The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-07-01
Vol. 9.---NO. 49.
and train up from its sons succession of wit
nesses worthy of his name l-PresJyterian
Monthly Record.
Signs of a Revival.

1. One sign of revival is deep sense of
sinfulness in the people of God. DIR. Porter,
in his articles on revivas in New Jersey, at
the beginning of the present century, says
that the first indication of the return of the
Holy Spirit was, that the protesting people
of God were brought into great Distress
Many of them had such sense of their sim
fulness, that they were even led to renounce
their hope and come to Christ as impenitent
sinners. They were filled with deeper an
guish than they were at their first conver-
sion. When there are great searchings of
heart among the protesting people of God,
they will find abundant cause for deep hu-
initiation and selfabasement. Their secret
sins, ingratitude, pride, and unbelief, seen in
the light of Gods law, appear hideous mon
sters. 1t cuts them to the quick, that they,
bsiEg Of the. house Of Gods friends, have
wounded him. Every husband weeps apart,
every wife weeps apart, and every heart
knows its own bitterness. When this state
of things exists in church, it is sign of
revival. The cloud as large as mans hand
has already risen out of the sea. 1t pro-
misses great rain.
g. Another sign of revival is an awak-
ened spirit of prayer. In time of stupid
ity, prayer is restrained before God; the
wise and foolish virgins slumber together;
the closet is forsaken, the family altar thrown
down, and the prayer-meeting thinly at
tended Sometimes the first intimation of
the gathering cloud is the thronged prayer.
meeting. The stereotyped prayer is thrown
away, and the heart-prayer is substituted in
its place. Journalism gives way to spiritual
life; the confessions made are those of the
heart; the soul thirsts for God, the living
God, and intercessions are made with groan-
ings that cannot be uttered The cry is,
60 Lord revive thy work" 1t wrestles in
prayer, even until the breaking of the day;
it will not let the angel of the covenant go
until he blesses. The spirit of importunate
prayer is sure precursor of a revival.
3. Another sign of revival is an anxious
solicitude for the salvation of the impenitent.
When Christians have little feeling for them
selves, they have no great solicitude for 9TH
ers. But let their feelings be quickened, and
they brought to walk in newness of life, and
they will not sumber over the impenitent
with whom they are surrounded. They will
make them the subjects of prayer, and will
seek opportunities to bring gospel truths to
bear upon their minds. They will warn them
to flee from the wrath to come, end beseech
them by the meekness and gentleness of
Christ. If they see any indications of the
Spirits movement upon an impenitent mind,
they caution against diversion of attention,
and press home truth with renewed energy
and they are untring in their efforts to bring
them to Christ. When any considerable
number in a church are thus awakened to
prayer and effort, we hear sound of an
abundance of rain.
4. Sometimes God comes in his sover-
eighty and awakens the impenitent without
the church. When God commences work,
he always does it in such way as to make it
manifest that he is it's author. If the Church
will slumber amidst the loud calls to duty,
He will let her sleep on. If the professed
people of God will not help the impenitent'
help will be sent from some other quarter
Sometimes slumbering church is awakened
by the cry of distress without. The first
sound that strikes the ears Of slumbering
church is, "What shall do to be saved 7"
This cry fills them with wonder and amaze
ment, and also with shame and confusion OF
face. Now they are filled with mourning
and confession. God sometimes takes this
method to bring backsliding church again
to the cross.-Boston Recorder.