Preface
The short papers here for the first time gathered, had a certain measure of acceptance, less from their ovm merit, than from their having been struck off during the prevalence of an unusual interest in divine things. For the most part they were penned in the intervals of a hurried life, with the hope that scriptural instruction of the simplest kind might gain a hearing, at a time when every one’s attention was drawn to the work of God in the land.
The occasion may be fitly seized for a brief retrospect of the scenes through which we have been led, and which, to a certain extent, surround us still; for we would fain speak of this Revival of Religion, not as past, but as present.
The greatest commercial alarm which our country ever experienced took place in the summer and autumn of the year 1857. It is unnecessary to rehearse what is imprinted on the hearts of thousands, or to open wounds which are still bleeding. Besides the great numbers who were utterly ruined, there were ten times as many whose earthly destinies seemed to be in libration. If we were to look no further than to the wear and tear of mind and brain, caused by pecuniary apprehensions and troubles in business, such as drove some to despair and madness, the evil could not be leckoncd at the rate of millions of gold and silver.
The writer returned to his native country after a short absence, to find as it were a pall of mourning over every house. Visitations of this kind — the remark is common concerning pestilence — often produce a hardening eflfect. In the present instance, it pleased God, in his marvellous loving-kindness, by the ploughshare of his judgments to furrow the ground for precious seed of salvation, and to make distresses touching worldly estate to awaken desire for durable riches and righteousness. Out of the eater came forth meat and outr of the strong came forth sweetness. From the very heart of these trials emerged spiritual yearnings, thirstings, and supplications after the fountain of living waters. We can not always trace the sequence of events, but it is certain that the meetiDgs for prayer, which noted the dawn of this great Revival, had their beginning while we were still amidst the throes of our commercial distress.
It is believed that the first of those daily prayer-meetings which have now become general, was held on the twenty-third day of September, in the year just named. The place thus honored was the Consistoryroom of the North Dutch Church at the corner of William and Fulton streets. The simple pious thought of Jeremiah Lamphier, and a few like-minded servants of God, was to gather a handful of business men, at the hourt)f noon, to confer, to read the Word, to sing, and to cry unto God for the outpouring of his Holy Spirit. But Revival was already begun. God had already poured out the Spirit of grace and of supplications. Vro doubt not there was a simultaneous efi’usion, on other groups and in other places. Prayers long treasured up were beginning to receive copious answer; prayers, of which some, we have thought, may have been offered by those venerable ministers of Holland, whose portraitures still adorn the walls of the Consistoryroom. It has been questioned who first conceived the project of these meetings. The problem is unprofitable; human plans looked forward to no such results; let God have the glory!
It is not the place for a history, nor shall any thing of the kind be now attempted.* Suffice it to say, this meeting so grew in numbers and interest as to demand increase of accommodation. Daily prayer-meetings had not been altogether unknown, during periods of unusual awakening; but here was a large congre-, gation of worshippers, almost all men of business, near the very centre of trade, day after day, and — as ’ the event has proved — without abatement for a twelvemonth. The great attraction was Prayer. The great business was intercession. This, as springing fi-om the “love of the Spirit” seems especially pleasing to God, who answers us more signally when we seek the good of others. As the meeting went on, solicitude for the conversion of sinners unto God became more apparent. Requests bearing this character were greatly multiplied. From curiosity, from inward anguish, from vague alarm, from the mingled motives in which religious concern has its beginnings, numbers of worldly visitors entered the doors. Conversion after
* Ample histories of the Revival may be espected from the competeat pens of the Rev. Dr. Prime and the Rev. Dr. Chambers.
conversion was reported. Men who had felt the emptiness of earthly things, and smarted under losses, came hither for consolation. Ministers of the Gospel often embraced the opportunity to address the words of truth to assemblies singularly prepared to drink in every syllable. Other similar prayer-meetings were established in New- York, of which some are continued till this day. During a brief period, Burton’s Theatre, opposite to the City Hall, and capable of holding three thousand persons, was converted into a place of prayer, and was crowded. Other cities and towns speedily entered into the same labor of love, until the daily prayer-meetings of the land might be numbered by hundreds. The longest continuance of devotional interest, in immense assemblies for prayer, has probably been witnessed in the city of Philadelphia. There also has been seen the phenomenon of a widely-spread awakening among the Firemen, so that the houses occupied by their engines and associations have not unfrequently resounded with the voice of prayer and praise. The attention of the churches of Christ throughout the land was naturally attracted to the spectacle of thousands, including the busiest and hitherto the most worldly, flocking to the most imadorned exercises of devotion. It ought not to be withheld that many of these services are maintained without diminution of vigor to the moment of this writing. Meanwhile churches of every religious denomination received remarkable increase. The statistics of conversion are sometimes unsafe; where there is so much room for mistake and exaggeration, it may be wisest to venture no figures. “The Lord thy God add unto his people, how many soever they be, an hundred fold!” The report of this gracious visitation has gone abroad to other Lands, where true Christians have been led to inquire with avidity into the origin, nature, and sequel of a reformation so unprecedented.
