"Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." -- Matt. 13:43
1. Your attention! To all whom it may concern.
English history tells us of a great freshet in the river Severn, producing an inundation which invaded the country around, laying extensive portions of it under water. In one place it was observed that dogs, and cats, and hares, and rats, swam off for dear life, all in company, and congregated upon a small piece of ground the water had surrounded, but not covered. There they abode peaceably together, forgetting their natural antipathy to each other, as if aware of their common danger. Well, so it is now in Huddersfield. This revival is inundating the whole town; and sinners that fought like dogs and cats have laid aside their mutual antipathies in their struggles for dear life to some rising ground of common infidelity, which, God knows, is always low enough; but it affords them a alight chance of escape from this flood of salvation which is sweeping everything before it. And how peaceably they behave towards each other now, scowling only at the revival-flood, -- agreeing to oppose time revival only, at all risks! But its waves rise higher and higher, undermining their positions, and one after another of them is swept off from his companions, cries for mercy, is saved, is changed in nature, and landed safely, a new creature, on Immanuel's ground! Glorious sight, to see one and another and another thus saved, and lifting up their hands in prayer for a like salvation to those they left behind!
Turn to the forty-seventh chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy, and you will find a revival symbolized. An angel of the Lord conducted the prophet to where the symbolical waters were issuing from under the temple of God; where he measured them at the distance of one thousand feet, and the waters were ankle-deep; a thousand feet more, and they were knee-deep; one thousand more, to the loins; another thousand, and they had become a river. To wade now was out of the question; he that would pass over must swim or drown. But, mark! Wherever the waters flowed, they heated; -- everything that moved in them became healthy and lived where all was death!
The prophet saw the river of Gospel salvation such as has reached this town, and is inundating it. Sinners who are dead to God and to divine influence try to escape from it, but it follows them, overthrows them, submerges them, and in their submersion they pass from death unto life lands them on the Rock of Ages new creatures in Christ Jesus!
These are facts. Were I to request it, thirteen hundred saved sinners, and more than sir hundred purified believers, would stand upon their feet this instant, as witnesses to the fact, -- all the saved of the Lord during the last twelve weeks! Hallelujah!
2. And now, once again, " Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." A man in Germany said that some ministers of Jesus are storm-birds of misfortune to SINNERS; -- meaning that if they were not converted under their ministry, sore and sure judgments are likely to befall them. I am not prepared to deny it. But this let me say, great revivals of religion are often storm-birds of misfortune to those who harden their hearts and refuse to be saved by them. It is likely to be so here. The "storm-bird" is passing and re-passing over. Beware of coming judgments. If you will look into Ezekiel's vision of the holy waters, you will find that the miry places and the marshes thereof, which were not healed, were given to salt; they were salted by the just judgments of God. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear. He that is not salted by the Gospel, cured of his sinful maladies, and saved from his sins, may expect to be salted by judgments!
It is often said, "God is on the throne of grace now; by and by he will be on the throne of judgment." I think he is even now seated upon both. For, when a revival like this is in progression, God is judging those already who are refusing to be saved; -- that is, he is judging them worthy of punishment, and in the act of passing sentence of coming affliction upon this and the other resisting sinner; ay, sorrows and death-penalties. Remember what St. John says; "There is a sin unto death, I do not say that he shall pray for it." -- 1 John 5:16. Think of that, all ye who are shutting your eyes against superior light, the illuminations of the Holy Ghost. Hearken to the word of the Lord, by the prophet Micah: "Hear, all ye people: hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against yon, the Lord from his holy temple." -- Micah 1:2. The temple of the Lord is the place of judgment now, -- moved from Sinai to Zion. Thank God for that. Still, it is a place of judgment, and God himself is witness O sinner, sinner, sinner! hear the word of the Lord. Repent now, and be saved, before the sentence of our God goes out against thee.
That was a wise remark of one hear him: "When I go to hear the word of the Lord preached, I go upon my trial; and, if I look not better to it, the word that I hear may procure me loss and damage, and much hurt. It may be a matter of my guilt, and sentence me to death." Just and solemn reasoning that. What do you think of it, all ye who are yet halting between two opinions? Is there not just cause of alarm? We read that the plague of Athens followed a year of unprecedented health. A revival is a year of spiritual health and is usually attended by the smiles of heaven, temporally as well as spiritually, coming down upon the region all around like sunshine Those who do not receive soul-health have bodily health, that they may be able to attend to soul health. But if such a help is abused, then follows some plague or other. -- Job 21:23.
