v v t- ° ^ « .4^^. v '--V.... V^V" .. V*^ T *> v^/ v^v v^v >o< ••Sift-, "of ."Jfe*- v __ "^'^r.-^ •• A^^ .* -S*^ '.1 ^LA^-O BRINGING IN SHEAVES. : --*? - REV. A. B. EAELE __ BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY JAMES H. EARLE, No. 96 WASHINGTON ST. 1869. $1 311° Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 18G8, by JAMES H. EARLE, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. Stereotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry, No. 19 Spring Lane. TO ALL WHOSE PRAYER IS, "O Lord, Revive Tht Work,' 8Rjfe Book Is Affectionately Inscribed BY THE AUTHOR. PEEFACE. The publication of this volume has been urged upon me by ministers and laymen of different denominations, for a number of years past, as a duty I owe to the cause of Christ. Among the requests for such a work, one came to me, some ten years ago, signed by nearly two hundred persons. But, while I have believed that such a work might be useful, it has, until recently, seemed unadvisable for me to undertake it, as there appeared to be no way of doing so without turning aside from my loved and appointed work as an evangelist, which I was unwilling to do so long as strength was given me to preach to perishing men. A few months since, however, the way seemed opened : My sons, having finished their college course, were in a situation, before entering upon their chosen avocations, to assist me in preparing the work. Accordingly, when they had rested for a season from the fatigue of study, and myself from the exhaustion and weariness of my (5) (J PREFACE. Pacific tour, the book was commenced, and has been carried forward as rapidly as possible under the circum- stances. I have only been able to work on it at inter- vals, as I have found here and there a spare hour, until my return home in June, for a season of rest from con- stant preaching. In all the variety of matter and subjects which have been presented, the principal aim has been to answer the question that Christians are everywhere asking, — "How are we to labor the most successfully to promote revivals of religion ? " I have endeavored clearly to present my own experi- ence and observation in revivals ; and in these I think will be found the means which God has appointed and signally blessed in the quickening of his people and the conversion of souls — means which I have always, I believe without a single exception, seen blessed to the renewing of God's work. I have given no system of rules, or set of measures, to be used in revivals, as I know of none. Perhaps my views can most clearly and fully be learned from Chapter I., and the sermons on " Faith," and " Joy Restored." The chapters of " Revival Gleanings " give some idea of the character and results of meetings in which these means have been employed, although they come far short of the reality. Had the accounts of these meetings been fuller, they, perhaps, would have been more satisfactory ; still I trust they will not be entirely wanting in interest, and above all in power to do good. The selection and arrange- PREFACE. 7 ment of them have not been according to the order of time or importance of locality, although, generally, the more recent have been mentioned, because they were most readily remembered. The chapter on the " Rest of Faith," I can but believe will, in some measure at least, meet the earnest desire of the Christian world in helping believers reach that state of union with Christ in which they can more fully honor him, and labor with greater success in his cause. I submit it to the careful and prayerful consideration of all, with the hope that it may prove, as in my own case, the balm for wounded hearts and the rest for weary souls. The book contains "opinions of pastors," and personal allusions and letters which would be wholly out of place but for the purpose I have had of deepening through them the conviction of the need and inrportance of evangelistic labor; not on my own account, for my reception and the confidence in me have been all that any man could desire, but because I want to see men who have the necessary qualifications entering this department of ministerial labor. A great field lies open, and the demand for laborers is great ; prejudice is rapid- ly melting away ; pastors feel that they are in want of just such help. A few sermons are given because I am so often asked for them. Many persons come to me, and say, in refer- ence to this or that sermon, "I was greatly benefited by it : can I not obtain it ? " The book was not designed to tell what I have done: far from me be such a folly ; and farther still that of 8 PREFACE. taking to myself credit of results in the accomplish- ment of which I have only been God's instrument. To those who are unknown to me the book comes with the hope, deep in my heart, that it may be to them a source of comfort and strength ; to those with whom I have been associated it comes as the letter of a friend, filled with tender regard and sympathy, and an earnest desire and prayer that they may be rejoiced and blessed as they read its pages, — and to all with the hope that, by and by, when the battle is fought, and the victory won, we may meet in the " better country," and sit down with " Christ's whole family," never to part again. O, will one be left out ? Will a single reader of this book go away upon the left hand of the Judge, down to the night of endless despair? May the messages spoken in weakness be made the power of God unto salvation to every one who reads these pages ! My earnest prayer is, that the book may accomplish its simple purpose, and prove itself a Revival Help. A. B. Eaele. Newton, Mass., August, 1868. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. HOW CAN I BEST PROMOTE A REVIVAL ? PAGE Revival begins like Eire. — Often with one Christian. — Chris- tian's own Heart. — Definiteness. — Series of Meetings. . 15 CHAPTER H. FAITH. Sermon preached in Eall River, Mass., in 1863 23 CHAPTER III. REVIVAL GLEANINGS. Albany. — East Bridgewater, — Chelsea. — Springfield. — Cincinnati 38 CHAPTER IV. PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK. Seeking Rest. — Finding Work. — St. John. — Burton. — Frederickton. — Grand Lake. — Kindness of the People. . 64 (9) 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. JOY EESTOEED. Sermon preached in Tabernacle Church, New York, in 1868. . 62 CHAPTER VI. INCIDENTS. "Ma, give him my two ODe-dollars." — "Try it on me." — " She will never call me ' Father ' again." 81 CHAPTER VII. EEVIVAL GLEANINGS — CONTINUED. Amsterdam. — Abington. — Haverhill. — Fall Eiver. — Wash- ington 89 CHAPTER Vm. INCIDENTS. Sermon on a Wood-Pile. — " Jesus will take care of me." • . 107 CHAPTER IX. WHY MUST I GIVE UP MY WILL ? The Will the Seat of Eebellion against God. — Case of Lady in Massachusetts. — Business Man. — Teacher in College. — Judge. — "Measures." 117 CHAPTER X. UNPAEDONABLE SIN. Sermon delivered, Sunday Evening, October 14, 1866, in Union Hall, San Francisco, Cal 128 CONTENTS. 11 CHAPTER XI. FIREMEN'S MEETING. Report from Brooklyn Daily Eagle 145 CHAPTER XII. LETTERS FROM YOUNG CONVERTS AND OTHERS. Little Sadie. — Family Letter. — Ohio Letter, sent with a pair of Socks. — " Would like to be a Minister." — Twenty-five Years of Wandering. — "A Happy New Year." — A Sabbath School Class not too young for Jesus. — "Almost Fourscore." — " Part Way up." — A Granddaughter's Request. — Little Scolder. — Grateful Deacon. — From two little Brothers. — " In such an Hour you came;" — Burdened for Friends. — Cannot save ourselves. — " No other Refuge." — The Way little Freddie made his Will. — From two little Sisters. — " Must work as well as wish." 152 CHAPTER XHI. VERMONT MEETING. Origin. — Character. — Influence 167 CHAPTER XIV. COME OVER AND HELP US. Elizabeth. — Richmond. — Grand Rapids. — Lynn. — Napa. — Vancouver. — Vallejo. — New Hampshire. — Corvallis. — Baltimore. — Newport 175 12 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. THE OPINION OF PASTORS. Geo. B. Ide. —Edward N. Kirk. — Robert Turnbull. — J. D. Clark. — S. D. Phelps. — H. Harvey. — Wm. Hague.— Geo. C. Baldwin. — J. R. Kendriek. — Thomas Armitage. — Geo. D. Boardman 187 CHAPTER XVI. TITLE EXAMINED. Sermon preached in Tremont Temple, Boston. . . • • . 202 CHAPTER XVII. EVANGELISTS. — THEIR TRIALS AND JOYS. Division of Ministerial Labor. — Work of the Evangelist. — Trials. — Much of the Time away from Home. — Distrust and Prejudice. — Necessity of saying " No." — Parting with new-made Friends. — Joys. — Necessity of living near the Savior. — Constantly making new Friends. — Immediate Results. — Greatest Joy in Reserve 228 CHAPTER XVIII. UNION MEETINGS. Consistent with Denominational Differences. — Require no Compromise. — Reasons for Confidence in them. — Lead Christians to speak more kindly. — Convince Unconverted of Reality in Religion. — Gambler. — Physician. — Two Instances of such Meetings. — Churches prepared to receive Converts. — Spirit moving Denominations. 231) CONTENTS. 13 CHAPTER XIX. FOUR DAYS' MEETINGS. Chester. — Charlestown. — Ogdensburg. — Fairfax. — Bristol. — Saxton's River. — Amsterdam 251 CHAPTER XX. REVIVAL GLEANINGS — CONTINUED. Boston. — New York City. — Philadelphia. — Lawrence. — Dover, Great Falls, and South Berwick. — Concord. — Bid- deford and Saco. — Brooklyn. — Syracuse 269 CHAPTER XXI. THE WORK ON THE PACIFIC COAST. Sources. — San Francisco Ministerial Union. — Their Letter. — Acceptance. — Farewell Services. — Arrival on the Pa- cific Coast. — Meeting in San Francisco 280 CHAPTER XXII. THE WORK ON THE PACIFIC COAST — CONTINUED. Sonora and Columbia. — Oakland. — Stockton. — Sacramento. — Petaluma. — San Jose. — Santa Clara. — Marysville. — Placerville 295 CHAPTER XXIII. TnE WORK ON THE PACIFIC COAST— CONTINUED. Oregon. — Portland. — Oregon City. — Salem 318 14 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXIV. THE WORK ON THE PACIFIC COAST — CONTINUED. Nevada. — Virginia City and Gold Hill. — Carson 331 CHAPTER XXV. THE WORK ON THE PACIFIC COAST — CONTINUED. California. — Nevada City. — Grass Valley. — Santa Cruz. — Farewell Services. — Return Home 340 CHAPTER XXVI. THE WORK ON THE PACIFIC COAST — CONTINUED. Retrospect. — Results. — General Features. — Expressions of Feeling. — Messages 351 CHAPTER XXVII. THE REST OF FAITH. The Desire. — Testimony. — The Way. — How retained. — My own Experience 363 BRINGING IN SHEAVES CHAPTER I. "HOW CAN I BEST PROMOTE A REVIVAL?" MANY pastors, who have been unable to secure the needed help in holding a series of meet- ings, write me, requesting an answer to this question : " How can I best promote a revival of religion ? " Others, with whom I meet, are saying, "It has been many years since we have had a revival in our town, and I am half discouraged — I know not what to do." Frequently the remark is made, " Our congre- gation is small, and but little interest is manifest in the subject of religion ; if you can come, do not be in a hurry to leave us — this is a very hard field." For these and all other laborers who desire to know my views concerning the best means of pro- moting revivals of religion, and with whom I can- (15) 16 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. not converse in person, the thoughts, in this brief chapter, are specially written. A revival of religion, like a fire, must begin somewhere : " Behold, how great a matter a little fire kiudleth ! " A fire often begins with a little match, and works its way through the combustible material about it until it has swept over a wide region. The great fire in Portland originated with a fire-cracker. So a work of grace often commences with a single Christian — never with the whole church. As soon as that one Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, he goes after others, to lead them to the Savior, or to induce believers to join him in efforts for a re- vival. ,Jesus fulfils his promise, " Lo, I am with you ; " and others are soon moved and melted, and the work begins to widen. So that whoever would promote a revival of re- ligion should begin with his own heart, and pray, and confess, and believe, until he feels his heart all subdued and melted by the Holy Spirit, — until his love to Christ is glowing, fervid, burning, — and until he finds himself groaning over the lost con- dition of men, and, like Jesus, being in an agony, prays more earnestly. Then, when his heart is in this state, let him get a few, if he cannot many, to join him in special prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit. Let that BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 17 little company hold on in united, persistent prayer, " nothing wavering," until the windows of heaven are opened. The disciples at Jerusalem continued in prayer about ten days, before they received the promised power from on high. It does not appear that the meeting, with so many ministers in attendance, attracted much attention, until the disciples were fully anointed, and filled with the Spirit. They could have accomplished but little had they preached and labored without this preparation ; but as soon as it was received, the multitude were drawn to the place in great numbers, and were con- founded when they saw the power that rested on those Galileans ; a new power attended their preach- ing. This work commenced with those believers, and spread with great rapidity all over the country. So it must be with all who would labor success- fully in leading souls to Christ; they must tarry at Jesus' feet until they have pow r er with God; — then they will have pow T er with men. The gift there received will be with them wherever they go, diffusing its sweet and holy influence, and God's work will be revived, and sinners converted. I have observed, for nearly forty years past, that the secret of success in promoting revivals of re- ligion is in having our own hearts filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. It is not enough for those of us who preach, that our sermons be able, sound, and well delivered, or that we preach what are sometimes called revival ser- mons, and that we also visit and converse with men about their souls' interest. It is not enough that the church be aroused and go to work actively for a re- vival : all this can be done, and but few souls be saved. Nothing can be a substitute for real " power from on high." No amount of study or talent, no effort, however untiring, can take the place of the fullness of Christ's love ; " Not by might, nor by power [human], but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." I have known ministers to preach, and their churches to unite with them, day after day, for weeks together, for a revival, and yet very little to be accomplished. The failure was not because the Spirit was un- willing to work with them and bless their efforts, nor because a continued meeting is not of divine appointment, but because they had not the needed power with God. I am often invited to assist pastors and churches in a series of meetings, with ,a view of gathering in the multitudes, " who are unreached by the ordi- naiy means of grace." Important as it is to reach this class, I have never found any way of doing so, or of reaching the unconverted in the regular con- gregations, until Christians were filled with the BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 19 Spirit, and humbled in the dust in agonizing prayer. The multitudes flock to the house of God, when Christ's children enjoy the fullness of his love, and no more complaint is heard about small congrega- tions, and little interest in the subject of religion. For this reason, it is usually quite as well to com- mence a series of meetings with a small assembly, and in unpleasant weather; since, under such cir- cumstances, the church — at least some portion of it — will be more likely to get fully into the work, and have power with God, than when the congregations are crowded, and the surroundings more promising. So clear has this point been to my own mind for years, I have said to the pastors and churches with whom I have been called to labor, that, if there was not a revival of religion, I should not complain of the church, but take the blame mostly to myself, believing that if I am right and have power with God, others will feel that power, and sinners will be converted : there will be a revival. Let me say, then, to pastors and to the churches : If you believe the glory of God demands a revival in your midst, and you desire to be instrumental in ad- vancing the work and bringing sinners to the Savior, first see that your own hearts are thoroughly melted and subdued, under a deep sense of the condition of lost men, and that you are filled with the Spirit 20 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. and constrained by the love of Christ ; then get a few, if you cannot more, to meet with you, and pray with and for one another, until, like those who prayed with Peter and John, you are all filled with the Holy Spirit : then expect a powerful revival of religion. Barnabas was "a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith," and, as a result, " much people was added unto the Lord." Do not seek to produce an undue excitement in the community, neither be afraid of as much interest as was manifest among the people on the day of Pentecost. In your prayer meetings have a definite object in view. If you desire an immediate outpouring of the Spirit, ask God for that ; if the fullness of his love in your hearts, let that be the burden of your prayer ; if the conversion of a friend, agonize for that: whatever you desire, look for it at once. " What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, be- lieve that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." If you would have a great blessing, ask for it in faith, in Jesus' name. The Father has nothing too good or great to give for his Son's sake. Jesus is the pledge of all that Infinite Love can bestow, or that we can receive. " How shall he not with him also freely give us all things." If, in your judgment, you need some one to assist you for a few days or weeks, secure such aid, but BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 21 do not rely on any human arm ; make any special efforts you think needed, but rely chiefly on having power with God in prayer yourself. Human in- strumentalities must be employed in the conversion of sinners, but the excellency of the power is of God. One of the divinely appointed means for pro- moting revivals of religion, is, at suitable times, to hold a series of meetings for days or weeks together. Among the other departments of ministerial labor, the Savior appointed evangelists to assist in these meetings, whenever and wherever they might be needed. In the days of Nehemiah, we find Ezra, the priest, on a pulpit of wood, which had been made for the occasion, engaged in a series of meetings, which continued for many days. Ezra and those who assisted him read and explained the word of God one fourth part of the day, and spent another fourth in prayer and confession of sin ; in this way they continued the meeting until there was a great revival of religion among them, and a marked re- form in their habits and manner of living. Neh. viii. ix. The apostles also, after Christ's ascension, held a meeting about ten days, with a large number of ministers present. " These all continued, with one accord [day by day], in prayer and supplication 22 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. with the women," until the Spirit was poured out upon them, and they received the promised power from on high. Then they were ready for a larger congregation ; and the multitudes were quickly attracted to the place, and the displays of grace were so marvellous, and the conversions so numer- ous, that there was an addition to the church, on a single day of the meeting, of about three thousand new members. Let me, then, again say to all Christians who desire and labor for the conversion of souls : First, be right yourself; spend days and nights, if neces- sary, in humiliation, fasting, and prayer, until the Spirit comes down upon you, and you feel that you have power with God ; then you will have power with men in leading them to Christ. Let none of us, who proclaim the gospel, preach complaining, scolding sermons, or make unkind remarks about those who differ with us, or who do not come up to the work as we would have them. Let the melting, subduing love of Christ flow from our hearts and lips ; the unconverted will then be- gin to cry out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do? " and we shall find ourselves in the midst of a glorious outpouring of the Spirit, with a host of busy hands and loving hearts about us, reaping and bringing in the sheaves, and with no more need of asking, "How can I best promote a revival? " BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 23 CHAPTER II. FAITH.* " Have faith in God." — Mark xi. 22. FAITH is a persuasion of the mind, resting upon evidence. Faith must have a basis to rest upon ; we cannot have faith in the absence of evidence. God never asks any one to believe anything without furnishing a basis for that belief. Does he ask us to believe in his own existence, — he opens the great volume of nature, and bids us look up. Does he require us to receive the Scriptures as divinely inspired, — they bear in themselves the evidence of their divine origin. Does he bid us come to him in prayer, — he furnishes us with daily answers to prayer. Some persons have faith in appearances ; that is, they believe they are going to have a revival of religion, because there is a general solemnity and seriousness in the community. This is not faith in God, but in appearances : withdraw these indica- * A Sermon preached in Fall River, Mass., in 18G3. 24 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. tions, and faith has nothing to rest upon. To true faith in God the darkness and the light are both alike. We hear others say they have faith to believe they would have a glorious revival, could they secure the labors of a favorite minister : this is faith in a minister or measure — not in God. Get your minister, if in your judgment he would do you good, but let your faith anchor in God and his promises. As faith must have a basis to rest upon, let us see what ground we have to expect an immediate revival of religion, and souls to be converted to God, if we go on with this meeting, and preach, and pray, and exhort, and sing, and visit. 1. God appointed these means to effect this end. God, who cannot make a mistake, and who knows all about the difficulties to be overcome in a dark, cold time, bids us go and preach, pray, exhort, and sing, in simple faith, and he will bless. No matter how dark, or cold, or dead, — we are to look for an immediate outpouriug of the Spirit, in the use of these means. I have come to believe that God means just what he says in his word, and I expect an outpouring of the Spirit whenever and wherever the means are used in faith. If God had told me to go into your graveyard and sing " Old Hundred " among the graves, and BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 25 that by this means the deail would be raised, I would come to one and another of you, and ask if you had any friends in that graveyard ; and if so, to get ready to receive them — they were going to be raised. Perhaps you would ask me, "Can you raise the dead ? " I should answer, " Not at all ; but God has sent me to sing ' Old Hundred ' among the graves, and says through this means he will raise the dead." I should expect to see the graves open, and the dead come forth. My faith would not rest in any power of yours or mine, but in the fact that God appointed this means to effect this end. Just so when Jesus says, " Go preach my word, and, lo ! I am with you, and will pour out my Spirit upon you," we should expect him to do it. I do expect it ; I have not one fear but that we shall have a glorious result, if we use these means in faith in this place. Moses had faith in God, when he lifted the brazen serpent to the bitten Israelites ; his faith was not in the piece of brass, nor in his own power to heal, but in the fact that God had appointed that piece of brass thereby to make his power known. As Moses lifted that piece of brass in the wilder- ness, so must Jesus be lifted to the view of lost men. We can have faith in God, in using these means, then, because he appointed them to effect this end. 26 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 2. Another strong ground for faith in God, in using these means, to expect an immediate revival of religion, is, that God's heart and hand are in this work. God felt so deeply for the salvation of souls, before we cared anything about it, that he gave his own Son to die for them. " This was compassion like a God, That, when the Savior knew The price of pardon was his blood, His pity ne'er withdrew." God sees the end from the beginning, and tries no experiment — has all necessary resources of providence and grace ; so that we can follow where he leads, with unwavering faith. How often does some providence occur, that is made the means of a powerful work of grace. In one part of Maine, nine churches united in asking me to assist them in a series of union meetings ; but before I reached the place, death had taken one of the pastors, almost instantly, out of the world. This pastor had drawn off the names of more than twenty persons, whom he was going to seek, at once, to bring to the Savior. One day, with these names in his pocket, he went to the post-office, and died before reaching his home again. The effect was so great upon his congregation and the com- BRINGING IN SHEAVE 8. 