The History of Revivals of Religion - William Allen

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Revival Library

THE HISTORY OF REVIVALSOF RELIGION

William Allen

The Revival Library, Kings Christian Centre,

High Street, Bishops Waltham, Hants, SO32 1AA, UK

Telephone: 01489 894734 Email: [email protected]


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About This Booklet

This booklet is quite small just eighty two pages in the 1951 paperedition but it is one of the best brief introductions to historical revivalthat has ever been produced. Chapter One is divided into five parts, each

part covering the whole spread of historical revivals from the earlychurch through the Reformation period right up to early twentiethcentury revivals.

The second and third chapters deal with the means of revival and theplace of revival in world evangelisation, respectively.

Overall, this book is an impassioned plea for serious prayer, expectantfaith and militant evangelism to produce a great outpouring of the Spiritand an unprecedented harvest of souls.

Copyright Information

This booklet is NOT in the public domain. To reproduce any of itscontents, in whole or in part, permission must be secured from Mr.William Allen, Revival Publishing Company, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. It isused here with his kind permission.


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Contents

INTRODUCTIONFOREWORDNOTE

CHAPTER I - The History of Revivals of Religion

Part I. Early Church Revivals The Early British Church Waldenses Revival John Wickcliffe Savonarola The Reformation John Calvin John KnoxUlster Revival 1625.

Part II. German Pietism Moravian Revival Jonathan Edwards The Great Awakening.

Part III. Brainerds RevivalThe PuritansThe Quaker RevivalRevivals in WalesThe Methodist PentecostCambuslang RevivalMissions the Result of RevivalsEarly American Methodist RevivalsFinneys RevivalsRevivals in Kilsyth and AberdeenAmerican Revival

1857-58.

Part IV. 59 Revival in Ireland59 Revival in Wales, England, andScotlandThe Salvation ArmyD. L. MoodyThe China InlandMissionChristian Endeavour Revival.

Part V. C. H. SpurgeonWorld Student RevivalGeorge Muller

Billy BraySam Jones.

Part VI. Revival in UgandaPandita Ramabais RevivalThe WelshRevival 1904Revivals in China, Korea, and ManchuriaBilly SundayTorreyChapmanAlexanderPraying HydeRuanda RevivalsYouth for ChristBilly GrahamRevival in Korea 1950 Remarks.

CHAPTER II. - How to Promote Local Revival.


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Prayer Groups in HistoryPrayer for Revival Youth WorkSundaySchoolsGospel Services Open Air MeetingsMissionsEnquiryRoom WorkPurity Witness.

CHAPTER III. - Revival and World Evangelisation.

Introductionthe CallSupport of Students Home MissionsHowColleges and Churches Can HelpRevival ConferencesThePossibilitiesThe Training of ConvertsPersonal Message.


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Introduction

This book completes the "Revival Series." The following is a short accountof the ground of this work.

In 1936 God called me to devote my life to the evangelization of theworld. Since that time I have continually experienced the teaching of theHoly Spirit as He led me to study the great revival movements of thepast, especially the life and writings of Charles G. Finney.

The idea of the Revival Series was an inspiration of the Holy Spirit,which led to the founding of the Revival Publishing Co., in April, 1948.

The vision of this work is to provide keen Christians and young convertseverywhere with a course of instruction that will lead them naturally intoa life of efficient service in the cause of Revival and WorldEvangelization.

God has set His seal upon this work. Ministers, evangelists, missionaries,and Christians in many countries, have testified to definite blessingreceived through the booklets.

Revival is the key to world evangelisation. If the Christians in everycountry were revived, the world would be evangelised in a few years.

The world is before us. Nations are calling for the Gospel. Let us each onebegin today to take part in this holy war.

W. E. Allen.February, 1951


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Note

The Revival Publishing Co. has been founded in order to publish vitalrevival literature, and thus to raise up and train a worldwide army of soulwinners who will learn how to promote true evangelical revivals of

religion in every country.

How can this be accomplished? By the formation of Revival prayer andwitness groups, where these booklets will be studied and theirinstructions carried out. God has set His seal upon the ministry of thesebooklets in the raising up of groups of soul winners in different countries.The greatest revivals in history started in a similar manner. Will you help

to form a Revival group in your district?

There are seven booklets in this series. All who study each bookletthoroughly can take the Revival Series Examination. Those who pass thisexamination will be given a Certificate. All details concerning this will besent on request.

Already some of the Revival Series booklets have been taken up fortranslation into other languages, and we will be glad to hear from otherMissions or persons who desire to translate any or all of the RevivalSeries booklets into foreign languages.

All gifts to this work, and profits from sales, will be used only in thecause of revival.

We also invite Christians who are burdened for revival to join with us inthe circulation of these booklets. If the profits are used in the Lords work,we are willing to supply any Christian with these booklets at Trade Price.


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Chapter One. History of Revivals

PART I

EARLY CHURCH REVIVALS

Page 7TERTULLIAN writing about 200 A.D., vindicating the Christian religion,said: Though we are strangers of no long standing, yet we have filledall places of your dominions, cities, islands, corporations, councils,armies, tribes, the senate, the palace, the courts of judicature. If theChristians had a mind to revenge themselves, their numbers are

abundant, for they have a party, not in this or that province only, but inall quarters of the world.

In 110 Ignatius spoke of bishops being settled in the ends of the world.Before 180 Christianity had spread rapidly in Asia Minor and Egypt; wealso read of churches in North Africa, Gaul, Germany, Thrace, andThessaly. But the great increase in the number of Christians came in theyears 260-303. Of this period Eusebius writes, Who could describe those

vast collections of men that flocked to the religion of Christ, and theillustrious concourse in the houses of worship? On whose account, notcontent with the ancient buildings, they erected spacious churches in allthe cities.

Harnack estimated that in 303 the Christian population in Asia Minorwas nearly one-half of the whole, and that scattered throughout the

Empire they were a considerable minority. But the greatest proof of thegrowth and strength of Christianity was that the Emperor Constantineembraced the faith, and gave peace, wealth and power to the Church.

THE EARLY BRITISH CHURCH

Page 8Gildas the wise, a Welsh monk, writing about 500 A.D. said, The Churchis spread over the nation. It had spread, moreover, into Ireland and


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Scotland. It was also a learned Church; it had its own version of the Bibleand its own ritual.St. Patrick (395-493) became the Apostle of Ireland. He said, I was re-formed by the Lord, and He hath fitted me for being at this day what wasonce far enough from me, that I should concern myself for the salvation

of others, when I used not to think even of my own. For about thirtyyears St. Patrick preached the Gospel throughout Ireland, and establishedchurches, monasteries, and schools from which missionaries were sentforth for four centuries after his death. A few lines from his famousBreastplate hymnwhich he composed at Tara on the eve of hishistoric interview with King Leogairereveal the spirit of the man andthe Gospel he preached.

Christ as a light, illumine and guide me!Christ as a shield, oershadow and cover me!Christ be under me, Christ be over me!Christ be beside me on the left hand and right!Christ be before me, behind me, about me!Christ this day be within and without me!Salvation dwells with the Lord, with Christ the omnipotent Word,

From generation to generationgrant us, O Lord, Thy grace and salvation.

From Ireland Columba went to lona and established a church andmonastery. During the following years he and his associates foundedchurches, monasteries, and schools from the Orkneys and Hebrides southto the Humber.

The mission of Augustin and his successors in the sees of Canterbury and

York so limited the field of the Irish and Scotch missionaries at home, thatthey swarmed like bees into the dark places of heathen Europe. Irelandwas called the Isle of Saints,

Page 9the University of the West. Copies of the Bible marked withcommentaries in Irish to the Teutonic, Scandinavian, and Italian peoples

are still extant.

Some of the leading Missionaries to Europe were: Columbanus, St. Gall,


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Kilian, Virgilius, Fridolin, and Willibrord. Thirteen monasteries werefounded by the Irish in Scotland, twelve in England, seven in France,twelve in Brittany, seven in Lorraine, ten in Alsatia, sixteen in Bavaria,fifteen in Rhetia, Helvetia, and Allemania; also many in Thuringia and onthe left bank of the Lower Rhine; and six in Italy. Of saints of Irish origin

who are recognised as the patrons or founders of churches, there were ahundred and fifty in Germany, forty five in Gaul, thirty in Belgium,thirteen in Italy, and eight in Norway and Iceland.

This purely British Church maintained its independence until 1172, whenthe Synod of Cashel bound it to the Romanised Church in England.

WALDENSES REVIVAL 1184

The story of the faithfulness, endurance, and heroism of the Waldensesdown the centuries is unique in Church History. Where they live there isnot a rock that is not a monument, not a meadow that has not seen anexecution, not a village that does not register its martyrs. In the twelfthcentury they experienced a revival which resulted in great evangelistic

activity.

