The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-14
Nehemiah.

Jerusalem was In ruins. Her walls kroken
down, her gates burned, and her children
enslaved. She sat disconsolate under the
willows in Babylon. But in an incredibly
short time those walls sprang up in beauty
and strength, and joy and prosperity were
restored. How that was accomplished is a
profitable study, as showing how God turns
the spiritual captivity of His people and
builds up Zion.
1t began with one man, far away in Baby
lon. When Nehemiah was reminded of the
desOlation and distress of his people, he
first "sat down and wept and prayed and
tasted before God certain days" That is
where salvation usually commences. Some
body's heart is turned to weeping and prayer
till sleep departs, and perhaps necessary
food is forgotten.
Then Nehemiah ventnrea upon God. He
took his life in his hand, and went into the
presence of the king with a sad countenance.
But God gave him favor in his sight, and he
sent him up to Jerusalem, furnished for his
work. So the Christian must throw himself
upon the promises of God, and as he goes
from weeping closet he shall find favor.
Then he went up and Surveyed the ruins
circuit of miles; great heaps of rubbish,
shapeless and useless. This is an important
work in every spiritual desolatiOn.
So far his designs were shut up in his own
heart; he had told no one; but now the time
for development had come. He called the
mobiles and the people together, and said:
Ye see the distress that we are in, how Je-
rusalem lieth waste, and her gates are
burned with fire; come and let us build up
the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more
a reprOach."
Then he told them what God had already
done for him; and they said, "Let us arise
and bnild." So they gave themselves heart
lily to the wOrk-all "the people" not mere
ly the masons, but the goldsmiths and the
merchants, the lawyers and apothecaries, the
gentlemen as well as the burden bearers
Not an excuse from any one-except the
Tekoites-no plea of business or un6tness
or inability; and the walls went up; and the
reason assigned is, because "the people had
a mind to work" Not to enjoy, to applaud,
to look on with hope or words of cheer, but
to work.
So now, when some yearning, burdened
heart unfOlds its experience to the gathered
friends of God, and receives the response,
"Let us arise and build;" and they strenth-
en- each others hands for this good work,
pleading no excuses, but offering themselves
willingly, the walls of Zion go up, and the
reprOach is wiped away.
But there is one feature of this work
which deserves attention-the wise division
Of labor. A great number were engaged in
it. Had they been left to crowd to one
point, they would have hindered each other,
and perhaps consumed their time in unpro,
ftable discussion about the best ,Oay of do
ing it.; but Nehemiah, as a wise master
builder, set them to build "every one Deer
against has o,On house. "
Sonow God has set His people in families,
and ordained all the sacred ties of friend
ship, not for momentary enjoyment, but
that they may win each other to Christ; and
if every Christian build over against his
own house, how wonderfully do the walls of
Zion go up.
A minister was called to congregation
in Ohio, where was large circle of gay
young people. He found the church in a
deplOroble state of declension. For three
months he preached mainly to the church
and when he proposed to call meeting to
examine candidates for admission, it was
that there were none, for he had
hardly preached sermon to the impenitent.
The meeting was held, and to the astonish-
ment of all, thirty young persons offered
themselves for admission to the church,
One young lady said she was gay and
till one Sabbath her mother