Bringing in sheaves

Front matter

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IT* A

Chapter I. How Can I Best Promote A Revival ?

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Revival begins like Eire. — Often with one Christian. — Christian's own Heart. — Definiteness. — Series of Meetings. . 15

CHAPTER H.

FAITH.

Sermon preached in Eall River, Mass., in 1863 23

Chapter XII. Letters From Young Converts And Others

Little Sadie. — Family Letter. — Ohio Letter, sent with a pair of Socks. — " Would like to be a Minister." — Twenty-five Years of Wandering. — "A Happy New Year." — A Sabbath School Class not too young for Jesus. — "Almost Fourscore." — " Part Way up." — A Granddaughter's Request. — Little Scolder. — Grateful Deacon. — From two little Brothers. — " In such an Hour you came;" — Burdened for Friends. — Cannot save ourselves. — " No other Refuge." — The Way little Freddie made his Will. — From two little Sisters. — " Must work as well as wish." 152

CHAPTER XHI.

VERMONT MEETING.

Origin. — Character. — Influence 167

Chapter XIV. Come Over And Help Us

Elizabeth. — Richmond. — Grand Rapids. — Lynn. — Napa. — Vancouver. — Vallejo. — New Hampshire. — Corvallis. — Baltimore. — Newport 175

Chapter XV. The Opinion Of Pastors

Geo. B. Ide. —Edward N. Kirk. — Robert Turnbull. — J. D. Clark. — S. D. Phelps. — H. Harvey. — Wm. Hague.— Geo. C. Baldwin. — J. R. Kendriek. — Thomas Armitage. — Geo. D. Boardman 187

Chapter XVI. Title Examined

Sermon preached in Tremont Temple, Boston. . . • • . 202

Chapter XVII. Evangelists. — Their Trials And Joys

Division of Ministerial Labor. — Work of the Evangelist. — Trials. — Much of the Time away from Home. — Distrust and Prejudice. — Necessity of saying " No." — Parting with new-made Friends. — Joys. — Necessity of living near the Savior. — Constantly making new Friends. — Immediate Results. — Greatest Joy in Reserve 228

Chapter XVIII. Union Meetings

Consistent with Denominational Differences. — Require no Compromise. — Reasons for Confidence in them. — Lead Christians to speak more kindly. — Convince Unconverted of Reality in Religion. — Gambler. — Physician. — Two Instances of such Meetings. — Churches prepared to receive Converts. — Spirit moving Denominations. 231)

Chapter I. "how Can I Best Promote A Revival?"

MANY pastors, who have been unable to secure the needed help in holding a series of meetings, write me, requesting an answer to this question : " How can I best promote a revival of religion ? "

Others, with whom I meet, are saying, "It has been many years since we have had a revival in our town, and I am half discouraged — I know not what to do."

Frequently the remark is made, " Our congregation is small, and but little interest is manifest in the subject of religion ; if you can come, do not be in a hurry to leave us — this is a very hard field."

For these and all other laborers who desire to know my views concerning the best means of promoting revivals of religion, and with whom I cannot converse in person, the thoughts, in this brief chapter, are specially written.

A revival of religion, like a fire, must begin somewhere : " Behold, how great a matter a little fire kiudleth ! "

A fire often begins with a little match, and works its way through the combustible material about it until it has swept over a wide region. The great fire in Portland originated with a fire-cracker. So a work of grace often commences with a single Christian — never with the whole church. As soon as that one Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, he goes after others, to lead them to the Savior, or to induce believers to join him in efforts for a revival. ,Jesus fulfils his promise, " Lo, I am with you ; " and others are soon moved and melted, and the work begins to widen.

So that whoever would promote a revival of religion should begin with his own heart, and pray, and confess, and believe, until he feels his heart all subdued and melted by the Holy Spirit, — until his love to Christ is glowing, fervid, burning, — and until he finds himself groaning over the lost condition of men, and, like Jesus, being in an agony, prays more earnestly.

Then, when his heart is in this state, let him get a few, if he cannot many, to join him in special prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit. Let that little company hold on in united, persistent prayer, " nothing wavering," until the windows of heaven are opened.

The disciples at Jerusalem continued in prayer about ten days, before they received the promised power from on high. It does not appear that the meeting, with so many ministers in attendance, attracted much attention, until the disciples were fully anointed, and filled with the Spirit.

