The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-24
REVIVAL.

The prayer of the Psalmist, 9 Wilt thou
not revive US again that thy people may re
jOice in thee % is necessary because religion
is heavenly plant set in an unfriendly soil.
Ii is a divine exotic. It is evident to every
Christian that his heart is by nature an irreli-
gious heart He that plants the love Of God
IN such heart must sustain it there, or it dies.
The life of the believer Is a constant miracle
Religion must be revived in the morning that
it may prepare the heart for the temptations Of
theday; atnOOn, that cares may not Overwhelm
the soul; and at eventide that mercy may be
implOred for the past, and that death, whose
image appears in sleep, may not take us una
wares. And, we may add, there is not an
hour, scarcely a moment in the day when we
do not need the quiekening influence of secret
calculations and silent prayers. 1t was by
stirring up his heart a thousand times a day
that the cody Francke was enabled as he de-
cared to his friends, to maintain that life Of
faith and extraordinary works which excited
their wonder
Butin addition to this regular flow of divine
communications the souls Of Christians, there
seems to be a need Of special seasons when
larger measures of grace shall be given True,
we see nothing in the divine economy Of re-
demptiOn to justify us in remaining at any time
in a lower state than that which In these spe-
eial seasons is attained, and it may perhaps be
aScribed to human weakness that some times
are better in the history of the Church than
others; but such is the fact thus far. We
seem, as if by common consent, to relax our
efforts after a season Of exertion. This being
the case, the best we can do seems to be, by
common consent, and all with one heart and
one mind, to awake from sleep and seek reviv-
ing influences; praying that they may not be
brief, but may come to be the regular and ha-
bitual state of our hearts; in other words, that
that which has been the special may become
the continual state Of the Church; that it may
not, as heretofore, go forward,-then pause, or
90 backward, then make another spasmodie
effort again to subside into the repoSe of indO-
lence,-but that once aroused animated with
new life, urged forward by the omnipOtent en-
ergy Of tbe Holy Spirit, it may continue to
course with firm and irresistible step,
"a to victory and glory, receiving
ace, and honOring the fidelity Of
receiving In abundant showers
.5f grace which seem so long to
the spiritual armament awaiting
lions of His children.
als of religion are also necessary in or
ii that sound doctrine may be maintained.
The doctrines of the Gospel, such as the de-
prayity of the human heart and the consequent
condemnation Of the whole race under the
wrath and curse of God, the divinity and
atonement of Christ the only name under
heaven whereby we can be saved, the necessi-
ty of faith and regeneration, the awful doom
Of those who reject the Saviour, and the GER
tain salvation Of believers, together with the
glorious truths of His electing love- are con-
stantly liable to be sighted, and perverted, or
denied by men calling themselves religious
teachers, as well as by unbeievers. And even
by many of those who do not oppose them,
and some of whom profess to believe them
they are in danger Of being sOftened down to
please the earnal mind, and CLOSED over with
human eoneeits. Thus Gods truth is robbed
of its power, and the teachings of men become
the food of His Church. Thus the watchmen
upon the walls Of Zion are led to utter an un-
certain sound, and her sacred precincts become
a prey to the footsteps of the spoier.
Revivals Of religion bring out these doctrines
from the chambers of oblivion, dispel the mists
of error that surround them, and reassert
them in their dignity and power. When the
spirit Of the Lord comes down, revived Chris
tians and awakened sinners learn that their
hearts are deceitful above all things, and des-
perately wicked When the cry is heard on
every side, Men and brethren, what shall we
dO?" the doctrine of the atonement is gladly
received as a truth, and fixed in the soul as a
truth, because that doctrine has become its sal
walton, its only hope. When one witness after
another declares, whereas l was blind now
see, opposers may vainly deny the doctrine Of
the new birth. And they that have seen the
horrible pit and been transferred from its verge
to a sure foundation upon the promises of God |
In Christ Jesus, will maintain at once the aw-
ful doom of impenitency and the happy seeu-
rity of believers, as cardinal truths.