The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-04-04
TIE OTHER SIDE.

The reception OF Messrs. Moody and
Sankey in all parts of Great Britain and
Ireland by all classes of persons has been
most cordial, and they appear to have
had the sympathy of the best people in
all the churches. Nowhere were they
more warmly welcomed, apparently, and
better supported, than in Belfast, and the
Witness newspaper gave them its most
emphatic commentator and approval.
There is, however, as the Witness OBJ
serves in an article written since the
evangelists left Belfast another side to
this subject, which it is well not to lose
sight of.
I'VE have" says this excellent journal.
"dwelt on the favorable aspect of the recent
evangelistc meetings in Belfast, and we have
looked at most of the hopeful symptoms that
characterised them. We trust that the expecta-
tons of earnest believers may be largely real
Used, and that substantial and saving results
may be witnessed. But the subject will be
looked at by thoughtful minds from more than
one point of view, that full understanding of
it may be attained. What was the attraction
that filled to OVERLOOKING the largest Protestant
church in Belfast, that filled the churches i'm
mediately surrounding, and left eager hundreds
still upon the streets who could find no church
accommodation at alp Was it to enjoy state
ment of Gospel truth Are not the glad tidIngs
of the Gospel faithfully and forcibly put sew
eral times a week, in most of the evangelical
churches of Belfast Was it with reverent
hearts to engage in the solemn worship of God
that the multitu1es thronged together? The
public worship of God is no new thing In the
town, opportunity for such worship is afforded
at some period of almost every day, in every
evangelical church in the community. When
we have examined every suggestion that might
account for the recent religious movement, we
are obliged to conclude that the attraction which
drew such vast concourse of people together
was that of a special human agent in the work
of God Now, while we clearly see that the
Great Head of the Church has at many times
raised up eminent men outside the established
order of the Church, and has baptized them
with power fromon high to awaken and refresh
His heritage, what are the circumstances that
seem to require such an agency? Is it not that
the Church has fallen into condition of spirit.
ual sloth and has become Indifferent and dead
to privilege and duty2 Is not such a circum-
stance sadly dscreditable to the Church? The
Holy Spirit and His life-giving and refreshing
power may be realised and enjoyed by earnest
souls in every assembly of the people of God.
And the fact that any soul falls into indiffer-
ence and deafness, and ceases to enjoy God in
the ordinary services of religion, is a sin that
lies at its own door. And when the Christian
people burst into expectation and excitement at
the advent of An eminent evangelist, we fear it
must be put down to the discredit of their or
binary religious life and experience To many
minds it does seem to discredit the ordinary
means of grace and to resolve itself into the
idolatry of man If the same multitudes waited
on God at all times in the same earnest and re-
ceptive spirit that they cherish on such extra
ordinary occasions, we are quite assured it
would be better for their souls, better for the
Church, and better for the world. Much as we
are thankful for a revival of spiritual life come
as the blessing may, we desire most of all to see
sustained and steady condition of Christian
life and fruitfulness. We don't at all compare
the spurts and spasms of evangelical effort, the
special services" and week of meetings." and
the varied devices of human ingenuity to ami
mate torpid souls, with steadfast adherence to
God and the quiet and constant culture of the
heart This is the higher spiritual life to which
all intelligent believers will surely aspire-that
continuous revival in which the refreshing
dews Of heaven should never be wanting to the
soul. The believer may attain to that healthier
life through the ordinary means of grace, and
needs not the advent of special ministry to
reach it"