Mr Smith commenced his public ministry in Lincoln, on Sunday morning, Aug. 30, by a powerful and characteristic sermon from John xvi. 24f: — "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." On the evening of the same day, he preached, I believe, from Job, xxii. 21: — "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace," &c. In both these discourses, he gave his hearers distinctly to perceive the order of his preaching. "Whoever discredits my Master," said he, in one of them, "I do not. His promise is, ' Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst.' Jesus is here. — Glory, glory be to God!" He thus speaks of the results of his early labours in this circuit, in a letter to his friend Mr M'Dermott.
" Oct. 21. 1829. — I am rather strong to labour: — I am disposed to labour: — I have plenty to do; — and the best of all is, God is with me! — I had been told that the Lincoln congregation consisted of very still sort of people, who were incapable of excitement, &c. &c Caution — caution would be necessary. Well, pondering took place in my mind. The result was, I will strike the first Sunday. I did so; execution was done. God saved four: and he has saved, I should think, at least four-score since in Lincoln. Hallelujah! Hail to the Lord's Anointed. The royal diadem belongs to Him! We will crown him Lord of all! — The floods are coming! Many drops, some showers have already descended: how refreshing! But the floods are coming! If our people continue in agonizing, believing prayer, which has fast hold of them at present — and why not? — nothing can stand before them. Satan will fall as lightning from heaven. Hardness, levity, carelessness, and profanity are as chaff before the wind. God has risen from his holy habitation and speaks salvation in every direction. What an honour to be one of his attendants, — to be one of his heralds! — I cry out. He is coming and often, He is here! His royal presence is known by his bounty distributed, — pardons in great numbers, — the frequent healing of backsliders, — clean hearts, —-filled spirits go away rejoicing, and the arrows stick fast in the hearts of the King's enemies... From four to twenty have been saved at one meeting in Lincoln, again and again. An umcommon stir there is in many parts of the circuit, and persons from nine to seventy-six years of age are among the saved.
R Treffry's 'Life of John Smith' p278-80.
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