Here is a rare piece of revival history; an important Scottish biography and diary of Rev. James Garie who was minister at Perth when James Alexander Haldane, the famed Scottish revivalist, came to his church. He was also a member of the Haldane Connexion, a Scottish revivalist movement with Baptist leanings. The result of the consistent, godly ministry at Perth under Garie and a gifted revivalist in Haldane was a significant season of revival.

Garie recalled "I have not seen, since I have been in Perth such evidence of the work of the Spirit of God upon the minds of the people as of late, both from solid joys in the Lord Jesus and deep convictions of the dreadful evils of the heart." The majority of those awakened and impacted by the revival were teenagers or younger. The time of refreshing is recounted beautifully in the present diary.

Garie had also been a missionary to Ireland in 1790 where, after preaching the Gospel of free grace to gathered Catholics, his church was burned to the ground.

The work includes his memoirs, extracts from his diary [including the revival], correspondence between he and J. A. Haldane, etc.]

Also bound with a circular “letter” from James Alexander Haldane, dated March 26, 1802 and addressed “To the Church assembling for Worship in the Tabernacle, Edinburgh.” The 12 page address exhorts the church to engage in weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper. This was a sharp deviation from the restrictive and rare occasion of the Lord’s Supper in most Scottish churches and in keeping with Haldane’s move to a much more experiential, personal, faith grounded in a personal experience of Jesus and with room for liberty of conscience. Christ’s work was sufficient and to be relished, enjoyed, and celebrated on a regular basis among the redeemed.

No copies of either work on the market in any form, reprint or otherwise.

Gardiner, William [Comp.]. Memoirs of the Late Rev. James Garie, Minister of the Gospel in Perth; with Extracts from His Diary and an Appendix. Edinburgh. J. Ritchie. Sold for the Benefit of Mrs. Garie and Family. 1801. 180pp.

[bound with]

Haldane, James Alexander. To the Church assembling for Worship in the Tabernacle, Edinburgh. 12pp.

Period quarter calf with rubbing as shown, some losses at extremities and through leather at hinges, but firmly bound by cords. Ex library. Contents quite good.