When my faithfulness is as fading leaf,
Why would Christ ride unto me with relief?

Why, when I sinned, caused Him so much grief,
Unstable as water, my heart full of deceit?

Why should my Father's heart still zealously yearn,
When all I did was wander, gad about, and turn?

Despised His commands, quenched His Breath,
Spurned His fellowship – sin gave birth to death!

Why should God in all His majesty appear,
Give me beauty for ashes, joy for my tears?

Why should Christ Jesus favor me, why would He take heed?
– Only because I was born of His incorruptible seed.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,
that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
~ I John 1:5-10

Who is a God like unto thee,
that pardoneth iniquity,
and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?
he retaineth not his anger for ever,
because he delighteth in mercy.
He will turn again,
he will have compassion upon us;
he will subdue our iniquities;
and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
~ Micah 7:18-19

No thorns or briers could hinder the LORD
At an instant - suddenly! – girded with sword

My King came riding at the break of dawn
Rejoiced o'er me with joy, singing this song:

"Daughter of Zion, in whom I am pleased
My blood has ransomed you and made you clean

"Your broken heart has proved that you are Mine,
Bearing fruits of repentance from the True Vine

"The poor and humble I set on high
The meek with salvation, I beautify

"Your pleas for mercy have been heard above
There is forgiveness through My precious blood

"I, the LORD of hosts, am faithful, I am just
To cleanse you of all sin and unrighteousness!

"Once afflicted and desolate – but no more!
Into your thirsty soul, I abundantly pour.

"Fear not! For the praise, glory and honor of My name,
I welcome you, sister – stand before Me without shame!"

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one:
for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Saying,
I will declare thy name unto my brethren,
in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

And again,
I will put my trust in him.

And again,
Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also himself likewise took part of the same;
that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted,
he is able to succour them that are tempted.
~ Hebrews 2:11-18

For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes...
~ Psalm 26:3a

Lovingkindness set before mine eyes
Shekinah Glory – as the Son did arise

A lovely glimpse, brightening gleam
My heart indites a goodly theme

Overflowing from Zion's sparkling stream
In my gloom suddenly shone a beam

Heavenly manna upon the ground
Once more His grace did abound

Lebanon refreshed, a fruitful field
The honeycomb dripped, the Spirit sealed

The hills flowed with milk, the mountains wine
Gladdening oil made my face to shine

O! Cloudy pillar, Glory's descent
Grace upon grace, the heavens rent!

Who am I, but the sinner chief,
Dust and ashes, a guilty thief!

Why should the Rock burst forth with cheer
When I mocked Christ, yea, I did jeer?

Why should I receive wheat so fine?
Why should I drink the choicest wine?

Yet, I opened my mouth and was supplied
With Jesus my soul was perfectly satisfied

No single drop or morsel I do deserve
Yet bliss gushes forth from heav'n's reserve!

In raining mercies our God takes great delight
Awak'ning, satisfying me with His Light

A nest provided, but far, far more
Fresh joy and gladness from treasure store

Welcomed as a son, wrapped in His fold
His love so fervent, it melts the cold

His voice resounds, makes the deer give birth
Effectually calls, infuses holy mirth

Among the branches, my song displayed:
Glory to God! Hallowed be His Name!

Chosen in Christ before break of day
Why me? Why me? What can I say?

Father, Son, and Spirit, they do decide
Grace falls like dew, He comes to abide

My bones were lifeless, so very dry
Yet the Sovereign Spirit, He did fly

Upon the wind, Jehovah did ride
The River's fullness, His mercies wide

Rapture's transport by His drenching tide
Ushered in to sup with God Most High!

In His presence, pleasures and peace multiply
How could He forsake the apple of His eye?

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem:
behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation;
lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
~ Zechariah 9:9

Sing, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy:
the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee:
thou shalt not see evil any more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not:
and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty;
he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy;
he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly,
who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee:
and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out;
and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you:
for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth,
when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
~ Zephaniah 3:14-20

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled.
~ Matthew 5:4, 6

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
~ Psalm 104:10-12

    It was prophetic preaching, not diplomatic, and the hearers were called to make a clear choice, for there was middle path. During the revival the wrath of God was emphasized and the coming judgment. God has given him this emphasis. Once he tried to be more pleasing in the presentation of truth but without effect and in spite of constant criticism continued to press the flaming sword into the very heart of the foe, resisting every effort to make him retreat. Leaving a service one night after listening to a famous preacher who was noted for his 'positive gospel', he found himself beside another minister who had often censured his ministry. The sermon they had listened to was on Paul's word to the Philippian jailor: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'

    'What did you think of that?' his critic asked. 'Not telling him to flee from the wrath to come!'

    'Maybe not,' replied Duncan slowly 'but you must remember that the dear many was already in full flight.'

    While he thundered the judgments of God unsparingly on those who continued in sin, there was a beautiful tenderness when he addressed those seeking Christ in true repentance. The jewel of grace shone more brightly against the backcloth of law and judgment. Indeed, those who listened sometimes saw his countenance glow with light as he dwelt on the love of Christ and God's welcome to returning sinners.

    Undoubtedly the insistence on a true knowledge of sin and genuine repentance was one of the reasons for the deep conviction of sin which characterised the movement. At times the preacher's voice was drowned with the sound of men and women weeping uncontrollably; on occasions he found it necessary to stop preaching because of the distress manifested by those whose consciences had been awakened. Men, broken in spirit, wept openly over their sin. Here is one working at peats on the moor and suddenly bursts into a flood of tears. 'Why am I crying?' he asks 'I didn't used to be so soft.' He remembers the two ships that had gone down under him at Dunkirk and he had shown no fear; now he trembles. Hastening home he goes to the barn and yields with the prayer: 'Oh God if it's my surrender You want, You've got it now.'

    Another, who had been given up by the ministers as totally indifferent, is cycling along the road with the Word of God pounding in his brain causing him to dismount; it seems that hell has opened up, spitting out balls of fire on the road before him.

    In the fields, or at the weaving looms, men were overcome and prostrated on the ground before God. One said; 'The grass beneath my feet and the rocks around me seem to cry: "Flee to Christ for refuge!"'

    The agony of conviction was terrible to behold, but Duncan rejoiced knowing that out of the deep travail would be born a rich, virile Christian experience, unlike the cheap, easy-going 'believism' that produces no radical moral change. An old man underlined this in his prayer when he said bluntly: 'Lord, now that You have us in the big pot, boil us as well!'

34  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36  And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38  And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.”

 And Elijah came near to all the people and said,
“How long will you go limping between two different opinions?
If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

And the people did not answer him a word.
(I Kings 18:21)

Duncan Campbell was a spokesman for eternity, 'We are the ambassadors of eternity in the courts of time, and it is our business to permeate the courts of time with the atmosphere of eternity,' he quoted.¹

On the doorstep, the street corner, or in the church he used plainness of speech to remove false hopes and show the terrible consequences of sin before pointing men and women to the Saviour. Triflers with truth were silenced unsparingly. A rather self-righteous woman told him she didn't need him to preach to her––she had been through the Bible herself! 'Perhaps so, madam,' he quietly replied, 'but have you allowed the Bible to go through you?' At an open-air meeting in Ballachulish an arrogant young fellow began to mock. Quick as a flash, Duncan turned and rebuked him with solemn effect: 'Young man, your head won't be so high, and your speech won't be so bold when the waves of death are lapping the shores of your body.'