The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-09-26
A Revival or a Spasm...Which ?

"How wonderfully the most illiterate
people often impress us with sense of
their intelligence. Now men and women
who never learned the alphabet have its
light on their countenance and in their
eyes" A simple enough sentence, but it
straightway became full of significance
TO ia by its well-nigh immediate applica.
tion to real life. l. happened in this
way. The time for the evangelist's de-
parture from B. had come, and though
for weeks, day after day, the hall on N.
street bad been thronged with an eager
crowd of listeners to his persuasive words,
never had been that throng so great as
on the last day. Descriptions of that
farewell meeting, "the wonderful meet.
ing" they called it, came to us from
sources many and varied. But it was
an old serving woman who added the wis
domful question we now pass on to you.
For, as she ended her recital, her mind
turned backward to the days of her
youth, linking, as is so won't to be the
habit with the aged, now with then. L" Ye
see, Miss Martha" she said, when l was
girl DR.. Kirk was the man, and a pow
erful sight of good the Lord accomplished
through him, for his words, they had that
power, they kind of burnt into one like,
and them that heard him could no more
forget them than they could forget their
mothers dying kiss. Now there was a
question he asked at the very last meet
ing he held in this place, that has stuck
by me like a burr sticks to wooden
gown, and it came over me tonight at
meeting with power that made me Just
ache like TO ask it of that assembled null
titude. Ye see, DR.. Kirk had been a
pleading with TALKS to come to Christ,
pleading for the life of drowning boy,
when all on sudden he stopped min
ute-sor reckon it warn't more than
minute, though it seemed full five min
ntes-and says he, with uplifted hands,
One question l ask you before we part,
my friends, a question your lives must
answer, not your lips. Which will the
feeling you have had 20 earnest the past
few weeks prove, that you have had re-
vival or spasm p A revival or a spasm,
l say" Looking on old Hsnnah's face as
she told this story, full we'll Wa knew,
spite lines of age and care, the light that
shone in her eyes was there because, YER
lily, that long ago season of religious
awakening had indeed been to her soul
revival. Soon after she babe us goodnight,
going away repeating to herself the
words. (which will this prove, ] say, a
revival or a spasm-which ?" And so
pertinent, so permeated with far-reacb.
ing inlook into the true experience of
souls at this time of widespread religious
interest, in 30 many parts of our land the
words seemed, we could not but wonder
had that old woman treasured them in her
memory, that they might be repeated now,
when the question is 30 needed. And was
the repetition of them the widows mite
the Lord chose az old Hannah's offering
for his treasury for surely that mite
typifias something more than gift of gold
or silver. A revival or a spasm There
Is much held in that word revival" re-
covery to life from apparent death -
recall to activity from state of Ian
guor." This is the dictionary's definition,
and the Bibles is, Though I walk in
the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me,
and thy right hand will save me. For
thus saith the high and lofty one that in
habiteth eternity, whose name is Holy. 1
dwell in the high and holy place." Mark
the words, dtceH "not | tarry for
NA'i tiLuC, puu uWcH Will HUI dlsO bDdt
is of contrite and humble spirit, to revive
the spirit of the humble, and to revive the
hearts OF the contrite Ones" A spasm
we know it's significance" mere con-
traction, an irregular motion "a fitful
CLEAN of sudden strength, fash of light,
brilliant, perchance, as firefy's CLEAN,
but as transient. Full we'll we know, too,
its other signiicance-a spasm, prelude
of death How unlike the two: the one
revival into life, the other a spasm into
death the one steadfast light in the
soul, growing brighter unto the perfect
day. the other light Pickering, fading,
going out. Now the parable is this: The
seed is the Word of God. They on the
rock are they which when they hear re-
ceive the word with joy, and these have
no root; which for awhile believe, and in
time of temptation fall away. And that
which fell among thorns are they which
when they have heard, go forth and are
choked with cares, and riches, and pleas
ures of this life, and bring no fruit to
perfection. But that on the good ground
are they which in an honest and good
heart, having heard the word, keep it, and
bring forth fruit with patience.-Rose