This movement was led by Peter Waldo. All were missionaries, andpreached in the houses, streets, and market places. Rev. Clarke says ofthem, The sect spread with extraordinary rapidity, and extended fromArragon to Ponierania and Bohemia, though most numerous in the southof Frances Alsace, and in the mountain districts of Savoy, Switzerlandand Northern Italy.

BOHEMIAN REVIVAL

In 1315 it was reckoned that there were 80,000 true Christians in Bohemiaalone. This remarkable

Page 10spiritual revival was partly the result of the labours of three reformers,Conrad of Waldhausen, Milic of Moravia, and Matthias of Janow; it


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prepared the way for the movement that was led by John Huss.In 1467 some Bohemians, Waldenses, and Moravians united in what wasknown as the Unitas Fratrum Church. When the Reformation dawnedthey had four hundred churches, and were circulating their ownBohemian Bible. This persecuted remnant of the followers of Huss

continued until 1715 when Christian David led a company of them intoSaxon Silesia where they settled on the estate of Count Zinzendorf.

JOHN WICKCLIFFE

In the 14th century Wickliffe reopened the Bible, and began to expose theerrors of the Roman Church. Many were converted through his preaching

and writings. He also founded an association of preachers called Lollards,and sent them to preach up and down the country.

Wickcliffe was a man of prayer, and the reforms he advocated were theresult of his own spiritual enlightenment through reading the Bible. Hedeclared, The sacred Scriptures are the property of the people, and onewhich no one should be allowed to wrest from them. Christ and Hisapostles converted the world by making known the Scriptures, and I praywith all my heart that through doing the things contained in this book,we may all together come to the everlasting life.

John Huss embraced the doctrines of Wickliffe, and after exerting amighty influence for the Gospel inBohemia, he was martyred in 1415.

SAVONAROLA

After listening to a sermon from an Augustinian friar, Savonarola at theage of twenty-three decided to adopt the monastic life. He becamefamous as a preacher in the Lent of 1489, and shortly afterwards he waselected Prior of St. Marks Convent, Florence.

Villari says, Wonderful was the effect of

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Savonarolas preaching on the corrupt and pagan society of Florence. Hisnatural, spontaneous heart stirring eloquence, with its exalted imageryand outbursts of righteous indignation, was entirely unprecedented inthat era of pedantry and the simulation of the classic oratory.

The Priors preaching confounded his foes, for it completely changed theaspect of the city. The women cast off their jewels and dressed simply;young profligates were transformed into sober, religious men, thechurches were filled with people at prayer, and the Bible was diligentlyread.

The fame of this marvellous preacher was now extending throughout theworld by means of his printed sermons. Even the Sultan of Turkeycommanded them to be translated into Turkish for his own study. Ofcourse, the individual aim of Savonarola was simply to be the regeneratorof religion. As one of the first Protestants, and as a herald of theReformation, Savonarola soon got into trouble with the Pope, and as aresult he was executed in 1498.

THE REFORMATION

Under the Roman Church millions of souls lived in continual fear of thewrath to come. No doubt their cry came up before God and He camedown to deliver them.

Through bitter experience Martin Luther knew the spiritual agonies of thepeople, and the failure of any good works to give assurance of salvation.Then he began to read the Bible, and slowly the truth of Justification byFaith dawned upon his soul.

It is wonderful to follow the growth of Luthers work. The Reformationburned in his heart. He was possessed with divine strength and wisdom,as he met each difficult situation.

Luther prayed hours every day. Once a spy followed him to a hotel. Thenext day he told his employer that Luther had prayed nearly all night,and that he could never conquer one who prayed like that.


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Page 12One day Luther was told that Melancthon was dying. He hurried to seehim, and aroused him from his stupor. Melancthon looked at him andsaid, O Luther, is this you? Why dont you let me depart in peace? Wecan't spare you yet, Philip, replied Luther; and turning round, he went

upon his knees, and wrestled with God for his recovery. From that timeMelancthon recovered. Luther said, God gave me back my brotherMelancthon in direct answer to prayer.

Luther knew what it was to travail in prayer, to wrestle with the powersof darkness that engulfed the whole world. Listen to him in an agony ofprayer in the morning of the day when he had to make his defence beforethe Diet of Worms. O Almighty and Everlasting God! How terrible isthis world! How weak is the flesh, and how powerful is Satan! O God! OGod! O God! Do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world! Forthis is not my work, but Thine. The cause is Thine, and it is a righteousand eternal cause. O Lord! Help me! Faithful and unchangeable God!Thou hast chosen me for this work. I know it well! Act, then, O God,stand at my side, for the sake of Thy well-beloved Jesus Christ. Amen.

God answered this prayer immediately, and filled Luther with suchstrength and wisdom that he won that day the greatest victory in thehistory of the Reformation.

The Reformation soon spread over Germany, France, Switzerland,Holland, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, and the British Isles. But behind thismighty movement we must remember there were the agonising prayersof millions of hearts; much preaching of the Gospel doctrines; andthrough the invention of printing, a wide distribution of the Scriptures.

JOHN CALVIN

Through reading the Bible John Calvin became a wholehearted followerof the Reformed faith, and before long he was a leader of the Protestants

in

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Paris. In 1536 he published The Institutes of the Christian Religion,which was the first complete outline and vindication of Protestantism.

The citizens of Geneva asked Calvin to come and help them in 1541, andfor over twenty years he laboured to make Geneva a city of God.

Attendance at public worship became compulsory. Wearing gay clothes,and dancing, were punishable offences; marriage was regularised;unchastity was punished with death. The taverns and haunts of sinvanished. A good education became available to all. The churches werecrowded, and Geneva became a fountain-head of Protestant inspiration toall Europe.

JOHN KNOX

John Knox the Scottish Reformer was a mighty man of prayer. Here is anexample of how he prayed, O Lord, give me Scotland, or I die ! After atime of stillness, again the cry, O Lord, give me Scotland, or I die ! Oncemore deep silence. Then again the cry with more intense pathos, O Lord,give me Scotland, or I die. God gave him Scotland.

If ever the man and the hour struck together it was when John Knoxlanded in Scotland in 1559, and commenced his history-changing tourpreaching root and branch reform. His trumpet-like call sounded overmountain and moor, and within a few weeks the chief centres of Scotlandwere won for the Protestant faith.

STEWARTON REVIVAL

This revival began in 1625, and continued for some years. Closelyfollowing was the revival at Kirk of Shotts in June, 1630. Here a largenumber of godly persons gathered for several days of prayer, andconference. At least one whole night was spent in prayer, and when JohnLivingstone preached, about five hundred persons were converted.


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ULSTER REVIVAL 1625

This remarkable revival was promoted by a band

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of faithful ministers. They went forth in companies to evangelise the land,and God used them mightily. There was much prayer and faithfulpreaching in this revival.

A contemporary description of one of these ministers can be taken astypical of them all. He was a man of notable constitution, both of bodyand mind; of a majestic, awful, yet affable and amiable countenance andcarriage, thoroughly learned, of strong parts, deep invention, solid

judgement, and a most public spirit for God. His gift of preaching wassuch, that seldom could any observe withdrawing of assistance in public,which in others is frequent. He spent many days and nights in prayer,alone and with others, and was vouchsafed great intimacy with God.Here is a short description of those happy days, Preaching and prayingwere so pleasant, and hearers so eager and greedy, that no day was longenough, nor any room large enough, to answer their strong desires and

large expectations.


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PART II.

GERMAN PIETISM.

In 1666 this movement began in the Lutheran Church under the ministry

of Spener. He was moved to oppose the dead orthodoxy that wasprevalent in many of the churches, and to work for a revival of truereligion. The pietists sought to promote Bible study, the development of alay ministry and practical Christian living. They believed that a blamelesslife should be an indispensable qualification for the ministry, and thatpreaching should be simple and direct. Riggenbach says, In less thanhalf a century pietism spread its influence through all the spheres of life,and through all classes of society.

Spener and Franke also had an active part in the founding of the Danish-Halle Mission, and in the training of such men as Count Zinzendorf, andthe missionaries Ziegenblag and Schwartz.

MORAVIAN REVIVAL

Page 15This revival began in 1727. Previous to this the settlers at Herrnhut couldnot live together in peace. Finally Count Zinzendorf gave tall his time towork for a settlement of their differences.

On the 12th of May, 1727, they all, with great joy, gave themselves afreshto God, and promised to bury their disputes for ever.

