Amongst these abandoned characters was a young man, the undutiful son of a pious widow. When he had only remained a few moments on the spot, the arrows of conviction stuck fast in his conscience. He ran home writhing with mental agony, and, with tears and groans, asked his mother to pray for him. From that day he became a changed character. Some months ago a young man going from Aberdare to Cardiff, while the train was stopping at one of the stations, the sound of the singing from a chapel in the immediate neighbourhood, where a revival meeting was held at the time, reached him. This led him to think of his awful state as a sinner, and before the train had proceeded eight miles he fell down from his seat crying most earnestly for mercy.

At the close of an interesting revival meeting recently held in Glamorganshire, a modest young person fell on her knees, in the presence of a large congregation, to pray for the conversion of her parents. Having uttered a few sentences she fainted; then her sister, kneeling beside her, continued the prayer most effectively. The effect on the congregation was quite overpowering. The following evening their parents came weeping to seek a place among the people of God. A vast number of similar instances might be specified.

This blessed movement, which we hope is only beginning to be felt amongst us, has already produced the most beneficial effects. The churches have been revived -thousands have been converted-weak interests have become self-supporting. A large number of young ministers, whose ministrations were anything but effective, have undergone a most happy change; and neglect of religion, with its consequent evils, have given way in many districts to that all-absorbing topic—the salvation of the soul.-I am, Sir, yours most truly,

Beaufort, Sept. 3rd, 1859.

THOMAS REES.

This glorious work is not confined to theBritish Isles; drops of heavenly dew are descending on various parts of the Continent, more especially in Sweden. Amongst the religious awakenings which are calling forth the joyful thanksgiving of the Christian church, those which are taking place in Sweden deserve an especial notice. They extend through the whole kingdom, reaching also into Lapland. They include persons from all ranks of society, in whom the work of God is made manifest by their separation from the world, and their earnest desire to bring others to the Saviour. The labours of the colporteurs have been remarkably blessed in promoting this revival, which is already exerting, through their agency, a great influence on the literature of the country.

The " Missionary Union of Stockholm" held its third annual meeting on the 4th of April last. The report states that the Society has continued to labour in promoting the kingdom of Christ by the circulation of religious books and tracts, and by sending out evangelists.

The report of the labours of the colporteurs comprises many gratifying facts:

The Society has sustained thirteen colporteurs; some entirely, and some in part, who have been engaged in preaching the Gospel and circulating tracts. These brethren have laboured in the provinces of Jemtland, Dalarna, Wermland, Gestrikland, Upland, Westmanland, Ostergothland, Smoland, Blekinge, Skane, and

the vicinity of Stockholm. The labours of these colporteurs have been followed by evident tokens of the Lord's blessings. Many rejoicing instances of the blessing of the Lord upon their labours could be communicated to you. One brother, who has travelled in five different provinces, writes as follows:-"I will now tell you something about my work since I left Stockholm. I have, during this time, visited five parishes, and a planting of the Lord has appeared in all of them. First, I made a call in R, where some have been made to see their own sinfulness, and have found peace through faith in the Son of God. I have also visited the parish of R There are some asking for the way of life, but very few understand that the condemning power of sin was destroyed when Christ said It is finished.' The priest of the parish has tried, if possible, to bring the work of God to nothing. So long as the people continued to live in sin and indifference he never made a call; but when they commenced to seek the Lord he visited them, and exhorted them to give up such a fanaticism. It is a good thing to know that the love of Christ is stronger than all the enmity of gainsayers. In the parish of K- there are many true Christians, and it seems that those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity are increasing. I have here been preaching the Word of God, and made religious visits, and in most places there appears an hunger after the bread of life, and a sense of the want of the Word of God. I have, during this month, delivered thirty-two sermons, and visited seventy-six families-religiously. May our daily prayer be, Thy kingdom come.'

Some time after, the same brother writes again :-"Nov. 17. I went to OW—. The work of the Lord commenced, in some degree, in this place eight years ago; and, since then, the cause of God has been going forward. I have had opportunity to preach the Word of the Lord all over this region, and many seem to have received it in their heart. I would especially mention a remarkable display of the grace of God. Not far from the place where I held meeting, resided a brother in Christ-Standard-bearer S- A lady, relative to his wife, came there on a visit a few days before Christmas. This lady attended my meeting on New Year's day and the day after. She became awakened from her slumber of sin, and after the close of the meeting, she asked me what she must do to be a child of God? I told her to behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,' and exhorted her to read the Bible, and pray the Lord to give her the Holy Spirit. When she came home she knelt down and poured out her heart to God in prayer for about an hour, and arose from prayer full of peace and joy in Christ her Redeemer. I visited also the parish of W- L When the people in this

6

place were informed by letter that I was not far from them, they sent word (and a letter) to me, inviting me to come to them. A great hunger after the Word of God existed there; wherever I held meetings the house would be crowded with people, In H- where I afterwards held some meetings, there is great darkness prevailing."

Another brother, who had laboured in four other provinces from July to February, writes as follows:-" My meetings have been well attended in all places; sometimes my hearers have amounted from 300 to 400 in number. A great movement has existed, and many times we have experienced a remarkable blessing of the Lord. There is such a hunger for the word of God, that if I could preach night and day, the doors would be open, and hearers present. From many directions I hear the call, Come to us-come to us!' I scarcely was allowed sleep or

rest from speaking and preaching the Word of God. I laboured mostly night and day. Great enmity existed; still, there were some converted who found peace in God. A display of the grace of the Lord occurred during my stay there. I held a meeting in the house of a poor man at A- In this place there was a girl whose mother had been a Christian some years. The girl had attended two of my preaching meetings, and then she heard, as a cry in her ear, You must be changed.' But she was filled with doubt and despair. Her mother bade her go upstairs, where she proposed to have a conversation on the subject of religion; but the girl refused. At last she consented, and went with her mother; but still disconsolate and without hope. In this miserable state she remained until the evening of the next day. The mother told her to attend the meeting that evening; but she said she would not, for she thought she heard nothing there but her own sentence of condemnation, like the criminal before the bar of justice, when he hears his righteous doom proclaimed. At last she consented to go with her