FROM
CLOUDS OF MERCY;
SELECTED
Irom tfk Journal snb  tter Wxtxnhgs
OF THE
REV. JAMES CAUGHEY;
CONTAINING
MOST STIRRING SCENES AND INCIDENTS, DURING GREAT REVIVALS IN
BIRIMINGHAM, CHESTERFIELD, MACCLESFIELD, AND OTHER PLACES
IN ENGLAND, UNDER HIS MINISTRY; SEVERIAL OF MR.
CAUGHEY'S AWAKENING ADDRESSES AND SERMONS;
THOUGHTS ON HOLINESS; NOTES OF PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE, AND OBSERVATIONS UPON
PERSONS AND PLACES VISITED.
".'nd I will make them, and the places roztnd about my hill, a blessing; and Iwill cause the shower
to come down in his season: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING," Ezek, xxxiv. 26.
Ziib  hIotHSanb
BOSTON:
FOR  SALE  BY  J. P. MAGEE,
AND AT ALL THE
METHODIST BOOK DEPOSITORIES IN THE U. STATES AND CANADA.
185 5 7.




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by
JAMES CAUGHEY & R. W. ALLEN,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
Stereotyped by
HOBART & ROBBINS,
New England Type and Stereotype Foundery,
BOSTON.
Rand and Avery, Printers, 3 Cornhill.




EDITOR'S  PREFACE.
WE present the religious public with another volume,
unfolding and illustrating the wonderful success of Mr.
Caughey's labors in his revival efforts.  It records the
events, incidents, and results, of one of the most remarkable
revivals of modern times —the revival in Birmingham,
England. It also presents the result of his labors in several
other places. Descriptions of several places he visited - the
scenes of his revival labors - are given in his peculiarly
interesting  style.  Several of his revival sermons and
addresses are given. These, by many, will be regarded as
the most interesting part of the volume. We think it will
be found, in every respect, as interesting and profitable as
either of his other works; and, should it find as many readers, will undoubtedly accomplish as much good.
The sale of Mr. Caughey's works has been unprecedented
in the history of religious literature in this country. In six
years, about seventy thousand volumes have been sold. The
good they have —-done is immense.  We trust the present
volume will e: made a blessing to thousands! That many
a sinner may be turned from the error of his way to serve
the Lord, and that multitudes of God's people may be led to
the highest attainments of Christian experience, by reading
its thrilling pages, is the earnest prayer of the editor.
R. W. A.








CO NTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION.
Invited to Birmingham (England) - Health in activity - Goole visited - A character -- Sudden death - Visits Armin - Huddersfield - London - Returns to Sheffield-A successful Sabbath —Home yearnings — The will of God,....... 13
CHAPTER II.
SHEFFIELD.
The metropolis of cutlery - Scenery - Public buildings - Cholera Mount - Montgomery, the poet — A visit to Wharncliff- Trade of Sheffield,.........  20
CHAPTER III.
EXCURSIONS.
Haddon Hall - The old clock - A Roman altar - The " Keep " penalty - The gem
of Haddon - Loneliness and decay - A sigh to the past - Chatsworth - The park
- The palace - Carvings in wood - The conservatory - Hobbes, the infidel - A
surly motto - His death-scene - Derbyshire moors - A touching story,.....  35
CHAPTER IV.
AN EXCURSION.
Hathersage - Grave of " Little John " - A thunder-storm - Peak's Hole Cavern -
Entrance - Interior - The Cimmerian - Halcyone - Dell' Inferno - The Dell
House - Devil's Cellar, &c. - Styx - An extraordinary scene - Heathenism, degrading tendencies of - An explosion - A ruined castle — Maun Tor, or the Shivering Mountain - Blue John mine - The new creature - Scenery.......  54
CHAPTER V.
NORTON.
Norton House - View of Sheffield - Felicity - St. Paul's experience compared - A
supposition - Rest for the weary - Chantrey................ 76
CHAPTER VI.
CHESTERFIELD.
The call to preach - Hastens to Chesterfield - A great outpouring of the Holy Spirit
- Charming weather - The pilgrim habit - The revival unopposed - The stolen
march — Great success - Joy,........................ 80
I*x




6                                CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
PROGRESS OF THE REVIVAL IN CHESTERFIELD.
A successful Sabbath - The Gospel, as developed in a revival - Divinity of Christ -
Forgiving sins - An amazed population,..............  84
CHAPTER VIII.
THE LADY ASTROLOGIAN.
A question - The reply - Stars above us every way - The wandering moon - The
conjectural sciences - Future events - The Scriptures - Promises and providences
- Prayer and Chaldean lore - Assyrian and English skies - The Bible - A light
for the wilderness - An oasis,.....................  88
CHAPTER IX.
SOLITUDE.
Great principles confronted in silence - Daniel - Jacob - The voices of solitude -
Effects upon the soul - The contrast - Revival activities - Sentiment of Herbert,.. 99
CHAPTER X.
PENCILLINGS OF THE REVIVAL IN CHESTERFIELD.
A great move - Effects of truth - A deputation - Singular dream - A comparisonProphets among the wicked - Their error - The wise architect,....  93
CHAPTER XI.
PREPARING TO LEAVE CHESTERFIELD.
A great work of God - Statistics,.......................   98
CHAPTER XII.
WALKS ABOUT CHESTERFIELD.
Favorite walks - The ducking stool - The town - The old parish church - The
crooked spire - Antiquarian controversy - A sonnet - Always awry -The canonized architect - Monuments and inscriptions in the church - The honest lawyer
- The witty epitaph - Dedication hymn - Inside of religion - Self-educated,.. 100
CHAPTER XIII.
DONCASTER.
A day of salvation - An agreeable town - An eclipse of the moon - Progress of the
shadow - Appearance — Sublimity - The Lunarians and our earth - A supposition - Astronomy - Longevity - Sentiments of Josephus - The moon in her
beauty,...                                                               107
CHAPTER XIV.
A GREAT OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT IN DONCASTER.
The town shaken - Showers of blessings - A motley group - A character - A diamond in the rough - A deputation to Christ- The Gospel..........  111
CHAPTER XV.
"AND AS YE GO, PREACH."
A visit to York - Huddersfield - Honley - A hard time - Character of sinners -
Diabolical power and economy - Sheepridge - Backslider reclaimed - A revivalist
- Macclesfield - A glorious Sabbath................    114




CONTENTS.                                   7
CHAPTER XVI.
MACCLESFIELD.
Its trade - Charter - Court of Piepowder — John Bradshaw - A singular presentiment fulfilled - Cromwell and the council of state - Rev. David Simpson - His
timid bishop - Faithful preaching - A friendly mayor - Persecution - A visit to
his church - A moving incident - The earthquake - Singular impression - Anecdote of Simpson,............................. 117
CHAPTER XVII.
THE WORK OF GOD IN MACCLESFIELD.
Blows of truth — Critics overwhelmed - Happy deaths - Sin unto death - A prepared people - Progress of the revival - Twenty-six thousand years pardon -
Numbers saved - Leaves for Birmingham,..................  126
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE BEGINNING — IN BIRMIINGHAMI
Looking up —The stone and its water-circles - The prophetic STONE —The great
image - The common people - Raindrop and sunbeam - A cheering text - Victory is of God,..                                                        131
CHAPTER XIX.
THE PATH TO VICTORY.
The spirit of warfare - Misty beginnings - Fervent faith - The powers of darkness
— Confidence in God —The gathering of the poor - The rich elsewhere —Thle
golden girdle - Betting with Satan — Dear figs - Achan and Judas - A succession - Corresponding estimates - A sad conclusion - A vast design...... 137
CHAPTER XX.
SATAN ENTRENCHED.
Important questions- Weapons of war needed - Action - The preacher needed -
Style,.                                                                  141
CHAPTER XXI.
GLIMPSES OF BIRMINGOHAI; OR, LOOKING DIFFICULTIES IN THE FACE.
The best general - Napoleon and his victories - Nehemiah's mission - A lesson -
The state of sinners - Brain-sick - Perilous state - Baxter's illustration - Professors -A proverb - Chasing shadows -The golden apple -Satan's rich and
Christ's poor - A Grecian sentiment - The contrast - The leveller - A dark ministry -High life, or the parable of the chimneys - Terrors - The Awe-band -
Almost Christians - The wickedly witty - Double trouble - Fearful cases - The
silken halter - A sweet poison - Statistics of intemperance - Opposition to temperance - Girding on the armor - A bright side - Gales from Calvary,.....    144
CHAPTER XXII.
PULPIT DEFENCES; OR, FRAGMENTS OF WARFARE.
Hell — Saying of a German lady - Not a proper motive for Christians - Fire and
brimstone preaching - Throwing people into convictions - Hell as a means - The
cross - Apology defined - A great truth - The crier in, the wilderness - Eloquence- The Agami - Plain preaching - The soaring preacher - The pouncing
preacher- The gentlemanly preacher - The speculative preacher - The mean nobody preacher - The spoiled child - A lawyer defending his cloth,...... 161




8                               CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIII.
FRAGMIENTS FOR HYPERCRITICS.
A soft kernel - A supposition - Hell - A startling difference - Wisdom in swine -
Hypocrites - The man of lips —The silver-tongued but strong-hearted — The
comet - Sincerity - David's bridle - An honest tongue - Wholesome tongue - A
criteria,.................................    168
CHAPTER XXIV.
A LESSON ON PREACHING.
The poet and the painter - Their pandemonium and paradise - The great defect -
Lesson derived - The painter's gallery - Adam in the.bush - Deformities of character - Divine assistance - Human nature - The painter's advice - The single
aim,...................................    171
CHAPTER XXV.
MOlRE FRAGMENTS OF WAR.
The German moralist- Blemishes of character, how treated —The queen caricatured, a supposition — Christian stature - A Swiss sentiment - Gospel intolerance
- Meroz — Expostulation - A political maxim,................  177
CHAPTER XXVI.
SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR.
The battle-field - Judas -The last supper - Scene in Gethsemane -The sound of
a going forth —The bee and the butterfly —Shells for certain entrenchments -
Example, responsible for —The nervous architect - Influence of example - The
cloudy pillar -R etribution - Exhortation - Religion diffusive - A law of nature
- Confessing Christ - Self-interest - A significant motto - A low principle - The
snail with its house on its back - A sore trial,..............   181
CHAPTER XXVII.
HIOW  TO HAVE A REVIVAL.
A retarding or promoting church - How treated - Courage - Example of Christ -
Character of his hearers - Scenes in his ministry- Truth, its mission - The accepted time —An exhortation,.......................  198
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE THEME RESUMED.
A supposition - Christ's style - Fortified guilt - Dreadful artillery - His tears and
lamentations over impenitence,.................        202
CHAPTER XXIX.
CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM - A SERMON.
Weeping, instances of —Not suppressed by the Hebrews - Gilboa - David's lamentation- Jerusalem sinners - Sympathy for sinners - A cause for tears- A spiritual epidemic — Backsliders — Hope - The rescued Lamb-Floods of mercySinners repenting —A glorious scene,............     206
CHAPTER XXX.
CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEMI-A SERMON.
Design of preaching - Effective preaching -Intellect reached through the passions
- Instances - The obtuse - Unthinking - The well-informed - The wearied -




CONTENTS.                                   9
The disheartened - The standard-bearers - Spiritual tactics - Tears defended - A
weeping-time for sinners - Hell a place of weeping - Burns, sentiment of- The
pen behind the curtain - Going in debt - Satan's object - An old proverb - A
crisis - Three penitents - Impossibilities - Legion - Consequences - The Lord's
uttermost - The five smooth stones - Justification by faith - Exhortation,... 213
CHAPTER XXXI.
CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEMI -A SERMON.
The compassion of Jesus - Metaphysical divinity - The hallowed contagion -- Revealings of the heart - Sustaining a reputation - Style, how influenced - Christ's
method - Individual cases - A strong attraction - Objected to - Defended - The
panorama in motion - The pleasures of sense - Expensive — Combatted - The
Bible within - A Swiss definition of conscience — Searching inquiries - The unawakened sinner - Strange state - Awakening questions - Perilous - Presumption
- Damned by mistake - Saying of a French divine - God is not slack,.....  231
CHAPTER XXXII.
CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM -A SERMON.
A word to "A finally impenitent" —The delirious patient - Orthodox devils - A
significant wish - The sin against the Holy Ghost - Consequences - Hope for a
sinner out of hell - The precipice - Final impenitence here - Mercy offered - Dr.
Chalmers and the dying sinner - Blue lights - A death-scene - Trembling in hell
- A mother's prayers - The preference,................ 246
CHAPTER XXXIII.
SATANIC POLICY.
The Devil's game —Darkness —Ilis cards-An unloved master- The contrast
— Sentiment of Pythagoras,..........................   262
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE PATIENCE AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
Abused - Wilful sin - The wilfully blind - Iron, cold or hot - A rough part of the
road - A rod and honey - Contrary wheels - A precious text,........  266
CHAPTER XXXV.
IN THE FURNACE.
Manner of the seizure - Sudden death deprecated - St. Paul's strait - The young
recruit- The two tombstones - Feebleness — Buckling on the armor - A wish
- Past experience - God's jewelry - The broken niirror - Good omens - Spanish proverb - Carle-hemp....................  271
CHAPTER XXXVI.
RETURN TO THE BATTLE-STRIFE. - SOUL-SAVING MINISTRY.
An encouraging physician - Gold in the fire — Truth and the sinner - Cuts like a
sword —Serpent-like - Health —Seneca's  man —The inner man -A  noble
purpose -Job's leviathan - Parody - The true succession..........  277
CHAPTER XXXVII.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND PENCILLINGS ABOUT PREACHING.
Christmas day-A Grecian memento —New converts — Solitariness-T Two musical strings -The lame take the prey - Salt for sores -Progress of the revival
-Sanctified fright - The contrary - Weapons of war - A sermon characterized
- A solid square -Disordered order,................... 283




10                              CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE NEW YEAR. —TEE  PROPHESYING TRUMP.
Farewell and hail - Watch-night — The bitter before the sweet - Providence -
Exodus - Light for the soul —A  hard time -Trembling sinner - A  crisis —
Hot iron — Hotter fires - Louder blasts —Call for the trumpet - Tokens of
God - His arrows - Battle signal - Whirlwinds - Sling-stones - Notes of victory — Pentecost - New wine - Precious stones - The beauty of God - Whirlwinds of the south,...........................    289
CHAPTER XXXIX.
AN EXPERIMENT REJECTED.
Devil - Pleasing preaching - Genteel efforts - A whisper for a thunder - Gideon's
three hundred - Obstinate violence - Devil-arousing preaching - Shoulder of an
earthquake - Robert Bolton - Sinner-awakening preaching,......  296
CHAPTER XL.
RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT AND PROGRESS OF THE REVIVAL.
Covenant service - A moving season - Revival joy - Onward for victory - Wonderful displays of mercy - Newspaper notices - Multitudes saved,.......  301
CHAPTER XLI.
NOTES OF CORRESPONDENCE AND PRIVATE REFLECTIONS.
"A field officer "- Sheffield and Chesterfield reported - Smooth preaching - Afterthoughts - Success of the year - Safeguards of zeal - Jesus - Heaven - Sanctification- Wesley's opinion-Islington chapel- Great success - Remarkable
conversion,................................ 307
CHAPTER XLII.
DISPASSIONATE PREACHING.
A proviso- Goldsmith's comparison - Erasmus on moving to purpose - Dean
Swift on preaching - Manner - The test - War and violence - Rock-breaking
-   The resolve,..............................  314
CHAPTER XLIII.
MORE PENCILLINGS OF THE REVIVAL IN BIRMINGHAM.
Revival preaching - Truth, power of — Heaven - Hell studies - Providential interposition- Faith and purity - Victory - New converts - Invitation card -
Blessings in hurricanes,.........................    319
CHAPTER XLIV.
A IMEMENTO.
Beating the air - Lightness before sermon- Tea-table influences - The great defect
-A  resolve-A slack soul —The tight bow-string- Fearful possibilities-A
throne of power - Alone with God - Outpouring of the Spirit.........   325
CHAPTER XLV.
GLIMPSES OF THE REVIVALS AND PRINCIPLES OF ACTION.
Sanctification - Truth in the head - Cain's offelring - Heavy ordnance - Progress of
the work - A great melting — Tinselled preaching - Believing - Satan's hopeReminiscences - Sacrament - Playing with truth - Motives - Dealings with sinners - Christ sweet - A scene in Wesley chapel - The judgment.......  331




CONTENTS.                                  11
CHAPTER XLVI.
SANCTIFYING AND AWAKENING TRUTH.
A great promise - A mine - Curious hearers -Thoughts on dress - A predicament
-Believing — The lark-Vocal spark-A  query —A great day- Death of a
backslider - Last knocks - Life-giving truth - Holiness - Deep things - A newspaper notice - Extraordinary conversions,.............. 339
CHAPTER XLVII.
GOOD NEWS -HROW TO BELIEVE FOR A CLEAN HEART.
Private experience - Extent of the revival-Dull scythe - Tinsel — Inequality of
style - Olympus - Conjectural ability - Life not circular -Waller's letter - Difficulties stated - Light increasing - Last to give way - Prophecy and promise -
Out of the fog - Salvation,..............   318
CHAPTER XLVIII.
JOURNAL CONTINUED.
An anchor-hold - Accountability - The dial-plate - The moving flame - Love feast
- Holy alliance - Opponent in pamphlet — Introduction - Fans the flame,... 358
CHAPTER XLIX.
CHEERFULNESS AND COURAGE REQUIRED.
Sadness - A Swiss remark - Cheerfulness necessary — Napoleon's officer - World's
opinion - The sinner hit - Saying of Erasmus - The madman's idea - Law and
Gospel...................................... 364
CHAPTER L.
PEACE OR WAR.
Natural weapons - Animals and men - The new creature - Armor - MischiefThe rub - Nurse of peace - War secures peace - The fenced city - Secret of war
- Alternatives - Aggression - Controversy declined - Undebatable things — A
tame devil - Selfish preacher - Crafty politician - Dagon - Self-conquest - Violence - Truth a loadstone - A great move,................. 367
-CHAPTER LI.
EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL.
Birthday - Watch-night - Circumlocution - Retribution - A hard time - A great
day —Zeal and health- Decision and holiness,................ 377
CHIAPTER LII.
MORE NOTES OF THE REVIVAL.
Opposition - True Methodists - Fair-weather sailors - The inheritance - A paradox- Wesley's visit - Art of war - Spiritual batteries - Weeping sinners -
Definition of a Christian - Dejection - Errand for God,............ 380
CHAPTER LIII.
MISTAKING THE PATH.
Early experience - Satan's snare - Out of the path - Sorrows - Salvation,..  389




12                              CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LIV.
LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES.
Sparkbrook  House - Walking-place - The  swans - The  surprise - Warwick
castle - Wooden legs - Saying  of Bellarmine - The difference - Image of religion -First principles - A diluted gospel - Eternity and revivals —Ordinary
effort.............................. 394
CHAPTER LV.
INCIDENTS OF THE REVIVAL.
Sabbath-breaker saved —Shop closed —A  Roman Catholic converted —Justification by faith —Another Romanist converted — An apprentice — Post-office
clerk, advice to,..................     99
CHAPTER LVI.
PERSECIUTION.
Newspapers - Of the pen and the hand —Chips of the cross —The persecuted
wife - Husband converted - Sabbath at Bradley - Returns to Birmingham -
Tea meetings - Statistics of the revival,.............   404
CHAPTER LVII.
CONCLUSION.
Resolutions - Striking account of the revival — Wonderful displays of mercy.Closing Remarks — Glorying in the Lord- Farewell- Note,.........  409




SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
CHAPTER I.
TRIUI/IPHS OF GRACE.' And as ye go, preach." -MATT. 10: 7.
IN the year 1845, Mr. Caughey received an invitation to
visit Birminghacn, England, for the purpose of promoting
the work of God in that populous town. Having laid the
subject before the Lord, and waiting before him for guidance, he concluded the providential cloud moved in that
direction.
We thought it well to apprize the reader of this at the
commencement of the volume; for it is to that scene of his
labors, his footsteps appear to be tending in the following
excursions to various towns to preach the Gospel, - a record
of which will be found in several chapters immediately following.
The reader may rest fully assured that those chapters
will conduct him to scenes in Birmingham of no ordinary
interest. There Mr. Caughey spent several months in the
great work of saving souls, and with amazing success.
Bearing this in mind, the reader will trace the footsteps
of our evangelist through his various previous excursions
2




14               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
with all the deeper interest, knowing that his path is leading him to a scene of toil, battle and victory, which he himself little anticipated; where truth and error,-  " the arms
of God Alnmighty, and his Enemy, "- met in severe combat, and with astonishing results.
In the mean time, the introductory chapters alluded to
will be found full of interesting matter, and success in
the awakening and conversion of sinners.
Mr. Caughey's health had been much affected by his
extraordinary labors in Huddersfield, York, &c., and it
became necessary he should excursionize for the benefit of
his health, while it allowed him opportunities to call sinners
to repentance, — the ruling passion of his soul.  Some
account of his excursions we present to the reader, gathered
from his Journal and Letters, which, we trust, will be
interesting and profitable.
Eighteen hundred and forty-five is rushing away into
eternity, like its predecessors.  It will not do for me to sit
still! Time is flying, and poor sinners are dying, and eternity has its terrible revealings.  0, it will not do for me
to sit still! Another consideration is my health.  It has
been much shaken; but it recovers more speedily, sometimes, in motion, than in a state of inaction.  My mind is
happier, and that has a good influence on the health; besides, change of air, and change of scene and employmnent,
have a most favorable influence upon soul and body.
We had a great work of God in Huddersfield, where
thousands were saved in pardon and purity; * and we had
a great work in York, also; but my health suffered. It
* See volume " Earnest Christianity Illustrated."




TRIRMPHS OF GRACE.                 15
is better, however, and I hope, by keeping myself in motion,
and exercising prudence, it may become better still.
In company with brother David Greenbury, I visited
Goole, in Lincolnshire, the other day;- David praising
God all the way, and with always a choice word in readiness for the ear and conscience of fellow-travellers, regarding the life of faith, and life or death in the eternity
beyond,- himself all life, and peace, and joy! David is
"' A man of cheerful yesterdays,
And confident to-morrows."
He has an adjective for every day of the week, - triumphant Sabbaths, glorious Mondays, happy Tuesdays, &c.,
&c.,- running over them all in a twinkling, like a musician
on his gamut, the loftiest note ending with the Sabbath,
and a shout of "Glory, hallelujah!"
We had a large assembly in the afternoon, to whom I
preached with sweet liberty; — the Lord was among the
people indeed; -after which, we took tea with about five
hundred people in the Philosophical Hall.  The congregation was much larger at night, the chapel being literally
crammed, aisles and all. Before I ascended the pulpit, a
brother informed me that a local preacher, who had been
present in the afternoon meeting, had died suddenly. He
left the chapel, walked a short distance, became faint, reclined, and in a few moments found himself
g,  A    d  in the gap
Between the life that is, and that which is to come,
Awaiting judgment;"
when those standing by, exclaimed,, He is dead!  Yes,
he had passed over Jordan at the narrowest place, —" absent




16              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
from  the body, present with the Lord."   0, what a
change! The announcement had a very solemn effect upon
the congregation.  Little did I think, I remarked, when
addressing you this afternoon, that there sat one among you
who would be my Lord's guest, and " step with him" tonight in Paradise.  The audience seemed electrified.  0,
how awfully glorious to behold that great mass of human
beings waving to and fro, like a forest in a gale,- spread
over aisles, gallery stairs, pulpit stairs, - every available
space above and below crammed to the utmost capacity of
the chapel! This prepared them for my text and sermon,
which had a great effect upon sinners; of whom many were
"the slaiz of the Lord, - twenty-five of whom found
mercy, and nine purity of heart.
From Goole, David and I hastened to Armin, where I
preached twice, and had a few saved. We were entertained
at the mansion of Edward Thompson, Esq.,-David's home
when in these parts. Thence we hastened to Huddersfield,
where I preached to a noble congregation in Buxton Road
Chapel, in behalf of a small, favorite school, which needed
funds; obtained for them  fifty-eight pounds, or nearly
three hundred dollars; but, better than money, we had
over thirty souls converted to Christ before we parted.
Hallelujah!
Well, David Greenbury is a character;- like his namesake in the Scriptures, seldom without a psalm or a hymn
in his mouth.  How he sings  - everywhere, tirelessly,
like those above; as if his heaven is everywhere, which is
really the case,- sings
6 As if he wished the firmament of heaven
Should listen, and give back to him the voice
Of his triumphant constancy and love."




TRIUMPHS OF GRACE.                 17
After taking an affectionate leave of David, I hastened
up to London by railway, in company with Joseph WTgebb,
Esq.  We rode all night, during which I worked hard
upon an index for my fourth volume of Letters; but about
daybreak sleep quite overcame me, and I sank down on the
floor of the car and slept.
And now here I am in Sheffield. We spent only a couple
of days in London.  This is a precious spot to me; memorable, as being the scene of one of the greatest victories my
Lord Jesus ever achieved by my ministry; where, in something less than four months, upwards of three tho usand
persons professed to obtain the forgiveness of sins, and
nearly fifteen. hundred sanctifying grace!
I do realize the sentiment of that Scottish divine, who
said, " Sweet are the spots where Imrnanualtel has ever
shown his glorious power in the conviction and conversion
of sinners. The wvorld loves to muse on the scenes where
battles were fought and victories won.  Should not we
love the spots where our great Captain has won his amazing victories?  Is not the conversion of a soul more worthy
to be spoken of than the taking of Acre? "  Let Matt. 16:
26, set its seal upon the sentiment, and upon my heart for
ever and ever. Amen.
A year has passed away since that great work of God,
but the glory and power of God have not passed away.
They are still revealed among the assemblies of his people
in Sheffieldl; -no rediction. Blessed be Jesus for that
work of holiness which accompanied the revival!  Much
of the permanence is traceable to that.  I preached twice
yesterday in Brunswick Chapel. We had a high day in
the courts of our God; seventy-six souls were justified, of
whom thirty-five were from the world; thirty-three persons
besides, obtained purity of heart. - Matt. 5: 8. Total,
2*




18              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
one hundred and nine; —so report the secretaries, and
they registered with conscientious care, having conversed
individually with each subject of divine mercy and goodness. All glory be to God on high, and on the earth peace
and good will. Amen.
Pondering upon that couplet of an old poet; -felt I could
honestly appropriate it:
"My armor is my honest thought,
And simple truth my highest aim."
But, - a poor captive of my Lord, wandering to and fro,
swayed hither and thither, like the tides of the sea,
attracted by his love, but having no certain dwelling-place;
yet welcome everywhere, and in no place more than in
Shirley House, near Sheffield, - still a loneliness and a
weariness will creep over me; and a home, like other men,
and domestic comforts, excite sighs which are sternly suppressed. And so girding on the armor again, and buckling
it tight about me, " fly on the prey, and seize the prize; "
and shout the victory won through the blood of the Lamb,
and the word of our testimony!
But on these accounts I need more religion than other
men, differently circumstanced.  It is a great point of victory, I find, to have power over one's own will; or, rather,
to let the will of God rule it. As good Richard Baxter
says, the will is to rule the faculties, and God is to rule
the will! - that if ever God is dethroned from thence, it is
self that does it, and seats itself in his place, and so self
rules the will, or the will rules self.  In either case, he
shows it is to have a fool for one's master; it is to be at
the choice and disposal of a fool and an enemy, and to be in
such hands as would certainly undo us. But he would have




TRIUMPHS OF GRACE.                19
the will of God in our will and faculties, as the first wheel
in the clock, by which all the lesser wheels are moved.
That is a rousing thought, that a will that is not dependent
upon God's will, is an idol, usurping the prerogative of
God! We have a will to do something or other continually, but it is of the first consequence one should know what
it is that commands the will, -God or self; holiness or
depravity; Christ or the Devil.
0, but I do know and feel that the Lord God rules this
will of mine! - the will of God is the first wheel, and that
sets all the lesser wheels agoing.  But my soul is weak in
itself, -'" weaker than a bruised reed; " and unless grace
and purity are bestowed from moment to moment, there is
no standing.  Lord, help me, and keep me thine forever!
Amen.




CHAPTER II.
SHEFFIELD.
IN consequence of heavy demands made upon my time by
a large number of correspondents, and the many engagements necessarily connected with a great revival, I have
been hindered, till now, from giving you the desired information respecting this interesting town.  As the result of
the same hindrances, my sketch must, even now, be brief;
indeed, the very meagre materials which the history of the
town offers rather incline me to this.
Sheffield is the great metropolis of English cutlery and
other hardware manufactories. It has been distinguished, I
believe, from the earliest periods of its history, for this
department of human ingenuity and industry. Iron arrowheads, and a particular sort of weapon-knife, were articles
which employed the artisans of Sheffield, in very early times,
long before the use of fire-arms became general.  An abundance of minerals, coal, and iron-stone, in the neighborhood,
indicated the destiny of Sheffield, as if by a decree of Providence itself; the locality being so peculiarly adapted to
the processes of metallic mnanufactories; - to which may
be added, several important streams of water, advantageous
for grinding purposes.
And to what wondrous perfection have they carried the
art of metallic transformnations!  I was thinking, to-day,
were Tutbal- Cain to revisit the earth, and wend his way to




SHEFFIELD.                          21
Sheffield, it would surprise him to behold the progress of
his favorite art since his day  -  Gen. 4: 22.
Mrs. Sigourney has ingeniously woven into verse the
" fierce ore meltings,  transmutations,"   and many curious
things which are wrought out by " hard hammerings," on
this "the world's anvil," with as much ease as if they had
been bhut "threads of silky filaments."   Speaking of her
visit to Sheffield, she says:
"' Many a curious thing
Was shown us, too, at Sheffield; ornaments,
And thousand-bladed knives, and fairy tools
For ladies' fingers, when the thread they lead
Through finest lawn; and silver richly chased
To make the festal board so beautiful,
That unawares the tempted matron's hand
Invades her husband's purse.
But as for me,
Though the whole art was patiently explained,
From the first piling of the earthly ore,
In its dark ovens, to its pouring forth
With brilliant scintillations, in the form
Of liquid steel; or its last lustrous face,
And finest network; yet I'm fain to say,
The manufacturing interest would find
In me a poor interpreter. I doubt
My own capacity to comprehend
Such transmutations, and confess with shame
Their processes do strike my simple mind
Like necromancy. And I felt no joy
Among the crucibles and cutlery,
Compared to that, which on the breezy heights
Met me at every change, or, mid the walks
Of the botanic garden, freshly sprang
From every flower."
We visited, a few days since, the botanical and horticultural gardens, to which the closing lines of the above allude,




22                SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
and were'highly delighted with the place. These gardens
comprise about eighteen acres, extending over a gentle
declivity, embellished tastefully with flowery parterres,
agreeable walks, with plantations and shrubberies on either
hand.  Here and there we noticed some choice plants from
foreign climes. The conservatories are more than one hundred yards long, ornamented with Corinthian pillars, and
filled with a choice assortment of all kinds of valuable plants.
The principal entrance to the gardens is an elegant Ionic
structure, differing little from a similar construction at the
temple of Ilyssus, at Athens.  The second and lower
entrance is in the style of a Swiss cottage.
Sheffield is pleasantly situated near the conflux of the
rivers Don and Sheaf, and spreads itself along the uneven
slopes of gently swelling hills, which rise above the town
till they are gradually overtopped by other hills of considerable magnitude.
I was particularly struck, when walking through the
town, with a succession of beautiful views of the neighboring
landscape. I do not remember any other town so peculiarly privileged.  There is scarcely a street, indeed, of any
importance, that does not afford a pleasing glimpse of verdant hills, enriched by trees and tracts of woodland, in which
are nestled the pretty mansions of wealthy citizens; many
of whom have " mcade their fortunes in the Sheffield trade,"
but who love their native town too well, and are too well
aware of its pleasant and healthy situation, to leave it and
spend their fortunes elsewhere.
Such views as I have been speaking of must, however,
always be taken to windward; especially when there is
wind sufficient to waft the clouds of smoke.  Or, to be more
poetical (for I am  now in a town " immortalized by the
presence of poets,"- to be more poetical, then), the view




SHEFFIELD.                     23
must be taken when the wind " lifts a fold of the inky
cloak," Sheffield's most fashionable and most popular garment, and throws it over, not the nakedness of the land,
but over some of the noblest forms of adorned nature; otherwise the stranger is left to the dictations of his own imaginings.  But the scenery is not sufficiently stupendous to
impart those impressions of' romnantic grandeur;" to
which a vague and dusky medium, such as this, is so peculiarly favorable.  Rural beauty, set off by a particularly
happy amphitheatrical arrangement of hills, which make a
near approach to the picturesque, is, perhaps, the leading
characteristic of Sheffield scenery.
Nature is really beautiful around Sheffield, but she is
too frequently veiled; and I have been offended with Sheffield
sometimes on that account.  It seems as if the old town
indulged in fits of jealousy, and was determined to conceal
her lovely features, beaming out, as they often do, from the
embrace of guardian hills. To one who has been long
accustomed to the transparent atmosphere which is drawn
over American scenery, such an intervention is far from
being pleasing; particularly, too, when he is aware that
England, when she has "fair play," presents as lovely a
face to the eye of a beholder, as any country in this round
world.  It is right to say, however, that there are seasons,
in the absence of the smoky mood, when Nature, in the
vicinity of Sheffield, stands forth to the view of her admirers
in unveiled loveliness.
In every direction around the town the visitor is treated
with a variety of beautiful views:
"The woodland, waving o'er the landscape's pride;
The mansions, scattered o'er its sloping side;
The cornfields, yellow with autumnal wealth;
The meadows, verdant with the hues of health;




24               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
The lifeless walls, that intersect the fields;
The quick-thorn hedge, which now its fragrance yields;
Yon neighboring town, capped with its cloud of smoke;
The ceaseless sound with which the calm is broke."
The rivers, streams, and reservoirs, which supply grindingwheels and forges, are pretty objects. Those busy wheels
and tiny cataracts, situated as they are in retired dells and
shady groves, rather increase than lessen the power of that
pleasing calm which belongs to deep solitude. In the
ravine of the Rivelin, the eye is cheered with a succession
of small transparent lakes, — rather artificial reservoirs of
pure water, for the benefit of the town,- resembling so many
crystal mirrors, where dame Nature may look down and
see herself as others see her.  The country, indeed, for
many miles around, is rich in all those objects which
beautify a landscape. It is remarkably well wooded; hills
and valleys are in a high state of cultivation.
Sheffield, geographically considered, holds a position
somewhat central between  tHull, Hu-tddersfield, Leeds,
York, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottinghavm, and Birminghamn.
The parish church is a rectangular Gothic fabric, surmounted by a lofty spire. The site is at once central and
commanding.  It contains  several ancient monuments.
None of them, I believe, possess greater interest than some
modern productions. I mean those which have emanated
friom the chisel of the celebrated Chantrey; one, especially,
" the eldest born of his chisel," a bust of a clergyman, is
considered, by citizen and stranger, as the glory of the
edifice.
St. Paul's church has a Grecian aspect. A bust of one
of its former ministers, by Chantrey, adorns the interior,
and is the principal object of attraction to the admirers of




SHEFFIELD.                   25
the arts. You will not, I presume, deem it desirable I
should enumerate and describe all the churches of the
Establishment in this town, or those of other denominations.
Those belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists will be the most
interesting to you, as they are connected with the present
scene of my labors.
Norfolk-street Chapel is the oldest place of worship
among the Wesleyans, having been built in 1780. Carverstreet Chapel is a plain, commodious edifice, erected in 1804.
It contains an elegant mural monument, to the memory of
the late Mr. Henry Longden, with whose Memoirs, you will
remember, we were so much pleased and profited. His
name in Sheffield, and, indeed, in almost all parts of England, is as ointment poured forth.  I have formed a most
agreeable acquaintance with his son and biographer. His
health is, at present, extremely delicate; but he inherits
his father's talents and piety, with his name, and enters,
so far as health will allow, "heart and soul" into the
revival. With himself and Mrs. Longden, and their excellent family, I have formed an acquaintance that will, I
trust, be perpetuated above.
Ebenezer Chapel, a pseudo-Gothic structure, surmounted
by a tower (a strange appendix, by the way, for an English
Wesleyan Chapel), was erected in 1823. It is a neat building.  Here I commenced my labors in Sheffield.  Bridgehouses Chapel is a substantial building.  The Park
Chapel I have not yet seen.
Brunswick Chapel is my favorite.  It is really a
handsome edifice, with a noble Doric portico.  In no other
chapel, throughout my travels in this country, have I
preached with so much ease and satisfaction, and, perhaps,
I may add, SUCCESS. It accommodates about two thousand
hearers.
3




26              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Of the various "literary edifices" of Sheffield I can
say little more than what relates to their architecture. My
time is so completely engrossed, that I cannot command
even an hour to obtain additional information.
The Wesleyan Proprietary Grammar School' presents an extensive and lofty front.  Its porticos are of the
Corinthian order. It is, when viewed from a distance, altogether a noble and beautiful structure.  As there is some
probability of your paying Sheffield a visit, it is best, perhaps, not to be too lavish of -my praise.  The columns of
the portico, in front of the college, never satisfy my eye
upon a nearer approach.  I know you will demand my
reason; and my knowledge of your architectural taste and
acquirements renders me somewhat shy of assigning it.
But I suppose we should not find fault unless we can tell
"' the why and the wherefore;" and that is not always
easy or safe; especially for one who makes no pretensions
to connoisseurship in architecture.
Well, then, I shall venture to say, the columns of the
portico are too slender; their diameters do not appear
proportionate to their altitude.   The intercolumniations
seem too large, and appear to fall into the manner of the'eczlCtoUvTo05 (Areeostylos) arrangement; a style that strikes
me as being unfavorable to columnar effect, unless the shafts
of the columns are proportionate in thickness to the distances by which they are separated. There is that in the
space or air which is interposed between the columns,
which apparently lessens their real thickness, and should,
therefore, be provided for by adjusting the proportions of
the columns to the quantity of air interposed between them.
I only write from mere impression, and not from any pre*Now Wesley College.




SHEFFIELD.                     27
cise acquaintance with the rules which belong to the several
styles of intercolumniation in architecture. However highly
we are pleased with utility, there is that in our nature which
relishes beauty, in architecture.  The eye is ever seeking
for it, is disappointed at not finding it, or in beholding anything to mar it. The accomplished architect, I may also
add, is ever awake to those proportions which satisfy and
please.
With these slight exceptions, this edifice takes its place
with the handsornest scholastic institutions I have seen in
England. The interior arrangements are admirable. The
literary departments are conducted with singular ability.
The Rev. John M3anners, the first master, is a clergyman
of the Church of England. He is a most agreeable gentleman, possessing qualities of the first order as a teacher;
and is a devoted Christian.  With him I have also formed
an agreeable acquaintance, which, I trust, will last forever.
The institution, I understand, occupies a high place in publie estimation. Methodist parents send their boys to be
educated here, from various parts of England, with a confidence, which must be a great relief to a parent's heart,
that their moral and religious welfare will be as conscientiously guarded as when under the parental roof.
The edifice was erected at an expense to the proprietors
of more than ten thousand pounds.  The pleasure grounds,
comprising about six acres, cost between four and five
thousand pounds sterling, in addition.
A short distance below the Wesleyan College stands the
Collegiate School. The edifice is upon a much smaller
scale, with little more than half the pleasure grounds. But
the situation is agreeable, and the style of architecture,
Tudor Gothic, is peculiarly pleasing. Near to these institutions, on the gentle slopes of the opposite hill, with the




28                SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
vale of Sharrow  interposed, is the General Cemetery.  It
is a favorite walking-place of mine, in some of my particular moods of mind, as it is but a short distance from Shirley House.  The entrance lodge is of the Grecian Doric
order.  There are two ranges of catacombs; the lowest is
surmounted by a terrace in front, over the unprotected verge
of which one may step as easily as into eternity. The
uppermost range  has a parapet and balustrades.   The
chapel is a handsome structure, with a stately portico of
fluted Doric columns. The minister's house is on a still
higher elevation.  It is a substantial mansion; its Egyptian
character has given it a sort of gloomy elegance. There
are several good monuments; and the grounds, about six
acres, are tastefully disposed.
A  few  days since, in company with two of my fellowlaborers in the revival, Mr. Uniwin and Mr. Jepson, I
visited  the Cholera Mzount, another cemetery;  but its
gates are closed to all but the LIVING. A law was enacted
during the prevalence of the cholera, in 1832, which required the separate interment of its victims.
Mr. Montgomery has immortalized the place in a short
poem:' Yet many a mourner weeps her fallen state,
In many a home by these left desolate.
Humanity again asks,' Who are these?
And what their crime?' They fell by one disease
Not by the Proteus maladies that strike
Man into nothingness, not twice alike;
But when they knocked for entrance at the tomb,
Their fathers' bones refused to make them room;
Recoiling NATURE from their presence fled,
As though a thunderbolt had smote them dead;
Their cries pursued her with a thrilling plea,' Give us a little earth for charity;'
She lingered, listened, all her bosom yearned,




SHEFFIELD.                     29
Through every vein the mother's pulse returned;
Then, as she halted on this hill, she threw
Her mantle wide, and loose her tresses flew:' Live,' to the slain, she cried,' my children live!
This for an heritage to you I give;
Had death consumed you by a common lot,
You, with the multitudes had been forgot,
Now through an age of ages shall ye not.'"
I know you will be pleased with the above extract.  lt
was new to me, and peculiarly interesting, lhaving walked
over the spot.  The poem, I understand, was written during this dreadful visitation in Sheffield. The place where
the cholera victims repose is no longer an object of terror,
but rather of mnoulrnful reminiscence, to the inhabitants of
Sheffield. None, indeed, would presume to open a grave,
or bury there; but there is no risk in visiting the place.
Upwards of four hundred persons repose here; and their
resting-places aie not likely to be disturbed for many generations to come, unless Sheffield is made to take the cup of
trembling once more, in a similar visitation.
All that Mr. Montgomery has claimed for the unfortunate dead, in the poem to which I have referred, has been
accorded by the generous people of Sheffield.  It is tastefully planted with flourishing trees.  "Perennial daisies,"
and other flowers, begem its emerald verdure. The little
birds sing sweetly over their graves, and " the shrill skylark builds her annual nest upon their lowly bed."  The
dew-drops of the morning bespangle the green grass; the
moonbeams throw their sweetest influences upon them; the
planets seem to look down upon them and bless them; and
sometimes I" the rainbow throws its sudden arch across their
tomb."  Trees, likely to become the growth of centuries,
wave their branches in the healthy breeze; -' a forest
landmark on the mountain head; —a sepulchral eminence,"
> s\!.




30              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
- all that the poet desired, it is likely to be till the end of
time; —and then how shall the dead arise?  How many
were ready to die, fully fitted for heaven?  How many
unprepared?  Alas! even these solitary four hundred,
should they not be disturbed till the judgment day, will
doubtless then present the usual contrasts of character,saint and sinner, -which we see in every-day life. But'in
what proportion? Such as vwe see in the streets of Shefftd daily?  Alas! then, - but the day will declare it.
In the centre of the grounds stands a monument,- a
sort of tapering triangular structure, surmounted by a
cross:
"' That all who here sin's bitter wages see,
May on this mount remember Calvary."
I may just remark that I had the pleasure of dining with
Mr. Montgomery * at the mansion of Mr. Jones, at Broomgrove, a few days since. Enjoyed a very pleasing interview.
You desire "a short description of his personal appearance."
I cannot improve upon the following: " The poet continues
to reside at Sheffeld, - esteemed, admired, and beloved; a
man of purer mind, or more unsuspected integrity, does not
exist. He is an honor to the profession of letters; and, by
the upright and unimpeachable tenor of his life, even more
than by his writings, a persuasive and convincing advocate
of religion.  In his personal appearance, Montgomery is
rather below than above the middle stature; his countenance
is peculiarly bland and tranquil, and, but for the occasional
sparkling of a clear gray eye, it could scarcely be described
as expressive.  Those who can distinguish'the fine gold
from the sounding brass' of poetry, must place the name of
James Montgomery high in the list of British poets; and
Since died.




SHEFFIELD.                     31
those who consider that the chiefest duty of such is to promote the cause of religion, virtue, and humanity, must
acknowledge in him one of their most zealous and efficient
advocates." Perhaps I may never have another opportunity
of spending an hour with this eminent person. How transporting the prospect of an eternity with " the excellent of
the earth " - in heaven!
I have noticed numerous public buildings, hospitals, dispensaries, bauncs, etc., a particular description of which
would affird you but little interest.  The hall of the Cutlers' Companzy would please you; it is an elegant Grecian
structure, with a Corinthian portico, supporting a triangular
pediment, in the tympanum of which are the Cutlers' arms,
in bold relief.  I did not visit the interior.
I am glad the account of my visits to Chatsiworth, Haddon Hall, and Caslleton,  Caverns, afforded you, and your
"'select circle,"  so much pleasure.  Since then, I have
enjoyed another excursion, in a different direction, in company with my host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Greaves, and
a few select friends, to Warncliff, one of the wildest glens'I have seen for many a year:
"Crags, knolls, and mounds confusedly hurled,
The fragments of an earlier world!"
The savage aspect of the place, the singular positions and
shapes of the huge firagments of rocks, and the wild manner
in which they have been hurled, one upon another, tell of
some tremendous concussions as having occurred in this
glen, - perhaps beyond the periods of English history. I
write as a stranger, not having seen any work which affords
satisfactory information upon the subject:
"'T would seem those iron times had reached this glen,
When giants played at hewing mountain blocks,




32               OSHOWERS OF BLESSING.
So bold and strange the profile of the rocks,
Whose huge fantastic figures frown above."
The Shefield trade is, generally, prosperous at present,
but it has had great fluctuations, and is still subject to them,
from  a variety of causes.  I was particularly struck, the
other day, with the following bold sentiments of a native of
this town: " No place has suffered more from the vicissitudes of trade than Sheffield.  The American war produced
a state of considerable depression; and the town had only
just recovered from the effects of that abortive effort to
establish the principle of taxation, without representation,
when the wars of the French revolution came to plunge its
inhabitants in still deeper distress. The frame of society,
throughout the world, was disordered by this long and
exhausting contest; and peace itself, when it returned, did
not bring prosperity in its train. In order to force a market,
the spirit of competition among the manufacturers was cairried to such an extent, that they relinquished the fair profits
of their trade; the consequence was, an undue depression
in the wages of the artisans, and the introduction of the pernicious practice of paying wages in goods instead of money.
Many of the workmen, in consequence, became themselves
pauper manufacturers, and wholesale dealers in hardware,
which they sold, not for what the articles were worth, but
for what they would fetch, — not unfrequently at thirty, forty,
and even fifty per cent. below the regular prices.  The glut
of cutlery thus became excessive. The parish was burdened
with a host of half-famished claimants, and the poor's rates
were so heavy that many of the contributors to those rates
reduced their establishments to the lowest possible standard,
and took up their residence in the neighboring townships,
where the parochial imposts were less oppressive. These
evils) like most others in trade, carried in them their own




SHEFFIELD.                    33
remedy; in time, the quantity of goods manufactured became
better adjusted to the extent of the demand; the rate of
wages was advanced; money was paid to the workmen
instead of goods; and Sheffield began to return slowly, but
certainly, to a state of prosperity, which it continued to
enjoy till the great commercial panic of 1837, which was
brought about chiefly by the over-speculations of the three
preceding years, and from  the baneful effects of which
Sheffield, like other manufacturing towns of this kingdom,
has not yet recovered; though it has suffered, perhaps, less
than Manchester, and many other places. This long depression of our trade and commerce has created much popular
discontent, from which sprung Chartism,- a political faction which threatened the overthrow of the national institutions as now established; but, happily, the C(hartist conspiracy to take and sack this town was frustrated by the
vigilance of the magistrates and police, on the night of
January 11th, 1840, when Samuel IHolbery, the chief leader
of the insurrection, was apprehended in his house, in Eyrelane, where a quantity of hand grenades, and other combustibles, were found.  Some of the insurgents, however,
mustered with pikes, etc., in various parts of the suburbs,
and, entering the town at midnight, wounded several watchmen, but were soon dispersed by the military and the police,
who took a number of prisoners, several of whom were sentenced to various periods of imprisonment at the ensuing
York assizes.  There seems to be a want of confidence
between masters and workmen, which is a source of much
uneasiness.  This has given rise to secret comtbinations
among the workmen, the nature of which I do not understand; but the effect of which is to awe and coerce; and
some villanous and successful attempts have been made
to blow tu  premises.  This is to be regretted.  The Shef



34               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
field wares are indeed popular in all parts of the civilized
world; yet this circumstance does not insure the perpetuity
of its trade. Men of capital may be tempted to turn their
attention elsewhere, and establish themselves in other towns.
The cutlery trade is the birthright of Sheffield, and to
divert it anywhere else would be ruinous to the town.  It
is to be hoped that the parties concerned will come to a
better understanding, and no longer persist in bringing
about a catastrophe which posterity must deplore, and which
would be fatal to their own interests. Perhaps the late
great revival of religion, and which is still progressing so
sweetly, may contribute largely to a better state of things.
It surely will, so far as it shall spread among the masses of
the population.:A revival of pure religion is a public benefit; it is a presage of future prosperity to the town so
honored.  Skheffield, I trust, will not be an exception."'




CHAPTER III.
HADDON HALL AND CHATSWORTH
IN the last chapter MR. CAUGHEY alluded to a visit he
made to Haddon Hall and Chatsworth.  We extract his
account of the visit, from one of his letters.
On the 10th inst., in company with a party of my Sheffield friends, I visited an old baronial edifice in Derbyshire,
named Haddon Iall. The day was charming. Our route
lay through a rich and fertile region, with the exception of
a few miles, which extended across the wild moors of Derbyshire. These moors present a ridge of considerable elevation, and extend many miles. They are covered with heath
and bilberry, presenting a singular contrast to the noble and
finely diversified landscape on either side. Having passed
the moors, we traversed a picturesque and cheerful country,
which improved in beauty all the way to Bakewell.  This
town is pleasantly situated on a hill-side, overlooking the
river Wye, about two miles from its influx into the river
Derwent. Turning suddenly to the left, we proceeded down
the lovely vale of Haddon, southward, when, suddenly,
the towers, turrets, and embattled parapets of Haddon
Hall burst upon our vision, presenting a, picture of singular
beauty and interest,- a charming subject for the pencil.
As we approached, its architectural detail gradually unfolded.
Light clouds, careering along the sky, involved the venerable




86              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
pile now in shadow, and the next moment in sunshine.
Lofty trees, full of years, but covered with luxuriant foliage,
waved their branches around it.  The hill, which rises
abruptly from the knoll upon which it is built, is covered
with a dark grove of "massive trees."  A background so
imposing, throws out into fine relief all parts of the edifice.
Fifteen or twenty minutes after we caught the first glimpse,
we crossed the Wye, and were wandering outside the walls.
I should have informed you that, though uninhabited, it
is in a fine state of preservation, and, at a distance, has all
the appearance of being the busy residence of wealth and
grandeur.  The gloomy and solemn silence which pervades
it, as one approaches, soon banishes the illusion. The old
tower which surmounts the gateway, and which, in the days
of Haddon's glory, evidently formed the principal entrance,
is very ancient.  Historians agree that it had its origin
prior to the Conquest. Indeed, every part of this noble
fabric has the appearance of having stood the storms of
many centuries. There is little in its history that would
interest you. During a succession of centuries it was the
residence of the rich and the great.  Mirth and gladness
long resounded through its halls, and many thousands have
been regaled at its festive board. The descendants of one
family (the Vernons) occupied it about four hundred years;
"during which," says an historian, " it was invariably
regarded, not only as the seat of feudal splendor, but of the
most sumptuous and munificent hospitality."  It is now the
property of the Duke of Rutland, and has been deserted
about one hundred years.
The duke has left a servant in charge of the place, with
permission to conduct visitors through it.  As these baronial
residences are so famous in English story, and as this is the
most complete of any in the kingdom, remaining,   after a




HADDON' HALL AND  CHATSWORTH.                        87
sort,'' as it was in the days of yore, unntoiched by the h:and
of modern imrorvermen;   I' I~%t io s:al1' dei e',   itos    t l3e
interior.   We redily obtained  acilmltmane   and  were  conducted throurgh   the valrious.apartmtents.
G T1e posteLn lov,
And hllreshiold worin with tread of manLy ~ete
Receive us silently. How grim and gray
Yon taill sieep -fortalice above us towers [
Its inarrowv apertures,  lile arrow-slits,
Jealou.s of heavenlss swireetG air; its dren.ry rooms'ioredl w ith ro-u%11 so0110s; its ulncouthl pss'en
Cut in thlickl wIlls, bespeak;_ -.l.eose ironi -i:.-les
Of despot-is, wrt he   Oer the v Ii moult.l:iih-slt5.ge
le     the fie   in,           robbe.r h eciged
Thle clieftain ini Iis imiOst. a
Several of the room s are huno round with loose ttpestir,
hich aifford   one a fie  iLea oL Othe  3anner i.r i which  castles, nowr
i'uinMlls were lf'rinislhed in1 ncUient times3 as! als0, specimens
of the taste antd comfcr-1ts of otler generations.  flUhis tapestry
appears to have been -as essential to comfort as  oS ornanient.:~o i uncovered iwadls are of b the coarses- masonry, andc the
doors of1 thie best  oo 01 of the.     rudest workilanship;  but
these dcefornmitis    re d' calate!y a cncele cd by, whallt a writer
terms,  "t h  czlS inc-o s in -g-Z''eo   of ij  estrg."
It wotld  require  more  time than  I  can  command  at
presemt, to give you'a detailed  plaLn of the interior.   The
number of  ma.riqmnensts really surprises one; they are indicative, certainly, of a very large household.   It is recorded,
that, in addition to a numerous  ftmnily, with, usually, a
vast number of visitors, no less than  seven score servants
vwrere maintained and lodged within it.  The walls are massive, and, where  there is no tapestry, the apartiments are
exceedingly  comfortless and  gloomy.   With the exception
of the kitchen, the cellar, dining-hall, and the gallery, and
4




38               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
a few select rooms, we may say, in the language of one,' The
whole is a discordant mass of small and uncomfortable
apartments crowded together without order."  How very
striking the contrast between the order, neatness, and air
of comfort, observable in the interior arrangements of American and modern English mansions, and that which is presented at Haddon Hall!
The chapel forms a part of the south and west fronts of
Haddon, enriched with painted windows.  Upon the stained
glass of one we noticed the date, "Millesimo ccccxxvii."
[1427.]  A  witty visitor, some time ago, remarked, that
from the very limited capacity of the chapel, when colmpared
with the large scale upon which other parts of the noble pikle
was laid out, it appeared that the good people of former
ages, however much room they required to manage their
temporal affairs, contrived to arrange the accommodations
for the transaction of their spiritual concerns within very
modest dimensions.  The pulpit, desk, and several of the
pews remain. When peeping around, and peering into every
nook and corner, we found, in a little lobby of the chapel,
the remains of an old clock; possibly the very same that
reproved the prolixity or lengthened zeal of the preacher, at
the very time he was receiving the commendations of the
spirits that inhabit eternity.  The works of the clock, in a
state of decay, through very age, and eaten with rust;, had
fallen down into a rusty, moulderin~g heap. Thus, Old Time,
"the august inheritance of all mankind," marches on, while': Time's sentinel," which measured out the moments, minutes, and hours of other centuries, and sounded the' warning knell " of their departure to other generations, lies silel./,
motionless, and meaningless, covered with rust, dust., ri
cobwebs.  A fine subject this for a poet.  Come, now, tlly
your:ennius anid send ine' the res.hlts " by the next steamer.




HADDON HALL AND CHATSWORTH.                 39
In the central gateway, between the upper and lower
courts, we were shown a relic of great antiquity, -  a Roman
altar.  It was discovered in the meadows, a short distance
fiom   Haddon.  The workmanship is uncouth.  It contains
an inscription, but the letters are so injured and effaced by
tinze and careless usage, we tried in vain to decipher them.
Through the kindness of a friend, I have seen several transcriptions, differing somewhat.  That from Camden, the historian, I judge to be most correct, as it was copied at a date
much earlier than any of the others, when the characters
could, doubtless, be more easily and correctly deciphered.
DEO
J..R TI
BR./ CMI C.EP
OSITI US
C.I  CCIL INJV
PREPFECT
TR 0
V. S.
As Mr.   ~< - is a professed antiquarian, this inscription may, perhaps, suggest a train of thought which he may
turn to some account in his future "articles " for the press.
The dilning hall, with its elevated platform, where sat
"'Ethe lord of the castle, at the head of his household and
guests, and the gallery at the end appropriated to mirth and
minstrelsy," on festive occasions; is still, though solitary
and desolate, imposing.  On the wainscot we observed a
sinoular fastening, large enough to admit the wrist of a
man's hand; the tradition of which was a subject of merriment to the party.  It was designed as a method of punishment, it seems, for trivial offences, as also to enforce certain
aw-s, enacted by the servants themselves, with regard to
eatch other.  He that refused to drink his horn of ale, or




40                   SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
neglected  to perform  properly the duties of his office, had
his hand loclked  into thils " keep," a little above his head,
when abundance of cold water was poured down the sleeve
of his doublet.   Rather a hazardous  fflair to be a tee-totaller
in those days 
After inspecting some ancient pictures and furniture, axrmorial crests, carvings in wood, &c., the ladies of our party
treated us to an excellent dinner, " on the premises; " after
which, we rode forward to Chatsworth  Castle, the residence
of the Duke of Devonshire.   I can hlardly tell you  why,
but it is seldom  I ha(ve felt emotions so singularly pensive
and melancholy, as when walking in and amround Haddodn
Hall.  It was not, indeed, until wve stood in a little flowergarden, —  once' the gem  of Haddon, " now  " noeglected and
forlorn, "-  that I recognized the solitct"rinesos of my:feelings
in  full.   Mri's. Siozarney  must have had  feelings somewhat similar, as she penned, it seems, the following lines on
the same spot:
1 IT is passing strange!
Dwell life and death in loving company?
Why bloom those flowers, with none to inhale their sweets?
Who trim- yon beeds so neatly, and reimove
Each withered leaf, ancd lk.eep each straogihinge bough
In beautiful obedi-ence?
-Come l'ley hBlackl
They of the by-gone days, when nonll e arc near
And with their spirit-eyes inaspect the flo-wers
That once they loed?  Toil they in sha1dowy ranks'Mid these desertecl boweirs, the'n filt away?
They s1eem but just to havxe set tle eoblet dowIn
As for a. imnonient, Yet re tui no mo10e.
Thie chair, tie boed,  ti ll coucf st.te, acre here,
iAnd we, the intrusivCe steop are fin-i to checkl,
As thlough we pressed upn1  their privacy.
Whose privacy?  The dead?  A ridlUe all!
And we ourselves are riddles.




IILADDON HALL AND CHATSWORTH.                41
While we cling
Still to our crumbling hold, so soon to fall
And be forgotten, in that yawning gulf
That whelms all past, all present, all to come,
0, grant us wisdom, Father of the soul,
To gain a changeless heritage with thee  "
It is Dr. Johnson, I think, who observes, and properly too,
that whatever withdraws us from  the power of our senses;
whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future, predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking beings; and he deprecates, both for himself and firiends,
the rigidity of that philosophy which would conduct us
unmoved over any ground which has been dignified by wisdom, bravery, or virtue; - that the man is little to be envied
whose patriotism  would not gain force upon the, plains of
Mffarathonz, or whose piety would not grow warmer amongS
the ruins of;ona.  rHaddon Hall, unless I aim  mistaken,
lays claim to no such stirring recollections.  It possesses an
interest of its own, —not, I should judge, emanating so muclb
from  historical reminiscences, as firom its great an}tiquity,
and its utter lonzelizess.  Though identified with the present, as well as the past; though occupying still the " site
of its youths," and permitted still to lift its turreted head
in sunshine and glory, invested with the foliage of many
trees, and graced by a charming modification of scenery,
itself the noblest object in the picture; although it bears the
nark of a foreigner, like myself, yet it claims affinity with
the mansions that are. A contemporary with thle present
generation, as it was awith those generations wvlbich have passed
the flood, who now dwell under other skies,' on those eternal
shores," yet it is isolated, lonely and ruinozus, and seems
rather to hold communion with the dead than the living;
pleading haughtily (perhaps this is too harsh a word), but
4*




42                 SHOOWERS OF BLESSING.
wmournfzully, and, rough as its features are, feelingly for
glories gone by, and which are never to return; as if claiming " a sigh to the memory " of the good. and the bad, the
virtuous and the vicious, the beautiful and the ungracefui,
the religious and the irreligious, the humble and the proud,
the pensive and the gay, the learned, the intellectual, and
the illiterate, the happy and the unhappy, the courageous
and the pusillanimous, the Christian and the infidel, who
sojourned within its walls.
When passing down the vale, with the head instinctively
turned toward the desolate pile, my eyes lingered long upon
its crumbling  battlements, with emotions hallowed and tender; something akin to what one feels sometimes when recalling the memories of the faded past; " like the memory
of joys that are past;, pleasant and mournful to the soul."
"c Forsaken stood the hall,
Worms ate the floor, the tap'stry fled the walls;
No fire the kitchen's cheerful grate displayed;
No cheerful light the long-closed sash conveyedl 
The crawling worm, that turns a summer fly,
Here spun his shroud, and laid him up to die
The winter death. Upon the be(d of state,
The bat, shrill shrieking, wooed his flickering mate.
The air was thick, and in the upper gloom
The bat - or somethingy in its shape - was winging 
And on the wall, as chilly as a tomb,
The death's-head moth was clinging.
The floor was redolent of mould and must;
The fungus in the rotten seams had quickened,'While, on the oaken table, coats of dust
Perennially had thickenecd.
v   a's     a      a,     S 




HADDON HALL AND CHATSWORTH.                 43
The subtle spider, that from overhead
Hung like a spy on human guilt and error
Suddenly turned, and up its slender thread
Ran with a nimble terror."
ffs   -S           a            a
The above is a gloomy picture, and strangely out of harmaony with the eloquent and majestic exterior of Haddon,
and the verdant beauty of surrounding nature.   -' -@~ 
Still I carried out the propensities of my nature, gazing
backcl  upon the past; the lovely meadows, and cheerful
uplands, dotted or fringed with trees; the devious windings
of the busy, sparkling Wye; the groves of Haddon, with
the ever-varying features of the romantic and venerable
pile,- a view changeable through shade and sunshine, and
singularly dependent upon the various turnings of the roaci
which led us away from a picture so enchanting.  Arriving
at length at a decisive bend of the highway, Haddon Hall
disappeared from  my eyes, — perhaps forever; but it has
left an impression upon my heart, with a series of beautiful images, not speedily to be erased or forgotten.  One
said: "There are three things we should constantly keep
in view, - What we ownce welre, what we o ow are, and what
we shail be hereafter.'"  ivery Christiann, I thought, should
cheer his heart by a convemmilation of that "' deed of settlemnent " drawn out for us by St. Peter: "Legot{ten us agctin
Zn.to eza tlivinyg hope, —to anz inher'itacnce inzcor2l-rzt.ible, anod.undefiled, and that ftadelt en ot away, reserved in heavenz
for you, who are kept by the power of God, thro1cugh faith'u1Zto salvationz.   Give mole that estate, then, and that mansion, which cannot be wasted or spoiled by invasion; of
which war cannot deprive me; which law cannot win from
me, nor debtl mortgage, nor power wring friom  me; which
cannot be defiled by sin, or sink to decay and ruin by tizme




4AXf4               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
storm, or hfuman caprice; of which death cannot disinherit
nme; which must increase in value throughout the lapse of
eternal ages; and, in the possession of which, by the will
of God, eternity shall confirm  mae.  Hallelujah!  Amen!
Eternity claimled our thoughts; -  the probable destinies too
of the multitudes who, in by-gone ages, gladdened those halls
we had just left, and who, like ourselves, for the last time,
glanced a farewell to'turret, battlement and tower."  HIopes
of possibly meeting my own friends upon earth, but surely
in  heaven, though now separated by the mighty ocean, -
in that bright world where rain  and death are words unknown, and where 1" farewells are heard never,'" —    animated
my pensive spirit, as Awe entered  the cheerful grounds of
Chatsworth  Park.  And what a park! -  it covers an area,
it is said, of eleven miles.  The afternoon was one rarely
excelled for loveliness.
6 I'ye heard the humid skies did ever weep
In merry England, and a blink of joy
From their blue eyes was like a pearl of price.
Mine own indeed are sunnier, yet at times
There comes a day so exquisitely fair,
That, with its radiance and its rarity,
It makes the senses giddy.
Such an one
Illumined Chatsworth, when we saw it first,
Set like a gem against the hanging woods
That formecd its background.  H-erds of graceful deer,
Pampered, perchance, until they half forget
Their native fleetness, o'er the ample parks
Roamed at their pleasure.  From the tower that crests
The eastern hill, a floating banner swayed
With the light breezes, while a drooping ash,
Of foliage rich, stood lonely near the gates,
Like the presiding genius of the place,
Unique and beautiful. Their silver jet
The sparkling fountains o'er the freshened lawns




HAlDON  HALL AND  C{HATSWORTH.                    45
Threw fitfully, and, gleaming here and there,
The tenant-statues with their marble life
Peopled the shades.
But wondering most we marked
A princely labyrinth of plants and flowers,
All palace-lodged,"c and breathing forth their sweets
On an undying summer's balmy breast.
And well might wealth expend itself for you,
Flowers, glorious flowers! that dwelt in Eden's bound,
Yet sinned not, fell not, and whose silent speech
Is of a better paradlise, where ye,
Catching the essence of the deathless sou!l,
Shall never:-cade."
ylTe spent an agreeable hour in Ywalking' through the palace.   The generosity displayeci  by English  noblemen, in
allowing the public free access to to their splendid  mansionls,
cannot be too much admired.   Eveiy room  is thrown open.
A  servant is ready to conduct every party which arrives,
and seems emnulous to gratify the visitors to the full extent
of their wishes.  The irules waich visitors are required to
observe seem  tIUo be very few; —none whiel  impose any
painful and  unnecessary restrain or to -which any person
of politeness and good breeding couldt possibly  object.  Trhe
succession of0 rooms tilro bug a wiich we were conduc ted presented a wodnderf-ul cont-rast t;o those   old old acilon, cc ao'cio?,s., lofJiy and  ele gaci-.   The dazzlinig  splendor  of the
lurniture,   the rich  decorations of the  ceilings, and  even
o' tIe walls of the staircases, vwhere the talents of a;ei-r "io,
L' r.-e  -,tsre. and otlera:s, are cihsplayed in, at leas-t, splendor
of coloring  and  aesiun (idloughs the gods and  goddesses
allgorical   personaages   and  mortals like ourselves -  are
minlied togethier wit  litti;le regardc to order, and are not at
al e11  Lmai able for taste or decency), are yet t'uly magnifiThe Conservatory.




46                StIlOWE'RS OF BLESSING-.
cent.  The great variety of carving in wood, dead game,
flowers and shells, encompassed with appropriate ornaments,
-- the work of one Gibbons, an artist once celebrated in this
country,- appeared exquisitely beautiful, and so natural as
to take one's senses by surprise, to find them  only wood.
The immense collection of paintings, -portfrait, history
t!i:d lazdscape, -  by the frst masters in Europe; the numnerous ornaments and curiosities, products of British and
tbreign art, laid out in mnagnificent profusion; the library,
filled with the works of almost all ages and climes, -  were
all, and more, than the fame of the justly celebrated "' Palace of the Peak" had led us to expect.
A short distance from  the palace stands the conzservatory, -  a splendid object; the largest of the kindc, we were
informed, in the world.  The goenius of the duke is now
exerting itself in a series of inprovements around this coniservatory,  which,  when completed, must have a grand effect.
He seems determined upon ae rrdying   the'capabilities of the
place " to the highest possible perfection.  His rock-work.
upon an extensive scale, watLr-l works, and accompaniments,
must render the place a scene of " fc:iry enchantment."
G6 Great princes have great playthings. Some have played
At hewing mountains into men, and some
At building human wonders mountalin high."
A  path from  the conservatory directed our steps along
the margin of a small lake, which seemed to serve the green
slopes and surrounding trees as a transparent mirror.  A
slight bubbling in the centre attracted our attention, out of
which arose suddenly a connected column of water, which
continued to ascend to the suprising height of seventy or
eighty feet, played beautifully for a few moments, and then
gradually shortened to the height of ten feet, when it came




HADDON HALL AND CHATSWORitTI.                  47
down with a splash and disappeared. A short walk brought
us to another sheet of water, clear as crystal, where an aged
man mlanaged a secret spring, which surprised us with another column, of a simpilajr height to the former, but somewhat varied in its motionls, white as the ocean's foam, brilliant and beautiful. I dare not trust myself with an attempt
to describe the appearance of the falling particles of wa'ter
illumined by the sunshine, the reflected radiance upon the
foliage of the trees, and the verdant rnmargin of the water,
with all the poetic ideas they inspired, lost you should suspect me as having exchanged my sober and favorite authors
in theology for the contaminating  and fictitious visions of
the novelist.
"'T was beautiful to stand and watch
The fountain's crystal turn to gems;
And from the sky such colors catch,
As if't were raining diadems."
Chat;sworth for several years afforded a shellt,~  io o~-.-;-y Hobbes, the infidel.   In one of t-he roois-,i' i.;i:T;:e, wvhich we had no curiosity to see, he s-I-:.J.:d   i,.]e pipes of tobacco every afternoon, and, in  tlco:;.
o:;.s:.l);propriate and offensive:fume, he  " beleheit of'.ple; " his mlore  ojfeesive canzd  dangzerous'' iiv.,;;
ttgainzst Ciristicatzi-y;  7which, but for the interpositioe l o
the Almighty, wouldc  ha.ve spread themselves over t1.i;
kingdoms if not over the whole world, like a sumoil.C o\:
the bottomless pit.  As it was, his writings injured many.'he Earl of Rochester, and other English noblemen,    iaot:a
few, were ruined by thenm.'I hate," was the s.urly  votlto
of this u'nfortunate man; and its poisonous venoml mingled.
with the spiirit of his every attack upon all that is holy, just
and good, in the religion of the Son of God.  The ways of
0iL~3~I




SHOWE.RS OF BLESSING.
Providence  are  mysterious.   This man  was suffered  to
remain upon the earth to the advanced age of?.i!elZty-two,
tormented with fears, for which sceptics weree by no means
able to account, but which  preyed perpetually upon  his
wretched mind:' In sleep,
In sickness, haulnting him with dire suspicions
Of something in himself that would not die."
Such fearful visitations, a  lthough tlhev rendered his Eiiie.
miserable, were mercifully designed, no doubt, to alarm  is
conscience, to restrain his pen; yes! and to save his souI.
The sequel of his melancholy history shows their ineltciency. WYith  an  inctzt ftfiot, for which the  pio-us and
learned men of his age foundc it as difficult to accouLt, as
the sceptics forl his humnillatinog fears, he continued to cliilg
to  infidelity -Chile he wielded his wxeapons, as he could,:asinst Christianity.    0f him  it might be said truly'
"' The infidel has shot his bolts away,
Till, his exhausted quiver yieldling cnle,
-s gleans the bltuntedC shafits  that aw 1il-'t   1coilecl
xAnd aiums them at thle shlield of tl-V uo- h.t aoji'.:  
Deathb it is said. he would never allow to be  s,ulijeat- of
eon-aversatio  in his plresence.  _effec t on, of   bte most toemen'tin    tscharacter seemed to Ne aseoel it'- with thle id.ea,.
A.n iunaccounntable terror seized him, ii' his candle welnt out
in thbe m.olon~h.   -le dicd! not die at Chal-,sworth;  but his last
hours were the nost imelancholv imauginable.  G   There a re
you going, sir?' il quired one of his friends.  "I ann taking
a leap in the dar k'" replied the dying mi an. In the edark 
What! and does the light of your philosophy afford you no
aid in such a trying  hour as'this?   Ah! no; it may
bewilder an^d  etrif y, but it is ins.lcient to assure and




HADDON HALL ANI) CHATtWORTH.                    49
comfort the departing soul. Infidel philosophy,-  if philosophy that may be called, which " puts dcarknzess for light,
anyd light for darkizess " (Isaiah 5: 20), presents only
darcknessfor light, in that hour, in which, above all other
hours, the soul demands light the most clear and satisfactory.  "I can tkin~,  a  lea"cq'in the darik/"'   Ay! and
into the dark! A  "' lec    /  — no, that is a motion quite too
rapid for an infidel.  Such clharacters?are not usually so
courageous.  The last sensible words the dying  Hobbes
was heard to utter, after being told he could live no longer,
were, "I shall be glad, then, to find a hole to cree]~ out of
the world at."
In whatever direction we strayed through "' the grounds
ofr Chatsworith,"  we wert  cheered with a perpetual succession of new and interesting objects.  The " ezuberance of
tealzbh'" has introduced a variety of petty dcfecls, which
appeared to me to detract froom  that simplicity, unity, and
majesty of nature, for wlhichl  Chatsworth is so deservedly
famous.  The truth is, so extremely beautiful is nature, in
this earthly paradise, that any attempt to improve it, unless
by the hand of the most delicate and excquisite taste, is but
to deform  -  like applying roujye to the rface of a perfect'beauty, or adding colors to the blooming flowers in  our
gardens.  Chatsworth reminds one of Tasso's description of
L.soiblat Bella:
H ere a new world of joy surrounds our path;
With spreadcing shade, the trees and evergreens
Burst into gladdening life; the fountain's play
Sheds sweet refreshment upon all around; the boughs
MovTe quivering in the gentle breeze of morn,
And flowers uprising from their beds, with eyes
Of intfeint sweetnecs, seem to smile on us.
The gardener now anroofis the winter-house,
And gives the qitrons to the balmy air.
$v




50                 SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
The blue expanse of hearen rests overhead,
Whilst the far mountains, in the horizon's verge,
Shalke off their wintry coverlet of snows."
The picture, beautiful as it is, is not complete, unless we
add the lines of an English poet to those of the Italian, --
to which I would add a gem, to which, were the poet alive,
lie would not, perhaps, object:
"And streams, as if created for his use,
Pursue the track of his directing wand,
Sinuous or straight, now rapid and now slow,
Now murmuring soft, now roaring in cascades, —
Even as he bids! The enraptured ow-ner smiles.'T is finished, and yet, finished as it seems,
Still wants a grace, the loveliest it could sho.w, -
A WIFE."
After enjoying a walk of considerable length, through the
park, we returned to the hotel to tea, after which we set out
for Sheffield.  When crossing the Derbyshire MIoors, on
our return, we noticed  abundance of game, with  their
young, now  well grown, enjoying  themselves midst the
bilberry  and  heath, which  afford  them   both  food  and
shelter.
But what a pensive, solitar'y stillness presides over these
wild, unpeopled hills!'i' That seldom hear a voice save that of heaven;
They scem alone beneath the boundless sky."
They  look  imposing  when  seen  from  afar.   Distance
lends them  a singular enchantment;  softens down their
rude  features into  soft harmonious masses, and  invests
with rich purple, poetry-inspiring tint, as they sweep away
in graceful and long-continued outlines; but, ah me! when
one is in  the  midst of them, as in  life-scenes, poetry
gives place to stern, stubborn, rugged reality! 




