relation, and the dependence upon Jehovah in the use of revival agencies are as they are here represented, then the course to be pursued by the Christian church is manifest. There is, for instance, a longing that "the wicked would forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts," that the Lord may "have mercy upon him;" let the Christian world first feel that there is One who can do more in opening and turning such hearts than all other forces in the uni

There is acknowledged need, not that a few merely should experience these religious changes, but that many should be moved upon and saved; in a word, there is acknowledged need of a sweeping religious revival. When, therefore, the conviction arises that there is first the need that the minister should preach more effectively in order to bring about the revival, then the power needed, namely, the Spirit to speak through the preacher, must be sought in the skies and implored.†

When desire burns that the revival may come in its plenitude, and yet the conviction dawns that first there must be a baptism of Christian people, then must all be fully mindful of the Divine Baptizer. "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications," saith the Infinite One. "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what to pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh interces

* Is. xliv. 24-28, xlv. 1-7; Luke, xxiv. 45; Acts, xvi. 14. † Ezek. ii. 1-7; Ps. cii. 13, 14, cxxvi. 1-3; Heb, iii. 2, Zech. xii. 10.

sion for the saints according to the will of God." * "Believers are called the temple of the Holy Ghost, and he is represented as seated in that temple and praying for them, and God, as he comes down to examine the heart, is represented as hearing and understanding this intercession." †

There are those who ought to be awakened and convicted, those who need regeneration, those who are in danger of ultimate hardness, those who are dissatisfied with their present attainments and who desire a complete cleansing; now, if the conclusions already deduced are correct, then the grandest service the Christian can render is to bring all such into certain vital relations with the Spirit Infinite, and to bring that Spirit in the fullness of its power to operate upon these hearts. When this is done, whatever the means and methods employed, be they prayer, personal effort, or holy living, then the most, and the best possible has been done within the province and reach of human effort.

When the looked for grand revival comes, when multitudes and nations are born in a day, it shall be as it was in times past: "The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." The vital processes are working in great silence. No one hears the stroke of pick-axe, nor the clink of trowel. Men are making walls and pavements; with them are labor and toil, even travail of soul. It is well; it is their part in Jehovah's economy; they are to be kept busy. And thus when the revival appears, it will be seen like the Holy City, "Coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." §

* Rom. viii. 26, 27. † Dr. Griffin. ‡ Acts, x. 44. § Rev. xxi. 2.

V.

THE BOSTON TABERNACLE.

HEN took

“TH

they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. "Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?" *

I. ASSAULTS AND RESPONSES.

To throw a stone requires neither profound judgment nor remarkable skill. Almost any boy can make glass rattle if he is given a pebble and a place near an edifice which is beautiful in design and adapted to the wants and conveniences of modern society.

There are times, doubtless, when this kind of youthful enterprise is of service; and there are objects which deserve no better treatment than the hit of a stone from the hand of almost any boy who may please to throw it. But when one is doing good, and not ill, the question of the Master is pertinent. When a few * John, viii. 59, X. 31, 32.

leaders of cliques, in opposition to the sense and judg ment of the great mass of mankind, raise the stone, it would be far better to pause; there is a wholesome law of rebound in this world.

It is a most undesirable task to call attention to some of the attacks which have been made upon the Tabernacle movement in Boston; all the more so, because a bitterness which is ill becoming their source has been betrayed. The world is learning thereby, however, one important fact, namely, that Boston liberalism is exceedingly illiberal, and extremely narrow.

Soon after the dedication of the Tabernacle, up started a "god" of straw. It was indeed a being of hideous mien, "who in reality ought to have asked man's forgiveness," instead of demanding human supplication. But it was short lived. A valiant knight, lately from the Orthodox ranks, rode forth, and with a few fatally directed thrusts of his keenly sharpened spear, and with a mighty stroke or two of his Goliathish sword, that god, in the most approved manner, was felled, and was beheaded, and was flayed; scarcely a handful of straw could be gathered, and the people greatly wondered.

Next, up started a "man" of straw. But what could be expected of a man, in an arena where a god had been destroyed? The knight of valor and of victory again rushed forth; there was heard the prancing of hoofs, and the clang of attack; there was a gigantic blow struck; and the "man" was not, and a handful of straw was. Thus also did it happen unto a "salvation" of straw. Surely, these were brilliant exploits. Not every man, though inclined, would have thus dared.

But it was long since noticed that those who the most fiercely fight and bluster, are but late comers. As an able Boston divine said of this same valiant knight, when expostulated with for not also engaging in the fray, "A new broom, I have observed, not only sweeps clean, but is very fond of sweeping." To pass from orthodoxy to extreme radicalism, at a single stride, must strain the religious fibres of the soul not a little; to keep peace in the inner family, if for no other reason, there must be, of course, much energy expended. This restlessness, this ado, and this overdoing, need not, therefore, be surprising.

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But we have said that all were slain, the "god," the man," the "salvation"; dead every one. But before the proper time had come for attending the funeral, men discovered, as they thought of themselves, and of sin, and of its daily punishment, that, whatever became of the "god" of straw, the God of the Tabernacle was not dead.* And, as they walked the streets and gazed into the sad faces of humanity, they also discovered

* A woman, in reply to another woman, in a letter recently published in one of our religious papers, has suggested some thoughts which will perplex the head of this assaulting knight, and furnish him an ample reply: "You have, you say, read the sermon on 'Mr. Moody's God,' and you ask me what I think of it.

"To the critical study of Mr. Moody's sermons I have given no time. I am glad to write down for you some of the thoughts that have come to me, in these years that I have been seeking after God; and in which, the more I have looked to Him, from the busy surrounding of every-day cares, from labors which have left no margin, even, of time for theological investigations, the more He has revealed himself