REVIVAL IN THE HIGHLANDS (Glenlyon).

Extract of a letter from a minister, who witnessed it, to a friend.

 

My Dear Sir, 

Having been up the country during most of last month, and being at that time a week in Glenlyon, I am now able to give a short account of the great revival of religion which has taken place in that highly favoured part of the Highlands. The great desire evinced to hear the glad tidings of salvation, by the people in general, surpasses every thing of the kind I ever witnessed. To inform any person, who may fall in the way, that a sermon is to be preached at such a place and hour, the report flies, like the fiery cross of old, in all directions, on both sides of the river, to the distance of many miles, and old and young are at the place fixed on, a long while before the hour appointed.

 

Mr K[ennedy] of Aberfeldy [later Inverness], by his prudence, excessive and disinterested labours, and the remarkable success attending them, has gained the esteem and confidence of the people of Glenlyon. To introduce me, therefore, to them, he preached there in the open air, cold as the day was, on the Sabbath before I went thither, and intimated a sermon for me on Monday evening, at Invervar, and continued to labour with me during the week.

 

On my arrival at Invervar, the largest dwelling-house in the hamlet was immediately cleared, and temporary forms were placed closely in order; but long before the hour appointed for sermon the house was completely filled, and men, women, and children were seen coming in crowds, with hasty steps, from all quarters of the long Glen. As we could not, like Mr K., once before, preach at night by candle light, in the open air, the people applied for a large meal mill which was near, and though busy at work, it was instantly stopped to give place to the bread of immortal life. When the broad two-leaved door was thrown open, by the eagerness of the people to gain admission, the press was so violent, that we feared what might be the consequences; a vast number, for want of room, stood contentedly before the door, beaten by the high wind and pierced by the cold. The most of those within were standing; and when we, with some difficulty, got entrance, nothing could be seen around the rough machinery, and on the area of the mill, but human faces. In a Glen so narrow, and in many places of it where the inhabitants live at so great a distance from one another, it would astonish a stranger whence so many human beings came: I was so wedged in where I stood, that some of those behind had their chins placed almost on my shoulders. A young woman, who was very near, wept bitterly and aloud all the time, which would have been exceedingly disagreeable to me, had I not known the cause of her grief. Though we both spoke long, young and old heard with the most earnest and solemn attention. The solemnity of their countenances methinks is yet imprinted on my mind. Had Paul been there, and continued his speech till midnight, I am certain there would not have been any Eutychus asleep among them.

 

It was 10 o’clock when we dismissed, and many of our hearers were then above five miles from their homes, and some of them had to wade through the rapid river which runs down the middle of the Glen. But great distance, high wind and rain, dark nights, bad roads, flooded streams, snow, and even mountains covered with snow, cannot easily deter these people from hearing the glorious gospel of the blessed God: they do not consult their own ease or safety, nor regard walking several miles in the night, in face of wind and rain, to a place where a sermon had been appointed, when sinking to the ankles at every step in mire. I said to one of those who walked along with us, ‘this road is very bad.’ ‘Trifling matters of a worldly nature at times, Sir, give as much concern,’ was the pithy and significant reply made.

 

Having, on the first evening I reached the Glen, appointed sermon for next day, at one o’clock pm, three miles farther up, on the south side of the river, we had scarcely finished breakfast in the morning, when told, unless we repaired instantly to the boat, we could not cross the water that day, the streams being in torrents, rushing down the face of the stupendous hills and rocks, on both sides of the Glen, and the river in many places already overflowing its banks. Of the many who wished to accompany us, none ventured into the little crazy boat but Mr K, myself, and the man who ferried us over. Some of the people, in going round by the only bridge on the river in the Glen, had to walk eight or nine miles, and to return home again the same way; others, at the risk of their lives, crossed on horseback, at a place where the river divides itself into two branches. Being an eye-witness to this, and seeing the people moving from all quarters towards the place of meeting, with such apparent desire, to hear the gospel of salvation, I never had so deep a sense of my unworthiness and unfitness to declare it – I really felt as treading on holy ground. We were requested to preach in the evening at Inverwick, which was four miles at least still farther up, that those who had to remain at home might have an opportunity of attending; but the greater part of our hearers through the day attended us there also. The fact is, that being so much exposed to the stormy weather, and preaching so often, we were both quite wearied before we left Glenlyon; but the people were not, for they earnestly pressed one of us to remain longer with them.

 

They kept Mr K. once three weeks, labouring hard every day. His health at last began to yield. Many of them, I trust, will be to him for a crown of joy and rejoicing in the great day. Some of his hearers at Aberfeldy followed him at different times to Glenlyon (the distance being about 14 miles), and there two of them were led to believe the gospel, which they heard from the same person so frequently at home. How wonderful are the ways of the Lord!

 

There are about a hundred persons in Glenlyon itself who have been awakened since the beginning of last harvest. Some of these are children from the age of 7 to 14. Many, both young and old, have now found peace to their distressed minds, through a crucified Saviour, and adorn their Christian profession by their circumspect conduct: others are labouring still under the deepest sense of guilt and the most pungent grief; and not a few from time to time wonderfully and seriously impressed.

