The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15

divine, till they have been aroused from
spiritual torpor and death. Luther, Knox,
Whltefield, Edwards, all have driven the
Plough-share of Gods law through mems
hearts. Gods command is, "Sow to your
selves In Righteousness, reap in mercy :;
break up your fallow ground; for it is
time to seek the Lord, till he come and
ram righteousness upon you"
We need more deep, sin-convicting
preaching. Sinners come into the church
now as unmoved as they would Join a
lodge. And many of them are such
weakly Christians they seem lifeless, have
to be carried on soft pillow and fed
long time on the milk of the word before
they are strong and able workers in the
Master s cause, and most of them never
pass babyhood. While we may not covet
the Jerks that figured in the revival of
l0Ol-2, or those other physical nantes
tatlons of 1735-40, yet as the effect of
intense spiritual excitement working on
the nervous system, even they could be
welcomed instead of our worldly formal
lty. Better have danger from over ex-
element of the nerves than death
Whether it be the work of Satan, as some
charged, or merely overweight nervous
excitement, it was the drift and scum that
told of flood tide in the spiritual world
One cause leading to revival at times
is loyal conservation Of Gods means to
his cause by church. Frequently has
this been seen to be the case. And if
our Church would devote the 1.-THE
Gods fixed revenue for the support of
his klngdom-to his use instead of hoard.
ing 1t, or squandering it on self, He would
open the windows of heaven and pour
us out rich blessing. Then that honor
me will honor" But revival will be
necessary to cleanse out the worldliness
from Christians hearts before they will
eonsecrate self or means to God. But
when selfshness is removed the waters of
life will flow from the Church to the
world.
One precursor of a revival is the deep
concern Christians feel for the desolations
of Zion. Speaking of the revival of 1902
in the Presbytery Of Pittsburgh, which
lasted two years, the Presbyterian Ban
neT says: " But it may assist much to
give attention to what preceded the Wis
lble beginning of the revival of 1902,
and that Is all the more necessary since
the same things have marked the begin
ming of every great revival in the history
OF the Church. For year or more pre-
vious to this time, Christians had been
deeply concerned about the low state Of
religion in the Church, and ministers had
preached with great pungency and pow
er. Then may we not hope signs of an
awakening are not wanting? Do not
Christians feel the sad need of a revival
both on account of those in the Church,
and those perishing outside its pale? And
shall not all Christians employ the great
est OF all agencies for securing one, viz
prayer
The revival mentioned above, began by
six women feeling its need and meeting
at the house of their pastor, Mr. McCurdy,
ind organizing an association to pray for
a revival. A pastor in Tennessee went
to aid another in communion service.
He was surprised 1T the deep religious
interest manifested in the meeting. He
said to the pastor, You did not tell me
Of any special interest in your congrega-
ton" NO." said he, "forS I was not
aware of any. I can not understand it.
A lady said, Probably can explain it.
Several of us have been meeting together
to pray for blessing on this meeting. "
Other examples Of the positive side might
be given, and some of the negative, where
want of unity in prayer like that of the
Pentecostal prayer meeting, has rendered
excellent services fruitless. But has not
enough been said to show us something
of our need of a revival, and to point out
some of the means to seek it, VIII not
each Christian reading this make it
point to pray daily at noon, or other set
time, for revival of Gods work over all
lands? B. HELM.