A Revival that "Broke Out."
It occurred more than fifty years ago, in one of the small towns of New Hampshire, and began in this way: Two plain farmers, one summer day, were at work in the field. As they worked they talked—not about the crops, or the weather, but on the subject nearest and dearest to their hearts, the progress of Christ's kingdom. In several of the neighboring towns there had been extensive revivals, while their own town seemed to them to have been passed by. The love of Christians had grown cold, while sin and wickedness abounded, unreproved. They lamented, as only true Christians can, the low state of religion about them, and looking for the reason of such coldness were led to faithfully consider their own responsibility. They resolved to plead with God more earnestly than ever before for the outpouring of his Holy Spirit upon their church and town. They parted, agreed to meet for prayer the same evening at the school-house, midway between their dwellings. At the set hour each took his lantern and went silently out to the appointed place. Of the fervency of their prayers, or holy gladness of their songs of praise at that meeting, we may never know. It must, however, have seemed good to them to be there, for as they separated another meeting was appointed for the next week. During the hour of the second meeting, a neighbor chanced to go by, and seeing the light in the school-house, went in to ascertain the reason. Thus the prayer-meeting of two became a prayer-meeting of three. At the third meeting the school-house was filled to overflowing. The Holy Spirit was manifestly present, and sinners were heard earnestly asking: "What shall I do to be saved?" The good work continued and spread rapidly from district to district, with a pentecostal in-gathering of souls that made it the most remarkable revival ever known in the town. From among the converts four became preachers of the gospel, and went forth to do faithful service in Christ's vineyard. The far-reaching results of the prayers of faith of those two Christian men, met together in Christ's name, can never be fully known until revealed in the light of eternity. Yet they only claimed the promises of our Lord: "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven." "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The promises of Christ remain sure. The prayer of faith is "a power with God" that prevails. Then why do we not oftener in the present day see revivals of the kind that "break out"?