27 munity, that it was necessary to commence meet- ings at once ; and, when I reached the place, more than a hundred persons were anxious about their souls. While I was holding a series of meetings in , N. Y., one evening a lady was passing near the church door, and one of the sisters asked her to come in, saying, "We are having good meetings here ; quite a revival has commenced, and I would like to have you attend some of these interesting services." The lady replied, " Do you think I would go into such a meeting — a re- vival meeting? No, never ! " This lady went on home, scorning the meeting and religion. A day or two after this she was passing that church door again while the congregation were singing one of their sweet revival hymns. The notes went through the open door and reached her ear. She paused, and said, " That sounds good." The same sister who had invited her in before, again at the door, said, " Come in and hear more." She replied, "I am too proud to sit down in a meeting-house, unless I can own a seat." The sister told her she might have their seat, which could be emptied for her at once. This was done, and the lady spent the rest of the evening in our meeting ; her heart was deeply moved. Within one short week this lady and her husband were both rejoicing in a Savior's 28 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. love. Very soon both united with that church. So we see that God here blessed the sougs of praise to the salvation of souls. One of the greatest victories ever won by Jehosh- aphat was won by singing : " And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord ; for his mercy endureth forever. And when they began to sing and praise, (their enemies) were smitten." 2 Chron. 20: 21, 22. We find, then, as in all ages, God blessed his people when they sung his praise. I would urge all who desire to promote revivals of religion, and to lead men to Jesus, to have the best singing you can in all your meetings. Sing with life and spirit. God appointed singing, and will bless it. Have faith in God. How often we see a whole community moved by the power of a little prayer-meeting. Peter was brought out of prison, while the church were pray- ing in the house of Mary, the mother of John. ''Prayer is appointed to convey The blessings God designs to give." Let the " nothing-wavering " prayer be offered, and it cannot fail. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 29 Have faith in God when you pray, for he ap- pointed these means to effect this end. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you ; " but let it be done in faith. 3. God has always blessed these means, when they have been used in faith. None ever knew a failure, except when faith was lacking. The walls of Jericho fell down after they had been compassed about in faith ; yet I presume many of those w T ho went round those walls, like many church members now, had no faith in God, but marched with those that had. God honors all the faith he finds in his people. I would advise all to use what faith they have, for in this way faith grows — it is strengthened by use. Just as David's faith, after he had rescued the lamb from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear, became so strong he believed he could kill Goliath. Naaman, the Syrian, went into the Jordan to wash seven times, with very great unbelief (yet he must have had a little faith, or he would not have gone at all) ; but, after the wonderful cure, he went home with strong faith. He found God's word reliable. God always blesses the use of the means he has appointed, when used in faith ; and he blesses in proportion to the strength of our faith. 30 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. When Ezekiel preached to the dry bones, there was nothing remarkable in his sermon or manner of presenting the truth, but simply in his faith in God. His faith did not rest in any wonderful skill, or power in preaching, nor in any favorable appear- ances, but in God. He would do just what God directed him to do, knowing that God could not make a mistake, and that he was able to do just as he promised. So, standing up among the bones, — dried, and bleached, and scattered as they were, — Ezekiel began to cry, "Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord ! Dry bones, live ! Dry bones, come together ! " Power accompanied the means God appointed, and bone came to his fellow-bone, and they were clothed with flesh and sinews. But the breath of life was not yet in them. Then followed prayer, or calling on the wind to blow upon the slain. The breath of life entered into them, and there stood upon their feet an army of men. By this figure Ezekiel was shown how God saves sinners. As Ezekiel went among those dry bones and preached to them, and called on the wind to blow upon them, and they lived, so Christians must go among wicked men, and preach and pray, and use the means God has appointed, in faith, and he will bless these means, and save souls, and build up his church. BRINGING IN SHEA VES. %\ Perhaps some one will ask why God does not bless the labors of all his ministers, alike, in the conversion of souls. It is because they do not ex- pect it. They hope God will bless their labors ; they pray him to do it ; they really desire it, but do not in faith, without wavering, expect it. Faith is as necessary here, as is fire to produce heat. Persons may perish in the cold, surrounded with good fuel, for the want of fire to kindle it ; so men can go down to eternal death, under the ablest pre- sentation of truth, just for the want of faith in God on the part of the preacher and those that hear. So important is faith in God, that .Jesus said to the anxious around him, " Onlv believe ; " "All things are possible to him that believeth." " Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone : Thou must save, and thou alone I Nothing in my hand I bring ; Simply to thy cross I cling." A beautiful illustration of this occurred in one of my meetings. A citizen, about thirty years of age, had such a clear view of himself as a sinner in the * sight of God, and felt so deeply that he must have help or perish, that he came to my room, after midnight, to know what he should do to be saved. O, the agony of his soul ! He walked the floor 32 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. crying, " I shall perish ! What shall I do ? What shall I do?" He kneeled down by a chair, and literally laid his face on the carpet. But he soon rose, saying, "I must be lost!" His groans and cries were heart-rending. I saw plainly that he needed to get a clear view of Jesus and his "work, and asked him not to groan, but to be calm, and listen to me for a moment. After getting his attention, I told him that his tears and overwhelm- ing anguish w T ould not help him, but he must let go of all reliance upon anything but Jesus, and simply believe. I then repeated a portion of the old Scotch hymn (God be thanked for that good Scotch brother who wrote it !) , — " Nothing, either great or small, Nothing, sinner, no; Jesus died and paid it all, Long, yes, long ago. "Jesus paid it all, All the debt I owe ; And nothing, either great or small, Remains for me to do." Looking up through his tears, he asked, "Is that it, Mr. Earle? Is that .the way?" I replied, " That is exactly the way." But the light was not yet clear enough for him freely to embrace Jesus by a simple faith. He commenced groaning and pleading again, saying, "O, what shall I do?" BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 33 I said to him, " Don't groan ; let me have your attention a little longer." I then repeated the last stanza of that beautiful hymn, — " Cast jour deadly doing down, Down, all at Jesus' feet ; Stand in him, in him alone, All glorious and complete. " Jesus died and paid it all, All the debt I owe ; And nothing, either great or small, Remains for me to do." As the Spirit shed light upon his dark mind, he smiled through his tears, and said, "I believe that is it ; yes, that is it — < Jesus died and paid it all.' I thought I must do something, and could not see what I could do. How glad I am that I came here to-night. I can trust Jesus now ; yes, I can trust him." I then asked him to kneel down and tell Jesus he could trust him. After doing this, he left me, saying, " O, I am so happy now ! " So that not only does our success depend upon our faith in God, but the weeping, groaning, peni- tent sinner cannot be saved without faith in Jesus. How necessary, when we use the means God has appointed for the salvation of men and the spread of the gospel, that we " have faith in God." Let me mention an incident or two that have greatly strengthened my faith. A few years ago, 3 34 BRINGING IN SHEA VES in a ministers' conference, the text for criticism was, "Is not the set time to favor Zion come?" Among other questions raised, was this: "Is it perfectly safe for a minister to commence a series of meetings in a church or community where there are no indications of a revival of religion? Ought he to go to work expecting an immediate outpour- ing of the Spirit ? " I had just begun, as it were, to believe God, and take him at his word, and, with several others, said, "It is safe." In a few days I commenced a series of meetings in a little church of about twenty members, who were very cold and dead, and much divided — the only green spot being a little prayer-meeting, kept up by two or three sisters. I preached the first evening, and closed the meeting at eight o'clock. There was not one to speak or pray. I succeeded the next even- ing in getting one brother to say a few words, and closed again about eight o'clock, but said to the people, " We will go on with the meeting." All around looked dark, but to the eye of faith the darkness and the light are both alike. The next morning I rode six miles, to a min- ister's study, to get him to pray with and for me. We both kneeled at the same chair and prayed, feeling and believing that faith in God could not be disappointed. I went back, and said to that little church, "If you can just make out to board me, BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 35 I will stay with you until God opens the windows of heaven. God has promised to bless these means, and I believe he will." I trusted it all to Jesus, and went to work ; and within ten days there were so many anxious souls, that 1 met one hundred and fifty of them at a time at an inquiry meeting, while Christians were praying in another house of worship. A powerful work of grace followed, and I think several hundred souls were led to Jesus. This greatly strengthened my faith in God. On another occasion I commenced a meeting near Boston, and preached the first evening on this same subject — Faith in God. We had a pleasant even- ing and a large assembly. Everything seemed favorable. I told the congregation that I believed we should have a great work, and they must pro- vide seats for the aisles of the meeting-house. The very next day a terrible snow-storm came on, so that we were shut out of the meeting-house and in our homes. For six successive days I preached in a private parlor at my boarding-place (which was only a few rods from the church) to ten or fifteen persons. This was a trial of my faith ; yet I knew God was able to fulfill his promises, and I believed he would. About the seventh day, the storm being over, we came together again in the meeting-house. On the first or second evening one hundred men and women 36 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. came forward for prayer, deeply convicted. While they were shut up at home, the Spirit of God had been at work upon their hearts. God had given a voice to the howling winds, and moved the hearts of his people just as well as though they had gathered in his house. A great work followed, and many precious souls were brought to Jesus. With these and many other tests of God's prom- ises, I have come to believe and trust him, so that I can follow where he leads. Let me ask you all to go home from this meeting, to preach, and pray, and sing, and visit, in faith. Do all you can ; speak to all of Jesus ; but rely alone on God, asking and expecting great things. If the clouds look dark, and the angel says, "Let me go," let your grasp be firm, and say, — " Nay, I cannot let thee go, Till a blessing thou bestow; Do not turn away thy face — Mine's an urgent, pressing case. Once a sinner, near despair, Sought thy mercy-seat by prayer : Mercy heard and set him free, — Lord, that mercy came to me. " Many years have passed since then, Many changes have I seen, Yet have been upheld till now, — Who could hold me up but Thou? BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 37 Nay, I must maintain my hold ; 'Tis thy goodness makes me bold; I can no denial take, When I plead for Jesus' sake." Note. — The meetings in Fall River began with seventeen persons present at the first one ; at the closing meeting there were present nearly two thousand. It was thought there were one thousand conversions as the immediate fruit of this meeting. 38 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. CHAPTEE III. REVIVAL GLEANINGS. ALBANY, N. Y. — In this city I have labored in two meetings ; the first was held on Wash- ington Avenue, in a hall fitted up for the purpose. Ten or twelve members from different churches in the city had united in forming a mission station on this street, and I was invited to hold a series of meetings there. This was in 1859. So much interest was manifested, that several times when we closed our evening meeting at nine and a half o'clock, and a part of the audience left, there were enough outside, about the doors, to fill all vacant places in the hall. On one occasion I said to the congregation, "If any of you feel that you are sinners, and will do anything you can to find Jesus, I will stay with you until you do find him. I feel safe to take God at his word." Six men and five women took the front seats, feeling that they were great sinners. This was BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 39 after dismissing the congregation twice. After all but a few who remained to pray had retired, and the way of salvation through Jesus had been pointed out, we all bowed in prayer for the imme- diate conversion of these eleven individuals, they having said, "We will pray for ourselves, and as far as we know will give ourselves now to the Savior." It was a moment of deep solemnity. The Holy Spirit was there to enlighten and lead the blind to Jesus. Within two hours every one of the eleven had found Jesus. This work went on for four weeks with increasing interest, and many hearts and homes were made happy in Albany. After a short time many of the converts came together, and asked the few Christians who had labored so earnestly for their salvation to organize a church and receive them into it. Accordingly six brethren and four sisters united in forming what was then called the " Washington Avenue Baptist Church." This was clone on Thurs- day. The following Sabbath I baptized forty-four happy converts, and administered the Lord's Sup- per in the evening. On that occasion the following lines were sung as I had never heard them before : " All hail the power of Jesus' name I Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all." 40 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. Deacon Patten gave the building and land to the new church, and became one of its members. After a brief connection with this church, this clear brother was called home — " crossed the flood " — to join the other branch of Christ's family. He remembered the church in his will, leaving them ten thousand dollars, which, with other blessings of God's providence, and the faithful labors of their first pastor, Eev. William P. Everett, enabled them to purchase the State Street meeting-house and land, changing their name to the " Calvary Baptist Church." This is now a strong church, of nearly four hun- dred members. I shall always feel a peculiar interest in this church, and it will ever hold a warm place in my heart. I went to Albany for the second meeting, at the request of the Pearl Street Baptist church, Eev. W. Bridgeman, pastor. Soon after commencing, it was thought desirable to have a union meeting, and for five weeks services were held alternately with the Pearl Street church, and Dr. E. L. Ma- goon's church on Hudson Street. On the last Sabbath of the meeting a union com- munion was held in Pearl Street Church. One hundred of the converts, having been pre- BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 41 viously baptized, at this time received the right hand of fellowship, in the following order : Those uniting with the Pearl Street church received the right hand of fellowship from their pastor, while Dr. Magoon and myself followed, cordially grasp- ing the hand of each of the new members. Those going with the Hudson Street church received the right hand of fellowship from their pastor, while Brother Bridge man and I followed, giving each a hearty grasp of the hand. It was a^flelightful hour, and no one present will soon forget it. At the close, all joined in singing, with overflowing hearts, " Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee ! " East Bridge water, Mass. — There had been formed at this place a Methodist class, numbering about twenty persons, and they had hired for a place of worship the meeting-house belonging to the Universalist society. Thus, with so few sup- porters, and with prospects to the eye of sense so uncertain, this church began a career which, as we look back upon it after the lapse of a few years, we can see was one of great influence for good. At this early period in the history of this society I was invited to labor in a series of meetings with them. From the commencement, God was with us and blessed our efforts. The town seemed to be 42 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. shaken to its very foundation by the power of God's Spirit working upon the hearts of men ; and sinners by scores flocked to the fold of Christ. The " Abington Standard " published the follow- ing, in regard to the spiritual condition of this town at the time of the revival : " There is one event in the religious history of East Bridge water which seems worthy of notice. When the celebrated Whitefield was in this country, some one hundred and twenty years ago, an effort was made to secure his services at that village, and he himself expressed a strong desire to labor there ; for even then the place was notorious for its wickedness. The effort, however, failed, and an old gentleman publicly prophesied that there would not be a revival there during that generation. " Until the present time there has been none ; and, during the century and over that has intervened, that part of the town has been known by its own inhabitants as the ' God-forsaken village.' Now a change has taken place. Meetings are crowded, and many are turning from their evil ways." A business man came to my room one day, deep- ly concerned about his spiritual welfare. After a little conversation, he asked me if he could not be come a Christian and be a " silent partner." Being assured that there was no provision for " silent partners" in the great company of Christian be- BRINGING IN SHEA YES. 43 lievers, he humbly submitted to Christ, and was willing to confess him before men. A young man, who had seemed to have no regard for the teachings of the Bible, was convicted of sin, but hesitated to give himself to Christ, through fear that he could not meet his old companions. But, after a little delay, he yielded, and found pardon and peace in Jesus. Still that dread of meeting his former associates worried him ; and one day, to avoid meeting them, as he thought he was certain to do if he went by the road, he took a circuitous way through the fields. But way back there he met the very group which he had sought to avoid. They at once asked him if he had become religious. Then his fear left him, and he talked to them about Jesus, and in- vited them to come with him. They, instead of making sport, as he had expected, seemed not only willing, but eager, to hear his testimony and heed his warnings. Thus what appeared to be a mountain of difficul- ty, was now a pleasure. "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." While additions were made to other churches, as the fruit of this meeting, that little Methodist class of twenty persons in a few months became a church with over two hundred members. They have since built a nice and commodious house of worship, and 44 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. constitute one of the largest and most prosperous churches in that region. Let me relate, for the encouragement of those who desire to be active laborers for Christ, how I came to go to East Bridge water. A Christian brother, who had been an earnest worker in the meetings held in Abiugton, and who was well ac- quainted with the religious history of East Bridge- water, and mourned the effect of the long spiritual drought, had for a long time felt a great desire to see a work of grace in that village. Doubtless he had prayed to God for the fulfill- ment of this desire; but that was not all: feeling the value of the soul, and the need of immediate effort, he came to me, and presenting the great wants of the place, urged me, with more than usual earnestness, to go and labor for the salvation of this people. In addition to this, he voluntarily took from his own purse quite a sum of money, to be used for the promotion of this work. So I think it safe to say he was not only the means of my going to East Bridgewater, but I be- lieve hundreds of souls to-day, rejoicing in the Savior's love, are indebted, so far as human instru- mentality is concerned, to the prayers and efforts of this good brother. Chelsea, Mass. — The union meeting held in BRINGING IN SHEA VUS. 45 this city, in the spring of 1866, was blessed with a deep and far-reaching work of grace. There was a marked spirit of unity and harmony among Chris- tians of different denominations : they seemed to feel that they were indeed members of Christ' 3 family, and were laboring for a common cause. An unusually large number were engaged in these meetings, as may be judged from the follow- ing incident : At one of our evening meetings, after a short discourse from the words, " Who is on the Lord's side ? " an opportunity was given for any present to speak of their reasons for being on the Lord's side. Then there rose up, one after another, — from the gray-headed grandfather to the little schoolboy, — three hundred ana seventy-five per- sons, — and spoke for Jesus. At this point the hour for closing the meeting had arrived, and the people were dismissed, although many more were ready and waiting to " stand up for Jesus." The following extract we take from the " Congre- gationalist : " — "The religious interest in Chelsea is increasing. On Sunday evening last Rev. Mr. Earle preached to an audience of not less than fifteen hundred per- sons, in Eev. Mr. Plumb's church, and the latter preached at the same time in the vestry, while it was estimated that as many were obliged to turn back for want of room as were present at both services. 