A Sound of Abundance of Rain.

 
THESE words were spoken by Elijah the prophet, to Ahab King of Israel (1 Kings 18:4141And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. (1 Kings 18:41)). No refreshing shower had fallen during a period of three years and six months, and not a cloud was rising from the horizon when this man of faith and prayer gave utterance to this hopeful sentiment.
Some of us can look back twenty years, and thirty years — some even to the great revival of 1859. What seasons of blessing in the gospel! What times of conversion amidst all classes of society! The Spirit of God was moving in mighty power through the land. But of late it has not been so. A widespread apathy and indifference has pervaded the borders of Christendom. There has been an abundance of work, hard work too; there has been much preaching, earnest preaching, faithful preaching; but the results have not been such as to encourage with the thought that many were being led to the Lord. This has been the universal and widely expressed feeling of all who have labored in the gospel field.
Brethren, has there been that spirit of prayer which at one time prevailed?
“Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit” (Jas. 5:17, 1817Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (James 5:17‑18)).
We write these few lines to stir up every Christian who may be a reader of our magazine to earnest, believing, and continued prayer — definite prayer, too, for definite results. It was prayer that preceded the great revival of 1859. Two men in humble life residing in the North of Ireland, deeply sensible of the state of spiritual deadness by which they were surrounded, agreed to meet in a cottage to cry to God for an awakening. They went on crying to God, and the spirit of prayer caught on all around until house after house was opened for prayer. God heard, and the revival came. The revival spread all over the land, multitudes were saved — the writer amongst the number.
Brethren and fellow-laborers in the gospel, a spirit of prayer is abroad. Thank God! A year ago we heard from a friend in Western Australia that Christians all over the colony were meeting for prayer that God would awaken souls and convert them in large numbers. Private houses were opened, and hitherto half-hearted and worldly-minded Christians were led to prayer instead of pleasuring. The revival came.
For several months in Melbourne every Tues day night there were prayer meetings held in from 1,600 to 2,000 different houses. Is it any wonder that an awakening followed such as the colony has never had before? “Why,” said one, “anybody could have preached in Melbourne, the atmosphere was laden with prayer and filled with expectation of revival.”
We have recently returned from Switzerland, and it was our privilege to witness such scenes of interest in the gospel as have not been seen for long. It is our firm conviction, that there, and in France, they are on the eve of a great spiritual movement. Pray, brethren, pray!
We met recently a Christian man laboring in Italy. He had just been spending a whole week in humiliation and prayer along with seventy others interested in the work of the gospel in that land. The testimony of each of these was, that the country had never been so open for the gospel as now. Everywhere doors were open, and willing listeners could be found.
A friend in the country writes: “Yesterday afternoon we got together for special humiliation, praise, and prayer.”
In every direction we hear of the people of God gathering together for prayer for a worldwide revival.
What does it all mean?
We believe the coming of the Lord is drawing nigh, and a great ingathering of souls will take place e’er He comes.
Why are we writing?
That both writer and reader may have the joy, the privilege, and the Honor of having a little share in these good things. Let us not be robbed of active participation in this God-honoring, Christ-exalting, glorious work of bringing others to the Saviour.
We would affectionately and earnestly suggest meetings for special prayer in every locality where this little magazine circulates, that God would come in and work mightily for the Honor of His great name, for the glory of Christ, for the blessing of His people, and for the salvation of souls.
God willing, we shall add a little on this subject in a future number, and meanwhile shall be thankful for the prayers of the people of God for some special meetings we are now carrying on. ED.