St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-14
The Church Thermometer.
BY REV. THEODORE L. CUYLER, D.

BY REV. THEODORE L. CUYLER, d. d.
The true thermometer of a church is
its prayer meeting. Pulpit elOquence
may attract crowds to sanctuary, but
crowds do not give spiritual life and
force to "A church. That life and force
come from direct intercOuIs Sc with God,
and the place where that intercourse IS
most immediate and effective is the
meeting for public prayer. The Sab
bath service is, or ought to be, a devO-
tional service, but there one man ad-
dresses the throne in supplicatiOn. At
the social service of the week eCeIy dis
clple may do so. The attraction which
draws thousand people to Gods house
may be the selfish enjoyment of elO-
Quence or good music, or both combin
ed. The only attraction to a prayer
meeting must be the souls desire to
meet and commune with God.
| have therefore observed that full
and fervid prayer meeting bespeaks a
healthy church, and when that Their
mometer gets below zero, the cold wave
spreads through the whole congregation.
The minister feels its benumbng influ-
ence in his pulpit. His sermons lose
their propelling power. His arms hang
down and his spirit faints. But let
him feel that his whole flock are inter
ceding with God for blessing, and he
Is "able to put ten thousand to flight"
| have heard of a church whose officers
met on every Saturday evening to plead
with the Intercessor for a blessing on
the uext days work. In that church
there was constant unity, vigOr, and Il
perpetual flow of converting power.
They did not need revival, because
they had not sunk into that Geld and
comatose condition which requires an
awakening. Their prayer meeting was
not an occasional bonfire of excitement
rather it was steady anthracite glow
heated through and through by the love
of Christ.
When a church has become frozen up
the true place to thaw it out is the
prayer room. a revival commonly be-
gins there. When the deserted seats
begin to fill up, and the empty prayers
begin also to fill up with contrition,
confession of sin and appeals for the
Spirits presence the atmosphere chang
es at once. Some silent ones begin to
articulate. The gift of tongues de-
sends. The merchant leaves his ledg-
eTs, and the mechanic manages to shut
up shop in time to get to meeting. The
valetudinarians, who are always catch
ing cold when they go out of doors,
bundle up and brave the weather. Alb
sent Thomas is back again in his seat;
Even the old sexton looks radiant as he
accosts the pastor with, 'Well, Domi-
ME, sumthin's coming when you see
such a turnout as this Everything
about the service feels the returning
glow. Instead of few voices pitched
to a dull monotone, the whole assembly
bursts into hearty
Come, Holy Spirit comet
Let thy bright beams arise.
No time is lost; and the leader is not
driven to the wresched exhortatiOn to
"some brother to occupy the time by
a stereOtyped homily. Prayer becomes
direct, earnest, simple and full of unc-
ton. At such times the largest liberty
should be allowed for any one aud ev-
cry one to be heard. If any brother
speaks too long, or so often as to de-
prive others of their rights, kind word
from the pastor should correct an Of
fence which usually arises from lack of
judgment.
a prayer meeting alive. 1t ought to be
a school for instruction in divine truth
and experimental religion. There ought
to be frequent use of Gods Word, in
comment and explanation. Personal
experiences, when honest and Rodestly
told, are profitable. They may be thrill
ling and soul-kindling when they re-
count "what God has done by his
awakening'or comforting power. If any
one has a doubtful question of duty
that perplexes him, the social meeting
is a good place to PROFOUND it. If any
one has received especial help or light
from the last Sabbath's discourse. let
him speak of it, for his own good and
the pastors encouragement. A minister
who has sense enough to say profitable
things will have too much sense to be
pulled up by commentator. If any I
have burthen on their souls let them
ask their fellow Christians to pray for
them. Requests for prayer may be as