.l.•^ \> "<. \^-.\ Mk •v.r :-» 1 \ THB POWER OF PRAYER, ILLUSTRATED IN THE WONDERFUL DISPLAYS 01 DHINE GRACE AT THE FULTON STREET AND OTHER MEETINGW IN NEW YORK AND ELSEWHERE, IN 1867 AND 1868. SAMUEL IRENJEUS PRIME. AOTHOR OF "travels IN EUROPE AND THE EAST," "THOUGHTS OM THE DEATH Of CHILEBEN," "BISTORT OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE, ABRIDGED," ETC., ETC. NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION. NEW YORK: SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & CO., 054 BROADWAY. 1873. SmTSBBd Mcot ling to Act of Oingrew, in the yeu 1H6, ky CHARLES SCRIBNER k Ikt CuTh'i Offlu of the Dutrict Court of the United Stete*, for the Soatheni Diatrict of New 79«k> Cp \^ - *^1^ PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION. The history of the previous editions of the " Power of Prayer " is as wonderful as anything recorded in the book itself. Very few religious books have been so widely circulated. Few have been attended with so evident and extended usefulness. Immediately upon its publication it was read in the churches and prayer-meetings and families in various parts of this covmtry, and revivals of religion, with many conversions, followed. | It was republished in London, and about one hun- dred thousand copies of it were sold. In some places a copy was placed in every house, and whole commu- nities were thus made familiar \^th the facts contained. The author received letters from schools, from pastors, from private iadividuals in Great Britain and Ireland, giving thanks for spiritual benefits the book brought to them and those dear to them. ' Two rival translations were made in the French lan- guage, and largely circulated in Franco ; in some vil- lages the people met once a week to liear it read by chapters, and the results were in many instances the revival of spiritual religion and the conversion of men. At the Cape of Good Hope it was translated into Dutch, and three thousand copies circulated among the Boors. The author has received letters from Holland, Germany, France, the East Indies, and other distant countries, filled with testimonies to the great useful- ness of these records. They are simple facts to prove that God does hear and answer prayer. Another edition is called for, and is issued with a secfuel, entitled " Fifteen Years of Prayer," in which the history of the Fulton Street Prayer-Meeting is brought down to the present time. Nbw York, September 1, 1873. * • • rf Vv ■«»*"' P R E F i E. A FEW short weeks ago, the Publisher solicited my aid in preparing this volume for the press. The idea was exciting. The work would be one of love and faith. To gather into a book the wonderful facts which had transpired around us for a year past ; to trace the rise and progress of the great religious movement that marks the age and the laud in which we live ; to record the remarkable answers to prayer which are daily men- tioned to the praise of divine grace; to recoimt the striking cases of conversion at meetings, in church, at home, and in the street; to tell of prayer in shops, stores and markets ; thrilling religious experiences among all classes of people — ^lawyers, merchants, sea- men, children ; great sinners converted ; drimkards reclaimed ; wives obtaining the conversion of their husbands ; children seeking and finding the conversion of their parents, and j^arents praying for and asking others to pray for their children, and obtaining gracious answei'S ; poor prodigals brought back in answer Xq> vi PKEFACE. prayer; specific indinduals prayed for and all converted; and scores of astonishing, tender and delightful facts, to show the POWER of pkayek ! — this was what the Pub- Usher desii-ed me to do, and my heart responded yes, before I had time to estimate the labor and care it would requke to make a record in any measure com- mensurate with the greatness and glory of the theme. But so much impressed was I with the importance of the unci ertaldng, and of its present and future value to the church, that I resolved, with dependence on the help of Him who has all the glory of this Revival, that I would not decline the work Avhich was urged upon me. The second, third and fourth chapters of this book, comprising the historical account of tlie prayer-meet- ings, were "WTitten by the Rev. L. G. Bingham, who has been a constant attendant upon them from their mcep- tion. He has also prepared expressly for my use, the reports of the incidents here recorded, and many of them, intensely interesting, thrilling and wonderful, have never been 2»^bUshed before. Without tlie aid of Mr, Bingham, this volume could not have been pre- pared, as many of the facts were obtained by his private interviews with the j^ersons, whose extraordinary reli- gious experiences are here portrayed. I am under great obligations to my friends, Rev. Dr. . Plumer and the Rev. Dr. Murray, for the powerful and gi-aphic chapters which they have contributed to these pages. The facts they have embodied, and the TEEFAOK. vii call to prayer which they utter, must pioduce a deep impression on every devout reader, Never was my own mod so filled with awe, as it has been while gi'ouping these facts into consecutive pages and chapters. Never was the connection be- t'ween prayer and the answer, the relation of the Asker to the Giver, so revealed to me as in the prosecution of this work. Here I find it confirmed by scores of facts and examples, not in history, sacred or secular; not traditionary or second-hand, but facts of present occurrence, in the midst of this noisy, busy, restless, worldly city ; facts beyond all doubt or cavil, that the Lord mU give his praying people whatsoever they ask in faith ! We raise no question about miracles. We know what things are agreeable to God's wiU, and what subnission requires. Here is the written proof that God wiU answer prayer, and no religious man can enter into the spirit of these prayer-meetings, or read the accounts here presented, Avithout being overshadowed with the conviction that it is a solemn as well as a blessed privilege to pray ; that God is wUling to give his Spirit to them who ask him; and that belieA'ing PRATER is SURE tO be ANSWERED. It must be that these pages vnR be greatly useful in stmaulating the people of God to prayer. It must be that this volume will be a monument to the glory of Him who converts our children and neighbors, and revives our churches with the sun and rain of his grace, viii PREFACE. It must be that pastors mil rehearse these facts in the hearmg of multitudes, who will rejoice in the Lord, and give thanks for such manifestations of his power. The most of these facts are given in the form of re- ports of the daily meetings. This secures for the volume more of the interest of the actual meeting, than would attach to a separate narrative. We give them as they were given by the lips of those who saw or heard what the Lord has done in answer to prayer. I am well aware that the volume is far from beinsr as complete and perfect as it should be. To make it more so, let all those who read it send me other facts to illustrate the power of prayer, other exhibitions of the grace of God in the conversion of sinners, anu they wUl be added to tiiese records or embodied in a future history of this work of the Spirit, which we trust has only just begim. With no other desii-e than to honor God, and encou- rage his people to pray, we send out this book, with the tbrvent prayer that others may find at least as much enjoyment in its perusal as the author has found in compiling it for the press. Nkw York, November 2lth, 1858. CONTENTS CHAPTER I The Work proposed — The Commercial Revulsion — Xo extraordinary Means — Prayer, and Prayer only — The Story — The Future, . 13 CHAPTER II. How the Revival began, and where — A lone Man on his Knees — The first Prayer — Who was he ? — What has he done ? — The first Thought of a Daily Prayer Meeting — The first Meeting — Increasing Interest — Christ loved and honored — Other Meetings established — Efifpct on the Public Mind — Faith in Special Cases — Preaching — The Work extending — The Religious and Secular Press — It spreads over the whole Land, , .18 CHAPTER III. Features of the Work — Ways and Means — Enthusiasm — Catholicity of Feeling and Action — The Reformed Dutch Church — Union, a Type — Influence of Laymen — The Ministry aided and eacour- aged, . J u ..,..,.. 53 V0 VIU CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. Preparation — Means following certain Results — Remarkable Coinci* denccs — Revivals at Sea — Convention at Pittsburg — Day of Fasting and Prayer — Convention at Cincinnati — Visitation of Families — General Influence of the Revival on the Church, . . .60 CHAPTER V. One Prayer-Meeting — The House and Rooms — The Business in Hand — Requests for Prayer — News abroad — The President — From Phila- delphia — The Son and Mother — An Answer — Three Sisters — Six Children 67 CHAPTER VI. An Infidel Lawyer's Conviction and Conversion. . . .19 CHAPTER VII. Surprising Grace — A Successful Merchant — The Magdalens— The Sa- viour Waiting — A young Sailor — Danger of Delay — An only Sou --The Camp-meeting Convert, 9V CHAPTER VIII. Remarkable Answers to Prayer — The Four Great Revivals — Power of Prayer — " My Husband Saved" — Twenty Special Cases Selected — A Brother-in-law — A Drunkard Saved, . . , . . 106 CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER IX. Prayer-meeting at " Hell Corner " — An Invitation on the Mississippi — A Daughter converted and driven out of her Father's House — The whole Family converted — Hungry Children ask a Bless- ing, 118 CHAPTER X. Christ found at Home—The Man who found Peace in the Street, . 129 CHAPTER XI. How a Revival began — Among the Mountains — Astonishing Answers — A Telegram to a Dying Man — A young Man's Testimony — The Prodigal — A repentant Student converted in a Car — A Brother saved — Another Conversion in a Car — Revivals multipUed by the Fulton street Prayer-meeting 139 CHAPTER XII. Individual Responsibility — Personal Efforts — Souls seeking Souls — A ten Years' pursuit of an Infidel and the Result — A Pledge Signed Twenty-six Times — Two Widows — An anxious Mother — A Brother-in-law — The Prodigal Son — A City Islander — The Happy Wife— Father and Daughter, 152 CHAPTER XIII. The "Work among the Children — Randall's Island — The Romanist's Child, Mary — A dying Sundav School Scholar — ^Prayers for a Child 1* X CONTENTS. — Conversions in a Public School — Columbus, Toledo and Geneva — Father and Children — Sabbath School Class and Teacher — The little Girl whose Heart would Sing, 164 CHAPTER XIV. The Revival of Religion among Men of Business — Laws of Trade — Conscience — A Hardware Merchant and his Customer — A Mer- chant and his Clerk — ^The Salesman and his Assistant — Conscience Awakened — Test of the Revival, ... . . 1?8 CHAPTER XV. A Man of Pleasure — Goes to the Prayer-meeting — Is sorry for it- Thinks more of it — Reflects — His Mother's Prayers — Her Bible — He returns from Newport — In the Prayer-meeting again — Deep dis- tress of Mind — ^Despair — ^Begs others to pray for him — Peace — Joy — ^Praise, 18§ CHAPTER XVI. A Pastor's Sketch — An anxious Inquirer — Complains of a want of Peehng — Encouraged to Pray — Relapses and Returns — Instructed in the Nature of Faith — Relief not the thing to seek — Christ's Ability to save — A Ghmmer of Light — The Sun of Righteous- ness, 199 CHAPTER XVII. k Roman Catholic Experience — Out of Employment — Reads in the " Herald " of the Prayer-meetings — Attends — Is astonished — Power of Prayer — Contrasted with the Mass — His Deep CoQvio> CONTENTS. XI tions — Fascinated — Reveals his State — Light Breaks in — Hia Wife follows him to Christ, 211 CHAPTER XVIII. The Work among the Seamen — Many Languages spoken — ^Prayers bet« ter than Rum — An Irish Catholic — An aged Mariner — A sinking Vessel saved in the midst of prayer — The North Carolina — The Wabash — A Swedish Sailor at the Wheel — The awful Scene on the Austria, and singular coincidence — Six Sea Captains converted — Another Captain saved — His remarkable Experience, . . 220 CHAPTEE XIX. Influence of the Revival on Crime and Criminals — Orville Gardner — A fast Man — Labors among the Poor — The City Missionaries- Grace and Grace only — A Mother and two Children — Father and Son — The Wido'^^'s Joy — Relatives and Friends, . . . 253 CHAPTER XX. Wonderful Answers to Prayer — Two Children of a Widow — A Ser- vant Girl — ^Nine Men in the Market — Seven praying Wives — Xevef Give Up — A German Boy — The Prayer-Meeting among the Indiana — Answers to Prayer in Natchez, 266 CHAPTER XXI. Prayer-meeting at Aunt Betsy's — Power of Prayer remarkably Illus- trated — A Visit to the Sing-Sing Prison — The Contrast — Luther and Melanchthon — Examples of Prevailing Prayer — The Church awaking — Understanding the Subject — A Mother's Faith — A Revi ▼al predicted, . 211 XU CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXII. Means of Grace — Preaching the Word — Revival Tracts- Private Efforts— Call to Prayer by Rev. J. C. Ryle— Rev. Dr. Guthrie of Edinburgh, On Persevei'ance in Prayer — Rev. Dr. J. W. Alex an der's Tracts : " The Revival and its Lessons," — " Pray for the Spirit " — Power of the Press, 294 CHAPTER XXIII. Prayers for our Children sure to be Answered — Rev. H. W. Smuller's Thoughts — The Promises of God — The Vials with Prayers of the Saints — ^Visions of John — Experience of Daniel — Long Delay — The Old Ladies' Meeting — Mrs. F. and her Soldier Boy — Have faith in God 811 CHAPTER XXIV. The Book of Bequests — Written with Tears — Desire — Affection — Con- Tiction of Sin — Sorrow — Faith — Conversations with the Drawer— The Converted gathered into the Kingdom, 829 CHAPTER XXV. A Year of Prayer — Review of the Meetings — Anniversary of Fulton street Meeting — Extraordinary Case of Awakening at that Meeting — ^Murder and Suicide prevented — The Sinner saved, . . 838 CHAPTER XXVI. Prayer Shown to be Efficacious, 880 CONTENTS. XIU CHAPTER XXVII. CONVERSION OF YOUNG MEN IN 1857 AND ISoS. The Great Revival — Extends to aU parts of the Country — Thousands of \ oung Men Converted — Prayer out of the Army for those in it— 130,000 Sunday School Scholars and Teachers — Petitions Coming — Chaplain of a Wisconsin Regiment — Mothers' Prayers — Got Something to do about it — Seeking Jesus at once — Converted — Only Son — New Hampshire Clergyman — The Letter — Prayer-Meetings on the March — Whole Regiment Taking Sides — Letters — Beyond the Stars, , 8*74 CHAPTER XXVIII. REVIVALS AND CONVERSIONS IN THE ARMV. Prayer in the Army — Chaplain — Regimental Church — Eighty at Commu- nion — The Letter within a Letter — Mary sets out for Heaven — Aska her Soldier Father to go with Her — Another Little Letter — ^Where is Father ? — Where shall I find Him ? — The Skeptic asking where he can find Wife and Child — Chaplain's Testimony — The Vermont Sol- diers — Longing for the Camp Prayer-Meetings, .... 38*7 CHAPTER XXIX. PRAYER AND EXPERIENCE ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. Imprecations and Prayers — Yearniugs for a Saviour — The Sergeant — All is Well — Catholic Soldier — His Douay Testament — Dying Soldiers to the Fulton Street Meeting — Men in Hospital — Believing — Coming into the Church — Cumberland Army — The General favors Prayer-Meetings — The Colonel Dying on the Field — Jesus will Take me Home — Scenes on a Battle-Field — Wanting to Speak of Christ — Soldier has Much to Say — Wife's Prayer — Lost — Little Son Praying- Try Christ— Soldier laying his Doings Down—" Killed "—Saved, 396 IQV CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXX. GOING HOME. PRATER TURNED TO PRAISE. Praying Men — Anticipating Death — Letters Home — " My Joseph "- Dying — BeUeving in Jesus — Lost a Son and Found a Son — Lotrera from the Battle Field — Going Home- -Farewells, . . . 408 PO¥EE OF PKATER. CHAPTEE I. The Work proposed — The Commercial Revulsion — No extraordinary Means — Prayer, and Prayer only — The Story — The Future. The pen of an angel might well be employed to record the wonderful works of God in the city of JSTew York, during the years 1857-8. The history will be a memorial of divine grace. In all future time it will proclaim the readiness of the Lord God Almighty to hear and answer prayer ; of the Holy Spirit, to descend and convert sinners ; of Jesus Christ, to forgive and save. To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holt Ghost, be all the pbaise ! The autumn of 1857 was signalized by a sudden and fearful convulsion in the commercial world. 18 14 I>)WER OF PRATEK. That calamity was so speedily followed by the reports of revivals of religion and remarkable displays of divine grace, that it has been a widely received opinion, that the two events stand related to one another, as cause and effect. In the day of adver- sity, men consider. When the hand of God is sud- denly laid upon city and country, the sources of prosperity dried up, fortunes taking to themselves wings ; houses, venerable for years, integrity, and success, tumbling into ruins ; and names, never tar- nished by suspicion, becoming less than nothing in general bankruptcy, it is natural to believe that men will look away from themselves, and say, " Yerily there is a God, who reigns." As in the time of an earthquake, or wreck at sea, men's hearts failing them for fear, they will cry to Him who rides upon the wdiirlwind, so it was believed that the financial storm had driven men to pray. And it doubtless did. Never was a commercial crisis so inexplicable under the laws of trade. It w^as acknowledged to be a judgment. The justice of God was confessed in arresting men in recklessness, extravagance and folly. Tliousands were thrown out of business, and, in their want of something else to do, assembled in meetings for prayer. But these meetings had heen alrcadij established. Tlie spirit of God had been manifest in the midst of them. Before the commercial revulsion. THE 0OMMEECI&.T. KEVULSION. 15 tlie city and tlic country liad been Jibsorbed in tlie pursuit of pleasure and gain. Men were making haste to be rich, and to enjoy their riches. Recldess- ness of expenditure, extravagance in living, display in furniture, equipage, and dress, had attained a height unexampled in the previous social history of our country, and utterly inconsistent with the simplicity and virtue of our fathers. These signs of prosperity had filled the minds of good men with apprehension and alarm before the panic seized the heart of the world. Christians who had kept free from the spirit of speculation and the mania for making money, had trembled for the future of a people so absorbed in the material, as to be oblivious of the spiritual and eternal. These pious people had been gathering in meetings for prayer, before the convulsion began. Now, indeed, the meetings received large accessions of numbers in attendance, and a new infusion of life from above. More meetings were established, and larger numbers attended. Tlie prayer-meeting be- came one of the institutions of tJie city. Christiana in distant parts of the country heard of them. They prayed for the prayer-meetings. When they visited the city, the prayer-meeting was the place to which they resorted. The museum or theatre had no such attractions. Returning, they set up similar meetings at home. The spirit followed, and the same displays 16 POWER OF PRAYEK. of grace were seen in other cities, and in the country^ that were so marvellous in New York. So the work spread, until the year has become remarkable in the history of the church. This revival is to be remembered through all coming ages, as simply an answer to prayer. We must look behind all means, and acknowledge that this is the Lord's doings. He had said that He would be inquired of by the house of Israel, and when they called, the Lord answered and heard. This is to be the standing testimony which the re- vival will bear forever, in the history of religion. It is this fact which is to make this volume a memorial of the truth and goodness of God in after years. The design of its preparation is to exhibit the faith- fulness of God to his promises, and his willingness to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him. It is to encourage and stimulate Christians in all places, everywhere, to seek the same glorious gifts of grace for themselves and perishing sinners around them. Pastors will read it, and communicate its wondrous records to their flocks. Thousands of the humble people of God, who know the way to the mercy seat, will here find their faith strengthened when they come to pray. In tens of thousands of meetings for prayer, the delightful stories in this book will be re- hearsed amid the joyful tears of the people of God, THE MEANS OF GRACE. 17 while they will pray that such great things may be seen and done among them also. Thus the revival is to be extended and perpetuated. Wherever the gospel is preached — this is to be told as a triumph of its love and power. Other trophies of the victorious grace of God are to be brought in, and their records too are to be made and published to the glory of Zion's King, and the work is to go on from conquering to conquest, until the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters fi.ll the sea. This volume may be but the precursor of another at the close of 1859, in which the histoiy of the great American revival will be continued. We will now proceed to give an authentic account of the rise and progress of the work of grace in the city of ITew York. In the recital of the facts, the foregoing statements will be more than confirmed, and a record will be made, which will compel the reader to give glory to God, The object and tend- ency of the history are to illustrate the power of PKATEE. Every page of this book is a proof that the believer has power with God, !8 POWER OF PRAYEB. CHAPTER II. How the Revival began, and where — A lone Man on his Knees — ^Th« first Prayer — Who was he ? — What has he done ? — The first Thought of a Daily Prayer Meeting — The first Meeting — Increasing Interest — Christ loved and honored — Other Meetings established — Effect on the Public Mind — Faith in Special Cases — Preaching — The Work extending — The Rehgious and Secular Press — It spreads over the whole Land. In the upper lecture-room of tlic " Old North Dutch Church," in Fulton Street, New York, a solitary man was kneeling upon the floor, engaged in earnest, im- portunate prayer. He was a man who lived very much in the lives of others ; lived almost wholly for others. He had no wife or children — but there were thousands with their husbands and fathers, without God and hope in the world ; and these thousands were going to the gates of eternal death. He had sur- veyed all the lower wards of the city as a lay-mission- ary of the Old Church, and he longed to do sonic thing for their salvation. He knew he could do many things — ^lie could take tracts in his hand, any and every day, and distribute them. He could preach A SOLITARY PETITIONEE. 19 the gospel from door to door. All this lie liad done. To reach these perishing thousands, he needed a thousand lives. Could not something more eiFectual be done ? So, day after day, and many times a day, this man was on his knees, and his constant prayer Was " Lord, whcd wilt thou have me to do V The oftener he prays, the more earnest he becomes. He pleads with God to show him what to do, and how to do it. A vast responsibility had been thrown upon him, of caring for the spiritual welfare of the neglected thousands in these lower wards. He had been ap- pointed to this work without being trammelled by any specific instructions by the authorities of the church, being left to act at his own discretion in much of his labor. The prayer was continually in his mind and in his heart, " Lord, what — what wilt thou have me to do V He prayed for some way to be opened to bring the claims of religion to bear upon the hearts and minds of these perishing mul- titudes. The more he prayed the more encouraged he was in the joyful expectation that God would show him the way, through which hundreds and thousands might be influenced on the subject of re- figion. Bat though he prayed and believed, ho had not the remotest idea of the methods of God's grace which were about to be employed. The moro 20 POWER OF PKATEB. he prayed, however, the more confident he became that God would show him wliat he would have him do. He had been earnestly seeking God's blessing, and aid, and guidance in the work which was before him. He had earnestly sought to be directed and instructed ; and that he might be willing to follow the teachings of God's Spmt, whatever they might be. He rose from his knees — ^inspired with cour- age and hope, derived from above. Shall we describe this man ? His age is not far from forty years. He is tall, well made, with a remarkably pleasant, benevolent face; affectionate in his disposition and manner, possessed of indomit- able energy and perseverance, having good musical attainments ; gifted in prayer and exhortation to a remarkable degree ; modest in his demeanor, ardent in his piety, sound in his judgment; having good common sense, a thorough knowledge of human nature, and those traits of character that make him a welcome guest in any house. He is intelli- gent, and eminently fitted for the position which he has been called to occupy, which up to the present moment he has so worthily filled. Mr. Jeremiah Calvin Lanphier "vas' born in Coxsackie, ]^. Y. He became a resident of this city about twenty years ago, engaged in mercantile MS. lanphier's journal. 21 pui-buits, united witli the Tabernacle clmrcli on pro- iession of liis faitli in 1842, and was for eight or nine years a member of Kev. Dr. James W. Alexander's church. He joined the North Dutch church in 3857, and in July 1st of the same year, entered upon his work as the missionary of that church, under the direction of its consistory. He began his labors without any plan of instruc- tions, and was left to do all the good he could, very much in his own way, the consistory always aiding him as much as was in their power. We have looked into this man's journal, which no human eye but our own has read, save the author's. The very first page is characteristic of the man. We copy the opening lines : New York, July 1st, 1857. " Be not weary in well doing." — 2 Thess. iii. 13. " I can do all things through Christ, which Btrengtheneth me." — Phil. iv. 13. " Read the fourth chapter 2d Timothy. Think I feel something of the responsibility of the work in wliich I have engaged. Felt a nearness to God in prayer, and my entire dependence on him from whom Cometh all my strength." So began this man his labors, in the most ne- glected portion of the city of 'New York, the lower 22 POWEK OF PKAYER. wards. And now for tlie first idea of a noonday prayer-meeting. He says : " Going my rounds in the performance of my duty one day, as I was walking along the streets, the idea was suggested to my mind that an hour of prayer, from twelve to one o'clock, would be beneficial to husincss men^ who usually in great numbers take that hour for rest and refreshment. The idea was to have singing, prayer, exhortation, relation of reli- gious experience, as the case might be ; that none should be required to stay the whole hour ; that all should come and go as their engagements should allow or require, or their inclinations dictate. Ar- rangements were made, and at twelve o'clock noon, on the 23d day of September, 1S57, the door of the third story lecture-room was thrown open. At half- past twelve the step of a solitary individual was heard upon the stairs. Shortly after another, and another ; then another, and last of all, another, until six made up the whole company ! We had a good meeting. The Lord was with us to hless us.^^ It will be seen, that our missionary sat out the first half of the first noonday prayer-meeting alone, or rather he prayed, though the first half hour al^ne. Tims, the noonday business-men's prayer-meeting was inaugurated ! It was to have new phases of inte- THi'. FiiJST i'i;ayek-mj:eti.ng. 23 rest. The old, long, cold, formal routine was to Le broken up. Everything was to be arranged for the short stay of those who came. All the exercises were to be brief, pointed, and to the purpose, touch- ing the case in hand. This idea grew out of the pressing necessity of men's engagements. They could come in and stay five minutes, or the whole hour, as they pleased. Staying five minutes, they might have an opportunity to take part, for no one was to occupy more than five minutes in remarks, or prayer, Tlie second meeting was held a week afterwards, on Wednesday, September 30th, when twenty per- sons were present. It was a precious meeting. There was much prayer, and the hearts of those present were melted within them. The next meeting was held October 7th. Speaking of this meeting, the private journal says : " Prepared for the prayer-meeting to-day, at noon. Called to invite a number of persons to be present. Spoke to men as I met them in the street, as my custom is, if I can get their attention. I grayed that the Lord would incline many to come to the place of prayer. Went to the meeting at noon. Present between thirty and forty. ' Bless the Lord ! oh my Boul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.' " 24 POWER OF PRAYER. TLis meeting was of so animated and encouraging a character, tliat a meeting was appointed for the ifEXT DAY, at which a large number attended; and from this day dates the business-men's union daily prayer-meeting. The meetings were moved down to the middle lecture-room, as being more (iommodious. Of the meeting of the 8th of October, *:i is said, in this same journal : " Attended the prayer-meeting at noon. A larger number present, and there was a spirit of reconse- cration to the service of Christ, and a manifest desire to live near his cross." This meeting, as we learn from other sources, was one of uncommon fervency in prayer, of deep humi- lity and self-abasement, and great desire that God would glorify himself in the outpouring of his Spirit upon them. We are not much surprised to find the following mention of the next meeting, Oct. 9th : " Called on a number to invite them to attend the noon-day prayer-meeting. Went to the meeting at noon. A large number present. The meeting in- creases in interest— ^increases also in numbers. We had a precious time. It was the very gate of hea- ven.^'' , Passing on now to Oct. 18th, we find a rapid ad vancement in the intensity of religious feeling, aa the following extract will show ; this being, in every A STLRKING OF SOULS. 25 sense, a faithful and the only record which is pre- served of these meetings. " Attended the noon-day prayer-meeting, a larga number present, and God's Spirit was manifestly in cur midst." And of the next day, Oct. 14th, it is said : "Attended the noon-day prayer-meeting. Over one hundred present, many of them not professors of religion, but under conviction of sin, and seeking an interest in Christ ; inquiring what they shall do to be saved. God grant that they find Christ pre- cious to their souls." It is added : " This is a cloudy, rainy day." Of the few following meetings, we find such notices as these : " A large attendance ; a good spirit pervaded the place ; a great desire to be humble before God in view of past sins. I feel that God's Spirit is mov- ing in the hearts of the people." And now, Oct. 23d, one month from the date of the first noon-day prayer-meeting, we have this remarkable passage : "Called on some of the editors of the relig-ioux papers to have them notice the interest that is daily manifested in our meetings.' Thus the great revival had actually commenced and had been in progress for some time, before any 2 26 POWER OF PRAYER. public mention Lad been made of it, so noiseless had been its footsteps. The religious interest at the Fulton street prayer-meeting, as it was now com- monlj called, had gone on increasing more and more, till its influence began to be powerfully felt abroad in difierent and distant portions of the city. During the first month of these meetings, many city pastors, and many laymen, belonging to the churches of ]^ew York and Brooklyn, had been into one or more of these meetings, and had been warmed by the holy fire already kindled. And as the sparks from the burning building are borne to kindle other fires, so these carried the fire to their own churches. We come now to another portion of great interest in this work of prayer. JS^ot only in the Fulton street meeting was prayer made, but morning prayer-meet- ings began to be established in different churches. The Broome street church was one of the first to open a morning prayer-meeting. Other churches fol- lowed, both in ISTew York and Brooklyn, without any preconcert or any knowledge of each other's movements. Some time before any other was heard of, and nearly simultaneously with the Fill ton street , meeting, if not before, there was institutea a daily morning prayer-meeting in the Plymouth church; Brooklyn. In a quiet and unostentatious way, othera MEETCSraS EN" NEW TOEK AXD ERCOKLYN. 27 were commenced, earlier or later. In the second month of the Fulton street meetings, several morning daily prayer-meetings were in existence. The fear of imitation held back some from moving in the matter. But more commonly there was no thought of this. The place of prayer was a most delightful resort, and the places of prayer multiplied, because men were moved to prayer. They wished to pray. They felt impelled, by some unseen power, to pray. They felt the pressure of the call to prayer. So a place of prayer was no sooner opened, than Christians flocked to it, to pour out their supplica- tions together. Christians of both sexes, of all ages, of different denominations, without the slightest regard to denominational distinctions, came together, on one common platform of brotherhood in Christ, and in the bonds of Christian union sent up then* united petitions to the throne of the heavenly giver. The question was never asked, " to what church does he belong?" But the question was, "does he belong to Christ ?" The early dawn of the revival was marked by love to Christ, love for all his people, love oi grayer, and love of personal effort, ^ever in any former revival, since the days of the first Christians, was the name of Christ so honored, never so often mentioned^ never so precious to the believer. "Never was such 28 POWER OF PRATER. ardent love to liim. expressed. ISTever was tliere so much devotedness to his service. The whole atmos- phere was love. It is not strange, then, that those who so loved him, should love his image whcrevei and in whomsoever they saw it. It was a moral necessity. The union of Christians was felt. It needed no professions. Hence there was no room for sectarian jealousies. It was felt that all Christians had a right to pray; all were commanded to pray; all ought to pray. And if all wished to pray, and pray together, who should hinder ? This union of Christians in prayer struck the unbelieving world with amazement. It was felt that this was prayer. This love of Christians for one another, and this love of Christ, this love of prayer and love of souls, this union of all in prayer, whose names were lost sight of, disarmed all" oppo- sition, so that not a man opened his mouth in opposition. On the contrary, the conviction was conveyed to all minds that this truly is the work of God. The impenitent felt that Christians loved them; that their love of souls made them earnest. The truth now commended itself to every man's conscience in the sight of God. They felt that this was not the work of man, but the work of God. Tliey were SPIKITUAL IMI'irLSE. 29 awed by a sense of the divine presence in tlie prayer-meeting, and felt that this was holy ground. Christians were very much Inirabled. Impenitent men saw and felt this. Tliey felt that it was avrful to trifle with the place of prayer ^ sacrilegiona- to doubt the spii'it, the sincerity, the efficiency, or the power of prayer. It began to be felt that Christians obtained answers to prayer ; that if they united to pray for any particular man's conversion, that man was sure to be converted. "What made them sure ? What made them say that " they thought this man and that man would soon become Christians?" Because they had become the subjects of prayer. And men prayed in the prayer-meeting, as if they expected God would hear and am^swer prayer. All these convictions, combined, made almost all classes of men approachable on the subject of re- ligion. It was not difficult to get access to their hearts. God thus prepared the way for their convic- tion and conversion. We have been speaking of the beginning of the second month of union noon-day prayer-meetings. Concerning them, we find such words as the follow- ing in Mr. Lanphier's Journal : " Attended the noon-day prayer meeting. A good attendance and a good spirit prevails, for God ia manifest in this movement. A blessed spirit per 30 POWEK OF PEAYEK. vades the place. Had conversations witli awakened sinners. A joung man arose in tlie meeting, and gave in his testimony to the benefit — under God — of coming to the prajer-meeting." It is very interesting to look, at this stage of the revival, at the character of the preaching which be- gan to prevail, and the kind of subjects which were presented. The Holy Spirit seems to lead the minds of ministers to those portions of his word which he designs to make the fire and the hammer to break the flinty heart in pieces. He leads in this, as well as everything else which he uses as means of salvation. Let us for a moment look at some of those passages of Scripture which were the subjects of discourses during the period of which we have been speaking, and see how remarkable they are. They are the foundation of sermons, by a great number of preach- ers, selected without any preconcert, and distinctly show how the minds of these ambassadors of the Lord Jesus were led. These are the texts of sermons which have never been published, but delivered dur ing this period in the Old Dutch Church : 1 Corinthians i. 30, 31 : " But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemp- tion ; that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." FIRST TEXTS OF THE REVIVAL. 31 1 Corintliiaiis, x. 16 : "I speak as to wise men ; judge ye wliat I say." Psalms, XXX. 6, 7 : " And in my prosperity I said I shall never be moved. Lord ! by thy favor tbou didst make my mountain to stand strong. Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled." Psalms, xvii. 5 : " Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not." Jeremiah, viii. 22 : " Is there no balm in Gilead ? Is there no physician there ?" Hebrews, x. 34: : " Knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." Matthew, xvi. 19 : " And I will give nnto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Ephesians, iv. 30 : " And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Titus, iii. 8 : "To maintain good works, these things are good and profitable nnto men." Malachi, iii. 16, 17 : " Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another ; and the Lord heark- ened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, Baith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." 32 rowKS OF PKAyEw. Psalms, iv. 7, 8 : " Tliou liast put gladness in my heart more than in the time when their corn and their wine increased." 1 Samuel, xvi. 17 : " For the Lord seeth not as man seeth : for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 2 Corinthians, v. 20 : " ]^ow, then, we are ambas- sadors for Christ. As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Romans, viii. 1 : " Tliere is therefore no condemna- tion to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." Psalms, Ixxxiv. 11 : " For the Lord is a sun and shield. The Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk up- rightly." Mark, iii. 3 : " And he said unto the man that had the withered hand, stand forth." Ephesians, v. 25 : " Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." 1 Timothy, i. 11 : " According to the glorious gos- pel of the grace of God." Job, xxiii. 3 : " Oh ! that I knew where I might find him." --. Luke, xix. 10. " For the Son of man hath come to seek and to save that which was lost." CHAIiACTEK OF TKE EAELY MEETINGS. 3S Jolm, X. 14. " I am tlie Good Slieplierd, and know my slieep, and am known of mine." "We have taken tliese passages, in course, as they were recorded by a gentleman who heard the ser- mons preached. Being taken without arrangement, they indicate the class of truths w^hich were felt to be appropriate to the state of things. There is some- thing sjpecially noteworthy ib these passages, and any one who will read them and reflect upon them, will see the bearing they have. Doubtless there was much prayer connected with the preparation and preaching of these discourses. "What a world of love must have been in these sermons! With what antold anxieties did these preachers strive to win sinners to Christ ! We ask the reader to ponder upon these passage^ as a type of the revival, and ob- serve that in view of that boundless love which characterizes these meetings for prayer, all those sermons were prepared and preached. The great beginning of the revival was love, and love must nave been the burden of these appeals. Before the close of the second month of the daily prayer-meeting, the two lower lecture-rooms had been thrown open, and both were filled immediately. Yet so gradually and unostentatiously had all this wide-spread religious interest arisen, that one meet- Jng for prayer scarcely had any knowledge of wha^. 2* 34 POWEK OF PRAYER. was doing iu any other. The religious interest waa now rapidly on the increase and was extending itself to all parts of the country. Many men of business from abroad, coming to N^ew York on business, would enter into the noonday prayer-meetings and become deeply impressed, and go to their respective homes to tell what the Lord was doing in New York. "When we come to the history of the third month of prayer, what a change we find rapidly tak- ing place, not only in the city, but all over the land. It was everywhere a revival of grayer. It was not prayer-meetings in imitation of the Fulton street meetings. Those that say so, or think so, greatly err. God was preparing his glorious way over the nation. It was the dpsire to jpray. The same Power that moved to 'prayer in Fulton street, moved to prayer elsewhere. The same characteristics that marked the Fulton street meeting, marked aU similar meetings. The Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon these assemblages, and it was this that made the places of prayer all over the land places of great solemnity and earnest inquiry. Men did not doubt — could not doubt — that God was moving in answer to prayer. It was this solemn con- viction that silenced all opposition — that awakened the careless and stupid — that encouraged and glad- THE I'EKSS IKTEKESTED. 35 ened the hearts of Christians — causing a general turning to the Lord. Such a display of love and mercy, on the part of the ever blessed Spirit, was never made before. The religious press, all over the country, heralded the glad news of what the Lord was doing in som^ places; thus preparing the way for what he was about to do in others. Thousands on thousands of closets bore witness to strong crying and tears, be- fore God in prayer all over the land. Thousands of waiting hearts, hearing that Jesus was passing by, begged that he would tarry long enough to look on them. On the very first days of the present year, tlie secular press in this city began to notice and publish, the facts of this great movement to prayer. With scarcely an exception, th.is was done in the most re- spectful and approving terms. Most of tbe secular daily journals of this city spread abroad the intelli- gence of what was doing. The people demanded it, and the publication of it was a sort of necessity. The revival columns were read with the most eager interest over the whole country, and many thousands were influenced by them, who never looked into a religious paper. God's hand was in all this. We give a few brief extracts from Mr. Lanphier's private journal, to indicate the means which were used. 36 POWER OF PBAYEK. " A large attendance at tlie noondaj prayer-meet- ing. We distributed the tract entitled 'Tliree Words,' and each one M-as to give it to some friend, and ash GocVs sjjyeGial Messing upon iV^ Everything was done in prayer. "Attended the noonday prayer-meeting. It was fully attended. The tract given out to-day was entitled ' One Honest Effort.' It was to be prayed over, and then given away — asking God to bless it on its mission, to the salvation of souls. Distributed tracts, called on several young men, and conversed witli them in regard to their scuie' salvation." "At the noonday prayer-meetiug a young man, one out of a great number, told what the Lord had done for his soul, by atttncling the noon-day meetings, which sent a thrill thro'Ai^h svery Christian heart, and which will be remembcAvl with joy." Jan. 5, 1858. " Called to converse wit^i i3ome of +.^b editors of the daily j^apers in regarc* to ha^d^g ^cxi-'fc cf th-^ incidents, which occur from day to day iu the ^M^yti meetings, inserted in them.*' This was, probably, the beginning of the notices oJ the secular press of the transactions of these insets ings. At the end of the fourth month, the I'liiton street THE STILL, SMALL VOICE. 37 prayer-meeting occupied tlie three lecture-rooms in the consistory building, and all were filled to their utmost capacity. So were all other places filled in the cities of JSTew York, Brooklyn, Jersey City, "N^ewark, and their vicinity. But the spread of the meetings requires a more special mention, in order that we may trace the hand of God in this revival. The three lecture-rooms at the Old Dutch Church had 'become filled to over- flowing, one after the other, until no sitting room or standing room was left. And scores, and perhaps hundreds, had to go away, unable even to get into the halls. How noticeable is one fact, and it must be noticed in order that we may see that " the excel- lency of the power is of God.'" There had been no eloquent preaching, no energetic and enthusiastic appeals ; no attempts to rouse up religious interest. All had been still, solemn, and awful. The simple fact, the great fact was, the people were moved to prayer. The people demanded a place to pray. So noiseless was this work of grace, that one por- tion of the community did not know what any other portion were doing in the matter. Instead of devis- ing plans, and executing them, to stir up the com- munity, the whole community, as one man, seemed to be already roused. The daily prayer-meeting was not the means of the feeling, but the mere expression 38 POWER OF PKAYEK. of it. ISTever, since the days of Pentecost, was such a state of the general Christian heart and mind ; and never, since the workl was made, was there such an important epoch. The more we go into the facts of it, the more is the mind filled with adoring wonder and amazement at the stupendous imj)ortance and extent of it. Every movement in it seemed to he following, not leading ; not creating, but following the developments of a plan already marked out, the end by no means seen from the beginning, and no part of the plan seen, only as it was unfolded, from day to day, by him who devised it all. Who would have foreseen the connection of the meeting of six men for prayer in that upper room, in which was one Presbyterian, one Baptist, one Congregationalist, and one Reformed Dutch, with the events which were to follow ? When was tliere ever such a meeting before ? made up of such ele- ments? met for such a purpose? at such an hour? and gathered up without the shadow of any human contrivance, as to any of the results which followed that haste with which God makes haste — ^^ slowly''^ — and by which a whole Christian nation was to be shaken from centre to circumference ? To this meet- ing in the upper room no one knew who was coming, or whether any one would come. And yet we find there the very elements of that deeply-iiflfectiug COMma EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFOEE. 39 Christian union, wliicli was tlie golden chain by which millions of Christian hearts were to be bound together, as they had never been in all time ; by which the true unity of the Church of Christ was to be manifested. Whose hand was in this but the hand of God ? And this fii'st meeting was a union l>f different denominations, as represented, there to pray — a union in the blessed work of prayer. Oh, who can fail to see, that in this God is to be ac- knowledged and exalted ! His hand has done it, and his name shall have all the glory ! We shall see in the sequel how rapid was the pro- gress of the work from the point where we now are. But God had a work to do, and his Holy Spirit was preparing the way. Going back to that first noonday prayer-meeting, and looking forward, we cannot see what it was that was to be done. But from our present standpoint, looking backward over the history of the past, we can plainly see what it was. This revival is to be the precursor of greater and more wonderful things, which are yet to be revealed in the redeeming providence of God. What these are, we cannot tell. " But coming events cast their sha- dows before." As this is a law in the kingdoms of nature, providence, and grace, so we may unhesitat 40 POWER OF PKA.TEE. ingly conclude that however eventful may be the interests of the present times, we shall " see greater things than these." The time was to be hastened when larger views were to be taken, nobler aims indulged, more far- reaching plans laid, more costly sacrifices made, more loftj designs executed. The religious press caught the spirit of the day and the occasion, and spoke out as one voice, in the tone of the prevailing and coming interest, and much more — in the beams of the lis^ht which was now breaking upon the world. Going back to this period, one paper says : " We are doing no more than we should always dOy cmd can easily do, consistently with the jpevformanGe of every duty. Have a few weak prayers brought such a blessing, and shall we desist from praying ? So long as the promise stands, ' Ask, and it shall be given you,' so long as we know that our God ' faint- eth not, neither is weary,' so long as the ' fields are white to the harvest' of immortal souls, shall we cease calling upon God ?" Another says : " Shall the work cease ? Shall a revival of reli- gion, in some respects the most remarkable the church has ever enjoyed, come to an end because it is no longer winter, but summer? — as though the SPIRIT OF THE PKE83. 