HOW A REVIVAL BEGAN

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 17, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 20.

HOW A REVIVAL BEGAN.

A REMARKABLE instance of a revival that "broke out," occurred more than fifty years ago in a small town in New Hampshire, and began at a very small meeting. This is the interesting way in which we found it described:

"Two plain farmers one summer day were at work in the same 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 in looking for the reason of such coldness were led to faithfully consider their own personal responsibility. They resolved to plead more earnestly than ever before for the outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon their church and town, and as they parted, agreed to meet for prayer the same evening at the schoolhouse, midway between their dwellings. At the set hour each took a lantern and went to the appointed place. Of the fervency of their prayers, and the 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 schoolhouse, went in to ascertain the reason. Thus the prayer-meeting of two became a prayer-meeting of three. At the third meeting the 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 was continued and spread rapidly from district to district, with a Pentecostal ingathering 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 prayer 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."—Christian Intelligencer.