At the time when Elisha smote the waters of Jordan and cried, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” he looked back on a season which had been marked with divine wonders–the season of Elijah’s ministry. That ministry was closed. Elijah had taken his flight to heaven, and Elisha was left to brood over the recollection of scenes which could never return. Such a period lies before our eyes as they are turned to review the past. The middle of last century was a distinguished period in the Christian Church. Many with whom we have taken counsel could well remember. that glorious day when both continents experienced a remarkable visit from the Holy Spirit; when evangelical ministers, like angels Hying through the midst of heaven, travelled from city to city, from state to state, and often rode the Atlantic wave, to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation; when those servants of God bore valiant testimony against the worldling and the formalist arrayed in clerical habits, and prevailed to establish a new epoch in the progress of evangelical piety and preaching. That was a blessed day, never to be forgotten on earth, and which will be joyfully remembered to eternity by thousands who then first began to see the light and live. Christians then were alive; their spirits were tender; religious conversation chiefly occupied their social hours; their hearts were sweetly united in brotherly love; and with the utmost freedom they could communicate to each other their joys and trials. In those days Christians were not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; they were not conformed to the world; they came boldly out and were a separate people. They were not then driving furiously after wealth and distinction: it was enough to fill their desires to see the kingdom of Christ advance. In those days parents with transport received their dead children to life, and Christians wept for joy at hearing songs of thanksgiving poured from a thousand tongues just recovered from death. O give us more such days! Alas! those days are fled. The world triumphs now and holds the Church in bondage. 0 for the return of those glorious scenes! Where is the Lord God of Whitefield, Tennent, Davies, Brainerd, and Edwards? Where is the Lord God of our fathers?
In our times also it has pleased the divine Spirit to spread his extensive influences upon earth. The whole of this century, with eight or ten years of the last, has been distinguished by very remarkable events in favour of Zion. During every part of this period we have seen or heard of unusual revivals of religion in different parts of the American Church. Many thousands have been raised from the dead and begun an endless life. A spirit of compassion for the heathen has been poured out, and exertions, greater than have appeared since the days of the apostles, have been made to cheer the abodes of pagan darkness with the light of life. But alas among us returning stupidity has damped the general joy; and the people of God, who have not themselves fallen asleep, have hung their harps upon the willows and weep as they remember Zion. Now and then a fuller tear breaks from their eye as they exclaim, Where is the Lord God of our former revivals?
Time has been (I would not dismiss the pleasing remembrance though it is fraught with pain) when the voice of Jesus of Nazareth was heard in these streets, when his majesty sat enthroned in our assemblies, when the interests of the soul were more regarded than paltry pelf, when Christians lived, when sinners trembled, when the new-born delighted to lisp the name of Jesus. As we cast our eyes over this assembly we can descry those who will not soon forget the scene. Yes, we have seen the day when some of you were trembling in near view of the eternal judgment, when you verily thought there was but a step between you and death. We have seen the blessed hour when heavenly light broke in upon your despair, when your eyes opened upon eternal day, when your transported souls dropped the calculation of endless sorrows and hugged the hope of immortal joy. I live, I live, you cried, as your grave clothes dropped at your feet. We have seen a parent’s eye glisten with a trembling tear as his child looked up to thank his Deliverer. We have seen the solemn hour when, with palpitations before unknown, you stood in companies before the Lord to enter into covenant with him. Vie have seen the dear youth delighting to speak to each other of a Saviour’s love, when tenderness melted in every eye, and their societies were full of the presence of Jesus and of love. Let me cleave to the fond remembrance. Tear me not from a scene to which my soul clings as to life itself. But ah it is gone, and what do these distressed eyes now behold? One general waste of stupidity and death. No child is revived; no parent’s heart leaps for joy; none are conscious of their guilt and danger; none experience the joys of their espousals. Their divine Deliverer, whose love. in that hour. they thought they never could forget, is forgotten and neglected. The world has rivalled him. The world has carried away the Christian, the convert, and the sinner. The world, the world, the world : this is the object which engrosses every care; this is the supreme deity that is adored. “Buy and sell and get gain: out with the thoughts of death; away with judgment and heaven; name not a Saviour’s love: my farms and my merchandise I will have, though the earth trembles under my feet and heaven weeps blood upon my head.” And is it thus? Yes, and it is an evil beyond our power to cure. We have done and said all we can do, and it alters not the case. Where then is the Lord God of Elijah? Where is the Lord God of our former sabbaths and sacraments? Where, O where is he? “Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory; where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies? Are they restrained?” I do know that it depends solely on the sovereign pleasure of God whether there shall ever be another revival of religion in this place, or whether they who Me dead shall remain dead to eternity. One look from him and our sleeping friends shall revive; one frown from him and every unregenerate soul in this congregation shall die in his sins. Men and angels cannot change the decree. Ministers may preach, Christians may pray, parents may weep, and a thousand pious hearts may break; but if the Lord God of Elijah do not revive us the dead will not revive. This sentiment. though it has dwelt upon our tongues, I fear has never sunk deep enough into our hearts. In days of revival we have ascribed too much of the praise to men and means; and now perhaps we look too much to men and means for the relief desired. We never shall be revived until we realizingly feel our absolute and entire dependence on God, until we can heartily and without reserve say, “My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him.” O for this dependence, that we may go forth in a body and lift our eyes to heaven as the eyes of one man, and cry, as though the salvation of a world hung upon our prayer, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah? O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat.” Alas, can he not be found? While thousands lie dead around us, can we not find the only being who can raise them to life? Where is he? Can we not find him? May we not find him? “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?”