41 grace of God were like some compounds, that can endure only one climate. No one can think that God chooses to have it so. " The church, or more traly, individual churches, have often made what might be called exhaustive efforts for the conversion of sinners. They have taxed to the utmost for a few weeks both soul and body of every earnest man they could enlist. Such efforts inust he relaxed. Flesh and blood cannot sustain them. But the present revival has had no such history. The church is still fresh, and may labor on indefinitely just as she has been laboring, and that without sinning against any law of mental or physical health. This revival has not overtaxed us ; it has only toned us up. It has brought religion into alliance with our ordinary engagements ; it has given to out social character a comjpleteness and balance which it never had hefore. So far as it has gone it is an advance toward soundness and strength, and to fall back from it is not to rest after labor^ but to be palsied." And another : "The awakening is not only progressing in un- abated power throughout the country, as a whole, and not only extending into new regions, where it has hitherto been less felt, but in this city, if wo are not deceived, the real earnestness of the churches foi 48 POWER OF PKAYER. a continuance of the work, is manifesting itself in more deliberate and far-reaching plans for carrying forward permanent labors of the kind so signally blessed. " We must shake off old habits of mind, and arouse ourselves earnestly to the unprecedented demands of the time. God never called any former generation of men on this earth, as we are now called." There was preparation all over the city, and all over the land. God had made it. And men began to see it, and to look upward. Early in February it was felt that these retreating hundreds, who came to the place of prayer in Fulton street, and could not get in, must be accommodated elsewhere. The old John street Methodist Church, only one square removed, was thrown open for noon prayer-meetings by our Methodist brethren, and the whole body of the church was immediately filled every day, at noon, with business men, who would come, and did couie to pray. The galleries, too, wer(? occupied, all round the church, chiefly by ladies. No denominational element seemed to be prominent one above another. No one could have told, who had come in a stranger, from the character of the meeting, whether it was held in a Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, or Congregationalist church, PKATEKS IN A THEATRE. 43 or that of any other denomination. It was fonnd at once that the audience-room was insufficient, and the basement lecture-room was opened and immediate! j filled. It was estimated that two thousand persons attended upon these services dailj. There were now five regular noondaj services — three in the Fulton street, and two in the John street churches — and yet hundreds would go away, uiiable to get into any of them, so much were men moved to prayer. Answers to prayer came down speedily, and multitudes were now turning to God, and seeking liim " with all their heart." On the 17th of March, Burton's Old Theatre, in Chambers street, was opened by a number of mer- chants in that vicinity far a noonday prayer-meeting. This was thronged to excess after the first meeting. For half an hour before the time to commence the services, the old theatre would be crowded to its ut- most capacity, in every nook and corner, with most solemn and deeply affected audiences. The streets, and all means of access, were blocked up before the horn* of prayer commenced, and hundreds wduld stand in the street during the hour. This continued to be the case until the building was required by the United States courts, when the further use of it for prayer-meetings ceased. 44 POWER OF PEAYEE. Immediatelj a store (No. 69 Broadway, second story) was procured and comfortably fitted up for tlie purpose of prayer-meetings. The room was 25 by 100 feet, and this, from day to day, was filled, and the exercises were solemn beyond descrip- tion. After a time the Broadway meeting was removed to No. 1 75 of the same street. Here it was sustained by Christians in that part of the city of all denomi- nations. We shall never forget being present at one of those meetings, when it was conducted in the usual man- ner by the Right Rev. Bishop Mcllvaine, of Ohio. We shall never forget the earnestness of his opening prayer, when he kneeled down on the floor and led the devotions, so humble, so urgent, so importunate, BO believing, so imbued with the revival spirit. We shall never forget his short, eloquent closing address, full of deep emotion, full of brotherly kindness, full of thankfulness and joy. It described the work of grace as it lay in his own mind — it recognized the hand of God in its inception and every step of its progress — it rejoiced at the spirit of grace and sup- plication which had been poured out on " all Christ- ians." That address will long live in the memories of those who heard it* PLACES OF MEETESTG, 4§ Meetings for daily prayer were held as follows ; Seventh Avenue Reformed Dutch Church, 6 a.m. Bioome and Elizabeth Baptist Church, 7i a.m. Church of the Puritans, 8 a.m. Church of the Puritans (ladies) 10| a.m. Hope Chapel, 8 a.m. Fourteenth street Presbyterian Church, 8 a.m. MacDougal street, 9j a.m. Home Chapel, Twenty-ninth street, 8 a.m. John street Methodist Episcopal Church. Fulton street Reformed Dutch Church. Mission Chapel, 106 Centre street. Duane street Methodist Episcopal Church. 27 Greenwich street. Broome street Reformed Dutch Church (corner of Greene). Spring street Hall (colored). Twelfth street, near Avenue C (workingmen). Fourteenth street Presbyterian Church, and others, in rotatioiv AFTERNOON. 69 Broadway (merchants), 3j p.m. John street Methodist Episcopal Church, S\ P.M. Mercer street Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m. North Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m. Fiftieth street Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m. Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Seventh Avenue, 4 r.u Sullivan street Congregational Church (colored), 5 p.m. St'iyvesant Institute, P p.m. 46 POWER OF PRAYER. And besides these, other meetmgs were established in almost every part of Kew York and the surronnd- ing cities. The great features of all these meetings were union, and prayer, and corresponding effort. A careful inquiry in regard to the facts, convinces us that not less than one hundred and fifty meetings for prayer in this city and Brooklyn were held daily at the time of which we are now writing — ■ all, without one single exception, partaking of the same general character. In February, Philadelphia established a noonday prayer-meeting, commenced, at first, in a church in Fourth street, but soon removed to Jaynes' Hall. Soon the entire accessible places were filled — floor, platform, galleries, boxes, aisles, and office. !N"ever was there, scarcely on the face of the earth, such meetings as those in Jaynes' Hall. Tlie death of Rev. Dudley A. Tyng, of the Episcopal church, a prominent leader in these meetings, gave an impetus to the work. And here again we find Bishop MaQvaine lending his influence, by his presence and his prayers and preaching. The .work spread, from Jaynes' Hall, all over the city. Prayer-meetings were established in numer- ous places — ^public halls — concert-rooms — engine and hose company's houses, and in tents, till the whole city seemed pervaded with the spirit of prayer. UNIVEKSAI- EEVIVAL. 47 Prajer-meetings almost simultaneously weie esiab* lislied in sM parts of the land, both in city and country — Boston, Baltimore, Washington, Eichmond, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans, Yicks- burg, ■ Memphis, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, and other cities, shared in this glorious work. The whole land received the " spiritual rain," The fervor of this awakened religious interest had become intense at the end of the fourth month of the meetings, and towards the close of the first month of the current year, the newspapers, both secular and religions, in all parts of the country, speak of an " unwonted revival of religion " in all quarters, far and near. Everywhere men were crowding to the meetings, and the spirit with which they are im- pressed and which invites them to so general atten- tion to the subject of religion, seems to animate the whole land. The northern, middle, western and southern States were moved as by one common mighty influence. The spirit of the revival spread everywhere, and seemed to permeate every nook and corner of the great republic. The subjects of the revival included all classes — the high and the low — the rich and the poor — the learned and the ignorant. The most hopeless and forbidding were brought under its almighty power. From the highest to the lowest and most degraded in society, the trophieg i8 POWEE OF PRAYER. of God's power and grace were made. Persons of the most vicious and abandoned character, supposed to be beneath and beyond the reach of all religious influence, by having lost all susceptibility, were brought to humble themselves like little children at the foot of the cross. Christians were themselves astonished and overwhelmed at those displays of divine mercy. They felt that God was saying to them, anew, and by a providential revelation — " Before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." " Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Christians became emboldened to ask great things and expect great things. l^Tever before, in modern times certainly, was there such asking in prayer — such believing in prayer; and never such answers to prayer. The s])ectacle of such universal confidence in God was without a parallel. It appeared in all prayers. It appeared in all addresses. It appeared in all conversations. It spread from heart to heart. There was humility, and yet there was a cheerful, holy boldness in the spirit and temper of the religious mind, and duty was attempted with the exi^ectation of success. It seemed to be upon all hearts as if written with the pen of a diamond — " My soul ! wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him.^' NEW ENGLAND AWAKENED. 49 Li it wonderful, tlieu, that we should find that tills btate of heart and mind, in all praying places and prayiiig circles — this earnest asking — this hum- ble confiding — this far-reaching faith and confident expectation, should be followed by such a work of grace as the modern Christian world has never seen ? Christians began to feel that they had entered upon a new era of faith and prayer ; and is it won- derful that this new joy and hope spread with vast rapidity over the land — that it rolled, like a wave, over the whole country? The numbers converted were beyond all precedent. The great revival in the times of Wesley, Whitfield, Edwards, and the Ten- ants, was marked by powerful preaching. The pre- sent by believing, Qdime^t praying. In ]^ew England, the present great rerival com- menced almost simultaneously in many cities, vil- lages, and townships. Since the former " great awakening," as it was commonly denominated, and just referred to, nothing had borne any comparison to the present religious interest. This "great awak- ening " surpassed the former in all its aspects. It entered into all the frame-work of society, and per- meated everywhere the masses. Christians gathered for prayer, and asked for large measures of the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon them ; and the Spirit 3 50 POWER OF PEAYEB. was sent down in copious effusions in answer to prayer. The prayer-meeting would be established in lecture-rooms and vestries, and all at once^ it would be found that scarcely could the largest churches contain the hundreds who would come up to the house of God to pray. Nothing was thought of or demanded but a place in which to pray. Con- versions multiplied, so that there was, after a little, no attempt to compute their numbers. In some towns nearly all the population became, as was believed, true and faithful followers of Christ. The number of converted men and women constituted a new element of power. New voices were daily heard imploring the divine blessing on the work, and the moral transformation of those remaining impeni- tent. The day was breaking that should be gilded by the rays of a brighter sun than had ever shone upon the moral and religious Avorld before. This was believed. It is believed now. Over all the "West and South, so far as the work extended, and it extended almost everywhere, the same spirit prevailed. It was the spirit of ^prayer, No confidence was felt in the mere use of means. Indeed, in no former revival was there ever such abnegation, on the part of Christians, of themselves ; such distrust of all mere human agencies and instru- mentalities, and such a looking away from all human DKONES IN THE CIlITKCIf. ^ 51 aid^ and up to tlie " lieavenly hills," whence all help muEt come. Means must b3 used, and were used; not^with any confidence in the use of them, or in those who used them. But with the most diligent and earnest use of means, the deepest possible convic- tion seemed to be, " The power helongeth unto GodP !No wonder, then, that everywhere there was the universal acknowledgment of God's hand in the revival ; and no matter what men did to promote it, to God was ascribed all the glory of it. It was everywhere felt that a proposal of any such meet- ings for prayer six months before, as were now held all over the land, even in the densest populations, with any expectation that it would be heeded, would have been considered a perfect absurdity. The appointment of such meetings for prayer tTien would have been a failure^ now it was a success. The neglect of the place of prayer by the majority of church members was felt to be a sore evil. It para- lyzed the energies of the pastor, and the more active, faithful members. They were drones. They were a weight which had to be carried. They were clogs in the way of progress. They neutralized the moral power of the church, and so weakened it that it was a constant effort for it to sustain itself. Every man who has been a pastor, knows what we mean. Tlie change which came suddenly over the church 52 POWEE OF PKATER. was most welcome. When the majority of the churcli became Kathanaels, it was soon felt that tha church had just begun to find out her real power. It was a blessed spectacle presented to the world, a church alive, a church active, a church of prayer. It was a sublime spectacle, when this was seen to be the moral position, not of one church, but of a major- ity of churches; not in one place, but in e^very place, when all the land seemed to be moved by one common impulse. No wonder that Christians felt joyful in the Lord, when this new element of useful- ness and power was found. FEATUKE8 OF THE "WORK. 53 CHAPTER ni. Features of the Work — Ways and Means — Enthusiasm — CathoUcity of FeeUng and Action — The Keformed Dutch Church — Union, a Type — Influence of Laymen — The Ministry aided and encouraged. The character of tlie work was as remarkable as its inception and extent. It liad its peculiarities in feature as well as in power. It lacked almost every- thing that made up the leading features of the revi- vals of '30 and '32. There was no revival preaching. There were no revivalists ; no revival machinerj, such as was common to those days. The " anxious seat," and the labor of peregrinating revival-ma- kers were all unknown. In former times, a revi- val, even in I^ew England, set in motion much that was stu-ring, and to many minds very objectionable. Now there was nothing of the kind. There was no unrestrained excitement, no exuberant and intemperate zeal. There was nothing which required an effort to " heej^ ii -wj?," under the com mon idea that excitement was essential to the revi val, and part and parcel of the same. The high 54 POWER OF PRATER. wrought feeling of '32, wliicli not unfrequently took forms wliicli many could not but condemn, now is nowhere seen. This present revival is ever treated with respect, even by those who liave no sympa- thetic interest in it. Opposition is disarmed. Ridi- cule is not attempted, and if it be, it is soon rebuked, and abandoned for very shame. There is no offence to good taste ; nothing reprehensible in view of just propriety in this revival. This adds to its elements of power. That there is enthusiasm — a well-regulated and joyful enthusiasm — we use the word in the best sense — we are most happy to admit. ISTo right mind can contemplate great changes and great events for good^ without enthusiasm. There is much of the moral sublime in this religious movement, when contem- plated as confined to a single community. But con- templated as spreading over this great republic from Vermont to Florida, and from Maine to Cali- fornia, why should not enthusiasm be aroused? What mighty results are to be realized in the bear- ings of this work on the social, the political, the religions character of this nation ? ^o human mind can compute them. No mind can think of them without being impressed with their overwhelming importance. As a nation, we were becoming rapidly demoralized by our worldliness, our ambition, our ENTHUSIASM A BLESSING. 65 vanity, and our vices. The true, the great end for whicli, we believe, this nation was raised up, was being lost sight of. Tlie very foundations were moving. "We needed tliis "great awakening" to bring us to our senses, to rouse up the national con- science, to arrest the national decay ^ and bring us back to a high tone of moral health. Nothing but the influence of a deep and all-pervading earnest piety can save this from the fate of all past republics. The tide of corruption must be rolled backward. This was felt ; everywhere felt. The place of prayer was the place to get the help we needed. Men rushed to the place of prayer with high resolves, and with weighty demands to ask great things of God. And men rejoiced with unbounded joy when they saw what God was doing. Why should not a holy enthusiasm be enkindled ? It was kindled, and God be praised. Another, and one of the most deeply interesting characteristics of this revival has been its catholicity. From its inception, this has been one of its distin- guishing features. Unlike all former revivals, has it been in this respect. In the Old Dutch Church the revival began, but not in that communion only, or among the membership of that church only. The Old l^orth Dutch Church will ever be re- garded as a sacred spot, on account of its boing 56 POWER OF PRAYER. the birthplace of these prayer meetings. But in that upper lecture-room, at that first noonday prayer- meeting, when only six were present, there were several denominations represented. This noble church had been mercifully preserved for this very purpose, it may be ; not the head-quarters of a law- less band of British soldiery, as it once was, but the head-quarters of the first noonday prayer-meeting ever organized ; made up of Christians of diiferent branches of the Church of Christ. The " union prayer-meeting " became at once a feature as well as a fixture of this venerable and noble church edifice, and the " union prayer-meeting " has been a feature all the country over. We have sometimes thought that God had a de- sign in keeping this one denomination from being mixed up in the questions, controvei*sies and divisions of the day. Tlie " Reformed Dutch Church," as a denomination, is distinguished for purity and soundness of doctrine, above suspicion and above reproach. "We do not know as the catholicity of this glorious work could have been inaugurated in connection with any other denomi- nation of Christians, without exciting distrust or jeal- ousy, or opposition. All were friendly to this pecu- liar church. The "union prayer-meeting" is now a t^jpe. It UNION MEETINGS 67 represents what has never been so well represented before in modern days, that among all Christiana there are elements of coalescence and harmony ; that there is a nnion deeper down, and which underlies all external " unions." Otherwise the " union prayer " would be a misnomer — a name without a meaning. But now the name ooly suggests a mean- ing which fills all hearts with joy and gladness. The reality of this union is proved from the fact that in all our large towns and cities, the numbers attend- ing upon the union prayer-meeiing far surpassed the numbers attending any one church, or the same place. So it has been in 'New York. So it has been in Philadelphia, and all our large cities. Thus prov- ing that it is really what it professes to be, a union meeting. Thousands go without ever raising the question, whom they are to meet, or to what church organization do they belong. Neither do they care. Another feature of this work is, that it has been conducted by laymen. It began with them. It con- tinues with them. Clergymen share in the conduct, but no more than laymen, and as much as if they were laymen. They are often seen in these assem- blies. But they assume no control. They volun- tarily take their seats, mingle with the audience, and are in no way distinguishable from others, except il 9* 68 POWEK OF PEAYEK. may be by something peculiar in their apparel, ol manners. They oftener sit silent through the meet- ing than otherwise. Clergymen come to the place precisely for the same reason that others do — be- cause it is the place of prayer. They say and feel as others say and feel, " It is good for me to draw near to God." This lay conduct of the union prayer has been eminently successful, and very conducive to its catholic spirit. We think we can see a wisdom above measure in so ordaining that this work should commence among laymen — and for the progress of which they should be so extensively enlisted. It has revealed a power which the church did not know it had within itself — a power which has been dead, or latent, and which even to the present hour is but little understood. In all former revivals a few — not the many— have done all the labor, and felt all the responsibility of the occasion. The minister would be weighed down under the burden of new cares which would come upon him, and he would struggle manfully to dis- charge all his duties. A few would be ready and willing to share with him the labors and responsi- bilities of the work. The great mass of Christians would stand still and see the salvation of God — not from obedience to the command — but from abso* POW^R OF THE CHUKCH. 59 lute inertia and want of life. Christians have felt wliat they hare been made to feel — this, and no more. They haf e not felt the obligation " to stir themselves np to take hold on God." In all for- mer revivals the hidden, aggregated power of a thoroughly awakened laity was not known. In this it has been more developed and manifested than ever before, and even now is only beginning to be fully understood. God has been working in such a way as to show more than ever the power of the church — not of the ministry only, but of the church. And he has done this in a way to arouse no unholy jealousies in any quarter. Never before, in these latter days, have ministers found such abundant help in the church ; never have they preached and labored with such courage and hope. 60 POWES OF PEAYEB. CHAPTER ly. Preparation — Moans following certain Results — Remarkable Coiuci' dences — Revivals at Sea — Convention at Pittsburg — Day of Fasting and Prayer — Convention at Cincinnati — ^Visitation of Families — General Influence of the Revival on the Church. We have said tliat many have been impressed with the idea, that it was the late financial revulsion — the severity of the times which followed — ^by which men were forced into an acknowledgment of their depend- ence upon a divine being, and their minds made ripe and susceptible to the operation of spiritual influences and the impression of religious truth. But whether these causes were adequate to pro- duce this result, we need not attempt to determine, for it will be seen, in looking back at the history of this work, that it had actually commenced before the financia. revulsion took place. That the commercial distress which followed had its influence to arrest men's mJnds, and to make them feel their depend- ence upon God, we cannot doubt. But all specula- tions of this kind will fail to reach the cause of thid BOVEKEIGN GRICE. 61 wide-spread work of grace, and all inquiries into causes will resolve themselves into the sovereign grace of Him who has promised to hear and answei prayer. The first union prayer-meeting was held Septem- ber 23, 1857, in Fulton street. It was not appointed to " create a revival." This was not thought of. God had his own designs in view. The union prayer- meetings all over our country have not been ap- pointed to create religious feeling, but rather to giv^e expression to, and increase the religious feeling al- ready existing. The appointment of these meetings was to meet the demand of religious interest already existing, not to create that demand. There is a wide difference between the two things, which has a sig- nificant and emphatic meaning. The revival was nowhere attended nor preceded by any special mea- sures intended and adapted to produce intense ex- citement on the subject of religion. All these union prayer-meetings have been the effects of a great first cause. Ood poured out the spirit of grace and sitp- plication, and to his name be all the glory. As nearly as possible was this awakened interest simul- taneous over all this western world. Even ships at sea were overtaken in mid-ocean — knowing nothing of what was transpiring upon the land — by unusual religious anxiety, and came inte port bringing the 62 POWEK OF PKAYEK. strange news of a revival on board, and of the con. version of some of the men, Who can doubt but the " set time to favor Zion had come ?" The popular voice spoke of the time of the union meetings, as thej sprung up in various places, as the beginning of the revival in those places, when in fact it had be- gun before. The great feature of the revival every- where was jprayer-^^rayer by Christians united-^ 'prayer constant — each day sending up a cloud of prayer as a volume of incense before the throne of God — prayer that was divinely inspired and divinely answered. Such prayer has power — such prayer must always be heard — such prayer vanQt prevail. Among the indications of an awakened religious interest at the West, was the calling of a convention on revivals at Pittsburgh late in last autumn. This convention continued in session for three days, for the purpose of considering the necessity of a general revival of religion in all the churches represented, and others as well ; the means, the hindrances, the encouragements, the demand of the times, the indi- cations of divine providence, and everything relating to this most momentous subject. It was a most solemn, anxious, melting, encouraging meeting. Much of the time of this convention was spent in prayer. There were not present less than two hun- dred ministers, besides manj; laymen, led in by the THE CnUKCHES ADDKESSED. 63 ttiterest of the occasion. It was impossible that such a gathering should not be without a most timely and weighty influence. The " obstacles in the way of revivals of religion " — " the means of promoting them " — " the encouragement to seek for them " — were discussed with signal ability and great solem- nity. A committee was appointed, who drew up an address to the churches. It was prepared in the re- vival spirit, and was earnest and pungent in its ap peals. It was timely and suggestive. It was recom- mended that this address be read from the pulpit by pastors on the Sabbath, so far as they were willing to accept it, and that the official members of the re- spective churches be called to meet in each church to discuss the same subjects as the convention had discussed, and to spend much time together in prayer.; also, that a plan of personal visitation be adopted, according to which all the families of each parish should be visited by the pastor and some of his most experienced members ; also, that he should preach on the subject of the importance of improv- ing the present " grievous visitation," and that he urge his people io prayer. In conformity to this arrangement, on the first Sab- bath in January of the current year, multitudes of ministers of the Presbyterian and other denomina- tions, delivered discourses on the necessity and praermanent convictions of sin, or felt any apprehen 5 yS POWER OF PRAYER. sion from his exposed condition as one under righte- ous condemnation. About this time the religious interest in Kew York and vicinity had become very deep, and but few could be found who were not more or less anxious with reference to the salvation of the soul. In the hidden depths of the heart, thousands then carried convictions of guilt, such as they hao never experienced before, and some who had even despised religion, felt strongly attracted to some ot its simplest appointments. There were many, however, who, throngh the in- fluence^f pride, struggled hard and long to conceal their feelings. Their most intimate Christian friend was not permitted to know their state of mind, and yet, in secret, they were the subjects of an almost overwhelming sorrow. Of this class was the subject of this sketch. For several weeks he had been in a state of deep spiritual distress, but avoiding as far as possible the stated means of grace, and excusing himself from all special religious appointments, he was endeavoring secretly to seek reconciliation with God. With this view he had spent quite a nmnber of evenings in his count- ing-room, reading his Bible and offering prayer. Failing, however, to obtain the relief and comfort which his heaii; needed, and for which he had thus sought, his next resort was to " union prayer-meet- THE PEOFD MERCIIAlsT. 99 Inge," and to religious services witli ckarclies, whercj as a stranger, lie miglit feel willing to make himself known as an inquirer. The noon hours, as well as the evenings of several weeks, were spent in thia w^andering from meeting to meeting, and from church to church, without effecting any encouraging change in the state of his mind, and he was almost readj to sink into despair, when he was made to see that the real difficulty existing in the way of his sal- vation was nothing more or less than pi^e. It was this, he saw, that had made him resort to his place of business for prayer, rather than to his chamber. It was this, too, that had led him to give a preference to general appointments for religious worship among strangers, rather than to those services where he would have met and mingled with his friends. But having now satisfied himself of his error and sin in thus shunning the cross, he purposed, in the fear of God, to embrace the earliest possible oppor- tunity of denying himself, by openly avowing his wretched state of mind to the church and congrega- tion with which he had usually met for worship. This secret purpose, with the circumstances lead- ing to it, was made known on the Sabbath evening following, when, at the close of the sermon, he left his seat, and taking a position immediately in front of the pulpit, related in a most affecting manner th<3 100 POWER OF PKAYEE. struggles of mind through which he had been pass ing, and the deep sorrow of heart under which, foi many weeks, he had been suffering. At the close of his statement, which, as may well be supposed, produced an indescribable impression, he remarked that he had never asked God's people to pray for him, and that he could not consistently do so until, from the lowest depths of humiliation, he had first prayed for himself. Then, in the presence of all the congregation, he fell upon his knees, and with a heart bursting with grief, and all helpless in its throbbing anguish, he poured out his prayer to God for mercy. The very next day he was enabled to rejoice in a Saviour's love, and in the evening of that day, at a social meeting, he bore a feeling testimony to the amazing grace of God, as displayed in his conver- sion. The following came through the matron of the Magdalen Asylum, where the person had taken refuge, and is certified to as being her own, and written of her own accord : " To the Fulton street prayer-meeting. I desire the prayers of the church. I feel that I have been a very wicked girl, and that I have led a very bad life, and I feel my need of Christ. I want to be a Christian " SINNEES INVITED. 101 Another : " The prayers of this meeting are respectfully re- quested for G. B , who has lived all his life in wickedness, and only a few days ago contemplated Buicide and the great crime of murder, in the hope of ending his misery." On reading these requests, the leader remarked, that if the persons making them were present (and one we know was present), he wished to say to them, that the Lord Jesus laid down his life for just such sinners as they — that he came to seek and to save them that are lost — he came, not to call the right- eous, but sinners to repentance. Then arose one in the meeting, after having made several unsuccessful attempts to get the floor, and said : " I came to hear — ^not to say a word. But when, on coming into the room, I saw hanging on the wall this passage, ' Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out,' and when I hear these re- quests read, and feel that there are some poor sinners in this room that need just such an assurance as that, I can not hold my peace." Then he told of an- other place and another scene. He was from the West — and in the "West he accosted a little girl, not supposing she was a Christian : " ' Do you love the Bible V said I to her. « < Yes, sir, I i.ove the Bible.' 102 POWER OF PEATEK. " ' Is tliere any one portion of it, or one passage in it, wliicli you love better tlian the rest V " * Yes, sir, tliere is, thongli I love all the Bible ; if I may be permitted, I love tbis more than any other : ' Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.' " There she rested," said the speaker, " and there every sinner may rest bis hopes for eternity. I feel impelled to speak, because I believe and feel that the destiny of souls hangs upon the hour. Look, sin- ners, at the passage on the wall. There is a whole sermon in it. No matter what a sinner you have been, ' Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.' I am as sure as I feel of my own existence, that there is some sinner who needs just such an as- surance as this to rest upon, and I must urge you to cast yourself upon it and be saved." Many wept. Instantly a young lieutenant of the navy, from the TJ. S. ship-of-war Sabine, arose close beside the leader, and said : " I wish to add another passage to that on the wall. It is this : ' Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' What does my impenitent friend need more than these to assure him of God's readiness to pardon ?" Two stanzas of that beautiful hymn were sung : A bailor's advice. 103 " One there is above all others, Well deserves the narae of friend." Then prayer followed — and prayer has been tho great feature of these services ; while the whole assembly appeared to be impressed with the presence of God. A young sailor arose. He was evidently a Scotch- man by birth. He was deeply impressed, as all could see by his voice and manner, that this was a critical moment; the turning point to some awakened Bouls. "Will you take a sailor's advice," said he, "a (Stranger sailor; you who are now deciding that at some future time you will be a Christian ? will you take a sailor's advice, and not delay your choice another hour, but come now and be on the Lord's side ? You cannot possibly magnify the danger of delay. Tou cannot believe it to be half as great as it is." And then he spoke of some of his dread- ful experiences of the effects of procrastination. He related the following as coming under his own observation. " I remember," said he, " when in Panama, one of my brother sailors was taken ^ery sick. I had pre- viously, on many occasions, urged him to take Jesua as his guide, counsellor, and friend. But his answer had ever been, 'Time enough yet.' That fearf-jl 104 POWER OF PKAYEB. putting off, that delivering himself up to the power of Satan, who was constantly whispering in his ear, ' Time enough yet,' reached its fearful crisis at last. As he lay sick upon his mattress, his wri things and contortions denoted the fever and pain that were within. But the fever of his soul was causing much more anguish than all his bodily ailments. " I said to him, ' You need a Saviour now.' ' Oh,' said he, ' I have put off seeking Jesus too long.' I earnestly begged him to look at the cross of Christ, and there learn what Jesus had done and suf- fered, that a poor sinner like him might not perish, but have everlasting life. But he replied, with choking sobs, 'Too late, too late!' 'Oh!' he cried, ' no rest for me, I am going to some place, I know not where. Oh! I know not where!' His head fell back upon the pillow. I cried, 'ISTed! are you dying ?' But all I heard was, through the gurgling in his throat, ' 'No rest ;' and my dying shipmate was gone." Another touching incident he related as intimately connected with his own conversion, bearing upon the danger of delay. It was at his own home. He had a very pious, God-fearing mother, who had never neglected any opportunity which offered, to impress upon his young mind the urgent need of seeking a Saviour in his youthful days. But he had constantly WHAT MUST I DO ? 105 neglected to pay more than a passing attention to his mother's admonitions, until one Sabbath morning she invited a young girl, a neighbor's daughter, to accompany them to the house of prayer. " She replied, in a Kght and trifling manner, ' Oh, no, I cannot go till next Sunday. I shall have a new bonnet then ; my old one is too shabby.' Alas ! that next Sabbath never came to her. On Monday she was taken quite sick. On Wednesday she died. My mother told me, with streaming eyes, as slie came home from watching at her bedside, ' Emma is gone; and gone, I fear, without conversion.' This was so sudden, so unexpected, that it woke within my heart the cry, ' What must I do to be saved V And, blessed be God, that cry was not made in vain. Jesus had mercy on my soul. He has been ever since that time the Rock of Salvation. Oh ! come to him, all you who need the saving grace of a dying, risen Saviour ! Will you take a sailor's counsel ? Will you come ? God is calling you ! Come now." There were not many dry ©yes in the room at the close of this touching, tender, earnest appeal. It came from a warm heart, and it found its way to every heart. 5* 106 POWEE OF PKATEfi, CHAPTER VIII. Remarkable Answers to Prayer — The Four Great Revivals — Power O'i Prayer — " My Husband Saved " — Twenty Special Cases Selected— A Brother-in-law — A Drunkard Saved. "We are now, said a venerable clergyman of the Re- formed Dutch Church, in the fourth great revival under the gospel dispensation. The first commenced in Pentecostal times, and continued several centu- ries. The second commenced in the time of Martin Luther, and was long continued in the church. Tlio third was in the days of Edwards, and "Whitefield, and the Tennants. The fourth is that which now per- vades our country, and is spreading to all other lands. The great fact and truth established by the first great revival, was the supreme divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It began with the dispensa- tion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. It went on ' hrough the days of the Apostles. This was the great rejoicing truth and fact of the period. It filled all hearts with gladness. It was the great truth on FOUK GKEAT REVIVALS. 107 whicli the faitli and the fate of a perishing world de- pended. It was necessary that this truth should be established and felt as a foundation on which the world would build its hopes. The great truth illustrated and established by the great revival in the time of Luther and the Reform- ers, was the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ. This cardinal doctrine was the platform on which they stood, in their opposition to the errors of the Church of Rome. It was necessary that the world should be set right on this subject. And it was set right. It was this that aroused the true church with amazing power, so that kings and dy- nasties sunk feebly down before her, as she marched on in her glorious triumphs. The first truth illustrated and established in the third great revival in the time of Edwards, and Whitefield, and the Tennants, was the doctrine of instantaneous conversion and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. It was necessary that this great doc- trine should be enforced and stamped indelibly upon the convictions and heart of the world, so that it should remain an undisputed fact, received and ac- knowledged b}'^ all. And now the great truth illustrated and estab- lished by this great revival of the present time, the fourth great revival, is the cardinal doctrine of Chris 108 POWEE OF PKAYER. tian union ; oneness of tlie church ; a roal unity ; a oneness of all her members in Christ, the Head. It is this great truth that is in this revival, and by this revival impressed upon the world. It is this that arm^ the church with its energy and power, by 'which slie overcomes and goes on to victory and triumph. This is the truth which is to live in the convictions of men, till Christ has subdued all things to himself. After reading requests, and earnest prayer, a highly respected Presbyterian clergyman arose and said : "We should remember that all these great revivals were bestowed in answer to prayer. I wonder if my brethren ever think of the power of prayer ; of the ■power they have to prevail over the divine mind. K you ask me how this is, I cannot tell you how. But just see what the Bible reveals and teaches on this subject. It seems as if God had disclosed the fact that he cannot withstand the prayers of his people. Just see what he says about this. Look at the case of Moses on the Mount. God complained to Moses, as if he had said : these people whom I have brought out of Egypt with a high hand and outstretched arm, have made themselves a golden calf ; and they bow down and worship it, and they forsake and forget me, wlio scooped out the waterti TWO EXAMPLES. 109 of the sea for tliem to pass over ; who wronghl miracles for their deliverance in the land of bondage. Now mj w^rath is waxed hot against them. ISTow^ Moses, let me alone that I may destroy them. I will make of you a great nation. I will cut them off utterly. But if you fall down and pray, I know I cannot do it. Don't ask me to spare them, and I will make of you a great people. " "What did Moses do ? Why he fell on his knees. * Oh ! my Father, what will become of thy great name V he said. ' What will the heathen say, and they of Egypt? Why they will say that you just brought them out here into the wilderness to destroy them, and could not or would not save them. That be far from thee, Lord.' And what did God do? Why he seemed not to be able to withstand the prayer of his servant, and rebellious Israel was 3aved. " Take other examples. At the prayer of one man the rain was staid; not a drop of water or dew upon the earth for the space of three years and six months. And then at the prayer of one man the heavens gave rain. " Take another example. They of the Amalekites, and Moab, and Mount Seir, combined against tlie Jews to destroy them with a great army. But tliey awoke in the morning, and 180,000 of them were 110 POWKR OF PBAYEE. dead corpses. What was the matter? "Why one man had gone out against them armed with prajer. " So when God poured out his Sj)irit in these great revivals, it was in answer to prayer. Oh ! when will the church learn that God heai-s and answers prayer ; that prayer with God. prevails." As I was leaving the prayer-meeting, said an- other of the speakers, when I had gone a little distance, a lady came rushing up to me and ex- claimed : " Oh ! my brother, my brother ; oh ! is not my husband to be saved ? I have put in a request that he might be prayed for, three times ; and three times this request has been read ; and in each case no allusion has been made to my case in the prayers which followed. My husband has not been prayed for. What does it mean ?" " Well, I said to her," said the speaker, " ' suppose you keep on praying for him. I will pray for him. 1 will speak to others to pray for him. We will carry his case to other places of prayer.' " The heart of this wife was very much encouraged. When I met her again, I inquired, ' is your husband converted yet V " ' Oh ! no, he is not converted ; but I believe he will be. My husband is certainly to be a Christian, I feel assured he will be ' MY husband's botjl. Ill "In a few days I met her again. I asked her, < Is that husband of yours a Cliristian yet?' " ' Oh, I am afraid not. I have been praying and hoping, and believing. I am so distressed with anx- iety for him, that I have had to give up all attention to all household duties. I cannot oversee my house. My hope is in God, and I will trust in Mm^ for vain is the help of man.' " A few days after, I met this same wife again. " ' Is your husband converted yet V Her coun- tenance lighted with a spiritual, serene, and holy " ' Oh yes, I hope my husband is converted. He came home from his business ; he ran to me, threw his arms round my neck, and, in weeping rapture, exclaimed, " Oh ! I have found the Saviour ! I have given myself up to him, and on the very next Sab- bath I am to unite myself to the people of God. I am with you now for time and eternity." "'I asked him where he was,' said the wife, 'when he experienced the change. He answered, "In the Fulton street prayer-meeting." And this was the first knowledge I had that he ever attended the Fulton street prayer-meetings at all. So, while I was praying, he was going to the place of prayer, where the Lord met him in his mercy.' " Were I to name him," continued the speaker, 112 POWER OF PEAYEK. *' you would all know liim, for he is a marked and eminent man in tkis city." The tears were flowing freely all around the room. " Kow, just mark one thing," said the same voice, " how God, by the Spirit, supported the faith of this humble, feeble believer; and how, at the same time, he broke her off from all human reliance, that the excellency of the power might be of God, and not of man." A melting, hallowed influence fell upon the prayer-meeting. Then how beautifully came in these lines, wliich were sung with deep emotion : " One there is above all others, Well deserves the name of friend ; His is love beyond a brother s, Costly, free, and knows no end.'' A colored woman, devoted to her Saviour, in her humble, earnest way, determined to select twenty of her acquaintances, and pray earnestly for their salva- tion. She was a member of the Broome street church, known intimately to Miss Maynard, since called to heaven, who was well known by many who attend this Fulton street prayer-meeting. Tliia colored woman kept her resolution, selected the^ twenty, prayed without ceasing for their conversion THE SON OF A CLERGYMAN. 113 and subsequently had the blessed satisfaction of believing that they all had embraced the Saviour. A Montreal clergyman, whose son was in Yale College, and unconverted, prayed earnestly for God's saving grace to descend upon him, and quite recently had evidence that his prayers were heard and answered in the conversion of that son. A pastor who was settled seven hundred miles from ISTew York, who visited this meeting one year ago, was much impressed; considered the Fulton street prayer-meeting as the mother of an awakened religious feeling all over the land, and his attendance here had made him wise to win souls to Christ. He had been greatly blessed in his ministry, had labored with uncommon zeal, fervor, and success. He had improved the golden hour for gathering in the harvest of souls. A fiiend, in rising, said it gave him great pleasure to inform the meeting that a brother called at his place of business on that very morning, and with an unusually happy face, exclaimed, " My son, for whom I have prayed so long, is at last under conviction of sin. His sister has prayed earnestly for him that he might be brought to Christ. For three months he has been suffering from a sense of his unworthiness, but never told his nearest and dearest friends. Yes- terday he met an acquaintance who urged him to 114 POWEK OF PKATEK. visit tlie theatre in tlie ev^ening, in his company. He promised to go. After they separated, he thought, *I had resolved to go to the prayer-meeting this evening ; I do not know about going to the theatre. This may be the last opportunity I may ever have of attending such a prayer-meeting ; I must not lose it — I will not.' He resolved not to go to the theatre, but to go to the prayer-meeting. He did so, and was so convinced of his sins, and of his need of a Saviour, that he rose in that same prayer-meeting, and related the experience he had passed through, in terms so touching that there was scarcely a dry eye in the house. That son," said the gentleman speak- ing, " is now in this room for the first time." On a late occasion, when many requests had been read, and the chairman had made an earnest appeal for prayer for the objects thus presented, a gentleman arose in the audience and said : " Mr. Chairman, bear with me a moment before prayer, while I add to these requests one for my brother-in-law, and state some facts. He was in this room for the first time last night, at a night prayer- meeting. He is in this business men's daily prayer- meeting now, and in this meeting for the first time to-day. The Holy Spirit met him in his mercy last night. He came here entirely careless and thought- less, by my persuasion. And this morning he sent THANKS EETUKNED. Il5 for ii.e, before he left bis room, to come and pray with bim. He has just retm'ned from I^ewport, wbere be bad spent tbe summer as regardless of re- ligion as tbe bundreds witb wbom be was daily asso- ciated. I found bim in great distress of mind. I found bim on bis knees, praying and sbedding a flood of tears. I talked to bim, prayed witb bim, and beard bim pray. And now I ask you to pray tbat be may be converted tbis very bour — ^before we leave tbe room." Tben followed fervent, earnest prayer. Wbat so- lemnity settled upon tbe minds of all. Wbat a sense of tbe divine presence. Tbe next day tbis same case was again remem- bered. Tbe man was present again, affected to tears tbrougb tbe wbole meeting. On tbe next day be, of bis own accord, and witbout any solicitation, put in tbe following request. " Tbe brotber-in-law, for wbom prayers bave been offered in tbis room, desires to add bis testimony to tbe efficacy of prayer. He bumbly trusts, tbrougb tbe merits of a dying Saviour, tbat be bas been bopefully converted ; and be earnestly requests tbe continued prayers of tbis meeting tbat bis faitb may be strengtbened in tbe Lord." In a subsequent cbapter, tbe record of tbis case is given in detail. 116 POWEE OF PKAYER. A man arose, greatly agitated respecting his souJ and its destiny. " Well he might be," he said. He had been a man of such a course of life, that he had much to rej)ent of. He had been a great transgres- sor — profane — idle — dissolute — intemperate — a hater of religion and all its duties and requirements — a disbeliever in much that is called religion. He had lived a hardened, ungodly life, till he chanced to stray into one of the Fulton street meetings. He came up to the upper lecture-room in great trepidation of mind. He wanted to find, he said, some place where there was a temperance pledge. He wanted to sign it. He would prefer to go to the rooms of the American Temperance Union, and sign there. He wanted to begin, he said, at the begin- ning — and the first thing was to quit the abomination of strong drink. This was the beginning, he said, of " Let the wicked forsake his way," and then he hoped he should be able to forsake everything else that was wicked. He appeared to be in great haste. He said he was " in a hurry to be a Christian." This seemed to be according to the Scriptures, and yet he seemed to be wholly taught of the Holy Spirit. "We saw him a few days after this. He had been faithful in coming to all the meetings. He had been faithful to his pledge of total abstinence. He was very jealous of himself. His great fear was that THE drunkard's SAFETY. 