46 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. "Meetings, in which the two Congregational and the two Baptist churches join, are held daily. Among those who have publicly and heartily borne testimony to the saving power of the gospel, and consecrated themselves to the service of Christ, are a lawyer and a physician, both of whom have long been among the leading men of the city." The membership of several of the churches was largely increased by this revival, particularly of those with which the meetings were chiefly held — Kev. Dr. Mason's and Kev. Mr. Plumb's; with the latter over one hundred united at a single com- munion season, more than forty of them being heads of families. Speingfield, Mass. — Although I was invited here to labor more particularly with Dr. Ide's church, the meeting soon became, in spirit and form, a union meeting, embracing the different evangelical denominations of the city. City Hall, the largest audience room in the city-, was secured for many of our meetings, where were sometimes gathered as many as three thousand per- sons, while many were obliged to turn away, being unable to get in. As the interest was not denominational, so it was not sectional ; but throughout the entire city the great subject of conversation was " The Meeting." BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 47 War was not the all-absorbing question ; but men found time to talk about Religion. The awakening was not confined to Springfield, but, to an extraordinary degree, was felt in many of the villages and towns in the surrounding country. Special trains of cars were run for the accommo- dation of those wishing to attend the meetings ; this was particularly the case on the railroad con- necting Springfield with Chicopee and Northampton, when extra trains waited until after ten o'clock at night to carry the people back to their homes — some with hearts overflowing with love to God, and others deeply concerned about their souls. The "Daily Union," of March 17, 1864, says, in reference to an evening meeting in City Hall : " Strong men, in the pride and strength of man- hood, were led to inquire what they should do to be saved. No one who was there could doubt for a moment the reality of religion. There was no ex- citement, no shouting, no noisy demonstrations ; but every one was calm, thoughtful, and deeply impressed with the solemnity of the occasion." The Spirit of God reached all classes. Work- men connected with the U. S. Armory at Spring- field were constant attendants of these meetings, and manifested their interest in them, and in the subject of religion, by sending the following petition, signed by nearly six hundred of their number : — 48 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. " Spkingfield, March 9, 1864. "Kev. A. B. Eaele. " Dear Sir : Are you willing to hold a meeting at City Hall, some evening during your stay in our city, with special reference to the men connected with the Armory where we are employed?" This petition is in my possession, with that long list of names, just as they were signed upon one roll, very much soiled by the finger-marks of those working-men, and I prize it just as it is. In compliance with this request the meeting was held, and it was a solemn, heavenly season — one which we maj^ believe many of those noble men will look back upon from eternity with great joy. It was thought over four hundred persons rose that evening, and requested the prayers of Christians that they might be brought into the fold of Christ. Among the business men who were earnestly engaged in these meetings was W. J. Holland, a publisher. Though Springfield was his place of business, his home at that time was in Belchertown, some twenty-five miles distant, where he was teaching a very interesting Bible class of young ladies. He became so anxious for the conversion of this class that he determined to make an effort to bring them where they could attend our meetings. Five of the eight members of his class came with him. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 49 For these he obtained boarding-places, and went with them to meeting. One afternoon, after his class had attended sev- eral meetings, Mr. Holland felt so anxious about them that he could not go to meeting nor attend to business, but spent the time in his room in agoniz- ing prayer for their immediate conversion. During that afternoon service they were deeply concerned about their souls, and, before leaving the church, each one of those five young ladies sought and found Christ ; and when they met their teacher in the evening, all were rejoicing in a Savior's love. The object of their visit was now accomplished, and it became necessary for them to return to their homes. The evening before their return, this happy band of classmates gathered in front of the pulpit to have a parting grasp of the hand with the Chris- tians to whom they had become so much endeared. They came among us — strangers ; but now were going to leave us — " no more strangers and for- eigners, but of the household of God." Much that is pleasant and important in their life experience must ever centre within the few days spent in Springfield. Mr. Holland presented me with a beautifully bound album, made expressly for his class, and containing his own photograph and that of each member of the class. 4 50 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. One day, while in Washington, a soldier, dressed in uniform, stopped me on the street, and, grasping my hand very earnestly, called me by name. I did not know him, but he knew me, and said, " I came from my home in Connecticut, and attended one of your evening meetings, and heard you preach, while you were holding a meeting in Springfield. I felt that I was a sinner, and from that time had no peace until I gave my heart to God. The Savior is precious to me now." I could but rejoice with him, as I looked upon his happy face and heard his words, tracing back his present joy to the " godly sorrow " of that one night in Springfield. " Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after many days." Without attempting any estimate of the number of conversions, some idea may be gained from the words of one of the pastors : " As the fruit of this meeting, over six hundred united with the churches." A new Baptist church sprang up from that meeting, and has been a growing, working church ever since, and is exerting a deep and wide- felt influence throughout the city. Many converts were also gathered into the churches in adjoining towns, as the result of that meeting. Cincinnati, Ohio. — The following extract from BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 51 the " Journal and Messenger " gives a very correct idea of the meeting in this city : — " Last Sabbath was the final day of brother Earle's visit to our city. It was every way a most solemn and important day. In the morning, at the Sab- bath school of the Ninth Street church, the regu- lar lessons were dispensed with, and an hour devoted to prayer and short addresses from various persons. But the marked feature of the session was the declaration from a number of scholars that they had found the Savior. In their own childish way they rose and confessed a new-found trust in Jesus. Just as the hour for closing came, a large number of the scholars signified a desire to become Chris- tians. It was an affecting sight. "In the afternoon a union service was held in the First Baptist church. Brother Earle preached from the words, * Friend, how earnest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?' The design of the sermon was, to show through what difficulties of the divine placing a man must press his way to ruin. "Then followed a union communion of the three Baptist churches. The entire house was filled with communicants. After this service, the fol- lowing resolution was passed : — " * Since for several weeks past, brother A. B. Earle has been with us preaching a Savior for lost men, 52 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. £ ncl since quite a number amoug us have received his message, and come to the Savior, and found for- giveness for sin, and because many, widely wander- ing, have returned with renewed resolution to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls, therefore we, the members of the three churches herein named, the Ninth Street Baptist, the First and Secoud Baptist churches, of Cincinnati, who have been united in this work, esteem it simply due our brother, that, in this public manner, we express our confidence in him, declare our Christian affec- tion for him, thank him for the great good he has done among us, and that we do now most heartily commend him to the churches in his important work.' " The closing service was held in the Ninth Street church in the evening. " The results have been great. Many have come to the Savior, and many are now seeking him. In- deed, it seems as if the work in this direction had but begun. Many who have been negligent are now earnest and at work. The accumulation of moral power to the churches is most noticeable. Religion holds a larger place in the thoughts of men than it did. They are easier of approach. All through the city there is an unwonted thought- fulness. "The churches have clasped each other's hands, BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 53 and felt their warm pressure, and do not mean to let go. As churches, we are better organized for work than, perhaps, we ever were before. The brethren are aroused and ready for toil. With God's help, we shall, in all the churches, accom- plish much for the Master this winter. And our prayers, our love, and our thanks shall follow brother Earle." 54 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. CHAPTER IV. PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK. IN the summer of 1858, after a year of hard and constant work in the " States," during which I had preached more than five hundred sermons, I went, with my family, to one of the British Prov- inces, hoping to find retirement and rest for a few weeks on those quiet, healthy, hospitable shores. The steamer in which we embarked at Boston landed us safely at the wharf in St. John, New Brunswick, Friday evening, July 23. " A man's heart deviseth his way : but the Lord directeth his steps." I had sought this land for rest; and, I thought, "I am among strangers, my plan will surely be carried out, and I shall not have to preach for a few weeks, at least not often ; " but God's purpose seemed to be that I should preach from fifteen to twenty times a week. The seed was already sown, and the way open for me to go to work at once and help gather in the harvest. Before I had been three days in the city I com- BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 55 menced preaching, and went on from that time until, within about five months, I had preached, in different parts of the province, over three hun- dred times, and trust fifteen hundred or two thou- sand souls had been "born again," as the fruit of our meetings. I found a kind and generous-hearted people there, everywhere welcoming me as a servant of Jesus. It would give me much pleasure to " repeat the vision so divine." Many of the scenes in which I was permitted to take part were very interesting, and have left a deep impression on my mind. At St. John a large number found the Savior precious, and connected with the different churches. Though more or less characteristic of all revivals of religion, it was especially true of the work in this city, that many who had wandered far away from God saw their sin, and, returning, sought with tears their Father's face. Some who had once confessed, but- since denied Christ before men, could now say, " The Shepherd sought his sheep ; The Father sought his child ; They followed me o'er vale and hill, O'er desert, waste, and wild : They found me nigh to death, Famished, and faint, and lone ; They bound me with the bands of love ; They saved the wandering one. 56 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. ♦ " I was a wayward child ; I once preferred to roam ; But now I love my Father's voice — I love, I love his home." It gives me pleasure to add my tribute of love and respect to the memory of two warm-hearted, active men, who were here my fellow-laborers in the work of the Lord — Rev. Mr. Robinson, of the Brussels Street church, and Rev. Mr. De Mill. As we labored together in that precious revival, we did not know which of us held the longest lease of life ; but now, only a few years have passed, and they have been summoned across the swellings of Jordan, to give an account of their stewardship, and, I believe, have been welcomed to the "mansions" of the blessed, and have received the approval, " Well done." After preaching a hundred times in St. John, I went up the St. John River, to labor a short time at Burton. The quiet ride on the broad bosom of that beau- tiful, majestic stream, lined as it was on either side with so much to attract and delight the eye, seemed a fitting introduction to the sweet and holy scenes of the work of grace that followed. At one point, high, rocky cliffs pictured their ragged forms in the clear mirror at their feet, while from the opposite side a thick forest let down its waving image upon BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 57 the river's surface. At another turn of the river the Indians had taken temporary possession of the land, by placing here and there little conical wig- wams, built of poles and bark, from the top of which we could imagine the curling smoke was bearing upward with it to the " Great Spirit " curses upon the white man for destroying the hunting-grounds of the red man. Again the pic- ture changed, and we looked out upon highly culti- vated farms, with their green meadows and fields of yellow grain gently sloping from the hills on either side. After such a ride, with the thoughts it would naturally suggest, any one ought to be better fitted to go to work in a revival meeting. While at Burton, the meetings were held every other day on the opposite side of the river, which we were obliged to cross in boats ; so day after day we passed back and forth, from side to side, but always realizing the presence of the same blessed Spirit, melting and uniting our hearts. While we were engaged in prayer one afternoon, a man, about sixty years of age, who had cursed us and our meetings, was so convicted of sin while at work in his field near the place of meeting, that he left his team and came where we were, crying for •mercy, and saying, "0,1 am such a sinner ! Can God forgive such a sinner? Will you pray for 58 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. me?" Yes, we could pray for him. There was efficacy enough in the blood of Jesus to wash away even his sins. He was soon rejoicing in the Sa- vior's love. Frequently more than a hundred carriages could be seen about the place of meeting, many persons riding fifteen or twenty miles to be present. The churches there were accustomed to receive converts as soon as they gave evidence of a change of heart, and on two occasions there were so many to be baptized that I was one of five ministers engaged in baptizing at the same time and place. One Sabbath afternoon, when I was expecting to preach my closing sermon in the evening and leave for home the next day, not less than three hundred anxious souls requested us to pray for them, many of them rising for prayer in their carriages and on the ground outside of the meeting-house, as not more than half of the congregation, it was believed, were able to get inside. Here was a trial for me. My family needed my attention, for it was time for us to return home ; these three hundred anxious souls also had a claim upon me. My duty seemed to be to go home with my family, and then return to the province. This I did, and preached one hundred and fifty times more. From Burton I went to Frederickton, the capital BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 59 of New Brunswick, where, during our meeting of two weeks, we enjoyed the presence of the Holy Spirit, and trust many souls found peace in Christ. Many leading men, occupying positions of trust and influence, were actively engaged with us in the Master's service. At Grand Lake almost every person seemed to be awakened and interested in religion ; the un- godly sought to know Christ, and Christians to know him better. From ten to thirty ministers were generally pres- ent with us, many believing they and their churches would be more benefited in the end by their re- maining in our meeting. I found them a noble class to work with. May God bless the ministers of New Brunswick ! I went out at midnight, near my boarding-place, while at Grand Lake, and could distinctly hear the voice of prayer in the houses, in the barns, in the fields, and in the streets. Sometimes I could hear anxious persons praying in the chamber, in the kitchen, and in the parlor of the house where I stopped, at one o'clock at night. Very late one night, ten men and women, deeply concerned about their souls, were assembled at my boarding-place, desiring me to point out to them the "way of life." I had already conversed and 60 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. prayed with so many during the day and evening that nature was almost exhausted, and, after a few words with them, I said, "I can do no more. You know the way to Jesus. Go into that room alone, and pray for yourselves." They did so; and while I rested, those ten persons were praying for them- selves, without a Christian with them. In the course of an hour they all came out of the room with bright faces, rejoicing in the pardoning love of Jesus. On the seventh morning of my stay at Grand Lake, a large number of ministers and others came together for a friendly greeting and exchange of good wishes ; and, after several prayers had been offered, nearly all accompanied me to the shore of the lake, where a vessel was waiting. With a warm grasp of the hand, and a sweet, parting hymn, we separated, to meet next at the judgment- seat of our Eedeemer. After holding six or eight three-days meetings in different parts of the province, which God crowned with his rich blessing, I took the last steamer going to Boston that winter, and returned to my home, full of gratitude for my visit to New Brunswick. One incident of our visit will show the large- heartedness of this good people. Soon after our arrival at St. John, we thought it would be pleasant BRIJSGING IN SHEAVES. 61 to spend a few weeks at a summer resort near the city, on the shore of the Bay of Fundy. Some of the citizens, learning of our wish, took the matter out of our hands, and themselves secured and com- fortably furnished a house for us about two miles out of the city, where we passed seven weeks very pleasantly, many bringing to my family such things as they thought for their comfort, while I preached each day in the city. When we were ready to leave, the people came again and carried the furniture back, refusing any compensation for what they had done. This and many other generous expressions of their good feeling towards me and my family have bound my heart to the people there, and my visit will be treasured among the pleasantest recollec- tions of my life. I have a strong desire to visit them again, and spend another season of labor there ; but, if not permitted to realize this, I can say, — " Sweet is the thought, the promise sweet, That friends, long-severed friends, shall meet; That kindred souls, on earth disjoined, Shall meet, from earthly dross refined, Their mortal cares and sorrows o'er, And mingle hearts, to part no more." 62 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. CHAPTER V. SERMON.— JOY RESTORED. " Restore unto me the Jot of thy Salvation." Psalm li. 12. THE Psalmist does not say, " Restore unto me salvation," — he had salvation already; nor, "Restore my hope," — he had a good hope; nor, "Restore me to thy family," — he had not left the family of his Lord; no, this is the burden of his heart : "I do not enjoy religion as I used to, conse- quently I cannot teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners are not converted through my influence ; therefore, * Restore unto me the joy of thy salva- tion.'" We may have wealth, and not enjoy it. Every earthly source of comfort may surround us, and yet we derive but little comfort from them. We may be miserable in the most costly and magnifi- cent home. So we may be regenerated, truly members of Christ's family, and at the same time be unhappy. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 63 We may be heirs of heaven, and, while journeying here below, have in our possession the key to our Father's rich storehouse, and yet be fretful and complaining, having just religion enough to make ourselves and our friends miserable. My aim in this discourse will be to show that it is the duty of every Christian to enjoy the fullness of Christ's love. I. Eeligion is a joyful subject in itself. It " Never was designed To make our pleasures less." There is enough to make the Christian always joy- ful, in the mere fact that he has been taken " out of a horrible pit," and placed upon the solid "Bock ; " that he has exchanged rags and tilth for purity and robes of matchless beauty ; that he has been made an actual possessor of " all things " in lieu of pov- erty and bankruptcy. It is not strange that young Christians say, as I remember I used to, sometimes, " I wonder why old saints don't sing, And make the heavenly arches ring With loud hosannas to their King." The love of Jesus gladdens the soul as naturally as fire produces heat. Everything about it is joy- ful : no sorrow, no gloom, not even a shadow ; its fruits are " love, joy, and peace." So that when 64 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. the fullness of Christ's love is ours, we cannot be unhappy, anywhere, living or dying. " Great peace have they which love thy law." Home is pleasanter ; friends are dearer ; life is worth more ; the business, the social, and the do- mestic relations, all things around and above, are made brighter by this love. What Christian, then, who is not now resting in Jesus by faith, does not desire to join in David's prayer, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salva- tion?" Another reason why we should enjoy the fullness of Christ's love is : We dishonor him every hour we live without it. The Christian represents Jesus to the world. He bears his image. If he wears a gloomy, sad face, the unconverted are repelled from his Mas- ter. Men must judge of religion by those who are considered its possessors ; and they will embrace or reject it according to the manner in wmich it is exhibited before them. If I were to carry from a picture gallery the photograph of a man well known to you, as one who always wore a bright, happy face, and yet the picture represented him with a sad, gloomy expres- sion, would you not, although there were traces of the man's features in the picture, go reluctantly, if BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 65 at all, to that gallery for your own picture? What greater injury could I do that establishment than by carrying about that picture ? So, when a Christian carries about a sad, dejected countenance, he misrepresents religion : the im- penitent, especially the young among them, say, when they see his gloomy face, "Religion may be good for the aged, the sick, and the dying, but not for the youthful and the vigorous." O, how wrong this impression ! Religion is, in- deed, good for the sick, the dying, and the aged, and still better for those in health, and for those in the morning of life ! My dear Christian friend, you have no right to be seen anywhere, either on the street or at your home, at the social gathering or about your busi- ness, wearing a gloomy face. Do you ask, "Would you not have us weep?" Most certainly you should weep. Jesus wept ; the apostles wept; the prophets wept; Christians, in all ages, have wept ; a heart that embraces in its sym- pathies the wants and woes of a world cannot help weeping. We were unworthy the name of men and women, much more that of Christians, did we never weep. But let our tears run over a shining face ; let all see that religion makes our hearts peaceful and happy, even while we weep over lost sinners, or mourn the death of our loved ones. 66 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. " From those celestial springs Such streams of pleasure flow, As no increase of riches brings, Nor honors can bestow." Only, then, when the Christian has the fullness of Christ's love in his heart does he truly represent religion ; his first duty, therefore, to Jesus and to the world, is, to obtain this blessing, this unfailing source of constant peace and joy and well-doing. Nothing has such an effect on the wicked. If I were preaching in a house that would accom- modate thousands of people, and wished to see it filled, and to hear within its walls the cries of anx- ious souls, I would not rely upon eloquence, or argument, or eccentricities, but rather upon gather- ing around me a company of Christians who were living in the full enjoyment of religion. Every countenance would be lighted up with happiness, and the only way in which young converts could be distinguished from older Christians would be by the fact that the latter were the brighter and hap- pier of the two classes, inasmuch as they knew and enjoyed more of Christ's love. The wicked, cold professors, people of every class, would surely be attracted, and the place crowded, for happiness, like a magnet, attracts people towards its possessor, and the happiness of the Christian the most powerfully of all, BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 67 since it is the purest, the deepest, and the only abiding. And it would not be long before you would hear some impenitent man say, "I hope the minister will not do all the talking to-night ; I want to hear the deacons, and those Christians who have been mem- bers of the church so many years, they do look so happy." Another would say, " There is deacon B. ; I heard him speak last night ; his voice, manner, and coun- tenance seemed different from what they used to. I know he is enjoying religion, and I wish I was, it does make these Christians so happy. "There is that man just in front of the pulpit; and, by the way, I have not seen him sit there, be- fore, in a long time ; he used to be very stiff and solemn — never laughed himself, and never wanted others to laugh ; but now he looks genial, humble, and happy, and really seems to love everybody, and to desire to see them feel and look happy. I like him now ; in fact, I believe I used to judge him too severely." Thus does the happy Christian make religion at- tractive. He is a different man from what he was when he did not have the joy of religion ; " Jesus, all the day long, Is his joy and his song. His power over wicked men has increased a hun- 68 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. d red fold. It is the power of love — glowing, burning love to Jesus and to a lost world. He is no longer a shrinking, cringing disciple : that wicked timidity, behind which he used to hide and excuse himself from duty, is gone. A humble but holy boldness has taken its place. Like the sun, he throws off light and warmth along his path. In his home and in his