Methodism in earnest: the history of a revival in Great Britain in which twenty thousand souls professed faith in Christ, and ten thousand professed sanctification in connection with the labors of the Rev. James Caughey

Front matter

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Introduction

The first edition of this work was issued about a year since, and the ninth edition is now in pressing demand. This is sufficient evidence that, whatever rank may be assigned it in respect to its literary character, it must possess elements which entitle it to more than a matter-of-course approval or a flippaut and summary denunciation. As the copyright of the work has been purchased by the Rev. Dr. Early, Book Agent of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the present edition is issued with the imprimatur of the Church, thereby securing it an extended circulation, it may not be improper fc> call attention to the subject-matter of the volume, the animus by which it is pervaded, and the peculiarities of its style.

Few subjects are of greater interest — to the Methodist com munity, at least — than revivals of religion. We allude to those special visitations of mercy, and seasons " of refreshing from the presence of the Lord," in which Christians are stirred up to greater diligence and zeal, and sinners are awakened and converted to God. These outpourings of the Spirit are usually preceded by fervent and importunate prayer, together with pulpit and pastoral efforts of a more than ordinarily specific, discriminating, and earnest character. Their necessity is seen in the fact, that without them, formality and earthly-mindedness will overspread the Church, and it will be consequently powerless as an agent for the conversion of the world. Their necessity argues their utility, which, moreover, is demonstrated by the " signs following ;" for if we make a liberal deduction from the ostensible

IV INTRODUCTION.

results of a revival, on the score of self-deception and hypocrisy, beyond all controversy, a vast amount of good is effected by every such visitation of mercy. Fountains of religious feeling are opened up in many an arid heart, the indubitable seal of grace is affixed to many a doubting soul, and the season of refreshing proves the jpunctum saliens of spiritual life in the case of many a sinner, who, so far as we can discover, would otherwise still remain dead in trespasses and sins. And it is by no means certain, as some affirm, that those who are brought into the church by those flood-tides of gracious influence are, on the whole, less stable than others. There are more of such that prove inconsistent in their profession and practice, because the number of those who are brought into the church by other methods bear a small proportion to the former. But we are not prepared to say, that the per centage of the one in this respect, is greater than that of the other. From a somewhat extended induction of facts, we are disposed to assume a contrary position. By far the greatest number of influential Christians, with whom it is our privilege to be acquainted, date the commencement of their religious course from some occasion of extraordinary awakening and revival.

These views are strikingly illustrated and corroborated in the present volume ; and on this account especially, we commend it to a careful and candid perusal. We can determine the character and claims of a system much more readily and satisfactorily by observing its actual working and developement, than by discussing its abstract principles. And we feel very confident that, whatever doubts may be entertained in regard to many of Mr. Caughey's positions and movements, no one can fail to discover that the course he pursued was philosophically adapted to produce the results he proposed. He determined, by God's help, to make full proof of his ministry; and to this end he devoted all his time and talents, and on this, with an earnestness amounting to an all-absorbing passion, he concentrated all his efforts and attainments. His principles and plans of procedure, as set

INTRODUCTION. V

forth in the first four chapters of this volume, challenge the strictest scrutiny, and cannot be noted, by those who labor in the word and doctrine, without advantage.

Serious exceptions were taken to the spirit of this work, in certain quarters, when the first edition was published. The author was charged with egotism amounting to self-glorification, and enthusiasm involving dangerous delusion. If this charge could be substantiated, it were well to suppress the publication; and we might be glad to have it in our power to restrict its pernicious influence. But it is not so easy to prove this charge as it is to make it. That Mr. Caughey is egotistic, we admit. As a revivalist, he had less to do with the objective in religion than with the subjective — less with the abstract than with the concrete. He was perpetually making religion a personal affair; and to set it forth effectually to others, he found it expedient to recur to its operations in his own experience. This is the way to move upon men, especially upon the masses of society, who are less affected with systematic dogma and close argumentation than they are with the living embodiment of the great principles recommended and enforced upon their attention. This, in most instances, is the secret of the success of those who are called revivalists. It was so with Mr. Wesley : he did not consider it in bad taste to make frequent allusions to himself, both in the pulpit and press. Indeed, in conducting the Arminian Magazine, he challenged the right to decline the editorial style — which may be used with a feeling of regality, as well as one of modesty — and invariably used the first person singular. Our most devotional hymns are of this subjective character — and a late writer of the High Church school has objected to them on this very ground. But the Psalms of David and the Epistles of St. Paul are in the same condemnation; and it is a less misfortune to be condemned with them than approved with their impugners. It has been well said: "Egotism is a word which has obtained a bad sense; but it must not be forgotten that it has a good sense; and that, in this sense, every truly great man is an egotist. For it is by in-

