35 Sermon Illustrations on Revival

In 1807, a clergyman left the city of Hartford for the then Far West, — as far as Whitestown, N.Y. He took with him some copies of "The Rise and Progress;" and, as he stopped at a cabin tavern, he noticed that the woman who waited on him at the table was busily engaged in reading. He inquired what book she had, and learned that it was "The Rise and Progress," which a neighbor had lent to her; and she was copying out passages that peculiarly fitted her mind. He gave her a copy of the book, which she received with great delight. In 1838, he was passing that way, and, inquiring for this woman by name, he was pointed to an elegant house as her residence. He called on her, and asked her if she remembered him. She did not. But do you not remember the man who gave you Doddridge's "Rise and Progress" thirty years ago? "Oh, yes!" she said: "are you the man? Why, that book was the means of converting my soul; and it was lent round, and others read it; and we had meetings and read it together; it was read at huskings and bees, and on the Sabbath day; and a revival followed; and by and by we went for a minister, and formed a church." The church of Wyoming is the fruit of that seed.

MEANS OF GRACE, Using the "My bredren," said a colored preacher, "'ligion is like de Alabama River. In spring come fresh, an' bring in all the ole logs, slabs, an' sticks dat hab been lyin' on de bank, and carry dem down in the current. Bymeby, de water go down: den a log cotch here on dis island, den a slab gets cotched on de shore, an' de sticks on de bushes; an' dere dey lie, withrin' and dryin' till come 'noder fresh. Jus' so dere come 'vival of 'ligion: dis ole sinner brought in, dat ole backslider brought back; an' de old folk seem comin', an' mighty good times. But, bredren, bymeby 'vival's gone: den dis ole sinner is stuck on his own sin; den dat ole backslider is cotched where he was afore, on jus' such a rock; den one after 'noder dat had got 'ligion lies all along de shore, an' dere de lie till 'noder 'vival. Belubed bredren, keep in de current."

A morning prayer-meeting was established in a New-England village with special reference to a revival of religion, which at first was well attended; but soon the interest declined, till only one man attended. One morning, he was met by one of the brethren of the church, who said, "Where now, brother, so early in the morning?" — "From the prayer-meeting," was the reply. "I thought that was given up long ago. Why, who was there, do tell me, friend?" — "Well, I'll tell you, brother: the Lord and I were there, and are there every morning; and most precious seasons we are enjoying." The next morning found this brother at his post; and from that time other members of the church followed his example, and, in a few weeks, that room was filled to overflowing; and a powerful revival followed.

Mr. Finney tells of a blacksmith whose agony became so great at thought of the condition of the church and of sinners, that he could not work; so locked up his shop, and spent the afternoon in prayer. This was followed by a powerful revival.

Constant revival, no autumn, no winter, but perpetual summer, is that which the church needs, and which must precede the coming millennium.

A revival is the spring of religion, the renovation of life and gladness. It is the season in which young converts burst into existence and beautiful activity. The Church resumes her toil and labor and care with freshness and energy. The air all around is balmy, and diffusing the sweetest odors. The whole landscape teems with living promises of abundant harvest of righteousness and peace. It is the jubilee of holiness. A genial warmth pervades and refreshes the whole Church. Showers of "vernal delight and joy" descend gently and copiously. Delightful influences are wafted by every breeze. Where the dead leaves of winter still linger, the primrose and the daisy spring up in modest loveliness. Trees long barren put forth the buds of beauty and power. The whole valley is crowned with fragrant and varied blossoms. Forms of beauty bloom on every side, and Zion is the joy of the whole earth. If the spirit that renews the face of the earth is a spirit of beauty in the elegance of the germs, the tints of the buds, the verdure of the foliage, the splendor of the blossoms, and the witching glories of the matured fruits of Nature, "how great is His beauty" when acting out His lovely and holy perfections in revivals of religion. Dr. Jenkyn.

A cripple boy in England, during the progress of a revival, though he could not go to the services, used to single out his unconverted acquaintances, set apart a time, and pray for them by name. This he continued to do till nearly fifty were converted in answer to his prayers.

All the great revivalists of the Church have had what has been called a passion for souls. John Smith, the mighty Wesleyan preacher, used to say, "I am a broken-hearted man; not for myself, but on account of others. God has given me such a sight of the value of precious souls, that I cannot live if souls are not saved. Oh, give me souls, or else I die!"

A young business man, a professor of religion, on leaving Detroit in 1841 for the West, procured a copy of the "Life of J. B. Taylor." In pursuing his business his lot was cast in a very wicked community. At length the attention of this young man was called to the book he had purchased. He read it, and was excited to make higher attainments in religion. He attended prayer and conference meetings, and there gave expression to his thoughts and feelings. He did the same in private as opportunity offered. God blessed his labors. The result of the revival which was thus originated and carried forward, was the conversion of some fifty individuals, who became members of the visible church. That young man became a preacher of the gospel to a Presbyterian church.

