The Reformation which came to Ireland in 1530 was a failure or at least unsuccessful. Only a few ministers were settled in the land and they were not meet for the task. In the North the population was greatly reduced through internal wars under Elizabeths reign and was something of a wasteland. By the time of the Plantation under James things were at low ebb. A great many came from Scotland and not a few from England. One minister said these were mostly the scum of both nations many were fleeing debt and legal justice. There was little fear of God in them or in those that inhabited the land they came to, iniquity abounded, contention, fighting, murder, thieving, adultery etc. In the years following this plantation the people seemed to flock in from Scotland to plant the land. Yet God followed them when they fled from Him. Amongst them were some of the godliest ministers of the Church of Scotland who came seeking to labour for souls and for a pure church.
The first signs of revival came in about 1626 through the ministry of an eccentric but popular local man called James Glendinning in Oldstone near Antrim. Originally he was at Carrickferrgus but Robert Blair seeing his limitations advised him to take a smaller charge and encouraged him to deal more plainly and directly with the hearts and conscience of the people by preaching with conviction, for it was such preaching that God had greatly blessed in Scotland. And so he moved to Oldstone and in the midst of a godless people began to preach the law of God, the wrath of God and His judgement against sin. Almost immediately he was transformed into a powerful preacher, having a great voice and vehement delivery. The people were struck with conviction of sin and began to cry out to God. Some of the worst sinners who cared not for man or God and who with the sword would put the whole market town in array were soon slain with conviction of sin. One man came to the meetings to cause trouble but was caught by the Word. A great multitude had no power to resist the word of God and now feared to sin. At times a dozen in one day would be carried out of the meetings who had been struck down as if dead and fast bound under the spirit of bondage. The local minister at Antrim John Ridge (who was an old English Puritan), recognising that an awakening was coming to great multitudes of the people organized for other godly ministers like Cunningham, Hamilton and Blair to come to Antrim where they would preach all day by turn to the good of the people. Robert Blair in early days of preaching was commended by an old minister for his eloquence and polish but pointed out to him that the one thing he lacked was the Spirit of God, ever after he always sought to preach by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. This work of revival spread into several other parishes with each of these ministers becoming the instrument of this revival movement in his own area. Edward Brice (who was the first Scots minister to come in 1613), Josias Welch (the grandson of Knox and son of John Welch) and several others joined them in this labour in other communities.
Again John Ridge suggested another meeting on the first Friday of each month for all those ministers involved in this awakening that they might pray together and sit in conference in order to strengthen each other and their people in the work of God. On the Thursday night the ministers would meet in conference, the Friday would be spent in prayer, fasting and public preaching and this could continue till the Sunday. There were 9 parishes within a 20 mile radius which had godly revived ministers. Each of these parishes would hold two communions a year and two or three of the ministers would preach and almost all the awakened people from each parish would gather in. This work that had spread in Antrim and Down now spread throughout the whole land, God was pouring out His Spirit. There was a great harvest of souls that some felt had not been seen since the days of Pentecost. It was in 1630 that John Livingston came to labour in Ireland. It had been just earlier that year that after he spent a night of fervently laying hold of God in prayer that revival had come to the churchyard in Shotts. As he preached from
500 souls were saved. Now he saw a great work for God in Killenchie, Ireland and joined these other ministers in a spirit of unity and revival finding no jealousy amongst them. At just one of these gatherings in 32 there were about 1500 people gathered. This revival carried on in like manner until 1634.
But this work was not left unhindered. The old Episcopal bishops worked hard to stop it. Blair, Livingston and others were put out of their pulpits and had to flee back to Scotland. When Welch was put out of his church he continued preaching at his home where crowds would gather inside and out to hear Gods Word. Cunningham took up the strain and visited the different churches preaching and exhorting until he to was put out in 36. The people met in secret to pray and held conventicles out in the countryside. The tide of persecution began to arise. The Black Oath was introduced, in order to bring individuals under civil and religious bondage. Many were imprisoned, one Ministers wife was imprisoned for three years. Some fled to the woods and caves and still others returned to Scotland. Very soon all these ministers were either out of the country or dead. During the 1641 massacre when 10000 died, 30 Presbyterian ministers were killed, some of which were nailed to their church doors. One Minister called Thomas Murray was crucified between two other men. Last of all came a plague which wiped out thousands across the land. But by the grace of God the church which had been planted and established in Revival remained.
A Plantation Revival
