The next evening, when we arrived, we found the barn quite full, and numbers standing outside; besides, there were many more whom we passed on the road.  So it was determined that we should go into the church and have a short service.  The edifice was soon lighted, and filled, and after a few collects and hymns (for they had a hymn-book in that church), I went up into the pulpit, and preached upon the absolute necessity of conversion—­no salvation without it.  As to “heart conversion,” what is conversion at all if the heart is not touched?  Then I treated my subject from another point of view.  “Every converted person here knows what heart conversion is; and if any one does not, it is clear he is not converted.  If he dies in that state, he wilt be lost for ever!” I concluded the sermon with prayer; and while I was praying in the pulpit, one after another of the people in the pews began to cry aloud for mercy.  My friend Mary likened it to a battle-field, and me to a surgeon going from one wounded one to another to help them.  At eleven o’clock we closed the service, promising to hold another the next day.

On Wednesday morning Mary awoke from her sleep with a voice saying to her, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

“Then all my sins are gone.  He has borne them.  He ’Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.’”

She was filled with joy unspeakable, and came to breakfast rejoicing.  The lady of the house was in tears, the servants were troubled, and the vicar alternately glad and sorry, for he was not sure whether it was excitement or the work of God, and did not know what to make of it.  However, in the evening he broke down in his reading-desk in the middle of the sermon, and burst out, “Lord, save me!” In an instant the whole congregation was up, and the people everywhere either crying for mercy, or rejoicing.  The power of the Lord was present to heal them, and many souls were saved that night; and besides these, there were others who were troubled.

Amongst this number was the young squire of the parish.  He was afterwards decidedly converted to God, and took great interest in the work.  When twitted on the bench by his brother magistrates about the revival, he stood his ground manfully, and gave good testimony.  He continues to this day a bold champion for the truth as it is in Jesus.

CHAPTER 21

Golant Mission, 1854.

It is a good plan to strike while the iron is hot;’ and as the people at Colant were in an interested and receptive state, I put off other things which had been appointed, and made arrangements to return to the battle-field as soon as possible.  My people were much excited to hear what I was able to tell them of my three days’ visit, and they wished me “God speed” for my next venture, praying most heartily for great blessing.