My dear Brother,—You will recollect my enclosing you, in my letter of June 25 (Revival, No. 102), a request for the prayers of God's children on behalf of Falfield and Whitfield, at the same time giving you some particulars of a meeting at the latter place (Revival, No. 103), at which two young females were constrained to seek the Lord, and were enabled to trust in Him and to find peace in believing. Many others, as we have learned since, were convinced of sin on that occasion, and have given their hearts to the Saviour. This manifestation of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness to his promise, in answering the prayers of his people, has inclined the hearts of many of his dear children here to give themselves more earnestly to prayer for the conversion of the souls of those around them, and to exercise more faith to believe that He would grant their requests; and remarkably has He shown himself to be the hearer and answerer of prayer during the past week.
In the providence of God one of the Woolwich youths, Mr Pointer, was directed to this place, and the friends of Mount-pleasant Chapel were induced to invite him to address a congregation on Sabbath afternoon, July 21. The very humble, affectionate, and earnest manner of this youth, together with his entire dependence upon God's Holy Spirit, rendered his address, though simple, very impressive. In the afternoon many of God's children again gave themselves to prayer for his young servant, and in the evening he was enabled, with much energy and affection, to address the young especially, from the words, "Rejoice oh young man, in thy youth," &c.
An invitation having been given to any who may be anxious about their souls to remain for conversation and prayer, it was a deeply interesting sight, to see one and another and another, old and young, of both sexes, leave their places during the singing of the last hymn, and wend their way to the schoolroom, there to seek the counsel and prayers of some Christian brother or sister. The school-room, by no means a small one, speedily became filled, and the scene it was then our privilege to witness, I am unable to describe. The intense and bitter anguish of the broken spirit, under a sense of unpardoned guilt and the wrath of an offended God, was everywhere manifest. Many a strong man, whose heart the Spirit had touched, was there crying for mercy and was enabled, with the simplicity and humility of a little child, to trust in the finished work of a crucified Redeemer. Very many found peace that night and were enabled to rejoice in a present salvation. Others who were under deep concern, and who still sighed under the burden of sin, were invited to a special prayer-meeting on the morrow evening, and God's people were enjoined to pray much for his blessing upon those who had found Christ, upon those still anxious, and also upon the prayer-meeting. The place was again nearly full, although it was difficult for many to leave their work in the hay-field. Prayer being offered and brief addresses delivered by myself and Mr Pointer, an invitation was again given to any under concern to retire to the school-room. They did so, and we had the pleasure of seeing and conversing with as many as, if not more than, on the previous evening. Ah! dear brother, it was a solemn hour— a melting scene. We all felt it to be so, and many a one was constrained involuntarily to exclaim, "Surely God is in this place." It was my privilege to meet many of my old scholars among the anxious ones, some of whom had left our school for years, and if you know anything of the feelings of a teacher who feels the responsibility of having immortal souls entrusted to his care, and whom he will have to meet at the bar of God, you may judge of my own feelings, and that of other teachers present, in seeing these dear lambs giving their hearts to the Lord.
It would be difficult for me to estimate the number who were brought under deep conviction during that eventful week. I think I shall be within the mark, however, when I say that there must have been over a hundred, of whom a large proportion were enabled to rejoice in believing. May I again ask the prayers of God's people at your daily prayer-meetings, that He would establish the work thus commenced in this place, preserve those who have been gathered in, give his people more faith in prayer, more grace to enable them to live in Christ and labour for Him, and wisdom that they may feed the lambs of the flock and prosper in every good word and work. E. J. S.
From the 'Revival Newspaper', Volume V, page 70.
LocationThe church unknown.