The following account of the revival is taken from the History of theMoravians by A. Bost. From that time there was a wonderful effusionof the Spirit on this happy church, until August the 13th when themeasure of Divine grace seemed absolutely overflowing.

Every day brought some new blessing. The Count applied himself to the

visiting of the brethren. This was the beginning of those little associationswhich were afterwards called bands. These consisted of two or threepersons, who met together privately, to converse on their spiritual state,


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to exhort, and reprove, and pray for each other.

On the 22nd of July some brethren agreed to repair at stated times to ahill near Herrnhut, in order to pour out their souls to God in prayer andsinging. On the same day the Count set out for Silesia. Before his

departure several of the brethren engaged to devote themselves to theadvancement of the revival. At this time they had a great blessingthrough the reading of the First Epistle of St. John.

On the Lords day, the 10th of August, the minister Rothe was seized, inthe midst of the assembly, with an unusual impulse. He threw himselfupon his knees before God, and the whole assembly prostratedthemselves with him under the same emotions. An uninterrupted courseof singing and prayer, weeping and supplication, continued till midnight.All hearts were united in love.

The brethren held a Communion service on Friday, 13th. It was full ofdeep spiritual power and emotion. The whole assembly united in prayerto God, and then

Page 16sung, My soul before Thee prostrate lies, amidst tears and sobs, so that itcould hardly be distinguished whether they were weeping or singing.The scene was so moving that the pastor could hardly tell what he saw orheard.

A few days after the 13th of August, a remarkable revival took placeamong the children at Herrnhut and Bertholdsdorf. On the 18th ofAugust, all the children at the boarding school were seized with anextraordinary impulse of the Spirit, and passed the whole night in prayer.From this time, a constant work of God was going on in the minds of thechildren, in both places. No words can express the powerful operation ofthe Holy Spirit upon these children.

On the 25th of August the brethren began the ministry of continual

prayer which continued for over a hundred years. They considered that,as in the ancient Temple the fire on the altar never ceased to burn, so inthe Church, which is now the Temple of God, the prayers of the saints


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ought always to ascend to the Lord.

In January, 1728, the brethren held their first missionary meeting. Thismeeting was celebrated by meditations on different portions of HolyScripture, and fervent prayers; in the midst of which the church

experienced a remarkable enjoyment of the presence of the Spirit.

The Moravian Missions began in 1731. Work was commenced in the WestIndies and Greenland. In the years that followed missionaries were sentto Labrador, North America, South America, South Africa, Asia,Australia, and many islands of the sea. The Moravians Missions havebeen a mighty force in the evangelisation of the heathen, but we mustremember that it all began in the revival in 1727.

JONATHAN EDWARDS REVIVAL

Edwards reveals the secret of this revival. He said: The spirit of thosethat have been in distress for the souls of others, so far as I can discern,seems

Page 17not to be different from that of the apostle who travailed for souls. Onthe evening of the day preceding the outbreak of the revival, someChristians met, and spent the whole night in prayer.

There was scarcely a person in the town, (Northampton), old or young,left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world. The work ofconversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and increasedmore and more; souls did as it were come by flocks to Jesus Christ. Thiswork of God soon made a glorious alteration in the town; so that in thespring and summer following, the town seemed to be full of the presenceof God; it was never so full of love, nor of joy, and yet so full of distress,as it was then.

There were remarkable tokens of Gods presence in almost every house.It was a time of joy in families on account of salvation being brought untothem; parents rejoicing over their children as new born, and husbands


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The new converts were fervent in spirit. They thirsted for the salvationof souls. Unexampled efforts. were immediately employed for the spreadof the Gospel. Some went from house to house in their respectiveneighbourhoods warning every man and teaching every man, andexhorting all to turn to the Lord. Pious ministers were stirred to unusual

exertion, and old Christians renewed their youth. The Lord gave theword; great was the company of them that published it.

They had deep convictions of the evil of sin, and of the peril of arebellious state. The love of God in Christ overpowered their souls. Theirviews of the solemn realities of another world were vivid and heart-affecting. Their earnest appeals made the stout hearted tremble, awedmany a reprobate into silence, and wrung tears from daring andhardened offenders. Tens of thousands bowed before the majesty of truth.Some of the most powerful preachers emigrated to other States; andwherever they went, the floods of blessing poured over the land.


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August 3rd. Having visited the Indians in these parts in June last, andtarried with them some considerable time preaching almost daily, I nowfound them serious, and a number of them under deep concern for aninterest in Christ. I preached to them this. day, Whosoever will, let himtake the water of life freely.

The Lord, I am persuaded, enabled me, in a manner somewhatuncommon, to set before them the Lord Jesus Christ as kind andcompassionate Saviour, inviting distressed and perishing sinners toaccept everlasting mercy, and a surprising concern soon became apparentamong them. There were about 20adult persons together, and not abovetwo that I could see with dry eyes.

August 6th. In the morning I discoursed to the Indians at the housewhere we lodged. Many of them were tenderly affected, so that a fewwords about their souls would cause the tears to flow freely, and producemany sobs and groans.

In the afternoon I again discoursed to them. They seemed eager to hear;but there appeared nothing very remarkable, till near the close of my

discourse; and then divine truths were attended with a surprisinginfluence, and produced a great concern among them. All seemed in anagony to obtain an interest in Christ. It was surprising to see how theirhearts seemed to be pierced with the tender and melting invitations of theGospel, when there was not a word of terror spoken to them.

August 8th. In the afternoon I preached to about sixty-five persons, andwas favoured with uncommon freedom. There was much visible concernamong them; but when I spoke to one and another more particularly, thepower of God seemed to descend

Page 21upon the assembly like a rushing mighty wind, and with an astonishingenergy bore down all before it.

I stood amazed at the influence which seized the audience: old men andwomen, and some children, as well as persons of middle age.


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I never saw a day like it in all respects: it was a day wherein I ampersuaded the Lord did much to destroy the kingdom of darkness amongthis people.

This revival among the Indians continued for some years, and produced

lasting results.

THE PURITAN REVIVAL

The name Puritan designated those in the Anglican Church who soughta simpler faith and form of service. This movement grew out of thewidespread reading of the Bible.

These men were the salt of English society in their day. They stood forliberty and toleration, and were the champions of the rights of the people.

Owen, Bunyan, Baxter, Milton, Leighton, Flavel, and others, gave to theworld some of the best evangelical literature. How many have beenblessed through the Pilgrims Progress?

Richard Baxter was a true revivalist. It is said that his study walls werestained with praying breath. Through him God did a great work inKidderminster. He tells us of converts holding a Saturday evening prayermeeting for blessing on the following day of such congregations that theyhad to build five new galleries in his church; that on Sundays there wasno disorder in the streets, but that you would hear a hundred familiessinging psalms in their homes.

The Puritan movement eventually branched into different churchorganisations. Many emigrated to America. How much do we owe to thisseventeenth century revival?

THE QUAKER REVIVAL

Page 22In the middle of the seventeenth century there were thousands of men


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and women who were adrift from the Church of England. They wereseeking for the truth, and were like sheep without a shepherd. In additionto Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists, we read of Sabbatarians,Seekers, Traskites, Millenaries, Familists, Etheringtonians, FifthMonarchy men, Muggletonians and many others.

George Fox was born in 1624. He was brought up in a Puritan home, andcould say, When I came to eleven years of age, I knew pureness andrighteousness. The Lord taught me to be faithful inwardly to God, andoutwardly to man. But in spite of his good life Fox was not at peace; hewent through years of spiritual darkness and conflict until one day heseemed to hear a voice say to him, There is one, even Christ Jesus, thatcan speak to thy condition. He said, My heart did leap for joy. Mydesires after the Lord grew stronger. Though I read the Scriptures thatspoke of Christ and of God, yet I knew Him not but by revelation, as Hewho hath the key did open, and as the Father of Life drew me to His Sonby His Spirit. In this way God prepared Fox to be His messenger toseeking souls all over the land.

He obeyed Gods call and he said, I was glad that I was commanded to

turn people to that inward light, spirit, and grace, by which all mightknow their salvation and their way to God; even that Divine Spirit whichwould lead them into all truth. With and by this divine power and Spiritof God, and the light of Jesus, I was to bring people off from all their ownways, to Christ, the new and living Way, and to know the Spirit of Truthin the inward parts, and to be led thereby.

William Penn wrote of Fox, He had an extraordinary gift in opening theScriptures. But above all he excelled in prayer. The most living, reverentframe I ever beheld, was his in prayer. His

Page 23personality radiated the holiness, and majesty, and love of God. Sinnerswere afraid and often trembled in his presence.