VI INTRODUCTION.

timate moral and critical acquaintance with himself that ho becomes powerful over the thoughts and feelings of our kind in general."

'Speaking of Milton, Coleridge nervously says: "In the Paradise Lost — indeed, in every one of his poems — it is Milton himself whom you see — his Satan, his Adam, his Raphael, almost his Eve, are all John Milton; and it is a sense of this intense egotism that gives me the greatest pleasure in reading his works. The egotism of such a man is a revelation of spirit." That a man may carry his egotism beyond the bounds of good taste and sound judgment, will not be disputed; and that Mr. Caughey may have done so in some instances may be admitted; but that he has done so with any motive of self-glorification, seems uncharitable to assert and hard to credit, in view of the simplicity and godly sincerity which mark all his movements.

In regard to the charge of enthusiasm — the term being used in a bad sense — we confess the artless and unstudied manner in which he speaks of his mental exercises and reasons of action, is well enough adapted to elicit the imputation. He, himself, admits the ambiguity of the word "revelation," which occurred in the account of his call to visit the British Islands, and suggested the substitution of "impression or persuasion," in future editions, which has accordingly taken place. To many minds, revelation is associated with supernatural voices, oracular dreams, angelic appearances, and sortes of various kinds — miraculous interventions which we have no scriptural authority to expect, and on which it were a delusion to rely. It must be confessed that a captious reader of Mr. Caughey' s Letters might discover some ground to suspect that his imagination transported him at times beyond the bounds of strict sobriety. But we must allow his own explanation of the fervid language which he occasionally employs; and as he solemnly disclaims all pretension to miraculous endowments and visitations, it is uncandid to fasten upon him the charge of enthusiasm.

He admits that he received impressions which he doubts not

INTRODUCTION. vil

were of divine origination. And who will affirm they were not? Instead of being a miracle, this is the law of the spiritual life. It is the established, and, we will add, the necessary order of God, in the economy of providence and grace. It is implied in the doctrine of divine influence, which is fundamental in the Christian system. How is a sinner awakened and convinced of sin, but by the inward working of the Holy Ghost upon his mind, conscience, and heart? How is a believer assured of his acceptance in the Beloved, but "by the inspiration/' as the best divines, including many of the Reformers, express it, — the testimony of the Spirit of God, witnessing with his spirit that he is now a child of God? And what is this testimony of the Holy Ghost, but an inward impression on the soul, whereby the Spirit of God immediately and directly bears witness to the fact in question ? It is so defined by Mr. Wesley, in perfect accordance with Scripture, reason, experience, and the soundest theologians of the reformed churches. And we may add, that an inspiration, impression, or influence, not altogether unlike this, is experienced by every Christian minister who sincerely responds to the interrogatory of the ordinal : " Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you the office of the ministry ?" If this means something less than miraculous intervention, which we admit is the case, it must be acknowledged it means something more than a bias of the mind induced by the ordinary process of ratiocination — something more than what a man's own reason is competent to originate independently of divine influence. And the clergyman who ridicules as enthusiasm all pretension to such influence, would do well to inquire if he might not have committed sacrilege in assuming an office to which he was not in vardly moved by the Holy Ghost, — not to say, perjury, in solemnly professing to be the subject of an influence which he considers temerity to claim.

It may be a nice point to determine when an impression is of divine origination. It may require much prayer, close scrutiny of motives, careful consultation of the inspired records, and nil INTRODUCTION.

unreserved conference with judicious Christian friends — all thesetests may be had in requisition ; but then the interests involved Justify the most rigid investigation , and no one incapable of subjecting himself to it is ever the subject of the Spirit's influence.

