Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-05-21
RRvIvALs.

~ OUT Tenhrks last week we said
we would consider tho propriety Of the
Practice which somo of our religious demon.
nations have of holding series OF meetings
called revirais Of religion. We also said
We would give . reason why they did not
result moro favorabiy to the interests Of the
church. Now. is It in accordance with the
inspired word to hold such meetings a. we
have alluded to! Ii We viii examine the
Old Testament , We think we Will find m
Affirmative to the question. Before doing so,
however, We may remark that the word is
derived from the Latin rsrisisco, which
means ''to recover life - s.toL he DO reanima-
ted after depression - .sto Recover IRON a
state Of neglect" &c. Now, from the mean
ing OF the Word, there could be- nothing
harmful in thesn meetings or themselves. II
iscertainIy right to recover spiritual life;
to be terminated spiritually after depression
and to recover from Z stste ggof neglect of
spiritual duties. But to the scriptures.
David besought the Lord to turn his anger
away from the people, and then prayed:
"Wilt thou not rertys us again, that try
people may rejoice IN thee??" The prophet
Isaiah, In speaking OF thepromlses OF God
said: For thus saith The high and lofty ono
dwell in the high and holy place:
with him also that is of 4 contrite and hi n
BILE spirit. TO rsrirs the spirit OF .ihe humble.
and TO rreise the hearto OF the contrite ones.n.
Again. HanaSkuk, another prophet. prayed,
SO Lord, rsrirs ny uorE In tho midst OF the
years, in the midst OF the years make known;
In wrath remember mercy Now. IL we
turn TO the New Testament, we will find the
same doctrine taught us. That must have
been a wonderful revival which bcgan on the
day or Pentecost. and In which tnree thous-
and were converted under one sermon.
which Peter Preached. We are expressly
told that they Tho Apostles and the conycrts)
continued daily with one accord IN tie
tSnPzs, aud breaking bread from house to
house." And in this next verse We are told
that 'sf.e Lord added TO tho chrrch daily
such as should be sayed.s But 1t is unneces-
|sary TO multiply examples or quotations In
support OF this practice. It h right That
Gods people should worship him In pro-
tracted efforts whenever they think the cause
of our Redeemer can be. niagniGcd thereby.
Ifthe eariy. christians assembled daily In the
house Of tho Lord. II is not only right but
prsiseworthy that we should follow their en-
ample. II We do SO from the proper motive,
tho Lord will add to our numbers daily sricll
as shal,bc saved. And now comes sad rcflec-
ton In regard to our subject. We said IL VIC
held these meetings with th e proper motive
that the Master would bless US accordingly
But do we do this? Lave We simply the
glorificntlon Of our Heavenly Father at heart:
! All! hero tiid trouble lies. Now, Is II moi
true tiiat the great thing at which our
churches are striving is num5srs1 Numbers,
numbers, nrmhcrs, II the motto. The gen.
cral when he enters the army says he must
have numbers /; the politician when he en-.
ters the canvass says he must have numbers,
anil the poor deluded, faithless christian,
when he goes ont TO fight the bloodless bat.
ties of the church says NUMBER Is necessary to
win the victory. Here, then, Is our fault. With
numbers. wealth generally comes,an wealth
and numbcr rs. without pIety, win destroy
the influence OF any church for good. Reli.
gion has become q popular thing In this ,ou
day. Men embrace 1t, not because they arc
revived in spirit, not because God commands
them to 10 so, but because II gives respecta'
biiity. Let h earnest workers for Jcsu.
learn, then; learn where the grest eyjl Hes.
Let their discard aud mania for number,
cease let them despise uusanctiticd wealth;
and let them set up the banner Of Christ In
the purity OF the Gospel and the simplicity
fdY faith, aud our revival meetings viii no,
prove 4 failure, n sometimes . stigma,
but p~reciotts souls win DO gathered III, which
are finally to be saved. In our revival meet.
ings. as well as all other work that We do fol
the Lord. let as ADOPT the language Of the
angelt to zerubbabei; mot by Nigh, nor by
power but BIZ my spirit, saith tho lord ol
hosts" ALPHA.