The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-02-12
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
"The Revival. No. 2.

l truly feel that my undertaking, in the discus
sion of this topic, as defined in my last, is great
one. Great it is, in the topic itself, and the end
that have in view, in promoting an interest in it.
feel weight of my present fort TOO in tits,
hat there are so many of my brethren whose pos,
ton or powers would give them much more of the
ability to do justice to the subject And yet de.
rive comfort and somewhat Of courage, from the
consideration that is not always by human might
or power" that God accOmplishes His good and
even great ends, for His Church, and for the lost
world that is promised to His Son.
"The revival''-the blessed work of God-not
as new in its nature, for it is what the Spirit is
everywhere and at all times carrying on in the
hearts Of those who are turning and those who are
turned to God-but as exhibited in its increased
power on the hearts of saints and Sinners the re
vival to which the hope and expectancy OF so many
Christian hearts have been so simultaneously and
remarkably turned; shall we see it,-shall we feel
its blessed poWer2 Shall these awakened hopes
turn out to be mere Elusive imaginings, or prove
to have been the suggestions and promptiugs OF
the Spirit himself? Two things, in answer, l
think we may confidently assume, first, that in the
sense of greatly, vastly augmented power
from on high, (Acts i: 81 coming upon each, such
revival is great necessity; nay, the great neces
sty of the Church and the world. And then, |
think every Christian heart will agree to this too,
that if so great blessing be rightly sought God
will grant ii.
, And need l suggest anything, to my brethren OF
the ministry and the private membership, as to
the first of these postuates? Nobody, l think,
will controvert it. But while we concede it in
theory, fear we do not, in fact, realize and feel il
as we ought, and as we must, before the better
time shall come. | am deeply impressed with the
conviction that the unevangelzed world abroad
and the unconverted world, as embracing our com.
munites at home, are, in relative sense, ahead
Of the Church; in other words, that the Church
taking the word in its largest sense, as describing
the e,umenical Christian body-is by no mean:
up to the present state of her work. Indeed il
strikes me, looking over the world as we see it. il
this year, 1873 that the Church is far behind the
present aspect, and promise of her work; the worlC
much more ready for receiving the gospel than the
Church for giving it. Looking at our home de
nominations-I mean those of properly named
Christian countries-whie it is true that iDfielity
and scepticism, in different shapes, still 6ud thei
lurking.places-som of them in the high seats o
science-yet there has hardly ever been time
when, in the countries referred to, among all casse
of people, there was so general an acknowledg
) ment of the truth Of the Bible and the claims o
religion. Indeed | am tempted to say that reli
gious profession has become almost too easy ant
fashionable thing. And may we not say, of GU
country if not of other parts Of Christendom
that the work of evangelzation is already done
Is it not so, where, with population of thrtys,
or seven millions, we have some thirty to fort
thousand places of worship and as many ministers
of evangelical denominations; where there is scare
valley or hilltop or mountain-nook that ha
not at least its log sanctuary, with Sunday School
and that does not, once month at least hear tn
voice of some faithful preacher?
True there are, even here, many neglecters O
the Sabbath and the sanctuary. 1t is even some
what appalling to think, any given Sabbath, hoy
large portion of our population are absent fron
the house Of God. But, let the Christian body ii
self be quickened to put forth its activity and ez
ert its influence on thest outside masses, and be
lieve we shall see different state of things An
have great faith "a the direct influence Of tn
Spirit, in this regard Who of US has not, at time
and places that he can think of, when the Spiri
was poured out, seen how these emphatically far
off ones were brought to the house of GOd wit
little or no instigation on the part of anybody?-
Oh, were the Spirit to come down with great an
mighty power, how might we see our sancluarie
crowded, even with the Sabbath-breakers and th
neglecers of Gods house, At any rate, | wi
ask whether, If each and every part Of the worl
we're furnished, as ours is, not only with ministers
church-organizations, and church edifces, but wit
the printed word; the Sunday School, that wonder
ful engnery Of juvenile evangelizatiOn; and th
other so various means of gospel instruction an
influence, would we not think the world evange
lied and the time come for its conversion? Really
if that "power" from above came down as it did
on some occasions, in apostolic days and later times
one minister could accomplish, in the conversion
Of sinners, the present work of FIVE or more; am
the larger part of our home labOrers be dismisse
to the work in the wider foreign field.
May not this state of things yet take place P
When shall these more or less evangelical multi
tudes, even of the lanes and alleys, and hedge
and highways" be converted?
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
.