Fox said that the Lord told him, If but one man or woman were raisedup by His power to stand and live in the same spirit the apostles andprophets were in, he or she should shake all the country for ten miles


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around. This is how the Quakers lived. When the people came to seeFriends honesty and truthfulness, and their lives and conversations didpreach and reach to the witness of God in all people, all the enquiry was;where was a draper or shop-keeper or any other tradesman that was aQuaker; in so much thatFriends had double the trade beyond any of their

neighbours, and if there was any trading they had it. Then the cry was, Ifwe let these people alone they will take the trading of the nation out ofour hands.

The founding of the State of Pennsylvania is a glorious chapter in Churchhistory. Listen to William Penn making the Treaty with the Indians. TheGreat Spirit who made you and me and all men, knows that I and mychildren wish to live in peace and friendship with the Indians. Thechildren of Onus and the Indians should be brothers to each other; allpaths should be free and open; the doors of the white men should beopen to the Indians, and the doors of the Indians to the white men, andthey should make each welcome as friends. This league and chain offriendship should grow stronger and stronger, and be kept bright andclean, without rust or spot, while the waters run down the creeks andrivers, and while the sun and moon and stars endure.

There were between fifty, and sixty thousand Quakers in England at theend of the, first forty years of the Quaker revival. They were morenumerous than the Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Independents, andBaptists combined. In proportion to the population they were even morenumerous in America, where they had founded two colonies, and wherethey included

Page 24more than half the inhabitants in several other important districts. Thesestatistics are taken from, A Short History of Quakerism, by E. B.Emmott.

REVIVALS IN WALES.

Previous to the Evangelical Revival the moral and religious conditions inWales were even worse than in England. The first Welsh revivalist was


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Griffith Jones, and his preaching up and down the country producedlasting results. He was followed by Howell Harris, who was a powerfulpreacher. Writing in his diary he says, I continued to go on exhorting thepoor people, and they flocked to hear me every Sunday evening. I soonbecame the public talk of the country. The Word was attended with such

power that many on the spot cried out to God for the pardon of theirsins.

Harris was helped, at times, in his evangelistic labours, by Whitfield.Daniel Rowlands was another Welsh revivalist, and he lived at the sametime. It is estimated that no less than seven revivals took place during hisministry. He was a man of prayer. William Williams, of Pantycelyn, wasanother of the Welsh revivalists of this period, but it was through hishymns that his greatest work was done. These men were the leaders ofthe Evangelical Revival in Wales, and the churches they founded werecalled the Calvinistic Methodist Church.

Wales has been blessed with many local revivals. The story that follows isvery interesting. In a remote corner of Montgomeryshire the religiousfriends of the place had heard so much about revivals elsewhere, that

they felt a deep longing for the same in their own locality, and theyresolved to hold meetings for prayer. One night they heard somebeautiful singing that seemed to come from the sky. The next night atthe opening of the service the Holy Ghost descended mightily upon them.This proved to be the dawn of a great revival in the neighbourhood.

THE METHODIST PENTECOST

Page 25The Methodist Revival was born in the power of the Holy Spirit. Wesleyrecords: Jan. 1, 1739. Mr Hall, Kinchin, Ingham, Whitefield, Hutchins,and my brother Charles, were present at our love-feast in Fetter Lane,with about sixty of our brethren. About Three in the morning, as we werecontinuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, in

so much that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to theground. As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe andamazement at the presence of His Majesty, we broke out with one voice,


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We praise thee, O God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

Of this love-feast Whitfield said, It was a Pentecostal season indeed.And he adds, concerning those meetings, that, sometimes whole nightswere spent in prayer. Often we have been filled as with new wine, and

often I have seen them overwhelmed with the Divine Presence, and cryout, Will God, indeed, dwell with men upon earth? How dreadful is thisplace! This is no other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven !

Of this period Rev. Ryle said, These times were the darkest age thatEngland has passed through in the last three hundred years. Anythingmore deplorable than the condition of the country, as to religion,morality, and high principle, it is very difficult to conceive.

On February 17th, 1739, Whitfield preached his first field sermon at RoseGreen. Then he preached at Kingswood near Bristol. Thousands of peopleheard him, and were deeply moved by his preaching.

When Whitfield left for America, Wesley carried on the work. Hepreached in the open air, for the first time, at Kingswood. Of this place he

says, In the middle of February, Kingswood was a wilderness, and whenthe month of June arrived, it was already blossoming like the rose.

Page 26This was the beginning of Wesleys amazing ministry which resulted in arevival of religion all over the British Isles. In this ministry he travelled250,000 miles, and preached 40,000 sermons, often to 20,000 persons atonce.

The Rev. W. H. Fitchett says of Wesley, He quickened the conscience,not merely of his own followers, but of the Church which had cast himout, and of the whole nation to which he belonged. Of Wesley himself hesaid, There was something of the unconscious loftiness of Alpine peaksabout him; a remotenessas though caught from some purer air. Fromwhence did he draw the strength and inspiration for his work? Here is

the secret: I resolve to devote an hour morning and evening to privateprayer, no pretence or excuse whatsoever.


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Whitfield crossed the Atlantic thirteen times and travelled extensively inthe British Isles. Wherever he went thousands gathered to hear himpreach. He lived constantly with a clear realisation of the reality ofeternity: of heaven and hell, and that the eternal destiny of souls was inthe balance. Only eternity will reveal fully the tremendous influence he

exerted for God.

Whitfield once said, It is not for me to tell how often I use secret prayer;if I did not use it, nay, if in one sense, I did not pray without ceasing, itwould be difficult for me to keep up that frame of soul, which, by theDivine blessing, I daily enjoy.

We have not room to mention the work of the men God raised up toextend the Methodist revival. But those who have the opportunity shouldread the lives of John Nelson, Thomas Walsh, Francis Asbury, WilliamBramwell, Hugh Bourne, and William Clowes. These men were notcontent with steady progress in their work. But they looked for, andobtained, times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

CAMBUSLANG REVIVAL, 1742

Page 27This work began under the ministry of the Rev. W. McCulloch. The newsof revivals in England and America caused him to seek to promote arevival among his own people. Soon he had interested the churchmembers in this work, and the congregations so increased in number thatthey had to hold the preaching services in the open air.

The interest increased until the minister was preaching every day, andspending much time in giving instructions to anxious sinners. Thecongregations on the hill side increased to nine or ten thousand, andministers from far and near came to help in the work. Whitfield helped inthis revival.

For many years afterwards, humble men and women who wereconverted at Cambuslang, lived among their neighbours with anunspotted Christian name, and then passed on peacefully to be with their


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This revival period continued for many years, and powerful revivalsprevailed in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky,Tennessee, the Carolionas, and Georgia.

Harlan Page writes of a revival in New York, The Lord appears now to

be coming down on all parts of this great city, to arouse His children andto awaken sinners. Thousands of Christians here are praying as theynever prayed before. Conversions are occurring in all parts of the city.Churches are daily crowded to overflowing, and a most fixed and solemnattention is given to the dispensation of the truth.

Christians at that time believed that, The Church is the Bride of Christ,and the mother of his children. And that, No soul is ever convertedexcept as some believer has painfully travailed in birth for that soul.

During this period of American revivals, the Christians began to feel theirobligation to send the Gospel to the heathen. All the first foreignmissionaries were the fruit of the revivals : Hall, Newell, Mills, Judson,Nott, Rice, Bingham, King, Thurston, and others. The American Board of

Page 29Foreign Missions, the American Bible Society, the United ForeignMissionary Society, and other missionary movements, were formed atthis time as a direct result of the revivals.

During these years many colleges were blessed with revivals. Dr. Tylerwrote of Yale College having thirteen special revivals in a period oftwenty-five years.

THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY

Inspired by the example of William Carey going to India, Dr. Bogue, anIndependent minister, through the Evangelical Magazine appealed toall Christians to support at least twenty or thirty missionaries among the

heathen. As a result a company of Nonconformist ministers founded theLondon Missionary Society in September 1795.


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The first missionary party, consisting of over thirty persons, sailed downthe Thames in the ship Duff on the 10th August, 1796, singing, Jesus atThy command we launch into the deep. This society sent forth manygreat missionary pioneers and founders.

Robert Morrison worked for twenty seven years in China. He translatedthe Scriptures, and compiled a dictionary and grammar. John Williamsgave himself to work in the South Seas. He discovered Raratonga, andfrom Raiatea as a centre he carried the Gospel to many islands until hewas martyred in 1839. Through William Ellis much of Madagascar wasbrought to Christ.

Robert and Mary Moffat spread the Gospel from Kuruman over much ofSouth Africa. David Livingstone died on his knees after thirty years inCentral Africa. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, and on the stone inthe nave are the words, His life was spent in an unwearied effort toevangelise the native races. Thus was introduced the great missionaryperiod in the history of the Protestant churches.