Judge ——, of Tennessee, who was hopefully converted by a blessing on the perusal of Nelson's Cause and Cure of Infidelity, loaned it to two skeptical lawyers, who were also hopefully converted. They were men of influence, and established meetings at two different points, in connexion with which some two hundred individuals were hopefully converted and gathered into the church. That copy of Nelson was sold them by a colporteur. A member of Congress was among the converts.

A few years since, says a correspondent of the New-York Evangelist, during a powerful revival in New England, the Holy Spirit exerted its mighty influence upon a family circle consisting of a father, a mother, and five most interesting children. The mother and her five children were hopefully converted. The father, who was naturally one of the most amiable, retiring, modest men with whom I ever was acquainted, aided his family in attending the numerous meetings, and was not unfrequently seen bowed down and trembling under the power of truth. Still the conversions of his wife and children, in rapid succession, were like so many earthquake shocks to the foundations on which his false hopes had so long rested. But neither the affecting scenes of their distress, nor the ecstasies of their subsequent joy, could melt his heart into contrition. He now felt that he was groping in a dark path, and in wretched loneliness; he who should have been the leader of a pious household was left far behind, a subject of prayer, and an occasion of grief to the circle around him. Thus he remained for weeks.

Ere long preparations were made for gathering the fruits of the revival into the church, and a day appointed for the examination of candidates. The mother and her five children, with some sixty others, came before the church, and were propounded for admission into its pale. As the day of admission drew near, the father, who had watched their movements with much concern, expressed his regret to his wife that they should make a profession of religion at present, and requested that they should wait for him. The mother, deeply moved, solicited advice of the pastor and other friends; but, after due deliberation, it was concluded that the path of their duty was plain, and that they were bound to follow Christ. With unusual decision and firmness they resolved to do so. As soon as he knew their decision, he became more earnest in his remonstrances, and used every possible argument, especially with the mother, to dissuade her from her purpose, but in vain. He soon changed his tone of entreaty into that of fearful threatening, warning his wife if she had any affection for him, any regard for the peace of the family, to desist from her purpose and wait for him. "No," said the martyr-like woman, "I love you most tenderly, but I love Christ more. I have waited for you for more than twenty years, and now I shall do my duty, and as to the consequences I will leave them with God."

At the close of this interview, which took place Saturday evening, he took his hat, and uttering some threats, left the house, as if never to return to his family again. It was a painful night to mother and children. Might he not become the victim of lasting mania, or in his rage and disappointment suddenly destroy himself? As it afterwards appeared, he retired to his barn, threw himself on the hay-mow, (it being mid-summer,) and there rolled and struggled like a wild beast in the net. An awful warfare was waging between an awakened conscience and a desperately rebellious heart. He could not, would not submit. Sabbath morning came—the family, with trembling anxiety for the absent father, prepared to go to the house of God; but, just before the hour of service, his feelings drove him from his hiding place. He was safe, but still unhumbled. He again inquired of his wife if she remained fixed in her purpose, and finding she did, he left the house with dreadful signs of rebellion, throwing out some intimations that he never should return—that fearful consequences might be anticipated. He was soon out of sight, but not out of mind. The family departed; and the father, finding his threats unavailing returned to his house, prepared his person with despatch, and was soon seen placed in the gallery in a situation favorable for witnessing the ceremony he had opposed so vainly. And when the ceremony of reception took place, and the father looked down and saw his wife and five children, with the rest, kneel around the altar, he burst into tears, and his agitation was great. The step was taken, and could not be retraced.

On retiring from the house he felt that he was indeed alone. He began to come to himself—to review the dreadful rebellion of his heart which recent events had brought to light. His heart began to break; and in a few hours his soul was made to rejoice in that Savior whom he had so recently persecuted. He now felt deeply thankful that his wife had taken so decided a course; and he considered her uniting with the church, the means, in God's hands, of leading him to repentance.

As deep and ardent piety exerts its most powerful influence upon those most intimately acquainted, so a want of it will be soonest detected, and most deeply felt, in the domestic circle. This is illustrated by the following facts.

In the village of O—, N. Y., there lived a minister noted for the depth and ardor of his piety. During an interesting revival, his eldest daughter became concerned about her eternal welfare. At an evening meeting, the anxious were invited to occupy a particular seat, in token of their desire for an interest in the prayers of God's people. The minister's daughter did not go forward, but upon the arrival of the family at home, she said, "Father, I want you to pray for me." The father inquired why she had not taken the anxious seat. The immediate and earnest reply was, "I had rather you would pray for me, than any body else in the world." At a time of similar interest in the village of P—, there lived minister who was perhaps equally accounted of in public, whose eldest daughter was also convicted of sin. She passed her time as usual, under the paternal roof, but with a sad countenance and heavy heart. Three days passed, while deep distress of soul was daily growing deeper. She then, without the knowledge of her parents, (neither of them having yet inquired af-

# 210. INI

During a remarkable effusion of the Holy Spirit upon the several stations on this island, the following scene occurred at Panditeripo:—