business he makes all about him more happy, and attracts them towards Jesus. I recall a striking illustration of this : During a meeting in w T hich I was engaged in one of the sub- urban towns of Boston, a lady, connected with one of the city churches, but residing in that place, found she was not the humble, happy Christian she once was. She came to me, asking how she might obtain anew the joy of salvation ; she felt she loved Jesus, but so faintly that the warmth and power of that love were gone. The conflict was long and severe. On one occasion, she said to me, "My husband has become sceptical. He rejects the Bible. It is of no use to speak to him. I have scarcely any hope of his being converted. But, O that I could enjoy the Savior's love as I used to ! " At length the desire of her heart was granted, and all the joy of her first love to Jesus was re- stored to her. And now, though she had been a Christian, and BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 69 a kind, careful wife and mother, she seemed almost like another person. The false representations of religion were ended. Its sweetness and happiness shone in every feature of her face, gave melody to the tones of her voice, and added a new charm to all she did. She went about the house singing the songs of Zion. Anything that was not sinful, that would make her husband happier and her home pleasanter, she cheerfully performed, saying but little, how- ever, about the change in her feelings ; she did not need to, it was so apparent. Her husband saw it, and compared her present state with her past. Somehow this led him to look into his own heart. The conviction was forced upon him that religion was a reality, and one he could not do without. Some four days after this change in his wife, I called on him, to learn why he rejected the Bible and religion. I asked him to be frank with me, and tell me if he had no desire to be a Christian. He replied, "Mr. Earle, I have said nothing about it to my wife ; but, sir, I feel I am a lost sinner, and if you will pray for me, I will kneel down with you right here." And, pointing to his wife, who was at that moment passing through the room, with the tears on her bright face, he con- tinued, "That woman, my own dear wife, has had more power over me for a few days past than 70 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. everything else put together. She has been a professor of religion for years, but I knew she did not enjoy religion ; and I said, if that was all there was in religion, I did not want it. But, for the last few days, she has looked and acted almost like an angel ; and, sir, I cannot stand it ; there is a power in her sweet, happy face that melts my heart. I cannot withstand the attraction of such a religion." And all this because the joy of salvation was re- stored to the heart of that Christian wife ! O, the power of Christ's love when it burns and glows in the heart ! And perhaps some pious wife who hears me now has gone alone to the table of our Lord, for many long years, just because her love to Jesus has been feeble and faint, and, consequently, her representation of religion unattractive and false. Some of these parents have not seen their chil- dren converted, for no other reason than that they have not had the joy of salvation filling their hearts and running over in their lives ; they are Christ's own redeemed ones, but do not live as becomes his family, every member of which ought to be a well- spring of joy, pouring its streams of gladness into every heart within its reach. So, in every department of Christian labor and responsibility, believers fail of success for this same BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 71 reason ; they may work and pray much, but all avails very little if the fullness of Christ's love be wanting. Another reason why Christians should enjoy the fullness of Christ's love is, The church cannot other- wise take care of converts. In the divine arrangement, the church is the mother of Christ's redeemed children. The most suitable place for the new-born babe is in its mother's arms. The infant Moses was, by the appointment of God, returned to his mother to be nursed, inasmuch as she loved him most, and would, therefore, give him the best care. So God has ordered that the church shall take care of and nourish the young converts. The re- quisite love and sources of nourishment have been given by him to the church, and to her alone. So that if she is negligent of her converts, they have no other resource, and will droop, and sink into a state of inactivity and spiritual death. If, then, the church loses the warmth of her love to Christ, and becomes cold, she commits a great wrong, inasmuch as she can never do her duty to her members, nor take care of young converts, should they connect with her, if she is in a luke- warm state. It is on this account that many young members become indifferent to the ordinances of God's house, 72 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. forsake the prayer-meeting, and finally leave the church of Christ altogether ; so that the guilt, in part, rests upon the older members. They do not enjoy the fullness of Christ's love. It is plainly the duty, therefore; of every Chris- tian *who does not now enjoy the fullness of Christ's love, to offer, from the depths of the heart, the prayer of our text, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; " not only that he may teach trans- gressors the way of salvation, and see sinners con- verted unto God, but also that converts may be nourished and tenderly cared for when they come into the church. So true it is that Christians cannot do their duty towards young converts unless they are enjoying the fullness of Christ's love. This is still more important for a minister. He 2an bring into his sermons no substitute for the warm, glowing love of Jesus. He may become pale and careworn with study ; he may visit and labor among his people ; he may give his time and talents entirely to the work ; but yet he will not be successful in winning souls until his heart is filled with holy love. Christ will say to him, as he did to the church at Ephesus, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." He had but one thing against them, — they did not love him as they once did. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 73 And in the case of the Laocliceans, he would rather have them array themselves against him than live in a lukewarm condition. And it is not uncommon to see churches dying out, apparently because they are in the same state as those two ancient churches. Their members do not enjoy religion ; the love of Christ is a mere spark on the hearthstone of their hearts, and, consequently, they will not and cannot do their duty to those around them. From such churches Christ seems to turn away, not only because he is grieved, but also because they are fruitless, and a dishonor to his cause. Many a minister of good talents and character, and who is willing to work hard in his calling, is moving about from place to place, unsuccessful, and unable often to obtain even a support, because his heart is not filled with the love of Christ. But let him obtain that blessing and he becomes a new man. The tone of his voice is changed ; his coun- tenance beams with 'peace ; his heart is warm ; his preaching tender and persuasive ; even his old ser- mons are delivered with a new and strange power and charm ; the empty seats in his church fill up ; new and warmer friends gather about him ; con- versions are continually occurring under his labors, and the people say, "He seems like another man." The love of Jesus has developed, warmed, and 74 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. energized all his powers, and made him humble, and yet courageous for the truth. The Spirit has opened his eyes, that he may un- derstand the Scriptures. He has been " endued from on high " with the power of love. The blessed Spirit accompanies all his labors. He gathers many souls into the " fold," has a foretaste of heaven while here on earth, and, at last, goes to his final reward, where he hears the Master say, "Well done." An incident in my own experience, some twenty years ago, taught me a lesson I shall never forget : I commenced a series of meetings in a town in New York, with the Congregational and Baptist churches united. I thought myself fully prepared for the work, and entered into it looking for imme- diate and large results. My first aim was to preach so as to lead the churches nearer to Christ. Accordingly I prepared five sermons for Christians, as clear and pointed as I knew how to make them. The first four had no apparent effect. I wondered at it. The fifth was prepared with a scorpion in the lash ; it was a severe one, and the last harsh sermon I have preached, and the last I ever expect to preach; but this, too, was powerless. I then went to my closet, and there on my knees asked Jesus what could be the difficulty with those BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 75 Christians. It did not enter my mind that the trouble could be anywhere else than among them. I had preached with tears in my eyes, and been anxious to see a revival, and had no thought but that the preacher was in a right state. But there in my closet God revealed to me my own heart, showing me that the difficulty was with myself, and not with the church ; I found myself as cold as those I was trying to benefit. My tears, even in the pul- pit, had been like water running from the top of a cake of ice when the warm rays of the sun are fall- ing upon its surface, but which becomes hard and cold again as soon as the sun goes down. I told the Congregational pastor of what I had discovered, and asked him the condition of his own heart. He frankly confessed that he was in the same state as myself. We prayed together several times. I felt that I could not live in that state and accomplish much. Accordingly I went home and shut myself in my room, resolved to spend the night in prayer, if necessary. O, the struggle of that night ! Hour after hour I wrestled alone with God. My heart had been full of coldness, and I not aware of it. No wonder the churches had not come up to the work ! I renewed ly and repeatedly gave myself to the Savior, determined not to let the angel depart until my heart was filled and melted with the love 76 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. of Jesus. Towards morning the victory came. The ice was all broken, melted, and carried away; the warmth and glow of my " first love " filled my heart ; the current of feeling was changed and deepened; the joy of salvation was restored. In the morning I went out, took the unconverted by the hand, and said the same things as on days previous ; but now they were melted to tears over their sin and danger. I prepared and preached another sermon to the churches — no lash, nothing harsh about it. They broke down, confessed their own need of a special preparation of heart, and gave themselves anew to the work, which from that hour went forward rapidly and successfully. Thus I learned the necessity of having my heart filled with the love of Christ, if I would see the salvation of the Lord follow ray labors. Since then I have spoken kindly of ministers w 7 ho do not see the conversions for which they labor. Yet I am convinced, and more and more every year, that generally the fault is in the min- ister's own heart, — coldness, growing out of the absence of the joy of salvation. I have thus tried to present some of the reasons why Christians should enjoy the fullness of Christ's love. We ought to look upon it as the greatest privilege, the most desirable of all our blessings, BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 77 rather than as a duty from which we, perhaps, would turn away, if we could ; for we do not attain solid happiness, abiding rest, and sweet peace until the fullness of that love is ours. O, how differently, too, everything looks to us then ! Our complaints cease ; we cannot retain hard feelings towards any one ; all is peace and love at home and away from home ; and we speak tenderly even of those we think have done us an injury. In a town where I was engaged in a meeting, several members had left the church because of a certain resolution it had passed. One of them came to me one evening, as I was about to dismiss the congregation, and, with much earnestness, asked me to request the church to wait a few minutes, until he had (to use his own words) "given them a blowing up ; they have abused me," said he, "and cannot be blessed until they acknowl- edge it, and undo what they have done." I asked him if he would not defer his speech, inasmuch as it would have an injurious effect on the meetings just at that stage in their progress. He consented to wait a few days. He came again at the expira- tion of the time ; but again was prevailed upon to wait. He was a good man, and I knew if God restored unto him the joy of salvation, he would feel and talk differently. Before long his wife came forward for prayer. I 78 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. asked him to pray for her. He did so ; and in that prayer the draft was opened for the fire to burn in his bosom, and, in a short time, the love of Christ filled his heart. Everything then began to look differently to him. All his old love for the church came back. Again he asked to speak to the church. The privilege was readily granted. With a happy face and a humble, loving spirit, he said to them, "If you can consent to receive me back, I will return, and will say nothing about my old complaint — lam satisfied to let it pass." So changed did everything seem, when he had the joy of religion in his heart. My dear Christian hearer, let me ask, Are you now enjoying the fullness of Christ's love ? Were you ever nearer Jesus than you are at present ? Have you that same tender, happy heart you once had? Or is it the case that you were never very happy in Jesus' love ? In either case, — whether you have less love and joy than you once had, or have never known much happiness in your religious experience, — do not rest until you can say, " My cup runneth over." The effort to regain your first love may, and no doubt will, cost you more than it did to be converted. You will be like a man who has strayed away from his lantern — he must travel in the dark, until he finds it. Or like the woman BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 79 spoken of in the gospel, who, having lost one of her ten pieces of silver, was obliged to search long and diligently, making at the same time all her other property and labors secondary, until she found it ; but she found it at length, and was happy — so happy that she called her friends and neighbors together to rejoice with her ; and you will be happy when you have regained the joy of salvation, and you will want those around you to rejoice with you. Let me, then, in conclusion, say to each believer who is within the sound of my voice, Be thorough in the examination of the state of your heart ; not now as to the evidences of your hope, but as to your love to Jesus, — whether you have all your first love, and all the increase thereof which you may and ought to have. Is it as pleasant and as easy as it used to be to speak to the impenitent, and warn them of their danger? Are the closet and the prayer-meeting as dear to you as they once were? If not, let me urge you to go to Jesus, as you did when you felt yourself a lost sinner. Ask Christians to pray with and for 3^011. Do not offer another cold, half-hearted prayer to God. Go down to the lowest door of mercy, and knock, and seek, and ask importunately, until you feel your heart running over with the fullness of Jesus' love, and then ask and receive the grace to abide in that 80 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. blessed condition until you are transferred to that home on high where there is fullness of joy for- everinore. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Amen. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 81 CHAPTEE VI. INCIDENTS. "Ma, give him my two one-dollaks." AT the close of a series of meetings in Spring- field, Mass., a mother handed me a little girl's picture wrapped in two one-dollar bills, at the same time relating the following touching incident : — Her only child, at the age of six years, gave her heart to the Savior, giving, as the pastor with whom I was laboring said, the clearest evidence of conversion. At once she went to her mother and said, "Ma, I have given my heart to Jesus and he has received me; now, won't you give your heart to him?" (The parents were both unconverted at the time.) The mother replied, "I hope I shall some time, dear Mary." The little girl said, "Do it now, ma," and urged the mother, with all her childlike earnest- ness, to give herself to the Savior then. 6 82 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. Finding she could not prevail in that way, she sought to secure a promise from her mother, feel- ing sure she would do what she promised ; for her parents had made it a point never to make her a promise without carefully fulfilling it. So time after time she would say, " Promise me, ma ; " and the mother would reply, " I do not like to promise you, Mary, for fear I shall not fulfill." This request was urged at times for nearly six years, and finally the little petitioner had to die to secure the promise. Several times during her sickness the parents came to her bedside to see her die, saying to her, "You are dying now, dear Mary." But she would sa}^, "No, ma, I can't die till you promise me." Still her mother was unwilling to make the promise, lest it should not be kept. She intended to give her heart to Jesus some time, but was unwilling to do it " now." Mary grew worse, and finally had uttered her last word on earth : her mother was never again to hear that earnest entreaty, "Promise me, ma." But the little one's spirit lingered, as if it were detained by the angel sent to lead her mother to Jesus, that the long-sought promise might be heard before it took its flight. The weeping mother stood watching the counte- nance of the dying child, who seemed to say, by her BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 83 look, "Ma, promise me, and let me go to Jesus." There was a great struggle in her heart as she said to herself, " Why do I not promise this child ? I mean to give my heart to Jesus ; why not now ? If I do not promise her now, I never can." The Spirit inclined her heart to yield. She roused her child, and said, " Mary, I will give my heart to Jesus." This was the last bolt to be drawn ; her heart was now open, and Jesus entered at once, and she felt the joy and peace of sins forgiven. This change was so marked, she felt constrained to tell the good news to her child, that she might bear it with her when she went to live with Jesus ; so, calling her attention once more, she said, "Mary, I have given my heart to Jesus, and he is my Savior now." For six years Mary had been praying to God and pleading with her mother for these words ; and now, as they fell upon her ear, a peaceful smile lighted up her face, and, no longer able to speak, she raised her little, pale hand, and pointing upward, seemed to say, "Ma, we shall meet up there." Her life's work was done, and her spirit returned to Him who gave it. The mother's heart was full of peace, though her loved one had gone. She now felt very anxious that her husband should have this blessing which she found in Christ. 84 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. The parents went into the room where the remains were resting, to look upon the face of her who slept so sweetly in death, when the mother said, " Husband, I promised our little Mary that I would give my heart to Jesus, and he has received me. Now, won't you promise?" The Holy Spirit was there. The strong man resisted for a while, then yielded his will, and taking the little cold hand in his, kneeled and said, " Jesus, I will try to seek thee." The child's remains were laid in the grave. The parents were found in the house of prayer — the mother happy in Jesus, and the father soon having some evidence of love to Christ. When I closed my labors in Springfield, Dr. Ide said to his congregation, " I hope you will all give brother Earle some token of your regard for his services before he leaves." As this mother heard these words, she said she could, as it were, see her little Mary's hand pointing down from heaven, and hear her sweet voice saying, "Ma, give him my two one-dollars." Those two one-dollars I have now, wrapped around the picture of that dear child, and wherever I go, little Mary will speak for the Savior. Eeader, is there not some loved one now point- ing down from heaven and saying to you, " Give your heart to Jesus " ? Are you loving some BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 85 earthly object more than Jesus ? God may sever that tie — may take away your little Mary, or Willie, or some dear friend. Will you not come to Jesus, without such a warning? " Tky it on me." We were in the midst of an interesting series of meetings in Oneonta, New York. Among those attending from no promising motives, was Mr. Olin, a lawyer of marked ability and influence in the town. One evening, at the close of the sermon, when an opportunity was given for remarks, Mr. Olin rose, and, in a bold and defiant tone, said, " Mr. Earle, I have heard you speak repeatedly in these meetings of the ' power of prayer,' and I don't believe a word of it ; but if you want to try a hard case, take me." I said, "Mr. Olin, if you will come to the front seat, we will pray for you now." He replied, " I will do nothing of the kind ; but if you have ' power in prayer,' try it on me." Before closing the meeting, I requested all who were willing, to go to their closets at a given hour, and pray earnestly for Mr. Olin; and I requested I im to remember, at that hour, that we were pray- ing for him. The second or third evening after this, Mr. Olin 86 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. rose in our meeting, and urged us to pray for him. I asked him if he would come forward and let us pray with him; he said, "Yes, anywhere, if God will only have mercy on so great a sinner." In a few days he was a rejoicing Christian, and soon after sold his law books, and became a preacher of the gospel. He is now a presiding elder in the Methodist church. "She will never call me 'father' again." A few years ago I was laboring in a town in the State of New York. Living near the place was a man bitterly opposed to religion and religious meetings — an enemy of Jesus, though a kind father. He could not be induced to attend our meetings or seek the Savior. The idol of his heart was a little daughter, just beginning to call him father. When at home, he spent much of his time holding or carrying her about the house ; so that whenever he came in sight, she would hold up her little hands and say, "Pa, come," or "Pa, take me." He loved to hear that voice, and heed that call, but the gentle call of the " still, small voice " found no answer in his heart, until God severed the delicate cords that bound little Josephine to earth. God seemed to place her coffin across the father's BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 87 life-path, to warn him of death and a judgment to come. At her funeral I made some remarks from these words, " Suffer little children to come unto me." I said, "Parents, if you want your little children tenderly cared for, if you wish to give them every possible opportunity for intellectual and moral im- provement, if you want to know they are in the best society — Jesus says, Let them come and live with me." At the close of the services in the house, the coffin was placed on a table in the yard, that the large number present might look upon the face of the little sleeper, as she lay among the beauti- ful flowers arranged by loving hands. When all others had looked at the remains, the father came to look for the last time upon the face of her whom he had loved so tenderly. For a few moments he stood in silence, looking upon that marble countenance, his tears falling upon her face ; then, as if his grief could be endured no longer, he sobbed out, in the most heart-rending manner, " She will never call me * father ' again ! She will, never call me ? father ' again ! " All around him were weeping. When asked if the coffin could be closed, he replied, " No, you must not close this coffin." " O, the little darling will never call me ' father ' again ! " 88 BRINGING IN SUE A VES. He finally consented to have the coffin closed. I went to the grave ; and, returning to his home, was sitting with him in his parlor, when he saw some book or plaything belonging to his daughter, and, springing up and walkiug the floor, he ex- claimed, " She will never call me * father ' again." Asking his attention for a few moments, I said to him, "I am not sure your little Josephine will never call you * father ' again. She is now walking the 'golden streets,' and perhaps is this moment saying, < I wish my dear father was up here — it is so beautiful.' If you should be converted and go to heaven, the very first voice you would hear on your arrival there might be your loved Josephine's, saying, ' O, my dear father, have you come to live with me in heaven ? ' " Soon he became