The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-02
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE REVIVAL.-No. s.
WHAT MINISTERS CAN Do-A DEFECT IN OUR
MINISTRY

WHAT MINISTERS CAN DO-A DEFECT IN OUR
MINISTRY.
"And with great power gave the Apostles witness
of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great
grace was upon them all
The effects of an accident, with illness. have
stopped my pen, for time. | am spared to re-
sumo it again for a number or two.
Some brother may say, it is very easy task, il
it has not something of commonplace and truism
in it to shew how much the Church and the world
need such an increased power of religion, proceed
ing from the operation of the Spirit of God, as
has been spoken of in these articles. And this
brother will perhaps add, How is that great result
to be brought about?" That is the practical ques-
ton, he says Well, this is mainly true. But to
awaken the mind of the Church of God on any i'm
portant subject, is great object attained. This
have aimed at, in these communications and if l
shall have accomplished the end to any degree in
regard to the matter of which have been treating
my labor will be far from in vain. For The indl
vidual Christian OF the Church collectively to feel
deep and crying sense Of spiritual necessity is the
best preparation for and surest token OF spiritual
blessings about to come.
But l am willing to meet the question-how may
we promote so great an end as great, general re-
yival of religion, that shall largely promote the
piety of the Church and the conversion OF sinners.
Yet feel that it is an effort which l must make
With difidence; for do not know why any minis
ter or Christian person may not anticipate me in
almost any thing that l can say. And first, so far
as my brethren Of the ministry are concerned, sup.
pose they should set their minds earnestly upon
the object of promoting quickened state Of re-
gious feeling, with its results in the churches and
communities to which they minister, can any body
believe that this itself might not produce power
full effect? | have recently seen it stated that
some ministers in England have agreed to pray
together, at a certain hour every Saturday night
for the presence and power OF the Spirit In their
labors of the succeeding Sabbath; and it is said
that this has been followed by very marked in
crease of the impression of their preaching. Oh,
might we not weep and pray souls into the king
dom,-souls that hear the word of life at our lips
more, far more than we do? Ii We, of the minis
try, travelled in soul ourselves as we ought would
not this feeling communicate itself, like moral
electricity, to Christian hearts around us? And
then, when the preacher and his praying people
become deeply engaged for the salvation OF souls,
can we believe that results In that line would not
soon follow? Are not we, brethren of the minis
try, too prone to content ourselves with mere
perfunctory discharge of our sacred duties, or at
least the interested and pleasing impression that
III L.
duce? All, do not Satan and our own vain, self.
worshipping hearts even congratulate us on the
fecitous performance, and lead US to content our
selves too well with that, when perhaps no soul is
led to Christ, for Sabbath after Sabbath? On the
other hand, had we, in regard to perishing souls,
something of John Knox feeling when he said,
- Give nae Scotland, or die!" would not the Lord
give us souls?
And DOW let me make remark which, if cor
rect, is one to be pondered. l think it is partcu-
larry true of the Presbyterian ministry, as com
pared with the ministry of some at least of the
other denominations, that they do not aim enough
at results No body of ministers in our country
do the work of culture and preparation better
none, believe so well. Here, in fact, the minis
try of some of the other denominations is deci.
dedly deficient. But, when it comes to the matter
of gathering in, there they go far ahead of u.s.
They look more to that end, and they bring up
their church members to the same sentiment and
feeling, and to cooperative effort, iu degree that
we do not. If any person is disposed to challenge
me on this point, beg him, in the first place, to
look around him-not at few exceptional cases
but at the generality Of Them as respects the COM
parison between us and some other denominations.
If this does not convince him, let him take their
statistics and ours, and make that comparison.
have made it and confess l am alarmed for the
interests of our denomination; believing it, as l
do, to be the best form of Christianity extant-
And sure | am that, without greater power and
efficiency in our ministry and church, as to the
of that which is the great ultimate re-
suit of effort, on the part of the ministry and the
church the conversion and gathering in OF souls,
we shall not, as Church, hold our own, 10 the
ace with other denominations, and what is far
more serious, we shall fall greatly behind in the
york which we ought to be accomplishing for the
Master, for our country, and for lost world.
In