They could have accomplished but little had they preached and labored without this preparation ; but as soon as it was received, the multitude were drawn to the place in great numbers, and were confounded when they saw the power that rested on those Galileans ; a new power attended their preaching. This work commenced with those believers, and spread with great rapidity all over the country.

So it must be with all who would labor successfully in leading souls to Christ; they must tarry at Jesus' feet until they have powrer with God; — then they will have powTer with men. The gift there received will be with them wherever they go, diffusing its sweet and holy influence, and God's work will be revived, and sinners converted.

I have observed, for nearly forty years past, that the secret of success in promoting revivals of religion is in having our own hearts filled with the Holy Spirit.

It is not enough for those of us who preach, that our sermons be able, sound, and well delivered, or that we preach what are sometimes called revival sermons, and that we also visit and converse with men about their souls' interest. It is not enough that the church be aroused and go to work actively for a revival: all this can be done, and but few souls be saved. Nothing can be a substitute for real " power from on high." No amount of study or talent, no effort, however untiring, can take the place of the fullness of Christ's love ; " Not by might, nor by power [human], but by my Spirit, saith the Lord."

I have known ministers to preach, and their churches to unite with them, day after day, for weeks together, for a revival, and yet very little to be accomplished.

The failure was not because the Spirit was unwilling to work with them and bless their efforts, nor because a continued meeting is not of divine appointment, but because they had not the needed power with God.

I am often invited to assist pastors and churches in a series of meetings, with ,a view of gathering in the multitudes, " who are unreached by the ordinaiy means of grace." Important as it is to reach this class, I have never found any way of doing so, or of reaching the unconverted in the regular congregations, until Christians were filled with the

Spirit, and humbled in the dust in agonizing prayer.

The multitudes flock to the house of God, when Christ's children enjoy the fullness of his love, and no more complaint is heard about small congregations, and little interest in the subject of religion. For this reason, it is usually quite as well to commence a series of meetings with a small assembly, and in unpleasant weather; since, under such circumstances, the church — at least some portion of it — will be more likely to get fully into the work, and have power with God, than when the congregations are crowded, and the surroundings more promising.

So clear has this point been to my own mind for years, I have said to the pastors and churches with whom I have been called to labor, that, if there was not a revival of religion, I should not complain of the church, but take the blame mostly to myself, believing that if I am right and have power with God, others will feel that power, and sinners will be converted : there will be a revival.

Let me say, then, to pastors and to the churches : If you believe the glory of God demands a revival in your midst, and you desire to be instrumental in advancing the work and bringing sinners to the Savior, first see that your own hearts are thoroughly melted and subdued, under a deep sense of the condition of lost men, and that you are filled with the Spirit and constrained by the love of Christ ; then get a few, if you cannot more, to meet with you, and pray with and for one another, until, like those who prayed with Peter and John, you are all filled with the Holy Spirit : then expect a powerful revival of religion. Barnabas was "a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith," and, as a result, " much people was added unto the Lord." Do not seek to produce an undue excitement in the community, neither be afraid of as much interest as was manifest among the people on the day of Pentecost.

In your prayer meetings have a definite object in view. If you desire an immediate outpouring of the Spirit, ask God for that ; if the fullness of his love in your hearts, let that be the burden of your prayer ; if the conversion of a friend, agonize for that: whatever you desire, look for it at once. " What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." If you would have a great blessing, ask for it in faith, in Jesus' name. The Father has nothing too good or great to give for his Son's sake. Jesus is the pledge of all that Infinite Love can bestow, or that we can receive. " How shall he not with him also freely give us all things."

If, in your judgment, you need some one to assist you for a few days or weeks, secure such aid, but do not rely on any human arm ; make any special efforts you think needed, but rely chiefly on having power with God in prayer yourself. Human instrumentalities must be employed in the conversion of sinners, but the excellency of the power is of God.

One of the divinely appointed means for promoting revivals of religion, is, at suitable times, to hold a series of meetings for days or weeks together. Among the other departments of ministerial labor, the Savior appointed evangelists to assist in these meetings, whenever and wherever they might be needed.

In the days of Nehemiah, we find Ezra, the priest, on a pulpit of wood, which had been made for the occasion, engaged in a series of meetings, which continued for many days. Ezra and those who assisted him read and explained the word of God one fourth part of the day, and spent another fourth in prayer and confession of sin ; in this way they continued the meeting until there was a great revival of religion among them, and a marked reform in their habits and manner of living. Neh. viii. ix.

