True account of the wonderful conversion at Cambuslang

A TRUE

ACCOUNT

OF THE WONDERFUL

CONVERSION

AT

CAMBUSLANG;

Contained in a

LETTER from a GENTLEMAN in the Gorbals of Glasgow, to his Friend at Greenock.

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This is now published, to expose the Falshood of the Pamphlet cry’d through the Streets of Edinburgh a few Days ago, intitul’d, A Letter from a Gentleman in the West-country to his Friend at Edinburgh, giving an Account of the remarkable Conversions at Cambuslang.

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GLASGOW, Printed:
And reprinted at Edinburgh on Monday the 12th of April 1742.

ADVERTISEMENT.

AS t'other Day there was publish’d here a most wicked and profane Paper, intitul'd, A Letter from a Gentleman in the West-country to his Friend at Edinburgh, giving an Account of the remarkable Conversions at Cambuslang; which instead of setting that Matter in a true Light, seems rather calculated to cast a Slur upon it, yea, to throw Contempt on serious Godliness itself and to make it the Song of the Drunkard: It was thought proper to give this short but genuine Account of that glorious Work, of the Truth of which, as there are several Hundreds of Witnesses, the Publick may rest well satisfied, till a more full and circumstantiate Account thereof, with its various Circumstances (which is now preparing for the Press) be published, which 'tis hoped the Nation may be served with a few Weeks hence.

EXTRACT

OF A

LETTER

FROM A

GENTLEMAN in Greenock

TO HIS

FRIEND in the Gorbals of Glasgow.

SIR,

THE Work at Cambuslang is so differently spoke of with us, that serious People are at a Loss what Opinion to entertain about it; and even People who went from this Place to Cambuslang, on purpose to satisfy themselves, differ after they are come home; some calling it merely Delusions, others judging it a glorious Work of the Spirit of Almighty God: So, for my and others of your Acquaintances here their Satisfaction, I have troubled you with this Missive, desiring you may favour us with your Opinion of the Affair. In giving it freely, you’ll oblige,

⁠Greenock, March⁠SIR,
⁠26. 1742.
⁠Your humble Servant,
⁠A.B.

A true ACCOUNT of the wonderful Conversion at Cambuslang.

SIR,

IN Answer to yours, in few Words, take the following Account of the Work at Cambuslang. Notwithstanding of all the Slur cast upon it, I can take it to be nothing but the mighty Power of God, concuring with the Means of Grace of God’s own Institution and Appointment, and making a preach’d Gospel mighty thro’ God to the pulling down of strong Holds, &c. And, after strict and impartial Enquiry and Examination into its first Spring and Rise, I tell you, that Mr. McC——h hath, for a considerable Time bypast, been praying fervently for a Revival to decayed Religion, and that God might glorify himself in the Conversion of Sinners, be the Instruments who will. And, after he had preached long upon the New Birth, he was observed one Day in Prayer to express himself; Lord, who hath believed our Report? or to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? Where is the Fruit of my poor Labours among this People? Upon his expressing which Words, severals in the Congregation instantly cry’d out publickly. I must likewise observe to you, that the People there have been wonderfully given to private, secret and social Prayer, and religious Conferences, assembling themselves, as the Manner of some is, and considering one another to provoke to Love and good Works. And, as there has been unusual wrestling and pouring forth of their Hearts in Prayer, Intercessions and Supplications, it appears evident to me that the Hearer of Prayer hath heard in Heaven his dwelling Place, and turned their Prayers into their Bosom; and, as they have been unusually exercised, there’s unusual Fruits now following thereupon: For,

1st, The Reverend Mr. McC——h, or some other for him, hath preached daily, Sabbaths and Week-days, these five Weeks last bypast; and several Days he and another both.

2dly, These publick Ordinances have been attended with People in the Parish, and out of the Parish, from distant Places, thirsting after the sincere Milk of the Word.

3dly. Either before or after publick Worship, and ordinarily both, the People conveened in the Manse, the Church, or other convenient Places for Prayer, praising, reading the Scriptures, solving Cases of Conscience, religious Conferences, and the like godly Exercises.

