13,610
edits
Changes
→Protracted Meetings
==Protracted Meetings==
"What kind of meeting is that?" you ask. Well, it does sound strange, even to me, but it did not when I was a child. It was then the custom, every winter, for the pastor of each church to hold a protracted meeting for four, six, or even eight weeks, if there was sufficient interest to warrant it. A pastor who failed to do this was thought indifferent to the welfare of his charge, and careless about the salvation of sinners. The old-fashioned Methodists were a "peculiar" people.
Peter Cartwright and John Bangs were household words. These men of God rode on horseback from point to point of their large circuits, preaching the gospel in schoolhouses, in private houses or out of doors; and just as earnestly as they preached eternal life did they preach eternal punishment for all who rejected Him. Protracted meetings were solemn occasions. The unsaved were faithfully warned and earnestly entreated to "flee from the wrath to come," and to seek refuge in the One who died on Calvary.
Nightly, after the preaching, opportunity was given to any who desired to be prayed for, to come forward and kneel at the "altar". Godly persons went through the congregation, speaking to those who seemed seriously inclined, urging them to seek the Lord, and accept His salvation. Meanwhile the congregation stood, singing hymns of invitation, many lifting up their hearts in silent prayer.
Here is a hymn I loved. It had SEVEN verses. I will give you only three.
"Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love and power.
He is able, He is willing: doubt no more.
Now, ye needy, come and welcome, God's free bounty glorify;
True belief, and true repentance, every grace that brings you nigh,
Without money, come to Jesus Christ and buy.
Come, ye weary, heavy-laden, bruised and mangled by the fall;
If you tarry 'till you're better, you will never come at all.
Not the righteous, SINNERS, Jesus came to call." ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hart Hart])
When it was announced that one or more had accepted Christ and were rejoicing in Him as their Saviour, the character of the hymns changed from invitation to rejoicing:
"Oh! How happy are they who their Saviour obey,
And have laid up their treasure above;
Tongue can never express the sweet comfort and peace
Of a soul in its earliest love.
Twas a heaven below my Redeemer to know
And the angels could do nothing more
Than to fall at His feet, and the story repeat
And the Lover of sinners adore.
Jesus all the day long was my joy and my song;
Oh, that all His salvation might see!
He hath loved me, I cried,
He hath suffered and died,
To redeem even rebels like me." ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wesley C. Wesley])
The second winter of our stay in Ohio, meetings were held, for many weeks, every night except Saturday. I do not think I missed one of them. A large number "joined the church", and I trust many were truly converted. It was then I became a member of the Methodist Church, which relationship continued until about a year before my marriage.
I desire not to criticize, but must say from many years of experience, that the FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST, as the GROUND OF PEACE, was not preached; at least not as the ONLY ground, so there was no SETTLED peace; how could there be? The prominence given to EXPERIENCE led to self-occupation, which is fatal to true peace.
==Trials==
==The Journey==