117 Bome " old evil companion " would get power over him — would get him to drink just one drop ; tlien all would be gone, soul, body — all, said be, will go to hell together. He said his continual prayer was, " Lord ! hold thou me up and I shall be safe." I cry- to God continually, said he, for I feel that God must help me or I shall fall. 'No man can realize the power of this appetite who has not felt it. I must be a Christian to be safe. 118 POWEit OF PKAYEB. CHAPTEE IX. Frayer-meeting at " Hell Corner " — An Invitation on the Mississippi — A Daughter converted and driven out of her Father's House — ■ The whole Family converted — Hungry Children asking a Blessing. "There is a locality," said a strange gentleman in the Fulton street prayer-meeting, "in 'Ne^Y Hamp- shire, concerning which I wish to state a few facts of recent occurrence, which go to prove that the Holy Spirit can work with means or without them, ac- cording to his sovereign will and pleasure. In the locality of which I speak, there are about twenty families living isolated, and cut off from all associa- tion with the surrounding neighborhoods. They have no communication with anybody beyond them- selves. These families are distinguished for their profanity, wickedness, gambling, and almost every vice. They have no respect for religious institutions. They are shut out from all means of grace. They ai'« a reckless, hardened set of people. On a late occa- sion one of these men was at a neighbor's house, and while there indulged in the most horrid oaths. The woman of the house said to him : A BURLESQUE MEETING. 119 '' ' If YOU don't stop swearing so, I am afraid the bouse will fall down over our heads.' " ' Well, I should think,' said the man, ' that you are getting very pious, from what you say.' " ' Well, I should think it time for some of us to be getting religious.' " ' K you feel that way, suppose we have a prayer- meeting in your house,' said the man. " ' Yes, we will have a prayer-meeting ; we will have a prayer-meeting,' chimed in many voices. "And a prayer-meeting was agreed upon, and the time was fixed. They got a man to lead the meet- ing — the only man living in the neighborhood who had ever been a professor of religion. He was a notorious backslider, and of course answered their purposes all the better for that; for all this was meant as a burlesque upon prayer-meetings. " The time came for the meeting, and all assem- ■jjled. The backslider undertook to lead the meeting, but broke down in his prayer and could not go on. TTiey undertook to sing, and could not make out any- thing at that. They determined not to give it up so. They appointed another prayer-meeting, on the next Sabbath, at 5 o'clock p.m. They sent to a deacon of a church living three miles off, saying, 'that there was to be a prayer-meeting at Hell Comer — the common name by which the place was known-- 120 POWEE OF PKATEE. on next Sabbath afternoon, and wanted him to come down and conduct it.' The good deacon did not dare to go. He thought it was either a hoax or a plan to mob him. He however spoke to a neighbor about it and asked : " ' Had I better go V " ' Go, by all means, and I will go with you,' said the neighbor. " So on the next Sabbath afternoon they went to the prayer-meeting at Hell Corner. All were assem- bled, preparing to give solemn and serious attention to the services. " ' I had not been there but a few minutes,' said the deacon, ' before I felt that the Spirit of the Lord was there.' " Four or five of these hardened, wretched men were struck under conviction at this first meet- ing. Another meeting was held, and more were converted. " These prayer-meetings are continued," said the speaker, " and many of those who were con- victed have since become converted, and have be- come praying men and women." The work is going on with amazing power. At the last meeting heard from, more than one hundred were present. Here was a case where God's Spirit went before the de- sires of the people in the region that was blessed. God heard the prayers of his children in other places, or it pleased him in his sovereign mercy to pour out his FROM TIIE MISSIS SIPPr. 121 Holy Spirit upon this wicked community, and turn sinners from the error of their ways unto himself. A gentleman said at the prayer-meeting at the Globe Hotel, that six months ago, as he was stand- ing on the west bank of the Mississippi River, a hand bill was put into his hand, inviting him to attend a prayer-meeting in the city of New York. It was the Fulton street prayer-naeeting. "You can scarcely imagine the infljuence of such a little event as that upon the feelings, decisions, course, conduct and eternal well-being of an individual. I was invited when one thousand miles away to attend a noonday prayer-meeting of business men — I, a business man, in this great city of business, where time is money — surely there must be something in the religion of these men of business that amounts to somethino: like a realitv." He said that on coming to the city, he complied with that invitation, which he had still in his pocket and intended to keep, and he should always have reason to be thankful that he ever attended one of those meetings. He had been on further East, to the cities east of us, and he every- where found the daily prayer-meeting. He then went on to speak of revivals in places at the "West. He spoke of one in particular of great interest. In a neighborhood where there was a large population but no church, the people built a large 123 POWER OF FEAYER. scliool-liousG, and when it was finished, they resolved to hold in it union meetings for prayer. They were commenced and were largely attended. And when all who came could not get in, they would crowd around the windows to hear. Tlie Lord poured out his Spirit in great power and many were con- verted. Living in the neighborhood of that school-house, was a very wealthy, proud, infidel, irreligious man. Some of his family were inclined to go to the prayer- meeting. He called his family together, and told them that if any of his family went to that prayer- meeting and " got religion," as he called it, they were to be disinherited and banished from the house. His wife was included with the children. She has been, and so had his oldest daughter, which put him in a rage. Tlie daughter continued to go to the prayer-meetings and soon found peace in believing in Jesjis. "When an opportunity was given for those who had a hope in Christ to make it known — she meekly arose and spoke of the " great change " in her heart, and her humble hopes of salvation through a crucified Saviour. Tliere were those standing at the window outside who immediately went and told the father of thia young lady of the professions she had made. "When she went home that night, she met her father, AN ENRAGED FATHER. 123 standing in the doorway with a heavy quarto Bible in his arms. " Maria," said he, " I have heen told that you have publicly professed to-night that you have got religion. Is that so?" "Father," said the girl, "I love you, and I think I love the Saviour too." He opened his Bible to a blank leaf, and point- ing with his finger, he said : " Maria, whose name is that ?" " It is my name, sir." "Did I not tell you that I would disinherit you if you got religion ?" " Yes, sir." " Well, I must do it. You cannot come mto my house." And tearing the leaf out of the Bible, " There," said he, " do I blot out your name from among my children. You can go." She went to the house of a pious widow lady in the neighborhood, and heard no more from her father for three weeks. One morning she saw her father's car- riage driving up to the door. She ran out and said to the driver, " What is the matter, James ?" " Your father is very sick, and thinks he is going to die ; and he is afraid he shall go to hell for his wickedness, and for the grievous wrong he has done you in disinheriting you and turning you from hisf 124 POWEK OF PKAYEK. lionse. He wants you to jump into tlie caniage and come home as quickly as possible." ^ Slie found her father sick, sure enough, on going home ; but she soon saw he was only sin sick. She talked with him ; she prayed with him ; she endea- vored to lead him to Christ. In three days the father, mother, two brothers, and a sister, were all rejoicing in hope, making the whole family, all made heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, to the hea- venly inheritance. How faithful God is to those who put their trust in him. The disinherited was made the honored means, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, of unspeakable blessings to all her father's household, by going straight forward in her heavenly Master's serviv^e. "What a glorious crown of rejoicing will be hers in the great and trying day, when the Lord comes to reckon up his jewels ! At another prayer-meeting, one of the speakers said it had been noticed that something was the mat- ter with four little cliildren, from the same family, in one of our public schools. One of the teachers in- quired what the matter was, and she ascertained that these lovely little children were suiFering for lack of food ; that all they had to eat for days was a crust of bread and water. They had come to school with no better. They were German children, and their pa rents v/cre unable to obtain food for them. THE HUNORT CHILDREN". 125 This teaclier, who had ascertained the facts, went to tlie head teacher and communicated them to him He sent home immediately, and had a good dinnci* pre23ared for them. He then took them to his own house. On arriving there, tlie youngest refused to go in. He said he did not know wliat kind of a house it was, and he did not like to go into a house without his mother knowing and approving of it. Finally, after very much persuasion, they got them all into the house. They took them to the parlor ; there was an abundant meal set out. They seated them at the table ; they urged them to eat : they could not persuade them to touch a mouthful. Finally it was resolved to leave these little children alone ; perhaps they would eat then. The lady of the house paused at the door, and looking through the crack, what was her surprise to see the oldest little boy put up his two little hands together, and say grace — asking for God's blessing, and thanking him for his mercies. " May we not all learn a lesson," said the speaker, "from these little children, who. though they were starving, refused to eat till they had first acknowledged God's hand in the food prc" vided'^" When these facts were related, there were not many diy eyes in the assembly. An only son, unconverted, was prayed for in hw 126 POWEK OF PRAYEK. presence. He became very angry, and so much in- censed, that he resolved to sell his farm and go West, away from his relatives, who were praying for hia salvation. They continued to pray, and he finally sold his farm, and was going to start for Albany, on liis way to the West. He passed the prayer-meeting, on his way to the cars, and having some time to wait for the train, thought he would just go in to pass the time away, and see what was going on. He went in, and was hopefully converted before he left the meeting. A gentleman arose in the back part of the room. He said he was from the mountainous lumbering regions of Pennsylvania. " We hear of your meetings through the medium of the religious papers. We love to know what the Lord is doing among you. All through the mountains of Pennsylvania the Lord has been pouring out his Spirit, and among these thoughtless, wicked men, as they are in our country, he has brought many to repentance. For forty-nine years, I lived the life of an impenitent man. It is not more than three months since I commenced a religious life. I went to a Methodist camp-meeting in our neighborhood. I did not go to it at the beginning. I thought I had so much to do that I A^ouM not go. I went toward the close of it. Aa » • us my pious wife saw me come upon the GOING A. HUISTDEED MILES. 127 ground, she said, ' You must come into the praying circle.' I went with great reluctance. It pleased the Lord to awaken me at that meeting. But it closed, and I found no relief. I went on from day to day in great anxiety about my soul. I heard of another meeting, and I went more than a hundred miles to attend it. I sought hut I did not find. I was made the subject of prayer. It came to the last day of the meeting, and I was afraid I should have to go away without any change in my heart. When near the time of closing the meeting, it was proposed to spend a little time in the tent for prayer. Some said it was unseasonable. Some said they had a little season that might thus be occupied ; and I was invited to read a portion of Scripture and pray. It took me by surprise, I opened the Bible to the chapter about the talents. I read. I was tempted to hide my talent as did the slothful servant. I resolved I would not do it. And I kneeled down to pray. The Lord met me in that prayer. He led me to make a complete surrender. The burden was gone. The anxiety was taken away. I felt that my tjms were forgiven. I find peace and joy in believ- ing. I am always happy, and happy to be in such a meeting as this especially. I feel it my privilege and duty to bear testimony for Christ. I love him much. I have had much to be forgiven. I havo 128 POWEB OF PKATEK. been greatly blessed since I first loved tlie Saviour I intend to bear my cross and do my duty every- where ; at all times, and on all occasions. " The Lord is doing a great work among the mountains. Whole neighborhoods are turning to the Lord. The preaching of the gospel wins its way to the hearts of sinners, and many are coming out on the Lord's side." The speaker's manner was earnest, hearty, having great simplicity and deep feeling, which found its way to every heart. Then a stanza of the beautiful hymn : " There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Emmanuel's veins ; And sinners plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains" — was sang with deep emotion, in which all seemed to join in delightful harmony. Two or three prayers followed, and all those were earnestly and cordially remembered who had sent in their petitions to the throne of grace. CHRIST FOUND AT HOME. 129 CHAPTER X. Christ found at Home — The Man who found Peace in the Street. A. YOUNG man of fasliion, of wealth and education; of higli social position in one of tlie fashionable avenues in this great city, found out in the progress of this revival that he was a sinner, that he had a soul to be saved or lost. He felt himself on the verge of ruin, and the brink of eternal despair. He was bowed down under the load of his sins as a grievous burden. He sought relief and found it not. The requirements of the law stared him in the face, and he felt justly condemned. His heart was filled with sorrow. His countenance bore the marks of woe. Day after day he went about with his head bowed down like a bulrush, and day after day the burden became more and more insupportable. What should he do ? Whither should he fly ? He had at home a young wife whom he loved as he did his own life, and more than his own life. She was like him, devoted to the pleasures of the world, knew not what religion was — cared not He had a sister living witk 6* 130 POWER OF PKATER. him. Tliej Lad been all well mated in tlie love of fashionable folly — the gaieties and worldly amuse- ments commonly enjoyed by persons in their position in life. The wife and sister looked on this husband and brother with mute astonishment at the great change that had come over him. One day, in one of our meetings, that burdened young man found his burden removed, faith in Christ Bprang up in his soul, found his repentings kindled together, felt in himself the hope that maketh not ashamed, reahzed a Saviour precious to his soul- He believed that God, for Christ's sake, had forgiven his sins. He determined that he would never be ashamed of Christ. He would acknowledge and honor him everywhere. The opportunity — the time and place soon came. He was returning to his home in the evening. " Now," said he, " I must honor and obey God in my family. I must set up family worship," " Oh, no," said the tempter, " not yet. Don't bo in a hurry. Take tune. Get a little stronger, and then you can go on better." " I must begin to-night. I do not know what my wife and sister will say ; but it is a duty, and I am resolved to do it, and trust God for the rest. I must pray in my family." " Not to-night," said the tempter ; " yo i don't know THE FIRST PRAYER. 131 how to pray, ^ou have never prayed much. You are unacquainted with the language of prayer. Wait and learn how first." " JS"©, no, I rrmst pray to-night, I will pray to-night Get thee behind me, Satan." He passed into his dwelling, and into his library, and there, before God, his heavenly Father, and in the name of the Lord Jesus, he poured out his heart and asked for strength and grace from on high to assist him in his duty. "WTien he met his wife that evening, she saw at once that a great change had taken place in him, and she saw it with awe, but said nothing. At length he said : " My dear wife, would you have any objections to our having family worship ?" After a moment's surpr i se and hesitation she said with true politeness: " Certainly not, if it is your pleasure." " Bring me a Bible then, please, and draw up under the gas-light, and let us read and pray." He read a chapter, and then kneeled down, but his wife and sister sat upright in their seats, and he felt that he was alone on his knees. He lifted up his eyes to God, and cried out in the bitterness of his soul, " God be merciful to me a sinner." And gath ering strength, he went on in his prayer, pouring out 132 POWER OF PKAYEE. his most earnest cries and snjjplication that Get! ^voulc have mercy on his beloved wife and sister. So earn- est, so importunate was that prayer that God woidd show his converting grace and power on the spot, that the heart of his wife was melted and overcome, and she slipped from her seat upon her knees beside him^ and putting her arms around his neck, ere she was aware, she burst out into one agonizing cry to the Lord Jesus for mercy on her soul ; and then the sister knelt down by his other side, and she, too, put her arms around him, and burst into a flood of tears. He continued to pray ; he devoted himself and those with him to God. He confessed and bewailed his and their manner of life hitherto ; he pleaded the promises of God to all those that seek him, and with unspeakable joy he made mention of the amazing grace of God in the pardon of his sine, and he be- sought that they all might find and obtain together peace and forgiveness through a crucified Saviour. The submission was complete ; the sun-ender was fully made ; repentance and faith sprang up together m the hearts of all the three, and as they rose from their knees, it was to acknowledge each te the other what new determinations and resolutions ond ccn&e- cration they each had made during the progress of that jwst grayer in the family^ in that jparloo^^ '4 THE LAMP -POST MAN- 133 all they were and all they would be, or should be tc Christ. Since that first prayer in the parlor, God has been daily acknowledged in the same place by the same circle. Then out from that circle they go from day to daj in their walks of usefulness, and on their errands of mercy in this great city, seeking out the perishing, ten thousand times happier than they ever were be- fore. I^ow they scatter blessings all around them ; and long as eternity endures will they remember that first prayer-meeting in the parlor. At another time was related the story of a man who has often, of late, been seen at the Globe Hotel and Fulton street prayer-meetings. A few weeks ago, this man was seen walking back and forth on the sidewalk of the Old Korth Dutch Church, while the prayer-meeting was going on. He was dressed in a blue striped shirt, and pantaloons of the same material, with an old green pea-jacket hanging on his arm. His countenance bore the marks of a decidedly " hard case." He appeared like one who had been destroying himself by intemperance — ^nothing left of him but the dilapi- dated remnants of a man, although he appeared clean and sober. He was evidently agitated with inward contending emotions. A great struggle was going 134 POWER OF I'K.VYEK. on ill his own bosom. He paused in his walking, and coming up tlie steps to the second story lecture- room, he inquired of the lay missionary of tho church, who is always at the door to see that stran- gers get comfortable seats, if they would allow such a miserable looking object as he was to come into the meeting ? " Certainly we will," said the missionary, " and glad to have you come. Come and welcome," and he showed hiin to a seat. Daily for weeks that man was seen coming to the prayer-meeting. He began at once to leave off drinking. He became interested in the subject of religion. After four weeks of total abstinence, ho voluntarily signed the pledge, promising to " taste not — touch not — handle not." He kept his pledge. He was often without food. His lodging-place was some hole about "Washington market. He who feeds the ravens seemed to take care of him, and so to pro- vide that he should not absolutely perish with hunger. Several times he found little packages of bread, or meat and bread, done up, in the streets, as he waa walking up and down. In other instances, small Bums of money were given him. !N^one was given him at the prayer-meeting, lest he should be induced to come for the sako of the money he could pick up Thus the Lord provided for liim. 7HE SAVIOUR FOUND. 135 His convictions of sin grew more deep and pun.' gent ; his countenance betokened increased anxi- ety ; he would loiter after the prayer-meeting, evi- dently hoping some one would speak to him on the subject of religion. A few evenings after, at the Globe Hotel, he was urged to an immediate accept- ance of Christ. He went down to his place in Wash- ington market to lodge. He could not sleep. His distress increased. He had been told to come to Christ. But how should he come ? The lan2:ua<2;e of his heart was, " Oh ! that I might find him." He arose and walked the streets to see if he would not feel better. But no relief came. Sin was a heavy burden on his soul. The language of his heart was, " Oh! that my load of sin was gone, Oh ! that I could at last submit." He kept on his walking — ^he knew not — he cared not whither. At length he paused at a lamp-post. He put his hand upon the post, and bent down his head upon his hand, and poured out his soul to God in prayer. The tears of penitence flowed apace. The fountains were broken up. He begged God for Christ's sake to have mercy on him. All at once, Christ appeared unspeakably precious to his souL The burden of sin was gone. He rejoiced in his Sa viour with exceeding joy. 136 POWER OF PEAYER. flow long he remained in this position he does not tnow. He took no note of time. He walked the streets the remainder of the night, his whole soul filled with joy. He longed to meet some one to whom he could tell what the Lord had done for him. He went to various places, but could find no one whom he knew. He went to the Battery, and seated himself on the grass. He took out his New Testament, and began to read, and as he read he could not restrain his tears. At length, a gentle- man, who had been standing near, observing him, said: " My friend, what little book are you reading V " I am reading the ]!!Tew Testament." " Where did you get your Testament ?" " I got it at the Fulton street prayer-meeting." " Do you attend the Fulton street prayer-meet- ing V " I do." " Do they do you any good ?" " Well, I hope they have done me good. I hope I have found Christ very precious to my soul." And then, in his simple and artless manner, he narrated how he had found Christ at the lamp-post the preceding night, and how his whole soul had be- come filled with joy. " Well," said the listener, deeply affected, " I have ALL ON THEIB KNEES. IS / heard of these Fulton street prayer-meetings, and I believe they are doing a world of good. Kow I will tell you what I want. I want you to come to my store at ten o'clock to-morrow morning." He gave his name and number in Broad street, and they parted. Meantime he sought the kind missionary at the Old Dutch Church. He ran up into the upper lecture-room, where he found him and two or three brethren with him. His whole face was beaming with inward peace. In a few brief words he told the story of the lamp-post and the great change. " Oh ! blessed be God," said the missionary, and in a moment all were on their knees. " Now let us all pray in turn," said he, and he lifted up his voice to God in thanksgiving and praise for his unspeakable mercy to his dear hrotlier in Christ, in thus meeting him in his pardoning mercy and renewing grace. One after another followed in prayer, and last the voice of this new creature in Christ Jesus. Punctual to the minute, at ten next morning, our brother in Christ was at the store in Broad street, and there he found a new suit of clothes provided for him, throughout, and a place had been found where he could have constant employment at fail wages. He is at present at all our evening meet- ings, and his face shines as the face of an angel. 138 POWER OF PRAYER. A few weeks afterwards, as we were sitting in the upper lecture-room of the Fulton street Church, this man came running up the steps to the room. Tlie meeting had been closed for some time, and two or three were lingering in the room. Oh ! how happy and radiant was his face. " He was passing," he said, " and could not go by without coming up and telling us how changed was everything in regard to him. A little time ago he was the slave of sin and Satan and intoxicating drink. Now he feels emancipated from the wretchedness and thralldom in which he then was. A little time ago he had no home, no friends, no visible means of living. Now he is well clad, has a good home, and constant employment." He is employed by a member of the Baptist church, residing in Brooklyn. It is pleasant to hear from such cases as this, aftei some time has elapsed to test the genuine character of their conversion. Thus far all the evidence goes to show that these are fruits of the grace of God, and w U endure t^ his praise. HOW IT BEGAN. 139 CHAPTER XI. How a Revival began — Among the Mountains — Astonishing Answers — A Telegram to a Dying Man — A young Man's Testimony — The Prodigal — A repentant Student converted in a Car — A Brother saved — Another Conversion in a Car — Revivals multiplied by the Fulton street Prayer- meeting. " I WILL tell you," said a speaker in one of our Fulton street meetings, " liow tlie revivals began in Kalamazoo, Mich., last winter. "We heard of the wonderful work of grace in this city and in other parts of the land. "We thought we ought to share in it and not stand idly by. Still we had no such feeling as was here. We appointed a daily prayer- meeting however. Episcopalians, Baptists, Method- ists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists, all united. "We appointed our first union prayer-meet- ing in much fear and trembling. We did not know how it would work. We did not know as anybody would come. We did not know how the measure would be regarded. We came together. At our very first meeting, some one put in such a request as 140 POWEK OF PKAYER. this: 'A praying wife requests the prayers of this meeting for her unconverted husband, that he may be converted and be made an humble disciple of the Lcrd Jesus.' All at once a stout, burly man arose and said, ' I am tliat man. I have a pious, praying wife, and this request must be for me. I want you to pray for me.' As soon as he sat down in the midst of sobs and tears, another man arose and said, ' I am that man ; I have a praying wife. She prays for me. And now she asked you to pray for me. I am sure I am that man, and I want you to pray for me.' " Three, four or five more arose and said, ' "We want you to pray for us too.' The power of God was upon the little assembly. The Lord appeared for us and that right early. We had hardly begun and he was in the midst of us in great and wonderful grace. Thus the revival began. We number from 400 to 500 conversions." " Let me tell you," said a speaker, " of an instance of the power of prayer. The owner of a line of omnibuses, kept a rum-shop or drinking saloon, made money, and wasted his spiritual good in all manner of ways, useless, irreligious. His wife went ^to these prayer-meetings. She became a truly con- verted woman. He forbade her going to the prayer- meetings, but she would go. She kept on going, GIVING UP A BAD BUSINESS. 141 thongli he got angry and said she must not. Finally lie told her she must leave him or quit going to the prayer-meetings. He told her something like this, ' ]^>^ow if you will go up in the chamber and pray with me, you may pray as much as you please, bul you must not go to the prayer-meetings.' She said she did not know how to pray for him or with him, for she had only just begun to pray for herself. So they went into the chamber and he was very much surprised to hear her pray. That day everything went wrong. The next morning they went into the chamber to pray. ' I thought I would let her pray it out, and by keeping her from the prayer-meetings I should break the charm.' So they kneeled down together, and she prayed such a prayer as took a deep hold of his heart; as they rose from their knees, he kissed her, and went away. His heart was softened, subdued, and he came humbly at the feet of Jesus, a converted man. We rejoice over scores such as he. He abandoned his liquor selling at once. He witnesses a good confession." Another said, "I dwell in the shadow of the Catskill mountains. We have a great work of grace among us. We have added to our church over one hundred, a great many conversions among our child- ren and youths. Our ministers have left us for a little rest from labor, but we have resolved to carry 142 POWEE OF TKAYEE. our prajer-meetings tlirougli the hot weather, to meet our ministers on their return." " A father," said one of the speakers, " had three sons in distant and diiferent parts of the country, all unconverted. He brought them to the meeting as subjects of prayer. They were prayed for as only those who believe can pray. What has been the consequence ? Three letters have been received from these three sons, who have not communicated with each other, each giving an account of his own conversion." Another father requested prayer for a son at sea. He was away in the Pacific. His case was made the subject of earnest prayer. He has just returned to port. He was converted in mid- ocean, and just about the time he was made the subject of prayer. "I thought," said the father, " I would put down the date of that prayer-meeting, and the date of that prayer. I have no reason to doubt that the prayers of God's people were an- swered. It is wonderful. Away at that distance, God called up his attention to religion, convinced him of his guilt, led him to Christ, and the very firsi thing he had to tell me on landing was, what the Lord had done for his soul. He knew nothing of our prayer-meetings. He did not know that he had been made the subject of special prayer, and yet the; .Lord has made him the subject of special grace " ONLY BELIEVE. 143 One of the most afFeeting objects of prayer was this. A father brought into one of our meetings a sealed letter to a son in South America, and laid it upon the desk, and requested the prayers of Christians, that the spirit and blessing of God might go with that letter, and make it the means of the conversion of that distant and much-loved son. The letter was an earnest entreaty that he might become reconciled to God. Thousands and thousands of instances, doubtless, have transpired within the last few months, of won- derful and speedy answers to prayer. " OnUj he- Ueve /" " Onli/ believe /" This is the voice of God's providence, and grace, and spirit. " Some of you," continued one of the speakers, " have read of the conversion of a British soldier in India by means of the telegraph. He was lying near to death. He had neglected and reviled religion all his life, but now he was dying, and no Christian friend near to tell him how he might be saved. He bethought himself of a Christian living at the dis tance of one hundred and sixty miles. He sent him a telegraphic message, as follows: 'I am dying. What shall I do to be saved ?' Instantly, the mes- sage went back to him : ' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' And so the mes Bages kept passing from the dying man, untO the 144 POWER OF PRATER. physical powers of tlie soldier sank away, and lie died with the words of hope and joy upon his lips. Who knows that we may not live to see the same glorious message pass over the world on these wires, and the prayer of the inventor be answered — the joyful responses of nations to nations be heard — and millions on millions be heard singing the ' ever- lasting song ' of salvation to our God ?" "I wish to bear my testimony," said a young man, " and tell what the Lord has done for me. Fifteen years ago I came from a neighboring village into this city. I had pious parents, who prayed constantly for me all these fifteen years. Yet in all that time I did not know that I had a single serious impression. I don't remember that I ever had any anxiety on the subject of religion till last January, when I heard a sermon upon this passage : ' Cut it down ; why cum- bereth it the ground.' I heard it as every word of it addressed to me. I did not suppose that there was another one in the house that it applied to. I was the unfruitful fig tree. I was plunged into the deepest anxiety, and knew not what to do. I had a wife, and I did not know how she would regard my state of feeling. At length I found that she had been awakened by the same sermon. We went to our pastor and told him all our hearts, and in a little while were permitted to hoj)e for pardon ana j^eace THE STUDENT. 145 tlirougli our Lord Jesus Clirist. I have been often at these meetings, and ]iave wished often to speak, but never could get courage to do so. There may be some young man who hears me, whom I may persuade to come to Jesus — some one for whom a father and mother are praying, or have prayed in times past. I have exchanged the theatre for the church, and the di'inking-saloon for the prayer- meeting. I earnestly entreat you to do the same. '' I have a letter of eight pages," said another speaker, " giving an account of a young man's con- version. He was the son of a pious widow; he deserted his mother ; went off to a great distance, became very wicked, has been made the subject of special prayer, has been overtaken by the Holy Spirit, been renewed in the temper of his mind, is a new creature — ^his letter is so affecting, I could hardly read it." " I attended the last Saturday night prayer-meet- ing in the College," said one rising. " It was very full and very solemn. God has converted many of the students during the term now at its close. There came into this meeting a student who had been graduated two years before. Of course here were now in college two classes, with whose mem- bers he was acquainted. He had been noticed for shining talents, scholarship and irreligion. Here 1 14^ POWER OF PRAYER. "were atudents over wliom lie had exerted a very pernicious influence. He had been converted. Ho came to tell his fellow students the six)rj of the * great change.' As he went on in his experience, every cheek was bathed in tears. He had come expressly to confess his penitence for his former course. He had studied a profession two years. Now he abandons it to lay all at the feet of Jesus, and preach the everlasting gospel." " As our city missionary," said a speaker, " was getting into a Sixth Avenue railroad car, in his quiet, unobtrusive way, he said to the conductor : " ' Will you take a tract V " ' Cerrtainly, I will, and be thankful for it.* " ' Are you a Christian V " ' I hope I am.' " ' "Where did you become a Christian V " ' In this railroad car.' " ' How was that V " ' Why you see I could not go to the prayer- meetings. I had to stand here all day. I felt very much concerned about my soul. I was bowed down with sorrow. I did not know what to do ; and so I iust gave myself up to God, right here in the car. I cried to him for mercy, and mercy came quick. Oh ! what joy I had, and none knew anything about it. God can forgive sins in the railroad car as well as THE BKOTIIER SAVED. l^l anywhere else. I am thankful for the tracts, sir. It was these that first convicted me of sin, and it waa these that led me to Christ.' " " I passed through this city a few days ago," said a speaker, " and I sent up a request that you vt^ould pray for an unconverted brother. I sent it up to that desk, and when, it was read, I got up and stated that I had sent up that request, for an unconverted brother, the only remaining one of a large family of brothers, out of the ark of safety, I told you I was going to see him. I had come from the west and was going east, a thousand miles in all to see him. I felt very anxious about him, as the only remaining one out of Christ, and alienated from us on account of some difficulties about the division of property. He would not write to us. I got into the cars pray- ing. I rode on praying ; I stopped and came here praying ; I asked you to pray, and then I went on praying ; and when I met him, oh ! an answer had come to our prayers. He threw his arms around my neck, and said, ' Oh ! my brother ! my brother ! God has had mercy on my soul. Let me kiss you ; let me fold you close to my heart.' " And now I am on my way back to the west ; but I felt as if I could not go through ISTew York without coming to this meeting, and telling you the story of my brother's conversion, and asking you to join witlj 14rS fOWEE OF PRAYEE. me in tlianksgiving to God, tliat he lias answeied our poor requests, when we had so little confidence in him. It was said by one speaker, that a profane aud wicked young man was going on his journey from Springfield, Mass., to Albany. "When going up Bome of the inclined planes, he thought to himself how easily his life might be taken away — ^liow sud- denly some accident might cut short his probation ; and how surely his soul would be lost if he should die as he was. These thoughts recurred to him again and again. He felt he was a sinner, lost and undone. The more the thought of his life was pressed upon him, the more unhappy he felt. Conviction and alarm followed in this train of thought, till he was led to inquire within himself, "What shall I do? How shall I escape destruction and ruin? Who will help me, when I deserve no help ? I cannot help myself ! I have no one here to speak to : none to pray for me !" All at once a voice seemed to say within him — " Come unto me and be saved. I am able to save to the uttermost. Put your trust in me and you shall be saved. Follow me and you shall be my disciple. Kow are you willing to do it ? Will you do it ?" The young man answered, " I will." And peace and light and joy broke forth in his heart at once. And long before he finished his journey—" WESTERN MEN. 149 all unknown to his fellow passengers — lie had entered upon that path that leadeth up to eternal life. Tha whole work of conviction and conversion had been wrought in a railroad car. All his plans, character, and prosi^ects for time and eternity were changed. He went into the car a swearing, profane child of the devil. He went out of the car a new creature in Christ Jesus. Old things had passed away; all things had become new. And he has since witnessed a good profession. Who but the Holy Spirit had anything to do with the conversion of this young man? A young man from Iowa was on his way to this city. In the cars he made the acquaintance of a man from Ohio. As they journeyed on, they spoke of coming to ITew York. The Ohio man said : " Have you heard of the meetings in Kew York ?" " What meetings ?" said the man from Iowa. " The Fulton street prayer-meetings." " No, I had not heard of them: what about them?'" " They are held every day, at 12 noon, in the Old Dutch Church, in Fulton street, by business meuj and God pours down his Holy Spirit upon them in great power, and many are converted. Will you gc with me to them when we get to l^ew York ?" " Certainly I will." " And true to his word, he did," said the speakei 150 POWER or PRATER, " and I am tlie Ohio man that was with him. The second day he came here, he put in his own request to be prayed for, and soon he was converted in these meetings, and in eight days from the time he came, he was on his way back to his home in one of the southern counties of Iowa, a converted young man. He lived in a village of nine hundred inhabitants, with no church, no minister, no means of grace. What did he do ? Why the fii'st thing he did was to open a prayer-meeting in his own room. In a little time he had to move his meeting to a school, because his room would not contain those who came to his daily prayer-meeting. Then they had to get another room, because the school-house was too small. God poured out his Spirit, and that noonday piayer- meeting resulted in the organization of two churches. Just see what a little personal faithfulness can do,, when accompanied with the blessing of God. Who can tell where such a line of influence shall end, or how many may in the end, through this one yoimg man's conversion, be brought into the kingdom of Christ ?" Another speaker said : " Last Sabbath I spent in a small village in Pennsylvania, where I had the satis- faction of seeing one hundred make a public profes- sion of religion. They were mostly young people. The place had enjoyed a revival of religion since m THE CARS. 151 some time last winter. It commenced somewhat ia tliis manner : Several gentlemen were on their way to New York citj. When they approached the city, Bome boy was passing through the cars, distributing a, handbill, which told of this noonday prayer-meet- ing. They took the handbill, and looked at it, and seeing what it was, they called the boy back to inquire more about it. " ' Come back here, and tell us more about this prayer-meeting ; what do you know about it V " The poor boy knew nothing more than what the handbill said. They resolved that they would come to this prayer-meeting and see for themselves. They came ; they caught the spirit of the meeting, and when they went home they set up a prayer-meeting in their place. It was very much owned and blessed of God, and of the fruits of the revival which fol- lowed these, one hundred were added to the church : others will follow at the next communion. Here waa a daily prayer-meeting, planted by this simple instru- mentality, in a distant town, and here were the fruits of < he effort." 159 POWER OF PKAYEB. CHAPTER XII. Individual Responsibility — Personal Efforts — Souls seeking Soula— A ten Years' pursuit of an Infidel and the Result — A Pledge Signed Twenty-six Times — Two Widows — ^An anxious Mother — ^A Brother-in-law — The Prodigal Son — A City Islander — The Happy Wife — Father and Daughter. Among the members of our cliurclies, there has been a sad want of a sense of individual obligation, and proper appreciation of the value of personal effort. The present revival has wrought a revolution m men's minds in this respect. A power has been de- veloped which was almost unknown to the modern church. It was the power of personal fidelity to souls, the power of individual personal eifort for their salvation ; the power of j)rayer and effort when concentrated upon one specific object ; the power of love, when an individual feels that it centres in him — when it follows him with unceasing anxiety and importunity, and never forgets or leaves, or despairs of its object till it is securely housed in the ark of Bafety. The hiding of the Saviour's power is in the LAY riiEACHING. 153 personal fidelity of every one and each of his dis- ciples. This the revival has abundantly proved, " Go ye into all the world and preach tlie gospel to every creature," has commonly been regarded as the great commission to the jpreachers of the gospel. Now it was felt to be a commission which is given to every Christian, and that he is bound to carry the gospel message to every individual mind and heart — ■ ■" every creature " — in high ways and by ways, in garrets and cellars, in parlors and counting-roomc in cottages and palaces, wherever there is a " creature '■ who is impenitent, to him, to her, we are to preach the gospel — blessed tidings of good — as if we felt the high import of our mission and the glorious work we are to perform. We are to preach it as the great remedy for the woes of the perishing world ; every one is to preach it to every one till there is no need of preaching it, " for all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest." In this revival men have been astonished at the success with which they can " preach the gospel." They have been astonished at the efficacy of lay labor and individual effort. Impenitent men have boeu found ready to hear and ready to obey the gospel call. This very discovery has roused up the individual faith- fulness of Christians, and they have felt the va^ue of personal effort as they never felt it before since tlie 154 POWER OF PKATEK. days of the first Clinstians. Men liave been surprised at the success of a little labor, and this has encourag- ed more labor. One man has gone prayerfully and afi'ectionately to another, and urged the importance of the hour, the space given him for repentance, and the necessity of improving it to make his peace with God. When he goes to him a second time he finds him in great anxiety of mind. He asks now what must I do ? What cam, I do to be saved % He finds that sleep has departed from the man. His days are restless, and night brings him no repose What is the matter with the man ? Why nothing, except that from his knees a man has gone and spoken to him at an unexpected moment, with unex- pected earnestness — with unwonted emotion, and with irresistible tenderness and love, has besought him to attend the gospel message, as a sinner needing an interest in Christ. This is all ; all that the Christ- ian has done. But this is not all. It has pleased God to clothe that message with amazing power — the power of the Holy Spirit. And it will be so evident that the work is all of God, that the Christ- ian is humbled, while, at the same time, he is en- couraged, " Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight." It is felt, too, that the Christian must preach, and keep preaching — that he must take hold of the siu' PEKSEVEEANCE. 155 ner, and never let go till he is brought into the king- dom of Christ. Not that he can bring him in, but God can bring him in through the faithful believer's instrumen tality . Shall we illustrate what we mean % "We have given, in chapter vi. of this volume, the case of the converted infidel lawyer. There is a record of per- sonal fidelity about that case which is known to us, but which cannot be told. Suffice it to say, that one in- dividual — an unlettered man — a comparatively poor mar< — ^followed him up for more than ten years with a never-failing kindness, costing money and time, to win him to haj)piness and holiness and heaven — the records of which never will be revealed till the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed. This untiring benefactor — this unwearied friend, was one of the six — the original six — who attended the first noonday business men's prayer-meeting in Fulton street. He took hold never to let go till he had brought the poor lost sinner to the feet of Jesus. It was a ten years' effort, but it succeeded at last ! It was an unremitting effort, but glorious in its results. How few in these days make such an effort as this 1 Bo earnest, so affectionate, so self-denying, so long protracted, so eager of pursuit, and so patient in ex- pectation and hope. "We will speak of another case by way of illustra 156 POWER OF PEATEB. tion. A man endeavored to secure tlie signature of an impenitent friend and neighbor to tlie temperance pledge. He succeeded, and it was signed with flow- ing tears. It was broken within fortj-eiglit hours. What did this poor man's benefactor do ? Did he Bay, " He's gone below and past redemption, and I will give him up ?" ITo ! He persuaded him to sign a second time, and within a week it was broken again. "Was he discouraged ? Oh, no ! He had taken hold never to let go, and he induced this poor unstable man to sign the pledge again, and again, until he had signed it twenty-six times, and the twenty-sixth time he kept his pledge, and has always kept it from that time onward. And what is more, he has become a Christian, and is now a burning and shining light in the church and in the world. This is what we mean by individual responsibility followed out till the object is gained. If aU the church would act on this plan, how long before the world would be converted ? A revival, once begun, when would it cease ? We have a large class of examples on the point before us, to encourage the feeblest to do what they can, as all the success of effort belongs to God. " Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but God must give the increase." " I came here a few days ago, after many houis of THE TWO widows' LETTERS. 