The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1884-09-18

E0r Tear 81 proving weariSome we
will close with best wishes far the
DEMocRAT. Caro-
Ar Appeal to Christian People.
No. 2.
Correspondence OF the Democrat
The printer makes one mistake in
my last communication.
The sentence. "nothing but The
favor Of Col embodied and manifest
ed in revival de-, should read,
..nothing but The POWER OF God" dc.
Now let US keep the subject ne
fore us--a revival Of religion. That
is what We want now, and | tried in
my last to set before you the means
BY which to attain it, viz: Unity OF
feeling and concert Of action upon
the part Of all christians.
The first we doubtless have--sure-
ly every christian feels that we ought
to have--that we need a revival of
religion TO invigorate the church and
save the world. If he does not, he
does not possess the religion Of Je-
sus.
Religion is love and the man who
possesses it, is willing yea anxious
to use all legitimate means to enduce
others TO embrace it.
So then il we all feel just right
IL we are a unit here it will be but
little trouble for us TO unite IN our
actlons-in our efforts to bring about
revival. And when we unite in
our actions and in our prayers the
revival will come.
But says one, why has it not come
before now9 / answer because Of a
lack OF unity and fervency in our
prayers. Jesus says "Where two or
three AGREE as touching ANYTHING |
will grant it," Unity.
And again we read "The FERvENT
effectual prayer Of a righteous man
availeth MUCH Fervcncy.
How many Of us have been AGREED
in this matter of revival? How many
Of us dear brethren have been breath
ing fcrvent prayers-that is warm
prayers to Almighty God for q gra-
cious outpouring of His Holy Spirit
and the conversion of our neighbors
ard friends?
The trouble is with many of US,
that our prayers freeze upon our lips,
instead Of coming from benevolent
hearts richly warmed with holy
emotions of love. Warm, emotional
prayers are the prayers that avail.
Religion without emotion is as fire
without heat-it is phosphorescent
in its nature. Like the moon it
shines and freezes at the same time.
Such is not the religion Of Jesus.
1t warns mems hearts and gives
them influence with men. Now then,
every christian in this town needs
the personal benefits to be derived
from a united effort for revival.
Every one would be glad To share in
the blessedness to be derived from
consciousness of having aided in
a movement that resulted in the con
version OF many souls.
Yea, every christian in this town,
is morally bound to aid in this work.
Where is the general that ever
released his privates from fighting
and went out to battle alone: He
can vancouver his army and if his
soldiers are loyal. he may gain the
victory. But he can't do it all him.
self. Neither can the preacher do
ALL He can only do his part, and
God holds the church resonsiblc for
theirs. And if we fail to have re-
vival here, it will be for want Of co
operation upon the part of the
christian people. But il we have a
united effort, the revival will come.
God has promised and he cannot lie.
Co operation is what we have lacked
heretofore.
/ well remember last April that a
great many christians attended the
"Wizzard Oil concert" rather than
the protracted meeting. Such con-
duet as that will never impress your
uDgodly friends that you are inter-
ested in their salvation. Neither
will they respect your profession.
Dear friends l write plainly but
from sense of duty. The evils at
my door are the evils with which /
have to contend and if possible cor
rect. And l am in great earnest and
| write for The good of the church
aud in the interest Of dying men and
women who are daily exposed to
Gods eternal wrath. 1t is passing
strange to me that we as christians
can be at ease in zion and at the
same time realize the danger to which
our friends are constantly exposed.
Suppose you had friend bitten by
a venomous serpent, and by your
going each day, for so many days,
and pointing him to brazen serpent
(like that which Moses erected in
the wilderness) he would recover,
would you not be morally bound to
do SO? And if you neglected to do
SO would you not be responsible for
his untimely death? You sustain
the same relation to your friends
who are bitten by the serpent of sin,
so come to church every day during
the coming meeting and thus by
your actions point them to the