Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-08
-SSeS''iiva2ssri i'6rHifgdf -the Ifide.


The papers are filed with accounts Of re.
vivals. They all begin with the rekinding
Of faith aud love 10 a few hearts They
grow by the spreading Of this heavenly
fame from heart TO heart. Each advance
Of interest in them is like the advance Of
conhsgration. The heat becomes more in
tense, until it mclts the most obdurate ele-
mcnts. During the great fires in Chicago
and Boston, granite and iron became COM
bustibe. The flames seemed to be fed by
materials deemed fre.proof, for these flames
bad become so hot that nothing could resist
them Such fires never stop until all within
their reach that can burn is consumed.
They can be arrested only by deluging them
with water, or by blowing up blocks Of
buildings, so that the flames shall have
nothing to feed on How strange it would
seem if fierce conhagraton, that was de-
vouring the stores aud dwellings Of q city.
should suddenly stop Of itself with com
bustibcs all around il; if the flames, hay-
Ing lust reached row Of wooden buildings,
should char them and then 60 out. Yet so
suddenly aud without apparent cause, re-
viyas often cease Why is it2 The law
that governs other fires seems to prevail
for weeks-for months. The work Of grace
widens, docpens. Men who appeared to be
fre-proof are melted, kiudled, and add their
fresh enthusiasm 20 that Of the quickened
church The accelerated momentum Of a
series Of meetings is often wonderful. It
seems to have become irresistible People
expect great results. They are not sur
prised when the most hardened sinners
yield. But there comes a eliminating point
in the interest then slowly the tide turns.
The attendance at the meetings diminishes
fewer are awakened. OF those awak-
ened, not 70 many are converted. The min
istors aud brethren work on the down grade
while, and then conclude that it is best to
stop the meeting. They do not intend to
stop working for the salvation Of sinners
They do not think for a moment that all
are brought in who should aud who can be
converted They expect after a while to
begin again, to have another series Of meet
ings, to rekindle the FIRE. But why let it
20 out, or sink into embers and ashes, when
there is so much fuel TO feed it2 Must it
not be easier to keep a fire going that is iu
/ full blast, than TO let 1t expire and kindle
another, after everything has grown cold2
had been trimming trees, and the piles
of brush accumulated were uusightly and
in the way. But rain kept falling on them,
so that It was almost impossible to make
them burn. tried several times but with
poor success. At length, becoming desper-
ate, resolved that, green or water.soaked
as my brush heaps we're, they should be
burned. Iga,hercd quantity ofdry wood,
and made a fire on the windward side Of one
Of them. fed this fire until the heat dried
the brush aud kindled it. Then | mixed
more dry wood with the brush, aud thus
kept up my FIRE. la short time my first
heap was not only all in a blaze, but as hot
as furnace. Then threw the rest Of the
brush gradually on the FIRE, which grew
broader and hotter oil the time, until the
greenest and most succulent material was
readily consumed. Now, when had burned
half Of my brush, aud the FIRE was most in
tense, did not stop, saying, This Is
enough for one day No. | wanted all
my brush burned up, and did not want tC
repeat the kiudling process. | knew that
could not have better FIRE than | hac
already. determined to use it as long al
| needed it, and to make thorough work
Its momentum was such that it could con
sumo the rest of my rubbish with ease
and in half the time already spent
This homely Illustration shows where
the failure is in revival work. When tn,
interest is at white heat, and every new
convert, by his example and enthusiasm
adds to its intensity, no effort should b
spared to bring all who can be brough
within the range of its Influence, to pu
all the fuel possible on the fire. To thinl
Of stopping because the meetings have con
tiuued the usual length of time, or becaus
, about the usual number have been con
! yerted, is so unwise that it almost seem
. wicked. One of the great practical les
3 o sons that the Church needs to learn, an
!. that right speedily, is how to keep revival
I from stopping-how to use the HEAVIER
j kindled FIRE until all the combustibles ar
consumed