 

A few, who had at first made a sport of the fears of their neighbours, and even called the sincerity of their tears in question, heard the gospel, and they were soon convinced of the reality of both. The work of the Lord has gained so extensive and firm a footing now among them, that gainsayers are ashamed to avow their sentiments; and the people in general acknowledge, that a complete change of heart, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, is absolutely necessary before any one can be saved. Many indeed candidly confess, though they can distinguish truth in its grand leading doctrines from error, that no saving change has yet taken place on themselves; they say that their hearts are too hard and indifferent to divine things to be changed.

 

These people, before the present revival, had a faint show of the form of Godliness, but as believers among them can well testify, they were to a high degree prejudiced against its real power. But little or nothing has been said by them against the gospel or its blessed effects, since one Sabbath, that Mr M’[Gillivray] of [Strathfillan] preached in the chapel of Inverwick. Like a good soldier of Jesus Christ, he on that day spoke plainly and pointedly to them, and many believed to the saving of their souls: and as all had the fullest confidence in the piety and ability of the preacher, prejudices seem from that date to be wholly removed: at any rate, every thing like persecution is entirely chased from the place, and those who are seriously impressed are in the kindest manner treated by worldly men. Parents seem to rejoice when their children are concerned about their everlasting welfare; and masters have allowed their servants to remit their work for days, during their distress of mind, that they might read the scriptures, with which they are well supplied, and to which they resort for consolation. Those who are not constrained to do good by the love of God, are either restrained from much evil by solemn awe, or a sense of shame before men.

 

Last Christmas, New Year’s Day, Hansel Monday, their usual famous days for sport, madness, and superstition, were entirely overlooked throughout a Glen of 38 miles in length, and by a population that may amount to 600 or 700. A number of the young people having been invited some time since to attend a wedding in Rannoch, and finding on their arrival they were piping, fiddling, and dancing, they sat in a room by themselves conversing about profitable subjects.

 

All with whom I met distressed in mind were modest, teachable, and suppressed their agitated feelings as long and as much as they could; and those who have obtained peace are attending diligently to the duties of their respective callings, reading the scriptures, and are I hope making rapid progress in knowledge. It is indeed possible, that some of those who have been awakened may deceive others and also themselves; but a people so naturally sharp, active, and intelligent, and who have their minds so much led to divine things, we have every reason to believe that the Lord will raise up many of them to praise His name, whose convictions may not appear so pungent as those of some whom we have seen. But laying aside all conjectures as to the result of the present revival, in its different bearings, we most thankfully give the glory to God for what he has already done. The powerful work of his hand is conspicuously displayed in Glenlyon.

 

The great fertilising shower is now pouring down copiously on Fortingall, and the first heavy drops of it have begun to fall on Breadalbane. In all quarters of these places, there is a great desire to hear the gospel. Many are inquiring after truth – many are seriously impressed, and some of late gave decided proof of their being made new creatures. The pious Mr F[indlater]’s unwearied exertions to do good, both in public and private, are eminently countenanced; and the people of Glenlyon, crossing the high snowy mountains so often to hear him at L[awers], have truly provoked those on both sides of Loch Tay to jealousy.

P. M.

 

From the Evangelical Magazine of October 1817.

Revival – some questions

I would like to ask some basic questions about revival that affect us in the Scottish Highlands in particular?

First, can revival come to a Christian community that is divided (as the church in the Highlands is)? Obviously, division is not desirable, but does its existence automatically prevent revival coming? The answer from church history is that it does not. For example, the Erskine brothers, who had separated from the Church of Scotland, disagreed strongly with George Whitefield’s practice of preaching in evangelical Church of Scotland congregations and spoke harsh words against him. The disagreement resulted in an open breach. Yet both Whitefield and the Erskines continued to enjoy periods of revival through their preaching.

This is not to say that divisions will not produce aspects that mar the beauty of a revival, such as believers not praying together for converts or rejoicing together over converts. Nor does it means that God-sent revival will not result in unity being restored eventually. In fact, to maintain a wrong spirit in times of revival is a dangerous response from a Christian. Nevertheless although we live in a divided Christian community, we should not be discouraged from praying for revival.

Second, can revival come to a community that is diminished in population (as many parts of the Scottish Highlands are)? Sometimes the impression can be given that revival only occurs in places where there is a large number of people. When we picture in our minds a congregation experiencing revival, what do we imagine? We think of the vast crowds that listened to Whitefield and Wesley or that used to gather at communion seasons in the Highlands during the years of revival. What we forget is that often these crowds were swollen by large numbers who often travelled long distances. The reality is that the presence of revival in a small community can only be gauged by the effects in that area. And if every person in that area was converted, it would still not be a large number. So revival does not need large numbers to be called a revival; it all depends on whether a sizable percentage in a community is converted.

