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

EXAMINATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER SPIRITUAL CONCERN II
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with David, If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me,9 and
then the words that follow, came with a strong impression my heart, & I was
made to pronounce them with a full assurance, Surely the Lord hath heard me.
I heard that Minister () at that time, on these words, He that covereth his
sins shall not prosper, but he that confesses & forsaketh shall find mercy:10 &
was made humbly to confess all my sins before the Lord & to hope for mercy
not for my Confessions or any thing of mine, but for the sake of the merit of
the blood of Christ. After Sermons I came in to the Manse & heard a minister
(26) exhort in the Hall & could have been glad that if it had been possible,
the whole world might have heard these Exhortations, & been brought in to
Christ by means of them. On Mundays night [82/—] I went home filled with
joy & peace in believing & could have been content to have got leave to die
& go to Christ, as what was best of all, yet had my will resign’d & subjected
to the will of God, to dispose of me as was most for his Glory.
After this, tho I essayd to apply to my work, yet for some time it did go
well on with me, my mind running still after spiritual things: and I had not
been able to work for a good while before this while I was in distress of Soul;
& my Family had no other visible way to be maintaind but by my work: I
therefore earnestly pleaded that the Lord would either enable me to apply
to my work, or that he would provide for my Family in some other way.
Next day my Landlord sent enquiring if we wanted any meal? I was glad of
the offer, but told him I could not pay for it at the time, but hopd to pay it
before it was eaten. And accordingly, e’re it was done, tho’ I could not pay it
by what I made of my work, yet money owing to my Wife came to hand, in
good Providence, in an unexpected way, by which it was cleared.
After this, I applyd to my work: But Satan attacked me fiercely with
atheistical & unbelieving Suggestions, making me to doubt If there was a
God, & If Jesus Christ was the Son of God & the promised Messias: But good
Providence brought a little Book called Bishop Beveridges Thoughts11 to
my hand at that time, which was made greatly useful to me in establishing
me in the Truth, in opposition to these horrid Suggestions.
9 Ps 66:18.
10 Pr 28:13.
11 William Beveridge, Private Thoughts upon a Christian Life; or, Necessary directionsfor its beginning
and progress upon earth, in order to itsfinal perfection in the beatifick vision (London: Printed for R.
Smith, 1712).