We may be satisfied of the supernatural origin of our impressions, if they are strong, permanent, increasing in intenseness, when thoroughly scrutinized and made the subject of fervent prayer — when they are not contrary to the Scriptures — when they are accompanied with outward providences of a corresponding complexion — and when they tend to the good of man and the glory of God. And we may be permitted to remark, in this connection, that such celestial guidance and control is of immense importance — it is postulated by the precepts and exhortations to prayer and trust in God, and secured to the obedient Christian by the promises and stipulations of the covenant of grace. Thus, among a thousand passages of a kindred character, we read : " Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. " "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." And there can be no question, that were this more fully acted upon by us, we should more distinctly recognize the divine interposition in our behalf, and we should be saved from a thousand anxieties and misgivings with regard to our plans and pursuits — the pillar of cloud would go before us by day, and the pillar of fire by night, to guide and guard us in all our goings.

"By thine unerring Spirit led,

We shall not in the desert stray !

We shall not full direction need,

Nor miss our providential way !

As far from danger as from fear, While love, almighty love is near."

. Mr. Caughey seems to have reduced these principles to prac-

INTRODUCTION. IX

lice; and in this respect, only, differed from the generality of professing Christians. Few will dispute their Scriptural character; but, alas ! few are disposed to carry them out in all their practical details; and the reason for this delinquency, as commonly given, is the fear of enthusiasm. This fear is well-nigh superseded by the tendency of the age, which is in the opposite direction, so that we are less in danger of enthusiasm than of almost any other evil. If there be one time more opportune than another for the publication of such a volume as "Methodism in Earnest," it is the present time; and we accordingly welcome its appearance, and hope that the transfer of the copyright to the Southern Methodist Church may greatly extend its circulation and influence.

In regard to the style of this work, it is only necessary to say, it is somewhat of the composite order. The subject-matter was selected and arranged from the Letters of Mr. Caughey, by the Rev. R. W. Allen, and edited by the Rev. D. Wise. As there are five volumes of those Letters, embracing a great variety of subjects besides those which refer to Mr. Caughey's experience and labors, the latter had to be eliminated and blended together, before a consecutive history could be presented. This must have been a work of no small difficulty, and the Preface to the first edition contains a candid acknowledgment that it could not be done so as to secure as smooth and even a narrative as might be desired. In addition to this, Mr, Caughey's Letters do not exhibit a homogeneous style. The liberal use which he made of his common-place book, by introducing brilliant sentences from other authors, particularly snatches of poetry — sometimes apparently turning aside to introduce a favorite passage, instead of letting it fall into its place, as it were, of its own accord, or dispensing with its services — as also the diversified circumstances under which his Letters were written — give the work more uniqueness than uniformity. But this is a matter scarcely worth noting. Indeed, we are not sure that this very peculiarity, which some might be disposed to consider a flaw in the perform-.

X INTRODUCTION.

ance, might be viewed in a totally different light by others ; and no one can doubt that the interest of the reader, which would flag amid faultless and regular periods, containing nothing but eloquent platitudes and beautiful generalities, may be sustained and increased by the frequent recurrence of novel statement, abrupt transition, startling apostrophe, and exciting epigram. Whatever objections may be made to "Methodism in Earnest," we hazard little in saying that no one will pronounce it a dull book. In regard to this matter, we have no misgivings concerning the verdict of the reader — whom we have, perhaps, detained too long from its perusal. We will therefore conclude, by praying most sincerely that its extended circulation may result in lasting good to the church, and redound to the glory of its exalted Head.

Charleston, 8. C, Jan. 22, 1851.

Chapter I. The Introductory

Human experiences — Their uses— Sin of slighting them — A great religion! fact — Sympathy of a pious mind necessary — The instrument — Mr. Caughey's early history— Description of Mr. Caughey — The work of the Holy Spirit in forming his revival character, 9

Chapter II. The Anointing

Christ and his apostles — Paul — Luther — Wesley — Their spiritual baptisms

— Mr. Caughey's anointing — Remarks of Dr. Adam Clarke — Their influence on Mr. Caughev's mind — The solemn resolutions — The duration of a deep conviction — The source of instrumental sufficiency — Reflection on the effect of Dr. Clarke's thought — Praise to God — The beginning of the Spirit's work in preparing the instrument, 13

