Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-11-01

ed Is not a reviral simply, but a refor.
nation. Something similar to the great
uprising under the Wesleys and White
field is the need of the church at this
hour. II may be. God will call out a
special leader. 1t is possible he has al
ready anointed him. 1t may be, on the
other hand. that the work will be &C
complished without any prominent lead
ers. 1t is only the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit that can recover the spirit
ual life of the Church. She cannot rise |
Of herself, any more than man can ell
evate himself by pulling upon his boot
straps. There are, however, certain old
fashioned and not specially popular con-
ditions that rarely fail of securing the
indispensable Divine aid. In olden days
churches appointed periods of fasting
and prayer. They we're honest and ear
nest in their desires to secure the pres
ence and blessing of God. The Church
really humbled itself, and poured out
heartfelt petitions for a fresh breath of
the Holy Spirit. Such seasons rarely
failed Of being the precursors of d.
vine benediction. God challenges such
an appeal to His faithfulness. bring
ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in mine house. and
prove me now herewith, said the Lord of
hosts. if ] will not open you the win
dows Of heaven and pour you out bles-
sing that there shall not be room enough
10 receive it."
Until we open the doors of our hearts
and welcome the Christ, we shall never
know the joy Of His presence, for He
never forces Himself upon our recogui.
ton. While we shut ourselves within
our own nature and refuse to open the
door to His influence we continually
grow narrower in our views of life and
again, if we open our souls unreserved.
ly to all influences, we lose that true
individuality Of character without which
we are less than man. The preacher
illustrated the privacy of character
which characterized all men by speak
ing Of the utter impcssibility Of bring
ing intelligence to the mind of any per
son who gives no reception to our bes
intended efforts to improve his menta
condition we may knock as we may
but if man will be fool he will b
one notwithstanding all our efforts. |
may be a dangerous doctrine to urg
that our responsibility for others is thu
limited by their own will, said the preacl
er, but It is a true one nevertheless
Man Is as independent in relation
bad influences as to good influences ;
is only with the aid of his own will tn;
either control him. for let Satan ASA
Us as ne may we may sit as the king q
his throne and command him until "
give to his aid the freedom of our oW
will. Neither can Jesus force Himse
across the threshold of mans selfhoOd
however much We may need His inf
enee We cannot receive it without ,
open our hearts to it the will Of IN,
Is behind all his actions. Christ ofFe
us happiness. truth and goodness if
will but accept them, but neither
them will come to us unbidden. Chr
cannot give us happiness, because He
ITS embodiment, and he can no more gi
1t to us than we can give ourselves
others unless they open their hearts
US. While he could feed the five tho
sand with loaves and fishes, only I
disciples received the bread of life viii
came from the gift Of Himself. So W
Christian truth, we must receive it a
person, for Christ says, al am the trutI
and we cannot force this truth upon a
one not willing to receive it any IN
than we could force the acquaintance
any Of our friends upon person v
did not desire to know them. Nett
can goodness be given to man unless
stands ready 10 accept IT, and we err
thinking Of God as great big man,
ing things in our own feeble way.
has done everything 10 make man 20
but 1t Is only with his own will
man can achieve goodness and it is ,
less to think that God has reserved 8
peculiar force to be brought to bea
the future to bring US to Him. IT
Is no time so distant, and no HEAVIER
hell where, man being still man.
can make him good save with the
OF the creature that which is moral
Will never be mechanical. will
leave the impression, SAID the prea
IN closing, that we are left here TO
the influence Of the world with our '
wills unaided by any other power.
Jesus stands just outside the door Of
hearts. knocking and we have b
open TO Him at the signal to receiv
the spiritual strength and support
need in overcoming the trials Of
world.