157 wearisome travel on purpose to ask you to pray for one who was very dear to me, and I'or whose salva- tion I have long been deeply concerned. It had been many months since I had seen him, but my con- fidence was strong in God that he would hear and answer the united prayers of his people offered in this hallowed place. And now I return to tell you what great things the Lord has done for his soul. I have learned, to my inexpressible joy, that he whom I love has given his heart to Christ. Let us re- joice and give thanks to him who loves to hear the prayers of his children. At a recent meeting, the leader presented two let- ters, from an extreme eastern and an extreme western State, both from widows. The one from the West requested prayer in behalf of three adult sons, whose father had been pious and his influence exemplary, but who were indisposed to give heed to a mother's counsels. That from the East was in behalf of a son early deprived of a father's care, and who manifested the same disregard of his mother's wishes and pray- ers. This was so peculiarly affecting that the leader was not able to get through the reading. All sym- pathized in his emotion, and there was hardly a di'y eye in the room. After two or three attempts to proceed, he requested a friend near the desk to finish the readinor. It is as follows : 158 POWER OF PEATEE. " I read weekly of the wonderful works the Lord is doing in your midst, converting sinners in answer to the prayers of his people. I have an only son, given to God in infancy, left fatherless in early child- hood, but who has been a subject of prayer ever since his birth up to the present time. He is now thirty-five years old. I have not seen him for the last ten years. His home is in Oregon. Our com- munications by letter have been frequent, and he is very kind, and has proved the kindness of his heart by liberal presents. But he does not love religion. In a recent letter he entreats me not to write him any more religious letters. He has endured them for the last twenty-five years — read them, not because he loved their subject, but because they were his mother's letters, but earnestly desires me not to al- lude to the subject again, as it will do him no good. I need not say all a mother's soul was stirred within me. I wrote him in reply as faithfully as I could, for the last time on that subject, on condition he would promise to acquit me at the judgment bar as having done all a mother's duty for the salvation of his soul. I have not heard from him since, but have felt to agonize with God in prayer for his speedy con- version, till within a short time, I have not had that intensity of feeling, and fear the Spirit is saying, 'He is joined to his idols, let him alone.' I have AN ANXIOUS MOTHER. 159 asked the Lord what he would have me to do, and my mind is inclined to send a request to the Fulton street prayer-meeting that special prayer might be made for the speedy conversion of his precious and immortal soul. It has long been my prayer, ' O God, convert my son ! ' I feel, like the mother of Augus- tine, that I cannot, cannot give him up — cannot leave any effort possible to be made for his salvation unattempted. This request is, therefore, submitted to the Fulton street prayer-meeting. "An Anxious Mothee." When the reading was finished, the leader desired some one to pray, but no one seemed willing to trust his feelings. One or two, on being called on, de- clined on this account. Finally, one brother made a brief, earnest petition in behalf of the son on whom was laid the awful responsibility imposed by the im- portunate mother's faithfulness. It was a most solemn moment. All seemed to feel that words could only detract from the impression that had been made on every mind. The meeting soon closed. It is not always that we may see the fruit of our labor and prayer while we live. Many a pious pa- rent has prayed and wept, and the fruit has been gathered long after the laborer had gone to his rest n the heavens. 160 POWEll OF PEAYEE. Sometimes a long-delayed blessing conies for our selves while we are laboring for the good of others, as in the following case : A written request was handed to the leader of the meeting, that prayer might be offered to the Tliroue of Grace for the conversion of the son of an aged clergyman. A pastor, well stricken in years, who had long been praying that his own son might be led to see the error of his ways and be brought to the feet of Jesus, rose and made earnest supplication to God that " this son of an aged clergyman " might be brought to seek redemption through a dying and risen Saviour. His own son, unknown to him, sat in the same room, some distance behind him. This son had been walking through the street, and seeing a great crowd entering the door of the meeting, out of mere idle curiosity was induced to enter and take a seat. And there he heard his own father praying for the conversion of just such a son, and just such a sinner as he himself was. He left the meetino- in great distress of mind — could not think of sleep, but walked the streets the whole night. Sometimes he would sit down on the steps of the house whose owner he knew was a Christian, and ponder within himself whether he had not better ring the bell, rouse up the famil} -Mit of sleep, and beg them to pray for him. It was with difficulty that he couLl persuade THE P^STOk's son. .161 himself that it was an unseasonable hour, and that even though he feared the "wrath to eome," he must wait till morning before any would pray for him. At length morning came. He returned as a prodi- gal to his father's house, and, through God's grace and mercy, was enabled to humble himself before God, and give up his evil courses, and enlist in the service of Christ who suffered on the cross, that sin- ners like him might be saved. That same son of an aged clergyman is now daily employed in persuad- ing sinners — such as he lately was — to come to Christ. That same son, who went into the prayer- meeting, attracted out of mere idle curiosity, is now seen daily in the prayer-meeting, ready to take his part in the work and duty of prayer. How changed from the night he walked the streets in agony of mind — ^now rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Take another striking case. A stranger said : " I am from City Island. It has about four hun- dred inhabitants, and only about twenty of these are witnesses for Christ. I am here to ask you to pray for City Island. I am but very young in the Christian life. I came here some weeks ago and asked you to pray for this people. 1 felt so anxious for a revival tliat I got up here, though I had no religion then, and asked you to pray for City Isl.ind. 162 POWER OF PRATER. " I went home and the first thing I heard was, * When are you going to come out on the Lord's Bide? Some of us have been praying for you ever aince you have been gone.' It went like an arrow to my heart, that while I was here asking you to pray for them, they sliould be praying for me. How strange I I was bowed down with sorrow. At length the Loid turned my sorrow into joy. I have gone on rejc icing ever since. I believe God heard your prayer for City Island, and first of all had mercy on me. Keligion is all my joy now. I love its duties. I love to stand up for Jesus. I come again to ask you to pray for City Island and pray also for me." What untold agony has a wife or a mother en- dured when the blessing has waited f And how God often leads his own dear children through trials, in order that they may see whether they walk by faith or by sight. This is illustrated by the follow- ing example : A young man from this meeting, went to visit his impenitent father in Massachusetts. He took pas- sage on a Long Island Sound steamer. He took a state-room alone, and spent nearly all the night in pra^xr for his unconverted father. He was borne down with a heavy bm-den of anxiety. He made several attempts to sleep, but sleep fled from his eves. H"»w little his fellow-passengers knew what FATHER AUD DAUGHTER. 163 was going on in that state-room. "WTiat a place for prayer ! and yet a window in heaven was opened upon that state-room. There was an ear that wa8 attentive to that prayer. When the son arrived at home the next evening, he took down the Bible, and said, "Father, let us read a chapter in the Bible, and pray." " Certainly," said the father ; " you read." After reading, to the surprise of the son, the father led off in prayer — • pouring forth such fervent prayer as he had scarcely ever heard. It was the first out-gushings of the new- born soul. As they arose from their knees, the son said to the father, "Father, how long since God gave you a heart to pray ?" " I first began to pray last night. I was awakened, and cried to God for mercy, and he has had mercy upon me." That son had an unconverted sister in Boston. He went immediately on to see and tell her of the conversion of her father. He found her, and told her of the joyful news. He exhorted her to an immediate surrender of herself to God. All her Christian friends united in prayer for her. She yielded, and in twenty-four hours he was on his way to tell the father what the Lord had done for he? soul. 164 POWER OF PKATEE. CHAPTER Xm. The Work among the Children — Randall's Island — The RomanisCa Child, Mary — A dying Sunday School Scholar — Prayers for a Child — Conversions in a Public School — Columbus, Toledo and Geneva — Father and Children — Sabbath School Class and Teacher — The little Girl whose Heart would Sing. Perhaps tlie most interesting field of contemplation and discovery in the history of this work would be among the children and youth of our city and coun- try. They cannot attend the meetings, but they are remembered there. "Yesterday," said a speaker, "I went to Randall's Island, where I met 2,000 children and youth in one body. The ten Governors have 5,000 children under their care, and in all our institu- tions there are from 30,000 to 40,000, without hope and without God in the world. What are we doing for these ? I see some here before me who will go out to-morrow (Sunday) among them. Who are the tenants of our jails and prisons, and various institu- xtions belonging to the city? Three-quarters of all our criminals are under twenty-one years of age. Are we doing all we can to save the young — that CATHOLIC CHILDKEN 16S very class who will rule or ruin us ? I ask you to do what you can in the lanes and alleys, and among the haunts of the miserable, and criminal, and degraded, to bring them to know God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Here is a great work, and but few, com- paratively, are engaged in it. How few even know of the misery, and pauperism, and crime, which pre- vail in this great city. How many of us are doing what we can to carry the Gospel to the perishing thousands in the midst of us, absolutely perishing at our very doors ? Let us look this great matter in the face, and see what we can do to turn the tide of sin and ruin." •' Many," said a speaker in the union prayer-meet- ing, " think it is of no use to invite the children of Catholic parents to go into a Protestant Sunday school. There never was a greater mistake. They are often not only willing, but glad to have them go. And often their going is of unspeakable good to their parents. Let me give one illustration. Away in the west lived a Catholic family in which there was a little girl seven years old. She was induced to go to a Protestant Sunday school. The father became very anxious about his soul. His distress increased daily, and one night, at the midnight hour, he arose from his bed in agony. He begged his wife to pray foi jiim, as he said he did not know how to pray for him 166 POWER OF PRAYER. self. Slie told him she " could not pray — any better than he could." "What shall I do, then?" " Perhaps," said she, " our little Mary can pray." So the father went up to her chamber, where she was fast asleep and took her up from her bed in his arms, and bore her down stairs, and putting her gently down, he said to her with great earnestness, " Mary, can you pray ?" " Oh, yes, father, I can pray." "Will you kneel down and pray for your poor father?" " Tes, I will pray for you." So she kneeled, put up her little hands, and said — " Our Father who art in heaven," — going through with the Lord's Prayer. Then she prayed for her father in her own language, asking God to love him and have mercy upon him, and to pardon all his sins for Jesus Christ's sake. When she had finished her prayer, her father Baid to her, " Mary, can you read in your Bible ?" " Oh yes, father, I can read. Shall I read to you in my Bible?" " Yes, read to me." She began at the third chapter of the Grospel ac- cording to John. She read along till she cume to that verse- - THE FATIIEK PEATS, - 167 •' As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up : that who* Boever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." " Oh, Mary," said he, " is that there ?" " Yes, father, it is here. Jesus Christ said so." " Well, that is just what I need — what your poof father needs." " Yes, father, and hear the rest of it." " For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might, not perish but have everlasting life." " Oh, that is for me — for just such as me : ' who' soever believeth in him ' — I can believe in. him — I mucli instruction as I liave ? — against so many precious prayers put up to lieaven for me, by one of tlib most lovely, tender, pious, confiding trusting of mothers in lier Heavenly Father's care and grace. She never doubted — she believed. She always prayed as if she did. So they do at this union prayer-meeting. I must go there to-day — ^I will go there. No power on earth or in hell shall stop me. I well know that there are powers of darkness that would hinder me. I sent for that Christian friend who incited me last night, to come and converse, and pray with me as soon as I was out of my bed, or as I thought he had risen. " Oh, if God will only have mercy on my poor soul? I have besought him to remove all the ob- stacles, and take them out of the way, and teach me by his Holy Sprit, how to come to Jesus as a Sa- viour. I have never thought much of Christ — ^never understood his office, work, and character. If he is the only Saviour, I must understand it. I have no ability of my own ; no righteousness of my own. I am as an unclean thing, and my righteousness as filthy rags. I assent to the truth because it is true, and I must. It is of no use to hide the truth from myself. My Bible — my mother's Bible — and my conscience, teach me what I am, and what I have made myself. Oh, the bitter pangs of an accusing 196 POWER OF TEAYER. conscience ! Oli ! the unspeakable anguish of the heart that cannot speak one word for itself! I need a Saviour — miglity to save. I must seek him — 1 will. I am on the sea of existence, and I never can get off from it. I am afloat — no anchor, no rudder, no compass, no book of directions — for I have i)ut them all far from me. "What a tlioughtless, guilty, suicidal creature I have been, dancing upon the edge of an awful precipice, my very ' feet taking hold on hell.' God of mercy save ! Saviour of the perish- ing, save, or I perish. " It is time. Tlie noon-tide hour — the blessed hour of prayer. Oh, that they would pray for mo to-day. I shall ask them — I must. I shall say : Oh, pray for me, a poor, miserable, self-ruined wretch as I am." PART FOURTH. It is the hour of prayer. The soul-stirring hymn has been sung by animated voices. The holy word of God has been read. The fervent prayer has been offered. A solemn stillness per- vades the lecture-room. Every part is crowded. There is a little sea of earnest, upturned faces. It ia THE UNION PRAYER-MEETING. A young, fine-looking gentleman rises in the back HIS EYES OPENED. 19? part of tlie room and begins to speak witii evident and suppressed emotion : " My brethren ! I stand before yon, a monument of God's amazing mercy and goodness. Yesterday you were asked to pray for me ; to-day I come to join you in ascriptions of praise to Him who saves sinners by his grace. I stand here to tell you that the Lord has put a new song into my mouth. I praise him witli my whole heart for what he has done for me. Oh ! such a blind, ruined, self-right- eous sinner as I was but two days ago, when I came into the first prayer-meeting. I have been the world over. I have seen everything worthy of being seen, but I never saw such a prayer-meeting as this ; and glory be to God, for ever bringing me in his mercy to this place of prayer, for here he met me. Here the bandages were stripped from my eyes, and I stood out before myself, naked, in my own deformity. Here I saw the inside of the whited sepulchre, full of all uncleanness. Oh, what a sinner I have been ! But the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. Yes, forever blessed be his holy name, that I can feel that his blood avails for me. I will praise him, oh, I will praise him, while 1 have my being. All I have and all I am I conse- crate to Jesus, my Saviour, my God. I love him with a love that is all unutterable. Oh ! if I ha/i 198 rOWEK OF PKAYEK. words to tell it ! But words are too poor to tell the love I feel. He is unspeakably precious to me. The walls of this room are precious to me — the very floor, too, on which I stand. How can I ever forget this precious place of prayer? How dear to me is this little band of brothers and sisters, who bore up my case to the throne of heavenly grace ! Here mercy found me — here mercy was extended to me — here the Saviour first revealed himself to me. Oh I how precious !" And he sat down amid the tears and the sup- pressed sobs of all in the room. Then a moment's pause, and they all joined in singing a hjTiin of Joyful gratitude and praise. A. pastor's sketch. 199 CHAPTER XYT, A. Pastor's Sketch — An anxious Inquirer — Complains of a want of Feeling — Encouraged to Pray — Relapses and Returns — Instructed in the Nature of Faith — Relief not the thing to seek — Christ's Ability to save — A Glimmer of Light — The Sun of Righteousness. There can be no doubt of the propriety and utility of introducing the following narrative. It is from a pastor's note-book, and he tells me in yielding to my request to be allowed the use of it here, that so many interesting cases have fallen in his way, that he has recorded them with a view to their publica- tion. When his book is given to the public it will contain this and many other precious examples of the willingness of the Lord our Saviour to receive poor sinners. " During the revival quite a number of youth visited my study for religious inquiry. Sarah was one of them. For several years she had been under the care of a most estimable lady, as her Sunday-school teacher, and had been thoroughly taught the way of life. She came to me, thereforeij 200 POWER C)F PEATER. with a mind already imbued with religions trnth, needing little instruction in regard to the funda- mental principles of the gospel. She was a young lady of excessive modesty, and could scarcely refer to herself, under any circumstances, without a blush. It was with no small difficulty, therefore, that she had decided to come to me and disclose her feelings in regard to her personal salvation. " The first question which I put to her, and which ordinarily I proposed to inquirers, was, ' Do you feel yourself to be a sinner V ' I do,' was her reply ; ' but not so deeply as I ought, or as I wish I did.' " ' But you have not been a very great sinner; have you, Sarah V " Casting her eye towards me in wonder, she said, ' Oh ! sir, no words can express the magnitude of my sins.' " ' But how so ? If we were to judge by your out- ward conduct, it would be difficult to fix so heinous a charge upon you as you seem disposed to fix upon yourself. You have been a dutiful child ; a regular attendant on religious services ; amiable in all your intercourse with others — wherein have you sinned so grievously ?' _. " ' God,' said she, ' looketh on the heart, and where man might not condemn, my own conscience, and He who seeth not as man seeth, may. Man;/ SELF-CONDEMNED. 201 actions, you know, sir, which pass lor good among men, if judged bj the divine law, would prove the offspring of selfishness and sin. I find that conduct on which I used to pride myself is void of all virtue and goodness by reason of the vanity and self com- placency which accompanied it, I see myself in a very different light now, since I began to realize my sins and short-comings. Still, I am most of all dis- tressed by the thought that whilst my sins are so great, my sense of them is so small. Oh! sir, could I hut feel more ! This is what I want — more feeling P " ' But suppose you were to have more feeling, and as deep as you desire, what would be the effect ; and what would you do V " ' Why, then, it seems to me, that I could appre- ciate the evil of sin better, and should be more likely to go with my burden to the Saviour.' " ' Perhaps so. But if God should not see fit to in- crease the weight of your burden, and you should see no more the evil of sin than you do now, what then would be your duty ?' " ' I suppose I should have to go to the Saviour just as I am.' " ' Yes, you would, or not go at all. As, then, you cannot be sure of this increase of conviction, would it not be best to apply at once to him for salvation ? By waiting, you may lose even what conviction yoff 9* 202 POWEK OF PEAYEB. have. The world, remember, is ready to renew ita temptations, and unless you are decided, and act with promptitude, may sweep you back to the point of carelessness or indifference where you once stood.' " At the bare idea of this she trembled. ' I hope I may never go back. But how can I go forward when my heart is so hard ? Will he receive me, so guilty, yet so stupidly insensible to my condition ?" "Try him. Nothing will be lost by the experi- ment. I know not that any fixed standard of feeling is laid down in the Bible. It is not said — ^if you feel deejply^ you may go to Christ for salvation. But if you feel your need of him at all, go and seek his mercy. He does not say, him that cometh to me un- der a deep sense of sin I will save ; but whosoever will, let him come ; and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' " 'True — I see my error. But somehow an impass- able barrier seems to lie between me and salvation. Look which way I will, I get no light. A Qark cloud seems to envelop me. I wish T knew what to do. It seems to me I would do anything, or make any sa- crifice if I could only get hold of the anchor of hope.' " 'Ah, my young friend, you are not willing, I fear, to do the one thing, and the only thing in your cir cumstances, which is required,' FAITH IN CHRIST. 203 " < What is that, I pray V " ' It is to forsake all your own doings, and cast yourself sim]3ly and solely into the hands of Christ. In one word, it is to helieve. You think you must do Bomething. And so, in one sense, you must. But what is the work required ? It is not to do this and that, with a view to propitiate God, or to prepare yourself to come to Christ. " This is the work of God; namely, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Do this, and light will come." " ' You are right. I see that you are, I know I must exercise faith in Christ, and that all my own righte- ousness is but filthy rags ; and yet I can't seem to do that very simple thing. If I know my own heart, I do not depend upon my works for salvation. God knows I have no good works to lean upon. But when I think of my dull and dead state of heart, it seems as if I must pray for penitence, and exercise it, before I am in a condition to apply to the Saviour for his mercy. Is that a wrong feeling V " ' I think it is. It is a natm^al feeling. I meet it continually in persons under conviction of sin. They seem to think that the direct road to Christ by faith — by simply taking him at his word — is too short a one. They imagine that they must first get a certain amount of feeling : that the conviction must become 60 deep as to bear them like a resistless current t(i 204: POWER OF PKAYEE. Christ. But mark ! in this state of mind, there ia evidently a leaven of self-righteousness. Tliat deep feeling which they have not, but which they are striv- ing after, is intended to qualify them, in a sense, for acceptance with Christ. They think he will be more likely to receive them. And at any rate that tliey will be much more likely to come unto him. I^ow the Lord Jesus receiveth sinners, sinners of all classes and descriptions ; some with more and some with less conviction. If you feel yourself to be a sin- ner, you are invited to come. If you feel your need of him, that is the fitness he requires. What if you have a heart like a rock of ice ! Still wait not for nature to soften it. Attempt not to soften it yourself. But go to Jesus, who alone can melt it into contri- tion. A view of him on the cross, is the surest way to convert that heart of stone into a heart of flesh. Ia the subject any clearer ? Do you understand it an^ better V " ' I think I do. I will try to act on your advice. And meanwhile pray for me, that I may not only feel after him, hwifind him.' " Thus the interview terminated ; and I confidently expected that one so intelligent as she was on points of practical religion, would at once make a surrender of her heart to the Saviour, and that the next tim^ 1 should see her, would be to congratulate her on '. lo Satan's suggestions. 205 blessed change which had taken place. Bnt I was mistaken. Her path grew darker every hour. The powers and principalities of the pit seemed to have been 1st loose upon her. All sorts of skejDtical sug- gestions were thrown into her mind. Instead of making her way at once to the foot of the cross, she found the path walled up by her unbelief. Al- most in sight, as it were, of the promised land, she seemed to be thrown back upon the desert to wan- der in weariness and despair among its solitudes. If she attempted to pray, something would whisper, ' the prayers of the wicked' are abomination unto the Lord.' She tried to act on her pastor's advice, and go directly for help to the Lord Jesus Christ ; but the will to move in that direction seemed to find no con- senting jpower. She was like a person under the nightmare, seeking to escape some demon pursuer, and reach a point of safety, and yet incapable of mov- ing a single step. Overwhelmed with these feel- ings, she seeks again the advice and prayers of her pastor." SECOND INTERVIEW. Wlio that has conferred with a sin-stricken soul, under circumstances like these, will not feel the deepest sympathy in its behalf! But along with this sympathy will come the feeling— what can man do \ 206 PUWEK OF PKATEK. Never does a minister feel more his weakness, as well as his responsibility, than when an inquiring sinner, with a mind shrouded in the darkness of despair, comes to him for his prayers, his counsels and his sympathy. It will not do to seek relief siinjply in their behalf. The soul is in a critical state. Relief is not the jprinci^al thing. That will come in due time, provided the soul is enabled to exercise the feelings which the gospel requires. We are too apt, under the influence of sympathy, to apply the balm, ere yet the wound has been probed, and the morbid symptoms removed. With a countenance wan and woeful, Sarah takes her seat and looks her sorrows. She cannot relate them. Her agony is too deep for words. She seems to think that her pastor can do something for her. " I perceive, Sarah, that you have not yet found peace in believing." She shook her head. " Why is it ?" " Oh I cannot tell. I am the most wretched of mortals. I have no faith in anything. I am tempted to doubt everything — ^to deny God. Yes I tremble to think that I am almost an atheist. I try to pray ; but can't. I read ; but all is darkness. I fear that I am given up. I even fear, and almost believe that I have committed some sin of peculiar aggravation for the pardon of which it is unlawful to pray. There is such a sin ; is there not ?" CAN YOU BELIEVE? 207 " There was, perhaps, in Apostolic times ; and some may have been guilty of it. And I would not say positively that even now, a person may not commit the unpardonable sin. But I do not think you have. Indeed I am very sure you have not. In my opinion the suggestion in your case is from the evil one, with a view to discourage you from seeking pardon at the feet of Jesus. It is one of the devices of the wicked one to keep souk away from the great source of for- giveness. Youi sins, however great, are pardonable. There is enough value in one drop of the Saviour's blood to atone for them all. You remember it is said " His blood cleanseth us from all sin." Can you not believe this, and be comforted by it ?" " Theoretically I can. I have always believed it : but when I come to make the application to my own case, it seems as if there was at least one exception.'' '• Ai, my young friend, this is unbelief. It is do- ing dishonor to God's word, and robbing the Saviour of his infinite merits. If that blood cannot wash your sins away — ^if its virtue is not sufiicient to cancel your guilt, then the atonement is a failure ; and God is not true when he says, ' it cleanseth from all sin.' You are treading on dangerous ground when you put your own case beyond the possibility of salvation, unless you have, by revelation, the assurance that you have actually committed the impardonablo sin." 208 POWER OF PRATEK. This view struck lier forcibly. Pausing awhilcj she said she thought she had done wrong to allow her mind to take a train of thought so skeptical. " I can think of nothing more dreadful than denying Christ's ability to save. Do you think it was a temp- tation of Satan ; and that God will not make it an in- superable barrier to my salvation ?" " I do. And now let me urge you to turn yoar at- tention more to the fullness of Christ ; and dwell mor»} on those passages of Scripture which hold up the Saviour to sinners, as able to save to the uttermost. Your view is too constantly in the direction of your own short-comings. You think only, or too exclu- sively on the demands of the law ; and not on him who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. The commandment has come, and slain you. But there is life in Christ. He takes the dead sinner — dead by the stroke of the law — and breathes life into him. Jesus stands between you and that broken law, and says, come unto me and be ye saved. For every violation of that law he has paid double. The moment you accept him as the Lord your righteousness, the law has no hold upon you in the way of condemnation and penalty. It has received compensation in Jesus' blood, and the believer is free. Do you apprehend this view ?" " I think I do. Tliere is, at least, a glimmer ol' THE GKEAT STRUGGLE. 209 light. And yet ere I reacli my home, I fear it will give place to the same terrible unbelief and dark- ness." And it did. The struggle was renewed ; and for weeks no light came. There was no hoj)e, and no sign of it for a long time. What was the conse- quence ? Did she give up in despair ? She was not one to give up. Her mind was made up never to relinquish the subject — to wrestle and peay so long as life should last. If she died, it should be with her eyes set in the direction of the cross. Such being her determination, after weeks of agony ^ of weeping^ of peayee, traversing, as it were, the very valley and shadow of death, she at length discerned that same glimmer, as if from the cross. And this time it grew brighter as the twilight deep- ens into morning ; and a peaceful serenity came over her — the harbinger of mercy, and the token that she had passed from death unto life. Almost fearing to trust to this new feeling as evi- dence of a gracious change, she kept these things and pondered them in her heart, until, as she thought, it would be safe to reveal them to her pastor and her Christian friends. That period soon arrived. They had themselves anticipated it, in the manifest sere- nity, which, like a halo, encircled her countenance Like the woman in the gospel, who after diligent ilO POWER OF PKATEE. .earcli by broom and light, bad found ber piece of noney, and tben called ber friends togetber for tbeir congratulations ; so sbe, baving found *be pearl of great price, wlien assured of it, made known ber joy to tbose wlio bad sympathized witb ber, and prayed for ber, and uniting witb tbe angels of God, tbey gave vent to tbeir joy and gratitude tbat anotber sin- ner bad repented, and tbat anotber lost one bad been found. A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 211 CHAPTEE XYII. A Roaan Catholic Experience — Out of Employment — Reads iu the " HiriJd " of the Prayer-meetings — Attends — Is astonished — • Tower of Prayer — Contrasted with the Mass — His Deep Convic- tions — fascinated — Reveals his State — Light Breaks in — Hia Wife follows him to Christ. He iiad been in tlie country but a few weeks. He was born in Ireland — resided for thirteen years in England — came to tliis country in January last — was witlioat friends — without employment — a stranger in a strange land. He was thirty-one years of age ; was marrit>d to a wife nine years younger than him- self. He wai^ well educated — of good address — good manners — and had the appearance of a gentleman. He had been employed for some time in the London post-office as a cleik, before coming to this country. He was a competent man in almost any business, and so he thought he would try his hand in some* thing new, and come to America. He could not have chosen a more inopportune time to come than he did — ^landing on these shores, and cast into this cold and heartless city when thousands ot 212 POWER OF PRATER. young men were thrown out of employment lay the force of the money pressure — himself depending on employment for support. In this state of things he took up the Herald one day, in which the proceedings of some of the daily pyiyer-meetings were reported. He read them, and said to himself, " This is a most extraordinary state of things. I have never seen or heard of anything of the kind. I will go into the Fulton street prayer- meeting this very day, and see what all this means." True to his resolution, at the appointed hour he made his appearance at the door of the middle lec- ture-room, and, as a stranger, he was invited in, and seated, as any other stranger would be. How little did the throng around know what was going on in that man's mind. A bigoted Roman Catholic — ^per- fectly satisfied with his own religious system and be- lief — knowing little about it, except that the priest kept his conscience, and pardoned his sins, at stated periods, for a consideration^ he looked over this earnest mass of human beings with wonder and amazement. He had come early, and after be- ing seated, he watched with deep interest the filling up of the room. It became more densely crowded, till at last not another individual could be stowed away anywhere. The deep solemnity which sat upon A STRANGER PRATING. 213 every coiintcnance puzzled li.'m. He knew not tlie meaning of it. The exercises began. Tlie hymn was sung — the Scriptures were read — then followed^ prayer. This was such prayer as he had never heard before. All fiUed him with awe. But when the requests for prayer were read, he learned something which he had never learned be- fore. He pondered over this asking men to pray that sinners might be convicted of sin, and might be converted. His mind was perplexed. He could not understand it. After reading some of these requests, a gentleman rose up to pray. That countenance and figure bore, he thought, a striking resemblance to the celebrated Daniel O'Connell, whom he had known, and this single circumstance riveted his at- tention to the man and to the prayer he was now making. As the prayer proceeded, he noticed that the whole assembly seemed to be moved by one common impulse, and all bowed their heads in prayer. These American Protestants, he thought, had some strange ways about them. " Was this prayer V Here was no mass being said — ^here were none of the forms of prayer. There he sat, bolt up- right, in the back part of the room, looking on. He was a simple spectator of the scene. Li his own church, in praye", he could be just about as much 214 POWEK OF PKAYEE. of a spectator as now. He said his part of tlie ser vice, with, not a particle of feeling in it. He had never felt the prayers he was saying, or the priest was saying for him. Here all seemed to pray. He knew that they felt — he could feel that they did. There was deep emotion all around him. He had seen hundreds of services performed without a single tear. But now tears flowed freely down the cheeks of him who was waiting at the throne of grace. Such a prayer for such objects he had never heard before. All were weeping. " What for ?" From that hour his carnal security was broken up, never to be regained again, and leaving him to live as he had lived. The peace of his mind was de- stroyed. The complacency of his mind in himself — in his church — in the bhnd system of religious faith held life-long, was gone. He went away from that meeting in trouble. The calm, stupid serenity of his thoughtless life was an astonishment to him. He said to himself, " These people pray for things which I never prayed for ; these people make such confes- sions as I never made ; and these people possess some- thing which I never possessed. And if these things are suitable and proper for them, they are suitable and proper for me." The next day found him in the prayer-meeting — and so did the next — and so every day found him an NO KOMANIST NOW. 215 anxious attendant tliere — and with the attendance upon the second or third meeting finished, he found all confidence in his church at an endless end. He wondered at himself at being so ignorant and stupid as to believe that there was any religion in it. He saw its gorgeous emptiness, its heartless pretensions, and its haughty arrogance and assumptions. His convictions from the second or third meeting were that there were no such delusions this side of the infernal pit as this church practised. Every vestige of his respect and confidence was gone forever. He was no Komanist now. When thus shorn, almost in a day, of all spiritual strength ; when all the bandages were so suddenly snatched from his eyes, was it wonderful that his mind should be roused with religious anxiety ? It would have been wonderful if it had not been. These Fulton street prayer -meetings were a means of great mental distress to him, and yet he could not stay away. The more he attended, the more he be- came acquainted with himself as a sinner — ^the more he felt his need of Christ — and the more earnestly did he desire to have a saving interest in him, and to be- come a true Christian. Still his mind was very blind and dark. "What it was to be a Christian he but obscurely perceived and J^ut feebly comprehended. He walked in great a.nd 216 POWER OF PRAYER. deep darkness. All this about tlie sins of the heart — all this about sins every day and hour — sins con- tinnallj — all this about the renewal of the heart by the regenerating power of the Holy Sj^irit lay in a new held of moral vision. Things of awful import he saw now for the first time — and the more he learned the deeper became his distress. At length his case became known to some of his fellow-worshippers. At first and for some time he had concealed his state of mind from every human being. He was a stranger. To whom should he apply ? When his anxiety became so great that he could conceal it no longer, he made it known to those who had charge of these meetings. They conversed with him. They prayed with him. Tliey induced him to pray. But still that dark cloud lay upon his heart. N^ot a ray of heavenly light shot through it. Not a word was said to him about leaving his own church. IJTot any works of self-righteousness were suggested. Something of this kind his heart was continually seeking after. It was ready enough to run in its old ways. But he was urged simply to come to Christ, as the atoning Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. He was directed to come to Christ just as he was, and to rely on nothing except the righteousness of Christ for all his hopes of justification with God. Oh! how did his THE LIGHT BREAKS IN. 217 iiimd take in the glorious truth, " Tlierefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." For more tlian two months his mind " wearied after a resting-place." He was asked : " Is there anything that you are unwilling to give up for an interest in Christ ?" His answer was : " I know of nothing." He had a Roman Catholic wife. Perhaps he was not aware of the influence this simple fact had in deterring him from coming to Christ, The struggle was a long and severe one. His mind became more and more imbued with the great and fundamental doctrines of the gospel. At length the light broke in upon his mind and heart. Tlie darkness disappeared. He wasinabled to receive Christ, in all his offices, as his Saviour. Christ was " formed in his heart, the hope of glory." Oh, what a tide of joy and peace was now welling up in his soul continually. The play upon his coun- tenance of the happy feelings within, showed how great and wonderful was the change. That expres- sion of sadness and despair was, gone, and his face was animated with the hope and joy within. The great feature of his heart and mind now was deep humility — a deep sense of his un worthiness. It is, perhaps, very rarely that a man in his circum- stances needed — absolutely needed — so much encour- JO 218 POWER OF PKAYER. agement. He was distrustful of himself to the last degree. He wished to make an open profession of religion. This he was ready and anxious to do. But to take the next step, and go to the Lord's table, and partake of the sacrament of the Lord's supper — ^liis mind halted here — under a deep and painful sense of his great unfitness, and utter unworthiness. He seemed to be fearful of " eating and drinking un- worthily, not discerning the Lord's body." Tlie writer calls to mind conversations had on this sub- ject. He seemed to be filled -vt^ith a sort of dismay at the possibility of incurring the condemnation spoken of by the apostle. "When once his duty was clearly seen, and the nature of the ordinance and the qualifications of the subject were fully understood, he went forward in duty at once. He is now a worthy member of the church, and rejoices exceedingly in the "hope set before him." He has been discarded by all his friends of the Homan Catholic Church, and followed and pursued with all manner of petty persecutions oy the minions of a priesthood as despotic and abso- lute as death, and of a church that never " va/ries^'' but is ever the same. His young wife has become so disgusted with this exhibition of the bitter malig- nity of those of her own faith, and so satisfied of the truth and sincerity of her husband, that she has de- THE LORD WILL PKOVIDE. 219 clared lier intention to go witli her Imsband, and bear his persecutions with him. By their means he has been cut off from the little support wliich he would otherwise have had, and has been reduced to great hardships, which he endures witliout a mur- mur. He has confidence that the Lord, who allows bim to be tried, will also provide. 220 POWER OF PKATEK. CHAPTEE XYIII. i The Work among the Seamen — Many Languages spoken — Prayers bet- ter than Rum — An Irish CathoUc — An aged Mariner — A sinking Vessel saved in the midst of prayer — The North Carolina — The Wabash — A Swedish Sailor at the Wheel — The awful Scene on the Austria, and singular coincidence — Six Sea Captains converted — Another Captain saved — His remarkable Experience. In no sphere of influence and interest has the revival been more efficient than among the seamen of this and other ports, as well as on the " great and wide Bea." I have never read or heard of more wonderful things connected with the power of prayer, than have come to light in the communications which have heen sent to me from the ships on the ocean and the meetings of sailors on shore. Some of these facts will be found in this chapter, and will be read with admiring gratitude by every one who loves the Saviour, and rejoices in hearing that " the abundance of the sea " is given unto Him. The Rev. C. C. Jones, Pastor of the Mariner's Church, who is devoted to this specific department of labor, has at my request prepared a sketch of MANY TONGUES. 221 some interesting facts, wliich I shall give in liis own words : The Manner's Cliurch maj be truly called a working cliurcli. Many of its members and cliurch officers, and gentlemen of the Port Society, are dail/ engaged in efforts to secure the welfare of the " men of the sea." The meetings for prayer^ which have been sustained without ceasing, are four weekly, and three Sabbath prayer-meetings, besides the preaching morning and evening, and two adult Bible classes. The prayer-meeting on Monday evening is set apart for JSTorwegians, Swedes, Danes, and Finns, and has at times been greatly blest in the conversion of the Scandinavian seamen who have been made the subject of prayer. In this and other prayer- meetings, there have at times been as many lan- guages represented as at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Prom a record of more than four thou- sand names of seamen who have visited the pastor and our devoted missionary, Joseph H. Gardiner, it is found that men of seventy-six different nationalities (including the islands of the sea) are represented. Many of these men speak from two to six different languages. Not long ago a Finn called upon the pastor who spoke ten different languages ; seven of which he could write well. He had received a uni- versity education in his own country, but is still 222 POWEE OF PKATEK. a sailor before the mast, and is laboring actively for Christ. On anoi*".her occasion, eight men came to the pas- tor's study in a group, and, on inquiry, it was found that the eight together spoke twenty-six languages. There were in the company, one ITorwegian, two Frenchmen, one Englishman, one Portuguese, and three Italians. The Norwegian spoke three lan- guages ; the Portuguese, three, and the Englishman, two ; one of the Frenchmen spoke three, the other, two ; of the three Italians, one spoke six, another four, and the other, three. The languages spoken were English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Norwegian, Dutch, Arabic, Turkish, and Bengalee. It will be readily seen that if the power of the Holy Ghost is but brought to bear on men pos- sessing such facilities for communication, they will become literally living epistles, known and read of all men, and may be reckoned among the most effi- cient auxiliaries in the work of extending and build- ing up the church of God, Among those who have given evidence of having been born again here, there have been some striking manifestations of the readiness of the Holy Spirit to answer prayer. In all our prayer-meetings it has been our custom to give an opportunity for seamen and others who desired an interest in our prayers, to manifest that BETTEK THAN RUM. 223 desire by rising ; and it is not at all an uncommon thing for from six to sixteen to d^ so at a single nieet« ing. As a result of these prayers, not a week haa passed without one or more souls coming humbly to the foot of the cross- One poor fellow, a sailor, who was convinced of his . sins, and who flew to Christ for a refuge, was met by the missionary at his board ing-hoube just as he was packing his chest for sea. Tlie landlord was quite busy filling up some jugs of liquor, which he placed in each chest for a sea stock, charging it to Jack, of course, and insisted on placing one in the chest of the inquiring sailor ; but he refused, and pei"sisted in the refusal, notwithstanding the repeated solicita- tions of the landlord and his wife ; and, looking at the missionary, said, with much feeling : " I would rather take your praters to sea with me, than all tlie rum in the worlcV In another instance, a sailor was desired to abstain from intoxicating drinks, and was told that he could do nothing without prayer to God for his assistance. Determined to commence at once, he exhibited that peculiar trait of the sailor's character — ^impulsiveness — by dropping on his knees in the bar-room, and praying there for strength to keep his vow. That vow he has kept ; and, some time afterwards, while 'T-n his rounds, Mr. Gardiner was accosted, in a strong 224 POWER OF PRATER. Ilibernian brogue by the landlady, with, " Faith, 1 do believe you have converted PeterP So that his CGnduct was such that others "took knowledge of him that he had been with Jesus." One, a female, the wife of a sailor, now keeping a sailor boarding-house, came to the prayer-meeting on Sabbath afternoon, was convinced of her danger as a sinner, and asked the prayers of the people of God. After a short season of deep conviction, dur- ing which she communicated her views to her hus- band, they agreed to put away the bar or liquor closet, and both began to seek the Lord, who, true to his promise, was found of them. She is now a mem- ber of the church, and he is a candidate for member- ship. Both are consistent Christians, and not only come to the house of God themselves, but also bring their boarders wfth them. Another, an Irishman and a rigid Catholic, was induced to attend a daily prayer-meeting, held in the church for some few weeks at eleven a.m., became convinced of his sins, and rose to ask prayer for himself. After some interview with the pastor, he felt that Christ was his Saviour — he gave up the Yirgin Mary and the Saints — asked prayer for hia wife and child, whom he brought with him to meet- ing. His wife gave herself to Christ, and he at onca entered upon aggressive efforts upon the man of sin. A^ AGKD SAILOR. 225 Having obtained work at the Central Park, be armed himself with tracts and went among bis for- mer associates ; and with a heart brimful of affec- tion, read to them the tracts, and " mightily con- vinced them, showing them by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." He and his wife are both con- sistent members of the Mariner's Church. I will add but one more illustration out of many answers to jprayer that present themselves to my mind at this moment, as the fruits of the present revival : It is that of an old sailor who has spent forty- three years of his eventful life on the sea. He came at first, while slightly under the influence of liquor, to the church service on Sabbath evening, accompa- nied by his wife, and took seats near the door. The subject that evening was, " Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world." Shortly after the commencement of the sermon, the old white-headed, white-bearded sailor and his aged companion were seen making their way up the aisle towards the pulpit, and on reaching the front seat they both came to an anchor. Tlie old mr ^ fixed his eyes on the pastor, and never once took ol.. his gaze until the sermon closed ; during the addresa , he wept much, and at the close the pastor left the pulpit and approached him, laying his hand upon bis shoulder, and saying as he did so : 10* 226 POWER OF PKATEB. " Well, sir, can you look to tliis Lamb of God V^ He answered with much emotion: "I don't know, sir, abont that. It is not so easy." "But," was the inquiry, "do you desire to behold him as your Saviour ?" He answered : " I wish I could." As the crowd were passing out, he was urged to call and see the pastor in his study on Monday morning. He promised to do so, and on Monday morning at ten o'clock in came the old sailor. Five others had come inquiring, as a result of last night's sermon. And now the old man came in leaning upon his staiF, when the following dialogue ensued : Pastor. — "Well, sir, how is it this morning, do you still feel anxious about your soul ? you are draw- ing near the grave and will soon step into it, and are not prepared." J. B. — " No, sir, I fear not. But do you tlmik Christ will save me ?" As he asked the question he looked at me with intense interest, as if he felt that everything temporal and eternal depended on the answer. jP. — " Why do you ask that question, is there any- thing special in your case ?" J, B. — " Oh, sir, I have been such a great sinner ; I'm afraid I've gone too far. God has been so good to me, and I have treated him shamefully I have m DANGEKS OFT. 227 been at sea forty-tliree years before tlie mast and abaft it, and have been in many dangers. Out of them all tlie Lord lias delivered me. I have been shipwrecked three times. The first time, when a boy, in the ISTorth Sea, the vessel went ashore in the breakers. I was washed overboard by a sea with two boats' paddles in my hand, that kept me afloat. I then called upon God, repeating the prayer my mother taught me ; and after some hours, the men on the shore threw me a line with some lead attached to it, which I twined around the paddles and they drew me on shore. Tliree of us only were saved out of eleven. Once off the Falkland Islands, in a south-sea whale-ship, I was one of a boat's crew of seven who took the boat with a week's provision and deserted tnc ship. But we paid dearly for our de- sertion. "VVe were sixty days in that open boat; twenty-six of those days not one of us had a drop of fresh water in our lips. After the week's provisions were exhausted, we lived on the flesh and blood of penguins and seals. At another time I was cast- away off Barnegat, and out of thirty-one persons, crew and passengers, only four of us were saved. I was picked up, after knocking about in the breakers on the bottom of a boat about three or four hours, iuriug which time I prayed most fervently to God Por deliverance ; and he was pleased to hear my 228 POWEK OF PiiAYEK. prayer. I hare fallen ovei'board nine times, and have been ' in deatli oft ' in various engagements and other exposures. , But what kills me is that, after God had heard my prayers and promises, I should turn round and curse him as soon as I got dry clothes on." P. — "Well, now, do you repent of all your Bins ?" J. B. — " Yes, sir, I do most truly." P. — " Are you willing to cast away everything that offends Him. To give up drinking and all other sins ?" J. B. — " I will, sir, with God's help, if I die by it." The pastor then bowed with him in prayer, and he left with full purpose of heart to live no longer to himself, but to Christ who died for him. At our next prayer-meeting he was present, and rose to ask the prayers of the people of God. Those prayers were heard and now he walks humbly before the Lord. Three months after that conversation, J. B. came before the Council of the Mariner's Church and was received into membership, on a profession of his faith in Christ, and to a seat at the table of the Lord. lie is now a devout and humble follower of our Lord Jesus Christ; and there is not a more attentive hearer, or more faithful doer of the word SEAMEN SAVED. 