Chapter III. The Preparation And The Conflict

Necessity of sympathy between God and his instruments — The dead church

— The preacher's concern — A series of meetings — A defeat — Analysis of its causes — Influence of a minister on his brethren — The great lesson — The resolution — Revival sermons prepared — The common -place book — Good advice — Consecration of the sermon — Ordinary services — The new station — Preparations for a spiritual battle — Cromwell's advice to his soldiers — Sources of confidence — Difficulties foreseen but not feared — The battle begun — A nine weeks' conflict — A glorious victory — Uses of victory — Treatment of converts — Mr. Caughey's reflections on the failure of revival operations — Every preacher ought to be a revivalist — The mental conflicts of preachers, ... 18

Chapter IV. The Test Of Revival Principles

God's word has oeen long tested — The basis of Mr. Caughey's movements — The letter to a friend — The protracted meeting— The spirit of the laborers

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*- Character of the people — Example of dead ministers avoided — Meetings night and day — The resistance — The stir — Inquiry — Increasing congregations — Truth and its majesty — Pure motives — Expectations — Faithful preaching — Calm reliance on the truth — Fulness of Christ declared — No time-servers in the way of success — A touching anecdote — Great resistance among sinners — Increased boldness in the church — Confidence in the truth displayed — The extremity — Pompey's saying — The minister and the blacksmith — A nail in a sure place — The triumph — Uncommon efforts necessary — The motto of the church, ..... 29

Chapter V. The Call Of The Spirit

An affecting fact — Opinion of the reader — Good men have had faith in di vine impressions — Scriptural authority — Fruits are the tests of impressions — Objections met — Feeble instrumentalities — Intention to marry — Mental distress — A struggle — Light from heaven — The summons to a special work — Great peace — The request — Its success — Serious consid eration — Permanency of Mr. Caughey's impressions — Providence Path — Careful analysis of mental operations — Faith in God, ... 42

Chapter VI. First Fruits

Leaving home — Passage to St. John's — The deserted village — Sore trials

— Counsels of a Scotch divine — An old tannery — Victory — A chapel built — Hospitality — Montreal — Reminiscences — Signs of revival — A discordant church — Passage to Quebec — Reflections on a poor pilot and a detention — Extract — Reflections on a deceitful light-ship — Reception at Quebec — Old friends — A spiritual battle — Satan overthrown — Glorious revival — The trifler saved — A military officer afraid of God's soldiers — A man of business saved — Results — The song of a holy woman, 68

Chapter VII. Revival Scenes In Lower Canada

Departure from Quebec — Attachment of the people — Review of labors in Quebec — Inquest on a disinterred woman — A drunkard's death — Facts

— The Vermont legislator's argument — An incident at a temperance lecture

— St. Ann's — A scene of beauty — An accident — A drunken companion — Another accident — Three Rivers — An aged minister — Anecdote of Wes ley — A hazardous ride — Arrival at Montreal — The power of God — A \iouse of mourning — A backslider's reformation — The fire — Person burned to death — An awful event — The backslider's end — St. John's — Review of labors in Montreal — A liberal offer declined — Restitution preached — Effects — The conscientious barber — The bank note — The clerk and the false entry — Mr. Caughey in New York — Summary of results — Five hundred evidences of the reality of his impressions, 69

CONTENTS. Xiu

Chapter VIII. Halifax, And The Voyage Thither

Editorial remarks — Mr. Caughey at Halifax — His visit to Prcvidence Path

— Strength of the impression — The trip from Whitehall to Burlington — Arrival at Quebec — Conscientious scruples — The profitable detention — The falls of Montmorency — The Natural steps — The plains of Abraham — Quebec defences — Anecdote of a boy — Visit to the Indians — A Canadian thunder storm — Reflections — Arrival at Halifax — Detention — The voyage from Quebec to Halifax described — The gift of Christian affection — The river St. Lawrence — The gulf — A wreck — The drunken soldiers — Passengers — Anecdote — The mirage — Prince Edward's Island — Pictou — A ride — Kind attentions — A home — The lady's apology — The Theatre Royal temperance meeting described — Prince William's lodge — Ruins

