The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-20

0eeN duUeU W OuT cOHtnuHs0H' AAo Hoiu
hath done great things for us, whereof we
are glad"
About these matters, the wise pastor
doubts. A wave of reaction often follows
just on the heel of itinerant "Revival-
its" while the settled minister is under
valued and the regular means OF grace
not appreciated. The preacher who in
his own congregation looks to periodic
excitement for increase and strength,
will have to bemoan, in the intermediate
space, much coldness and deadness.
About such system, there is of neces-
sity, stupefactson as well as exhilaration.
The wise and thoughtful pastor adopts
different course. He recognizes but
TWO divinely authorized instrumentalities,
aside from the preacher, and these are
the inspired Scriptures and the oily
Ghost. Wherever, and by VIII ger
the truth is presented, the Spi Is
His seal to it, and makes it 8 pr
of life unto life, or of death uni !" Z.
1t is not for ignorant man to mt
times or seasons. That wind sth
where it hsteth. We are to sow all
waters, and this whether there be sun
shine or cloud. We are to sow with a
steady and regular hand. The seed
should be so sown too as to yield har-
vest all the year round. Rapid decay is
the inevitable accompaniment of the hot
house spasmodic growth. The files of
religious newspapers will show that there
are congregations now dead which re-
ported throughout series of years amaz-
ing (so-called,) revivals. ta ao
Excitement cannot reach beyond q
certain point, and then comes paralysis.
And hence many in the community who
once seemed to be consumed with zeal. are
now never seen in the sanctuary. The
hardest souls in the land are those that
in days past made noisy profession.
These results are in accordance with es-
tablished laws. He who sows the wind
must expect to reap the whirlwind. To
apply the term revival to company Of
excited, half. distracted sinners, is mis-
nomer. There is nothing in these per-
sons to revive. True revival, on the
other hand, is the gracious, orderly, holy
working of the Divine Spirit in the
hearts of believers. Of course, where
this influence exists, unconverted men
will feel the power. We would not ut
ter word of Encouragement in regard
to those seasons of special interest which
occur in every congregation where the
Gospel is faithfully preached. The legit-
mate feeling may, on such occasions, be
so great, as to demand judicious in
crease of the services. When such is
the case, the assistance of a neighboring
minister, or of any prudent brother, can
be benefcially employed. Nor are the
previous remarks intended to apply to
the work of the Evangelist when he con-
fines himself to his appropriate sphere.
Our purpose is to discourage extempor-
lied "gotten up" revivals. We should
carefully avoid counterfeits, and ever
pray as the Psalmist did" Lord, wilt
not Thou revive us again" .ib no
This manifestation of the grace Of
God is made evident by the following
fruits: ' %
l. Faithful Sell denomination. Says
Isaiah: "Let us search our ways and
turn unto the Lord" The Psalmist
says: "Search me, O God, and know
my heart; try me and know my thoughts,
and see if there be any s0icksd soay in
n,e, and lead me in the way everlasting"
2. By secret prayer. u
3. By careful study of the Word.
4. By .fredness Of purpose to for
sake every false soay.
5. By systematic labor and self denial.
From these acts and experiences, there
arises, as consequence, the joy of the
Lord; and the Church is revived. We
can more certainly calculate the condi-
ton of spiritual law than we can the laws
which regulate physical nature. In the
latter we are not able to foresee the dis
turbing element, and all calculations are
baf1ed. But in the spiritual world all is
harmony; We reap what We SOW. There
is never an exception. To assert that
revivals are to be expected during partic-
ular seasons of the year, is to limit the
Eternal, and lay ourselves open to the
jeers of infdelity. Every season is the
Lords, and the Church's power should
be distributed over all periods. Better,
like Enoch, to a0alk with God continu-
ally, than like Jehu to drive six months
furiously, and the remainder of ,the time
to follow after the sins of Jerob1p. No
shrewd, snsible man of the 4, ever
attempts to accomplish his ses by
such insane measures as an etimes
adopted in religious meetings.. genu-
inc revival is blessed thing and its
fruits like the "clusters of EscAol; but
those popular agitations which fire the
feelings only, are greatly to be deplored.
Several classes of persons constitute
the membership of almost every congre-
CATION. We would mention two of these
by way of contrast. The first embraces,
to very large extent, those individuals
who were brought into the Church under
excitement and by the influence of ''re-
vivalists. They are fond of novelty,
would prefer different preacher every
Sunday; allow idle pretexts to keep
them from the house of God, contribute
but little, and that reluctantly, and find
fault by turns with everything about the
Church but themselves. And whilst it
may be true that such persons are "fool-
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