18. Revival Spirit
Revival Spirit
DYING TESTIMONY TO IMMORTALITY.—A dying man said in substance: “I have at this moment a particular impression of the immortality of the soul, for my body is already half dead. I have lost the use of both legs and one arm, and if my soul were not immortal it would behalf dead also. But instead of that, I am constantly thinking of God and Heaven, and I can think with great ease and freedom.”
SHE REACHED THEM.—An old woman was converted, and became anxious to do something for the Lord. What to do she could not tell, as she was old and poor. One day she thought of a plan. She got the children of the village to her home, and began, in her simple way, to sing with them, to talk to them, and then to pray. As the children were all missed from their homes, their mothers went to seek for them. They found them with the old woman, and were so struck with the little meeting that they remained to hear for themselves what she had to say about Jesus. While they listened their husbands came home, and finding wives and children absent, they went in search of them, and found them all safe. They were struck with this new state of things, and listened to the old woman’s story. The result was a revival broke out, and one hundred and fifty were converted. “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”
PAGE’S MODE.—After the death of Harlan Page, that devoted fisher of men, who it is said, was instrumental in leading one hundred souls to Christ a man said: “A plain man sitting by my side, after a kind salutation, said: ‘I trust you love the Saviour?’ The question filled my eyes with tears. I had been preached to at arm’s length all my life, but this was the first time that ever a Christian thus put such a question to my heart.”
IT’S NOT BOILING.—William Arnot once grew weary of waiting for a train to start, and asked if the trouble was want of water. “Plenty of water,” was the reply, “but it’s not boiling.”
REVIVAL ACCOUNTED FOR.—A preacher once had a remarkable revival, but could not account for its cause. Visiting an invalid woman one day, she said: “You have had a precious revival; I knew it was coming.” Then she gave him an account of the burden that had been on her heart for weeks, and of her prayers for sinners.
PRAYING CRIPPLE.—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. WAS WAITING.—During a revival the preacher asked a young man the question, “Do you not want to be a Christian?” With tearful eyes and quivering lips the answer came: “Of course I do; I was waiting to see if any one felt enough interested in me to ask me to seek salvation.’“
KNAPP’S DETERMINATION.—Knapp began revival services in Penn Yan, N. Y., and continued them night after night, for three weeks, without a conversion. While unbelievers were triumphing in his supposed defeat, Knapp said, “My bones bleach in Penn Yan, or I see the work of the Lord prosper.” That very night a tide of conviction swept through the town; and a mighty revival followed. God honors earnestness and devotion to His cause.