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THE KING’S BUSINESS
to a useful career as a Christian busi ness man, one who should achieve a competence, and at the same time devote his spare time to preaching the Gospel, or to other forms of Christian service. But God’s ways are not our ways. One evening When Harry was busy auctioning his wares, an odd looking character pushed his way through the crowd and 'confronted the auctioneer. This man wore no hat, his long hair fell down his back, and his long beard fell down in front. A piece of green baize was worn like a shawl, leather knee breeches, and a pair of boots com pleted his costume. He usually carried an open Bible. Standing before Harry Moorehouse he cried out: “Thou ought to 'have thy Bible in thy hand out amongst the people, and not that ham mer for the devil.” Having delivered his message he disappeared in the crowd. Harry took the message as from God, gave up his business, went to Liverpool, joined John Hambleton and started with him on an evangelistic tour. Having quit the world’s service for Christs’, he quit it forever. The remainder of his short life was spent to the limit in pro claiming the Gospel of the Love of God. From Revivals^How and When? By WM. W. NEWELL, D. D. ARMERS are told in ag ricu ltu ra l Since then a harvest of souls has been _ ■ i x a J a n n a R n m o l r F works just what to do each week in the year. One of these papers is . said to be a “perfect encyclopaedia of use ful information.” , , . our study and our aim every year. Noth ing has been, to us, so absorbing, so joyous, so precious. As the years rolled on our ch,urch has reached a higher stan dard, our emotions steadier. And it has been more and more easy and delightful to enlist in our work the warm and efficient aid of new-born souls.
Medical students are not only taught in lectures, journals, and books just how to discover and heal each disease of the body, but they are called to Witness the method and progress of the healing. Large committees are appointed to search out and to publish the best methods of curing occult and infectious diseases. How infinitely essential is such knowl edge to those who are to give an account for the “cure of souls.” No wonder that in their straits they ask for the plans, feelings, and methods of those who, m propitious or intricate circumstances, have led many to the Great Physician. God has disclosed to us the methods used in the revivals of Josiah and Nehe- miah. Jesus shows how the revival be gan in Samaria, and Luke how it com menced in the Jerusalem chamber. In my young days I received instructions upon this subject, and my early ministry was blessed with revivals. I loved to read and talk of them. I loved to pray and labor in them. But as we were told, not to press the work too long, we did our best for the time. And so we had a great excitement followed by a melan choly reaction. The church and the con verts sank down into a state of spiritual lethargy. This disheartened the church and brought disrepute upon the work of the Holy Ghost. T ,, At length I discovered that the Lord s hand was not shortened, that it could not constantly save, but that unbelief had grieved away the Spirit.
The crudities and barrenness of in experience are often disastrous and mel ancholy. But we may learn from the experience of others. Help may be ob tained from their failures, as well as from their successes. We may learn how to secure the help of God and the co operation of man. We shall see the su preme worth of right feeling, true prayer, and wise action; and that revivals with out the power of the Holy Ghost are a monstrosity and a failure. Notwithstanding occasional imperfec tions, the Spirit of God in a revival often arouses the people from a state of spiritual stagnation. It greatly invigorates and develops Christian character. It fills the heart with penitence, prayer, love and song. Tongues are loosened and testi monies are given to the preciousness of Jesus. It heals church divisions and church scandals. It reclaims backslid ers. It arouses the self-deceived. Fear fulness surpriseth the hypocrites. There is a new atmosphere, a new influence, a new standard, a new activity. The emo tions of the heart are quickened and sanctified. Christians encourage and strengthen each other. The waste places are built up. And thus revivals add vast ly to the force of religion.
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