EARLY AMERICAN METHODIST REVIVALS

Page 30The following article is taken from the New History of Methodism, Vol.II., p. 106. The early years of American Methodism witnessed an almostcontinuous revival. Scarcely a society was formed which did not growout of a revival. The denomination grew because its preachers wereendowed with holy energy and an unction from on high. The revival in

Virginia was only one of many remarkable manifestations of divine gracein the very earliest years of our history.

American Methodism grew after this manner, in no period of the earlyhistory were revivals more general than during the years from 1784 to1808. At one time all Maryland was ablaze with revivals. Similar signsand wonders were seen in Virginia. In New England revival followed

revival, some of them or great power. In 1800 one of the most remarkablespiritual movements of American history began in Kentucky, and spreadthrough Tennessee and Ohio with the amazing swiftness of a prairie fire.


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FINNEYS REVIVALS

Charles Grandison Finney testified, I was powerfully converted on themorning of the 10th of October, 1821. In the evening of the same day, andon the morning of the following day, I received overwhelming baptisms

of the Holy Ghost, that went through me, as it seemed to me, body andsoul. I immediately found myself endued with such power from on highthat a few words dropped here and there to individuals, were the meansof their immediate conversion. My word seemed to fasten like barbedarrows in the souls of men. They cut like a sword. They broke the heartlike a hammer. Multitudes can attest to this.

Sometimes I would find myself, in a great measure, empty of this power.I would go out and visit, and find that I had made no saving impression. Iwould exhort and pray with the same result. I would then set apart a dayfor private fasting and prayer,

Page 31fearing that this power had departed from me, and would enquireanxiously after the reason of this apparent emptiness. After humbling

myself, and crying out for help, the power would return upon me with allits freshness. This has been the experience of my life.

For ten years: from 1824-1834, Finney laboured continually in powerfulrevivals. In 1834 he came to a great crisis in his life: his health was brokenthrough his labours in preaching and praying; also at that time the subjectof slavery was calling so much attention that revivals of religion werebeginning to decline. In the month of July, 1834, as he was on a voyage,the burden became unbearable. The spirit of prayer was upon him, andhe spent one whole day in prayer, until he prevailed with God. After aday of unspeakable wrestling and agony in my soul, just at night, thesubject cleared up to my mind. The Spirit led me to believe that all wouldcome out right, and that God had yet a work for me to do; that I might beat rest; that the Lord would go forward with His work, and give mestrength to take any part in it that He desired.

In the Autumn of that year he delivered his famous Lectures on Revivalsof Religion. The reading of these lectures has resulted in hundreds of


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revivals in America and other countries.

Finney became Professor of Theology in Oberlin College in 1835. Later hebecame President of the College. Twenty thousand students came underhis influence during the years he was at Oberlin. While still in connection

with the College he conducted some of the most powerful revivals of hisministry. He also visited England twice, and had revivals in many places.

Finney died in July, 1875, after a mighty ministry, in which Rivers ofLiving Water literally flowed to multitudes of souls. His revival ministryhas been a tremendous blessing and challenge to the Christian

Page 32Church. He emphasised that any company of Christians can have arevival if they will fulfil the necessary conditions; agonising prayer, and abalanced presentation of the truths of the Gospel.

Finney insisted that, Young converts should be trained to labour forChrist, just as carefully as young recruits in an army are trained for war.The plan is to train a body of devoted Christians, who know how to pray,

and how to converse with people about their souls, and how to attendanxious meetings, and deal with enquirers, and how to SAVE SOULS.When the day comes that the whole Church will realise that they are hereon earth as a body of missionaries, and shall live and labour accordingly,then will the day of mans redemption draw nigh.

The secret of Finneys power was the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and a lifeof prayer. He wrote, In regard to my own experience, I will say tha tunless I had the spirit of prayer I could do nothing. If even for a day or anhour I lost the spirit of grace and supplication, I found myself unable topreach with power and efficiency, or to win souls by personalconversation. In this respect my experience was what it has always been.

I have said, more than once, that the spirit of prayer that prevailed inthose revivals was a very marked feature of them. It was common for

young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer; and in some instances somuch so, that they were constrained to pray whole nights, and until theirbodily strength was quite exhausted, for the conversion of souls around


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them. There was a great pressure of the Holy Spirit upon, the minds ofChristians; and they seemed to bear about with them the burden ofimmortal souls.

Those who have studied the statistics involved, state that only thirty per

cent of the converts of the best evangelists stand, but they further statethat eighty-five per cent of those converted in Finneys

Page 33revivals proved by their subsequent lives that they were soundlyconverted. The reason for this was that Finney was honest and thoroughin his treatment of sinners and young converts.

REVIVAL IN ROCHESTER IN 1830

After receiving many pressing calls to preach, Finney felt that asRochester was the most needy there were three Presbyterian Churchesin a very low and divided stateit was the Lords will that he should gothere.

Soon after he began to preach the ministers came together, and a greatimprovement in the spiritual state of the churches was manifested.Finney said, The three churches, and indeed Christians of everydenomination, seemed to make common cause, and went to work with awill, to pull sinners out of the fire.

The spirit of prayer was poured out powerfully, so much so, that somepersons stayed away from the public services to pray, being unable torestrain their feelings under preaching. Mr. Abel Clary continued inRochester as long as I did. The burden of his soul would frequently be sogreat that he would writhe and groan in agony. He never appeared inpublic, but gave himself wholly to prayer.

Soon there were some very marked conversions, one of the first being the

wife of a prominent lawyer. The meetings became thronged with lawyers,physicians, and merchants. Many of the lawyers, became very anxious,and freely attended the enquiry meetings. It was in this revival that


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Finney began to use the anxious seat.

The revival took a tremendous hold of the High School. Nearly everyteacher and student was converted. As a result, forty of those studentsbecame ministers, and a large number became foreign missionaries. The

majority of the leading men and women in the city were converted. Someyears later

Page 34Dr. Beecher talking to Finney of this revival in Rochester, said; That wasthe greatest revival of religion that the world has ever seen in so short atime. One hundred thousand were reported as having connectedthemselves with the churches as the result of that great revival. Themighty working of the Spirit of God, as in this revival, continuedthroughout Finneys long ministry.

REVIVAL IN KILSYTH AND ABERDEEN

In the early months of the year 1839 there was a quiet moving of the Spirit

of God among the people in Kilsyth, Scotland. On July 23rd, of that year,William C. Burns preached to a great crowd of persons, and as he retoldthe story of the revival at Kirk of Shotts, the Spirit of God came mightilyupon the people. They broke forth simultaneously in weeping andwailing, tears and groans. Some were screaming out in agony; othersamong these, strong menfell to the ground as if they had been dead.Burns continued preaching powerfully for some days, and the awakeningspread. All day long, in the vestry, the session-house, and the manse theanxious were being prayed with and instructed.

In August Burns returned to Dundee, and at the close of a prayer meetingtold the story of the revival in Kilsyth. As he spoke the power of Goddescended on the people, and all were bathed in tears. From that evening,meetings were held every day for weeks. The whole town was moved,and dozens of prayer meetings sprang into existence. Burns spent many a

day and many a night on his face before God. It was from long seasons ofprayer, meditations, and humbling before God that he went forth topreach.


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AMERICAN REVIVAL 1857-58

Finney writing of this revival said, This winter of 1857-58 will beremembered as the time when a great revival prevailed throughout allthe Northern States.

Page 35It swept over the land with such power, that for a time it was estimatedthat not less than fifty thousand conversions occurred in a single week.This revival was carried on to large extent through lay influence, so muchso, as almost to throw the ministers into the shade.

There had been a daily prayer meeting observed in Boston for several

years; and in the Autumn previous to the great outburst, the daily prayermeeting had been established in Fulton Street, New York. Indeed, prayermeetings were established throughout the length and breadth of theNorthern States. A divine influence seemed to pervade the whole land. Itwas estimated, that during this revival not less than 500,000 souls wereconverted in this country.

There was such a general confidence in the prevalence of prayer, that the

people very extensively seemed to prefer meetings for prayer to meetingsfor preaching. The answers to prayer were constant, and so striking as toarrest the attention of the people generally throughout the land. It wasevident that in answer to prayer the windows of heaven were opened andthe Spirit of God poured out like a flood. The New York Tribune at thattime published several extras, filled with the accounts of the progress ofthe revival in different parts of the United States.