But such dependence and such a united cry will never be until caused by him. Ah then our last hope from ourselves has vanished. And now, reduced to the last extremity, we cry with greater distress, Where is the Lord God of all our revivals? O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his scat. Can he not be found? While thousands lie dead around us, can we not find the only being who can raise them to life? Where is he? Can we not find him? May we not find him? Why is his power restrained? Is his “hand shortened that it cannot save,” or “his ear heavy that it cannot hear?” No, but our “iniquities have separated between” him and us, and “hid his face from” us “that he will not hear.” His power and grace arc as abundant as when they were so abundantly displayed before our eyes: and if we would seek him he is to be found on the some mercy seat where we found him before. His mercy is not “clean gone forever.” Methinks I see him stretching out his hands to this church and saying, Why weep ye? Have ye dead children in your houses? Here is my power and grace at your service. If ye are straitened, ye arc not straitened in me but in yourselves. Yes, Lord, the reproof is just. Christians do not call upon the God of Elijah with that reverence, humility, and agonizing desire which are needful to obtain a glorious display of his grace. We might witness more blessed days than any before granted, if they were sufficiently sought. And will they never return? Yes, they shall return. It was said in the introduction that the days of Elisha were distinguished with more glory than those of Elijah. It was not in vain that he inquired for the Lord God of his master. Blessed thought! It shall not be in vain that here and there a solitary Christian is asking for the Lord God of Elijah. The time will come when every sinner then living in this congregation shall open his eyes and behold the Cod whom perhaps his fathers rejected, when these streets shall be full of prayer and of the conquests of Jesus, when this house, if it be standing. shall be crowded with tender and devout hearers, when the happy man whose voice shall be heard from this pulpit, will have less grief of heart than your minister now has. Ye sacred walls, if ye be then standing, tell not the tale to our posterity: disturb not that joyful assembly with the recital of what ye witness now. Say not to them, Your fathers who once assembled here were besought with tears, but some of them mocked and others soon forgot. Before that day arrives this voice shall be silent in death, and I hope this heart will cease to ache. Those seats shall be emptied of their present incumbents, and you will all be gathered to the assembly of your fathers. But let that day come when it may—whether I am in this world or that—I think it will give me joy to see the kingdom of Christ prevail in the place where I once laboured, and among the descendants of those I once loved. O the delightful, glorious prospect! I could dwell upon it with rapture till I died. Hasten that transporting day. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.
Reprinted from THE BANNER OF TRUTH.
Edward D. Griffin (1770–1837) a distinguished American preacher who studied theology under Jonathan Edwards was instrumental in revival at several places where he ministered including Williams College of which he was president from 1821 to 1836.
In our times also it has pleased the divine Spirit to spread his extensive influences upon earth. The whole of this century, with eight or ten years of the last, has been distinguished by very remarkable events in favour of Zion. During every part of this period we have seen or heard of unusual revivals of religion in different parts of the American Church. Many thousands have been raised from the dead and begun an endless life. A spirit of compassion for the heathen has been poured out, and exertions, greater than have appeared since the days of the apostles, have been made to cheer the abodes of pagan darkness with the light of life. But alas among us returning stupidity has damped the general joy; and the people of God, who have not themselves fallen asleep, have hung their harps upon the willows and weep as they remember Zion. Now and then a fuller tear breaks from their eye as they exclaim, Where is the Lord God of our former revivals?
