In ancient times.

change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

REVIVALS.

619. Ancient revivals of religion.

Gen. 4: 26 To Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

1 K. 18: 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust. and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

2 K. 23: 3 The king [Josiah] stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all their heart, and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant. 21 The king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant. 22 Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah.

2 Ch. 30: 11 Divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king [Hezekiah] and of the princes, by the word of the LORD. 13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 21 The children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: 22 And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace-offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. 23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their

In ancient times.

voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwellingplace, even unto heaven.

Neh. 8: 2 Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water-gate from the morning until mid-day, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Jer. 2: 2 Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3 Israel was holiness into the LORD, and the first-fruits of his increase.

Ac. 2: 41 Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. - 4:4 Many of them which heard the word, believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.-5: 14 Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.—8: 5 Then Philip went down to tb city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

11: 19 They which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things

Outpouring of the Spirit - Happy Effects of.

came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.-14: 1 It came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude, both of the Jews, and also of the Greeks, believed.

620. The influences of the Spirit compared to rain, or the pouring of water. Ps. 72: 6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

Pr. 1: 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Is. 32: 15 Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.-44: 3 I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.

Ezk. 39: 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

Joel 2: 28 It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.

Zec. 12: 10 I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.

1 Pet. 1: 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did inister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.

621. Happy effects of genuine revivals.

2 K. 23: 24 The workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law

REVIVALS.

To be prayed for.

622

which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

2 Ch. 31: 5 As soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first-fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. 8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

Ps. 14: 7 When the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Ac. 2: 44 All that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted 46 And they, conthem to all men, as every man had need. tinuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily 8: 8 And there was great joy in such as should be saved. that city.. -19: 18 Many that believed came, and confessed, 19 Many of them also which used and shewed their deeds. curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Col. 2: 5 Though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. [See 605.]

622. Praying for revivals required and ex mplified.

Ps. 80: 14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; 15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. 16 It is burnt with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. -85: 6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may ejoice in thee? 7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. - 122: 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Song 4: 16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. Is. 62: 6 Ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not si38.

445

Spurious ones - Riches the idol of many-Tendency of.

lence, 7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.-64: 1 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, 2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!

Jer. 14 20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. 21 Do not abhor us; for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.

Dan. 9: 17 O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.

Hab. 3: 2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

Mat. 6: 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

623. Spurious revivals.

Mat. 23: 15 Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, ye make him two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Gal. 4: 17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

Mat. 19: 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

2 Tim. 4: 10 Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.

625. Riches and prosperity have a corrupting and dangerous tendency.

Gen. 13: 10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the