It was much feared for a time that a jealous spirit would prevail among the people of St. Peter’s, some saying, “I am of Paul; and others, I of Cephas.”  Those recently converted were apt to regard their spiritual father in a light in which they could regard none besides.  But Mr. M’Cheyne had received from the Lord a holy disinterestedness that suppressed every feeling of envy.  Many wondered at the single-heartedness he was enabled to exhibit.  He could sincerely say, “I have no desire but the salvation of my people, by whatever instrument.”

Never, perhaps, was there one placed in better circumstances for testing the Revival impartially, and seldom has any Revival been more fully tested.  He came among a people whose previous character he knew; he found a work wrought among them during his absence, in which he had not had any direct share; he returned home to go out and in among them, and to be a close observer of all that had taken place; and after a faithful and prayerful examination, he did most unhesitatingly say, that the Lord had wrought great things, whereof he was glad; and in the case of many of those whose souls were saved in that Revival, he discovered remarkable answers to the prayers of himself, and of those who had come to the truth, before he left them.  He wrote to me his impressions of the work, when he had been a few weeks among his people:—­

Dec. 2, 1839.

“Rev. And.  A. Bonar, Collace.

“My Dear A.,—­I begin upon note-paper, because I have no other on hand but our thin travelling paper.  I have much to tell you, and to praise the Lord for.  I am grieved to hear that there are no marks of the Spirit’s work about Collace during your absence; but if Satan drive you to your knees, he will soon find cause to repent it.  Remember how fathers do to their children when they ask bread.  How much more shall our heavenly Father give ([Greek:  hagatha]) all good things to them that ask Him.  Remember the rebuke which I once got from old Mr. Dempster of Denny, after preaching to his people:  ’I was highly pleased with your discourse, but in prayer it struck me that you thought God unwilling to give.’  Remember Daniel:  ’At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth.’  And do not think you are forgotten by me as long as I have health and grace to pray.

“Everything here I have found in a state better than I expected.  The night I arrived I preached to such a congregation as I never saw before.  I do not think another person could have got into the church, and there was every sign of the deepest and tenderest emotion.  R. Macdonald was with me, and prayed.  Affliction and success in the ministry have taught and quickened him.  I preached on I Cor. 2:1-4, and felt what I have often heard, that it is easy to preach where the Spirit of God is.  On the Friday night Mr. Burns preached.  On the Sabbath I preached on that wonderful