The apostles also, after Christ's ascension, held a meeting about ten days, with a large number of ministers present. " These all continued, with one accord [day by day], in prayer and supplication with the women," until the Spirit was poured out upon them, and they received the promised power from on high. Then they were ready for a larger congregation ; and the multitudes were quickly attracted to the place, and the displays of grace were so marvellous, and the conversions so numerous, that there was an addition to the church, on a single day of the meeting, of about three thousand new members.

Let me, then, again say to all Christians who desire and labor for the conversion of souls : First, be right yourself; spend days and nights, if necessary, in humiliation, fasting, and prayer, until the Spirit comes down upon you, and you feel that you have power with God ; then you will have power with men in leading them to Christ.

Let none of us, who proclaim the gospel, preach complaining, scolding sermons, or make unkind remarks about those who differ with us, or who do not come up to the work as we would have them. Let the melting, subduing love of Christ flow from our hearts and lips ; the unconverted will then begin to cry out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do? " and we shall find ourselves in the midst of a glorious outpouring of the Spirit, with a host of busy hands and loving hearts about us, reaping and bringing in the sheaves, and with no more need of asking, "How can I best promote a revival? "

Chapter II

FAITH.* " Have faith in God." — Mark xi. 22.

FAITH is a persuasion of the mind, resting upon evidence.

Faith must have a basis to rest upon ; we cannot have faith in the absence of evidence. God never asks any one to believe anything without furnishing a basis for that belief. Does he ask us to believe in his own existence, — he opens the great volume of nature, and bids us look up. Does he require us to receive the Scriptures as divinely inspired, — they bear in themselves the evidence of their divine origin. Does he bid us come to him in prayer, — he furnishes us with daily answers to prayer.

Some persons have faith in appearances ; that is, they believe they are going to have a revival of religion, because there is a general solemnity and seriousness in the community. This is not faith in God, but in appearances : withdraw these indica-

* A Sermon preached in Fall River, Mass., in 18G3.

tions, and faith has nothing to rest upon. To true faith in God the darkness and the light are both alike.

We hear others say they have faith to believe they would have a glorious revival, could they secure the labors of a favorite minister : this is faith in a minister or measure — not in God. Get your minister, if in your judgment he would do you good, but let your faith anchor in God and his promises.

As faith must have a basis to rest upon, let us see what ground we have to expect an immediate revival of religion, and souls to be converted to God, if we go on with this meeting, and preach, and pray, and exhort, and sing, and visit.

1. God appointed these means to effect this end.

God, who cannot make a mistake, and who knows all about the difficulties to be overcome in a dark, cold time, bids us go and preach, pray, exhort, and sing, in simple faith, and he will bless.

No matter how dark, or cold, or dead, — we are to look for an immediate outpouriug of the Spirit, in the use of these means. I have come to believe that God means just what he says in his word, and I expect an outpouring of the Spirit whenever and wherever the means are used in faith.

If God had told me to go into your graveyard and sing " Old Hundred " among the graves, and that by this means the deail would be raised, I would come to one and another of you, and ask if you had any friends in that graveyard ; and if so, to get ready to receive them — they were going to be raised. Perhaps you would ask me, "Can you raise the dead ? " I should answer, " Not at all ; but God has sent me to sing ' Old Hundred ' among the graves, and says through this means he will raise the dead." I should expect to see the graves open, and the dead come forth. My faith would not rest in any power of yours or mine, but in the fact that God appointed this means to effect this end.

Just so when Jesus says, " Go preach my word, and, lo ! I am with you, and will pour out my Spirit upon you," we should expect him to do it. I do expect it ; I have not one fear but that we shall have a glorious result, if we use these means in faith in this place.

Moses had faith in God, when he lifted the brazen serpent to the bitten Israelites ; his faith was not in the piece of brass, nor in his own power to heal, but in the fact that God had appointed that piece of brass thereby to make his power known. As Moses lifted that piece of brass in the wilderness, so must Jesus be lifted to the view of lost men.

We can have faith in God, in using these means, then, because he appointed them to effect this end.

2. Another strong ground for faith in God, in using these means, to expect an immediate revival of religion, is, that God's heart and hand are in this work.

