Church Increase

“THE CHILDREN WHICH THOU SHALT HAVE, AFTER THOC

HAST LOST THE OTHER, SHALL SAY AGAIN IN THINE EARS, THE PLACE IS TOO STRAIT FOR ME: GIVE PLACE TO ME THAT I MAY DWELL.

“THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THINE HEART, WHO HATH BE GOTTEN ME THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN,

AND AM DESOLATE, A CAPTIVE, AND REMOVING TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE; THESE, WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?” — Isaiah xlix. 20, 21.

A HOPEFUL mood becomes the church of God, for the memories of the past, the blessings of the present, and the promises of the future are full of good cheer.

“All the promises do travail with a glorious day of grace.”

The church lives, progresses, conquers by her faith; let her abandon despondency, as her weakness, her sin, her greatest hindrance.

The prophet, to remove all fear, reminds us that —

I. IN THE CHURCH THERE ARE DECREASES. “I

have lost my children,” etc. This is frequently the bitter cry of a church. 1. Death invades the house of God, and takes away those who were its pillars and orna- (71)

merits. But those who depart go to swell
the chorus of heaven.

2. Providence takes away useful persons by removal, or by excessive occupation which keeps them from holy service. The removed ones go to build up the church elsewhere: those who are lawfully detained by business are still doing the Lord’s will.

3. Sin causes some, to backslide, wander away, or

become inactive. But they go from us
because they are not of us.

This decrease is painful, and it may go so far that a church may feel itself to be “desolate,” and “left alone.” Yet the Lord has not forgotten his church, for he is her Husband.

II. IN THE CHURCH WE SHOULD LOOK FOR IN
CREASE. “The children which thou shalt
have.”

Let us not be absorbed in lamenting losses; let us rejoice by faith in great gains which are surely coming.

1. Increase is needful, or what will become of the

church?

2. Increase is prayed for, and God hears prayer. 8. Increase can only come through God, but he

will give it, and be glorified by it.

4. Increase is promised in the text, and in many

other Scriptures. 6. Increase i,s to be labored for with agony of

80 Ml SERMON NOTES.

heart. “As soon as Zion travailed, she
brought forth children.”

III. IN THE CHURCH INCREASE OFTEN CAUSES

SURPRISE.

So narrow are our hearts, so weak our faith, that we are amazed when conversions are numerous.

1. Because of the time: “Behold, I was left

alone.”

2. Because of their number:” Who hath begotten

me these? “8. Because of their former character:” These,

where had they been?” They were not

after all so very far off. Some of them were quite near to us and near

to the kingdom, in the family, school, class,

congregation, enquiry-room. Others were far off in irreligion, and open sin. Others were opposed through rationalism,

superstition, or self-righteousness.

4. Because of their good nurture:” Who hath

brought up these?”

5. Because of their eagerness and courage.” Shall

say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me.”

6. Because of their constancy. “Give place to

me that I may dwell.”
They come to remain.

Where had they been? Say rather, “Where had we been?” that we had not long ago looked after them, and welcomed them.

IV. IN THE CHURCH INCREASE SHOULD BE PRE
PARED FOR.

We make ready for the coming of children. Is the church an unnatural mother? Will she not welcome new-born souls?

We must prepare for an increase —

1. By intense united prayer for it.

2. By the preaching of the gospel, which is the

means of it.

3. By every form of Christian effort which may

lead to it.

4. By enlarging our bounds:” The place is too

strait for me.” To provide a larger audience-chamber may be a true act of faith.

5. By welcoming all true-born children of God:

who say, each one, “give place to me that I may dwell.”

Oh, for a triumphant faith that the little one shall

become a thousand I

Oh, for grace to act upon such faith at once I “Believe great things; attempt great things;

expect great things.”

NOTES.

My observation leads me to believe that, where churches are duly careful in the admission of members, they will find that their best converts come in flocks. My impression is that, when very few come 2 — 6 forward, everybody leans towards a less exact; idg* ment than in times when many are forthcoming. Bad fish are more likely to be taken home when fish are scarce than when they are plentiful; for then the fisherman feels more free to make a rigid selection. I say nothing about the severity or laxity cJ a church in receiving members, but it is incidental to human nature that when we are in a revival we become more guarded, and in dull times we are more kpt to look at a convert with a hope which is rather eager than anxious. Thus I account for what I believe to be a fact, that rare converts are frequently bare converts; and that the best sheep come to us in flocks.

Dr. Judson, the devoted missionary to Burmah, during his visit to Boston, was asked, “Do you think the prospect bright of the speedy conversion of the heathen?” “As bright,” he replied, “as the prom ises of God.”

Monday, December 22, 1800. — Creesturo, Gokol and his wife, and Felix Carey gave us their experience to-night. Brother C. concluded in prayer after we had sung, “Salvation, oh, the joyful sound!”... Brother Thomas is almost mad with joy. — Diary of the Rev. W. Ward, of Serampore.

“I am inclined to think that a single soul is never born again, apart from the tender concern and anxiety of some creaturely heart or hearts.... Probably Saul was converted in answer to the pray- •rs of the disciples at Damascus. — John Puhford.

Dr. Isaac Barrow, when a lad was most unpromising. Such was his misconduct, and so irreclaimable did he seem, that his father, in despair, used to say that “if it pleased God to remove any of his children, he wished it might be his son Isaac.” What became of the other and more hopeful children of the worthy linen-draper, we cannot tell; but this unworthy son lived to be the happiness and pride of his father’s old age, to be one of the most illustrious members of the university to which he belonged, and one of the brightest ornaments of the chinch of which he became a minister.