HADDON   HALL AND  CTATS.WORTH.'F1U-1,               51
And, speaking of poetry, what an interest does that divine
art fling over scenes and places however  wild and barren!
1Irs'. sS~iyoZ'rney passed over these M]Joors a felw years ago,
after visiting  Sieffielci.   Among  her  "recorded  impres.sions "' of  Shehel   d  and  its  vicinities  is  the   ol1owmlng
touching  story 
Th'lere stood a cot-tageT, near a spreading moor,
Just wvhere its heathlery blackness melted down
Into a mellower hue.  Fast by its side
Nestled the wheat-stalk, firmly bound anld shatped
Even like another roof-tree, witnessing
Fair harvest and good h-usbandry.  Some sheep
Roamed eastwvards o'er the common, nibbling close
The scanty blade, while towadcl the setting sun
A hillock stretched, o'ershadowel by a growth
Of newly-planted trees.'T would seem the abode
Of rural plenty and content.  Yet here
A desolate sorrow dwelt, such as doth iwring
Plain, honest hearts, when what had lcng been twined
With e-ve-ry fibre is dissected out.
Beneath the shelter of those lowly eaves
An only daughter made the parents glad
With her unfolding beauties.  Day by day
She gathered sweetness on her lonely stem,
The lily of the moorlands.  They, with thoughts
Upon their humble tasks, how best to save
Their little gains, or make that little muore,
Scarce knew that she was beautiful; yet felt
Strange thrall upon their spirits when she spoke
So musical, or from some storied page
Beguiled their evening hour.
Ancl when the sire
Descanted long, as farmers sometimes will,'Upon the promise of his crops, and how
The neighbors enviied that his corn should be
Higher than theirs, and how the man, wvho hoped
Surely to thrive, must leave his bed betimes,
Or of her golden cheese the mother told,
She with a filial and serene regard




52,SHIOWERS OF BLESSING,
Would seem to listen, her young heart away'Mid other things.
For, in her lonely room,
She had companions that they knew not ofBooks that reveal the sources of the soul,
Deep meditations, high imaginings,
And ofttimes, when the cottage lamp was out,
She sat communing with them, while the moon
Looked through her narrow casement fitfully.
Hence grew her brow so so siritual, and her cheek
Pale with the purity of thought, that gleamed
Around her from above.
Tile buxom youth,
Nursed at the ploughshare, wondering eyed her charms,
Or of her aspen gracefulness of form
Spoke slightingly.  Yet when they saw the fields
IHer father tilled were clad with ripening grain,
And knew he had no other heir beside,
They, with unwonted wealth of Sundaay clothes,
And huge red nosegays, flaunting in their hands,
Were fain to woo her. And they marvelled much
EHow the sweet fLilry, with such quiet air
Of mild indif-ference, and with truthful words
Kind, yet determinate, withdrew herself
To chosen solitude, intent to keep
A maiden's freedom.
But in lonely walks,
Whcat time the early violets richly blent
Their trembling colors with the vernal green,
A student boy, who dwelt among the hills,
Taught her of love. There rose an ancient tree,
The glory of their rustic garden's bound,
Around whose rou0gh circumference of trunk
A garden seatt was wreathedl; and there they sat,
Watching gray-vested t-wilight, as she bore
Such gifts of tender and half-uttered thought
As lovers prize. When the thin-blossomed furze
Gave out its autumn swveetness, and the walls
Of that low cot with the red-berried ash
Kindled in pride, they parted: he to toil
Amid his college tasks, and she to weep.




IHADDON  HALL AND  CGATSYWORTHI.                  53
The precious scrolls, that with his ardent heart
So faithfully were tinged, unceasing sought
Her hand, and o'er their varied lines to pore
Amid his absence, was her chief delight.
- At length they came not. She, with sleepless cye,
And lip that every morn more bloodless grew,
Demandecd them. in vain. And then the tongue
Of a hoarse gossip told her, he was deadDrowned in th.e deep, aend dead.
HIer young heart died
Away at those dread sounds. Her upraised eye
Grew large anLd wild, and never closed asgain.
6 Hark, hark! he calleth, I must hence away,'
She murmared oft, but faint and fainter still
Nor other word she spoke.
And so she died;
And now that lonely cottage on the amoor
Hath no sweet visitant of earthly hope,
To Cheer its toiling inmates.  Hahbitlel
They sowv, ancld reap, and spread the daily board,
And steep their bread in tears.
God grant them grace
To take tlhis chastisement, like those who win
A more enduring mansion, from the blast
That leaveth house and home so desolate!"
From  an eminence on the moors we  obtained a noble
prospect of the  extensive, hilly, and  well-wooded vale in
which  Sheffield  reposes, -  apparently  at the  extremity.
The scene was everywhere varied and full of beauty.   A
rich tone of coloring from  the setting sun spread itself over
all objects.  Our party were all happy in the love of God,
and rejoiced in  prospect of that glorious hour, when, like
Moses on Pisgah, we should, from  " the rido'4e that sepcarates tIwo worlds,'"  behold our heavenly Canaan, and, like
him, enter immediately upon the enjoyment of our eternal
inheritance.
5*




C HAPTER   IV.
CASTLETON AND PEAK'S HOLE CAVERN.
BEFORE entering oupon those ext raordinary mangifestation.s of the grace and power of GoD, for which the ministry
of Mr. Caugyhey has been so remarkably distinguished, we
invite the reader to an excursion with him into Derbyshire,
- to behold other scenes of beauty, of solenz, sublimity,
and grandear, - the work of the same Almighty God, to
whom are known all his workes, from the beginning of the
eworld., -Acts 15: 18.
We copy from the letters of Mr. Caughey.
In company witn a party of Sheffield friends, I enjoyed,
the other day, an agreeable excursion into Derbyshire, as
far as CGastletonz.  In the language of a native of Sheffield,
"' We bade adiet to the sooty mac.jesty of Sheffield, and the
thick atmospheare in which it was enveloped, for the purpose
of participating the pleasure of another ramble among the
heathy hills of Derbyshire, and inhaling the fresh breezes
which play upon their summits."'  With the exception of a
salute from a tremendous shower of rain, which met us at
the base of the wild moors, to which I alluded in my last
letter, and another as we approached Castleton, we had a
lovely day, and were blessed with such a succession of
charming rural scenery as I have seldom  seen excelled.
There is a good carriage road over the moors.  From  their




CASTLETON.AND PEAK'S 1-10LE CAVEtRtN,        55
summits, at various points of elevation, we surveyed a finely
disposed and variegated landscape, with a great abundance
of woodland, quite equal, in this respect, to extensive tracts
of country in America; while,
" On either hand the lknolls and swells
Were crimson with the heather bells."
Descending from  this wild range of hills, our route lay
through a highly cultivated country, picturesque and cheerful. We passed along the verge of a valley, in which Hathersage is seated, and through which meanders the river
Derwent.  If the scenery was not slDblime, it was really
ezquisitely beautiful.  But I must be excused the "partficular descriptionl   " you recquire, as, at the time, I took no
notes of the numberless objects that chained our admiration;
and I feel unable now to give you a just idea of this lovely
specimen of English scenery.
We did not aligh at at Ilcherscae, else I could have related an incident that would have greatly interested the
boys, who were so much amused, you remember; with the
s-tory of " Robin ibo(; "  namely, that I had visited the
tomb of his celebrated follower, "Little John. "  TraCition
says, he was buried in the church-yard of this village.  A
grave of gigantic dimensions is still pointed out as the spot
where his ashes repose.  The house, too, in which lie died,
is said to be still in existence, close by.  I fear they will
scarcely pardon my indifference, for we could not spare time
to see it; but you will please to inform them that a rind
gentleman of Sheffield, and his family, who are ruralizigy
at Hathersage,  or near it, have given me an invitation to
spend a day with them.  Should I do so, they may expect
a4 particulars in full' but, should they become impatient,




56                SHI-OWERS OF BLESSINGC.
you may cool their ardor a little by saying, that a worthy
historian has thrown the village story into " the swamp of
doubt; " so that the tradition is at such a discount at present as greatly to embarrass the eloquence of some antiquarian adventurers.
Fron HIath]:ersage, we proceeded through Hope Dale to
Castleton, six mliles, where we arrived in the imidst of a tremlendous storm of thunder and lightning and rain; reminding us of H-im of whom an old English poet speaks,"That sencleth thundering claps
Like terrors out of hell,
That man may know a God there is,
That in the heavens doth dwell."
After the storm, whlich lasted nearly an hour, the sun
came out in brilliancy.  We left the hotel, and sallied forth
in quest of the celebrated Peakc's  Iole Cavernz. Suddenly,
on turning a corner, the rocky projections which overhung
the entrance met our view; masses of rocks, craggy and
menacing, and blackened with the storms of centuries, towered on high.  A few steps, and the eye measured the vast
dimensions of the mouth of this stupendous caverin.  The
heavy masses of unsupported rock, which form  the sweep
of a depressed.atucrtal awrch, and which rises high into the
precipice; the ribs and layers of rock lining the sides and
roof of a sjpucious vestibule, one hundred feet wide, three
hundred long, and forty high; the dubious twilight that
pervades it, and which fades imperceptibly into  deeper
gloom, and at length into utter darkness, as the eye attempts to image a sort of perspective, present a scene of
such extraordinary wildness, if not sublimity, as inspires
the mind with feelings of a powerful character.  The ladies
of our party substituting shawls for bonnets, and the gen



CASTLETON ANTD PEAK'S HEOLE CAVERN.              57
tlemen crowned with low white hats, prepared for the occasion, — each with candle in hand, -  we bade farewell to
day, following our guide along a rude path, in a windindg
direction, which became more and more awful, as the feeble
light from  advancing tapers rendered the scene more palpable and visible, reminding one of Homner's description of
the abodes of the Ci',-;"?meians:' The gloomy race, in subterraneous cells,
AmongT surrounding shades and darkness dwells;
Hid in the unwholesome covert of the nlight,
They shun the approaches of tile cheerful light:
The sun ne'er visits their obscure retreats,
Nor when he runs his course, nor when he sets.
Unhappy mortals! -    "
It must have been some such dark caverns as this  wve
thougilt, which  affTorlded the heathen  such a variety of
gloomy and frightful inmagery when describing the abodes
and deeds of their gods. The cavern of'on z i us,-, if I recollect right, was located somewhere in the country of the
CiimmieriaJ$.  Iris) by the command of Juno, arrayed in
a "bril~lia~nt r'obe," and seated upon " t-e glowin0gy cttrve
of a radiant- arc/h of mnanzy colors," descended, upon a
special mission, into the cavern of Somenus.  -Her visit was
represented as one of mercy.  It was to require the god of
the place to put an ende to the sorrows of the unfortunate
Halcygone, who had long been imploring the gocs for the
speedy and safe return of her husband fromn a long voyage
which he had undertaken.  Though a lady of fortune, and
livingf in a splendid palace, w ith her own halnds she prepared
a superb garment to present to him  on his return.  This
event became the one all-absorbing feeling of her heart.
Daily did she visit the temples of the gods, offering rich




53               GISHOWERS OF BLESSING.
and costly gifts at their shrines and altars, to induce them
to interpose their protection, and hasten him home.  Alas!
shile was a wvidow, and she knew it not.  Her husband lay
at the bottom of the deep and troubled sea.. "Hope deferred
maketh the heart sick."  The time expired when he had
promised to return.  She became more and more importunate.  The altar of Juno was honored and enriched by the
disconsolate Halcyonce.   The goddess resolved, in great
compassion, to put an end to prayers and anxieties, which
must forever be unavailing; for even the gods of the
heathen were supposed to hear prayer, and to honor those
who honored them.  Iris was sent down from heaven with
an order to S0onzn12ns, the god of sleep, to shovw iaicyone,
in a dream, that her husband, Ceyx,; was'" nuz-bered?vith,
the dead inz shipwreck."  Iris reached the cavern, and
walked onward, as we did through Peak's Hole.  The radiant robes of this goddess illumined the swarms of dreams
which crowded the place, but she pushed their unsubstantial
forms aside with her hands, and threaded her way through
the cavern, till she arrived in the presence of the god of
sleep.  She found him  stretched upon "a bed of ebony,
hung wvith black curtains," enjoying a comfortable nap.
Dreams, numerous as the stars of heaven, or sands by the
seaside, surrounded his bed, in all sorts of shadowy forms,
over whom  the goddess noticed three'chiefs, llorpheuzs,
Phobetor, and Phctntasuls,   sons of Somnus; —all were
awaiting the orders of the drowsy  god "w' ith regeard to
egnbassies " to mortals.  But how striking their description
of the cavern itself!  They represented it as a place into
which no sunbeam  had ever entered, no chink or cranny
had, from periods immemorial, admitted a single ray of
light into this shadowy abode, sufficient to distinguish day
from night.  No crowing of cocks, no barking of dogs, no
1                                           n




CASTLETON AND PEAK' S HIOLE CAVERN.              59
cackling of geese, nor any other sounds inimical to sleep,
had ever disturbed the silence and death-like tranquillity of
the place. There were indeed certain gurglings of the 2river
ofy  oblivion; but the rippling of its gentle waves over the
smooth pebbles of its channel, only whispered peace, and
contributed to lull the mrind into the most profound repose.
Poppies and other narcotic plants grew at the entrance in
great quantities.  From these the hand of Nfight extractecl
so0orific juices, which she always scatters around her when
she exercises her soft enchantments upon the eyelids and
senses of mortals.
rOnfZlZes, in obedience to the command of Juno, despatched
Morphens to inform the unhappy Halcyone of the untimely
death of her husband; and Iris, endangered by the " sttpefactive vavors " of the cavern, made a hasty retreat, and
reascended into heaven. Morpheus finding Halcyone asleep,
transformed himself into the form and likeness of Ceyx, and
appeared before her imagination in a dream; but pale, cold
and deathly,y hair' wvet, water diripingy jfirom  his beard!
Ilie leaned over her, pronounced her name, -' Dear Halcyone  7 — and wrept bitterly, while he told her,'" You are
a widoe!  I am  no longer numbered with the living;your Ceyx is no more.  The ship in which I stailed was
overtaken by a storm; —   a whirlwind  from  the mouth of
Auster,'' shoolk our vessel to pieces, and we were all. swaliowed up by the reckless, insatiable waves of the sea. Your
namEie, dear lH-alcyone! was uttered amidst the remorsele:.
ro0-ar of billows, and it formed the last faltering accents of
your Ceyx, when he sank in the deep.   My spirit is now
The Soutlh-wind god; - each of the winds of the cardinal points wnas
undler the command of a particular god, according to heathen mythology.
Sa tcrifices were frequently offered them, to obtain their favor, or to appease
tiheir anger or fury.




SHOWERS 8O  BLESSINQ.,
wandering to and fro, awaiting the consolation of funeral
ceremonies, and the tears of the  object of its  faithful
affections, ere it cescends to the realms of Pluto.'"  Halcyone awoke with a screamn, which aroused her attendants.
She searched the room, but in vain, for it -was but a dream,
Iadl Ceyx was not there.  She left the palace in a state of
distraction, and ran to the place, close by, where she parted
wit1- her husband, and where he stepped aboard the ship
that was never to return.  Wild with woe, from a rock she
gazed forth upon the waves.  She saw a dark object among
the billows -  it approached nearer and nearer.  The waves
bore their charge to the shore —it was a "odeacd body.'"
Support Halcyone! the corse of her husband rolls at her
feet   This is an affecting picture.  It was thlus
the refined and polished heathen accounted -for dreamsespecially those of a remnarkable or supernatural character.
Do excuse this long digression.  I have related, it is true,
nothing new, as your classic reading has long since made
you familiar with this and other nlythological fables, and
" deeds and doings" of these imaginary divinities of the
ancients.  [But it is Monday, and my head is in a state of
such confusion, after the efforts of yestetcday, that I am uinfit
for anything  else; and it hlas affordd'  me a -f ew minutes'
amusement, which I hope you will not deoem unbecoming.
MAodern literature is not averse to mythological allusions 
indeed, some of our own poets, as well as the poetry of those
we denominate classics, are scarcely intelligible, without a
knowvledge of the mythology of the ancients.
But, to return to the exploring party in Peak's Hole
Cavern,- not altogether a classical nam3e, but no matter;
onward and onward we went, into deep and total darkness;
as if descending into the Erebus of P~lto, "v where'eigC,
mnonotonzous gloorn and evera-du7ri'.g silence;" if not into




CASTLETON AND PEARK'S HOLE CAVERN                 61
Tartarus, his second hell.  But no Tityus greeted our vision,
tormented by a devouring vulture; nor a Tantalus, nor a
Sisyphus; —a fit place, one would imagine, for unhappy
Tantalus, as the presence of rills and fountains of water,
high as the lbips, would have taunted and punished him
sufficiently for the asfront he offered the gods at the celebrated  feast.  Did Dives discover  " the locations, of tht
w:ater,"  think  you, when'" he cried and said,.l Father
Abral nha, sezd Laszarus, that he',may dip the tip of hiS
finger in walter, anzd cool vmy tongue; for'  ar, torimentead
in this Jfame "? —Luke 15: 24. Pardon me for introducing
this scr'iptural fact, surrounded by the fabled characters
of heathen mythology, and the fancies of Italian poetry;
but Dante, you remember, in his Dell' nJferno, represents
the soul of one in hell, tormented by thirst, greatly aggravated by a recollection of the rivulets and streams of his
native regions, with which he was so familiar in his lifoetime,
and crying to the passers by:
0! you," he cried, 6" that without pain (though why,
I know not) pass through this unhappy world,
-letir aind mark well the sorrow of Adamo;
Living, I had whatever my heart could wish,
And now, alas! I lack a drop of water.
The murmuring rivulets down the verdant hills
Of Cassentino, flowing into Arno,
Which keep their little channels moist and cool,
Are ever in mine eyes; and not in vain,
For their sweet images inflame my thirst
More than the malady that shrinks my visage.
The rigid justice, which torments me here,
Even from the place that I committed sin,
I)raws means to mock and multiply my groans."
Sisyphus, too, might have had his punishment here, as
there is no lack of steep rocks, up which, in the darkness
of eternal night, he might continue to roll enormous stones
6




62                SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
forever, without the possibility of getting one of them to the
summit.  The thought, however, struck us that, had the
insulted Latonza chosen this place for the punishment of
Tityn.s, she could not have found a chamber sufficiently
large in which to punish the giant, as he covers a space of
i;ne acres of ground.  Such a diiclulty, however, in tet
estimation of a heathen, would not have been too folrmidaldek
for the power of Lalocza's children -Apolbo and ~?ia..'v'iotz, too, as a punishment for his vanity, in boastino  of
his successful addresses to the clod-forled zJuno, to tlhe
great injury of Jupiter, might have been subjected lhere,
with little ingenuity, to the dizzy agnd un-easy qvh Ir of an,
ever-turninzg wcheel.  And the Danaides, inhabitants also
of the realms of Pluto, could have been accomlmodated witlh
a 6' prison  of cdad zanZt,"' and  plenty of waterl if not
enoutgh to fill a bottomzless barrel, yet sufficient to afcird
thuem  perpetual employment in these doleful regions.  A
ca.ssical thi-nker," seated aloft upon one of those  loomly
cnrtgs, for 7which this caver  is remarkable, mightl',  at the
expense of our party, have treated hi'self to a] valietv of
such fabulous illustrations.  Our ladies,  ndoeed, were not
so numerous as the family of the Danaides; and, perhaps,
his admiration of the fair sex nmightI have inclined hirm to
spare them  a comparison with  the forty-nine  unlhappy
daughters of the king of Argos; yet, the appearance of the
"rouyh  reaindeC7e?   of our sex wals well calculated to
a.fford him a theme for some of "tile wvorst /i,.~/,inzi'~yS,'
connected with his characters in the realms of Pluto.  i aim
sure, dear sir, this part of my letter will greatly interest tlhe
youthful branches of your family.  [But if they are inclinedl
to smile at the siyp~licity of the heathen, to whose mythology I have been alluding, you must remind them that, if
they have a more consistent, sublimne, and elevated faith,




CASTLETON AND PEAK'S HOLE' CAVERN.               63
they owe it to that Bible, which many American infidels
attempt to despise.
Coutinuinmg our subterraneous tour, we passed thlrouglh a
varTiety of soacious halls and chambers, some of wlich oux
i('i10 naeI   T7e Bel' Uose, Royer.:-~ie'"3.seJoe /.atcei, I/,e Devil's Cellar, the  I'li-J         07/SC,
o.tT     of L  incoln,,, &c., &e.  Portions of tliue roor,
w1it  p,:etty s- ars and stalactites, were succUAivegy  Vl:vi(ea.lc,
I.. tLe n1i3tul  Ieamis of our lights, and somnetimes slIou_ rcs.th
bol.:tifIl s!lein-or.  A number of mnall  ivuniets criossed oumi'
palth at intervals, wlhich, consideling tlle dartkness and uncertnLilty of their orin.ibn, d4epth, and deStinution, did not produce an agcreeable sensation.  Their gent -le and silver'y riIef, ass they passed over threip  pebbly'bottom, whispered
unlecsy apfprehensions, inlsteacld of t-ra d..!zit  re-ose.    o  far
from lulling the mind into': anz oblivionzs,inzsenzsibitiay 7
of danger, like the nmurmurjin  sounds of the waters of
oblivioz, they rather rendered the mind more sensitive to
the possibility of a "false slea    " and its conzseqneces;
sugooetinog' the idea of deep pits ancl chasms, into which, lhad
we tumbled, as did the priest of Dciazna, rela-ted in his story
to the weepino Eceria, wye feared there would have been no
waters of lPhlegethon in which to have 1" washed- to their
hzealin," our lacerated linmbs; nor a miraculous escape,
through the mneans of a:" coveringy of clozd,'" by the benevolence of her latJship, Diana,  to hide our exit from  his
majesty, Pluto; nor the prospect of being honored with the
signifilcant title, Virbiuts,- that is, twice c1,,za z.
As vision becname more accustomed to the gloom of the
place, objects were perceived with greater distinctness and
satisfaction.   At length we arrived at' the rive)r Styv,''
so named by our guide; a dark sheet of iwater, three or
four feet in depth, overhung by dismal rocks; but, unlike'~"  ""  "  — yv'j'I""''"




64                SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
its infernal namesake, in heathen fable, which encircles and
flows nine times around hell,@ it only extends, we were told,
thirteen or fourteen yards. Perhaps they meant, it is only
navigable thus far. It doubtless has an outlet through which
it passes, and, after many meanderings through the bosom
of the mountain, gains the light of day, and plays and
sparkles in the sunbeams, a crystal stream; -  as if to illustrate that beautiful thought of a late writer:'" Here our
gnincls are like springzs, lying coldly and darkly in their
native bed; but who can calculate their depth and fulness
when the rock of mortality is smitten, and the refulgent
stream of intellect gushes forth to roll and sparkle in the
light of heaven? "  Well, we stood upon the banks of the
Setyx.    A boat there was, but no ferryman; or, to be more
Classical, no C/aronz.'" Where is the son of Erebus and
Nox  "  All was silent and death-like.  It was not an
unclassical thought, in our guide, to detain us on the gloomy
shores a few minutes; as if to remind the visitors of the
disablities of those who had not been honored with funzeral
rites.  The souls of such were doomed to wander one hundred years along the gloomy shores of Styx ere they were
allowed to enter the boat of Charon; or, to put us in mind
of the ferriage, or, more properly passport, which every
living visitor to the lower regions had to present, ere he
was ferried over the Stygian lake.  A good apology for the
absence, silence, and tardiness of old Charon, is found in
the fact that, centuries ago, he was imprisoned one whole
year, because, against his own will and judgment, he ferried
HTiercules over without a passport.  Indeed, the ancients
always placed a piece of money  zidter the tongue of the
* The ancients said it was named Styx, in honor of a celebrated heroine
of that name, who, with her three daughters, according to their mythology,
assisted Jupiter in his war against the Titan-s.




CASTLETON AND PEAK'S HTOLE CAVERN.            65
deceased, as a fee for Charon.  I could not avoid the pleasing reflection, that this, and many other fabulous representations of the invisible world, of which the ancients were so
fbncl, prove how deeply they were impressed with the belief
of the soul's immortality, and of a future state of rewvards
and punishments.  I do not remember meeting, in their
writings, with any sentiment which indicates that they
entertained the most distant hope of the resurrection of the
body.  They believed, however, that an exposure of the
corpse to the elements, or the leavingw it to perish without
proper funeral ceremonies, would have an influence upon
tile soul in the eternal world.  The story of Charon and his
boat originated, I believe, with the ancient Egyptians, who
always pronounced sentence upon their dead.  In order to
this, the bo(ly was conveyed across a lake, in a boat.  When
disembarked, it,was judged and sentenced, according to its
actions. If good, it was honored with a splendlid buriail; if
bad, it was left unnoticed, to waste away and perish in the
open air. To the judgment of the gods in the invisible world,
they  left that which they could not reach -  the.so'll.
Thank God for the Bible  for its dcoctrinzes. as well as its
precepts.  How sinplie, how gyraczd/!   Tow rationzal, how
sublidte.!     ow g/oriots, how terir'i/ ic!    Here a lamb
ma-y wade," said a good mnan,' and here an elephant may
swim; " it is a depth suitable to every intellect.    Other
writintgs," Said another,': may make us wvise to adm-tiration, but thie Scriptures only can make us woise u'into salvationz."   Clouds an(d: darkness must have ever rested upon
eternity, (teeper tlln all the' nturky vapoJ1s,':' which: in a
he~athen's estimation, settled dowin upon the bounda ry river
of' Pluto's domains, had we been left without the light of
revelation.  Through life, and in our dying moments, wo
can with safety repose upon its declarations.'~




66               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
A watchword from our guide was reechoed lustily from
the opposite shores by Charon.  A couple of us entered the
little boat in faith.  We were ordered to lie down flat in
the straw, candle in hand: and off we went, we knew not
whither; till suddenly we were underneath an arch of rock,
which just allowed our boat to pass; thus,  two by two,"
we were ferried over, through the "muscular power" of
Charon, exerted at the end of a rope. The shores upon
which we landed were quite as bleak as those we left.
Hence, we saw nothing of the Elysii CGapi, said to be on
that side of Styx; - nor " singlng of birds, nor pleasavnt
streams, nor evergreen bowers, nor delightful meadows,"
nor any other mortals but ourselves; - nothing but blackness and darkness, which our lights rendered more palpable and oppressive, as if we had arrived at that awful spot
mentioned by the poet, and from which, a poet only could
have won " ani idec of s ublimwtity  "
"Whose battlements look o'er into the vale
Of?on-existence - nothing's strange abode!"
But a truce to fables; we are in an English cavern; certainly one of the most imposing I have ever, in the entire
course of my travels, visited.   We proceeded onward,
through a variety of windings and narrow apertures, till we
arrived at the extremity of the cavern, - a distance, from
where we lost sight of day, of between two and three thousand feet, and at a very great depth below the summit of
the mountain.  The longer we remained, objects could be
perceived with more and more distinctness. On our return,
we paused beneath a vast gulf, which shot upward to what
seemed to us an immeasurable distance.  Suddenly a numerous array of blue lights and torches kindled and blazed




CASTLETON AND PEAI'S THOLE CAVERN.          67
upward through the vast profound, which illumined an extensive portion of this magnificent vault. The hitherto dark
vacuity seemed instantly full of curious objects, of whose
existence we had no conception a few moments before;
rugged projections, bold and curiously-formed crags, colunns, arches, domes, - nature's own mnasonry, - rather,
the wonderful workmanship of an Almighty hand; lofty
recesses, ornamented with spars and stalactites, which sparkled with various lustres. The entire cavern is composed
of a limestone strata, with a mixture of marine exuvie, and
gemmed in many places with these pretty formations. But
the eye is never satisfied with seeiny; there were altitudes to which vision could not reach; unexplored portions
above and beyond, filled with deep darkness, which bade
defiance to the glare of lights; literally,' The light
shzined in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it
not; " that is, received it not. — John 1: 5.  A solenm
illustration this, we thought, of the darckness, ignorance,
folly, superstition, wickedness, and consequent wretchedness, which have so long settled down like the gloom of the
bottomless pit upon vast portions of our race.  "' ThIe blue
lights anzd torches" of heathen sages have for ages glared
heavenward through the gloom iprofozund, but only to cast
a few fitful gleams upon the murky shades in their proximity.  " Clouds, alas! and darkness, rested upon" all
beyond.  The light of nature and providence has been as
ineffectual as the light of reason and conscience. The Jewish
religion was the lamp of the world; it cast a cold and feeble
light upon the gloom which overspread all nations, but was
inefficient to penetrate it; the darkness received it not;
it neither understood nor profited by it.  These lights, all
of them, were but as liyhts shipning in a dark place, - as
our lights in this cavern, —awfiully illustrative of our world,




68                SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
and of every sinner's heart, "' until the day dawnv, ranJd t/he
~day-star,  pwtlpogo5, thle LIG-IT-BRINGERP, acrise in, you;r
hea'rts" (2 Peter 1: 19)  till a voice from  heaven, which
shall be heard and felt, says to every nation,'!'Rise arid
shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of tZhe LoRD
is risen?upon thee.'"
These lights and torches, which glimmer through this
cavern, do but excite our curiosity, without satisfying it;
they scatter their fitful gleams about, but do not illuminate
the gulf. A long continuation of such al-ticial lieight must
blacken what it proposes to brighten. These spars'and other
crystallized formations must, in. course of time, become sooted
over, till their brilliancy has totally disappeared.  No one
will deny that nature, providence, reason and conscience,
have sent forth emanations of lioght; but only sufficient to
alarmy, the human mind, to arouse its powers, to sltart
eneryies, propose problemes, and state difiicullies; but
this light offered no terms of peace or reconciliation, answerved no questions, solved no problems, and settled no difficulties; it only bewildered and terrified the understanding
of man.  The humran powers, by their fearful and corrupt:-ol'kings, absorbed a more deathly taint from  surroun(linog
gloom, became encrusted in deeper ignorance, and blackened:wvith grosser vices.    Tature m:y retain within  herself, in
this cavern,,a method of self-purification.   These pretty
mineral productions may possibly cleanse themselves perio(lically from thle effects of the smoke; or they mafy possess
properties capable of nleutlalizing the eftects of such sooty
exhalations.  JH:uman nature inherits no such power oL selfpur' ification..   It has become wDorse and  vwor'se, blaclkeer,
and more'' deygraded, and brultish, as century has succeeded
to century.  Look at the ancient Greeks and Romans.  In
them we see unassisted humzan nature,  mI mean, un;as.



CASTLETON AND PEAK'S HOLE CAVERN.           69
sisted by a divine revelation, -in its brightest polish;
intellect at its largest grasp; arts and sciences, — philosopZy, eloquence, sculpture, painting, poetry, -at their
highest noon.  "' There is no elastic energy," says one, " in
a heathen mind, no recuperative power to bring it back to
God, no well-spring of life to purify the soul.  The heathen
are, of themselves, making no advances towards the truth,
or towards a better system of religion. They make no progress towards civilization, intelligence, liberty. The effect
of time is only to deepen the darkness, and to drive the
heathen further from  God.  They only adore more shapeless blocks; they bow before -orse-looking idols; they worship less elegant and more polluted temples.  The idols of
the heathen are not constructed with half the skill and taste
with which they were two thousand years ago, nor are their
temples built with such exquisite art. No idol of the heathen
world could now be compared with the statue of Minerva, at
Athens;; no temple can be likened to the Parthenon; no
sentiment, originated now in China, India, or Africa, equals
in sublimity or purity the views of Socrates.  The heathen
world is becoming worse and worse; more degenerate, more
abominable, more pitiable, from  age to age; darker, and
more debased, till the space which divides the human race
from the brute has become reduced to the narrowest possible dimensions, consistently with preserving that distinction at all."
The day which now shines over Castleton could illumine
this cavern in a moment, could it be introduced.  This may
never be, unless by the spasms of an earthquake, hitherto
unk/nown to these parts, unless we suppose this natural
wonder was occasioned by some such convulsions in nature.
* Or the Apollo at Rome.




70                SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
This darkness may hlave a lease of tle' plac, o extending to
the latest period of time; when the blaze of the last day
shall burst into all these subterrianeous pass,goes; Ahllen
darknzess, like SINNxERS, must fly bfiore it, and cry in vain
for rocks and mountains to hide it from the fhce of the pursuing and consumingo enemy. -  Rev. 6: 12-17.  But a
day has dawned, a Gospel dcay, which Shall never know a
close.  The  tiyz of Riyhteousn.ess h,(s a riseon upon our
world, w1cith healing i  his wvilngys.    I Portione after portion
of our globe shall become illuminated by 1i3 rays, until t1he
-whole world slhall be filled with the ligiht o' the gloiy of
God.  Thllt Inatuiral sun,, which is now  shon -eing  dow-in
his rays upon En,gland, were wve cabove groni,n  to see in
will survive all the moral ancl intellectual ditrkesiss A\binh
disgraces our race; even that Awhich exists in the innelmost
recesses of those dark places of the ear th h':lch are txi'h
habitations of cruelty.  There is not a sinole- nCation within
the circuit;and visitations of his rays,  that shilal not be enlightened, cheered and warmed, by the glorious bleams of the,
iun  of Ri,/hteoitsness.  Hallelujah    The Lorid God omnipotent reigneth    A _men i:But I have detained  you quite too long in this gloomy
and solitary abode.  IHighly entertained with our 2n,,~A.ergrovunzd exc'ut.rsionZ, wve emerged into open dl.ay.  One of' our
party, who did not accomlpany us into thle cavelrn, infioriled
us there had been another storm of tlundler and lighotnini;
but we heard nothing of it; besides, we hital so-methingo of
the kjnd of ourL own.  Our guide dcetmined -us hll' "n hIabou-i
for tihe purpose of   cha.i7cygu     c,'oc eI/  oh vtJCr;   7  tohe
explosion was succeeded  by thousends of echnoes from ch above,
benelth, running fai r nl Andl  wie lthrouolg 1 e    chass anL c1rannies,
extending   into ot11her caverns yet unvisited by the foot of
man.  As the distance increased, the echoes became soft




CASTLETON AND PEAlK7S HOLE CAVERN.                  71
and sweet, resmrnbling the ripple of waves, or   rain cominog
down like music,'' fainter and imore distant stidl1  till tliey
seemed to fall by solitary drops into the profandity of solel
capacious and fIar-away reservoir.    low  great   th-  c'ig11(11O
whIen once mLoL-e in o'  et day I! (b't not greater tliha  the
inildael ener oinc fro'om the caverns of infideity-,  into thle lin:i iand suinsinm  of Gospel day) -  1the sun shlning  throuhll;
glorious sky, remTdinding us of those fine lines of a poet,viho
saung the honors of C/i hrsti iSty''  Ofrom  osten ution as from wealkness free,
It stands, lile the cerulean arch we see,
Matjestic in its own simplicity."
After dinler, we a.eesmded a steep hill, behind the village
of Castleton,  upon wbhich stands an old dilapidated castle; a
venerable ruin, and hoary with years.  It stanids upon the
verge of a rocky precipice, almost directly over the c:vlern
I have been describing.  This is the ancient' Caistle oE the
Peak."'   Some consider thlle structure Ilorman; others assCrt
wt as a pl.ce of royal residence during tlle goverlnment of
tlie Saxons.  Descending fioom this emnience,  we walk;ei on
in the direction of Ifai   Tor, _ctre si.cr7 n    ot,/      i
considered,  in   these parts, sone of the seven wonders of
the Pea/. of Derby/shire.  It is an immense hill, one thousand three hundred feet above the level of theo valley.  It
bears some  resemblance to  Mount IdaL,'hlich  overtlookl
Troy, U. S., with a similar brsoken front  as if:a'niAlY
avalanche had but lately come away from the top, br'igilH;
with it to the very base, the fifth part' o  thle moun'tain.
This cimvptive side has a singular fppe:r lnce;  it is cittaposed of a. sort offia/:ay snbslance, lwhich deconiposes in tlice
winter, by the action of frost, and is continually cominilo rr0
The decomposition during winter is said to be rapid; and




72              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
it is kept up curing the year, by the action of the sun's
rays, wind, rain, and by the various changes of the atmx osphere.  The descent of these small particles gives the
mountain a shivering aspect; but the inhabitants affirm
that a rnubling sound is frequently heard to proceed from
the bowels of the mountain.  Sometimes it sends forth a
runshilng noise, like a river running over its pebbly bed.
Notwithstanding these perpetual dilapidations, the oldest
inhabitant, I understand, is not able to perceive any diniiation in the size of the mountain.  lHere is another " sbzb
ject" for your speculating mind.  Your philosophy, of
course, discards the old notions of the spirit, geniu1s, om
genii, of the mountain; but, were this mountain on classic
ground, it would stand, unquestionably, connected with the
transformation and punishment of some of the gods or
goddesses of antiquity. The ancients, you will recollect,
accounted for the convulsions and eruptions of Mount Etna
by the incarceration, within its burning caverns, of the giant
Typheus or Typhon, by the offended gods.  A thunderbolt from the hand of Jupiter left him sprawling beneath
the island of Sicily, his feet reaching to the utmost verge
of the island, while his arms and shoulders ran beneath an
extensive territory. His head was supposed to be directly
underneath IEtna.  From his mouth and nostrils proceeded
flames, vapor, and smoke.  The rivers of lava were but the
product of an emetic; and those tremendous convulsions,
which shook and terrified the country around, were but his
gigantic efforts to disengage himself from the ponderous
weight under which he groaned.  This allusion will make
the foundation for a classical story for the boys, which you
know so well how to improve.
Leaving the shivering mountain on the right, we ascended
an eminence to the left, and arrived at the Blue Johin iuile.




CASTLETON  AND  PEAK'S HOLE CAVERN.                 73
The entrance has nothing of the picturesque which characterizes Peak's HIole; it is quite concealed and covered by a
little house on the brow of a gentle hill.  Our guide, having furnished us with lighted candles, led the way through
a small door in the a-partment, not unlike the entrance to an
humble cellar.  Through a series of- rugged steps, hewn in
the limestone rock, we descended nearly five hundled feet.
The passages and rooms through which we passed, some of
which  are  spacious, were brilliant with  spars of various
shapes andt splendors.  We paused for a few minutes in one
apartment of uncommon dimensions, where the company,
formingo a circle in the centre, sang yery sweetly:
"From 1ll that dclell beloTw the skhies
Let the Crea-or,'s praise arise;
Let the Redceemers nam ie be sung
Thlroug  eavey l; nc by e-T'-y tongofue."
MAy C' observatiozns acnd reflections " in the Peak's A0ole
Cavern have been spun out to such a length as, to precllde
a m —inute deseTiption of these subtenlanuetu' a.bodes.  After
lemlinuti nT'-in hour or two, encompassed by'' bi. c',5.,rs t't
da a'/es'3," Awe' eme zlTgee  onl ce  morie into: opie., r. &,ty.:     1 ouv
gr.e..t hte c1hnLae 1  i[ own like thll clealmta, nees o[' tlli_ i Ie.:
conver t (I thoui!ut), w-len just emtergin  out o0' the gloo01my
cavlern  ot dcurlc anld  deslpa',iurby  r.e2eztn/a;,Vcc, -  hltl;inr
been, poelrhlps, there for weeks; and 1: t ose c'qidl  s'yllef's. /ielli de th, and  i7n," forlever    n rini  a1 tempest'
in  his ehits; s,'    da',ar     ilmp7ortance"     sadolning    every
bouir of his drleary existence  1 SWhlile' conscienice w-lites a,
doonsdaytv snenee on his }hear't,'' t lhee is'          a     h i.:'   p  cc. -
sio,,':  ot ulany sills, mtarching  oiiward to meeL  iin  t tle
bar oCf God.  Thiere is, lowever. an outlet of rnlt.ecy.  PB
the light of the cross it is revealed:': Behold the Laimb of




74              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
God, that taketh away the sins of the world!"  The outlet
is in this direction, and in no other. Repenting and believing, he. hails it from  afar, and presses forward, "with
vengeance at his heels," into life, liberty, and glorious
day.
After tea we set out for Sheffield. The evening was one
of the loveliest. As we passed down the vale, the eye was
charmed by a variety of agreeable objects.  Castleton,
seated amid quiet and sweet seclusion, in the bosom of the
mountains, was gradually retiring from view, while our
vision ranged up the cultivated valley, and swept along the
rugged sides of the mountains, some of which were reposing
in deep shadow, others were radiant with the rays of the
declining sun. An immense cloud, of a peculiar brown
color, stood over Mainam Tor, casting a shadowy tinge, to a
proportionate length, down the mountain.  The village
church, at length, the ruin above, Mamin Tor, and all the
guardian hills of Castleton, disappeared from our sight, and
we pursued our way homeward over a succession of hills and
dales, where nature has been by no means niggardly in the
bestowment of her favors.
Our company separated a few miles from Sheffield, when
I rode on to Dronfield with the family of the Rev. David
Clark, minister of the Independent church of that village.
I spent the night at his house. Next day, visited the school
connected with this chapel, and was much gratified with the
exercises of the children, and gave them a short address.
The village church is ancient.  We spent an agreeable
hour in the interior,
"Reading the mural tablets of the dead,
Or poring o'er the dimly-sculptured names
Upon its sunken pavement."




CASTLETON AND PEAK'S HOLE CAVERN.        75
Returned to Sheffield in the afternoon, and preached to a
large congregation at night. The revival is still advancing
in power. As I intend to forward you, by the next steamer,
a full account of the work of God, I shall bring this long
letter to I' an abrupt close."  Farewell!




CHAPTER V.
NORTON  IIOUSEo
YESTERDAY I arrived here, -  Norton House, the residence of T/Lhonas B. Holy, Escl.  It is a fine, venerable,
b'tro.iczl-liete mansion, par'tly covered withi ivy, venerable
jn kaspect. andtl' becButIifttlfor siutationz.'  3rotler Unvi7 ii
accompanied  me fromn S/heflield.  We had a lovely ridce.
The neighborhood of Sheffield is famed for its rural betruty,
wllich is seen to great advantage in ascendinc,   the hills of
Nsor'lon-.  The points of observation are so nul1merous a'nd
a dvantaDgteous,   that one  mnay  post hihmself upon  many  aJ
sipectlcatia e height,"  as Cowper terms thllem, and -view,
exultino', "a spacious mnap of hills, with valley iinterposecd
between."' The hills, "swelling  and undul;tting  to alnd frio,'
are enlivened  with  green  fields, tufted  with  tces, and
fringoed withl foliage.  Groves and thlickets spredcl thelmselves over the sides and summits of gentle eminences, and
0nod  upon -1 the neijlhbor'ing( steeps.   Gritiui,  or cold  and
dcejecneI,  munst thalt hea1t be, thbat is not war'?m-ed, chie.ered,
anc   eetafilel, by  a- scene  so  innocent, so diversifiied  so
loveiy     Fe   1lL:dscan es, in fact, can vlie, wAit!:h it in beauty
and firtility, or afford'iicher materials -for the irural pencil:
~4 --------- Soft delcliviti-s, tufted hills,
Vith Yiewv of waters turning busy mills.'
Nor should Sheffield be overlooked in the distance:




NORTON HOUSE.
"Whose fragrant air is yon thick smoke,
Which shrouds it like a mourning cloak."
And now adieu, once more, beloved Sheffield! I have
added a few more pleasant days, and successful efforts to
bring sinners to God, to the many such-like days I have
spent, within thee. Farewell! I love thee though thy
mantle of smoke is drawn so closely around thee!  My
heart is with thee; for where one's treasure is, there will
the heart be also! - my spiritual children are within thy
walls.  Peace be unto thee and them, and to the friends I
leave behind.
And now, with what comforts, eleyancies, and mercies,
am I surrounded!  many of them such as Cicero labelled,
" Circumstantial pieces of felicity! "  0, how kindly has
the Lord provided for me in my weaknesses, during my
travels in this and other lands! - hiding-places, as well as
resting-iplcces for the poor, weary, disabled Evangelist, or
Revivalist, as I am called, - which all Christ's ministers
should be; - with  persecutions sometimes, -  what St.
Paul named  outside fightings, and inside fears,W' Withoout were fightings, within were fears; - ourflesh
had no rest, but we were troubled on every side;" -a
little brush of such things now and again, but wisely proportioed, by my Lord and Master, to my strength; - but
hie soon kindles my soul again, into a pillar of file, travelling through the wilderness of lunsaved sinners!
Had St. Paul been favored with such a resting-place as
this, how he would have enjoyed it, when he wrote to
his brethren in Christ at Corinth, "Now ye are full, now
ye are rich; ye have reigned as k/ings witho'ut us; and
would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with
you.  For I think that God hath set forth us the apos



78               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
ties last, as it were appointed to death: for wve are mnade
a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, anzd to menzc;"
then followed a list of his grievances and sufferings; - that
he and his fellow apostles were called fools and wceak,were defamed  and  persecuted, -  labored and worked
with their own, hands, that they might preach the Gospel
without charge; yet for all that they were 1reviled, and
counted the filth. and off-scouring of all things, -  were
buffeted, did  suffer both huzlner and thirst, ay, and
nakednzess, and had no certain dvelling-place.- -1 Cor.
4: 8, 13. 0, my Lord and my God, I may well be ashamed
here!"I blush in all things to abound."
How long would St. Paul have been contented here?
Only till he felt the stirrings of the cgift divinze! - till he
felt the fire begin to burn wvithin, -  till the word of the
Lord became as fire in his bonzes, as with the prophet Jeremiah of old! Ah me! thus it will be with vze before long;
then the paradise of NTorton House would turn into a wilderness, haunted with the still small voice, " What doest
thou here, Elijah?"  Al, my Lord!  But he permits a,
rest, - lie who said to his wearied disciples, " Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a zvwhile.'"  "Rbest
is necessary for those who labor,:' says Dr. Clarke; " and
a zeaious preacher of the Gospel will as often stand in need
of it as a galley slave."  But Jesus called them into a desert place; and lo, I rest a while in an Edenz!
Norto0 n is the birthplace of the celebrated sculptor,
Chantrey; one of the greatest artists England has produced.  There is a mnzuou7nent to his meHmory, in the old
church close by, of plain white marble, enriched Fwith a
nzedallionl likeness of the artist.  His remains repose a few




NORTON HOUSE.                   79
yards from the church, encompassed by an iron palisading.
A short time before his death he came down from Londlloi
to choose his place of sepulture.  In doing so lie remarked
to the aged clergyman, " But I do not intend you to bury
me; " but he did so, shortly after!




CHAPTER VY.
CHESTERFIELD.
EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL.
Chesterfield, Derbyshire, October 27, 1845. - After a
few days I became restless at Norton, and longed for action.
This call to preach is an intrusive thing; - like the conscience of Shakspeare's hero, it " 7mutinies in a man's
bosom, and fills one full of obstacles."  The reflection of
what fzmi7ght have been done in rescuiing souls from Satan,
while one has been loitering, becomes annoying, and weighs
heavy;- the call lies heavy on the heart, when one is out
of action.  But, 0, how light and pleasant amid the battle
for Christ and soutls! Well, I hastened away to this town
on Saturday, and gave battle against the Devil and all his
works, yesterday. The Lord of hosts was with us indeed,
"' as an armed man, and a mighty one;" to kill and
make alive, to rend and to bind utp, to wound and to
heal.  There were forty-two sinners converted from  the
world; and twenty-seven church-members justified; and
twventy-three believers sought and found full salvation.
Total, during the day, ninety-two saved.  Of these, a
dozen were backsliders.  Surely the fields are alreadcy
white unto the harvest!
A pleasing letter from the Rev. D. Walton, the superintendant of Wesleyan Methodism in the city of York.  He




CHESTERFIELD,                    81
tells me the revival is still progressing, and that no Sabbath
has passed since I left without souls being saved.  That was
a noble work in York, during those three or four months I
spent in that city, when over ninle hundred were converted
firom the world; three hundred members of the Wesleyan
and other churches were saved, and betweenz seven and
eitS, hiz.utdered believers were sanctified. Memorable months
to 1m1e.
Oct. 29. -  Chesterfield must be the battle-ground some
tiume longer.  Crowds upon crowds listen to the wo rd; and
scores and scores are slain and saved by it.  The scenes are
becoming sublimely awful.  Mfy.joy, in beholding these displays of the power of God, is mingled with an adoring awe.
The human soul is a fearful thing, when aroused to a sense
of its danger. To behold the tears, and hearken to the
bitter cries and iwails, of despairing sinners, pierced by the
word of God, and torn by their own consciences, gives one
some idea of St. Paul's meaning, vwhen he says, " The
word of God is quzick anZd powerftul, anzd shcaiper than
any two-edged sword, piercing to the dividinu   asunder
of soul and spirit, anld of the joinzts and malrrozw, and is
a discernser of the tholghts anCd inteents of the heart." 
Heb. 4:12.  Extraordinary language that.  Such is that
living and pow'.ceiful word when preached with the HIoly
Ghllost sent down from  heaven.   It then penetrates the
heart-, as a sword does the body; reachingl the inmost
recesses of the mind, as the sword the marrow of the bones,
and conveys life or death to him who receives it.
Oct. 31. -  The weather is charming.  Although busy
with the penz, when not in the pulpit, I find time to enjoy
it in solitary rambles two or three hours a day.  There is a
little rural lane, which runs through the fields, near the




82              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
house of Mr. Savage (where I am entertained), where I
enjoy delightful walks. The air is so pure, and the quiet
is so deep and unbroken. 0,. what sweet, deep peace, and
purity of heart and thought, I enjoy there! What heavenward aspirations/!  What freedom  from  care!   What
communion with the past, and with God, who knows it all!
What a pilgrim-like looking forwards and upwards, in that
quiet lane! And then at night; to willing crowds, preaching
Jesus, and life and salvation through his name:
"The business pursue, he hath made me to do,
And rejoice that I ever was born."
Nov. 1.- The work of God here, like a river, deepens
and widens as it proceeds, and with increased rapidity and
power.  There seems to be little or no opposition as yet.
It is as if it had stolen a march on Satan, and fallen upon
his kingdom before he was prepared to cope with it. The
people have been taken by surprise, and neither sinners nor
Satan seem to know how to resist it.  It is not the first time
i have seen it thus; may it not be the last!  About one
hundred and fifty souls converted since Sabbath morning
last, and many sanctified.  Now hath the word of the Lord
free course, and is glorified of all. This is the Lord's
doings, and marvellous in the eyes of all his people hereabouts.
And 0, what charming weather! What heavenly afternoons! What splendid sunsets!
6 How cheerful, through her shortening day,
Is JLutumn in her weeds of yellow! 
And, then, one's own sweet, deep peace of heart and
gladness. I cannot believe with him who said:




CHESTERFIELD.                      83
s' Joy is the portion of the skies,
Beneath them, all is care."
No! no!  Faith, and  Hope, and gentle Love, Prometheuslike, seize upon this portion of the skies - steal this celestial fire, wherewith to inspire and animate my poor needy
heart, cheering the exile wonderfully!




CHAPTER VII.
PROGRESS OF THE REVIVAL IN CHESTERFIELD.
MR. CAUGHEY, speaking of the work in this place,
says:
The Lord did great things among us yesterday (Sabbath); ninety-seven souls found mercy, of whom fiftyseven were from  the world; and tzenzly-six professed
entire sanctification.   Of those justified, seventeen were
backsliders.  Yesterday was a day long to be remembered
in Chesterfield; such as has not been seen here since it
was a town.  Hallelujah!  O, what amaze and sweet surprise filled my soul  Such scenes as wee beheld yesterday
seem really necessary to make one realize the real,randeulr
and omnipotent power there is in the Gospel.  And of all
the evidelnces our world affords, that Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, lives and reigns equal with the Father over the
universe, these scenes of power and mercy seemed to nme to
be the greatest. To tell a poor, miserable sinner that Jesus
Christ hath powoer zulpoo  earuth to forgive his sins; to
have him believe this, so as to risk his all for time and for
eternity upon it; then to see how instantly his soryrow is
turned into joy, his darkness into day, and not in one or
two cases merely, but scores and scores of instances in a
few short hours, the evidence of the truth of that mighty
fact becomes overwhelming.
When Jesus said to the paralytic man, l" Be of good




PROGRESS OF THE  REVIVAL.:85
cheer; thy sins be forgiveln thee," the bystanders said
within themselves,'"W'hy dolh he thu.s spreak blasphemnies?   TiVho can, fojrgive sins but God alone? "  This
unuttered sentiment was a universal sentiment, wide as the
world of man.  it was not limited to the breast of a Jewish
scribe, but claimed the empire of a universal instinct.
And never had Jesus a better opportunity to do it reverence, and to confirm it forever, than at tha1t  oment; never
a time more favo rable or more suitable to disabuzse the
public mind of the suspicion of his acting the very God,
and usurping the throne and prerogative of the supreme
Jehovah.   But did he seize so suitable an opportunity to
do so?  No; for it is recorded, "But he, knowing their
thoughts, said, Why do ye thinklcevi in your hearts?  For
which is easier to say, 7hFy sinzs' te.,i..or to say,
Arise and walk?  But that ye mzay k/nom Mtze Son of.man hath power upon, eartA  to forgive sinzs [he sa,ith to
the paralytic], Arise, take up thy couch, and go to thy
house;" thus confirming  the dread impression which his
words,' Thty  sitns be forgiven? thee," had conveyed.
" W'ho can' forgive sins btet God alone?  Thus, as one
finely observes,! forestalling the funcetions of thle last day,
he remitted the claimns of justice on a sinful being, erased
his guilt from the book of God, changed the relations of an
accountable creature to the supreme Governor, and, in effect,
asserted that he possessed the power of talking fro   the
inmost soul the sting of conscious guilt; rwhile, bvy dec l"ri
thbat he retained this power, though he was then the Ti-3on
of lan u.po2   ecr'th,2 he ca.l ries our tlloughts to the state
whence he had descended, nud reminds us that no distance
froml his throne above, no depth of humiliation to which he
rmi ght condescend, can deprive him of his right to pardon;,at,.t as it is exclusively, so it is inalienably divine; and that
8




86              StHOWERS OF BLESSING.
he is therefore free to use it as God, though for a time he
may choose to rank as the Son of man.
"Preceding prophets, jealous for the divine honor, had
scrupulously guarded against the remotest suspicion that
they spake in their own name; they distinctly confessed their
delegated capacity, and perpetually appealed to the authority
which sent them.  But Jesus, we have seen, without any
modification or reserve, employed the language of supreme
personal authority.  He did not, indeed, in any way impart
the impression of an interest, or even an existence, detached
from the Father. The authority by which he spoke, though
expressly his own, was, by identity of nature, the authority
of the Father also. As often as he exercised the functions
of the legislator, he placed himself, if I may say so, on a
level, and in a line, with the eternal throne; so that its
glory fell directly upon him, and by him was again reflected
back, mingled with the lustre of his own greatness.  While
he stood forth distinctly in his own personality, and addressed us in his own name, he stood in so perfect a conjunction with the Deity, and so far within the borders of the
encircling light, that his voice came with the authority of an
oracle from the central glory.'Glorify thy Son, that thy
Son also may glorify thee.  I am in the Father, and the
Father is in me. No lman knoweth the Father but the Son.
neither knoweth any man the Son but the Father.  Whatsoever things the Father doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise.  He that hath seen me hath seen the Father also.
I and my Father are one.'
" But of all his displays of authority, his forgiveness of
sin is immeasurably the greatest. This, according to human
conceptions, is the highest and uttermost prerogative of the
Supreme.  It is to ascend a throne above the lawgiver, and
to silence his voice, and suspend his functions, for a reason




PROGRESS OF THE REVIVAL.               87
paramount to a11 law, and more comprehensive.  It is to
overrule the claims of justice, and, stopping it in its full
career towards the sinner, to exhibit a reason for mercy, to
which justice bows with reverence, and before which it retires. Law, the dictate of infinite wisdom, is the rule by
which man is to act towards God; but forgiveness is a dispensation, a reason, issuing from a deeper recess of his nysterious nature, and by which he chooses to act towards us.
But this prerogative, essentially divine, this high and incommunicable right, Jesus exercised, and vindicated his competence to do so."  And so he did yesterday, blessed be his
name N! early one hundred sinners, saved by grace, were
enabled to'"set to their seal" that Jesus Christ hlath
power cupon earth to forgive sins.  Hallelujah to God and
the Lamb!
The population are in a state of armcaze.  This amazing
work of God has evidently taken them by subrprise.  They
seem as if stunned. SiS'ziers know not what to say. Those
who understand the Gospel ask for no exp,)lanations or apol
oyies, and they get none; only more and more of the same
great truths which have been thundering so at the door of
their hearts, followed by the animating cry of' Behold, behold the Lamb!"




CHAPTER V11I1
AN ASTROLOGIAN LADY.
Nov. 3d. - -Iave been requested by a romantic lady, some
distance off, to give her my views of " the science of astrology; " — seems anxious to kinow whether I belong to the
lfamily of him, who,
Among the heavens his eye can see
Trace of things that are to be."
Or, forgetting all that has been said in England, pro and
coil, about the a postolical succession, w-hether I have the
honor to be in the noble succession of the Chacldern sihepherds, who once "beneath the concave of the unclouded
skies,"' read'il the stars " the decrees and resolut-ions of
the gods.  MA-y reply, I fear, will neither be considered
gallant nor satisfactory; —  that I never meddle with the
stcts, only to        tdnziJ'e them,-  leaving  them, usually; to
take care of themselves;. being much of the same mind
of him who said,
"I'c rather have no hand with the stars;
They're above us all every way."
Although, with Milton, I am fond of beholding
the wandering moon,
Riding near her highest noon,




AN ASTROLOGIAN LADY.                  89
Like one that has been led astray
Through the heavens' wide, pathless way;
And oft as her head she bowed,
Stooping through a fleecy cloud."
Adding, I am not fond of the coijectural sciences, although
they have their fascinations, doubtless.  The stars may
have their effects and influences upon this fine weather,
for aught we know; but that future events may be foretold by their situation and aspects, I leave those to
demonstrate who have time to consult attentively the book
and volume of the sky.  The Scriptures are safer guides
than the constellations; the promises of God, than. the
stars of the astrologist.  The light ofpassing providenTces
is better to go by than the light of passing stars; safer,
besides, unless one covets the fate of him who, when gazing
at a star tumbled into a ditch.  Sincere prayer to " the
Father of lights, with whom  there is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning " (James 1: 17), is safer and
better than the closest attention to the lore of the Chaldean
shepherds, or any of their successors.  I am not averse to
" celestial observations," but there is a volurne more
reliable than that which astrologists consult —the Holy
Bible; the promises and intimations of which are unaffected by clouds; and seeing that the steady, serene, uznzclouded skies of the Assyrian sages have not been vouchsafed to OdI Efngland, I may be pardoned for clinging so
closely to a volume designed to be " a lamnp unto may feet,
and a light unto my path " (Ps. 119: 105), through this
wildernless world; in which, doubtless, there is an Oasis.
or an Edena, which has survived th/e fall, for most travellers
through it; but the light of the Bible is better than the light
of the stars, to make the discovery.
8,y,




CHAPTElR IX. 
A GLIMPSE OF PRIVATE EXPERIENCE.
Nov. 3.  Afternoon.-  Solitude!  It makes the head
clearer, and the h'eart better  -  where one may learn more
and more of God, of self, and men, -' at proper angle I
take my stand to see them  better; " and then in public
come out and tell them all that passed before me,- all I
saw and all I felt.  A great place is solitude to study self;
and all that lies deep in the depths within; " deep calling
un-to deep-)," -— voices never heard amidst the din of outer
existence.'I Awas left alonze, and saw this great vision,"
says Daniel.  Great thinygs and great prizciples mnust be
confionted in silence and solitude.  There, they must be
discovered, conzversed  iwith, wrestled  with,'midst the
thoughts, as Jacob with the ang/el, and conquered, until
they speak, and tell their secrets, and give their blessing.
Then out and confriont, and conquter.  For he that, as an
intellectual prince, thus prevails in secret, will prevail with
men also. He has mastered /imnsef and his theme, and he
-ill imaster opozponents also.
It is almidst the solitudes of nature, and the solitudes of
th/oufgh/t, where one encounters other voices, — the voice of
God, and the voices of eternity.  And thought rolls upon
thought, as the waves against the shore, -  unbidden, deep,
awful, - over the solemn silence of the soul. There, soimetimes, the soul resigns herself with the Will and Reason,




A GLIMPSE OF PRIVATE EXPERIENCE.              91
into the arms of a profound stillness, passive and waiting
"on some heavenly impulse!"   And there, and from
thence, the soul travels into "heavenly places," or down
the steeps of solid darkness, through brazen gates, through
perdition's woes. Thus she gathers fresh strength, and vivid
perceptions, and mastery over what escapes her in the
crowd.  The crowd!  My mind relaxes in the crowd,
and loses its elasticity, its independence, and the mastery.
Thought dilutes in the crowd, or escapes, as the parents
missed Jesus in the crowd, and sought for him  there in
vain.
It is in silence and solitude my soul finds herself, possesses herself, and joins herself to God, and learns the
meaning of Jesus, "In your patience possess ye your
souls."  There she narrowly scans and weighs her dificultlies, learns how to master them, and walks up and down
the mnount of God,'midst stones of fire    Or, like Kinjg.Lemuel's  model wife,' she girdeth  her loins with
strength, and strent!heneth her arms; her candle goeth
not out by  ight; strengthl and honor are  her clothign,
and she shall rejoice in time to comze; she openzeth, her
mouth vwith wUisdonm, and in, her' tongzue is the law  of
kindnzess; she looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eatelh not the bread of idleness; her clothinrg is sil/k
and purple; her price is above zrabies; the heart of her
hztsband doth safely trZtst inz her, so that ahe shall have
no need of spoil; he is known in the gates, when he sittcth among the elders of the land; she will do him  good,
and not evil, a)ll the days of her life.; -Prov., 31.st chapter.
It is thus,with the soul of a minister that understands how
to improve solitlde, in gathering strenygth, and ene;rcy, and
macterial, for the great battle-strife of soul-saving.
The activities of revival life are pr'eservatives fi'om the




92                 SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
evils of an  inglorious  and  lazy  mysticism;  while the
experiences gathered in retirement fit the soul for its public conflicts, and repair: the wear and tare," sustained in
the great battle for Christ and souls. The soul comes forth
out of her solitudes, realizing the truth of Herbert's sentiment:
"Softness, and peace, and joy, and love, and bliss,
Exalted manna; gladness of the best;
Heaven in ordinary; soul well drest,
The land of spices; something understood "




CHAPTER X.
EXTRACTS FROOM JOUTRNAL, CONTINUED.
Nov. 5th. - There w-ere tiir?/y —lzize saved last night. A
great mnove among the people. The cries of penitent sinners
like the wailings of hell; only full of the hopes of nercy, -
a thing  unklnown in hell.  Sinners fly or fall beneath the
strange power which so mysteriously assails their  -eelings.
When the Gospel becomes " t!e power of God.unlzto salvttiozn," who can stand before it?
Yesterday, a deput-action from Maclesfield waited upon
me, -- Messrs. Bowers, BroccleAhrst, IHooley, Braddock:,
and Coillie, reciuesting me'to visit that town.  I postponed
a reply till this mnorning, that we might have time to consider and pray over the matter.  They called again, and I
agreed to visit them on my way to Birnzmiryhan3, the latter
part of the present mnonth.
A singular little incident occurred this morning, w-ith regard to these brethren. Yesterday, on arriving in town, they
inquired for lodgings, and, preferring a private boardingplace to a hotel, were directed to the house of a Quaker
lady.  She replied she could accommodat-e but foufr of
them; so they lodged there.  When taking  leave of their
hostess to-day, she burst into tears, and said, " I cannot let
you go without telling you that I saw you all five, tlhe
night before you came, in a dream,; and when I awoke, I
told my two daughters that I had seen five gnen, and that




94               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
they would come to our house.  To which they replied,' Go to sleep, mother, it is only a dream.'  I repeated my
dream when I arose, and again at the breakfast-table, and
said,'They will come to-day.'  The day passed on; three
o'clock arrived, and my daughters said:'Well, mother,
your five men have not come!'  Very soon after, I saw you
all pass by our house, and I called my daughters, and said,'There they are! Those are the men I saw in my dream;
and they will come to our house.' " Remarkable! - an indication, perhaps, they were sent of God.  I shall visit Macclesfield with courage.  The Lord has his " hidden ones,"
and his "little ones," and " the secret of the Lord " is with
them.  "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I
dlo?"  It is by this and that little incident, the Lord shows
them, that snc..ll as they are in their own estimation, and
in the estimation of the world, they are great in his sight,
and loved and prized.
I was struck with that sweet remark of one, to-day, that,
as the stars are scattered over the sky, and not gathered into
one luminary, so Christians are not all gathered into one
place, or church, but scattered over the world in the churches,
as the stars in the firmament of heaven.  That, as city
lamps are planted here and there, up and down the streets
of the city, to relieve and enlighten its darkness, and not
collected and gathered into one, so believers, who are " the
lights of the world," are not all planted to shine in one
church, but are planted, by divine wisdom,, wide apart over
the earth, to enlighten, enliven, and bless the world.  And
though the wicked, like city thieves, could very well dispense with these lights, yet they cannot, or dare not, blow
then?, out!  That Christians are compared to salt by our
Lord,- to salt the earth, and preserve it from corruption;
but as, when a man salts down mteat, he does not cast down




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL, CONTINUED.                95
tho salt in a lump, but scatters it all over the meat, so
Christians, whQom  our Lord calls " the salt of the earth,"
are not huddled all together in one place, but scattered over
all the earth, to preserve it from destruction. Adding, that
a sower does not drop his seed by handfuls, nor in heapis;
but scatters it broadcast over the field; so " the field is the
world,' as Christ says, and the righteous are " the good
seed" wherewith he soweth it;  not dropping them  all
down together in one place, but scattering them  broadcast
over the field of the world, turning the wilderness into a
fruitful field, and the desert into the garden of the Lord.
Those sweet lines occur:
" Scattered o'er all the earth they lie,
Till thou collect them with thine eye;
Draw by the music of thy name,
And charm into a beauteous frame.
"' The gates of hell cannot prevail;
The church on earth can never fail:Ah! join me to thy secret ones!
Ah! gather all the living stones!"
Nov. 6.- Over forty found mercy last night, and seven
full salvation.
" The heavens are big with rain."
O, what a "'teeming shower " is this! and such multitudes,-  thirsty mnultitudes, -  to draw its life-giving torrents!
What a pity to leave such a work!  And yet my enazge-,nenlts elsewhere must sever me from it soon.  May these
new converts stand fast in their glorious liberty.  The wicked
are beginning already to prophesy their dow'nfall, assigning
this, that, and the other reason, but they forget the mnighty
God.   They have not studied Rom. 14: 4.-  "' Who art




906              SHOWEiRS OF BLESSING.
thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master
he stcandethl or fcIlieth.  Yea, he shall be holden u]p); for
God is able to mncice him'n stand."  Nor are they well
versed upon the nature of the fouzzdctionzs of Christian
character; - that if some build upon the sand, others dig
deep, and lauy their foundations on the Rock of Ages.  But
they know not this Rock, nor the guarantee for stability a
conversion has which is founded upon it, no matter holw
unfavol'bly circumstancedC    Brother Savaye, my host, is
a practical builder and architect.  He told me, to-(day,
that many years ago he was employed to erect a large mnill,
upon a very treacherous soil, being of an alltiviumr  nature,
upon the banks of' a river, subject to frequent eoverflows, one
of which' occurred during the progress of the work.
The mill was to sustain massive and powerful Inmachine-?y; which, after immense labor and care -with the foundations, was corn7 leted, all but the great chiminey, which was
the greatest difficulty, in the estimation of those who pretended to know all about it.  It was intended to be thi~rtyfive yards high, and it was asserted that such a quick4tsanzd
bottonm could n ever sustain such a structur1e, suferlino from
the vibrations of machinery in full operation.  But, said
Brother S.,': I toolk care to dig deep, in search of a foundation; but, to my sorrow, the deeper I went, the softer became
the bottom.  But I had my plans, and spared no pains,
deeply aware of mry responsibility.  At a given point of
depth I lowered great stones, from three t'o si. tons weight,
pile upon pile of them, leaving to them  and the law of
gravitation to findl or make a, solid bottomi, and my success
was complete.  Upon these I built my chimney.  Mlany
were the speculations in town, that the chimney would not
stand, when the mill went into operation.  But the fires
were kindled, the zmoke ascended in columns, the machinery




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL, CONTINUED.          97
started, the ground shook, but it had no effect upon any
part of the structure.  All stood firm, and still stands
firm; but the secret of the stability lay in the foundations
of the whole.  Once, indeed, the chimney was struck by
lightning, but it only knocked a few bricks off the top, but
did not overthrow it.  The prophecies were alljfalsified,
thanks to my excellent foundations! "
And it is upon a similar principle we hope for the stability
of these new converts. We have taken much pains with
their foundatiolns in a sound regeneration; for, that is to
the soul what a good and sound foundation is to an edifice.
Outward circumstances are the data from which the Sanballats and Tobiahs draw their inferences and conclusions;
Neh. 4:1, 3; - a drunken, careless, or opposing husband; a gay and trifling wife; an ungodly father,
or a careless mother; an irreligious, or worldly, or
fashionable family, and wicked neighbors, and past profligate associates.  0, what mighty arguments are these
against the stability of those but newly found in Christ;
But such prophets little know what a powerful pledge of
future faithfulness and stability has been embedded in their
gInuine conversion and regeneration!
9




CHAPTER XI.
PREPARING TO LEAVE CHESTERFIELD.
THIRTEEN happy, busy days have I spent in this town,
and now I am about to bid it farewell, perhaps forever.  An
hour or two's work at the pen, and then  I am  off for Doncaster. The work of God burst forth in glory and in
grandeur the first Sabbath day, and it has advanced with
amazing swiftness ever since. - Thirteen  days only, and
overfive hundred persons have professed to find peace with
God, through  our Lord  Jesus Christ! -- three  hundred
and  sixty-nine of whom  were from  tlhe world, and about
one hundred and thirty-seven believers were entirely sanctified. -1 Thess. 4: 23, 24.
The following table, furnished by the secretary, shows
the results of each day:
Justified.  e 
Out of Mem-  From  BacksliDate, 1845.    Day.        the   bers of other ders re-   ~ 
World. Society. Societies claimed.  U    EOct. 26.    Sunday,..  42    27        4     12    23    108
27.    Monday,..  19        5      5      2      3      34
"28.    Tuesday,..  22         7      2      6     11      48
"  29.    Wednesday,.  18        5      2      3       7     35'  30.    Thursday,.  31        5      3      4      7     50
"  31.    Friday,...   29       4      5      7     11      56
Nov. 1.    Saturday,. 9          1      4      2      2     1 4  8
"   2.     undy,.  57    10           13     17     26    123
I  3.    Monday,.   21         1      3      4      1     30
4.    Tuesday,..  20           3      6     10    33       72
5.    Wednesday,.  26        5      3      4      7     45
"   6.    Thursday,.  43        4      5    14       5      71
7.    Friday,..  32         4      6      3      1     46
I3,,i9    81i   61  1 88    137  1i 736




PREPARING TO LEAVE CHESTERFIELD.          99
The subjects of this work of grace were conversed with,
and judiciously advised; their names also, and places of
residence, carefully registered, and the pathway of pastors
and leaders accurately mapped out, for their future visitations.
0, how much might be done to prevent those painful
rebctions which sometimes follow a work of God like this,
were the subjects of divine mercy properly cared for,
looked after, sought out, and built tup in their most
holy faith!
Many of these trophies of mercy were from the neighborhoods around, but a large number have united with the
Wesleyan church.
It seems a pity to leave such a work as this. The town
is moved and shaken; and multitudes more might be converted to God. But my appointments are out before me.
leading me on to Birmingham, and I cannot stay.  But
the work need not stop, - shall not, I hope. To God be
all the glory!
I was hospitably entertained at the house of Mr. $cavage.
IHe and his excellent wife are deeply devoted to God; — a
precious family.  The Lord reward them for evermore!




