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The Revivals
From: Classic Books for Today #156
By S. B. Shaw (1905)
(Used by Permission)
"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" Psalm 85:6
"The following summary of the prominent features of the revival as seen by a minister is given in a private letter: -
"(1) The spirit of prayer that has fallen upon the people. Prayer-meetings are now the most popular of services. Family altars have been erected in scores of homes, and dozens have been started by young people. There are prayer-meetings everywhere -- in shops, factories, mines, trains, etc.
"(2) The rediscovery of the Bible. People read it now for practical purposes. Young Christian workers are anxious to learn how to rightly dispense the truth to needy souls.
"(3) Hymns that praise the love of Christ, portray the cross, plead for the Holy Spirit, and aim at saving souls are the favorites of the people.
"(4) The reality and nearness of the great spirit-world. Church members now awake to their need of a personal Savior, they come to believe that He can save from the power of sin, and learn to obey the promptings of the Spirit.
"(5) Ethical fruits of the revival, viz., reparation, payment of old debts, peace-making, the giving up of doubtful habits and pleasures, etc.
"In short, the half of what God is working can never be told by human tongue or pen. Let the story, broken as it is, draw every heart to open to the Spirit of God in the fullness of His power, that He may show also what He can do in England, and in `all nations.'
From Gospel Banner, The Great Welsh Revival
The great revival in Wales is still spreading. Thousands are being wrought upon by the Spirit in conviction, and thousands are being genuinely converted. The saloons are having to close because there are no customers, and the theaters must shut up because there are no patrons. The following is a description of an "eye-witness," as told in The Methodist Recorder:
"What we saw on a weekly afternoon in Rhondda Valley, in a chapel which was packed from floor to ceiling, and in which a service of song and testimony had proceeded for two hours before Evan Roberts put in an appearance.
"As he enters, the whole congregation jumps to its feet and jubilantly sings `Diolch Iddo,' etc.: -
"`Songs of praises
I will ever give to Thee.'
"This is repeated two or three times over, and then the vast throng settles down to listen.
"He is a young man of some twenty-six summers, who until a few months ago was a working collier. Collier? It seems incredible! Why, look at his radiant face, his refined features, his brilliant, magnetic eyes lit up with a strange and supernal light! Watch the play and movement of his countenance --now smiling, now weeping! Lis-ten to him talking -- simply, earnestly, incisively, authoritatively! Withal, how natural, modest, unaffected he is! What is the secret of the spell he wields over that audience? Is it learning or eloquence, or even the proverbial Welsh `hwyl?' Nothing of the kind. The secret of his power is that he is `full of faith and love and zeal and the Holy Ghost.' He has been 'baptized,' and is `possessed.' Of that there can be no doubt. And how anxious he is that all his hearers should enjoy this experience!
This is his message that after-noon, and for an hour he is pressing the divine gift of the Spirit upon their acceptance. `Confess your sins to God,' he pleads with the people; `Forgive your enemies'; `Out with every root of bitterness and malice' ; `Bow down your souls at the King's feet'; `Repent and believe -- believe -- believe'; `Trust and obey,' and you shall be `filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' That is the burden of his message.
For an hour he pleads with pathos and passion, and then makes his usual appeal for public confession. The response is immediate and impressive. Moved as if by one mighty impulse, nearly the whole of the congregation is upon its feet and remains standing for forty minutes, while `streams of testimony' are issuing forth from men, women, and even children in all parts of the building, hundreds of whom, many for the first time, declare their love for Jesus Christ. It was an extraordinary scene, the like of which I have never before witnessed. Fragments of hymns, verses, and 'experiences,' mingled with sobs and praises, followed each other (some-times half a dozen at a time, in different parts of the chapel) in amazing and pentecostal profusion, and the missioner frequently clapped his hands for joy!
Then an appeal is made to the `unconverted,' who still remained sitting. `Who will receive Christ now?' he asks, and instantly there is a chorus of acceptances. As each convert or batch of converts rises, the pent-up people burst again and again into the triumphant strain: --"Diolch Iddo,
Byth am gofio llwch y llawar.'
"It was nearly six o'clock when the meeting closed. Few however, of those who heard Mr. Roberts that afternoon would hear him again in the evening, for, although announced for seven o'clock at a neighboring chapel, I found that by five o'clock it was crowded to the doors"
Mr. Roberts' Dealing With An Infidel
The Rev. D.M. Phillips, of Tylorstown, writing to The British Weekly (London) describes a scene in which Evan Roberts himself figured: -
"The evening service at Ebenezer (Congregational) was a never-tobe-forgotten one. Every corner is filled, and the audience is at least 1,000 and three other chapels are packed at the same time.
Now, fancy Evan Roberts, a young man twenty-six years of age, facing this audience! He has only an ordinary education, has not a melodious voice, has but very few strains of oratory, and is far from aiming at creating any sensation. When an ebullition of emotion is manifested, he does not take the least advantage of that, and keeps his mental and emotional equilibrium perfectly balanced in the greatest excitement.
This meeting, however, is the greatest test on him in the whole series. But he is a complete master of his position. At the end an infidel was discovered in the audience, but he did not wish to own that publicly. This was communicated to the revivalist by a young man who spoke to the infidel in the seat. In an instant Roberts was on his feet, and asked the atheist to stand up to express his unbelief in God's exist-ence. For some time he refused, but Roberts in a firm manner and in the best feeling insisted that he should.
At last he reluctantly got up and said, `I believe in my heart there is no God.' In a moment a voice from the gallery shouted, `Out with him,' and there were scores ready to obey the voice; but no sooner had the words dropped from the lips of those in the gallery than the revivalist said in a firm, loving voice, `No, let us pray for him.' In less than a minute more than thirty were on their knees on behalf of the poor atheist.
This was the most dramatical scene that I have ever witnessed in a place of worship. A young man followed the denier of God, and he promised, with tears in his eyes, to take the Bible with him to bed that night to try to get the light.
In another ten minutes two other incidents similar to this occurred, with regard to the Deity of Christ and the atonement. These were cogently dealt with in less than five minutes by the young revivalist in such a Christian spirit that I shall never forget it. When these oppositions began to pour in, a number of us ministers were trembling, but seeing them disposed of in such a masterly way, we `praised God, from whom all blessings flow.'
Here is a beautiful verse from one of the popular songs now being sung by the Welsh people in their marvelous revival meetings: -
"Jesus Christ lifts up the weary,
With a smile divinely sweet;
Jesus Christ brings down the mighty,
Kneeling, trembling at His feet.
Blessed Saviour, Send a breeze from Calvary!"
-- From the Soul Winner.
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Andrew Murray
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