The Church of Christ, and our American portion of it, can not be unmindful of frequent refreshings in former days. Each of these, if the means of studying them were at hand, would doubtless be found to have peculiarities of its own; arising from acknowledged diversities in the sovereign dispensation of the Spirit. The present revival of religion has some characteristics, which ought not to escape our observation.
The work of grace, in which we rejoice, was not the result of any human project, concerted arrangement, or prescribed plan. It was not an excitement foreseen, predicted, and made to order. So far from this, it stands out among kindred reformations, as differing from them all. No man pretends to have ever seen the like. And this it is of the greatest importance to record, for the silence of such as stigmatize the entire proceedings as the creations of ingenious artifice working upon overheated fancy.
Equally incontestable is it, that this great interest in things divine and eternal, did not “come with observation.” There had been no pomp of preparation. Indeed the foregoing season was one of remarkable aridity and dearth; so that multitudes of the younger professing Christians had never seen what is called a Revival. And even when the holy elevation of feeling was at its height, it was, in the circle open to our survey, entirely free, on one hand, from the machinery of religious manoeuvre, and, on the other hand, from manifestations of an unruly enthusiasm. An exception here and there, out of thousands, lamented, suppressed, and never propagating itself, in no degree impairs the force of the assertion just made. Decorous stillness, reverent waiting upon God, and a tender sense of the heavenly presence, have marked many of these delightful assemblages.
Very striking is the truth, that this was an awakening of graces, primarily among the people of God. In this view it is most properly denominated a Revival. The influence began in the heart of the Church. Even after conversions were greatly multiplied, this characteristic was prominent. The daily meeting was of disciples. Those who came together were in the first instance, believers. Experienced pastors have observed that in the progress of this work of grace. Christians of long standing have had the inward growth remarkably quickened, have renewed their first exercises, reconsidered their evidences, ascertained the foundation under them, and attained to new sorrows and new
joys.
It was, eminently, a revival of Prayer. Desires to approach God, jointly, in importunate supplication, were awakened. This was perhaps the leading characteristic. It was repeatedly noticed, that assemblies were more interested in the prayers than the addresses. They came together, not to hear learned, elegant, or eloquent appeals, but to unite in prayer. Even addresses to impenitent sinners, though often intermingled, did not constitute the business in hand; it was prayer. Never was this so strikingly the case. Never have we known such honor conferred upon God’s ordinance of prayer. And the mode oi prayer which prevailed, as has already been hinted, was Intercession. Every relation of life has appeared in tender, touching request. The applications for such intercessory address have been numberless; and if not always seasonable or judicious, they have generally been affecting. They have been transmitted hundreds of miles, and from all parts of the land.
Perhaps no fact, among all those by which this revival manifested itself, is more encouraging than that Christians of different names were in visible union. That fraternity which had been sought with less success by separate means, was here seen to flow naturally from concert in prayer, under the influences of the Holy Spirit; thus indicating it may be the source from which we are to expect the sublime unity of a coming day. Except where some unscriptural and exclusive pretensions have been trampled on, it has not been heard that any branch of the Christian Church has uttered complaint. There has been no compromise of tenets, except as to the utterance of disputed points upon the common ground. In our country at least there has never been so open an acknowledgment of varying Christians by one another; it is indeed second only to that joint participation at the Lord’s’ Table, which bigotry still resists, but which is the true and appointed sign of the Communion of Saints.
From the beginning of these gracious communications, ministers of the Gospel have cheerfully stood by and seen the principal share of labor in the hands of their lay brethren. The meetings for prayer were instituted, and to a great extent have been conducted, by laymen. It can never be alleged that this has been an enthusiasm stirred up by the clergy. That feelings of jealousy should ever arise between the two classes of laborers, is earnestly to be deprecated. Among any leading minds, we rejoice to believe that it does not exist.
The observation has been often made, and with the greatest truth, that among the instruments of this awakening no prominence has been given to particular men, or distinguished gifts of learning and eloquence. It is true, the stated ministrations of the sanctuary have gone on as heretofore, perhaps with less increase of preaching than h&s sometimes been known; diversities existing however even on this poinj;. But there has not been the slightest tendency, so far as appears, to magnify any special human agency, or to lean upon what is often alleged to be the inordinate strength of public exhortation. This is stated in the way of simple narration, without comment or inference.
