THE first extraordinary appearances of the power of God in the late revival, began about the close of the last century, in Logan and Christian counties; on the waters of Gasper and Red Rivers. And in the spring of 1801, the same extraordinary work broke out in Mason county, upper part of Kentucky; of which I was an eye witness, and can therefore, with greater confidence, testify what I have heard, seen and felt.

      It first began in individuals who had been under deep convictions of sin, and great trouble about their souls, and had fasted and prayed, and diligently searched the scriptures, and had undergone distresses of mind inexpressibly sore, until they had obtained a comfortable hope of salvation. And from seeing and feeling the love of Christ, and his willingness to save all that would forsake their sins and turn to God through him; and feeling how freely his love and goodness flowed [19] to them, it kindled their love to other souls, that were lost in their sins; and an ardent desire that they might come and partake of that spiritual light, life, and comfort, which appeared infinite in its nature, and free to all. And under such and overpowering weight of the divine goodness, as tongue could not express, they were constrained to cry out, with tears and trembling, and testify a full and free salvation in Christ, for all that would come; and to warn their fellow creatures of the danger of continuing in sin; and entreating them in the most tender and affectionate manner, to turn from it; and seek the Lord, in sure and certain hope that he would be found.

      Under such exhortations, the people began to be affected in a very strange manner. At first they were taken with an inward throbbing of the heart; then with weeping and trembling: from that to crying out, in apparent agony of the soul; falling down and swooning away till every appearance of animal life was suspended, and the person appeared to be in a trance. From this state they would recover under different sensations, which will be more particularly noticed hereafter.

      The following extract of a letter, dated Caneridge, Jan. 30, 1801, give a striking account of the work; as it first appeared in the lower parts of Kentucky and Cumberland.-----

      "The work is still encreasing in Cumberland: It has overspread the whole country. It is in Nashville, Barren, Muddy, Gasper, Redbanks, Knoxville, &c."

      "J. M. C. has been there two months; he says it exceeds any he ever saw or heard of. Children and all, seem to be engaged: but children are the most active in the work. When they speak, it appears that the Lord sends his spirit to accompany it with power to the hearts of sinners. They all seem to be wrought in an extraordinary way;--lie as though they were dead, for some time; without pulse or breath; some longer, some a shorter time. Some rise with joy and triumph; others crying for mercy. As soon as they get comfort, they cry to [20] sinners, exhorting them day and night to turn to the Lord." * * * *

P. H.      

      It is worthy of notice, that a work by which God intended to bring down the pride and loftiness of man, should begin in small children. By this it was manifest who were the furthest lost from God, and what course must be taken, in order to return.

      At a sacrament, near Flemingsburgh, the last Sabbath in April, the power of God was very visible among the people through the whole of the occasion; under which there was much weeping, trembling and convulsion of soul: But what was the most solemn and striking, was the case of two little girls, who in the time of meeting, cried out in great distress. They both continued for some time praying and crying for mercy, till one of them received a comfortable hope; and then turning to the other, cried out "O! you little sinner, come to Christ!--take hold of his promise!--trust in him!--he is able to save to the uttermost! O! I have found peace in my soul! O! the precious Saviour! Come just as you are! He will take away the stony heart and give you a heart of flesh! You can't make yourself any better--Just give up your heart to Christ, now! You are not a greater sinner than me! You need not wait another moment!" Thus she continued exhorting, until her little companion received a ray from heaven, that produced a sudden and sensible change: then rising with her in her arms, she cried out in a most affecting manner--"O here is another star of light!" These children were perhaps nine or ten years old. The Sabbath following about twenty persons were struck in the congregation of Cabin-Creek, Mason county. Among the first who cried out in distress, was a girl about twelve years old. Their convictions of their lost state, (from a sudden opening of that pure holiness to which sin stands directly opposed) were quick as a lightning's flash; and came with such weight, that had they had not, in some way or other, opened their case, they must have sunk into [21] the horrors of despair. It was dire necessity which at first obliged them to expose themselves to public view as objects of pity, for every thing of the kind, was looked upon by the generality, even of professors, as wild enthusiasm, or the fruits of a disordered brain.

      There were however a few who understood the disorder, and were ready to fly to their relief and proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that were bound.

      And here a new scene was opened, while some trembled like one in a fit of the ague, wept and cried out, lamenting their distance from God, and exposedness to his wrath; others were employed in praying with them, encouraging them to believe on the Son of God--to venture upon his promise--give up their wicked rebellious heart, just as it was; for God to take it away, and give them a heart of flesh;--singing hymns, and giving thanks to God, for the display of his power, without and regard to former rules of order. At this, some were offended and withdrew from the assembly, determined to oppose it, as a work of the wicked one. But all their objections only tended to open the way for the true nature and spirit of the work to shine out; and encourage the subjects of it, to set out with warmer zeal to promote it. Accordingly a meeting was appointed a few evenings after, to which a crowd of awakened souls flocked, and spent the whole night in singing hymns, praying, and exhorting one another, &c. At this meeting, one man was struck down and lay for about an hour, in the situation above mentioned. This put the matter beyond dispute, that the work was supernatural; and the outcry which it raised against sin, confirmed a number in the belief that it was from above.

