The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-02

WIN NtOo. DuU uOW QlucI cuU
when praying men realise their need and
cannot rest until the blessing of God de-
scends. Then prayer is no longer re-
garded as weariness and duty, but
privilege and delight. Such prayers,
like John the Baptist, announce the COM
ing of the Son of God When the disci-
Piles were gathered together to hear from
Peter and John what had been done unto
them at Jerusalem, we read" And aohen
they had prayed the place was shaken
where they were assembled together, and
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost ="
In all subsequent movements-in every
time of refreshing experienced by the
Waldenses, the Lollards, the Reformers,
or in any Church which has struggled to
keep the lamp of truth burning in dark
world-the like testimony has always
been borne. Prayer is the immortal ele-
ment in this world, in all generations, and
in all churches, and no exception has ever
been found to this rule-That the life of
the Church is In proportion to the prayer
This is the one fact of history more elo-
quent than any words about it. 1t re-
quires no comment. 1t is Gods appoint
ed sign: For these things l will be in
quired of by the house of Israel to do it
for them. If we would keep our Pente-
cost we must hold our pray
Revival also must Begin Among the
Ministers of the Gospel.
We are much rejoiced in our city that
some of the influential pulpits are likely
soon to be filled by earnest and able min
listers of the gospel The Rev. DIR. Mac
Intosh is to come to the Second Presbvte-
rian church from Belfast, and brother
Kittredge from Chicago to the West Arch
Street church, formerly ministered to by
DR.. Willett. We especially need num-
Der of grand gospel ministers in our city
to assist us in the great work of arresting
the tide of Indifference to the Church and
its ministrations, and advance the stan
dard of religion, and we heartily welcome
them from whatever quarter they may
come. But even more do we require, the
coming Of Gods great minister, the HOLY
Ghost, into the souls of those who are
now breaking the bread of life to the peo-
pie. If we ask the twelve gathered to-
gether in that upper room, What are you
waiting for? The answer is, 1--WE tarry
until we are endued with power from on
high The three thousand were con-
verted in day when the apostles had
received the mighty rushing wind-the
baptism of fire. So though there may be
exceptions, we believe that when God
purposes to kindle holy confagration
in a neighborhood or city or nation, he
usually begins by setting his servants
hearts on fre-the elders and deacons
nofob ha Aopoa 4bo liz !.
from heart to heart till the whole church
glows like burnt offering, and then the
masses feel its power. Then you will
hear the minister preaching Christ and
him crucifed. No rounded, pointless SEN
tences will fall from his lips. No high
flown eulogies upon the natural dignity
of man. No polite apologies lest he may
hurt or wound the worlding's feelings
No eloquent encomiums Of cold, chaste
morality, apart from the blood of the
atonement A moral coward before he
will rise to a passionate moral earnest
ness to spiritual heroism which is not
dismayed at the faces of men, but which
boldly declares the sovereignty of God on
the one hand and the duty of the sinner
on the other. His words will ring out
like the cry of FIRE. in the ears of a
sleeping city. They will be calculations
OF apprehension quick and sharp, rather
than sentences which have no beginning
nor middle, nor end. Like John the
Baptist, his call will be Repent for the
kingdom Of heaven is at hand. Repent
for the axe is laid at the tree-rootl Re-
pent for his fan is in his hand and he
will thoroughly purge his floor and gath
er his wheat into the garner-but he will
burn up the chaf with unquenchable fire.
If there is to be apostolic blessing-there
must be apostolic preaching Down with
speculations-up with warm hearted Cos
pei exhortations. Down with philosophic
theories, and up with godly practice
Down with hair splitting criticisms and
up with heart-breaking truths. Down
with this science lauding, and up with
Christ exalting-whom to know is life
eternal. L. M. @.
81