EVIDENCES THAT THE PRAYER-MEETING IS A DIVINE ORDINANCE

OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, INSTITUTED BY CHRIST IN THE WORD.

The Prayer-meeting is founded in man's moral social nature-The

Prayer-meeting formed a part of the divinely appointed worship of

the Patriarchal and Abrahamic dispensation-The Prayer-meeting

formed a part of the divinely authorized worship during the whole

period of the Levitical economy, distinct from Tabernacle or

Temple, and from the Synagogue worship-The practice of Christ

and his Apostles makes clear the divine appointment of the Prayer-

meeting-In the Epistles, the Prayer-meeting is enjoined by Apos-

tolical authority-The Prayer-meeting is encouraged and sanctioned

by Bible promise...........

21

CHAPTER II.

THE EXERCISES OF THE PRAYER-MEETING.

Prayer-Conference-Singing Praise-Reading the Scriptures......... 57

CHAPTER III.

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE PRAYER-MEETING.

Is not, in its principal or special design, a converting ordinance-

It is specially designed as a means of developing, and cultivating,

Christian graces, and promoting comfort and individual and social

edification-The Prayer-meeting may be received as a test of the

state of religion-Is an ordinance designed specially for the Revival

of Religion—The Prayer-meeting is a means of promoting unity in

the Church-The Prayer-meeting is the Normal School of the Church for the training of young men for public usefulness—The Prayer-meeting is the rallying-point where the power of faith in the Church concentrates, and takes hold on the arm that moves the world-The Prayer-meeting largely compensates for the lack of a regular gospel ministry..............

CHAPTER IV.

66

PRINCIPLES AND RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PRAYER MEETING.

Rules for the ordinary Prayer-meeting in every congregation-In large City congregations-General attendance-In the order of conducting the exercises-In regard to conference particularly-Meetings, Weekly-Monthly-Of the Eldership-Eldership Supervision -Young Men's Prayer-meetings-Female Prayer-meetingsPrayer-meetings and Home Mission operations-Duty of Presbyteries, Home Missionaries, and Mission Stations-Summary Statement.....

87

PART II.-HISTORY OF THE PRAYER-MEETING.

INTRODUCTION.............

107

CHAPTER I.

THE PATRIARCHAL PRAYER-MEETING-SUMMARY VIEW—FROM

ADAM TO MOSES.

The gate of the Garden of Eden, at the Cherubim, the FIRST divinely appointed PLACE of worship-After the flood religion declined— Idolatry prevalent till Abraham-Abraham knew both Altar and grove worship-Family and Household worship distinct under patriarchal forms....

CHAPTER II.

SUMMARY SKETCH, FROM MOSES TO CHRIST.

112

Little direct Historic evidence from Joshua to Jeroboam-More than compensatory moral evidence in the Psalmody of the Church compiled during this period-Importance of this kind of evidence— Habits of a devotional people-Emergencies furnish tests-The Captives and their return-Institution of the Synagogue............. 120

CHAPTER III.

FROM CHRIST TO THE REFORMATION.

Revival of Religion-Means of-Fruits of-Concerted Social Prayer

-Church in the House-Church in the Catacombs-Pliny to Tro-

jan-Pagan Persecutions-The Waldenses-Papal Persecutions—

Lessons of this Period....................

CHAPTER IV.

FROM THE REFORMATION TO THE REVOLUTION, 1688.

Continental Reformation-The Church of Scotland-John Knox-

His Letter-The General Assembly of 1641-Its lasting conse-

quences-Prelatic Domination-Prayer-meeting spirit brought from

Ireland alarmed the Prelatists-Five Articles of Perth-"The So-

ciety People.".

....

128

137

CHAPTER V.

FROM THE CLOSE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TILL THE

GENERAL DECLINE OF RELIGION, TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF THE

EIGHTEENTH.

Wesley and his Followers-Whitefield-Revival in Wales-Reynolds,

Harris, Rowlands, etc.-Prayer-meetings and Revival Identified-

Revival and Prayer-meetings in the English Army-Soldiers' Let-

ters from the Army-Cambuslang Revival-Its History closely

identified with the Prayer-meeting-Lessons of this Revival-Ex-

tends to other Parishes-Reports of Presbyteries on Revivals and

Prayer-meetings-Prayer-meetings among children-Lessons of

this History-Baxter's Times, etc.-Lessons-Fletcher, Romaine,

Berridge, etc.-American Colonies-Edwards' History of Revivals

-Reflections..............

153

CHAPTER VI.

FROM THE PERIOD OF GENERAL DECLINE, TOWARDS THE CLOSE

OF THE LAST CENTURY, TILL NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE

PRESENT.

