The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
lseyiyals OF Religion.


Shall the year 1883 be one of the Revivals
of Religion, more marked, more vide
spread, more pervasive, than was true OF its
predecessor What graver inquiry can now
press alike upon pulpit and upon pew every.
where? That veteran and most successful
pastor, Rev. Theodore l.. Cuyler, d. D.,
thus urges this matter home to Christian
hearts in the New York Evangelist.
"But amid all the mysteries that are con-
nected with the special outpourings or Gods
tolerably certain. One is that a church may
keep in such state OF warm,
healthy, normal activity that 1t
shall not need any awakening: There
will be no spiritual slumber to awake out OF.
Richard Baxter's Church, of kidderminster,
never had any alterations Of declension and
revival Mr.. Spurgeon's Church in London
does OF seem to have. The preaching IS at
good anthracite glow all the while, aud 80 Is
the condition of the church We admit tt
there are such things as waves Of spirituai
influence that sweep over church or city
or a whole land; we ack lowledge also that
our Sovereign God often pours out His Spirit
more copiously at one time thnn another; but
still the solid truth remains that CHRISTIAN
church may keep up to such high marx
Of praying, giving; working ana Soa5cn wa5en-
sion. Convictions Of sin and conversions to
Christ will 20 on steadily. OF course, as
there is no long period of disgraceful stagna-
ton and decline, there will exist no necessity
for spiritual resurrection. 1t is neither
healthy or creditable condition OF things
In which churches aro expected 70 pass
through alterations of slumber and wake
fulness, freezing up and thawing out, bar
renness one year and fruitfulness the next.
No healthy Christian lives in that intermtt-
tent fashion; why should five hundred Chris
tians attempt to do it as church,
Another fact is that while the Divine
Spirit NAV be continually present IN
healthy, vigorous church, yet the manlfesta-
tions of tho Spirits power may vary. ihere
NAV be many more conversions at one sea-
SON than another Counting converts Is not
the only true tidemark Of church's growth.
Activity in benevolent work, grown In
household piety, increase OF godiy hvmg,
arc equally clear evidences that the DIVINE
life is flowing there in strong, warm cur
rents, l'raiping people for Christ after they
get into the fold is about as impol tant as get
Ting them in there A great deal Of the "har.
yestn in many q revival ia allowed to spoil
for want of what the farmers call being
we'll cured. know Of certain ministers who
are 20 busy in trying to drive the sheep IN et
one door, that they do not observe how rass
they are slipping out at the other door. Con-
versions to Christ are not ends; they arc only
beginnings. =, ,.., 4,.,
there is no salvation for it but by true re-
vival Il must have fresh influx OF the d.
yinely impaired life, or else pull Its feet up
into the bed and die To secure such re-
yiyal the Scriptmal methods must be en-
ployed and not mere potent tent human una I'M ma.
chinery. When q certain church had aoan-
Command was ITO remember whence thou
art fallen. and repent and do the first
works" That counsel is as sp spphsobls g, in
after aft night into his study; they confessed
their sins together, warmed their own souls
up by fervent prayer, and then the fame 7 ?s
not run after a man; they went straight to
God. he is always ready to meet rs
returning people more than half way. Go
to God, Il you want revival.