Ardrossan Harbour Store (1859)



We obtain the following particulars from a private letter:— On Friday evening, we had a prayer-meeting in the Harbour Store, at which there were about 100 cases of conviction. These remained after the service was over, in great anxiety about their souls. On Saturday afternoon, we had a meeting in the open air, at which there were also several cases of conviction. At half-past eight o'clock the same evening, we had another meet­ing in the Harbour Store. This time there were a great number of people brought under conviction of sin. You would have heard fifty or sixty persons at the same time crying out for mercy. We remained all night in the store and did not get to bed before six o'clock or so next morning. Early on Sunday, some people met together for prayer, and, after having been some time together, sent over for me to meet them only for about half-an-hour. I was, however, about four hours with them in place of half-an-hour. Before commencing, I had committed myself in prayer to God, asking Him to send down his Holy Spirit then, and I told the people that I believed that God would answer my prayer. I said that I had intended speaking to them on a text which I had studied at home, but feared that my words might come between Christ and their souls, and therefore would place myself at the disposal of the Holy Spirit, and only say what He would direct me. After the service was over, there was a young lad stricken down, and a number of people were crying aloud to God to have mercy on their souls. In the evening we had a meeting in the Harbour Store. It was quite filled, and there were about a thousand people outside. I preached from Matt. xi. 28 to those in the store, while Captain Crosby and Mr Stewart addressed the people outside. After I had finished, we heard from every part of the store cries for mercy, and several persons were stricken down. People who had been chinking and swearing on Saturday night were now calling on God to have mercy on their souls. We remained with those who were in distress a long time. It was five o'clock in the morning before we all left. A great many had found the Saviour. One of the converts heard a man scoffing; she lifted up her heart in prayer for him, and in a moment he was calling aloud for mercy. There was one person whose body became quite weak while I was telling what I had seen in Ireland: he went into a corner of the store and prayed earnestly, and in a short time afterwards he found peace. On Monday, we had a message that we could not have the store any longer, so we met that evening in Mr Stewart's church. A number of persons were convicted. of sin, some of whom, before leaving, found peace in believing. One or two people were stricken down. They did not all leave till about two in the morning. On Tuesday, I went to Mr. M'Nab's prayer-meeting in Saltcoats. There were a good number of cases of conviction, and some found peace. Last night we met again in Mr Stewart's church; a woman was stricken down. A great many found peace in Jesus before leaving. It was about two o'clock before we all left. I believe there are several hundreds who have been con­verted. The principal characteristics of these conversions are, hatred of sin, and love to Christ. Many have confessed that they never knew what it was to be happy before, and they would not for worlds go back to their former state. I have spent many very happy hours with the converts. They are filled with love to Christ, and a burning zeal for his glory. —Banner of Ulster, Aug. 25.


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