220 of God in tlie whole congi'egation than that same hoary-headed, white-bearded man of the sea. Mr. Jones adds that the work is still in progress ; that it appears as if the Holy Spirit has been present with us all along, so that the church has been blessed with a continuous revival; the result of which has been the reception of some three hundred and fifty persons into church membership since the month of March, 1856. On that day, we organized our church with sixty members. From that day to this, al- though the communion has been administered on the first Sabbath of each month, we have never sat down to the Master's table without some new tro- phies of divine grace to partake with us in that de- lightful ordinance. Tlie members received on these separate occasions ranging from three to sixty souls, and averaging eleven each month. Of this three hundred and fifty, three hundred have been received on a profession of their faith in Christ, and one hun- dred and forty-six are practical seamen, many of whom are, at this writing, scattered to the four winds of heaven, and are working for Christ, as their corre • spondence with the pastor and the reports of foreign chaplains clearly shows. In addition to those who united with the churchj there must be, at the lowest calculation, one hundred seamen who have gone to sea under deep conviction, 230 rOWEK OF PEAYES. and with the promise that they would seek Chrisl^ or in the possession already of a flickering hope, but who could not remain on shore long enough to give to the church the necessary evidence of their entire submission to Christ. Some of these are in the mines of California, Some in Australia. Some have subsequently united with other churches, and some have been the means of presenting the saving truths of the Gospel to their shipmates, and though they have gone forth weeping, bearing "precious seed," for months, at sea, have " come back rejoic- ing, bringing their sheaves with them." The union prayer-meetings have furnished many striking cases of interest from the same department of Christian effort. In one of these meetings, a sailor speaker rose, and said : " I have some good news from the sea. Some time ago, a large vessel became leaky, and in a violent gale she was so strained, that she opened her seams, and leaked very badly. The captain did all he could to save his ship and his crew, but finally he gave it up ,in despair. He called his crew together, tliirty-two in all, and said : ' My men, I can keep it from you no longer. We must go down in a very short time. Are you pre- pared V The captain was not a pious man. Two of the seamen stepped forward, and said : ' Captain, we believe we are prepared.' ' Then pray for me and SAVED IN PBAYER. 231 for your shipmates ; I acknowledge I am not pre- pared.' They all kneeled down on the deck to- gether, and these two men prayed. They asked God to save them, if it was consistent with his will ; but at all events, to prepare them to live or die. They prayed earnestly. They had discovered a large ship at a great distance from tliem, before they began to pray ; so far off, that they did not attempt to signalize her, not supposing that they could at- tract attention. So they kept on praying, and did not attempt any means of making known their situ- ation to the distant ship. They prayed for their lives, if it was God's will to spare them, or if not, that they might be the children of God, living or dying. While they were yet on their knees in prayer, they heard a noise, and looking over the side, there was a life-boat from the distant ship, well manned, which took them all in, and took them on board. The ship had discovered the sinking condi- tion of the stranger, and sent her boat to their aid. The crew, thus rescued, were very much impressed that this was the hand of God, in answer to prayer. They resolved to hold a daily prayer-meeting, which they did, and when they landed at Fayal, some time afterwards, every one of these thirty- two seamen had become hopefully pious." What power but a power divine wrought the change? How true it is, that 232 POWER OF PKAYER. in tliis great awakening, the light is breaking out everywhere, on the sea and on the land, and thou- sands on thousands are rejoicing in the light. The revival has, in many instances, appeared at sea, where there has been no communication with the shore. Father Burnett has told me with tears of the glori- ous revival which has been in progress for some months on the North Carolina, a receiving ship in this port. Tliis venerable servant of God has long been devotedly engaged in his work, especially among the seamen, but he says that he has never seen such displays of divine grace as during the present re- vivals. A gentleman rose at one of the Fulton stj-eet meetings and said : " I attended divine service on this ship last Sab- bath. I inquired of the preacher in charge how many had become pious since last fall. He said, not less than 150 ; it may be 200. Some of these are on the Wabash, and some on board the Savannah ; some go on the Sabine. So these converted men are scat- tered abroad, some on one ship and some on another. They will let their light shine wherever they may be There are now 350 on board the ISTorth Carolina ; a goodly number of these attended the service, which is an entirely voluntary one, and only those attend who choose. The exercises began with singing that beautiful hymn: MEN OF THE SEA. 233 'Jesus, thou art the sinner's friend, As such I l3ok to thee.' Then followed prayer and two addresses, wLicli were listened to with deep attention and interest. A more still and solemn assembly we have not seen this many a day. Then the readiness with which many came forward after the services were over and signed the temperance pledge and took their certificates, was very gratifying. Temperance and jnetj go together. We were gratified to see the accomplished wife of the commander in the audience, watching the attention npon the services with great interest." From the U. S. steamer Wabash, forty-five seamen sent a request to the Port Society of New York, to be remembered in the prayers of Christians here. Later news gives us the pleasing intelligence that a daily prayer-meeting is maintained on board the Wa- bash ; that the fii'st lieutenant has become a pious man ; that he encourages these meetings, and that he often addresses them, using all his influence in their behalf. On that ship are several sailors and marines who became pious last winter and spring on board the receiving ship North Carolina. What gladden- ing and glorious news this is from a ship of war. A Swedish sailor, who spoke very broken English, addressed the meeting. The Holy Spirit overtook him away in mii-ocean, and pursued him day and 234 POWER OF PKAYER. niglit and would give him no rest. " I was ready to cry out," said he, "who will deliver me? who will help me ? and my heart sunk down in despair. Oh ! what a miserable sinner I felt I w&s. My heart was sick and sore. I knew not what to do. I had no one to guide me. What was to become of me ? " One night, as I was standing at the wheel, I bo- thought me of Christ, and my heart turned to him for help. And with my very first thoughts of him he met me at the wheel — and oh ! what words of love and mercy he spoke to me there at the wheel. ' Come to me, ye heavy laden ; come to me : I cast none out. I am meek and lowly of heart. Learn of me ; take my yoke : it is easy. Take my burden : my grace shall make it light.' " There at the wheel, in the dark and solemn hour, the Saviour showed himself to me. I love him be- cause he first loved me. I cannot speak your lan- guage well ; but Christ understands me and I under- stand him. And ever since I met him at the wheel — ^poor sinner's friend — I live very close to him. I hear him tell me to hold up my sails to gales of the blessed Spirit, and he will waft me straight to heaven." The awful disaster at sea, the destruction by fire of the steamer " Austria," with four hundred linman beings, is fresh in the memoi-y of every reader. It has THRILLING SCENE. 235 since been ascertained that immediately after leaving port, a prayer-meeting was begmi on board in which some souls were converted. At one of the Fulton street meetings this remarkable and thrilling scene occurred : The 91st psalm had been read by the conductor of the meeting, and several prayers offered and remarks made, when a gentleman arose in the con- gregation and made some very affecting remarks on the subject of faith and trust in God under all circumstances, and by way of illustration made men- tion of a case on board the " Austria." He said that he had been informed by some one, for he had no personal knowledge of the parties, that a man whose wife and son were on board that unfortunate ship, had recently been making most diligent inquiry of the rescued passengers who had arrived in our city, trying to learn, if possible, something as to the fate of his wife and son. That on describing his wife to one of the passengers that he had sought out, that passenger thought from the husband's de- scription that he had seen such a woman on board. The husband produced a daguerreotype of his wife, and the passenger immediately exclaimed, " That is the very woman, and God bless you, my dear sir, for it was she that organized a prayer-meeting on ^Doardj in which my soul was blessed in my conversion." 236 POWEE OF PKATER. He then informed the aiflicted husband that the last he saw of his wife and son thej were standing as far aft as thej could get away from the flames, and when at last the' devouring element rushed on them with Buch force as to be no longer endurable, he saw the wife and mother, with a calm serene countenance embrace the son, and then both committed them- selves to a watery grave. But the singular coincidence in connection with this, we have yet to relate. When the meeting had concluded, a man who sat in the same seat with the one who addressed the meeting, and the very next man to the speaker, clasped his hands, and stood for a moment unable to utter a word, such was his emotion ; but at last said : " That woman was my wife, and I, a stranger to every one here, have come in to seek consolation, and to ask an 'interest in your supplications, that God would assuage my grief, and bind up my broken heart !" The scene was deeply affecting, and never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. This rescued passenger said, in the meeting, that when in the water, swimming, a pious friend inquired of him how he felt in view of death ? I replied : " Perfectly happy ; I can now rely on Jesus, and I am safe." And looking up on the ship, I added, " Ther 3 stands the noble woman, with her son's hand THE snip WRECK SCENE. 237 in hers, to whom I owe all my hopes of salvation, for she it was that got up the prayer-meetings." What a consolation to the bereaved husband, to know that the last hours of his devoted Christian wife were spent in such acts of love to souls ! A clergyman in Philadelphia read a letter at one of the prayer-meetings, from a young man of his acquaintance who was on board the ill-fated Austria, in which he detailed the last interview betwen him- self and five Christian comrades who perished be- neath the waves. As soon as the destruction of the vessel was deemed inevitable, these six young men took a position between the flames and the water, with the understanding that at the last moment they would unitedly consign themselves to the sea. In the bare moment thus allowed to contemplate their fate, theif hope in Christ was confidently ex- pressed, and when, to escape the spreading fire, the leap became necessary, they grasped each other's hand, and with a parting "farewell," and an ex- pressed confidence that "in a few moments they would meet in heaven," they sprang into the sea. The writer of the letter states, after sustaining him- self in the water by means of a life-preserver for four hours (during which time his contemplations of a future state ripened into a joy in believing in hia Baviour such as he had never before experienced) 238 POWER OF PEATEK. a vessel hove in sight for his release. The read' ing of the letter referred to elicited an outburst of feeling all over the room. On another occasion, fifteen seamen from the ship- of-war Savannah, sent in their names that they might be remembered in the prayers of the Fulton street prayer-meeting. It was stated that thirteen of these were pious men, and two are anxious about their souls. They had sent a letter to the commanding officer of the ship, that they may have leave to hold a daily prayer-meeting on board, and they are pledged to sustain this, or some other prayer-meet- ing, as God shall give them opportunity. A -large number of sea captains have been made subjects of reviving grace, and we subjoin accounts of a few of them, taken from a sea captain's letter : Captain S., now commanding one of the Kew York and Havre packets, was met in Wall street by one of his friends, who invited him to go to a noonday prayer-meeting. It being then about the hour, he, half in joke and half in good-nature, consented and went. When an o]3portunity was given for those who desired to lead a new life to rise, that prayer might be offered for them, he, to the surprise of his friend, rose and asked Christians to pray for him, which was done heartily and earnestly. From the meeting he went to his ship, and there locked him- CAPTAIN W. 239 self in his state-room, fell on his knees, and besonglit God to have mercy upon him. His prayer was soon answered, and Lis statement, the following evening, in Mr. Home's ( hurch (Brooklyn), of God's goodneea to him, was lis';ened to with deepest attention and interest. Letters have since been received from him from Havre, which bear ample testimony that the cause of Christ has in him a faithful missionary. Captain W., of the bark B., while on a voyage from Cuba to France, met with such severe weather as to reduce his ship to nearly a wreck, in which condition, crippled in hull and spars, he succeeded in getting into !N"ew York. It was his first year as a master, and the trouble arising from his accident, added to the idea that by it he had lost the confidence of his owners, seemed to have almost broken him down. His consignee did much to comfort and reassure him, and when going to prayer-meeting was proposed by the consignee, he gladly consented ; not that he cared anything for the meeting, but he was willing to do anything and everything for his friend. He went, and there the Spirit of the Lord found him, and from a rough, swearing, fighting man, he became a zealous and devoted Christian. He, too, has written home since his arrival in France, and gives good evidence of the soundness of his conversion. Captain C, at present retired from the sea, antl 240 POWER OF PRATER. doing business in South street, New York, had been for some twenty years trying to become a Christian, but in his own way / and it was only during a Wed- nesday evening lecture at Plymouth Church, some few months since, that he found true peace in be- lieving. He is now a zealous and devoted Christian. His first efforts at family prayer were met by many crosses. After he had commenced asking a blessing at his table, some friends from the East called to take tea and pass the evening. How to manage about the blessing he did not know. They did not know of his conversion, and he had not the courage to tell them. Finally, he concluded to omit the blessing that evening, and so, when seated at the table, he seized his knife and fork and went vigorously to work. His little daughter, some six years old, however, folded her hands and closed her eyes, and after waiting some time for the blessing, said, " I am all ready now, father, ask the blessing." This brought him down, and since that time he has never dodged a duty. No sooner was Captain C. converted, than his heart went out after his five unconverted brothers. He publicly asked prayers for them at the Plymouth Church prayer-meeting, and backed the request up by an earnest and faithful letter to three of them, then on shore at the East. These three were soon after converted, although one of them has since told CAPTAIN B. 241 tne, that to break his heart the Lord had firet to break his leg ! Captain P., also retired from the sea, and doing business in South street, ITew York, embraced re- ligion a few months since, and since that time few men have been more zealous and devoted in their efforts for the conversion of others. ISTaturallj a dry- joker, his old friends and associates would frequently gather about him and joke him about his present zeal. " You can joke," said he, " as much as you like, but if you think to joke me out of my religion, you are altogether mistaken." It was my unpleasant task to inform him of the failure of a firm down East, by which he was likely to lose quite a sum of money. " Poor fellows," said he, " I pity them, for they are fine men;" and he went on to tell me some of the incidents connected with his family worship, and did not again allude to what I had told him ! After that, who can doubt Kis conversion ? Captain M., of Maine, called upon me on his way per steamer to Europe, the day before sailing. I in- vited him to a noonday prayer-meeting, and he went. While there, he came to the conclusion that it was time he " tacked ship," and accordingly he rose, when invitation was given, and asked Christians to pray for him, that he might receive strength to pur- sue a Christian life, which he was then resolved to 11 242 POWEK OF PRAYER. commence. On leaving the meeting, he told us he was going to his Hotel to tell his wife what he had done, and to beg her to join him. I^ext morning he was at the Plymouth Church prajer-meeting, and he brought his wife with him, and there, too, he arose and asked prayers for himself and wife. During the forenoon he sent for us to join him in prayer in his room at the hotel. We met there at eleven o'clock, and seldom have I witnessed a more impressive prayer-meeting than that was. He prayed fervently, and so did his wife, and both seemed humble, trust- ing, and joyous. At twelve o'clock that day they went to sea. "What a change had been wrought in that twenty-four hours in and for him ! Captain P., of an eastern ship, attended our prayer-meeting veiy regularly, and with evident in- terest, and when questioned upon the subject, ad- mitted his need of religion ; but his idea was, that when the Lord intended him to have religion, he would give him such feelings as he could not resist, and so, of course, he had nothing to do. When at last this idea was out of his head, and he had made up his mind to use what feeling he had, and to take a step for himself, as in the case of the " prodi- gal son," his Father ran and met him, and a few days afterwards he went to sea a believing and trusting Christian. A letter from him, too, from abroad, THE captain's wif::. 243 gave good evidence of the soundness of Lis conversion This letter was read in Plymouth Church. Among the many conversions in connection with the revival in B , Mass., are several sea captains, which give the most convincing proof of the power of divine grace. One of these captains had followed the sea, and business connected with the sea, for more than forty years. He was in the Fejee Is- land trade twenty-six years. He had retired, and was nearly sixty years old. He was in the vigor of good health, and had the prospect before him of many years of ease and comfort. Some twenty years ago, he was the subject of serious irdpressions, which lasted for nearly two years, with more or less intensity. His wife was a praying woman, and had been a professor of religion twenty-eight years. The serious impressions of this captain's mind at length wore :)ff, and he became indifferent to the claims of religion, and regardless of his own personal interest in the salvation of the soul. Never, however, did he cease to feel a respect for religion. He had been in all parts of the world, and had escaped many perils and dangers, when by reason of shipwreck, or at the hands of cannibals, he had expected to meet death in some of its most terrific forms. For the last five or six years, since retiring from the sea-faring lif<:, 244 POWEK OF PKATEB. heretofore pursued, he had been going farther and farther from God, caring less and less for religious things, and was filling up the measure of his iniquity. He did not like to go to meeting, though he went to please his wife. When the daily prayer-meetings commenced, he did not think very favorably of them. He told his wife that they would not amount to anything, that a few would go a few days, get discouraged, see a great failure, and that would be the end of it. He seemed to regard the whole thing as a hazardous enterprise, which would end in disgrace. His wife wanted him to go to the meetings, but he said he should not go to the lecture-room. He was a large man, and needed a larger j)lace to sit in than that. He said that when they had them in the church he would go, not dreaming that they would ever be held there, as it was the largest church in the place. Tliis he said rather out of derision than out of any expectation that he would ever be called upon to comply with the promise which he was then making. He did not suppose they would ever be held there, so he thought he was safe in making the promise. At the end of the first week, the prayer-meetmgs became so thronged, that it was announced that hereafter they would be held in the church, a large ONLY GO. 245 Duilding, capable of lioTding many Lundred people. The opening of the church became a necessity. He then thought he must go, but resolved to finish up by going once or twice, simply to comply with the letter of his promise. The time drew near, and he felt ashamed to go ; and to get rid of it, he told his wife he would not go unless he could go just as he was, without changing his dress. He supposed she would object to that; but she answered: "Go any way, only go." He started, and felt so ashamed, that he would have denied it, if any one had asked on the way, if he was going to the prayer-meeting. At this first meeting his mind was somewhat inter ested. But he did not intend to go again. Indeed he made up his mind that he would not. In con- versing with another sea captain, he found him some what interested in the prayer-meetings, and they agreed to go together the next day. At this meeting of the next day he was more interested still. He went again the next day, and had more feeling. As his feelings deepened, he tried to keep clear of the other captain, but did not succeed. In conversing together, he found that he had similar feelings and anxieties. Still he was ashamed to be seen on his way to the prayer-meetings. In the course of a week he had deeper convictions than he had ever had be- fore. He could not sleep, and his family wondere<3 '216 POWER OF PEAYEE. what was the matter. He endeavored to divert at. tention from his case by saying it was the spring of the year, and he did not feel very welL Medicine wag recommended, but he knew he needed a medi- cine for the soul, though he studiously avoided letting any one know that he felt religious anxiety. He would not even tell his wife — ^but after she was asleep he would weep and pray all night. He had not shed a tear for twenty years, and was not easily moved to tears. Oh ! what a miserable, wretched man he now felt himself to be ! His eyes were now literally foun- tains of tears. At length he resolved to tell his faithful, praying wife just how he felt, but could not. He did, how- ever, tell the other sea caj^tain, and they wept to- gether. Both of these men endeavored to get up in the meeting and ask for prayers, but both failed. They seemed to be unable to rise from their seats. As his convictions deej)ened, he felt that he must tell his wife. He entered his house again and again fully resolved to do so, but his courage failed. He was dumb before a praying woman. He wanted to read the Bible, but could not do so without its being known to the whole house. He started to go up stairs that he might not be seen, but was hindered by the fear that some one would follow him. So he left the hcu£R. prayer-meeting every afternoon. For sometliing- mora than a fortnight no other good result appeared than increased seriousness and more numerous attendance ; but prayer was not in vain, for then four female members of my son-in-law's church arose in the same meeting, one after another, requesting prayer for the conversion of their husbands. That prayer was of- fered, and the Lord heard it, and those four husbands were enabled to testify their faith in Christ, and the church received them into its fellowship. From thai time the work proceeded powerfully, and amongst those converted were men of high standing in th 3 community, and notoriously irreligious, who boldly espoused the cause of Christ, and expressed their de- sire to use all their influence in counteracting the p ir- nicious influence they had long exerted. How nifiiy have been converted at that place I do not know, but four months ago there had been one hundred and thirty-five received into the fellowship of his church and large accessions to other churcl les, and thr •< rork waa then proceeding gloriously." DB. MUEKAy's irABKATlVE. 277 CHAPTER XXI. {fARRATIVE OF FACTS. BY RET. N. MURRAY, D.D. Prayer-meeting at Aunt Betsy's — Power of Prayer remarkably Illus- trated — A Visit to the Sing-Sing Prison — The Contrast — Liitlief and Melanchthon — Examples of Prevailing Prayer — The Church awaking — Understanding the Subject — A Mother's Faith — A Revi- val predicted. It was my first visit to the prayer-meeting in Fulton street, where God has so signally mani- fested his presence. The room on the first story was full, and I made my way up to that on the second. I found a seat in the middle of the room, from which I had a good view of the persons around the pulpit, and could look out of the windows in its rear. And as I glanced upon the high brick stores in Ann street, the memories of other days rushed in upon me. Where those brick stores now rise, upwards of thirty years ago there stood some wooden buildings, of very lowly pretensions. In an upper room of one of them, there dwelt an old colored W'>man, then widely known as Aunt Betsv, or Saruli iJ78 POWER OF FKAYEE. -^whicli, I uow forget. She was verj old and very feeble, and remarkably pious. To wbat cliurcli she belonged, I do not remember, nor is it necessary to my present purpose to know. She was dependent upon the hand of charity for her daily bread ; nor was she neglected. Some ladies, not now unknown in the religious circles of ISTew York, were sent to her room by their parents, on their first errands of mercy to the poor. And some young men, mostly from the Presbyterian and Methodist churches, held a prayer- meeting in her room on each Sabbath afternoon, as she was too infirm to attend on any of the public means of grace. She lay on her lowly bed during these meetings of prayer ; and as we retired, she took each of us by the hand, and gave us her parting blessing. That meeting in the upper room of that poor dis- ciple had passed away from my recollection, although it was in it I offered the first prayer I ever uttered in the hearing of man. But now, in a meeting for prayer, and in sight of the very place, it came up in all its freshness before me. The old buildings took the place of the lofty stores. I could go round the room of Aunt Betsy, and count its chairs, and almost talk with the young men that sat on them. I could hear them pray, and see them retire, each receiving, in his turn, the blessings of the ' aged disciple.' And as I was busy with my own thoughts, scarcely hear AUNT Betsy's meeting. 279 ing the singing and praying that occupied all in the room, 1 was waked from my revery by a voice from behind me. It was that of a merchant exhorting his brother merchants to a deeper interest, and a warmer zeal, in the salvation of men. As the voice seemed familiar, I turned round to see who was the fervid and fluent speaker. He is now one of the princely merchants of New York, but in his youth he was one of the young men who met for prayer in the room oi Aunt Betsy, and his wife was one of the little girls, who, as the ravens did to Elijah, carried to her daily food! Those young men were not the sons of wealth ; il not poor, they supplied their own resources by their daily employment, and all of them were too young to have made for themselves position or character. They were Sabbath school teachers, most of them were communicants of churches, and all of them professed to love the Bible, and the place where prayer was wont to be made. And what has be- come of the young men that met weekly in the room of Aunt Betsy ? Of the subsequent history of some of them, I have no knowledge. It is to be hoped, that, having commenced aright, they held on the even tenor of their way — that they have finished their course with joy, or yet live to be useful. But as to others of them, my knowledge is distinct and full 280 POWEK OF PKAYEB. One of tliem rose to eminence as an accomplislied writer and editor. He became an honorable poli- tician, and for years has served his country and the cause of Protestantism, with distinction, as a minis- ter at a foreign court. Another of them is an ex-major of the city of I^ew York, whose hand has never been withheld from any work of religion or philanthropy. Another is the honored partner of one of the largest publishing houses of the city of his re- sidence. Another of them has held on the even tenor of his way ; has risen to eminence as a merchant, has acquired a large fortune, and is a pillar in one of the most important congregations and one of the best known in the British Isles. Another was the merchant behind me in the room of prayer, so affectionately addressing the audience, and now the head of one of the largest mercantile houses of the Union. Another is also a well-known merchai't of Kew York, who has a heart for every good ^vi ork ; and who has never withdrawn his hand from the plough. Another is a useful minister in the western States, whose labors have been eminently blessed in turning many to righteousness. Two others who gave fair promise of use'^uluesa VISIT TO THE PRISON-. 281 in tlie more secluded walks of life, were early re- moved to their liome in heaven. I was, myself, among the youngest of the company, and when I was first invited to join the circle in the room of Aunt Betsy, was not a communicant of the church. On a subsequent day I made the above state- ment at the prayer-meeting in Fulton street, and based upon it an appeal to young men to make the religion of Christ the law and the rule of their life ; and as they valued their prosperity in this life and the life to come, not to neglect the place of prayer. "When I sat down, a man rose in another part of the room, his tremulous accents showing the feel- ings that were within him. ' I have,' said he, ' re- cently visited the prison at Sing Sing. As I went from cell to cell, I met with an old man who told me a very different story from that just narrated. He said that when young he was one of a company of young men who formed an infidel club, and who met once a week for talking infidelity, gambling and drinking, not very far from the upper room of Aunt Betsy. And I was shocked as he told me of the end to which his companions came. ' One,' said he, ' died by his own hand ; another by the hand of violence ; some in State Prison ; some of delirium tremens } and as far as I know, I am the only one of them sur-iving ; and here am I in the garb, and 282 POWER OF PRAYER. daily at the work of a felon.' And lie also ended his narrative with a most striking and touching ap- peal to young men, to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. The contrast which the two narratives presented was most striking. All felt it to be so. No doubt the room of Aunt Betsy, and the gambling hell, were very difterently furnished. The companies that met in each were very different in character, and in their governing objects and principles. And their end was very different. Religion has the promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. Nor are there any youth more likely to be- come men, than those who first seek the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness. Even now do I feel the warm pressure of the Land of Aunt Betsy, al- though for thirty or more years she has been with her Lord ; and it may be that the blessings which have followed those who met for prayer in her room, have been in answer to her benedictions and prayers. True religion, early embraced, is a great element of success, even as to the life that now is.'^ On a certain occasion, a messenger was sent to Luther to inform him that Melanclithon was dying. He at once hastened to his sick-bed, and found him presenting the usual premonitory symptoms of death. He mournfu ly bent over him ; and, sobbing, gave WE can't spake you, PHILIP. 283 utterance to a sorrowful exclamation. It roused Melanclitbon from liis stupor ; lie looked into the face of Luther, and said, " O, Luther, is this you ? Why don't you let me depart in peace ?" " We can't spare jou yet, PJiiiip," was the reply. And turning round, he threw himself upon his knees, and wrestled with God for his recovery, for upwards of an hour. He went from his knees to the bed, and took his friend by the hand. Again, he said, " Dear Luther, why don't you let me depart in peace?" "Ko, no, Philip, we cannot spare you yet from the field of labor,' was the reply. He then ordered some soup, and when pressed to take it, he declined, again saying: "Dear Luther, why will you not let me go home, and be at rest ?" " We cannot spare you yet, Philip," was the reply. He then added : " Philip, take this soup, oi I will excommunicate you." He took the soup, he soon commenced to grow better, he soon regained his wonted health, and labored for years afterwards, in the blessed cause of the Eeformation. And when Luther returned home, he said to his wife, with abounding joy : " God gave me my brother Me- lanchthon back in direct answer to prayer." And this is but one of the multitudes of instances which prove the power of prayer. By prayer Abra- ham healed Abimelech — Moses prevailed in the land of Ham, and in the wilderness — Joshua arrested thy 284 'power of pbateb. sun — Hanncoir /^btami inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them Ezekiel xxxvi. 37. Divine grace kindles these ardent affections, when the blessings promised are upon th^e wing. Prayer is the chain which draws the soul to God, and that brings down promised mer- cies to us ; or, like the hook which draws the boat to the shore, though the shore itself is immovable Prayer is to the church what the breath of spring, and the sun, the rain, the dew of summer, ai*e to the earth. Without them, the church and the earth JEREMY TAYLOR. 289 must remain in ilieir wintry shrouds. And all tlie indications are, tliat tlie cliurcli is beginning to feel, to an unwonted degree, the connection between true prayer, and its true prosperity. God is now, as in days of old, showing himself to be a God that hears prayer. The prayer of Abraham healed Abimelech ; the prayers of Moses prevailed in Egypt and in the wilderness ; the prayers of Daniel quelled the ferocity of the lions. " Prayer," says Jeremy Taylor, " can obtain everything : can open the windows of heaven and shut the gates of hell ; can put a holy constraint upon God, and detain an angel till he leave a blessing ; can open the treasures of rain and soften the iron ribs of rocks till they melt into a flowing river ; can arrest the sun in his course, and send the winds upon our errands." N^or is there a church, nor a true Christian, who cannot from their own history record instances of the power of prayer. A spy upon Luther followed him to a hotel, and slept in a room adjacent to that of the Reformer. He told his employer next day that Luther prayed nearly all night, and that he could never conquer a man that prayed so earnestly. Latimer prayed earnestly for three things : that he might be enabled to maintain the truth until death ; that the gospel might be given to all England ; that God might spare Elizabeth until 13 290 POWEK OF PRAYER. the Reformation was established. And his prayers were granted. A widowed mother who walked with God had an only son, the son of her vows and prayers. He en- tered college and graduated, moral and lovely, but without repentance. She ordered his furniture to a room in an adjacent theological seminary, saying that he was going to enter it at the opening of the next session. She was supposed by some to be unduly ex- cited, and they sought to dissuade her from her pur- pose. But the furniture was sent as she desired, and her son went home. In a very short time a blessed revival commenced in the church of which she was a member. Her son was among the first converts ; he became a communicant of it, and entered the Beminary at the appointed time. That son yet lives to preach the gospel, a learned, honored, and very useful man. Here is a case hke unto that of Han- nah and Samuel, and there are multitudes of cases like it. Late on a cold November night, I was retiring to rest. There was a knock at my door, and an aged member of the church, a simple, praying, warm- hearted man was introduced. After a brief silence he thus addressed me : " My dear pastor, I have come to tell you that God is about to revive his work among us." I asked him why he so felt ? " I went AN OLD MAN'S FAITH. 291 into the stable," said he, " to take care of my cattle two hours ago, and there the Lord has kept me in prayer until now. And I feel that we are going to be revived." Tliere could be no doubt as to hia sincerity. And that was the commencement of the first revival under my ministry. A few years afterwards, and in another field of labor, an aged man, venerated for piety, came to my .study. Though poor in this world, he was rich in faith. In prayer he seemed to converse with God. " I have called to say to you, my dear pastor," said he, " that the Lord is in the midst of us, and we shall all soon see the effect of his presence." I had ob- served a marked solemnity in the congregation, but nothing more. I asked the venerable man why he felt so ? His reply was as follows : " Since twelve o'clock last night the Spirit of God has been so upon me that I have been unable to do anything but pray, and to rejoice in the prospect of a blessed refreshing from the presence of the Lord." And that was the commencement of the first revival in my present field of labor ; a field which has been very often watered with the rain and dew of heaven, from the days of Wliitefield until now. And many similar instances are treasured up in my memory as proofs of the glorious truth that God hears prayer now as in daya of old. 292 POWER OF PRAYEE. And why should it not be so ? Is not the wima Gc d. in heaven? Prayer now is what it has ever been, an 1 is as prevalent with God now as in the days of Abraham, and Joseph — as on the first descent of the Spirit. And were there another pen equally inspired and eloquent, to place in the history of the church another such chapter as is the eleventh of Hebrews, thore could be collected an array of holy men and women from the church of our own day, who, in the strength and triumph of faith and prayer, fall but little below the noble company of worthies placed in Siich glorious array by the apostle of the Gentiles. And why should it not be so? There have been years of great excitement in the church, and of high con- troversy, and of bold enterprise ; but it is very doubt- ful whether in any one year since its foundations were laid, God has more signally vouchsafed himself to be a prayer-hearing God than during the year whose suns are now waning in the sky. Men of the highest intellect, and open in their rebellion, who mocked at religion and laughed at every earthly check, as leviathan mocks at a straw, have been brought, with the simplicity of little children, and in answer to prayer, to rest upon the atonement of Jesus Christ for salvation. Prayer is the power of the church ; and could 1 speak as loud as the trumpet which is to wake the EXAMPLES. 293 dead, I would tlins call upon the cliurcli in all its branches and in all lands — " Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion ; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem. Arise, shine, for thy light is come^ and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Pa- triarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, reformers, yere mighty in prayer. It was to prayer that Henry TV. of France ascribed his crown, and Gustavus his v^ic- tories. Milton thought he wrote best when he prayed most. The ministers who pray most are the most successful. The churches which are most prayerfril are the most useful. The heathen are to be given to Christ for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession, in answer to prayer. 294 POWEK OF PRATER. CHAPTEE XXII. Means of Grace — ^Preaching the Word — Revival Tracts — Prlrate Efforts— Call to Prayer by Rev. J. C. Ryle— Rev. Dr. Guthrie of Edinburgh, On Perseverance in Prayer — Rev. Dr. J. W. Alexan- der's Tracts: "The Revival and its Lessons," — "Pray for the Spirit " — Power of the Press. Often have we had occasion to say to the praise of Him who is independent in power, as he is infinite in benevolence, that the revival has been carried on without the use of means that attract observation and challeno;e the attention of men. But it is the divine economy to work by means, and to use the servants of God to promote his purposes of grace. The preaching of the gospel has been signally blessed, in the edification of saints and the convic- tion and conversion of sinners. The attendance on the sanctuary has been largely increased, and pastors have preached with energy, directness and hope, exhibiting the discriminating truths of the gospel with great clearness and fullness, declaring the whole counsel of God. And it has pleased him to put honor upon his word, making it, in thousands of in- GREAT MEETESrOS. 295 stances, the acknowledged instrument of bringing lost men to the Saviour. In the early part of the year 1858, a volume was published of sermons * by twenty or thirty pastors in N^ew York and Brooklyn, discourses actually preached during the present revi- val of religion ; and it was delightful to observe that although they were by earnest men of various de- nominations, they taught the same doctrines, urged the same class of truths, and breathed the same blessed Spirit. In the autumn of this same year the large hail of the Cooper Institute, seating 2,500 persons, was opened for religious worship on Sabbath evenings, with preaching by the Rev. T. L. Cuyler, pastor of the Market street Church, and it was immediately filled to overflowing, and thousands were obliged to go away witb nt the bread of life for which they came. The Academy of Music, the largest and most splendid audience-room in the United States, was then hired at great expense for the winter season, or as long as it should be required, and pastors of me various churches cordially agreed to give their services in preaching the gospel to the vast congre- gations gathered every Sabbath evening within those walls, which are made vocal every night in the week with the music of the opera, and are thronged * " The New York Pulpit," Sheldon, Blakeman & Co. 296 POWER OF PRAYER. with the votaries of amusement ; but rarelj resound with prayer and praise. But wliile these great movements command public notice and mention in this history of these times of revival, it must not be forgotten that the chief instru- mentality that God has employed, is tlie faithful, constant and earnest preaching of the word, by his humble, diligent, unpublished pastors to their own flocks, and to those whom they are able to draw within the sound of their voices, and the reach of tliose holy influences that go forth from every Christ- ian church, however limited in its range, or obscure its position. I have reason to know, and with in- tense pleasure state here, that some of the most remarkably favored churches have been those tliat are out of the great centres of attraction, in the retired or waste places of the city. And among the most efficient agencies to bring the truth directly to the hearts of men in this and other cities, lias been the wide circulation of brief, pungent evangelical tracts, urging Christians to double dili- gence in the service of Christ, and warning the wicked to flee from the wrath to come. The soci- eties having this as their special work, bear witneea to the fact, tliat such tracts luive been in demand to an extent unexampled before ; and private benevo- lence and zeal have given still greater impetus ro the REV. J. C. R\LK. 297 same form of Christian effort. In the city of Ealti more two or three benevolent gentlemen have, at their own cost, had these little messengers of good prepared and sent forth, widely and with marked success in turning sinners from the errors of their ways. A "Call to Prayer" by the Eev. J. C. Ryle, published by the Protestant Episcopal Society for the promotion of evangelical knowledge, has been greatly useful in rousing Christians to this duty, and in brino-ino: tlie unconverted to seek the favor of God. Such words as these are as nails in a sure place. " How can you expect to bo saved by an " unknown " God ? And how can you know God without prayer ? You know no- thing of men and women in tliis world, unless you speak witli them. You cannot know God in Christ,, unless you speak to him in prayer. If you wish to be with him in heaven, you must be one of his friends on earth. If you wish to be one of bi« friends on earth, you must pray. "Keader, to be prayerless is to be without God— with at Christ — without grace — without hope — and without heaven It is to be in the road to heU. Now can you wonder tliat 1 /.sk the question — Do you pray ? " I have looked carefully over the lives of God's saints it-, the Bible. I cannot find one of whose history much is told us, from Genesis to Revelation, who was not a man of prayer. I find it ■ mentioned as a characteristic of the godly, that 'they call on the Father,' that 'they call on the name of the Lord Jedus Christ.' I find it recorded as a chargcteristic of the wickt-tl, 13* 298 POWER OF PEATEE. that tliey call not upon the Lord." 1 Peter i. 17 ; 1 Cor. i. 2 ; Psa. xiv. 4. "I have read the lives of many eminent Christians who have been on earth since the Bible days. Some of them, I see, were rich, and some poor. Some were learned, and some unlearned. Some of them were Episcopalians, and some Christians of othei names. Some were Calvinists, and some Arminians. Some have loved to use a liturgy, and some to use none. But one thing, I see, they all had in common. They have all been men of prayer. "I study the reports of Missionary Societies in our own times. I see with joy that heathen men and women are receiving the gospel in various parts of the globe. There are conversions in Africa, in New Zealand, in Hindostan, in China. The people converted are naturally unlike one another in every respect. But one striking thing I observe in all the missionary stations. The converted people always pray. " Eeader, I do not deny that a man may pray without heart, and without sincerity. I do not for a moment pretend to say, that the mere fact of a person praying proves everrthing about his soul. As in every other part of religion, so also in this, there is plenty of deception and hypocrisy. " But this I do say — that not praying is a clear proof that a man is not yet a true Christian. He cannot really feel his sins. He cannot love God. He cannot feel himself a debtor to Christ, He cannot long after holiness. He cannot desire heaven. He has yet to be born again. He has yet to be made a new crea- ture. He may boast confidently of election, grace, faith, hope, and knowledge, and deceive ignorant people. But you may rest assured it is all vain talk, if he does not pray. " And I say, furthermore, that of all the evidences of the rea? REV. DK. GUTHRIE. 299 work of the Spirit, a habit of hearty private prayer, is one of the most satisfactory that can be named. A man may preach from false motives. A man may write books, and make fine speeches, and seem diligent in good works, and yet be a Judas Iscariot. But a man seldom goes into his closet, and pours out his soul before God in secret, unless he is in earnest. The Lord himself has set his stamp on prayer as the best proof of a true conversion. When he sent Ananias to Saul in Damascus, he gave him no other evidence of his change of heart than this — ' Behold he prayeth.