      From these small beginnings, it gradually spread. The news of these strange operations flew abroad, and attracted many to come and see; who were convinced, not only from seeing and hearing, but feeling; and carried home the testimony, that it was the living work of God. This stirred up others, and brought out still greater multitudes. And these strange exercises still encreasing, [22] and having no respect to any stated hours of worship, it was found expedient to encamp on the ground and continue the meeting day and night. To these encampments the people flocked in hundreds and thousands, on foot, on horseback, and in waggons and other carriages.

      At first appearance, those meetings exhibited nothing to the spectator, but a scene of confusion that could scarce be put into human language. They were generally opened with a sermon; near the close of which, there would be an unusual out-cry; some bursting forth into loud ejaculations of prayer, or thanksgiving for the truth: Others breaking out in emphatical sentences of exhortation: Others flying to their careless friends, with tears of compassion, beseeching them to turn to the Lord. Some struck with terror, and hastening through the crowd to make their escape, or pulling away their relations.--Others, trembling, weeping and crying out for the Lord Jesus to have mercy upon them: fainting and swooning away, till every appearance of life was gone, and the extremities of the body assumed the coldness of a dead corpse.--Others surrounding them with melodious songs, or fervent prayers for their happy resurrection in the love of Christ.--Others collecting into circles around this variegated scene, contending with arguments for and against. And under such appearances, the work would continue for several days and nights together.

      I shall now mention particularly, some of the first meetings of this kind, with a few concomitant circumstances, from which the work took a general spread in the year 1801.

      The first was held at Cabin-Creek. It began on the 22d of May, and continued four days and three nights. The scene was awful beyond description; the falling, crying out, praying, exhorting, singing, shouting, &c. exhibited such new and striking evidences of a supernatural power, that few, if any could escape without being affected. Such as tried to run from it, were frequently struck on the way, or impelled by some alarming signal to return: and so powerful was the evidence [23] on all sides, that no place was found for the obstinate sinner to shelter himself, but under the protection of prejudiced and bigoted professors. No circumstance at this meeting, appeared more striking, than the great numbers that fell on the third night: and to prevent their being trodden under foot by the multitude, they were collected together and laid out in order, on two squares of the meeting-house; which, like so many dead corpses, covered a considerable part of the floor.--There were persons at this meeting, from Caneridge, Concord, Eagle-Creek, and other neighboring congregations, who partook of the spirit of the work, which was a particular means of its spreading.

      The next general camp-meeting was held at Concord, in the county of Bourbon, about the last of May, or beginning of June. The number of people was supposed to be about 4,000, who attended on this occasion. There were present seven Presbyterian ministers; four of whom were opposed to the work, and spoke against it until the fourth day about noon; the evidence then became so powerful, that they all professed to be convinced, that it was the work of God; and one of them addressed the assembly with tears, acknowledging, that notwithstanding they had long been praying to the Lord to pour out his spirit, yet when it came, they did not know it, but wickedly opposed the answer of their own prayers. On this occasion, no sex nor color, class nor description, were exempted from the pervading influence of the spirit; even from the age of eight months, to sixty years, there were evident subjects of this marvellous operation.

      The meeting continued five days, and four nights; and after the people generally scattered from the ground, numbers convened in different places, and continued the exercise much longer. And even where they were not collected together, these wonderful operations continued among every class of people, and in every situation; in their houses and fields, and in their daily employments: falling down and crying out under conviction, or singing and shouting with unspeakable joy, were so common, that they whole country round about, seemed to be leavened with the spirit of the work. [24]

      The next camp meeting was at Eagle-Creek, Adams county, Ohio. It began June 5, and continued four days and three nights. The number of people there was not so great, as the country was new, but the work was equally powerful according to the number. At this meeting the principal leading characters in that place fully embraced the spirit of the work, which laid a permanent foundation for its continuance and spread in that quarter.

      The next general meeting was at Pleasant Point, Kentucky which equalled if not surpassed any that had been before. Here, the Christian minister, so called; the common professor; the professed deist and debauchee, were forced to take one common lot among the wounded, and confess with equal candor, that hitherto they had been total strangers to the religion of Jesus. From this meeting, the work was spread extensively through Bourbon, Fayette, and other neighbouring counties, and was carried by a number of its subjects to the south side of Kentucky, where it found a permanent residence in the hearts of many.