Causes of Decline-Reign of Infidelity-Making common cause with

civil and religious liberty-Evangelical Christians alarmed and

awakened-Counter influences, though silent and hidden-Church

Unions and Divisions-Age of the Organization of Benevolent

Associations-Bible, Missionary, Tract Societies-Inscrutible Pro-

vidences—Bible and Missionary effort a harbinger of Revival and

Prayer-Revivals toward the close of the last century and begin-.

ning of this-Dr. Sprague's Lectures-Revival in the Eastern

States-In the South and West-College Prayer-Meetings-

Hamden-Sidney College Incidents-Prayer-Meeting Lessons-

Jefferson College Prayer-Meetings, in 1823-Their Lessons-Col-

lege at Princeton, New Jersey-Lessons and Reflections.....

CHAPTER VII.

176

FROM THE MIDDLE OF THIS CENTURY TILL THE COMMENCEMENT

OF THE REVIVAL OF 1857-A PERIOD OF INTENSE POLITICAL

AND RELIGIOUS COMMOTION.

The Protestant Reformation a great Revival of Religion and Social

Prayer-Revival of this period and American Liberty-Revived

Social Prayer-Prepared for the investigation of the subject of

the Prayer-Meeting-State of the Country and of Religion when

the Revival came-Revival Sketches-Features of this Revival—

In its commencement-Conducted by Union Prayer-meetings-Its

spirit rapidly pervaded the country-In its Prayer-meetings "The

earth helped the woman"-Xenia Convention-Unparalleled Politi-

cal agitation, from 1850 to 1860-Intense around the Slavery

question-God chose such time for this Revival........

CHAPTER VIII.

PRAYER-MEETINGS IN THE ARMY, HOSPITALS, AND NAVY.

Agencies employed-Bible Society-Tract Society-Christian Com-

mission-Letters from Soldiers in the Camp-From a Chaplain-

Prayer-meetings in Hospitals-Testimony to the Prayer-meeting-

Prayer-meetings among Seamen-Benevolence of the Age in the

Marine Hospital, the Port Society, the Sailors' Home, the Mariners'

Church-Sailors' Narratives-Ship Niagara-Chaplain's Letters-

Religious interest of Commodore McKean, and his example in be-

half of the Prayer-meeting-Lessons-The old war ship North

Carolina-A Place for Prayer-meetings-The Ohio and her Prayer-

meetings-U. S. Ship St. Louis-A Sailor's Letter to Dr. Stewart-

Reflections upon the important lessons of this Chapter......................................

CHAPTER IX.

CONCERTED PRAYER, AND PRAYER-MEETINGS AMONG THE

MISSIONARIES.

Prayer-meeting interest awakened in India-Origin of the Week

193

204

of Prayer-Missionaries ask for Concerted Prayer at Home-

Universal Concerted Prayer among all the Churches-Bombay-

Poona-Letter of a Ship Captain -General Principles of all the

Prayer-meetings referred to in the last two Chapters-Reflections.. 230

CHAPTER X.

THE PRAYER-MEETING AMONG THE CHURCHES.

American Writers-" Five Years of Prayer "-N. Y. Observer-

Premature Impressions-Revival in Ireland-Prof. Gibson, of Bel-

fast-References to Year of Grace-Revival Awakenings in Ireland

as early as 1855-Early Prayer-Meetings and Sabbath School

Movements-" The Believer's Fellowship Meeting "-Revival in

Connor-Prayer-Meetings for a Quarter of a Century-Facts and

Reflections-Revivals and Prayer-Meetings move forward over the

Church together-State of Revivals and Prayer-Meetings brought

before the General Assembly-Progress of Prayer-Meeting Revival

through the North of Ireland-Reports from Congregations-Gen-

uineness of the Revivals-Testimony-Churches and Sabbath

Schools thronged—Arianism and other prevailing errors decline as

Prayer-Meetings and Revivals progress-The Psalms never so

much prized-Rev. Magill's Report of Dundrod-Prayer-Meetings

and Suppression of Immorality-Drunkards Reformed-Wonderful

increase of Prayer-Meetings-Lessons and Reflections suggested,

confirming the Views taken of the Prayer-Meeting-Fruits of Re-

vivals in Ireland and America Compared-Revival in Ireland

propagated by Prayer-Meetings in the Church-Report of the Pres-

bytery of Ahoghill-Congregational Reports of Prayer-Meetings-

Remarkable Record of the state of Evangelical Religion and the

Prayer-meeting from 1857 to 1859......

CHAPTER XI.

238

REVIVALS AND PRAYER-MEETINGS IN SCOTLAND, WALES, ENG-

LAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY.

The Scottish Guardian-Prayer-meetings in Glasgow-Fishing Vil-

lages of the North-Reports to the Free Church General Assembly

-Humphrey Jones and David Morgan-England and Wales-

Origin of the Prayer-meeting Revivals in Wales-Prayer-meeting

characteristics of the Welsh churches-Prayer-meetings in France

and Germany-Dr. Frederick Monod-In Paris.........

266