^ (Acts, ix. 11.)" Not less effective and even more earnest in its words was the appeal to perseverance in prayer, by the Rev. Dr. Guthrie, of Edinburgh, which falls in 80 happily with the scope and aim of this work, that I transcribe a passage, characteristic of the glowing eloquence of that great light in the Free Church of Scotland. " It is easy to know the knock of a beggar at one's door. Low, timid, hesitating, it seems to say, 'I have no claim on the kindness of this house ; I may be told I come too often ; I may be treated as a troublesome and unworthy mendicant ; the door may be flung in my face by some surly servant.' How different on his return from school, the loud knock- ing, the bounding step, the joyous rush of the child into his father's presence, and, as he climbs his knee, and flhigs his arm round his neck, the bold face and ready tongue with which he remijids his father of 300 POWEE OF PRAYER, some promised favor ? Now, why are God's people bold? Glory to God in the liigliest! To a father in God, to an elder brother in Christ, faith conducts our steps in prayer ; therefore, in an hour of need, faith, bold of spirit, raises her suppliant hands, and cries up to God, ' Oh that thou wouldst rend the heavens, and come down.' " I think that I see the sneer curling on the skep- tic's lips as he says, ' How absurd ! What presump- tion ! as if it were not below the dignity of divinity to come at king's or peasant's, prince's or pauper's call. Should the purposes of the Eternal be shaped by your petitions ? Creature of a day and of the dust ! what are you, that the universe should be steered — its helm moved this or that w^ay for your sake ? Well, no doubt the language is bold ; yet with God a Father, our Father, my Fatlier in Christ, I feel I can be bold and confident in prayer. I know a father's heart. Have I not seen the quiver of a father's lij), the tear start into his eye, and felt Ms heart in the grasj) of his hand, when I expressed some good hope of a fallen child ? Have I not seen a mother, when her infant was tottering in the path of mettled coursers, with foam spotting their necks, and fire flying from their feet, dash like a hawk across the path, and pluck him from instant deithi Have I not seen a mother, who sat at the c Oi?" DIGNITY OF THE KING. 301 head, pale, dumb, tearless, rigid, terrible in grief, spring from her cliair, seize the coffin which we were carrying away, and, with shrieks fit to pierce a heart of stone, struggle to retain her dead ? " If we, that are but worms of the earth, will peril life for our children, and, when tiiey are mouldered into dust, cannot think of our dead, nor visi: theii cold and lonesome grave, but our breasts are wrung, and our wounds bleed forth afresh, can we ade- quately conceive or measure, far less exaggerate, even with our fancy at its highest strain, the paternal love of God ? Talk not of what you suppose to be the dignity of divinity. Talk not of the calm, lofty, dignified demeanor which becomes a king, who sees his child borne off on the stream that sweeps his palace wall. The king is at once sunk in the father. Divesting himself of his trappings — casting sceptre, robe of gold, and jewelled crown — he at once rushes forth to leap into the boihng flood. Lives there a father with heart so dead that he would not, at the sight of a child falling overboard, and struggling with death, back every sail, and, whatever might be the mission on which his ship was bound, or what- ever the risk he ran, would not put up her helm, and pale with dread, steer for the waves where his boy was sinking? " Child of God ! pray on. God's people are more 302 POWER OF PEAYER. dear to him than our childi-en can be to us. He regards them with more complacencj than all the shining orbs of that starry firmament. They were bought at a price higher than would purchase the dead matter of ten thousand worlds. He cares more for his humblest, weakest child, than for all the crowned heads and great ones of earth, and takes a deeper interest in the daily fortunes of a pious cot- tager, than in the fall and rise of kingdoms. " Child of God ! pray on. By prayer thy hand 3an touch the stars, thy arm stretch up to heaven. Nor let thy holy boldness be dashed by the thought that prayer has no power to bend these skies, and bring down thy God. When I pull on the rope which fastens my frail and little boat to a distant and mighty ship, if my strength cannot draw its vast bulk to me, I draw myself to it, to ride in safety under the protection of its guns, to enjoy in want the fullness of its stores. And it equally serves my purpose, and supplies my needs, that prayer, although it were powerless to move God to me, moves me to God. If he does not descend to earth, I, as it were, ascend to heaven. " Child of God ! pray on ! "Were it indispensable for thy safety that God should rend these heavens, it should be done. I dare believe that / and, ' I am not mad, most noble Festus.' Have not these heavens been already rent ? Eighteen hundred years ago, THE LOVE OF CHEIST. 303 robed in humanity, God himself came down. These blue skies, where larks sing and eagles sail, were cleft with the wings, and filled with the songs of his angel train. Among the ancient orbs of that very- firmament, a stranger star appeared travelling the heavens, and blazing on the banner borne before the King, as he descended on this dark and distant world. On Canaan's dewy ground — the lowly bed he had left, the eye of morning shone on the shape and form of the Son of God ; and dusty roads, and winter snows, and desert sands, and the shores and very waves of Galilee, were impressed with the footprints of the Creator. By this manger, where the babe lies cradled — beside the cross, upon whose ignominious arms the glory of the universe is hung — ^by this silent sepulchre, where wrapped in bloody shroud, the body is stretched out on its bed of spices, while Koman sentinels walk their moonlit round — and Death, a bound captive, sits within, so soon as the sleeper wakes, to be disarmed, uncrowned, and in himself have death put to death — ^faith can believe all that God has revealed, and hope for all that God has promised. She reads on that manger, on that cross, deeply lettered, on that rocky sepulchre, these glorious words, 'He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, hew shall he not with him also, freely give us all things?' And there, 304 POWER OF PEAYEK. lifting an eagle eye to heaven, she rises to the I oldest flights, and soars aloft on the broad wings of prayer. 'Faith, bold faith, the promise sees, And trusts to that alone, Laughs at impossibilities, And says, It shall be done.' " But more efficient and directly useful still were the little tracts written by the Rev. James W. Alex- ander, D.D., of this city, and now gathered into a volume.* They were very brief, but distinguished by the author's eminently practical tact, adapting them to the tastes and needs of the masses, while they are clothed with a gracefulness of manner, and cogency of reasoning, that make and leave an impression on the most cultivated minds. One of these tracts by Dr. Alexander, " To Firemen," was through the liberality of a single individual printed, and circulated in sufficient numbers in every fire-engine house in this city and Brooklyn. Others in this series, bear such titles as, " Seek to save Souls ;" " The Una- wakened ;" " Oh ! for more Feeling ;" " Compel them to come in ;" " Looking unto Jesus," and " Pray for the Spirit." In this last-named appeal, Dr. Alexander says : " In oi'der to mighty and unexampled revival, vi^hat we espe- cially need is for the whole church to be down on its knees * " The Revival and its Le.«sons," Randolph. KEV. DK. Alexandre's rHouGers. 305 before God. Past redemptions should make our cravings great. ' I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt ; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.' Thousands have already been seen gathered in one place for prayer, but when ' the Spirit of grace and of supplications ' is poured out on the great body of Christians, touched with pity for the desolations of the spiritual Jerusalem, that word will come true : ' Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favor her, yea, the set time is come ; for thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof.' Oh i that God's people were awake to the privilege of crying aloud for his great gift ! " Open your mind, believing reader, to the extraordinary truth, that God has an infinite willingness to bestow in answer to prayer that which, since the sending of his Son, is the great- est of all his possible gifts. ' If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shs]' your Heavenly Father give the Holt Spirit to them that asl bim ?' O parent ! ponder on this blessed verse ; there is that tvithiu thy heart which will reveal its meaning ! And what is it that God is so ready to give ? It is that which secures and applies- aU the benefits of Christ's mediation; that which makes revivals here, and heaven hereafter ^ it is the Holy Spirit I Ought not all disciples, aU over the world, to be ^^^rostrate before the throne of grace, beseeching God for Christ's sake to communicate this all-comprehensive boon ? To him only do we look, because with him is ' the residue of the Spirit.' But we ask in the name of Christ, for the very name means anointed^ and the anointing, which flows from him as head, to all the members, is this very gift, the Holy Ghost, ' for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.' He hath it 306 POWER OF PKATEK. immeasurably, and for his church, and they draw for it in hia name by prayer. Occupy a few moments on this great gift ; it will aid your prayers. " 1. There is such a thing as the pouring out of the Holy Ghost. As Moses ' poured of the anointing oil on Aaron's head,' so God pours the unction of his Spirit on the head of our Great High Priest. And as the ceremonial fragrance flowed down to ' the skirts of his garments,' so the gift of the Spirit comes on all believers. ' The anointing which ye have received of him,' says the Apostle John, ' abideth in you.' But the effusion is sometimes uncommonly great, even to outpouring. Some havo found fault with the term, which nevertheless is intensely bibli- cal, and consecrated in the church. Among promises to Israel in the latter day, the Lord says : ' Neither will I hide my face any more from them ; for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel,' saith the Lord God. Apostolic com- ment applies to New Testament times the words of another prophet: 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.' So in another place : ' Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you.' The idea necessarily presented is that of bountiful effusion. Let us ask for it. The Lord Jesus comforted his sorrowing dis- ciples by the promise of this gift, as the result of his ascension. ' If I depart, I will send him unto you.' This comforter he did send, oh ! how graciously and gloriously, at the first Christian Pentecost. ' Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost,'' saith the Apostle Peter, 'he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.' There had just been suddenly a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, filling all the house where they were sitting; 'and they were all filled (vith .the Holy Ghost.' Do not fail to observe, that believers had been in union of prayer for this very gift, thus complying rOWEK OF THE HOLT GHOST. 807 with the Lord's injunction that they should 'wait for the promise of the Fttther.' The gift was continued, under early preaching ; and ' the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard the word.' The same apostle," many years afterwards, refers to the known fact of 'the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.' Every great awalvcning and plentiful harvest of souls has pro- ceeded from the same Spirit, sought hj the same importunity of beseeching prayer. Therefore, pray for the Spirit ! ' ^. The influence of the Holy Spirit of God is exceedingly powerful. "We ask something mighty and revolutionizing. It is Omnipotence that we are praying for. A wicked city, a wicked world, will yield to no inferior strength. What au encouragement that ' with the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength !' It is as applicable to revival of the church as to the rebuilding of the temple. 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.' Let Christians no longer despair of the conversion of high-handed sinners, even the vilest of the vile, in our filthiest and bloodiest dens ; as if we expected in answer to our prayers only some weak, half-way operation. 'Our gospel,' says the Apostle of the Gentiles, ' came not unto you in word only, but also in powcr^ and in the Holy Ghost^ and in much assurance.' This is our ground of hope when the ministers of the word proclaim the glad tidings ; that the preaching may be ' in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.' God grant us deliverance from our unbelief, as to the power of the Holy Spirit in giving efficacy to the truth ! " 3. The Spirit whom we seek is the author of Eegcneration and Sanctification. If God vouchsafe us these, in wide extent, our revival will be indeed complete. ' That which is b'^rn of the Spirit is spirit.' All believers shout the same praise; "' According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regene 308 JUWER OF PKAYEB. ration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.' Look at thousat %, utterly blind as to spiritual realities, and say, what can we ask of them so indispensably important, as that Spirit of Truth, who will 'reprove,' or convince 'the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment?' He is just as able to convert the ruffian, or the fallen woman, as the church-going Pharisee ; just as able to renew a thousand as one. "Who is sufficiently awake to the necessity of imploring God to convert a multitude of sinners? " All revival of the church is increased sanctification ; and all reclaiming of the impenitent is sanctification begun. For both we need the gift of the Spirit ; and we need it now. We need it to break the power of sin in professing Christians, and to nail their lusts to the cross ; for it is by this influence that we 'do mortify the deeds of the body.' Some of the primitive believers had been atrocious sinners; 'but,' says the Apostle Paul, 'ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' Hope, Joy, Love, and consequent activity and success, are fruits of the same Spirit. In a word, the Spirit of God is the spirit of revival. Earnest, daily, united prayer of the people of Christ for this high gift puts honor upon God in a remarkable degree ; and we already have cause to note how signaUy he blesses endeavors which were openly begun in prayer. Beloved brethren, let us not mistake the token, nor fail to go in the path pointed out by Providence and the Spirit, " 4. The Roly Spirit sends those gifts ichich are necessary fo* successful worTc. When miraculous gifts were necessary, they were not withheld. All inspiration, wisdom, and ministry are from the same source. So also are the common qualifications for service demanded in the daily walk of an earnest Christian, HOW WE MUST PRAY. 309 who seeks to save souls. ' There are diversities of operations, hut it is the same God which worketh all in all ; but the mani- festation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.' The Lord promised that the Spirit should prompt his disciples when arraigned. Equally does the blessed Monitor fill their hearts and lips for common service. Apostles themselves sought for ' utterance ' by means of prayer ; and a praying church will have a ministry and members, bold and loving in owning and recommending their Lord. The supplications, which bring down such influences, are themselves wrought of God, when believers, keeping themselves in the love of God, are at the same time 'praying in the Holy Ghost.' See thus how completely dependent we are for all upon the Holy Spirit of God. Grace manifestly began the work ; grace keeps it alive ; grace must carry it on and give it extension. " Brethren, we must pray as we have never yet prayed. Our want of success is due to our coldness of desire and niggardli- ness of request. "We are not straitened in God, but in our own low, slender conceptions and hopes. We have not, because w© ask not. If we were under a deep and solemn impression of the divine power, bounty, and faithfulness, ' how should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight!' The lesson which the revival should teach us is the duty of being instant in supplication for the larger and more glorious effusion of the Holy Spirit. Acting on this, we shall behold new marvels of !ove in the place of prayer." "With such missives as these side-arms Christians supplied themselves, and freely gave them to their friends and acquaintances in the store, shop, market, on 'change, or in the street. Thej went everywhere 310 POWEK OF PKAYEK. preaching the word. These and other leaflets, with spiritual songs, or striking passages of holy writ, or piercing thoughts from the works of good men, were used as covers to letters, and sent in envelopes in the ordinary business or social correspondence of the people, so that the mails were constantly busy in this noiseless but personal and effective distribution of the good seed by the side of all waters. And when to this we add the agency of the press, religious and secular, partaking so largely of the revival spirit as to give unusual prominence to reports of sermons, remarkable conversions, and revival intelligence, it is safe to say that in no former period has the power ot the printed word been more marked, never has Ged 60 honored the instrumentality of tracts and new» papers as in the present blessed awakening. PEATEK FOR CHILDREN Sii CHAPTER XXIII. prayers for our Children sure to be Answered — Rev. H. W. Snulier'i Thoughts — The Promises of God — The Vials with Prayers of the Saints — Visions of John — Experience of Daniel — Long Delay — The Old Ladies' Meeting — Mrs. F. and her Soldier Boy — Hare faith in God. In the most interesting prayer-meeting tliat it has been my joj to have a part, the prayers of Christians were again and again requested in behalf of the children. The meeting was held at Jamaica, Long Island, during the sessions of the Synod of 'New York ; but it was on the evening of the union prayer-meeting of the village, and ministers and people of various names thronged the large church. A power from above fell on the assembly. The children of the Sabbath school had unitedly signified their desire to be made the special subject of prayer. One vener- able pastor rose and requested his brethren to pray for his unconverted children. As one after another prayed or offered a word of exhortation, the Kev. Mr. SmuUer indulged in a strain of thought so en- com-aging to parental hope and prayer, that I asked 312 POWER OF PRATER. liim to permit me to use liis remarks in this connec tion. In no other aspect do we contemplate this re- vival with more satisfaction than in the evidence it affords that God will answer prayer, and we know that there is no prayer more ardent, importunate and persevering than that which goes up from yearning yet believing hearts of pious parents. " How often," Baid Mr. Smuller, " during this period of glorious re- vival, do we hear parents asking the prayers of God's people for their children. ' A mother requests prayers for an only daughter absent from home pursuing her education, that she may be brought to the know- ledge of the Saviour.' ' A widowed mother requests prayers for lier two sons, now in a distant western State, that God may grant them repentance unto life.' ' A father requests prayers for two children. God hath graciously given five of his seven children to his prayers, and he is exceedingly anxious that the re- maining two may be brought to a saving acquaint- ance with the dear Saviour.' llfothing can be more interesting to ministers of the gospel and other pious persons who have themselves in infancy been given to the Lord in covenant, and who realize the beauty, value and propriety of covenant relations, than such requests as these. " ]^[any of us, at the age of thirty, forty, fifty, look back to former years, to the prayers, instructions and TEUSTING TO PEATEK. 313 example of a godly mother, and the holy life and triumphant death of a sweet younger sister jDorhaps and confess that all the spiritual good we have re- ceived in this world has come to us mainly through tnese beautiful and sacred ministries. And yet we often fear, when we hear these requests, that there may be failure and disappointment : not because the covenant is not broad, deep, divine and precious enough, but because the faith and hope of the parents may depend too much upon instruTnentalities / and because they may become impatient of results ; and because there is no immediate or sudden answer, re- lax their effort and fall back into indifference, if not into despondency. The danger is, that we may trust too much to the prayers and not enough to the promises and covenant engagements of the blessed God. " Our prayers, in themselves considered, are poor, and weak, and wretched, and sinful enough — a very insult to the infinite holiness of the Being to whom they are addressed. And yet everything in regard to the spiritual and eternal welfare of the inhabitants of this world is promised to prayer. 'Ask and ye sf'/dl receive ' is the motto upon the altar. ''There is nothing so certain in the vast universe as that God will hear and answer prayer for the bles- Bings contained in his covenants. "He keepeth 14 314 POWEK OF PKAYER. covenant and mercj to a thousand generations ;" nay, to assure the faith of his people, he pledges his exist- ence and honor to the fulfillment of his covenant en- gagements. ' Mj covenant will I not break, nor alter tlie thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever and his throne as the 8un before me. It shall be established forever as the moon and as a faithful witness in heaven ;' Ps. Ixxxix,, 84-37. There is a solemn and awful grandeur in this passage, a kind and infinite condescension. That the God of truth, who cannot lie, should permit us to stand upon the immovable foundation of his promise and urge that as our argument in prayer would surely seem sufficient to satisfy the demands of every rea- S'mable mind, especially when we consider that his j)romises are but the expression of his purposes, that run back through the entire eternity of his being, whereof the memory of the oldest archangel runneth not to the contrary, and come down to us freighted with all the wealth of the divine veracity, mercy, goodness, wisdom and power, and invested with all the sanctity of the divine consistency. We plead no^ 00 ly the truth of the promise, but the precedent of the divine conduct forever. This charter of rights and privileges is certainly full enough and strong enough to sustain our faith in prayer for all the bles- TILE FKOMISE OF GOP. 315 sings of that ' Godliness which is profitable unto all things, and which hath the promise of this life and of that which is to come.' But in addition to this, we have the oath of God, hased upon his holiness, which is comprehensive of all his attributes — of his very being — as if he had said. If I redeem not the promises and pledges made to David — which is Christ — ^let me cease to be. How, then, in pleading for the blessings of life and salvation — the blessings secured to Christ in the covenant of the Father, and to us through Christ in answer to prayer — our feet are permitted to take hold of the beams of his habitation which are laid ' in deep waters,' the deep, unfathomed sea of his infinite and eternal nature — the deep and troubled sea of his inscrutable providence. '• But the immense, the infinite, the eternal purity and claim of the divine being, and all his attributes, are sustained and honored in the atonement of his dear, co-equal, co-eternal Son, the IinTnanuel, tlie God manifest in the flesh j the declaration of the divine justice — the manifestation of the divine love and mercy in the forgiveness of sin, he who, upon the might and merit of his obedience and suffering in our stead, is exalted to the right hand of majesty and power in the heavens ; and whom our faith is permitted to see, a Lamb as it had been slain in the midst of the throne of God ; the king-priest upon the 31 G rOWFK OF PKATER. throne ; naj, the hing, the priest, and the sacrifice all in one, 'ir on the throne, as our advocate, and inter- cessor, wlio presents our prayers to the Father ; made j^recious and efficient bj being invested with the might, the merit, and the mercy of the intercessor. And, shall they not prevail ? Nay, shall not he pre- vail ? "With what confidence, courage, and cheerful- ness may not the Saviour, the mighty intercessor, say to his sufiPering, struggling people, 'Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father maybe glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it?' And, with what cheerful confidence may not our faith grasp such promises as these in prayer, especially when we ask the regenera- tion and salvation of our covenant children? " 'Ah !' saitli that anxious parent, ' all this is true. I believe it all, and yet my child is not converted.' " Anxious, weeping soul, the promise is to Abra- ham, that in his seed, which is Christ, shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Tliis promise is still the glorious inheritance of the church. It must, it will be fulfilled. " ' What has become of all the prayers that have been offered to God for the salvalion of this world V What has become of them ? Why, all that have been offered in faith have been received in heaven, and accepted in the name of the great intercessor PRATING ANCESTOES. 317 Some of them have been already answered, and many of them wait only the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power; but not one of them is lost, or shall remain unanswered. The prayers of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses, and Elias, and David, and the prophets, and apostles and martyrs, and the godly of all ages, all that vast column of prayer that has travelled along down the pathway of the covenant, from the first accepted sacrifice at the gates of the lost Eden, all are in heaven and all will be answered. The prayers of your ancestors, the pious and covenant-keeping Huguenots, Hollanders, Scotch-Irish and Puritans; the pioneers of the American church ; the strong cry- ing and tears that they offered to God for their descendants and for their country, are all in heaven, and will all be answered. Your prayers, dear child of God, are not all answered ; but they are accepted, if offered in faith, in the name of Christ, and for the blessings of the covenant, and shall be answered — some of them, perhaps, during your lifetime on earth, and all of them, certainly, during your lifetime in heaven, " Turn, for a moment, to the visions of the be- loved disciple in the 'Isle that is called Patmos,' Rev. V. 8 : ' And when he (the Lamb) had taken the book, the four beasts, and the four and twenty 318 POWER OF PKAYER. elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints,' The jprayers of the saints — something so very^ precious that is fragrance even in heaven. Commentators will tell you that the word rendered beasts, means living ones, and that they are the symbols of the divine government, or providence. The face of a Hon, an ox, a man, and a flying eagle, will then bring before you the dominion, the stability, die intelligence, and celerity of the divine providence, and your prayers are com- mitted to the keeping of this government, thus sym- bolized. The divine providence holds the golden censers containing the accepted, but unanswered prayers of the saints, and surely we may, with confi- dence and cheerfulness, commit our prayers to such keeping. But this is not the whole of the celestial vision with regard to the prayers of the saints. Turn to E,ev. viii. 3-5 : ' And another angel came, and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given him much incense, that he should oifer it (add it) with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel'a hands. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth. r)A.NiEL's TRA-YER. 319 And there were voices, and tlmndenngs, and light- nings, and an earthquake.' The fragrance belongs not originally to the prayers, but it was given to the angel to add to the prayers of all the saints. That sacred and heavenly perfume is the merit of the high priest and the advocate. Tlie angel is not the interces- sor, but the angelic minister, charged to carry the answers to our prayers. We are let somewhat into the secret of this arrangement in the history of the Prophet Daniel, ix. 23 : ' At the heginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth, and I,' Gabriel, mentioned in the previous verse, ' am come to show thee.' The Lord must not wait until Daniel had finished his prayer, before he could deter- mine the nature, or the extent cf his request. ISTay, at the ^heginning of thy supplication, the com- mandment came forth.' Your prayers are heard, accepted, and the commandment issued for their answer ; and yet, much time may elapse before the answer is received. In Daniel ix. we have an ac- count of the prophet's mourning, and fasting, and prayer, for three full weeks ; and after the one and twenty days of bitterness and prayer, 'Behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees, 'md upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto mc, O, Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the wc'rds that I speak unto thee, and stand upright 320 POWER OF PiJAYEK. for unto thee am I now sent. And wlien he liad spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the Jvrst day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thj God, thj words were heard, and I am come for thj words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days. But lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia.' This scene is laid between heaven and earth, the territories traversed by our prayers and the returning answers. What conflicts occur in this field between the ministering angels, who are chai'ged with the answers to our prayers, and the fallen spirits, who hate God and oppose our holiness and his cause on the earth, we know not. In this instance, in the history of Daniel, the patron demon of Persia opposed the angel of God one and twenty days, and would, no doubt, from his intense hatred of God and his people, have continued his opposition for an indefinite period, had not the Al- mighty commanded the Archangel Michael to go to the relief of the faithful messenger. Aye, while Daniel held on in prayer, not only would Michael, but all the glittering host that wait the bidding of their eternal King, have come forth to minister to the praying saint. Oh, it is precious to know, tliat all VIALS OF PKAYEES. 821 the bright, benevolent, and holy ones around the throne on liigh, are employed about the affairs of the saints on earth. 'Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those that shall be heirs -of salvation ?" But if, in the case of Daniel, there was required a delay of ' one and twenty days,' so in the case of our prayers for ourselves, our children, and the world, the high proprieties of the divine government may demand a delay, of not only one and twenty days, but of one and twenty years, or one and twenty centuries, for that matter ; yet are we assured, that the prayer of faith offered in the name of the Mighty Advocate, for the bless- ings of the covenant, is heard, accej)ted, and the commandment for its answer sent forth; while the faith of the praying saints, and the efforts of the ministering angel, await only the times and the sea- sons which the Father hath put in his own power. In the meantime, those prayers, as sweet perfumes, are kept in the vials and censers of the holy ones in heaven ; and at the appropriate times, the fires of the divine rectitude and love from the golden altar will be kindled upon them, and the angel will cast them upon the earth. And then shall follow those great revivals, those mighty moral and spiritual revolu- tions, fitly symbolized by 'voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.' What are our re 14* 322 POWER OF PEAYEE. vivals now, but a few of tliose fragrant drops poured out upon tlie eartli ; but the time cometh, as tlie cliurcli approaclies the cuhninating period of this dispensation, wlien God will hasten his work, and the thousands and millions of earth, in answer to the prayers of all the saints, shall flock to the cross, and go forth for ages the washed, redeemed, and joyous millennial church on earth. Still the cry is, ' O Lord, how long ?' " My native village, years before 1 was born, was blessed with the prayers of some pious Scotch-Irish, and Helvetians. But when I was a little 'boy, the praying people of that village were a little company of pious ladies, almost all of them widows. My godly mother used to take me by the hand and lead me to those places of prayer, and my young eyes were sometimes employed to read the holy Scriptures for them. How well I remember the deep solicitude expressed by that godly company for their children, and the agonizing prayers for their salvation. About the time of the holidays, when passion ran riot, and Sabbath-breaking, drunkenness, profanity, and every evil thing made the days and the nights hideous, how did those dear ladies mourn! What will become of the honor of God ? what will become of our children? On one such painful occasion, I remember that Mother F , a very intelligent and A POOR woman's faith. 323 godly L'ish Clirisfcian, a poor asthmatic, at wliosa house the prayer-meeting was held, sat bolstered up in her cushioned easy-chair ; and as her sisters were uttering their complaints, with the tears and smiles mingling on her face, she turned and whispered : * My dear sisters, God is not dead, the covenant ia not broken. Why, I should not be surprised, if in less than five years, God should so revive his work here, that the place would become too strait, and we should be compelled to adjourn to 'Squire S 's woods to find room. I may not live to see it. I am a poor, frail, broken reed ; but you may — ^yes, yon may." But she did live to see it. Before the five years had elapsed, God did pour out his Spirit on that place. Many were converted, and the noise of it travelling, as it did, throughout the country, called many persons from a distance to witness the strange scene. The little clap-boarded church became too small, and during the pleasant summer weather, we did adjourn to 'Squire S 's woods, erected booths and a stand for the preachers, and hundreds flocked to hear the precious words of salvation, so mightily grew the word of the Lord. " One beautiful Sabbath morning, I saw that godly Irish Christian lady seated at the root of a beautiful ti"ee ; her eyes were closed, and her hands clasped, and again the smiles and the tears were mingled 324 POWiJK OF l^iiAYER. upon tliat face, now radiiint in die rays of tLe sun. as thej crept down througli the massive foliage and rested upon those dear features ; and still more radiant with the glow of joy and gratitude that cama up ujjon them from a heart basking in the beams of the sun of righteousness. And what is the result? The vast majority of the children, and many of the older persons for whom those pious ladies prayed during weary years, were brought to the Saviour. Many of the fathers and mothers have gone to their reward, but the boys of that period are now the men of posi- tion, fortune and influence, and the whole character of the village has been changed. ' This is glorious.' Yea, verily, so it is ; but remember, praying mothers, it was not the achievement of a day, or a week, or a year, but the mighty effort of persevering praj-er for many years. "Let not your faith fail you. It may be compelled to meet many and sore trials while it waits at the throne and bides the time of the Father. You may be called away from earth before that gay daughter, or that wild, wandering son of yours, given to the Lord in covenant infancy, is effectually called and saved ; but in death, oh, grasp the horns of the altar, and stay your soul in the covenant promise and oath of your God. Your prayers of faith are in the censer held in the hand of the angel ; and perhaps HAVE FAITH m GOD. 325 when you are there too, that wandering boy may bend at the little mound that covers your poor remains, and the better thoughts of the boy chase away the sinful thoughts of the man, and a fragrant dro]3 from the heavenly censer be poured upon him there, . that shall send him away a renewed one ! And how know you, but that you yourself may be the angel that shall be commissioned to bear the answer to your own prayers for the salvation of your boy. ' Have faith est God.' " But, your wandering boy may be called to the eternal world before you, and you may have no cer- tain evidence that he had met with a change of heart. What then ? why then stay your soul on the living- God. Mrs. F., the wife of Judge F., of western New York, was a member of the church in which I commenced my ministry ; she was a woman of rare intelligence, and as rare simplicity of charac- ter — a woman of true devotion and of unwavering faith in the covenants. Her children had all been given to the Lord in faith in their early infancy, and all save one, as they arrived at maturity, were hope- fully converted. Willie, the remaining one, was my school-mate in the academy. He was a frank, noble, generous boy, a firm believer in the Scriptures, in which he had been carefully instructed. Willie re- vered his mother, but was so full of life and mi<* 326 rowER OF thaier. chief that he coukl not tliiiik seriously with regard to his spiritual interest. He could not think of be- ing a Christian until he had ' sowed his wild oats.' So Willie went to Canada to teach school, and dur ing the Patriot war had an opj)ortunitj to sow some of his fatal crop. Still, Willie wr.,s the same frank, generous, joyous, moral Willie. Texas afforded a better field, and Willie tried his fortune there, passed through some terrible scenes during the wars of that infant state ; still his correspondence with his mother and myself exhibited the same frank, generous, joy- ous Willie, with no evidence that his moral princi- ples had suffered any serious abrasion ; and still that godly mother held on in prayer for her boy. Dur- ing the Santa Fe expedition she wrote me to inquire if I had heard anything of Willie. I, too, had been on the same search, and found Willie in company B. of that ill-starred adventure. He, with the rest, was taken prisoner, was carried on that weary journey of a thousand miles to the city of Mexico, and re- turned in safety to Texas. Still his correspondence, though somewhat subdued in tone, exhibited the Bame frank, noble, generous Willie. And still that mother, in tears, pleaded the covenant, day after day, for the salvation of her son. She began to give up the hope of seeing him again in this world, and her faitli reached across to the other, while she con- TEREIBLE NEWS. 327 tinued to pray that God would save her child. The Mexican war came on, and poor Willie was so much involved with the military movements of Texas, that now he found it almost impossible to extricate him- self. He was with the Texan cavalry in that war, and one day, while engaged in pistol practice on horse- back, with his company, by some mysterious casualty in the wheeling of his horse, he was shot with his own pistol, and poor Willie was buried by his com- panions in the soil of Mexico. I received the intel- ligence, and immediately went to see that godly praying mother. Poor woman ! how should I break the fatal news to her? As I approached Iier, she saw a paper in my hand, and asked : " ' Have you news from my poor Willie V " ' Yes, my dear friend, terrible news. The Lord, in whom you trust, give you strength to read,' and I handed her the paper. I watched her face as she read. Her chin quivered. The big tears rolled down her cheeks. A deep, deep sigh, but one, came up from her broken heart. She turned to me and said : " ' And what now of the covenant V "I replied, 'It is unbroken my dear friend.' " ' Yes,' she replied, ' it is unbroken. What has become of my dear boy I know not. What God, the blessed Spirit, could have done for the saving of 828 POWER OF PEAYEK. his soul, I know not. But this I knoM", it was right for me to give my boy to the Lord in covenant. It was right for me to pray for his salvation ; it is right for me to believe that those prayers have been heard and accepted through the merits of the Saviour, and that they will, in some way, in accord- ance with the divine wisdom and faithfulness be answered. How^ I know not, and because I know not, I will possess my soul in patience, and wait in hope, the time when the good Father shall explain all ; and I shall be able to bear the explanation.' '' Glorious, triumphant faith ! Sorely wast thou tried, dear, precious mother ! and signally hast thou triumphed too ! " ' Have faiih m God.' There is no parallax in the Father of Light. There is no peradventure in the covenants. ' For all the promises of God in Christ are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us." BOOK OF REQUESTS. 329 CHAPTEK XXIV. The Book of Requests — ^Written with Tears — Desire — Affection — Con« viction of Sin — Sorrow — Faith — Conversations with the Drawer— • The Converted gathered into the Kingdom. In the upper room of tlie liouse in wliicli tlie Fulton street prayer-meetings are held, is a large folio volume, prepared for the purpose, in which are placed the requests for prayer that come in from day to day. What a record this is ! What a volume of the heart's experience ! What a story of the wholo country, and almost the whole world's experience Is here ! From all parts of our own land, from many lands beyond the sea, from all classes and conditions of men, from saints and sinners, old and young, from the dying and those who are watching by the dying, these requests have come. The names of the persons sending them are not recorded, but the requests speak for themselves with the tenderest eloquence of that sincerity, anxiety and faith which take hold on the arm of Almighty strength and prevail with God. 330 POWKR OF PKATEE. Anxious desire for others marks most of these petitions. For years and years some have been look- ing for fruit, and finding none, have been ready to faint and despair. But far above all other wishes, the desire is irrepressible that these friends may be brought to the Saviour, They have now sought help in the prayers of God's people in the great city, and with speechless anxiety, wait and watch to see what God the Lord will do. There is much that is beau- tiful and sublime in this posture of the soul. It longs for the answer ; it summons others to its aid, and looks away to the heavenly hills, from which alone help can come. Such prayer will prevail. Tender affection breathes in every line of these uncounted requests. Perhaps this feature is the most patent and impressive by which they are marked. A fond wife pleads that her husband may be led to love the Saviour. And here and there a husband asks that the wife of his love may be also one with him in Christ. And oh ! how many parents — page after page is full of them — begging that their children may be converted. Some go on to speak of the promises on which tliey have trusted, and which are yet the anchor of their hopes, and now they would blend their own prayers v/ith those of Christians at tliis meeting, that their ofis|)ring may be saved. And children, too, have sent up theii SIN AND SORROW. 331 requests tliat unbelieving parents may be brought to Christ ! Brothers and sisters plead for each other ; fi-iends for friends ; all bound by ties of teiiderest lo\e, and all believing that the love of God sur- passeth all other love, and makes the love of earth a foretaste of the love of heaven. On some of these petitions is written a deep sense of conviction of sin. Poor sinners, some almost despairing, many long seeking, now venture to call upon Christians to implore mercy in their behalf. A few of these are so surcharged with a sense of guilt and desert of punishment, that no one can read them without commiserating sympathy. The prayers of David in the fifty-first Psalm are not more pain- fully filled with the anguish of a broken heart, than some of these written petitions. And many of these requests come up from the sons and daughters of sorrow. "To the mercy seat" " come the disconsolate." " A father begs the prayers of the people of God for his prodigal son." " Parents implore God's mercy on their daughter who has gone astray." The bereaved ask that their affliction may be sanctified. The sick that they m_ay be prepared to die. What volumes of grief would be written, if the private history to which each little note is an index, were drawn out ! Some of them seem to bleed, so keen are the pains, so deep the 332 POWER OF PKATEE. wounds. Families tliat for months or years havo been hiding a bitter grief, wearing a smile before the world while the secret anguish was gnawing at their hearts, have now come to the prayer-meeting with their petition that the God of mercy would have compassion on them in their distress, and bring help in time of trouble. All these requests are written in tears ; the tears of parental, conjugal, fraternal love : such tears as no sorrow brings but the waywardness of one loved and lost. And these requests are prayers of faith. As we turned over the pages and read them, one after another, a person standing by, remarked, " tliese are the prayers that get the answer." These are prayers that go out from earnest, loving, trusting hearts, and when they are repeated here, it is impossible they should call out the same emotions that their petition- ers feel. But when a soul is moved to send up such a request as this, it comes with faith and strong desire, and that request is heard in heaven. And the answer comes. It is followed up by more prayer than was offered before, and the spirit of the Syro- Phenician woman, the spirit of faithful importunity has power with God and prevails. There is a drawer in a table in the upper lecture- room, that contains the envelopes of all these re- quests for prayer which have been sent in. A thou- THE ENVELOPES. 333 sand tliouglits rush in upon the mind every time we see this drawer. We went up to this room the other day, and sitting down by the table in which this drawer is, and drawing it out, we began to run our ayes over these envelopes, and their contents as lately contained in these precious folds, till we were all absorbed in a conversation wath the con- tents. Each envelope seemed to come up before us to tell us its own story. They came to tell of what they had seen and heard — away and away — when those mes- sages which they contained were written. Some of them told us of the bitter tears they had seen shed — some of them of the fervent prayers they had heard made — some of the strong hopes they had heard expressed — some of sinking fears. Oh, what histories did they rehearse to us, so affecting as often to compel tears ! We were invited to take wing with them, and fly to the places where they were written, and to look into this chamber and that parlor, and this humble cottage and that splendid mansion, and up and down in the highways and by-ways, and to find the actors in these scenes ; and then, too, we were taken to churchyards, and bidden to look a moment and see where beneath those little hillocks of earth at our feet, these gentle sleepers slept. " Oh, is it possible, saiJ 334 POWER OF PEAYEB. we, that since this prayer-meeting was begun, only a ^ittle more than one year ago, some of these ha^'e "Callen asleep ?" " Yes," they answered. " Some are sleeping the sleep tliat knows no waking." " And how asleep ?" we inquired. " Asleep in Jesus," "some of them," they answered, and then they asked if I did not remember a lovely one, who, from one of the upper streets of the city, sent down a request, or her father for her, that we would remember her in our prayers ; a lovely one, then feeble, lacking only the one thing needful, but in every respect most lovely in all the natural attri- butes of her character. She was prayed for here. She came to Jesus, the sinner's friend ; she humbly trusted in him ; she cordially received him. The loveliness of her character after this shone out more lustrously than ever. All those sweet affections which took hold on her friends with such a strong, tender grasp in her unconverted state, seemed stronger and more tender than ever. She went with her friends into the country to spend the summer, she ■was smitten more deeply ; she sunk rapidly ; all waa done to save her, all however in vain ; heaven was to be made richer. One voice more was to join the everlasting song. She slept. In just three montns from the day that the request was put up for prayer BETELATIONS. o'65 on her behalf by the Fulton street meeting, she slept in Jesus. "Do you not remember?" We did remember. And again, the profligate young man, the prodigal, spending his father's substance with riotous living — an only son — was prayed for — was converted — was received into one of our city churches — attended one communion — went South — was accidentally killed — was brought back — is under one of these little hil- locks — sleeps in Jesus. "Do you not remember?" Again we did remember. So the contents of the drawer continued to talk to U8, and to tell of the dead. They talked too of the living. " Look down once more," said they, and looking down, we saw one looking up to us, which said, " I am from Marietta, Ohio ; I told you only yester- day of the message I brought you ; a request from a widowed mother for the conversion of her child- ren." I bent my ear down to the drawer again, and it said — read what it said : "Your prayers are requested for the widow and the fatherless. The father after planting a church in the far West, and preaching near a score of years, lay 33^ POWER OF PRAYEK. down to rest. But nature was exhausted, and lie called his children and his wife around him; and after bidding them an affectionate and tender fare- well and commending them to the care of the Friend cf the unprotected, he crossed his weary hands upon Lis breast ; and with a shout of triumph — saying heaven was presented to his view — entered his ever- lasting rest. One of his children is a great sufferer. Now, Christian friends, will you pray that a cove- nant-keeping God will remember his promise and gather these little ones into his fold, now in this day of mercy, that the widow may be susrained and her faith strengthened, etc ?" Oh ! shall that faith ever waver ? Shall the great and good Shepherd be doubted ? AVill he not gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his bosom ? Christians have earnestly prayed that he would and he will. Again the drawer spoke to us, and asked us "to remember the 5th of November to pray for Gover- nem-j St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., that the people of God there may enjoy a season of refreshing from the pres- ence of the Lord." "We did remember, and for se- veral other places the same day. Some in one State, %ome in another — East. "West, Korth and South. Again the drawer speaks : " My husband is not a Christian though often tlioughtful. I have prayed PKATING WIVES. 