God felt so deeply for the salvation of souls, before we cared anything about it, that he gave his own Son to die for them.

" This was compassion like a God, That, when the Savior knew The price of pardon was his blood, His pity ne'er withdrew."

God sees the end from the beginning, and tries no experiment — has all necessary resources of providence and grace ; so that we can follow where he leads, with unwavering faith.

How often does some providence occur, that is made the means of a powerful work of grace. In one part of Maine, nine churches united in asking me to assist them in a series of union meetings ; but before I reached the place, death had taken one of the pastors, almost instantly, out of the world. This pastor had drawn off the names of more than twenty persons, whom he was going to seek, at once, to bring to the Savior. One day, with these names in his pocket, he went to the post-office, and died before reaching his home again. The effect was so great upon his congregation and the com-

BRINGING IN SHEAVE 8. 27

munity, that it was necessary to commence meetings at once ; and, when I reached the place, more than a hundred persons were anxious about their souls.

While I was holding a series of meetings in

, N. Y., one evening a lady was passing

near the church door, and one of the sisters asked her to come in, saying, "We are having good meetings here ; quite a revival has commenced, and I would like to have you attend some of these interesting services." The lady replied, " Do you think I would go into such a meeting — a revival meeting? No, never ! " This lady went on home, scorning the meeting and religion. A day or two after this she was passing that church door again while the congregation were singing one of their sweet revival hymns. The notes went through the open door and reached her ear. She paused, and said, " That sounds good." The same sister who had invited her in before, again at the door, said, " Come in and hear more." She replied, "I am too proud to sit down in a meeting-house, unless I can own a seat." The sister told her she might have their seat, which could be emptied for her at once. This was done, and the lady spent the rest of the evening in our meeting ; her heart was deeply moved. Within one short week this lady and her husband were both rejoicing in a Savior's love. Very soon both united with that church. So we see that God here blessed the sougs of praise to the salvation of souls.

One of the greatest victories ever won by Jehoshaphat was won by singing : " And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord ; for his mercy endureth forever. And when they began to sing and

praise, (their enemies) were smitten."

We find, then, as in all ages, God blessed his people when they sung his praise.

I would urge all who desire to promote revivals of religion, and to lead men to Jesus, to have the best singing you can in all your meetings. Sing with life and spirit. God appointed singing, and will bless it. Have faith in God.

How often we see a whole community moved by the power of a little prayer-meeting. Peter was brought out of prison, while the church were praying in the house of Mary, the mother of John.

''Prayer is appointed to convey The blessings God designs to give."

Let the " nothing-wavering " prayer be offered, and it cannot fail.

Have faith in God when you pray, for he appointed these means to effect this end.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you ; " but let it be done in faith.

3. God has always blessed these means, when they have been used in faith.

None ever knew a failure, except when faith was lacking.

The walls of Jericho fell down after they had been compassed about in faith ; yet I presume many of those wTho went round those walls, like many church members now, had no faith in God, but marched with those that had.

God honors all the faith he finds in his people. I would advise all to use what faith they have, for in this way faith grows — it is strengthened by use. Just as David's faith, after he had rescued the lamb from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear, became so strong he believed he could kill Goliath.

Naaman, the Syrian, went into the Jordan to wash seven times, with very great unbelief (yet he must have had a little faith, or he would not have gone at all) ; but, after the wonderful cure, he went home with strong faith. He found God's word reliable. God always blesses the use of the means he has appointed, when used in faith ; and he blesses in proportion to the strength of our faith.

When Ezekiel preached to the dry bones, there was nothing remarkable in his sermon or manner of presenting the truth, but simply in his faith in God. His faith did not rest in any wonderful skill, or power in preaching, nor in any favorable appearances, but in God. He would do just what God directed him to do, knowing that God could not make a mistake, and that he was able to do just as he promised. So, standing up among the bones, — dried, and bleached, and scattered as they were, — Ezekiel began to cry, "Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord ! Dry bones, live ! Dry bones, come together ! " Power accompanied the means God appointed, and bone came to his fellow-bone, and they were clothed with flesh and sinews. But the breath of life was not yet in them. Then followed prayer, or calling on the wind to blow upon the slain. The breath of life entered into them, and there stood upon their feet an army of men. By this figure Ezekiel was shown how God saves sinners.