CHAPTER XIII.
PENCILLINGS ABOUT CHESTERFIELD.
As to my "Notes and Observations, in [my] walks about
Chesterfield," I have made but few of the sort you inquire
after; have had but little time for that purpose; besides, my
love for the sxmiling fields, green lanes, and quiet paths,
quite neutralized the attractions of the town.  However,
such as I have they are at your service.
First, then, - and, were there any " scolds " in the circle to which I write, I would be inclined to an apology for
my first note;  which  not being  necessary, I would
apologize, if possible, for the barbarity or illiberality of
"the lords of creation," were it not that the law of the
oppressive usage is traceable to "the times" of Queen
Elizabeth, "of glorious memory."  I refer to the use
of the " Ducking Stool" for women who were as strong
advocates for " the freedonm of speech,' as we are in our
day for the freedom of the press - for I am now on the
path to " a piece of water" where once stood the Ducking
Stool, remembered by some of " the oldest inhabitants " of
Chesterfield, but which had gone out of use before their
day.
Now, is your curiosity, ladies, sufficiently excited? Well,
then, the Ducking Stool was intended as a punishment for
"scolds, unquziet, and brawling women!' "  That is what
it war fer.  It consisted of a post set up in a pond, across




PENCILLINGS ABOUT CHESTERFIELD.             101
which was a transverse beam, turning on a swivel, with a
chair at one end, in which they placed the scold, and, turning the chair and its occupant to the water, dipped both as
often as the virulence of the distemnper required, until quite
szubdued.  Well, ladies, "Women's Rights"  are better
understood in our times, and in Chesterfield; for the Duckinyg Stool, -
" That stool the dread of every scolding quean," -
has quite disappeared, but whether the same may be said of
all the scolds of Chesterfield, I shall not undertake to
decide, or whether the punishment answered the purpose
intended; but you may criticize at your leisure the following opinions of a poet of 1780:
c Down in the deep the stool descends,
But here, at first, we miss our ends;
She mounts again and rages more,
Than ever vixen did before.
So throwing water on the fire
Will make it burn up but the higher;
If so, my friends, pray let her take
A second turn into the lake;
And rather than your patient lose,
Thrice and again repeat the dose;
No brawling wives, no furious wenches,
No fire so hot but water quenches."
Chesterfield is pleasantly situated upon a gentle elevation, in the beautiful vale of Scarsdale, at the confluence
of two little rivers, named the Hipper, more classically,
Ibber, which meant to ebb and to flow, from  its sudden
rising and falling, I suppose, not from the pulsations of the
ocean, but the clouds that burst in the mountainous districts
of Holymoor-side. The name of the other river is the
Rother, anciently Yr Odar; that is, the boundary, the




102            SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
most southern point in the country of the ancient Brigantes:
"    -   Bowery Scarsdale loves and boasts
The purple distance of her Alpine views,
While Rother, loveliest vagrant, roves below."
The town itself stands upon an extensive coal-field;
iron-stone also abounds in the neighborhood, of which some
use is made, but not to the extent which Providence would
seem to invite. There are also fine beds of potter's clay,
and clay for making brick; but the inhabitants seem  to
prefer to work in silk, and bobbin-net lace, hosiery, ginghams, ropes, sacks, cotton-wick, and leather.
The architecture of the town is not attractive; irregularly built, and chiefly of brick.
The old parish church is the chief object of attraction;
built nobody knows when, —some suppose in the early part
of the thirteenth century; but a stone over the south
entrance dates A. D. 1037.  It is a venerable structure, and
one never tires looking at it; seems as if pleading eloquently for the gloomy or glorious past.
But its crooked spire is the chief object of interest to
strangers, and the glory of Chesterfield in the estimation
of many of the inhabitants. It is, indeed, a singular object,
viewed in any direction, aspiring like a mammoth screw
between two and three hundred feet high. Viewed in one
or two directions, its crookedness would be taken as an
optical deception, owing to its twisted or screw-like appearance; but, viewed in other directions, it is unmistakably
crooked, - a peculiarity which excited considerable controversy in past ages. However, it has been ascertained to lean six
feet towards the south; yet, as one walks eastward or westward, it assumes a perpendicular appearance, -yet it leans
four feet westward, which is soon perceived by a slight




PENCILLINGS ABOUT CHESTERFIELD.               103
deviation in one's footsteps. An architect -once ascended
the spire to the c" crow hole," and ascertained that it leaned
southward eight feet; but he got frightened!
When the spire was erected is not known, or whether
perpendicular at first, or crooked. Advocates on both sides
of the question have been numerous, "as generation has
succeeded to generation," and century after century fled
away!  One thing is certain, it is built of wood, and covered with lead, put on in a spiral manner over flulting or
volutes, that run up also in a twisted direction.  Some
antiquarians suppose it was constructed thus crooked by
some ingenious architect; others that it was built perpendicular, and afterwards warped by the sun, or struck by
lightninrg.  But, as oblivion has swallowed up every fragment of tradition concerning it, each has claimed a valid
right to his own opinion.  It is certainly a curiouts affair,
and impresses beholders differetly, as an ornamenzet or a
deformity.  A witty poet speaks of it thus:
" Whichever way you turn your eye,
It always seems to be awry;
Pray, can you tell the reason why?The only reason known of weight,
Is that the thing was never straight.
Nor know the people where to go
To find the man to make it so;
Since none can furnish such a plan,
Except a perfect upright man:So that the spire,'t is very plain,
For ages crooked must remain
And, while it stands, must ever be
An emblem of deformity."
It is remarkable that wood-work so situated, and in so
moist a climate, could last so from  " time immemorial; "
so as to outstand all records regarding its construction.




104             SHOWEIRS OF BLESSING.
Architects have examined it from time to time, and reported
as to its solidity; but so contradictory have been their
reports, that one is tempted to suspect it has exerted a kind
of witchery over their feelings or judgment; some declaring its timbers rotten, drawn, disjointed, and liable to fall at
any moment, with contemptuous criticisms on its carpenterwork; others, in " after years," reported its wood-work
"firm and good," supported by a basis so constructed, and
the strapping of the spire so ingeniously fitted, that it is
~" morally impossible it should ever fall, until the base itself
gave way; that there is not the slightest bearing from
the shoulders, tenons, dovetails, or any other joint whatever; which convinced them that it had never given way
in the least since the first day it was erected, else it had
fallen down instantaneously; and that the rising sun a
century hence would illumine the crooked spire of Chesterfieldt!" Honor to the ancient architect, whoever he was!
Had the old church remained Roman Catholic, the Pope
would probably have canonized it by this time, though as
ignorant of its destination in eternity as the Athenians were
of " the Unkznown God," to whom they erected an altar!
Indeed, I saw the remnants of an old bridge in France, a few
months since, which once spanned the Rhone, the architect
of which was canonized by Pope Nicholas the Fifth, who
decided that'" the bridge was raised by the inspiration of the
Holy Ghost; " rl-iq t0le dead architect won the title of Saint
Benedict!
The monunme-zis in this old church of Chesterfield are
ancient and numerous, and the inscriptions interesting; —
some of which commence thus:
"DEO OPT: JMIX: ET POSTERITI TI.SCRUJM; "
That is, "' Sacred to God, the best and greatest, and
to Posterity."




PENCILLINGS ABOUT CHESTERFIELD.                 105
Another offers these agreeable lines:
"'  poore house of clay, now empty here thou lies,
When all the furniture is gone to Paradise:
Angels has conueyede to Heauean thy jewell mind,
And nothing but the cabinet left behind."
The tomb of a lawyer bears the following, -  worthy the
attention of our young friend, so soon to sit with those of
" subtle look, amid their parchments, weaving sophistries for
court to meet at mid-day:"
"A tender husband and a friend sincere,
Consign'd to earth, implores the silent tear.
Learn'd in the laws, he never warp'd their sense,
To shelter vice, or injure innocence:
But, firm to truth, by no mean interest mov'd,
To all dispens'd that justice which he lov'd:
Virtue oppress'd, he taught her rights to know,
And guilt detected, fear'd the coming blow.
Thus humbly useful, and without offence,
He fill'd the circle mark'd by Providence,
His age completing what his youth began,
The noblest work of GOD, an honest man."
There is something that struck me as quaintly witty in
the following inscription over the dust of an excellent lady,
the namesake of Martha of old, -a wife and mother:
" We boast no vertues, and we beg no tears:
0 Reader; if thou hast but Eyes and Ears,
It is anough: But tell me; Why
Thou com'st to gaze? Is it to pry
Into our Cost, or borrow
A Copy of our Sorrow?
Or dost thou come
To learn to dye,
Not knowing whom to practise by?
If this be thy desire,
Then draw thee one step nigher;




106              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Here lies a precedent; a rarer,
Earth never shewed, nor Heaven a fairer.
She was, - But room forbids to tell thee what;
Summ all perfection up and she was that."
The Establishment has another fine new church in this
town.
There is much wickedness in Chesterfield; but there are
many pious people therein, - such as resemble an emninent
divine, two hundred years ago, who was born in this town,
of whom it was said, "'  e was a man of prayer, and well
acquainted with the inside of religion  /'  It was further
remarked of him, that, " What some might reckon a reflection upon him was, in the judgment of wise men, his great
honor,- that he  acquired  his  learning  without being
beholden to any university."  Well, adieu  Chesterfield!
The pilgrim  must be off to another part of the vineyard of
the Lord!




CHAPTER XIII.
DONCASTER.
EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL.
Nov. 8. -I arrived here this evening, accompanied by
Brother Unwin, and several  hegield brethren, who have
come over to Doncaster for "a field-day, " as they call it;
that is, to sing and pr-ay, and exhort and agonize, for the
conversion of sinners, and the sanctification of believers, fronm
daylight in the morning till midnight, as the Lord may lead
them on to victory.  Noble men! the true heroes of my
Lord! And what can stand before these flames of fire! I
received a hearty English welcome to the mansion of Mr.
Wilton.
Monday morning, Nov. 10.- Yesterday was a day of
salvation.  Many saved.  There is a glorious prospect.
Nov. 11.- A great move last night.
Nov. 12. - Salvation!   0, how great!   What can
withstand the Gospel, when it becomes the power of God?
Rom. 1: 16.
Nov. 13. - The word runs like a fire. Hallelujah! I
like Doncaster; an agreeable town, surrounded by a fine
agricultural country; an old town of West Yorkshire.
Methodists numerous, hearty, of the right stamp, — rife
with the spirit of Wesley and the old Methodists, in soulsaving!
Nov. 14. - One o'clock in the morning; observing an




108             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
eclipse of the moon. The shadow of the earth has been
progressing sensibly over her surface, till all that is left
unobscured of that beautiful moon which arose a few hours
since, in full-orbed majesty, is the small segment of a circle.
Nature seems to mourn, and to grow sadder and sadder.
The moon is of a dusky copperish color, supposed by some
to be her native light, but more likely the effects of the
scattered beams of the sun refracted by our earth's atmosphere, and by it bent into the earth's shadowv upon the
moon, revealing her form and outline in this dusky grandeur.
And now a slight mist seems to arise and veils that
bright speck in a sort of nebulous aureola, which has a
solemn and impressive effect.
The shadowv begins to retire, and that luminous speck
increases sensibly.  My soul adores the great Author of this
sublime phenomena,- these amazing motions and aspects of
the heavenly bodies.  What sublime sensations does such a
spectacle inspire! How wondrous the laws which govern
these motions, — these orbs of immensity, and our earth, in
harmony with the rest, although so full of rebellion against
Him, the mighty Creator and Governor of all!
Is the moon inhabited?  If so, how does our earth appear
to the Lunarians?   IMalgnificent, doubtless; that is, if it
really is what astronomers say it is, a moon to the moon;
and appearing twelve or thirteen times larger to them, than
the moon does to us; and, of course, affords to them twelve
or thirteen times more light; - our earth, in fact, the largest
body within the range of their vision, and progressing
through the heavens with a motion thirteen times quicker
than the moon to us, but, like the moon, waxing and twaiuing
regularly.




DONCASTER.                      109
But is it possible that a scene so m'j;-J.ice'ntcl  h1as  no
s.ztcaZoro' s in that moon to behold it?  LI as iglnortant aIl.
proud as ve are, they amay possibly be vain enough to suppose thalt our earth is for no other purpose than to clheer
and enlighten themn.  Could we teleyraph them, we miglht
be disposed to hu/onble them a little upon that point!  B ut,
in doing so, we ought to be honest enough to confess we
have been quite as vain ourselves.  Ah  if the moon has
inhabitants, they are holier, hajppier, and wiser than we,
doubtless.
Astrolomyny is a darling science to me.  It would make
me an enzthutsiast, had I time to study it.  It always
inspires me with sutbliime emotions.'Time, however, has been allotted me for other putlrposes.
I know what they are, and must attend to them.  The Ruler
of the universe calls and quzalifies others, doubtless, to this
study, that they may show  forth his glory.  fosephius
accounts for the longoevity of the antediluvians, that it was
so ordered of God, that they might have time to study, to
some perfection, the geometrical and astronomical sciences;
that " the period of the grand year," which, among the
Jews, consisted of six hzundred years, was an era it was
necessary they should live to see, in order to lay a propeir
basis for those sciences.  That'i,rand year is still a sublime
idea in astronomy; it implies, according to some, the period
necessary to bring the s~un. and moon exactly into the same
positions which they occupied in the beginning of the creation; a period which most of the learned, I believe, suppose
to perfect the solar year and lunzar mnozthi more exactly
than any other.
It comforts my heart to anticipate a period, in my coming
etern:',ty, when I shall perfectly understand what is 1now so
sub-i n.ely gnystelrious to my present limited facullies.  And
10




110             SHOWERuS OP BLESSING.
may remember, with corresponding emotions, the time of
my ignorance, when gazing at an eclipse of the moon, from
the window of a house in Doncaster, England.  And if,
associated with that, there shall stand anothier -fact, " the
grand year " of my ministry, when my call to preach the
Gospel received its most signal verification, and that this and
the next year were comprised therein, it would add a yet
brighter illumination to the past, and inspire still sublimer
emrotions.
Towards morning, the moon regained all her splendor,
and more, apparently; for, with what surprising beauty she
did shine! Like the Christian, after emerging from  the
shades of unsuccessful temptations, it seemed as if the moon
was celebrating her triumph over that envious shadow, which
had cast over her fair face a gloom so humiliating.




CHAPTER XIV.
THE REVIVAL IN DONCASTER.
MR. CAUGaEY, writing from York, on the 15th of November, observes:
I spent six days in Doncaster; — busy days they were,
I assure you; —days of glory and of victory.  My soul
stood in a sort of amaze at the work, - its swiftness, -  its
greatness.  The whole town seemed to be moved.  But so
rapid and overwhelming was the visitation, sinners had little
time for exchan~gicng thoughts upon the subject, and less
for combination.  Clouds of mercy gathered over the place
at once, and burst forth and came down in " showers of
blessing "' upon the people. - Ezek. 34: 26.  " The Lord
was there," -  Ezek. 48: 35,- there in majesty and in
power, and hardly anything was found that could stand
before Hiim  and his truth.  There was no mnistaking of
the nature and reality of his glorious presence.  Angels
and disembodied spirits seemed as if filling all the air, - as
if rejoicing in
"The growing empire of their King."
But, alas! my engagements would not allow a longer
stay.  Is it right to throw out ahead of me appointments
that must be met, whether the Providence of God says
" stay here," or not?  0, how hard it was to tear myself
away from such a work, - from such awakened masses of




112               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
sinners, which may possibly relapse into the former state of
spiritual death!  But leave them I mutst, and leave them I
did.
The secretary, at Doncaster, reports the number saved,
during those six days, thus: — three huz lred and fiftysix cases of justlica-tion, and one hundred and thirlysevenz souls sancritiead.  Total, four hz2undred anld ninely
three.  T'he last night I spent there, not less than oJne hundred cnd fifty souls professed to find pardon or purity.
The people came in from  many miles around.   Onze
among the converts, on that last night of " the feast," created  a sensation, at least in my mind, as I attentively
observed him.  I queried whether England could present
such another, although  he was surrounded by a mlotley
group, some of which the Devil had evidently been using
ver y badly!  But this man was of an amazing height, -
roug7h, mqnscitlar, uzncouth, and in clothes as badly torn
as his con0scienlce!   wealther-worn, and weather-torn, and
batter'ed, - one of Zechariah's " Oaks of Bashaz! " — as
if ready with long acrmts to grapple unceremoniously with
anything a storm  might fling in their way; -reminding
one of  is'hakspeare's character,-" a fellow by the hand of
nature mnarked, qzuoted, and signed to do; "- as if circuzlnstances, with a hand of iron, had made him what he was.
Wordsworth's Peter Bell might have been his brother,
whose picture the poet drew so graphically 
" There was a hardness in his cheek,
There was a hardness in his eye,
As if the nman had set his fice,
In many a solitary place,
Against the wind and open sly!"
A diravt ond in the rough, this man may possibly be.  If
so, he will not be long in Christ's hands, if faithful, before he




THE REVIVAL IN DONCASTER.             113
shall shine with sparkltin  splendor in the bosom of the
cllhurch.  What a pity Satan has had him so long!  I stood
and looked at him; sttandino head and shoulders above the
tallest. and above a motley group, some of whom the Devil
had been using as bad, probably, as himself; -for what a
scene, surely, that was; and what a variety of character! 
But among such materials, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is in
its glory; and would seem to speak aloud to bystanders, as
Jesus did to the deputation sent by John to inquire )whether
he was the Christ that should come, or were they to look for
another.  Jesus raised his headl and, pausing from his nziracles of mercy, said: n "Go your way, and tell John what
things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the
lamne wal/k, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, tle dead
are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached.  And
blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me; "
offended, that is stumbled at the expenditure of my iwisdom, benevolence, and power, upon such miserable objects as
these! -  Offended! stumbled!  0, why should it be so,
blessed Jesus?  Such exhibitions of thy mercy, such proof
of thy Messiahship, ought never to have been a cause of
stumnbling to those who beheld them! - no, nor such scenes
as we witnessed in Doncaster.  And multitudes there were,
in Doncaster, who desired no more convincing evidence than
that they witnessed, on that parting night, that the Gospel
is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth! — Rom. 1: 16.
10o




CHAPTER XV.
EXTRACTS FROM  JOURNAL.
" AND AS YE GO, pr'each~."'York, Nov. 17.- I preached yesterday -forenoon in the
Centenatry COapel in behalf of the Wesleyan M/ssions.
In the afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Cornuck preached a stirring
sermon for the same cause, after which we held a?)raye' -
meeting; and ten, souls were saved.  At nioht, in the sanme
chapel, to nearly  three thousand people, I openedl and
applied that awful text, spoken by the supposed ghost of
Samuel the prophet, to'auld, King of Israel: " Why hast
thotu disquieted me to bring mie up? -  seeing the Lord
is departed ftrom  thee, and is become thine enlemby? "
1 Sarn. 28: 15, 16. Had an awful tine; and nin-letecen were
saved, before the service closed.
Nov. 19. - Attended the nzissionzary meeti~ng on M),Monday night, and gave an address.  Preached last night to a
fine congregation; a few were saved.
HItddersfield, Nov. 24. -  Yesterday, I preached t!ice
here; fifty saved. The new conzverts of the great rev iv al,
nine or ten months sizce, are doing well, generally.-.
standing fast in glorious liberty, full of energy and activity.
Surely that was a great work!   over eigyhteen hIluzde 1
souls justified, and between seven and eiCht hunldred salctified in, five mIonths.*  This visit seems to have ftimned
* See volume 1" Earnest Christianity Illustirated."




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL.               115
the flame anew, and given the new converts a fresh impulse
along the heavenly road!
Nov. 28. - At Honley,         a hard time; sinners hard
and defiant.  Devils of a peculiar order have charge of that
district; would require a siege to rout them.  They maintain a strange sort of feeling; and, here and there, head
and shoulders above others in sin, are "' champions cased
in adamant."
A hard class of infernal spirits have charge of sinners up
and down that valley, and over those hills; I know it and
have felt it; and Satan is their general.
"' On earth the usurper reigns;"
and hereabouts especially; for his baneful power is felt in
some places more than in others.  Satan had his seat in
Perycamos once.  " I know thy works, and where thou
dwellest, even  where Sataln's seat is." - Rev. 2: 13. His
throne was there, and there he reigned over his obedient
subjects.  IIe has but a small cause in Pergamos now, and
not much of a cause here, comparatively; but he holds the
position with a tenacity which bespeaks great principles, in
Satanic estimation.   W hat wve knzow inot now, we shall
knzoo  hereafter.  I-is infernal bcttalions  are widely
extended, and advantageously stationed.  They have their
districts. Their disposilions are varied, I sometimes think,
as are the depraved human beings they have in charge!
0, what a valley of dcy bonles is within sight! A place
that calls for Ezekiel's "four winds." -  Ezek. 37: 9.
Well,  I was defeated.  Never mind! I may yet have
my revenge of a mnonth's cannonading hereabouts, against
the works of darkness.
Nov. 29. - At She epridge, near Huddersfield, last night,
to a people of a very different spirit.  Edward Brook, Esq.,




116             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
the great Yorlkshire revivalist, resides in their midst, — a
host in himself.  We had a real " set-to " for souls, he
helping me, iwith the Lord; several were saved; and one
backslider literally roared aloud, through the bitternezss of
his heart; but his tonles changed before the meeting closed,
for the Lord had pitied him, and shown him mercy.
It does me good to meet with such a spiritual ~warrior as
MIr. Brook.  H1e is a noble soul, and understands wvell
saanzic tactics in every part of Yorkshire, and knoiwis how
to cope with them, with that c" rough and ready " talent
of his; nor has he ever to go in search of his armor for a
skirmish or battle with the Devil's troops.  God bless him!
M3racclesjecld, Dec. 1. - Arrived here on Saturday, 29th
ullt., by railsway, and next day made an onzslaught on the
works of darkness, the Lord helping, and before,midnziht
there were one hundrred souls saved, in pardonz and p7ulrity.
The proportion from the world I have not yet learned.
Dec.'2. -  There were twenty-five saved last night.  A
noble beginning.




CHAPTER XVI.
PENCILLINGS IN MACCLESFIELD.
I LIKE Macclesfield.  It is an agreeable, thriving town,
the vmetropolis of the English silk-trade, "for growing and
manufacture of silk, winding silck, and twist-maaking,"
the staple of the town for ages.  There are, of course, many
mills.
The town charter dates May 29, 1261.  The charter,
however, under which the present corporation acts, was
granted by Charles II.  I was amused with one of its privileges, -' The Court of Piepowder"!  A court for the
semi-annualfa-irs, for the immediate redress of disturbanzces
committed at them, and to redress the grievances of the
buyers and sellers.
But why call it the Piepowder Court?  It seems to be
derived from two French words, - pie, a foot, and poudr1',
dusty - the Dusty-foot Court, signifying that the dustyfooted folks, who had come from afar to the fair, were the
patronizers of this court, befooled, doubtless, in many
cases, by strong drink.  One at my elbow, doubts the definition, and thinks it stands for Pied Pulderea.u - a pedler.
1W1ell, no matter, the pedler, is a dusty-foot! and whether it
was good or ill to him, it saved him  from  "the law's
delays," if not from a" the insolence of offcce;  and that
was something.
A few miles from town, is the birthplace of the celebrated




118              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
John Bradshaw; he who presided in the higth court of
justice, on the trial of Charles I. He received most of his
education at Mlacclesfield, and seems to have had a presentiment, of some sort, of notoriety in coming life, as he perpetrated the following stanza upon a tombstone, between
two and three centuries ago:
", My brother Henry must heir the land,
Mly brother Frank must be at his command;
Whilst I, poor Jack, will do that
That all the world shall wonder at.'
True enough, and so lie did! The tragical death of Charles
I. was sufficient for that.  But he stopped not there.  A
wvarm  republican in his principles, he hated all sorts of
usurpation, and, beholding it in Cromwell, " he opposed him
to the teeth."  Cromnwell, on the clay he dissolved "' the
Lonyg Parliamenzt," went direct to break up the Council
of State, addressing them thus:
" If you, gentlemen, are met here as private persons,
you shall not be disturbed; but if as a Council of State,
this is no place for you, since you cannot but kinow what
was done in the house in the morning; so, take notice that
the Parliament is dissolved."  To this Bradshaw boldly
replied, " Sir, we have heard what you did at the house in
the morning, and before many hours all England will hear
it. But, sir, you are mistaken, to think that Parliament is
dissolved; for, no power under heaven can dissolve them but
themselves; therefore, take you notice of that."
C-romwell afterwards said, " I did it in spite of the objections of honest Bradshaw, the president."  Bradshaw, from
henceforth, lost the friendship of the Protector; but he
divided the notoriety with him afterwards, by sharing with
him one of the three angles of Tyb6urn.  Cromwell had




PEN CILLINGS IN MAiCCLESFIELD.         119
one, —- that is, the head of Cromwell, —Bradshaw the other,
and Ireton the third.  They were iraised from their graves,
and thus promoted after the restoration.  The three famous
heads drew all eyes towards Westminster Hall, where they
frightened away the birds for some time!
And here, in Macclesfield, preached and died that great
and good man, the Rev. David Simpson, author of " Simpson's Plea for Religion; " a powerful antidote against infidelity.
He was a famous divine, of the English church, contemporary with th the TiVesleys; a bold and unsparing opponent
of all ungodliness, one of the brightest ornaments of the
established church; but his faithful, uncompromising preaching brought upon him great persecution; first at Buckingharn, where his extenmporaneous style was pronounced
an innovation, and was -made a plea for raising a storm
about his ears; but the truth was, his preaching had raised
a storm in their consciences!  The bishop listened to their
appeal, and was weak enough to sign the paper for his
removal; but the bishop, knowing the irreproachable character of the man, had the candor and conscience to say, "Mr.
Sinlpson, if you are determined to do your duty as a clergyman ought to do, you must everywhere expect to meet
with opposition."  And yet he yielded to the popular
clamor, and removed the faithful watchman!
In the year 1773, he arrived in Macclesfield, the place
designed for him, doubtless, by the Head of the Church.
"I never withheld any truth, either from fear, or with a
desire to obtain the favor of any man," was one of his sayings.
In this spirit, he opened his commission in Miiacclesfield,
and in this spirit, he continued to preach the Gospel. The
truth, it was said, fell like spar1ks of fire upon the con



120             SHOwERS OF, BLESSING.
sciences of his hearers; especially upon those, " the highminded sensucalists in the town." who would attend church
on the &tbbath, although immersed in the grossest pr ofligacy through the qweek.  To these, his preaching became
intolerable, and set them "' casting about " how they might
get rid of him.  They spurned the preacher, and stigmatized
his doctrine with the hated epithet of " 1 ethodism; " and
so the fire of opposition increased.
The idea of having to endure this sort of preaching, became insupportable.  Pr-ofgiiates and formnzlists were in
arms.  The man of God never flinched, but poured into
their ranks the burning truths of God.
At this crisis, occurred an event which let loose the
storm of war.  Sir William  Mieredith camtie to hear him.
The baronet was notoriously licentious.  The preacher
announced his text:  " Marriaiye is honorable in all, and
the bed undefiled; but whoremonoygers and adulterers God
will judge."  The sermon exploded like a bomb-shell around
the ears of the noble baronet, and kindred spirits.' It is
extremely ill-bred,"' exclaimed one party. " Public taskte,
good mnannners, and commnon decency, are outraged," said
another party.  " Such puritanical stuff is not to be
endured," vociferated another.     lNo genztlemran or lady
can be safe in hearing this puritanical pa rson,,  exclaimed
a fourth class.  And now the storm of opposition began to
raige in earnest.  " This noralist must be silenced."  The
bishop was appealed to, under the insinuation that he had
sent them a M11etlhodist preacher, instead of a proper clergyvnan.  The bishop yielded to the clamor, and suspended
him.  But he refused to be silenced thus; and went out
among the neighboring villages, as a flame of fire, preaching
in private houses, and calling sinners to repentance everywhere.  All the pulpits of the Establishment were closed




PENCILLINGS IN MACCLESFIELD.            121
against him; but he heeded it not, and kept on preaching,
declaring the whole counsel of God to the people; and Christ
was with him.
The head of the church interfered.  That bishop was
removed, and another appointed, who did not oppose Mr.
S.  His enemies were on the alert, and tried to work Upon
the new bishop, with the old charge,- " The man is a BMethodist; and his preaching is turning the people into Methodists. "
Mr. Simpson thought proper to address the bishop also,
which he did thus:
"My method is to preach the great truths, and doctrines
and precepts of the Gospel, in as plain, and earnest, and
affectionate a manner as I am able.  Persons of different
ranks, persuasions, and characters, come to hear.  Soime
hereby have been convinced of the error of their ways, see
their guilt, and become seriously concerned about their
situation.  The change is soon discovered; they meet with
one or another, who invites them to attend the preachings
and meetings among the Methodists, and hence their number
is increased to a considerable degree. This is the truth; I
own the fact; I have often thought of it; but I confess
myself unequal to the difficulty.  What would your lordship
advise?'"
A friendly mayor came into office at this time, and immediately asserted a right, invested in him, to reinstate Mr.
Simpson in the parish   While the bishop was pondering,
Providence was planning.  A wealthy gentleman, Mr. Roe,
offered to build Mr. Simpson a church in another part of
the town, which he did in a very short time; and it was
dedicated on Christmas Day, 1775.  Here  Mr. Simpson
stood up for God, without fear, and preached the wholoe
Gospel, with the Holy Ghost sent down firom  heaven.
3Multitudes crowded to his ministry.  His eloquence, it is,
iI




122               sn-o.t WERS  OF BLESSIN W.
said, was pure and commanding, and poured forth like a
flowing stream.
The Methodists loved and honored him.  He often seated
himself under their ministry, and listened to the Gospel from
them with the greatest delight.  To the youth of Macclesfield, his ministry was greatly blessed; especially to the operativres, of both sexes, in the silk-mills. To the young woman
he would say,' Your character is like glass; if once
injured, it can never be restored;" and the effects of his
teaching were felt to be a blessing to the entire population.
Although forty and six years have passed away, since
that good pastor was laid in the tomb, his name in Macelesfield is still as oizntnenlt poured forth.
To-day, I visited his church, in company with  a few
brethren, ascended the pulpit, and looked around; and
thought, where are " the crowding thousalcds " who hung
upon those lips of eloquence and power?  And where
" That eye of lightning, and that soutl of fire,
Which thronging thousands crowded to admire? "
In the dust, in the spirit land!  Hushed in death was
that fine voice, which illustrated, with all the resources of
genius, and force of intellectual energy, those eternal truths
of God, which awakened and converted men!  lHe, and all
those multitudes, gone, — gone into the world of spirits, —
illustrating, in life and in death, that panoramic view of
them, by a great poet of the same age:
"Opening the map of God's extensive plan,
We find a little isle, this life of man;
Eternity's unknown expanse appears
Circling around and limiting his years.
The busy race, examine and explore
Each creek and cavern of the dangerous shore.




PENCILLINGS IN MACCLESFIELD.                 123
With care collect what in their eyes excels,
Some shining pebbles, and some weeds and shells;
Thus laden, dream that they are rich and great,
And happiest he that groans beneath his weight;
The waves o'ertake them in their serious play,
And every hour sweeps multitudes away!
They shriek and sink, survivors start and weep,
Pursue their sport, and follow to the deep.
A few forsake the throng; with lifted eyes
Ask wealth of Heaven, and gain a real prize,
Truth, wisdom, grace, and peace like that above,
Sealed with his signet, whom they serve and love.
Scorned by the rest, with patient hope they wait
A kind release from their imperfect state,
And, unregretted, are soon snatched away
From scenes of sorrow into glorious day."
I admire those lines; - a faithful picture of our times as
well.  Of the latter class,  Jlir. Simpson had very many
seals to his ministry.
And there is the  same   communion  rail," where  the
faithful followers of the Lamb so often knelt to receive the
sacred emblems of his broken body and shed blood; where
he and Mr. Wesley administered the sacrament to thirteen
hutndred persons, many of them Methodists, -  for they had
not the ordinance in their own chapels then, -  when that
little incident occurred, of which Mr. Wesley speaks in his
Journal: "March 29.- [ Being Good Friday] I came to
Macclesfield just time enough to assist Mr. Simpson in the
laborious service of the day. I preached for him morning
and afternoon; and we administered the sacrament to about
thirteen hundred persons.  While we were administering,
I heard a low, soft, solemn sound, just like the ZEolian harp.
It continued five or six minutes, and so affected many, that
they could not refrain from tears. It then gradually died
away.   Strange  that no  other organist (that I  know)
should think of this.   In the evening," adds Mr. Wesley,




124              SHOWERS OF BLESSING-.
" I preached at our room.  Here was that hartmony which
art cannot imitate.'
And there, at that counziuniobn table, stood Mir. Simpson,
at the dread monment when this church was rocked to and
fro by the heavings of an earthqua/ke, and before him  the
terrified congregation endeavoring to escape, while he tried
to allay their fears; and here, in this pulpit, he preached
his famous Earithuake Aeronoz!
A little incident occurred to me, when descending from the
pulpit of this church, which strangely affected   e; - a
strange sensation and singular aiwe crept over me when halfway down, as if' a spirit awaited me at the bottom, — the
spirit of the departed SinsLpson.  I reached the lower step
as if enchained, so to speak, by a mysterious influence; -
felt his spirit was at my right hand, between me and the
altar, which is behind the pulpit.  I stood still, as before a
prjesence, -- a power,- a living thitzng, - an inzvisible intelligence, - as if it would speak aloud to me; - when these
words thrlilled mny inmlost soul: " ctave sotuls! win soutls!
-lHe that winnetlh souls is.ise! "  It was all inaudible, -
invisible.  But how irresistible the conviction of a presence, - speaking to me, - fiom  which I broke away at
length, feeling God is in this place, aond I kcnew it not.
It is God's own houlse and  heave's gate.  I quietly
moved on as if from the s)pirit of the place.  Well, if it
was but an hallucination, it quickened my spirit, and my
preaching received a fresh impulse and a keener edge.
What we know not now, we shall know hereafter, when we
mneet the soul of Sinmvipson in the uzp)per sanctuary.  Perhaps, many of the children and grandchildren of his former
hearers, are soon to be converted to God.  In looking over
the i'nmoirs of Mr. Simpson, I met with the following incident, which I give in his own words: "When I was yet a




PENCILLINGS IN MACCLESFIELD.          125
boy, and undesigned for the ministry, either by my parents
or from inclination, one Sunday evening, while I was reading prayers in my father's family, suddenly a voice, or something like a voice, called aloud within me, yet so as not to
be perceived by any of the persons kneeling around me,' You MUST GO AND BE INSTRUCTED FOR THE iIINISTRY.'
The voice, or whatever it might be, was so exceedingly quick
and powerful, that it was with difficulty I could proceed to
the end of the prayer. As soon, however, as the prayer
was ended, I made request to my father to let me be trained
up for the ministry. I told him all I knew of the circumstances.  He, of course, denied my request, thinking it was
some whim I had got into my head, which would go off
again when I had slept upon it.  But the voice- or what
shall I call it? - gave me no rest night or day for three
weeks; when my ever dear, honored and indulgent father
gave way to my wishes, and put me in a train of study to
qualify me for the University."
I 1 x_




CHAPTER XVII.
TEE WORK OF GOD IN MACCLESFIELD.
DEC. 3. - A great time last night. The blows of truth
fell thick and fast, and brought many to their knees with a
cry for mercy.  Fifty saved.  The critics had no time to
"'stand from  under;" they had no warniny, and came
down with the rest.  It is not best to stand too much upon
preliminari es; gives them too much time to get ready;
they guess what is coming, and the preacher, like
E6 NTELLUS, wastes his forces on the wind."
That, I do not like, and so fall upon them  suddenly.  We
have a few whimpers about " extravagance," &c., but the
next onset of truth levels the whimperers to the ground,
where they cry outright for mercy!
Dined a, few miles from town, in company with Mr. S.,
whose wife, a pious lady, and a WVesleyan, died very happy
some time since.  She had been confined to her room but a
few days, when the call for her departure to heaven came
suddenly, and found her, like "thle wise viryins," ready.
M- att. 25: 1.  She was sitting in her chair wvhen Death
came, - when the. chariot of heaven arrived.  She sat a
few monents, absorbed in thought, as if adjusting her spiritual armor; then arose and walked across the room to her
bed, repeating that fine stanza as she went:




THE WORK OF GOD IN MACCLESFIELD.             127
"C Jesus, in thy great name I go
To conquer death - my final foe!
And when I quit this cumbrous clay,
And soar on angels' wings away,
My soul the second death defies,
And reigns eternal in the skies."
She then quietly lay down upon the bed, like a warrior
seeking rest, after having driven the enemy from the
field; and then uttered, faintly, but in an adoring attitude, -
"I will
Clap my glad wings and soar away,
And mingle with the blaze of day,"
and sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, and was escorted to
heaven.  "L Our people  die wvell,"' said Dr. Newton.
They do, blessed be God, who giveth them the victory
through Jesus Christ our Lord!
The death of this Christian lady reminded me of another,
who died here in Mr. Wesley's time.  " I rode on to Maccclesfield," says Mr. Wesley.'" Here I heard an agreeable
account of Mrs. R  -, who was in the society at London
from a child; but, after she was married to a rich man,
durst not own a poor, despised people.  Last year she broke
through, and came to see me.  A few words, which I then
spake, never left her, not even in the trying hour, during
the illness, which came a few months after.  All her conversation was then in heaven; till, feeling her strength
was quite exhausted, she said, with a smile,'Death, thou
art welcome!' and resigned her spirit."  Ah! perhaps, had
she wvalked in the -light after her marriage with the rich
man, her piljrizmace might have been longer, and more
honorable, and her reward in heaven greater.
Much depends upon what degree of the light and influ



128             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
ences of the Holy Spirit we sin against. St. John says,
" There is a sin unto death; " sometimes the death of
the body only, while the soul is saved.  However, Mrs. S.
was one of those who walked closely with the Lord before
her family and his people. She did not refuse her influence
for Christ, although surrounded with affluence.  Her work
was done.
What a work God has begun here! I have come among
a prepared people.  These godly ministers, Harris and
Clay, have prepared the way of the Lord; and so have
others before them. I love to preach where such devoted
men as David Sim~pson, and others, walked, and toiled,
and fought the great battle of trutth for God, and sowed the
seed for a future harvest, and sent up many prayers,
answers to which are, doubtless, constantly descending, to
their great joy, where they are enthroned on high, among
the "<spirits of just men made perfect."  It seems as if
their spirits are sometimes present, -  as if they hover
around and over us, observing with delight the successive
answers to their long-recorded prayers; and as if they
helped to shout the harvest home!
Besides, the history of such great souls is so familiar to
those they left behind them, and to their children,  of which
their fathers have told them, showing to their children the
wonderful works which God wrought in their day, by the
ministry of his servants, and the manner of it (Psalms
78: 3),- that they are not taken by surprise when the
Head of the Church repeats his miracles of mercy under a'modern ministry.  They are not offended, or sttnbled at
this or that extraordinary movement; at me, for instance,
when the Bible is clasped to my breast, by something akin
to an irresistible impulse, or lifted clear over head, like a
battle-axe,  "contrary to the rules of rhetorical gesture; "




THE WORK OF GOD IN MACCLESFIELD.             129
for, who of all the children of Macclesfield, would say a
word against that, seeing that $Simpson, the beloved of their
fathers, often held the Bible aloft in his right hand, to the
no small peril of breaking their heads below, by missing
his hold of the Bible above! and who, contrary to all
rules of pulpit propriety, on seeing an old woman fast
asleep while he was preaching, did actually seize upon the
pulpit cushion, and flung it at her drowsy head, quite interrupting her nap for that afternoon, and, I dare say, ever
after in that place!
However, there is no need of cushion-jinyiny just now
in Macclesfield; for they are all "wI ide awake."   Old
men and women, young men and maidens, and children, all
hearing for everlasting life!  Not less than one hundred
souls have professed salvation since last night; of these,
thirty are cases of full salvation; but sevently, within a few
hours, are the trophies of pardoning mercy; not such pardons as those inscribed upon a brass place in the wall of
the parish church, close by, granted, by the Pope of Rome,
to a wotman and her seven children, placed there, when
omanzism, was the religion of England, and that their
church.  The inscription reads thus:
"The pardon for saying V paternostors, and
V aves, and a crede, is XXVI thousand years,
and XXVI days of pardon."
Not such, these seventy pardonzs, granted those seventy
distressed penitents, from the Lord God, through repentance
and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ:'~ A pardon written with his blood,
The favor and the peace of God;"
not with the appended nonsense of "' twenty-six thou



130             SHOWElRS OF BLESSING.
sand years, and twenty-six dacys;" no, no! but forever
and ever, iffaiZf ulluntil death! - Rev. 2: 10.
Birmlinyghanm, Dec. 5. - Had a tender parting with the
friends at Macclesfield.  The scene was indeed amazing
the last night; the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
The cries of the wounzded, and the shouts of the healed,
were heard afar off. During those six glorious days I
spent in.lVacclesfield, the secretary reported some two
hunzdred and sixty souls justified, and one hundred and
forty sanctified.  Total, foutr huzndred souls in six days 
All glory be to Christ! He doeth the work. " He touches
the vzountains, and they smoke-the hills, and they melt;"
and earth and her sons tremble, and fall before the mighty
God of Jacob!
I was hospitably entertained at the house of l1r. Boewers,
Mill-street.  May the similes of Jesus be the sunshine of
his dwelling-place evermore.  Amen.
The Rev. I3r. cHarris, superintendent, and the Rev.
Mr. Clay, his amiable and excellent colleague, showed me
much kindness, and did all they could to render my visit
agreeable to me, and profitable to the people.
Arriving at Birnminghan,, I was met at the depot by the
Rev. Alexander Bell, superintendent and chairmnan of the
district, who gave me a hearty welcome, and escorted me to
Sparkbroolk  House, the noble mansion of John Wright,
Esq., where I felt myself instantly and perfectly at home.




CHAPTERI  XVIII.
BIRMINGHAM.
PREPARING FOR THE CONFLICT.
WE have now introduced the reader into the principal
scene of Mr. Caughey's labors, - where he labored several
months; and where his ministry was greatly blessed to multitudes of souls.  The following, from his pen, will afford a
glimpse of his feelings and prospects; — a good illustration
of a soul encouraging and strengthening itself in God.
It was thought proper I should open my commission in
Newton Row  Chapel.  I have preached there a few times
with some success; feeling very small and humtnble, and
attracting but little notice.  What of that?  A stone is a
small affair, compared with the mass of water into which it
falls; nevertheless how wide the circles which it forms in
the water, and ever widening! Besides, the higher the stone
ascends heavenwvards, the more decided its effect in forming
circles.
The exhortation to myself, is, Arise, my soul! Ascend -
climb - soar heavenward unto God, with all thy affections
and powers; that the force of thy descent upon the vast mass
of mind around thee may be felt in circling waves of sanctiflied power and influence, even from  centre to circumference.
Be of good cheer. 0 my soul! Thou art indeed but a small,




132              SH-101WE!RS OF BLESSING.
insignificant particle flung upon the brink of this great population; but what of that;?  If thou art a fragment of that
prophetic cStone, mentioned by Daniel, which was cut out
of the nounttain without hands, and destined to fill the
whole earth; then may thy injfluence, through  Christ
that living Stone, fill all Birninghacen, for his glory in the
salvation of sinners!
Rouse thee, then, my soul! If thou dost claim kindred
with that Stone, expect to feel thyself possessed of some of
its momentutmfni and diffusiveness; - a mnominethtin, to break
down opposiny inflt3uences, and to overturn' the great
image "' of Birmingham idolatry, - of gold, and silver,
brass, iron and clay?;  DIFFUSIVENESS, of iiaZt, life, love
and power, -radiating throughout all this mass of minds,
bringing life out of death, purity out of putricdity, light
out of darCkness, love out of enmizty, strength out of weakzess; causing the weak things of this world, as Paul
hints, to confound and bring to naught the things that are,iyhty.  Amen!
The great inm'ige nma!y be considered civilly; and what if
the will of God should  have it, that this imnpetus of thine
shall smite its iro?0  and clayey feet first, -  the poorer
classes in the satanic conBfederation?  For, mark, when the
little stone cut out without hands, in Nebuchadnezzar's
dream, smote the image upon its feet that were of iroin anwd
clay, down came the whole image, —legs of iron, belly and
thighs of brass, breast and arTns of silver, and head of.inle gold, -  all came down together when the feet gave
way;- then commenced the threshinz.y, till all this heterogeneous mass of metal was broken in pieces, and became like
unto the chajf of the summer threshid7g-floor. - Dan. 2.
Lord Jesus, bring me in contact with " the common people,"
-the poorer classes, first; -- it was they who heard thee




BI.RMINGHAM.                  133
gladly, when upon earth. - Mark 12: 37.  Christ Jesus,
the Heaven-commissioned Stone, came in contact successively
with those four great empires of the earth,- the Chaldean,
the I edo- Persian, the Macedonian, or Greek, and the Roman, — and made them like the chaff of the summer threshing-ftoor. Commission a poor wormy, 0 Jesus, and he, too,
will thresh the empires of sinful confederations in Birmingham,- metallic Birminghaz,- this great worker
in gold, silver, copper, brass and iron, and clay. Amen!
And then shall rise, from the materials of this moral rebellion, a structure of converted and sanctified mind, indestructible and eternal!
There is a danger, i[ am aware, of one's conscious insignificancy and unworthiness and weakness, bringing on a
timidity, an enfeebling solitariness.  If it was not able
in past years to detain me in the shade, or to bind me down
in the solitudes of an inglorious ease, why allow it to prostrate me now on the rough edge de one of my most glorious battles?   Down, unbelief! Be exalted, faith in God! 
I like that thought of a poet, who pictures a solitary raindrop tarrying in the cloud, discouraged by the apparent
impossibility of a thing so insignificant as itself to water
the thlirsty earth, which was calling loudly to the heavens
for rain (HIosea 2: 21-23); and the soliloquy of the humble sunbeam, lingering in the sun, considering the idea that
it could create day, or disperse the gloom which had overspread the whole hemisphere, preposterous. But the raindrop took courage at length, and rushed down courageously
on its mission of mercy; and it soon found that thousands
and thousands more of drops followed, and that heaven and
earth were being shaken by thunder and lightning and
1.2




134             SIHOW'ERS OF BLESSINGo
wind, with a teeming shower over all the thirsty land;
bidding every dying thing live, and it lived and praised
the Lord! The sunbeam also, thinking better of the matter, concluded to try what it could do. Trusting firmly in
the aid of its great parent, the sun, down it came also, on its
errand of love; the sun saw it, and rejoiced at a benevolence so like his own, and despatched to its aid millions of
other sunbeams, filling the whole hemisphere with sunshine, and a most magynificent day, calling out of doors
everything that loved the sun, causing heaven and earth
to rejoice in each other's smiles; when only bats and owls
were left to mourn the absence of their beloved darkness,
and to hate the light and the sunshine.
Here, then, my   far-away friends," you have a fragment
of my philosophy, which I have " set down"' as much for
my own encouragement, as for your curiosity or informnation.
How often have I heard the spirit of those words sounding in my spiritual ear', Be not afraid, but speak, and
hold not thy peate, for I asm with thee; for I have
much people iz this city  -Acts 18: 9. And the raindrop
is speaking to me, and the sunbeam, that mine is the
more glorious mission,-  as heaven  exceeds earth, as
eternity outweighs time, as the soul is more valuable
than the body; -the salvation of which being at the top
of all salvation.
I have two sermons on Rolm. 1:  16- " For I am  not
ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of
God unlto salvation, to every one that believeth; to the
Jew  first, and also to the Greek."  -What! timid and
doubtful in possession of such a power as this - after penning such sentiments as those sermons contain- after
such deductions and inferences? Never.  If they are mere




BIRMINGIAM.                   135
theory, and unfit for practical purposes, - for such hopedfor victorious onslaughts upon the ranks of wickedness,
why, then, I' Away with them," saith my soul,  "and take
thy pen and write something more consistent with fact,
practical fact, and common sense."  Nay, my soul! but
thou knowest the contrary.    L WWat I have written, I
have written," said Pontiuzs Pilate, regarding the inscription over the head of Jesus on the cross.  So say I.  Let
me abide by it, then, nor betray, nor crucify the Gospel, as
Pilate did its divine Author; but play the mani in the
management of this Heaven-appointed artillery, push principles to the utmost, nakce full proof of thy n inistry, as
Paul exhorted Timothy.
Theory!  theory!  Ye friends of Jesus! was that
it? -- to confide in mere theory, without regard to the fall
proof in practical effects?  Was that mly own notion in the
sermons referred to? - as the Spanish poet has it,
s      4" —--------   to confide
In painted words, the eloquence of pride"?
God forbid! Nay, I was sincere! -- the design was practical.  Then practical be it! I am not ashamed of the
Gospel, nor of any one of those sentiments penned in
those sermons! No! But I see a sltrugale before me, -
an agony of conflict. iBut I" Victory is of the Lord!'
So exclaimed a Jewish warrior of old, on the eve of battle, when, with a handful of men, he was about to cope
with one hunndred and twenty thousand mnen, headed
by thirty two elephants, and horses anya thousands, and
hundreds of chariots of war.  The battle commenced with
the thunder shout of the few against the many, "Victory
is of the Lord!" and the swords flew around like lightning,




136              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
nor did the sun descend under the arches of the west, before
the Lord gave the few the victory.'. Victory is of the
Lord! "'  That is my motto.
A few trophies already.  But, 0, this skirmishing is
harder than the conflict of the decisive battle!




CHAPTER XIX.
TIE PATH TO VICTORY -  COUNTER-ATTRACTIONS.
How true the following sentiments of a poet!  I like
them; they do me good; there is a spirit in them which
seems to say, II Press forward! "   They thrill me after
the manner of the warriors of old, who, when they heard
the  Gospel read, instinctively  put  their hand  to  their
sword.   My iweapons are not carnal, but spiritual; but
to the lines:' Every beginning is shrouded in a mist, those vague ideas beyond,
And the traveller setteth on his journey, oppressed with many thoughts,
Balancing his hopes and fears, and looking for some order in the
chaos, 
Some secret path between the cliffs that seem to bar his way:
So he commenceth at a clue, unravelling its tangled skeins,
And boldly speedeth on to thread the labyrinth before him.
Then, as he gropeth in the darkness, light is attendant on his steps,
He walketh straight in fervent faith, and difficulties vanish at his
presence;
The very flashing of his sword scattereth his shadowy foes;
Confident and sanguine of success, he goeth forth conquering and to
conquer.'
Thus, I have found frequently, that when there is anything
great and noble to be effected, especially against the empire
of darkness, why dcarkness is sure to be encountered at
first. Indeed, that proves, or illustrates our Lord's expression, and that of Paul, " The power of darkness;" and St.
12*




138             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
John's, also, "And his kingdont was full of darkness."
-Rev. 16: 10.  We feel this darkness as "the Captain
of our salvation" leads us on; for, like the darkness that
was in Egypt, it is a darkness that mnay be felt.  How
often have I experienced this! and yet I am not hardened
nor fortified altogether against its influence.  Philosoph.y
and experience often fail me for a little, in time of need;
but even this may be overruled for good; as the less confidence in self, the more room is left for confidence in God,
unless when the devil and unbelief beat the soul down to the
ground, so that it cannot look utp.
The poor are gathering around me in considerable numbers, and seem truly in earnest to enter into the kingdom
of God. The rich have something else to do at present.
They have not yet recognized me or the work as worthy
of any particular attention.  They are looking in quite a
different direction; - trade for some, which a poet calls,'lthe golden girdle of the globe;" and as Agabus took
Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet therewith,
and prophesied, that so the Jews at Jerusalem would bind
the man who owned that girdle; so does the devil bind
many a poor, busy, prosperous sinner with that "golden
girdle of the globe," trade, and delivers him finally into the
hand of death bound; a sad prelude to the announcement
and fulfilment of that dreadful sentence of the Eternal
Judge, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away,
and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping.
and gnashing of teeth." -- Matt. 22: 13.  This must be
beaten into their ears, when I obtain. their ears, which
will not be long, I hope; for their attention must be turned
in this direction somehow.
Gain!/ what,. magnet is that for others! Gain at the
soul's expense;'betting with the devil, and staking their




THE PATH TO VICTORY.               139
souls for a trife," observes a shrewd man.  The man we
read of, who threw coin at a fig-tree for the sake of the
fruit, was a wise man, when compared with these, who
throw away their souls for the sake of some perishable good.
Dearf igs, those, when silver pieces were flung and lost in
bringing them down; and dear the fruits of sin, if the eternal soul must be the price! Such are'"fools in folio," and
worse off than fools in yonder Lunatic Asylum.
The wedge of gold, and the Babylonish garment were
more glorious in the eyes of Achan, than victory with
Israel in the field, and his own inheritance in the land of
promise. HIe bartered one for the other, and, like many
since his day, inherited neither, poor man! - a heap of
stonies, only.  Alas! the Achan family became not extinct
in him.  Would that it had! Whatever may have become
of the " caostolic succession," here is a succession that has
never yet failed.  For less gain than Achan acquired, how
many betray the cause of God, and their own souls! Nor
need one wonder much at all this, seeing that one of our
Lord's own companions betrayed him for thirty pieces of
silver.  With Jitdas, as an instance, we are not to marvel
that men are blind enough to barter away their own souls,
in the devil's market, for a small consideration.
I was thinking, to-day, that never did any man esteem
Christ highly, who esteemed his own soul lightly; and
never did any man estimate his own soul properly, and, at
the same time, Christ lightly, or held the Gospel in low
estimnation, or scorned the efforts of zeal and benevolence
in saving souls from perdition.
A high valuation of C:/rist, and a low valuation of the
Gos/pel, are anomnalies.  A high esteem of the Gospel, and
a low estimate of one's own soul, is a paradox, - that is,
a contradiction; equally so, is a high regard for one's own




140             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
salvation, and a low disregard for the salvation of others.
But who does not know that hypocrisy and self-deception
bring forth a brood of strange monstrosities?  Prejudice
and selfishness, likewise, are the father and mother of a
strange brood of inconsistencies, like Milton's SXin and
Death at the gates of Hell; nor need we go there to find
them.
Thus it is, when men, dead in trespasses and in sins,
are left to themselves even in this world. The first chapter
of Romans proves this. — Rom. 1: 21, 32.  And thus has
it been ever since, through all generations of men; at every
point of time, these eighteen hundred years, good men have
been forced to exclaim, with good old Richard Baxter,
"But now I perceive the devil will be the devil, and vzankind will be born blind, sensual and nalignant, till there
be a new heaven and earth, in which dwelleth righteousness."  But still, I like better the idea of the wit of whomn
Hannah More speaks, who said, "' To nmend the world's
a vast design."'  To be sure it is; and a noble design, and
glorious, although one should fail in the attempt!




CHAPTER XX.
SATAN ENTRENCHED.
1ST. You desire to know what are our " prospects" here
of a revival;'"the difficulties to be encountered; " and
":by what course of action" we propose to "succeed."
Well, my frielnd, I could write much upon these questions,
for I assure you my heart is full. But, if I tell you all I
know, and all I fear, and all I feel, you will suspect me
again of "looking through smoked glass; " or, through
those'" spectacles "' which you say the devil is "' ever ready
to clap upon the nose of the melancholy, or disheartened."
rell, the thing is not among the impossibles; but I am
not naturally given to melancholy, neither am I disheartened, but I have a habit of looking dificulties in the face;
and have you any objections to that? The ancients, you
remember, used to say, "' One pair of eyes is worth a hundred pair of spectacles."  It only requires one to use his
own eyes to see how strongly Satan has fortified himself in
Birmingham; not, indeed, by the civil law, as in Italy or
even in France, but by the laws of depravity, his most
faithful ally.
2d. Nor do I think it is detrimental to faith, altogether,
to have as full view as can be obtained, of what must be
encountered in order to success.  It prompts faith to rely
upon the Holy Ghost alone, and to cry to God for those
weapons of war, and divine artillery, necessary to insure




142             SHIOWERS OF BLESSING.
the victory;  not " tilting with straws," but slashing right
alnd left with "' the sword of the Lord and of Gideon; "'
not a painted sword, but. the real siword; not a painted fire,
but the real fire from above; - it is that that cuts to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow of the sinner, wounding the -heart, and dividing the
sinews which bind him to his sins; and this is the afire
that warms and burns.  It is not the Aurora Borealis,
which the folks in the Shetland Islands call I" the m'terry
dancers," which neither shatter nor strike the proud,
gnarled, defiant oaks; but the real living litzhtniny of the
thunder clozld!
It is not a pomnp of words that is wanted in Birmingham, I assure you, but action.  As Hannibal said to his
army, as:"the battle trembled to begin,"- "It is not
zwords that we want, but action;' and so action was the
order of the day, till victory spread her wings over the field
at the close of the day.
3d. The preacher that will prevail in Bizrmingham, I
perceive, needs to be a mnoviny pillar of fire, and not a
flocating iceberg; not a style which one denominates "a
polished mediocrity," as free from blemish as from eneroy;
but the I" ro'ugh and ready " sort of preaching, the out-ofthe-oway style (to use an idea of Rowland Hill), to catch
those who are out of the way; " the slap-dash " kind of
preaching, as one named it; that style which Luther said
made the best preacher for the common people, " He who
speaks in the meanest, lowest, humblest, and most simple
style."  I have often thought of that; besides, "the common people " are the bulk of our hearers in every place.
And was not this the reason that the common people heard
our Lord yladly? —Mark 12: 37; because he preached to
their capacity and circumstances.




SATAN ENTRENCHED.                 143
Ah, it is not such preaching as " jiating   an idea or
frothing -a sentimnent," that will reach the heart, although
it may catch the head; but words and sentiments like
drawn swords, -not decorated, nor muffled, nor encumbered with ornament, but the naked blade of truth; then,
no objection to the German poet's fancy:
{I The hilt of precious gold,
The blade of shining steel."
But give me the blade of shining. steel, whether its hilt be
of precious gold, or vulgar iron.




CHAPTER XXI.
GLIMPSES OF BIRMINGHAM; OR, LOOKING DIFFICULTIES
IN THE FACE.
MY pen had free scope at Haddon Hall, Chatsworth,
Sheffield, Macclesfield, &c.; but here in Birminghacmwhat shall I say? I have no heart to attempt such descriptions. Not but there is much to admire in Birmingham. I
like the town; it contains much which, under other circumstances, would inspire my pen; -have traversed it in various
directions with pleasure; — have paused from weightier
thoughts to mark the classic taste of its people, not
merely in some of the public edifices, - the Townz lall,
for instance, great in design, and beautiful in architecture;
but even the entrances to private dwellings are studies! -
houses, otherwise quite unassuming, have their portals
graced by the modest Doric, or the elegant Ionic pillar,
with its appropriate volute, or the rich Corinthian, with
its acanthus, - and so generally, too!- but especially the
creative geniuns of its artisans exhibited in their manufactures.  But, alas! the moral condition of the masses
around, - the great conflict upon which I have entered,
the vast and far-reachinlg consequences of success or failure!  Ah! these thoughts leave room nor heart for little
else. But how well has llMrs. Sigourney sketched, at least
the "strange creativeness" of Birmingham  genius and
talent, - thus:




GLIMPSES OF B:IRMINGHAM.                     145
"T is something to be called
The'toyshop of a continent,' by one
Whose voice was fame. And yet a name like this
Hath not been lightly earned. Iard hammerings
And fierce ore-meltings,'mid a heat that threats
To vitrify the stones, have wrought it out,
On the world's anvil.
Ponderous enginery,
And sparkling sm-ithies, and a pallid throng,
Who toil, and drink, and die, do service here;
And countless are the forms their force creates,
From the dire weapon, sworn to deeds of blood,
That sweeps, with sharp report, man's life away,
To the slight box, from whence the spinster takes
Her creatulre-comfort, or the slighter orb
Of treble-gilt, which the pleased school-boy finds
On his new suit, counting the shining rows
With latent vanity.
Here, too, were fabrics rich,
That taste might covet, cabinet and screen,
Table and tray, with pearly shell inlaid,
And bright with tints of landscape or of flower.
Here glass in crystal elegance essays
To emulate the diamond, and we saw
The flaming fount from whence its glories came,
And how the glowing cylinder expands
Into those broad and polished plates that deck
The abodes of princes."
But, alas! other transmutations and creations have attracted my attention -those of DEPRAVITY; for Sitae, has
stretched  his'iron  hand"  across the  gulf of hell, -  to
rutle, to grapple, or in leagae with Birsminghamn.  0, what
shall I say?  Iow describe the works of this old sorcerer'
of perdition?
1. I was thinking, to-day, that he is considered the best
general in a campaign, who best understands the tactics of
the enemy, —his strength, plans, fortifications, &c., —and has
13




146             SHIOWERS OF BLESSING.
instructed himself well as to the geography of the country
through which he must pass, Swhere he is likely to meet
the foe; and who has the tact or genius to choose the best
and most advantageous position for his troops.  TValor will
serve him little, if lacking in these, and such like qualifications. Napoleon Bocnaparte spent whole nights, compasses
in hand,'midst maps, planning a single campaign.  And
nobody doubts that it is to that fact, as well as to the valor
of his army, that his extraordinary success and victories
may be ascribed.
2. I was thinking, to-day, of Nehemiah the prophet,
who, on arriving at Jerusalem, with a heart overflowing
with patriotism and religion, resolved to revive the stones
out of the rubbish, and to rebuild the v.walls of the desolated city of his fathers.  He says: " I came to Jerpusalem, and was there three days; and I arose in the
night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any
man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem."  Secrecy and expedition. These were the life of
his undertaking.' And I went out by niaht by the
gate of the valley, even before the dragon-well, and to
the dung-port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which
were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed
with fire.  Then I went on to the gate of the fountain,"
&c., &c. And so he took the circuit of the city, and
through  the darkness looked diiculties in the face;
observed the compass of the walls, and their dilapidated
condition, in order to make proper provision for such a great
and perilous undertaking; for there were many enzeamies
vwithout, and untrustworthy persons within Jerusalem.
This night-view of the desolate city, rendered matters to
Nehemiah very gloomy and discouraging, doubtless. Nothing the worse for that.  The desolation, and the darkness




GLIMPSES OF BIRMINGHAM.               147
well reminded him of coming difficulties and perils, — magnifed them, perhaps; -a wholesome ordeal to his faith;served, it may be, to make his trials lighter when they
came, because anticipated and prepared for. The more discouraging the aspect of things, the more resolute became
his dependence upon the God of his fathers.
3. There is a lesson for my heart in all this; and something to excite and enlist the prayers of my specialfriends
for divine aid.  We have spiritual foes to encounter, here in
Birmingham, more malignant than those who surrounded
ATehe'niah.
c; Are secret, sworn, invisible,
With hate and malice inextinguishable."
And thousands of poor sinners, of all sorts, under their
control, - some of whom are brain-sick, to use an odd term
of one; so sick Iup there, as to think there is no life to
covme for vman, because he has no immortal soul to partake
of it! And others are profoundly asleepo, and, at the same
time, " wvide awake; "-which was called, in old times, the
Devil's charnl, in rendering men  " Dorm ire Deo, et
mundo vigilare," -asleep to God, and awake to the
world --  who " think aloud," what some sinners dare
hardly own to themselves in secret, that sin is better than
grace, and the pleasures of sin here are better than [possibly a blank] eternal happiness hereafter.
These sleepers must be awakened. Their being asleep
does not lessen their peril, but increases it rather.  There
is a mvoral, as well as a literal truth in what Baxter said a
long while ago, that, when the coachvman is asleep, the
horses may miss their way, and possibly break his neck or
their own; when the watchnman sleeps, the thief may steal
at pleasure, and fire the premises if he will; and, if the




148             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
pilot at the helm drops asleep, likely as not the ship will
visit the rocks of destruction; so, when reasoun is laid asleep,
and out of the way, what may not appetite do? and what
may not passioz do? and what may not tem2ptations do
with the soul?  A wise man, when he is asleep, has as
little use of his wisdom as a fool; a learned man,~, when
he is asleep, can hardly dispute with an uztnlearncd man
that is awake; a strong and valiaqnt?an, though skilful
in the use of weapons, is scarcely able, in his sleep, to deal
with the weakest child that is awake.  The soul has powers, but they are asleep, till contsideration awakens them,
and sets them to work.  How little better is a mnan for
being a man, if, having reason, he makes no use of it when
needed! The keenest siword, or the greatest cannon.z are
useless against an enemy, if they lie by neglected. Reason,
conscience, hell, what are these to deter a man from sin,
who never thinks of them'?  Ah! the truth of these remarks is seen everywhere in Birmningham!
4. Birmingham presents another class, who well sustain
that charge, preferred against such characters ages ago,
" who commend God and godlizess with their fwords, and
condemn them  in their lives; afford them  the highest
position in their mzotths, and degrade them to the lowest
estimation in their hearts; give them  the first place in
their prayers and professions, and the last place in their
lives and labors."  Never a truer people to the old Latin
proverb, ": Use God, but enjoy the creatures."  These
must have their mouths stopped, or a transfer made from
the mouth, to the heart, - from the prayers and professions, to the life and the labor!  The proverb must be
reversed, or they are ruined, — enjoy God and'use the
creatures.   That is it.  0, what a conflict with such, ere
these transfers are made, ere this victory has been achieved!




