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

EXAMINATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER SPIRITUAL CONCERN II
185
[419/-] b.b.1
I had a Religious Education, and usd to pray in Secret when a Child, sometimes,
and when I came to serve my Apprentiship: but very often neglected it. But
after that, getting a house of my own, I minded it more frequently. And when
I came to be married, I for ordinary kept up family Worship twice a day, and
pray’d also by my self, but not so often as I did with my family. I was never
guilty of any gross vices before the World, except that I fell into a way of
profane Swearing, when I was young, for about a month: but one day hearing
a gross habitual Swearer (Swearer) saying of me to another, in my hearing,
Hear how he swears! I was immediatly so struck with the word, that for two
or three days after, I could do little but mourn & beg pardon of the Lord for
what I had done. After that I always took care to behave soberly, and never
was guilty of any gross Outbreaking before the World. I always usd to go to
Church on Sabbath days, when I could go, for I though I could not get any
good if I absented my self from Publick Ordinances, & I thought that some
time or other I would get good there: [420/-] but still I returnd as empty of
all good when I came home as when I went there.
And thus it continued with me ‘till hearing of the Awakening at Camb.
in the Spring 1742, when I went out there to see & hear, and to try if I
might get some good to my Soul. However I was under some Prejudices
against the Work there, because I had a greater liking to the Seceders &
their way than to the Church. I came out there ordinarily every Sabbath-
day for a considerable time, but got nothing sensibly: only I was struck
with amazement to hear so many people crying out so as they did there,
and thought, That surely these Cryers must be greater Sinners than the rest
that did not cry: But one Sabbath in April hearing a Minister (26)2 preach
on that Text, Ps. 68.18, Thou hast O Lord ascended up on high, thou hast
led captivity captive, thou hast received gifts for men, yea even for the
J rebellious also that God the Lord might dwell in the midst of them:3 in
[ the afternoon hearing him chiefly insisting on the latter part Yea even for
[ the rebellious also []4 &c: my pride of heart and contempt of others that
| cry’d began to fall, and I began to conclude that I was as great a Sinner as
if any of [421/—] them all: and where as before this I thought I was a very
I good Christian, now I saw all was wrong with me, & began to mourn for
| 1 Charles Thomson — the shorthand text in McCulloch’s ‘Index of persons’ names who gave
the foregoing accounts to Mr. McC’ states: shoemaker in Glasgow, age 31. Taught to read
the Bible, got the Catechism to heart, and retained it mostly.
{ 2 William McCulloch (1691-1771) - minister, Cambuslang.
I 3 Ps68:18.
} 4 Insertion [‘tho’ I cannot now remember the words that struck me’]: McCulloch.