As Ezekiel went among those dry bones and preached to them, and called on the wind to blow upon them, and they lived, so Christians must go among wicked men, and preach and pray, and use the means God has appointed, in faith, and he will bless these means, and save souls, and build up his church.

Perhaps some one will ask why God does not bless the labors of all his ministers, alike, in the conversion of souls. It is because they do not expect it. They hope God will bless their labors ; they pray him to do it ; they really desire it, but do not in faith, without wavering, expect it. Faith is as necessary here, as is fire to produce heat. Persons may perish in the cold, surrounded with good fuel, for the want of fire to kindle it ; so men can go down to eternal death, under the ablest presentation of truth, just for the want of faith in God on the part of the preacher and those that hear. So important is faith in God, that .Jesus said to the anxious around him, " Onlv believe ; " "All things are possible to him that believeth."

" Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone : Thou must save, and thou alone I Nothing in my hand I bring ; Simply to thy cross I cling."

A beautiful illustration of this occurred in one of

my meetings. A citizen, about thirty years of age,

had such a clear view of himself as a sinner in the

* sight of God, and felt so deeply that he must have

help or perish, that he came to my room, after

midnight, to know what he should do to be saved.

O, the agony of his soul ! He walked the floor crying, " I shall perish ! What shall I do ? What shall I do?" He kneeled down by a chair, and literally laid his face on the carpet. But he soon rose, saying, "I must be lost!" His groans and cries were heart-rending. I saw plainly that he needed to get a clear view of Jesus and his "work, and asked him not to groan, but to be calm, and listen to me for a moment. After getting his attention, I told him that his tears and overwhelming anguish wTould not help him, but he must let go of all reliance upon anything but Jesus, and simply believe. I then repeated a portion of the old Scotch hymn (God be thanked for that good Scotch brother who wrote it !) , —

" Nothing, either great or small, Nothing, sinner, no; Jesus died and paid it all, Long, yes, long ago.

"Jesus paid it all,

All the debt I owe ; And nothing, either great or small, Remains for me to do."

Looking up through his tears, he asked, "Is that it, Mr. Earle? Is that .the way?" I replied, " That is exactly the way." But the light was not yet clear enough for him freely to embrace Jesus by a simple faith. He commenced groaning and pleading again, saying, "O, what shall I do?"

I said to him, " Don't groan ; let me have your attention a little longer." I then repeated the last stanza of that beautiful hymn, —

" Cast jour deadly doing down, Down, all at Jesus' feet ; Stand in him, in him alone, All glorious and complete.

" Jesus died and paid it all, All the debt I owe ; And nothing, either great or small, Remains for me to do."

As the Spirit shed light upon his dark mind, he smiled through his tears, and said, "I believe that is it ; yes, that is it — < Jesus died and paid it all.' I thought I must do something, and could not see what I could do. How glad I am that I came here to-night. I can trust Jesus now ; yes, I can trust him." I then asked him to kneel down and tell Jesus he could trust him. After doing this, he left me, saying, " O, I am so happy now ! "

So that not only does our success depend upon our faith in God, but the weeping, groaning, penitent sinner cannot be saved without faith in Jesus.

How necessary, when we use the means God has appointed for the salvation of men and the spread of the gospel, that we " have faith in God."

Let me mention an incident or two that have greatly strengthened my faith. A few years ago, 3 in a ministers' conference, the text for criticism was, "Is not the set time to favor Zion come?" Among other questions raised, was this: "Is it perfectly safe for a minister to commence a series of meetings in a church or community where there are no indications of a revival of religion? Ought he to go to work expecting an immediate outpouring of the Spirit ? " I had just begun, as it were, to believe God, and take him at his word, and, with several others, said, "It is safe." In a few days I commenced a series of meetings in a little church of about twenty members, who were very cold and dead, and much divided — the only green spot being a little prayer-meeting, kept up by two or three sisters. I preached the first evening, and closed the meeting at eight o'clock. There was not one to speak or pray. I succeeded the next evening in getting one brother to say a few words, and closed again about eight o'clock, but said to the people, " We will go on with the meeting." All around looked dark, but to the eye of faith the darkness and the light are both alike.

The next morning I rode six miles, to a minister's study, to get him to pray with and for me. We both kneeled at the same chair and prayed, feeling and believing that faith in God could not be disappointed. I went back, and said to that little church, "If you can just make out to board me,