3. Again, let me cry aloud, "Who hath ears to hear let him hear." Remember the Severn, and the dogs, and cats, and rats, and hares! Wise animals those, when compared with some sinners among you Self-preservation is the first law of nature in brutes as wall as men. How instinctively disposed they are to get out of harm's way! How well they can read the indications of the coming storm, and betake themselves to places of shelter! Dogs howl, and cattle low, before an earthquake. What does this revival indicate? Let the sinner consult his own conscience. There are judgments for abused mercies. That which may not be general, God can make individual. "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear." I once heard a Presbyterian minister in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, preach on this text; "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." One sentiment he uttered made a deep impression upon my mind. "Eternity only can show how a SAVIOUR freely offered and deliberately rejected affects a man's condition in the eternal world." There is a terrible import about such a sentiment. But I would say, Even your future in this life can only show how a Saviour freely offered and deliberately rejected affects your condition. Sinner, what are you about? What do you propose? Is this revival to leave you unsaved? Is the harvest to pass, and the summer of salvation to end, and you not saved? Depend upon it, you may have a short autumn and a speedy winter long nights and a dreary desolation! Be warned, -- make timely preparation. Haste away from the "windy storm and tempest." Delay not. The time is at hand.
"The hour of fate is hovering nigh, ---- the winds are still, But the cold waves swell high and heavily, And there is danger in them."
The fowls of the heavens in the North American climate know their time. They discern the signs of approaching winter. A few sunny days in "the Indian Summer" cannot deceive them. The lovelier the weather, the more severe that which is to follow. They act as if they believed so. Far to the north, their noise is immense, -- great as we have in this revival. Why their noise? To gather in stragglers; to attract the attention of all their tribes, that not a wing may be left behind; to prepare for a flight to sunnier and more hospitable climes. Away they fly, at length, navigating the atmosphere; -- never northward -- that would be perdition, -- southward! They know the true point of compass without compass or chart. God has taught it them, -- the same God who teaches your con science, sinner, the true point of the spiritual compass. Would to God you were as willing to be guided by it as the fowls of heaven! But you are not. Let that pass for the present. Away they haste from the northern storm, with its ice and its snows. Farmers in their fields behold them high in air, out of reach of gun-shot, moving on compactly, wing to wing, pointed like a ship, prow and stern. Now and then they alight upon some verdant tree-top, or settle down into some seedy dell by lake or river brink, for needful refreshments. Then up and away for the sunny south, -- where they arrive, at length, minus of one or two or more of their number, which by unwatchfulness or low-flying became the prey of the fowler.
Now, mark! an early flight of birds southward in northern climes is a pretty sure indication of an early and severe winter. The Lord of birds and men tells them this by that which we call instinct. For Jesus hints that a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without the notice of their Creator and ours.
What is a revival of religion but a similar phenomenon among rational beings? The same God that prompts the birds to a flight from the coming storms and desolations of winter incites sinners to fly from the storms that must surely overtake the unbelieving and impenitent. There is a moral in Job 37:6, 7, 8. But read Jeremiah 8:7. There God speaks right out of the heavens, and, pointing to the fowls of the air, tells sinful men to look, learn, and be wise. "Yea, the STORK in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the TURTLE, and the CRANE, and the SWALLOW, observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord." O, what a tender, complaining reproof does our God convey by such an allusion! Sinner! will you hear and regard it?
4. Again let me cry out the words of Christ, your Lord and mine. "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." Think of the birds again. It sometimes happens, though not often, I believe, that stragglers are left behind. For a short time they enjoy themselves very well, picking up the leavings of the flocks that are gone, -- never seeming aware of their error till winter is on them with savage brow, with all his ice-clad legions, when they perish, or drag out a pitiable existence till spring returns again.
But it is thus sinners perish, after neglecting the Spirit's call, and the good example of others. So true was that saying of one, long since passed into eternity, "Many will fear till they feel, nor think of danger till it becomes inevitable." O ye careless men and women, listen to me! Is it not bad to refuse to fear the wrath of God, till you feel it hopelessly? Is it not sad to refuse to think of peril, till you are involved in its calamities?
I suppose you have all heard or read of that dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Norway, called the Maelstrom. It is a perilous part of the sea for sailors -- a whirlpool of an amazing sweep. It sometimes roars like a cataract, when there is a strong westerly wind. But, what is singular, its violence is said to be greatest in calm weather. Then the power of the vortex is tremendous. If a ship, during a calm, is heedlessly allowed to enter its dread circumference, and no wind springs up to aid her escape, she is sure to be swept round and round, till swallowed up and lost. O ye careless ones, listen to the following story, the sorrowful tale of a lost ship, and behold in it your own peril if you yield to the influences of hell around you!
