Series 6 > McCulloch examinations of the Cambuslang revival (1742) > Volume 6

16
EXAMINATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER SPIRITUAL CONCERN II
[33/-] b.w. A Man of 50 years1
I was train’d up by my Parents to a custom of praying in Secret, when I was
a Child, but when I advanced to youth and manhood, I in a great measure
laid it aside; and when at any times I went about it, it was always cross the
grain. I went however usually to Church on the Sabbath days, but it was in
a great measure only out of custom. I usd in my former life to be too much
addicted to several evil ways, particularly keeping idle company, playing at
cards 8c drinking to excess. And thus it continued with me, till about till about
two years ago. And some more, when going to Cambuslang about the end of
February 1742, and hearing a Minister (26)2 preach [34/-] from a Text which
I do not now distinctly remember, concerning the exceeding evil & sinfulness
of Sin, as dishonoring to God & piercing to the blessed Redeemer, as well as
exposing the Sinner to Eternal misery [],3 I found a strange stirring in my
heart, & got such a sight & deep sense of the evil of my sins both of heart &
life that I could have found in my heart to have torn my self all to inches, for
my sins whereby I had offended such a gracious & glorious God, & wounded
such a merciful & compassionate Saviour: and it was with great difficulty that
I could get my Self refrained from crying out among the people. And this
distress of soul continued with me near to a month thereafter.
[35/-] During that Month, I was often reduc’d to so great confusion, that
I thought sometimes I should have gone distracted. I went every Lord’s day
to Cambuslang, & often also on week days, to hear Sermon there, and got
always further and clearer Convictions of my sin and the lost condition I
was in. I was also led to be very much in Secret Prayer, at least essaying it:
for sometimes I could pray none at all, when I essay’d it. Sometimes when I
would have gone about that duty, I have continued kneeling for about half an
hour before I could get one word uttered. And Satan laboured hard to drive
me from that duty, & all others, telling me, That now it was too late & to no
purpose. Yet there was still a hankering in my heart to go to Cambuslang,
to hear Sermon, & to pray by my self, and some small glimmering hope of
mercy, tho but very small, & scarce discernible.
[36/—] About a month after this first awakening, hearing a Minister (who
it was I do not now remember) at Camb. cite some passage of Scripture in
his Sermon, I turn’d over the leaves of my Bible to find it; and while I was
seeking for it, another Text which he did not cite, cast up to me, & my eyes
1 Bailie Weir — the shorthand text in McCulloch’s ‘Index of persons’ names who gave the
foregoing accounts to Mr. McC’ states: from Hamilton; taught to read and write, and later
got the Catechism to heart and retained it.
2 Wilham McCulloch (1691-1771) - minister, Cambuslang.
3 Insertion [‘that there was no remedy but the application of the blood of Christ’]: McCulloch.