St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-02-04
The Great Need of Revivals.
BY REV. C. NJ. soUTHGATE, DEDHAM.

BY REV. c. VI. SOUTHGATE, DEDHAM.
shall we pray for n revival 2" is
asked in recent article in the CORgre-
gdtiORdlist One pastor wants to an
swer, Yes pray for revival not only
in weak and dying churches, but also
in the healthy ones. | mean revival
as commonly understood, the presence
of the Spirit with unusual converting
power. Given a church with many
members, efficient il Christian work,
respected in the community, with adj
ditions at almost every communion,
that church needs such blessing.
|. 1t is good for the Christians. 1t
lifts the busy from the oppression of
their cares and the gay from the fas-
cination of their pleasures, to breathe
the tonic air of spiritual mountain tops.
Conservation is renewed, and faith es
tablished. Smoky lanterns are cleans
ed, broken lights replaced, and their
lights shine clearly once more. The
home is blessed. Parents become
more watchful of temper and tongue,
ambitions for their children are puri-
fed, the long silence on personal relig-
ion is broken by tender words and
fearful prayers. Neighbors look for
the kingdom to come at their own
doors. Faithful brethren and sisters
have grace to heal little differences, and
grub out roots of bitterness which have
hidden beneath the surface. Better
than all, deserted closets hear once
more the voice of secret PRAYER. But
these things ought always to be. Yes,
but they are not. Is there one church
in a hundred so pure that a few months
of genuine revival will not bless it in
all these waysf
2. A revival gives opportunity for
proclaiming a strong gospel. Revival
theology is distinctively Pauline; this
is an observed fact. Where unevan-
gelical or semi-evangelical teachings,
nominally religious, abound in a COM
munity, such truths are ordinarily
heard with disfavor. If preached earn
estly most of the unconverted and some
professors draw themselves in and
shut up as tight can think of no fit
ter compassionate box turtle. What
pastor has not watched the process
from his pulpit2 Can he not be faith
full if men will not heart Surely; but
certain themes, such as the wrath of
God aud eternal punishment, lose their
impressiveness if often presented at
length. He must chose the time when
the Spirit is touching deaf ears and slow
hearts. Aud doubtless his own quick
ened sesitiveneSs to the Holy Presence
has given him deeper conviction OF
the reality and necessity of doctrines
which no one loves to dwell upon.
g. Revivals win converts fIOm class
es not ordinarily reached. Additions
to a church without marked revivals,
however constant. are mainly from the
near circles of Christian families and
the Sabbath school. Times of aroused
interest, with their greater taithfulness
in work aud prayer, aud the healthy.
blessed excitement which comes with
the presence of wonder working God,
reach outside. The goddess and vicious
are surprised 10y conscience aud caught
in the saving tolls of repentance. If II
were true that the average of additions
to church membeIs ship was not largely
increased, the power of the church
would yet be widely extended III the
community. More men, more adults