The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-13
THE ROANOKE TIMES. SUNDAY. JUNE is


Christ. Instead of this, we sometimes
hear minister preach, perhaps, one SER
mon that seems to be coed beginning
for a revival. The hopes of the church
ure excited, the spirit of prayer stimu-
lated; but loperhaps the very next SER
mon or the very next Sabbath will intro
auce something. wholly irrelevant, not in
the least degree following up what was so
hopefully begun. Thus the praying ones
are disappointed, their hearts grieved,
aud they cannot help feeling that the
minister lacks st adiness OF aim, as well
as JUNCTION and common sense.
2. Irrelevant exhortations and prayer
in prayer and conference meetings. will
much retard and often effectually destroy
an existing revival. Often has my soul
been agonized, In prayer and conference
meetings, by hearing some brother, whose
heart. it was evident, WAS not at all in
the work, introduce some altogether ir-
relevant topic, and draw the attention
and prayer and feeling OF the meeting
into II channel not ut all connected with
the persons present or in the immediate
neiGhburhood. OF course, that meeting
Is failure, so far as the interests of the
revival are concerned. If i had room,
should like to illustrate each of these par
ticulars by facts that have come under
my own observation. BY doing SOL could
easily expand this article into u volume.
But, of necessity, l study to be as brief
as is possibly consistent with perspicuity.
1t often pains me to leave out the illus
trative facts.
spirit in n revival will always retard and
often effectually arrest it.. If the churches
of different denominations begin never So
SO secretly to proselyte, it will ne seen by
those who are spiritually minded in the
falling off of the spirit of prayer. The
praying. wakeful people will feel that
something is the matter; that the Spirit
of Goh is grieved. Conversions are less
frequent, the work, is partially if not al
together suspended. If the spctarian
spirit becomes general, the work must
come to close, and yet each denomina
ton is but earnestly, contending for the
faith once delivered to the saints,'' as
they think. Yet it is almost never jeal-
ousy for the truth. but desire to build
up their own particular denomination,
that Is at the bottom of their efforts.
A. The introduction of controversial
spirit will retard greatly, and, if persist
ed in, will ruin revival.
o. Observation-Disclosures on the part OF
Christians will destroy their spirit of
prayer, retard and, If persisted In, de.
SCrOy II revival OIL religion.
6. The breaking out of fanatical
spirit in II revival will retard or destroy
it. use the term fanatical here in the
sense of bitter, denunciatory fault. find
ing spirit. This needs to be closely
watched. have seldom seen n revival in
which it did not make it's appearance
sooner or later and to n considerable eX.
tent. 1t is the policy of Satan to pour
himself stealthily into the hearts of
Christians and introduce a spirit of CEN
seriousness and bitterness that will ruin
the work. Not only is the Spirit of God
poured out in revivals of religicn; but
often Satan will pour himself out into
the hearts of the people. He needs to be
closely watched; and, If his agency Is de-
tected, private reproof and eXpostulation
should be Immediately resorted to.
Z. Any falling OF of prevailing prayer
will Immediately manifest itself in the
me nifest partial relief of convicted sim
ners and less frequent conversions.
8. The creeping in Of spirit of unbelief
with regard to the continuance Of the
work, will retard it and often effectually
destroy It,
8. A revival of religion will be greatly
retarded II a spirit Of gallantry gossip
and fiirtaticn amongst the young is
suffered to prevail.
~. NihLcFeT reilcNeS ZIG pressure u pom
the ccnsciences of the ungodly..and upon
the hearts of the praying ones, will re-
tard revival. A revival will not cease
while the travail of soul continues among
Gods people, and the pressure of obiga-
ton upon the hearts of the unconverteh.
II. Mistaking presumption for faith,
will often effectua-ly destroy revival.
Instead of lying low and walking softly
before God, instead of feeling intense
anxiety and travail of soul for the saliva
ton of sinners Christians will sometimes
begin prematurely to reio"e over the
converts, while they throw Off the pres
sure and neglect the persistent use of
means. In this way revivals are often
brought to q sudden close.
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.
Proceedings of Yesterday,s Sessions at