COLLIN, DUMFRIESSHIRE. There is a very deep and widespread work of God at present going on in this district. It is the fruit of the united and persevering prayer of the Christians of all evangelical denominations in the parish.
For the past twelve months Christians of many years' experience, along with a number of converts of last year, through the devoted labours of Mr Robert Steel and Mr McLachlan, have been pleading that God would pour down his Holy Spirit to convert the ungodly and edify believers.
About three months ago, the Rev Thomas Baxter promised to visit us in autumn, and much prayer was offered that his visit might be greatly blessed. Before the time fixed for his coming, the shower of blessing had begun to descend. Mr Hawkins, from near Annan, a devoted Christian, was asked to conduct a few meetings. He began his labours about three weeks ago, and before a week had passed many were broken down under a sense of guilt, and not a few soon had their mourning turned into gladness by faith in the crucified Redeemer.
Ten days after the work began, Mr Baxter came to our help, and the blessing has continued to widen and deepen ever since. The hall is crowded every night, and sometimes many had to stand outside during the whole of the service. After the address, the second meeting has been largely attended by inquiring souls and those who have recently closed with the offers of eternal life.
The results are of the most marked and cheering character. It has not been uncommon for resolute sinners, coming to the services determined to resent every effort for their conversion, to be suddenly arrested by the power of the truth, and remain deeply distressed, seeking salvation, and, before twenty-four hours had passed, rejoiced in Christ their Saviour.
However, for the most part, the awakened have been days seeking deliverance, and it was only after presenting to them personally the truth as it is in Jesus, that they passed from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. The conversion of one member of a family has led to the arousing of others until households have been largely blessed. Parents have been blessed to children and children to parents, brothers to sisters and sisters to brothers.
In some instances, most of the servants on farms have been made recipients of the grace of God. The revolution has been the more marked from the fact of their previous immoral or ungodly life, making it obvious to all that the fear of God was not in them. The Christians have been greatly comforted and quickened to abound in the work of the Lord, and there is every prospect that the tide of blessing will continue to flow on till still further triumphs of grace be achieved.
"The Revival," 28th November 1867.