We see convincing evidences that the Christian Churches in this country are in the first stage of an evangelistic movement, which is likely to affect all denominations and to continue for several years. These evidences are found in newspaper discussions of religious problems, in news from the Churches, reports of sermons, and plans for aggressive work. Especially do we note the increasing purpose of individual Christians to reach their neighbors and friends with the effort to persuade them to declare themselves as disciples of Christ. The Presbyterian Church is probably taking the lead in this movement at the present time. But other denominations are falling into line. The Watchman notes many signs of aggressive effort among Baptists throughout the whole country. Methodist papers speak hopefully of the sense of longing among their Churches for deeper spiritual power to break through the indifference and world-liness of the life around them. Letters received by us breathe like aspirations and hope. This movement is not confined to any locality, does not put forward any particular doctrine, recognizes no one great leader. It is the quiet awakening of men and women to the value of Christian living, to the supreme importance of fellowship with God, to admiration of the character of Jesus Christ, as the revelation of the Father, to a growing desire to become like him and to persuade others to come into obedience to him. These indications summon every Christian to renewed prayer, to more faithful study of the Bible, and to keep open eyes to discover opportunities to win others to Christ.

The Congregationalist and Christian World.

Robert Stuart MacArthur says in The Watchman: "It is comparatively useless for pastors to denounce the 'higher criticism' and to announce their own loyalty to orthodox views of Scripture and theology if their own ministry is fruitless in the edification of saints and in the conversion of sinners. A warm-hearted and loving heterodoxy may be more acceptable to God than a frigid and moribund orthodoxy. There are some men so anxious to keep all their theological fences in superb repair that they neither till the fields nor reap any harvests. The question for a true orthodoxy is not, ultimately, as to the depth of its well, but as to the number of thirsty souls whom it satisfies with its living water. Let the old Gospel have free course and be glorified once more in all our pulpits. Let Christ and him crucified be exalted as the only hope of lost men and women. An exalted Christ is still the mightiest magnet to draw men to holiness and to heaven. A warm, living, loving Gospel would be the newest, freshest, sweetest, and mightiest message which has been heard for many years in some pulpits. Let us give the crucified Christ the opportunity in every pulpit to fulfil his promise, 'And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.' "

There is nothing that religion needs more, if it is to retain its hold on multitudes who are indifferent to its claims, nothing that religion needs so much, if it is to awaken once again those deep spiritual impulses and magnificent enthusiasms which have marked its great ages, as a method of treatment and a class of advocates which will uncover and proclaim those universal and everlasting principles on which religion rests in the nature of man and in the history of the world. We must find a foundation in a universalism of thought and philosophy broad enough and solid enough to support the affirmation that religion is an everlasting necessity, and that without it there can be no philosophy of history, and no permanent hope of human progress. We must insist that the whole argument for religion, and for that specific form of religion called Christianity, must be reconstructed from the ground up. We must ask it to justify itself in the fierce light of all knowledge, and insist that all forms of faith shall stand the test of the enlightened intelligence and the moral judgments of mankind.—The Universalist Leader.

We need to recognize anew the teaching of Christ and of Paul that our most immediate environment is not matter but spirit. We are insphered by the spirit of God. In Him we live and move and have our being. We pray for a revival. God is waiting to give it. His method is simple. "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities." God works in as we work out. Our importunity is God's opportunity. Humanity exhausted brings God the Exhaustless. Divine involution complements human evolution. Infinite fulness is at hand. Be filled with the Spirit.

The Spirit alone can refresh us, disentangle and emancipate us from our materialistic earthiness. The ice-bound, snow-covered earth will soon yield to the glad, returning, life-giving sun, and early spring will reveal once more the abundance of life. Let the Spirit help and the revival is here. Welcome the Spirit's involution and truest evolution follows. Yield the cold heart to the warmth of the loving, life-bringing Son of God, through the Spirit, and our prayers for revival will not be in vain.
J. W. Brigham.

The remarks of Rev. Leighton Williams, a speaker at a recent Baptist convention in Boston, are thus summarized in The Standard: "Something ends with the close of the New Testament canon, namely, the authoritative rule of faith and practice for the whole Christian Church. But it is incorrect to say that revelation ends with the New Testament. God as the ever-living and everacting is also the ever-speaking God. The attempted distinction between revelation and illumination is fallacious and unsatisfactory. Revelation is not so much external as internal. Belief in continuous inspiration and revelation is called for, and intelligent Baptists should be ready to embrace it. Great will be the increase of power in our Churches when they are prepared to 'hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.' "

A man in really good circumstances once said: "I look at what I have not and think myself unhappy; others look at what I have and count me happy." It is our shame and sin that we are not all more ready to count our mercies—to consider the blessings we have instead of complaining of things we seem to lack. How prone we are to forget God's benefits! We have excellent memories for all our trials and sorrows and losses, but fail to recall our blessings. It seems that the very abundance of God's favors and their ever unbroken flow tend to make us all the more forgetful of the Giver of them all. But it is our duty to remember to be thankful. If we think, we cannot but thank.

The Standard.

Jesus said of himself, "I am the light of the world," and of his disciples, "Ye are the light of the world." So then, if we are his disciples, we are fulfilling the same service to the world that he, the true Light, came to fulfil. Nor are we, as is sometimes said, mere reflectors of Christ's light. The holy flame has been kindled within us, and become a part of ourselves, so that we are as truly, in our measure, centres of light as was he. This is at once a precious privilege and a tremendous responsibility.

The Examiner.

Let those who sometimes suppose gentleness to be tame, insipid virtue, make careful study of it as seen in the character of Jesus. They will learn to admire it. They will be impelled to cultivate it. They will perceive it to be a fruitful source of true and mighty power. When we understand that, one is gentle, as Jesus was, because he can afford to be; because, apart from moral aspect of the matter, he realizes that he is strong enough in the highest sense to dispense with bluster, we feel that he has attained to a lofty and honorable level of character and life.—Selected.

The Rev. John Love, D.D., says in The Examiner: "Christ taught a practical religion: a helpful religion: a religion sweet in spirit and lovely in expression, and which, carried out literally, and by all, would introduce a blessed era in the home, the church, in society, in business. It was given not for information merely, but for inspiration; not that we might form a creed, but that we might shape a life. The 'Golden Discourse' incorporated and emphasized the 'Golden Rule,' which, fulfilled by all, would introduce the true 'Golden Age.' "

Sometimes the Christian life is presented in such an unlovely guise through the conduct of those who are supposed to illustrate it that there is little reason for wondering that men are repelled from it. Still the chances are that far too much is made of the shortcomings of Christians. No one fully realizes his purposes and ideals, and the man who is struggling hardest may make the least headway because he has the most to contend against.—The Watchman.

Two ways: To argue about holiness until you lose it. Simply to testify to it and let the other party argue all he pleases.

The Christian Witness.

We believe that the Gospel needs to be declared far more than it needs to be defended.

James Wiley.