Watchman Of The South

TIMES OF REFRESHING.

Besides seasons of extensive revivals, when
large masses of persons partake of the special
influences of the Holy Spirit, delightfully com-
forting and purifying their hearts and enflam-
ing them with love, there are times when indi-
vidual believers, unknown to their brethren,
have unusual degrees of comfort and joy and
love. This fact ought to encourage ministers.
knowing that their words are perhaps building
up some unobserved hearer, perhaps a stranger.
Cowper describes one of these seasons of re-
refreshing to his soul, after a long season of dark-
ness and gloom. He says:

"I went to Church for the first time after my
recovery. Throughout the whole service, I
had much to do to restrain my emotions, so fully
did I see the beauty and the glory of the Lord.
My heart was full of love to all the congrega-
tion, especially to them, in whom I observed an
air of sober attention. A grave and sober per-
son sat in the pew with me; him I have seen and
often conversed with, and have found him a
pious man, and a true servant of the blessed Re-
deemer. While he was singing the psalm, I
looked at him, and observing him intent on his
holy employment, I could not help saying in my
heart, with much emotion, 'Bless you, for prais-
ing him whom my soul loveth!'

"Such was the goodness of the Lord to me,
that he gave me 'the oil of joy for mourning,
and the garment of praise for the spirit of heavi-
ness; and though my voice was silent, being
stopt by the intenseness of what I felt, yet my
soul sung within me, and even leapt for joy.—
And when the gospel for the day was read, the
sound of it was more than I could well support.
Oh, what a word is the word of God, when the
Spirit quickens us to receive it, and gives the
hearing ear, and the understanding heart! The
harmony of heaven is in it, and discovers its au-
thor. The parable of the prodigal son was the
portion of Scripture. I saw myself in that glass
so clearly, and the loving-kindness of my slight-
ed and forgotten Lord, that the whole scene was
realized to me, and acted over in my heart."

The reason of the great attachment of aged
Christians to old Churches, and to their usual
seats in those houses, may probably be found
in the fact of their having often been there vi-
sited with spiritual comfort. These places seem
to them peculiarly suited to a proper state of
mind. Their visits to the old house are like Ja-
cob's return to Bethel. We fear that Christians
do not pray enough for these times of refresh-
ing to their own souls. Yet we should adore
the Lord for his grace in securing so much
strength and joy to his afflicted people.