The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-03-18
Gaturday Digit
* olkc By r. E. DAWSON
& )IEMS Rutland, VI.
( . 5 8 90 3 8 {, 8 3 q 8 5
REVIVAL characteristics
Mach 2l. % (Acts 8: 1888.

ing reVlValS. Inere nave Deen times
without number when tidal waves of
religious enthusiasm have submerged
cities, countries, hemispheres. Like
high tide in the Bay of Fundy,
sweeping all before 1t, sending mighty
currents against onflowing rivers.
and filling every bay and inlet along
the shores OF continents. purging,
clarifying, disinfecting. healing, re.
yiving with its purifying waves. car.
rying out into the deep sea of oblivion
everything offensive to the senses and
detrimental to health. great rivivals of
religion have rolled over the nations,
sweetening, cleansing, restoring them.
And there are certain characters.
tics attending every genuine work OF
grace; always has been, always will
be, marking them as of divine origin.
There are certain elements incident
10 the human instruments involved
which necessarily color every religi.
GUS movement, which are more or less
prominent in the conduct of affairs.
but they have no more to do with the
reality and depths of the movement
itself than the variety of shipping
that rises and falls on the waves OF
the sea, or the rubbish that floats
upon the recedlng tide.
Conspicuous laymen.
In the chapter from which this talk
Is taken, We have the account OF the
first great revival that swept over
the city or Samaria and the province
Df Jnlpa In thn HauS nf hn
1t Is significant that this revival was
led by layman, Philip. the deacon.
He was one of the seven men chosen
BY the church at Jerusalem. to man
age the financial, benevolent, material
interests of the mother church. But
he developed the preaching gift, and
when the hammer of persecution fell
upon the church at the capital he
went down to Samaria, and began to
preach the gospel unto them. Thus
at the very beginning the work of
Stephen and Philip. in preaching the
gospel was honored equally with the
ordained apostles, and since that day
multitudes of men, upon whose heads
the hands OF the presbytery were
never laid have been conspicuous in
the worlds cvangelization. The only
question that needs to be considered
in regard to preacher is Can he do
II? When men want water, they new
er argue as to the length of the pipe
Ii 1t is long enough to reach the
spring, that is all they care for.
Foolshness of Preaching.
Real revivals are characterized by
the preaching of the gospel. 1t is by
the foolishness of preaching that men
are saved in all ages. Mind, | do not
say, foolish preaching. There is n
vast amount of that sort in the world
and that Is one reason why revivals
are necessary every now and then to
set the real article into the hearts
and lives of the people. 1t Is surprig-
ing how much foolish preaching other
wise sensible men can impose upon
long-suffering audiences. Philip
preached a gospel which to the Jew
was foolishness, because 1t glorified
erucifed Christ, but which in reality
was the power OF God unto Salvation.
X was the simple story Of Jesus of
Nazareth. This chapter says those
who were scattered abroad. went
everywhere preaching the word" The
word preaching" in that text is liter
ally "prattling." The idea is, they
went everywhere talking about Christ.
lie was the chief topic o. converse
tion. they were all engros 5ed in that
subject. Christ-His birth. His life,
His teachings. His miracles. His cru
eltixion, His resurrection, His ascen-
sion, His second coming these were
their themes of conversation. That
is preaching the gospel. whoever does
L.
And the next thing about this re-
yival was it was attended with great
Joy. Real religion is joyful. 1t is
the rose among flowers; the diamond
among jewels the oratorio among har-
monies. 1t laughs and sings, and
dances. and cries out with the Psalm
ist. Let everything that hath breath
praise the Lord" A religion that
does not turn up the corners OF the
mouth and put a twinkle OF merrf
ment in the eye IL not Bible religion.
When the anchors are cast Off the air
ship Is bound to rise into its native
element.
Exposing Hypocrites.
One of the strongest proofs of the
genuineness of the Samaritan revival
was the fact that 1t exposed and con
victed Simon Magus. the deceiving
old spiritualist who had "bewitched"
The people with his hypocritical arts. |
Ii did not take the people long to see
how they had been deluded when they
came in contact with the real article. |
And they forsooh Simon's seances when
Philip tore off his mask. Revivals are
needed to expose hypocrites and un
cover workers o, iniquity-as well as
TO reveal to men the Rock of Ages |
and the door OF Paradise. Not mere |
ly to get people into heaven, but to |
recover them ont of the snare NJ tho