CHAPTER V. Glasgow. The awakening. Mr. Hammond's method of conducting the religious services and style of preaching. The progress of the work. Children's meeting. Letters of converts. Meeting for women. Summary. Glasgow, on the banks of the Clyde, is one of the oldest and largest cities of Scotland; nearly opposite to Edinburgh. Mr. Hammond commenced his labors in Dr. Buchanan's beautiful church, whose congregation represent much of the wealth and culture of the city. He afterward preached for a number of evenings in Hope St. Church. The awakening spread through the town with great power. We have in a small volume published by the friends of revivals in Glasgow, a full report of Mr. Hammond's method of conducting services, containing an outline of a sermon, which we give in connection with the awakening in that city, to gratify the natural curiosity which may be felt on this point, and on account of interesting thoughts and facts in the passage. The editor of the Examiner, Dr. Smith, says: "On Sabbath, 24th February, according to announcement, this well-known evangelist preached in the Free College Church. At the announced hour, eleven o'clock, he ascended the pulpit. He gave out the first four verses of the 46th Psalm, which was sung by the congregation. He then rose and said -We are going to pray. Some here may have never prayed, and many never pray till too late.' He told a story of a Christian and infidel who were in a boat on the Niagara river, who, as they reasoned, approached the falls of that river. When the infidel became aware of his peril his courage failed, and he began to cry to God for mercy. His Christian friend, who was prepared for death, took the oars and wrought the boat ashore, when the infidel was paralyzed with terror. So many pray only when in view of danger and death. Of Paul it was said, 'Behold he prayeth.' He had often been seen standing at the corner of the streets thanking God that he was not like other men; but that was not prayer. But now he prays as a sinner, and seeks mercy. After a few more remarks he commenced to pray. His prayer was rather brief and peculiar. He prayed for the city - for the West-end especially for the Magistrates of the city, that they might not, like the rich man, lift up their eyes in hell. He prayed for the congregation and for its pastor, that the seed he scattered might bear fruit. He then gave out to be read the 6th chapter of Matthew's gospel, but only read the first six verses, which refer to the hypocritical and ostentatious prayer of the Pharisee, &c. He then gave out to be sung the first four verses of the 116th Psalm. Before it was sung he said that this Psalm had been properly called the new convert's Psalm, because it so well expressed his agony and relief when he found peace. After the words were sung he gave out for the text, Job. 22d chap. and 21st and 22d verses Acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace, thereby good will come to thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from His mouth and lay up His words in thine heart.' He said we are here exhorted to acquaint ourselves with God. mer, when travelling to France by way of Calais, young man on board the steamer, who landed with others at Last sumthere was a to pro Calais. He left the steamer as light of heart as any, secute his journey, till an officer touched him on the shoulder and demanded his passport. He said he had no passport. He was conducted back to the vessel, and had to return to England for his passport. Had I seen that young man in the streets of London before he left, I might have told him to secure a passport, and he might not have heeded me. I might have told him that Napoleon was not beloved by his subjects as our Queen was, and assumed that every one who visited France might be an assassin. I might have advised him to acquaint himself with Napoleon and his Government before he went there, and I might have secured his gratitude for inducing him to make the necessary preparations. I am here to-day to do a similar duty of which God God who don't In America we, 'Do you know to bid you acquaint yourselves with God—to urge on you the lesson of the text. The text includes a what, a who, a why, and a when. First, we are told what to do; a what The text bids us acquaint ourselves with God. The advice was first given to Job, who already knew much of God. He was like many in Scotland, which is the land of Bibles and speculative knowledge, and sound theology, for all should be thanked. Many know much about know God who don't know Jesus Christ. at meetings, go round among the people and say, God? not about God; but do you know Him.' I have seen in Switzerland the mountain glaciers glistening in the sunlight. But these glaciers in winter are bleak and cold—send down no refreshing streams to the bare pastures. It is only when the sun shines on them that they send down fertilizing streams to refresh the pastures and make the flocks rejoice. So is it with systematic theology-magnificent it is, but cold and cheerless till the sun shines on it. The head may be all right and the heart all wrong. The Pharisees were in this way. head knowledge, but it left the heart untouched. Bays we are to know God. not to know about him. They had The text Job says, That is 'I have heard of Thee, but now mine eyes see Thee.' knowing God, and the effect was that Job abhorred himself, and repented in dust and ashes. Have you thus seen God as a holy God? one that will not clear the finally impenitentas a God that will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing.' Job was highly esteemed. and had he lived in our time he would have been an elder. Nicodemus was of the same respectable class. How many looked up to him as he passed along the streets making broad his phylacteries on that memorable evening that he met with the Saviour. As he went along they saw the texts of Scripture on his garments, and they thought him a very holy man ; but Jesus told him very plainly that he must be born again. Better to be convinced of sin now than when too late - better know now whether you have on the wedding garment. Many will go forward to the judgment under a mistake, and say have we not eaten and drunken in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets? They have been only boarders in the family of Christ. How many such professors there are? To whom Christ will say, 'I never knew you — you have no passport you are not clothed in the righteousness of Christ.' Better far to be convinced of sin to-day than at the judgment-seat. Better to be bowed down under a sense of sin now than to be bound hand and foot at last and cast out. All here know about the Queen, but all do'nt know her all do not correspond with her or dine with her. There is a great difference between knowing about one, and knowing one: Christians know God. This morning not a few of you have been saying - Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens and come down to-day-that the mountains tains of sin and infidelity — might flow at thy presence. Where g the Christians every morning — returning with their countenances beaming like that of Moses? They go to a friend, to hold converse with God; they have a friend that poor sinners have not. I have seen a godly mother stealing away to her moun apartment, and I have crept after that holy mother to ascertain with whom she was speaking, but I could see no one. She was speaking with one with whom I was not acquainted, and often singing these sweet verses: 'Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the cross I spend, Life, and health, and peace possessing, Mercy streaming in his blood; Plead and claim my peace with God.' The Christian has a friend that will never leave, and never for sake-not in the Valley of Death, for there his rod and staff will support him. But we come, secondly, to the how of the text. How are we to know God? By receiving the law from His mouth, and laying up His words in our heart.' Many complain of the terrors of the law. They say, tell us of the love of God, but not of hell-fire. The Unitarians in America, and Socinians in this country,do not like the law, but till we know God's justice we will not appreciate His mercy. No doubt some are drawn gently to Christ, but others are driven with terror. A man in the upper floor of a house in London is busy reading a book. A man with a fire escape salutes him, and tells him to come down; but he never hears the man. He will not stir till a door is thrown open, and he sees the building is on fire, and then he leaves his book and is thankful to go with the man with the fire-escape. So it is with sinners. We may tell them all about Jesus, but men listen as if they listened to a schoolboy's oration. When urged to come to Jesus they heed not; but when the law comes that law which is a schoolmaster, or a servant, to lead us to Christ comes with its curse, Jesus is prized as redeeming from that curse Many of you are living in carnal security and will |