The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-26

| Make US prevalent in PRAYERS;
Let each one esteemed Thy servant
Shun the worlds bewitching snares.
| Lord revive us;
All our help must come from Thee.
Break the tempters's fatal power;
Turn the stony heart to flesh;
And begin from this good hour,
To revive Thy work afresh.
Lord revive u.s.
| All our help must come from Thee.
HYMN $751;
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and
| uphold me with thy free spirit: Then will
be converted unto Thee.-Psalm Ii 1918
AS was intimated this communication
has for its subject: What is to be done
before a revival to secure permanent re.
suits?
Let it be remembered that President
Edwards testifes that in all cases of gen
uine and useful conversion that came
under his notice, the Holy Spirit en-
ployed scriptural precept, or promise
This is in perfect keeping with the tenor
of the Holy Scriptures, bearing on this
important work. "Sanctify them through
Thy truth: Thy word is truth And for
their sakes 1 sanctify myself, that they
also might be sanctifed through the
truth Neither pray 1 for these alone,
but for them also which believe on me
through their word" (John xvii 1920.
And take the word of the Spirit, which
is the word of God" (Eph. vi: ~. $50
then faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God" rom. x: 10. .
Now, whatever method is suited to
communicate and enforce Scriptural truth,
that may be proftably employed. What
ever makes genuine and vivid Scrip
tural impression, serves good purpose.
Whatever serves to instruct and produce
thorough conviction of the understand
ing, and leads the intellectual and moral
up to the great thoughts of Christ, is
safely employed at home, in the Sabbath
School, and by the pulpit
Whatever merely pleases and produces
a transient effect upon the emotional or
imaginative may draw the multitude, but
the permanent saving results may be as
difficult to find as the traces of the morn
ing cloud, and early. dew, when Jesus
comes to claim his own and crown the
faithful unto death. In testing apparent
emotions it is wise to observe narrowly
the character of the influences brought to
bear upon the mind and heart, in the eff
fort to lodge divine truth therein. An
eminent theological teacher recommends,
In order to impress, the use of pathetic
incidents, and while the feelings are
touched, enforce some salutary truth.
The nearer will involuntarily associate
the tenderness Of feeling with the truth,
and give the truth all credit of the i'm
preston. The results produced in this
way are very like the few drops that
trickle from the top of the iceberg, while
the mass remains frozen. Several years
since visiting minister preached to an
immense congl egation, gathered to hear
his impassioned eloquence Most of the
sermon was about Jesus and Him cruel
fed. Not an eye was dimmed-no lew
elled hand raised snowy handkerchief
to wipe away tear of sympathy for the
sorrows ] Jesus felt; but when the preacher
referred, in the conclusion of his dis
course, to some college reminiscence of a
manifestly personal character, the sensa-
ton was overpowering, especially among
the younger people. The elders, and
many of the members of the church, clus-
OSiSo oiOuub 1AiO ftuSIdDle pastor, and
expressed their surprise that he would
not appoint a protracted meeting at once,
seeing there was so much seriousness in
the congregation. Did you not OBJ
serve said the pastor, "that while the
minister preached about Christ there was
no seriousness manifested; but when he
began to preach Mr. Himself, how very
solemn the people became" This was a
wise pastor. He knew such impressions
werenot saving. He requested his elders
to let him know whenever they saw the
people bow in tears at the name of Jesus
for then there would be showers of re.
freshing from the presence of the Lord
not many days thereafter.
Another great secret of the solemn
matter under consideration, humanity
speaking, is with ministers and their HEP
ers in the gospel. Whitefeld never ut
tered truer words than when he said. at
is poor preaching to preach an unknown
Christ. 1t is absolutely necessary, there
fore, for all ministers, before they under
take to preach the gospel to others, that
they themselves should be taught of God E"
In a sermon preached at the Synod of
Virginia twenty years apo, DR.. Arm
strong elaborated the idea that all min
listers and workers in Christs name will
get the reward they have most at heart.
II it is salary that regulates their policy
4 h. Il