The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-12-12

God9 If your minister has seemed to have
become secular, how far is it due to your
inadequate provision for his wants!
aye ask and receive not, because We ask
amiss, that We may consume it upon your
lusts. Know ye not that the friendship OF
the world is enmity with GodT "Brlng ye
all the tithes into the store-house, and prove
me now herewith, saith the Lord OF hosts,
if | will not open you the windows OF heaven,
and pour you blessing that there should
not be room to receive il"
And now, dear brethren, let us look at
the SCRIPTURAL MEANS that are more espe-
cially requisite for securing revival OF
Gods work.
1st. IndiriduaL seLt-inspectiOn as to the
state of piety in our own heart; the nature
and causes of our declension the sins which
so easily beset us. There must be deep,
honest, earnest heart-searchings, by pastors
and people, in their closets. There must
come a reviving of the spirit of grace and
of applications. We must have the per-
sonal, inward preparation for the Holy
Spirits mighty coming among us.
We say, then, IDLY, There must be- at
the Threshold of this great work, rrest-
ling cuh God IN secret prayer. No public
services ought to overshadow this great
first. essential requisite. As it is Gods own
work -as he is to be supplicated-each
pastor, and elder, and member, must come
up to this work of private, individual prayer
to God.
3dly. Let us hasten 10 put all hinderdnces
ont of the ,cay. If there be chickering's and
alterations among the members; if there be
GOODNESS and distance toward the ministers
or elders; if there be habitual absence from
: the prayer-meeting and the closet; if there
be a lack of family religion; if there be
formality in prayer; if there be grievous
) Withholding of means or labors from Christ's
: cause; if there be dull routinc-wOyk among
us in the ministry and especially if we have
5 failed to come together. Pastors, elders, and
r people, in lively sympathy; going from
(. house to house, and speaking often one to
y another; watching for souls as they that
z must give account-let us hasten at the
outset to put away all these stumbling
: blocks. Brethren, let us not grieve the
d Spirit of God, nor quench the Holy Spirit.
o And closely connected with this, as
$ Scriptural means for revival, is the work OF
J. CMiechcticuliustruction. Lowest thoume 7"
}, saith the Master. Then the first charge,
s and also the leading test Of ministerial fdel-
s ity to the flock is, "FEED MY LAMBS"
:. No ministerial or parochial labors can dis
pense with this training to the West
minister Catechsm is the high privilege OF
the children of our beloved Presbyterian
church-their Christian birthright. Alas,
for the families and the churches where it
q" is not vigorously prosecuted; where any
IS other Sabbath School literature crowds out
these precious formularies of doctrine, and
A where any miscellaneous teaching dispenses
;, with these Scriptural rudiments. Luke pro-
s fessed, in his Gospel narrative, only to as
= sure Theophilus of those things wherein he
S had been already catechised.-Luke !: 4.
d Has this practice of our fathers fallen into
: disrepute and disuse among any OF your
e We exhort you, return to it with keen relish.
o Is not this neglect reason why they, who,
# for the time they have lived in our church,
!, ought to be teachers, ''haye need that one
It teach them again which be the first princi-
d pies of the oracles of God," and are un-
n skillful in the doctrine of justifcation.-Heb.
It iv: y.
@ And brethren, we beseech you to WAIT
n upon God. Let not this great work termi-
n nate in some special occasion. Pray, and
e pray again. Pray and not faint. Praying
), always with all prayer and supplication in
:. the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
: perseverance and supplication for all saints,
It and for US. Importune Him who has said
o that he is more willing to give the Holy
e Spirit to them that ask him, than parents
IS are to give good gifts to their children.
n Shall not God ayenge his own elect, who
cry day and night unto him, though he bear
o long with them? We tell you that he will
ayenge them speedily. Yet the great per-
8 sonal question with each one of us is, When
;. the Son of Man is ready, and is just waiting
/ to come, shall he find faith on the earth?
v We have ample ENCOURAGEMENT to wait
$ and hope for this blessing, because it is the
e LORDS work; and therefore this plea-FoR
: THINE OWN NAME SAKE! to make good thy
e words, to glorify thy name, to gladden. thine
e own heart, to gather jewels for the Re-
deemer's CROWN and to accomplish thine own
f proper work beyond all the glories of the
' old creation.
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