The Lord is blessing abundantly the labours of our brother Vine, both in the conversion of many sinners and the stirring up of His saints. The numbers increase at every meeting, and the Lord's presence is felt by all. Believers of different denominations are entering heartily in the work and are persuaded that He who has begun it will continue in the same, and perform still greater things.
"The Revival," February 16th, 1865.
The Lord is greatly blessing the earnest labours of his dear servant, Mr Vine, in this place. The largest available rooms in the lowest localities of the town are nightly crowded with listeners, whose eager attention bespeaks their interest in the truths so faithfully and lovingly proclaimed; while here and there the bowed head; the stifled sob or fast-flowing tear, tells of hearts moved by the terrors of the Lord or melted by Divine Love. We rejoice to know of eighteen precious souls brought to Jesus through the instrumentality of our dear brother who are walking consistently before the world, letting their light shine. Very interesting are these cases. Two are sisters converted almost at the same time; two others were saved from the streets. One dear boy, the only son of his mother, and she a widow had come home from sea. The Lord met with him at the first service he attended; soon after he found peace in believing, and now goes on his way rejoicing. I could multiply similar cases. Several who have told me they had been under conviction, and some really anxiously labouring after salvation for years, have been enabled, through the simple preaching of the shed blood, to rest upon it, as their ground of acceptance with God. Backsliders have been restored; the lukewarm roused to their first love; while the many anxious ones who stay to be spoken with after every service, lead us to trust in the Lord that those gathered out of Satan's kingdom are but as the first drops of the shower of blessing coming; and this work of the Lord is going on among the lowest and poorest of our population who seldom go to any place of worship. During the last month two deeply interesting services were conducted by Mr Vine at Stowmarket. Six or seven hundred people were packed into a large room and many went away, unable to get even near enough to the door to hear the word spoken. The Lord's presence was indeed felt as the numbers in concern about their souls, who stayed after the service, testified. Several who retired to a smaller room, where Mr Vine addressed them, left it with a song of praise in their mouths. They heard, believed and lived. Many were the entreaties our dear brother had to come again. May the Lord carry on his work! Dear fellow Christians, wrestle with God for a blessing on Ipswich and its neighbourhood. We have proved Him to be a prayer-answering God. Let us open our mouths wide for Him to fill, remembering the all-prevailing plea, "for Christ's sake." "If ye ask anything in my name, I will do it." - Yours in the Lord Jesus.
On Wednesday evening (15th) a clergyman gave a tea to 130 of the young converts and those who were anxious about their
souls. After tea they were addressed by three clergymen and other Christian friends. Last Sunday week I preached in the Corn Exchange in the afternoon, and although it is the largest public building in Ipswich, holding about 2,000, it was so filled
that hundreds were unable to get in, A draper went on Monday morning to a wealthy member of the Society of Friends, who was present at the last meeting in the Corn Exchange, and he immediately said he was so pleased that he would give €10
towards my having it again so that we shall have the Exchange for the six following Sunday afternoons. I am hearing of fresh cases of conviction every day. I was at Stowmarket last night again, and the large room was so filled you could almost have walked on the heads of the people. Between forty and fifty stayed back in concern about their souls. Praise the Lord!-Yours in Jesus,
JOHN VINE.
"The Revival," March 23rd, 1865.