337 for his conversion every day since our marriage — nine years. May T ask an interest in your prayers that my husband may seek now an interest in Christ, and that we may both become devoted, earnest, bible-Christians." How many praying wives make just such errands as this to the Fulton street Prayer-meeting ! God bless these praying wives. What voice is this that comes out of the drawer? Listen ! " Tlie prayers of the Fulton street meeting are earnestly requested for a Bible Class of twenty- two young ladies, connected with one of the Dutch Reformed churches in this vicinity, some of whom appear to be anxious for their souls." What a world of interests are bound up in that one appeal. How many hearts would rejoice if they all should be converted ! But we will not prolong the conversation. This book of requests, and the drawer in which these envelopes are preserved, will be memorials of the faith and earnestness of the saints ; and the an- swers shall be recorded also to the praise of infinite grace. 15 338 rowER OF pkayeb. CHAPTEK XXY. A Year of Prayer — Review of the Meetings — Anniversary of Fulton street Meeting — Extraordinary Case of Awakening at that Meeting Murder and Suicide Prevented — The Sinner Saved. Ls" bringing the sketches of these meetings to a close, it would be a grateful work to review the ground we have gone over, and admire the wonders of redeem- ing grace and love that have been disclosed. I am sensible of the imperfection of the history, in that il makes no distinct mention of many meetings and series of meetings in this city and in other places, of which I should love to speak. The year 1858 will be memorable in the city of ISTew York for these union prayer-meetings. Among the most profitable was the one that for many weeks was held in the !Ninth street Reformed Dutch Charch (Dr. Yan Zandt's), and afterwards was held in rotation in various churches of different denominations, in the upper part of the city, daily at noon. In these meetings, pastors and people assembled in great numbers ; and on Saturdays such children were encouraged to come, as were of years to understand the truth, and A TEAK OF PKAnLK. 339 for them prayer was speciallj made ; and words of instruction addressed to tliem with tenderness and power. At one of these meetings held m the First Presbyterian Qhnrch (Dr. Phillips') we saw pastors of nearly every evangelical denomination present, Eev. Dr. Gillette, of the Ba^Dtist Church, presiding, while a spirit of love and prayer pervaded the great assembly, filling the entire house at the middle of the day. Other series of meetings held in rotation, were sustained until the heat of the summer required the usual migration of families into the country. The Rev. Dr. Peck (Methodist) held a series of ser- vices for six successive evenings in his church. The gospel was preached by ministers of six different denominations, all pervaded with the same spirit, and exhibiting the same great truth, salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. And the same spirit of union seems to have pre- vailed all over the land. If the revival has been more marked in some parts of the country than in others, it cannot be said of any large portion that it has been exempt. This fact has been abundantly developed in the reports made at the meetings of which we have given accounts in preceding pages. Ko classes of persons have been left unaffected by the power of the Holy Ghost. The rich capitalist in the city, and the hard-working laborer, the mere] i ant 340 rOWEK OF PRAYER, shipper and the sailor, the master and the slave, the pioneers of civilization in the far West, and the dwellers among the institutions of the gospel in New England, have shared in the blessings and power of this work of grace. So far as human observation goes, the Lord has been no respecter of persons in this outpouring of his Spirit, but has sent the rain upon the good and the evil, the just and the unjust, gaining praise for himself in the edification of his saints and the conversion of sinners. It was very becoming that the day on which the prayer-meeting in Fulton street was established should be commemorated on the return of its anni- versary. Previous notice having been given that the church adjoining the lecture-room would be thrown open on that day (Tliursday, September 23, 1858), at noon, it was crowded to overflowing. The congrega- tion was one of the most interesting and deeply inter- ested that we have ever seen gathered together. Its most striking feature was the cordial and aifectionate union of ministers and private Christians of so many different denominations in celebrating the sacred oc- casion. It Avas a scene of hallowed, heavenly enjoy- ment, never to be forgotten by those who participated in it. The Rev. Dr. De Witt, Senior Minister of the Col- legiate Dutch Churches, appropriately presided. He THE ANNIVEKSAKT. 341 opened the exercises by some remarks, in whicii he gave a brief history of the origin and progress of the daily prayer-meeting held in the lecture-room of the church. After the congregation had joined in sing- ing the psalm — " I love thy kingdom, Lord, The house of thine abode," etc., Rev. Dr. Leland, of South Carolina, read the 62d chapter of Isaiah. Rev. Dr. McCarrell, Presbyterian, of Newburgh, K. Y., led the assembly in prayer. Rev. Dr. Krebs, of the O. S, Presbyterian Church, made an address contrasting the present religious as- pect of the city, and the position and prospects of the churches, with what they were when he first entered the city about thirty years since, and when he came to this church on his first Sabbath in the city to hear the Rev. Dr. De Witt preach. He said that a few years ago it seemed almost as if this portion of the city was to be given up to Mammon, the churches were so generally moving up town. But in view of the wonderful results of the past year, in which at the busiest hour of the day, and in the midst of the marts of trade and of business of every kind, each day in the year, crowds had been gathered together for prayer — ^in which so many souls have been con- verted to God and so many hearts quickened anc 342 POWER OF PRAYER. cheered, we are all compelled to exclaim, "What hath God wrought?" The venerable Dr. Bangs, of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, said that this was the first successful at- tempt at Christian union which had been made. For a great part of his ministerial life he had battled with other denominations, but of late he had been preach- ing on Love, and he was going to preach more on this theme until he should be called to rest from his labors. His remarks, uttered in a spirit of warm af- fection toward all who love Christ, and coming from a veteran minister of the gospel who has not long to remain, produced a deep impression. After prayer by Rev. Dr. Bangs, Eev. Dr. Gillette, of the Baptist Church, spoke, and touched many a tender chord in the hearts of his hearers. He referred to the scenes of triumph which had attended the labors of God's people during the past year, and in the estimate of its great results, carried his hearers up to those courts above where saints and angels, in sympathy with ransomed souls on earth, were harping with their harps, praising God for the displays of his grace made to perishing sinners. Rev. Dr. Van Pelt, of the Reformed Dutch Church, made a few remarks, and Rev. Dr. Asa D. Smith, of tlie N. S. Presbyterian Church, Jed in prayer, when Rev. Dr. Adams, of the same church, made an ad< THE CLEKGT. 343 dress, recounting many of the great mercies which had descended upon om* land and upon the world as the fruits of the great revival ; the souls that had been saved ; the Christian hearts that had been cheered ; the homes that had been blessed ; the family altars that had been erected ; the number that had been added to the ministry, and the great addition which had been made to the working power of the church. He referred to other lands which had caught the in- fluence ; he spoke of the remarkable movement going on in the established church of England, in giving the gospel to the poor and persuading them to listen to it, and said he had just received a letter from a distinguished servant of Christ, at Geneva, Switzer- land, making inquiry about this revival, and giving information which showed that they have the same thing going on in the old world, if they do not give it the same name. A stranger then rose and related some incidents illustrating the power of the work, and exhorted Christians to persevere, sowing the seed beside all waters, and waiting on God in believing prayer for his blessing. Dr. De Witt said he had received letters from two Episcopal clergymen of the city, expressing their re- grets that they could not attend, owing to engage- roents. 344 POWER OF PBAYEB. Rev. Dr. Spring made the concluding address; E.ev. Mr. Cuyler led in prayer, and Rev, Dr. Banga pronounced the benediction. While this glorious meeting was in progress — a meeting of thanksgiving and praise — how little did any one in that gi'eat congregation imagine the emo- tions of one poor sinner who was standing among the crowd within the doors ; yet then and there, while the people were praising God for what he had done, the Spirit was in power upon one who had been medi- tating horrible crime, restraining him from sin and bringing him to repentance. Seeing the crowd press- ing into the church as he was passing, he turned in with them, reckless of himself and only anxious to see what was going on. He succeeded in getting a standing place within the door, and soon heard words that arrested his attention. He was even then revolv- ing murder in his own mind, but the word of God, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, pierced him to the heart. Tliis was September 23. About nine days after- wards, October 2, a man came running into the upper lecture-room, in Fulton street, and said he " wanted to write a request for prayer." "We sat, at the time, at a table, writing out the report of the previous meeting. So we handed a pen and paper, and said to him, " Sit down, and write what you please." Ha A CEIMINAL ARRESTED. S45 wrote as follows, and lianded it to us to present for him to the meeting, which was to commence in ten or twelve minutes : " The prayers of this meeting are respectfullj requested fo? G B , who has lived all his life in wickedness, and only a week ago contemplated suicide and the great crime of murder, in hope of ending his misery. " G B ." He signed this request with his own proper name. We looked at him with incredulity and amazement. " You did not really intend to commit murder and suicide ?" we said, " Yes I did," he answered, with great promptness and decision. "I really meant it, and should have done it, if it had not been for the prayer-meeting held in the charch." We were still incredulous, and surprised to hear him talk so. We stood up together at the tahle. We looked at him calmly and steadily in the eye for a minute or two. We could see no murder there. " It is not possible," we remarked. " It is possible," he said. " It was truly so, and I and another wculd have been in eternity before now if it had not been for the prayer-meeting in the clmrch." This was said with so much calmness and firranees, that we began to believe him, and inquired, 34:6 POWER OF PKAYEB, " Whom did you intend to murder ?" " A woman." " What for ?" '• She had most outrageously wronged me." " Have you any murder in your heart now ?" " Not a particle." " Have you ever committed any heinous crime ?'* we asked him, looking down and reading over the re- quest, and thinking that some of his expressions might refer to crimes he had committed in past life. " JSTever," said he, with great firmness. " Have you been in prison ?" " I never was imprisoned in my life." " Of what country are you ?" " I am an Englishman, but have been several years in America." " Had you a pious mother ?" The tears stood in his eyes, blinding him by their flow. " I had a praying mother, sir, and I really believe her prayers for me prevented my hand on tliat day." " How so ?" " I had the deadly knife in my bosom, and the poison in my pocket. I intended to meet my victim on the street, and to stab her on the instant, and take the poison on the spot and put an end to my troubles. MURDEK AND SUICIDE. 347 But I hope that Grod prevented me in answer to my mother's prayers." " Do you really desire to be a Christian ?" " I do." " Ai'e you really sorry for the awful crimes you have contemplated ?" " I am, sir — ^I am sorry. I am a great sinner." " The Lord Jesus is a great Saviour. He prayed for forgiveness for his own murderers, when he was dying, and he can forgive you." At this time the singing had commenced in the room below, and we went down together. We edged him in, and found a seat for him in the crowded as- sembly, and then sent up his request. It went from hand to hand, till it reached the leader's desk. We saw him read it with evident surprise, and as an oppor- tunity offered, he rose, and read it to the audience. Fervent prayers were offered, and this poor miser- able man was remembered. Il^otwithstanding all his crimes, there was something in the prayers which seemed to say: "We believe that this man's sins, which are many, will be forgiven him." The chief of sinners can be forgiven. The agony of his mind seemed to become more and more intense, from day to day. Often did a little band of Christians retire into a small upper room, and when the doors were shut, converse and 348 POWEK OF PEATEK. pray witL liim. He could get no relief. lie was sometimes questioned, to see if tliere was any dispo- sition to commit suicide, lurking in bis heart but be seemed to sbudder at tbe tbougbts of tbe crimes wbicb be bad resolved uj)on, and was fully aware of tbe great enormity and awful wickedness of bis heart, in that it could entertain for a moment such murderous intentions. He was always present in tbe daily prayer-meetings, and was cast down Tinder bis burden of sorrow. Remorse gnawed terri bly at bis heart, and it was not mere sorrow, but it was agony of spirit. He was also present at tbe even- ing meetings, and no opportunity for mingling with Christians, who met for prayer, escaped him. His countenance bore the plain band- writing of the suffering wbicb was endured within. His prevail- ing feeling was that of despair. He felt that he bad sinned so long, and had sinned so grievously, that it was useless to expect that his sins could be forgiven. He was one evening at a prayer-meeting. It was a Sabbath evening, and tbe room, was full. In about tbe middle of tbe bouse bis voice was beard. He was found kneeling by his seat, and crying aloud for mercy. Tbe congregation were standing, and sing- ing a hymn. It was tbe hymn " Rock of ages cleft for mc, Let me hide myself in thee." JBEMOKSE. U9 His language was : " Oh, wliat sliall I do ! — what shall I do — what can I do to be saved?" He kept uttering short expressions of prayer, begging for laercj and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The singing proceeded to the end, and when the hymn was closed, no notice being taken of the inter- ruption, prayer was at once commenced, making him the one and only object of supplication. When the voice of prayer was heard, his own voice was hushed, and all hearts united in one solemn, earnest cry for mercy on this poor sinner. Prayer followed after prayer, till the hour was closed, and his case was the burden of all the supplications offered. The meeting closed, and this man was almost the last to leave the room, so reluctant was he to go. The next day, at noon, he was at the prayer-meet- ing. But oh! what a change in his countenance. It wore a quiet, placid smile. That look of sadness and despair was gone, and gone forever. He was rejoicing in Christ as a Saviour — as his Saviour — with exceeding joy. His faith strengthens daily, and he gives abundant evidence that he is a '' new Breature in Christ Jesus." ;50 POWER OF PKAYEE. CHAPTER XXVI. PRAYER SHOWN TO BE EFFICACIOUS. BY REV. WM. S. PLUMER, D.D., LL.D. I HAVE been requested by tlie author of this vol« ume to write something on prayer, particularly on the relation between the prayer and the answer, illustrated by facts ancient or modern. There is not on earth any form of religion that does not include prayer. It may be corrupt in doc- trine, morals and worship, but it cannot be a religion and dispense with prayer. It is not possible to over-estimate the value of prayer. For more than thirty-five years I have had much intercourse with dying saints and sinners of various ages and conditions. In all that time I have not heard one express regret that he had spent too much time in prayer ; I have heard many mourn that they had so seldom visited a throne of grace. There can be no true piety without a devotional spirit. He, whose soul does not thirst after God, and DE. PLUMER ON PEATEB. 351 Beek fellowsliip with him, is an entire stranger to vital godliness. Prayer is efficacious. It has power with God. It averts sore judgments. It brings great blessings. Kothing that men can do has so vast an influence. This can be proven in many ways. The Scriptures expressly say so. " Call upon me in the day of trouble : I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me ;" " Every one that asketli receiveth ; and he that seeheth findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened ;" " The effectual, fer- vent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Often does God's word say as much. It also records very clear and remarkable answers to prayer in the cases of Abraham, of Jacob, of Joseph, of Moses, of Joshua, of Hannah, of David, of Asa, of Elijah, of Elisha, of Isaiah, of Hezekiah, of Mordecai of !Nehemiah, of Paul and Silas, and of many others. And God's honor is as much involved in answer- ing the prayers indited by his Spirit, as it is in his continuing to rule the world. When we ask him to hear the right, we ask him to maintain his cwn glory, and to support his own throne ISTor is anything that concerns us too minute to claim God's notice. I!^early a century ago a man settled in Western Pennsylvania. He owned a tract 352 POWEK OF PKAYEB. of land with some improvements and stock. But lie was far from market, and money was scai ce. His family being large, lie fell in arrears. He owed his merchant some ten or more dollars. His taxes were also due. He promised the money as soon as he could get it. He offered some of his stock and grain, but no purchaser could be had. At length he was urged to fix a day when the money should be paid with certainty. He went to his home and was much afflicted. Early in the autumn a neighbor and himself built a fish-basket. Each was to have the fruits of it every other morning. The time for paying the money was rapidly approaching. A failure involved the honor of religion. The good man got nothing considerable from his basket, the fish, not descending the river. At length he spent most of a day in prayer. Towards eveiJn/^ it grew cool. He continued in prayer. He slor t none all night. After midnight he w^ent to the river, and found the fish coming down. He prayed on, and at daylight he had a canoe well filled with fishes. He descended the river raj)idly, found ready market for his fishes in Pittsburg, paid all his debts and taxes, procured some needed comforts for his family, and returned home to give th inks to God. That fish-basket stood near the place where the fiist lock now is on the Youghioghei y River. Many of the THE FISH BASKET. 353 descendants of that man still live. I have the storj? from their own lips. God hears and answers the prayers of little child- ••en. In 1835, when my health threatened to fail, I travelled through JSTew England and made many pleasant acquaintances. At the house of an eminent Christian, I found a little boy supporting himself by making himself useful in any way he could in the intervals of school. I became interested in him. I got his confidence. He told me his plans and his practice. He was aiming at a professional educa- tion. He did not profess to have a new heart ; but he prayed often every day, and said he knew God would hear and help him. I encouraged him to persevere in prayer. I suppose he did. For years I lost sight of him, till I learned that my little friend was an ornament to the bar in in the north- west. " What do you do without a mother to tell all your troubles to ?" said a child who had a mother to one whose mother was dead. "Mother told me whom to go to before she died," answered the little orphan. " I go to the Lord Jesus ; he was mother's friend, and he ia mine." The other replied : " Jesus Christ is up in the bkv; he is away off, and has a great many things to 354 POWER OF PBATEE- attend to in heaven. It is not likely lie can stop to mind you." " I do not know about tliat," said the orphan ; " all r know is, he says he will, and that is enough for we." The orphan was right. God's ear is as open to babes and sucklings as it is to divines and senators. Oh, that all the childi-en were told as much, and believed it. In May, 1858, 1 attended the Fulton street Prayer- meeting in I^ew York. A plain man, who had but recently indulged a hope in Christ, arose and told of the mercy of God in his own salvation. He said he had formerly asked the prayers of the meeting for his pious but insane mother, that she might be re- stored to reason, so as to be tilled with joy and re- ceive his thanks for her fidelity to him in the days of his wickedness. Said he : " That prayer is already so far answered that she has ceased to rave, and ie rapidly improving. I shall soon see my mother well." Ilis statement reminds me of a case that occurred in the seventeenth century. " Richard Cook, a pious man, during Mr, Baxter's residence at Kidderminster, went to live in the next house to him. After some time he was seized with melan- choly, which ended in madness. The most skillful help was obtained, but all in vain. "While he was in this state, some pious persons wished to meet, to fast DE. NEVINS, 355 and pray in belialf of the sufferer; but Mr. Bax- ter, in tliis instance, dissuaded tliem from it, as lie apprehended the case to be hopeless, and thought ihey would expose j)rayer to contempt in the eyes of worldly persons, when they saw it unsuccessful. When ten or a dozen years of affiiction had passed over Richard Cook, some of the pious men referred to would no longer be dissuaded, but fasted and prayed at his house. They continued this practice once a fortnight for several months ; at length the sufferer began to amend, his health and reason re" turned, and," adds Mr. Baxter, "he is now as well almost as he ever was, and so hath continued for a considerable time." Have you not read in the Gos- pels ? " This kind goeth not out hut hy jprayer and fasting^'' And, " This kind can come forth hy no- thing^ hut hy prayer and fasting.'''' — Matt. xvii. 21 ; Mark ix. 29. AYliat mean these Scriptures? As we need God's Spirit in all things, so he is freely given in answer to prayer, to guide our minds in right channels. Eev. Dr. "Wm. Kevins, of Baltimore, prayed for years that he might be able to write one good tract. In his last days he did not doubt that God had answered his prayer, nor can any good mau^ who has read his tracts and books, doubt that God heard his cry. He asked for little and he got much. God can answer prayer for anything agreeable to 356 POWER OF PKATER. his will. John Welch, the son-in-law of John Knox, and ancestor of Rev. James Paine, of Somerville, Tenn., and of Rev, H. H. Paine, of Holly Springs, Miss., used to say : " I wonder how a Christian could lie in a bed all night, and not rise to pray." Thi?. wonderful man, when banished for the word of God, mastered the French language in fourteen weeks, that he was able to preach in it so acceptably that several churches in France called him. If we did study less like atheists and more like Christians, we should make more progress. Philip Henry made this entry on a day set apart for study: "I forgot when I began, explicitly and expressly to crave help from God, and the chariot wheels drove acGordingly. Lord, forgive mj omission, and keep me in the way ut' duty." It was once said to a useful minister : " Sir, it you did not plough in your closet, you would not reap in your pulpit." I know two men in one of the middle States, who say, that if they ever got aid from God in anything in answer to prayer, it was in their studies. Good old Thomas Boston, in his autobi- ography, tells us the secret of his success in study, when he spread out the Hebrew Bible and prayed to the Lord to have mercy on him, and to give him wakefulness, for he had lately lost much sleep. And long before him David had prayed : " Teach me thy statutes ;" " Open thou mine eyes that I may behold THE FEENCH FLEET. 357 wondrous things out of thj law." The history of Solomon shows that it was chiefly a blessing on hia studies that he sought when he prayed for wisdom. Let students pray. The instances in which, in answer to prayer, God has sent remarkable deliverances to a people, are nu- merous and striking. In the days of Queen Eliza- beth the terrible Spanish Armada was scattered or destroyed in answer to fervent prayers offered by the people of God in England. In 1746, the French armament of forty ships, prepared under the Duke d'Anville against the American colonies, was, in an- swer to prayer, totally ruined by a tempest. The leaders of the expedition were so overwhelmed at the suddenness and completeness of their disaster, that both of them committed suicide. But God can save his beleagured people without destroying their foes. LeClerc tells us that when, in 167?, the Dutch were expecting an attack from their enemies by sea. " public prayers were ordered for deli verance. It came to pass that when their ene- mies waited only for the tide, in order to land, the tide was retarded, contrary to its usual course, for twelve hours, so that their enemies were obliged to defer the attempt to another of>portunity, which they never found, because a storm arose afterwards, and dro7e them from the coast." 358 POWEK OF PBATEE. How wonderfully God has answered prayer in be- half of good institutions founded to alleviate hnman misery. Of this we have a striking instance in the Orphan House, at Halle, founded by Francke. His school was unendowed. In 1696 he had not money to support the school a week longer. When the last morsel was about to be consumed, a thousand crowns were received from an unknown source. At other times of distress he received, in answer to special prayer, twenty, thirty, ind fifty crowns. He says : " Another time all our provision was spent, but in addressing myself to the Lord, I found myself deeply aff'ected with the fourth petition of the Lord's prayer, ' Give us this day our daily bread,' and my thoughts were fixed in a more especial manner on the words 'this day,' because on the very same day we had great occasion for it. While I was yet praying, a friend of mine came before my door in a coach, and brought the sum of four hundred crowns !" And who needs prayer more than a preacher of the gospel ? Chalmers was right : " A minister has no ground to hope for fruits from his exertions until in himself he has no hope ; but he has learned to put no faith in the point and energy of sentences, until he feels that a man may be mighty to compel atten- tion, and mighty to regale the imagination, and mighty to silence the gainsayer, and yet not mighty SINNERS SHOULD TRAY. 359 to the pulling down of strongliolds." Tlie apostles felt at liberty to devolve the distribution of the church's alms on others chosen for the purpose. But they did not dare to quit praying and preaching. Kay, they did not dare to do anything to diminish their attention to both these duties. They say, " "We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." — Acts vi. 4. A preacher without prayer is dreadfully weak as well as miser- able. I have known one preacher who would not exhort sinners to pray. His own child sustained an injury, and while the kind surgeon was doing his best to give effectual relief, the little boy was venting his wicked passions in oaths and curses. Tliis made one of the neighbors say, " When children are not en- couraged to pray, they may be expected to blas- pheme." It is very true, indeed, that we ought to exhort men to pray sincerely, and not hypocritically — in faith, and not in unbelief. But he who will not pray until, on good grounds, he is sure that he has all right affections and graces, will go to hell before his prayer begins. It is also true that the promises of the covenant of grace are to the believer, and that to any soul of man " unbelief is the annihilation of the promises " of salvation. Yet who can show, by avy 360 POWER OF PKAYEE. truth of natural or revealed religion, that God will never hear the cry of distress of any of his creatures on earth ? Are not his tender mercies over all his works here below ? Does he not hear the crj of tlie young raven and the young lion ? And is not a man tetter than many birds and beasts ? Does the Lord not invite men everywhere to come to him ? Nay, more : in Psalm cvii. he has twice recorded his good- ness in answering the prayers of two classes of men notorious for their wickedness. One is a class of men who, for their destructive vices and indulgences, are called ybcZs. " Fools, because of their transgres- sion, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat, and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he savetli them out of their distresses. He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that tnen would praise the Lord/br his goodness, andybr his wonderful works to the children of men !" — Yerses 17-21. Tlie other class is that of sailors, who, in nearly all ages, have been quite irreligious and profane. " They tliat go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters ; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he com- mandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth SAILOES' PRAYERS. 361 Ip the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths : their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because of the quiet ; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord^new Capt. McClnng lie lived on the South River, in Rockbridge Cpimty, Ya., about three miles from Fairfield, He often told me that ho believed he had in early life been called to tlie ministry, and had sinned in not obeying the call. My impressions on this subject are the same as his. lie was a man of remarkable gifts in prayer. He seemed to have also, to an unusual degree, the spirit of prayer. In 1832, God began to pour out his Spirit on some of the churches in Rockbridge County. But as yet the united churches of Timber- ridge and Fairfield seemed to be passed by. I was invited by some kind friends to visit Fairfield at its approaching communion season. I went down on Saturday, heard some good preaching, but saw no unusual seriousness, except in Capt. McClung and one or two others. Saturday night there was a prayer-meeting without unusual evidences of God's presence. The meeting over, most retired to sleep. But Capt. McClung started on foot for his home. Much of the road was through forest. Wlien the sun rose he had not entered his own door. He had spent the Vv^hole night in prayer. The answer came that day. I never heard the same minister preach so before, and but once or twice since. I never saw the work of God advance so gloriously in one day in so small a congregation. The face of the preacher did shin«> FATHER MACUEDT. 369 "as it had been tlie face of an angel," and his voice, usually not very powerful, might have been heard to a great distance, pronouncing in awful solemnity and with glorious distinctness and amazing penetra- tion the urgent claims of God on men's souls for time and eternity. I believe the impression was general that the great blessings of that day descended in answer to the prayers that had been offered the previous night, especially the prayers of Capt. James McClung, whose name must still be precious in all that favored portion of our country. In Dr. Elliott's life of the Eev. Elisha Macurdy, there is frequent mention made of a man in western Pennsylvania, whose name was Philip Jackson, the graying elder. This man was rude and untutored, not even knowing how to read, until God's Spirit remarkably renewed his heart and gave him a thirst for divine knowledge. One of the last ad- dresses father Macurdy ever made contained this statement : " My dear brethren, I am not able to say much. There is a single point to which I shall con- fine myself. It is one with which the prosperity of the church is connected. It is the piety of the church. Forty years ago, the piety of the church was of a most vigilant and active kind. Those who were leaders made it a business on all favorable oppor tunities, to converse with those who were yet out of 16* 370 _ POWEE OF PRATER. the churcli. This was not confined to the pastors, but was attended to particularly by the elders. I have in my mind one, who, when brought into the church, could not read the Bible ; yet that man did more for the cause of Christ than many ministers. He lay, I think, at the foundation of the great re- vival which took place forty years ago. He ad- dressed himself to sinners on all occasions. He was a wrestling Jacob, who poured out his soul to God. A hundred times have I knelt with him in a solitary thicket, and implored God to pour out his Spirit upon the whole church. My meaning, then, is, that elders and others should do as this man did, if they would have God to pour out his Spirit. Brethren, WAKE tip! Talk to sinners kindly, affectionately, frequently, and God will pour out his Spirit. I have no doubt but God is ready to pour out his Spirit, if we will do our duty." One man may be a blessing to a whole commonwealth. One Philip Jackson in every county would fill the land with joy. " On their way to Buffalo, to attend a meeting, 'Aw Macurdy and Philip Jackson, a ruling elder in Che church of Cross Roads, became acquainted. Hap- pening to fall in together, they proceeded in com- pany, conversing familiarly on the subject of reli- gion. They were men of like spirit, and had drunk at the same fountain. Their intercourse soon became A mother's PEA11EKS. 371 free and unrestrained. Pliilip had a son who was wild and irreligious, for whose salvation he was deeply concerned. He made known the particulars of his case to Mr. Macurdj, and desired him to turn asid ) with him into the woods, that they might unite in I rayer for his conversion. His request was com- pli( d with, and in a grove near the road, with the ag< d elder kneeling at his side, Mr. Macurdy poured out his soul to God on behalf of this un- godly youth. ISTot long after this, young Jackson became seriously impressed, and hopefully converted, Philip ever afterwards connected this happy result with Mr. Macurdy's prayer in the woods, and on this account was very strongly attached to him." Tlie time referred to was that of the great revivals about the beginning of this century. A living useful pastor relates the following : "' A Christian mother in my congregation, whose hus- band was a dissipated man^ had a son in a military academy at the East. He was wayward, and seemed bent upon quitting it to seek his fortune at sea. The mother prayed earnestly for the boy, that he might be controlled by God for his salvation. One night she wrestled till day dawn for her son, not having heard recently from him, and fearing the worst. As it afterwards proved, he had the day previous quit the school, and engaged himself with 872 POWER OF PRATEE. a sliipmaster in l^ew York for a Toyage, to set sail the next day, But that night he could not sleep. Tie was disturbed, and knew not why. He felt an indescribable drawing towards his home. He could not get over it. He must get home. He could not help it, and so he went early the next morning to the shipmaster, and broke off his engagement, and started home. He arrived tliere greatly to his poor mother's surprise, and he found the whole com- munity engaged in the^ daily prayer-meetings. But he hated the very mention of them. A few days passed by, he meanwhile absenting himself from these services. At length he came knocking at the door of the pastor, asking, with tears, what must I do to be saved ? The pastor directed him to Christ. That night he arose at midnight sleepless, and knocked at his father's chamber door, begging him to pray for him. The father grew angry at his im- portunity, began to threaten him, if he did not cease, and told his mother if she did not take him away or silence him, he would lay violent hands upon him. B;il he could not desist from his earnest inquiries for Balvation until he found Christ. And as the fact8 all came to light, it proved that the very night tliat mother was wrestling till day-dawn in her closet, 500 miles away from her son, that son was kept fileepless and troubled on his bed, so that he must THE elder's pkayee. 373 breiik his rash engagement to go to sea, and mu&t seek the face of his injured mother, and t^ien the face of his injured God." A prominent pastor recently rehited, at a prayer- meeting of the Synod of Fittsburg, the following : " At the time of my ordination and installatior, and just after the exercises were concluded, one of the elders of the church over which I was installed pastor, came up to me, took me earnestly by the hand, and said : ' Do you remember a few years ago, you were stopping for the night in the town of — — , and lodged at the hotel ? You camevinto the room and retired, when an old man, lying in an adjacent bed, remarked to you, that he observed you got into bed without offering prayer, and added a few words of address to you on the subject. I am that old man. I turned my face around from you and prayed earnestly to God that he might convert you to himself, and make you a minister of Christ. And here,' said he, ' God has heard my prayer, and 1 take you hy the hand to-day as my jpastor.'' " It is God's memoeial that in every generatiok he heaeeth pratee. 374 POWEE OF PHAYEE. CHAPTER XXYII. COXVERSION OF YOUNG MEN IN 1857 AND 1868. The Great Revival — Extends to all parts of the Country — Thousands of Young Men Converted — Prayer out of the Army for those in it — 130,000 Sunday School Scholars and Teachers — Petitions Coming — Chaplain of a Wisconsin Regiment — Mothers' Prayers — Got Some- thing to do about it — Seeking Jesus at once — Converted — Only Son — New Hampshire Clergyman — The Letter — Prayer-Meetings on the March — Whole Regiment Taking Sides — Letters — Beyond the Stars. The great revivals of 1857 and 1858 were not lim- ited to those years, tliougli tliey were the seasons of their greatest j^ower, but continued in many parts of the laud, years afterward, even up to the present day. Among the classes brought under the power of " the glorious Gospel of the Blessed God " was the great class of the young men of the country, thou- sands on thousands of whom were converted in answei to prayer. The churches became early interested in the salvation of their young men, and requests for prayer came pouring into the Fulton Street Prayer- Meeting from all quarters in the first years of its existence. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters begged the pray CONVERSION OF YOUNG MEN. 375 ers of the people of God tliat their unconverted sons and brothers might be brought into the fokl of the Good Shepherd. What was the result ? All our church records show tliat there was a vast increase of members of the visible body of Christ, and that a great share of those wlio had made profession of tlieir faith in him were young men. What the divine purpose was in regard to the un- precedented number of young men converted, we knew not then, but we were to know afterward. God was preparing his hosts, who were to be his hidden ones in the great armies which were to be gathered in various portions of the country, and in the great navies which were to be stationed all along our large extent of coast. Jesus was preparing for himself bands of faithful witnesses to be in ahnost every vessel at sea and in almost every regiment on shoi'e, who were to stand up for him in the midst of abounding wicked- ness, and be as briglit and shining liglits in tlie midst of surroundhig darkness. Though we cannot see all parts of the vast and merciful design which God had in the conversion of so many of our young men, we can have a view of enough to fill our minds and hearts with admiring gratitude and praise. When a young man is led to consecrate himself and all he has to God, he is prepared to consecrate himself and all his powers to his country, in all her 376 POWEll OF PKAYES. Mmes of need. When this wretched war was waged and the arm of rehellion was raised against the Gov- ernment — " the Powers that he, which were ordained of God " — thousands on thousands of our best yomig men flocked to the support of our Governjnent with arms in their hands, ready to do or die, as the case and the call might be. Never was such an army gathered — not in tlie days of Josliua, not in the days ' of Cromwell — as were gathered in this Kow World, from workshop aiid field, from all classes and conditions — such an army, embracing so many God-fearing men, so near loving Jesus with all their hearts, and loving their neighbors as then)- selves. The world before had never produced such an army as that of these United States. Who wej-e these nien who went forth as our hosts ? There were some of all classes — the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the learned, the ignorant. The great mass was the best we had to go. They went from our altars and our firesides, where we gathered morning and even- ing for prayer. They went from our Sabbath schools and churches, where we gathered every Sabbath for instruction, prayer, and praise. Man}' thousands of those who went were among our best youi^g men, the most devoted, patriotic Christians, possessing an ardent and intelligent piety. They liad been the sons of prayer — children of earnest religious training. PKATER FOS THOSE IN THE AEMT. 377 It is estimated, by those having best opportunity to know, that one hundred and thirty thousand of our brave and noble soldiers -went forth from our Sabbath Schools, in which they had been teachers or scholars. What an army for the Lord ! Great numbers of these had been the fruits of the great and precious revivals which had prevailed over the land. Large numbers of them had become witnesses for Jesus in answer to prayer. Mighty prayers had been oftered in their behalf, and had prevailed, and they had been born again. It was a harvest of sonls which had been gathered, and these were among the first fiuits. With tiie out-going of our hosts of young men there went up one great volume of prayer to God in tlieir behalf. They were followed with prayer to the camp and the tented field. Whole communities wera moved to prayer; for almost every one, in many ir.- stances, had a son or a brother or a husband in the great company who were going. Oh ! who can tell tlie tears which were shed and the prayers which were offered as our hosts went forth to the horrors and uncertainties of war ! The petitions began at once to come from all ooints, almost, to the Fnlton Street Meeting for pray- ers for those who were going or had gone. Tliey began to pour in to all our prayer meetings in all our cities and towns, that God would be very merci* 378 POWER OF PKAYEK. ful to our yoang men — converting tlie unconverted, and aiding those who were his faitlifiil ones to be faith- ful in their new vocation and relations. Fathers and mothers felt an earnest longing that their sons in tho army or navy might be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. For this they prayed and asked others to pray. A chaplain of a Wisconsin regiment stood before his men at dress parade, to perform religious services, and before singing and prayer he made a short address to them. He told them he had just come from the North, and from the Fulton Street Prayer-Meeting. He spoke in eloquent terms of the earnestness of the prayers which were ofi'ered there for the brave men who were in the field. He assured the men that it was real prayer which was offered, and that he felt the power of it upon his own soul. He told them of the value of prayer, and exhorted them to be much in prayer for themselves, for their regiment, and for their brethren in arms everywhere, that they might come under the leadership of the Great Captain of our salvation, and fight manfully the good fight of faith. As the chaplain went on in burning, melting words, it was observed that almost all the men of tlie regiment were weeping. JSTothing seemed to move them so much as the assurance that the good Chris- tian people of the North remembered them in prayer. When the serv^ices were concluded, a noble, fine- mothers' pkaters. 379 lookln<^ } oung man came up to where the chaplain was standing, and calling him one side, he said — " Chaplain, then they do ]3ray for us at the North?" " To be sure they do." " They pray for us in the Fulton Street Prayer- Meeting, do they ? " " Yes : and siich prayers — they are so earnest ! " " Did you hear any requests read from mothers for prayer for their unconverted sons in the army ? " " Yes, a great many." " From different places ? " " Yes, from all parts of the country." " Perhaps there was one from my mother for me ! " " Yery likely, if your mother is a praying woman. I have heard petitions read from many a mother." " My mother is a praying woman, and I know she pi'ays every day for me, and it would be just like her to ask that meeting to pray for me, and I have got something to do about it." " And what are you going to do about it ? " " My mother shall not pray for me in vain. She shall not pray for nothing. PU tell you, chaplain, what I am going to do about it. I am going to take an interest in the atoning blood of Jesus, now, and with all my heart. That is what I am going to do about it, and I want all the help you can give a 380 POWER OF PKATEE. poor sinner like me to make my mother's God mji own. I want yon to begin now, as I do." That chaplain soon after wrote to the Fulton Street Meeting,, asking prayers for this young man, saying that his precious, praying mother, in "Wiscon- sin, had received the joyful news of his conversion, and now she wanted that her son should stand up boldly and proclaim the grace which had plucked him as a brand from the burning. Soon after the going forth of our troops to the front, or the seat of war, we began to hear of prayer- meetings in the camps. When the first noise and tumult had passed away, then the voice of the Spirit was whispered to many a heart, and we soon began to liear of revivals in the regiments. The spiiit of prayer was stirred, and the Spirit was poured out in answer to prayer. Prayer-meetings were held under a great variety of circumstances, and in a multitude of instances with much success. Revivals of religion followed, and thousands were converted. " Who is this .3'oung man, sir, who is walking up and down by himself, humming and singing his Sun- day School songs ? " said a gentleman to a chaplain, the subject of inquiry being a youth not more tiian eigliteen years of age. " That young man," said the chaplain, is the son of a most devoted pastor in New Hampshire, t ■* is AN ONLY SON. 381 an only son — the son of, oh, so many, many prayers ! But nothing has seemed to touch him till he came into these barracks." The chaplain stood folding a letter. " I have just Tv'ritten this letter," he continued. " And oh, v.liat nevv^s this letter will carry ! It gives the whole liistory of that young man's conversion. He was converted here, sir, in this very tent, and perhaps you never saw a happier creature than he is now. He had to come here to have his father's and mother's prayers answered. And here a covenant-keeping God remem- bers and fulfils his promise. You neve-r saw a greater change than is in this young man. I am amazed at it myself, and all my song is about surprising grace. For this is one out of a great number of hopeful con- versions in this regiment." This was in the earliest stages of the war. Said a chaplain of one of the JS^ew York regi- ments, " I have had prayer-meeting every night while we have been moving, whether we were on the march or in the cars. While we were in prayer the Spirit seemed to be woiiderfally poured out on the regiment, and fifteen hopeful conversions took place while we were moving from place to place." At the time he was speaking, the regiment was gathering for prayer. The colonel of the regiment was a pioua officer. When the regiment had gathered, the col- 382 POWER OF PRAYEE. onel took the conduct of tlie meeting into his own hands, giving out the hymns, and leading in prayer. After prayer he made a most earnest address to the men, urging them in strong terms to come at once to Jesus. He assured tliem of his interest in their tem- poral and eternal welfare ; told them that it was his duty to do all he could to save their natural lives, and as a good officer he was bound to see to it that those lives should not be sacrificed. But he had a higher duty still to perform. Amid all the uncertainties which were before them, it was almost morally cer- tain that some lives would be lost. It is a higher duty to save the life of the soul. He knew not who might fall. It might be himself, it might be some of his officers, it might be some of tlie men. As their commanding officer, it would be his duty to lead them in battle, and he should feel all the more courage could he feel that every man of his regiment was pre- pared for the event, whether life or death. He told them how his heart had been moved by the intelligence which he had received, that all his pious friends at home, and theirs, were praying for them. " My men," said the colonel, " think of your wives and children, your fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters praying for you. You may never see them. You must prepare to meet them. Oh 1 how shall you prepare ? Come over on the Lord's A WHOLE EEaiMENT TAKING SIDES. 383 Bide, every man. Come at once; come now, before we move an inch farther. It is my duty to tell you we are going to danger, and perhaps to death. Come over on the Lord's side now. He will then go with us — go before us, over our heads, if he sees fit, in the day of battle." On went his words, and down fell the tears as his heart warmed toward his men. When he concluded, one and another of the regiment took up the appeal, speaking rapidly and to the point. At length the chaplain arose to close the services. He followed up the appeal of the commander. It was a solemn time. He told them they could not all speak, only in one way. He wanted to know how many were, and were resolved to be on the Lord's side. " I'll give you a chance to show if you are on the Lord's side." Ho told them they could do it by rising. He explained what was meant, in a few plain, simple words, by coming to Jesus to be saved by his grace. Then he called on those to stand up who were determined to stand up for Jesus. I^early all in the regiment rose, — 350 being members of churches at home, aiad the remainder resolving that they would join themselves to the Lord. It was a time of deep religious interest in the regiment, and that interest seemed to be in manifest answer to prayer. 