GLIMPSES OF BIRMINGHAM.              149
4. And many are grasping at what a shrewd man calls
nonentities; hunting butterflies at best, or chasing shadows,
and embracing phantoms; as Ixion embraced a cloud for
Juno, and found himself whirled about amid the vapors of
disappointment; or, like Apollo, as the Grecians feigned, who
hugged a laurel-tree in mistake for Daphne, - such their
idea of their sensual gods; and thus, if the deities mistake,
why may not men?  As the gods, such were their worshippers!
What was fable at Athens, is fact in Birmingham,
so far as sinners are concerned; and by many who admit
the holiness of God, but who, alas! reject his command,
I" Be ye holy, for I the Lord your God am holy; " as
strong in inference that holy they should be, as it is authoritative in command; but, alas! as one remarked, holiness is so hateful and grievous a thing to them, that they
will venture upon hell to avoid it.
5. And here are scramblers by the thousand for "'the
golden apple,"' even along the brink of hell; and every day
one and another of them drops off and falls where flames
await them; the devil all the while keeping the apple moving along the perilous edge; and though the scramblers are
dropping off continually into the gulf beneath, the others
l'bate not a jot of heart or hope,' but press forward for the
prize, to perish in like manner.
These scramblers must be awakened, if possible, to behold and struggle for a nobler prize.  A thankless task at
first, but, O, what gratitude is felt by such, if one is but
successful!  This is an encoura gement.  0, for a voice
and power from Heaven, to awaken them from their infat-,uation!  By the help of Him  who reigns, I have tried,
and am trying; and who shall say I shall not see these
ealger multitudes struggling as earnestly for " the golden




150  -SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
apple " of salvation and eternal life, along tile King's highway of holiness?
6. And there are professors of religion, who, if not
among the infatuated scramblers for the world, honor
greatly those who are such.  If St. James were here, he
would have to shout once more in the ears of such,'Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen
the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he.hath promised to them that love him? "James 2: 1, 5.  Solomon made good use of his eyes and
his understanding, when he said, "' ervanzts on horseback,
and princes as servants upon the earth."  o Eccles. 10: 7.
GChrist's poor are the real princes of the land; and the
devil's rich, though they ride upon horses, or in splendid
chariots, are but servants and caClives, driven to and fro
like their restless master.  Besides, the soul ought to be
the true prince, and the body but its servant, as the old
Grecian philosophers maintained: "The soul is the man,
the body is but its servant."  Alas! we see every day how
the body, with its fleshly appetites, is made the prince, and
the royal soul dragged down to be its servant.
A true revival reverses all this.  The saints of God are
the true princes, - of blood royal, - as good old Charles
Mather, of Belper, says; but they are frequently bound
down to the humble drudgery of life, and are oftenest found
in the abodes of poverty and want, while the servants of the
devil ride upon the high places of the earth.  But, as I:
noticed the fire in the grate, the other morning, the small
coal at the bottom kindled first, and, when all in a red glow,
they set fire to the large coal above; so it is in a revival;
the Lord's poor, and the devil's poor, are the small coal;
when these are enkindled by the Gospel into a flame of love




GLIMPSES OF BIRMINGHAM.              151
to God, they are sure to send up the flames of salvation to
the devil's rich folks.
And thus, as the revival spreads, the soul, in hundreds
and in thousands, becomes the acknowledged prince, and
the body, what it should be, its obedient servant.
7. And there are others in high life, of whom a shrewd
observer of men spake a parable, - of chimneys, which,
thoughl the highest part of buildings, are not the cleanzest
nor the sweetest, but scorched with fire, and suffocated
with smoke.
0, but I should like to throw some Gospelfire into these
chimneys, and burn them out - or, to alter the figure, to
blow in their ears a few trumpet-like blasts, after the manner of good Richard Baxter: " The inexorable leveller is
ready at your backs to convince you by irresistible argument that dust you are, and to dust you shall return.
Heaven should be as desirable, and hell as terrible, to you
as to others.  No man will fear you after death; much less
will Christ be afraid to judge you. — Luke 19: 27.  In
the hour of his own temptation he condemned the kingdoms
of the world and the glory of them; how inconsiderable,
then, are all your present advantages, to procure his future
approbation! Let not uncertain riches be your trust. Look
out upon earth and upon eternity. As you stand on higher
ground than others, it is meet that you should see further,
and behold more clearly the difference between things temporal and things eternal."  Loud blasts these! Ah, but
many are sitting under a dark or heavy ministry, and if
Baxter were alive now, he would still have to complain that
it is always dark where "glow-worms shine, and where
r-otten posts do seem a fire!"
8. And there are others whose positions in life are lower,
yet have their portion in this life, and cling to it, although




152             SHOWERIS OF BLESSING.
God offers them a better.  Their hands are so full of the
world, they cannot receive the better portion, which death
would not take from  them.  A peculiar class these, and
require a peculiar method of address, and plain dealing
withal.
Both these classes stand high in Birminghaznm; and my
fear is, I can do little more than look up and pity them,certainly not to envy them; rather with him of old, IC I had
rather twenty times look up at them that are so exalted, than
stand with them and have the terrors of looking doiwn."
Alas for  them, they are as truly dead to God, as she of
whom the apostle spake, who lived in pleasure, and was
dead while she lived!  Or, as Seneca said, " The carcass
is as truly dead that is embalmed, as that which is dragged
to the grave with hooks."  They are as dead to God as the
devil's poor, who are poor and wicked, although embalmed,
so to speak, with human riches. 0, for a power to awake
these dead!
9. Another class, "the lovers of pleasure more than
God," —  who are passing through life as through a dream,
and through their shadowy employments as a tale that is
told; but the truie business, the one errand, but for
which they had never seen the sun, is neglected, - to glorify God here, and to enjoy himt hereater; spiritual
life and eternal life, to enjoy which, and to prepare for
which, the present life was bestowed.  But the design of
God is either spurned or trifled away, and eternity bartered for time; the joys of the saints in glory, and the miseries of the lost in hell, are nothing but subjects for pleasantries among these mnerry-makers; they would even pun
upon that " Puritanical supposition, -- " as many thousands of years as there are sands on the sea-shore, or spires
of grass on the whole earth, or hairs on the heads of all




GLIMPSES OF BIRMINGHAM.              153
the men in the world, yet when these are past, the joy
of the saints, and the tormnents of the wicnked, are as
far from an end as ever they were;" - a soul-arousing
supposition to every man who is not profoundly asleep
in sin,
Alas! let these mierry ones hold on thus to the end,
and they will wish, as many times as there are stars in the
firmament of heaven, either that God had never given them
life, or that they had laid the true end of life to heart.
" Forced at last," as one said, who is now in his grave,"forced at last to justify the vwisdomn of the godly, and the
self-denying; and wishing, with manzy fruitless groans,
they had been imitated."  The world is full of illustrations how men's minds change, as they are bidding farewell
to life; - change with their state; but not the Gospel
change, alas! but a change which extorts these most striking of all acknowledym7en2ts.
And, yet, not one in one hundred, perhaps, of these
pleasure-takers intend to die so miserably.   They will
stare at me when I tell them such is the fate that awaits
them, and yet press onward to it, with a " God forbid! "reminding one of the illustration of a celebrated divine, " If
you see a man cutting his own throat, and you ask him,' What are you doing, man?  Will you kill yourself?' and
he answers you,' No, God forbid! I have no such meaning,
I will hope better;' would you think this would save his
life? - or that his hopes and meanings would prove him
the wiser man?"  And then he went on to show that
thus and thus is the conduct of those who are hoping all
will be safe with them  at last, while they are destroying
their souls, - sowing the seeds of misery, the harvest of
which will be eternal.
10. And here are the thoughtless, and the God-defying,




154             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
and the Christ-desptising. 0, how are these to be reached?
Can a whisper do what requires a thunder?  "Knowing
the terrors of the Lord, we persuade mnen," says Paul.
The terrors of the Lord are in his own threatenings and
declarations. - The tongue of man never spoke it plainer,
than do the  criptures, that these are on the brink of hell,
within a few steps of everlasting fire. "Fear him who,
after he has killed, hath power to cast into hell,' said
Jesus. The ancients used to call the fear of God the aweband of the soul.  Our Lord sought to bind this awe-band
upon the timid souls of his disciples; but go it must upon
each of these giddy ones, or they will be destroyed; when
another awe-band is called for, with a "1 Bind him hand
and foot, and cast him into outer darkness, where there is
weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Their attention must be
arrested, and held long enough to make a sufficient impression to awaken them; then, and not till then, shall they
hear as for life.I " But who is sufflcient for these things? "
exclaimed an apostle.  Let my s$uciency be of thee, 0
Lord mrly God!
11. And some there are, like Agrippa of old, "Almost
thou persuadest me to be a Christian; " and, dying thus,
they will be almost saved,- almost escaped the damnation
of hell.  The almost repenting, and the almost believing,
have terrifying scriptures recorded against them; "They
stand dodging and halving with God, without entirely giving themselves to him," as one remarked, who considered
such in as great peril of hell as the drunkard or the
whoremonger, though their torment may not be so great.
These must be carried, and borne down by the truth, and
broken.
12. And Birmingham, I perceive, has its quota of witty
sinners,-" the wickedly witty," as one named them, - who




GLIMPSES OF BIRINGHAM.               155
will sooner or later be compelled to say with him who is
lying in the grave, " It is time for us to be serious, when
we are so near the place where all are serious; for there are
no jesters in hell!  A great thought that.  These too,
must be reached.
13. Others there are to be dealt with, who have long been
daubed with untempered mortar, as the prophet speaks;
and, as one of old observed, their spiritual wounds have
only been skinned over, and they must be opened and
probed anew; — a doutble pain must now be endured. Some
of these, to use an idea of David, have had their spiritual
bones brokenz and ptut out of joint, and never were soundlz4
set; - must have the double sorrow of being stretched and
set anew; a thorough, radical change of heart and reversion
of the soul's tendelncies; a real conlversion to God.  These
spiritual cripples must be healed, or they will be cripples for
ever and ever.
14. And, along in front of Zion's ramparts, are to be seen
miserable souls, occupying a territory of their own; "' full
of wounds and bruises and putrefying sores," as the
prophet Isaiah speaks; -who have learned the dreadful art
(to use a thought of a German divine) of wrenching from
their bleeding bosoms the arrows of eternal truth, and
healing the wounds, or trying to do so, with the deadly
salve of wilful deception, or worldly lust.
They are seen stalking around Zion, Hercules-like, in
proof armor, all but the heel of conscience, which still finds
it "I har&d to kick against the pricks;" and hell-fire, by
their own confession, flashing continually in their faces fromn
the ramparts, and grumbling that the Gospel, as l5Sicaiah
to Ahtab, never prophesies good concernipng thei, btll evil.
-1 Kings 12: 8.
Some of these linger, because they cannot help it. They




156              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
struggle hard to get away, but God has put them  in
chins, so to speak; they are under the chains of truth,
which, though they do not convert, they gall and disconmmnode.  While others (to use a terrible idea of one) have
had sentence passed upon them, and the rope, as it were,
about their neck, standing at the very gates of hell.
Alas! here is a scene to mnove this soul of mine, and
to stimulate it to action, if by any means I may save some.
-- Cor. 9: 22.
15. Again and again have I scanned the ground occupied
by " the wvell-to-do " sinners of Birmingham, the votaries
of pleasure, which one called " a silken halter, a flattering devil, that kills while it embraces; " which Plato, I
remember, called " Thle devil's bait' for soul-catching; "
the innocent pleasure, if it draw the heart away from God,
as well as those that are perditiozable, which bear the
insignia of the devil on their front.
16. Anzother class, and they occupy ground of their own,
and they are not a few, who are swallowing daily the sweet
poison of error, in the form of scepticismz or infidelity; a
satanic invention, which gcnatiuts, my friend may recollect,
considered a spiritzal drtunkeenness, or going to hell on a
drunken opinion, as others around us, of bar-r2oom notoriety,
are reelinzg thitherward upon a drunkens life.
17. Dru.znke'nness!- a drunken life;- never a town better supplied )with means to sustain that sort of thing, than
Birinhyhham; where every thirtieth house is occupied
either in the sale or ~m1anufacture of intoxicating drinks;
and every such house, it has been estimated, is supported
by one hundred and thirty seven of the population, taking
into the account men, women and children; where there are
not less than five hundred and Afify-seven public houses
and dram-shops, and besides, five hundred and fifty-one




GLIMPSES OF BIRMINGHAM.              157
ale-shops; and to sustain these, there are fift/en  wh2olesale
spirit-dealers, and one hundred and thirty-three mnaltsters; the number of distillers I have not learned. The last
three classes should have been mentioned first, perhaps, as
they are the chief men in this work of ruin, although they so
often boast they have no drunkcards about them.  But, as
Dr. Fiskc asked, are they not the chief tzen, -- the very,mainsprings of the business?  Do they not stand at the
head of this fiery fountain?   Do they not command the
gateway of this mighty flood?   Do they not stand, as it
were, at the bulk-head, and hoist the gates of this river of
fire, which spreads its streams all around, burning up every
green thing, -the retailers only doing their drdgery?
Have they not a large share in the profits also?- and
shall they not have a large share in accounlting for the
consequences before the tribunal of the God of heaven and
earth, whose law is, " Thou shalt not kill," which includes
every injury to human life?  How much less accountable
than the infatuated victim, who throws himself upon the
bosom of the burning torrent, and is borne down by it into
the gulf of woe! I have not quoted Dr. Fisk's sentiments
accurately, as I write from memory; but that is the substance.
And what are the fruits of these busy laborers in the
cause of human ruin?  I do not inquire after their gains,
but the destruction they produce annually! It is supposed
that over four hundred persons are killed in Birmingham
every year by these drinks.  During the last year, thirteen hundred persons were brought before the magistrates
for drunkenness.  To this add forty thousand sterling,
which the townl pays annually as poor levies; and it has
been clearly ascertained that three fourths of the paupers
were made such by intoxicating drinks.  But these liquor1.4




158              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
sellers are notified annually to appear for a renewal of
license, and the tax-payers have to foot the bill of consequences, to the item of two hundred thousand dollars
a year, to say nothing of legal expenses in criminal prosecutions, police, jail, and other extraordinaries.
18. And, while upon this sad theme, I may add a surprising fact;- that so many professors of religion here,
and ministers, think it their duty to oppose the advocates
of temperance; -indeed, they scout and laugh at the
reformation, under a plea that its advocates are not so
wise in sentiment, or discreet inJ language, as they might
be.  But, instead of denying themselves of some small liberties among the decanters at table, and throwing their influence on the side of total abstainers, so as to be able to cor:
rect such errors (which by the way are very few), they
rather set their faces against the whole thing.
What the feelings and views of the present  Vesleyan
ministers are, upon the subject, I have not learned; but
such are the barriers raised against the temperance movement
in past years, I doubt whether I would be allowed to deliver
a temperance lecture in any Wesleyan chapel in town.@
However, lecture I shall somewhere in Birmingham.
I have identified myself with the English tee-totalers, and
shall strike a blow for the cause at the first opportunity.
The friends of temperance are on the alert.  May God
speed the right! and the right, I know, is on their side.
Judge also, if you can, the infzuences and effects of these
things upon public morals and religion.
I have said nothing about theatres, and g.ambling houzses;
nor of Sabbath-breaking, and profanity; but enough to
* It is presumed that the subject of temperance is looked upon now in a
more favorable light in Birmingham, than at the time Mr. C.'visited that
town. - Editor.




GLIMPSES OF BIRMINGHAM.              159
prove to you, and to my own soul, that if we are to have a
great revival in Birminyham, the effort to bring it about
will be no " children's play," but the efforts of men in
downright earnest to overturn the empire of darkness.
Men are wanting like those of old, of whom it was said,
they turned the world upside down (Acts 17: 6); for I
am sure it is wrong side up in Birmingham!
The weapons of our warfare must be real weapons, our
artillery, real artillery, - mighty, through God, to accomplish all the purposes of his will.
Paul, who preached on M/ars-hill, is needed here.  Paul
is dead; but Jesus Christ lives and reigns.  HIe offers me
his strength; bids me take hold of it, and prevail, and promises to stand by me.  I have the same Gospel to preach
that Paul preached, and the same Holy Spirit to give it
overco ming power.  0, to be armed for the battle,
"' With stubborn patience as with triple steel"!
Ah, poet! I like St. Paul's advice better, " Take unto you
the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day; "- and again, in the same chapter,
" Piut on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil," — the Goliath in
the field, who is the great centre and rallying point of all
the evils to be encountered.
Let me improve upon that hint of a poet, " Set thyself
about it, as the sea about the earth, lashing at it day and
night," the potwer of God helping. Rouse thee, 0 my
soul! "I like to a spirit in its tomb at rising, rending the
stones, and crying' Resurrection'!  though at my heels,
as Milton hinted,
"' All hell should rise with blackest insurrection."




16O              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
-He who exclaimed, "What a map of hell is the greatest'part of the earth! " felt something as I do at this crisis in
my ministry.
19. I have only given you, and myself, a view of the
darkest side of the picture.  There is a bright side to it;
and it is every day becoming brighter. No day passes
without a few sinners being converted, and some believers
sanctified.   To add to my encouragement, I am becoming
acquainted daily with many godly persons,- " the excellent
of the earth," - full of life and zeal, who are ready to
push the battle to the gate, and to shout the victory!
Bless thou the Lord, 0 my soul! The gales of grace are
evidently blowing  from  Calvary.  The tide of corrupt
nature is against us; but the gwind is in our favor;- not
an unfrequent occurrence in spiritual seamanship.
The sailor does not care much for the adverse tide, if
the wind is favorable, and there is plenty of it, with sear oom.  The Holy Spirit's influences are frequently compared to wind, in the Scriptures, blowinyg where it listeth.
0, for nore of that divine influence to stem this adverse
tide, even a gale! - and, by what I can infer from the spirit
of the Wesleyan ministry here, there seems every disposition favorable to allowing me sea-room plenty.




CHAPTER XXII.
PULPIT DEFENCES; OR, FRAGMENTS OF WARFARE.
1. To one who objects to the matter and manner of the
preacher:
A lady in Germany, some time since, remarked to one
in conversation, " Damnnation is a joyless, and therefore
an incorrect idea." There is logic for you! It is doubt.ful if you would go so far as that; but you consider hell
an " unsuitable motive for Christians."  Thus, had you
and the German lady your wVills and tastes gratified, that
little " vulgar mzonosyllable " would never be heard in the
Christian pulpit at all; you would deny it to the Christian
ear, and she would prohibit it from all ears; so you would
have fine, quiet times for everybody.
Let us dismiss the Germani's notion, and deal with yours
for a little while. Did our Lord think with you, do you
suppose?  Why, then, did he say to his own much-loved
disciples, " And fear not then which kill the body, but
are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which
is able to destroy both soul and body in hell"? - Matt.
10: 28.  Do you perceive the nature of the motive?  It
is unmistakable. Are you wiser than Christ? Which is
the safest to follow, your opinion, or Christ's examcple?
Dispute with my Master on the subject. Do you question
his wisdom? You would not insinuate, surely, that you
144




162            SHOWERS OF BLESSTNG.
understand the  nature and wants of Christians better
than He!
Your ideas of " fire and brimstone preaching" are well
enough, had nothing else been preached; mark that.  But
Christ was preached, -  Calvary at a distance, however,
and Sinai and Hell nigh at hand.  But Calvary drew
nearer as the people began to feel they had need of everything which the Sufferer endured for them there. Did you
not notice that?
Are you not aware that it is the doctrine of Hell that
throws a grandeur over the scenes of Calvary?  And can
you be ignorant of another fact, that no man denying a
hell ever properly appreciated the sufferings endured on
Calvary?  Need I also remind you that it is not the
matches, nor the brimstone, that sustains a fire when
kindled, but the fulel; and that the " flinging about of fire
and brimstone" would effect nothing, were it not for the
fluel which the consciences of the people supply?  Perhaps you overlooked these things. 0, my dear friend, try
to  lnderstand yourself, and the great doctrines you profess to believe and venerate!
~My plan is, first, to show men their sins; secondly, their
danger; thirdly, the remedy.  To throw them into conviction for sin is my first aim; then into an awful sense of
peril; then, if successful, Christ is set forth crwucfied for
them. In attempting the first, I show the nature and extent
of God's law, and comnpare character.  It is the straight
edge that shows a crooked or uneven surface! Then comes
the broad-axe [of truth], and the chips fly; and, if the
timber had sense, it might cry for mercy! If my second
plan cannot succeed, then everlasting burnings for fruitless trees come next. — Matt. 3: 10.  And, if nothing
will do but that, I must excursionize through perdition




PULPIT DEFENCES.                 163
for sights and for arguments; then, to use the ideas of
an eminent divine, I unbar the iron gates of hell, and
lead them, through solid darkness, to the worm that never
dies, and to the fire that shall never be quenched; and to
show him those apostate angels fast bound in eternal
chains; and the souls of wicked men overwhelmed with torment and despair; and to open his ears to hear their cries,
which never ascend but to return again in forlorn echoes,
which make the deep itself groan, and which add to the
horrors of perdition, and which accent them terribly.
This sort of infernal panorama is as varied as the vistas
and glimpses of hell, which the Scriptures afford us, assisted
by all that reason and conscience are well able to suggest.
Close to this hell, I usually plant the cross, with this
inscription:'God so loved the world as to give his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him  should not
perish, but have everlasting life."  And yet another:
" God hath not appointed us to wvrath, but to obtain sa'lvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ." And yet another:
" Christ is the end of the lawv for righteosnzess, to every
one that believeth." And yet another Scripture: "' Believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;" assi4ring my distressed and alarmed hearers that, what was
sufficient for the salvation of the trembling jailer of Philippi, is sufficient to save the best and the worst among all
the trembling multitude! Then follow signs and wonders
among the people.  Hallelujah!
2. A few words to another:
Apologies I usually avoid in the pulpit, - -so liable are
they to be mixed up with the exhalations of vanily, and a
fishing for praise, - or doing so well under such unfavorable circumstances.  I said, usually, for sometimes occasions occur when they are absolutely called for; not so




164             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
much in the sense of an excuse, perhaps, as a reason, or
defence, after the manner of the old writers, who penned
their "Apology for the Bible," or "An Apology for
Religion."'
Have you never heard of that saying of one, who stood
high in the church?  "He, who lets another sin, and holds
his peace, is a manslayer. When men declare their sin,
like Sodonm, it is the preacher's duty to lift up his voice
like a trumpet."  Who has a word to say against this?
Must I except yourself?
What was the command of God to the prophet of old?
Hear it: " Cry aloud, spare not: lift up thy voice like a
trumn et, and show my people their transgression, and the
house of Jacob their sins." - Isaiah 58: 1.  Can that be
wrong which God commends or commands?
It was only the other day, I was reminded by one that,
all the name, John the Baptist could give himself, was
" Fox Clamantis, - the voice of a crier.  Ego vox clamnantis in deserto, -- the voice of a crier in the wilderness."  Ah, sir! whoever you may be, I readily admit,
such crying voices, suclh trumpet-like blasts, as you have
heard lately, "sound more like war than peace;" and that
the grace, the dignity, and elegance of elocution often
suffer by what you name " noisy vociferation;" nevertheless, the voice must keep on crying amid the wilderness of
Birmingham follies, and Zion's inconsistencies, I "Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight."  My
poor voice has not sufficient compass to resemble much
"The trumpet's loud clangor,
Exciting to arms; "
though it may stir up and remind your conscience of the
war between God and you, - as that singular bird, the




PULPIT DEFENCES.                1] 65
Agami of South America, stirs the hearts of those who
have, been in thewars, by its trumpet-like noises! - rather,
by its slender imitation of the trumpet which leads the battalion to the charye!  It is called the trumpeter!
Well, sir, "trumpet-voice " be it; if it shocks you, it
does not mock you with what St. Paul called " an uncertaiz sound."  For, although it has come from  afar, and
has been blown under other skies, and in far-distant battte-fields, it has no barbarian sound that you cannot understand! You know its meaning well, however " wild and
barbarous" its notes. Its sounds have neither been 1.uncerltain nor meaningless, nor without sigisication.   Your
conzscience understands it well without an interpreter!
England has ambassadors sent to her from afar, which
need an interpreter.  The stranger, whether he is an
ambassador sent by Christ or not, needs no interpreter, nor
lexicon, nor dictionary, in order to be understood. All
present will be witness to that; and do, I pray, note that
down on the credit side of "the balance-sheet," if you
think it worthy.
A good man observed that some ministers soar aloft like
the eagle; but so high above the capacities of the people
that it is evident they soar more to be admired, than to be
understood; -to drop the figure, that they would rather
shine than burn.  Why did he not keep to his figure, and
say, they would rather soar than pounce?
It is not the soaring and the shining some find fault
with; but the burning and the pouncing. A preacher may
soar as high as the moon, and out of sight, and out of
light, if he please, and it will be pronounced sublime; but,
if he comes down, for a pounce on the conscience, he has
lost his dignity, and is vulgar! - a terrible anticipation to
some preachers!




166             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
If he ascend toward heaven like a rocket, and fills all the
sky with the coruscations of his wit and genius, he is a
magnificent preacher; but, if he come down upon the conscience in a shower of fire, -a shower of the sparks of
truth, so as burn and alarmv it, -what then? He is
"w manfestly mad, who would hear him."  He is both "a
fine gentleman, and a fine preacher," who, when " stepping
down from the moon," where, to the really spiritual, "he
has been soaring in search of his wits," he is "'too much
of the gentleman," on his descent, to act as if he had a
search-warrant from  heaven for the consciences of his
admirers!
He may have as many "'mild thunders, and glowing
clouds, and traversing coruscations, and shooting stars," as
he will; but he must shoot no arrows at the consciences of
his hearers.
Let him, if he please, and as often as he shall please,
soar into the altitudes of speculation, number the stars,
and call them by their names, and " pierce through infinite
in search of God; " if he turn not in the other direction,if he have good sense and politeness enough to avoid the
profundities of depravity, and from calling sins by their
proper names, nor illustrate what the ancients called "the
inquisitive hand of a piercing ministry,'"- a very troublesome part of oratory, which they will not hesitate to call a
vulgarity.  Nor will they refuse him the liberty, sometimes, to be I" terrible as an armny zith banners," while
he is I" bright as the sun, and fair as the moon," if he
conduct himself gentlemanly amid the terrors of his oratory; that is, if he refrain from particularizing sins, and
i'tdividualizing character, and daguerreanizing persons,
so that everybody knows them.  An unpardonable offence,
that!




PULPIT, DEFENCES.               167
But it is time to conclude. It is well if the person I
have been addressing is not like a spoiled child, that has
been humored too much,- has had its own way more than
was good for it! His strong prejudices, as to "pulpit
style," may have had too much control of the pulpit, hitherto, so far as to have the word of God bound, reversing
St. Paul's note of victory, "But the word of God is not
bound! "  Nor is it now, thanks be unto God!  3But the
spoiled child cries when crossed.  Never mind! he will
feel better by and by, I hope.
Did you notice the Scripture lesson for this evening, -
Luke 11? That hearer must have felt pretty bad, and much
concerned for the credit of his cloth, when he exclaimed, in
the midst of our Lord's discourse, "'1i aster, thus saying,
thou reproachest us also."  Who did he mean by " ts' "?
His brother lawyers!  Jesus had just joined the Scribes
with the Pharisees, and compared them  to concealed
graves, overgrown with grass, or something else, over or
into which the unsuspecting passenger might stoumbile to his
hurt. The hearer felt himself and those of his profession
cggjrieved.  " Master," &c., "thy general rebukes of the
Scribes and Pharisees bear hard upon us lawyers, also."
Poor man! he had better been still! Jesus turned round
upon him and them, uttering three terrible woes, which
must have come down upon their awakened consciences like
so many lightning strokes 




CHAPTER XXIII.
FRAGMENTS FOR HYPERCRITICS.
MY language may be "' hard"' at times, but, sir, with
a soft heart, I hope. As Luther remarked of himself,
" The shell may be hard, but the kernel is soft."  If you
could have the views I have sometimes, they would melt
your heart too, and make " your language astound," also.
Perhaps you may not have read that remark of the excellent Flavel, that if the sinner could see the present and
future misery of the damzned, and the great and terrible
wrath of God that is coming upon his own soul fast as
the wings of time can bring it, such a view would either
bring himn to Christ, or drive him oult of his wits.  What
think you of that?  Which is safest, to have these views
now, or not till the gates of eternity are just opening to
receive you?  To use the idea of one who is now in the
world of spirits,- is it not better to go into hell by co ntemplatlion, than to go into it by condemnation?  What think
you of the prophecy of some, I" If he go on at this rate, he
Awill drive not a few of our citizens out of their senses 7?
But are not many of them out of their senses already, living
and sinning as they do?  0, that our God would use my
violence to drive people back again into their proper senses,
and to Christ!  How many of you can say " Amen " to
that?
To have hell for a home, and devils for companions, is




FRAG MENTS FOR HIYPERCRITICS.           169
enough to frighten any sinner, who has the use of his reason.
The very swinle themselves, in the time of our Lord, chose
rather to drown in the depths of the lake, than to live in
the companionship of devils.  The lost in hell would choose
strcangling, were it possible, rather than to endure it.  To
sinners, who are mad in sin, is the thing tolerable.
2. I am not fond of the epithet " hypocrite; " nevertheless, it is easily borne, when one knows its inapplicability.
It is possible, I admit, for " a preacher's lips to be at variance with his heart, and to have his tongue outstrip his experience."  But a very well read person delivered himself
more entertainingly thus: "A blazing comet is no star.
The Hebrews called a great talker'Ia man of lips,' -  the
true definition. of a hypocrite, I fancy! - the lips being the
most active, and the-honestest part of him.  The hypocrite's
tongue may be silver, but his heart stone, and under his
tongue, as the Psalmist says,' mischief and vanity.' "
What think you of that?  Ingeniouzs, is it not?  Sinners
love sin and folly so well, that they bring themselves to
think everybody else must do the same; and, when they
speak the contrary, they suspect them as hypocrites!  An
easy matter that, but not so easy to prove. Nevertheless,
I like the idea of a " comet," for it is no hypocrite! It
imitates no star that burns, and has an orbit of its own; -
answers some great purpose in the universe of God, as well
as the fixed star.
Jesus Christ may have comnets in his church, as well as
in the sky; evangelists as well as pastors.  Both may
answer wise purposes in the economy of salvation.
The orbit of an evangelist, like that of a comet, may be
eccentric, mysterious, lunaccountable, yet he may answer
some very important designs in the salvation of sinners.
He may be " a man of lips," and a man of heart too, and
15




170             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
an honest one; - his heart may be as active and as honest
as his lips, and may go as fast and as far as his tongue, in
its experiences!
An honest tongue may be under the control of an honest
heart; though some think the tongue in question would be
the better for David's bridle (Ps. 39: 1); for they say,
though it has no bone in it, it breaks bones,-  hearts they
mean; and some call it a "flail," and others "a sharp
instrument having teeth." But allowance for figures may
be claimed, as you Birmingham folks work in the coarser,
finer, and precious mnetals!  Would to God my tongue
was more than all they say of it, in reproving sin! - only,
I will have it, and insist upon the fact, that my poor heart
is certainly as sincere and honest as my tongue. Allow
that, and say what else you please!
Continue to hear, and to yield, as scores of you have been
doing lately, and you will find Solomon's definition to be
true even now, where he compares " a wzolesomne tongue "
to " a tree of life"  - Prov. 15: 4.  It may prove itself
thus to thousands, through the mercy of our God, before the
owner thereof leaves Birmingham.
The tree is known by its fruit, was a maxim of my Lord.
It is not of thorns men gather grapes, nor of thistles do
they gather figs; nor will a good tree bring forth evil fruit.
By such criteria, let the tongaue in question and its owner
be judged. Look around you, and behold already the effects
of this preached Gospel upon many of your fellow-townsmen!




CHAPTER XXIV.
A LESSON ON PREACHING.
A FRBAGMENT TO OFFENDED HEARERS.
I ONCE received a lesson on preaching, which has been
of some use to me, - on the necessity of selecting a proper
background (to use a painter's phrase) either for the principal propositions, or leading characters, to be represented
in the discourse;- so to arrange all the peculiarities of
the background, that they may not be superior to these,
but subordinate.
The lesson was conveyed in a critique of some writer, on
the poetry of MIilton, and the painting of Martin;- their
distinguishing characteristics.
Milton, it was observed, made all his Pandemonium  a
background for his Satan; and all his Paradise a background for his Adam and Eve; - that is, the backrground
for each was but a succession of minor accessories, designed
not to eclipse, but to set off and give greater effect to the
principal figure or character.
Martin, who illustrated Milton, made, on the contrary,
his background, with his accessories, more prominent than
his heroes; - that any one may see how his Pandenmoniuzn,
with its succession of lofty pillars, and endless colonnades, prodigies of architecture, and amazing candelabra,
sink into insignificance the principal figure, the Chief of




172             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Hell, his Satanic qnajesty; and that a similar defect is
evident in his.Paradise, where variety in excess of beauty
quite eclipses what every one perceives should have been
the glory of his Eden, - Adam and Eve v.
My reflections were, that many an otherwise excellent
sermon has a similar defect; too prominent a display of
minior accessories,- what painters consider only as secondary, - merely ornamental, and in such excess as to be
detrimental to the principal doctrine, feature, TMoral, or
character to be represented; -a background I'frothed
wvith sentimentt " and glittering with thoughts and pomp
of words, and labored efforts of oratory, - sonorous trifles,
and prodigies of oratorical creations, quite eclipsing that
uhich should have stood out, in bold and comnmanding
relief, above all else in the background or foreground,
winning all eves, and making its own mark on the judganent, the imagination, or the conscience; — standing out
there, like the Devil in Milton's Pandemonium, or Adam
and Eve in Paradise!
0, but it is sad, when an audience loses' sight of the chief
figure, lost in the admiration of the grandeur of the
preacher's imagination, and the creations of his genius  -
but, alas! the character, may be, which ought to have stood
out prominently, to be arraigned, tried and convicted, has
escaped, like a thief in the crowd, greatly to the relief of
more than one interested party.
Suppose, again, a higher and nobler personale, whom
such a preacher delighteth to honor- alas for him! whether
humzan or divine, he will be almost smothered amidst the
flowers of oratory! - like some portraits I noticed some time
since in the famous gallery in Florence (Italy), set apart
for the portraits of old painters; where the accessories in
the picture, background and foreground, are more interest



A LESSON ON PREACHING.              173
ing and attractive, frequently, than the portrait itself; here
and there a face of the sterner sex peeping ludicrously out
of a bouquet of flowers, or an arbor of roses,- a lesson
for the florist, or botanist, - while the poor head seems to
say, " Am I not in a pretty fix? " And that is all you see
or know of him whom the painter would hold forth for your
reprehension or admiration.
Well, as I said in the beginning, the lesson was of advantage to me. When I wish this or that character to work
conviction, or create a sensation, I always take care to
subdue my background, ay, and foreground, - sometimes
to the stern rigidity and sterile dampness of your Derbyshire moors, - making him stand forth'midst his desolations like Milton's Satan in his Pandemonium; as if he were
ready to cry out with Shakspeare's hero,
" You know the character to be your brother's."
Hazardous work that for the daring, self-denying, conscientious preacher. Let him never dare to do it without counting the cost!
Had the background and the foreground of the discourse
in question been more prominent and florid, -you know
what I mean, - the character represented would have been
less offensive and disturbing to your neighbors and to yourself; but certainly less convincing, to say nothing more.
The portraits were too much in relief;. the accessories in
the background and around too sparse for concealment.
The leaves of the trees were not thick enough to conceal
Addm, when the voice of the Lord God, in the cool of the
day, called, " Adam, where art thou?"  Poor Adam, thou
hast no background dense enough to conceal thee from him
who calleth thee!  ( I heard thy voice in the garden, and
15*




174              SHOWERS OR BLESSING.
I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself; " but
only for a moment or two; Adam! Alas! a power had hold
of thee, and set thee forth in mournful and terrible rel4ef.
To angelic spectators; and God, all other material objects in
Eden sunk into insignificance.
And was it not somewhat so on the night in question?
With what fearful significance did those characters stand
forth! The pen of a Jtilton, or the pencil of a Mortozn,
would have been powerless to have cast them into insignyrJicance when the preacher sat down! The character and
walkc of one; the 7wavering iitconstancwies, and eccentric
deviations of another; the spiritutal palsy of a third, and
the distorted features in the character of a backslider were
clearly seen! And yet, be it known to yourself, my fiiend,
and to all who iwere troubled on that occasion, I was not'<retailing the gossip of neighbors," but facts that were
known to a hicgher powler.  Do you understand me?
B-ut enough;- my love to all of you, with an assurance
that the time of healingy has come; and of fizner features
and a fairer complexion to the sin-deformted, as well as
the sinC-defiled.
Better be ang/ry with yourselves, than at the stranger;
especially, if it result in am tendmelnt of life and a happier
state of mind.  Let this occur, and present annoyances are
nothing.  It is easier for some to win hearts than soTuls.
The harder task be mine to win souls to Christ: hearts for
myself, I care little about, unless my Lord has first sealed
them his forever.
The Sun of righteousness hath arisen upon my soul' with
healing in his wings.  I dwell under his constant shininy.
The spiritual state of Birmingrlhaiz  has been laid open to
my vision.  Many more sad pictu.tres have been daryigerreotyped upon my imagination, to be finished and exhibited




A LESSON ON PREACHING.                 175
for the conviction of the originals, when He pleaseth who
hath called me to be faithful.
Glad you perceive I am " no copyist," although you suspect an attentive ear to I" gossip," in the details of character.
Beware of unjust suspicions.  Little time have I had for
gossip, or listening to tattlers, since my arrival in town.
But I walk with God, and have a tolerably correct idea of
the state of things.  It is the Lord who teaches my hands
to wcar and my fingers to fight.
Perhaps you have never thought closely upon what God
said to the prophet Ezelciel: " Thou shall hear the wiord
at my mozlAh, and vwarn them fromn mne."  There is much
in that intimation, is there not?   Information from  that
source, as to the delineation of huiman chalacteir, is more
reliable than the sources you suspect.  Tell me, may not
our God speak sometimes now in the ears of his chosenz
ones?  WVhy not?  Is there not a necessity for it, frequently?  If so, could he not tell me more about the state
of affairs, than all the tattlers in town put together?  Ah,
my fiiend, take care! it is possible to be
I"' zspired beyond the guess of folly."
Iunlman nature  is a study, -  a life's study.  There are
vgysteries in its operations, as in its structzure.   I study
it as well as my Bible.  What I learn in both, I teach;
more, indeed. than some uneasy consciences are willing to
bear, -  yollr.s, for instance.
Do you remember the a.idvice of a celebrated painter, to
ole \\l o wals inl)itioIIs of excellin-go in the art?' Be desFpe../2ly tli,,rdivid:l iII youl studies fr'om nat're; in your
1     ( bctr   ioii, lpoSiti s,;,s   "(Ul';l as you please."'  I like
thle idea,  be desperately individual;';: it is the great secret




176             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
of effective preaching.  "And they which heard it, being
convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one,
beginning at the eldest, even unto the last," till Jesus had
only one of a congregation left. - John 8: 9.
It was said of one, he was desperately national; -- too
general that, for effective speaking, either in politics or
religion.  " Desperately personal " was an epithet applied
to one, - but he was never insultiengly so, never; but he
had the most exquisite taste and judgment in the selection
of his colors, and in laying them on, till the portrait of
the character was complete, and true to nature as the
original.
The singular is better than the plural. It is the single
aim of old Humphrey's rifle-barrel, instead of the scattering
blunderbuss;-that was Nathan's idea, when he said to
David, " Thou art the man."  But David did not get
out of humor, like some, but moaned out, " I have sinned
against the Lord;" and for that, the Lord pardoned his
iniquity.




CHAPTER XXV.
MORE FRAGMENTS OF WAR.
No! I profess no microscopic vision in detecting " the
defects of Christians; " nor but little of that talent once
imputed to a German moralist,-that he could analyze the
strata of society, as with a microscope, and, if he detected
a few scratches in the crystallization, he forgot the large
outlines which solicited his inspection.
Now, I happen to be a plain man, and a plain, commonsense preacher. If the scratches upon the fair crystallizations of Christian character be slight, and not too deep to be
mortal, or, to effect materially the value of the material in
the estimation of the world, God forbid I should apply a
microscope/!  A  knowledge of my own infirmities and
short-comings would forbid it!  Scratches that require
such microscopic inspection had better be left to the
judgment of an all-seeing God; and not laid open to the
sneers of the ungodly.
God only is able to judge in some cases; and his judgment is just.  He cannot err in his estimate of human
character.  Instead of the microscope, my hand woul(I
rather busy itself in adjusting the veil of charity, and
arranging the drapery of concealment; or turning the
scratches into the shade.
But when the scratches are deep enough to be damaging




178             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
to the material, and damning the owner of such a character,
and injurious to the work of God; give me the microscope,
hammer, powder, and crowbar, or what you will; shatter
it, and batter it, and remove it out of the way, that sinners
may not stumble over it into hell.
Is it not declared that Christians are predestinated "to
be conformed to the imacge of his Son?  That is, we are
to be like hinm,- inwardly in our souls, and outtvardly in
our moral character.  And, again, that, " as we have borne
the imzage of the earthy," - that is, thefirst Adan,,-'" we
shall also bear the image of the ]heavenly," - that is, the
second Ad&wm, the Lord from  heaven! But let it be a
correct image, hot a caricature - not a ridiculous resemblance!
Who would not resent it to have a wife, a husband,
brother, friend, sister, or parent, caricattured?  Or, suppose
some artist should caricature the queen — representing
her in the complexion of a negress, or deformed; minus an
eye or a limb, or scarred in feature, or leprous, or in some
ridiculous attitude'or gesture, with a sufficiency of lineament
for recognition; and, as if that was not enough, " Victoria"
is legible beneath; and, not content with having it suspended
in his studio, he must exhibit it in the window of some
print-shop, while he himself goes on to multiply copies; how
long before public indignation would be aroused? Who
would insure his exhibition window or his person from
harm?  And what are Christians but the living images
of Christ, exhibited for the world to look at?  But, suppose
there are those who, in their own characters and persons,
thus caricature our Lord Jesus Christ, can we stand and
look on, -and say nothing?  Were B~  to do so, in the
case supposed, his loyalty to the queen might well be suspected.  Were we to do so, our loyalty to Jesus Christ
would lie open to suspicion. Would it not?




MORE FRAGMENTS OF WAR.               179
St. Paul speaks about Christians, that they should all come
into " the utnity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Atoln
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ."- Ephes. 4: 13. Dr. Adam?, Clarke
lamented in his day that many preachers, and multitudes
of professing people, were studious to find out how many
imperfections and infidelities, and how much inward sinfulness, is consistent with a safe state in religion; and that
how few, very few, were bringing out the fair Gospel standard, to try the height of the members of the church; whether
they were fit for the heavenly army; whether their stature
was such as to qualify them for the ranks of the church
militant; that the measure of the stature of the fulness
was seldom seen; but the measure of the stature of littlezess, dwasfishness, and emptiness, was often exhibited.
Alas! the lamentation is no less called for in our times!
What you say is all very well, and plausible enough;
but you have left the difficulty quite untouched.  My assertion was this: "' You are every moment exerting an influence
for or against this revival."  Not one point of my argument have you meddled with; you had substantial reasons,
doubtless; you might have offended your conscience! Mr.
Wesley says, " We are every momnent pleasing or displeasing to God."  I insist upon the application of his sentiment
to you and others, with regard to this work of God. Is not
Matt. 12: 30, much to the point?  " He that is not withme is against me; and he that gathereth not with me
scattereth abroad."  Now, if my sentiment was c intolerant," what think you of that?
A divine, in Switzerland, commenting upon the above
decision of our Lord, remarked: " This is the Gospel, with
all its intolerance; for the intolerance of the Gospel is to




180             SHOVWERS OF BLESSING.
consider every man an enemy who is not a friend."  The
angel of the Lord, according to your principles, was intolerant, when he cried, " Cutrse ye Lfferoz, course ye bitterly
the inhabitants thereof; because they canze not to the
help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the
mnighty." - Judges 5: 23.
Am I preaching any other Gospel than did Christ and
his Apostles? Hlow much do the effects differ, so far as
they are made to appear? Look around you, and consider,
for I may now venture to ask you to do so.  Free your
mind from prejudice; behold and judge!
We are struggling hard for the victory.  Why should you
stand aloof?  Why not identify yourself with us and with
the work? At this season of the year, certain affairs may
be pressing, and demanding your attention.  I am not to
judge in such matters.  To your own master you stand or
fall.  But, when prese.nt, why stand aloof at a crisis like
this? as if you are doubtful of the right, or question the
propriety of this pushing the Gospel to its proper results,
in the awakening and conversion of sinners; or, as if you
doubted the possibility of the victory which we are struggling so hard to win.  The conduct of yourself, and of
some others, is hardly the thing at this crisis.  It is more
distressiny than if we knew you to he positive enemies.
A political zwriter holds the sentiment, that there are
occasions when a lukewarm friend, who will not put himself
the least out of his way, who will make no exertion, who
will run no risk, is more distasteful than an enemy!
What think you of that? Have you never had any such
trials in politics? Has it not a point of application in matters of religion?  You would think so, I am confident, did
you occupy my position.




CHAPTER XXVI.
SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR.
IT is said the scenes upon a battle-field after the victory
are most impressive.  To say nothing of the dead and the
dying, - for that is horrible beyond imagination, -- but to
behold the spectacle of broken swords, &c., and fragments
of artillery, and balls over the field, lying scattered like
hail, deeply moves the spectator, while it impress-es him
with some idea of the terrible nature of the conflict just
decided.  We gather up the following "fragments of
war."  They tell their own story, and will, we hope, be
interesting relies of this and that scene in a great spiritual
battle for Christ  truth   souls!
@-        o$;c;*     *
Judats was too harsh a term  in that discourse, perhaps;
and yet I feel disinclined to anvy apology for using it.  The
application was somewhat severe. But, convince me if you
can that Jesus Christ and his cause are not betrayed now
in various ways by his professed followers,- I will not say I
shall reconsider the matter, but a most humble apology
shall be forthcoming.
Ah, my friend, this refusing to confess Christ before
men, -this being ashamed to follow him in the way of the
cross, - weighs heavily with me, because it is so severely
reprimanded in the New Testament.
16




182             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
One said, " Peter became half a Judas; for the denier
was but little better than the betrayer of Christ." How
would you set about to cope with that?  Ambrose, I remember, gave this definition: "To deny is to betray."
Beware! O, beware of denying Christ the benefit of whatever influence any of you may have, at such a crisis as the
present! Behold the few, how they battle for him! How
boldly they stand by the truth, in its onset against error,
sin and Satan! O, beware of betraying, that is, denyin g, Christ before his enemies, who are saying, " Ah, so
would we have it! It is as we expected! This one and
that have no confidence in the movement."  If the long-zue,
by unguarded expressions, license such conclusions among
opponents of the work, it is even worse than the silence of
a do-nothing testimony.
Be assured of one thing; so long as Jesus is wounded
variously in the house of his friends, and betrayed, the
epithet "' Judas " is never likely to fall into disuse.
Let none whom it does not concern be displeased; but
let us consider Judas as he appears among our Lord's disciples.  How many searching sernons and touching apopeals, from the lips of his Lord and Master, saluted his
ears! And what stupendous miracles did he witness, but
all in vain! He betrayed him, -betrayed him with a
kiss!
And tell me, is it not possible that some among his disciples in the nineteenth century exhibit a similar experience, a similar character, so far as circumstances wrilf7
allow?  Need I draw a parallel?  0, no! You understand me.  Sermons are preached, and appeals are mnade,
and " showers of blessing " descend; but with results silmilar to rain descending upon a dead tree, which grows not,




SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR.  183
but decays and rots all the faster for the rain and the
sunshine.
And tell me, further, is it not possible, like Judas, to
kiss Christ and his cause with our professions, and then
to kiss and betray him in our lives, through the instigation
of some bribe or other from Satan? - and to do so in the
face of the strongest and tenderest obligations?
O, but it does grieve me to speak so! and let me relieve
myself and you, by pouring all our emotions upon that
notorious Judas himself, who has gone to his own place,
wherever that place may be. Suppose my words this night
could reach his ear, how terribly would eternity reverberate
them! 0, ungrateful Judas! how couldst thou bid those
hard-hearted soldiers bind those hands, which a few hours
ago had so kindly washed thy feet, and which lately fed
thee at his table with his chosen ones, — thy Lord, who
honored thee with tokens of his friendship and confidence,
by making thee his treasurer and almoner? Dost thou
wonder now, that, on that doleful night, when thou didst
take with him his last supper, he used the word " me"
with such tender emphasis, - " Behold the hand of him
that betrayeth ME is with me on the table "?  O, what a
4' world of meaning" was conveyed in that little pronoun
ne! "' It is me, not you, my disciples, the owner of that
hand is about to betray; and yet, your interests, your
peace, your safety, are all involved in his act.  And,
Peter, Satan desires to have you also, that he may sift
you as wheat; but it is me he would betray, who has
never done him any wrong, but, on the contrary, continued
good, ever since he became my disciple. And yet, remaining my disciple, or numbered among my disciples, he is
about to go out and betray me to my enemies." 0, Judas!




184             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Judas! didst thou not comprehend this, and more than all
this, in that little wold "' ME," as it came from his blessed
lips in the soft and mournful tones of that ever-to-be-remembered voice?  And was there nothing, in all this, to move
thee out of thy foul purpose?
No, no! We see thee stalking forward in front of that
troop of soldiers,'midst the gloom of night, - a fit time for
such a deed of darkness,- such a breach of friendship, to
say nothing more.
And thou didst say, " Hail, Master," and kissed him;
-so much honey on thy lips, Judas, and such poison in
thy heart!  And Jesus said to thee in return, " Judas,
betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"  Ah, was
there nothing in this to touch thy heart? Every word is
big with the tenderest reproach; every word a sigh, as it
were.  " Judas - betrayest - thou?"  0, it was full of
that tender soliloquy of the Psalmist, as if it had been
penned for the occasion: " For it was not an enemy that
reproached me; then could I have borne it: neither was it
he that hated me, that did magnify himself against me;
then would I have hid myself from him; but it was thou!
-and with a kiss, a symbol so significant and endearing;
this the signal of thy treachery."  0, Judas, how couldst
thou stand up under all this?  How able to contain thyself?  How avoid falling down at his feet, content to die in
his stead?  Did not thy conscience smite thee?  Were not
thy sympathies ready to overpower thee?- - while every
word from the lips of thy Lord was but a sob over betrayed
friendship; enough, one would think, to make the night grow
darker, - enough to awaken the sympathy of the surrounding rocks, and to make the trees in the garden to tremble,
and cry out, -




SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR..185
"Judas! dost thou betray him with a kiss?
Dost thou find hell about those lips, and miss
Of life just at the gates of bliss?
O, what has ever equalled this!
Earth, hell and conscience hiss,
For black ingratitude it is,
Was ever grief like His? "
Brethren, what thoughts are those whica have been flitting over your minds? What other than these, - that it is
a mnarvellous thing Judas could ever have had a successor;
one professing to know Jesus, and honored with his friendship, and many tokens of his love, and then betray him, -
yes, as far as circumstances allow, —betray him in his cause,
before sinful men, and for a less advantage than Satantempted Judas.  And to think there are many such in our
day, is a sad thought. * ~ * x But let us pray for such
wVrozg-doers; not forgetting to consider ourselves, lest we
also should be tempted to the same. Save us, save us, 0
thou Lover of souls        Keep us, 0  keep us, and let not
Satan pluck us out of thine hand!  Hear us, 0 hear us,
and mark the purposes and confiding sentiments of hundreds
of loyal-beating hearts now present, saying,
~' Light of the world, thy beams I bless!
On thee, bright Sun of righteousness,
My faith hath fixed its eye;
Guided by thee, through all I go,
Nor fear the ruin spread below,
For thou art always nigh.' Ten thousand snares my path beset;
Yet will I, Lord, the work complete,
Which thou to me hast given;
Regardless of the pains I feel,
Close by the gates of death and hell,
I urge my way to heaven.
16*




186               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
"Still will I strive, and labor still,
With humble zeal, to do thy will,
And trust in thy defence:
My soul into thy hands I give;
And, if he can obtain thy leave,
Let Satan pluck me thence!"
Let those who have eyes to see; use them, and those who
have ears to hear, hearken!
Behold the signs of the times!  What meaneth this
gathering of the people together? - this sound of a going
forth in the tops of the mulberry trees?- 2 Sam. 5: 24.
Is it not time to bestir ourselves?  Know you not that the
Lord God is in our midst?- that the Captain of our salvation has gone out before us to smite the Philistines, as of
old? - but mark, to smite and to heal, - to rend and to bind
up, -- to kill and to make alive.  Hallelujah!
Here we have all sorts of people, filling up a significant
space between I" the painful saint " and " the lazy notionist." Alas for the latter! - what uses or abuses do they
make of what they hear  -I could say much, but forbear.
We must pity and pray for them, for we see their day
approaching; when they shall " beg in harvest and have
nothing," because they misimproved their season, their
day of grace.  But allow an illustration.
Last summer, at York, along came a busy bee, and after
it a wanton butterfly.  Both seemed attracted to the same
flower, and alighted.  Both were busy for a while.  The
bee hummed and worked; the butterfly gayly but noiselessly spread and contracted its wings,'midst fragrance and
sunshine, in a sort of busy idleness.  The sunny hour
passed away, and so did the bee, bearing off to its hive its
burden of precious sweets. The butterfly had painted its
wings, and amused itself, but moved off too, as the sun went




SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR.  187
down under a cloud.  But how is it now with the bee and
the butterfly?- now that the storms of the closing year
are howling over the landscape?  The bee is snugly housed
in its home,'midst a paradise of sweets, regardless of the
storms and desolations outside. Where is the butterfly? It
crept into a hole and died!
But such is the difference between the active Christian
and " the lazy notionist," whether in the church or out of
it, - who gathers none of the honey of grace, brings nothing to the hive;- -amuses himself with our preaching,
paints the wings of his fancy, does no good, gets no good;0 what misery in the end!  EHobbes was not the last who
said, "I want a hole to creep out of the world at," - to
creep into hell at, he should have said! -just such chilling scenes do the death-beds of some of these butterflies
exhibit.  But not unfrequently it is otherwise; - the striking acknowledgment to the necessity of a change of heart
is oftener appended, in tears, and regrets, and supplications
for mercy.
But the faithful Christian, like the busy bee, bids farewell to the winter storms of time and death, and enters into
rest, — into the Paradise promised him on the cross; -
takes wing, as good old Richard Baxter said, takes wing
and flies to God, and wcalks in heaven, and talks with
saints and angels, — Hallelujah! -and there enjoys his
heavenly treasure, and tastes the sweet rewards of a wellspent life. Blessed be God!
1. We are all responsible for the consequzences of our
example; especially so in times of a revival, when many
are awakened, and inquire, " What shall we do?"
There is trouble in the camp.  Truth is mighty.  It is
searching the foundations of Zion.  Professors are awake;




188             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
some are trembling for their foundations, - like an architect
in Liverpool, during the Dedication, who kept moving
about, in a profuse perspiration, examining the foundation
and walls, whether they were able to sustain the crowd
within. It did him good. He was ever after careful about
the foundations of such structures.  It is doing professors
good; but it will be of eternal benefit to some of you who
hear.
But it was about exatmple I proposed to speak; and let
one who is especially interested, listen. I have no time for
circumlocution.  There is an unconscious influence which
some exert, and for evil; and there is a conscious influence.
Both are bad; but the last is the worst for him who exerts
it; because he kcnows what he is doing, and his responsibility is ten-fold. Therefore, lay to heart what I am about
to say. If you do not, it will only increase your responsibility, for God will hold you accountable; and he will be
stricter with you for what you did know, than for what
you did not know; although I believe we shall be accountable at the day ofjudgmzent for what we might have known,
as well as for what we did know.  This is a conscienceawakeningtruth, but I have no time to enlarge upon it;
you may hear of it again.
Ponder what I am going to say.  Consider your position
in life, - in the church of God, also.  Reflect.  Your elevation above many renders you influential for or against
this work of God.
Forget not that what you do and say, others will imitate.
As you move, they will move. Such is human nature.
There is no use to deny it. It is a fact. You will know it
as a fact in the Great Day. You have a circle of in-fluence; everybody has, but some more than others. But




SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR. 189
your circle is wide; and your example is telling upon them.
This is undeniable.  Facts prove it; but I forbear.
But is it right for you, or safe for them, to pursue your
present course?  Is it helpful to the cause of God?  Does
it tend to the conversion of your family, to mnove and to
converse  as you  do?   Silence, inaction  is bad, but
audible expression is worse; the meaning of the former can
only be guessed at, the latter is plain and unmistakable.
0, can it be right? Let conscience answer.
The Israelites moved in the wilderness, when the clold
moved.  How influential was the pillar of cloud, then, by
night as well as by day! Suppose, had it been possible,
that Satan had got control of that cloud,- would it not have
led Israel all wrong, and brought disorder and ruin upon
the camp?
Do you shrink from the comparison?  You need not.
It illustrates a fact.  Good men and bad men are compared
to clouds in Scripture.  St. Jude compares some professors,
if not ministers, to "clouds without water,"' deceptive in
appearance, and unrefreshing to the thirsty earth.  St.
Peter compared some to "  clouds carried with a tempest,
to whomz the mzist of darkness is reserved for ever and
ever; " and adds, that " many shall follow their perniciouls
ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil
spoken of." - 2 Peter 2: 2, 17. There is infTluence for
you! but it is "pernicious," - that was the word selected
by the Holy Ghost. How expressive! Look at the results:
the ways of evil are thronged,-" Imany shall follow," &c.;
" the way of truth " is " evil spoken of" by others. Thus,
circle moves circle, and who can tell where the influence
shall terminate? In the mean time truth szlfers, and souls
perish.
Beware, I conjure you! The eye of God is upon you.




190            SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Persist, and it may be to your sorrow.  The adventure
may be to your hurt. The order of his providence miay
change concerning you. He may punish you, and try you
as by fire. Ponder what one has said upon the subject, -
ponder it well.  "' If he advance not now, he may receive
such a backcast as he may hardly ever recover, but come
limping behind, and go halting to the grave."  You would
not like that.  But it is happening continually.  The world
is full of such limping convicts.  Resolve not to become
one of that disabled gang, - that mozurnful procession.
Be wise in time. Provoke not God to make you an
example. Persist in the example you have been giving,
and he may make you an example, and bring you a blow
from which you may never recover.
0, cry to God that your secret baclkslidings may be
healed! Think of what you have admitted. Make haste.
Fly for your life.' " Agree with thine adversary quickly
whilst thou art in the way with him."  Read the rest.Matt. 5: 25. It is as if Jesus himself was sounding that
trumpet in your ear.  There is mercy.  Come! Come to
Jesus. Get out of the way of sinners. The famine is at
an end.  Stand not in the gate to prevent.  Care not for
the 6' order" of things, in this or that, if so be your own
soul is fed with the bread of life; if so be your heart rejoices
in this great salvation.  Let my words enter your ears, and
sink down into your heart. Do they? Is there a cry
within?  Or must yours be the fate of that noble lord of
Samaria, who was trodden down and perished in the streets,
amidst the shouts of salvation? - 2 Kings 7: 20. Hear,
for the time to come, as well as for the present.
2. A word for another:
True religion is diffusive.  This is its insuperable quality the world over; as heat from fire; as light from a sun



SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR. 191
beam; as fragrance  from  the rose.  True religion is
diffusive. It always has been, always will be so; and so
is yours, if you have got the real thing, - that which will
save your soul at last.
The possession of religion, and a desire for its diffusion,
go together. Now, mark that fact. Examine yourself by
that fact; you cannot help wishing that others should
enjoy it, and that will prompt you to do or say something
to effect it.  It was this which caused th6 blood of martyrs
to redden the earth!
Religion is too valuable to lack difusiveness. Consider:
is not everything valuable to man diffusive? The sky, the
atmosphere, light, sunshine, grass, grain, herbs, trees, flowers, water, thunder, lightning, wind, and rain; the sun and
moon, and stars, electricity, attraction, gravitation, the
nerves in your body, and the blood in your veins, and the
eyes in your head? - the diffusiveness of all, or any of
these, being equal to their importance.
But how much more religion! - in the world and in the
soul! Wide as the world of man is that command, " to
preach the Gospel to every creature." A fig for any man's
religion who is indifferent to that command; and a fig for
all he possesses of it, if it is unaccompanied by any desire
to diffuse it among his kindred and neighbors!
Think of that command of Jesus Christ, "Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  A fine illustration that of the diffusiveness of religion; it is light, and
we are commanded to let it shine, - as much as to say, it
will shine if you will let it, for its nature is to shine! But
let it " so shine " as to effect something; and let it shine
timely and convincingly, in your good works; and a good
work certainly it is to confess Christ before men, and




192             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
to cooperate with others for the salvation of the hellexposed.
Ilear what our Lord says: "Whosoever, therefore, shall
confess me before men, him will I confess also before my
Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me
before men, him will I also deny before my Father which
is in heaven." -Matt. 10: 32, 33.  This is decisive enough,
surely, - sufficient, one would think, to make men tremble
under certain cirdilmstances! And does it not show how
deeply interesting are such things to Jesus Christ?
Let me, therefore, beseech you, count it not a mere
" hobby " of mine, " intended for effect, and for the accumulation of popularity," but rather an tuncompromnising
principle in the religion and government of the Son of
God.
Receive the conviction, then, that you must let your
light shine, and so shine as to meet the approbation of
Him who judgeth, as well as of those who behold it; convincing them that you enjoy it, and that they may glorify
God in your behalf.
Consider: the sun in the sky, a city upon a hill, and a
candle in a candlestick, were our Lord's figures upon this
subject.  When the sutn shines, and when the city is seen,
and the candle fills all the room with light, the existence
of the thing is unqzuestionable.  It is thus our Lord would
have our light to shine, that men may see it, and glorify
our Rather which is in heaven, who is the author of it.
Do you understand me?
Would it not seem as if he intended that illustration in
Ma tt. 5: 15, for you? —where he speaks of lighting a
candle, and putting it under a bushel, instead of on a candlestick, " that it may give light unto all that are in the
house!"




SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR. 193
St. Paul flashes forth his signal among the churches,
thus: "Among  whom ye shine as lights in the world." -
Phil. 2: 15.  In what did he consider this shining to consist? Read the answer in that and the following verse:
"Blameless and harmless, the sons of God, wvithout
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
holding forth the word of life." Depend upon it, such
needed no such rebukes as the stranger has been sounding
in your ears!
As to " self-seeking," consider how the apostle follows up
such pointed injunctions: I" That I may rejoice in the day
of Christ, that I have not run in vain neither labored in
vain." - verse 16. Here he confesses to " self-interest,"
and is not ashamed of it! But you see how gently, as if
by rays of light, he twists, as a three-fold cord, Christ's
honor, their duty, and his own interests together!
Remember the motto of your own celebrated John Smith,
of precious memory: "Obtain more of God, and diffuse
more of God."  Who of you will adopt it as your own, and
act upon it from this hour, and become our fellow-helpers
in this great struggle for souls? 0, come one, come all of
you, and be our companions in tribulation, if need be,
and in the kingdom  and patience of Jesus Christ!Rev. 1: 9.
Let all who are of this mind come, - come seek a baptism of the Holy Ghost, and of fire, - buckle on the Christian armor, and join the fight for Christ and souls!
Do not, I conjure you, wait until victory or defeat is no
more doubtful. To alter the figure, wait not to ascertain
whether this tide of salvation has got to its flood mark,
its highest iwater mark, to be followed by a painful ebb;
or whether it is likely to rise much higher in popular
17




194              S1HOWE1,ZRS OF BLESSING.
favor and success, even to the high-water mark of Pentecostal times!
Ah! how much of this sort of thing have I witnessed
elsewhere, among certain classes of "the e'lite of MTethodism," - lending the effort no countenance until they were
able to ascertain in which direction the popular tide was
likely to set; their empty pews a subject of renark, of
surqmise, of inference; making only " a civil visit " on the
Sabbath, as if to let the public see they were alive and
well, but too well educated and refined to appear among'the vulgar throng " in the week time, to be carried away
by novelties and innovations; continuing this policy until
reports of strange things reached their ears, - that some of'the first families of the place " were in attendance, night
after night, and one and another and another of them converted, and active for God; and the evidence becoming
unmistakable that the whole thing was popultr, and likely
to succeed beyond all expectation! 0, but how quickly
their policy changed then! Their pews no more c eserted,
week-day or Sabbath, fair weather or foul; there they were,
wreathed in smiles, and full of the spirit of patronage,
when the revival could go on well enough without them;
provoking the shrewd or rude remark of an observer,
of a snail, with its house upon its back, putting out its
horns, trying if the way is clear, and plucking them back
on the least intimation of risk; but, at length, when all is
sunshine and safety, surrendering its sensitive person to
all the advantages of the occasion; - a disrespectful conmparison, which might have well been avoided, had they
honored Christ and his cause when the revival was weak
and small,- an outcast, as it were, like the infant Jesus in
the manger!
0, how much of this sort of thing have I seen in my




SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAR.  195
time! The snail with the house on its back, and its feelers out  - the credit of the fatmily, for taste and refinemnent and discernrment to be cared for, 1whatever may
become of the cause of Jesus Christ! — that, in case of
a failure, they might receive credit for discernn1ent and
decision of character.  Ah me! snails were  nvcleran
things, and forbidden by the Jewish law! Nor should we
forget that " the fearful' are classed with "the unclean"
and " the utnbelieving," in Rev. 21: 8, which are to have
their final portion in regions not to be coveted by any man
in his senses, be his house high or low.
Let none present be offended. At this early stage of the
work, it is well to tell you these things, " Lest Scatan
should yet an advantage, for we are not ignorant of his
devices." - 2 Cor. 2: 11. Lest he should get an advantage of any of you0 by this sort of mean device; and, at
length, either render you ridiculous, or do serious injury to
your souls and families; lest, also, he should retard the
work, and render our effort hard and discouragcing.
It has been remarked, already, I have had some painful
experience of these things elsewhere; and would to God I
could say, with a clear conscience, a somewhat similar spirit
has never been exhibited among my brethren in the ministry in some parts of Christendom.
For example:  " The stranger" arrived, heralded by
some notoriety as to success in other parts; expectation
had been on the tip-toe for some time; now it is about to
be gratified.  The plain man makes his appearance in the
pulpit, and preaches a plain Gospel sermon.  There is a
hopehe will do better after the fatigue of his journey is
over.  Sermon succeeds to sermon, but there is nothing
great or eloquent, - plain home truth, that is all, with but
little unction; -  curiosity has grieved the Spirit; there is




196              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
nothing that promises much influence with " the public
inzd; "-  the Spirit is grieved at this looking unto man,
instead of looking unto Jesus; and the poor stranger is
shorn of his strength; he is down, and cannot get up,
and no influential hand is extended heartily to help him up.
The people are looking to man, instead of to God; - much
talk and little prayer, low criticisms and comparisons in
certain quarters, and unbelief on the fearful increase.
The stranger feels it all; cries to God; comes before
them  with honest tears, but cannot rise.  Thus matters
proceed.  He would fain retreat, but dare not.  Hopes in
God, but is greatly humbbled.  The miniisters of the place
look on, -pray if asked; they are determined not to lay
a straw in " the brother's way; " but they will not throw
themselves into the work, and succor him  earnestly in the
conflict; will not ally their strength with his, for victory in
the onset. " No; the people would not be content with the
ordinary ministrations, but called loudly for the extraordinary.  Now they have it, and let them make the best
of it; the responsibility is not ours, but the brother's.
If he succeed, we shall be glad of it; if it turns out a
failure, it will do our people good; make them value their
own ministry the more.  It will teach them a lesson. We
shall look on,  must not absent ourselves; that would be to
come in for a share of the blame in case of a failure.  We
shall help, occasionally, as the brother may direct; but he
must be led to understand that the mneeting is entirely
under his own control, and that the responsibility is his."
The stranger feels and sees how matters stand; finds himself in a hard spot, but knows not how to complain; weeps
and sighs and groans in secret; puts forth Herculean efforts
in public; but feels there are hindrances, drawbacks,
weakness and death, somewhere,- cannot tell where;




SPIRITUAL BATTERIES AND WEAPONS OF WAAR.  197
likes to be charitable; must appear charitable; but something is wrong, and victory a problem.  Thus lie proceeds
with the wasting and killing effort; sinks and rises again,
flounders and recovers; now and then, in spite of hell and difficulties, gains a slight advantage, and a few souls saved, but
for which his heart would break;- the Holy Ghost all the
while beholding " an accursed thing in the camnp," a contrary spirit, a policy; - the heavens brass again, and the
earth, the hearts of nen, iron, - discouragyeent all
around.
What is to be done?  He'"winds up" with as good
grace as possible, and disappears; or girds on2 the armor,
lighter than ever, and, sword of truth in hand, rushes upon
opposing powers! — rushes upon the church and upon the,world, with the cry of " Victory or death! "- rushes upon
opposing influences, at the risk of health and life, till the
power of God comes down and sweeps away the opposition
like chaff before the wind; and the work of soul-saving
advances with a power that astonishes earth and hell!
Ah! how much of all this have I encountered hitherto;
and, perhaps, might say, with him in The Lay of the Last
Poet:
" And what I felt, I oft shall feel again,
Thou first, last, best, great Giver, Lord!"
17*




CHAPTER XXVII.
A RETARDING OR PROMOTING CHURCH; OR, HOW TO
HAVE A REVIVAL.
A FEW words before my text.  And let those whom  it
may concern, listen and ponzder.
1. It is written, Judgment,must begin at the house of
God.  Where Jesus Christ has a church, it is either in a,
state to retacrd or promote his work of salvation among
sinners.  None, I fancy, will disagree with me here.
Now, a Christ-sent preacher will look well to this, and
will very soon discover the 1retarding or promoting state
of the church.  He must address himself to that state; —
must cope with it in the former, or lead it on to victory,
if in the latter state, or he will fail in his duty, and have
no revival.  For it is vain to expect any remarkable work
of God in any church, so long as its spirit and character are
anztagonistic to the will and work of Christ, and the full
designs of the Gospel.
2. But there are, usually, in every church, some livingt
members, although there may be many dead.  These he
should recognize, ciherish, encouzraye, and lead forth to do
battle for the King of kings.  But the mzembership who
are of another spirit, should have a different treatment; —
caustic, to eat away "the proud flesh " gathered upon their
spiritual wounds, or a vigorous application of the lancet or
the knife; or an emetic which will eject from the foul




A RETARDING OR PROMOTING CHURCH.          199
stomach of the soul, certain satanic deposits, of no very
agreeable nature;- and let the spiritual physician beware
of a bespattering! But if he lack courage for these things,
he is certainly not the mzan for the times, for the place, for
the people.  He had better retire, that God may send another, of a stronger headrt, and more unflinching purpose.
You understand me.
3. Judge of my ministry among you, then, by these
simple, commnon-sense rules.  If your consciences declare
for them, then reason and infer accordingly.  Look at our
efforts through this glass. It is transparent; look through
it, and decide, all of you, whether there is not a cause,
whether this pointed faithfulness is, as some insinuate,
"' contrary to the meek and lowly mind that was in Christ."
But is it so? - anything at variance with his example,
when circumnstances demanded,,-when, as an eminent
divine remarks, ~ "He walked as an incarnate conscience
through a guilty land; and its people trembled at the rebukes of his sacred presence; when the voice of Him, who
was' meek and lowly in heart,' uttered forth the hoarse
and exasperated accents of divine wrath, in a manner more
terrible than the recollections of Sinai.  But how was it
possible that even mercy itself could visit a scene like that
which he traversed, and maintain a style of unmingled tenderness? Accordingly, there were occasions when, surveying the proud, hypocritical, -and guilty throngs which
crowded his path, he clothed himself with zeal as with a
garment, and, with a consuming jealousy for the insulted
majesty of God,'took them into his lips, and smote them
with the sword of his mouth.' Witness the cleansing of
the temple. Intent on gain, the Jews had converted the
holy place into a scene of sacrilegious traffic; they had
turned the ancient and solemn Passover itself to profit;




200             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
they bartered deep in the blood of human souls; they worshipped Mammon in his Father's house.  But,'suddenly
coming to his temple,' he flamed around its hallowed walls,'like a refiner's fire,' and, with the tones of injured and
insulted Deity, rained on their consciences such strokes of
terrible dismay, that they eagerly sought refuge from  his
holy indignation in flight, leaving him  the Lord and sole
possessor of the sanctuary."  What think you of scenes like
these?
Consider: Do you suppose, were Christ to appear suddenly, and walk forth visibly among his churches in Birmingham, le would differ much from  his old style of
address?
4. Hearken unto me, all of you; but, O remember, that
it is a sinner like yourselves who thus speaks to you,though, to the glory of his grace, I must acknowledge his
mercy and goodness, in styling myself a sinner saved by
grace, and laboring with all my strength to have you saved
also.  Hearken! Jesus is no more visibly present. \The
heavens have received him until the times of the restitutionz
of all things. But he has left TRUTH upon the earth. What
to do? — to stand still and do nothing? Nay, verily. What
then? To walk forth among the guilty throngs of earth, lilce
himself, as an incarnate conscience.  Is that all?  What,
and not enter the house of God? Nay, nay! But it enters
his sacred temple.  It flames around its hallowed walls,
"like a refiner's fire; " vindicating, in tones of terrible
power, the insulted majesty of Him who is Lord also of the
temple; and raining upon trembling consciences, that which
comes down with the force and effectiveness of the nimble
and piercing lightnings of heaven.
This is all I have time to say at present.  Expect something additional, to-morrow evening, previous to the text.




A RETARDING OR PROMOTING CHURCH.          201
In the mean time, hearken to my message for to-night:
" Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the
day of salvation." -2 Cor. 6: 2.  We may say of this
text, as one of the fathers said of a martyr:- to name a
man a martyr is to commend him sufficiently.  So to name
this text, is to commend it sufficiently to all who have ears to
hear the will and counsel of God; to all who have hearts
to feel, that the day, the hour of salvation has come; that
if you prove it not so, the blame must lie upon yourselves,
not with God. The text is a witness.
The question as to time is settled; and that is an important point with some, -the time to be saved.  They hope
and intend to be saved some time or other, but somehow the
right time has not arrived.  My text says it has; it earnestly demands attention: " Behold, now is the accepted
time; behold, now is the day of salvation."  But the
halting, unbelieving sinner will not believe it.  Ihe thinks,
or acts as if he thought, there must be some mnista1ce about
it. My text repels the insinuation; and I repel it, and
conjure all such to beware how they provoke the displeasure of the Holy Ghost, who speaks therein. Beware, lest
he take away your time altogether, seeing you reject his
time.  That will be a terrible affair; for, O how it will
enhance and terribly accent your misery, the recollection
that you had an accepted time and day of salvation, which
you spurned or neglected!




