The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-05-14
E For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Signs )f a Revival.

Like you Mr.. Editor have felt interested in
the articles of our goe4 brother In. that ap-
peared few weeks age on the necessity and prob
ability of general revival in the Christian
Church. II any thing can be said as the Spring
opens, to induce us all to labor and pray more for
che prosperity aud progress Of the kingdom of
Christ, and accomplish good years work, it will
be time well spent. We live in fast age, make
rapid strides in railroads and telegraphs at the ex-
penSe Of millions OF money, and go ahead at the
risk OF life and limb, but the Church is only halt
awake The children of this world are wiser in
their generation than the children Of light" Per
haps it might be we'll for our General Assembly at
its next meeting to set apart early day for all
our churches to be observed as time OF fasting
and prayer with special reference to the outpour-
ing of the Spirit of God. And let all our people
whether at church or confined at home be urged
to observe it, and to cherish the spirit of it until
| times of refreshing shall come from the presence
of the Lord. Christians must get down in the
dust, and mourn for their own sins, if they expect
to be heard in behalf of others. The Church
must agonize and travail in birth before sons and
daughters are born to God. The prayer of David
after dark day was, Restore unto me the Joy Of
thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
Then will teach transgressors thy ways; and sin
ners shall be converted unto thee" If we have
not snned after the similitude Of David,s transgres
sion in the form of it, we have been guilty of the
spirit of it, and a thousand others. We may well
say as Brady the martyr, when he saw a criminal
led from the dungeon to the gallows, There goes
John Brady, but for the grace OF God. )"
Perhaps as sign of brighter and better day
we might mention with prOpriety the growing
desire of it among the BRETHREN and increasing
earnestness in the pulpit. While our personal
knowledge is limited to small circle, we see enough
in our religious journals to indicate an advance in
spirituality. We think it is visible also in our
Semlnaries where our young men are trained
| When God has great work to accomplish he will
provide suitable Instruments or make them so.
But the encouraging providences and promises Of
God will only inspire the true Christian with re
newed life and energy. Z76T every clergyman and
layman grid on the harness and be found at his
post, for there is great work before U.s. We hear
cheering news from some of our city churches, but
little from the country.
We would also refer with pleasure to the cordial
fellowship among the different denominations Of
Christians Of late, as an indication of something
good and great in time to come. We have wit.
messed something of it in former days in particular
locations, but the spirit of love and union seems
now to be general all over the land All are ready
to rejoice in the prosperity of each other, and
work shoulder to shoulder for the common cause.
This strange moral phenomenon seems to be the
finger of God to remove out OF the way one of the
most formidable barriers to the progress of the
kingdom of God and the final conversion of the
world. We speak of the prevailing spirit among
Christians but perfect purity is not to be expected
We may also notice decided increase in con
tributions to benevolent objects as indicative of a
Christian spirit. While some will give aims to be
seen of men and gain applause, charity should lead
us to believe that large majority offer up their
prayers and aims from benevolent motives. As
the love Of money is the root of all evil and is ex.
ceedingly hard to eradicate. we rejoice to see men
more determined to subdue their besetting sin; and
we must consider it an evidence of reigning grace
When DR.. Baker was begging for Austin College,
it is said he never named the subject to any of the
churches until he first fred the hearts of the peo-
pie with a series of warm discourses, and by the
blessing of God, got them into a revival spirit,
and then a single statement Of the case was suf-