— The people of God in Halifax— Temperance meeting —-Anecdote, 85

Chapter IX. The Atlantic Voyage

Introductory remarks — Review of labors in Halifax — A bleak morning — A storm — Its uses — Amusing description of life on shipboard in a storm — Conversation with a sceptic — The sceptic confounded — An incident — A Sabbath at sea — The sermon — The restless sea — Land — Arrival at Liv erpool, 109

Chapter X. The Denouement

Editorial remarks — Mr. Caughey's sense of loneliness — Trials — Transparency of his character — Visits Manchester — Dr. Bunting's sermon — Mr. Mc- Lean — Reflections — Robert Newton — Introduction to the conference — The voyage to Dublin — Depression — New acquaintances — Invitation to preach — The first sermon in Dublin — Surprise — Presence of the Spirit — Four weeks in Dublin — Converts — Temptations — Comforts — Abasements

— Rev. T. Waugh — More temptation — Their narration valuable — Resistance to Satan — Death of a class-leader — A weeping congregation — A season of power — The last public labors of a good man — Hopes of heaven — The room where Summerfield was converted — An awful time — A remarkable conversion in answer to prayer — A visit to Dublin Castle — O'Connell

— A crowd — Methodist chapels in Dublin — A watch-night — Farewell ser mon— Intense excitement — Results of his labors in Dublin — Letter of R Craig, Esq., on the Dublin revival, -121

Chapter XI. Ten Weeks In Limerick

Editorial remarks — Journey to Limerick — First success — A letter from Dublin containing a beautiful illustration of divine mercy — A walk on the banks of the Shannon — A hurricane — A fearful explosion — Reflections —

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A refreshing season — A hymn — The flag — Work of God in Limerick — A powerful conversion — The circular — Historical sketch of Limerick — Kuins of the old wall — A spiritual siege ■— An ancient cathedral — A curi ous inscription — An old Methodist chapel — Extract from Wesley — Places of worship in Limerick — Reflections on high church notions — Aspect of the city — The people of Limerick — Visiting from house to house — Revival fruits — Leaves Limerick for Cork — The work in Limerick — Public breakfast in Limerick — A testimonial of affection — The watch — Mr. Mathews's address — Acquaintances in Limerick, 148

Chapter XII. Visit To Cork

Editorial remarks — Prayer for the city — Opening sermons — The praying man tempted — The chapel in Cork described — A touching scene — The discharged soldier — His arrival home — The vow of self-dedication — Its glorious consequences — The leaders' meeting — The small class — The se cret of a class-leader's success — The local preacher rebuked — How to keep penitent sinners from falling back — Six reasons for giving them no rest— A private watch-night — The revival in Cork — Extract — Description of Cork — Irish hospitality at Hayfield — Communion with God — Revival — Public buildings in Cork — Population — The tomb of Boardman — Board man's American labors — His death — His epitaph — A remarkable incident in his life — A visit to Blarney Castle — Blarney Stone, and its legend The revival in Cork, 171

Chapter XIII. Experiences And Incidents In Cork And Bandon

t jtate of the work in Cork — Young converts — A mistake — Intended visit to Bandon — Temperance labors in Cork — Necessity of action on temperance

— Must not be made a hobby — Mr. Caughey is visited by Father Mathew

— Remarks on Mr. M. — Commencement of revival labors in Bandon — Discouragements — Remarkable instance of restitution — A still more striking case — Temptation — The work in Bandon — Free communings with a friend — Mental struggles — The rage of devils follows faithful ministers — Lu ther to Melancthon — Calumny and detraction — Deceptive friendships

— Misanthropy — Professional friendship — A lesson in an incident — Relation of living near to God and cheerfulness — Trouble needful — Temperament — The clock — Waiting for God — The conflict in Bandon — Accident and detention — Anxiety — Close of his labors in Ireland* . . 194

Chapter XIV

MR. CAUGHEY IN ENGLAND.