CHAPTER XXVIII.
iHOW TO HAVE A REVIVAL, CONTINUED.
1. ARE you willing I should resume the theme of my
introduction, last night? You know I intimated an intention to return to it.
2. Well, then, allow the inquiry once more, Were Christ
to appear visibly among the churches in Birmingham, what
style of preaching, suppose ye, would he adopt? Would it
differ materially from that which characterized it, when last
among men?
HIear what one said of it: " Finding himself surrounded
in the temple by a large assemblage of Jewish doctors,
scribes, and lawyers, and Pharisees, - the very element and
essence of the nation's guilt,- he assailed and demolished
the enormous fabric of sanctimonious hypocrisy which their
laborious impiety had reared, and, with the fidelity and
fearlessness of the king of martyrs, denounced and delivered
his final protest against the pride and the power which
upheld it. They had occasionally heard his fearful comminations before, and trembled for their security, for every word
was a weapon; but now, having regularly invested and
approached their fortified guilt, he opened on them the
dreadful artillery of his divine malediction.  An occasional
flash had before apprized them that a storm might be near;
but now, having collected together all the materials of tempest into one black and fearful mass, and having awed them




HOW TO HAVE A REVIVAL, CONTINUED.           203
to silence, as nature is hushed when awaiting a crisis, he
discharged its tremendous contents, in one volleyed and prolonged explosion, on their guilty and unsheltered heads. He
arraigned them, as though he had already ascended the seat
of doom, and laid open all the sepulchral recesses of their
iniquity, as though he read from' the book of God's remembrance. Hypocrisy was unable to conceal itself in the clouds
of incense which it offered. The proud, the covetous, the
intolerant, he confounded and covered with the shame of
detection and conscious guilt. As they came up for judgment, in succession, he fulminated against them the woes
and imprecations of his wrath,'the wrath of the Lamb,'
in tones anticipating those of their final sentence."  I-ow
awfully terrible the utterances of those woes -- as the
seven thunders heard by John in Pattmos. But what they
uttered none of us know, for John was forbidden to write.
But those thunders of Jesus, - seven or eight of them, -
which he launched forth against the workers of iniquity,
have been recorded. — Matt. twenty-third chapter.  Each
began with a "'woe; " and followed by facts, the reverberations of which, within the surrounding consciences, were
sufficient, one would think, to make devils themselves tremble; but the last volley was the climax: " Ye serpents, ye
ygeneroetion of viper's, howv can ye escape the damnation of
hell?"  The leading and chief reason why he thundered out
these eight woes, he stated himself in full, in the utterance
of the first woe, -  o'  r ye shut up the kingdomn of heavenayainst men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither
s{i/fer ye them  that are entering to go in. "   This was
his charge, and it gave tone, and energy, and terribleness,
to all the thundering vwoes that followed.
But a shower follows a thunder-storm, usually.  Were
there no tears, think ye, when he bewailed the coming des



204             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
elation of that city and people thus? " 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonzest themn
which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a henz gathereth her
chickens utnder her wings, and ye would qnot!  Behold
your house is left unto you desolate."  It was but a day
or two before, he had a weeping time over that city,
when, it is said, "He beheld the city and wept over it,"
and then lifted up his voice in lamentation over its coming calamities, which he foresaw, saying, " If thou hadst
known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which
belong unto thy peace! but now they are hidden from thine
eyes." Then followed the character of their calamities, and
the manner of their utter ruin.
And do you think he had no tears on this occasion, when
he lifted up his voice in the hearing of surrounding multitudes, and in such mournful and deprecatory accents, and
with such inimitable pathos, he cried bewailingly, " 0
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!"  Can I repeat them without
tears? Can you hear them without tears? But consider:
the lamentation was uttered over those, who, two or three
days afterwards, imbrued their hands in his blood! 0
unparalleled love! 0 uznparalleled impenitence!
But, hearken! even then, at that moment, after all the
woes he had denounced against them, he was ready to
throw his protecting wings of mercy and power over them,
and forgive them all; -- but they would not; - their obstinacy and impenitency were unconquerable.
Suppose Jesus, in the same mysterious mnajesty and disguise, were to appear among us now, and thunder out as
justly merited woes in Birmingham,- what then?  How
would he and his woes be received?  Would there be no




HOW TO HAVE A REVIVAL, CONTINUED.   205
perversity, impenitency, and rebellion, manifested, think
ye?
And now, in view of all this, can you find fault with the
stranger? - with the alarming truths he has been compelled to sound in your ears since his arrival9
18




CHAPTER XXIX.
CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM-A SERMON.
"' sAnd mthen he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the
thiings that belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine
eyes. " -Luke 19: 41, 42.
1. THERE is much said about weeping in the Scriptures.
Abrahamn wept over the death of Sarah, his wife. Joseph
wept when he recognized his brethren, from whom he had
been so long separated; but he sought how he might conceal his tears. King Hezelciah "wept sore" when he was
sick, and the Lord's message by Isaiah had sounded in his
ears, " Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order,
for thou shalt die, and not live."  David wept freely on
several occasions.
2. We do not wonder at such weeping.  The occasion
demanded it.  Nature had its way, and tears their course.
Among the Hebrews, it was not considered unlmanzly, or a
sign of weakness, to weep; it was not looked upon as an
evidence of want of courage, or self-possessionz, or greatness of soul, to weep when there was a cause for it; but
rather an evidence of the presence of these manly and
noble virtues.  Therefore, they did not repress their tears,
as if ashamed of them, in times of bereavement and sorrow.
3. But when we behold Jesus drawing near to Jer'tsalem, and weeping over it, — ah! but there is something




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.           207
in that scene exceedingly touching.  But more of this by
and by.
I was reading, to-day, David's pathetic lamentation over
the death of saul and Jonathan, upon the mountains of
Gilboa.  How touchingly eloquent it is!- 2 Sam. 1:
17-27. That passage thrilled me.'"The beauty of Israel
is slain upon thy high places; how are the mighty fallen!
I am  distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very
pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women." No wonder his distress at their untimely end was so poignant, and his excess
of gyrief so great, as that " every word was swollen with a
sigh, or broken with a sob," so endearing were the recollections of their firiendship, especially that of Jonathan!. Had Jerusalem  sinners been so endeared to Jesus, his
tears and lamentations over them would not so surprise and
move us. But they were on the point of cruelly imbruing
their hands in his blood. More of this hereafter.  But how
are we to view sinners around us?-as the friends and lovers of Jesus? - as really and truly our friends? How can
we think so, when they repel his truth, hate it, scorn it, and
force us into agonies, and cries and tears, night after night,
for their salvation? - s far from the love which should win
tears, on mere human principles, as the devil firom the
beauty and holiness of an unfallen angel!
And shall we weep over them, as Jesus did over Jerusalem sinners?  Yes, we shall, and to-night, too! But where
are we to find motives?  What is it that shall open the
fountains in our heads, and cover our cheeks with tears? I
answer: some such views as Jesus had. 1. That the things
which belong to their peace are hidden from their eyes.
2. An intense desire it were otherwise.  3. The terrible
calamities which await every one of them. 4. The willing



208             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
ness of Jesus to rescue and save them all, were their eyes
but open to facts which would surely awaken and alarm,
and bring them to repentance.
3. And why should we be ashamed to weep, even if
to-night the sight of our eyes affects our hearts? Why
should not we weep over sinners in our day, if Jesus wept
over sinners in his day? Should our cheeks be dry, when
his were wet?  But Jesus, we see, wept over his enemies.
If we weep, it is over relatives and fellow-townsmen, who
have no intention of hanrming us; who would fight for us,
were any one to attempt to molest or injure us.  Ay, but
alas! alas! we must not forget that they are at enmity
with God, and, perhaps, on account of the truth, are not
well pleased with us; what they must cost us, by their perversity, labor, sorrow, and tears, before their conversion.
4. Nevertheless, tears are called for now over sin-slain
and devil-deceived sinners and backsliders; for, in this
age, in which the falling sickness is an epidemic, when so
many have fallen from  God, lamentation and tears are
surely not uncalled for.
5. We behold their peril now.  Nor should devils nor
men be surprised at our emotions, or our tears.  Weep!
yes! let us weep more and more, for we have backsliders
among us!  "How are the mighty fallen!  exclaimed
David, over the gory bodies of his friends on Gilboa.' How are the mnighty fallen! " exclaim we over those who
were once mighty in prayer and praise, -" the beauty of
Israel! "- fallen, and fallen so low, and in peril of falling
lower yet, even where flames attend their final fall!
Hearken! " Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow,"
— or any cause of sorrow greater than this, — to behold
that melancholy procession of poor backsliders, now in the




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.           209
devil's chain-gang! How are the mighty fallen! O, what
shall I say more?  From what a height of felicity fallen!
To what a depth of misery! As the apples are the glory
of the tree, so were these once the glory of the church.
But, now, alas, they are but windfalls, as one named them,
— windfalls in the devil's mouth.  But there is hope of
them, as he has not yet run down with them into hell. 0,
there is hope, although their case may be as desperate as
the little lamb, which David rescued alive out of the fangs
of the brindled lion, and his grim associate, the bear. There
is hope yet; let us, therefore, weep and pray, and pray and
weep; for He, in whom  we trust, is stronger than the
devouring enemy.
6. Notice, again, that requiem or dirge of David, over
a fallen molnarch, - that touching line,
" Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul.9'
But, 0, let me say, ye daughters of Israel, weep over the
sinner; weep over him, and cry unto God for him besides.
It was in vain that the daughters of Israel wept over the
gory corpse of their much-loved monarch; for they could
not weep his soul back from eternity to reanimate that body,
nor, by their tears, heal those cruel wounds. But your tears
may recall the quickening Spirit of God; may bring nigh
that precious blood of the Lamb, which cleanses, closes, and
heals every wound that sin has made.
0, let your sighs, your sobs, your tears, your cries unto
God, witness to the sinner your deep distress for the peril
of his soul, and prove to Heaven, how sincerely you commiserate his condition. Think of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, sobbing, as he wept, "If thou hadst known, even
thou; "-so let us all weep over the coming perdition of the
18*




210             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
poor sinner, to which he is being hurried on by that stern
march of Time,
" That knows not the weight of sleep or weariness, -
On, still on, he rushes and forever! "
And, like the heavens, the other day, which poured down
their rain as tears upon that funeral procession as it
passed on, so let us weep, and shower with our tears the
mournful procession which is conducting yonder poor sinner
to his last, long, dreamy home, in hell.
0, who can tell, but He may pass by, who met that tearfat procession at the gates of Nain; -- who may say to us,
as he said to that bereaved widow, as she moved along with
that bier that bore the corpse of her only son:- moved along,
bowed down with sorrow, and bathed in tears,-,-'eep
not! "-may touch the bier, as at the gates of Nain, and
cause the bearers to stand still; -- may speak to that corpselike soul, as he did to the corpse of the widow's son,
" Young man, arise! "-may deliver him to a weeping
church, and to a weeping mother, alive and saved, as he of
Nain z;-while fear comes upon all who ought to fear, and
God is glorified of all, saying, "God hath visited his
people! "
Amen! Hallelujah!  Look up, ye weeping saints!
Look up, thou weeping mother!  The Lord Jesus Christ
is approaching! He is near at hand, who shall say, "Weep
not!" 1  Behold, he has come! See! Look yonder!  He
stands by the side of that sinner.  Hearken! He speaks
to him! There is life in his features, - life in his reason,
- life in his understanding, - life in his conscience! — a
tear-drop in his eye, on his cheek! See! he would wipe it
off; but another comes, stealing, as if forbidden.  Jesus has
spoken to him, "Young man, arise! "  This is the effect
of the voice of Jesus! Look! expect! signs, wonders,




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          211
miracles of mercy to-night, by the wondrous power of Jesus!
He who can open the sinner's eyes to see the things which
belong to his peace, is doing so now, not in that one case,
yonder, but in many.  Wonderfil! Stir up thy strength,
O, Jesus, and save the many! for that is as easy as to save
the few. The ocean wave that pushes shore-ward, covers
scores and hundreds of pebbles and rocks, as well as one or
a few; so canll this broad wave of thy mercy and power, 0,
thou Ocean of love, that is sweeping over this congregation 
Look up! I call upon you all to look up through your
tears, and behold what is going on! - the uplifted hand for
mercy!- the upturned eye -- the returning love-glances of
an ever-merciful Jesus! Yes! he who wept on the heights
over Jerusalem, but wept in vain,- and has long wept over
these poor sinners in vain,- he weeps, and loves thent still
- and more than ever, seeing they are now giving him tear
for tear, sigh for sigh, sob for sob; while he says to each,' Sanm thy salvatiozn."  Hallelujah! shout, ye sons of the
morning! Let every golden harp in heaven be vocal. Let
the transporting name of a victorious Jesus fill heaven with
acclamations! Tile tiyme to favor Zionz has comre.  Many
a mother shall rejoice! many a widow! for He who had
compassion on her of Nain, whose sorrow was very bitter,
has compassion on them   -- He who said to her, " Weep
not," - and no one had reasons for saying so, such as he
could show, and did show in that hour, that moment. The
dead son, became a living son, a speaking sont, in the
arms of his mother. What did he say, I wonder? O, ye
praying, weeping mothers in Israel, you, whose dead solns
are about to be made alive, know ye not what their languacge
shall be, when next you meet? - prayer and praise and
glory!' "Your son that was dead, is alive again, was lost,




212             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
and is found!"  Ay! see, your daughters are in tears
also! " Mother! mother! your daughter, that was dead,
is alive again, was lost and is found."  Let every heart
among you leap for joy! Let all present recognize something of that for which Jesits wept and sighed in vain over
Jerusalem, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at
least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy
peace." Let all present recognize what comes of having the
eyes of the people opened to behold the things which belong
unto their peace.
I intended to say more, but can proceed no further. Let
us cry unto God, that he may proceed with this work of
mercy and power, so gloriously commenced. And to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, be all the
glory, world without end. Amen and Amen!




CHAPTER XXX.
CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM -- A SERMON.
"' qnd when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things
which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." -
Luke 19:41, 42.
1. THE grand design of all preaching should be to make
people good, and to keep them, good. To accomplish the
first, they must be awakened and converted to Christ; next,
built up in faith and holiness.
2. The secret of effective preaching lies much in its
appropriateness, or being adapted to the state and circumnstances of the people.  It is on this account, I refer so frequently to events, which occur among us, for or against the
success of the truth preached.
3. It will not, I hope, be considered a departure from
this principle, or from the spirit of my text, if I drop a few
words just here in the ear of a hearer. -"-' One who believes
in the enlightening of the intellect, before appealing to the
passions."  And yet, sir, those who have had much experien.ce in these things, often find that the intellect has to be
reached through the medium of the passions; that is, the
light intended for the darkened understanding, must be
carried through the avenue of the passions; and so brilliant must it be, and so penetrating, and accompanied withal
by such an array of reflective imagery, as to arouse the




214             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
passions, the emotions,- those allied to hope and fear,
especially, — awaking, rousing, and meltitng them; disordeJing, terrifying, gladdezning, constraining, overpowering,
into one general outcry for mercy, or burst of triumphant
praise, thanksgiving, and adoration, to the King of kings,
and Lord of lords.  0, that it may be so, once again, tonight!
Now, observe: we often find it necessary to approach
certain classes of mind thus, before we can gain the attention of the understanding, or the conscience, and to hold
them steady, and long enzough to receive the requisite impression; thus, for instance, Jhe obtuse, the unthinkin,y
the well-informned, the wearied, and the disheartened.
1st. The obtuse, that is, the dull, the stzlupid, the insensible, against which the truth beats but in vain, so impressionless are they.  2d. The unthinking, that is, the
thoughtless, the gay, the frivolous; heedless persons, whose
attention it is impossible to fix until their feelings are
awakened.  3d. The well-informed, who know much, and
feel little; who, if assailed directly through the understanding, are left just as we found them, cold, passionless, and
inactive.  These are the T/termopylaes of our congregation; and they cannot be readily taken by a direct assault
without much loss of time and strength, and risk of failure;
so difficult is it to surprise them into a surrender by some
ti'th they know not, for they seem to know everything,much less, by the truth they know, and by which they have
been assailed for so many tedious years!
What is to be done with these, whose heads are clear as
angels or devils, as to the theory of religion, but whose
hezarts are cold and senseless?  To make them feel what
they kntow is the desideratum.  But that is seldom  accomplished, I think, by an exclusive address to the understand



CHRIST'WEEPIN(G OVER JERUSALEM.         215
ingi but they may give way under the power of a surprise!
If one can find " the secret path," to use a phrase of Rollin,
when describing the taking of Tlzermopyle, the understanding and the knowledge there may be reached through
the pathway of their emotions, or passions, if you like the
term  better; so that what is believed in the head is felt
in the heart; then we have action - repentance, and the
" God be merciful to me a sinner!" and " Heal my soul,
for it hath sitned against thee,- save Lord, or I perish! "
with tears and earnest cries, and faith, and such like, as
the Gospel sanctions, with signs and wonders following.
And there are, 4th, the wearied and the disheartened, the
poor discouraged penitent, who believes everything (he
thinks), and yet feels nothilg; — poor soul! - there is a
secret path to his soul, and I give myself no rest until I have
discovered it.  Besides, believers and standard-bearers, and
bearers of burdens, often get tired, physically and mentally,
through excessive toil.
In such cases, I change my mode of conducting the siege,
or attack, and rush upon the outiworks and inner'works
of the EMOTIONS and PASSIONS, by a suitable address.
When these give way, and are carried, I never halt, but
thunder, in an instant, before the citadel of the understanding, which seldom holds out long when the passions have
been carried. When the citadel surrenders, the day is outrs,
and the banner of Emanuel waves over the captured sinner, and the city of  lransoul, as Bunyan named it, is in
the possession of the Lord of glory!
There, sir! perhaps you may find in these remarks more' philosophy " than "' rant; "- common sense, where you
suspected nonsense   These are some of our spiritual tactics, in the conquest of souls.  Nor do we wish them  to
remain secret.  We care not, if they were placarded all




216             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
over the town; for, whether the people understand us or
not, we are determined they shallfeel what they profess to
believe!
If we had "a weeping time" last night, it was not so
much on our own account as that of others, who are persisting to trample under foot the Son of God, and doing
despite unto the Spirit of grace. - Heb. 10: 29.  We
wept, and did not Jesus weep?  Hearken: 1" And when
he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
saying, If thou hadst known, even thou," &c.  But we
wept over sinners returning home to God. Our eyes were
wet, because the eyes of so many were opened to see the
things which belong unto their peace.  If our tears were
but the evidence of " mental imbecility," bring the same
charge against Him who taught us to weep over undone
sinners by his own example.
"Did Christ o'er sinners weep,
And shall our cheeks be dry? 
We are not, therefore, ashamed of our tears. Let the
North American Indian despise the tear-drop in the eye
of a brother warrior; and let that warrior seek to repress
the tear that would follow, if nature has its course; and let
a whole tribe exclaim at once, "It is old-womanish to weep."
Pagans may so talk, but we are Christians, the followers
of Him who sought not to hide or suppress his tears, as he
lamented a city doomed to destruction!
If Jesus wept over Jerusalem, when he beheld a cloud
of wrath gathering over it,- wrath and ruin irretrievable,
temporal, spiritual, eternal,- why, 0, why, should not we
weep?  I repeat it, why should not we weep to behold the
mouths of the grave and of hell preparing to open and to
engulph so many of you; and the catastrophe so nigh at




CHlItIST WEEPING O VER JERUSALEM.         217
hand? Instead of repressing our tears, should we not rather
say with the prophet Jeremiah, " O, that my head were
waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might
weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my
people "? And if sinners will despise, and sin on, we can
only resolve with Jerenmiah again: "But'if ye will not
hear it, mny soul shall weep in secret places for your
pride, and mine eyes shall weep sore ancd run down with
tears."  There is sympathy for you!  But who of us, or
who that has ever read the writings and history of Jeremiah
the prophet, would charge him with weak-mindedness?
We are the followers of " The Man of Sorrows."
Like him  we are " acquainted with grief."  From  his
own lips we learn that, unless you are born ajain, you cannot see or enter the kingdom of heaven. - John 3: 3, 5.
And, had he added, you shall never, in that case, see or
enter hell, perhaps our eyes could remain as dry as any of
you who hear me this evening.  But, alas! exclusion from
heaven implies incarceration  in hell,-  "the fire that
never shall be quenched, -  the wornz that never dieth, -
the weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, in outer
darkness;-  and the horrors of everlasting punishment,
-  eternal damnation, -  the fire prepared for the devil
and his angels," as the alternative of exclusion from heaven,
were too frequently on his lips for us to doubt where your
final landing-place is to be! Hearken!
" Did Christ o'er sinners weep,
And shall our cheeks be dry?
Let floods of penitential grief
Burst forth from every eye.
"The Son of God in tears
The wond'ring angels see;
Be thou astonished, 0, my soul,
He shed those tears for thee!
19




218             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
"' He wept that we might weep;
Each sin demands a tear;
In heaven alone no sin is found,
And there's no weeping there."
Ah! poor sinner!  We have the weeping part now; but
YOUR weeping time is coming, but with this difference, ours
is limited to time, yours has an eternity appended.  The
promise to us is, that God shall wipe away all tearsfronm
our eyes in heaven. - Rev. 7: 17.  Neither sorrow, nor
cause of sorrow, nor tears, nor cause of tears, shall afflict
us there any more forever; for the days of our mourning
shall be ended in heaven.
But, alas for you who may drop into hell! - for sorrow
and the cause of sorrow, tears and the cause of tears, must
coexist with your eternity; - your mourning and the cause
of mourning shall never, never end.  Why, then, should we
not weep over you, in view of your sad future?  Why
should we not weep, seeing there is yet hope of your salvation,-that you may begin and weep as freely for yourselves,
as we do for you? There is hope, and we weep.  No wonder tears are wiped away in heaven, when hope for the wilfully damned is gone, and gone forever!
Hearken, all of you, to what Jesus says on this subject:
" Woe unto you that laugh now; for ye shall vmourn and
weep." But he had just said to his disciples, " Blessed
are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh."  So, then, this
is our weeping time.  Yours is to come.  May it be now,
also!
4. Nor can I withhold a word of warning and expostulation from another.
Hearken! for the things which belong unto thy peace
are concealed in what I am about to say.




CHiRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          219
Burns, the poet, seized the veil with a determined hand,
when he said:
"0  would they stay to calculate
Th' eternal consequences,
Or your more dreaded hell to state,
Damnation of expenses! "'
There! he almost rends the  veil of eternity!a
glyimpse of " the eternal consequences,"- a sudden flash
of eternal penalties,-  damnation of expenses."  The
rub is there, and you cannot misunderstand him!  That
"' blue light " of Burns, if you will allow another figure,
will burn as a signal of distress and peril for many ages
yet to come. It has a double effect. It shows the peril of
sinners, and how dear they must pay for their sinful pleasures.  It discovers, also, the things which belong to their
peace,- or, at least, the necessity of feeling after them,or indicates the path which leads to them.  Saints above,
and saints below, heaven above, and earth beneath, might
well bewail you, if such consequtences, such expenses, were
hidden from your eyes; — for, in such a tempting world
as this, it would be about the sure way to incur them. Forewarned, fore-armed, was the old maxim.
Do you remember how one of the martyrs of old was
armed with caution, when before his judges?  None being
present to take notes of what he said, he began to express
himself freely, perhaps incauttiously; but, hearing the
scratching of a pen going on paper behind a curtain, close
by, he became reserved and then silent.  The sound was
disagreeable at first, but it suggested caution, knowing that
what was being noted behind the curtain, he was sure to
hear from again; and he was afterwards thankful. for the
intimation. The sound of that pen agoing, reminded him
well, not to forget the things which belonged to his peace in




220             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
this world, to say nothing of the next.  Hearken! Do you
understand the application?  There is a recording pen behind the curtain of time; it records all your actions, and
you shall hear from them again.  Is it not written, "For
God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret
thing, whether it be good or evil" (Eccles. 12: 14); and,
in another place, that we must all appear before the judymLent-seat of Christ, that every one ray receive the
things done in his body, whether they were good or bad;
and again, that every man shall be rewarded according to
his works, for the books shall be opened?  Know, then,
that the pen of eternity is going, that your accounts with
your Maker are strictly kept.  Think of this, when you are
sinning.  Think now; be on your guard. Remember the
martyr, and the sound of the hidden pen.  Be reserved,
that is, hold yourself in check; impose restraint upon your
thoughts, Words, and actions. Be assured the things which
belong unzto thy peace are involved therein.
An individual, in a certain place, had a snug little property, and, of course, had good credit with a neighboring
merchant, who was willing to let him have all he wanted,
on credit. But, expecting to "foot the bill" incurred
there, he was prudent; he priced the articles, exercised his
judgyment, and refused much that was offered. He escaped
a snare, saved himself from ruin, and remained an honest
man.  Hearken! Give this a similar application as the
martyr and the pen: thus thou shalt have a glimpse, once
more, of the things which belong unto thy peace.  God
help thee!
But hearken again, - and let that thoughtless one, over
yonder, give ear. Not far from this man who had the snug
little property, there lived something of a rogue, who was
not encumbered with property, and boasted of it; and if he




CIHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          221
had not cash in his purse, he had always brass enough in
his face; nor did he ever once think that time and personal
liberty were property. But, to be short, he ran in debt
wherever he could, for he never intended to vmeet the bill;
and, finding himself "sorely cornered, " he enlarged his
steps by a sort of near cut to fortune; was tried for a
swindling transaction, and, in a disagreeable cell, he
learned to calculate consequences, - "expenses," to use
Burns' idea.
Eternity has its reckonings also.  Your soul is your
property; it would bankrupt a world to buy it without a
swindle.  The Devil is the neighboring merchant.  His
goods and his books are open for you; — excellent credit
with him.  You may "run tick," "buy upon tick," to
any amount; for he has his eye upon your soul, nothing
short of your soul.  He never trades for less, — so much
for the soul in every temptation, otherwise no trade.  It is
the soul he wants; all else are but trifles.  Arch-fiend!
Now, if your eyes are open to the things which belong
to your peace, you will refuse to'" buy on tick " from Satan,
and so escape thb snare, and save your soul from perdition.
You will become " the pr.udent man," mentioned by Solomon, who foresaw the evil and did hide himself, while
the "simple " sinner, like him over yonder, "' passed on"
and was punished. — Prov. 22: 3.  Simple enough, to
believe the Devil and his own heart, - that he might resist
the truth, repel the Holy Spirit, and " run tick" with hell,
without consequences.  But, as the Devil foresaw  that
which the simple one refused to foresee, Death made an
arrest, closed accounts, drew aside the veil of eternity, and
posted him off without ceremony to "' foot his bill," to pay
the reckoningr in eternity, D-   a Damnation of expenses."
0, Lord, open the eyes of that young man! Reveal unto
19*




222             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
him the things which belong unto his peace. Thy servant is
trying to do so, but 0 give my humble illustrations of this
truth both significancy and conscience-awakening power 
Behold, then, in these respects the things which belong
unto thy peace; nor think, for a moment, thou canst " sin
cheap, without paying dear."  Alas, alas-! The archangel
Gabriel would fail in computing the eternal e.xpenses,
the eternity of costs, which sin incurs!
Nay! stay, poor sinner, and hear mne out! But if you
will not, there are scores and hundreds of sinners present,
who will. Look out for Death, when you get out of doors,
for he is on full march to meet you; and the Devil, who,
according to St. Paul, has " the power of Death " (Heb.
2: 14), accompanies him, -that old merchant, that old
broker in souls, who has been jewing you out of your soul,
-he is at Death's heels, and, as St. John tells us, Hell
following with him. —Rev. 6: 8. 0, vwoe be to you, if
you fall into such hands! *   -   That is right;
stay and hear me out. A wise man changes his mind, says
the old proverb; a fool never! Now, then, hear me out;
and may your knees reach the floor before you get out,
and with your voice cry for mercy!  It is coming to that,
I think!
Well, thank God, sinner, if it does come to that, -if
matters with you come to that extremity, - I can tell you,
beforehand, it will not be in vain.  No, indeed! When
has it ever been in vain?  How can it be if Jesus is waiting — and he is —to receive you at his feet, a weeping
penitent, as you are? I tell you, plainly, it is coming to
that.  You cannot remain so long! What is that which so
shakes you, body and soul? What but the eternal power
of God? What is that which has driven all the blood from
your face, and unbidden tears to your eyes? O, what but




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.           223
the power of Him, whose blood flowed so freely on Calvary
for the sins of your soul! Whence that deep distress which
almost forces the cry? " God be mnerciful to me a sinner "
0, whence, but from a portion of that fire, perhaps, which
forced Jesus to his knees in the garden; which prostrated
him upon the cold ground with a groan of agony, -so
intense as to make him sweat blood, and plenty of it, -
the crimson dew at every pore increasing until it fell in
great drops to the ground; it set all his body a weeping
tears of blood for you. 0, shrink not, then, if it be so, that
a portion of that fire consumes upon your conscience; that
a cry, which God will not refuse to hear, may rise from
your soul to heaven! That tear again; — never mind it! it
is like John the Baptist, aforerunner of
"The tears that tell your sins forgiven!"
Those quick breathings and sighs and sobs, so rife among
the unsaved and the saved in this assembly; what are they
but the forerunner of sighs that shall waft our souls to
heaven; and shouts of praise and adoration to him who
once rode in triunzph,'midst hosannas, over the hills of
Jerusalem, who hath turned  our captivity, and  sent
salvation?
5. A  few words, in conclusion, to " The hardened
penitent," and to,C One who nmourns because he cannot
mourn," and to " A despairing sinner."
Difficult cases these, I confess. Indeed, there seems to
be a tincture of despair in all three! Impossible, or impossibility, seems a hobby word with their despondency.
One says, " The impossibility of my salvation lies not so
much in my impenitence, as my hardness; the Spirit, I
fear, has been entirely grieved away."  A second says, " I
know Christ has pronounced the mourner blest; but am I




224             SIOWERS OF BLESSING.
a mourner? Stupid as an ox - it cannot be; it is not possible, on Gospel principles, I can be blessed or saved - no."
And, says a third, I" His mercy is clean gone forever; he
will be gracious to me no more; I can neither reach mercy,
nor can mercy reach me; there is an impossibility in the
way of my being saved." - There! what a trio of mistaken
souls have we here!  And, if it be a fact that they represent numbers of each class, they present a serious barrier
against the progress of this work.
Hearken unto me, all of you, and these imrpossibles
shall disappear before the light of truth, as darkness before
the light of day! - shall vanish, to use the idea of a poet,
I" like a ghost before the sutn; or, like a doubt before the
truth of God! "  They are evea now preparing to vanish
away, and may they never return.
Impossible! - but who taught you that naughty word?
Not Jesus Christ, I am sure of that; for he says, " All
things are possible to him  that believeth."  If you can
but believe, impossibility shall vanish away, like a ghost
before the sun!
Satan has often tried to introduce that hard, unbecoming word among my thoughts, when conflicting with error,
hardness, and unbelief, in efforts for a revival of the work
of God.  But a long time has passed away since my Lord
enabled me to give it a bill of divorce! When this unbelief
would seek to reinstate itself into my revival vocabulary,
or creed, my soul takes the alarm, and raises a cry to God
against it: "' Out with it  "-  and out it goes, like Legion,
its brother of old. But I do not always effect an insurance
that it will not effect an entrance into some poor sinners
around me, as Legion into the herd of old, and set them a
galloping down the steeps of sin into the sea of perdition.
But, having got rid of it myself, my soul girds itself with




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.             225
strength, and rushes to the rescue;- succeeds often in driving the fiend back to his own hell, leaving the poor sinners
behind as the trophies of salvation!  Jesus let the herd
of swine and the devils go to the bottom of the lake together, without a, countermsand!  [But his hand is ever
ready to rescue the souls for which he bled and died.
Impossible! I have banished it from my door! -  sorry
it has stationed itself before yours; -sorrier still that it
has effected a lodgment within.  But it may be dislodged
if you are willing to have it so.  Mark that! -  if you are
willing to have it so i! Because, if you are in league with
it, then it will bid me defiance.
Impossible! naughty word! There are more devils in it
than syllables   Imzpossible! banish it to the hell from
whence it came. It belongs to hell. It is the creed of the
damned.  What have living imen to do with it,- men who
desire salvation?  Let the damned have it all to themselves. It belongs to them. It is their right, after a life of
sin and unbelief. It belongs to them, - it cannot be otherwise with them, - for
"' In that lone land of deep despair
No Sabbath's heavenly light shall rise, -
No God regard their bitter prayer,
No Saviour call them to the skies."
Not so in your case, 0 ye prisoners of the Lord! You
are in the land of hope, surrounded by praying people, and,
better than all, -
"' Now God invites; how blest the day!
How sweet the Gospel's charming sound'
Come, sinners, haste, 0 haste away,
While yet a pard'ning God is found!"
Impossible! Away with it! It destroys hope! - it kills
endeavor both in minister and mourner.   Away with it




226             SHOWE RS OF BLESSING.
then! — Crucify it! crucify it! for it crucified your Lord
and mine.  "! Impossible! " cried the Jews, -  such a person as this cannot be our promised Messiah. Away with
hint! away with him!  Crucify him! crucify him!"'
Ah, that cruel, that obstinate word killed the Prince of
life, the Lord of glory! and it will destroy the whole of
you, unless you drive it from you.  " Away with it! away
with it! Crucify it! crucify it!' It will not offend your
Lord and mine, if we seize upon this old cannon of the
enevmy, and turn it against himself,- dlischarge it in the
face of this Impossible, whose name is Legionz!
Away with it, and turn your ear to St. Paul.  Now
hearken! s- Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to
nake intercession for them." -- Heb. 7: 25. Thank God for
that word II Uttermost! " It is the HIeaven-appointed antagonist of old Impossible!  Impossible is, indeed, the great
Goliath, that has made your hearts, like those of the men
of Israel in the plains of Elah of old, " dismayed and
greatly afraid."  But this " Uttermost " is the stripling
David, that has rescued many a lavmb out of the mouth of
the lion and the bear; - this David has come into the
camp, and Impossible, like Goliath, stalks out with its challenge, defying the mercy and power of God, and despising
all his promises in Jesus.  Uttermost, with its sling, goes
forth to meet this giant, and, pausing at a brook I will tell
you of, stoops down and picks up five smooth stones. The
brook is found in Heb. 6: 17-20, and warbles along thus,
telling its own sweet story, as I have heard many a meandering brook, as if relating its history to the shining pebbles in
its channel.  Hearken! " Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the irnmutability
of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immu



CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          227
table things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we
might have a strong consolation, who have fled, for refuge
to lay hold on the hope set before us: which hope we have
as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast, and
which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even.Jeszts, made an high priest
forever after the order of Melchisedec."  There! that is the
brook, pure, clear, and sweet as the crystal stream, which
John saw welling from under the throne of God and of
the Lamb. - Revo 22: 1. Let our hero, Uttermost, reach
down into this stream, and four out of the five stones are
found, before which Satan's Impossible cannot stand.
1. The first stone is named Immutability; -" the
immutability of his counsel; "- the composition of which
is, "two inmutable things," - the prozmise and the oath
of God. Shout, ye sons of the morning! Ye men of Israel,
on this our Elah's mountain side, shout! Away with your
fears, ye despairing ones! -- here is a stone of victory,like the prophetic stone of the prophet Zechariah, which
had " seven eyes," to see the truth,- to see error,- to see
the enemy on all sides, ready for the advantage in every
difficulty, in every emergency.  This immutability against
any impossibility Satan can bring into the field, any day
the Lord our God has made! It is as firm and unchangeable
as the hills; but the Devil's impossibles in matters of salvation are changeable as the moon,- losing their imp)-li/ce
heads, when Jesus enters the field with his "save-to-theUTTERMOST," quicker than those changing profiles we saw
the other day among the drifting clouds of heaven!
2. Look for the second stone, which bears the inscription,
"Impossible;   - the whole composition of which is, " it
was impossible for God to lie! "  And now let Satan and
all his impossibles fall back before this stone, the constitu



228             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
tion of which is, the veracity of God!  The mountain
adamant is not firmer in texture than this!  Ay, this
impossible against all the impossibles hell has ever issued!
3. The third stone for the sling of God's uttermost, we
may call Consolation; the quality of which is " strong consolation."'What a heart-comfortiny, heart-enlivening,
heart-strengthlening quality is this! It inspires confidence;
it excludes doubt; it affords the most powerful argument to
believe.  But what a heart-breaker to that satanic impossibility 
4. The fourth stone is Hope; -  " lay hold on the HOPE
set before us," -the hope of present and eternal salvation, which the promise and oath of God secure to those
who have fled believingly to Christ for refute.  0, what
a stone of succor is this!- large enough to be the death
of that fearful Goliath, Impossible, and its monument beside.  Large enough, at all events, to be as an ANCHOR to
the soul, both sure and steadfast,- sure and safe, 0 ye
despairing sinners! for its anchor-hold is fast in the promise
and the oath of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. But where shall we find the fifth stone?  Close by,
in a tributary stream, which comes purling along from
Romans 5: 1. Behold, there it is, shining like a diamond!
FAITH is its inscription; its substance is, " Therefore,
being justified by FAITH, we have peace with God, through
our Lord Jesus Christ."  Hearken, 0 ye despairing ones!
for these are the things which belong to your peace. Hearken, did I say? nay, but follow on after the Lord's Saveto-the-uttermost, for by this stone shall victory be given.
Impossibility shall fall before it, as Goliath of old before
that Heaven-directed stone from the sling of David.  Behold, it is to be "justified by faith!' and if by faith, salvation is no more of works; and if by faith, why not now?




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          229
Now, then, is the hour, the moment of salvation.  Where
is that Goliath Impossibility?  Fallen! - has measured
his length on Immanuel's ground!  Now, then, Save-tothe-uttermost, mount his carcass, and off with that implike head!  Here is a sword to do it!  "' The things
which are IMPOSSIBLE to mqen, are POSSIBLE to God."
- Luke 18: 27.  And there is a spear,-raise the severed head on that before all Israel;- this is the spear:' " All
things are POSSIBLE to him that believeth." - Mark 9: 23.
Shout, ye men of Israel, shout! Rejoice, ye despairing
sinners, rejoice! Arise! pursue the Philistine host of
doubts and fears, until not one survives.  They are routed
and fly before you! - now is the day of salvation!
Hallelujah!' Justified by faith."  O, what a power
is that! - the little stone, cut out of the mountain without
hands, that smote the imnage Impossible, which was so
great and terrible! - for it was only an imancge with the
Devil in it, -- that was what made it so terrible.  But it is
demolished now, and the day, the victory is ours.
0, bless God, ye hitherto despairing ones, for this save-,unto-the-uttermost, and for the five smooth stones of the
brook!  That especially, " Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ." And now, establish yourselves in Christ. Hearken! If you have been only cheered thus far with the brightening prospect of salvation, for Christ's sake, for your soul's
sake, stand no longer there.  Come on quickly, and be
saved.  The prince of the power of the air is ready to
start up other images of terror; rapidly as the winds can
roll the clouds along, and throng the sky with images, so
can he crowd the sky of your souls with images of terror
or of sorrow, as unsubstantial as they!
Hearken unto me! Open wide the eyes of your under20




230             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
standing, that you may see clearly, in this your day, the
things vwhich belong unto your peace.
It is not enough to believe that Christ died for you; —
that alone cannot save you.  Depend wholly upon Christ.
Depend only upon his mnerits and death. Set nothing else
before your eyes but Jesus Christ bleeding and dying for
your sins. And, when you have gazed long enough upon
that, sufficient to inspire a conscious reliance upon your
part, then look up, and behold a living, reigning, interceding Jesus, at the right hand of God, - interceding for
you, as your merciful high priest, - exalted, also, to be
"aprince and a Saviour."  Rely wholly upon his nediations there, and the joy and gladness of a reigning Saviocur
will soon fill your every soul.
Do you understand me?  Do you all understand me?
Away with every plea or support besides; weep, pray,
agonize as much as you please; but you cannot be saved
unless you depend entirely upon Christ. A soul undone by
sin has only Christ to rest upon; He is the ROCK, and, to
borrow an idea of Young, all is sea besides, sinks under
him, - bestorms, and then devours; but, depending only on
Christ, he defies all else, and rejoices in the full assurance
of a present salvation!




CHAPTER XXXI.
CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM —A SERMON.
" And when he was come near, he beheld the city and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things
which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hidden from thine eyes."
-— Luke 19: 41, 42.
1. I LIKE this text, because it shows forth so convincingly the benevolence and compassion of our Saviour; his
sympathy for poor, deluded, rebellious sinners, -a gushing
sympathy uznexampled in the history of our world.
I like it, because it so well defines, so clearly intimates
the economy of God, as regards the free-agency of sinners. I like to think of it after the manner of one who
said: " Pitiable, indeed, must be the state of that mind
which can find itself at ease to debate a question of metaphysical divinity in the presence. of the Redeemer's tears.
Yet, there are men whose creed has no place even for his
sacred grief; who are actually annoyed at these tears wept
over perishing sinners, as at heterodox variance with the
divine decrees; who frown at this precious distilment of
infinite love as inconsistent with their views of divine inflexibility. There are those who would rather these tears had
never been shed, or that the record of this burst of divine
compassion should be expunged from the sacred page, than
that it should remain as an obstacle to their logical views
of the divine purposes. But we linger over it with delight;




232             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
we love to remain within the softening influence, the hallowed contagion, of the Redeemer's tears."   0, I do love
thus to linger within this softening influence, - this hallowed contagion of our Redeemer's sympathy and tears,
may it be contagious to us all!
I like the text for another reason: it so well expresses
the feelings of many in this audience, for poor, erring sinners.  There is not a sentence or word therein in which the
heart of Jesus may not be read; and there is not a word or
sentence in it in which the wilfful sinner may not read the
emotions of our hearts: "If thou hadst kcnown, even
thou, at- least in this thy clay, the things which belong
unto thy peace! but now they are hidden from  thine
eyes."  0, for those interruptions of tears, and sobs, which
accompanied these utterances by our Saviour! But let us
proceed.
2. It must be plain to most of you, by this time, that' the stranger " has not been trying to sustain a reputation for what is usually termed sermonizing; constructing
his discourses after some generally approved model, in a
tasteful and elegant manner; that he has not been preaching as if his credit, as a preacher, were at stake, and that
must be preserved, whether sinners are saved or damned.
_No; this sort of thing is of but very small account with
him, if so be sinners are converted to God.  Nor was it of
much account to the apostles of Jesus Christ, if we may
judge of their sermons by the specimens on record.
3. Christ has my heart.  It is full of love to him,
and to the souls for whom he bled and died. This love is
usually general, extended to all classes of sinners. Then
my style of preaching is general) and my affections and
sympathies, like the sea, spread themselves as a tide along
all the general shores of mind.  But individual minds




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          233
arrest my love, my sympathies, my zeal; then my style
individualizes itself, so to speak, and concentrates upon
them love, sympathy, zeal, like the waves which come with
the insetting tide, dashing, lashing, and overflowing those
outstanding rocks, until they become quite submerged;
and then the waves have free course over them, and spread
themselves far and wide along the sounding shore.
4. And was it not thus with the preaching of our Lord?
He addressed the people by thousands; and his promises
and threatenings rolled over the general mass, as the sunshine or the thunder over the population of a city. Nevertheless, he had a word for the leper, for blind Bartimieus,
for weeping Mary, a message for Zaccheus, a reply for
the Syrophenician woman, a conversation with Nicodemus,
a walk with Jairus, a word for the young Ruler, for Peter,
for the Demoniac, and even for Judas; and a lamentation
and tears for Jerusalenm, although there were many other
persons, villages, and cities, which needed his sympathies.
But how the pronouns spoke for the individualizing of his
sympathies, and for Jerusalem in the lamentation in our text!
" If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day,
the things which belong to thy peace! but now they are
hid from thine eyes. " And all this interrupted with sighs,
and sobs, and tears; for he saw its approaching desolations, and its impending ruin; the desolation and utter ruin
of its population also. " The chosen ignorance, and obstinate perverseness " of its sinful people, and their impending doom, wrung his heart, and flooded his cheeks with
tears!
5. Have you seen nothing of this among us, of late?our burdened souls weeping for, and pleading with and for
sinful men, who are doomed to hell, and yet may repent
and be saved.  Thus it has been, system or no system,
20'




234             SHOWE RS OF BLESSING.
order or disorder, -— our emotions carrying us over all
things, straight to the mark, the heart and conscience of
poor sinners!
6. Inzdividual cases, you have noticed, strongly attract
me in the pulpit. I cannot help it. A knowledge of the
facts of a case, or the sight of my eyes, awakens my emotions, and carries away my feelings; as it would be with
you to save a drowning man.
Nor do I regret this, though there is a cross in it; — it
is called an eccentricity by some, and a weakness by others,
and low and undignified by many. Yet it may be the
Lord's order, therefore no eccentricity; it requires both
strength and courage, therefore it is no weakness; and it
has for its object the high and noble aim to save a soul from
death,- to comfort the tempted and the desponding, - and
to rescue the penitent sinner from the cruel fangs of a
devouring despair; therefore it is neither low nor undignified.  I give way to duty, to fact, or impressions, and
leave my reputation where I leave my soul, in the hands
of Christ.  And, if individual cases awaken my sympathies more intensely than do the general mass of my hearers, I have another consolation, — that the sad case of Jerusalem affected my Lord more deeply, in that weeping, lamenting hour upon one of her hills, than the case of all the other
cities and villages of Israel put together.
7. A moving panorama has been before you since my
arrival; in which have been delineated many startling
things, - " true to the life," and you know  it; — and
among them have been the things which belong to your
peace;- the sight thereof has moved you to tears and
earnest cries; -- has moved me also; — has brought hundreds of you to your knees, with cries for mercy, which
have not been in vain.




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          235
But the scenes must be continued; - the panorama of
truth must move on; —the canvas of the future must
continue unrolling. There is still a sound, as in the prophet
Elijah's day, "a sound of abundance of rain."   The
Lord's sign unto David, when going against the Philistines, is vouchsafed, after a manner, to us, -  "the sound
of a going forth in the tops of the mulberry trees," and
in a particular direction; so we must bestir ourselves.
We have no time to lose.  Help me by your prayers.
I. Let "IOne who is williing, any day, to oppose the
pleasures of sense to the glooms of religion," give
ear!
The glooms of religion! Who gave you that information?
glooms! Satan's libels, perhaps! He likes to libel Religion.
Don't you know it?- to give men caricature representations of it, as one said to me in Holland.  Think of that!
But what do you mean by "the pleasures of sense?"
Anything better than a polite way of expressing the pleasures of sin? Otherwise, the Christian has as good a right to
them as yourself, and, perhaps, partakes of them as
largely; - for I believe with the poet,
"Religion never was designed
To make our pleasures less."
No, indeed! — innocent pleasures, — pleasures that can
be taken with a good conscience.
If you mean the pleasures of sin, why, you and I must
close (to use a term of wrestlers), and grapple for the
right! Suppose, then, such and such habits are pleasurable, as doubtless they are to you, because suitable to the
taste of your carnal nature: what then? do they cost you
nothing? Is there not considerable expense attending them?




236             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
But that is nothing, I suppose, if pleasure is the remuneration!
Hearken! Has conscience nothing to say? — never
rates you alone by yourself? - never imposes any tax upon
your enjoyments? - never intimates eternity? - nothing
of accountability after death? - never urges you to count
the cost?  Never stopped to count the cost? - never paid
any tax to the feeling within of accountability to your
Maker, after death?  Think!  That feeling or principle
is as certainly a part of your nature as your liver, or the
lungs in your body.  Nay, do not turn away! Look this
question fully in the face! It is your interest to do so.
Has it never caused conscience to recoil upon you?  Have
you never seriously reckoned with it? Know you not that
these pleasures incur a bill of expenzses which must be met
in eternity?  You may 1" run tick " here, but you must
" foot the bill " there, - that is, pay costs, - and costs in
eternity are painful costs, and eternal in duration; - for
we believe, with the primitive church, that none suffer in
eternity but those who siffer eternally!
The costs, sir! the costs!  We cannot allow you to
oppose " the pleasures of sense," to 1" the gloomns of religion," without opposing the eternal expenses, —the " eternal
consequences."  Or, as Burns has it, to whom we referred
the other night,' Damnation of expenses! "
There are some hotels where the tables are spread luxuriantly, and the accommodations very fine, but the reckoning is heavy! Now; Satan caters well for his guests;
but the reckoning! — I' Ay! there's the rub! " - the
reckoning! - the reckoning time! - by which we mean,
eternity!  The expenses! the expenses! the expenses!




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.         237
0, may the word wing its way to your heart, and to every
heart in this vast assembly! Keep your seat, sinner, and
hear mne out.  It will not cost you near so much as to be
forced to' a hearing " in eternity, — in hell, where you
will want to tell all the dam.ned, it may be, how you came
to be damned; for I believe with a minister of the Church
of England, who told a London congregation, some time
since, that in hell sin is its own biographer; - that there,
too, thought, on the wings of memory, is searching forever
throughout past life, and comparing the penalty with the
sins which caused it! He closed upon the sinner, in an
awful appeal, - to behold and consider how sweet a repast
he was providing for himself in eternity.
Sinner, hear me! Sin is a dear morsel; and the man
who would envy you its pleasures is a fool.  " Gold may
be bought too dear," was one of the lessons in our schoolboo/;- and may we not say the same of your boasted
pleasures? Would you not say the same, were you to speak
right out, this moment, the sentiments of your heart? To
be sure you would!
Allow a question.  Saw you that account of a soldier
who was tried by court-martial in a certain country, and
was sentenced to death, for the crime of violating a prohibition issued to the army in occupation of the country,
that the property of the citizens should be sacred and unmolested?  This soldier entered a vineyard, and, when in the
act of stealing grapes, was caught, and tried instantly, and
condemned to be shot.  When led out to the fatal spot
where he was to die, he was observed carelessly eating the
grapes he had pilfered. One of his comrades, deeply affected,
and shocked besides, at his conduct, stepped up to him, and
said, C" Comrade, what do you mean?  Why eat those
grapes at such a time as this? " The poor fellow instantly




238             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
replied, "1 My friend, do not envy me my grapes, for I shall
pay dearly for them; — I lose amy life for them."  Hearken! Do you anticipate the application?
Consider! What are the pleasures of which you are so
enamored?  What are they?  HIave they not been prohibited by Him to whom you are accountable?  What says
conscience?  What speaks that Bible? - I mean the Bible
you carry in your breast  - there is a Bible within. What
saith it?  What is its leading and most prominent text?
What but this: " Accountability after death."  Is it not
so?  Is it altogether silent?  Or have you succeeded in
keeping it closed, as many do the visible Bible? Or have
you banished it altogether from your breast, as some have
the Bible from their houses? What say you? I doubt it.
But suppose you have; and you are a downright injidel: what then? Has it not left its main text behind,
"lAccountability to God after death?"  Is it not so?
Has it not become an unowned creed, -- the creed of your
heart, though you will not own it?  Has it not made an
impression upon your soul, that you cannot erase? May we
not say of that impression, what a divine in $wiitzerland
said of conscience,- that conscience is nothing more nor
less than the indelible imprint of the hand of God upon the
soul? The depravity of man has torn that hand from off the
soul; but, on' its removal, it left an impression behind it,
which has resolved itself into a conscience  A fine remark
that!
Let me still inquire after the original text of your nature, - or Nature's Bible, -'Accountability after death."
What has become of it?  Have you denied its truthfulness?
- silenced its intimations? - torn it from off your heart?
Have you?  With what results?  Are you bettered at all?
Has it not left an imprint behind, as troublesome as your




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          239
original creed?- an impression of coming and terrible
perdition, as a consequence of what you esteem " the pleasures of sense; " - and the impression thereof as certain,man, know  thyself --  as certain as the impression of
coming death, left by that court-martial sentence upon
that soldier's mind, - which he felt all the while he was
eating those stolen grapes on the way to the place of execzution, where, poor fellow, he gathered up a dozen rifle-balls
into his heart!
Would to God, you were as candid with us, and with
your fellow-sinners, as that condemned soldier! — "My
friend, do not envy me my grapes, for I shall pay dearly
for them; I lose my life for them."-' My friends, do
not envy me my pleasures, for I shall pay dearly for them;
I lose my soul for them."  Be candid, then, be candid!
The leper of old was obliged to give warning to persons
approaching, lest they might be smitten with his leprosy.
"Unclean!  Unclean!  Unclean!'  was his cry of warning.  Do you understand me?
Another question: how does a life of godliness, with
all its imagined "glooms,"7 compare with such a life as you
are leading? - inward life, as well as outward?  What
think you?  Think! for God's sake, - for your soul's
sake, think! - think, ere it be too late! Think, when and
where thinking may do you good.  In hell there is thintking plenty; but it does them no good, - it only aggrcavates
their sorrows, - it only accents and enhanzces their misery!
This is all I have to say to you, and through you to the
class to which you belong.  Therein you have beheld some
of the things which belong unto your peace.  Consider
them well; and may God grant you repentance unto life.
II. The attention of " AN UNAWAKENED  SINNER"' iS
now requested.




240              SHOWERS E,  B LESSING.' Unawakened,"   what are we to understand by that?
Dr. Scott defines it to be, "not roused from  spiritual
sltmnber or stupidity."  Sad state, if your peril be what
the Scriptures represent it to be.  Strange state, under
present circumstances, when there is so mutch to awaken,
and so many awakened, and such tokens of a general awakening,- so much noise and stir of the trutly awakened;greater, I imagine, than that which drew the attention of
the blind  beggar on Jericho's  highway-side — which
awakened his shrill cry, " Jesus, thou son of David, have
mercy on me!"  He was awake then, however fast asleep
he had been before!
Well, when you are thoroughly awakened, should that
ever take place in this world, and God grant that it may,
your cry may be somewhat similar, and as loud! -- ay,
loud as the cries for mercy which saluted your ears last
night; —unless it may happen that you awaken not until
the gates of eternity are just opening to receive you! Then,
alas! you may be too weak to make much noise; but your
misery and terror may be none the less.  May you be
awakened to see the things which belong to your peace,
before that extremity arrives.
Hearken unto me, and consider whether it is not strange
that you remain "'utnawakened," that is, in a state of spiritual sleep, or profound indifference, regarding your soul.
Think a little! Holy Spirit, help this eternity-bound
sinner to think a little! My prayer is heard! It shall be
so. I have faith you shall be awakened this night, whether
you will or no.  Jesus will plead in heaven for you, and
the kiolky Ghost will speak in your conscience, while my
poor voice rings through all the chambers of your soul, as
surely as it now rings through every corner and turn of this
crowded house of God.




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.         241
What shall I say? -- Spirit of God, help me - Say i!
What words more fit than those employed by one who is
now in the eternal world? - and the sinner, in whose ear
they reverberated, is in the world of spirits also.
Hear the words. Let them  sink deep into thy heart.
They were after this manner: " Think! does a sleepy soul
beseem your dangerous condition?  Can you sleep with
such a load of sin upon your soul?  Can you sleep under
the thundering threatenings of God?2- under the curse
of his law? - with so many wounds in your conscience,
and ulcers in your soul? - with the crawling vipers of sin
in your nature? If thorns, toads, and adders, were in
your bed, would they not keep you waking? But how
much more odious and dangerous a thing is sin! If you
had a sick body, sick as Job, could you sleep? An aching
tooth can keep you awake; and is not the guilt of sin more
grievous? If your body wants meat, or drink, or covering,
that will break your sleep. Is it nothing, then, that your
Soul is destitute of grace?  A condemned man will be
easily kept awake; but you, being unregenerate, are condemned already; and yet you sleep; you sleep in irons;
in the captivity of the devil; among the walking judgmnents of God; in a life that is still expecting an end;
in a boat that is swiftly carried to eternity; just at the
entrance of another world, and that world hell; ay, hell
it will be, unless grace awake you out of that hell-inspired
sleep! Going to see the face of God, the face of angels,
or the face of devils, and asleep! To be with one or other
for ever and ever, and asleep!!'
What think you of such questions? How strange a
thing, then, that you can remain asleep in sin! Where has
Satan found a pillow soft enough, or so charmned, as to
maintain sleep under such circumstances?  God himself
21




2- 2           SHTOWERS OF BLESSING.
standing over you; angels watching you; devils waiting
upon you; hell moving from  beneath, with its flames, to
receive and engulph you!
Well might one say, " As wisely might you sleep on the
Ipinnacle of a steeple in a storm, as be spiritually asleep
in such a dangerous position as this. But, if you are
asleep," he added, "your spiritual enemries are not asleep;
- you are asleep in the thickest of your foes! - asleep,
and the devil rocking your cradle!' And for what purpose? To keep you asleep until your eternal interests are
all ruined; till, like Judas, you grow into a devil, and then,
by permission of Heaven, drive you hence among devils 
Asleep! 0, Christ awaken you! May the Holy Ghost
awaken you now! Asleep, like those with the oil-less
lamps, mentioned in Matt. 25: 5. Awake, 0 sinful soul,
awake, and Christ shall give thee light!- Ephes. 5: 14.
Awake! arise from the sleeping and the dead in sin, that
you perish not, nor awake in hell, where they have never
any more rest, nor sleep, throughout eternity!
Be assured, these are the very things which belong unto
thy peace.  0, that I could get nearer unto you! Be it so
that you weep not when we weep: Jerusalem  wept not
when Jesus wept; yet, for all that, he wept on, and bewailed its coming desolations.  Jerusalem  had no wish but
that Jesus might be crucified and die; yet, for all that, he
could exclaim,   If thou hadst known, even thoeu, at
least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy
peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."
III. A few words to another, whom I shall name " A
Presumer,"' — that is, one who ventures his soul upon a
false ground of confidence, - the mercy of God, but living at the same time in vwiful rebellion against him!who makes the plea of Christ's dying, a reason for his




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          243
sinning, — God's forbearance a motive for his irnpenitence;- the exact brother of him, of whom it was said, a
long while ago, that, spider-like, he sucked poison out of
the sweet flower of God's`mercy, -and boldly plucked
death from the tree of life, and through presumption went
to hell; — yes! went down to hell by the same ladder of
Christ's blood, by which the saints of God ascend into
heaven, and by which many a penitent sinner here ascends
out of the horrible pit and miry clay up into the light of
day, and the sunshine of God's reconciled countenance!
Alas! unfortunate man, he reversed the ladder, and stepped
down by it into the pit that is bottomless, - for, he made
the plea of Christ's dying, the cause of his perishing. St.
Paul hints that " the goodness of God" should " lead us
to repentance."  Alas, it only led him to presumption/!
The man hoped himself to hell, and was -damned by
mistake!
Hearken! Are you going to hell in the same way?
Must one more be added to hell's wailers, and that one
yourself?
Man! listen to me! Nearly two hkundred years ago
one of your English divines appealed to a certain sinner
thus: " Verily, if sin had not turned the ungodly part of
the world into a bedlam, where it is no wonder to see a man
out of his wits, people would run out in wonder into the
streets, and call to one another,' Come, and see a man that
can trifle and sport away his time as he is going to eternity,
and is ready to enter another world! Come, and see a man
that hath but a few days to win or lose his soul forever in,
and is playing it away at cards or dice, or wasting it in
doing nothing! Come, and see a man that hath hours to
spare upon trifles, with heaven and hell before his eyes!' "




244             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Did you hear all that?  Do you perceive how applicable it
is to yourself?
Hear what a divine in France said to one of your brethren: " Can you deny that God has borne with you?- that
you have deserved punishment? — that he has forborne
to punish you?  No, you cannot! And why has he not?
Is it because he connives at sin?  No; for he detests and
hates it, and opposes it everywhere. Is it because he is
ignorant of your vices? No; for his eyes pierce the innermost recesses of your soul.  Point me to the most secret
stain of your life, - did that elude his inspection? Nay,
verily! no more than any other of your manifold transgressions. Why, then, does God bear with you?  Not; surely,
for want of power to punish.  No, no!  He holds the
thunders in his right hand, the forked lightnings in his
grasp; at his command hell opens, and the fallen angels
wait his permission to carry thy soul to his abodes." What
says your conscience to all this?  Can you deny?  Dare
you treat it with contempt?
But that French divine could have well afforded to go
further. If God has forborne to do this and that, is it not
because you have an Advocate with the Father, aestus
Christ, the righteous?  The result has been all that you
have experienced of the long-suffering and forbearance of
God, - not "slackness," sir! St. Peter spurns that insinuation, and hurls the word back upon those that forged it,
with these words appended: "' —the Lord is long-suffering, not willing any should perish, but that all should
come to repezntance." — 2 Peter 3: 9.  There! you have
the secret why you are out of hell.  It is a reprieve you
have had; but, if you suppose a reprieve is a pardon, you
and your reason have dissolved partnership!
Hearken, and consider, I beseech you! Mark that word




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.         245
" repentance," in the last Scripture quoted; for in that
word is comprised much of those things which belong unto
your peace.
But, alas! if now, in this yozur day of grace, those
things are hidden from your eyes, as from Jerusalem sinners of old, what more can we do, than, like Jesus on the
Mount of Olives, weep over you, and bewail your coming
miseries, and say,'"If thou hadst known, even thou, at
least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy
peace! but now they are hidden from thine eyes "?  Let
us pray.
21*




CHAPTER XXXII.
CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM —A SERMON.
"' And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things
which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."Luke 19: 41, 42.
1. " And when he was come near, he beheld the city,
and wept over it;"- as I should, when drawing near to a
certain sinner in this audience, who names himself " One
of the finally impenitent, without trembling."  Ah! if he
can so consider himself, without trembling, it would ill
become me, I think, to consider his deplorable case without
weeping.  What does my audience think?
2. Allow me one observation just here. It is this:
my remarks, my appeals, my cries, my exhortations, my
expostulations, perhaps my tears, in behalf of that impenitenzt one, this night, will apply more or less to every impeinitent sinner  in  this audience; - because, dying as
you are, you will just meet as speedy and as sure a damnation, whether you tremble or not. Every soul of you,
therefore, is interested and involved in what I am going to
say; — just as every city and village in Israel was involved
in this lanzentation, and those tears of Jesus, which accompanied his prediction of the overthrow of Jeirusalemn.
Hearken unto me, therefore, every one of you, while I
address that sinner in your midst.




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.          247
3. So, then, you are "' One of the finally impenitent,
without trembling."  And do you glory in that dreadful
fact, if it be a fact?  Is it a matter to be "' laughed at,"
or worthy of self-congratulation? Is it a good reason why
you should trifle with those who are weeping over their owln
wretched state, or with those who would weep over your
coming miseries, so as to make them your jest and your
byword?  If you have sinned away the grace of God, have
you sinned away your sense and reason also?   doffed the
man, and, like Judas, become a devil, while still an inhabitant of the body?  God forbid!
Had you been present the other night, and witnessed a
man delirious with fever, on the brink of death, surrounded
by weeping friends, and he laughing at them, and calling
them "a parcel of fools," and boasting he was as well and
as safe as any of them, - would you not have pitied him?
would you have wondered that the tea~rs of his friends poured
down their cheeks like rain?  The application is so plain,
no further remarks are necessary.
4. And you can believe yourself " One of the finally
impenitent, without trembling; " -- so, you have a sturdier
intellect than devils, for it is said in the Scriptures, " The
devils also believe and tremble." -- James 2: 19.  But
awhy do they tremble? Because they believe.   WlZhat do
they believe?  All that the Scriptures speak about hell and
the day of judgment.   Why do they believe? Because they
see and feel that God is already fulfilling his threatenings
upon the damned in hell; - and, from this fact, they infer,
they believe that the other threatenings shall yet have as
exact a fulfilment, and they tremble.
Are you wiser than devils?  Well, well, they tremble
now, because they both see and feel; but your trembling
time is to come. WVhen you shall see and feel what they do,




248             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
you shall tremble also. Would it not be wiser in you to
tremble now?  But how can you, if the things which
belong unto your peace are hidden from your eyes?  0,
that you may both see and feel and tremble, before you leave
this temple of our God!
5. 0, that power from on high may be given me in this
hour to apply the steel of my text to your conscience, if yet
it be not too late! -  " And when he was come near, he
beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst
known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which
belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from  thine
eyes." I was once struck with the remark of one on this
text; he said it was a wish, containing several peculiar darts.
1st. Thou hast known.  2d. Thou vmightest know now, if
thou wouldst.  3d. Thou dost not know.  Or, thus: 1st.
Thou hast had a day of grace.  2d. The day of grace has
not yet ended in night.  3d. Thou hast not improved the
day of grace. 4th. But thou mnightest have improved it;
- there was nothing to hinder thee from improving it, -
no unchangeable decree to prevent thee; - it has not been
thyfate but thy folly that has prevented. 5th. But soon it
will be forever too late; - the hour is nigh at hand when
thy day of grace shall be turned into night; - the measure
of thy iniquity being nearly full; - what more? - he burst
into a flood of tears, and wept over the infatuated city.
Allow a question: could you honestly deny the applicability of some of these I" darts " to yourself?
6. And yet another question. It is this: whether the
sinners of Jerusalem were not in that fearful hour approaching the crisis of some terrible sin? - not so much in the
crucifixion of him who was now weeping over them; no;
but against the Holy Ghost, and his closing influences.
This is an important question, just here, and has a close




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.           249
application to the person I am addressing.  Hearken to
that awful declaration of Him whom you now behold weeping over Jerusalem; -  hearken!  O, that you  might
believe, and weep, and tremble!-" Verily, I say unto you,
All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto
zmen; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall
not be forivenz unto men.  And whosoever speaketh a
word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him;
bet whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall
not be forgiven hinr, neither in this world, neither in the
world to come." - A  terrible denunciation, and  most
solemnly commented upon thus, by a late writer.  Hearken
to him!'"What form of denunciation can be conceived
more calculated than this to warn the trifler that he is on
holy ground, and to bespeak for the whole doctrine of
divine influence the reverence of a prostrate soul?  The
sin denounced is, probably, the rejection of the last and
greatest evidence of the  l1essiahship of Christ -- the
dispensation of the Spirit.  Up to that point of unbelief,
the Jews were within the reach of forgiveness.  Their blasphemy against Christ, - their rejection of all the evidence
arising from his character, his miracles, the testimony of
John, and the distinct fulfilment in him of numerous prophecies, -- even the act of nailing him to the cross, - all this
did not consummate their guilt, and render their condition
hopeless. It was, indeed, approaching as near to the edge
of the precipice as possible, without actually falling over.
It was closing their eyes against evidence which ought to
have convinced them that Christ was the Messiah; but still
there was further evidence to be submitted to them, and
evidence of a superior kind.  The miraculous dispensation
of the Holy Spirit, attesting, as it would, his resurrection
firom the dead, and his exaltation at the right hand of God,




250              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
and bringing, as it would, the right arm of Omnipotence
visibly to certify his claims, was reserved for that closing
proof. Till that should be found unavailing, their impenitence could not be pronouncedyinal.  But should they reject
that they would be resisting the last proof that would be
given that Christ is the Son of God, and the Saviour of
sinners; with their own hands, they would have subscribed
the sentence which doomed them to perdition; they would
have added the final shade of horror to their condition,
anticipating   the blackness of darkness forever.' "  Can
you think of their case without a shudder?
7. How terrible the thought that your untrenbli7ng inapenitence may proceed from  a sin like this! Then is it
final indeed! Alas! alas for thee, if it is so! No longer
do angels wait with trembling expectation of seeing you at
the footstool of mercy a trembling and anxious penitent.
No, no! but rather in fearful anticipation of seeing you
posted off to hell without ceremony.
And, O, what shall I say more?  How can I express it?but I muist, and 0 for a flood of tears while I say it, -
the weeping and trembling souls of the lost in hell are
expecting your speedy arrival, and are hearkening for your
final plunge into perdition, and your cries filling the vaults
of hell with their reverberations.
This is harsh; but did not Jesus speak of outer darkness, and weeping and  vwailing and gnashing of teeth?
Did not the voice of Dives in hell reach the ears of Abraham in heaven, calling for a drop of water to cool his tongue?
Prove that such scenes no longer occur in hell, and I will
admit that the cries and reverberations of the damned are a
fancy.
But you are yet in the body  You are not yet in hell!
Thanks be unto our God for that! If they have waited in




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.         251
expectation of your damnation, they have waited as yet in
vain! You are among your friends yet, arid not among
fiends. Hope has not departed from my heart, regarding your
salvation.  The fact of your being alive and here inspires
me with a trust that the tHoly Spirit has not done knocking
at the door of your heart, and while he knoc/s there is
hope that the door will yet open, and that you may be
saved!
But is this hope well focnded?  If so, with uplifted
hands I would thank God, that though you are on the edge
of the precipice, you have not yet gone over it.  Terrible,
and almost hopeless, as that precipice is, you may be saved
on its very brink!
8. Do you inquire, " what precipice?"  Do you not
understand? - that which all but constitutes a sinner a
final impenitent; - that upon which the sinners of Jerusalem stood when Jesus lifted up his voice and wept; - that
wilful and obstinate, and invincible resistance of the Holy
Ghost, carried to a point beyond which there is no forgiveness; - a rejection of the claims of God, under some overpowering and convincing  illuZminations; -  when  the
demands of the Spirit for repentance and faith are rejected,
not twice nor thrice, but many times, and, at length, once
too Mnuch! 
Jerusalem sinners were approaching the edge of this precipice, - were as near to it as possible without falling over
it, when Jesus "C wept " over their almost irrecoverable
condition.
9. Now you understand me! But it may be thus with
you.  0, that I could weep over you as Jesus did over
Jerusalem sinners!
10. Understand iefurther.  I do not dispute the orthodo.xy of the title, " One of the finally impenitent, without




252             ShiOWERtS OF BLESSING.
trembling."  I mean, so far as it regards the possibility
of such a state of soul in a livinqg manz.  For, did I not
believe that final impenitence takes place in this life, -
always in this life, - I would turn Papist, so far at least
as to believe in a  urgaftory after death.  But this I reject,
and consequently must believe that the dreadful state is consummated here, in this worl'd; that the im peniteuce that is
final, and which damns eternally, occurs in this life, and
not after the soul leaves the body.  But how long before
the soul departs, ere its moral state is final,- a mowent, a
~month,Qor a year,- it becomes not man to determine. Such
ground is too sacred and awful for speculative theology.
There is a last mnoment, and afirst, unquestionably; a last
wmoment when the sinner is not " a final impenitent," and
a first mnoment when he is; and that last moment belons
to this life; after that it is eternity, and no man can be
damned eternally till his iip enitence has become final.
But to decide dogmatically that such a last monoent is
the moment that severs the soul from  the body, is gyratuitos,- that is, al assertion without proof, or to bey the
qulestion.
The question, therefore, remains open; and God alone
can decide it.  It may take place in the last hour, and it
may hours or days previously, for aught that God has
revealed to the contrary.  It therefore becomes us to be
modest in our decisions upon such a fearful question; - in
the mean time, to keep our eyes open to the history of
facts among living and dying sinners.  But to abandon
this strong position of our Protestant religion is to grant
to the Papacy all it claims in behalf of its purgatorial
dogma.
11. Hearken  Aside from  your experience, I have no
controversy with the tense or the orthodoxy of your sen



CHRIST WEEPING, OVER JERUSALEM.           253
timent.  But, O, I wouldc humbly contest its truthftulness
with regard to yourself.  As the truth of Jesus is in my
heart, I believe you lmay be saved, and nozw.  Give way, I
beseech you, to the strivings of the Holy Spirit of God.
Cry unto God for mrercy, and see how soon this snare of the
devil will be broken!
Ileirken to me! In the name of a risen.Tesus,    I offer
you mercy through his blood.  If you wish it: if you
desire it; if you say,' Would to God it were mine;   if
you hate sin, and desire parydon above every boon lhere
below; then is the Spirit of God with you, to sale, and
secure your salvation!
12. Hearken!  Were you stretched on your dealh-bed,
and such feelings were rife in your heart, I would (o thle
same.  And, alas!-and my hearl sinks, ranid my tolngue
falters at what I am going to say, - wele you d(yinjY,
and not one such feeling or wish within your imnpeuittent
breast, I would still whisper in your ear the promises of
the Gospel.  0, I would! I would! I surely would, for
I believe with Dr. Chalners, - and my heart sinks again,
and lower, in attempting to repeat his sentiment, and I
could weep again over you, - that, to the last mnomnent of
every man's life, it is the duty of every minister of Christ
to urge upon the adyiny sinnler the laargeness and fieeliess
of the Gospel; and to assure hirn that there is not a deed
of wickedness with which his faithidtl nmemnzory now agnonizes hiln, nor one habit of disobedience that now clothes
the retrospect of the past in the sad coloring of despair,
and which spreads a deeper marble upon the fut'iure, but
what God through Christ will pardon, if he find faith and
repentance in his heart, and a willingness to come to
Christ; but we may urge this with every tone of tenderness, and there may be truth in our every utterance; but
22




254             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
it is not to say that our voice will reach him, or make a
resistless way through the avenues of that heart, where
he has done so much to rear a dejending barrier, which
may now prove to be impenzetrable; the truth of God may
fall upon his ear, but the Spirit may refuse to accompany
it to the heart; an inveterate blindness may have long ago
gathered upon his soul, that he will neither receive the
truth nor love it, by which a man's heart is softened down
into repentance.  Thus, while the blood of Christ cleanseth
the believing penitent, the sin against the Holy Ghost
shall not be forgiven, because that with this sin and its
consequences upon him, he wills not, he repents not, he
believes not, -- all of which are necessary in order to receive
pardon. This, adds the doctor, is the reason that the word
of faith may fall from  the lips of the minister, and the
work of faith be left undone by the dying sinnert; and
that it is not in the malefactor's cell, but in the comfortable
dtying room  that salvation may be freely offered, and be
sadly and sullenly put away.  He qwills not, repents not,
believes not; but without these there can be no remission
of sins; but with these., pardon has never been denied to
the greatest sinners, nor for sins of the deepest dye.
13. Have you heard, understood and weighed all this?
In this hasty reference to the sentiments of Dr. Chalmers
on the subject, I have not been able to give you his exact
words; but if you wish, you may read his sermon on "'I'I  e
sin against the HIoly Ghost," one of the most powe7jid.,
convincing and alarminr  appeals, on that awful subject,
which I know of in the English language. And I would
say with him, and beat it into the ears of every sinner
within the sound of my voice, that, grant that a man has
repentance and faith in his heart, and we know not a
single crime in the whole catalogue of hunaan depravity,




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.         255
that the atoning blood of our Saviour cannot wash away;
that there does not sit this night, within the walls of this
house, a desperado in vice, so sunk in the depths of his
dark and unnatural depravity, that is not welcome to come
to Christ, if he repent and believe; nor will he ever find,
nor any human being thus furnished, the crimson inveteracy of his manifold ofences beyond the peace-speaking
and pur'ifying blood of the Son of God.
14. But hearken! St. John says, "There is a sin unto
death.  I do not say that he shall pray for it; all unrighteoussness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death."
-1 John 5: 16, 17.  What is that but another "blue
light," thrown up in the moral heavens, signalizing a sin
that is followed by damnation?  "Another blue light! 
exclaims one; " are there others of the same sort? "  To
be sure there are / - the sin against the Holy Ghost, as announced by our Lord, in Matt. 12: 31, 32.  And in Mark
3: 28, 29. And, to set the matter out of the way of dispute, that recorded in Heb. 6: 4-8: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted
of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the
Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God,
and the powers of the world to come; if they shall fall
away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put
him to an open shame.  For the earth, which drinketh
in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth
herbs meet for them  by whom  it is dressed, receiveth
blessing from  God: butt that which beareth thorns and
briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end
is to be burned."  Tremble, thou finally impenitent!tremble, if thou canst, at the burning that is to come. It
is " the wrath to come!/ "I the wrath to come! "' the




256              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
iwrath to comne! "  Tremble in view of it.  )evils fremble!
Are youl strol.ye'g tlhl   they?  See yo1Cde,".  I belhold a
tr-cmbIer/!  Look up, t!iou penitent sinnluer! elhold tile
Lamb of God, thal-t takIes:,way thy sins!
15. Hearken! Behold that bute light projected by St.
Paul, fiom  Heb. 10: 26, 29:  ":For if we sin wcilftlly
after that we have received the knowledge of the trulth,
there remxaineth no more sacrifice for sins, bult a certaiit
fearful looking for of judgctmenlt, and fiery indiynation,
which shall devour the adversaries.  Ide that despised
IMoses' law died without mnercy under two or three wu-itnesses: of how  nzuch sorer pun.ishnent, suppose ye,
shall he be thought worthy'"-  [0, my God! what sorer
punishment than to die withoult nmercy?  Surely we must
go into eternity to find it.  Hush, my soul! repea t clezarly
the word of God] -': of how mzlth sorer punishment,
suppose ye, shall, he be thought worthy, who hath tlroddel
u2nder foot the Son of God, anzd hath crounted the blood
of the covezanlt, wherewith he was sanctified, an7 unholyo!
thingry, and HATH DONE DESPITE TO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?
Ay, that was the finishing act of his depravity, -  doing
" despite to the Spirit of grace!"  It -was that tlhat sealed
his perditionz; wilful siin against the Spirit of grace, and
under superior illumrination, cut off all hope of reconciliation, and quenched the last spark of grace, and the last
desire of salvation.
16. And now, tremble at the sight of another, and, perhaps, last blle light of warning, 0, all ye who can tremble!
who are ca.pable of trembling, -  whose mtor'tal sensibilities
may force you to tremble!
Hearken! Upon the bed of mortal agony lay the wreck
of as sturdy a sinner as this congregation presents, about to
die, — and he knew it. His distress was very great; more




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.         257
in mind, however, than in body. He was urged to pray: —
" I pray! I cannot pray. I know nmyself, my inherent
wickedness. The damning conviction is burned in on my
heart, that, should I recover my health, I would fall into
the same courses; I am quite certain of it.  Why, then,
appeal to the invisible?  Why insult Heaven with vain
promises of amendment, which I could never keep,- would
not keep were I to survive? Why play the hypocrite here?
Why lie to God, when, if there is such a being, I must in
all human probability appear before him in half an hour,
- when no lie can serve me?"  He departed full of
mtisery.
17. Sinner, thou that hast styled thyself " One of the
finally impenitent, without trembling," I have had hopes
of your salvation all along; the cry of my heart, amidst all
my words, has been, " If thou hadst known, even thzou, at
least in this thy day, the things which belongc unto thy
peace! " and a hope that now, at last, those things, flashing so vividly before your intellectual eyes, may have
opened them, so that you could not help seeing them, and
feeling them too.  I have done what I could to this end;
must close soon.  I did intend to have addressed some
others, - backsliders and penitents, - but must defer it till
another time.  Your sad case, with a hope of reaching your
understanding and conscience, have borne me along.
18. And now, with a drooping heart, sad, sad am I to
say what I am going to say; but it is the steel of my text,
anid it must be applied, - applied in hope, and in full view
of Calvary, and of the offered mercy of God in Christ Jesus,
if you will but repent and believe. And a cheering ray
darts into my heart, that, if you will not, there are scores of
others who will.
Well, let me proceed with what I was going to say. If
22*




258                SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
your case be really such as you represent it to be, it will
not be long before you are among the tremblers of hell.
For, if "the devils believe and tremble,"' I cannot help
thinking that all the damned in hell believe and tremble
also.  If this be so, you can hardly expect to be exempited.
0, may God in mercy interfere and prevent it!  But if
you tremble not now  in view  of things, your trembling
must begin hereafter; ay, wXhen " the cup of trembling"
shall be put into your hands, -    the cup of his indignation," as St. John describes it, -- filled with "the wine of
the wrath of God;" and all around you'"fire and brimstone, and smoke and  tornment,"  " the holy angels and
the Lamb"' in the far-off distance; and "no rest" anywhere (Rev. 14:  9, 10, 11); and, all above, beneath,
around, scenes such as a poet attempted to describe.  HIear
him!  Mercy prevent that catastrophe!  But if it must
come to pass, then it must; and when once there: -  lost
- lost - eternally lost, - and you begin to look around,
and behold, —
" Eternal justice! sons
Of God! tell me, if ye can, what then
I saw, what then I heard. Wide was the place,
And deep as wide, and ruinous as deep.
Beneath I saw a lake of burning fire,
With tempest tost perpetually,. and still
The waves of fiery darkness'gainst the rocks
Of dark damnation broke, -
And all around, wind warred with wind, storm howled
To storm, and lightnings, forked lightnings crossed
And thunder answered thunder, muttering sounds
Of sullen wrath; and far as sight could pierce,
Or down descend in caves of hopeless depth,
Through all that dungeon of unfading fire,
I saw miserable beings walk,
Burning continually, yet unconsumed;
Forever wasting, yet enduringstill;




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.                    259
Dying perpetually, yet never dead;
Some wandere 1 lonely in the desert flaunes,
And some in fell encounter fiercely met,
With curses loud, and blasphemies, that made
The cheek of darkness pale; and as they fouight,
And curlsed, and gnashed their teeth, and wished to die,
Their hollow eyes did utter streams of woe.
And there were groans that ended not, and sighs
That always sighed, and tears that ever wept,
And ever fell, but not in TMercy's sight.
And, as I listened, I heard these beings curse
Almighty God, and curse the Lamb, anrd curse
The Earth, the Resurrection morn, and seek,
And ever vainly seek, fir utter death.
And to their everlasting anguish still
The thunders from above responding spoke
These words, which through the ca.verns of perdition
Forlornly echoing, fell on every ear-' Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not.'
And back again recoiled a deeper groan.
A deeper groan! 0, what a groan was that!' Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not.'
Dread words! that barred excuse, and threw the weight
Of every man's perdition on himself
Directly home.' Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not.'
These were the words which glowed upon the sword,
Whose wrath burned fearfully behind the cursed,
As they were driven away from God to Tophet.' Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not.'
These are the words to which the harps of grief
Are strung; and, to the chorus of the damned,
The rocks of hell repeat them evermore,
Loud echoing through the caverns of despair,
And poured in thunder on the ear of Woe.
Cs C                          5




260               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
And suddenly before my eyes
A wall of fiery adamant sprung up,Wall mountainous, tremendous, flaming high
Above all flight of hope.
Upon that burning wall,
In horrible emblazonry, were limnedc
All shapes, all forms, all modes of wretchedness,
And prominent in characters of fire,
Where'er the eye could light, these words you read:' Who comes this way, behold, and fear to sin.' "
Ay! and high above all that horrible emblazonry, limned
upon hell's high and flaming wall, and prominent in characters of fire. are -  what more? -    a mother's prayers! "
Ay, a mother's prayers!  0  God! touch that heart, and
touch it nozw; -  make it tremble now! -  a mother's prayers,
prominent in characters of fire; - more terrible, more
horrifying, more distressing to the soul of a lost son, than
all the shapes, forms and modes of wretchedness prevalent in
hell.
0, my soul, hear the word of the Lord!  O, ye sinners,
hear ye the words of the Lord! -  Isaiah 33: 14. " The
sinners in Zion are afrraid; fearfulzess haltl  surlprised
the hypocrites.  Th/to among us shall dwell wilt  the
devouring fire? who amoong Its shall dwell with everlasting burnitYgs? "
In view of such a terrible perdition awaiting the ungodly,
let us awake to righteouzsness.  Flee fronm  the wrath, to
come!   T" T2he smoke of their torment ascendeth up for
ever and ever! "-  or hell's "deeper groan," responding
to those fearful words, -
" Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not."
There is mercy for every one of you, who is disposed to




CHRIST WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM.            261
seek it, by repentance and faith. Jesuts h/al/ died flr yonl,
tlhtat you need nlever taste the bitter pains of eternal dacth.
Ilis atoning bloodl was shed for you.  0, tlhen, pleald the
merits of that blood, and escape that death that never, never
dies!  IMay the Hgoly,Sp~irit help you!