On the 13th of February, 1824, while Mr. and Mrs. Scudder were absent, and after the boys of the boarding-school had gone to their room, and were about to lie down to sleep, Whelpley, (a native member of the church,) was induced to exhort them, most earnestly, to flee from the wrath to come. They were roused and could not sleep. By little companies, they went out into the garden to pray, and the voice of supplication was soon heard in every quarter, each one or each company praying and weeping as if entirely alone. More than thirty were thus engaged in a small garden. The cry was, "What shall I do to be saved?" and "Lord, send thy Spirit." In about an hour Dr. Scudder returned, and after waiting awhile, rang the bell for the boys to come in. They came, and with weeping proposed the inquiry, "What shall we do to be saved?" The next day they seemed unmindful of every thing but the salvation of their souls. And soon, under the judicious instructions they received, more than twenty at this place gave encouraging evidence of conversion. This was a specimen of the displays of divine mercy witnessed at the several stations of the mission.

A gentleman residing in the western part of the state of New-York, had sent two of his daughters to Litchfield, to be educated. While they were there, God was pleased to bless the place with a revival of religion. The news of it reached the ears of their father. He was much troubled for his daughters, "apprehensive," to use his own words, "lest their minds should be affected, and they be frightened into religion."

Alive, as he thought, to their happiness, and determined to allay their fears, and quiet their distresses, he sent a friend to Litchfield, with positive orders to bring them immediately home, that they might not be lost to all happiness and hope, and consigned to gloom and despondency.

The messenger departed on this errand. But they had already chosen Christ for their portion, and had resolved that, whatever others might do, they would serve the Lord.

They returned to their father's, not overwhelmed, as he expected, with gloom and despondency, but with hearts glowing with gratitude to God, and countenances beaming with serenity and hope. Indeed, they rejoiced in the Savior.

Soon after their return home, they were anxious to establish family worship. They affectionately requested their father to commence that duty. He replied, that he saw no use in it. He had lived very well more than fifty years without prayer, and he could not be burdened with it now. They then asked permission to pray with the family themselves. Not thinking they would have confidence to do it, he assented to the proposition.

The duties of the day being ended, and the hour for retiring to rest having arrived, the sisters drew forward to the stand, placed on it the Bible; one read a chapter—they both kneeled—the other engaged in prayer. The father stood, and while the humble fervent prayer of his daughter was ascending to heaven, his knees began to tremble; he also kneeled, and then became prostrate on the floor. God heard their prayer, and directed their father's weeping eyes, which had never shed tears of penitence before, to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.

Happy family! a believing father, and believing children! whose God is the Lord!

In a certain town, says Mr. Finney, there had been no revival for many years; the church was nearly run out, the youth were all unconverted, and desolation reigned unbroken. There lived in a retired part of the town, an aged man, a blacksmith by trade, and of so stammering a tongue that it was painful to hear him speak. On one Friday, as he was at work in his shop, alone, his mind became greatly exercised about the state of the church, and of the impenitent. His agony became so great, that he was induced to lay aside his work, lock the shop door, and spend the afternoon in prayer.

He prevailed, and on the Sabbath, called on the minister and desired him to appoint a conference meeting. After some hesitation, the minister consented, observing, however, that he feared but few would attend. He appointed it the same evening, at a large private house. When evening came, more assembled than could be accommodated in the house. All was silent for a time, until one sinner broke out in tears, and said, if any one could pray, he begged him to pray for him. Another followed, and another, and still another, until it was found that persons from every quarter of the town were under deep convictions. And what was remarkable, was, that they all dated their conviction at the hour when the old man was praying in his shop. A powerful revival followed. Thus this old stammering man prevailed, and, as a prince, had power with God.

In a town in Massachusetts there was a large neighborhood, where many of the inhabitants were accustomed to spend the Sabbath in hunting, fishing, drunkenness, and profaneness. There was only one professor of religion in the place. She went to the church with which she was connected, three or four miles distant, and asked if something could not be done to serve her neighbors? A few teachers were sent out to commence a Sabbath school there. One year after, most of the inhabitants had found their way to the house of God, where they afterwards attended regularly; and one old man who had lived eighty years, zealously declaring to all around him, that the "wicked shall not be turned into hell with all the nations that forget God," erected the family altar, and gave pleasing evidence that he had commenced a new life. The whole moral character of that neighborhood is radically changed.

389. In Promoting Benevolence and other Virtues.

In ——, Mass., efforts were made in the early part of the year 1835, to excite a more general and deeper interest in the Sabbath school concert. The influence of these efforts was to increase the number of the school and the fidelity of the teachers. "This general interest," says the pastor, "increased through the summer till September, when more manifest signs appeared—though two or three conversions had before taken place—of the presence of the Holy Spirit. In a few weeks the attention had become general throughout the school. The work of God was very solemn, as well as animating, still and deep. ONE HUNDRED OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL, we hope, HAVE BEEN CONVERTED.