Editorial remarks — Departure from Cork — View of the coast of Ireland — The Ocean Storm, a poem — The captive bird — The incident spiritualized

— Lands at Liverpool — Providential openings — Mental struggles — Hi*

CONTENTS. XV

oomniission opened — Powerful prayer meeting — Special meetings begun — Young converts — Temptation and prayer — A stranger and his dream — Friends and foes — The deputation — Four sinners crying for mercy — Hoarseness — The watch-night — Kenewal of the covenant — Twelve sinners converted — Success and tribulation — Humility, . . . . 218

Chapter XV. Arguments With The Enemies Op Revivals

Objections to revival efforts stated and answered — Valuable idea of a de ceased minister — Sinners need feeling, not light — Further objections con sidered — The state of Christian congregations described — How to reach them — Objection to earnest preaching answered — The archer — How to aid the minister — Objection to sharp and pointed language in the pulpit considered — Terror objected to — The earthquake nights — Judgment and passions must be both reached — The minister is the best judge of the people's state — The wicked physician — How he was saved — The aged minister and the young sinner — Stern and soft preaching — Poetical extract — Feeling must be appealed to — The irregular apple-tree — Controversy declined — The work in Liverpool — Prejudice — Opposition to revivals universal — The unconverted lawyer — A classical story — The old saint's prayer and the sinner's protest — Blasphemy charged on revival preaching

— Theology studied in hell — The duke of Saxony and the praying bishop

— The trooper and the minister — Foelings of a lady, . . . 232

Chapter XVI. Inquiries, Anecdote*, And Closing Labors In Liverpool

On describing character — Anecdote — Personalities — Anecdote — Vulgarity

— Anecdotes — A sinner's mistake — The merchant's portrait — A lady's anger — A ludicrous fact — The offended sinner urged to yield to God — A searching preacher — An objection — Saying of Eupolis — God warns before he strikes — Powerful appeals — Various inquiries answered — The secret of success — An old divine quoted — Progress of the work in Liverpool — The poor man and his prayer — The Welsh Methodists — Display of divine power — The Welsh minister's prayer — Meetings in Brunswick chapel — Opinions of the revival — Faithful minister — Results — Temperance lee tures in Liverpool — Case of a nervous person — Lord Nelson and the world

— Confessions of a worldling — Mr. Wesley on nervousness — Amusements — Exercise — Sin of idleness — Closing scenes in Liverpool — Missionary meetings — Wesleyan chapels in Liverpool — An accomplished organist — Results in Liverpool — The tea-meeting — Closing addresses — Pleasant homes, , 258

Chapter XVII. Great Revival In Leeds

Arrival at Leeds — Greetings — Meetings in Oxford Street chapel— Results- Plans — St. Peter's chapel — Great success — The Old chapel — Anecdote

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by Charles Wesley — Reminiscences of the old Leeds chapel — Boardman and Pilmoor — Mr. Asbury's labors — His journal — The band-meeting — Sanctifying power — Eelation of pulpit to sanctiflcation — Wesley chapel — Rev. J. Everett — Souls saved — Opinion of a person who denounced the ehurch — Beauty of holiness — Hope — The work in Leeds — Its subjects — Brunswick chapel — Success — Classification of the subjects of the work — Results in Brunswick chapel — Hospitality — Oxford Place chapel — Conversions, 280

Chapter XVIII. The Offended Heaeek

The offended hearer — The artist and the portrait — Various insinuations answered — Painted fire — The review — Describing character — Skill needful

— A threat — Anecdote — The gospel mirror — Anecdote — The western blacksmith — The Irish laborer — A difference — Cautions — Extract — The wilful philosopher — Hell enough in this fife — Hell the centre of gravity to a sinner — The wrath of man — Good wishes — Chinese painters — Invita tions — Sign of an awakened mind — Chance — Apelles — Turning to God

— A mistake corrected — Saying of Origen — Skill of an ancient general — Too late — Anecdote, 295

Chapter XIX

RAMBLES. AROUND LEEDS.

Visit to Cross Hall — Reminiscences — Mrs. Fletcher's trials of faith — Batley church — John Nelson's tomb — His study — Sammy Hicks's home — Sammy's daughter — The old clock — Sammy's anvil and shop — Further labors in Leeds — Large audiences — Vocal power — The people of Leeds and their ministers — Great results — St. Peter's chapel — Large fruit — The poor — Noisy meetings — Woodhouse Moor — Farewell sermons — Converts — Their classification — Unconverted persons in the church — A contrast — English travellers in America — Injustice — Why unconverted persons are in a church — Influence of revivals — Ministerial neglect — Perpetual revival possible — Methodism is revivalism — An anti-revival Methodist a phenom enon — Like people like priest — Official members — A church reminiscence