      The general meeting at Indian creek, Harrison county, began the 24th of July, and continued about five days and nights. To this meeting, the subjects of the work were generally collected from all quarters, and abundantly strengthened each other in the promiscuous exercises of prayer, exhortation, singing, shouting and leaping for joy. But there was very little appearance of that power which strikes conviction to the heart of the sinner, until the third day about two o'clock in the afternoon. A boy from appearance about twelve years old, retired from the stand in time of preaching under a very extraordinary impression, and having mounted a log at some distance, and raising his voice in a very affecting manner, he attracted the main body of the people in a few minutes. With tears streaming from his eyes, he cried aloud to the wicked, warning them of their danger, denouncing their certain doom if they persisted in their sins, expressing his love to their souls, and desire that they would turn to the Lord and be saved. [25] He was held up by two men, and spoke for about an hour, with that convincing eloquence that could be inspired only from above. When his strength seemed quite exhausted and language failed to describe the feelings of his soul, he raised his hand and dropping his handkerchief, wet from sweat from his little face, cried out--"Thus, O sinner! Shall you drop into hell, unless you forsake your sins and turn to the Lord." At that moment some fell like those who are shot in battle, and the work spread in a manner which human language cannot describe.

      The next general meeting was at Caneridge, Bourbon county, seven miles from Paris. It began the 6th of August, and continued day and night about a week. The number of people collected on the ground at once, was supposed to be about twenty thousand; but it was thought a much greater number were there in the course of the meeting. The encampment consisted of one hundred and thirty-five wheel-carriages and tents proportioned to the people. This immense group included almost every character that could be named, but amidst them all, the subjects of this new and strange operation, were distinguished by their flaming zeal for the destruction of sin, and the deliverance of souls from its power. The various operations and exercises on that occasion, were indescribable. The falling exercises was the most noted. James Crawford, one of the oldest ministers in the state, and one of the foremost in the work, informed me that he kept as accurate an account as he could of the number that fell on the occasion, and computed it to be about three thousand. The vast numbers who received light on this occasion, and went forth in every direction to spread it, render it impossible to pursue any further the particular track of progress. I shall only add that it was but a few weeks after this meeting, that the same work broke out in North Carolina, by the instrumentality of some who went from Caneridge to bear the testimony.^{1} [26]

      I shall now take notice of the opposition which was raised against the work in this first stage of it, and show some of the causes from which it sprung.

      The people among whom the revival began, were generally Calvinists, and altho' they had been long praying in words for the out-pouring of the spirit, and believed that God had "foreordained whatsoever comes to pass;" yet, when it came to pass that their prayer was answered and the spirit began to flow like many waters, from a cloud of witnesses, and souls were convicted of sin and cried for mercy, and found hope and comfort in the news of a Saviour; they rose up and quarreled with the work, because it did not come to pass that the subjects of it were willing to adopt their souls stupefying creed. Those who has laboured and travailed to gain some solid hope of salvation, and had ventured their souls upon the covenant of promise, and felt the living seal of eternal love; could not, dare not preach that salvation was restricted to a certain definite number; nor insinuate that any being which God had made, was, by the Creator, laid under the dire necessity of being damned forever. The love of a Saviour constrained them to testify, that one had died for all. This truth, so essential to the first ray of hope in the human breast, was like a dead fly in the ointment of the apothecary, to the Calvinist; hence all this trembling, weeping and groaning under sin, rejoicing in the hope of deliverance and turning from the former practice of it, sent forth a disagreeable savor. Yet these exercises would no doubt, have passed for a good work of God, had they appeared as seals to their doctrine of election, imperfection, and final perseverance. But every thing appeared new, and to claim no relation to the old bed of sand upon which they had been building; and rather than quit the old foundation, they chose to reject, oppose and persecute the truth, accompanied with all [27] that evidence which many of them were obliged to acknowledge was divine.

      Some who were inwardly opposed, at first exercised forbearance, and professed a measure of union with the work, in hopes that it would die away like former revivals, and the people return to their old order. But as the perceived that it increased, they laid aside the mask, and came out with a bold testimony against it, as a dangerous delusion.

      In some of the churches there were days set apart for fasting and prayer, to deprecate the divine displeasure, through which they supposed it was sent upon the land.

      These public testimonies against the work, particularly by ministers, were a means of stirring up and encouraging those who were openly wicked, to come forth and mock, oppose, and persecute; but even such, were often unable to withstand the power, and sometimes in the very act of persecuting and afflicting, were struck down like men in battle; and so alarming was the sight, that others on foot or on horseback, would try to make their escape and flee away like those who are closely pursued by an enemy in time of war, and be overtaken by the invisible power, under which they would be struck down and constrained to cry out in anguish, and confess their wickedness in persecuting the work of God, and warn others not to oppose it. Thus, many who were openly profane, were taken in the very act of persecuting the work, and like Saul of Tarsus, made the happy subjects and zealous promoters of it; while bigoted professors, who had hissed them on, remained like the heath in the desert, that seeth not when good cometh.

[KRSO 19-28]