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

EXAMINATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER SPIRITUAL CONCERN II
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[65/-] c.f. a Young Woman of 23 years1
I had scarce any form of Prayer in Secret when I was Child, or even after I
came to Womans age: it was so much against the grain with me, that I rarely
at all minded it, if it was not when I was put to it by some Friends about me.
I scarce at all thought of what would become of me after death. But still the
Lord kept from many gross Out-breakings, only I got a wicked custom of
taking his holy name in vain, & I spent much precious time in vanity and
idly company. I went however for ordinary on Sabbaths to church, but it was
more to see & be seen than for any thing else.
In May 1742,1 came to Camb. of heard Sermons on the Brae; but without
any Effect: but hearing these word in Ps. 96.6. read & sung in the Kirk at night,
O come & let us worship him
let us bow down withal
And on our knees before the Lord
Our Maker let us fall2
[66/—] I could not forbear bursting out in tears, feeling some warm motions
on my heart and hearing a woman there cry out, O Christ come, her words
affected me much, for I thought I had as much need to cry that as she. This
however wore off in a short time. I came back to Camb. next Lord’s day, but
got nothing sensibly. Next Sabbath after that, I came back to Camb. & heard
while I heard a minister (26)3 preach on that Text Ps. 68 Thou hast ascended
up on high, thou hast led captivity captive, thou hast receivd gifts for men,
even for the rebellious also &c.41 found all my sins that I had committed since
my Infancy brought as fresh to my remembrance, as at the time I committed
them, & set in order before me: and I made thereupon greatly to mourn &
grieve for all my sins, as they were dishonouring to God & rebellious against
him, and as thereby I sin my self hable to hell & damnation: and for two [67/—]
days after, I thought I would certainly perish, & that there was not mercy
for me: these despairing thoughts went off, but I continued in Soul-distress
for about a quarter of year after. Hearing a Minister (26) preach at Camb.
on that Text, Thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead,5 I thought I
was one of these & nothing but a hypocrite: and this exercised me much for
1 Janat Alston - the shorthand text in McCulloch’s ‘Index of persons’ names who gave the
foregoing accounts to Mr. McC’ states: daughter of Gavin Alston in Dalserf. Resides in
Milton, taught to read the Bible when young, got Catechism by heart, retained it mostly.
2 Ps 95:6, Scottish Psalter (metrical).
3 William McCulloch (1691-1771) - minister, Cambuslang.
4 Ps 68:18.
5 Rv 3:1.