384 POWER OF PEAYEK. Such letters as the following were often received by the Fulton Street Prayer-Meeting : — " Deak Bkotiii k : — I take the liberty of sending you a few lines, because I know you often pray for the soldiers, and take a deep interest in them. The Lord is blessing Christian labors among us, and sinners are* converted every day. Last night strong cries were heard from soldiers, who I think would not quail be- fore the cannon's mouth, but w^ho felt it their duty to cry to God for mercy and salvation. I believe that many of them found peace in believing in Jesus. This is no strange thing among us now. And we thank God for it. Do pray for us and with us, that God may continue his w^ork among us, until a great multitude shall be brought into the fold. Please pray for me, that I may be kept steadfast in faith and prayer, and in every duty." Another says : — " The good work of God's grace seems to be going on through all the regiments. The men seem interested in the great work of the salva- tion of their souls. Help us by your prayers." Thousands in the army have been converted in answer to prayer — prayer which has been offered at home. Hundreds of cases like the following miglit be quoted, taken from a letter draped in mourning. " A year ago a sister sent a request to the Ful- ton Street Meeting for a much loved and only LETTERS. 385 brother in the army. The particular request waa granted, but in a dark and mysterious way. God has since taken away her brother suddenly — she trasts, to his eternal home. Encouraged by the teachings of the past, she is emboldened to come again to the Christians of this Prayer-Meeting and ask their pray- ers for a young man in the army who was a most dear and devoted friend of her brother, and who is now in the city on a short furlough. Endeared to him by his kindness to the dead, she is anxious to improve the warning God has given him to the salvation of his soul. He is without relations or friends— a wanderer on the earth, with no one to care for his eternal inter- ests. At an earlier stage of his life he led a wild ex- istence ; outwardly reformed now, he seems careless and dead to religious influences. Is there no hope for him in tlie prayers of God's people ? If he were a Christian, he would be an earnest one. Dear friends, should we not interest ourselves in these careless, god- less men, as well as those who are hedged around, with holy influences and the prayers of a loving family ? Pray for this friendless soldier." Many have gone — many are going every day to their eternal home. We try to follow in our minds these angel and more than angel bands to their eternal abodes. They go in groups together from our gory battle fields and from our crowded hospitals. Some 386 ^ POWER OF PEAYEB. of them die, shouting the praises of Jesus, unable to express their joy that they are going to be forever with him. "Tell my dear, precious mother," said a dear young man — a mere boy in years — "that I am entering the river of death. I shall soon be on the other shore. Soon I shall be within the walls that shine like as of jasper. I shall join the unending song, ever growing newer and sweeter the longer it is Bung, Oh ! I am going to the glorious company of the redeemed, whom no man can number ! There I shall be at rest. No more forced marches. 'No more the damp and dismal bivouac? No more weariness and pain. No more crying and sorrow. No more running on the double-quick to meet en- emies. At home in heaven forever with Jesus. Oh 1 tell her " — he was gone. PKAYEK IN THE ARMY. 387 CHAPTER XXVIII. REVIVALS AND CONVERSIONS IN THE ARMY. Prayer in the Army — Chaplain — Regimental Church — ^Eighty at Commu« nion — The Letter within a Letter — Mary sets out for Heaven — ^Asks her Soldier Father to go with Her — Another Little Letter — Where is Father ? — "Where shall I find Him ? — The Skeptic asking where he can find Wife and Child — Chaplaui's Testimony — The Vermont Sol- diers — Longing for the Camp Prayer-Meetings. Theke have been glorious revivals of religion in the army in answer to prayer. They have prevailed ex- tensively, and they prevail now. They are advancing in power with the advancing spirit of prayer. A chaplain of a Pennsylvania regiment writes from the battle field, where his men had been under fire, and where they displayed the most undaunted cour- age :— "The morals of the regiment are good, and are con- stantly improving. "We have frequent prayer-meet- ings. Yesterday was a happy day for all the religious men in camp. We had two sermons, followed by an excellent address from the colonel commanding. Could you have witnessed the earnestness with which we Bung the seventy-second and twenty-third Psalms, 388 lOWER OF PKATEK. wlien not less than a thousand men were assembled, you would have no doubt felt, that though far from sanctuaries, God was here blessing his people. Quite a number, officers and men, contribute, bj leading meetings for prayer, to sustain the religious interest of the army." Another chaplain writes : — " I do hope we have the indications of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. There are cases of deep conviction and some hopeful conversions. I find it difficult to learn who feel most deeply. I have formed the church members into a regimental church. We propose to hold our first communion next Sabbath. We will have eighty or more at our next communion. The staff officers offered me every facility in their power, to promote the good of the men. They are lights on the line." All through the Army of the Potomac there is more or less interest in most of the regiments on the subject of salvation. In one single camp thousands have been converted, and thousands of men who had backslidden have returned to their duty. Reference is liere had to the Convalescent Camp in the neigh- borhood of Alexandria. God blesses the truths of the Gospel, as they are preached by his minister- ing servants, to the salvation of a multitude of Bouls. The great chapel is filled every night with A LETTEK WITHIN A LETTER. 389 those wlio come to engage in prayer. Tlio soldiers flock to those meetings until there is no room for them, and they stand outside, unwilling to leave. If any doubt, let them go to this camp, and they will find themselves in the midst of a great revival, be- stowed in answer to prayer. God blesses various means to the awakening and conversion of the men. Often it is the letter that comes from home that arouses the conscience of the soldiei. The letter is from a little child, perhaps. In the prayer-meetings short religious experiences are related. Such as the following: — A soldier said he had a pious wife at home who kept writing very religious letters. He did not want them. He often did not read them, but threw them one side. At length a letter came having a little letter in i: . I said to mj^self, who can this little letter be from ? I opened and found it was from my dear little girl. It went on to tell me that it was the first letter she had ever written, and because she loved her father dearly, this first letter was addressed to me. It told me that my sister Mary was dead, and I should never see her again. It said that when she was dying she called my little Mary to her, and made her promise to meet her in heaven. My little Mary told me she had really set out on her journey, and she begged me to go along with her. "What could I do — I, who derided religion, as you all know, from the day I came into 390 POWER OF PKATEE. the army ? But sinful and wicked as I am, I lay my- self at Jesus's feet, and start for heaven to-night." Children's letters have a wonderful power. A chap- lain in the meeting spoke of what had lately occurred in the army. A man has all sorts of evil influences around him when he gets into the army. It was very often that he would give way to them. It was not often that he would resist. Sometimes a strange cir- cumstance would be made the means of calling a man to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. I speak of a man, said the chaplain, who went into the army a perfect skeptic, and succeeded well in ridiculing religion on all occasions. By this course of conduct among his fellow soldiers he made him- self more unhelieving than he was when he entered the army. It was an easy descent to hell that he was making ; and he ran on with eager haste in his hot and mad career. He loved nothing better than to fling bitter taunts and sneers at religion, and at those of his comrades who pi'o'essedit. That man had lost a most devoted, pious wife, about eleven years before his enlistment into the army. He had a little girl at home, very young in years. He thought not often of her, but she thought much of Qiini. She was a Sabbath School scholar, and was very faithful in her attendance. She was a sober, thoughtful little girl, and became anxious about her MAEr SETS OUT FOR HEAVEN. 391 own salvation. She was oppressed with a sense of her sins and her need of the Saviour. She knew that her mother had been a humble follower of Jesus, and witnessed a good confession of her faith in liim. She knew that her father had not faith in Jesus, and despised all who professed it. " 1 wonder," said the little girl, " where my dear, precious mother will find me when I am called to go into eternity ? I wonder where I shall be ? " Such were the questions which agitated her mind for days and days. " I wonder where my mother will look for me, if I have no Saviour now ? " and her bur- dened heart sank with fear. She felt that an undone eternity was before her. She trembled in view of her sins, and the hell that she deserved to suffer. At length her mind and heart fastened itself on Christ as her Saviour and Almighty Kedeemer. He had died to save sinners ; why should she not trust him ? Why not ? And the more she asked the ques- tion the less she was able to answer it. She began to trust in him. She began to appropriate to herself the merits of his death. She began to see and rejoice in the boundless satisfaction which Jesus had made for sinners who believe in him. Her heart ran after Jesus, crying out : Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And she began to feel that she heard her Saviour say ; I will ; be thou clean. Then she became exceedingly happy. 392 POWER OF PEATEE. All at once with that change m her heart sprang ap a great desire for her father. Oh, I wonder, she said over and over to herself, and aloud, Oh, I won- der where father is ! She did not say this because she Lad any doubt where his regiment, his company were, and he himself was, in his relations to them. 8he knew where they were. But she did not know where to look for her father's soul. " I wonder where father is ? " It was not the body she was thinking of; shfi knew where that was. She could write to him any day, and in a day or two he would have the letter in his hand. But, " Oh, I wonder where my father is ? " was continually in her mind. She was very anxious about him. One day she sat down, said the chaplain, and wrote a little letter to her father, and it ran very much in this strain, and much in this language : — " Dearest Papa : — You don't know how much I love you, and how much I am concerned about you, and how often I say in my heart, ' Oh, I wonder where father is ? ' I know that you are with your company and with your regiment, yet your little girl don't know where you are. And I often say I won- der where mother and I will find you when we are all dead. For, dear papa, I think I know where dear mother is, and now I hope I shall go to her when we are dead. But I wonder where we shall look for you ? *' OH, I WONDER WHEEE FATHEK IS ! " 393 Oh, dear papa, I cannot tell yon how happy I am Bmce I have found Jesus, and how much I want you should find Jesus too ! — then when we all die we shall know where to find you." Thus the little letter ran on. She brought the let- ter to the chaplain, who was home on a furlough, and putting it into his hands, bid him carry it to her father, and besrsred him not to leave her father until he be- lieved in Christ. The chaplain took charge of the letter, and on his return sought out the soldier, and found him. He asked him — " "William, how is your wife ? " " Wife, wife," said the soldier ; " I have no wife. She has been dead and in heaven eleven years." " How is your little girl ? " " How do you know I have a little girl ? " " Never mind about that," said the chaplain. " I wanted to know if you know how she is. Here, I have a little letter for you from her ? " " A letter from her ? " " Yes," said the good chaplain, " and I heard her Bay many times, ' Oh, I wonder where father is ? ' " " What's the matter with the child ? She knows well enough where I am." " Well I will tell you, William ; your little girl has become a Christian, and she says she knows well where 17* 394- POWER OF PRATER. her mother is ; but ' Oh, I wonder,' she says contin- ually, ' I wonder where father is.' Would you like to Bee the letter ? " I handed the letter to him, and stood and saw his face turn pale as ashes while he read that little letter. At length I said : " William, where are you ? and where shall your wife and little girl look for you in eternity ? " He turned to me with his eyes brimming with tears, and said : " Chaplain, will you tell me where I shall look for them f If you will, I will try to be where they can find me. They shall not look in vain." I began and expounded to that poor sinner the way of salvation in Jesus Christ. And a more joyful, happy Christian is not to be found in all the army to- day, now that he has found Christ the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And now he is looking forward with gloi'ious hope to the time when his wife and his dear little girl shall stand hand in hand with each other and cast their crowns of everlasting re- joicing at Jesus' s feet, and ascribe to the Lamb that was slain, all honor and glory and blessing. Oh, I tell you Jesus knows how to appreciate the prayers of a little child ! He knows how to answer. He gives joy for sorrow, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Some go to the army not expecting to see religious LONGING FOR CAMP PKATEK-MEETINGS. 395 feeling at flood tide, on the camp ground. But so tliey find it. Some Vermont soldiers went through the city the other day. They were exceedingly anx- ious to go home. They had found a precious Sa- viour in the camp, and they wanted to go home and tell their friends how near and dear he was to them. They expressed great pleasure in returning to their regiment. " Oh," they said, " we longed to get home and tell the good Christian people what glorious times we had in the Army of the Potomac. "We thought they would be on fire with the good news. But we found it so cold up there in Yermont, we longed to get hack again to our dear Prayer-Meetings in the army. We have such animation and such lively times in the army. We did not feel at home any- where else. If you come down with us, you will see no dull Prayer-Meetings. You will see and feel that all are animated with Spiritual Life." Such is the testimony borne by nearly all who have been conversant with the army, that it is the place of wonderful and prevailing prayer. 896 POWEK OF PKAYER. CHAPTER XXIX. PRAYER AND EXPERIENCE ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. Imprecations and Prayers — ^Yearnings for a Saviour — The Sergeant — All is Well — Catholic Soldier — His Douay Testament — Dying Soldiers to the Fulton Street Meeting — Men in Hospital — Believing— Coming into the Church — Cumberland Army — The General favors Prayer Meetings — The Colonel Dying on the Field — Jesus will Take me Home — Scenes on a Battle-field — Wanting to Speak of Christ — Soldier has Much to Say — Wife's Prayer — Lost — Little Son Praying — Try Christ — Soldier laying his Doings Down — " Killed " — Saved, The field of a great battle must always be a place of absorbing interest. Tiiousands lie dead and dying. Thousands lie down to rise no more. Imprecations and curses linger on profane lips that will be soon closed in death. Tiiousands pray, who never prayed before, that God will have mercy on their souls. " O God ! have mercy — have mercy on my soul ! " is a prayer which may be heard all over the field. The wounded will cry for water to assuage their natural thirst. They will also cry for the water that springs up unto everlasting life. Manj despairing hearts yearn for a Saviour who is willing and mighty to THK SEKGEAKT. 397 save. Eternity lies before tliem now, and they knew they are soon to enter upon its untried realities. All the instructions of parents and teachers and pastors — all the misimproved privileges and missjjent opportu- nities of the past come rushing in review before them, and the sins of a wicked life stare them in the face. No wonder they cry for mercy. We have known something of tiie experiences and prayers of the battle-field. While we would by no means en- courage delay in turning to God and securing salva- tion by faith in Jesus Christ, before the soldier comes to such an awful place and hour, we have not forgot- ten that the thief on the cross found mercy in the hour of his greatest extremity. And we cannot doubt that many a soldier has found mercy in the last hour. We believe in the power of prayer. We believe that he who prompts the cry for mercy will also show mercy. Our God is very merciful to all who call upon him in sincerity and truth. One of the touching incidents of this nature is thus related by a clergyman who was in attendance upon the wounded in battle : — " A young man from Lowell, Massachusetts, a sergeant, having suffered amputation of the left arm, was gradually sinking, having no hope in Christ, and much cast down in spirit. I tele- graphed to his wife to come to him. She was a young and lovely woman. She came at once, and for 398 rowER OF prayer. a time lie seemed to rally by her clieerful presence and tender nursing. But slie too was a stranger to Christ, and could not look to God in this hour of trial. " As often as I spoke to him of Jesus, and a Saviour's love, he would turn his large, full eyes, filled with tears, upon his wife, with a longing gaze I never can forget. Daily the Destroyer wasted his strength. Daily I was at his bedside. I pointed this dying husband and his weeping wife to the sinner's Friend. Light dawned upon his mind at last. All his words of doubt gave place to words of confidence and love. Drawing nigh to his side, when death was on his brow, I said : " How is it with you, Sergeant ? " With a look of '.aim peace he replied : " ' Almost gone, but all is well.' " Jesus was near him. He slept a few moments, and then rousing himself, he called his wife and told her that he had been where the angels were, and they were with him. With his dying breath he com- mended his beloved wife to Jesus' s care. " I closed his eyes in death. Many stood around his cot and heard his dying prayer on which his soul was wafted upward. With sad hearts we laid him to his last rest, but before we closed his grave his wife was led to consecrate herself to Jesus Christ. She THE CATHOLIC SOLDIEK. 399 now waits in expectation of joining the sainted dead in heaven." Another clergyman says: — "I never saw more joy manifested on any face than on that of a Koman Catholic soldier, a poor, suffering lad, when I gave him a copy of the Douay version of the New Testa- ment. He looked it over and over and over, and his face fairly shone with delight, as he said — ' This will tell me of Jesus — of precious Jesus. No gift could be so welcome to me as this. Now while the few hours remain with me to live, read to me of Jesus. I look beyond the cross to him who hung on it. I want now to know all about him.' " And greedily did he devour the words of that New Testament in which the Saviour assured him that he would save to the uttermost." Requests for prayers have come from the battle- field to the Fulton Street Prayer-Meeting, like the following, dated at Carondelet, Missouri : — " To the Fulton Street Prayer-Meeting : — " Bretheek : — A few days ago, through the mercies of a kind Providence, I got a copy of the Noon Pray- er-Meeting, and I read in its pages how merciful and good our Heavenly Pather has been in hearing and answering the prayers which have been offered from time to time for the salvation of men. 400 POWER OF PRATER. " I am a soldier. I have been a very great biiiner Oh ! what awfully revolting crimes I have committed against Him who has watched over me for two years and a half, and preserved me on many battle-fields. My regiment was stationed some time ago at Helena, Arkansas. It was after battle that my eyes were opened to see the awful gulf into which I was plun- ging my soul. My comrades were dying very fast around me. I saw the condition I was in. I sought Jesus, and, blessed be his name, I found him. Oh, what a joy I experienced when my sins were forgiven ! "Now, dear brethren, do remember me in your prayers. Oh, pray for the soldier ! I want to pray, and be kept from doing wickedly in God's sight. Perhaps some of you have fathers, or sons, or brothers in the army. Pray for me as you would pray for them. Pray for a dying man. I know God will hear and answer your prayers. I shall not perish, but have everlasting life." A chaplain writes : — " Our hosj)ital accommodates 1,200. We have had 3,000 since the opening. We have been cheered in seeing quite a number turning to the Lord. Each month I have baptized some, and added them to the General Evangelical Christian Church. Among them have been several young men of much promise from the State of New York. My humble experience, both in the regiment and in hos- AKMY OF THE CUMBERLAND 401 pital, has proved that the chaplaincy has not been a failure, as has been so often announced. I believe I have never admitted so many men to church privi- leges in the same length of time before as within the last three months. This is because we have an in- terest in the prayers of God's people. We are work- ing on. Pray for us still, and richer answers to pray- er will follow. God loves to answer prayer." A gentleman from a Western city, who has been much in the Army of the Cumberland, said that though he had been in many portions of the Army, East, West, and Southwest, he had never been in an army where so many noble and pious men could be found as in the Army of the Cumberland. The General believes in prayer — ^believes in Jesus — and grants the largest liberty to the men to meet for pray- er and other religious services. He told of many conversions which had come under his own observa- tion on the battle-fields, and on the hospital boats which conveyed the wounded away to distant hospi- tals. We had our daily evening prayer-meetings on board, he found that prayer was a great help to our wounded and dying men. They seized on prayer for themselves, and prayed with a most touching earnest- ness. Oh! you should have heard some of those prayers, made by men lying upon their stretchers; for when there were no others to take part, these men 402 POWER OF PKAYER. would lead off in prayer — praying for salvation, and pleading for the sake of the dear Saviour that they might be forgiven. I know that some found peace in beheving. I know that God manifested himself as the hearer of prayer, answering as well as hearing." When Col. H C was wounded at Pitts burg Landing, knowing that the wound would be fatal, he expressed a wish to his brother that he would take him home to his family. But as the battle raged, the enemy pressed upon them in such numbers and force that they were in danger of being taken prison- ers. The chaplain, the surgeon, and many others in attendance were taken ; but, remarkable as it may ap- pear, he and his brother remained unmolested. That was a moment of trial to them both. His brotlier was without aid to convey the wounded colonel to a place of safety, and he expressed a fear that he should not be able to comply with his wishes, to which the colonel calmly replied, " Never miud, Charley, Jesus will soon take me home." What childlike faith ? What confidence in God, whom he had too long trusted to have doubts of him now. He knew that the Lord Jesus was present on the battle-field as well as in his own peaceful home. As he lay there, the life blood flowing from a gliastly wound in his lungs, he testified of the goodness of God, and showed with how little AN OFFICER DYING, 403 fear a Christian could face death on the battle-field, and liow cahnlj lie could die. At last help arrived, and he was borne on a stretch- er, through low, marshy defiles and over pathless woodlands, toward the Tennessee. At night they encamped upon its bank. It was his last on earth. The heavcDS were covered with black clouds, and a pouring rain was descending. During the vivid flashes of lightning they had a view of the happy face of their beloved commander. He assured them that though his physical sufferings were great, his soul was in perfect peace. What that brave and true Christian soldier suffered during that night none can know. He gradually sank, till at length, leaving ten- der messages for his wife and children, he calmly com- mitted his soul to God in prayer — wonderful prayer, for trust and hope — and Jesus took him home, while his prayer was lingering on his lips. So a praying officer can die. Another says of the battle-field, one of the bloodi- est of the war : — " 'No tongue or pen can describe what I have witnessed. I ask your prayers for five thousand men, wounded in all possible forms. Oh ! what scenes of sorrow. Imagine corncribs, barns, and every pos- sible place, filled with these wounded sufferers fur six miles around. One hundred of them are dying daily. The churches are filled with these wounded men. 404 POWER OF PEATEE. Wo go right in among them and pray with them as we can. At times men breathe their last during our services. These poor men are waiting for you to tell them of Jesus. " On one occasion as I passed around, I stopped and spoke to one of them. ' Have you the comforts of religion ? ' I asked. ' Brother, take a chair and sit down,' he replied. ' I have much to say to you.' I told him I could stop but a few moments. He was so urgent upon me and his heart seemed so full, that he kept" me three quarters of an hour. He was a Vermont soldier. He said he had a praying wife far away. 'As I was parting from her,' he said, ' she led me into a room and kneeled down by my side, with her six children, and prayed. Then she asked me to pray. I tried as best I could. Then my little boy burst into such a prayer as I never heard before. I^ow my wife is away, and will you please tell me a little about the way of salvation ? ' His gratitude was so great at what he said I had done for him, that he put his arms around my neck and kissed me. " Brethren, pray for us. The rebels also receive the gospel gladly. They say to us : ' "We can stand your cannon balls, but we cannot stand your kindness.' The whole Union army seems to be waiting for the gospel." TKY CHRIST. 405 All hearts seemed bowed in prayer. Supplicatior. was offered for all classes of these men — earnestlj, ferveatly, and with united hearts. God liears and answers prayer. Oh ! that all would know the power of prayer ! Another said : — " You have heard of the soldier at Scutari, with whom a conversation arose on the sub- ject of religion. A convalescent had crawled with his crutch to the bedside of a comrade, anxious to know how it fared with one who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him in more than one battle. " ' Well, how do you do to-day ? ' asked the visitor, in a cheerful tone. " ' I cannot say that all is well, either outwardly or inwardly. But you are the man I was wishing to see.' " ' What can I do for you, my good fellow ? ' " ' Well, the chaplain was here yesterday, and I told him that I was miserable. I told him that I had tried pleasure, drink, everything, and that now my wretch- ed mind was harder to bear than my wounds. What do you think he said ? why, in the most solemn and earnest manner he said, " Try Christ ! " and all night long those two words have been dwelling on my mind. I am determined to try him, and I have tried him, and I find he is all he is recommended to be.' " So I have commended Christ to many a sinner, and 406 POWER OF PEATEE. have asked tlie poor soldier to try Him, as the best and last resort. I have seen the good of trying Christ. " Killed." ^ For a week they had watched the mails and the newspapers, to get some tidings from the battle-field of the son and brother that had gone away to the war. He had been followed with a cloud of prayer. Morning, noon, and night he had been re- membered by all the home circle. All was now anx- iety for news. At last it came. In the midst of a long list of the dead and wounded was found a precious name, and opposite that name was the single word — " Kill- ed.''^ That was all. No means of knowing of the thoughts and feelings of the last hours of his life on earth — what he suffered — whether he lingered long on the field, and longed for mother and home, or whether he went swiftly and without pain. And where had he gone ? This was the most agonizing inquiry. The house was filled with mourning and tears. The light of the dwelling would come back to mother and sisters no more. Yet there were no murmurings — no exclamations of passionate grief. There was a calm submission to the Divine will, even on this first day of sorrow. There was confidence in God. Friends full of sympathy flocked in to minister to the bereaved family. In the midst of sorrow there was peace. A mother's embrace. 4:0? In a short time came tidings of the son and brother — to the mother and sisters. It was a letter from the chaplain. " Tell the dear ones at home that I am dying," said the youth, whispering the words into the ear of the chaplain — " Tell my dear mother that her Saviour is my Saviour. Ok ! tell her that I always could feel her arms around my neck, just as she pressed me to her bosom as I was coming away, and begged me to seek an interest in Christ. And I did seek, I attended the regimental prayer-meetings. I asked for prayer. I did not find Christ in the prayer-meeting. I thought I should. I had planned it all out. But my plans all failed. I felt that embrace of my mother. I heard her sweet, melting voice commending me to Jesus. One night, the night before the battle, I said, I can do no more. I will lay all my doing down at Jesus. I seemed to hear his voice saying, Look unto me and be saved. I looked, and I was saved. Something as- sured me I was saved, and now I know I am. Jesus is mine and I am his. Oh ! tell dear mother that I am saved." He was numbered with the dead. 408 POWEK OF PKAYER. CPIAPTER XXX. GOING HOME.— PRAYER TURNED TO PRAISE. Praying Men— Anticipating Death— Letters Home — "My Joseph"— Dying — Believing in Jesus — Lost a Son and Found a Son — Letter from the Battle Field- Going Home— Farewells. Our army has bad iu it, and still has, many godly praying, devoted men ; some have died who antici pated their death before, and have recorded the pre monitions of their own minds in letters sent before the battle to their distant homes, or in letters and mem oranda which have been found on their pei'sons. The following notes were written in pencil by Sam- uel F. Willard, of Madison, Conn., captain in the 14th Connecticut regiment. They were addressed to his wife, and within an hour after the last record, which was found on his person, was made, he had fallen on the battle field. On Sunday morning, Sept. ■ 14, he wrote: "To-day we started on our long march on hard bread and coffee alone ; marched till four o'clock. We are now in line of battle in the Middletown Yal- le} ; right in sight there is an artillery engagement — nothing very serious." ANTICIPATmG DEATH. 409 Monday- Morning, [ MiDDLETOWiT Valley, Seft. 15, 1863. \ These may be my last words ; if so, they are these :— I have full faith in Jesus Christ my Saviour ; I do not regret that I have fallen in defence of my conn- try ; I have loved you truly, and know that you have loved me, and in leaving this world of sin 1 go to an- other and better one, where I am confident I shall meet you. I freely forgive all my enemies, and ask them for Christ's sake to forgive me. If my body bhc'uld ever reach home, let there be no ceremony ; I ask no higher honor than to die for my country — lay me silently in the grave, imitate my virtues, and for- give all my errors. I prefer death in the cause of my country to life in sympathy with its enemies. And now, my precious wife, good bye. May the grace of God sustain you, and we will meet at last in heaven. Signed in the valley on the battle ground near Bolivar Heights, Md. Samuel Fbajstcis Willaed. Tuesday Mornmg, Sc2?t. 16, 1S63. The Division moved yesterday at about 10 A. M.^ passed through the region of the battle on the pre- vious day — dead rebels on every side. Our surgeons 18 410 POWER OF PKATEK. administered to the wants of many of the wounded rebels. Saw hundreds of wounded rebels as we pass* ed through different villages, in barns, houses, hospi- tals. It was a very sorry sight for our boys — ^rebels were strongly intrenched on the mountain and held a good position, but fled as the army approached. Gen- erals McClellan and Burnside passed in front of the ariiiv — immense cheering. Rebel prisoners being irought in all the time, poorly dressed but fine-look- ing fellows — act as though they were glad to be taken in. Tuesday Morning — ^later. The battle has commenced ; one man killed within 20 rods of me by a shell. My faith is in God ; if I die, I die in the faith of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who died that I might live. "We are now to go into battle. God save my men, God save me, God save the United States of America. God bless you, my own dear wife, and may we meet at last in heaven, where there will be no war or sin. Camp neae Peteestille, Md., ) Wednesday Morning^ 17th. \ "We are on the eve of a great battle. Yesterday, there was an artillery engagement close by us, and we were dodging shells and balls for about three hours. One man was killed within 15 or 20 rods of me. Sev- eral others were wounded. We have an immense army THE MEN WHO PKAY. 411 here — McClellan and Burnsido are liere in command — I cannot say more — we are ordered off with 80 rounds of cartridges — cannon are Looming on every side — my faith is in God. I passed the battle ground Monday, saw the dead and dying on every side ; I pray God we may be successful, and that you may see me again. ■ And just there the pencil notes close suddenly. An hour later he lay dead on the field of victory, and this pencil story remains to tell how he died. These are th§ men who sustain army prayer-meet- ings, and favor every good word and work. These are the men who have gone from the homes where was offered the morning and evening prayer. They have gone from our churches and Sabbath schools. They were first and foremost in building up the Kingdom of Christ. They have been in the army what they have been at home. Only they have grown more rapidly in every feature of the Cliristian life — men of more earnest faith and prayer than be- fore they went to the war. Thousands of such men have we lost, and heaven has gained what we have mourned as dead. Some who go to the army have a speedy prepara tion for heaven, and are then called to stand within the jasper walls. A clergyman says : — I visited the hospitals at Fortress Monroe. Taking a bundle of 412 POWER OF PRATER. tracts, one bright Lord's day morning, I entered one of the hospitals to distribute them, and talk with the men of the things which belong to their eternal peace. After supplying the tracts to those in the main build- ing, I crossed the green toward a sort of cottage which had been turned into a hospital. As I walked along the veranda, I heard the sound of a woman's voice. Turning to see where it came from, I beheld a most touching scene. There before me, on a hospital pal- let, lay a poor young soldier, probably about twenty- one years of age. As I gazed on h[s pale face and sunken eye, I felt that he was another victim to rebel- lion. Bending over him with the most touching ten- derness, and with the most keen agony visible in her face, stood a woman, who I knew could be none other than a mother. Stepping softly into the room, 1 stood for a moment, when the lady approaclied me. I told her who I was, and that I was seeking to preach the gospel to the poor soldiers. Pointing to the bed on which lay the young soldier, she said, " That's Joseph, sir — my Joseph — all of earth that's left me to comfort my widowed and declining days. I had hoped to pass maii}^ hap^jy years with him —but that's all over. He is dying, sir ! " To soothe her, I said — " Oh, it may not be so bad as you think." " Ah, sir," she replied, " there is no liope — no hope, A mother's soeeow. 413 He is shot tlirough the lungs. The doctors have just left, telling me he must die." Bending her head upon her bosom, she was silent for a few moments. She resumed, saying — "But, sir, I told him he might go. His comrades were going, so I gave my consent, and he left me for the war. Well, sir, many a mother has suffered, and why not I ? Yet, it is hard to lose all you have — the only one ! " Taking my hand, she said — " Sir, I can give his body for his country, but I can- not give up liis soul. Oh ! my friend, Joseph is not a Christian. Come, I beseech you, and speak to him about Jesus." She led me to his bed-side, and I leaned over him to speak about a preparation for seeing God, lie told me his history. He had been early taught that there was but one Almighty Saviour. But in leaving home for the camp, early impressions had faded, good lessons had been forgotten, and he admitted that he had plunged into gross sin. After telling me his story, he looked in my face and said — " Well, sir, I have been a real wicked fellow ; now, tell me, do you think God would save such a sinner as me ? I want to be a Christian." " Why, listen to what God has said," I replied : " ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accep- 414 POWER OF PKAYEK. tation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' (1 Tim. i. 15.) Now, Josepli, God has said this, and God cannot lie ; and he has said more. God has told us that he ' so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever belie veth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' (John iii. 16.) And, now that you feel that you have been such a wicked fellow. He has left you some con- solation in this passage — ' As I live, saitli the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked ; but that the wicked turn from his way, and live ; turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways, for why will ye die?' (Ezekiel xxxiii.) And then again, Joseph, listen — ' Come, let us reason together, saith the Lord ; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' (Isaiah i. 59.) Does not this take in your case? And to finish the whole of it, listen to what Jesus says — ' Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.' That is, he will save to the utter- most all those who come to him on the alone merits of Jesus." I besought him to cast himself at the foot of the cross, and to believe it, because God had said so. He seemed to realize God's goodness in the gift of his Son, and looking up in my face like a child, so trustingly, he exclaimed : " Ain't that nice ? Won't you pray for me ? " MOTHEKS' PRAYERS. 415 I knelt down on one side of the bed, his mother on the other, and prayed to the Saviour of sinners to re- veal himself to the poor soldier. When we rose from our knees, he took his mother's hand between his own, and looking up into her face, while the tears stole, one after another, down his pale face, he said : "Mother! mother dear! I'm going to love Jesus. And, mother, I'm going to trust him, believe in him. He is the only one who can do me any good. God has offered him to poor sinners. Oh, how good ! " During this touching incident I had never seen a tear upon his mother's cheek ; but when Joseph said, " Mother, I'm going to trust Jesus," the fountains of her heart were opened. Clasping her hands, while the tears fell upon his bed, she cried — " Thank God ! Joseph, now I'm happy. I can give up your body to your country, now that in trusting Jesus your eternal life is secure." A few days after this she left for her home with a rough pine box, in which was all that was left of Joseph. As she departed she said — " I came here, sir, expecting to lose a son. I've found one. To be sure, he has gone before, and my journey will be somewhat lonely, but at the end ot it I will find Jesus — and my Joseph ! " We give one more letter from an officer high in command in a Ehode Island brigade, in whici he anti- 4:16 POWEE OF PRAYER. cipates the event which was before him, by which ho was to be so soon ushered into the pi'eseuce of Jesus, as he sits among the redeemed in heaven. Mt Dear Wife : — I expect tlie time has nearly arrived when we are to have a bloody battle. I un- derstand to-night that the enemy are crossing the Rapidan with 25,000 to 30,000 men, and advancing toward us. If so, probably before you receive this we shall have fought one of the severest battles of the war. I have sat down to write you what to do, if I should be so unfortunate as to, fall on the battle field. The children are old enough to assist you about the house, and in a few years they will assist you when tlioy are grown to manhood — when, I trust, they will not foro;et their motlier. I have endeavored so far to rear them to usefulness, and I cannot but believe they will be Sk comfort to you and an honor to society — ■ living in the fear of God. If they are guided by Hig holy law they cannot go astray. And now, my dear wife, be of good cheer. If it should please the Lord to take me from you. He lias promised to be the widow's God and the Father of the fatherless. His promises are sure ! And if we meet no more on earth, I hope to meet you in heaven, where there shall be no more wars nor rumors of wars, and the weary are at rest. No man could lose THE soldier's LAST LETTER. 417 his life in a nobler cause ; and though it would be a great pleasure to me to spend the remainder of my dajs in the midst of mj family, and assist in rearing our children and prepare them to light the battle of life, still I should detest myself if I could quietly look on and refrain from lending a helping hand in this our countr}''s emergency. And now, dear wife, may God in his infinite mercy protect you and assist you to rear up our children in love and fear of his Holy iSTame, My dear wife, I know that with laying down my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them with cares and sorrows ; that while- >he banner of my purpose floats calmly above me, unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, struggles in fierce though useless contest with my love of country. My love for you is deathless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables which nothing but mountains could break — and yet my love of country comes over me like the wind, and bears me on with all these bonds to the battle field. The memories ol all the happy moments I have spent with you come creeping Dver me. I feel most grateful to God and you that I have enjoyed so much. How hard it is for me to give up' — to burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grow up to honor 17* 418 POWER OF PRATER. and manhood ! When my last breath escapes me on the battle field it will whisper your name. Forget my many faults and the pain I have caused ycu. I must watch for you in the spirit-land. I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care, feeling that God will bless you in your holy ivork. Farewell. THE £IfD. W\f JKinistpp's Eifipapg^ TWE/\/TY VOLUMES AND FIFTY DOLLARS' WORTH OF BOOKS FOR THIRTY DOLLARS. A Rare Chance for Ministers and Students ! In order to bring within the reach of Clergymen and Students of the most moderat* means some of their leading standard works, Messrs. Scrlbner, Armstrong & Co. announco the issue of THE MINISTER'S LIBRARY. As will be seen from the list below, this Library includes a number of the most valuabl« works ever published in this country, In the various departments of Religion, Literattire, Exegesis, Homilelics, Sacred History, description of the Holy Land, the Life of Christ and of St. Paul, with a choice selection of Sermons by some of the most famous American divines, are all included in the Library ; and, by a special arrangement, the series is placed it so low a price that every student and minister can afford to purchase it. The volumes, if bought singly, would cost Fifty Dollars, while the set b furnished at Thirty Dollars. The Minister's Library includes : Kc. of VoU. ALEXANDER'S (Dr. J. W.).. ..Consolation i ALEXANDER'S (Dr. J. A.) ....Isaiah 2 do. do. Psalms a do. do Sermons ADAMS (Dr. AVm.) Thanksgiving ANLREWS (Rev. S. J.) Life of Our Lord BUSHNELL'S Nature and the Supernatural CONYBEARE & HOWSON'S..St. Paul FISHER'S (Prof. Geo. P.) Supernatural Origin of Christianity.. HURST'S (Prof. J. F.) History of Rationalism LILLIE'S (Dr. John) Le«ures on Peter SHEDD (Dr. W. G. T.) Sermons to the Natural Man STANLEY'S (Dean) History of the Jewish Church do. do History of the Eastern Church THOMPSON'S (Dr. J. P.) Theology of Christ WOOLSEY (Dr. T. D.) ...Religion of the Present and Future.. SPECIAL NOTICE. The Minister's Library will be sold only in sets. The volumes comprised in it may be had in the styles in which tliey were formerly issued, at the old prices ; but under no circumstances will the works, as printed for this Library, be sold sf parately. The Minister's Library may be had of all booksellers, or tt will be sent, txfrtU tharges fnidt by the publishers on receipt of the price, $30. SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG ^ CO., 654 Broadway, New York. The Great Theological Work of the Age, DR. HODGFSJ'HEOLOGY. By CHARLES HODGE, D.D., LLD., of Princeton Theological Seminary. Cotnilete in three volumes %vo, tinted paper. Price, vols. I. and II., $4.50. Vol. III., fs- In these volumes are comprised the results of the life-long labors and investigations oJ one of the most eminent theologians of the age. The work covers the ground usually oc- cupied by treatises on Systematic Theologi', and adopts the commonly received divisions ol th^ subject,— THEOLOGY, Vol. I. ; AMTHROPOLOGY, Vol. II. ; SOTERIOLOGY AND ESCHATOLOGY, Vol. III. The INTRODUCTION is devoted to the consideration of preliminary matters, such as M-Jthod, or the principles which should guide the student of Theology, and the different theories as to the source and standard of our knowledge of divine things. Rationalism, Mysticism, the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Rule of Faith, and the Protestant doctrine on that subject. The department of THEOLOGY proper includes the origin of the Idea of God, the Being of God, the Anti-Theistic systems of Atheism, Polytheism, Materialism, and Pantheism ; the Nature of God, the Divine Attributes, the Doctrines of the Trinity, the Divinity of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit ; the Decrees of God, Creation, Providence, and Miracles. The department of ANTHROPOLOGY includes the Nature, Origin, and Antiquity of Man, his Primitive State and Probation; the Fall; the Effect of Adam's Sin upon himself and upon his Posterity ; the Nature of Sin ; the Different Philosophical and Theological Theories on that subject. SOTERIOLOGY includes the Plan or Purpose of God in reference to the Salvation of Men ; the Person and Work of the Redeemer ; his Offices as Prophet, Priest, and King ; the Work of the Holy Spirit in applying the redemption purchased by Christ ; Common and Efficacious Grace, Regeneration, Faith, Justification, Sanctification, the Law or Ruls of Life, and the means of Grace. ESCHATOLOGY includes the State of the Soul after Death ; the Second Coming ol Christ ; the Resurrection of the Body ; the General Judgment and End of the World, and the Doctrine concerning Heaven and Hell. The plan of the author is to state and vindicate the teachings of the Bible oh these rarious subjects, and to examine the antagonistic doctrines of different classes of Theolo- gians. His book, therefore, is intended to be both didactic and elenchtic. The various topics are discussed with that close and keen analytical and logical power, combined with that simplicity, lucidity, and strength of style which have already given Dr. HoDGK a world-wide reputation as a controversialist and writer, and as an investigator oX the great theological problems of the day. Single copies sent post-paid on receipt of the price. SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & CO., 654: JSroadway, New YorTt. Lange' s Comme ntary. NOW READY: ANOTHER OLD TESTAMENT VOLUME. Translated and Edited by Rev. Drs. CONANT and FORS\'TH, atid Revs. C. A. BRIGGS and G. McCURDY. One vol. royal 8vo, 800 pages, cloth $5.00 The Volumes previously Published are : OLD TESTAMENT.— I. GENESIS. II. JOSHUA, JUDGES, AND RUTH. III. FIRST AND SECOND KINGS. IV. PROVERBS, SONG OF SOLOMON, ECCLESIASTES. V. JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATION. NEW TESTAMENT.— I. MATTHEW. II. MARK AND LUKE. III. JOHN. IV. ACTS. V. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. VI. CORINTHIANS. VII. GALATIANS, EPHESIANS PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS. VIII. THESSALONIANS, TIMO- THY, TITUS, PHILEMON, AND HEBREWS. IX. THE EPIS- TLES GENERAL OF JAMES, PETER, JOHN AND JUDE. Each one vol. 8vo. Price per vol., in half calf, §7.50 ; in sheep, §6.50 ; in cloth, $5.00. NAMES AND DENOMINATIONS OF CONTRIBUTORS. W G. T. SHEDD, D.D., Presbyterian. E. D. YEOMANS, D.D., Presbyterian. E. A. AVASHBURNE, D.D., Episcopal. Rev. C. C. STARBUCK, Congregational. A. C. KENDRICK, D.D., Baptist. J. ISIDOR MOM BERT, D.D., Episcopal \V H. GREEN, D.D., Presbyterian. D. W. POOR, D.D., Presbyterian J F HURST, D.D., Methodist. C. P. WING. D.D., Presbyterian. T A.VLER LEAVIS, LL.D., Dutch Reformed. GEORGE E. DAY. D. D., Congregational. Rev. CH. F. SHAFFER, D.D., Lutlieran. Rev. P. H. .STEENSTRA, Episcopal. R. D. HITCHCOCK, D.D., Presbyterian. A. GOSMAN.-D.D., Presbyterian. E. H4RWOOD, D.D., Episcopal. Pres.CHAS. A. AIKEN. D.D., Presbyt'n. H. 15. HACKETT, D.D., Baptist. M. B. RIDDLE, D.D., Dutch Reformed. JOHN LILLIE, D.D., Presbyterian. Prof. WM. WELLS, D.D., Metl.cdist. Rev. W. G. SUMNER, Episcopal. W. H. HORNBLOWEK, D.D., Presbyt'n. Prof CHARLES ELLIOIT, Presbyterian. Prof. GEORGE BLISS, Baptist. THOS. C. CON.A.NT, D.D., Baptist. T. W. CHAMBERS, D.D., Refonned. ^^~ Each volume of "LANGE=S COMMENTARY" is complete in itself, and car. b« purchased separately. Sent, post-paid, to any address upon receipt of the price (§5 pel volume) by the publishers, SCRIBNER, ARMSTRONG & CO., 654 Broadway, New York, Prmcclon Theological Scmiiiary-Spei 1 1012 01025 1884 DATE DUE ^^^^o^D m^^^^r^-;^^ in USA