Time has been (I would not dismiss the pleasing remembrance though it is fraught with pain) when the voice of Jesus of Nazareth was heard in these streets, when his majesty sat enthroned in our assemblies, when the interests of the soul were more regarded than paltry pelf, when Christians lived, when sinners trembled, when the new-born delighted to lisp the name of Jesus. As we cast our eyes over this assembly we can descry those who will not soon forget the scene. Yes, we have seen the day when some of you were trembling in near view of the eternal judgment, when you verily thought there was but a step between you and death. We have seen the blessed hour when heavenly light broke in upon your despair, when your eyes opened upon eternal day, when your transported souls dropped the calculation of endless sorrows and hugged the hope of immortal joy. I live, I live, you cried, as your grave clothes dropped at your feet. We have seen a parent’s eye glisten with a trembling tear as his child looked up to thank his Deliverer. We have seen the solemn hour when, with palpitations before unknown, you stood in companies before the Lord to enter into covenant with him. Vie have seen the dear youth delighting to speak to each other of a Saviour’s love, when tenderness melted in every eye, and their societies were full of the presence of Jesus and of love. Let me cleave to the fond remembrance. Tear me not from a scene to which my soul clings as to life itself. But ah it is gone, and what do these distressed eyes now behold? One general waste of stupidity and death. No child is revived; no parent’s heart leaps for joy; none are conscious of their guilt and danger; none experience the joys of their espousals. Their divine Deliverer, whose love. in that hour. they thought they never could forget, is forgotten and neglected. The world has rivalled him. The world has carried away the Christian, the convert, and the sinner. The world, the world, the world : this is the object which engrosses every care; this is the supreme deity that is adored. “Buy and sell and get gain: out with the thoughts of death; away with judgment and heaven; name not a Saviour’s love: my farms and my merchandise I will have, though the earth trembles under my feet and heaven weeps blood upon my head.” And is it thus? Yes, and it is an evil beyond our power to cure. We have done and said all we can do, and it alters not the case. Where then is the Lord God of Elijah? Where is the Lord God of our former sabbaths and sacraments? Where, O where is he? “Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory; where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies? Are they restrained?” I do know that it depends solely on the sovereign pleasure of God whether there shall ever be another revival of religion in this place, or whether they who Me dead shall remain dead to eternity. One look from him and our sleeping friends shall revive; one frown from him and every unregenerate soul in this congregation shall die in his sins. Men and angels cannot change the decree. Ministers may preach, Christians may pray, parents may weep, and a thousand pious hearts may break; but if the Lord God of Elijah do not revive us the dead will not revive. This sentiment. though it has dwelt upon our tongues, I fear has never sunk deep enough into our hearts. In days of revival we have ascribed too much of the praise to men and means; and now perhaps we look too much to men and means for the relief desired. We never shall be revived until we realizingly feel our absolute and entire dependence on God, until we can heartily and without reserve say, “My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him.” O for this dependence, that we may go forth in a body and lift our eyes to heaven as the eyes of one man, and cry, as though the salvation of a world hung upon our prayer, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah? O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat.” Alas, can he not be found? While thousands lie dead around us, can we not find the only being who can raise them to life? Where is he? Can we not find him? May we not find him? “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?”
But such dependence and such a united cry will never be until caused by him. Ah then our last hope from ourselves has vanished. And now, reduced to the last extremity, we cry with greater distress, Where is the Lord God of all our revivals? O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his scat. Can he not be found? While thousands lie dead around us, can we not find the only being who can raise them to life? Where is he? Can we not find him? May we not find him? Why is his power restrained? Is his “hand shortened that it cannot save,” or “his ear heavy that it cannot hear?” No, but our “iniquities have separated between” him and us, and “hid his face from” us “that he will not hear.” His power and grace arc as abundant as when they were so abundantly displayed before our eyes: and if we would seek him he is to be found on the some mercy seat where we found him before. His mercy is not “clean gone forever.” Methinks I see him stretching out his hands to this church and saying, Why weep ye? Have ye dead children in your houses? Here is my power and grace at your service. If ye are straitened, ye arc not straitened in me but in yourselves. Yes, Lord, the reproof is just. Christians do not call upon the God of Elijah with that reverence, humility, and agonizing desire which are needful to obtain a glorious display of his grace. We might witness more blessed days than any before granted, if they were sufficiently sought. And will they never return? Yes, they shall return. It was said in the introduction that the days of Elisha were distinguished with more glory than those of Elijah. It was not in vain that he inquired for the Lord God of his master. Blessed thought! It shall not be in vain that here and there a solitary Christian is asking for the Lord God of Elijah. The time will come when every sinner then living in this congregation shall open his eyes and behold the Cod whom perhaps his fathers rejected, when these streets shall be full of prayer and of the conquests of Jesus, when this house, if it be standing. shall be crowded with tender and devout hearers, when the happy man whose voice shall be heard from this pulpit, will have less grief of heart than your minister now has. Ye sacred walls, if ye be then standing, tell not the tale to our posterity: disturb not that joyful assembly with the recital of what ye witness now. Say not to them, Your fathers who once assembled here were besought with tears, but some of them mocked and others soon forgot. Before that day arrives this voice shall be silent in death, and I hope this heart will cease to ache. Those seats shall be emptied of their present incumbents, and you will all be gathered to the assembly of your fathers. But let that day come when it may—whether I am in this world or that—I think it will give me joy to see the kingdom of Christ prevail in the place where I once laboured, and among the descendants of those I once loved. O the delightful, glorious prospect! I could dwell upon it with rapture till I died. Hasten that transporting day. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.
Reprinted from THE BANNER OF TRUTH.
Edward D. Griffin (1770–1837) a distinguished American preacher who studied theology under Jonathan Edwards was instrumental in revival at several places where he ministered including Williams College of which he was president from 1821 to 1836.