REMARKABLE PRAYER-MEETING AND REVIVAL INCIDENTS. Incidents of Elberfeld-Remarkable incidents of a Backslider, Town- send Street Church, Belfast-Remarkable Prayer-meeting Conver- sion-Blesses God for the 51st Psalm, and for all the Psalms memorized in the Sabbath School and Bible Class-"What would we have done without the Psalms?"-Bungener's France before the Revolution, Vol. I., p. 110-Narrative from "Work in the Wynds" -Noble Testimony to the fitness of the Psalms for Revival- "Their deep soil can be turned over and over again, while Hymns bear scarcely a single plowing "-Prayer-meetings near Belfast- Incidents at Ballinahinch, Maghera, Ballykelly-Incidents in con- PRAYER-MEETING INCIDENTS AND NARRATIVES, CONTINUED. Incidents among Quarrymen, Ireland-Among Quarrymen, Wales- Remarkable Prayer-meetings on a Mountain-Incidents illustrating the Importance of Concerted Prayer-"Work among the Wynds" -How Revival came to the Wynds of Glasgow-Reflections upon the Principles exhibited and illustrated by these extracts............. 309 PRAYER-MEETING IN CONNECTION WITH MISSIONS, FOREIGN, HOME, CITY, AND COLPORTAGE OPERATIONS. Mission Work in the Wynds of Glasgow-The Prayer-meeting the First step-Report of Missions in Egypt. By Rev. B. F. Pinkerton -The Christian Instructor, Phila.-A Model Church-Reflections- American Tract Society on Home Evangelization-That Society friendly to Revival and the Prayer-meeting-Thrilling Narrative made in Convention on Social Prayer-R. A. Browne, D. D., James Rodgers, D. D., J. Clokey, D. D.-Report of Special Committee- Recommends the establishing of Prayer-meetings-The Allegheny Convention-Recent expressions of opinion in regard to the Prayer-meeting-Christian Instructor and Social Prayer-Reflec- tions on important points-United Presbyterian and Noon-day Prayer-meetings-Installation Charge. By Rev. Joseph Thompson, deceased-Letter from a Ministerial brother in regard to Revival CHURCH CREEDS AND THE PRAYER-MEETING. Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church-Testimony of the Re- formed Presbyterian Church-Directory for Worship of the United THE PRAYER-MEETING. PART I. INTRODUCTION. THE subject of the following pages is divided into Two Parts. The First Part-The Prayer-meeting-is the principal, and is that Part for which the other was written. The Prayer-meeting, viewed as a subject of vital interest, has engaged the attention of the writer for more than the third of a century, though never, till very recently—indeed within the present year-with even the remotest idea of presenting to the Christian public his views through the press. And even now the force of circumstances in Divine Providence, rather than any desire to appear as an author, has induced him to submit his views to the public eye. The merits of the theme-the almost entire want of any standard work on the subject, so far as known-the importance of some settled scriptural views and practise in relation to this precious institution of divine worship-the religious sentiment and feeling of the age, and the tendency of the evangelical Churches to harmonize in views and practise here, all seem to invite to reflection and conscientious investigation. Few, if any, in these churches entirely ignore the Prayer-meeting; yet many can give very little "reason of the hope that is in them," in regard to its claims. Very loose, vague, crude views—perhaps no well matured views at all—are entertained by too many. Christians too often assemble themselves together in the Prayer-meeting only because the multitude move that way, and under excitement are carried along, without considering whether there is any Divine warrant for this way of worshipping God. Or, if it be deemed an ordinance of divinely instituted worship, it is not seriously considered for what end appointed, or how, or when, or by whom to be observed. The question whether this is an ordinance of religious worship, appointed by the Head of the Church to be observed by all Churches and Christians, as other acknowledged ordinances of worship; or, whether being simply sui generis, it comes under no Scripture recognition, as all other ordinances of religious worship divinely appointed, but not being forbidden, may be observed as other indifferent things; or, may be ignored altogether, has, perhaps, received from Christians, generally, very little consideration. It is not strange if the Prayer-meeting, as viewed and practised in many of our Churches, should fail to bring forth the blessed fruits that should be produced by a believing and faithful observance of it as an ordinance of Divine authority, encouraged by precious promises on which worshippers can take hold, and from which they can draw the grace designed to be communicated through this channel. If the worshipper cannot answer the question— Who hath required this at your hand? how can he in faith wait on God, and with confidence ask his blessing on the service of the worshipper? But if he have an intelligent assurance that Christ is in the Prayer-meeting, by the record of his name in his appointed Institution, and by the promised presence of his Spirit and his grace, with what confidence then, and comfort too, can he come to the place "where two or three are gathered together,” because of his appointment, and the promise of his presence there! In presenting this humble treatise, upon a very grave |