ately, "By their fruits ye shall know them", and the religion that shows itself once in the week is not practical for a lost world. The non-Christian laughs at spasmodic piety,―forced rest from dissipation for a season,-repentance as guaged by what one eats for forty days, and turns loose with the world, the flesh and the devil three hundred and twenty-five days,when "good form ", not "good Lord" reign supreme. It is a problem what part revivals will have in the future of the Church. From existing indications the outlook is not encouraging. If a business man received so little compensatory result for his capital and effort as the Church by its present methods receives, through its vast means and available appliances, he would consider his business a failure and seek compromise with his creditors. No more beggarly interest is paid to-day than that paid to the Lord by the Church, when its vast resources of opportunity, privilege and means are considered. If the world were to be converted to Christ by present Churchly methods, human conception could not number the years it would take. Comparatively, how few Christians there are capable of sitting down beside a neighbor, and with God's Word in hand, piercing through the sinful thought and desire of 'the heart that regardeth iniquity". Indeed there are not over-many ministers can do it. They are not educated to it. It is not in general a part of the seminary course. The Word of God must be used to build up Christians as well as to stir out of the sleep of death, the sinner. The Word of God is still sharper than a two edged sword", if it be used, and the Holy Spirit is the agent in the use of that mighty weapon. But the Holy Spirit in person, presence and power, is minimized. Ear -eye-man-stomach-worship, is the order of the day, and the Spirit is grieved. 66 "Let no man deceive you, by any means, for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is wor shipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing Himself that He is God." There is great speculation as to the possibilities of the coming century; not excepting the part that revivals shall have in the future of the Church. Possibly it will be but a little part. There may be no coming century by human measurements, for seeing the hopelessness of life and methods in present conditions, the coming Lord may come to the rescue and do what this age cannot do. “Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober." Revivals in the Light of the Present Day BY The Reverend SAMUEL McCHORD CROTHERS, D.D. 'HE term "revival of religion" is often used in a narrow THE and technical sense. As a matter of fact, all forms of religion are subject to fluctuations of feeling. A period of coldness and indifference is followed by a new access of spiritual energy. Respectable formalism gives way to a fresh enthusiasm; old words take on new meaning, and there is a great awakening. Chrysostom, St. Francis of Assisi, Savonarola, Jonathan Edwards and Theodore Parker were revivalists. Widely as they may have differed from one another in theology, they were alike in their power to startle those who had been content with the conventionalities of religion. They were enemies to spiritual mediocrity. The profession of religion was not enough for them; they insisted upon a real personal experience. Under the influence of their preaching, old truths appeared in new relations, and were seen to involve a new way of life. Such men have always introduced innovations; they have been open to the charge of sensationalism. When they preached, they expected something to happen,-and something did happen. The pious routine was broken up, and those who had indulged an easy faith were sent forth to strenuous service. The result of such presentations of the power of religion has always been a conflict with worldliness. What sympathy could the fervent follower of Wycliffe expect from the merry friar, when: 66 'Ful swetely herde he confession, and pleasant was his absolution." When, therefore, I am asked to write in criticism of the revivals of religion in our modern evangelical Churches, I |