The History of Revivals of Religion

William Allen

GERMAN PIETISM

In 1666 this movement began in the Lutheran Church under the ministry of Spener. He was moved to oppose the dead orthodoxy that was prevalent in many of the churches, and to work for a revival of true religion. The pietists sought to promote Bible study, the development of a lay ministry and practical Christian living. They believed that a blameless life should be an indispensable qualification for the ministry, and that preaching should be simple and direct. Riggenbach says, “In less than half a century pietism spread its influence through all the spheres of life, and through all classes of society.”

Spener and Franke also had an active part in the founding of the Danish-Halle Mission, and in the training of such ‘men as Count Zinzendorf, and the missionaries Ziegenblag and Schwartz.

MORAVIAN REVIVAL

This revival began in 1727. Previous to this the settlers at Herrnhut could not live together in peace. Finally Count Zinzendorf gave tall his time to work for a settlement of their differences.

On the 12th of May, 1727, they all, with great joy, gave themselves afresh to God, and promised to bury their disputes for ever.

The following account of the revival is taken from the “History of the Moravians” by A. Bost. “From that time there was a wonderful effusion of the Spirit on this happy church, until August the 13th when the measure of Divine grace seemed absolutely overflowing.

Every day brought some new blessing. The Count applied himself to the visiting of the brethren. This was the beginning of those little associations which were afterwards called “bands.” These consisted of two or three persons, who met together privately, to converse on their spiritual state, to exhort, and reprove, and pray for each other.’’

On the 22nd of July some brethren “agreed to repair at stated times to a hill near Herrnhut, in order to pour out their souls to God in prayer and singing. On the same day the Count set out for Silesia. Before his departure several of the brethren engaged to devote themselves to the advancement of the revival.” At this time they had a great blessing through the reading of the First Epistle of St. John.

“On the Lord’s day, the 10th of August, the minister Rothe was seized, in the midst of the assembly, with an unusual impulse. He threw himself upon his knees before God, and the whole assembly prostrated themselves with him under the same emotions. An uninterrupted course of singing and prayer, weeping and supplication, continued till midnight. All hearts were united in love.”

The brethren held a Communion service on Friday, 13th. It was full of deep spiritual power and emotion. The whole assembly united in prayer to God, and then sung, ‘My soul before Thee prostrate lies,’ amidst tears and sobs, so that it could hardly be distinguished whether they were weeping or singing. The scene was so moving that the pastor could hardly tell what he saw or heard.

“A few days after the 13th of August, a remarkable revival took place among the children at Herrnhut and Bertholdsdorf. On the 18th of August, all the children at the boarding school were seized with an extraordinary impulse of the Spirit, and passed the whole night in prayer. From this time, a constant work of God was going on in the minds of the children, in both places. No words can express the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit upon these children.”

On the 25th of August the brethren began the ministry of continual prayer which continued for over a hundred years. “They considered that, as in the ancient Temple the fire on the altar never ceased to burn, so in the Church, which is now the Temple of God, the prayers of the saints ought always to ascend to the Lord.”

In January, 1728, the brethren held their first missionary meeting. “This meeting was celebrated by meditations on different portions of Holy Scripture, and fervent prayers; in the midst of which the church experienced a remarkable enjoyment of the presence of the Spirit.”

The Moravian Missions began in 1731. Work was commenced in the West Indies and Greenland. In the years that followed missionaries were sent to Labrador, North America, South America, South Africa, Asia, Australia, and many islands of the sea. The Moravians Missions have been a mighty force in the evangelisation of the heathen, but we must remember that it all began in the revival in 1727.

JONATHAN EDWARDS’ REVIVAL

Edwards reveals the secret of this revival. He said: “The spirit of those that have been in distress for the souls of others, so far as I can discern, seems not to be different from that of the apostle who travailed for souls.” On the evening of the day preceding the outbreak of the revival, some Christians met, and spent the whole night in prayer.

There was scarcely a person in the town, (Northampton), old or young, left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world. The work of conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and increased more and more; souls did as it were come by flocks to Jesus Christ. This work of God soon made a glorious alteration in the town; so that in the spring and summer following, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God; it was never so full of love, nor of joy, and yet so full of distress, as it was then.

“There were remarkable tokens of God’s presence in almost every house. It was a time of joy in families on account of salvation being brought unto them; parents rejoicing over their children as new born, and husbands over their wives, and wives over their husbands. The goings of God were seen in His sanctuary, God’s day was a delight, and His tabernacles were amiable.”

THE GREAT AWAKENING

This revival in America began in 1735. Jonathan Edwards’ revival was the beginning of this awakening which continued for about twenty-five years, and was powerful in many American states.

From Northampton the revival spread to South Hadley, Suffield, Sunderland, Green River, West Springfield, Long Meadow, Enfield, and Northfield. From these towns as a centre it spread throughout New England and the Middle States.

The leaders in this revival were Edwards, the Tennents, Davenport, and Whitfield. The preaching of Whitfield stirred the whole country, but it should be remembered that he was preaching to people whose hearts were prepared, and who were longing for the Gospel message.

Of this period William Conant writes, “The preaching of the Gospel was attended with the most wonderful power, in every part of New England, and revivals gave new life and multiplied numbers to the churches, in a larger number of towns than our space enables us to enumerate, throughout New England, and in the Middle States.

“ It cannot be doubted that at least 50,000 souls were added to the churches of New England, out of a population of about 250,000. A fact sufficient to revolutionise, as indeed it did, the religious and moral character, and to determine the destinies, of the country.

“Not less than 150 new Congregational churches were established in twenty years. The increase of Baptist churches in the last half of the century, was still more wonderful, rising from 9 to upwards of 400 in number, with a total of thirty thousand members.” There was a similar growth in the Presbyterian and other churches.

“The new converts were ‘fervent in spirit.’ They thirsted for the salvation of souls. Unexampled efforts. were immediately employed for the spread of the Gospel. Some went from house to house in their respective neighbourhoods ‘warning every man and teaching every man,’ and exhorting all to turn to the Lord. Pious ministers were stirred to unusual exertion, and old Christians renewed their youth. ‘The Lord gave the word; great was the company of them that published it.’

They had deep convictions of the evil of sin, and of the peril of a rebellious state. The love of God in Christ overpowered their souls. Their views of the solemn realities of another world were vivid and heart-affecting. Their earnest appeals made the stout hearted tremble, awed many a reprobate into silence, and wrung tears from daring and hardened offenders. Tens of thousands bowed before the majesty of truth. Some of the most powerful preachers emigrated to other States; and wherever they went, the floods of blessing poured over the land.”