sometimes the Lord gives much of his gracious presence and of a spirit of prayer to his people in these, though, alas! not so much as in former times. I now close with this short caution: If this paper shall fall into the hands of any concerned in the work of which it treats, who shall pervert any thing here said, towards encouraging himself in pride or carnal security, as supposing that he is reckoned here among the persevering subjects of that work; -To such I say, perhaps it is not as you imagine; but suppose it be so, what are you the better for that? What was Judas the better for being in the list, and in such repute among the other apostles? Men may approve thee, and God condemn thee: and if thou valuest thyself merely upon the approbation of others, this delusion will ruin thee for ever. Be not high-minded, but fear: those who have indeed been enabled to persevere, and may hope by grace still to persevere in the ways of God, and are the humble and lowly, the modest and self-denied; while the haughty and high-minded, the presumptuous and self-confident, have been suffered to fall, or may expect that a dangerous fall is very near. "Now to him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy-to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Upon the whole, I think I may say, "The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad." To him alone be all glory and praise, of whatever good was got or done in that remarkable work of his grace. Amen. I am, Your affectionate Brother, WILLIAM M' CULLOCH. Attestation of the Kirk Session of Cambuslang. Cambuslang Manse, April 30th, 1751. We, the under-subscribing elders, members of the kirk session of Cambuslang, having heard the foregoing Attestation read to us by our Pastor, and having maturely considered the same, paragraph by paragraph, do heartily join with him in said Attestation; and hereby make it our own, being persuaded that it contains a just and true account of the extraordinary work here in 1742, and the comfortable and abiding effects of it on many, probably more than the four hundred mentioned in the foregoing Attestation; and particularly, as to about seventy of that four hundred, who lived in this parish in the year 1742; and who were among the awakened here that year, and from that time to this, or to the time of their death, lived, (so far as we know ourselves, or by creditable information) in a blameless inoffensive way, and as becomes their Christian profession. And to what is above said, we add the following general observations. 1. The awakening in 1742 was so far from being a schismatical work, as it has been traduced by opposers, that numbers who had gone into a course of separation and division from their own ministers, and from the communion of the Presbyterian church, established by law in Scotland, returned to their own pastors, and to communion with the national church, acknowledging God was in the midst of her of a truth. And many who were at the very point of deserting the communion of this church, and separating from their own pastors, were kept back from schismatical courses; and express a most tender regard to all true ministers of Christ, especially to those who were their spiritual fathers in the Lord; and continue in full communion with this national church to this very day. 2. Though the most of the subjects of the awakening, whose exercises contained a mixture of strong fancy and imagination, are relapsed to their former sinful courses; yet there are several instances of persons whose exercises were mixed with fanciful apprehension, and which they gave out to be real representations of objects and visions, who are of the number of those who are persevering in a justifiable Christian profession and unblemished conversation. The decrease of the number of meetings for prayer, from about a dozen or more in this parish in 1742 to the number of six this current year, mentioned by our pastor in his Attestation, was occasioned not only by the backsliding of several, that at the beginning of the revival formed themselves into these meetings, but also by the death of several of the members, the removal of others from this parish, and by marriages of others; who were obliged to mind the affairs of their families. By all which, some of these meetings were quite broken up; and the remaining persevering members have joined themselves to the subsisting societies within this parish, or to other societies for prayer where providence hath now cast their lot. 4. The reason why we declare there are probably more than the four hundred persevering subjects of awakening contained in our minister's Attestation is, that when the list of the above subjects came to hand from other parishes, there were no account sent up from the West country, where we know great numbers of the subjects of the late work lived and do live; and we doubt not, numbers of these have brought and are bringing forth fruit with patience. And now, upon the whole, we, the under-subscribers, with the greatest freedom, after the most impartial inquiry and diligent care for information about the premises, being all the elders belonging to the kirk session of this parish, save one occasionally absent from this meeting, day and date aforesaid, do hereto subscribe our names. Alexander Duncan, Elder, Ingram More, Elder, Claud Somers, Elder, Bartholomew Somers, Elder. Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Edinburgh, to Mr. Robe in Kilsyth, inclosing the following Preface to the Cambuslang Narrative, latelg translated into Dutch, and printed in Holland. October 2nd, 1742. My dear Friend,—I had yesterday a letter from Mr. Kennedy at Rotterdam, of the 4th past, old style, who writes me, he got by accident a Narrative of the work at Cambuslang with the Attestation; which is printed in Dutch, and the inclosed is a copy of the Preface he wrote to it, and which was also printed in Dutch. I am persuaded it will be agreeable to you and your brethren to know that we have the united prayers, on our behalf, of all the Lord's people in the United Provinces. I hope you have already had much of the Lord's countenance in what is past of the solemnity with you, and that he will eminently own his own work and ordinance to-morrow and next day, to the bringing in of many sinners, and building up many of his own children; may the stately steps of our King, our God, be seen in his sanctuary with you. I will be glad to hear that he has eminently visited you at this time, and that the work is going on and increasing in many other places, &c. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. HUGH KENNEDY, MINISTER OF THE SCOTS CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN ROTTERDAM, WISHING GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE. THE Conversion of elect sinners to God is one of the most glorious and admirable effects of sovereign omnipotent wisdom, power, and grace, and affords matter of solemn joy to all the saints; for every one thus added to the church of Christ brings so much more of his presence and Spirit into the assembly where he worships; and adds the more strength and beauty to the Redeemer's interest in the world; he adds also to the joy of heaven-the good angels rejoice exceedingly to hear of one sinner, much more of a multitude of sinners, rescued from the cruel tyranny of Satan, and brought into the kingdom of God, who shall be sharers and companions with them in the eternal bliss and glory, and gladly become ministering spirits for the good of those heirs of salvation; and such converts will, in a very particular manner, be a crown and joy to all such who are any way concerned in bringing them to God! And can there be a more ravishing sight on this side of heaven than to behold perishing sinners, on their return to God, under the sweet but almighty conquering power of the grace of Jesus Christ? These considerations moved me with the most sensible joy when I read this Narrative of a most gracious and wonderful pouring down of the Spirit upon many persons at Cambuslang, a place within four miles of Glasgow. It is as life from the dead after a long time of barrenness and formality; and though a constant lively course of religion may in itself be more valuable, yet the sudden conversion of many careless sinners, from the way of sin and wrath, must yield a more surprising pleasure, and none but men very much strangers to a heavenly spirit, or under the influence of fearful prejudices, will do any thing to reproach such a work, to hinder it, or be exasperated and grieved at it. I am confident this Narrative will afford a very high pleasure and satisfaction to all in the United Provinces who love our Lord Jesus in sincerity, and long for his coming and kingdom. They will be glad to hear of the conversion of poor sinners, because it accomplishes God's great design of grace and love, and is the bringing of those to Christ whom the Father has given him from eternity, and in whom he will be for ever glorified. In this confidence I have cheerfully promoted the translation of this Narrative into the Dutch tongue, that so I might some way contribute to help the joy of those whose happiness in time and eternity I most sincerely pray for. I know the ministers who have attested this Narrative to be men of such excellent knowledge in the truths and ways of God, such solid piety, and of such fidelity and integrity, that their testimony in this matter |