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Page 59
If now the pastors and people _know_ this "time of visitation,"
if they realize that it is a "time of refreshing _from the Lord_," not
gotten up by human expedients, they will quickly respond to these
gracious indications. Whether such times come in connection with the
communion and Festival seasons or not, special provision ought to be
made to gather the quickly ripening harvest. It is sometimes well to
make provision for special services. There may be a series of special
sermons. The preaching must be, above all things, _instructive_, a
plain and direct setting forth of the Way of Salvation. The appeal
must be first of all to the understanding, and through it to the
heart. The exhortations and invitations must be based on and grow out
of these instructions. The great themes of sin and Grace, and the
application and reception of Grace, should be set forth with all
possible simplicity and earnestness.
This preaching of the Gospel and instruction in the way of life
should not be confined to the pulpit. The wise pastor will give
opportunity for all inquirers to meet him privately, or will seek them
out to tell them the way of God, as it relates to each individual
case, still more plainly. This will be a true revival. Only let the
churches discern and use the times, when "_Jesus of Nazareth passeth
by_."
Every faithful, earnest pastor, if he cannot always have living,
earnest and consecrated churches, can have such seasons of refreshing
from the presence of the Lord. Every such pastor in looking back over
a reasonable period of service can point to such precious seasons in
his ministry. Such seasons result in a growth of true Church life. The
means of Grace, after such revivals, are more diligently and more
prayerfully used than before. The Word of God and prayer take their
proper place in the home. The church in the house is quickened into
life and activity. There is increased liberality in the congregation.
The pocket book is converted as well as the heart. There is a revival
of strict honesty and truthfulness in all business affairs. All tricks
of trade, deceptions, imposing on ignorance, short weights and
measures, adulterations, making money by betting, taking or giving
chances of any kind, everything in fact that is _questionable_, if not
openly dishonest, is abolished.
Worldly companionship, questionable amusements, pleasures that
draw the heart away from God, are avoided. Religion is not only a
Sunday garment, but a living force that shows itself in every
department of life. The world _takes knowledge_ of true converts
that they _have been with Jesus and learned of Him_. Such are the
results of a true revival. In such we believe.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CONCLUSION.
With this chapter we conclude our studies of the Way of
Salvation. They have been extended much beyond our original purpose.
As we remarked in the beginning, we have written for plain people; for
those who, surrounded by all forms and varieties of belief and
unbelief, are often attacked, questioned and perplexed as to their
faith, and their reasons for holding it. Our object has been to assist
our unpretentious people always to be ready to give an answer to those
who ask a reason for the hope that is in them.
We also remarked in the beginning that there often come to our
people arrogant and self-righteous persons, who say "the Lutheran
Church has no religion," that it "does not bring its members into the
light," and does not "believe in or insist on personal salvation."
Unfortunately there are only too many Lutherans who do not know
how to answer such bold and baseless assertions. Sometimes they
apologize for being Lutherans, and timidly hope that they may find
salvation in their own Church! Many also have been persuaded to
abandon the Church and faith of their fathers to find more light and
religion elsewhere. After having been wrought upon and strangely
affected by human and unscriptural methods, after they have
experienced some new sensations, they proclaim to the world that now
they have found the light which they could never find in the Lutheran
Church! And thus not a few of our simple-minded and unreflecting
people are led to depart from the faith and follow strange delusions.
Our people need to be better informed about their own Church.
When they come to understand what that Church is, and what she
teaches, they will be "_no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of man and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive_."
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