CHAPTER XXXIII.
SATANIC POLICY.
iN the preceding chapters, some idea may be formed of
Mr. Caughey's public life; in the succeeding chapters, the
r eader will have a view of his private life.  In one, we
behold him before his fellow-men; in the other, before his
God, and the bar of his own conscience;-faithfulness
to his fellow-mien in the pulpit, and faithfulfn.ess to his
own sool in private,- a necessary discipline to every minister, who desires to save himnself and those who hear
him.
Solomon says,' "As in water face answereth to face,
so the heart of rnan to mnan;" so we have no doubt that
the earnest mzinister of the Gospel will see much of his own
experienace, in revival conflicts, reflected in that of Mir.
tCaughey.
The reader, also, while perusing these pages, will learn
something of the conflicts which assail a minister, while
engaged in promoting a revival, even under very favorable
and successful circumstances; and may also judge of what
he endures in seasons of reverse, or comparative failure.
He will also, we trust, learn how to feel for such, and to
sympathize with them in their arduous work; -in their
great battles for truth and souls.
The reader has already followed Mr. Caughey to Birmingham.  He commenced his labors there, in Newton Row




SATANIC POLICY,                263
Chapel, early in December, 1845; and visited in succession,
all the Wesleyan chapels in the town, preaching six sermons
a week until the following May.  A glimpse of his spiritual tactics, during that time, may be seen in the following
items from his journal.
Birmningham, December 5. - Every nation under heaven
has its history, printed or traditional; and every year adds
something thereunto. Every evangelist, or revivalist, has
his history; and every campaign adds something interesting to its pages.  J. C. has his!  " Happy the nalioz that
has nothingfor history," said a Frenchman. Not so, says
a soul-saving preacher; - unhappy for him, if he has
nothing for history! I like to note down' events as they
occur to myself or others; - to plant my batteries of truth,
and work them with all the energy God bestows, and mark
the effects.  This is advantageous to me in many respects;
- can do so much easier, when I stay some time in a place,
than during such hasty visits, as to Chesterfield, Doncaster, Macclesfield, &c.
December 6. —Throwing light on the Devil's game with
sinners.  He likes to play with them in the dark; - one
reason, I suppose, why his kingdom is called darkness, and
his power " the power of darkness;" because it is by
darkness both his kingdom and power exist, and are increased and exercised.  But light is the antagonist of darkness. Christ's kingdom is a kingdom of light, and his
power is exerted in and through light.  0, for more light 
-yet, ever remembering that the preacher, that would effect
anything, must burn as well as shine.- John 5: 35.
Satan conducts his game with sinners in the dark, and
their stake is the soul; his cards are such as, " Religion
is gloomy; - there is no danger now; - be not righteous




264             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
overmuch, why shouldst thou destroy thyself? - No need
of all this ado, this stir, and friyl/ t; - God is better than
is represented; -is it not written he is nercif~ul, and +will
not keep his anger forever? - Leave such gloomy subjects;
- sin is better than sorrowz —its pleasures are preferable
to the glooms of religion; - morality is an easy resource at
any time; - morality is a good enou-gh religion; —  morality
you can understand, and not this and this, being born again,
and such other mystical problems; -if those who profess
to believe in such things are safe, so are you, considering
how they live."  I need a greater blaze of truth to flash
over these things.
St. Paul speaks of men being led captive by the Devil at
his will.  How few serve him because they love him; or
\vould( follouw him, or be led by him, thrOLgh a fondness
for his comqpany, or to have his favor, or to dwell in the
place of his captivity!- not one, perhaps, in Birmingllam.
The foulest sinner in town expects to give him the slip at
some sharp corner, and escape friom him forever!
How few of all these active and resisting sinners believe
that they have taken up armzs for the Devil; - that they
are fighting for him, and that he is their general! Not one.
They are only doing the things which please and gratify
themnselves; and, if it please Satan, it only happents so
without their intention.  Satan knows all this very well;
and does not thank them that he is their master.  But this
is a part of his policy.  He keeps them in the dark for this
very purpose.
It is not so with the childreni of God. They serve God
because they love him! They follow Christ, and are led
by him, because they delight in his company; and, like
the two disciples of old, their hearts burn within them,
while he opens to them the Scriptures, and talks to them by




SATANIC POLICY.                265
the way! They desire to share his heaven, and are expecting it. They lhave taken up arms for Jesus, and know that
le is the Captain of their salvation.  They please hint,
though it may displease themselces. But, when his pleasure and their pleasure meet, their existence is a paradise!
I must return to these things again, and blow a louder
trumenpet.  Prov. 3: 17, has half-a-dozen sermons in it,
should I follow the lines of thought which it suggests.
Struck with that sentiment of Pythagoras, "To love
truth, and do good, are two things which make man most
like God, and therefore are two of his most excellent gifts."
Yes, if they are associated with holiness! O, no gifis nor
usef2lness, however extensive, can make up for the want of
this! No, my Lord! no! 0, make me holy, and keep
me holy, through:Jesus Christ, my Lord!  Amen.
23




CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE PATIENCE AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
DEC. 7th. - Battering down false hopes; -pressing
hard on the delaying, the loitering, the wavering.  Make
full proof of thy ministry, 0, my soul! Amen.
If some are lost at last, God clearly acquits himself of
their blood.  Tried hard that I might be acquitted too, in
case that calamity should happen to any of my hearers. How
men do abuse the mercy of God to his face! But how
patiently does he bear with them, and await their leisure
for repentance! — calls loudly upon them  to repent, and
waits; - scores and scores and hundreds of times offers
them mercy, and suffers them  to reject it; — repeats the
offers again, and again, till the sinner is weary of them.
O God, how great is thy goodness! Repeats the offers
of mercy again and again, till the sinner loathes them,
spurns them, treats God  and them  with  contempt!
Alas! then cometh the end, and vengeance to the uttermost.
0, how terrible is that intimation in Hebrews 10: 30,
" Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith
the Lord"! But it is a flash from that awful thundercloud, in the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th verses of the same
chapter: "For, if we sin wilfully," &c.  All sin that is
damnable, is wvilful; but all wilful sin is not unpardonable, because not incurable.  But, as one remarks, " When




THE PATIENCE AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD.   267
it is incurable, it is the special sin of hell, the badge of
devils, and of sinners damned."  It cannot become incurable till " the sin unto death " is committed, I suppose. -
1 John 5: 16, 17.  Some sin against the Holy Spirit,
doubtless, and under superior illumination. 0, for a right
heart to feel for sinners!
Dec. 11th. - Ay! Experience and necessity teach more
effectually than theory.  Depravity, enmity, and unbelief,
make a man serious I - and that old serpent, the Devil,
Apollyon, leading them on, saying, " TIuls far, but no
further;- and my soul replying, " Yes, and further! so
help me, 0 God, in Christ!"  Ay! these things sober
one, and fancy and imagination hide themselves from
the fight.
To hew a stone, to cleave a knotty block that would not
receive the wedyge, and to plough upon a rock, were the
great sorrow of an old preacher's ministry, of whom I once
read, dulling his hopes, and wearyicng his spirit; and well
they might.  But they rendered him serious as eternity.
Hard to be lively long without success, unless a man becomes careless of success; and then he has become unfit
for the pulpit.  0, for power from on high!
ifr. WVesley, I perceive from  his journal, paid Birmingham numerous visits, and for several years with but
little success. His visits, however, were of short duration,
a day, and off again.  Perhaps that was the reason, - a
siege or battle, instead of a few shot, or a skirmish, was
what Birmingham needed then as now.  But Mr. Wesley
could not afford so much of his time in one place; he flew,
like an angel, through these kingdoms; a necessity was




268              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
laid upon him, - the care of all the societies in Methodism.
But, under date October 24, 1749, he writes: " After
preaching again at one, I rode to Birmianghan.  This has
been long a dry andl ulcomfortable place; so I expected
little good here.  But I was happily disappointed.  Such a
congregation I never saw there before; not a scoffer, nor a
trifler, nor an inattentive person [so faPi as I could discern]
among them; and seldom have I known so deep a sense of
the divine power, and presence of the love of God. The
same blessinog we had at the meeting of the society; and
again at the morning preaching. Will, then, God at length
cause even this barren wvildernless to blossom and bud
as the rose?   Yes! 0, inlmortal Wesley! it was even
so in thy dly, and we are hoping to see it more than
ever so in these days, under the ministry of thy sons and
successors in Jesus Christ!-even until Birnminglam
shall become as the garden. of the Lord!  Hallelujah 
Amen.
Dec. 13th. — It is in vain to foresee for sinners what is
coming upon them, if they refuse to open their eyes to foresee for themselves.  A  great point that to press home.
Conscience will ring a terrible peal, by and by, in the ears
of those who refuse to foresee and act, until the miseries
of the death-bed are upon them! A few more have found
mercy.'Tokens encouraging.
Dec. 16th.- A severe attack of sickness, short but severe,
like that which I had in York; - a rough part of the road
to heaven, but it is a part of it, thank God; — the uneven
as well as the even, the foul as well as the fair weather
along it, the troublesome as well as the easy, the perplexin g as well as the plain, all belong to the heavenly way, so
great is its variety! What matter, seeing it happens so on
the royal highway to the Jerusalem above?




THE PATIENCE AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD.   269
Baxter says, " Remember that the school of Christ has
a rod." Ay! Jesus will not allow us to forget it! — to
feel it, is a remnembrancer, indeed!  It teaches one to
" serve the Lord with fear, and to rejoice with trembling," as enjoined in the book of Psalms.  But the rod
and the honey at the end of it go together with me.1 Sam. 14: 27. 0, how often have I deserved the rod, but
never the honey / - and yet the rod has never been without the honey since the day Christ and I were friends!
"Whom  the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth." — I Heb. 12: 6.  "Whom
the Lord loveth,"' that is, the honey!  Blessed be God 
"Behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."  More honey!
And what providential honey have I, in having such a
kind and experienced physician, - Dr. Melson! God bless
him! he is so attentive, so considerate, so in earnest for
my recovery! And such a kind host and hostess! 0, my
Lord! may my heart and life be good to the end of life's
rough pilgrimage! Amen.
I      X      X      X.K    - 1 _
That is a sweet and cheering declaration in Rom. 8: 28,
and relates evidently to the workings of Divine Providence:
"All things work together for good to them  that love
God; " working for and against, apparently, like the
wheels in my watch, I perceive; — for how contrary to
each other do they seem to go! -one in one direction, and
another in another direction,- such a wilderness of confiusion; but all are working together for good. The good
appears on the dial-plate; every wheel, however contrary
in motion, works to the same result!  It is so with Providence!
A man of God, now in glory, used to say that he
often felt he would not be without the above Scripture
23`




270              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
for the world!-  that, in time of trial and sicbkness, it
seemed so full of pronzise, he thoughlt, were there not
another promise in the Scriptures, this gave an abundant supply of consolation!  I think so, too, blessed be
God!




CHAPTER XXXV.
IN  THE FURNACE. -LETTERS
To                         *
CONFINED to the house, but not to my bed. The attack
was very sudden, similar to that which prostrated me twice
in York, and once in America; and, as then, "'in dead of
night; " - the foturth attack of the same kind, and always
at night, and with no previous warning; - as if Death, had
he permission, would like to come suddenly upon me, and
C" as a thief in the night," -and so sudden as last night; -
a comment upon those lines of Charles Wesley, which I
copied in Quebec, from an old Magazine, brought over by
an emigrant:
"From sudden, unexpected death
Jesus thy servant save,
Nor let me gasp my latest breath
Unmindful of the grave.
6 Unconscious of the yawning deep,
And death eternal nigh;
O, do not suffer me to sleep
Till in my sins I die!
"' And summoned to the mountain-top,
Without a lingering sigh,
Render my ransomed spirit up,
And to thy glory die




272              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
" Wise to foresee my latter end,
With humble loving fear,
I would continually attend
The welcome messenger."
After about two hours of severe suffering, I staggered
out of my room, and awoke Mr>. Wright.  Had great peace
in the midst of great pain.  When it seemed as if I could
endure no more and live, was enabled to say to Mr. W.,
"Death has no terrors, — no sting; Jesus is precious,tell my friends this, if I depart."  However, I wished to
live, should it please the Head of the church; -did not
wish to die in a strange land; — affairs of a temporcal nature
not in a verv tangible form,- my private papers andjournals in a somewhat disordered state,- would like to live to
erase this or that, and rewrite other parts, and not leave
that to the judgment of others; but above all to call sinners
to repentance, a while longer.
To
Still woeak; but my I" beloved physician," Dr. Mlelson,
seems to understand my case perfectly, and has no fears.
This visitation has done me good; could realize the truth of
what one said: "It does not frighten a child of God to discover all the signs of death in his body, so long as he can
see and feel all the signs of grace in his soul! "  St. Paul,
you remember, was in " a strait betwixt two conditions,a desire to depart, and to be with Christ," or, to remain
upon earth to preach the Gospel a vwhile longer.  " I am
in a strait;" which Dr. Doddridcle, I remember, renders,': I amt borne two djfferenlt ways;" - like a ship riding
at anchor, yet under stress of zweather, is likely to be forced




IN THE FURNACE. — LETTERS.           273
from her anchorage, and driven out to sea. St. Paul's affections were anchored upon the chulrch, yet the desire to
depart, and to be with Christ, was sometimes too strong for
his anchor-hold.
It is good to be familiar with death.  " I die daily," said
St. Paul, in another place.  No wonder, when, at last, he
saw death approaching him in right good earnest, he calmly
said, " I am now ready to be offered, and the tinze of mty
departure is at hand; - O, Death! where is thy stingc? "
Then followed the note of " victory! "  But that -was not
the first time Paul had shouted victory over the King of
terrors!  He had become too familiar with Death, so oft
had he approached him, to be afraid of that conquer'or of
conquerors. It is Flavel, I think, who illustrates the bednefit of this familiarly, thus, — that a lion is much more
dreadful to one who never saw him before, than he is to his
keeper who sees him every day! —and a battle is more
frightful to a young recruit, who never saw an engagement,
than to an old soldier, who has long been used to them!
Well, it would seem as if the Lord would prepare my
cautioned soul for the last encounter, which rmay come
suddenly, and must surely come at one time or another.
It is good to feel one's self intercepted now and then by this
passing shadow; - for, 0, when the shadow is nigh, the
substance that caused it cannot be far off! - it is good"To damp our earthly joys,
To increase our gracious fears."
A wise man was that Emperor of Constantinople, who,
at his inauguration, ordered a mason to bring two stones
and lay them before him, with this question, " Choose, O,
emperor, which of these two stones thou wilt have for thy




274             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
tombstone."  He renewed the ceremony on great state
occasions, and upon feast days.
To
No, it does not tire me to write, but rather amnuses me,
and is profitable withal. There is a great feebleness upon
me, and lassitude; - thinking of what one said, "' I am so
weak that I cannot stand upon my legs, but I can cast
myself into my Father's arms!,"  Blessed be God, I can do
that!
But I feel much better, - trying to buckcle on the armnor
again, with a glad and solemn heart; - cannot sympathize
with him who, on returning from the gates of death,
exclaimed, "' I was as a sheep that had nearly entered the
fold, but was driven back into the stormn again, or as a
traveller almost home, yet compelled to return again to
fetch something he had neglected; "- or, he might have
added, like a ship that had nearly entered her destined port,
but ordered out to sea again by her owners!
0, but I am glad at the prospect of a return to the battlestorm of soul-saving!. -glad to return to " fetch " more
holiness with me to heaven, and many more poor, neylected
souls besides! -glad to put out to sea again, as long voyages
are apt to give large returns of profits, and short voyages
the contrary 
He wished wisely who desired either to die preaching or
praying.  He spoke like a Daniel, who said, it became a
soldier to die fighting, a minister to die preaching, and a
Christian to aie           X Py  I -want to keep on Jighting, preaching, praying, and then -- go to heaven by and
baq!




IN THE FURNACE. -- LETTERS.           275
Much have I passed through, so far on my pilgrimage
and warfare; - many, many sore mental conflJicts,- more
than I can tell of upon earth; — but it was right, - all
worked for good, although I was often to blame; - yet
all so overruled as to make lly heart better and holier, and
my intellect stronger, sturdier, hardier, if you will allow
me such words.  Was once much comforted with those
remarks of Leighton, that the church is God's jewelry,
-his working-house, where his jewels are polished; and
those he especially esteems, and means to make most
resplendent, he has oftenest his tools upon them! This is
enough for one letter. About to venture out for a short
walk,- shall write again, - it refreshes me to write, and
does not weary, - at least writing to you.
To
Have enjoyed a quiet meditative ramble, and all the better
for it.  What a wonderful faculty is memory!  What food
it affords to thought and reflection, - and for regret also!
tempting one to wish, were it possible, to try the ground
over again,- revoking time, that, by the light of deafly
bought experience, one might shun the rocks that jeopardized, or find the happiness that eluded.  Upon the whole,
I felt unwilling, were it at my option, to live wmy life over
again.  The second edition of my short life miglht, perhaps,
have more errors than the first.  No! I do not wish to try
the same ground over again; - too great a risk; - content
with the present order of things; - that we must go forward, never back/ward,' except by reflection.
-Afiiction seems to impart a singular vividness to the
memory.  Partly of the opinion of him  who compared




276             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
memory to a mirror, which affliction dashes to the earth
and the fragments only multiply reflection!
A  poor night's rest, — body much out of order; but a
gracious season in private and family prayer-,  heart
full of love to God, gratitude, and humility, - eyes full of
tears.  It is mercy all! Ventured to preach last night on
Luke 15: 10, -  the joy of angels over repenting sinners;
- hoping to get fire and zeal out of it for my own soul, -
was not disappointed, nor angels neither; - many saved!
To
Birmingham, Dec. 20, 1845.
The work advances.  Public attention is waking up and
looking this way in right good earnest, and moving the
mnasses this way; -inclined to listen; by and by to feel.
Souls are finding mercy daily. Thinking of the Spanish
proverb, which speaks of time and patience turning the
mulberry leaf into silk!  I like that couplet in Burns,
"Come firm resolve, take thou the van,
Thou stalk of carle-hemp in man!"
But I like St. Paul's motto better, " I can do all things
through Christ?which strengtheneth mne," -  Phil. 4: 13,
-- and his watchword, " Put on the owhole armor of God,
that ye may be able to stanud against the wiles of the devil."
- Eph. 6: 11. There is no carle-hemp, or firm resolve
in man, aside from  the grace of God, can sustain and
carry the soul and body of a preacher through such a scene
of conflict to victory!




CHAPTER XXXVI.
RETURN TO THE BATTLE-STRIFE. -A SOUL-SAVING BIINISTRY.   LETTERS.
To * *: *:.
Birmingham, Dec. 22, 1845.
URGING on the battle-strife once more, - for truth,for Christ, -for souls; -in weakness fearing another
attack of illness.  But the doctor hopes it may be avoided,
and does not forbid my preaching.  God bless him for that!
for, 0, to be passive or inactive, at such a time as this,
would  require  more grace than this activity for God
demands!
Rom. 8: 28, stands good, -' All things zwork together
for good to them that love God."  Thefires which agitate
and greatly try gold and silver, work at the same time for
their purification, beauty, value, glory!
But truth and the sinner are still antagonists.  I see
that! What an expression of resistance! Truth may be
dressed up so prettily that the sinner will really like it;
but no sooner does it appear in its real dress and uncompromising utterances, than he frowns upon it, and puts
himself in an attitude to repel it.  Well, I have not been
"dressing up" truth since my arrival in Birmingham,
God knows! - for I know precious little gain is it to the
24




278             SIOWERtS OF BLESSING.
church in the long run, - " dressing up truth, as if it were
to sell," as a Spaniard observed.
Dec. 23. - Truth cuts like a sword. It is well; it would
wear out the body else, - the sword would cut through the
scabbard at such a time as this; - best to keep usinyg it!
Real truth is a real sword, dividing asunder the joints
and marrow, the soul and spirit, of wickedness; but not
painted truth!  A painted sword cuts not, nor a sword
in the scabbard, nor a nzuffled sword, though equal to that
of Goliath of Gath, that was " wrapped in a cloth behind
the ephod." — 1 Sam. 21: 9.  0, give me the naked sword
of truth, with strength and courage to wield it, O, Lord God
of truth! Amen.
To change the figure, truth is as a serpent to many.
Sinful men cannot understand this; neither can some in
the church, who profess to be better. It is enough, they
think, that truth should be a rod, - even a sword is admissible, where the sinews of wickedness are hard and tough!
— but that truth should be made to multiply itself so, and
become as " fiery flying serpents " among the people, they
cannot away with it; - fly from it; - and yet, strange to
say, it has a fascination to draw them back to it! They
forget that the rod of Moses was turned into a serpent!
He. fled from it; but when God commanded him to come
back and take it by the tail, he did so, and it became a rod
again,- his friend, indeed, by which he shook the throne
of the Pharaohs.  So, the Lord our God brings back again
these flying sinners; - they venture to seize the serpent
truth by the tail, keeping as far from its bite as possible,
when, lo, it is but a rod, after all, in the hand of schoolmnaster Law, to bring them to Christ, as Paul hints.  Then
it becomes their friend indeed, and by it, they shake all
spiritual Egypt around them; and their emancipation




THE BATTLE-STRIFE.- LETTERS.                279
from the slavery of the old Pharaoh of hell, becomes the
order of the day of salvation!  Hallelujah!
To x $ x   x x.
Birminghamt, Dec. 24, 1845.
Exactly so, my dear friend!- a body vigorous as the oak
on yonder heights is needed! -like Seneca's man, with
ribs of brass and bones of iron, and sinews of steel! 0, but
God can so empower and strengthen and inure the body,
that brass and iron and steel might sooner wear out! - if
man is immortal till his work is done!:)  
To    ~.  x.
Dec. 26.
Ay! all that is true! -a soul-saving preacher requires
a soul stern as the face of war; yet, in its secret depths, full
to overflowing with the gushing benevolence of Jesus,and of the spirit of burning  -  Is. 4: 4, -— crying out
unto God:
"Steel me to shame, reproach, disgrace;
Arm me with all thine armor now;
Set like a flint my steady face,
Harden to adamant my brow.
" Bold may I wax, exceeding bold,
My high commission to perform,
Nor shrink thy harshest truths t' unfold;
But more than meet the gathering storm.
" Adverse to earth's rebellious throng,
Still may I turn my fearless face;
Stand as an iron pillar strong,
And steadfast as a wall of brass.'" Give me thy might, thou God of power,
Then let or men or fiends assail,
Strong in thy strength I'11 stand, a tower
Impregnable to earth or hell."




280             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Ile needs a heart, under some circumstances, like that
of Job's Leviathan, that "lau iheth at the shaking of a,spear! " and, if you will allow me to parody a little upon
that noble creature, the  Leviathan, which even God
himself so graphically describes in the forty-first chapter of Job, —such a minister needs to be ";firm  as a
stone.'    0  Lord, my God, he does, and a heart of
fire, giving a flame at the mouth, that kindles coals! --
esteeming iron as strauv  and brass as rotten wood!fearless too of the arrows of sarcasm, ridicule, or criticisml,- counting slingz-stones as stubble; - the sword of
him that layeth at him cannot hold; nor the spear, the
dart, nor the habergeon!   So firmly has God joined the
flakes of his character and courage together, they cannot
be wmoved.  There are breakings, or breakers, wohen he
raiseth utp himself, so that even the mighty are afraid,
and purify themselves!  The onset leaves him  unexhausted, for his heart is firm as a stone, and in his neck
there remaineth strenyth.  Out of his mouth go burning lamps of light, and words, like sparks of fire, leap
out; - the eyelids of his understanding are like the eyelids
of the morninig, chasing away the darkness of hellish
night, —the harbinger of a glorious gospel day! His
path is a path of light, and it shines after him.  He
stirs a population to its depths; -- he maketh the deep to
boil like a pot, and a path to shine after hint, till one
would think the deep to be hoary.  Opposition is as
nothing to him, for the arrow cannot make him flee, and
darts are counted as stubble before the fire of his zeal,
and he laugheth at the shaking of a spear!  Why should
it be otherwise, seeing that he spreadeth sharp pieces of
potsherd, and sharp-pointed things under him, as ordi



THE BATTLE-STRIFE. -LETTERS.          281
nary experiences, and regardeth them not; for he is called
of God to endure hardness.
Ah, me! what a bold illustration is this I am figuring
with! But the Leviathan is a glorious creature of God,
and upon earth there is none like him, who is made without fear; - and a glorious creature is he, whom God has
called and prepared, fully qualified, and sent forth to
shake the kingdom?, of darkness!   to rescue from  the
powers of hell the souls for whom the Redeemer died;
baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and imbued
with power from on high, which makes him victorious over
all the power of the enemy.  There is none among the,uncalled like him upon the earth, whom God has made
without fear; who fears God only, and fears to sin, and
fears naught else besides in earth or hell. St. Paul considers such " the messengers of the churches, and the glory
of Christ."- 2 Cor. 8: 23.  Signal instruments of good
to the churches, and of advancing the glory of Jesus Christ
in the world.
But, ah, sir, a messenger of this sort needs a peculiar
physical, as well as mental constitution. For, although his
are moral, not physical victories, yet the body must sustain
the soul that wins them. A mortal frame, carrying about
a soul of fire, needs a constant miracle to sustain it; as if
insured in heaven!  For it resembles the bush in the wilderness,  in a blaze, yet unconsutmed.   Exod. 3: 2.
"A great sight " it was to Moses that, and a great sight is
such an one to angels and to men.
The head of the church raises up, and qualifies such extraordinary messengers.  They appear, from time to time,
in the churches' need.  He endues them  with extraordinary power and zeal, and thrusts them forth to burn and to
shine.  Such were Wesley, Whitfield, Fletcher, and many
24*




282              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
others in the eighteenth century; such was Luther, and a
host in the sixteenth century.  Nor is the nineteenth century unblest by them.  They are designed to break up the
ruinous monotony of the churches, and to awaken men to
the concerns of eternity.
Usually, they are short-lived.  Indifference, or opposition, breaks their heart; or hard constant labor wears them
out soon, moaning with their Lord, as they disappear from
among men, "' The zeal of thine house hath eaten Tme
top."  But the Lord raises up others of like spirit; for this
is really the " apostolical succession," after all.




CHAPTER XXXVII.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND PENCILLINGS ABOUT PREACHING. - JOURNAL.
EVENING Of Christmas day, Dec. 25th. - It is recorded
of the Macedonians, that they always celebrated the birthday of Alexander the Great, having his picture suspended
from their necks, set with pearls and jewels.  And upon
how many hearts, of late, has the fair image of Jes2ts
been impressed!  From their looks to-day, it was easy to
gather that his image within was, indeed, set about with
the richest pearls and jewels of their lately regenerated
affections.
But how is it with myself?  Long have I worn the
loved image of Jesus in my poor heart; but, somehow, the
jewelry of my affections around it have not been very
bright or resplendent to-day. A singular solitariness and
stillness have been over my spirit. The body has been
out of tune, and the soul has sympathized with it. Flavel compared the two to a couple of musical strings, set
exactly at one height; if the one is touched, the other
trembles; they laugh or cry, are sick or well, together.
I feel that.  0, but there is a strange and mysterious
union and sympathy in this web of life!   How mutually do they affect each other    How:eciprocal the
influence!
I want to have matters more in harmony with St. Paul's




284             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
experience (2 Cor. 4: 16),'Though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day; " the
one going prematurely to the dust, almost worn out, while
the other is " renewed day by day; " becoming more and
more like God, and increasing daily in vital power, and
spiritual and intellectual strength.  A great help that; it
acts upon one's intellectual and physical system, like that
nice law of compensation in mechanics, and in the workings of the grand machinery of the universe!  Preached
twice to-day. Many moved and saved. Thanks be to God
for the unspeakable gift of his Son!
Dec. 26th. - Weak; but peace and comfort in believing; the honey at the end of the rod,- which my heavenly
Father allows me to eat without threatening me with death,
as did Jonathan's father (1 Sam. 14: 43, 44); realizing
the sweetness of that remark uttered by one many years
ago: "' The sense of pardon takes away the sense of pain.'
Ay, blessed be God! So it is, as Isaiah says, "' The inhabitant shall not say I amn  sickc; the people that dwell
therein shall be forgiven their iniquity; then is the prey
of a great spoil divided; the lamne take the prey." - Isa.
33: 23, 24.  The prophet refers to a hostile nation, and
victory over an invading arvmy, forced to flee away before
God's Israel, leaving great spoils behind, which even the
weak and the lame may seize, forgetting their weak and
crippled state, in the glorious opportunity of seizing the
abandoned spoils of the enemy; they shall not say I am
sick or lame; such transports ofjoy at such a deliverance,
such a victory, over such spoils, and such prospects of
future peace and prosperity as quite to absorb all sense of
pain and disability; quite forgetting themselves, surprisiny themselves and others; the secret of it all being concealed in the fact of their iniquity being forgiven; God




PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. - JOURNAL.          285
taking the part of those who loved and who feared him;
thus, even then, causing the weak thincgs of the wor'ld to
confound the miighty, as St. Paul intimates, that no flesh
should glory in his presence.  It is so yet, blessed be
God!
Dec. 27th.- The ancients compared truth to salt;-very
significant; it makes the old sores and new wounds of professors and sinners smart again! All the better for that,
if they keep temper.  It hastens the healing.  The spiritual hurt must not be healed slightly, as the Head of the
church intimates by the prophet: "2T/tey have healed also
the hurt orf the dautghter of my people slightly, saying,
Peace, peace, when there is no peace."  Ay, that deceptive practice is still continued.  The wounds made by sin
must be probed, cleansed, closed, before they can be
healed with safety, without the risk of a spiritual fester,
or of bleeding afiesh.
But, what a work of God is breaking forth in every
direction!
Dec. 29th. - A little more strength.  The work spreads
like a flame,'- like fire amongL day sttbble."  HialleDe. 30th. -  Sinners are greatly moved; some say,
"frichltened."  What of that, if it be but a sanctiJied
fright, set apart for conversion! when they shall be able
to siy, " God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but
of power, and of love, and of a sound mindZ  " (2 Tim. 1I
7); the result of a sanzctified friht;- not like that'Which
came down upon the soldiers who watched our Lord's sepulchre.  They were wonderfully firightened when they saw
a fla;ming angel roll away the great stone from the mouth
of the sepulchre, awhile the earth shook and trembled, and
they fell, almost scared out of their wits, and tumbled about




286             SHOWERtS OF BLESSING.
like logs in a whirlpool; till, at length, they rolled themselves out of sight and hearing.  Alas, thefright was not
sanctified! A little noney hired them to tell a deliberate
lie, - that the disciples of Jesus came and stole away his
body while they slept.- Matt. 28: 13.  "Slept!"'   A
Roman guard asleep! — and all asleep, — asleep in the
open air.  So soundly asleep, as not to hear the crashinzg
mnotions of such a stone in the removal, and the full rnoon
shining in brilliancy, and the usual passover stir in and
around Jerusalem   Asleep, and yet knew who took the
body away!  " Slept!" -- as much as the frightened
ones in my congregation slept last Sabbath night, during the reverberating thunders of the truth of the Omnipotent God!
Afternoon. — The work of God at York, and other places,
was glorious. Have been trying to collect my notes of its
incidents and progress, from  journal, and note-books)
and fragments of letters; but the whole are in such confusion, when collected, and item after item dateless, I find
it difficult to systenzatize them. Ah, me! Ought to have
taken more pains at the time.  Cannot help it now.  Many
interesting things lost past recovery; and so also with this
work of God in Birmingham; - instance the effects of the
Friday night discourses on sanctification; —a large number
of believers saved on those occasions.
Dec. 31st. - Well, 1845 is nearly gone; and 1846
seems as if stretching forth its hand to grasp mine; and
it will grasp the hand of a poor, weak, feeble and somewhat shattered warrior of the cross; but much better than
he was.
There is a great deal said about war, weapons and fighting, in the Scriptures, - spiritual war, weapons and fight



'PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. -- JOURNAL.        287
ing, I mean,- implying enemies, diabolical and human, of
no easy encounter or conquest.
Every zunsaved sinner is a host in himself; his passions, habits, carnal interests, ideas and idols, as so many
battalions of a grand army, set in battle array against the
spiritual batteries, &c. &C., of the pulpit.
A sermon is, or should be, an army of ideas; —  every
idea a soldier of Christ, with some spiritual weapon or
other in hand.  Divisions are - what?  0, three parts
usually; as the right and left wincg, and centre of an
army, on the rough edge of battle!  Although I often
prefer the solid square (a single proposition), in which
my rank and file are equal; which, in military tactics,
seems to stand upon the defensive, rather than the offensive; but, "at the word of command, my solid square
opens out in avenues of armed thoughts, unmasking
concealed batteries, which sometimes do tremendous execution! "
There is great disorder sometimes, and who ever saw
a great battle entirely free from that?  My sub-divisions,
regiments and battalions, and rank and file, go in for it
in a holy disordered order.  Ideas and illustrations,
-what are they in military parlance?  0, armed soldiers of Emanuel, in unijfbro  and panoply divine / --
a bannered host, rushing forth, and doing battle for the
Lord God of hosts; the Holy Ghost electrifying them
with his energy and power, and sweeping them  along, or
"leading them to the charge," as a military man observed,
"' where the slaoin of the Lord were mamny; " as on last
Sabbath night.  Hallelujah!
I like all the  chapels; Newtown-owo, BelmnontRow, Cherry-street, and TFesley;- have held meetings
in them all.  Very easy to preach in them; they display




288             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
much sound judgment in that respect; plain, substantial
buildings; fine organs and good choirs and co~ngregational
singing; excellent bands of devoted and talented leaders
and local preachers.  The stationed ministers on both circuits are kind.  Rev. Joseph Wood is truly at home in
the revival.  Praise the Lord!




CHAPTER 1  XXXVIII.
NEW YEAR. - THE PROPHESYING TRUMP. - JOURNAL.
Hail, 1846!-Farewell, 1845! Thou, like the souls
of our departed friends, art gone over to the majority.  I
hail thee, even thee, now numbered among the years of bygone ages, and the years before the flood.  I shall rejoin
thee again in that duration which is not measured by summer and winter, spring and autumn, or by the revolutions
of the planets.  Farewell, 1845, for a little while, till I
meet thee, or thy records, where I hope to meet my fiieldls,
in the abodes of the spirits of just nzen made perfect.
Farewell 
Held a Watch Night in Cherry-stret Cihapel last night.
Text,' This year thou shalt die." -Jer. 28: 16.  Thle
New Year ushered itself in most gloriously to somze, but
most miserably in the apprehensions of others,-the a?7akened, the terrified, the despairing.  Poor souls! reminding
one of Petrarch's line,
"When trembling tHope wasfrozen to Despair!"
But I know the Lord!  I know his ways!  Hle always
kills before he makes alive, — inflicts death before he infuses life, - and administers the bitter always before the
sweet.  The Devil reverses this, in whom he is working
damnation.  But this is God's order with those in whom
he would work salvation.  Poor soul! they do not seem to
25




290             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
understand this, and sob and wail as if he really intended
to damn them.  But I have no fear of them, if they only
persevere.  " The Lord will not always chide; neither
will hie keep his aneger forever!  No, blessed be his
name!
As to my own providential path,' clouds, alas! and darkness rest upon it; " thick as over old Egypt, in the days of
darkness.  Well, let the future of my path here below
remain so. What matters it, seeing there is light and sunshite in Goshen, and I live in Goshen! - my watchword,
Exodus! - must be confident, and march on.  Darkuess
and difficulty ever recede before the bold, the courageous,
and faithful.
The past I know, and the present; but the future is an
unknown;-my feeling this New Year's day! What of
that?  The Lord is worthy to be trusted by me, as well
as by those "ghastly squadrons of despair,' who passed
away from our sight in Cherry-street, this morning!
There is a light for the soul, that shines not through the
eyes of the body;- have often realized this, and do now.
From this, I gather courage to press forward, through surrounding providential darkness, to the day of which this
inward light is the harbinger.
Had a hard time in preaching, night before Watch Night,
as I usually have, before some great occasion, when people are looking forward, instead of'up; and so they go
down, and the poor preacher with them.  But, this usually
nerves me for the conflict, when the great occasion arrives!
However, we had a powerful time in the prayer-meeting.
Hard a time as I had had in preaching, a gentlemtan sinner, from London, had it Tnuch harder under the truth
which I found it so hard to deliver! He came forward to
be prayed for, tremnbling like the Philippian, jailer; " as




NEW YEAR. — THE PROPHESYING  TRUMP.   291
if conscience, to the very centre of his being, had smitten
him with a pain irresistible!"  0, what a tumuilt was in
-that soul!
There is every prospect now of a mighty work of God,
which, " like mighty winds and torrents fierce," will turn,
and overturn, and overcome all opposing powers.  A few
dams have got to give way, and a few barriers swept out of
the way, and then —salvation!  0, for a fresh baptism,
and strength of all sorts! A crisis is the time that tests
the genius and fitness of a general; and battle tests the
soldier, and such a crisis as this, the preacher;- and
many such have I had.
"Arise, my soul, arise!"
Jan. 2d. - This is no time to falter, or to give back. The
iron is hot, sparkling, and melting, and calls for the moulding-hammrners.  But stronger blasts and hotter fires are
demanded for other mretals, you may depend upon it.  The
dead are awaking, and require assistance and direction;
but some have scarcely the motion of an eyelash, or a
single pulsation of spiritual life. A louder blast of the
prophiesying trump is absolutely needed, even should it
crack and go to pieces in the effort. God has other trumtpels ready when this one is worn out. Till then, it is safest
to obey the command, "Clry aloud, spare not; lift up thy
voice like a trumpet, and show,my people their tran.s'gressiouns, aend the Ihtuse of Jatcob their sins." -  Is. 58: 1.'"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in
m?.y holy mo7untain: let all the inhabitants of the land
tremble: for t/e day of the Locd comneth, for it is bnigh
at hand." - Joel 2: 1.  Ay! then; and not till then, may
we expect the seeing of Zechariah the prophet verified:




292             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
"' And the LoRD shall be seen over them, and his arrows
shall go forth as the lightning; and the Lord God shall
blow  the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the
south." - Zech. 9: 14.  Read, also, the next verse; for my
soul sucks fire out of these passages, and gathers strength
for the battle!  "' The Lord of Hosts shall defend them;
and they shfall devour and subdue with sling-stones; and
they shall drink and make a noise as through wine, and
they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the
flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a
crown, lifted up as an ensigr  upon his land.  For, how
great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! " —Zech.
9: 14, 15, 16, 17.
Zech. 9: 14-17, is a remarkable passage indeed. I never
noticed it particularly before yesterday.  When copying it,
I knew not where to stop, every word and phrase seemed so
full of meaning, and so thrilling. It is the Holy Spirit,
doubtless, which, at particular times, infuses such power
and significancy into the word of God, and as if spoken
to ourselves.  Consider it carefully: "' The Lord shall
be seen over them,"- in some conspicuous and unmistakable tokens of his presence; -presiding, directing, controlling, overruling, and protecting us in our enterprises for
him.  Hallelujah!
Consider again.: " His arrows shall go forth as the
lightning."'  Mark that, " His arrows."  Our God is
not going to be an idle spectator of this conflict!  No 
"his arrows shall go forth," swiftly, silently, and directlly
to the mark!  Sinners shall be hit aznd pierjced by an
unseen archer, -  shall not know who hit them, and shall




NEW  YEAR. -THE PROPHESYING TRUMP.    293
lay it all to the humble archer in the pulpit.  Hallelujah!
"His arrows shall go forth as the lightningg;" — mar/c
that, - with a force that is effectual as it is irresistible!
Consider further: " And the Lord God shall blow the
trumpet."  Mark that also, -- the battle signal shall be
given by himself!  He himself shall arnimate our troops,
and sound the charge at the crisis, and lead us to the
victory!
Consider again,: What more shall our God do for us in
the battle?  "And shall go with whirlwinds of the south."
Mark that, " whirlwindis."  Who can set limits to the
might and power of a whirlwind? -- tha t not only throws
chacf and dust and (lead leaves into tibulation, but tears
in pieces every bulkier object that staltds in its way; and,
as if one whirlwind were not enough, whirhlwinds, and
plenty of them, is the promise!
Conisider further: " And they shall devour and subdue
with sling-slonzes."  Though fighting with unequal weapons, to what tie Devil opposes us by, yet victory is of the
Lord! - as David felt, when the sling-stone wvlizzedl tlihrough
the air against Goliah, as he stood like a pyra;li(l of brass,
armled with swvord, and spear, and shield;-the little stone,
like " a little sermon,'' slung with power, levelled to the
dust that haughty and defiant Philistine!
Consider the sequzel:  " They shrill drink and rejoice,
and make a tnoise as through winde; celebrating the victory
in solngs of praise, atid shouts of trinumph, as on the day
when the Lord God gave Jeho.sh',hat andl the people of
Jerusalem  the farmous victory over the combined armies of
MIkoab and Anrmene, without tinging the ssword of a single
Is:'aelitish soldier with the blood of the foe; for the battle
was the Lord's, and he fought for then, and caused them to
return to Jerusalem with joy, and with sound of psalteries
256




294             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
and harps and trumpets, unto the house of the Lord;
because he had made them to rejoice over their enemies;
or like the scenes of the Pentecost, when the wicked were
confounded, —some mocking at what they could not
understand, or rationally contradict, — others accounting
for the glorious manifestations among the triumphant multitude, upon principles which befooled the objectors: "' These,men are full of new wine." - Acts 2.  "Full of new
wine "!  " New wine"!-who ever heard of people getting
drunk on new wine? - the newly-expressed jutice of the
grape!  Besides, such an article could not be had, " for
love or money," at so early a season of the year as the day
of Pentecost! - to say nothing of the quantity for such a
throng of people; -or, if they meant some other kind of
wine, ntine o'clock in the morning (the Jewish third hour
of the day), it was too early an hour for such a multitude
to get drunk, and all with one consent! Peter took good
advantage of that fact. At any rate, the silly insinuation
was enough to cover such objectors with derision, and they
sneaked away out of sight; while the more thoughtful and
candid were amazed, and inquired, W' W;hat meaneth this?'"
0, but how much of all this shall we have in Birmingham,
if the Lord our God will fight for us, as I believe he will,
according to Zechariah's prophecy!
Consider its beautiful allusions in conclusion.' They
shall be as the stones of the crown;' - we shall be precious in his sight, and in the sight of others, as the crown of
England, with its precious stones, is to Queen Victoria
and the government;-  " as the stones of a crown, lifted
up as an ensign upon his land;" - we shall be effectual
and influential in the sight of the multitudes, as the crown
of England, brilliant with precious stones, would be, if
carried forth as an ensign before the army of Great Britain,




NEW YEAR.- THE PROPHESYING TRUMP.   295
going forth to defend the country against invaders, and to
maintain its honor.
Then shall all know and acknowledge " How great is his
goodness, and how great his beauty; "    how infinite in
his goodness; how glorious in his beauty; — in his goodness
to those who trust in him; and in the beautiful order of
his divine providence towards his people, and in his salvation!
O, that our God may come speedily to our help, " with
the 7whirlwinds of the south! "- the most vehement storms
which swept over Judea came from the south; from the
great desert to the south of it; - a revival whir.lwind,
such as may tear up by the roots whole forests of the Devil's
planting!




CHAPTER XXXIX.
AN EXPERIMENT REJECTED. — LETTERS.
To**$*    *$.
Birmingham, Jan., 1846.
YOUR "' observations " are valuable; but, depend upon
it, such a method would never accomplish much in Birmingham, or I greatly mistake the character of its people.  It
has been pretty well tried in Birmingham, and I have no
heart to prolong the e.rveriznmet, so well and so fruitlessly
tested by wiser heads than mine.
The preaching that will please carnal men is about sure
to please the Devil also; what one called " gcaudy allusions,
and pretty gingles, and knacks of wit, and scraps of
Gree/k and Latin, and shreds of fathers and philosophy, —
in well-set and accu-rate speech;  — ay! something to
tickle the fancy without tonchilng the conscience!  No!
by the grace of God, no  - a thousand times no!  Better
I was concealed once more in the western wilderness, than
attempt such an exhibition.  No! no! no!  " Give me
souls, or I die! " is the cry of my heart.  But this is not
the way to win them, nor any mode of preaching akin to
it.  No
4k      E       4tk      *       *       *




AN EXPERIMENT REJECTED.             297
To THE SAME.
Genteel efforts, and polite endeavors, will never originate a revival here, nor sustain it if begun; will never
"Bow down stubborn knees, and hearts with strings of steel."
Nor can a whisper do what demands a thunder.  A few
squibs can never accomplish what demands a grand batter'y
of cannon!  A breath, a zephyr from a garden of roses,
cannot move or overthrow that which requires a breeze, a
tempest, a tornado, or the might of ignited gunpowder!
The strongholds of the Devil are not to be taken and pulled
down by "gentle," but by pretty violent measures, such
as " carpet knights" and tea-table champions are never
likely to engage in; but men of nerve, courage, zeal, and
capable of enduring hardness as good soldiers of Jesus
Christ (2 Tim. 2: 3); who are more anxious for fighting
than for drinking!
Gideon, you remember, had orders to send all home who
drank after a certain fashion; - down upon all-fours, by
the river's brink, for a good comfortable drink, as if fearing a
long expedition, and long abstinence; - so they resolved to
indulge, and carry away a good stomach-full!- they
thought more of their stomachs than of victory over the
enemies of their God! Nine thousand seven hundred of
them did so; and the Lord said, "Send them home; they
are unfit for this service!"  But there were three hun&ded men, who, instead of flinging themselves down upon
hands and knees for a drink, were content to quench
their thirst by taking up a little in the palm or hollow of
their hand, without laying aside their armor, or being off
their guard for a moment; and the Lord said, "'By the




298             SHOWERS OP BLESSING.
three hundred entel tlat LAPPED will I save yotu."  Those
were the trusty soldiers; hardy, fatigue-endurlinyg, thirstdespising men, who longed to engage the enemy; despising
even necessary refreshmnent through zeal for their God and
country's cause. — Judges, seventh chapter.  But such,
evidently, are the officers and soldiers of the cross, with
which my God has surrounded me on every side! And
now, by His help, they shall not have their zeal quenched,
but in a great victory for the Lord of hosts! Amen.
To  W x +  W * 3i
The soldiers of Christ are called to endure hardness,
else thev would not be the "good soldiers," of whom Paul
speaks.  Every proper revival effort is a sort of holy,
decided, obstinate violence against sin, self, and Satan;against the world, the flesh, and the devil; — and, hardest
of all, frequently, against cold-hearted, and fault-finding
church-members, sympathizers with those who are wivthout. But all these must be moved, shaken, prostrated, by
a power from heaven, and by no very "gentle measures,"
depend upon it.
The judgments of God must be rolled upon the ears
of men; not "theories built of gossamer," but stern,
rugged, devil-arousing, and sinner-pierciny truth; ay 
and that with all the energies of the preacher, and with the
power of God unto salvation.
Ah, sir  I knew humnan nature, and infernal nature,
and their combined power, too well, to miscalculate in this
matter! — have been brought into collision with them too
often to underrate their power of resistance. * * * 




AN EXPERIMENT REJECTED.              299
To.
Weigh well what I am about to say, -but take it in connection with what has been already said, —a gentle touch
will never accomplish what requires the shoulder of an earthquake!  No! no! no! — but rather something after the
marmner of good old Robert Bolton, who hints that we must
preach till the sinnerfeels he is in the actual grapple of the
Kilng of terrors, and is about to stand or fall at the tribunal
of God; as if he were about to drop into the fiery lake with
a senseless heart and a seared conscience, or with the cry,'Save, Lord, or I perish!"    that we must preach till
every sinner feels himself now in that predicament of peril
and terror which he will certainly feel hereafter, when he
would give ten thousand worlds, were they all turned into
gold, pleasures, and imperial crowns, to have his salvation secured! - we must preach till the very heavens appear
as if shrivelling together like a scroll,- as if the whole frame
of nature were in fiames about his ears; - as if the great
and mighty hills were starting out of their places like
frighted men; — till he is ready to join in the reprobate
cry for the rocks and mountains to fall upon him; - till he
feels that no dromedary of Egypt, nor wings of the morning, shall be able to carry him out of the reach of the
avenging hand; — till he feels that there is no top of Carmel, no depth of the sea, no bottomn of hell, that can hide
him from the wrath of a sin-avenging God; -- till he feels
that no rock, nor mountain, nor the great body of the whole
earth, can cover him from the unresistible power that laid
the foundations of them; - till he feels that no arm of flesh,
or armies of angels, are able to protect him from those infinite rivers of brimstone which shall be kept in everlasting




300             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
flames by the anger of God; —till he feels as if he is next
to being chained, by the Omnipotent hand of God, among
spirits damned, in a place of flames and perpetual darkness,
where is torment without end, and past imagination;- that
we must preach till he is ready to cry out, with the feelings
of the damned, " 0 that I were annihilated, or had but
one more chance upon earth to obtain salvation!" - till he
feels, upon returning recollection, that there is actually but
one step between him and hell, - but the thin veil of the
flesh [as Baxter observes] between him and that amazing
sight, - that eternal gulf, into which sinners are stepping
daily; - till he feels that his breath is about to be stopped
by an arrest from heaven, and justice on the point of surprising his unready soul, and no assurance that he shall
not be in hell in an hour; — till he feels some of those piercing, griping, tearing thoughts, which the consciously dying
and the certainly damned do feel;- till there is an outcry
for mercy from him and many others, which prove that the
trumpet of the Lord has not been sounded in vain, nor in
vain has his sword been wielded! Depend upon it, sir, this
is the kind of preaching that is needed, if not " asked for,'
in Birmingham!  And, if last Sabbath night bore any
resemblance to it, to God be all the glory! i  




CHAPTER XL.
THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT, AND PROGRESS OF
THE REVIVAL.
JANUARY 5th, 1846. - Yesterday, being the first Sabbath in the year, I preached in Bradford-street Chapel,
from 2 Peter 2: 9.  A gracious time.  The afternoon was
spent in " the renewal of the covenant," one of the prominent New-Year's services among the Wesleyans in this
country. The covenant was read, by one of the stationed
preachers, most impressively.  Was struck with the introduction, - exceedingly appropriate.
After the covenant, assisted in the administration of the
Lord's Supper.
Preached again at night to a crowd.  Was sharp and
convincing, if effects are signs thereof.  There were fifty
saved, of whom thirty were justified, and twenty sanctified.
It is well to preach every sermon as if it were one's last;
or, as if one's own {ife depended upon it; - certainly it is
life or death to the hearer, and that should move one, if
anything would. My soul was moved indeed, and so were
the people. Many saved.
Had much joy in my soul this morning in secret with
God, and much after my return last night; one of those
sweet and glorious surprises; what one calls "an excess
of divine goodness."  I sometimes call it " revival joy,"
26




302             siiowiuS OF BLESSING.
because it so frequently, with me, precedes, or accompanies
at intervals, a great work of God.
Jan. 7th.  Wednesday morning. - Preached at Bradford-street again last night. Chapel crowded, aisles and
all.  Eighteen found mercy, and seven or eight purity.
After I returned, when alone with my Lord and Master,
opened on Jer. 29: 11, 14, and felt as if he was speaking
to me.
What an amazing work hath the Lord wrought the last
ten or twelve days! It is the Lord's doings, indeed, and
marvellous in our eyes,- almost equal, in fact, to what we
witnessed in Doncaster and Macclesfield.  Hallehljah!
Afternoon. - Onward for victory. The Lord of hosts
is with us. Sinners are slain on every side. The Gospel
is the power of God unto salvation. But the power must
be attended with an unfaltering footstep, a bold heart, and
a steady, trusty arm, and a fearless tongue. The French
poet spoke well, when he said,
" 0, he who in thy pathway treads,
Must toil and pain endure!
I-is head must plan the boldest deeds,
His arm must make them sure."
Mr. Caughey speaks, in the above extracts from his journal, of the progress of the revival in Birmingham. The
following, which we copy from a London newspaper, affords
a better view of this extraordinary work, than can be gathered from the glimnpses of it in the journal:
"B BIRMINGHAM. - The Rev. Mr. Caughey has now been
here for three weeks, and has preached in Newtown-Row
and Belmont-Row Chapels, in the east circuit, and Wesley
Chapel, in the west circuit. IHe was last week at Cherry



THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT.            303
street, in the west circuit.  The services in each of the
chapels have been atttended by overflowing audiences; and
the work of Gol. appears to be extending rapidly.  Much
good has been done, and much more is expected, for the
Spirit of God is being poured out upon the people, and the
impression made by Mr. Caughey's sermons is powerful
and deep;- other denominations have caught the fire, and
amongst the penitents have been recognized Baptists and
Independents.  The ministers, the leaders, and the local
preacheiNs, appear to be all animated with the spirit which
has guided this servant of God across' the Atlantic, and
induced him to preach and labor in foreign lands.
" We believe the revival in Birmingham  has taken deep
root, and such an excitement has it created in the town on
religious matters as was never before witnessed.  Members
of the church, who were dull and lethargic, have been
aroused; sinners, who were deep in impiety, have been awakened and converted; and backsliders, whose case was thought
almost hopeless, have again felt the efficacy of the redeeming blood of Christ.  The scene which was presented in
Cherry-street Chapel on Sunday night exceeds description.
The chapel (which is the largest Methodist chapel in the
town, and capable of accommodating more than two thousand persons) was densely crowded. The aisles, the pews,
the space within the altar-rails, the vestries, and even the
pulpit stairs, were crowded with anxious and attentive
hearers.
" After the sermon, although many persons went away,
the chapel was still crowded; and even the aisles were full.
The prayer-meeting immediately commenced; and so great
was the number of penitents, that the accommodation was
totally insufficient, and the large school-room was filled. So
deep is the interest felt in the progress of the revival, that




304             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
some persons actually came twenty, thirty, forty, and even
more than a hundred miles to hear Mr. Caughey preach.
We are not in possession of the actual number of conversions, but they cannot be less than six hundred.  Accurate
lists are, however, kept, and we hope to be able to lay before our readers the actual result of Mr. Caughey's labors
in Birmingham.
" BIRMINGHAM. - (Another account.)  The revival of
religion in this town now begins to assume a very encouraging and important aspect.  The great amount of good
which has been effected through the labors of that distinguished servant of God, the Rev. J. Caughey, from America, whose labors were so signally owned of God in several
other large towns in this kingdom, has not been the less
so here.  In this town, Methodism may be considered far
behind most of the other populous towns in the kingdom,
compared with the density of its population, and it has oft
been considered as an unfavorable soil for Methodism extensively to prosper. What from political agitation, mechainical ingenuity, which so greatly absorb the time and attention of the inhabitants, together with the prevalence of
Sabbath desecration and intemperance, combined with infidelity and Catholicism, &c., render the simple story of
Christ crucified a subject which they regard as beneath
their attention.' Although those hills may raise their heads, and appear
to assume some prominence, yet it is written that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established upon the tops
of the mountain; she shall be exalted above the hills, and
become the object of universal attraction, admiration, and
delight; that all nations shall flow into it. And here, around
our standard, we have not only Wesleyans, but members of
different churches, and others who are of the world which lieth




THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT.             305
in wickedness, all pressing into our sanctuaries to listen to
the powerful appeals, and to be made partakers of the quickening and soul-saving influence usually attendant upon the
labors of this distinguished servant of the Most High.  Not
only is it that degraded sinners and backsliders, with dead,
formal, pharisaical professors, are brought into deep penitence for sin by hundreds; but members and leading officials
are raised to newness of life, and living in the comfort of the
Holy Ghost, witnessing the truth of the apostle's doctrine, that
the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. It was said, some
two or three years ago, that Cherry-street Chapel was the
mother chapel, and that she had grown old, and had ceased
to bring forth children.  But we now see it is not the advance of age, nor the pressure of infirmities under which she
has labored from her heavy responsibilities, shall prevent
her from bringing forth; but when overshadowed by the
Holy Ghost, and the spirit of holy zeal is practically demonstrated by the church, then the barren shall bring forth, the
solitary plain shall be made glad and blossom as the rose.
Several hundreds have given in their names as having obtained pardoning mercy or sanctifying grace.
" On Monday evening, a missionary meeting was held at
Belmont-Row Chapel, Dr. Waddy in the chair. The crowded
audience was addressed by the Revs. J. Lawton and Tindal,
in energetic, interesting speeches, followed by the Rev. J.
Caughey, in strains both figurative and deeply affecting to
the audience; after whichi, the Rev. J. Everett, from York,
delivered one of the most interesting speeches ever listened
to in the town of Birmingham.  On the whole, it was considered one of the best missionary meetings that was ever
held, and the collection about one fourth over last year.
Mr. Caughey's labors have been continued at Cherry-street
during the remainder of the week, and an increased interest
26*




306             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
has continued to be exerted.  The slain of the Lord may be
said to be heaps upon heaps; the press of penitent seekers
of salvation, and those seeking sanctifying grace, have been
in such numbers, that the altar-rails were insufficient. The
vestry and the large school-room have been frequently required, in addition, to accommodate them. Notwithstanding
the powerful efforts displayed in the conversion of sinners of
varied characters, from the degraded infidel to the formal
professor, yet some would fain call it a mass of enthusiasm.
Our worst wish to such is, that they may be brought under
its influence, and be made the partakers of its effects, and be
brought to possess that enthusiastic zeal which may lead
them to present their bodies and souls as a living sacrifice
to the Lord.  If it be enthusiasm, it is that for which martyrs bled, which apostles and primitive Christians labored to
promote, by converting sinners from the error of their ways.
It partakes of the enthusiasm of the day of Pentecost, when,
under Peter's preaching, three thousand were pricked in
their hearts, and cried out,'Men and brethren, what shall
we do?'
" We are glad to add that the interest continues advancing; and it is pleasing to observe that many of the most
talented and influential members are first and foremost in
aiding in this great work. We hope this to only be the
beginning of a most important era in the history of Methodistic revivalism in this populous town, and that similar
energies will be continued, until its leavening influence
shall be such as to affect the whole town, until the whole
be leavened."




CHAPTER XLI.
NOTES OF CORRESPONDENCE AND PRIVATE REFLECTIONS.
A LETTER from one of my "field officers"' in the late
battles of Sheffield and  Chestejfield,- fields of glory,
where laurels were won that shall never wither - good
John Levick! But he writes himself down "a disabled soldier," but hoping soon to take the field again, as his own
" home hospital," as he calls it, has in it an excellent nurse,
in the person of a beloved wife. Htis soul is happy, and
burns once more to be in the hottest of the battle for Christ
and truth,-just as a disabled soldier of Jesus Christ should
feel!
He reports good news from  Chesterield; - the labors
of the regular ministers and their helpers greatly blessed,souls saved daily,- classes doubled in numbers; - one
minister has given to the winds his'"pulpit notes," and
speaks right out from the heart what comes next!-the
financials, as might be expected.  Doncaster, he says, is
doing well, but the want of the church seems to be " a sanctified leadership."  He writes, also, an exposition of 2 Cor.
1: 20, given by a little girl in the Ebenezer Chapel Sunday-school, Sheffield: " For all the promises of God in him
are YEA, and in him AMEN, unto the glory of God by us."
He asked the class of girls what they thought the apostle
meant.  It seemed to perplex all of them but one, a little
girl of eleven or twelve years of age, who said, " I will tell




308             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
you what I think it means.  Now, if I were to ask God,'Did not Jesus Christ suffer and die, to purchase all these
blessings for ime?' would he not say,'Yea'? and then if I
were to say,' Lord, bestow them upon mne, for Christ's
sake,' would he not say' ALnen' to my prayer?"
But, alas! sad news from D —  of one whom I considered
a spiritual child of mine, and of whom I had great hope; -
but she has been suddenly called into eternity, under painful circunmstances.  eirs. H. is no more!  She and her
sister, both intelligent ladies, sought and found an. interest
in Christ during my visit to D., and joined the Wesleyan
Methodist church, and were both faithful for some time.  At
length, as a letter informs me, lMrs. H. became quite neglectful of class; —hoped she had found a way to heaven
less strict and precise, and at length withdrew from the
church; but not until her leader had again and again called
upon her, with invitations and entreaties.  But her mind
was made up to walk in a way less narrow than that she
had frequented, and his labors were in vain.
A  few weeks since, on a Saturday evening, she retired
to her room, not to prepare for the Sabbath, as she was wont,
but to prepare for a ball!  A ball-dress was to be got in
readiness for the following Monday night.
Sabbath morning dawned, but the seat of Mrs. H. was
vacant at the break-fast-table.  A servant was dispatched to
her room to make inquiries, when, alas! to her horror, she
found Mrs. H. lying on the floor, a corpse!  Her spirit
had passed to the dread tribunal of God!  The previous
Sabbath, it appears, she listened to a very awakening discourse from 2 Cor. 6: 1,-" We then, as workers together
with hiTn, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace
of God in vain."  Ah! this is a mournful case!




NOTES OF CORRESPONDENCE.             309
After reading the letter, I remembered having received a
letter from one of these sisters, after I left D., but could not
-remember which; but, on turning to my note-book, I find
it was from the sister of the deceased, and that the substance of the letter was, -  tenptations  from  former
fashionable  friends to return to the pleasutres of the
world; - that her reasons for refusing, when made known
to them, they did not seem to understand or appreciate;that they had used every argument that human ingenuity
could devise, to turn her from that which they considered
a delusion, - a term  which  these fashionable people
applied to conversion.   She concluded  her letter by
expressing her determination to resist all such temptations,
and to be faithful until the end, adding: "We are wise,
when we make a choice, after full conviction of its being
best, to cast away the means of return.  Thank God! my
choice is nade, —my land is chosen,- I have crossed
the stream,  and I will break down the bridge behind
ne! "  Poor Mrs. H.! she could not withstand the temptations of a flattering world,- little knowing that Death
was on the full march to meet her; -or, was it the sin
uazto death? -- 1 John 5: 16, 17.
January 8th. -- Smooth words, like round, smooth pebbles, do not penetrate, but roll off without making an impression. F-ine sentences, and handsomeness of expression, do
the same.  They please men, but they awaken not, nor
wounzd the conscience.  Words and sentences, angled and
jagged like broken flints, and expressions flying like
barbed arrows, are the things for that.  But, be it known
unto thee, 0 my soul, against these, the world protests vehemently! Thou knewest it, and came forth with something
tastefully polished, to the liking of flesh and blood.  0
beware!




