Another principal and ever-prominent object of these labors is to preach to children all the words of this life; to invite and urge them to come, in penitence and hope, to Christ; and thus to secure their present and perpetual welfare. So wisely and wondrously adapted is the truth, as it is in Jesus, to the very earliest stages of mental development, that a little child can know enough of its own sinfulness and of Christ's grace and power, to become wise unto salvation. A too common incredulity on this point has been effectually overcome, by facts perpetually occurring in connection with the labors here detailed. The best, most precious, and most promising fruits of these revivals are seen in the conversion, salvation, and growing sanctity of childhood and early youth. Multitudes, even in our own land, never hear the gospel of the grace of God. In many so-called sanctuaries, this gospel is supplanted by deadly error, and tens of thousands are living and dying in utter destitution of the power of godliness, and in habitual disregard even of the forms of Christian worship. Can these be reached, are they, in any number, ever reached, by the ordinary agencies and appliances of the Christian Church? — and, if not, ought we not gratefully to welcome a means and mode of action, which have proved so potent in the hand of God, in calling back the prodigal to his Father's house, and conducting the sheep, lost but found, to the fold of the good shepherd? Ought not the Church, by her chosen and approved Evangelists, to go forth to the highways and hedges, and compel these outcasts to come in, and share the bounties of redeeming grace? The well-chosen title of this book will secure the Christian reader,at the outset, from all mistake as to the convictions and expectations of the friend and brother, whose labors of love are here brought to view. He serves the Lord Christ, and ever seeks from Him direction, all needed aid, and all desired success. He recognizes and relies on the promised agency of the Holy Spirit; and, inasmuch as this is ever inseparably associated with the prayer of faith, he always and everywhere insists on this, as the sine qua non of success in his momentous enterprise, that fervent, inwrought prayer shall precede, accompany, and follow every effort to persuade sinners to flee from the coming wrath, and seek the open, accessible, and sure refuge of the cross. May the circulation and perusal of this volume instrumentally lead to more of that Harvest-work, which comes of the good seed of the kingdom, fructified and ripened by the Sun of Righteousness, and by the dew and rain of Heavenly grace! J. J. CARRUTHERS. Portland, Me., Nov. 10, 1862. CONTENTS. PREFACE... INTRODUCTION ..... What is a Revival? -The relation of Revivals to the growth of the Church-Hindrances to their occurrence and progress Testimony of Rev. James Caughy- Rev. E. Porter, D. D. - Farewell words of John tion for his work during his course of study-Sails for Europe-Terrific scene at sea— Haddington, its historical interest, and the awakening - Mission to the West of England -Great open air meeting at Huntly - The work in adjacent towns, Aberdeen, Dunfermline, Tillicoultry- Glasgow-the awakening there - Mr. IIammond's method of conducting the Religious Services and style of Milan-Letter from an officer of the Exmouth-Pre- sentation Meeting in Glasgow-Meetings at Moffat, Commencement of labors in Boston-Services at the Salem Street Church - Records of the work - Cases of Con- The Old Colony-Church of the Pilgrimage-The Winter and Spring of 1862- Facts and Incidents, Lewiston, HARVEST WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. CHAPTER 1. What is a revival? The relation of revivals to the growth of the church. Hindrances to their occurrence and progress. Testimony of Rev. James Caughy. Rev. E. Porter, D. D. The farewell words of John Angell James. The work of the Evangelist. The present position and duty of the church. The terms revival, awakening, and reformation, with other forms of expression in popular use, mean the same thing an unusual measure of the Holy. Spirit among the people, beginning "at the House of God." Although the indispensable agent in regeneration was always abroad, and, since Abel bowed at his altar, has led every soul to Christ saved by his sacrifice; and there were at long intervals, times of great refreshing as in the reign of Hezekiah; yet, is it evident, that under the new economy of grace, the revival period in the church commenced at Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost. The most spiritual branch of Zion has had and must have the harvest seasons, when, like the fields of the prosperous husbandman, the scenes of joyful in |