The following account of the revival was published in a journal at thattime, Such a time as the present was never known since the days of theApostles, for revivals. Revivals now cover our land, sweeping all beforethem, exciting the earnest cry from thousands, What shall we do to besaved? Ministers seem baptised with the Holy Ghost, and preach withnew power and earnestness. Meetings are held for prayer, and forexhortation, with the deepest interest, and the most astonishing results.

The large cities and towns generally from Maine to California are sharingin this great and glorious work. It really seems as if the Millennium wasupon us in its glory.


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that they had, A network of prayer meetings over the whole district.From here the revival spread in mighty power all over the north ofIreland. There was no human leader in this movement; the Holy Spiritwas the leader.

From first to last the revival was a record of answered prayer. Neverwas there such a time of secret and public prayer. In all directions prayermeetings have sprung up, and that without number. They are conductedin a manner of deepest solemnity, and with a burning earnestness for theoutpouring of the Holy Ghost, and for the conversion of souls. Thesemeetings have been signally honoured of the Lord. The Spirit hasdescended in power.

THE 59 REVIVAL IN WALES

The news of the American revival created in many Welsh Christians alonging for revival. Many churches held a day of prayer for revival on thefirst Sunday of August, 1858.

In September of that year the Rev. H. R. Jones returned from America fullof the spirit of prayer and revival. The Rev. David Morgan came incontact with him, and soon they were talking of seeking to promote arevival.

I believe, said Mr. Morgan, that it would be no harm, and say theleast, if we did our best to arouse the country, and conduct prayermeetings, even if after all none but man were in the whole thing. No, it

would not, replied Mr. Jones, but you try it,and it will not be long ereGod will be there with you.

Soon they were conducting prayer meetings. They literally drew prayerout of the people. David Morgan received a remarkable enduement ofpower, and from that time he became the leader of the revival.

By August, 1859, most of the churches in the southern counties of Waleswere crowded on Sundays


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Page 38and week days. Prayer meetings, morning and evening, were heldeverywhere. God soon heard the cry of His people, and showers ofblessing descended upon them.

David Morgan visited the counties, towns, and villages preaching in thepower of the Holy Spirit, and a mighty harvest of souls was the result. Itis estimated that there were a hundred thousand converts in this revival.

THE 59 REVIVAL IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND

The news of the American and Irish revivals caused Christians in

England and Scotland to seek God in prayer for a similar blessing. Prayermeetings multiplied, but the revival remained local in nature, and in mostplaces the work was purely evangelistic. The mighty spirit of prevailingprayer was lacking.

However, there were genuine revivals in some districts. Bolton was thescene of a powerful awakening under the ministry of Mr. Finney. The

whole town was stirred.

Christians in Aberdeen began praying in earnest for a revival, and theysoon began to see wonderful answers. Rev. J. Smith said that the effectswere similar to what were described in connection with the labours ofWesley and Whitfield; hundreds of souls have been awakened. Rich andpoor, many young men in shops, and many young women in factories,were added to the Church.

Port Glasgow was the scene of a powerful revival. Rev. Paterson wrote,In the evening the place of meeting was crammed. There must have beenmore than two thousand present. One cried out, and then another, andanother, and some of the cries were as piercing as anything I ever heardin Ireland.

Mr. H. Johnson gives the following description of how one of these localrevivals commenced, A minister was depressed by the low spiritualstate of his


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Page 39congregation. His cause was like a stagnant pool. The news of therevival going on in other parts of the country had reached him. One dayhe suddenly decided to abandon the preparation of his sermon, and to,devote himself to prayer. He pleaded earnestly and passionately for five

hours.

The next day was Sunday. On entering the pulpit the conviction seizedhim that something remarkable was about to happen. The people Wereunusually attentive. Their faces betokened solemnity and awe. When theservice came to an end several persons were broken down under theSpirits influence. That service proved to be the beginning of a genuineand permanent revival.

At this time England and Scotland were blessed with the ministry of anumber of remarkable evangelists. lncluded among them were, ReginaldRadcliffe, Brownlow North, Richard Weaver, Robert Aitken, WilliamHaslam, H. M. Grant, and Duncan Matheson.

THE SALVATION ARMY

William Booth was born in 1829. He was converted at the age of fifteen,and as a young convert he was a most energetic worker among the poor.Soon he became a local preacher and he longed to give his life to thepreaching of the Gospel.

Even in those early days he was studying how best to win the masses. Hesaid, What I wanted to see was an organisation with the salvation of theworld as its supreme ambition and object, worked upon the simple,earnest principles which I had myself embraced, and which, youth as Iwas, I had already seen carried into successful practice.

He was on fire for God and soul. While he was studying for the ministryhe was often in an agony of prayer for souls, when naturally speaking he

should have been busy with his text books.

In June, 1855, Mr. Booth married Catherine Mumford. There is ample


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evidence that God had prepared

Page 40this young woman to be the wife of Mr. Booth, and few marriages haveresulted in so much blessing to the world.

In five months of evangelistic work at this time Mr. Booth saw about2,000 souls won to Christ. The following note taken from a letter gives usa glimpse of him at this time: I cannot write about the natural beauties ofthis place. I have done nothing yet but sigh for and seek the salvation ofits inhabitants.

Writing to her parents in October, 1855, Mrs. Booth says of her husband,God is blessing him richly, both in his own soul and in his publiclabours. He is becoming more and more a man of prayer. The workprogresses with mighty power. Precious souls are being saved by scores.

Mr. Booths meetings always closed with a time given to prayer, duringwhich anxious sinners were dealt with. From the beginning of hisministry Mr. Booth spent each Sunday, as far as possible, as a day of

prayer and fasting. On Whit-Monday of 1858 Mr. Booth conducted thefirst public day of prayer and fasting, and this was the beginning of manyall days, all nights, and two days with God, which have been sucha blessing to the movement.

We have not room to describe the amazing growth and worldwideministry of the Salvation Army. Our purpose is to point out the spiritualcauses of this revival of religion.

D. L. MOODY

D. L. Moody was privileged to have as his mother one of those noblehigh-minded women whose influence on their children has been such ablessing to the world. He was born on February 5th, 1837, in Northfield,

Connecticut, U.S.A.

Moody was converted when he was seventeen. He afterwards testified, I


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remember the morning after I had first trusted Christ. It seemed I was inlove with all creation. I was ready to take all men to my heart.

Page 41By nature Moody was a man of great energy and impulse, and this

experience could only result in service to God.

The first Christian work he undertook was to rent some pews in thechurch he attended, and he filled them each Sunday with young menfrom the street corners and saloons. Then he turned his attention toSunday School work. He began to work in a Sunday School that had onlytwelve children attending, and in a few years he was running a SundaySchool with an attendance of between 12,000 and 15,000 children. Heloved the children from his heart and they knew it.

This work continued to grow, and Moody knew that God was calling himto give all his time to His service. He was enabled to obey this callbecause of the blessing he received through seeing a whole class of girlsconverted through their dying teacher. He said, God kindled a fire in mysoul that has never gone out. From that time he engaged in regular

evangelistic work.

In the year 1871 a great hunger and thirst for spiritual power tookpossession of Moody. He said, I was crying all the time that God wouldfill me with His Spirit. Well, one day, in the city of New York, Godrevealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that Ihad to ask Him to stay His hand. I went to preaching again. The sermonswere not different; I did not present any new truths; and yet hundredswere converted.

The year 1872 contained an illustration of the power of prayer that had agreat influence on Moody. An invalid in North London prayed for God tosend Moody to London and through him to revive her church. Withoutknowing anything about this Moody visited England, and preached inthat church for ten days. There was such a revival that 400 were

converted and joined the church. Moody could not understand it. Heknew that he had not prevailed in prayer for this blessing, but when hemet the invalid lady it all became plain.


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Page 42In June, 1873, Moody, and Ira D. Sankey, began their first extendedmissions in some of the cities in the North of England. God blessed theselabours, and the work grew steadily. In November of the same year theywere invited to Scotland. The campaigns in the Scottish cities called the

attention of the whole country to spiritual things, and a wave of revivalspread over the land.

This was the effect of Moodys campaigns all over the British Isles and inAmerica.

Moodys ministry was unusually wide. In addition to his evangelisticwork, he founded the Schools and Colleges at Northfield, and the BibleInstitute in Chicago with its publishing department. He raised atremendous amount of money to help extend the work of the Y.M.C.A.The Conferences he conducted for ministers, and students, and Christianworkers, were also an important part of his work.

All this work and worldwide influence was the natural result of Moodysspiritual life; he loved Jesus; he lived with eternal Values in view; he had

a passion and burden for souls; he believed in prayer; and when hepreached he expected the Holy Spirit to convict and convert sinners.

