their age, I would suggest, where several are found in the same congregation, that they be formed into a class by themselves, to meet the pastor at stated seasons, for the purpose of being instructed and examined, by question and answer, like the catechumens of the primitive age. And whether older or younger, as soon as their cases come to be satisfactory, they ought to be admitted to the communion of the church. The decisive question as to their admission, ought not to be one of years, but one of character. If they give satisfactory evidence, however young, that they belong to the number of God's spiritual children, who shall debar them from their Father's table?"

LECTURE XIII.

Revivals continued. Protracted Meetings.

An

Not novelties in the church. instrumentality of much power. Objections to protracted meetings considered. Benefits of them, when properly conducted. Queries in regard to protracted meetings solved. Should be under the direction of the Pastor; and be followed by much pastoral labor.

A PROMINENT means of promoting revivals of religion, during the last twelve or fifteen years, has been protracted meetings; or a series of meetings, continued a portion of the time, more or less, through several successive days. In pursuing the general subject of revivals, these meetings must necessarily come under consideration.

My first remark in regard to them is, that they are not, what they are sometimes represented to be, novelties in the church. So far from this, they are of a very high antiquity, and have been continued, in one form or another, through almost every period of the church's history. At the religious festivals, under the former dispensation, the people of God were required to assemble from all parts of the land; and their solemnities were continued for several successive days. So great was the interest on one occasion, that when they had been together seven days, "the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept other seven days with gladness." 2 Chron. 30: 23.

Before the day of Pentecost, the disciples seem to have held a protracted prayer meeting. "They continued, with one accord, in prayer and supplication," from the time of Christ's ascension till the Spirit came-a period

of eight or ten days. Also, after the Pentecost, "they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and in breaking bread from house to house." Acts 2: 46.

At Ephesus, Paul preached in the Jewish synagogue "for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them," i. e. from the unbelieving Jews at the synagogue," "and separated the disciples, disputing" (or as it might better be rendered, reasoning, teaching) "daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus." Here was an Apostolical protracted meeting, continuing, not for a few successive days, but with little cessation for two whole years. The result was, that "mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed." Acts 19: 8-20.

The annual fasts and festivals in the primitive Christian church were many of them stated protracted meetings. Thus, in the celebration of Easter, "religious services were had, not only on Easter day, but during the whole week following." The canons required that servants should rest from their labors during the whole week, that they might attend the sermons, and other offices of Divine worship." "In many of the larger churches, religious service was also had every day, during the whole season of Lent."*

In the Scotch Presbyterian churches, the sacrament of the Lord's supper is administered but once in a year; and the occasion is observed as a great religious festival, during which religious services are continued for several days. It was on one of these occasions, that a sermon

*Bingham's Christian Antiquities, Henry's Compendium, p. 271-277.

(referred to in a previous Lecture) was preached at the Kirk of the Shots, which resulted in the conversion of five hundred souls.

In the labors of the revivalists in this country, about a hundred years ago, we often find them preaching daily, and not unfrequently holding daily successive meetings in the same place. During a season of revival in the county of Hanover, Virginia, the people were visited by the Rev. William Robinson. "For four days he continued among them, preaching to the crowds that assembled at their place of worship. This is described as a very remark

able season.'

The Methodists, both in this country and in England, have always been in the habit of holding successive meetings, either in their houses of worship, or in the open fields. The meetings of our great religious bodies have usually taken the form of protracted meetings; though not holden, commonly, for the direct purpose of promoting revivals of religion.

I make these statements for the purpose of obviating an objection to protracted meetings, that they are of recent origin—an innovation in the church. Whatever else may be said against them, the charge of novelty is certainly unfounded.

It must be acknowledged, however, that during the last twelve or fifteen years, they have been much more common among evangelical Christians in this country, than ever before; and they have been held more specifically with a view to promote revivals of religion. It should also be acknowledged, with devout gratitude, that in many instances they have been followed by the best results. Thousands and thousands of immortal beings are now in the kingdom of Christ, some in this world and

* See Memoir of Samuel Davies, p. 11.

some in heaven, who were brought there through the instrumentality of protracted meetings.

This instrumentality is obviously one of great power, and when wisely instituted and directed, is likely always to be attended with good results. The gospel itself is represented as "quick and powerful;" and in a series of successive meetings, the gospel may be preached to great advantage, and often with mighty efficacy. These meetings serve to restrain and to hold in check, at least for a time, that overflowing tide of worldliness, by which religious impressions are so often choked, or swept away. They not only bring divine truth before the mind, but hold it there, till an impression is made too deep to be effaced.

At the close of public worship on the Sabbath, it is not uncommon for persons to leave the house of God, with very serious impressions. They feel the importance of religion; feel their need of it; and are ready to resolve that they will give it their attention. Something must be done; and for a time they feel resolved that something shall be done. But as the cares and business of the week press upon them, their religious impressions subside, and their good resolutions are forgotten. Probably, this same process of awakening and impression on the one hand, and of relapse and forgetfulness on the other, is often repeated; until the conscience becomes seared, and the heart is hardened. It is in this way, that the hearts of men, under the gospel, actually do become hard as the adamant rock.

Now this difficulty in the way of conversion-which all who understand the subject know is as common as it is formidable-the protracted meetings are adapted to obviate; and it is to this circumstance, in great measure, that their power, under God, is to be attributed. Relig