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62 THE EABNEST CHBKTIAN AND GOLDEN BULS.
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cess to the hardness of the people. 7%it
has nothing to do with the case. He who
How to Promote Revivals. can melt the hairdest heart has promised to
give you success. Do not attribute it to
EvEEY minister of Jesus Christ ought your want of talents or education. THE
to be a revival preacher. If he is not, it is GrvEE of all gifts, says, I •WILL MAEE YOU
his fault. He is either backslidden from FISHEBB OP MEN,—Will give you aH necessary
Ood, or has mistaken his calling. This is
skill, and understanding.
the true state of the case. But as some of But, to promote a revivalof God's work,
you will not believe this statement, we you must—
mnst prove it from the Bihle. "We feel distressed
over the preachers. May God get pronaote superficial re^rivals. Some may
1. Be right with God. Hypocrites can
ns under conriction! Hear what Paul be really saved; but the mass of the con
says (Eph. iv. 11): And he gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets; and some, evan­
have converts that •wiU stand, one must
verts •will soon go back to the world. To
gelists; and some, pakors and teachers, for himself be right before God.
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of In "Wesley's day, many of the preachers
the ministry, for the edifying of the body of had never truly been bom of the Spirit—
Christ. Here we have the work of the It is so in our day. Some have grown up
ministry defined. It is—
into religion. They do not know when or
Kret. To perfect the saints,—not to make where tbey were converted. They have
them believe that they must, of necessity, grafted habits of piety upon the old, unsanctified
be forever sinning and repenting. To encourage
nature. Others have mistaken
them to press on to the ftill enjoyment
conriction for conversion. They were
of all the gifts and graces of the Spirit, awakened by the Spirit, but never went
—and not to make them so afraid of fanaticism
throngh the straight gate. Others, who
that they do not dare to get blessed once had a genuine, religious experience,
in their souls.
have backslidden from God, It is strange
Second. To edify the body of Christ. The that men who have lost their piety, should
body of Christ is His Church in the aggregate.
desfre to preach. But many do. Tbey
To edify it, is to build it up. How must know that they are destitute of saving
is a building put up? By adding new giace ; but they cover it up, and keep oix.
courses of brick to those afready laid. So, When they get so bad they cannot stay in
it is the work of the minister to increase one Conference, they go to another. Some
the number of saints on earth. This is to substances leave so strong an odor behind
be done by the conversion of sinners.— them, ^at the vessels in which they were
This, then, is his work. Building meetinghouses,
and raising money, are altogether It is so wiUi grace. He who has once really
contained carry the fi-agrance for years.—
secondary affafrs.
had it, thou^Wt is now gone, can talk as
The Master is still more emphatic. He he could not i^he had never known the
says (Mat. iv. 19): Follow me, and I will way. We once saw a peach tree, broken
make you fishers of men. But who would do^wn to the ground, but full of delicious
fish from week to week, from month to peaches. The bark was unbroken for a
month, and catch nothing? Yet is not short distance on one side, and there was
tins what many ministers are domg ? Even enough of vitality passed through it to ripen
that crop; but it was the last it ever
those they claim to catch, they leave as
thoroughly immersed in the world as ever. bore. So, many who have really backslidden
from God,bear some fruit for a season;
But Jesus says (Luke v. 10): Fear not;
from henceforth thou shalt catch men. Not but they soon wither, and become barren
merely fish for them; but actuaUy catch and unfruitful.
them, and bring them to land.
But you may not be wrong in any great
Now if yon are called of Jesus Christ to matters, but still lack the holy fire. -Whatever
your talents, you will not do preach, do not again lay your want of suc­
much