calm, and appeared thoughtful for a while, and then deliberately said, "By the grace of God I will seek Jesus ; I will." He sought and found a precious Savior, was found in the house of prayer, and the last I knew of him, was preaching the glorious gospel of the blessed God; and little Josephine, who is waiting "across the river," may again call him " father." "E'en the hour that darkest seemeth Will his changeless goodness prove; From the gloom his brightness streameth; God is wisdom, God is love." BRINGING IN SHEAVES. g9 CHAPTER VII. REVIVAL GLEANINGS — CONTINUED. AMSTERDAM, N. Y. —At the urgent request of Christians of different denominations, I commenced a series of meetings in Sanford Hall, April 22, 1858. In several of the churches, meetings had been held nearly every evening, for some months, and only one hopeful conversion reported during the time. Many had been earnestly praying for a few influ- ential men in the place, thinking if they were converted the whole community would be moved. But this did not seem to be God's plan. For many days thick darkness surrounded the meeting. The wicked seemed to say to Christians, "Where is your God?" Alter two weeks of hard labor, God showed us that the cause of the delay was not the hardness of wicked men. Though Christians had been active, and were 90 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. still ready to make any sacrifice for souls, yet they lacked power with God, and, consequently, with men. But they could not be easily convinced that they were not ready for a revival of religion. Many said they were fully in the work, and did not know why the blessing was delayed. Early one morning, all who were willing to lay all on God's altar anew, and seek the fullness of bis love, met in the hall, and, without any known reservation, made a new consecration. They now asked God to convert the men so long prayed for, or in any other way revive his work. The offering was then and there accepted, and one soul was born into the kingdom during that morning meeting. At once the Spirit filled all the place where we were assembled. Instead of the influential men, a group of chil- dren and youth first sought and found the Savior. These young converts now became God's laborers to bring their parents and others to Jesus. It was an affecting scene when the children rose, and, with tearful eyes, requested prayers for fathers or mothers, brothers or sisters. Soon the hall was so crowded that outsiders said, " The building will fall ; it is not safe for so many to enter it." One of the first to bow in submission to Jesns was a young lawyer, who had said to a pious parent, BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 91 "Mother, don't make a fool of yourself by asking prayers for your husband and children." That son became an earnest worker in the cause of Christ, and has since passed to his heavenly home. Joy and peace now filled the hearts of God's people, more than compensating for their previous anxiety. The impenitent seemed awed and sub- dued by the sensible presence of the Spirit. A young man remarked to one who had been an active worker in the meetings from the first, " I supposed religion made one gloomy ; but the last few nights at the hall have convinced me that Christians have joys sinners know nothing of." The young man has since fallen in battle, and the brother to whom he made this remark has also gone to his reward. Anions: the rich fruits of that "hall meeting" was the organization of a Young Men's Christian Association, which has been kept up for ten years, with great interest and profit. A Saturday evening prayer meeting, started at that time, has been sustained through all these years by the young ladies, who have felt that it was " a sweet hour of prayer." Abington, Mass. — With its four villages, some- what noted for good schools and large shoe manu- factories, Abington, like any manufacturing town, 92 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. is an important centre of influence, since it employs many persons whose homes are in other towns, and who, consequently, carry away with them the good or evil influences received. Hence the added im- portance of the great awakening throughout this town in the winter of 1856-57. The meetings began in that part called East Abington. The congregation at first was very small. It was at a thinly attended afternoon meeting that the few praying ones seemed to "get hold of God," as it were, with a feeling that their prayers had been heard, and the power of God was about to be felt in the town. During the progress of this afternoon meeting, a scoffing infidel, in his store, was so wrought upon by the Spirit of God, — had such a sense of his sinfulness, and felt so certain that he must spend eternity in the world of despair, — that he thought he would go out and end his present miseries by taking his own life. But his second thought was, that there would be no use in that; he recollected to have heard Christians say that the worst of sinners might find pardon and peace in Christ, and he said, "I will accept Christ as my Savior, and devote myself to his service." God heard the prayer which followed that resolu- tion ; and at our meeting in the evening we were much surprised and rejoiced, when he stood before us, a witness of God's pardoning grace. BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 93 A wealthy business man in the place had left his office for a game of billiards. With the game un- finished he went home to dine, and before leaving his house went into the cellar to arrange his furnace ; and while there was so stricken down under the power of God, that he felt hardly able to leave the house, but thought he must go and finish his game. As he went out, he met at the gate the converted infidel, spoken of above, who said to him, " Come with me to meeting." He re- plied, "I will;" and went, and became a follower of Jesus. He is to-day a strong pillar in the Con- gregational church. South Apington. — Here was to be a trial of faith. The w^ay seemed fully prepared, the people ready. A large number gathered at our first meeting, and I said we might look for a great work of grace ; that we would soon see the aisles filled. We went home that night with glad hearts, confident that the work was going right on with great success. But the next morning all was changed. A ter- rible snow-storm had shut us out of the church and in our homes. For six successive days I preached in a private parlor at my boarding-place, only a few rods from the church, to perhaps ten or fifteen persons. About the seventh day the snow had melted and 94 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. drifts settled so that the church was opened, and we came together again. * But the Spirit of God had been at work upon the hearts of the people while they were shut up at home. The Lord had made " the clouds his chariot," the storm and tempest messengers of his coming. No time seemed to have been lost. At the first or second meeting one hundred persons requested our prayers for their conversion. And for weeks the work went forward with increasing power, de- veloping Christian zeal and love, and carrying the joy of pardon to all ages and classes among the kind people of that quiet village. Centre Abington. — The meetings here were in the Congregational church, and were much like those in other parts of the town, except that a larger proportion of the converts were men hard- ened in sin, and whom we least expected. One young man, who professed to be a Univer- salist, came into the meeting one evening for the purpose of getting something to make sport of, as he afterwards told us. But he went out, at the close of the service, under deep conviction for sin, was converted, and is now preaching the everlasting gospel. Men almost given up as hopeless knelt among BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 95 the anxious, by the side of little children from the Sabbath school, and together they were heard re- joicing in hope. Many were the homes gladdened by this precious work of grace. Around some hearthstones the family gathered for the first time to establish an altar of prayer; in many others, new voices joined in the sacred services. It may be interesting to some to know how I came to labor in Abington, inasmuch as my first meeting in the State of Massachusetts was held in this town. Brother William Everett, at that time pastor of a' small church in the town, had previously met me in New York, and from that time had felt a great de- sire to have me labor with him. But his church being small, and hardly able to meet current expenses, he did not feel free to ask me to help him. Still he did not give up the hope of some time having the meeting; and, while he considered the subject and prayed over it, his prayers were an- swered, and a way opened in a manner quite differ- ent from his expectations. One of Boston's well known Christian merchants, an active and generous leader among the laymen of the Baptist denomination, spent a night with brother Everett, and during the evening was made ac- quainted with the wants of the church and the de- 96 Bringing in sheaves. sire of the pastor. The next morning he handed fifty dollars to brother Everett, saying, " Send for brother Earle to come and preach fifty dollars' worth." The gift was accepted, further arrange- ments made, and, before many months, the town was enjoying the precious revival just sketched. Eter- nity alone can reveal the influence of that fifty dollars, given to promote the cause of the Re- deemer, by one who was then a stranger to me, but now one of my dearest and most valued friends, George W. Chipman. Haverhill, Mass. — The " Boston Recorder " (since united with the " Congregationalist ") said of this meeting, "The revival of religion in this vicinity has been, thus far, one of unusual interest aud power. Rev. Mr. Earle commenced preaching in the Third Baptist church (Rev. B. Wheeler's), in Haverhill, the latter part of April. . . . Short- ly after the coming of Mr. Earle, five churches (three Congregational and two Baptist) joined in a union meeting under his special direction. " The meetings were held in the different places of worship belonging to these churches, as circum- stances seemed to require. They had hardly begun before marked tokens of the Spirit's presence were manifest, especially upon the members of the churches. Great solemnity, a new spirit of self- BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 97 consecration, of humility, of devotion, seemed to fill all hearts. " Soon sinners became anxious, the inquiry meetings began to be numerously attended, con- versions multiplied, and the whole community was shaken as by the power of God. "More than two hundred inquirers and recent converts were gathered in one room more than once during these meetings. There was little need of urging persons to make themselves known as in- quirers, for multitudes seemed anxious to take any and every step that might help them to come to Christ. "There was no noisy excitement, no groanings or outcries ; but there were tears, and prayers, and earnest exhortations, and pungent sermons, and clear, pointed directions to the sinner, and deep, solemn earnestness. " The result has been most happy in this entire community. The number of conversions I cannot state exactly. Judging from observation among my own people, I should think there must be from three to four hundred in this immediate vicinity, that, in the judgment of charity, have passed from death unto life. . . . " Almost all the pupils in the Female Academy at Bradford, that were not already Christians, have luring this revival become hopefully converted. 7 98 BRINGING IN SUEAVES. "The work now seems to be extending to the towns around us, and some two hundred hopeful converts are reported from the different churches within ten or fifteen miles of us." At the close of the meetings in Haverhill, the pastors, and recent converts and others, united with me in visiting some of the churches in the country around. Large wagons were fitted up, some of them carrying fifty persons, and in this way we visited five churches, holding meetings through one day and evening with each. I preached short sermons, after which those Chris- tians accompanying me talked, and prayed, and sung. God blessed these means wonderfully, in the quickening of Christians and the conversion of sinners, until it was believed there were three hundred conversions in the country around Ha- verhill. After visiting these different churches, a final, closing meeting was held in the large town hall, that we might have a few parting words, bid each other " God-speed," and separate to our homes. The ten churches with which I had labored were represented at this meeting. I have on my table a most interesting memento of the precious seasons enjoyed in Haverhill — a very large and richly bound album, holding two hundred photographs. One evening I was invited BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 99 to attend a social gathering to be held in Music Hall. About six hundred persons were present, and in the course of the evening, this album, con- taining photographs of many of the young converts, of the pastors and other friends, was presented to me, accompanied by the best wishes and prayers of a large number of friends. In this album may be seen the picture of an old man bending over a book, as if in deep study, his hair almost white, his cheeks furrowed, his brow a little contracted, and over all a pleasant smile, indicating that there is within, that peace which "passeth all understanding." With his name and his works thousands are familiar. Many an hour has been spent by teacher and pupil studying and worrying over the questions which he has put forth. He has exerted a wide influence in the discipline of youthful minds, and his name is prominent among mathematicians. This good man was a constant attendant of our meetings, an active worker in the cause of Christ, a Christian gentleman. On my occasional visits to the Academy at Brad- ford, to converse -with the young ladies on the subject of religion, he always chose to be my companion. Though he was still active in the Master's service, his work was almost done : to use the expression of good old father Porter, * he stood on the platform, satchel in hand, waiting for the heavenly train.' 100 BRINGING IN SHEAVES Very soon after the close of our meeting the summons came, and he went home ; and there was transferred from the church-book of earth to that of heaven the name of Benjamin Greenleaf. Fall River, Mass. — Seventeen persons were present at my first meeting here ; at the closing meeting there were as many hundred. The interest, at first scarcely perceptible, steadily and rapidly increased up to the last night of the meeting. A very correct idea of these meetings may be gained from the following letter in the New York Observer, of February 21, 1863 : "We are enjoyr ing a glorious work of grace in this city. It com- menced in one of the Baptist churches with the labors of Rev. A. B. Earle, whose success as an evangelist has, for several years past, been so great. An invitation was extended by him and the church to the pastors and members of all evangel- ical churches in the city, to come in and labor together for a general revival throughout the city. A few members from different churches accepted the invitation, and became deeply interested in the work. . . . " The tokens of the approach of God, in his majesty and glory, became apparent. < Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.' Soon the fruits began to BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 101 appear. It was indeed a surprise visit to many of our churches. The promise, * Before they call I will answer ; and while they are yet speaking I will hear,' was fully realized. " Soon converts began to be multiplied, and many were amazed and in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Instead of the war and the condition of the country, which had been so long the all-engrossing theme, religion became the subject of conversation at the corners of the streets, the marts of business, and in the work- shops and mills. All classes and all ages were alike moved, from the little school-child to those who had grown gray in the service of Satan. Such was the power of the Spirit, that the strong oaks of Bashan were made to bow with as much ease as the willows by the watercourses. It is * the Lord's doing, and is marvellous in our eyes.' "In two of the seven churches visited, it was estimated there were one hundred conversions during the last week. Many remarkable answers to prayer, and many deeply interesting religious experiences, have come to our knowledge, but the limits of this communication will not allow of their being specified. Allow me to allude to one of the rich fruits of this blessed work. "Our High School is composed of advanced scholars, many of whom are being fitted for col- 102 BRING TNG IN SHEA VES lege, others for teachers, as well as other spheres of influence, and is, therefore, regarded with pecu- liar interest as containing the flower of our youth. " Last week was vacation, and many of the pupils attended the meetings and were converted. The principal, who, though regarded as a religious man, had never made a profession, nor taken an active part in religious meetings, entered upon his duties the present week, 'filled with the Spirit.' " The scene on Monday morning, on reopening the school, as related by him in one of our meet- ings, was one never to be forgotten. The opening exercises had been, reading the Scriptures and singing ; but he proposed on this occasion adding prayer also. He requested all to bow their heads upon their desks (with which request every one complied), while he led in a prayer, which, as subsequently reported by one of his pupils, seemed divinely inspired. His own choked utterances were responded to by sobs and tears in every part of the house. When the time for recess arrived, there seemed to be no desire for the accustomed sports, but a request was made that one of the recitation-rooms might be occupied for a prayer meeting, where the recent converts spent the time in praying and laboring with their unconverted schoolmates, of whom fifteen or twenty were deeply anxious. BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 103 " It was ascertained that of ninety scholars be- longing to the school, forty-five were hopefully converted, many of whom were giving proof of their high vocation by their earnest labors to bring others to Jesus. Prayer continues to be offered each morning, and teachers and scholars are united in their efforts for the conversion of the whole school. " The work still goes on." It is believed that more than a thousand souls were born again as the fruit of this meeting, and more than half that number connected with the churches in the city, and many with those in the vicinity. Washington, D. C. — The meeting in this city was at the time of the second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, and yet was crowned with a large blessing. There were not so many conver- sions as in many other places, — only about one hundred having given me their names as among the converts ; still I think the work was glorious in its results. The city was full of strangers from all parts of our land ; many of them were reached by the meeting, and heavenly blessings were bestowed upon them, which they carried to their homes and made the means of good to others. Brave soldiers, heroes of many a battle-field, there 104 BRINGING IN SHEAVES put on the " armor of God," and went away to be still better and braver soldiers, under the banner of Jesus. But of all the sweet memories of that meetiug, which come crowding my mind and heart eager for expression, there is room in this sketch for but one : A few days after leaving the city there came to me the following cheering letter : — " Washington, D. C, March 25, 1865. " Dear Brother Earle : "Good news for you! Night before last Hon. Amos Kendall rose in our meetiug and said he believed he was converted many years ago, but obstacles arose which placed him in the dark. Since the meeting you held, he had been very much exercised. " After giving his views of religion, and the duty of all believers in Christ, he said he was determined for the balance of his life to be known as on the' Lord's side, and wished to unite with the church*. He referred to your sermon of last Sabbath, from the words, * Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.'" Mr. Kendall's reasons for uniting with the church may best be learned from one of his own letters ; BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 105 and if they lead those similarly situated carefully to consider them, the publication of this incident will have accomplished its highest purpose : — " Washington, D. C, March 31, 1865. " Key. A. B. Earle. "My dear Sir: ... I have, ever since conver- sion, longed to see a Christian church, the members of which should live religion as well as profess it. In those who formed the ' Calvary Baptist Church ' I thought I saw a company of sincere believers. They were poor, and, without any definite purpose to become one of them, I determined to aid them in working out their destiny. .. . "The impulse which decided me to unite with them was, in part, a belief that I could do more good in the church than out of it, and in part, that my position was in effect a standing argument with the world against Christianity. I felt that I was looked upon and spoken of as a good man, but not a Christian ; involving the plain inference, that to be a good man it was not necessary to be a Christian. " But, my dear sir, I find it very hard to recover that blissful serenity which once pervaded my whole nature. " I ask you to pray for me. Your friend, Amos Kendall." 106 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. A year later, in a letter asking me to assist his pastor in a series of meetings, he writes with much more assurance — the " blissful serenity " of former days - was restored. Obedience to Jesus had opened his heart to a stronger faith and love, and in their train had come joy and peace. The church had been to him a happy home ; and he had been to it an active and strong helper. Distinguished as have been the honors bestowed upon him for his services in our national affairs, and widely as he is known, his generous liberality towards the advancement of the Redeemer's cause will, I think, give a still more enduring honor and precious memory to the name of Amos Kendall. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 107 CHAPTER VIII. INCIDENTS. Sekmon on a Wood-pile. WHILE I was holding a series of union meet- ings in Manchester, N. H., in the early part of 1864, a boy, about fifteen years of age, who was living with a gentleman ten or twelve miles from the city, came to visit his widowed mother, and attended our meetings. The second evening of his attendance he decided to give himself to the Savior. This he did, and at once became an earnest worker in the Master's ser- vice. Soon after this the gentleman with whom he was living came to the city, and desired him to go back with him. "No," he said, " I cannot go while these meetings continue." (No wonder he felt so ! The whole city and region around were being moved by the power of the Spirit ; scores and hundreds were under conviction for sin ; and, as the fruit of the work, it was thought as many as fifteen hundred 108 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. were converted.) But his mother advised hiin to return, telling him he could carry the Savior with him. This placed the matter in a new light, and, after looking it all over, he said, " Yes, I can carry the Savior with me; I will go." With this feeling he returned to his home in the country, where he soon had an opportunity for knowing and showing to others whether or not he had brought the Savior with him. In the course of the day he went out to split some wood ; and, while he was thus engaged, several of his young associates, among whom he was a favorite, hearing the sound of his axe, gathered around the wood-pile where he w T as at w r ork. And there, standing on that wood-pile, and holding his axe in his hand, this boy delivered a message for Jesus, which has already been the means of bringing hundreds into the church of Christ. The boys began at once to question him : " We hear there is a great revival at Manchester ; is it true?" "It is so, boys," was the reply, "and I have given myself to Jesus, and w 7 ish you w T ould give yourselves to him." They did not need long arguments and repeated appeals to move their young hearts, but responded at once to his invitation, saying, "We wish we were Christians." BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 109 He then asked them to go and get as many of their companions as they could, and come to his room, and they would have a meeting that evening. At the appointed time a large number of boys came to his room. Our young brother said to them, "I will do just as Mr. Earle does at Man- chester." He then read from the word of God and prayed with them. After this, he said, "Mr. Earle says at Manchester, if any would like to have Christians pray for them, he would like to have them rise ; so, if you would like to have me pray for you, I wish you would let me know." Nearly all desired him to pray for them, and many of them prayed for themselves in that first meeting. God was perfecting praise out of those young lips. At the close of this meeting they agreed to meet again on the following evening. A larger number were present at the second meeting, among them a business man, who came to listen to the boys. God's Spirit moved upon his heart, and he was soon converted. The work thus begun continued to widen until it had gone among all the churches in the village, and several of the adjoining villages ; and over three hundred were soon gathered into the churches in that vicinity — all this, apparently, the fruit of that boy's sermon on the wood-pile. But this was not all. 110 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. About six months after leaving Manchester, I was in a printing-office in Boston, and there found this same boy setting type. I asked him if he was learning the printer's trade. The reply is well worthy of record. Said he, "Mr. Earle, my father is dead, and my mother is poor; I am trying to earn money, that I may get an education and preach the gospel." This moved my heart. I thought how many rich men have money enough and to spare, while this boy is working hard to earn a few dollars to prepare himself to preach Christ. Then and there I said, "Jesus, I will do more for thy cause than I have been doin^. " I left him to labor on loner enough to satisfy himself that it was not excite- ment. A few months after, I called there again, and finding he could leave at any time, said to him, " Go home at once, and ask your mother to arrange your clothes ; go to school, and prepare for the work of the ministry, and send your bills to me ; be prudent and careful in your expenses, and I will see to your wants, although it may require a sacri- fice on my part." This is now the third year since he commenced his studies. He has this summer entered Dart- mouth College, and, although he is a member of a different denomination from myself, it has been my BRINGING IN SHEAVES. \\\ privilege so far, with the assistance of kind friends, to see that his biiis were paid, and I hope it will be in my power to continue to do so, until he is on the walls of Zion, preaching the glorious gospel to perishing men. " We all must speak for Jesus, Where'er our lot may fall ; To brothers, sisters, neighbors, In cottage, and in hall." "Jesus will take care of me." These were the last words uttered by Ella Gil- key, as she passed away from earth, to live with Him who said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me ; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." In the winter of 1860-61 I was holding a series of meetings in Watertown, Mass., during which a large number found Jesus precious — many believ- ing they found him in my room ; thus rendering that room ever memorable and dear to me. Among those who there gave themselves to the Savior was Ella. Coming in one morning, with tears on her face, she said, "Mr. Earle, I came up here to give my heart to Jesus. I feel that I am a great sinner. Will you pray for me ? " I replied, "I will pray for you, Ella, and I can pray in faith 112 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. if you see that you are a sinner; for Jesus died for sinners." After pointiug out the way of salvation, I asked her if she would kneel down by my side and pray for herself, and, as far as she knew, give herself to Jesus, to be his forever. She said, " I will ; for I am a great sinner." Could one so young, and kind to everybody, be a great sinner? Yes, because she had rejected the Savior until she was twelve years old ; and when the Holy Spirit had knocked at the door of her heart, she had said, "No, not yet. Go thy way for this time." We kneeled down, and after I had prayed, she said, "Jesus, take me just as I am. I give myself to thee forever. I will love and serve thee all my life." The door of her heart was now open, and Jesus entered and took possession. The tears were gone from her face, which was now covered with smiles. And I believe holy angels in that room witnessed the transfer of her heart to Jesus, and then went back to heaven to join in songs of thanksgiving ; for "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." Ella then went down stairs, her face beaming with joy as she thought of her new relation to Jesus, arid said to her mother, "I have given my- BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 113 self to Jesus, and he has received me. O, I am so happy ! " Little did we think that in a few days she would be walking the " golden streets " with the blood- washed throng. Like the Bedeemer, who, when at her age, said to his mother, " Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business ? " she seemed to long to be doing good. " ' What can I do for Christ,' she said, ' Who gave his life to ransom me ? I'll take my cross, and by him led, His humble, faithful child will be.' " Among other subjects of prayer, there was one which particularly weighed upon her heart ; it was for the conversion of an older brother. , One day, . after earnestly praying that this dear brother might be led to accept the Savior, she said to her mother, " O, I think he will be a Christian ! " At another time she said, " I would be willing to die if it would bring him to Jesus." Could she speak from her bright home above, I believe she would say to this brother, and to all who are delaying, — " ' Delay not, delay not ; why longer abuse The love and compassion of Jesus, thy God? A fountain is opened ; how canst thou refuse To wash and be cleansed in his pardoning blood?'" 8 114 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. Anxious to obey her Savior in all things, she obtained permission from her parents to present herself to the church for baptism ; and, in the absence of a pastor, I baptized her, with several others, a few weeks after her conversion. The next Tuesday after her baptism she was present at our evening meeting, and gave her last public testimony for Jesus. When an opportunity was given for any one to speak, Ella arose, and, turning to the congregation, said, -in a clear, earnest tone, "If there are any here who have not given their hearts to Jesus, do it now." As I sat in my room at her father's that night, after meeting, I heard her voice mingling with his, in songs of praise, until near the midnight hour. Less than three days after this, Ella was called away from us, to sing in heaven the song of Moses and the Lamb. As death drew near, she said to her parents, "I am going home," and commenced singing her favorite hymn : — " O, happy day, that fixed my choice On thee, my Savior, and my God; Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad." "Yes," she whispered, "it was a happy day." Then putting her arm around her father's neck, BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 115 whose heart seemed almost broken, she said, "Don't care for me, father; Jesus will take care of me." These were her last conscious words ; the smile of affection lingered a little longer on her face, the look of love in her eyes, and its pressure in her hand, and then her spirit took its flight, raid angel guards and guides, leaving behind her the clearest evidence of love to Jesus, and a worthy example of fidelity to him, though she had followed him but one short month. On the first Sabbath of February I gave the hand of fellowship to a large number of new members, and Ella would have been with them had she lived. It so happened that, near the place where she would have stood, there was a vacant spot. I directed the attention of the large assembly to that opening, and asked, "Where is Ella to-day?" For a moment all was still, and the entire congre- gation appeared to be bathed in tears, when I said, "Jesus seems to say, 'I have given Ella the hand of fellowship up here.' " A few days after her death, her parents, in look- ing over her portfolio, found she had* written, unknown to any one, in the middle of a blank book, as if intended only for God's eye, the follow- ing deed, which shows her depth of purpose and complete dedication to Christ : — 116 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. "December 21, 1860. —This day I have given my heart to the Savior, and have resolved to do just what he tells me to do, and to take up my cross daily and follow him, — my eyes to weep over sinners, and my mouth to speak forth his praise and to lead sinners to Christ. Ella J. Gilkey." And in the vestry of the church at Watertown, these words, printed in large type, and handsomely framed, now hang upon the wall, where all who enter may read them ; so that, in the hours of Sabbath school, and in the prayer meeting and social gathering, Ella, though in heaven, still speaks, and continues her work for Jesus. BRINGING IN SHEAVES, H7 CHAPTER IX. WHY MUST I GIVE UP MY WILL? MANY persons pray and labor to become Christians, but do not succeed, simply be- cause they do not surrender their wills to God. The provisions of the gospel are ample, Christ is willing to receive, and the Father waits to embrace them in the arms of his love ; still the peace and joy of sins forgiven are unknown to them. These persons are sincere, and really want to be- come Christians ; but, alas ! many of them live and die only seekers — never finding Christ. Many wonder how this can be so : the reason is, the will is not given up. The seat of the rebellion against God is in the will. Generally, the seeker after Christ gives up all the larger objects, but clings to some little thing, in itself of no importance. He will let go of the mountain, but cling to the straw — not realizing that the will can have as firm a hold upon the straw as upon the mountain. 118 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. We often near men speak in this way : " I will fol- low thee, but — " or, " I will give up all, except — " or again, "I will do anything else." Such seekers will not find the light until all conditions are left out. The following incidents are given to illustrate what I have said ; they also show all the impor- tance I attach to what is sometimes called " machinery," or " measures," in a meeting. I. Some years ago, while engaged in a meeting in Massachusetts, I met with a lady who had been an earnest and sincere seeker after Christ for five years. She had been greatly prejudiced against what she called an " anxious seat ; " and had been taught that God's pardoning love could be found in one place as well as another, and, consequently, the particular seat in a meeting-house could make no difference. This was true ; for the Savior will receive the penitent soul at one time or place as readily as at another — at home alone as soon as in public, and in a front seat no more freely than in any other. "If this is so," said she, " why ask me to take an anxious seat?" The matter seemed so clear to her own mind, that she deliberately said, "I will never £0 to an anxious seat to be converted." BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 119 With this feeling, she had prayed and wept, and sought Christ for five years ; but all in vain. Her prayer had been, " Thou knowest, O Lord, I desire to be a Christian, and that one seat is as good as another. O, then, take uie as I am — a poor, lost, helpless sinner ! ' Nothing in my hand I bring ; Simply to thy cross I cling.'" When no answer came to her prayer, she was almost led to question the reliability of the promise, " Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." As the revival progressed, a large number of her friends and acquaintances were converted. Nearly all of the choir, of which she was a prominent member, had found Christ precious — many of them had gone to the front seat. Sometimes she seemed almost angry, and at other times was bathed in tears ; but still she said, "I will not go to an anxious seat." At last, one evening, after scores had gone for- ward for prayer, she, while sitting almost alone in the place occupied by the choir, yielded the con- troversy, and said, " I will give up, and do what I have so long said I would not, and if Jesus will take me any sooner on the front seat than here, I will go there." 120 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. But she learned that the difficulty was not in any particular part of the house, but in her will ; that when this was given up, and she was willing to go anywhere or do anything that would not disgrace a sinner, then, and not till then, would the Savior accept her. As she came near the desk, having walked the whole length of the main aisle, I asked her if she had come to take the oft-rejected anxious seat. She replied that she had. Finding that every front seat was occupied, I said to her, "If your will is given up, Christ will receive you in one place as soon as another." She then went to a little foot-bench near the desk, and had hardly takeu her seat before she felt that her sins were forgiven, and Christ was her Savior. The long-sought-for peace was found at length, without her taking the anxious seat ; but not until she was willing, and had made an effort to take it. Thus we see that the will must be given up before conversion, and that all there is in any meas- ure, or change of seats, or position, is to test the will, and assist the anxious soul the sooner to give up all to Jesus. ii. The folly of saying " I will not " is further il- lustrated in the case of a business man, of good BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 121 moral character, who became interested in one of our meetings in New York. He told us that he had been praying and seeking to become a Christian for fifteen years, but had said he never would go to a front seat for prayer — he knew better than to do that ; others had found Christ without this public demonstration, and he could. It was true others had found Christ, and he could, without any public expression of this kind ; but it is also true that no one can be converted to God until he is willing to yield every point. Thus determined, this man had sought, through those long years, the Christian's hope ; but all in vain. He was willing to take other steps, which most persons would think equally unpleasant, but was not willing to go to anything called an " anxious seat." One evening he stood up in a large assembly, and, with deep feeling, asked the pastor to pray for him. They kneeled together, while the pastor prayed fervently for his conversion — the man seeming to realize his lost condition, but still say- ing he did not believe in going to any particular seat ; but no relief came. At length I asked if there was not something which he had not given up. He said he had given up all except a foolish thing, as he viewed it ; and ] 22 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. that was, his determination not to go to the front seats for prayer. I urged him to give up his will in this also, and go and kneel for prayer in the very spot he had so long avoided. He looked the matter over, his pride and will uniting against the step ; but at last he yielded, and deliberately said, "I will do just what I said I never would." He started; but before he had reached the front seat the burden which had so long weighed him down was removed, and he felt that his sins were forgiven and Jesus had accepted him : thus clearly showing that the seat, which he had not yet reached, had nothiug to do with his conversion, and that all the trouble was in not yielding his will. This brother has since been to me with the urgent request that I would tell every anxious soul I met about his case, that they might not perish by refus- ing to give up their wills. in. A teacher in one of the colleges of New York was at his home for a vacation, where I was hold- ing a series of meetings, and as the interest in them increased, became anxious about his soul ; but, believing God would as readily receive him in secret as if he made his feelings known, he decided BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 123 to let no one know of his anxiety until he was sure his sins had been forgiven. No matter who spoke to him about his soul, he was determined to manifest no unusual concern about the future. Holding to this decision, he prayed and wrestled for weeks, but found no peace. It was not necessary to let people know of his desire, in order that he might be converted to God ; but it was necessary that he should be willing to let them know. He returned to the college at the commencement of the term, still desiring to become a Christian, but determined that no one should know of his feelings until he had found the Savior. He was ready to do anything else — to part with every sin, and consecrate all to Christ ; seemed in earnest, and really to desire to be a child of God. He wondered why one so sincere, so anxious, could find no peace. He knew of no reason for doubting Christ's ability and willingness to save him, and believed he would do it as readily with- out any public demonstration as with. Jesus had said, "Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret ; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." He saw no necessity for making his feelings public until he was sure of his adoption into the 124 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. family of Christ ; for he might fail, he thought, and then would always regret that he had spoken of his desire. Here he discovered the difficulty — he had made a condition : No one should know he wanted to be a Christian until he was sure himself that he was one. Thus, hardly knowing it himself, he had been limiting God, by marking out one path in which he was not willing God should lead him. Sitting alone in his study one evening, and wondering why he was unable to enter into the "way of life," the thought occurred to him that the trouble might be in his unwillingness to ask any one to pray for him; and at once he said, "I will give up my way, and go now and ask one of the professors to pray for me." He left his room for this purpose, having given up all conditions, and feeling willing to follow wherever God might lead ; but before he had reached the foot of the stairs he received evidence of sins forgiven. All that had seemed so dark a few minutes before was now bright; and what had seemed so strange through those long weeks was now made plain. Happy in the Lord, he returned to his room without seeing any Christian, or asking any one to pray for him ; thus showing that there was no virtue in the particular act, but in being willing to perform it. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 125 iy. The presiding judge of a district in which I once held a meeting became deeply convicted of sin, and privately asked Christians to pray for him, but, through pride and prejudice, he had become very much opposed to kneeling at a Methodist altar ; — the meetings in that place were held in a Methodist church. He attended the meetings, but usually sat in the back part of the house. Once or twice he rose for prayer, but would not go to the. altar for prayer. He asked one of the ministers if he could not be converted without kneeling at a Methodist altar, and, of course, was told he could. Still he found no peace, although he sought it carefully with tears. So deeply did he feel his sins, that he sent out at midnight for a minister he knew, to pray with and for him ; and they both prayed earnestly, the judge knowing Jesus could, and believing he would, receive him without his going to the altar; that the place he occupied made no difference. That this was true, the result showed ; but it also showed that he could not be accepted by Christ until he was willing to go to that despised altar. At that midnight hour, while the pastor and judge were pleading for the salvation of the latter, 126 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. he seemed to throw himself upon the Savior, saying, "Jesus, take me just as I am." In the judgment of the pastor he found the sought-for peace. The next day two of the pastors came to me, and said, " We think the judge is converted, and will let the congregation know it this evening, if you give him an opportunity." I said I would give him a good opportunity to speak; but was sure he was not converted, and could not be until he was willing to kneel at a Methodist altar. In the evening, after the sermon, I said, " If there is one present who thinks God has forgiven his sins, we» would like to hear that one speak a few words." All eyes were turned towards the judge; but he had nothing to say. ta We then bowed in prayer, the judge kneeling in the aisle, and pray- ing for himself as a lost sinner — this time giving up all, and feeliug willing to go even to the spot to which he had so often refused to go. After this season of prayer he arose, and, turn- ing to me, said, "Mr. Earle, I am now willing to go anywhere. I have found Jesus precious. lam willing to kneel at a Methodist altar, or do any- thing Christ wishes." I replied, " We do not want you at this altar if your will is given up ; it was only necessary that you be willing to kneel here." BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 127 He then gave clear testimony before all that he had found no peace until he was willing to go to that altar ; but the moment he yielded his will he found peace, without actually going there. This case, like the others related in this chapter, shows the necessity of a full surrender of the will before conversion, and also all the importance that can be attached to "measures." Many anxious persons suppose they have given up all until the will is tested by some simple thing which has no virtue in itself, but shows whether the individual is in complete submission to God or not. I think it is well, sometimes, to ask the inquirers to meet Christians in another room, to stop after meeting for conversation, or something of the kind, without adopting any set of measures : let the occasion and circumstances suggest their own measures, or none at all, according to the judg- ment of the person conducting the services. I find measures, as they are called, that seem very objectionable in a time of coldness in religion are looked at quite differently by the same persons, when the heart is weighed down with earnest desire for the salvation of souls. 128 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. CHAPTER X, SERMON. — THE UNPARDONABLE SIN.* "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son op man, it shall be forgiven him : but whosoever speaketh against the holt ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." Matt. xii. 32. EVERY person will see at once that there is a difference between speaking against the Holy Ghost and speaking against Jesus. If you will look at the connection you will see that the Phari- sees had been charging Christ with being in league with the devil. " Now," said the Redeemer, "you can call me a devil, and say I cast out devils through the prince of devils, and yet be forgiven ; but when my Father comes, by his Spirit, and bears testimony that I am his Son, and you reject that testimony, for that sin there is no forgiveness." One is speaking * Delivered Sunday evening, October 14, 1866, in Union Hall, San Erancisco, Cal. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 129 against Jesus in the absence of light, and the other is speaking against him under the clear evidence of his divinity. I understand this to be the distinction between speaking against Christ and speaking against the Holy Ghost. I know there are various opinions about the un- pardonable sin. Some suppose it could only have been committed by those who saw Christ's miracles, and heard his instructions from his own lips ; others think it has been committed since that time, but in very rare instances ; while others believe they have committed it, and spend their lives in gloomy forebodings, unfit for the service of God or the society of men. And yet I believe this sin has been committed in thousands of instances little sus- pected. I heard, some time ago, of a dying man asking a minister to pray with him. The minister kneeled down, but could not utter a word, and rose from his knees. Said the dying man, "Why will you not pray with me?" The minister replied, "I do not know w 7 hy I could not speak in prayer, but will try again." He kneeled down and tried in vain to utter words in prayer. God has said, "There is a sin unto death ; I do not say you shall pray for it." God does not always mark this sin in this manner, but clearly shows us that when it is com- mitted he will not hear prayer for it. I shall answer, as clearly as I can, four questions. 9 130 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 1. What is the unpardonable sin? The process by which this sin is committed is very simple : it is .to continue to say "JVo, no, no," to the offers of mercy, until you are a sinner let alone or given up by the Holy Spirit. When thus left, conscience no longer exercises its functions, and the Holy Spirit no longer applies the truth. When this state is reached, the soul is usuallv calm and quiet. The individual can then sleep well, and go on with his business, without much trouble about his soul's salvation ; the conscience is then measur- ably at ease, the " spirits light and gay." He did not, does not, will not, know or feel that he is doomed. It is generally believed that the Pharisees did finally succeed in committing this sin ; and, if you will go with me, we will see how they managed to do so. We see in their case, from first to last, a wilful and a continued rejection of evidence. No matter how plain and conclusive the evidence Christ gave them of his divinity, they said, "Away with it! Away with it!" Look at a few instances of this rejection of light : The sisters of Lazarus sent for Jesus when their brother was sick. Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead four days, then went to the grave, in the presence of a large number of these men, and, when the stone was re- moved, Jesus said, "Lazarus, come forth." It is BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 131 thought Lazarus lay on something like a table, or shelf, not in a coffin, and that he threw his feet to the ground, raised himself up, and stood wrapped in his grave-clothes. Jesus said, " Loose him, and let him go." This miracle was laid before the Pharisees, as if to ask them, " Will you now receive Jesus as the Christ?" They reply, "Away with the evidence ! " I ask you, my hearers, do you not see in this a wilful rejection of light? But they had not com- mitted the unpardonable sin yet : God is long suf- fering. By and by a girl about twelve years of age died, and was laid out in an upper chamber. Jesus went into that chamber, and said, " Talitha cumi," that is, "Maid, arise ; " and she was restored to the re- joicing family. "Pharisees, will you now embrace me as your Savior?" "Away with him! Away with him ! " But it was not yet too late. After this a young man died, and was being car- ried on a bier to the grave. Jesus approached that bier, and said, " Young man, arise ; " and the young man arose, and was restored to his friends. This evidence of Christ's divinity was also rejected, and Jesus still waiting to be gracious. The Pharisees heard that Christ was a little out of town, preaching, and they sent officers to arrest him. I should not wonder if those officers carried 132 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. with them chains and handcuffs, to bind him if necessary ; but after listening to him a few minutes they were deeply affected, and returned without him. The Pharisees inquired, " Why have ye not brought him?" "Never man spake as this man," ~jid the officers. Why did not the Pharisees say, "Officers, if you think he is the Redeemer of lost men, we will weigh the evidence"? But no : they say, " We will not receive him, if even our own officers are converted to him." They cry, "Away with him ! " O, the deep depravity of the human heart ! Yet they had not rejected half the light that we have. But there was mercy for these men yet. Christ was brought before Pilate to be con- demned ; but, after a fair examination, Pilate said, "I find no fault in him; I will, therefore, release Jesus unto you." But they cried, "Not this man, but Barabbas." Pilate, therefore, went back into the hall, and asked him if he was the Son of God. Jesus satisfied him of his divinity. Then Pilate took a basin of water and washed his hands in their presence, and said, "Take ye him and crucify him : I find no fault in him." The Pharisees said, " His blood be on us and on our children." Then Pilate delivered him to them to be crucified, and the soldiers led him away. After he was nailed to the cross, a very affecting BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 133 scene followed, which gave clear evidence of Christ's divinity. As the blood streamed from his hands and feet, Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? " The great veil or curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, and the sun seemed to muffle its face for three hours over the dying Jesus ; the graves were opened around Jerusalem : and so fully did the Father vindicate the Son, that even the captain of the guards smote upon his breast, and said, " Surely this was the Son of God." Christ here evidently saw the sword of divine wrath raised to strike his murderers down, and cried, "Father, forgive them ; they know not what they do." That is, "Father, my murderers have not all the evidence of my divinity I am go- ing to give them." They went to Pilate, and said (O, what bitterness against Christ !), " We remember that deceiver said, if we put him to death, the third day he would rise again ; now we want a guard, in order to make him secure until three days are past, that we may prove him to be an imposter." A heavy guard of Roman soldiers was furnished, and Christ's dead body put in a new tomb, and guarded from Friday night until Sunday morning. Jesus was sweetly sleeping in the embrace of death all this time : thus teaching his children that the grave is not a gloomy place to those who love God. 134 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. Sunday morning the Father seemed to say to one of the angels, "You can now go and roll away the stone." The angel flew to the sepulchre, and rolled back the stone, and sat down upon it, I think, with folded wings, and doubtless said in his heart, "How much depends on the resurrection of that body ! " While the angel sat looking upon the corpse, the Savior arose, as if it had been from a sweet night's rest, and walked out, in the presence of the sol- diers. The soldiers went to the Pharisees and told them that Christ had done as he said ; that he had just arisen from the dead in their presence. This was soon hushed, and the soldiers were paid large sums of money to swear that his disciples had stolen him away while they were asleep. All this evi- dence they rejected, and still could be forgiven. One more proof of Christ's divinity was to be given them by the outpouring of the Spirit after his ascension. This was done ten days after his de- parture, in a wonderful manner, adding three thou- sand to the Messiah's kingdom in a single day. The Pharisees, by rejecting this last evidence, to- gether with all that had preceded, seemed to fix the black seal of death upon their souls. O, the doom of the sinner when God has given him up ! Then he is a sinner let alone. 2. I will now notice, very briefly, the inquiry, What persons can commit the unpardonable sin? BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 135 If what I have just said is true, then any one who can deliberately reject the offers of mercy, and say No to Christ's invitations, is in danger of being left by the Holy Spirit to perish. Our danger is greater than the Pharisees' was, because we have more light than they. All the evidence they had of Christ's divinity we have, together with the accumulated evidence of eighteen hundred years. "In the cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time ; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime." All this light is shining around your pathwa}' ; and if the Pharisees could commit this sin, how much more easily can you commit it, young man, or young woman. I do not know why you have rejected the Savior so long and so often. Do think of it ! how many times you have said No to the calls of the gospel. O, your peril ! I hope it is not too late ! Do not say No to this call to-night. 3. Plow does this sin show itself after it has been committed? Generally it shows itself in one of two ways. One is, by calling out the malignity of the heart against Christ and his people. In this state, noth- ing torments the sinner more than a revival of religion. The very ringing of the bells that call 136 BRINGING IN SHEA VES. Christians to the house of prayer annoys him : nothing is too severe for him to say against religion. But the most ordinary way in which this sin shows itself is, by shutting up the heart in indif- ference, so that the one who has committed it has no feeling on the subject, no fears, no trouble ; has no idea that he has committed this sin, but is perfectly calm and easy. The terrors of the law cause no alarm. Christ's claims on him do not move him. In fact, no view of religion troubles him; he is at ease ; he is not, as many suppose, in great distress for fear he has committed this sin ; full of gloom and fearful forebodings, fearing it is too late for him to be saved. It does not show itself in this way, but, on the contrary, removes fear; he is a sinner let alone. We often find persons near death without re- ligion, and yet without fear. If asked a few minutes before death if they would like to have a Christian pray with them, they say, No ; or if they would like to have the Bible read to them, they do not wish to see the Bible. Ask them if they are not afraid to meet God, they say they are not in the least; they are ready to meet him any minute. In this state, there is great reason to fear that the sin in question has been committed. We find many church members, and others who BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 13 7 have been church members, in this indifferent state. They do not weep over the unconverted, nor warn them as though they felt for them at all. Where this has continued long, it is a bad indication : such professors should be alarmed. Do I speak to one in this indifferent state? O that I could sound a note of alarm, that might reach a tender chord in your heart, and break this spell of in- difference ! I do not know that I can show how this sin manifests itself, better than by repeating those beautiful lines of Dr. Alexander : — " There is a line by us unseen That crosses every path — The hidden boundary between God's patience and his wrath. " To pass that limit is to die — To die as if by stealth ; It does not quench the beaming eye, Nor pale the glow of health. " The conscience may be still at ease, The spirits light and gay ; That which is pleasing still may please, And care be thrust away. " But on that forehead God has set Indelibly a mark, Unseen by man, for man, as yet, Is blind and in the dark. 138 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. " Indeed, the doomed one's path below May bloom as Eden bloomed; He did not, does not, will not know, Or feel that he is doomed. "He feels, perchance, that all is well, And every fear is calmed ; He lives, he dies, he wakes in hell — Not only doomed, but damned. " O, where is that mysterious bourn By which our path is crossed, Beyond which God himself has sworn, That he who goes is lost ? " Let me entreat you, my dear hearer, if it is not too late, if God's patience is not exhausted by your long-continued rejection of his offers of mercy, if one faint wish or desire lingers in your bosom to become a Christian, cherish it as you would the last ray of hope of heaven. Let everything go until you find Christ precious. To-morrow it may be too late, even if life is spared. Your situation may be like that of a man of whom I lately heard, who entered a dark, winding cave, carrying with him a lamp and ball of twine. That he might find his way out of the cave, in case his light went out, he fastened one end of the twine outside, and un- wound it as he walked into the cave. In this man- ner he had gone a long distance into those dark recesses, sometimes climbing over rugged rocks, BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 139 and then descending into low, damp passages, until at length he entered a large and spacious apartment, containing very rare and beautiful curiosities. Desiring to bring from the cave some of these rich treasures, he set down his lamp, and placed his ball by it — only for a moment. While breaking off a stalactite of peculiar beauty, his lamp, by some means, tipped over and went out. Supposing he could easily find his lamp and ball of twine, he commenced feeling about in the dark cave : but his efforts were in vain. No human ear was there to hear his cries for help, as he crawled first in one direc- tion and then in another, searching for that thread. Could he but grasp again that weak, that little thread, it would lead him back to the sunlight, never before so dear. Long, weary days and nights were spent search- ing for that only ray of hope ; but all to no purpose — he was never again to look upon the faces of the dear ones at home. His lifeless body was found in that dark cavern long afterwards. O, what reflections he must have had when starving and dying in that cave ! What would he not have given, could he have held once more that thread in his trembling fingers. But the light once gone out, his doom was fixed — he must perish. So, my dear hearer, you have a little desire at this hour to become a Christian. The Holy Spirit, 140 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. though often grieved and insulted by your rejec- tion of his kind and earnest entreaties to embrace Jesus, still shines in the dark recesses of your soul. As in the cave, when the light went out, the thread was lost, so when the Spirit leaves you, the silken thread of desire is lost, and you are in the dark cave of sin without a guide to lead you out to hope and heaven; and your lamentation will be. "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." But I must answer the fourth question. 4. Why cannot this sin be forgiven as well as others? If the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, why not from this? It is not because the person is a greater sinner than others, but because he rejects the only remedy God has for his sins, and continues this rejection until he is a sinner let alone ; then conscience does not exercise its functions, and the Spirit ceases to apply the truth, and he must perish. You remember the fiery flying serpent that came among the Israelites. When it struck a man, it was certain death ; no remedy could be found ; every person stung died. Moses went to God for a remedy. God said to him, Take a piece of brass, of the shape and size of the fiery serpent, and raise it on a pole, and when any man, rich or poor, aged or young, cries out, " I am stung ! " tell him BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 141 to look at that piece of brass. That was God's remedy — the only one in the world. All who looked were cured. Every one knows the brass could not remove the poison, but was a type of the Redeemer on the cross — " As Moses lifted up the serpent, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." Suppose a man to cry out, " I am stung, but will not do anything unless I can give a reason for it." He will not look at that piece of brass for a remedy, but rejects it, and puts it under his feet, and then prays for help. God would say to him, "Your disease is incurable, for the simple reason that you have rejected the only remedy that can remove the poison." So the sinner has only to reject the gospel of Christ and the offers of mercy, until the grieved Spirit takes his final departure, and God has given him up ; then his sin is unpardonable, because he has rejected the only way by which God can save him. O, how deeply do I now feel the solemnity of this hour, with three or four thousand precious souls before me. Perhaps many of you are making the final decision, whether you will embrace the Savior now, or again say, " Go thy way for this time." Let me urge you not to say it, but open your heart now to the Holy Spirit. " 0, grieve him not away, Tis Mercy's hour." 142 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. I think I feel as the nurse did, in the hospital, with his thumb on the great artery, while a wounded soldier arranged his matters to die. After a severe battle, a soldier had his limb amputated very near his body. The veins had been taken up, and he seemed to be doing well ; but on one occasion, as the nurse was dressing his wounds, the blood began to flow freely. The nurse held the vein with his thumb, and sent for a physician, who, on entering the room, said, "It is well, my brave fellow, that it was not the large artery — I can take this up." A short time after, the blood flowed more freely than before, and the skilful nurse, placing his thumb this time on the large artery, which had broken open, sent again for the physician. After a careful examination of the whole matter, it was decided that the artery could not be taken up without removing the thumb of the nurse ; and if his thumb was removed, the soldier must die immediately. It only remained for the brave man to make immediate arrangements for death. About three hours were employed in sending messages to loved ones, and in arranging his effects before he left the world. When this was done — the nurse still holding the vein, and knowing that death would follow in three minutes after lifting his thumb — - BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 143 the brave but dying soldier said, " Now, kind nurse, you can take off your thumb : I must go. Fare- well to all." Now came the severe trial to the nurse — how could he lift his thumb under such circumstances ! The accumulated blood already rendered it dif- ficult to hold the artery ; so, turning his eye from the soldier, he lifted his thumb, and in three minutes death had done its work. I think I feel very much as this nurse did — fear- ing, as I do, that with many in this congregation the crisis has come when you are to decide where you will spend eternity. I fear this is for some of you the line "That marks the destiny of men For glory or despair." As the nurse felt that he could not lift his thumb, and yet must, so with me now — How can I close this sermon, and end this entreaty, without know- ing that you will not grieve the Spirit away this time? Let me ask the Recording Angel to hold his pen, while each one of you in this hall decides the ques- tion — whether you will cherish what little desire you have to become Christ's, what little of the Holy Spirit's influence still lingers about your heart, or say, " Go thy way for this time," which may be forever ! 144 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. But I must not linger. Let me request every person in the hall — whether professor of religion or not — who intends to cherish what desire he has to serve God, to rise on his feet. Thank God, nearly every one present has risen ! May God help us all to keep our resolution, for Jesus' sake. Amen. At the close of this sermon, a short time was <3pent in silent prayer, after which it was believed not less than five hundred persons requested us to pray that they might receive forgiveness of sin. As nearly as I can ascertain, not less than five thousand souls have been brought to embrace Christ through the influence of this single sermon. BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 145 CHAPTER XI. FIKEMEN'S MEETING. ONE evening, during a series of meetings held with the Second Baptist church in Brooklyn, N. Y., I preached, by special appointment, to the firemen, and have thought it might be interesting and profitable, instead of a general account of the meeting, to quote from the " Daily Eagle " of March 12, 1858, the following report of the sermon : — " Last evening the members of Neptune Engine Company, No. 7, of Brooklyn, attended in a body the Second Baptist church, on Leonard Street, to listen to a sermon by Rev. A. B. Earle. As the announcement was made public, the attendance at the church was so great that nearly half that came could not get inside. " The services were opened by prayer, followed by singing, after which Mr. Earle delivered his discourse. He spoke in a plain but earnest man- ner, engaging the deep attention of his audience. 10 146 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. " The text selected was from Mark ix. 44 : 'Where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.' He said he should call their attention more particularly to the latter clause of the text. He thought nothing would grieve them more than to meet with a fire which they could not put out ; they would go home sorrowful at heart should such an event happen to them. They had often met and subdued this enemy — fire ; they had always quenched it ; but he should speak to them of a fire which could never be quenched. "He then divided his text into two parts ; first, What the worm is that dieth not, and why it does not die ; second, What the fire is that is not quenched, and why it is not quenched. "The worm that never dies is guilty memory, — the remembrance of past guilt. Memory is like a living, gnawing worm, producing a restless pain in the soul, as a gnawing worm would do in the vitals of the body. Impressions once made upon the mind can never be effaced. A name once heard or mentioned, though forgotten for a time, will return in after years when circumstances shall recall it. Incidents of childhood carry their recol- lection to the grave. Memory is active when all else is still. In moments of peril the memory is more vivid and active, and thoughts of the past crowd upon the brain with inconceivable rapidity. BRINGING IN SHEA VES. 14 7 " Instances are often related of men in peril, by sea or land, who have seen the events of former days recalled by memory ; words and deeds they had thought forgotten have returned to them ; their past life has seemed to come before their mental vision with startling reality. When the soul shall have dropped its fetters, and passed beyond the restraints of flesh, memory will still be fresh and active. This memory which tenants the body during life, and clings to the spirit hereafter, is the gnawing of the deathless worm. This worm draws all its nourishment from this world. " He cited as an instance of the activity of mem- ory, and its effects, the case of a prisoner who was removed from one prison to another, where the treatment was better. The man said he did not like the new prison as well as the old one, although he did not have to work as hard, had better food and kinder keepers ; but in the new prison the convicts were not allowed to speak to each other ; and in this terrible silence his memory was ever active — it was all think, think, think. So it will be hereafter : we shall be constantly thinking. We should therefore be careful how we store the memory, since its recollections will ever be present with us. " In the second part of his discourse he con- sidered the fire that can never be quenched. 148 BRING INO IN SHEAVES. " They might believe that no fire could break out in the city which, by their skill and activity, they could not put out; and their fellow-citizens, con- fident in their ability, went to their repose, feeling that by the vigilance, tact, and energy of the fire- men their lives and property were secure. But there is a fire that cannot be quenched : it is remorse, or the realization of our sin in the dark world of despair. The Savior says it is better to have but one eye than to be cast into hell, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. (t The fire of God's wrath is the sinner's realiza- tion of his wickedness, and a guilty remembrance of the past. The reason this fire cannot be quenched is, there is nothing there with which to quench it. Suppose a building was wrapped in flames, and the firemen brought their engines to the spot, but could find no water ; they would be powerless, however good their intentions. So with the fire of God's wrath — the guilty remembrance in the world of despair : there will be nothing with which to put it out; there is' nothing here that can quench it but the blood of Jesus. " He called their attention to the heroic fireman, young Sperry, of New Haven, who went into a burning building to save a child supposed to be there, and lost his own life. He felt assured there was not one among that company whom he ad- BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 149 dressed but would rush, as Sperry did, into the flames to save a fellow-creature's life. So if he (the speaker), by rushing into the flames of per- dition, could drag a brother out of the fire, how readily would he do it. "An Iudian, who had been converted, was asked by a white man to describe how religion came to him. He led the white man out to the woods, and gathering some dry leaves, arranged them in a circle, and put a little worm in the centre of it. He then set the leaves on fire. The worm sought escape, first on one side, then on another, but there was no way out; so, drawing itself again to the centre of the circle, it sank into a numb and listless state. The Indian then lifted the worm from the fire with his fingers, and said, * This is the way God saved me ! Jesus plucked me out of the flames." So nothing but the hand of God can save any one ; nothing but the blood of Jesus can quench the fires of a guilty soul. " To be saved we must be born again. Some people suppose they would be happy if they could get to heaven. They are mistaken ; they could not be happy there, unless this fire within them had been quenched here. A guilty soul in heaven would be like a convicted murderer pardoned at the last moment by the governor of a state. He is now a free man, and the law cannot touch him. 150 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. He returns to his home and his family. His wife welcomes him back with joy, and his children gather around him. Still he cannot be happy : conscious- ness of guilt haunts him. The governor may par- don, but cannot justify. Eemorse preys upon him, and he feels that he cannot stay in that happy home — it is no place for him while blood is on his soul. " The preacher then drew a metaphor, strikingly applicable to his hearers, illustrating the free agency of man in his own salvation. " Suppose the exterior of a building was con- structed of fire-proof materials ; fire could not reach it on the outside, and it could be opened only from the inside. Suppose this building should take fire from the inside, and you knew there was a citizen within, liable to perish in the flames. You would go there with your engine, and seek to save him ; but you could not reach the flames from the outside, and co'uld do nothing unless the man opened the door. If he would be saved, he must open the door, and that speedily, for the flames were gathering closer around him each minute. So it is with each of us — every man holds the key of the door to his own heart. Jesus says to every one, Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if you will open the door, I will come in and save you. " There is a fountain filled with blood that will extinguish this fire, and it will be poured upon the BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 151 guilty soul if the door is opened ; for the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. But when we pass out of this world this blood cannot be obtained, and the fire cannot be quenched. " Mr. Earle, after thanking the audience for their attention, concluded with an earnest exhortation to them to seek for the truth and light of the gospel. "At the close of the sermon the congregation were invited to remain for a prayer meeting which would follow; many of the visitors left, but the firemen kept their seats until the meeting closed." 