Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-02-08
Revivals.

-Mldianu MethOdlSt.
The above is an assertion which
seems TO do away with all other meth
DDS of preserving the life of the
church. 1 DO not believe that these
spasmodical and periodical revivals
of religion are Gods established
method of saving souls-they are
man made institutions; but we have
to admit that God blesses them
often, to the salvation of souls.
am reminded of an incident which
occurred in the earthly life of oul
Savior. On one occasion the Jews
came TO Him with a question relative
to a marriage law, and His reply
was: "Moses gave you that law on
account OF the hardness of your
hearts, but he added, "lt was not
so from the beginning l believe
that God not only occasionally bless
es these means, but they have in part
his sanctiO =, as that law OF Moses
had. for the Creator knows, that in
the present condition of the churches
generally, there would be very few
souls saved but for this agency. God
says, "Behold powlis the accepted
time, Behold now is the day of sal =
vation," but il often seems as though
in this day the ministry and the
church says there are periodical
times for salvation. in them come
and be healed, and not on the preach
ing of Sabbath days.
Which is right, God or mani 1t
is very probable that Martin Luther,
John Wesley, John Knox, George
Whitfield and a score of Others in
the centuries past, as well as Spur
geon, Moody, Phillips Brooks and
many more during the century just
closed, scarcely ever preached a SER
mon but what many were convicted
of their sins and some converted.
But what is the matter with the
ministry and the church of today,
when in thousands Of christian
churches it would be novelty to
hear of soul being saved through
the ordinary Sabbath day preaching?
How and why is this? Has the Cos
pei as preached by Paul, o. as preach
ed by any of the above named de-
ceased ministers of the gospel, lost
its power and influence in the con-
sciences and hearts of men7 Not
for one moment, but it is TO be
feared that the gospel as preached
IN thousands of churches fails to be
a saving gospel.
Honored of God is any pastor or
preacher of the gospel, who can say
what was said by the late Phillips
Brooks, when after preaching before
the now deceased and lamented
Queen of England, he was asked
what sermon he preached, his reply
was, Il have but one sermon and
that is Christ There are three
qualities needed in every sermon
preached; the ministry of persuasion,
the ministry of earnestpess and alb
solute faith in the message delivered,
and If the Christ of the gospel per-
meates these characteristics, there
will be enough of gospel truth in
every sermon preached to save a
soul
The origin of revival services lid
not commence with the christian
era, but at some subsequent period
and such is the belief in this insti
tuition, that nearly all christian
churches give more credepce TO this
method than to the God established
order of sabbath day preaching.
One other thought: The church
is in part responsible with the min
istry in the conversion OF the world
Paul was the greatest, the most eff
cient and learned OF all the Apostles
IN the ministry, yet he felt his need
of the prayers of the church, for he
says to the Corinthian church
Brethren pray for US that the word
of the Lord may have free course
and b. glorified" Whenever the
ministry and the church are willing
to meet Gods demands, souls will bt
saved every Sabbath day, and there
will be daily and continuous reyi
val, aud expansion of christianity il
the life Of all christians. and sinners
will be converted day by day,insteaC
of at periodical times. G.. B.