THE FAITH MISSION

John George Govan founded the Faith Mission in 1886. The ministry ofthe mission has been two-fold: Preaching the Gospel in the countrydistricts of Scotland, Ireland, and in the eastern counties of England;witnessing to Christians that it is possible to live in an experience of fullsalvation.

Mr. H. C. M. Patterson gives the following account of the early days ofthe mission. There were two great things we had begun to learn; that anessential experience for all true soul winners was the anointing of the

Holy Ghost, and that, all effective Revival work must be the outcome ofprayer in the Spirit.


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Page 43After a day of prayer and fasting he tells of one meeting. The Chief (Mr.Govan) was speaking, while I sat behind praying, when suddenly theHoly Ghost fell, and His power laid hold of the whole congregation. Itwas a holy and awful time, and scores of men and women were

confessing sin and hindrance. Glory be to Him, our Lord was there toheal as well !

Mr. Govan and the Pilgrims established Prayer Unions andConferences for the converts of the missions. Later on a Training Homewas opened in Edinburgh, Scotland; a similar work is being carried on inCanada, and in South Africa. Scattered all over the world scores ofmissionaries, evangelists, and Christian workers can be found who wereraised up by God through the instrumentality of the Faith Mission.

THE CHINA INLAND MISSION

James Hudson Taylor was born on May 21st, 1832. Before his birth he hadbeen dedicated to God, and at the early age of five he was expressing a

desire to be a missionary in China. This ideal took more and morepossession of him as the years passed by. After he left school andcommenced to work, he experienced a period of spiritual darkness anduncertainty, but at the age of seventeen he definitely accepted the LordJesus as his Saviour.

A short time later he is on his knees surrendering his whole being andfuture to God. He wrote, Never shall I forget the feeling that came overme. Words can never describe it. I felt I was in the presence of God. Andfrom that time the conviction never left me that I was called to China.

Through the years that followed Hudson Taylor studied medicine andcarried on evangelistic work, in order to prepare himself for his work inChina. He set himself to learn to move God in prayer for his financialneeds, and he lived on a diet similar to what he would have in China.

Page 44At the age of twenty-one Hudson Taylor sailed for China, to work in


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connection with the Chinese Evangelisation Society. For about six yearshe was a keen and energetic missionary, but he was invalided home in1860.

Mr Taylor made use of every minute of his enforced stay in England. But

in the year 1865 a new burden came into his life, it was a burden forunevangelised inland China. He wrote, A million a month were dying inthat land, dying without God. This was burned into my very soul. Fortwo or three months the conflict was intense. I scarcely slept night or daymore than an hour at a time, and feared I should lose my reason. Yet I didnot give in.

The need was vast and Mr. Taylor shrunk from taking such aresponsibility upon his shoulders. He felt he could not do it, but at thesame time he knew too that he could not stand the burden he had forthese souls while nothing was being done for them. Worn out and reallyill with the burden he went to Brighton, and on Sunday, June 25th, as hewas walking by the seaside, God, by His Spirit, made known to his heartthat if he obeyed His call to commence a work for inland China, Hewould carry all the responsibility. Thou, Lord, he cried with relief that

was unutterable, Thou shalt have all the burden ! There and then heasked the Lord for twenty-four missionaries for inland China, and onJune 27th, he put 10 in the bank for the China Inland Mission. He hadprevailed with God; he was a new man physically and spiritually.

The C.I.M. has continued to grow, and has now about 1,100 missionaries,and 4,400 Chinese workers. The history of how God has supplied thefinancial needs down the years has been an inspiration to all Missions.The success and blessing that has been enjoyed by this mission, in greatmeasure, is the result of the fact that Hudson Taylor, like Jacob, as aprince had power with God and men, and prevailed.

We have not room in this book to outline the history of other foreignmissions. The history of the

Page 45foundation of each mission is essentially the same; in each case there wasa burden for souls; there was travail in prayer until God came and called


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out missionaries, and moved Christians to give money, and to pray forthe evangelisation, of the world.

THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR REVIVAL

In The Story of Christian Endeavour the Rev. W. K. Chaplin writes,On October 9th, 1876, Francis E. Clark was ordained as pastor ofWilliston Church at Portland in the State of Maine. The church thrivedamazingly, and by the end of 1877 had so increased in membership that itbecame necessary to erect a new church building in the western part ofthe city.

As a result of the Week of Prayer in January, 1881, many young heartswere given to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was felt that this was a very seriousand critical time. The new converts would receive impressions and formreligious habits during the first few weeks after conversion which wouldnever be lost. The first three months would set the stamp of consistentdevotion to Christ or sluggish indifference to His claims on the whole oftheir subsequent Christian lives.

So it was that a number of the young people were invited to come to theparsonage on the evening of February 2nd, 1881. The minister presentedhis plan for a Christian Endeavour Society, which included, It is expectedthat all members of the society will be present at every meeting, and thateach one will take some part, however slight, in every meeting. Thatnight over fifty young people joined the Movement.

Other churches soon took up the idea, and every year there are held overfour millions of young peoples meetings using the methods, principles,and topics of the Christian Endeavour Society. Out of it have comemultitudes of Ministers, Missionaries, and church workers.


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PART 5

C. H. SPURGEON

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Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born in Kelvedon, Essex, on the 19th June,1834. At the age of sixteen he was converted through hearing a PrimitiveMethodist preaching on the text, Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all theends of the earth. Spurgeon said, I looked to Him; He looked on me;and we were one for ever.

Soon after his conversion he joined the Baptist community in Cambridge,and became a lay preacher. His fame as a preacher began to grow, and at

the age of seventeen he became pastor of the Waterbeach Church. Inthose days he worked hard, and gave a great deal of attention to thewritings of the leading Puritans.

In 1854 he was called to be pastor of New Park Street Chapel, London,and very soon people all over the country were talking, of the wonderfulBoy Preacher. His sermons began to be printed and were read all over

the world. For forty years he preached to immense audiences, and wontens of thousands of souls to Christ.

In his Autobiography Spurgeon reveals the secret of his amazingministry. When I came to New Park Street Chapel, it was but a merehandful of people to whom I first preached; yet I can never forget howearnestly they prayed. Sometimes they seemed to plead as though theycould really see the Angel of the covenant, present with them, and as if

they must have a blessing from Him more than once, we were all so awe-struck with the solemnity of the meeting, that we sat silent for somemoments while the Lords power appeared to overshadow us; and all Icould do was to pronounce the Benediction, and say Dear friends, wehave had the Spirit of God here very manifestly tonight; let us go homeand take care not to lose His gracious influences.

Page 47Then down came the blessing; the house was filled with hearers, andmany souls were saved. I always give all the glory to God, but I forget


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that He gave me the privilege of ministering from the first to a prayingpeople. We had prayer meetings that moved our very souls. Every manseemed like a crusader besieging the New Jerusalem. Each one appeareddetermined to storm the Celestial City by the might of intercession; andsoon the blessing came upon us in such abundance that we had not room

to receive it.

WORLDWIDE STUDENT REVIVAL

Some of the earliest records of students joining together in spiritual andmissionary causes come from America. The Concert of Prayer forColleges, which later was called, The Universal Day of Prayer forStudents, was started in June, 1815, as the result of a letter written byChristians in Yale College to Christians in Brown College, inviting themto pray for a revival of religion in all the Colleges of the United States.

The revival of religion in the British Isles in 1859 led to the formation of anumber of student societies. The Childrens Special Service Mission, andthe Student Missionary Unions in the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge,

Edinburgh, and Glasgow were formed about this time. In 1885 thestudent world was stirred by the example of the Cambridge sevenone of them the Captain of the Cricket XI, and another the Stroke of theCambridge Boatgoing out as missionaries to China.

Robert P. Wilder and a few other students, in 1883, founded thePrinceton Foreign Missionary Society, which grew until it had twentythree volunteers for missionary service. During the autumn of 1885 andthe spring of 1886, Robert, and his sister Grace, met night after night topray for a widespread missionary movement in the Colleges andUniversities of America. In the summer of that year D. L. Moody

Page 48invited students from many Colleges to a Summer School at Northfield.The Wilders saw the opportunity, and Robert went, leaving Grace to pray

that the band of volunteers would grow to a hundred. On the last night ofthe School their prayers were answered.


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Thus was founded The Student Volunteer Movement which had as itsMembership Declaration, It is my purpose, God permitting, to become aforeign missionary. This Movement spread to many countries andthrough its influence it is estimated that over 15,000 young people wentto the Mission Field.

The Worlds Student Christian Federation was founded in 1895.Commencing with five national Movements, the Federation grew until itcomprised over twenty, representing about 300,000 members. Eachstudent group carries on a Gospel witness, prayer meetings, Bible Study,and a study of Missions. The history of the Movement presents achallenge and inspiration to all members to work for revival in thisgeneration.

