The Connecticut Observer, And New York Congregationalist

THE REVIVAL SPIRIT.

The revival spirit is a tender, humble, heart-broken spirit. This is essential to the spirit of prayer. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." This is accompanied with feelings of deep self-abasement. The prayer of Daniel, previous to the return from the captivity, may be regarded as an excellent specimen of genuine revival feeling. A great portion of this prayer is the language of broken-hearted confession. And such will be found to be the language of Christians, on awakening from a long season of spiritual slumber, and whenever this melting spirit becomes general in a church, great and glorious is the work of the Lord.

The spirit is far removed from noise, and confusion, and vain confidence. The accents of humble, broken-hearted penitence, will be heard in the pulpit, in the social meeting, and at the family altar, and the secret places will witness the deep struggles of spirit, where the humble souls wrestle with their God, for spiritual blessings upon themselves and others. The unhumbled heart can not approach near to the mercy seat; for "he knoweth the proud afar off."

He will not accept the sacrifice of the self-confident or the vain-glorious, even though like Baal's priests, they cry aloud from morning to evening.

This is also a tender, melting spirit. It meets a response in kindred hearts, and an affectionate, loving spirit pervades the little band of praying souls. It administers warning, exhortation, and entreaty, to impenitent souls, in a tender, kind, and gentle manner; and repulse, and even abuse, is met with meekness. It is opposed to harsh, austere, and bitter rebukes which stir up the wrathful passions of men. Even opposition and violence are disarmed before it; and rebuke, from such a spirit, enters into the soul like a sharp two-edged sword. But this spirit can not be acquired without deep struggles of soul, nor maintained without great watchfulness and care. It shuns the noisy scenes of carnal strife; and dwells not with the soul that harbors envy, ill-will, bitterness, wrath, or an unforgiving temper.

O that such a spirit pervaded the whole Church militant! How soon would the banner of the cross be displayed over the ruins of Satan's empire.