There was fine weather along the coast of Norway, -- a smiling sky and smooth seas. The captain and crew of a certain ship, having nothing to do, determined to enjoy it, -- were in high spirits, and, to increase their hilarity, they resorted to the intoxicating bowl; all but the pilot, who seemed to be as fully aware of the peril as your own conscience, sinner, -- for they were then not far from the sailors' dread, the Maelstrom.
But the captain and crew feared nothing. They commenced a merry dance on deck. The revel increased as they continued to drink.
"Come, dance around, my jolly boys!" said the captain. And away went the merry tars in continued circle around the deck, shouting till their lungs were spent. It was a drunken revel.
"Captain," said the sober pilot, who alone refused to join the jollification, "we must drop anchor at once. The wind has died away, and the ship has performed a quarter-circle within the last half-hour."
"Ha, ha, ha! " shouted the captain. "Fill your glasses, my merry lads! Dance around, I say; the good old ship is keeping us company!"
The pilot rushed back, with a pale and concerned look, to note indications of the tale-telling compass. Presently he returned with a face livid from fear.
"Captain! " he cried, "for the love of Heaven drop anchor at once, till the wind springs up, for we have entered the Maelstrom. See with the glass. Yonder ship has cast anchor, and she is now making signals to us."
"Away, thou fool!" screamed the captain. "My lads, I'll give you a song." He began:
"Away, away with the brow of care! The devil is blithesome and merry; Odd boots it where, if there's pleasure there, With plenty of champagne and sherry."
The pilot became frantic. No one volunteered to aid him in dropping anchor; it was a feat impossible for one to perform. Now a signal shot boomed from the other ship A boat put forth with a line securing it to the vessel. The pilot ran to the heavy life-boat, but could not move it. In vain he called for aid. Still the dance and shout and song of revelry went on. Once again he flew to the compass, and in despair seized the useless helm, -- - for no wind filled the sails, and still the ship moved on the mysterious circle. For the last time he came to give the solemn warning to the now reclining captain and crew. He begged and prayed to them to heed their danger; --danger seemed to have a fascinating sound, and he was answered with a laugh. As they laughed, he wept, cautioned them with tears, and threw himself into the sea. With strong frame he swam through the fatal current towards the boat put forth to rescue, and reached it in safety. As long as line could be found in the anchored vessel, the boat continued its way toward the ship with the drunken crew. They came within hail, and called on them to save themselves. One or two, sobered by the sense of danger, threw themselves into the sea, and succeeded in reaching the boat; but the others became stupid. The line was at length exhausted. The ship could now be seen slowly moving on its narrow circle, yet those on board put forth no effort to their own preservation. It was a fearful sight. From the other vessel every eye was strained with an intense gaze. Rapid, hurried action was there. Still the line was extended, with every species of material that could be found for the purpose. Necessity became the inventor of hopes never heard of in ordinary emergency. It availed not to reach the vessel of the drunken crew. Without power to aid, those in the boat beheld them hastening on into a terrible grave, with the agony and excitement each moment increasing. Still they waited. Night was coming on. Faster and faster grew the motion of the ship. At last the approaching shadows warned them to return. The fated ship was seen through the gloom continuing her circles with increased volition. Darkness came down, and cast a veil over the scene. When morning dawned the ship and the drunken crew had vanished forever from sight!
Hear me, O ye careless ones! We know of nothing that so vividly illustrates your infatuation as this. Why will ye die? Already are you performing those mysterious circles, -- verging rapidly to the Maelstrom of hell! Sin, like the intoxicating cup, infatuates you. We have hoisted our signals. Again and again has the report of our solitary signal-gun boomed in your ears. We have approached within hailing distance. We offer you assistance. Zion's ship is waiting to receive you, anchored to the Rock of Ages. Jesus, our captain, bids you welcome. Some of your companions have taken the alarm, and abandoned you. They swam through the fatal current, and are safe. You all may do the same. We have exhausted our line. Your circles in the fatal influence are becoming narrower. We entreat you to heed your danger, -- - it is positively real. We repeat our entreaties. We sound a fresh alarm. The parting ray of salvation -- perhaps the last one - is now falling upon your head. Let your numbers be lessened. Hinder not those who are ready to fly from perdition. Necessity and hope have been busy in inventing means for your rescue, -- - means never resorted to in ordinary emergency. Will nothing avail? Must you perish, for whom Jesus died? Shall neither tears nor earnest cries avail? Darkness is gathering around you fast. We may see you no more. God have mercy upon the doomed then! But hear it heaven, and earth, and hell, angels, men and devils, -- they doom themselves! See, see, see! the doomed! the doomed! the doomed! Farewell! Perhaps before morning trembles over our sky you may have disappeared under skies of blackness and darkness, for ever and ever!
