The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-09-15
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT.

THE MONTHLY CONCERT.
In short article in the Central Presbyte-
rian of the 11th inst, we urged the necessity
of special and speedy effort to cancel the
debt of SIS, 200 that was crippling our ener-
gies in the Foreign Missionary work, but
said little about the means and motives to
quicken US to action. Action without con-
VictiOn is apt to be reluctant and feeble, and
as is commonly the case, the good effect upon
the donor is lost. We must know that the
cause is good, and that giving will do US
good; as Christ says, cit is more blessed to
give than to receive" This solemn decla-
ration seems to be generally regarded as a
paradox or fable; but it contains important
truth, and it should be more frequently illus
trated and enforced. God could easily con-
vert sinners without ministers or the Bible,
as he did Abraham, Job, and others in old
time. But he generally chooses to use hu-
is the glory of the gospel that it is well cal
oulated to eradicate sel6shness and eovet-
BUSINESS, and restore to the world the lost
spirit of benevolence. Our Lords advent
and incarnation, and all that He said and
did and suffered from the manger to the
cross, proved that He lived and died not for
Himself but for others, and we are required
to walk in his steps. For Paul says, " If
any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is
none of His"
Perhaps the best means that we can de
wise at present to give light and life to the
Church is to establish universally the Month
ly Concert of prayer, and have it absolutely
eDjoined by every Presbytery where it is
practicable, with annual reports as to its OBJ
seryance. In this fast age few of our peo-
pie we think search the Scriptures diligently,
few take religious papers, and little is heard
in the pulpit, at least in our numerous coun-
try churches, concerning the progress of our
Redeemer's Kingdom and the missionary
work. With the great bulk of our people
the aggressive work of the church is out of
sight and out of mind. Yet this seems to
be the leading idea; for We are required to
lengtken our cords and strengthen our stakes.
Christ was truly missionary, and every
church should be considered a missionary
society. And how constantly did Paul, and
Peter, and other apostles in their letters and
lectures remind the church of the triumphS
of the gospel, and of their prosecutions and
trials, to enlist their sympsthies and prayers
The first prayer breathed by the new born
soul is
" O that ell might believe, and salvation receive,
And their song and their JOY be the same"
If these primitive prayers and praises
were only kept up monthly, together with
suitable exhOrtatiOns, we might soon hope to
have revival in every church, or rather We
should not need reviving. But Christians
now are suffered to lose their first love, and
get into 3 cold and dead state, and we hear
little or nothing more of the divine life un'
til they get on their death bed. FlaVe
wisely says, "Before conversion the heart ot
man is the worst part about him; but
after conversion it is the best" Then Lei
him have light and life, and his prayers anC
aims, his time and talents, and all that ht
has, will be consecrated to the service o.
God. When Daniel Baker was beggins
money for Austin College, he would frs
preach with all his might to revive th'
churches and get sinners converted, anC
then he found no difficulty in getting money
We have men and money enough to accom-
plish ten times the work we do, but We lacl
the spirit. We are so atoorbed with tempo
raj things, and blinded with the lust of tn
flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride o
life, that our hearts are carried away AM
we know it not. We can spend more in
day to keep up with ridiculous fashions, o
even to procure useless toys for our children
than we contribute in year for the world
} conversion. Our brother Zacheus truly say
} in his hints to some of our good ministers
"They fail to see that an empty treasur.
} is not the disease but symptom, and tha
, the people need faithful, patient, and tende