310             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
However, the leaders have become flaves of fire among
stubble.  But that is no reason why I should become a
mere phosphorescent.
Engaged upon an Index for my " Note Books;" - in
which I have noted ma.ny " items of interest," which it will
be profitable to have at command, for the pulpit or for the
press; - otherwise it jades the mind in hunting after them.
My tours on the Continent have afforded me some rich
material.
Hlave been looking back with gratitude upon the past
year of my life; -- a year of many mercies, and of considerable success to my ministry;- not less than betweenfozur
and five thousand souls jzstified, and about twho thousand
saizctified, in the protracted services in which I have been
engaged during the last twelve montJhs. All glory to God!
He doeth the works, and in every place lie surrounds me
with a host of praying mnen and womnten, to whom, under
God, I owe much of my success. 0, what a glorious reward
awaits them above, if faithful to the end!
Jan. 9th. -- Wisdolm and Prudence! How necessary they
should accompany burning zeal!  Too much prucdence, or
overmuch cautioZn, makes a cold and timid preacher, and
unfits for such rough service as this; yet, a deficiency of
these may lead a misguided zeal to spoil all. Lord, help
me!
However, the work of God shows no pause.  That text
had great force, Psalm 16: 11,-   Thou wilt show me the
path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy
right hand there are pleasures for evermore."  A sweet
theme!- the pleaszures of heaven! -- the chief of which, a
sight of  esus!  How that moves an audience! —especially when one can get such a view of Him, and language
to express it, such as the Holy Spirit alone can give the




NOTES O' CORRESPONDENCE.              311
preacher, when that promise of Jesus has a fulfilment,'" He shall glorify mne; for he shall receive of mine, and
will show it unto you."  But there is much we must die
to know, even of Jesus and his glory. I believe with him
who said,'" Of all the objects of celestial blessedness, Jesus
will stand first, the most conspicuous object of heavenly
contemplation." The Psalmist was of the same opinion,
when he exclaimed, "' Whom  have I in heaven but thee?
and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee."
He considered a sight of him, in heaven, the loveliest, sweetest, grandest, that heaven could afford; -  so think I, and
long to be there, to see him as he is, and to be like himn!
1 John 3: 2.
"Soon in heaven we'll adore him,
0, how he loves!
Cast our glitt'ring crowns before him,
0, how he loves!
When the victory is completed,
And around his throne we're seated,
Then we'11 sing, and still repeat it,
0, how he loves!"
A great move; trophies of salvation many.  Hallelujah!
Jan. 10th.  Saturday morning. -  Sanctification last
night, —my usual theme on Friday nights.  What a remarkable blessing from  the Lord attends that doctrine!
What want or dearth is felt in that church or society
where it is not preached, fully, clearly, thoroughlly, hleartily, and as a present salvation, attainable now, by faith
Mr. WVsesley was well persuaded of this when he wrote to
one of his preachers thus: "When this is not preached,
there is seldom any remarkable blessing firom God, and consequently little addition to the society, or little life in the
members of it. Speak, and spare not; let not regard to any
man induce you to betray the truth of God. Till you press




312              StIOWERS OF BLESSING.
believers to expect full salvation Now, you must not look
for any revival."  Ay! and when that grand doctrine of
the Gospel is thus faithfully preached, the effects are soon
evident and glorious.'"The Gospel," as one observes,
" will then be consulted as a fresh charter from heaven.
Promises,  which before were repeated with freezing accents,
will now burn upon the lips, and will be plead with an
earnestness that will open heaven." It was so, truly,
last night.  The work of entire sanctification (1 Thess.
5: 23, 24) has advanced with great rapidity and power the
last few weeks; not less than three hundred persons have
professed its attainment! A noble pledge, this, that these
protracted services are not likely to leave the church weary,
wasted, and exhausted, but rich ia faith, and love, and
holiness.
Jan. 12th.  Monday morning. - I preached twice, yesterday, in the Islington Chapel, -'a neat place of worship, in the suburbs of B3irmingham.  Sixty persons professed to find mercy, and thirty purity of heart.  The
scenes were indeed awfully grand and overwhelming,such multitudes of wounded and distressed people crying
for mercy! -'" Deep wounded by the Spirit's sword,
And then by Gilead's balm restored!"
Jan. 13th. - Delivered an address at the missionary
meeting at Islinyton, last night, with considerable liberty
and comfort, for me, - such a creature of circumstance am
I on these platforms! English preachers are entirely at
home there.  They are the best platform  speakers I ever
listened to. I feel myself but a mere child there in their
midst; and yet speak I must, if but as a child!
Mr. and Mrs. Greaves, from  Sheffield, left for home
to-day.  They have been here a week or more, accompanied




NOTES OF CORRESPONDENCE.            313
by Ir. and Mrs. Denton. They came over on purpose to
enjoy the meetings. Mrs. G. has been the means of the
conversion of one woman since she came. She happened to
meet with her, and entered into conversation, telling her
for what purpose they had come all the way from Shefield.
Nothing more was heard of the woman till a night or two
since, when she arose in a meeting and declared what great
things God had done for her soul, and how she happened to
attend the meetings; — that a lady from Sheffield talked
with her about religion, and told her how far they had
come to hear " the stranger; " - that, pondering on the fact
that such fine-looking people had come so far to hear him,
it excited her curiosity, and she resolved to go herself; the
word reached her heart, and she had no rest until she found
the Saviour precious to her soul!
I am now entertained at the house of Mr. Souter, surrounded with comforts,- quite on the other side of the
town, and nearer the chapels where we hold the services.
The Rev. George Turner is the superintendent.
27




CHAPTER XLII.
DISPASSIONATE PREACHING.
To ~~    ~.
YouR ideas of "dispassionate preaching" are all very
well, provided there were no sinners here in danger of
hell-fire; and no sleepy, inconsistent professors to be
awakened out of their delusive dreams;- if all were holy,
just and good; otherwise, such preaching may be unto
them, what Ezekiel's was to a certain class in his day,
— "& unto them as a very lovely sontg of one that hath a
pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument."  God
himself used that figure in speaking with the prophet,
adding, " For they hear thy words, but they do them,
not."- Ezek. 33: 32.  It was no wonder the Lord commanded him to smite swith his hand, and stamp with his
foot, while speaking to them of the evil of their doings, and
their cominctg miseries.- Ezek. 6: 11.
There is a great plenty of such preaching as you admire;
- allow one solitary preacher to differ somewhat, if upon no
other principle than the old proverb, " Variety is the spice
of life!" 7
Goldsmith, you remember, compared a certain class of
minds to liquors that never ferment, and are consequently
always mucddy.  But you will not allow the style you
admire to be muddy;- well, perhaps it is not. It mary be




DISPASSIONATE PREACHING.             315
clear enough, and cold as clear! 0, sir, give me the fermented style!-what St. Paul calls "fervent in spirit,"7
-that moves others also, and puts all the town in a ferment!
However, whatever others may do is nothing to me.  My
duty is plain,- to preach the whole truth of God with all
my soul, mind and strength.
"Perish discretion when it interferes with duty."
What we do should be done to purpose; effect something; not only move ourselves, but move others - out of
their sins to Christ; - move the church, and better it, and
not be at an everlasting stand-still.
Erasneus tells us of a man, named Rabirius, who
wanted his servant, Syrus, to get up, and called to him to
move.  "I do move," replied Syrus.'"I see you mlove,"
rejoined the master, " but you move nothilng!';   Now,
there may be much religious activity, and yet not a sinner
moved out of his sins, and the church very little advanced
in holiness.  When we move, we should move to some purpose, and accomplish something 
To THE SAME.
Dean Swift used to say, preaching has two principal
branches: 1st, to tell people what is their duty; and, 2"d,
to convince them  that it is so.  I think the dean should
have had a thirdly: -- to move them to do what they are
told is their duty, and what they are convinced is their
duty!
Now, with my statements regarding the duty of believers
and sinners you have no complaint; nor of my arguments,
which effect conviction; but rather in my manner of




316             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
moving them to act in accordance with their convictions.
Ah, my friend! if we were really agreed in head and
heart about the great end of preaching, the mnanner of it,
I fancy, would be of trifling moment, so that truth is
preached, and sinners are converted by it!
If your neighbor's house were on fire, in dead of night,
and the family fast asleep, and a neighbor, after a tremendous
knocking and uproar, should succeed in arousing and saving
them, you would be little disposed to chide him for the mansner in which he did it. Your own good sense can make the
application.
Whatever answers the end for which it was ordained is
usually accounted good; the air we breathe, the food we
eat, the water we drink, the flower we smell, the bird that
sings, the sun that shines, and the fire that warms, - ay,
and the thunder, and lightning, and stormy winds, which
roll the clouds into heaps upon heaps, rending them into
atoms, and which bring down the teeming shower over the
thirsty land! You know the design of the Gospel; and
that it is a real good only so far as it answers the end for
which it was ordained. Is that end being answered now
among the sinners of your great town? Surely, you cannot
reasonably doubt! 0, then, quarrel not with the manner!
Let the fruits speak for themselves. I ask you to examine
the fruits, whether they are Gospel friuits, or something
else. Be assured of one thing, the " dispassionate preaching," of which you are so fond, would never have turned
this tide of souls another way to that in which it was moving
a month ago!
The sword, that gives the soldier victory on the field, is
accounted trusty and true, inasmuch as it has answered the
design for which it was made, and for which he wielded it,




DISPASSIONATE PREACHING.            317
however clumsily, or untastefully, or violently, wielded.
But what is war but a science of violence?  The Gospel is
a sword as well as a sceptre of mercy.  St. Paul says it is
quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged stword,
dividing asunder the joints and the nmarrow, and is a discerner, or lays open the very thoucghts of the heart, as the
knife of the surgeon lays open the seat of the disease, or
the cause of death.  The Gospel is a science of war, against
the world, the flesh, and the devil. Its weapons, though
not carnal, as the apostle hints, are yet mighty throu-gh
God to the pulling down of strong holds, and casting
down  imnaginations, and every other high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of Christ, and leading into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ!  Such was St. Paul's idea of the Gospel; such
it was in his day, and such it really begins to be in Birmlingham.
In the hand of a Christ-sent preacher, the Gospel is a
sword as well as a sceptre; but of what use is a sword,
however much adorned, if not wielded energetically, and if
it fail in execstion? " A sword that hath an hilt of gold,
set with diamonds, is no good sword," says an old divine,
"' if it have no edge to cut, or want a good back to follow
home the stroke."  This was his illustration of effective
preaching!
To THE SAME.
But have you never considered Jer. 23: 29?-" Is not
my word like as a FIRE, saith the Lord; and like a
HAMMER that breaketh the rock in pieces?"  What! and
laid on dispassionately?  Nay, verily! when fire and
27*




318             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
hammers go to the work of rock-breaking, the thing is not
done in quietude and stillness.  But you will reply, " The
fire and hammers of the Gospel have been going on quietly
in Birmingham for years." Very well, and so they have;
but have you ever seen so many hundreds of rocky-hearted
sinners broken in pieces, as within the last eight or ten days,
in Birmingham?
Ah, my friend, where the Gospel fire is kindled but
sparingly, and the hanmmers of truth are laid on carelessly
or coldly, they eflect but little, very little. But I have no
time for more.  You must stand aside, out of the way of the
sword and our artillery, if you cannot join in the fight.
This is no time to falter.  If it be the last battle for Christ
and souls, allowed me in England, Amen! -but I shall push
this forward with the might and energy God supplies; —
onward, and sweep the living storm of war against the
trembling ramparts of human depravity and diabolical
power! - shall
"Keep back no syllable offire,
Plunge deep the rowels of our speech!"




CHAPTER XLIII.
MORE PENCILLINGS OF THE REVIVAL IN BIRMINGHAM.
JANUARY 14th. - My style of preaching begins to oe
understood, and appreciated more and more. Faith, and
the sensibilities of faith, dispose to this very swiftly. It
requires a man to have life and reason to understand a dissertation upon life and reason. And the sinner must have
some spiritual life and sensibility to appreciate what is
called "revival preaching," which is life and quickness
of perception and sensation. The more quickly are life and
sensibility awakened and diffused among the masses, the
more swiftly does the work of God progress. Many saved
last night.
Jan. 15th. - How these daily effects of truth upon the
consciences of sinners, do prove its divinity; — ay, and
the soul's immortality, - its depravity, and its concealed
sense of accountability after death, -predisposing it to
sensibility and alarm!
Who can stand before the majesty and power of his truth,
when accompanied by the presence of the SPIRIT of trUth?
But 0, who can stand before it unflinchingly in eternity?
None but the pure in heart; only such can enter that holy
elysiumz above, the eternal abode of truth! I was struck
with that sentiment of Dr. Chalmers, that heaven is a
sanctuary guarded by all the holiness and by all the
jealousies of the Godhead, and so repugnant to the approach




320              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
of pollution, that if it offer to draw nigh, the fire of a consuming indignation would either check or destroy it. There
is something of this perception, I think, always accompanies
truth.
Jan. 16th. -  A  moving point that!   must return
upon it with a new impetus, as perception is clearer, -  it
will bear it,- that Theology is the study of Earth and
Heaven and Hell!  He who refuses to study it properly
here, shall be driven to it in hell, by the argyments of its
flames and torments.  A  terrible thought, and true as
terrible.  He that learns not the wisdom  it teaches here,
must be taught it there, necessarily, but not savingly; for
imperfect consideration is impossible in hell; and equally
impossible it should result in salvation.  Ah  but it is a
sad and terrible consideration, that torments will teach that
which mercy could not!  0, may this consideration move
my heart to feel for sinners around me! Amen.
An interesting letter from York says, "I am one of those
new converts, confirmed * by you when in York, the Friday
evening before you left us.  I had been in the way before,
but had strayed, in consequence of some unfortunate and
perplexing events, over which I could exercise no control.
I am now going on my way rejoicing. The following interposition of Providence for me and mine will interest you. I
was out -of a situation when you were here, and so for a
considerable time; and all my applications were abortive,
- self and family depending on casualty, and were enveloped in difficulty.
~' One day, in secret prayer I determined to lay all my
* He refers to the somewhat peculiar service which I usually hold for
the benefit of the young converts, which tends much to confirm and establish them in the grace wherein they stand.




REVIVAL IN BIRMINGHEAM.            321
affairs before the Lord.  Did so, and plead my case, and
that of my family, that my way might be opened for their
-support; that a door might be opened for me, which no
man could shut. I put the whole matter into his hands,
closing with prayer for spiritual blessings; resolved now to
just wait and watch, for I felt I could do nothing more in
the matter.
" At the end of three weeks a gentleman called upon
me, from a quarter I least expected, and offered me a clerkship, where I am now in comfort.  My salary, it is true,
is only moderate, but I am content.'Godliness, with contelntent, is great gain.'  Some, sir, would call this
chance,- that it just happened so. Yes, it did happen 
but to me, who knew the circumstances, it appeared a species of miracle in answer to importunate, believing prayer.
"I It has been said that prayer without effort is enthusiasm, and unavailing. It may be so, as a general rule, but my
case formed an exception; - was left, like as when we pray
for dry weather, we can only pray and wait, for we can do
nothing more to bring about a change in the elements."
This good brother was like Noah and his family in the
ark of the deluge; helplessly drifting on, they knew not
whither,'" till a dying surge, as by an angel's hand," found
them bottom up on the top of one of the Ararat mountains.
There are many wonderful illustrations of "' the prayer of
faith," among God's people, if one could but collect them
together, but which now lie concealed in the memories of
his faithful, but hidden ones.  There will be a glorious
telling of these things in heaven, by and by.
Jan. 17th.  Saturday morning. —Purity, last night.
That is, indeed, a convincing and encouraging text,-Acts
15: 9, -   And put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith," as it shows that purity




322              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Of heart is attainable, and also how it is attained,- "by
faith.'"  The effect is fine when Mark 11: 24, is united
with it: " Therefore, I say unto you, what things soever ye
edesire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye
shall have them."  And, then, to show the difference between desiring purity indistinctly, and praying and believing for it incdistinctly; and doing the same thing, but
distinctly; that they might desire it, and pray for it with
all the sincerity of a Moses, but if they did not believe for
it distinctly, and now, to be received as a present blessiny
by faith, it would be but desiring and praying and believing in vain; so far, at least, as a distinct and conscious
reception of the blessing is concerned.
This method brings faith before their eyes directly, and
in the commanding position assigned to it in the New T7estmlcen.t.  It is just saying of it, as the Lord God did of
Jos-htLa to Moses: "But Joshua, the son of Nan, which
st;ldltleth before thee, he shall go in thither; encourage him,
for he shall cause Israel to inherit it." - Deut. 1: 38.
Works, like Moses, had brought these Birminghavm Christians to the Jordan of salvation; but faith, like Joshua,
was to cause them to inherit; was to lead them over into
the Canaan of purity and perfect love.  Blessed be God 
as Joshua led Israel over Jordan, dry-shod, into the promised land, so did faith  much people, last night! There
was a great move among the tribes; and a great consternation among the Canaanites, and the overthrow of many
a towering Jericho!   My soul might well cry out with
Petrarch:
Victoriousfaith, to thee belongs the prize,
On earth thy power is felt, and in the circling skies."
Jan. 19th. Monday. - A great victory yesterday. Sin



REVIVAL IN BIRMINUGHAM.             323
ners are leaving the ranks of sin, scores following scores!
— Wonderful! 0, how deep and pungent their convictions
for sin! How clear their sense of pardon! How deep and
tender their gratitude to God and man for so great a deliverance! and what unutterable humility and love! 0, who
could doubt the genuineness of such a work as this!   callellah!
The Sheffeld brethren, noble souls! are perpetuating
that work of God there, nobly.  Brother Unwvin writes
me, G' I have sent out to be distributed to-morrow afternoon,
within half a dozen streets of Carver-street Chapel, five
hundred of the following bill:
i"I shall go to-night to the Methodist Chapel,' Because it is the LORD'S DAY. not mine; and I
must spend it so as to please HIM, not myself.
" Because I have a SOUL to be saved.  I am a SINNER, under sentence of death; and, unless I repent, I
must perish forever.
" Because TIME is short: DEATH is sure: I may die
to-morrow: and if I be not pardoned and prepared for
Ileaven, what will become of my poor soul?' T"e wicZked
shall be-tlrned into Hell, and all the nzations that foqutl
God.'- Psalm ix. 17. If I could have all the pleasures of
this world, and enjoy them a thousand years, yea, for ten
thousand; yet, if I were to lose my soul — I should he
a fool; for Time is nothing compared to Eternity.  O,
ETERNITY, ETERNITY, ETERNITY! Who can tell
the length and breadth of Eternity!' Because the Minister will tell me how to make my
peace with God, to get my soul converted, and to find the
way to Heaven.  And then there will be a PRAYERMEETING!  That is just what I need.  0, I WISH  I




324              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
COULD  PRAY!  Some of my wicked neighbors have
gone to Chapel, and been converted: and now they are so
changed! they are good and happy all day long. I wish
I were like them; for I am  miserable, and I AM  SO
AFRAID TO DIE. They are on the road to Heaven;
I am on the way to Hell.  But I MUST, I WILL REPENT; and I shall BEGIN  TO-NIGHT; for' NOW  is
the accepted time, NOW is the day of salvation.''Come! let us all go to the XITethodist Chapel.*' * That is, if you are not going to another place of worship."
Jan. 21st. Wednesday. - Blessings come in hurricanes
these days!  These are Pentecostal days in Birmingham.
Great liberty in preaching the word,: And every feeling uttered, fully felt."
0, how evidently does the hand of our God endorse and
attest the truth of his revealed will in the glorious Gospel
of his Son!  Showers of blessings!  Hallelujah!




CHAPTER XLIV.
A MEMENTO.
YES, I had a hard time of it; beating the air, or as one
throwing feathers; and I know the cause very well; and
that is a mercy, otherwise I might have come to some rash
or false cowclusion.
It should be a lesson to me. This lightness of heart
before preaching is not q iite the thing; not safe, however
innocent, - an innocent l,;ht-heartedness, as religious people would call it; but neither innocent nor wise in one who
was about to stand between the living and the dead, -
between sinners and incensed justice, and a burnincg hell,
and a grieved Holy Spirit, and an interceding High Priest,
and a justly offended God! "He that winneth souls is
wise," says Solomon.  Ay, but it is not wise to go about
that work with a loose and car-ce(ss spirit!  This I know,
and therefore I am accountable.
How liable I am to the temptation to unbuckle my spiritaual armor, if I sit down for a tea-table chit-chat, even
among good people; to sheathe the sword of truth within-,
and lay it aside, instead of burnishing it, and sharpening it,
and looking at it, and at the cause for which it must be
wielded, till my soul is fired "I to do exploits," as the angel
said to Daniel.  And how  such tea-table sociability
smoothes down the wrinkles of war, and melts off the
28




326             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
horns, and the angles, and the spear-points of awakening
truth from the mind; so sunny, so congenial the atmosphere around approving friends! And then to hurry off to
the pulpit without the proper time of being alone with God,
or to buckle on the arlnor anew, and to examnine the mind,
as to the state of truth in it, around it, and upon it; and
to see to my sword, - whether it has not lost edge in the
sheath, or gathered rust in the soft, congenial atmosphere
of the tea-table.
0, I did not get near enough to God!  My views of
truth, and of the peril of sinners, of God, of Christ, of the
Spirit, and of my own responsibility, were far from being
intensified as they ought.  Heaven, Hell, Calvary, were
not brought near enough to arouse and alarm me.  Did
not enter the cloud of the divine presence far enough to
receive the necessary unction from  above.  Had not time.
O, thou sounding brass! thoau tinkling cymnbal! let this
be a lesson! -zmust keep out of company, and be much
alone with God, upon the holy mountain, walking up
ancd down in the mnidst of the stones of fire; then cometh
the soul firom thence, among the people, as the anointed
cherub. - Ezek. 28: 14.
If my spirit could not be allowed " a holiday," it plead
for a light shoulder at an unseasonable hour; and for that,
it has gained an additional weight of the old burden!
" Keep thy soul loose about thee."
Nay, nay, my good old Herbert! that was the cause of my
sorrow. My soul was too loose about me! Hard to preach
so. The bow must be well bent, that speeds the decisive
arrow.  A slack soul has neither energy nor unction, -
as one beating the air, truth leaving the lips like an arrow




A MEMENTO.                     327
from a slack string.  Ay, that was the trouble! and not
for the first time neither!  Alas, no! nor for the hundredth time.
The arrow that speeds to the mark and penetrates, must
fly from a well-bent bow and a tight string.  When one's
soul is bowed intensely, the words fly like barbed arrows,
straight to the mark. As a preacher in Germany remarked,'Your arrow should be shot from a tight bowstring of a
perfect inward confidence and certainty; then it becomes'the arrow of the Lord's deliverance.' "  Ay, that is it!
to feel that we are "' honest in the sacred cause," not striving for self, but for Christ, and for souls; that the cause
is His.  This gives great boldness, firmnes and intensity.
The message is His message. The disclosures we are making are His will and desires towards those who hear.  To
believe, to feel that this is His own word I am uttering, the
very thoughts of Hiis heart I am echoing; to speak with
this conviction, confers upon the soul a tremendous confidence and energy.
The possibility of the loss of a single soul, besides; lost
by mris-nderstanding, or mnisapplying the message, or
preszmnzi'   simply upon it, or rejecting it; or that this
may be his last call; the Spirit is giving him the last offer
of mercy; that within a very few days, he may be in I"that
lone land of deep despair, where none is found to hear or
save;" and the cold, heartless preacher, possibly, share the
blame of his daxmnation!  Ah! to feel these thoughts till
the body groans, and the soul bows itself in an agony, and
cries for'help, and then goes forth from  the secret place
like a Samcnson, to feel for the pillars of scepticism, and
pride, and sin, and unbelief; heaven, and hell, and earth
looking on in an amnaze, and hearkening for the crash of
the temple of sin, and the cries of the slain of the Lord, as




328             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
the soul of the preacher bows itself, crying, " Victory or
death!" 7  Ah me! such a preparation is seldom attained
during a tea-table chit-chat, and religious pleasantry! Ah
no! but alone with God, crying," My powerful groans thou canst not bear,
Nor stand the violence of my prayer,
My prayer omnipotent."
There, and there only, with rare exceptions, the arm of
the soul is nerved with the energy of the God of Jacob.
There, and there only, the whole man bows under the stress
of his principles and emotions, " like a tight bowstring; "
and then, look for the arrows of truth flying thick and fast,
and sticking fast in the hearts of the king's enemies;- and
the falling down of the people, and the consequent cries,
prove that " Thine arrows are sharp in the hearts of
the King's enemies," 0 Lord God of hosts! - Ps. 45: 5.
O, who can describe the scenes which follow! - the effects
of the word thus preached with the Holy Ghost sent down
from heaven! St. Paul attempts it in Heb. 4: 12.  Then
it becomes " the word of God," indeed; and not a sword
only, but a royal sceptre, in the hand of such a preacher; -
and more potent than all the kingly sceptres upon the face
of the earth; for it accomplishes what all their power combined could never effect. " The spirits are subject unto us,
through thy name." The place occupied by such a preacher
is a battle-field, indeed! and his pulpit a throne of power,
— and victory all around.  "In one part of the field,"
as a German divine remarks,'"spiritual restraints are
imposed; -in another, darts and hooks are cast into the
heart; - in a third instance, a leviathan is bound in chains
of adamant;- in a fourth, the strength of the wicked is
broken, the audacious confused and ashamed, the adversa



A MEMENTO.                    329
ries disarmed, blasphemies silenced, and the licentious
forced back, at least, within the bounds of external order; —
and, in a fifth instance, Zion's banners are encompassed by
the new subjects of omnipotent grace; — and by such a
preacher, effects like the above will everywhere and always
accompany his word." I believe it, 0 my German brother!
So have we seen it in Birminyham, and so shall we see it
again, the same Divine Power assisting us.  0, my Lord,
preserve me henceforth from ever going into the pulpit in a
careless spirit, and my armor loose about me!  Amen.
But, I suppose,
11 Our virtues would be proud, if our faults whipped them not! "
However, it did me good!  It is profitable to be well
humbled.  It leads to great " searchings of heart," and
drives the despairing and weakened soul to the feet of
God,- lays it lovw, and keeps it low, and there! Amen.
I entered the pulpit the following night, with my soul
tight about mne; and had a precious time.  0, what freedom and enlargement of soul! What ardor! 0, but God
did make my soul,
"' As the rapt seraph that adores and burns."'
But, as usual -- and 0, how often it occurs! -upon retiring to my room, sunk into deep humvniliation before the
Lord, in view of my many izfirmities, and imperfections
as a speaker.  The people are mown down like grass before
the scythe of God's word.  Not less than thirteen hundred
sinners have been converted to God during the last seven
weeks; and about six hundred believers have obtained
pur'ity of heart. All the glory be to God alone! He doeth
the works, though in infinite condescension, he deigns to
28*




330                 A MEMENTO.
employ very weak and unworthy instruments in accomplishing his purposes of mercy.
The work is advancing with unabated power daily.
There are some adversaries which spring up now and
then, but are soon borne down by this inundating outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!




CHAPTER XLVo
GLIMPSES OF THE REVIVAL AND PRINCIPLES OF ACTION.
JANUARY 24th.  Saturday. - Sanctification last night.
A heavenly calm  in the audience, so different from the
hurricanes of emotions through the week. Had sweet har-,mony in my own soul,- the heart so in unison with the
head, and a breathing like an air of Paradise within and
around, increasing in power, till the listening multitude were
stirred into an intense breathing after holiness. Many went
away from under the word, like Naaman out of Jordan,
cured of their spiritual leprosy.
Jan. 26th. Monday. —This driving the knowledge of
the head down into the heart, creates strange scenes among
the people.  Truth, that has lain dead for years in the
brain and imagination, when driven down upon the conscience, creates a wonderful uproar! It never, really, till
then, becomes effectual to the salvation of the possessor.
But " victory is of the Lord," and surely he did give us the
victory, in the salvation of scores of precious souls!
Jan. 28th. —Pressed hard upon the worldly-would-bereligious, who, as one expressed it, I" have nothing to offer
God, but some heartless service, which the world can spare,
and which are but the leavings of the flesh," — after the
manner of Cain and his offering! - Gen. 4: 3.
Jan. 29th. - Heavy, effective ordnance, in active operation, on our spiritual batteries!  And what a dismounting




332             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
of satanic-ordnance,- carnal reasoning,- high imaginations,- prejudice,- ignorance,- error and folly; and as
if, in the overturn, poor sinners would be torn into pieces!
The Lord grants me great peace of mind.  Homely, but
true, are those two lines of the old poet:
"6 When all is done and said, in the end this shall ye find,
He most of all doth bathe in bliss that hath a quiet mind."
And yet my soul retains its anlagonistic energy, and the
work advances in power.  Last week, at Wesley Chapel, one
unnedred and ninety were saved.  The week previous, at
Islingtol Chapel, two hundred and forty were saved.  So
speaks the Register. What the Lamb's book of life in
heaven speaks, we must die to know; and to know it with
safety, or with comfort, or with joy, we must die in the
Lord.
The people are greatly moved, and easily moved, now,
and very tender; so easy to draw tears, and set them  a
uweeping on every side! How wonderful the change which
the Gospel can make in a people! The eyes which were dry
as the sky, in the days of Eljcah, during the three years
drought, now weep tears of joy, like the same sky, after
Elijah said to Ahab, " There is a sound of abundance of
rain! "  Bless thou the Lord, 0 my soul!
Have spent several Monday evenings past in assisting
the brethren in town, at their missionary meetings; who
considerately fixed upon that evening, as least interfering
with the work. Had gracious assistance; and the collections were much in advance of last year. A writer considers the silxteenth century as the age of natural and scientific discovery; the eighteenth, the age of infidelity and
revolution; and the nineteenth century, as illustrious for




GLIMPSES OF THE REVIVAL.             333
missionary effort for the evangelization of the world. In
such an effort Birmingham seems determined not to be
behind.
Jan. 30th. - Beware of tinsel and finery, O, my soul!
dressing tzp the truth as if it were to sell! as the Spaniard hinted; making it to appear a mighty fine thing, and
you, J. C., a mighty fine preacher, and the people to think
themselves ":a mighty intelligent" people, to understand
and appreciate it all! Alas! alas! Admiration is a poor
substitute for salvation!
Jan. 31st. - Holiness last night.  These Friday night
discourses bring me back to the simplicity of the Gospel.
They leave, also, a sweet tincture of purity upon my spirit;
- make me feel with one, 1" I had rather be holy than be
eloquent;" a sentiment that finds a sweet response within
me this morning.
Matt. 21: 22, is a noble and influential promise: "And
all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing,
ye shall receive."  It affords a fine field for the exhibition
of the power of faith. It shows, also, why sincere desires
after purity are not gratified; -  believing  is omitted.
When we believe that we do receive, other things being
equal, we roll the whole burden of our wants upon the veracity of Christ, of whom it is said, " Cast thy burden upon
the Lord, and he shall sustain thee." IHere is a strong
point; but might have been rendered more effectual by
being less complicated.  0, for more sinmplicity in spirit
and style!
Feb. 2d. Monday. - Satan's captives are extensively in
trouble.  It is evident he is fearing a wholesale rescue.
To have them damned without rescue, was his hope.  Our
Lord Jesus Christ takes pleasure in rendering Satan hopeless in more ways than one! Glorious scenes yesterday!




334             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Have just returned from a walk; - not joyful, but a
sweetness in spirit; — a good thought that, that my happy
days have far exceeded my unhappy ones, thus far in my
Christian pilgrimage; - and my peaceful times have been
much longer in continuance than my times of war; - and
my seasons of prosperity more numerous than those of
adversity; - that my great troubles, like days in winter,
have been short, and, like stormy days, fewt; - and my
happy days, like summer days, long, and, like fair and
pleasant days, many, and by far the greatest in number,
through all the years of my spiritual life, hitherto! Praise
the Lord! And would it not have been otherwise, had not
my gracious Lord sanctified my soul in 1831?
A gracious time at the sacrament.  What a cloud of
conmmunicants, scores, if not hundreds, of whom had never
commemorated the Lord's death before!
It has done my own soul good; — I feel stronger, - as
if new life, vigor, and zeal, had been infused into my soul.
I usually feel so after partaking of the sacrament, and for
weeks.
In ancient times, before battle, they used to show the
blood of grapes and mulberries to the war elephants, to
make them more fierce in battle.  Well, a sight of these
sacred emblems of the broken body and shed blood of my
Lord stimulates my soul wonderfully to fight his battles,
and gain victories!
Feb. 3d. - How quickly, after hearing a sermon or two,
do persons of certain ranks and habits, disappear!  So true
is that remark of one, that there are those who will play
with the light, who will not endure to be melted by the fire!
But others come in their places, and so the truth is dropped




GLIMPSES OF THE REVIVAL.             335
into the more ears, and we know not which shall prosper,
this or that.
To  ~~'~.
Birmingham, Feb. 6, 1846.
" Toiling on."  To be sure! For what purpose did I
enter the vineyard of my Lord, but to work? Certainly
not to have a life of ease, nor to play, or to amuse myself
or others! For what did I join the army of Immanuel? To
fight, or enjoy an inglorious ease? To idle away my time?
Nay, my dear friend, but to fight his battles, and to endure
hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ! Or, if you
will allow me the use of another figure, for what did I
enter the lists upon the great race-ground of preachers?
To run for the prize, or to sit still and lounge? Nay,
but to run for the prize, -- a double prize, - heaven and
souls.  Well, then, while I have breath in me, let me never
lose the spirit of this! While I have health, may I never
cease running for such a prize, - SOULS! While life and
health do last, 0, may I work, fight, run! - true to my
principles laid down in the onset; to which the heart of
my fearful friend cannot help saying, "Amen! "
To  *             
Birmingham, Feb. 17.
Laboring on with all my might, to make sin bitter, that
the Gospel may be sweet to the sinner.  Never can the
Gospel be made truly sweet until the sinner is made to know
and feel that it is an evil thing and a bitter to sin against
God. - Jer. 2: 19. Nor is Christ ever sweet till sin is
turned into wormwood.  Nor does Christ give rest to any,




336              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
but to those who feel sin to be a burden.  It is to those
who labor and are heavy laden, Jesus gives the invitation
to come to him and find rest, as we see in Matt. 11: 28.
He invites the heavy laden to come unto him; those to
whom the sense of unpardoned sin is a burden too heavy to
be borne. It is my business, then, to load them dclown
quickly as possible.
Well, I have been trying hard so to do; and to make the
past and present sins of every sinner bitter, - ay, as wormwood, that the name of Jesus may be sweet and desirable,
and sin heavy, -- ay, as Byron said of it, as a mountain of
Iead upon the heart! — that they may be more anxious to
get rid of their burden!  After doing my best to bring all
this about, I then preach unto them Jesus; and, 0, how
sweet he is to their souls, and also to mine!  For, in
making sin bitter and heavy to them, I cannot help thinking
of my own, - sins of my youth and childhood, - sins before
my conversion and after, -  and much unfaithfulness in
the past; and, though my conscience is assured of pardon,
yet it would relapse into uneasiness and the spirit of bondage again to fear, if not met by a returning faith in that
blood that has washed them all away. And so, when Jesus
has thus become their kSaviour and mwine, 0, what an ocean
of sweetness do we all find in that wondrous name!  And,
then, how sweetly do we all sing:
"Blest with the scorn of finite good,
My soul is lightened of her load,
And seeks the things above.
"The things eternal I pursue,
A happiness beyond the view
Of those who basely pant
For things by nature felt and seen;
Their honors, wealth, and pleasures mean,
I neither have nor want! "




GLIMPSES OF THE REVIVAL.           337
Had a very awful time on the day of judgment, the other
night, in Wesley Chapel. - Rev. 20: 11, 13.  When
describing 1" the books " that shall be opened on that great
day, I noticed the Book of Privileges;- - where the condemned sinner lived and died; - the light under which he
sinned; - the mneans of salvation within his reach; - the
sermons he heard, or night have healrd, had he pleased.
Here an idea of Horne, which I had read many years ago,
occurred to me,- that, on this great and terrible day of God,
the sinner will be held as accountable for what he might
have known, as for what he did know; - that, among all
the subjects which might be said to belong to speculative
theology, there is none more terrible than this.
Language of unusual power, with vividness of thought,
were given me at this moment, such as I may never, possibly, have again; - was enabled to climb to heights which
commanded much of the jludgnzent scene; and the vast congregation climbed with me, - not one appeared to be left
behind;- and, when at a certain point, and a precipice
formed, the alarming thought that condemned men, in the
judgment, shall have to account to God for what they might
have known, as well as for what they did kcnow, -O, it
seemed as if we were all going over the precipice together!
- till the feelings of the multitude gave way, in one terribly convulsed cry! 0, I cannot describe it! - it was like
the rushing sound of many waters, - crashing and breaking.
through dams and embankments, and all opposing barriers;
till there were groans, and shouts, and cries, like the voices
of the judgment! It was as if that day of terrors had
really opened upon us, " and all beneath the cope of heaven
in flames," - the risen dead assembled, the judgment set,
and the books opened!
Never had I such a time upon the last judgment; never
29




338              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
saw such an effect produced by it. The prayer-meeting at
the close was glorious in results. 0, how evident it appeared
to me that "the times and seasons " for such extraordinary manifestalions " the Father hath put in his own
power!" -  Acts 1: 7.  But, doubtless, did I but walk as
closely and as steadily with God as he requires, such visitations from on high would neither be few nor far between.




C H A P TE   XLVI.
SANCTIFYING AND AWAKENING TRUTHS.
SATURDAY morning, Feb. 7th. -Christian holiness my
theme last night. -Mark 11: 24, is a rich mine. What
vrecious metal may be dug from it in doctrine and experience! It may be likened to a magazine also; for what
material of war has it furnished me?-that which has
blown up and destroyed many of the strong works of the
Devil! 0, when I can persuade the people to make it their
own, what mighty effects do follow! How it does sweep
those hearts "where passion has woven its thousand thousand webs- its webs of thousand thousand threads, in
grain and hue all different! "  What tales of sorrow and
deliverances come to my ears! Spider-webs give way not
more easily before the sweep of the housewife's broom, than
do these webs of passion and Satan, under the sweeping
operations of that promise. A great move, last night,
through the power of the Holy Ghost, in the promise.
Hallelujah!
Feb. 14th. - Over one hundred and fifty souls saved
since last date.
Holiness last night. For an application, 1Mark 11: 24
is mighty. " What things soever ye desire when ye pray,
believe that ye receive, and ye shall have." It is, indeed,
one of the exceeding great and precious promises, by
which we are made partakers of the divine nature. -2




340            SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Peter 1: 4.  It demands of the soul immediate honor to
the veracity of Jesus.  It shames unbeliefr and amazingly
humbles the tardy professor; he who boasted so much of
his " Protestant faith," which "had ever honored the veracity of God in the Holy Scriptures," but now finds it very
hard to put implicit confidence in the veracity of Jesus!
Poor soul! it is well if anything will open his eyes to that
cursed unbelief which reigns in. his heart. Cursed it is
of God, and a curse it is to the soul of him who indulges it.
Feb. 16th.  Monday.-  Truth is like lightning firom
heaven; the preaching of it is a theunder, which is "as the
hiding of his power."  There may be a false fire, an
Aurora Borealis, quite amusing to the curious; but what
does it accomplish?  It cannot do the work of the red
lightning, and the thunder crashing among the clouds.
There may be a noise like thunder, or like the discharge
of cannon without ball, which do no execution.  But, when
such a mass of sinners as last night were struck down, it
is a proof that something fell along with the lightning and
the thunder, which reached the soul, as the thunderbolt did
that shattered tree in the hour of storm!
The glory of God does rest over Birmingham! Multitudes hear the voice of God within them, calling them to
repentance; and scores and hundreds very lately have
hearkened, obeyed, and turned to the Lord.  Great is the
rejoicing among God's people; and great their power with
God, and with men!
Feb. 17th. -Iow some women dress!  No wonder
colds, coughs, and consumptions, are so rife! But is not
the pulpit as much to blame as the physician?  Should it
not speak out against tight-lacing, low-dressing, and slimshoeinqg?  Is it not, as good Richard Baxter observed, set



SANCTIFYING AND AWAKENING TRUTHS.    341
ting the body against the soul, and the clothing against
both?
Feb. 18th. —IHow evidently does it appear in some countenances, that it is not spirituality and power they came
to hear and feel, but some other wonderful thing they had
formed in their imaginations!
It will not do either for preacher or people to play with
the light of the Gospel, amuse themselves with its coruscations, or those of the preacher's genizus. To prevent this,
there must not only be light, but point and fire; - that to
search, and this to penetrate, and that to burn; -- making
the hearers to "'look out for themselves!" — a strange
predicament for those who come out merely to gratify their
curiosity, and while away an hour! No wonder such do
not return again for some time; and not till they find the
wounds made in their consciences are never likely to heal!
Feb. 21st. Saturday. - A great move, and successful,
on holiness, last night. How evident that full salvation
comes by believing they do receive!- even in the absence
of all feeling, to thus believe, depending only on the veracity
of Christ.' A hard spot " for some to get over, just there!
For, when the consecration is entire, and the prayer extremely earnest, they refuse to believe until they feel so
and so; and so the meeting closes, leaving them unsaved.'Believe that ye receive," says Christ. " INay, but I must
feel that I receive," say these; and so they and Christ
part to meet again when they are disposed to think better
of his plan of salvation.  Upon no point does unbelief
maintain its position  more obstinately than upon this
requirement of Christ.  But, when it is fulfilled, in no
position does unbelief ever receive a more signal and complete defeat!
The Holy Spirit always greatly assists me in pressing
29*




342              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
home this point of doctrine. It often requires all the energy
he bestows, to gain the victory.   But when I do press it
thus, regardless of the opinions of men or devils, the effects
are remarkable.  And, after all, what is it but preaching
a full and present salvation by faith, in full accordance
with God's own declaration, " Behold, now is the accepted
time; behold, now is the day of salvation"? -  2 Cor.
6: 2.
Afternoon.
" A lark sent down its revelry."
In my ramble to-day was surprised and delighted with the
singing of a lark, I"soaring deliriously high, glittering and
twinkling near yon rosy cloud;" upward and heavenward,
turning all the air around it into music; and so much music
-  [pardon me, little lark!] -so much music in so small a
speck. But the philosophers say, that is a part of nature's
art, to crowd a vast perfection into "a puny point; " and
here is an illustration of it.  Honor to the little early
songster!
" A bright gem, instinct with music, vocal spark,
With cloud and sky about thee ringing."
Did a happier bird than the lark leave the ark, when
Noah left it, I wonder? 0, how it did sing! What a revelry of gladsome notes, as if it would throw itself into delicious ecstasies!  How he won my admiration!  But little
cared he for that; while rich
" In all the bliss a bird can feel,
Whose wing in heaven to earth is bound,
Whose home and heart are on the ground."
Ay, indeed! and, no disrespect to thee, little lark, but




SANCTIFYING AND AWAKENING TRUTHS.            343
too many of our professors are too much like thee in this:
who seem as if soaring heaven-ward, and all their affections there, but, alas! their " home and heart are on the
ground;" and, like thee, they soon return to their centre
of gravitation.
Amused with the suggestion of one, that poets feign how
that birds steal their notes from the lyres of angels, and
that the lark might be going up for a new lesson, bearing
up from earth one of its own songs for their approval:
" Up and away, with the dew on its breast,
And a hymn in its heart, -
To warble it out in his Maker's ear."
And, as an evidence, to observe how, the higher it soars,
the sweeter it sings. Ay, indeed! and most probably from
this fact, that he feels himself safer from the annoyances
and perils of earth, and therefore all the happier. And the
happier the heart, the sweeter the song 
And is it not thus with the child of God? The higher
he ascends in divine and holy contemplation and adoration,
the freer he feels himself from satanic perils and worldly
entanglements; consequently the more happy, and the
more heavenly sweetness there is in his song of praise,
while he sings,
" My soul, with joy she claps her wings,
And loud her lovely sonnet sings,
Vain world, adieu."
At any rate, this song of the lark is a pretty sure indication of the speedy approach of spring, - as Mindie, on
British birds, observes, - that, as a herald of spring, there
is a certainty about the lark which can hardly be predicted
of any other songster of the early season; for though there




344              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
may be an occasional song of this bird from a small height,
upon one of those fine days wherewith a lingering winter is
not unfrequently spotted, yet, when the lark mounts to the
top of flight, and swells his song to the full power of his
voice, one may rest assured that the spring has indeed arrived, and that any relapse into winter, which occurs after
this, will not be either severe or of long duration.
Feb. 23d. Monday. - Yesterday was a great day, - a
glorious Sabbath, - and glorious nesws to the eternal Sabbath-keepers above! Sinners converted on every hand; -
had clear and convincing truth, - did not linger in heart
and tongue, - leaping like fire in a conflagration! Hallelujah!
But, alas! a sudden death of a backslider.  He heard
me the other evening; was enabled to draw, what turned
out to be his picture, to the life, though I knew nothing
of the man by name, or otherwise. But he thought I did,
and Satan took the advantage of it, and suggested that some
unkind neighbor had told me all. This hardened and irritated him, and wounded his pride.  Poor fellow! it appears
to have been his last call to return to the God he had forsaken.  But he was not in a humor for that, and left
offended, and died suddenly; so I have been informed.
That Scotch minister spoke truly, that Christ gives last
knocks; and that, when the sinner's heart becomes hard
and careless, then he should fear lest Christ nmay have
given his last knock!
Feb. 25th. - "Life begetteth life, as fire kindleth fire,"
says Baxter.  0, for more of this life of God in my soul!
It is a vexation to the ungodly; they feel it, and fear it;
it wakes the conscience, and starts it into active life; but,
to some sinners, it is the life of a rattlesnake let loose.
Multitudes are converted thereby; but many begin to kick




SANCTIFYING AND AWAKENING TRUTHS.    345
and rail against it.  More life, my Lord! more life!  Give
me more of this life that begets life. I know the consequences.  A preacher full of this divine life is a torment
to the wicked; and they will surely try to "worry him
down;" as those dogs did that living creature, while they
passed by the dead one, untouched.  It is not the dead
preacher, but the living one, that is always barked at by
the Devil's dogs.
Feb. 26th.-  An interesting letter from the Rev. Mr.
W, of Shrewsbury, minister of another denomination.
He tells me, some time since, he called upon a young lady,
a member of his church, and requested her to become a
tract distributor; but she declined, saying, "I cannot,
sir; my engagements are so numerous, I have time for no
more."  Perceiving it would be of no use to urge the matter, he retired. About a week after, she called upon him
to inquire whether he had obtained a distributor for that
district.  He replied, "No."  She then offered her services. " You have disposed of some of your other engagements, then?" rejoined the pastor.  "No, sir; but since
I saw you last, God has graciously cleansed my heart
frone  sin, and has blest me with the grace of holiness;
and I find I can do more for Him  now, than I then
thought practicable."   The pastor adds': "I saw, then,
that the previous hindrance had been the state of her
heart, and that, by the removal of sin from that, she was
at liberty to attempt much more for God, and for the good
of others." An excellent testimony for holiness, and a very
good argument for it.
Feb. 28th. Saturday. - Endeavored, last night, to lead
believers into the deep things of God, and very willing
were they to go.  Was struck with that sentiment of one,
that, as the deepest springs yield the sweetest water, so




346             SHOWERS OF BLESSIN(G.
the heart that is the most deeply sensible of God's love,
yields the sweetest praises! A sweet thought, but never
fully realized until we become deeply acquainted with "'the
deep things of God."  It is good to keep these things in
the clear view of all such as would be entirely devoted to
God; taking care, always, to show that all these springs
are in Jesus.  The life of faith on the Son of God must
never be severed from such; —as well expect the stream to
run, if cut off from the fountain. That is a sweet text for
all this- Gal. 2: 20.
The following extract from the correspondence of a London religious paper, describes the progress of the great revival, of which Mr. Caughey speaks in this chapter. Some
may think that what is said of Mr. Caughey is too flattering. Let that pass. The reader will have a striking view
here of this wonderful work of God:
"BIRMINGHAM. - The Rev. James Caughey continues
his labors in this town with increasing interest and success.
Last week, although in one of the smaller chapels, namely,
Islington, the number of names given in, as obtaining pardoning mercy or sanctifying grace, exceeded any former
week in this town. Many conversions of an extraordinary
character have been effected; restitutions have been engaged
to be made; unholy alliances are being succeeded by marriage; and some are afraid to come under the sound of his
voice. But, while his appeals are'so terrific and alarming
to the obstinate and persevering sinner, his persuasive encouragements are equally delightful to the repenting and
returning sinner; the weak get strengthened and encouraged,
believers sanctified, and the work of God is going on gloriously. We hope the revival here begun will be continued.




SANCTIFYING AND AWAKENING TRUTHS.    347
Ministers and local preachers are partaking of the reviving
influence. What should hinder the continued progress of the
work of God, if the same untiring energy and self-denying
zeal and faithfulness be manifested in the discharge of duty?
Is God partial to his workmen? Does he not say to all his
commissioned servants,'Go ye into all the world,' &c.;
and,  Lo, I am with you,' &c.?  We want to get nearer
to God, and to possess more of heavenly influence in our
own souls, to be eminently successful.  An honest Yorkshireman was asked why it was that Mr. C.'s labors were
rendered so remarkably beneficial.'0,' was the reply,' he lives next door to heaven, and they acquaint him with
secrets that they don't let everybody know.' "




CHAPTER  XLVII.
GOOD NEWS. - HOW TO BELIEVE FOR A CLEAN HEART.
MARCH 10th. -  Gloomy.  "W TIhy art thou cast down,
0 my soul "- and yet have flashes of joy, and all gloom
again?  Why is this?  But the work of God advances in
power. The numbers saved in both blessings, pardon and
purity, up till this time, is about twenty-three hundred,
eighteen hundred of whom are persons who have obtained
pardoning  mercy. Blessed be God! and the glory be unto
Him alone, forever more, amen 
March 11th. - How a worn-down body affects the mind!
it illustrates that idea of one, that a mnower who has a good
scythe, can do more in one day, than he that has a bad one
can do in two; and that every traveller knows the difference between a cheerful and a tired horse.  But the Lord
reigneth.
March 12th. - Take care, my soul! -finzery again!tinsel! - away with it! That was not Wesley's style, but
good, plain, sturdy Engrlish. That is what is wanted in
Birminzgham,.  Did it escape you how the childrenz at
- admired the books with the beautifful covers, and
pretty pictures, while they cared nothing for the reading
in them?  But there are hearers plenty who treat sermons
thus.  0, for point and power! that which penetrates the
conscience, though it kill admiration! Amen.
March 13th.- Too much paint in one place, and too pon



GOOD NEWS.                   349
derous and formidable in another.  Ah me! it is not
painted fire that burns, nor a painted sword- that cuts,
nor a dead lion, however formidable and ponderous, that
bites. 0, a sermon may be all these!
March 14th. - Holiness last night.  The poets feigned
that the top of Olympus was always quiet and serene. They
mistook the mounlt, — that is all! Its name is Holiness!
It is not found in Greece, in particular, but among the
spiritual hills of Zion! - Ps. 87: 1. " The tmountain of
holiness."- Jer. 31: 23. Blessed be God! we have not to
take a pilgrimage to Greece or to Palestine to find it. The
path of every truly justified soul runs directly along its
base; and there are voices continually inviting him  to
ascend.  Let him only resolve, in the strength of God, to
be holy, and commence the ascent immediately; and 0, how
soon he will be the anointed cherub, that shall walk up
and down with God upon the holy mountain, in the
midst of the stones of fire, perfect in all his ways! -
Ezek. 28: 14, 15. There the air is always pure and
serene.  Hallelujah! A noble company of souls made the
ascent last evening!
"And there may they always abide,
And never a moment depart;
Concealed in the cleft of thy side,
Eternally held in thy heart! "
March 16th. - Beware, my soul!  The accomplishment
which the ancients required of a physician is not the best
for a preacher,- "a good conjecturing ability."  When
there is so much of what one is certain, it is idle, I think,
to canter off after the conjectural.  Therefore, I lay upon
this fancy of mine an interdict.  Amen.
Curious minds, like amateurs in the fine arts, or like
30




350             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
antiquarians, " groping in the dark unsearchable of finished years," often try to draw me off to things more curiozus than useful; to theories and speculations, rather
than to the real and the practical.
If life were but circular, one might have time for such
things; but as it is progressive, and direct as an arrow
through the air, I dare not waste it in such a circuitous and
problematical method of doing good. Let my preaching
be as direct as my progress to eternity.  God help me!
Amen. I believe with him who said, men are not catched
in spider-webs, though flies are!
March 17th. - Received the following interesting letter
from a minister of Christ:' Oldbury, ]ilarch 11, 1846.
"MY DEAR BROTHER: Allow me to call you so. I had
many thoughts about writing to you, and have often wished
either to have an interview, or, in this way, to lay before you
some of the difficulties that have perplexed my mind, respecting Penitent Meetings, —- calling (such persons) to the Communion Rail, and Faith. As to instantaneous sanctification,
though I have had many reasonings about that doctrine, yet,
about twelve or fourteen months ago, I cordially embraced
it, and began to seek the blessing; but my views offfaith prevented me from obtaining it. However, thank God, I have
now got out of the fog, and into a clear atmosphere, and
I see the glorious sun, and rejoice in his beams.
"On Friday evening last, I was in Birmingham, and
heard you preach in Wesley Chapel, and at the close of your
sermon, while on my knees with the congregation, I was
enabled to believe, and realize the blessing.  Glory be to
God!




GOOD NEWS.                    351
"I afterwards went into the vestry, according to your
public request, to register my name.*
" My object in writing is to state to you my difficulties
respectingffaith, and how I got over them.
"Residing at Oldbury, I had not an opportunity of hearing you every week, and did not hear your sermon on the
KSubstitutes for Believing, but fancy they would have suited
my case.
" For years I have had great reasoning about believing,
and though I have directed penitents to say,' With his
stripes  wve are  healed,' yet I never could bring my
mind to approve and cordially receive the doctrine,' Believe
that ye receive, and ye shall have.'  To believe when they
do not feel, I conceived to be unreasonable. I have argued
with ministers and others, for hours together, without receiving any light; - it still appeared obscured, and, to a reflective mind, impossible. I maintained that the object offaith
was Christ, his divinity, incarnation, sufferings, death, resurrection, intercession, &c., &c.; and that to believe that we
receive, was putting the blessing in the place of Christ, and
opening a door for enthusiasm and antinomianism; - that
the Scriptures everywhere hold out Jesus alone as the object
of faith, and assure us that when we believe on himn,- not
when we believe we receive,-we shall be saved; - that they
nowhere exhort the penitent to believe that he is pardoned,
but everywhere to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. - Acts
16: 30. Reom. 10: 6-9. John 3: 14, 16, 18, 36. John
6: 47. 1 John 5: 10. In these, and many other passages, I maintained Christ was held out as the object of
* All who had then and there believed for pardon or purity, and had
received it, were requested to pass into the vestry, and have their names
recorded, that we might ascertain the nature and extent of the work, and
afford them the necessary advice.




352             SHiOWERS OF BLESSING.
faith alone, and not pardon, or salvation; and thus, I conceived, I had the authority of God's word for rejecting the
doctrine,' Believe that ye receive.'
I" For many years did I maintain this view. But I did not
see, at the time, that pardon and salvation were the chief
objects of desire to the penitent, and that he must believe
in Christ to receive these blessings,-so that after all, he
must believe that he does receive,- receive for Christ's sake,
through him, and on account of his atonement; - thus, both
Christ and salvation become the object of faith to such
an one,- the atonement as the redemption price, liberty
as the blessing procured, &c., &c., —that Christ must be
believed on, because he is the way, the truth, — life,- the
one mediator,- only sacrifice for sins,- only foundation,the only name given: but that our salvation was the ultimate design of all, and that we must receive this through
him, for his sake; - that merely to believe that Christ came
into the world and died, could only affect us as matters of
history, and an affecting narrative, but, as to salvation,
would leave us where we were.  But to believe that he died
for me, paid my debt, was delivered for my offences, and
rose again for mty justification, and that by his stripes I am
healed, is a very different thing, and makes the death of
Christ avail for vme;- then faith in Christ is believing for
salvation.
"' When this view began to open before me, I reexamined
the above texts, and soon discovered that the chief object
with the jailer was salvation.  His soul agitated with a
sense of guilt, trembling and alarmed, he came to-the apostles, saying,' Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' Salvation was the thing that filled his mind, and for this he was
directed to believe, -'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved:' —that is,'when thou believ



GOOD NEWS.                    353
est;' —so that he had really to believe that he did
receive.
"' I saw also, that in Ron. 10: 4, 6, 9, the apostle was
discoursing on the plan of salvation,- the way in which a
man is justified and made righteous; and in this view is
taught just the same thing,-'Christ is the end of the law
for righteousness to every one that believeth;' -that is,
faith in Christ accomplishes the same object as perfect
obedience to the law -would have done; - it secures life;
and that believing with the heart, and confessing with the
_month, was in order to salvation: so when those two texts
were made plain, I saw that all others taught the same thing,
and that it must be so, because' What shall I do to be
saved?' is the most important inquiry to a guilty, condemned sinner.  I now wondered that I had not seen this
before.
" But my difficulties were not all over yet. That which
was the last to give way was the following. I will state it
as clearly as possible.' All rational belief, I argued, must
be the result of conviction, and all conviction must be the
result of evidence, and all evidence must arise from existence.'  This appeared to me a matter of intuitive certainty,
and therefore I further argued,' No evidence can possibly
outstrip existence, and no rational belief can go beyond the
bounds of evidence; and therefore for a man to believe that
he receives, before he feels that he does, is absurd and
unreasonable, and, if not impossible, none but an enthusiast
can do it.'  This appeared to me so clear and plain, that i
conceived it perfectly unanswerable.
" On the 6th of February, I went to Birmingham, to
hear you, and your text was, Mark 11: 24,-' Therefore I
say unto you, what things soever ye desire when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.'
30G




354             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
You preached in Cherry-street Chapel.  In the course of
your sermon you related an account of a conversation between a Baptist minister and a Methodist minister, upon
this text, during which they examined the original to see
if the translation was. correct; and, finding the original
word in the indicative mood and present tense, they saw
that it was so.  I remembered, at the time, that there was
another reading marked by Griesbach, but did not recollect
what was the strength of its authority; but I determined,
on the following morning, if spared, to examine it for
myself.
1" At the close, you exhorted the people to test the promise, and called them to kneel.  I thought, at all events,.'ll
try.  I did so, and felt the power of God; but the knowledge that there was another reading, and always having
explained the text by'Ask, and ye shzall receive,' and the
thought of the above argument, prevented me from fully
taking God at his word.  Again and again it came to my
mind,'This is attempting to do what is unreasonable.'
Afterwards, a friend said to me,'How simple!' Not wishing to discourage him, I replied.'Yes;' but I thought,
at the time,'It may be so to you, but if you saw as I do,
you would not think so.'
"On the following morning I examined the Greek text,
and found the different reading to be in the second aorist,'E)9,ieTe and that it was mnarked by Griesbach, denoting
that it was worthy of further examination, but inferior to
the text.  Now, thought I, whatever my logic may say, I
must respect and believe the word of God, and I must come
to'Believe that ye receive.'
"Now I prayed, and scores of times have I repeated the
words 71TUTVeTr 40rb )aCtyBvesre  (ets Eravu vu; but all the
time my heart hesitated, and my logic kept me in unbelief.




GOOD NEVr.                   355' Now I began to examine other texts, and I found that
the parallel text not only said,'Ask, and ye shall receive,'
but,'every one that asketh receiveth;' that we are invited
to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain, and to
find; and that many other texts implied, if they did not
express, the present timae. Still the thought,'No rational
belief can go beyond the bounds of evidence, and no evidence can outstrip existence,' prevented me from believing;
and thus I was perplexed and agitated between a text of
God's holy word, and a deduction of reason.
" At one time, the thought,'I do not honor and credit
the word of God,' distressed me; and, when I was attempting to believe, the suggestion' Now you are unreasonable;
to believe without evidence is enthusiasm,' threw me down
again; while the question,'Is this submitting to God?  Is
this obeying him?' would increase my agitation.
" At length, in the midst of this perplexity, I began to
think about the prophecies, and perceived that they foretold
things that had no actual existence; and that, when I believed in them, I was allowing mny belief to go beyond the
bounds of existence, and so rest on the word of another.  I
had always thought of them before, and always satisfied my
mind with saying,' But they have an actual existence in
the purpose of God, and they shall be, they are appointed,
&c., &c.' But I believed them, and so was believing only
upon the word of another, and that word vwas my only
evidence.  But I only perceived this faintly, as in a fog
now, but it was of some relief to my mind.  The mist,
however, was never fully removed till I believed.
"I began to think there might be a similarity between
the word of prophecy, and the word of promise;- that
they both rested upon the veriacity of Jehovah; and that
that veracity was evidence on which I might rest without




356             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
enthusiasm; and, if I believed the word of prophecy before
it was accomplished, why not the word of promise?  Besides, thought I, is not wishing to feel before I believe, like
a person wishing to taste before he begins to eat?  And
may there not be as close a connection between the former
as the latter?  In this way, I tried to make myself submit
to God. I prayed, and reasoned about the goodness, love,
and faithfulness of God, the fulness and sufficiency of the
atonement, &c., &c., while I sighed,'Jesus, see my panting breast!
See, I pant in thee to rest!
Gladly would I now be clean,
Cleanse me now from every sin,'till Friday night last, when you called the congregation to
kneel with you.  I remembered that you had stated that if
we would'touch the promise' [alluding to the figure you
had taken from  electricity],'such a thrill of power and
glory would run through your souls as you have never felt.'
This encouraged me, and I ventured to touch, - steadily to
believe, - I do receive, -- I do, - I do now, - yes, I do!
-- and the thrill of power and glory was felt like a fire in
my heart, spreading over my whole frame, - filling me, not
with rapture, but calm joy, and peace, and gratitude.'"Instantly the thought came,' Do not mistake this burning, &c., &c., for the blessing.' But as quickly this thought
followed,' In what way could the Holy Spirit witness with
my spirit, but this? All my impressions from outwvard
things are received through the body; and all my inwvard
impressions must, in some way, affect the body.  At all
events I will not reason, - I believe I do receive!  Glory
be to God!' Yes) I did receive glory, and I have felt
pleasure in confessing it publicly while preaching, and I feel




GOOD NEWS.                   867
it now, glory be to God! I fear lest the length of this
letter should be tedious. In this respect, pardon me for
trespassing on your time.  I could not well be shorter.' Very sincerely and affectionately yours,
C RALPH WALLERI
"I Of the Methodist New Connection."




CHAPTER XLVIII.
JOURNAL CONTINUED.
MARCH 18th. - Sinners are breaking down on every
hand; and some most unlikely cases!
Accountability to God, nowt, and after death, is one
great anchor-hold of the Spirit in man.  I find great
advantage in taking fast hold there, in bringing the sinner
to God. Drop anchor there, if possible, and you have the
sinner.  Harpoon him there, if need be, and his whole
weight will soon be felt upon the line. He may flounce
and flounder, and dive into the mud of infidelity and error,
and make a great noise, and go off among his companions
in a tangent, turning all his element into foam; but, if the
harpoon has stuck fast in the right place, and holds fast, he
will soon redppear, and be drawn alongside, as the whalers
speak!
March 19th. - JIental accountability to God; - did
not lose sight of that. Looking into my watch, observed
that every wheel works in allegiance to the given point on
the dial-plate; all parts of the sinner have a strict relation
to the inward dial-plate, accountability to God. And, even
when the watch is all wrong in its motions, yet there are
signs on the dial-plate which indicate what should be. The
sinner knows, from the sense of accountability within. what
he should be, both within and without. When all is right
or wrong, with regard to that inward dial, all will be right




JOURNAL CONTINUED.               359
or wrong on the dial of the visible conversation. The Bible
is its grand authority. If my watch had sensibility, and
could read its own face, comparing it with the sun, assurance of truth, or conviction of wrong, would be the immediate result.  Christ Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness.
St. John declares him to be " the true LIGHT which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," - every man,
whether he reads the Bible or not; for he shines, doubtless,
upon this mental dial-plate [if I may so call it], ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD.
March 23d. - The church of God has become a moving
flame of fire, into whatsoever chapel she enters! How
little can be done when she is not! But who may set linmits to her influence when she is thus! Three or four score
of sinners saved on Sabbath, and half as many sanctified!
April 3d.- The Love Feast was excellent.  The new
converts talked like new creatures, indeed!
" In joy triumphant, sorrow flown."
Had some noble testimonies to the blessing of perfect love.
The spies of old (Numb. 13: 23) brought out of Canaan
grapes, pomegranates, and figs, such as Israel, had never
laid eyes on before; and they reported that it was, indeed,
a land flowing with milk and honey; but they also reported
evil of the land, of the strength of their walled cities, and
giant-like population, among whom they felt themselves
but as grasshoppers, and set the people a vmurmuring.
But these sanctified souls exhibited the fruit, and said,
with Caleb, " Let us go up at once and possess it; for
we are well able to overcome it."  The resolved multitude
one and all exclaiming:




360               SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
"Rejoicing now in earnest hope,
I stand, and from the mountain top
See all the land below;
Rivers of milk and honey rise,
And all the fruits of Paradise
In endless plenty grow."
While not a few sorrowing ones mournfully ejaculated:' O, that I might at once go up!
No more on this side Jordan stop,
But now the land possess;
This moment end my legal years;
Sorrows and sins, and doubts, and fears,
A howling wilderness."
Those who enjoyed the blessing greatly encouraged and
strengthened each other. The fellowship of purified minds
is a holy alliance! for it is by this that HOLINESS strengthens and reinforces itself.
April 7th.   A  note from  Brother Yates: containing a
vote of thanks from the quarterly meeting of the Birmingham East circuit, and recognizing this revival as "' a
remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit."  Also, another
from  Brother le cTurk, of a similar import, from  "the
quarterly meeting of the Birmingham West circuit," in the
form of a resolution, moved by Dr. Melson, and seconded
by Mr. Wilkinson,  stewards, Rev. George Turner in the
chair, and  "carried unanimously,"  gratefully acknowledging the work to be of God, and rejoicing in the
great prosperity of the circuit, spiritually and financially;
and full of the kindest expressions towards me, his servant.
It is truly cheering to have the confidence and approbation of good men. But what is this just to hand? A




JOURNAL CONTINUED.               361
pamphlet, and my name upon it in type large enough,
surely, to make me appear somebody!: Y  
Have just looked it over; — quite a spirited opponent; —
as if the writer, Mr. E., belonged to the corps editorial of
Blackwood's Magazine, -  so stately and eloquent!
thus, for example, he begins:
"' REVEREND SIR: I think it must be admitted to be
almost axiomatic that a courtier is not an impartial medium
of conveying true and unbiased intelligence to his sovereign;
the circumstances by which he is surrounded, the desire to
please his master by communicating flattering intelligence,
and'ex parte 7 reports, tends, I fear, too much to give a
fictitious coloring to the waters transmitted through such a
channel. Leaving, however, the court, and viewing the
world in general, we shall see the same appearances still
manifested, the same principle everywhere developing itself.
Forgive me then, sir, when I tell you, that I fear the atmosphere by which you are surrounded bears too great an
affinity to the dense air of the court; and that the medium
by which you receive your information is of too partial and
one-sided a character.
" Sir, if I look around upon the beauteous manifestations
of nature, if I view the glorious scenery by which I am on
every side surrounded, the thought visibly presents itself
that the Deity is a being of beneficence and goodness, and if
I open your sacred oracle, the visibility of the fact is still
further manifested; but, sir, you endeavor to clothe him
with vengeance, to call up the Jupiter of the Grecians, and
bid him scatter his thunderbolts around him, to tear the
heavens asunder in the ire of his rage, hurrying forward
impetuously to take vengeance on the world, and visit it with
31




362             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
his severest chastisement and displeasure; in fact, to make
him appear the God of the passions, not that being which
nature so continually develops.
"I will not detain you by noticing the wild phraseology
which you occasionally indulge in; I will not stay to point
out the strangeness of the diction in which you enunciate
your peculiar ideas; it is not my intention to throw down
the gauntlet about mere form of words, however strange the
verbiage, or wild and incoherent their phraseology; though,
I would observe,'en passant,' that, did I wish, I have a
wide field to select from.
" We will conceive that the wild oratory is for a moment
hushed! that the bright flashes of genius, purified at the
altar, and offered up to the service of their Maker, have for
a time ceased to emanate! that the pulpit is vacated for the
communion rail, and that the word of exhortation is lost in
the breathings of prayer.  And here what manifestations
are called into existence, what a medley of sound peals upon
the ear! The storm (pardon my simile) which occasionally
issued forth betokenments of its approach in the early part
of the eve, now still more powerfully continues to develop
itself, sound commingles with sound, until at last it arrives
at its maximum of power."
The whole production displays considerable talent, but
this polite breath of opposition will only serve to fan the
glorio~us flame, that is consuming sin of every sort, wherever it sweeps! It seizes upon everything that stands in
its way; - ten, fifteen, or twenty, saved every night, and
scores on the Sabbath days, — of all ages and classes,
chiefly from fifteen to thirty-five, and up to seventy! Great
is our God, and great and marvellous his goodness to the




JOURNAL CONTINUED.                 363
children of men.  Blessed be his name! And blessed be
his Son Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, and sees of the
travail of his soul and is satisfied! And blessed be the
Holy Ghost, that worketh the counsel of his will so wonderfully! Amen.




CHAPTER XLIX.
CHEERFULNESS AND COURAGE REQUIRED.
APRIL 2d. - My health is much better, thanks be unto
Him who preserves it, as he did the bush in the flame. As
to my spiritual state, he favors me with many a smile, and
blesses me with sweet tranquillity of mind, - which an old
divine calls the cream of life and a bunch of grapes by
the way!
There is no use in yielding to sadness; for it leaves the
soul very much like an instrument out of tune; and Satan,
unlike all other musicians, has a great fancy for playing
upon an untuned instrument!
Gladness! I like to cultivate the spirit of gladness! It
puts the soul so in tune again, and keeps it in tune, so that
Satan is shy of touching it! - the chords of the soul
become too warm, or too full of heavenly electricity, for his
infernal fingers, and he goes off somewhere else! - at least,
thus I have ever found it. Satan is always very shy of
meddling with me when my heart is full of gladness and
joy in the Holy Ghost.
My plan is to shun the spirit of sadness as I would
Satan; but, alas! I am not always successful.  Like the
Devil himself it meets me on the highway of usefulness,
looks me so fully in my face, till my poor soul changes
color!
I often think of a remark of a divine in Switzerland, -




CHEERFULNESS AND COURAGE REQUIRED.    365
that sadness discolors everything; it leaves all objects
charmnless; it involves future prospects in darkness; it
deprives the soul of all its aspirations, enchains all its
powers, and produces a mental paralysis!
An old believer remarked, that cheerfulness in religion
makes all its services come off with delight; and that we are
never carried forward so swiftly in the ways of duty as
when borne on the wings of delight; adding, that Mela,choly clips such wings; or, to alter the figure, takes off our
chariot wheels in duty, and makes them, like those of the
Egyptians, drag heavily.
Gladness is the musician of religion.  It surrounds the
soul with an atmosphere of harmony; makes her
"' Forget her labor as she toils along,
Weep tears of joy, and burst into a song!"
April 3d. -  " Courage! "  Yes! indeed, courage is
indispensable in such a work as this; and must be main —
tained at any cost! What a French officer remarked in a
letter to a friend, when with Napoleon in the campaign in
Egypt, is not inapplicable.  "Here we need courage, not
only of the head, but of the heart and the soul."  But Jesus
never fails me. His grace is always equal to my day. As
my day is, so is my strength, as the promise runs. - Deut.
33: 25.
The world is of the opinion, says a great writer, that the
end of fencing is to hit; that the end of medicine is to cure,
and that the end of war is to conquer; and that those means
are the most correct which best accomplish the ends.  A
better reply could not be given, with regard to the subject
on hand; besides, the number of the hit that spread the
ground must have decided that in your judgment; and the
number of the cured and the conquered 
31*




366             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
And Mr.      was really hit himself.  There is no doubt
of that, although he made out to get away; and days passed
away before he ventured again within range of our shot.
Nor would he have come again, but that the wound in the
conscience would not heal.  An "apology " would have
been a poor plaster.  It was not to be hoped for, unless
the preacher could be convinced he was in the wrong; or
that the " random shot " was anything else than what one
called "a conglomeration" of truth.  If he will keep
coming, he will get a better plaster for his conscience than
an apology from me, even an application of that blood that
cleanseth from all sin. -1 John I: 7.
It requires courage to incur such hard epithets  but my
Lord had worse. Erasmus said to the opponents of Luther,
"' Nothing is easier than to call Luther a blockhead, but
nothing is more difficult than to prove him one! "  Nothing
is easier than to coin such epithets, nothing harder than to
prove their just applicability!  Nothing is easier than to
call such and such teaching false, nothing harder than to
prove that it is really so.
A -madman in America said to me, " Sir, when ministers
keep the Law, what a tremendous cudgel they have for sinners! "  That is true, I replied, but how do you manage
sinners yourself, when they are hard on you?  " 0, sir, I
take hold of the Divine Law; they are not used to such big
thoughts, sir!"  Ah, there was both Law and Gospel in
that which produced such results.
The end of medicine is to cure; and the end of war is to
conquer, said the critic;-ay! and the end of the Law and the
Gospel is to crazquer and to save, - to wound and to cure.
Surely, the scenes witnessed the last few nights prove how
well both Law and Gospel are adapted to such a work; when
accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost sent down
from heaven!