In connection with preachers and preaching, it is proper to add, that the present revival of religion has been singularly exempt from what may be called a dogmatical aspect, and especially from a controversial spirit in regard to doctrine. Seasons of religious excitement have been known to us, in which great stress has been laid on certain tenets, as well the false as the true; and in which these have even been regarded as inseparable from the gracious influence. Nothing of the kind has been whispered in the late period of serious inquiry. Doctrines, as held by believers of different persuasions, have been set forth and inculcated in preaching and catechising, but not we believe in the spirit of the Shibboleth.
Two great truths have been made exceedingly prominent, in every stage of the revival; the influence of the Holy Spirit, and free salvation through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. The former of these has been recognized by every act of prayer, in those meetings which chiefly revealed the general interest of Christian people. The other has stood forth in vivid illumination, in all addresses to convinced souls. If any one formula, above all others, can be said to convey the spirit of the teaching which has prevailed, it is this: Come to Christ. And it is a fact worthy of note, that no single publication has had wider currency than Mr. Newman Hall’s “Come to Jesus.”
When we consider how extensively the hearts of professing Christians have been moved, in every part pf the country; how densely the volume of prayer has gone from this body of saints; how in many of them there has been a renewal and deepening of experience, by the opening of hidden fountains within tllem; we can not resist the persuasion that all this great work is after all one of preparation. The Lord appears to be preparing his armaments and marshaling his hosts for new conquests. Instead, therefore, of sitting down, as if the season of blessing had come to an end, it would be more consonant with the divine dealings, if we should regard it as only begun. The summons is unquestionably to renewed faith, intercession, and labor.
The rumor of what God has done for us has gone into other lands, and believers there have inquu-ed with eagerness into the state of the facts, the means which have been used, and the likelihood of benefit from adapting our means to their condition. Our brethren abroad have probably been prone to ascribe to our churches an absolute advancement in piety much beyond the truth. The principle should never bo forgotten, that while the great laws of the divine government and the dispensation of grace remain the same, the Supreme Giver varies his modes of bounty, with reference to differences of country and period. Apostolic awakenings were in some things unlike those of the Reformation day. The quiet, spring-like renewal of vital godliness, under Spener, Francke, and the Pietists, bore little external resemblance to the prodigious revolution under the Wesleys, Whitefield, Edwards, the Tennents and the Blairs. The very remarkable awakenings in which Dr. Nettleton and his friends were instrumental dififer again from the times of refreshing in which we live. Let us not limit the Holy One of Israel.
When the writer of these lines — before any tokens of our American awakening had appeared — was in Great Britain, he was made aware of a most remarkable movement in the religious world. The increase of endeavors to carry the Gospel to the poor, in their most abject retreats — the continual use of open-air preaching — the rise of several evangelical ministers upon vrhose words the multitude were disposed to hang — the services in Exeter Hall, and even the opening of Westminster Abbey, spoke of zeal on one hand, and roused attention on the other. And when he surveyed an assembly of ten thousand souls giving rapt attention, at the Surrey Gardens, to the great evangelist of our age, and discerned evidence that these multitudes, continually filling anew that vast receptacle, were drawn together, not more by the remarkable gifts of that young man, than by the fearlessness with which he declares the vengeance of God against sin, and the freshness and fullness with which he offers an accomplished salvation through Jesus Christ — the conclusion was irresistible, and was repeatedly expressed, that England also was enjoying a Revival of Religion. Accidents may vary, but the essence is the same. And, all the world over, whenever God chooses to smile upon his work, instruments will be forthcoming, in free abundance and beautiful diversity. Enlarged prayer for the spread of the Gospel among the whole human family is especially demanded at the present time, when God has touched so many hearts with desire, and manifested so great a readiness to answer.
The papers which follow, in respect to whatever concerns authorship or literature, are the merest trifles; the truths which they contain, however, are of infinite importance. It is hoped that none will be repelled by the great plainness with which some of the lessons are conveyed.
The articles respecting Seamen, Firemen, and our City Population, though apparently local in their interest, concern large and important classes, and will possibly be useful in this more permanent form.
The compositions in verse, a few of which are not original, will not, it is hoped, interrupt the continuity of the serious instruction. A single article, contributed to the series by a brother in the ministry, has been allowed to retain its place; and the lines entitled The Doomed Man, hitherto published without their author’s consent, and sometimes erroneously, are here given in their true text.
Republication in a volume was not thought of, still less suggested by the author; but if endeavors so unpretending can be turned to good account, in the spu-itual benefit of any, he will rejoice; and he adds his prayers that this may be the result.