The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-24
A. ]. GORDON, D. D.
IooSrlNUED FROM lsr PAGE. I


his preaching, 80 judicicus an observer
ASIDE LFmsu b ,ecner declared that il
"wss the greatest work Of God and the
greatest revival Of religion that the
world has ever seen in so short q time,
one hundred thousand being reported
as having connected themselves with
churches as the. results OF that great re-
vival."
AS we consider the issues OF such a
mighty ministry, we naturally ask, what
was the secret spiritusl history of this
extraordinary instrument of God. An
intense personality, vehement will, 3
fearless courage and fiery enthusiasm,
these will be referred to at once by
many as Welding the true secret of his
power. Very efficient as medium we
admit these qualities to be, but utterly
inadequate az motive force for such
results. Natural qualities are sufficient
for natural ends, but not for supernatu-
raj. Savonarola the man cannot ao-
count for Savonarola the preacher. Ma
ture had withheld from him, they tell
us, almost all the gifts of an orator.
But when we read of his intense and en-.
rapt communion with God, his uncon-
querable persistence in seeking the
power Of the Highest, till "his thoughts
and affections were 80 absorbed in God
by the presence Of the Holy Spirit, that
they who looked into his cell saw his
upturned face as 1t had been the face of
an angel," we are not amazed at the
character and effects Of his preaching
30 pathetic, 80 melting, so reslstless that
the reporter lays down his pen with this
apology written under the last limo
such sorrow and weeping came upon
me that could go no further"
Kinney WAS Pauline preacher be-
cause he had Pauline experience-th
peace of God and the power OF God com.
ing 10 him almost together. And giving
all consideration to his uncommon nat
ural endowmente, we are constrained to
find the chief secret of his success in his
remarkable spiritual history. Let us
read this as he has written it for US.
He had been converted after passing
through powerful spiritual exerciees,
and Immediately after, on October 10th,
1871, while alone in his law office, he
says:
II then received a mighty baptism of
the Ii oiy Ghost. Without any expecta-
ton OF 1t, without ever having the
thought on my mind that there was
such thing tor me, without any recol.
lection that had ever henrd tho thing
mentioned by any person in the world,
the Holy Spirit descended upon me in
manner that seemed to go through me,
body and soul. could feel tho impres-
sion like wave OF electricity, going
through and through me. Indeed, it
seemed TO come in wsves Of liquid love;
for could not express it in any other
way. It seemed like the very breath of
God. | can recollect distinctly that II
seemed to fan me like immense wings
No words can express the wonderful love
that Was shed abroad in my heart.
wept aloud with love and joy; and do
not know but l should say, literslly
believed out the unutterable gushinQs
of my heart. These waves came over
me, and over me, one after the other,
until | recollect l cried out, Il shall die
II these waves pass over me- | said.
Lord, cannot bear any more Yet
had no fear OF DEATH. Thus con-
| tjnued till late as night. l received
some sound repose. When I awoke in
the morning the sun had risen, and was
pouring clear light into my room
Words cannot express the impression
that his sunlight mads upon me. Iu-
stan'iy the baptism shas / had received
the night before returned upon me in
the same manner. I arose upon my
knees in the bed and weps aloud for Joy,
and remained for some time too much
overwhelmed with the baptism of the
Spirit to do anything but pour out my
soul to God. II seemed as If this morn.
ing's baptism was accompanied with a
| gentle reproof, and the Spirit seemed to
say to me. Will you doubt? VIII you
| doubt? 1 cried Mo- will not doubt;
| cannot doubt He then cleared the
subject up 80 much to my mind that 1t
was impossible tor me- to doubt that the
Spirit of God had seken possession of
my soul"
Then followed the same results as in
the apostolic times. First powerful
assurance OF sonship In the inward wit
ness OF the Spirit; then power for utter
ance-such that as he went forth preach.
ing whole neighborhoods would be- seized
with deep religious impression at once.
Upon which fact we pause to observe
that this is the divine way of quicken
ing men to seriousness and repentance.
Give us revival moved and begotten
by the holy Spirit, and not one stirred
| up by the coming Of an evangelist" ia
the cry OF many Christisns-s demand
| as reasonable as that your telegraphic
message shall be brought to you without
the Intervention of the wires. The Holy
Spirit acts through o medium, the word
OF God, and through an agent, the man
OF God; and 1t is by Christians anointed
| and filled with the Holy Ghost, that the
Spirits convicting and regeneratins
power is brought to bear on souls.
Here too, in n degree, the masters OK
aDpl holds for the disciples In all time.
John the Baptist had this test of the
true Messiah given him. Upon whom
thou shalt see the Spirit descending and
remaining on him, the same lie he which
baptizeth the Holy Ghost - The abiding
and indwelliDg of the Spirit constituted
Christs power not only for personal ser
vice, but for communicating spiritual
anarqv To nthara Ha whn ON kha hn ~ n