CHAPTER  L.
PEACE OR WAR.
To, *-        -.
YOUR ideas on'Ipeace"  are clever, both in conception
and expression; and, were you arguing against the evils of
national wars, would be most applicable and persuasive.
Animals coming into the world armed with natural
weapons, while man is born weaponless, proving that God
designs him to be a peaceable creature, is a good, though
not an original idea; as Lord Bacon, I think, notices it.
But how would you answer an objector, that though God
has not chosen to send him into the world panoplied for
war, like the inferior animals and insects of which you
speak, yet he has endowed him with reason, and provided
him with vast stores of mnaterial, out of which he may
make weapons, offensive and defensive?  The subject is
not unworthy of reconsideration, if you have time. Such
materials of war were very useful to the Israelites, when
fighting what one may unshrinkingly call the battles of
the Lord. But let that pass; for I am no apologist for
wuar!
But what does all your " reasoning " prove?  That the
"nelw creature in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor. 5: 17), when
" born again,'" is unarmed, - " not warlike, and ready to
fight for the truth"'?  But how know you that?  Suppose




368             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
I grant it; what then? Does it follow that the Holy Ghost
does not call upon him immediately to "put onl the whole
armor of God".?- the girdle of truth; the breastplate
of righteousness; the feet shod with the preparation of the
Gospel of peace; the shield of faith; the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit; and to watch with all
perseverance, as you may see by consulting Ephesians, sixth
chapter. Man, what are we to make of all this? If this
be not a warlike creature, I want to know what is! But
of what use is all this panoply?   Surely, not for mere
show, like that upon officers and men in a mere review?
Nay, verily, but wherewith to defend and to Jight, -    the
good fight offfaith," -which many of these young believers
are doing now, in right good earnest; which may they do
always, until they win the last victory over the world, the
flesh, and the Devil, and gain the crown of glory that
fadeth not away!
The " mischief" that is being done is, indeed, a consideration; but if needed, and in the right direction, never
mind;- to the spoiling of principalities and powers, and
devastating the dominions of the Devil, and breaking up the
conzfederation of sinners! If the works of darkness are
being overthrown; if lukewarmness, pride, unbelief, sp3iritual death, and other notorious works of the Devil, are
being destroyed; there is no cause for mnourning, surely,
— but much for acclamations of joy, and thanksgiving to
God!
An old writer says, " War is mischief on a large scale."
Such: I admit, is a great revival of religion; — it is war
against the Devil and all his works, -  nischief on a large
scale, in that direction.
A friend of mine said to a young lady from a distant
city, " Well, you have had Mr. Caughey preaching in your




PEACE OR WAR.                  369
city." " 0, yes; and he did a great deal of harm," was her
reply.  There wag harm  done, a great deal of harm, and
all hell confessed it;- -one thousand sinners converted!
But that was not all the harm. Some do-nothing churches
had their congregations thinned,- the rub was there; she
only spoke as she had been taught. And there were many
unitedfamnilies severed in their affections; united hitherto
in serving the Devil. That unity was quite broken up, for
Jesus Christ took a remnant out of them  to serve him;
and that created trouble, after the manner foretold by himself: " I came not to send peace, but the sword.  For I
am come to set a mnan at variance against his father,
and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-'in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes
shall be they of his own household."- Matt. 10: 34, 36.
"A great deal of harm" in all that! and the poor preacher
comes in for a large share of the blamte.  However, better
such troubles should occur here upon earth, than the whole
family should be left to fall into hell, there to fight as
fiends for ever and ever.  The rich man in hell deprecated
a reunion with his family in that place of torments: —
" Send him [Lazarus] to my father's house; for I have
five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also
come into this place of torment." - Luke 16: 27, 28.
TO THE SAME.
1. I like your signature, "A man of peace;'  and so
am I, if one can have it with a good conscience; else, farewell to it, - war in preference!
Why did the Greeks name peace to be the nurse of
Pluto?   Because Pluto was their god of wealth; and
they were well aware that peace increases the wealth of




370             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
nations, while war iinpoverishes. Your allusion was pretty;
but you see I have stated it more classically, and with less
prodigality of words.
2. Peace! I love the word; -peace with those who call
upon the name of the Lord out of a pure heart.  St. Paul
enjoins that.  Peace with the membership of the general
church of Christ; and, of course, with every member of
that particular branch of it among whom I labor.  Peace!
I welcome it, when they are what they ought to be; when
they are at peace with God, and at war with sin.  If
not, the sooner peace retires from our midst the better. In
this case, let truth declare for war. The sooner the better.
Peace sometimes must be purchased by war. War, in order
to a healthy and lasting peace.
3. Peace with sin and sinners! Then I reject peace.
Otherwise, God himself would soon declare war against me.
And right that he should. It would be wrong in me to risk
it; wrong to them and to myself.
4. Peace in the church of God, other things being equal,
is a grand source of spiritual health and prosperity. But
peace with those who would be at peace with the world and
its wickedness, and who would convert the church into " the
synayogue of Satan," would impoverish the church, even
to spiritual bankruptcy and ruin.  War, in such a state
of things, is better than peace. War, in order to a lasting
peace, is the way to enrich a church, in the estimation of
God and angels.
5. To this end the Lord sent Jeremiah, the prophet, to
fight against his professed people (Jer. 15: 19, 21);
where God assures him, he should stand before him, if he
would take forth the precious from the vile, and be as the
mouth of God unto them; acting on' this principle, that
they should return to him, and not he to them; that is,




PEACE OR WAR.                 371
for the sake of a hollow peace, he was not to connive at
their connivance with the wicked world around them.
God promises, on his part, to make him a fenced brazen
wall, against whom they should fight, and not prevail; for
that he should be in and behind the wall, so that the
prophet could not be overthrown; with a sure promise of
deliverance out of the hand of the wicked, and out of the
terrible!  No wonder Jeremiah was so bold, so unflinching, so quicompromising a witness for the Lord his God!
Nevertheless, he had his troubles, and sore ones, out of
which his God did deliver him always. Blessed be his
name!
6. God is no less concerned for the purity of his church
now. More of this by and by.
7. Mark what I am going to say. There never can be <a
long peace upon the earth in any nation, or among the
nations, while a maj/ority are in arms against God. Again
and again did that thought oppress my heart when travelling in Continental Europe.  I saw enough to convince
me of that.  But never, till we enter heaven above us, shall
*we know how often, in every generation of the nations, a
voice of thunder gives power to the angel that sits on the
red horse, "' to take peace from the earth." - Rev. 6: 4.
And mark further what I am going to say.  Nor can any
church, where many are guilty of treason against its Head,
by conniving at the rebellion of the world against him (to
say nothing more), have a long peace.  No! the Almighty
will send some angel to take peace from the church. Then
commences "the tug of war."  Potsherds striving with
potsherds! Yea, and the woe of mnan striving with his
Maker  - Is. 45: 9. I said,- "to say nothing more; "
but more might be said, -where there is "a this and




372             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
that," in great abundance, in direct collision with the will
of Him whom we consider Head of the church militant.
8. The church must be in the field, to war against sin
and wickedness; else God will enter the church, and war
against it.  Then woe be unto the church! Nor can the
church of God ever be enriched with all the riches of God,
till she is pure within, - "all  orious within," as the
king's daughter, - and pure from the blood of souls, -
warring as she ought against the works of darkness!
It will, indeed, never be well with the world, until it
beats its swords into ploughshares, and its spears into
pruning-hooks, and learns the art of war no more.  On
the contrary, it is never so well with the church, as when
her swords and spears are in active hostilities against all
the powers of sin and Satan! Aggression is the life of the
church, and the grand means of her true aggrandizement.
God help me, sir!  I am endeavoring to carry out these
principles with all my heart, and with all my soul; and
shall, I trust, till my Great Captain sounds my retreat
from the battle-field of life!
To THE SAME.
Controversies during a revival I avoid, if possible. I
have no heart for anything of the kind.  The spiritual
temple should be built, at such a time, without the noise
of such hammers as these.  It is best to let these hammers
work elsewhere, by those who have a heart to use them.
We have better hammers and better work for them to do,
- to knock down and break to pieces all manner of sin and
wickedness, in the church and out of it, the Lord our God
being our helper!
A prelate of the Church of England advised Mr. Wesley




PEACE OR WAR.                  373
to let debatable subjects alone, and endeavor with all his
might to overturn wickedness, and convert sinners to God;
- that he considered an undebatable good!  Ay, that is
it! That is my mrotto also, sir.  I press hard upon these
undebatable things.  The hammers of truth work wonderful changes; but no man, nor men, shall be able to change
my hammers, or turn them to any other work.  Must keep
them all agoing, and with a sort of trip-hammer rapidity
and indomitableness, if you will allow the word, to bend
the iron sinew of rebellion, and break the rocky hearts in
pieces before the Lord.
Peace, as you say, "in the eye, on the tongue, in the
gesture," is "attractive and winning," no doubt; but if
self happen to be the centre of attraction, instead of Christ,
then woe to the preacher! Alas! self may become a loadstone, to draw people to itself, instead of drawing them out
of their sins to Christ; and what is that but drawing them
from one devil to another? - for, self, that would be idolized at the expense of C(hrist, is little better than a devil,
— "C  tamte devil," as one named it.  0, but if I found
self engaged in such an abominably selfish purpose, I would
knock it down, and nail it to the cross, and let it die the
death! I tell you, sir, if convincing and converting truth
be shuffled aside, that the listening, unsaved multitude may
be pleased and drawn to the selfish preacher, self reignns in
the pulpit instead of Christ, and is proving itself a downright traitor to the King of kings.  It resembles wily,
politic Absalomn at the gate, who, with fair words and gentle
speeches, "stole the hearts of the men of Israel," and
then dethroned his father, and drove him from  his palace
and his capital. -2 Sam. 15.  Such a traitor-like self
deserves the fate of Absalom in the oak, and will certainly
have a worse destiny, if it persist.
32




374             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Byron, speaking of a fascinating preacher, hints that " he
gained more hearts than souls; " —a striking distinction!
Alas! it is to be feared, there is much of this sort of thing
going on among the Christian churches. It is a mighty
cause of spiritual death wherever it occurs.  This Daygon
must be made to fall before the ark of God! - again and
again it must fall, till not even " the stump, " of the abominable thing remains! —1 Sam. 5: 4.
Ah! sir, you little know, perhaps, how many self-mortifications, overturnings, and mental agonies, some preachers
have to endure, ere this Dayon is reduced to the stumpns,
or till it is utterly destroyed. But when the thing is done,
and this sinful self is slain, and numbered with the dead,
and all the glory of his father's house redounds to Christ
alone; then, and not till then, shall the glory of the Lord
God of Israel be revealed in his temples here below. - 1
KIings 8: 11.  Is. 40: 5.  0, who would spare this
Dayon, with such a glory, and such consequences as are
set before the eye of faith!
Our earth presents many a sad sight; but the saddest,
I sometimes think, is where self has the ascendency in the
house of God, — in the pulpit. It is not only bringing ruin
upon itself, but blight and death upon the church of God.
The Head of the church will surely contend with it; for
he hath said, "My glory I will not give to another."
That is his fixed purpose,- his unchangeable decree; - a
purpose, a decree, that awakens the echoes of heaven
with,' Th2ou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory, and
honor, and power" (Rev. 4: 11), and vibrates in judgmzents upon the earth.  May our God preserve me, and all
his ministers, from this inward Achan of an unsanctified
self!  Amen.




PEACE OR WAR.                  375
To THE SAME.
Very true. There was no peace for the unsaved that
night! - no, nor rest in my bones  - no! for rebellion
against the Holy Spirit was rife; - and how could there be
peace?  To them, and to the troubled preacher, another
Jehu might have said, " What hast thou to do with,
peace? "' —2 Kings 9: 19.  Ay! " tonygue, eyes, hands,
arms, body,- all warlike,- so unlike an ambassador of the
Prince of peace."  And might I not say to thee, as the
stripling David to his brother Eliab in the camp of Sdaul,
"' What have I now done?  Is there not a cause? " - 1
Sam. 17: 28, 29. Cause! yes, sufficient to stir the heart
of the archangel Gabriel!
Ay! all was I" violent and warlike " enough; - many an
alarmed and wounded sinner felt the truth of that. Neither
self nor subject were - "burdened with the loadstone of attraction, but repulsion with a vengeance."  Very true again!
but how did you account for the fact, that so many scores
of distressed sinners, of all ages, clustered around me, with
tears and cries, and would not go away? Did that look like
repulsion?
Ah! my I" Friend, " truth is a more powerful loadstone
than flattery.  But it cut through all concealment, like a
very sword; and loaded many a terror-stricken conscience
with a weight of misery and guilt too heavy to be borne.
In this sense, there was a loading indeed,- afearqful loading, —something like what the damned in hell feel, only
there were hopes of mercy.  0, what a piling up of sentences of condemnation! 0, what a region of alarm was that
of many a soul! 0, what fearful outcries! And yet, what
expressions of hope and confidence in divine mercy through
Jesus Christ! -




376                SHOWERS OF BLESSINGT.
"Though my sins as mountains rise,
And swell and reach to heaven,
Mercy is above the skies,
I may be still forgiven:
Infinite my sins increase,
But greater is thy mercy's store;
Love me freely, seal my peace,
And bid me sin no more."
Be it so, then, that all was " repulsion," yet you are a
witness how that the slashes of the sword of divine truth,
which reached unto the soul, did the work required by the
Gospel most effectually. You did not wait till the close
of the prayer-meeting, most likely; but if you had, you
would have acknowledged that they had not mourned and
prayed and wept in vain, nor the preacher and his helpers
labored in vain.  Hallelujah!




CHAPTER LI.
EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL.
APRIL 9th. -My Birthday.  Thankful for the past,
trusting my gracious Lord with and for all my future.
Many reminiscences.  The book of Providence, like Hebrew
letters, must be read backwards, upon earth and in heaven;
— a very profitable study. Have enjoyed a sweet walk,
singing over and over again. with tears, that sweet stanza
of Mr. Wesley:
" What thou hast done I know not now,
Suffice I shall hereafter know;
Help me my sinful head to bow;
That still I live, to thee I owe:
O, teach thy deeply humbled son,
Father, to say thy will be done! "
The work of God does not flag. But, weak as I feel, and
humbled to the dust as my soul is before God in private,
always, yet in public, he does cause " the sword of truth to
gleam like his own lightning! "  O, he does!  Blessed be
his name!
How soft and sweet is the breath of spring, in this country, with
"Light leaves, young as joy!"
Held, a private watch-night.  The Lord near.  After
midnight opened upon the Scriptures for a birthday expres32*




378             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
sion from my Lord (Acts 7), where it is said, Moses " was
a stranger in the land of Midian! " and Isaiah 44: 26,
"' That conjirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of.Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed
places thereof."
April 10th. - Preaching, like life, should be direct, not
circular, - but direct and progressive. Beware of this
circumlocution and wordiness; cure it at once.  However,
that was a strong point, and worthy of a larger place in a
future discourse; - that those who will not weep over a
sinning friend, let them prepare to weep over a dying
friend;- those who cannot mourn over an unconverted
relative, may soon be called to mourn over a buried relative; -that the Christian world is full of such cases; —
that sinning on, without repentance or conversion, is sure
to shorten the days of the sinner; - that, for a professed
follower of Christ to stand and look on, without prayers
and tears for their salvation, is pretty sure to be followed
up by such a painful retribution.
April 11th. - Yesterday being Good Friday, and a general holiday, I preached twice at Newtown-Row Chapel, on
" Let him  now co-ne down from  the cross, and we will
believe him." - Matt. 27: 42.  Had some liberty in the
forenoon, and assisted at the Sacrament, after; but, at
night, upon the same text, was much fettered and stilted.
Another text would have been better for the crowd assembled. However, many were saved.
April 12th. - A great day yesterday at the Islizgton
Chapel.  Had what Baxter calls I"a piercing quickness,"
with brisk life and power. Results glorious.
April 14th.- How little one can do without zeal, fire,




EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL.              379
energy.   0, how this shows - speaks to me like a trumpet,
the necessity of working hard and steadily in the soulsaving way, while physical and mental vigor last! for,
without these, it is to rise up, and be forced to sit down
again, or something equal to that; for, 0, how true is
that observation of one, that, unless a minister preach, as
if he determined, if the sinner perish, he must perish also,
he can move nothing, do nothing! Lord Jesus, help me to
work while health and vigor are vouchsafed!
April 17th. -Holiness night. That sentiment tells upon
some consciences.  It is not the want of faith, but a lack
of determination to be cleansed from all sin, that prevents
many from receiving the blessing.
Have spent this week in the chapel at Islington, in the
suburbs of Birmingham, with signal success. ]But there is
a deep pensiveness over my spirit;- a raven-winged influence overshadowing me, shutting out all the sunshine of the
heart; and I really cannot tell why; -fatigue, perhaps.
0, what a thing is a dull heart, and a decay of vital
energy!  But the Lord is at hand to bless and support.




CHAPTER LII.
MORE NOTES OF THE REVIVAL.
SPEAKING of the progress of the revival in Birmingham,
Mr. C. remarks:
The whole town seems moved.  The confederations of
sin are in considerable confusion; at their wits' end, some
of them - to preserve themselves from dissolution. Error
flies before the revival, as chaff before the wind. Drawingroom circles are in an amaze.  Bar-rooms and beer-shoyps,
here and there, are vocal with lonely grumblers. The
wicked are fretting and fuming, and the pamphleteering
presses are groaning for them, poor souls! - ay, loud as
their poor consciences are groaning for themselves.
However, we have vast masses of the people on our side.
The Wesleyans, generally, are true; though some shrink,
and query what all this is coming to; and whether the
church of God shall be able to wash her face and robes
clean, after all this bespattering from the wicked.  They
can bear to read how that the face of Jesus was covered
with the- spittle of the ungodly, and his person arrayed in a
mock robe, &c., &c; but, to have the church of their
choice despised and mocked, is too much for their pride or
humility.
However, it is the green wood that shrinks.  The seasoned material in the spiritual temple never shrinks in
the hot atmosphere of persecution. There is much of this




MORE NOTES OF THE REVIVAL.            381
material in the Wesleyan church in this town; — neither
ridicule nor aught else effects such noble souls.  They would
be surprised to behold the members of an active, aggressive
church crowned with rose-buds, while the Head was crowned
with thorns.
How  many professed navigators to the heavenly port
have I known, who could not sail in rough and hazardous
weather! - would rather make for the shore, at the risk of
running the work of God ashore, and Zion's ship among
the breakers! -  Any port in a storm," says the old proverb;- and there wait for calm weather, and clear skies,and the smiles of the world for their sunshine! Then farewell to the revival!
It is hard for some to show their heads, unless they are
sure the world shall cry, I' Well done! " and this and that
circle of "taste and intelligence'echo it.  Then such are
"on hand " for all that was good! But when the heavens
lower, and the storm howls, and the sea is troubled, and the
waves toss themselves about,- then " discretion is the better part of valor! " and they disappear!
Birmingham Methodists, generally, know how to " rough,
it outt," sailor fashion, in all weathers; - out on duty,
whether the heavens smile, or whether they frown;- men
and women, who, I verily believe, would stand up for God,
against a host, were the scenes of Dura to be reenacted!
True, they are in the world, and mingle in its business,
and buy, and sell, and serve it, and make money, and acquire
its substance; and the wicked say, " See, your citizens of
heaven are as active and money-making as us, the citizens
of the world, and who have our hope in this life! " To be
sure they are! and I want to know who has a better right
than they?  Besides, they have families to provide for, and
the treasury and cause of our Lord Jesus Christ to sustain!




382             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Why should they not be lively and active, cheered as they
are by the prospect of a better inheritance above?  Their
hands are busy here below, while their affections are in the
altitudes of heaven; —busily engaged in the humble
drudgery of life, while their hearts are lodged in the tree
of life, and their thoughts among the angels, and " the spirits of just men made perfect."  If outward appearances do
make against them, it only illustrates what St. John says,"'B Te world knoweth us not; - and it doth not yet appear
chat wve shall be."  No, blessed be God!'"but we know
that vwhen he shall appear, we shacll be like him; for cwe
shall see him (a.s he is."  That is enough! Till then, we
can bear the com-parison of a good man, of an eagle sitting
upon a logw branch, but her nest is built on high; or the
moon, which, though seen in the water, yet has her seat in
the firmament!
But the twicked do not understand these things; such
thoughts are too high for them.  But the time is coming
when they shall understand them; ay, though they may
have to look as high as Dives did from the depths of hell.
What Jesus says to every disciple of his, be says to every
wilful servant of the Devil, "What thou knowest not noSw,
thou shalt know hereafter."  Alas! alas! it will then be
too late for such.  0, may every loyalist of heaven buckle
on the armor, firmer than ever, and rush upon these brands
of hell, and pluck them out of the burning!
In the mean time, shout, earth and heaven, that prayer is
being daily answered!
"Like mighty winds or torrents fierce,
Let it opposers all o'errun,
And every law of sin reverse,
That faith and love may make all one."




MORE NOTES OF THE REVIVAL.             383
This is no time to falter.  It is truth and the effects of
truth they are quarrelling with, and with me for setting it
on against their consciences; and yet, what could it or the
preacher have done, but for the Holy Spirit who applied it?
I must stand by the truth, then, and stand or fall with it;
let it have an open field and fair play.  If this is my
cross, it must be taken up, and borne alone with courage
and faithfulness.  Luther says, " Every true saint is heir
to the cross;" and I have come into the possession of
mine with some joy and power.
The world never did understand that declaration of Jesus,
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousn7,ess' sake: for theirs is the kingdomn of heaven."  Mark
that, -   theirs is," not theirs shall be, the kingdom  of
heaven.' Nay," says the world, "but Miserable are they
who are persecuted for righteousness' sake." Thus our
Lord's decision is a little paradox, or a contradiction to
the world, but perfectly in harmony with Christian experience.
A voice from heaven saluted John with " Blessed are
the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth." Jesus
says, "'Blessed are they which are persecuted," &c. Thus
the same word which expresses the happiness of departed
saints in heaven, expresses also the happiness of the persecuted saints upon earth.
But what are all the beatitudes, or felicities, in the fifth
of Matthew, but as so many "'point blank bastions,"
against the opinions of the world?  Christ and the world
never did agreee; but they are never found more widely
apart than in that celebrated sermon of our Lord on the
Lffiount!
April 18th.   Cheer up, my soul  - words do not hit so
hard as stonzes  In March 30, 1751, Mr. Wesley writes




884             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
in his journal, "' The last time I preached in Birmzinyham
the stones flew on every side."  But, under the same date,
he exclaims, " 0, how the scene is changed! If any disturbance were made now, the disturber would be in more
danger than the preacher. I found God in the midst of
the congregation, and afterwards preached on'If ye be led
b-y the Spirit, ye are not under the law.' The hearts of
the people were melted within them'; so that neither they
nor I could refrain from tears. But they were chiefly tears
of joy, from a lively sense of the liberty wherewith Christ
hath made us free."  Cheer up, then, 0 my soul!  Wesley's Jesus is thy Jesus; his God, thy God; - the same
Gospel he preached, thou preachest; and the same Holy
Spirit carries it with power to the hearts of the people.
April 19th. - The art of war is best learned in actual
war.  It is upon the field of battle where rules, tactics and
artillery, are tested; the effectiveness of this battery or
that; and the wisdomn or folly of this and that position.
A change of position, upon the part of the enemy, often
renders them all useless.
It is thus in preaching, which is truly a great pitched
battle for the rescue of precious souls; especially when contihued for months together.  Sermons of mine, which appeared very well in private, and likely, as spiritual batteries, to rake the ranks of the enemy tremendously, the
positions being the best imaginable; but, alas! when
brought into action, were quite useless, and I have lost the
day by sticking to them.  Whereas, I have won many a
day by abandoning them at once; and, seizing upon some
"rough, crooked cudgel of truth, or other," as a crazy
man hinted, and storm  the altered entrenchmzents of
wickedness.
What was the use of firing away from that battery, when




MORE NOTES OF THE REVIVAL.            385
the shot curved high over the heads of sinners, or fell far
short of their entrenchments? It ought to have been abandoned before wasting so much time and strength. I have
erred so often here, it is strange I have not yet acquired
common sense.  When the proper batteries were heaved
up for my acceptance, I had neither time nor strength to
play them upon the enemy; had wasted both in working
those which were inefectual!
April 20th. -Amused with that sentiment of one, that
sinners are often like dogs in the work of persecution; that
when dogs barkc at a passer-by, it signifies one of two
things: either they do not know him, or they dislike him;
but that, in either case, it is no sign he is a bad person; for
such dogs will turn and fawn upon persons of the worst
habits, and not bark at them at all. " Without are doys,"
says John.  Lord help us to beware of them! The work
is advancing with unabated power.
April 21st. --  How much one learns in a revival, of
human nature, of the providence of God in preparing the
way for this and that conversion! How evidently Providence has been at work to bring about the salvation of many
of these; with some for years;- has had to almost break
their heart by trying providences, before their proud will
could be broken down to repent and believe! So goes it
with the world; and an  Almighllty Providence" is, indeed,
an " exceeding thought," and its chastisenzents exceed all
we know of them, till developed by a great revival.
April 22d. — I seldom weep in the pulpit, though my
eyes frequently fill, and siwim  a little; but tears do not
often trickle down.  I like to feel them; it is a great comfort to feel that my springs are not dry, nor the fozimntri
of tears diried up. - Hosea 13: 15.  But, 0, how deliciontsly sweet are tears, when in secret audience with
33




386             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
God!  Some one remarked that sugar is sweetest when
it melts, and that when the religion of a Christian dissolves into tears of gratitude and thanksgiving it is the
sweetest of all.
How freely these penitent sinners weep, when truth
touches them, as the rod of Moses did the granite! I
liked that thought of one, though it seemed to have a little
of the dash of romance: "Tears flowing from the eyes of
the penitent, are like water dropping from roses, — they
are very sweet, and very precious to God."  Tears and
prayers once drew down blessings in clusters upon the head
and heart and crown of a royal one, whose life trembled
upon the verge of eternity: " Thus saith tthe Lord, the
God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I
have seen thy tears: behold, I wvill heal thee," &c., &c. -
2 Kings 200: 5, 6.  Hezekiah speedily recovered, and enjoyed his fifteen additional years!
How many of these Birmingham  sinners may have had
their doom changed, their lives prolonged, by their plentiful
prayers and tears yesterday! When the Lord turned, and
looked upon Peter, " he went out and zwept bitterly." Those
tears were no enemies to Peter's futurity, nor to his place
in the sympathies and affections of his Lord.
Chrysostom blessed God for the laver of tears to wash
in; so may these, especially as the fountain of their Redeemer's blood was open to receive them  also; without
which an ocean of tears would be of no avail to wash away
a single sin from the conscience, or stain from the soul.
April 28th. - Last Sabbath forenoon in Bradford-street
Chapel. Preached in behalf of the Sabbath-school. Collection, fifteen pounds. Text, " Therefore, if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become ner." - 2 Cor. 5:




MORE NOTES 0oF THE REVIVAL.            387
17.  Never better definition of a true Christian ever
given. Yet had something of a hard time for myself, and
for hearers as well, perhaps; -" spun the subject out, and
patience out," as an old brother in America observed of a
straitened preacher, like myself.
" From his prudent lips shall flow
Words as light as flakes of snow,
Fall as soft as snow on the sea, -
Are lost, - instantly.:"
However, at night sin and folly had no twilight; but the
full blaze of Gospel truth! But I do not like this way of
preaching in the morning in one chapel, and at night in
another; it Gweakens and dissipates me;-cannot carry out
my plans properly, and so fail in getting hold of the people.
However, I have been singularly mournful and dejected for
some days, although have had glimpses of joy between. But
my soul has been sweak, tired and faint, " yet pursuing'"
the great work, the conquest of souls!  The work of God
is onward, and sweeps everything before it. But this preaching six times a week for so many months, and to such amazing crowds of people, to say nothing of my select neetings
for seekers of salvation, my correspondence, which is very
extensive and burdensome, and much other writing besides,
-O, it is wearisome and wearing! Fight thou my battles,
O Lord God of hosts! Amen.
I" Only thy terrors, Lord, restrain."
April 29th. - Felt I was going on an errand for God; 
an errand implies a message; - had a nmessage from  him
to poor hell-exposed sinners; felt I was going on an errand
for Him, and knew vwith what, and for what.  What boldness and confidence this conviction gives! But it often
brings trouble as a consequence. People do not understand




388             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
it. There is no way to make the errand agreeable, and the
consequences easy to be borne, but to aim at pleasing God
fully therein.  Then every word is heart-deep, in preacher
and hearer; or as a strong-minded Scotchman observed,
"then comes the nailing of the subject to the wall.'  The
slain of the Lord were many. The nail of truth, if it did
not pin them to the wall, it did to the floor, as did the nail,
in the hand of Jael's wife, the head of Sisera.
WThat a noble, large-souled old servant of God, is the
superintendent of the east circuit, the Rev. Alexander
Bell!  God bless him! - the very expression of his countenance stimulates me to " deeds of noble daring" for the
Lord our God. He knows the mission of Jiothodism well.
How much a man may do for God, by what one calls "unconscious influence " o/ When he thinks he is doing little or
no good, he may be accomplishing, silently, the greatest
good! HIowever, Alexander Bell is not silent; his voice
sounds like a thunder in the thickest of the fight! O Lord,
multiply by thousands such men in the battle-field of
Emanuel!  Amen.




CHAPTER LIII.
MISTAKING TIHE PATIH.
APRIL 30th. - Received the following interesting letter.
It tells a sad tale; — shows how easy it is to get out of the
providential path, and how hard to get back into it again,
and how perilous besides. It illustrates that observation of
Baxter, that SELF in some cannot get its heart broken,
until the heart has been broken by sorrow, and by the
keen rebukes of Providence, with many and fresh confessions, and plenty of tears!
" Birvmingham, April 29th, 1846.
" HONORED SIR: I believe it is under a sacred influence
I address you.  I have held myself in check till my grateful emotions can no longer be controlled. I have never had
courage to answer in the affirmative, when you have asked
me,' Do you know your sins are forgiven?'
" Religion has been a familiar thing to me since my childhood. At the age offifteen I engaged myself determinedly
to pursue it. I walked before God in sincerity, though in
obscurity, during six years, when the Lord sent me the
life of Mr. Wesley, to study in a sick-chamber.
"The Spirit, through this, showed me how far I had
gone; — how far from original righteousness I now was.
Deep, soul-rending convictions for sin seized me, which
ended, in a few weeks, in a conscious sense of pardon; my
338




390             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
chains fell off, with that book in my hand; my heart was
free, and I was free indeed.
"Previous to this, I had been a member of the Established Church, and felt opposed to the Methodists.  Now
my prejudices were laid aside. I read their works, attended
their ministry occasionally; finally said,' This people shall
be mny people.' But, not being free from the control of
others, I postponed it, contrary to my convictions; but still
remained in a waiting position for three years, with much
trial and fiery temptation, yet felt the life of God was kept
alive in my soul. I doubt not I was eating the honey of
perfect love, through all this time, though I knew it not.
That promise, which I used to call peculiarly my own,'Iwill instruct thee, and teach thee in the way thou
shouldst go, I will guide thee with mine eye,' was a sort
of index to my state of mind.
" In the year 1841, I gained the desire of my heart, -
the Lord placed me among the Methodist people. My congratulations had barely subsided, when Satan laid a snare
for me; he was transformed into an angel of light. The
snare was bewitching in its attractions.  I mistook this for
providential indication, and stepped out of the order of
God, in a certain domestic arrangement. The t'hing might
appear trifling in itself, but for the principle involved.Prov. 3: 6. And its long train of consequences has made
me recognize it as a very important matter.
"Thus God's designs were thwarted, and my expectations, as well as those of my fellow-Christians, were, in a
great measure, never realized; the wine was mixed with
water. For a time my judgment was perverted, and learned
to call evil good, and good evil.
"My mind was brought into a most awful state, and I
besought the Lord to show me my real state; which he did.




MISTAKING THE PATH.              391
I then pleaded for external deliverance.  He granted this
also. Then I felt the need of internal deliverance. My cry
was,'0, my leanness! my leanness!  Restore unto the
ears that which the canker-worm anzd the palmer-worm
have eaten!' The Lord heard me, and delivered me, so far
as I would permit.  But I was not hearty, nor sufficiently
sensible of my state. I sought for deliverance, but did not
strive for it.
"During this time, I had many strokes from God; but he
seemed to say in them all,' Slow to anger.' I did not
come to the point he wished me; and, at length, heavier
strokes were inflicted, and the stern look of his displeasure
seemed to accompany them.
"My spirits began to sink; mental anguish took possession,- robbed me of all my moral ability to a great extent.
My spiritual bent of mind remained, but all hope of happiness upon earth had departed. My mind had received the
stamp of deep melancholy. I said,'I will go mourning
all zy days.' I was forming plans for leaving Birmingham, when you arrived, to see what a change of position
would do, but did not; could not understand why the Lord
hedged up my way; nor that he was about to bring me into
a wealthy place. — Ps. 66: 12. To his name be all the
glory, so it proved to be.
"On Friday, January 23d, in Wesley Chapel, I was the
character you described; and you asked,'Is it enough?'
There my trouble ended; sweet peace again took possession
of my heart; the tide turned in my favor.
"Since then I have been enabled to make good use of
my advantages; have heard you on almost every occasion;
strained every nerve, as it were, and pushed my points, and
urged- my conquests. It has been difficult work, but I have
more than conquered through him that loved me. Praise




392             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
the Lord for another introduction into the Canaan of perfect
love!
II Many of those who were near and dear to me in the
Establishment have been greatly blessed; savingly and gloriously benefited, and will, to-night, make public acknowledgment of it.  You will be followed by the tears and
prayers of many, whom you have had no public recognition
of. I charge my soul ever to let your name and the remembrance of you act as a polar star to me. God bless you!
t *  The Lord reward you, and give me a humble recognition of your glorified spirit in the world of spirits!
" Yours, dear sir, in deep respect,
A HUMBLE MEMBER
"Of the Wesleyan Society."
Ah! the world is full of such mourners.! but, as one has
observed, the cloak of indifference, or the mantle of concealment, or the pall of despair, may hide these things
from the world's unfeeling gaze; but the broken heart is
not less surely there.
It illustrates that sentiment of another, that our haps and
mishaps arise chiefly from the way in which we order our
own hearts; that these toss the private state, and render life
unsweet, leaving us'midst the wreck of Is and Was, things
incomplete, and purposes betrayed; troubles following, not
singly, but in battalions, and we, at length, such students
in Disappointnent's school, that all our after life is
swayed with ple nlitutde of ill; thus'" The heart gives color to our destiny.
And I might add, Noah's dove, hovering and flying to
and fro over that wild waste of shoreless waters, but find



MISTAKING THE PATH.               393
ing no rest for the sole of her foot, till she returned to
the Ark, strikingly illustrates the experience of one who
has enjoyed the blessing of perfect love, and lost it. Well,
thank God for another trophy of salvation; and to him be
all the glory!




CHAPTER LIV,
LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES.
(Ps. 16 6.)
MAY 1st. - The revival is onward still in power.  0,
the glory, the grandeur of this work!
I returned to Sparkbrookc House some weeks since, from
my other home on the other side of the town.  I am surrounded with comforts.  Surely the lines are fallen unto
me in the pleasant places! We have fine weather. Lovely
mornings.  Blossoms wet with morning dews; and fanned
with zephyrs breathing of Paradise. Pleasant walks through
the grounds, - one especially, near the mansion, under fine
overshadowing trees, my favorite walking-place, which they
shade from the sun, leaving me the benefit of the western
breeze; and, close by, the fine garden, with a pretty sheet
of water, in which are a couple of snow-white stwans, sailing majestically around, and, with all
SC ---—,,- the mantling spirit of reserve,
Fashion their necks into a goodly curve;
arches thrown back between luxuriant wings
Of whitest garniture."
One day I greatly disturbed her siwanship, enjoying her
siesta in the sunshine. Coming suddenly upon the green
bank, before her floating sentinel had time to give her warning, I was close by her side, - opening her eyes, her alarm
was terrible, frightening her out of all the proprieties of




LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES.            395
majesty, - rushing into the flood in the wildest disorder;
and, if one might judge from the noise they kept up, it was
long before they concluded to forgive or forget. Always
after that, when I visited the banks, they put on a sort of
haughty reserve, and, with more than usual of the rushing,
"gushing impulse," cleaving the water in circles, nearer
and nearer to the bank where I stood, but never forgetting
for a moment their dignity!
As to myself, I have been floating about from chapel to
chapel, the last two or three weeks; Belzmozt-Row Chapel,
C/lerry-street,  Wesley, Newton- Row, and  Islington
chapels, with constant success.  Hundreds converted, and
great numbers sanctified throughout, body, soul, and spirit.
Hallelujah to God and the Lamb!
Visited Warzwick  Castle some days since, in company
with Rev. D. Walton and Mr. Alderman James Mleek,
of York. This ancient monument of feudal grandeur stands
upon the banks of the river Avon, a pleasant drive from
Birmingham.  I desired much to see it, as it is the most
interesting of the kind in England; seen'from a distance,
rising in a cluster of ancient towers, the effect is picturesque
and imposing.  We spent an agreeable hour or two in walking through its halls and rooms.  One of the towers is said
to be of Anglo-Saxon origin.  Ccesar's tower is very old,
and so is Guy's tower, which rises to the height of one
hundred and forty feet, -    The Sir Guy, of Warwick, who
figures largely in the wild history of Romnances in days of
chivalry."
The heart receives a lesson amidst such scenes it hardly
ever meets with elsewhere.
We were shown the celebrated ancient Vase which was
dug out of the ruins of the villa of the Emperor Adrian, at
Tivola, in Italy, and sent to England in 1774; a beautiful




396             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
specimen of Grecian art in the time of Alexander the Great.
It is really a study; - composed of white marble, nearly
spherical in form; is capable of containing one hundred and
sixty-three gallons; is wreathed with two vines, which, at
their stems, form the handles of the vase, and then ingeniously spread and interlaced, with their tendrils, foliage, and
clusters, -all sculptured out of the solid marble, with
antique heads, - that of Bacchus, of course, the god of
wine and of drunkards, with his Thyrsus and panther's skin,
things which the old Grecians delighted to sculpture. But,
farewell, Warwick Castle!
"In war renowned, in peace sublime!"
May 2d. - These Friday night discourses on holiness,
seem to give that glorious doctrine an impulse through all
the week.
But how many unconzverted cnmembers of Wesleyan and
other churches are being constantly awakened out of their
deception and saved! —those'" wooden legs,"' as Baxter
called them  in his day, - for so he named 2unconverted
members of the Christian church; -  wooden legs /  Such
a one, he would say, " is but as a wooden leg to the body! "
" A  dead member of a living body," was Bellarmine's
notion of them! Though attached to the body, yet not of
the body; or he would say, as the hair, or the nails, which,
though in the body, yet not properly meimzbers of the body.
Cha'z among the vwheat, was Austin's idea of them, - an
appur'tenance to the wheat, but not the wheat.  Chaff on
the threshin -floor of the church, was John the Baptist's
idea, destined to be. burned Fwith unlquenzchable fie; —
tares was Christ's figure for them, andfire the final instrument of their destruction. Those are strong words of the
apostle.- Gal. 6: 4, 5, 15.




LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES.            397
That distinction between feasting upon " real solid comforts," and feeding upon " airy delusory conceits," was
capable of profitable expansion, had I had time; as, also,
between the comfort of the spirit and that of the fancy.
But, 0, how terrible that idea of one, that if we have but
the imaye of trite religion, we shall have but the imagye of
heaven at last; - some dreams and self-created hopes of
happiness, which may accompany us to the door of eternity,
but there they will leave us to everlastizyg horror!  Terrible thought!
May 3d. --- He that would continue to save souls, I find,
must not depart from first principles; - he must dwell much
on first principles, - the essentials of Christianity.  This,
some, whose heads have out-travelled their hearts, do not
like; they want variety and novelty, and something to
gratify curiosity in doctrine. To meet their case, one would
need another Gospel than Paul preached.  Shall I pander
to such a taste? INay, by the grace of God, never! 0,
never may I live to prove to sinful men that I think the
Gospel has become stale and uninteresting, and, therefore,
must lay the sciences under contribution, to make the Gospel bearable or palatable; and, as it were, work another
Gospel, than, Christ crucified, out of them, or a diluted
Gospel, or mongrel! The present age is a tempter to this,
and, it is to be feared, too frequently succeeds.
That deprecation of the apostle is a powerful antidote to
me: " But God forbid that I should glory, save in the
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom  the world is
crucified to me, and I unto the world." - Gal. 6: 14o
St. Paul never interposed a I" God forbid!" but upon some
point of the highest importance, - and he used the phrase
on several occasions. The scenes are amazing here! Glory
be to God!
34




398             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
May 4th. - The sun, and moon, and stabrs, are sometimes
nearer to the earth than at other times.  ETERNITY, with
its Heaven, and Hell, and Spirits, looms up, and sweeps
nearer to men during a revival, I sometimes think, than
during any other portion of the history of a population; so
near, I often feel, as if one could almost hear the shouts of
the glorified saints in heaven, and the wailings of the
damned in hell.
It is then the power of God is felt; and the truth of God
rushes out upon sinners, like the lion upon the children of
Ephraim! and cries for mercy ascend from the smitten and
the torn; and shouts of deliverance from the healed and the
saved.  Such is the state of things in Birmingham  at the
present time.  Hallelujah!
May 5th. -What a necessity for a storming time that
was!  Ordinary effort would have been of no avail; but
Satan's triumph.  But how important to be ready for
such a divine intimation!  One should not have his heart
or wit, or coulrage, to seek at such a moment; no, nor his
weapons, nor his faith!
What a noble spirit is the Rev. Joseph Wood, of the
West circuit, - full of faith and of the Holy Ghost! How
sweet this union with his spirit!




CHAPTER LV.
INCIDENTS OF THE REVIVAL.
To  I   X  i
Birmingham, May 7, 1846.
You desire to have some " particulars regarding the great
work in Birmingham."  I hardly know where to begin,
unless I were to copy a great part of my private journal.
The scenes have been very wonderful, - many cases marked
and striking, and remarkable in their effects upon others.
Some notoriously wicked sinners converted!
You may remember I told you of a temperance lecture I delivered in the Town Hall.@   A letter from a citizen lies before me, of which the following is an extract:' I had been an advocate for temperate drinking, but had
often been carried into the vortex of intemperance; - wanted
to hear your lecture; -  did, and was convinced that I was
Wrong, became decided, and took the pledge.  I am now a
practical tee-totaler.  That meeting brought deep convictions into my mind. I was then breaking the Sabbath
by keeping my shop open, and selling on that day; — alas!
against the convictions of my own conscience!  Mine was
* The reader will recollect that Mr. Caughey referred to the state of the
temperance cause in Birmingham. Before leaving that town he attended
several temperance meetings, and lectured on the subject. These meetings were attended with the most happy results. — Editor.




400             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Sabbath-breakiny of no common order,- it was against
the clearest light.  0, but I do feel it is through infinite
mercy I was not sent to hell long since!
"But Jesus was my interceding friend. My face is now
Zion-ward. Let others do as they may, by his help I will
save my soul.
" To my excellent leader, Dr. Melson, I owe a debt of
gratitude. He called upon me, and took me kindly by the
hand.  May God reward him!'My shop is closed on the Sabbath, now, and ever shall
be.  My leader tells me the eyes of the world are upon
me.  I know it, and feel it.  My fellow-tradesmen laugh
at me, and sneer.  They tell me I shall soon reopen it.
Sir, pray that I may be kept from sin, and from falling,
and that the Lord would increase my faith, fill me with
the Spirit, and perfect me in love, and confirm my hope.
I pray much that your ministry may be blessed to thousands
more, and that you may be filled with all the fulness of
God, and conducted at length, through a sea of light, to the
throne of the Eternal One.  Affectionately,
"<W. A. J." 
And here is a letter from a converted Roman Catholic,
who ventured out some weeks ago to see and hear for herself, and then she says her " troubles began; "- that, after
resisting the strivings of the Spirit for some weeks, she
sought and found the pearl of great price; —says that
Jesus is now her precious Saviour, and fills her heart with
peace and gladness.  FAITH,-justification by faith,-  0
what a word of power there is in that! -justified by faith,
without the merit of works!  When a Roman Catholic
~ His full name is attached to the letter.




INCIDENTS OF THE REVIVAL.            401
understands and receives that doctrine, the effects are immediate and glorious. Luther once remarked, that it is by
this one piece of artillery the Papacy is to be finally overthrown and destroyed; - that it is plain, if our sins may be
taken away by our own works, merits and satisfactions,
there was no necessity the Son of God should be given for
them. But, seeing he was given for our sins, it follows that
we cannot put them away by our own works; - so great,
so invincible, so infinite, are our sins, it is impossible for
the whole world to satisfy for one of them. But, as it is written, he "gave himself for our sins,- according to the
will of God and our Father "(Gal. 1: 4), it shows the
power of sin, and the impossibility of our being saved in
any other way, in the estimation and judgment of our God.
Thus, if the Popish error would overthrow the necessity of
the atonement, the doctrine of justification by faith overthrows the error! Luther declared the opinion, before his
death, that had the Protestants continued to preach as at
the first,- "justified neither by the righteousness of the
law, nor by our own righteousness, but by faith in Jesus
Christ only,"- that this one article would have overthrown the whole Papacy, with all her brotherhoods, pardons, religious orders, relics, invocation of saints, purgatory, nmasses, watchings, vows, and infinite other like
abominations!  Blessed be God! it will.  This saved
Romanist is all gratitude, thanksgiving and praise;signs her name in full, and has done with Popery forever; -
says' Jesus has given me a complete victory over fiery
trials; "-trusts that having put her hand to the Gospel
plough, she will never look back towards spiritual Babylon
and Sodom; - hopes that' the prayers of a once distressed, but now happy servant of Christ," will be answered
for my continued success in bringing lost sinners to Christ.
34*




402             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
Blessed be God! Why may I not multiply my power
with God by such petitioners?
The Roman Catholics of Broad-street have lost their
Organist.  He and his wife have both found Christ; and
so he plays there no more. It is not to be wondered at that
the priests are so desperately opposed to their people attending our meetings. It is perilous to allow them to hear the
whole Gospel!
Mr. Caughey received a large number of letters, asking
advice in matters of conscience.  To some of these he replied. The following replies will be read with interest:
To AN APPRENTICE.
Birminyham, May 7th, 1846.
MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND: Yours is to hand.  You
have a body to support, but you have a soul to save. You
have a master upon earth, but there is a God in heaven.
He has commanded you to remember the Sabbath day to
keep it holy; and you are under bonds to the value of
your soul to obey. Suffering you must endure, most likely,
in case of your master's displeasure; but this, however
severe, cannot be compared to the effects of the displeasure
of God, which is eternal. Better suffer death than sin
against God.  Your master will be punished for causing
you to sin; but you will have to suffer for your own transgression.
Having said thus much, I must leave you to decide as
you may think best.
Yours affectionately in Christ,
J. C.




INCIDENTS OF THE REVIVAL.          403
TO A CLERK IN THE B-E         POST OFFICE.
Birmingham, May 7th, 1846.
MY DEAR SIR: You have a family to support, and a
difficult world to bring them through. But you have a.
soul. You cannot be happy in violating the holy Sabbath.
You are under as great an obligation to keep it holy, as to
be an honest man.  The health of body and soul depends
upon peace of mind, which you cannot well have in your
present employment.
Having said thus much, I must leave you to take that
course you may think best.
Affectionately yours in Jesus Christ,
J. C.
0, how much wvisdom and prudence is needed in dealing
with troubled consciences! It would be well, I suppose, to
keep a full record of my letters, conversations, &c., &c.,
but it is extremely difficult to take the time to do so; and
so occasions pass away, and the circumstances are forgotten.
*  *      *      *      *        




CHAPTER LVI.
PERSECUTION.
MAY 8th. -A letter from my Liverpool host, Mr. Balnniyg, of the Liverpool Post Office. He says, " The newspapers are determined,- perhaps not intenztionally, but
nevertheless are doing that which produces it,- to increase
your popularity, and thereby your usefulness; -the statements of' The Morning Chronicle' - have circulated in
all the newspapers of the United Kingdom, nearly, I
should think! "
Amen! let them write, and print, and circulate, and
make me out the greatest fool or knave that lives; - what of
that, if I am neither a fool nor a knave?  What care I, if
the work of God but go on, and my conscience feels sure
of his approbation?
PERSECUTION  - of the pen, of the tongue, -what
signifies all we are called to endure in this age, however
humiliating, compared with what the saints of other days
have endured from the hands of the ungodly? - as the
tickling of flies, when compared with the stings of wasps!
— nay, as the stings of wasps, when compared with the
strokes of scorpions!  They bore the cross, indeed, upon
bare, bleeding and lacerated shoulders; but we, of modern
* This paper became notorious in its opposition to the revival, but with
what success, the reader may form some idea from what follows. —Editor.




PERSECUTION.                 405
times, only bear the chips of the cross; or, if the chip
happen to be a big and heavy one, and hit pretty hard, or
sit heavy, we are not without cushions of many comforts to
make them tolerable!
Nevertheless, some in modern times have the persecution
of the hand, even unto blood.  A letter lies before me, of
which the following is the substance:
A faithful wife, the cause of the conversion of a wicked,
persecuting husband.
She sought and found mercy. Her husband was displeased; but, finding her a changed woman, he opposed,
and resorted to a variety of petty annoyances, hoping to
discourage her.  But she stood fast in her glorious liberty,
and would go to the Methodist meetings, and serve God,
notwithstanding his positive prohibition.
At length, he became enraged, and threatened to horsewhip her if she went any more to those meetings.  This
brought tears to her eyes, but did not drive courage from
her heart. She replied, "Husband, have I done my duty to
you as your wife? Is there anything left undone in the
house, which ought to be done, in order to make you more
comfortable? " —" No," he replied, " I have had no cause
of complaint in such matters; but a Methodist you never
shall be."  To this she answered, "I have done my duty
to my family, now I owe a duty to my God; and, if He
strengthens me, I shall do that also." -- "Well, if you do,
horsewhip you I shall, when you return; that's all."" Very well, husband, I shall do the will of God, and let
him see to it." She went to meeting, and had a very happy
time; the Lord blessed her abundantly, and prepared her
for the trial of faith that awaited her.
When she entered the house, she met her enraged husband, horsewhip in hand, saying, "I'll do as I said;




406             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
strip! " —and, seizing her, he literally tore her clothes off
her person, and applied the horsewhip to her bare back,
until it became a discolored, bleeding mass. She bore it all
without a nurmur, which maddened him the more; and,
when he gave her the last lash, pushed her from him.
She retired into her room, fell upon her knees, and
began to pray for him. After a while he came into the
room, and, seeing her on her knees, her back bare and
bleeding, - the woman he had promised to love, succor, and
protect, until death, - and heard her praying for him, and
saying, "' Glory be to God that I am counted worthy to
suffer thus in the cause of my Lord Jesus Christ! — glory
be to God! "  At that instant, convictions of guilt seized
his conscience, - the Spirit of God laid hold of the persecutor. He fell upon his knees by her side, imploring her
forgiveness, and her prayers that God would have mercy
upon him, and not send him to hell, as he deserved.  " Forgive me," said he, I"I have been worse than a Turk."
Her prayer did ascend to heaven, and in a short time he
found mercy, and joined the Wesleyan Methodists also!
What a trial!  What a victory!  The Devil, for a long
time to come, will remember that defeat from a weak
woman, and be ashamed of it before apostate spirits in hell!
Last Sabbath day, I preached in Bradely, a few miles
from Birmingham, to a multitude of colliers, and others.
It was in behalf of the " trust fund " of their chapel; —
had to preach in the grave-yard in the evening, the crowd
was so great.  We had a great time, forenoon, afternoon,
and night; some thirty-four souls were saved.  Collections
over ~80, or four hundred dollars! Bless thou the Lord,
O, my soul!




PERSECUTION.                 407
The time is at hand when I must leave Birmingham, -
noble, glorious Birmingham!  0, how I love the place,
and its people! Hard to drag myself away from them.
Have been consolidating the work; strengthening and fortifying the new converts, and preaching farewell sermons
in various chapels; journaling a little, and trying to keep
up with my correspondence, which is no easy matter sometimes; but all with a single eye to His glory.
Have had the pleasure of taking tea with the ministers
and leaders of both the Birmingham circuits; told them all
I hoped and all Ifeared regarding the young converts; and
with the deepest humility, begged they would do all in their
power to preserve them to the church, and to maintain the
honor of this great revival.
We had gracious seasons; and they kindly assured me
that nothing should be wanting, upon their part, in carrying
out all my stggestions.  I felt greatly humbled at the
loving, hearty deference which they paid to one so unworthy.  May the Father, Son and Holy Ghost bless them
more and more! Amen.
This has been a glorious work of God, indeed; thousands
have been saved. To God be all the glory, is the sure language of my heart. From the registers, kept by authorized
and competent secretaries, on both " the east and west circuits," as they are called, it is ascertained that, since last
December, about two thousand eight hundred souls have
been justified by faith in Christ; and about one thousand
four hundred persons sanctified, in the full sense of Acts
15: 9,- "' Purifying their hearts by faith." Total saved,
in both blessings, four thousand two hundred persons.
The names of all these persons were carefully registered
as the work advanced, together with their respective places




408              SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
of residence. This was done to prevent exaggerated reports,
and that proper care might be taken of the subjects of the
work.  Many of the above were from the country around,
as well as the town; some were from ten to fifty miles distant. Other churches and congregrations in town were
well represented, and doubtless have, or will, receive accessions.  A large number, too, were members of the Wesleyan church, both of the justified and sanctified. Allowing
these deductions, the numbers from  the world, and now
united with the Wesleyans, must be very large.
I have been most hospitably entertained at Sparkbrook
House, by Mr. and  lYrs. Wright, and at the house of
Mr. Souter; the largest part of the time at the former
place. Never shall I forget the kindness shown me by
those two blessed families.  May my Lord reward them
much in time and in eternity!
" Sweet is music's melting fall, but sweeter yet
The still small voice of gratitude."




CHAPTER LVII.
CONCLUSION.
THE following resolutions, copied from the quarterly
meeting journals of the Birmingham east and west circuits, will show the reader in what estimation the revival
was held by the authorities of Wesleyan Methodism in
Birmningham.
The first resolution was passed in March, some time
before the revival had obtained its full and glorious triuvnph.
"Birmingham, East Circuit, March, 1846. —That,
while this meeting expresses its thankfulness to Almighty
God for the encouraging prosperity vouchsafed to this circuit during the last few years, it would more especially
record its devout gratitude for the remarkable outpouring
of the Holy Spirit, as manifested in the present extraordinary revival,- and it would also express its most grateful
sense of the most important services of the Rev. James
Caughey, as an instrument in the hands of God, in bringing about this most delightful extension of his work. -
Passed unanimously, signed by the Rev. Alexander Bell,
Superintendent.
" Birmingham, West Circuit, June, 1846.- That this
meeting feels itself called upon to place upon record their
devout and grateful acknowledgments to Almighty God for
35




410             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
the unprecedented prosperity with which he has visited this
society in its several departments during the last quarter.
Its numerical prosperity is evidenced in the accession of
two hundred and eighty-five members, out of three hundred
reported on trial last quarter-day; and the future is cheering, inasmuch as two hundred and fifty-seven are now reported on trial in this circuit alone.  The spiritual state of
the society demands the gratitude of this meeting in the
exhibition of a greater degree of union among the members,
in the increased zeal and devotion of its officers, and in the
desire generally manifested to promote, encourage and carry
on the gracious revival, commenced under the ministry of
the Rev. James Caughey, and continued to the present time
in connection with our own ministry. Another delightful
feature of this revival is exhibited in the improved attention of the old members, and in the steadiness of the new
converts to their classes. - Moved by Mri. Ratclif, seconded by Mr. Edmund Heeley, and carried unanimously; the Rev. George Turner, Superintendent, in
the chair; present, the Rev. Messrs. Burton, Hiurt and
Joseph Wood."
The following account of the closing exercises of Mr.
Caughey's labors in Birmingham is from one of the religious papers of London:
" The public labors of Mr. Caughey terminated on
Wednesday evening, at Cherry-street Chapel. Great numbers were unable to get in. Several souls were saved at the
prayer-meeting. The following evening the local preachers,
leaders and stewards, of the east circuit, met together; after
tea, the meeting was addressed by Mr. Caughey.  A similar meeting was held in Cherry-street school on Friday




CONCLUSION.                  411
evening. The Rev. Alexander Bell, superintendent of the
east circuit, presided over the meeting in Belmont-Row
vestry; and the Rev. G. Turner occupied the chair on
Friday evening. On both occasions, several leaders spoke
of the benefit they had personally received during the revival; of the state of their classes; and, according to their
statements, some of them have received to their classes more
than twenty persons who had been, up to the visit of Mr.
Caughey, in an unconverted state, but who, not having
given their hearts to the Lord, had united themselves to his
people.  Notwithstanding the attraction of Mr. Caughey's
labors to the new converts especially, yet all the leaders
rejoiced in being able to state that their members never met
more regularly, although rumors had been circulated, in
London and elsewhere, that the class meetings were almost
broken up. It is, therefore, a cheering fact that the regular
meetings of classes have been all through the revival well
attended.  Mr. Caughey left our town for Nottingham on
Saturday last, where he commenced his labors on Sunday;
he will find a people prepared of the Lord. By his amiability of disposition, by his eminent piety, by his burning
zeal, by his extraordinary usefulness, he has endeared himself to the Methodists of Birmingham.  Long may he live
to prosecute his holy work! If the local preachers and
leaders of Nottingham hold up his hands, as they have been
supported in Birmingham, prayer must prevail, and floods
of mercy will descend upon the thirsty ground. And the
character of Nottingham Methodism says it shall be so.
Amen."
Mr. Caughey's closing remarks are worthy to close the
volume:




412             SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
" May 10th. - Farewell, Birmincghas m!  Fare-thee-,well, in every sense of the word, especially in the religious
sense; and farewell, my children within thee! Their times
of trial are at hand; the chaff to be driven from among the
wheat; — that will be taken up as a reproach against the
revival, although ever so much wheat may remain! And,
alas!  the wheat may be driven away too, or spoil through
inattention or mzismnanagement!
"But, O let me hope for the best! - that I shall not
have to mourn as Mr. Wesley had to, as we learn from his
journal, under date April 4th, 1755, where he says,'We
rode to Birmingham, a barren, uncomfortable place. Most
of the seed that has been sown for so many years, the " wild
boars" have "'rooted up;" the fierce, unclean, brutish,
blasphemous Antinomnians have utterly destroyed it. And
the mystic foxes have taken true pains to spoil what remained with their new gospel.  Yet, it seems God has a
blessing for this place still; so many still attend the preaching: and he is eminently present with the small number
that is left in society.' A sorrowful record that must have
been to Mr. Wesley.
" It is well, therefore, to glory in nothing, - neither in
success nor influence; for, 0, how soon both may vanish
away! It is safe only to'glory in the Lord,' and to meet
the temptation to glory in anything else, with the apostle's'God forbid that I should glory!' Ah, that is the safest,
sweetest, happiest state of mind!
" And farewell, ye ministers of our God, with whom I
have taken sweet counsel! - and ye leaders and felloolaborers!  A glorious band of faithful men and women,
who helped us much in the Lord; to whom, in fact, under
God, much of the credit and honor of this great work of
God is certainly due; for, what could we have done without




CONCLUSION.                       413
them?  Farewell, ALL - ye blessed families, where I have
been for months so generously entertained; all, too, who
have showed the stranger kindness in word  and  deed.
Blessings on you all! -every blessing from heaven above,
and earth beneath, be upon you all.  Farevell!
" And, to poor sinners whom I leave in their sins, can I
say, Farewell?  Alas, alas! how can I? -  with what heart
or prospect, if they go on resisting the Spirit of God, as they
have been doing? 0, Lord God, have mercy upon them,
and bring them to repentance!  Amen."
NOTE. —fr. Caughey left Birmingham  on the 10th of May, 1846,
after a sojourn of about five months, during which time thousands were
saved. He opened his commission the following Sabbath in NJottingham,
where he spent a few weeks, preaching constantly, and huoidreds of sinners were converted to God. From thence he hastened to the city of
Lincoln, and thence to Boston, in Lincolnshire, spending weeks in each
place, the Lord crowning the labors of his servant with abundant success;
an account of which may appear in a future volume, should the present
volume find favor with the PUBLIC.
35f








POPULAR OBJECTIONS TO M1ETHODISM CONSIDERED AND ANSWERED: or the Convert's Counsellor respecting his Church Relations; with Reasons
why Methodist Converts should join a Methodist Church. An Antidote to certain Recent
Publications, assailing the Methodist Episcopal Church. By Rev. DANIEL WISE, A. M.
Seventh Thousand. Retail, Sixty-two cents. A book for every family. For sale at all
the Methodist Book Depositories. Read the following:
"' We hope to see it in the hands not only of every young convert, but of every Christian
who would enjoy a feast and grow in grace." — North-western Christian Advocate.
" I hope it may have an extensive circulation." - Bishop Simnpson.
" Here is a book for the times. Let it be circulated in every direction." - Nashville
Christian Adu.
PRECIOUS LESSONS  FROM THE -LIPS OF JESUS. - Containing Cautions,
Counsels and Consolations, for such of the Disciples of Christ as are seeking to be like their
Lord. By Rev. DANIEL WISE, A. M., author of the, Path of Life. Just from the press, and
selling rapidly. The Sixth Thousand in press. It is got up in two styles, one of which will
retail at twenty-five cents, and the other at thirty-one cents. Read the following recommendations:'" A small book, but filled with very great truths. We commend it cordially to all."
Northern Christian Aldvocate.
"' We commend this volume as a fit companion for those who love Jesus, and agte seek
ing to know more of him." - Western Christian Advocate.
"A tiny book, but rich in good things." - Christian Advocate.
" Its topics, all on important themes of Christian life and duty, are presented in les
sons, rich in illustrations variously expressed, and happily combining instruction with
edification. We have read some of its lessons with great interest, and we think, also,
with profit; and can recommend it as well adapted for general circulation." -Richmond
Christian Advocate.' It is a pithy little book, abounding in the well-known excellences of its author's able
pen. Few writers have a happier tact at illustration. Some of his' figures' are devices
for the worker in gold. The religious tone of the volume is of the highest order. It is a
good presentation book." - National Magazine.
" It is admirably adapted to promote the instruction and spirituality of the reader." -
Christian Guardian.
LOVEST THOU ME, Etc. -By REV. DANIEL WISE, A. M. A new edition of this
exceedingly popular little work is now in press, and will be ready in a few days. We
know of no work which ministers can circulate to better advantage among their people
than this. The Thirteenth Thousand. It is recommended as follows:
"' This manual of devotion is a companion for the pious, whose gentle teachings are
pure, and full of comfort and encouragement. Its study will mend the morals and adorn
the heart." -Richmond Christian Advocate.
" This is an intrinsically delightful and mechanically beautiful volume, from the prolific
and versatile pen of Rev. Daniel Wise. It is just one of the gift books for the holidays
which no one, who desires to quicken the flow of friendship, should omit to purchase, and
send to some friend, as a token of affectionate interest in his spiritual welfare. It pos
sesses every quality of adaptation to such a sweet and silent mission of love and spiritual
refreshing." - North-western Christian Advocate.
"' It may be read with pleasure and profit by every Christian." - Christian Guardian
Got up in two styles; retailing at twenty-five and thirty-one cents.
LIVING STREAMS FROTIf THE FOUJTAMIN OF LIFE. - Containing a Scripture
Text, a choice Aphorism, and a Verse of Poetry, for every day in the year. By REv. DANIEL
WISE. Just from the press. Got up in two styles; retailing at twenty-five and thirty
one cents each.
SACRED ECHOES FROM2I THE HARP OF DAVID. - A  choice volume for spirit.
ual Christians. By REV. DANIEL WISE, A. M. Just from the press. Retailing at twenty
five and thirty-one cents.
Address Rev. R. W.  Allen, No. 5 Cornhill, Boston,   aMs.




RECOMMEND- TIONS.
REVIVAL MISCELLANIES.- Altogether, this is a remarkable volume.;Ill of
its author's peculiarities of style and composition, varied in subjects, rich in
expression, striking in illustration, vigorous in thought, forcible in manner, stirring in zeal, and glowing with a high and holy spirituality, it will make its mark
on the heart of the reader, augment his anxiety to know more of God as he
works out the good pleasure of his goodness in the depths of the soul,,and elevate
him by its own earnestness to a richer and profounder knowledge of the grace
that is in Christ Jesus.
The title-page of the volume does not "hold a promise to the ear, to break it
to the hope." It is a true and faithful index of the book as to its subject, as
reliable as the hands of a well-regulated time-piece; and as well furnished with
the appliances of moral quickening and godly edifying as any volume of its size
to be found. We are quite sure that the volume deserves, and will receive, an
extensi ~e circulation. - Richmond Christian Advocate.
REVIVAL MISCELLan  IES. — This book is quite miscellaneous in its character,
but full of the strong and original traits of the author, who is one of the most
remarkable men of our times. All who have read the preceding volume will be
interested in this as much, if not more. It will do good. - Herald and Journal.
REVIVAL MISCEriLANIE is the title of a remarkably successful book, the publishers having sold over eighteen hundred copies in fifteen days after its publication! It is a book for the times; full of burning thoughts, and admirably
calculated to guide earnest and inquiring minds into the attainment of " the faith
of assurance," and into such paths of extraordinary usefulness as were trodden
by a Page, a Martyn, a Wesley, or a Payson. - New Bedford Standard.
THE sermons of Mr. Caughey were preached during the great revivals he witnessed in England. They were taken down by stenographers and committed to
the press, and had a very extensive sale. They contain many passages of great
beauty, force, and power; rich in illustration, direct, and earnest. His thoughts
on revivals, holiness, &c., in the second part, are deeply interesting, and cannot
be read without moving the heart. We believe the book is calculated to de
immense good. - Writer in the Western Christian Advocate.
A BoON TO THE CiunRCI. - Of the many new books which, for a long time past,
have been brought before the notice of the public, there is not one we have read
with so much interest or profit as the " Revival Miscellanies." Part I. contains
eleven of those "Revival Sermons," which, under God, have been instrumenta.
in the awakening and conversion of hundreds, if not thousands, of souls. Part II.
is exceedingly miscellaneous, and contains some of the best thoughts we ever met
with on matters and subjects of vital importance to the interests of religion and
the salvation of the world.  Thoughts and style are Mr. Caughey's own. NTo
plagiarism here. Everything here bears the manifest impress of Mr. C.'s bold,
original, unique and fruitful mind. We have read it, much to our spiritual
profit. The happiest hours of last Sabbath were spent in its soul-thrilling and
spirit-stirring pages. We verily believe it has aroused us to deeds of more daring valor aoainst sin and hell.
Now, we want every minister of the M. E. Church to get a good supply of this
work. Let him scatter it amongst his people, accompanied with the advice that
they read it with much prayer, that the holy unction which it breathes may
descend unto their own soul. This being done, our church will become the
theatre of such agonizing and prevailing prayer, - combined, earnest and successful effort, - saving and converting power, as hath:aot been witnessed since the
day of the Pentecostal rain. If ever we did meet with a beok we wished to see




RECOMMENDATIONS.
put in the hands of all our people, it is the one now before us. It ought to havG
a mnore extended circulation than even "3Meth.odism  in Earnest," for really it
appears to be more earnest even than that.  Now for a gene;al rally. All hands
to work..  Let us scatter this book like the leaves of autumn. - From a correspondent of the Herald and Journal.
THESE are extraordinary compositions, well adapted to awaken the slumbering,
and alarmn the careless.  They are pointed, imaginative, impressive, and power.
filly exciting. -  Wesleysan Association _Magazine, London.
CAUGHEY'S EARNE'ST C{RI[STIANITY  ILLUSTRATED.  Being Selections
from the Journal of Mr. Caughey, and containing several of his Sermons, etc., etc. With
an Introductory Sketch of the Life of Mr. Caughey, by Rev. DANIEL WIsE. This is a new
work of Mr. Caughey's, never before published, and is about the size of his "Revival
Miscellanies," got up in the best style. The Fourteenth Thousand. Retails for $1. The
following are a few of the many favorable notices of the work:
"Like all other works from the pen of Brother Caughey, it will do good wherever it goes,
and to all who, with a sincere and pious heart, will peruse its pages." -Dr. Elliott, of
Western Christian Adv.
"' It will hardly be possible to read these thrilling pages of unparalleled revival efforts
and success, without feeling the soul fired to deeds of bolder daring against sin and hell.
All such as are seeking after higher Christian attainment, should make this book, next to
their Bible, their closet companion." - Correspondence of Zion's Herald.
"' This volume will fall not a whit behind its predecessors in awakening the interest of its
readers, and enlivening their spirituality. It has many strong points, exciting incidents,
and is full of an intense and transforming spirituality." - Dr. Lee, of Richmond Christian
Advocate.
" Like the'Revival Miscellanies,' it will make the heart of the reader better - the head
wiser - and thereby purify and intensify the Christian character. Like the mystic wheels
in the Prophet's vision, the'spirit of life' is in it. We are not surprised (and it augurs
well for the Church) that an edition of four thousand copies was nearly exhausted in a
week after it made its appearance, uncommon as are such occurrences even in the annals
of the most successful authorship." -J. V. WYatson, of the North-western Christian
Aidvocate.
The demand for the above works is unprecedented in the history of Methodist publications.
Multitudes have been aroused from their spiritual slumbers by reading them. They are
books for Ministers, Class-Leaders, Young Converts, Christ's tempted ones, and for all who
desire to be useful and holy. A large number of ministers in all parts of the country are
engaged in selling them. For sale at all the Methodist Book Depositories, from Canada to
California. For the retail price, they will be sent, by mail, to any part of the country, free
of postage.
SHOWERS OF BLESSING
FROM CLOUDS OF MERCY.
SELECTED  FROM  THE JOURNAL AND  OTHER  WRITINGS OF THE
REV. JAMES CAUGHEY.
CONTAINING stirring Scenes and Incidents during great revivals in Birmingham, and other
places in England, under his ministry - Several of MR. CAUCGEY'S awakening Addresses
and Sermons - Thoughts on Holiness - Notes of Personal Experience - and Observations
upon Persons and Places Visited. Retail, $1.
This is an entirely new work of Mr. Caughey's, and will be found full as interesting as his
other works, which have had such an extraordinary sale. His " REVIVAL MISCELLANIES "
has reached its forty-third thousand.
[l  Large profits made in selling these works, as a very large discount is allowed. Presiding Elders and other ministers are engaged in their sale all over the country. For sale
at all the METHODIST BOOK DEPOSITORIES. Books can be easily sent from Boston to any
part of the country.
[j- For agencies address REv. R. W. ALLEN, NO. 5 CoaRIILL, BOSTON.