Part 29 (1/2)
Of this work at Hayle was not ”a success,” in every sense of the word, I do not yet knohat success in parochial ations ; with frequent services, and schools full of children--we certainly had these But above all, we had a continual ingathering of souls, ill testify throughout eternity of the blessedness and reality of the work of God during the time I was there
It so happened that as we approached the term of three years, of which I had been premonished when I first came, that my dear friend, Mr Aitken, ca power than ever
His appeals were altogether overwhel, and I do not wonder that the people fell on their knees, as they did then and there, and cried aloud for reat ently; then he paused, and his hand fell; then his pencil and book went froan to cry for mercy We were curious afterwards to read his report
In it the gratefulhe had received As to the serreat Atlantic He said ”At such a ti to stand on the shore and watch the sea, and to note the power of wind and waves while the storh; but how hty waves co with tremendous force upon the rocks on which we stand! So it ith this preacher All eyes were fixed on hiave out his text, and proceeded with his usual introduction Now and then he alarmed and roused us with the power of his oratory; but when he turned to apply his subject to the consciences of the people, he became irresistible Immediately, there was heard on all sides a cry for mercy The stentorian voice of the preacher was audible above all others as he went on to apply the Word with unrelenting force, till very few hearts, however hard, remained unbroken”
This was a memorable day with us Tas the church filled and e, the people crowded in and filled the place Far into the night rought a them to look at the Crucified One and live
Mr Aitken was not a man who raked cinders over the fire, but rather raked them off and that in true kindness and love; but with terrible and awful plainness he showed the danger of trifling with the Gospel, and presu upon God's love and forbearance
On Monday evening we invited the people to assee schoolrooht that the schoolmaster's desk would have been dey and force, both n of a breakdown a coat or cassock, ca out fro sailor, as sitting by, with his eyes fixed on Mr Aitken for a long tian to roar aloud for mercy, and very many others followed his example
I asked this man afterwards what it was that had had such an effect upon hi his breath, as if he had scarcely yet recovered froh the other side of the desk, but when he came forth to the front, I didn't knoould happen to ed to cry out forman,” like the ”Storladness and joy of his heart he rejoiced and shouted, ”Glory--glory be to God!” in a hich no one else could imitate or follow
In the midst of this scene of confusion (as it must have appeared to an outside observer, if such an one was there), sat a wo God, when all at once Mr Aitken turned suddenly upon her and said, ”And you, ave a screa for mercy as loud as the loudest
If Cornish people like a noise, they certainly had it that evening to their hearts' content As I have said before, when there is a real power of the Spirit present, the outpouring of the heart with noisy deo with the stream, and are in sympathy with it; but if those present stop to doubt the propriety of such an outcry, and begin to rebuke those who ave the Pharisees would still be applicable: ”I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would ireat triumph, and the rams' horns did more execution in these two days than the silver trumpets had done in as one, the rector came to see me
He appeared to be somewhat e on the ground), ”You know I am no revivalist I do not like all this uproar I cannot have it” He then went on to say that he wished uarantee that if I succeeded, he would buildof the kind now, for he did not consider my work any success whatever--quite the contrary ”These converted people (as you call them) are no churchmen!”
I replied, that I had taken his voice as fro me, and I supposed that I must take the saed upon him to consider theon there, for whatever he thought about it, it was undoubtedly a work of God, though one certainly not very co another word he took up his hat and went away His departure was so abrupt that I could not believe he intended me to receive this as six months' notice Consequently, I went on withplenty to do, etic visit There were many new converts to add to our classes; anxious ones to be guided and led to Christ; and broken-hearted and despairing ones to be comforted and built up The work under such a preacher is by noor short it in there
After soiven me notice more than fiveof the year, as he had secured the services of a clergyrieved at this and could only lay it before the Lord, and beg of Hione of the district of St Paul's, in the parish of Holy Trinity Thus was the door shut behind me, and another opened in front This was so unmistakable, that I could not but be satisfied, and acquiesce in the reat sorrow at having to leave the people and the work I loved so well I said nothing about eh I had only a little more than three weeks left me
By some means it appeared in the newspapers, that I was appointed to a district in Bath, and another clergyman was named as reat blow upon ry; but I could not comfort them, any more than I could help myself
The last Christmas-day came and went, a sad and sorrowful day it was; then the last day of the year, and the last night We held our watch-night service as usual, thanking God for the mercies of the past, and entered upon the new year with thanksgiving and prayer
Thus ended my work, and eventful sojourn at Hayle, a little an A very sorrowful trial it was, and one of bitter disappoint was clear, and I have since proved that it was all right, though at the time it was mostHayle, as I was sitting by the fire one wet afternoon, my eyes fell on a little coloured picture on the mantle-piece, which had been the companion of my journeys for all the twenty years of which I have been writing It was a quaintup the serpent in the wilderness, copied from a valuable manuscript (Book of Prayers) in the Bodleian Library at Oxford