GEORGE MLLER

Mr. W. H. Bergin wrote, In the year 1836, George Muller started out togive proof in an unbelieving world, and amidst divided Christians, thatGod is still the living God, and now, as well as thousands of years ago,

He listens to the prayers of His children, and helps those who trust inHim. Looking round for some method of demonstrating this fact, hechose the care of destitute orphan children.

In order that it might be quite plain that God was helping His servant,he determined to abstain from any appeals to man for financialassistance. God honoured his faith, and so blessed and prospered hisdependent servant, that, from a small beginning in a hired house, he wenton and expanded the work until he had built five large Orphan Houses,with accommodation for 2,050 children.

Page 49God enabled him to continue in this service for sixty-two years, until atthe age of ninety-two years, the Lord called him Home. Up to that time,9,725 children had entered the Homes, and 988,829 had been received

for the Orphans, as the result of prayer to God alone.

In addition to this Mr. Muller received 392,341 for his work in


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establishing Day Schools and Sunday Schools, the circulation of theScriptures, and for the assistance of Missionaries. During the years 1875-1892 Mr. Muller travelled over 200,000 miles in seventeen worldwidepreaching tours. He received thousands of letters from persons who wereinspired by his living faith in God. The reading of his Autobiography

by James McQuilkin was a vital link in the chain of causes that led to the59 Revival in Ireland.

BILLY BRAY

From his conversion Billy Bray was filled with a holy rapture of soulwhich nothing could restrain. His words, his tones, his looks, had amagnetic power. He could no more help speaking of Christ and Hissalvation than the sun can help shining, or the trees in the spring can helpbudding and blossoming into beauty and life.

This little Cornish miner was on fire for God, and for the rest of his life hepreached the Gospel faithfully, inspired the Christians, visited the sick,and with his own hands built churches. The story of his life has been a

blessing to thousands; it is a revelation of how God can take up the weakthings and use them for His glory.

SAM JONES

After being saved from the depths of sin Sam Jones said of the Lord Jesus,There is music in His name, a charm in His presence, and life in Histouch. In 1872 he entered the ministry and soon he was recognised as aman who possessed the eloquence of

Page 50earnestness and action, the fire of glow and passion, the surprises ofthought, the wit, humour, ridicule, irony, sarcasm, invective, pathos,sympathy, love, humanity, and faith which made him the most

sensational preacher in the American pulpit.

But he was also endued with power from on high. Wherever he went the


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churches were stirred and sinners were converted by hundreds andthousands. In one meeting he said, Thank God, He is a prayer-hearingand a prayer-answering God! I believe there is truth in God, and virtue inthe blood of Christ, and power in the Holy Ghost. If these divine agencieswill work with us, there will be a work done in this city that will outlive

the stars.


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PART 6

REVIVAL IN UGANDA

This revival was led by Pilkington in 1893. Hundreds were converted,

and a blessed influence extended far and wide. Pilkington wrote, Ahundred thousand souls brought into close contact with the Gospel; twohundred buildings raised by native Christians in which to worship God;two hundred native evangelists and teachers entirely supported by thenative Church; the power of God shown by changed lives; and all this inthe centre of the thickest spiritual darkness in the world.

In 1899 there were over four hundred churches, more than seventeen

thousand baptised members, and nearly nine hundred native workers.

The secret of this movement was that the leaders realised their absolutepowerlessness to meet the need of the people and yielded themselves tothe Holy Spirit.

PANDITA RAMABAI'S REVIVAL

Page 51In the year 1901 Pandita Ramabais work at Mukti was enjoying muchblessing. Twelve hundred converts were baptised in two months, butsome of the workers continued to cry to God for greater blessing.

News of the Welsh Revival, 1904, stirred Ramabai, and she started daily

prayer meetings for revival in India. In June, 1905, five hundred and fiftywere meeting twice daily to pray for revival.

The answer came suddenly. One of the girls received the Holy Spirit, andwas so transformed that soon all the girls on that compound were ontheir knees, weeping, and confessing their sins.

Helen Dyer writes, The next evening, while Ramabai was expoundingJohn 8 in her usual quiet way, the Holy Spirit descended with power, andall the girls began to pray aloud so that she had to cease talking. Little


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children, middle-sized girls, and young women, wept bitterly, andconfessed their sins. Some few saw visions and experienced the power ofGod, and things too deep to be described. Two little girls had the spirit ofprayer poured on them in such torrents that they continued to pray forhours. They were transformed with heavenly light shining on their faces.

Such repentance, such heart-searching, such agony over sin, and tears,as they cried for pardon and cleansing and the baptism of the HolyGhost! Then a baptism like fire within came upon them. They seemed tohave their eyes opened to see the body of sin in themselves. Then came astrong realisation of Christs work upon the Cross; then peace, followedby intense joy. It often took a soul hours to pass through all theseexperiences. The Lord used the Word greatly.

The work went on, and a spirit of prayer and supplication for a revivalin India was poured out like a flood. The spirit of prayer possessed thepeople. Waves of prayer go over the meetings like the rolling thunder;hundreds pray audibly together.

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Ramabai wrote, You will rejoice to know that the revival is bearing fruit.Some seven hundred girls and women have given themselves to prayerand the study of Gods Word, that they may go to the places where Godsends them, to give the Gospel. They are already visiting the villagesaround. About sixty go out daily by turns. The Lord is strengthening anddeveloping them.

This revival continued for over a year, and it was a great blessing toChristians all over India.

KHASSIA HILLS REVIVAL

In 1902 two missionaries in Calcutta heard Dr. Torrey speaking onprayer. They were so moved that they went back and began prayer

meetings for revival. The result was that in 1905 the Khassians werepraying everywhere and revival broke out.


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THE WELSH REVIVAL, 1904

During the years just previous to the 1904 revival there were some localawakenings. The most important result of these movements was theforming of spontaneous prayer meetings. In these meetings all were free

to take part. Each one obeyed the promptings of the Holy Spirit: onewould read a portion of the Bible, another would pray, another wouldgive out a hymn, another would give a testimony. These meetingssometimes lasted for two or three hours but no one got tired of them.

At the time these local awakenings were taking place Evan Roberts was incollege preparing for the ministry. But it was not long until the burden ofsouls was upon him in such a way that he was unable to continue withhis studies. He said, something drew me irresistibly to think of thecondition of the lost world.

He began to seek for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and it was not longuntil God gave him a mighty experience which made him a new man. Hewas

Page 53quickened physically, his spiritual life became full of power and stability,and he was on fire with the idea of going through Wales with a RevivalParty. He began to pray for a hundred thousand converts, and he talkedfreely of the great revival that was coming to Wales.

God guided him to commence revival meetings in his home church. Themeetings were full of prayer for souls to be saved. During the first weekthe Holy Spirit was clearly at work. The second week of the meetings wasthe visible beginning of the revival. Dozens of prayer meetings weregoing on every day in the district. The revival was the topic ofconversation everywhere.

The fame of the revival caused a stir all over the country. People whowere blessed in the meetings carried the revival to their own churches,

and prepared the way for Evan Roberts and his Revival Party. In thecourse of the revival they conducted thousands of meetings, and tens ofthousands of souls were converted.


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The revival meetings took the form of the spontaneous prayer meetings.The Holy Spirit was the great Leader of the meetings, and the peoplebecame amazingly sensitive to His guidance. The revival was alsopowerful in many places that Evan Roberts did not visit.

The meetings were full of the spirit of prayer. Evan Roberts was often inan agony of prayer, and he drew floods of prayer out of the people, Heobserved that the success of a meeting in saving souls, was in proportionto the amount of fervent prayer in that meeting.

REVIVALS IN CHINA, KOREA, AND MANCHURIA

After being a missionary in China for about thirteen years, JonathanGoforth, in 1901, began to be dissatisfied with the results of his work. Thisled him

Page 54to study how to promote revival. News of the Welsh Revival in 1904 wasa great inspiration to him.

He says, Slowly the realisation began to dawn upon me that I hadtapped a mine of infinite possibility. He became so obsessed with thissubject and spent so much time in prayer that his wife began to fear thathis mind could not stand it.

At this time Goforth began to read the life and writings of Charles G.Finney, who emphasised that any company of Christians can have arevival if they will fulfil the necessary laws. Goforth said, If Finney isright, then I am going to find out what these laws are and obey them, nomatter what it costs.

Early in 1906 he was preaching at a great idolatrous fair. It was at thisfair I began to see evidence of the first stirrings in the peoples hearts ofthe greater power. Conviction seemed to be written on every face.

Documents

The History of Revivals of Religion - William Allen