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

EXAMINATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER SPIRITUAL CONCERN II
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have had it. When I heard Sermons, it was not the terrors & threatnings
of the Law that affected me, but the slighting and neglecting of Christ &
Salvation, that I had been guilty of so long. At the Close of this Sermon the
Mint (26) appointed the 13 th Psalm to be sung, How long will thou forget
me Lord &c:6 At the singing of which I was so affected that I had almost
cry’d again out, but got it refraind till after Sermon that I was by my self, &
then my heart was ready to burst.
At hearing a Minr () on that text at Camb. He hears the cry of the poor
& needy: When he said. It is better to cry out now then to cry for ever in
hell, I could not allow my self to cry out for all that: but when he added, I
hope there are some crying in their hearts to God, that are not crying out
with their voice, I was sure I was one of these.
[390/—] One Sabbath in Harvest 1742, hearing being in the Barony Kirk,
at singing of the 8th Psalms at the Entry of publick worship, I was greatly
affected, especially at these words, Then said I What is man that he, remembred
is by thee,7 I was then made to admire at the patience of God toward me,
that he had [. . .] cast me into Hell long e’re then. The Minr (19)8 that day
preachd on that text, He will speak peace to his people & to his Saints, but
let them not turn again to folly. He had been preaching on it before, when I
was not present: & now he said, He would address himself to three sorts of
persons, Those that never had any peace spoke to them from God, and that
no concern to obtain it: those that knew not whether ever God had spoke
peace to them or no: & those that could say on good grounds that God had
spoken peace to them. When he spoke to the first sort, I thought I was one
of them, for that I had never had any suitable Concern upon me for peace
from God and my Soul-distress was then very great at this apprehension: &
was glad that there was yet a Call to me to seek after [391/-] this peace &
any possibihty to obtain it, & my heart was earnestly crying to God for it.
I thought also that I was among the second sort, for tho I could not deny I
had had some Concern for peace with an offended God by Jesus Christ, yet I
knew not if ever God had spoke peace to me or no: but now O how precious
would have such an Intimation have been to my Soul. In singing the 4th Psalm
at the Close, especially these words.
Upon my heart bestow’d by thee
More gladness I have found
Than they even then when corn & wine,
Did most with them abound.9
6 Ps 13:1, Scottish Psalter (metrical).
7 Ps 814, Scottish Psalter (metrical).
8 John Hamilton (d. 1780) - minister, Barony/Glasgow; translated to St Mungo’s in 174.9.
9 Ps 4:7, Scottish Psalter (metrical).