152 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. CHAPTER XII. LETTEES FROM YOUNG CONVERTS AND OTHERS. WE give the following letter from little Sadie, as written by her mother, in Sadie's simple words : — " Tell brother Earle I am sorry that he is go- ing away. Tell him I will pray for him twice a day, and he must not forget to pray for little Sadie. I feel so very happy this beautiful day. Tell him that I love Jesus better than any body in the wide world, I love my own angel Georgie, that went to Jesus when papa was in the war. I want to see Jesus holding our little lamb in his arms ; for Georgie prayed, and I will always pray to Jesus. Tell him that when I went to tell my dear teacher that I was going to give my heart to Jesus, the devil said to me, ' Don't go ; don't do it, Sadie.' But I said, 'Yes, I will.' And when I came home, and knelt down at the bed, and prayed, he came again, and said, 'Don't pray.' But I said, 'I will,' and I did, and felt so happy. Tell him I will try BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 153 and be a good girl, and then I will see them all in heaven. Your little friend, Sadie. " Dayton, Ohio, January 29, 1866." A family letter, signed by the father, mother, and three children : — "Hartford, December 26, 1864. " Dear Brother Earle : The love of Christ constraineth us to declare to you that our hearts have burned within us while you have talked with us and opened to us the Scriptures. Our souls are drawn out towards you, as we believe you are one of our blessed Savior's reflectors to our race. When you came among us, two of our number were as sheep without a shepherd ; but now we trust that we are all pursuing the way to the fold on high. God grant that we may meet each other there." Ohio letter ; sent with a pair of socks. " Dayton, January 29, 1866. " Dear Brother Earle : Will you accept this pair of homespun socks — made of Ohio wool, spun and knit, primitive style, by 'Buckeye' in- 154 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. dustry, insured to be warm and durable, but far less so than the friendship of your many, many friends in Ohio ? I need not, like the old lady who knit socks for the soldiers, attach a note, saying to the wearer, * Let the toe never be turned from the foe,' for you have told us that in the whole armor of God there is no shield for the back, no provis- ion for the coward, none for defeat nor surrender. So I have no fear but that you will continue to fight Satan and sin as long as your feet need protection from the chill winters of earth. "I pray that you may still be successful, win and conquer, till the great Captain of our salvation promotes you to fields elysian, where, with feet immortal, you haste along the shining ranks, under orders divine, file in with angel hosts, whose feet need not even be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, for no rugged, thorny ways are there to tread, and all is peace." " Would like to be a Minister." ' " Dayton, January, 1866. "Dear Sir: I am a little boy twelve years old, but I love Jesus and his people. I would like to be a minister of the gospel. Pray for me that I may become one in God's good time." BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 155 Another lad, fifteen years of age, writes: "It seems to me, the height of my ambition in this world would be to stand up and preach the gospel. To this end I hope I may have your most earnest prayers." God seems to have planted such seed in the hearts of many of the youth interested in our meetings, and to have nourished that seed, until scores of liv- ing ministers, now gathering sheaves in the great harvest-field, can look back to these same meetings as God's seed-time, when he said to them, "Go preach." Twenty-five Years of Wandering. " Chelsea, April 18, 1866. "Kev. A. B. Earle. " Dear Sir : As you have not my name upon your little book, will you add it as the name of one who has returned from his wanderings, after a period of . twenty-five years, and is now in the enjoyment of his first love? I thank God for a praying wife, the prayers of Christians, and your kind invita- tions, which have been instrumental in bringing me back to the Savior." 156 BRINGING IN SUE A VES. "A Happy New Year." " Sacramento, Cal., January 1, 1867. "Dear Mr. Earle : On this beautiful, sunny morning, I wish you a very, very 'Happy New Year.' I am glad you came to our city, but I am sad that you must leave us so soon. I reflect, however, that as you made me happy by coming here, so others will be made happy wherever you go. "I shall always remember you, and in truth can say, with my little brother, I wish you could be with us always. I shall, at least, always remember and love you." A Sabbath School Class not too young for Jesus. "Dayton, January 29, 1866. "Kev. A. B. Earle. " Dear Sir : You will remember me as the Sab- bath school teacher who did not want her class con- verted, because she thought they were too young. I have earnestly prayed that God would forgive me this sin, and convert every member of my class. Two of them think they have found the Savior ; three more are feeling deeply on the subject. "Pray for me, that I may be a faithful teacher, and that each member of my class may be a Chris- tian." BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 157 "Almost Four-score." " Concord, N. H., May 16, 1864. ""Rev. Mr. Earle. "Dear Sir: I am almost fourscore years old. I will ask sometimes to be remembered in your prayers, that my heavenly Father will watch over me through the remainder of my earthly pilgrim- age ; keep me from sinning against him ; give me sweet submission to his will ; be my support when called to pass through the dark valley; and, through the infinite riches of his grace in Christ Jesus, be my portion forever." "Part Way Up." "Cincinnati, January 6, 1866. " My dear Mr. Earle : "By your coming to our city I have received new light on religious matters. My proud heart has been humbled. I have set up the family altar, where I read and pray. I have, as yet, but little feeling, except growing stronger in my resolution. I cannot go back ; I must go forward ; my word is pledged. " I feel like being part way up an inclined plane : to press forward and upward, Jesus may be found ; to go back is sure destruction." 158 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. A Granddaughter's Bequest. " Dayton, Ohio, January, 1866. " Dear Brother Earle : " I want to ask you to please pray for my dear old grandfather, whose hairs are white with many winters. O, do not forget him in your prayers, that he may seek the Savior ere it is too late." From a Little Scolder. "Manchester, N. H., 1864. "Dear Mr. Earle: " You have almost brought me to the Savior. I think I have found him, and he is precious to my soul. You remember my telling you I could not keep from scolding. I prayed that night very earnestly, and I believe God helped me, because the next day I tried very hard and almost suc- ceeded. I am going to try every day. I want to love God still more." From a Grateful Deacon. " Btjrlington, Vt., June 26, 1866. « Mr dear Brother Earle : " I have much to be thankful to God for. I have a kind, Christian wife, two kind, Christian daugh- ters, and a little jewel just given us, to be cared BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 159 for and trained for heaven. 0, how much I love them ! Yet I love my dear Savior more than these. "Now, my dear brother, I cannot express the gratitude I feel towards you for what you have been enabled to do for me and mine, and the cause of Christ in this place, during the past two weeks. I have felt, in being in your company, that I was getting as near my Savior's representative as man could get. I have enjoyed your words of counsel and cheer. I have felt that God, by his Holy Spirit, was with you at all times. My heart was drawn out towards you before you came here ; but how much stronger does the magnet draw as I come nearer to it ! Why is this ? The answer to my mind is, Because of your nearness to my blessed. Savior. " I feel that I have come to love Christ and his cause more ; have found a nearness to God that I have never known before. I feel that I am abetter man, and better prepared to labor in the vineyard; my implements are in a better condition for use. My purposes are ve*ry much strengthened. " While I say these things for myself, I know I can say the same for my family, and especially would I mention my wife's parents. Mother says, 1 How many sermons brother Earle has preached, taking for his text, The food he eats, the clothes he wears, and everything his eye rests upon.' " 160 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. From two little brothers, sous of one of the ading Union leading members of the San Francisco Ministerial " My dear Mr. Earle : I am very glad you came here, for since I gave my heart to Jesus in your room I have been very happy. I wish you would stay here a little longer, for I think these meetings are doing a great deal of good. I hope you will pray for all the boys that have come to Christ while you have been here, and remember that we will all pray for you. Wherever you go on this coast, may the Holy Spirit rest on your labors ; and may you get home safely to your children, and meet us all in heaven at last." From the other brother: — " My dear Mr. Earle : I am exceedingly happy since I gave my heart to the Savior. I know that Christ has received me into his fold. I am very glad that you came to this city. One reason why I am glad is, that by you I found a precious Redeemer. I wish you could stay here longer, and advance the religion of Jesus. I hope that wherever you go you may be the means of leading many sinners to Christ. When BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 161 you are returning to Boston, you may remember that I am praying for you. I thank you very mueh for all your kindness to me." "In such an Hour you came." " Cincinnati, January 6, 1866. " Kind Friend : You are about to leave us for another field of labor. I can say, with many thanks, it has been good for me that you have been here. Three years ago a light from the 'shining shore' flickered across my life-path. I listened to a ' still small voice,' saying, ' Give me thine heart.' I learned to know that voice, and loved it. I ' laid down my arms,' laid my burdens at the feet of the great Shepherd. One after another have the blossoms in our home-gar- den been culled to bloom anew in Paradise. On the billow of earthly sorrow Christ has laid his hand, and said, ' Peace, be still.' But — must I say it? — there have been times when I seemed all alone — there was no Christ ; weary — no rest ; hungry — no manna. All was dark. In such an hour you came. Your plain teaching and perfect trust helped me to say, « The Lord is my Shepherd.' I have wept bitter, scalding tears at my unworthiness ; but you have said, ' The Lord loveth his erring ones.' Many of your sermons will be treasured in memory 11 1G2 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. forever ; they will be green spots in the desert of life. "My earnest wish and prayer is, that God may ever be with you, Christ's promises your stay, and holy angels forever over you." BURDENED FOR FRIENDS. " Stockton, Cal., December, 1866. " Dear Brother Earle : I have an aching heart to-day — a heavy-laden heart. I feel as did Jacob of old, that I cannot let the angel of God depart : 1 1 will not let thee go except thou bless me.' " I cannot bear the thought that ours may be a divided family in the other world. I desire the prayers of Christians for my dear parents. O, how dreadful if they should be lost ! Will you pray for me that I may have faith in God ? " We cannot save Ourselves. " Sacramento, January 1, 1867. "Eev. Mr. Earle. " Dear Brother in Christ : To-day, I think, is the happiest ' New Year ' I ever experienced. " I thank God for the sermon you preached from the text, 'Have faith in God.' From that time I have seen my utter helplessness, and inability to BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 163 save myself by any act of my own. I have been enabled to see the beautiful simplicity of faith — of taking God at his word. Then and there I took Christ as my all in all, and have since been sweetly resting in him by faith." "NO OTHER KEFUGE." " San Jose, Cal., February 11, 1867. " Dear Brother Earle : . . . My experience for several days has been gloomy. My mind has been exercised in a peculiar manner, and I have been tempted to doubt the genuineness of my conversion to God. " The doubts in my mind, and the peculiar rela- tions of my business life and associations at the present time, render my work in the good cause an up-hill one of no ordinary grade. For several days I have not seen a single ray of light — not one bright spot to dispel the inky blackness which seems to press down close on my defenceless head ; and often has the cry been forced from me, — ' Cover my defenceless head "With the shadow of Thy wing.' " I have no other refuge in this storm but Christ, and to' his cross I will cling even though I perish there. 164 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. "I have made an entire surrender of soul and body, with everything I know of, to God ; and I cannot think he is doing anything else than testing my faith in the fire of a furnace seven times heated. * O for a faith that will not shrink, Though pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe ! ' " • The writer of this letter is a business man in San Jose*. He rose one evening in our meeting, and requested prayer for four persons. He says he made this request in derision, but sat down a con- victed sinner, and did not rest until he found peace in Christ. The Way little Freddie made his Will. The following letter was written by Freddie's sister : — " Brooklyn, N. Y., March 17, 1866. "Dear Brother Earle : . . . Little Fred- die was always ready to give, especially to the Sabbath school. When the Tabernacle Baptist Church was built, Mr. Spencer, our superintend- ent, asked the children if they would not help pay for the building, telling them that' every BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 165 three cents they brought would pay for two bricks. Dear little Freddie, who was then five years old, collected as much money as he could, in order, as he said, that he might own some of the bricks. But he did not live long, to enjoy the Sab- bath school on earth. The last Sabbath he spent with us he wept bitterly because he could not go to Sabbath school. " He had just been promoted from the infant class, and his teacher had given him a Testament. As we stood around his dying bed, he asked for his Testament, and, clasping it in his hands, said, * Give all my money to the Sabbath school,' and fell asleep, as he had lived, in Jesus." The following letters, from two little sisters, show how differently even young Christians can regard the same truth. To both Jesus was precious. To one this was simply a matter of happy experi- ence ; to the other, it was the evidence of her con- version : " Mr. Earle : I think I have found the Savior, and he is precious. I want you to remember me in your prayers, and I will remember you in mine. Laura." 166 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. The other sister writes, — " Mr. Earle : I know I have found the Savior, because he is so precious. Prav for me that I may be one of God's flowers. Nellie." "Must Work as well as Wish." " Cincinnati, Ohio, January, 1866. " My dear Mr. Earle : . . . I have often wished to be a Christian. You taught me that to become one I must work as well as wish, ■ — seek if I would find. I felt the truth of your teachings, and sought my Savior, and trust I found him ; for I have sweet peace and happiness, such as life's pleasures never gave. All the years of my life will be too short to serve him. ... I know that with my human heart I cannot live Christ-like, unless he leads me. ... I want to do some good while I live, — to bring some weary, sin-laden soul to Jesus. I want to be willing even to bear the cross, and if, by and by, I may wear the crown, I don't want it to be a starless one. "You will always be remembered, for you were instrumental in having my name written in the Lamb's book of life. . . . Georgia." BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 167 CHAPTER XIII. THE VEKMONT MEETING. GOD works through means of his own sover- eign choosing ; often, perhaps always, in his moral world, through individual instrumentalities. It would seem as if God loved to set the great seal of his strength upon what otherwise were weakness. He touches the spring of a single human heart as tenderly and absolutely as if it were the only heart ; then touches corresponding springs in many others, and when all is ready, he places, at the weakest point it may be, a little battery in shape of some event or providence, and the whole unconscious community of hearts is stirred into sudden life and responsive action. In the year 1866 the Spirit of God moved in this manner : first upon the heart of one man who was to be the mover in the matter, and then upon the hearts of many ministers and church officers in Vermont , producing such a new impulse and inter- est as culminated at length in a unanimous call for 168 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. a convention of Christians of all denominations in the state, to be held in the city of Burlington, for the purpose of making a united effort to get nearer to Christ individually, and of consultation with each other as to the best means of promoting a revival of religion in the churches. The people came together upon the fifth day of September, and con- tinued the meeting through three days, holding each day three sessions, each session continuing three hours. Some remained in the place of meet- ing from nine o'clock in the morning until five in the afternoon, spending the interval at noon in prayer and inquiry for entire consecration to Christ. In the words of Rev. John Quincy Adams, who was present, " No 'description of these meetings can be given to one who was not present. At the first meeting we attended, on the morning of the fifth, brother Earle, who had been requested to preside over the convention and direct its move- ments, and who had preached the evening previous, gave us a discourse from the text, ' Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.' " At the close of that sermon about fifty ministers came forward and knelt at the altar, making then and there an unconditional surrender of themselves to God. And from that meeting until the close of the convention on Friday, testimony after testi- BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 1G9 mony to the reception of the rich blessing of God in leading Christians into a higher knowledge of Christ and his requirements of them, was given. The sensible presence of the Holy Spirit was at times almost too much to be borne ; and the whole audience would be melted into tears, or feelings would find vent in sobs or audible expressions of praise. " On the morning of the eighth, by the special suggestion and urgent request of some of the brethren, about an hour and a half was occupied in relating personal experiences of the blessedness and vital importance of an entire self-dedication to Christ. " Almost every moment between the public meet- ings was occupied in conversation with inquirers upon this subject, who literally besieged us, so that we gladly went without our food to afford time to converse and pray with them. " At the close of the sermon on Friday evening sixty or seventy testified that they had formally given themselves wholly and forever to God. Old, gray-headed ministers tearfully and solemnly de- clared that they were 'never in such a meeting before.' " At the close of the public services we retired to the vestry to hold an experience meeting, to recount the manner in which each came nearer to 170 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. the Savior; and it seemed as if the very place was filled with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. A correspondent of the " New York Examiner " says, "The meeting at Burlington, Vt., last week, under the direction of Rev. A. B. Earle, was one of an extraordinary character. It was evident that the brethren who met there had been waiting on God in secret before coming together publicly. The attendance was very large ; almost every church in the state being represented, and several brethren from other states being in attendance, and, like the meeting on the day of Pentecost, the brethren were * with one accord in one place.' " Earnest desires for personal holiness were expressed by all, especially the pastors of the churches. The most entire, and solemn, and irrev- ocable consecrations were deliberately uttered by one after another. More than once about fifty pastors were bowed together before God, pledging themselves to renounce all worldly ambition and all self-seeking, and consecrate themselves and their entire being anew to the service of God. The testimony of not a few was given to the reception of an increased measure of the Holy Spirit, and, in several instances, the declaration that a new ex- perience had been realized, as the result of an entire consecration to God, and the reception, by BRINGING IN SHEAVES. \q\ faith, of the Lord Jesus Christ, in all his fullness, as their Savior. " Constantly increasing power was manifested from the commencement to the close. Each meet- ing was better than the preceding one. Frequently the entire audience was melted, and nothing but sobs could be heard. " The preaching by brother Earle was character- ized by great simplicity, and every sermon seemed specially prompted by the Holy Spirit. "When the opportunity was presented for per- sons to come forward for prayer, not less than two hundred took the front seats, which had to be vacated to accommodate them. In some instances the midnight hour heard the voice of prayer in the dwellings and hotels where the delegates were stopping, and in others the rising of the sun was anticipated by earnest supplications. " I think we may confidently look for a glorious revival of religion in Vermont this fall and winter ; and I hope that other states will imitate this move- ment inaugurated at Burlington. "The universal testimony was, 'I was never in such a meeting in my life.'" The experiences alluded to in the above did not lose their depth or fervor with the close of the meeting, — the work of the Spirit thus manifesting itself in their permanancy as well as blessedness. 172 BRINGING IN SHEAVES. One says, several months afterwards, in a letter, " I have been a professor of religion for more than thirty years. I have never lost sight of my Master, although I have followed him a great way off. I now seem to have him by my side by night and day, in the market and in the church, and I do feel that he is a blessed Savior." Another says, "For years I have had the form of godliness without its power ; have been thought to live when I was dead. O, those years of joyless life! — knowing my Master's will, feeling alive to duty intellectually, but not willing to do it ! I have always clung to my church, and never thought of leaving it, though well knowing how unworthy I was. God would not let me alone. But to live a stranger to the peace of God, and yet find no joy in sin, is awful. 'I will arise and go to nry Father,' I resolved. He met me while yet afar off. O, the joy of being home again ! I cannot tell the comfort and blessedness of the past week. Earth even seems changed ; the Bible is precious beyond all other books, and above all, Jesus is my Savior now. It seems as if I had lived in the twilight, and now I rejoice in summer suns and flowery fields." A minister, called by his brethren " one of the strongest men in Vermont, " was able to attend but one day, but speaks of it as one of the most impor- BRINGING IN SHEAVES. 173 tant days of his life, as he then, with fuller and more solemn purpose than ever before, dedicated himself to