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•liII30 THB EABNEBT CHBISTIAN.EDITORIAL.PENTECOST. •The disciples did not need the baptismof the Holy Spirit which theyreceived at Pentecost to heal them ofbacksUdings. They were not backsUdden.Their spiritual conditionwas never better than it was afterthe ascension of our Lord. Therewere no dissensions among them tobe healed. No spurit of envy hadbeen manifested in unkind thrusts atone another. One did not stay awayfrom meetings because anothei went,or keep silent when there, beeausesome one whom he did not like, led inprayer. They were all with one accordin one place. Peter was not shut outbeeause he had denied the Lord, andcursed and swore. His bitter repentance,accepted of God, had restoredhim to the confidence of the brethren.Christ had said to him, '•^Feedmy lambs"—" Feed my sheep." Promthe heart of Thomas all doubts hadbeen removed. A more orthodox,united assembly of Christians wasnever seen.These disciples were charged with themost important mission ever entrustedto mortals. The world was asleepin the arms of the wicked oue, it wastheir's to awaken them: it.wa^s walkingin darkness to eternal night, itwas their's to turn them to the lightof salvation; it was sitting in thevery shadow of death, it was their'sto open before tbem the gates of eternallife.Why did riot these disciples, thuscommissioned, whose work was somuch needed, begin their mission ?They were not waiting to completetheir education. They had been •withthe Master from the beginning of hisministry, and were weU instructed inthe things of the kingdom. Theywere not sent to study humau philosophyor the words of worldly wisdom.Nor were they waiting for the "developmentof their characters." Whatthey needed to move the world fromits Old superstitions to the li^eing God,was something that does not comemerely •with lapse of days, or fromforce of circnmstances. It was somethingthat schools cannot impart : aninfluence that godly li-ving alone cannever give.When Christ commanded them togo out and disciple all nations, headded: " But tarry ye in Uie city ofJemsalem, until ye be endued withpowei- from on high."—Lnke xsdv, 49.For this, then, were tbey waiting.They undoubtedly had an indefiniteidea as to what this power would be.But they felt confident that when,they received it they would kuow it.For this they waited, and prayed, andbelieved. At last it came, in its over-•whelming influence, upon themselves.It was felt at once by others, andthree thousand souls were convertedin a day.This great revival was a pattern forthe churoh in all ages. Reduced or enlargedas the pattern may be, itshould stUl be followed. And themore closely it is followed, the m'oreglorious will be the results.A formal church may have a formal,fashionable revival, •without this baptismof the Spirit. The Phariseeswere without the Spirit—but theyhad zeal, and they made converts.But our Savionr said to the Phariseesot their, converts, " They are two-foldmore the children of heU than yourselves."So the converts of a fashionable,formal church are stUl more formaland fashionable.But a Holy Ghost revival, in whichmen and women are bom of the Spirit,and become new creatures, is quiteanother thing. This always begins, asdidthe work on Pentecost, •with theoutpouring of the Spirit on God'*people. If they-wiU not humble themselvesand get baptized •with the Spirit,an interest may be excited and sinnersmay be awakened, but the work•will not go much farther. The preach-
ing may be in power; but the churchforms an effectual barricade betweenthe pulpit and sinners.This is the reason why it is ofteneasier to promote a revival in a ehurchthat is openly and avowedly backslidden,than in one that is united,Uving •without reproach and enjoyingthe confidence of the community.The members feel that they are"increased in goods and have needof notlung." They almost resent anyintimation that they are in want of abaptism of the Spirit. " They areready to work, and ready for thework." This is their feeling. Theycannotbe moved. Their stereotypedprayers and exhortations kiU everything. But they_ do not know it.They think they are doing well, butthe fanlt is with the preacher, or •withsome one else.But if professors break down, andget the Spirit, sinners will be convicted.If confessions are honest andgo to the bottom, they secure confidenceat once. I have seen a congregationall broken down and meltedto tears under the confession of aman, a professed Christian in whomup to that moment no one who knewhim had any confidence., If all that was necessary to securethe salvation of sinners, was to convincethem of the truth of Christianity,then holy living alone inight besnfflcient. But they must be stirred,aroused, excited, awakened beforethey WiU eonfess their sins and seekthe Lord.If then yoa want a re^vival, seek tohave a Pentecost. Get that and therevival will tollow. Let God's ministersand his professed people get baptizedwith the Holy Ghost and sinnerswill be converted. Long-standiagprejudices will give way in an instant,and those who seeined verynnlikely to be the subjects of grace,•WiU be made to rejoice 'with the joyWonders •wUl be acof salvation.complished.EDITOBLAL. 31PERSECUTION.Wheh anything annoying is said toyou or abont yon becanse of yoursingularity for Christ's sake, you mustcount it persecution, as it reaUy is.Do not be disheartened by it.Though it may come from your nearestfriend, do not let it move you.Though they may profess to be realChristians, do not listen to them ifthey would have yon walk contraryto-the Gospel. If you were oftheworld, the world and worldly professorswould love you. But if yonrlife is a reproof to them, they •will retaliateby reproaching you. The simpledevotion of your life to Christ,,makes them constantly uneasy intheir devotion to the world, and theyseek to make you sliare their uneasinessuntu they can procure peace forthemselves, by compelling you toconform to the world.There are then, two most weightyreasons why yon should stand firm,no matter how persecution rages.Krst your own salvatiou demands it.If we suffer, we shall also reign loifhhim: if we deny him, by turning ourbacks upon his words, he also willdeny us.—2 Tim. ii, 13. If you arethen talked about, or thrown out ofemployment, or turned out of doorsfor Christ's sake, let it only lead younearerto him. . He wiU throw hisshield around you and bring youtlirough. Then stand firm.Second, for if you do, you wiU bemuch more likely to bring yourfriends who persecute you, to Christ,Some of them, already half persuaded,secretly hope that you will notyield to the pressure which they arehelping to bring to bear upon you,bnt remain true to the end. It is saidthat a Iioman Centurion, who stoodon guard as a Christian was beingbumed at the stake, witnessing theglory that fiUed the soul of the dyingman, stepped forth before his company and exclaimed, "'I also am aChristian."
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Page 4 and 5: THB EAKNEST CHHISTIANlarge-minded a
Page 6 and 7: 10 THE EARNEST CHKISTIAN.of the wor
Page 8 and 9: 13 THE EABNEST CHBISTIAN.SERVICE. N
Page 10 and 11: iI••uOPEN-AIRTHE EARNEST CHRIST
Page 12: 16 THB EARNEST CHRISTIAN.O man of G
Page 15 and 16: INTENSITY OF MOBAL CONVICTIONS. 19r
Page 17 and 18: EXPERIENCEOP MES. LIBBIEDAVENPOET.I
Page 19 and 20: " When thou vowest a vow untoGod, d
Page 21 and 22: oies are to be removed ; uniformity
Page 23 and 24: KNOWLEDGE.No degree of speculative
Page 25: PBEE GBACE.be manifested by both pn
Page 29 and 30: EDITOBIAL.ARCHBISHOP SECKER.THOSIAS
Page 31 and 32: passages In hand. We notice Henry,B

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