Third, what would be the point in God giving a revival to small congregations in communities with a declining population? There are many possible answers to this question. Here are three:

A first answer concerns the glory of God: revival in a small congregation shows that progress is not by human might or power, but by the Spirit; Jesus is to be honoured in small communities as well as larger ones.

A second answer concerns the present state of the church: revival can raise up in a small community a group of Christians that would be mighty in prayer, not just for its immediate community, but for the entire nation, and for the spread of the gospel throughout the world.

A third answer concerns the future: revival in a small congregation should ensure that there will be a Christian church for the foreseeable future in that community; it should also maintain the existence of Christian families from who may come individuals who will be used by the Saviour decades from now, long after we are no longer here.

Fourth, what methods will bring revival to us? There are several spiritual blessings that may be known without revival being experienced. These include dedicated Christian living (many believers have lived devoted Christian lives without seeing revival), harmonious church experiences (sense of God’s presence in the public meetings of his people), biblical preaching in content and manner, hearty witnessing to one’s faith etc. The reality is that revival comes primarily through earnest, insistent, reverent, communal prayer to God that King Jesus would send the Holy Spirit in gracious power.

Encouragements for prayer for revival are many: the purpose of God (often he uses revival to achieve conversions), the promises of God (there are many promises concerning revival in the Bible), and records of previous revivals (I can understand why many Christians do not like to read heavy theological literature or books of sermons or ponderous biographies, but I cannot understand a Christian who would not enjoy reading accounts of the great days of spiritual blessing of the past; reading them expands our estimation of what God can do in our communities today).

I have been reading about a three-year revival in GlenLyon in Perthshire that happened in the second decade of the nineteenth century. Glen Lyon was hardly the centre of national life at that time, yet its experience of revival had both widespread and long-term effects. They were widespread in that many of those blessed during the revival moved elsewhere, including abroad, and took its influence with them; also other parishes in the country were encouraged to pray for revival and, for all I know, that revival may have been a catalyst for the country-wide spiritual movement that preceded the Disruption. The effects were long-term because I noticed that several biographies of nineteenth-century ministers that I have read recently (selected without me knowing the connection) ministered to a spiritually healthy congregation in that out-of-the-way community.

Of course, this leads to one more question: when did the effects of that revival die out, or perhaps they are still being felt somewhere in the world?

Revival – some thoughts

I suppose many definitions could be given of revival, although most of them would be related to historical records, which means that there is the fact of revival. There are so many records of such spiritual occasions that only a perverse person would deny they occurred.

Further, many factors related to it can be assessed biblically, which means that there is a theology of revival. A theology of revival attempts to explain God’s action in promoting his kingdom through the gospel. It looks for biblical doctrines that describe, for example, the involvement of the risen Jesus in revival, the work of the Spirit in revival, the activity of the devil in such periods, the contribution of prayer made by God’s people for such times and in such times.

A third aspect of revival are features that are absent from some revivals and present in other revivals, which indicate that these features are not necessary for a revival to occur. Most of these things would come into the category of social consequences, and they may be beneficial or not for the community. For example, some revivals are accompanied by great improvement in the living standards of the poor (the revivals connected to 1859 in Britain and America had that consequence). Other revivals are followed by increased persecution of God’s people, resulting in loss of living standards (this happened throughout the twentieth century in communist countries).

A fourth feature of revival is that we inevitably visualise it through our own understanding of it. There have been frequent revivals in the Highlands, particularly the Outer Hebrides during the last two centuries and details of what took place in them have become part of our spiritual heritage. The knowledge of what God did then creates within us a longing for him to do it again. As I have listened to these accounts during the last three decades since I was converted, I have sensed that many people assumed that, when the next revival comes, it will be a repetition of what occurred previously. But while the gospel message will not change and the response of repentance and faith will be essential, there may be features in the next revival that will be totally different from previous ones.

For example, if a revival began tomorrow, what would be the contribution of modern technology? Revivals in the eighteenth century occurred within the limitations of the time: information containing points for prayer was conveyed by letter that could take months to reach their destination, preachers travelled on horseback or walked between places, and sometimes places experiencing revival were unaware that communities twenty miles away were also enjoying God’s blessing in a similar way (it also meant that some communities were unaware that a revival was taking place anywhere). Revivals in the nineteenth century utilised the invention of the telegraph and the development of printing of books to help spread the revival. A revival thirty years ago had the means of tape recordings and telephones to help it (we may not be familiar with that because we have not experienced a revival in which they were used.) But if a revival comes tomorrow, it is likely that the Lord would use our current technology as one of the means of bringing people to repentance and assurance. Sometimes, we look at the millions of people in our society and we ask ourselves, ‘How can we reach all these people?’ The question usually expects a negative answer. Whether God will bring a revival or not tomorrow, it is obvious that through modern technology the gospel can be preached to millions of people simultaneously.

And if God poured his Spirit out on our nation, it would not be difficult for the gospel to get prime time slots on TV schedules. The forms of media (newspapers, journals) that existed in times of previous revival were quick to report on revivals, and there is no need to imagine that modern media would ignore a widespread revival.