4thly, At publick Ordinances there has appeared amidst the whole Congregation great and unusual Awaknings among the Hearers, insomuch that severals have been pricked in their Hearts, and cry’d out, like Peter’s Hearers, Men and Brethren, what shall we do to be saved? Others lamenting their lost State, adding, They have been Despisers and Rejecters of a crucified Christ. And others unable to conceal great Raptures of Joy in their Believing, and using all friendly Offices to administer Consolation and Comfort to those in Soul-trouble.

5thly. There have been several drooping and disconsolate Persons, after swooning amidst the Congregation, carried to the Manse, and attended closely there several Days and Nights by Mr. McC——h and other Ministers or Preachers, and known experienced Christians approven by them, who have been at all Pains imaginable with them, praying with and for them, solving their Doubts, and administring Consolation to them on Scripture-grounds.

6thly, Persons thus exercised have consisted most of illiterate Folk, or of those formerly or no very great Note for Christian Knowledge, Profession or Practice of Religion; yet now, by all that appears to the Minister and other solid judicious experimental Christians, there’s a real, thorow and universal Change wrought upon them; and the Converts are mostly, tho’ not altogether, young Ones.

7thly, I’m credibly informed, that the apparent Change wrought at Cambuslang, by Means of a preached Gospel, doth prove itself to have been real by the Fruits and good Effects that have followed thereupon in their Lives, after they have gone Home; particularly, their spending spare Time in secret Retirements, pouring forth their Hearts in Prayer, and by their being strict and circumspect in their After-walk and Conversation.

8thly, As the Work holds on, and some Persons are newly awakned, which were not known to be concerned before; so Mr. McC——h seems to renew his Strength; and notwithstanding of extraordinary Fatigue and Toil, both in Season and out of Season, he seems to be more than ordinarily lively, prompt and extemporary, in all the Parts of his Ministerial Work.

And tho’ I’m neither to say that all who have been convicted have actually been converted, nor that the Convictions of all have been alike deep, durable and genuine; yet I assure you there’s been Days of Power there, and such Days as I take to be in Answer to the Prayers, Wishes and Wrestlings of such as seek the Face of the God of Jacob with their whole Hearts Desire, even yet in this Day of Upfittenness, Deadness and Formality: But such as are otherwise minded, they'll oblige me if they answer the subsequent Queries.

Q. 1. Where doth it appear that Satan ever promoted the Interest of his Kingdom purely by the preached Gospel, since ’tis the very Device infinite Wisdom hath contrived for its Overthrow?

Q. 2. Where can we instance that Satan wrought in People an earnest Desire and Thirsting after the Ordinances as new-born Babes after the Breast?

Q. 3. If it be not rather one of the Depths and Devices of Satan, to lull People asleep in Security and Thoughtlesness about a future State, rather than to prompt them, jointly with exercised Folk, to wake when others sleep, in praying, wrestling, praising, religious Conference, and proposing Doubts and Fears about their spiritual State?

Q. 4. Doth it not appear evident that ’tis the Spirit of the Lord poured down, when we see young Ones, not come to Age to discern betwixt the right Hand and the left in religious Concerns, having the Gift and the Grace of Prayer; as appears by their fervent Expostulations, importunate Wrestlings, and, in the Tongue of the Learned, speaking Words in Season to Christians of old Standing?

Q. 5. Granting there may be Hypocrites among them, if some have been brought savingly to believe the Report, can any deny that the Arm of the Lord hath been revealed?

Q. 6. Is it not the Manner of God, in dealing with adult Persons, to begin the saving Work of their Conversion with convincing them?

Q. 7. Whether or not it were better Conduct to be thankful for such Revivings in a Day of Deadness under the Ordinances, than entertain groundless Prejudices and false Aspersions, be the Raisers of them who will?

Q. 8. Ought we not to construct it as a Token for Good at the Hand of God, when, at this extraordinary Work, ’tis evident he is supplying his Servants with extraordinary Supports both inwardly and outwardly?

Thus, Sir, I have endeavoured to satisfy you in answering your Letter.

⁠I am
Gorbals, March
⁠29. 1742.⁠Your most humble Servant,
⁠M. O.