and kicked. Prosperity to a Church is more danger

This

ous than poverty and much more to be feared. was the rock on which the early Church was wrecked. When that Church was small in number, poor in purse, destitute of scholars and learned men, and surrounded by foes fierce and implacable, then it looked upward with steadfast eye to the Holy Ghost. On Him they depended. They sought the great baptism and they received it. And God was manifest in them, alike in prayer meetings and at the martyrs stake! These were the days of most rapid growth. Not because “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church," but because the Church was illuminated! The Holy Spirit shone through it, revealing human selfishness and God's salvation. And when they spoke it was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and with power. But alas! When they had grown great in numbers, had built great Churches, had schools of Theology and of science, and had otherwise become renowned and influential, they began to rely on their earthly power and less and less on the Spirit. Farther and farther they wandered, as less and less became their conscious dependence on the Spirit of God. And that, brethren, is your danger;

that you become proud of your numbers, boastful of your schools, your great men, your missions, and your money. May the Lord save you from the demoralizing influences prosperity so often brings! May he keep you ever humble; not by stripes, but by loving and suggestive influences, such as he much prefers to the rod. Continue to proclaim as on the housetop, that we live under the administration of the Holy Ghost! that he is as ready now as in Apostolic days to descend in Pentecostal power, and sanctify his people. Let the Churches seek the great blessing as they did in the days of the sainted Wesley, and your final success will be assured. Suffer this word of friendly warning, brethren. And may the twentieth century look down upon a sanctified Methodist Church, in every important locality on the face of the earth.

CHAPTER XII.

Experiences of this Baptism testified unto by eminent Christians.

This appeal to the Churches would be incomplete, were the writer to omit in conclusion, the giving of samples of experiences of this Baptism of the Spirit, testified unto by men and women eminent for consecration and usefulness. We will first present that of Dwight L. Moody, as given by him in a great revival meeting in the City of Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. Moody said: "I can myself go back almost twelve years, and remember two holy women who used to come to my meetings. It was delightful to see them there! When I began to preach I could tell by the expression of their faces, that they were praying for me. At the close of the Sabbath evening meeting they would say to me, 'We have been praying for you.' I said 'why don't you pray for the people?' They answered, 'you need the power.' I need the power? I said to myself! why, I thought I had power. I had a large Sabbath

School and the largest evening congregation in Chicago. There were some conversions at the time. I was in a sense satisfied. But right along these two Godly women kept praying for me, and their earnest talk about a 'special annointing' set me to thinking. I asked them to come and talk with me, and we got down on our knees. They poured out their hearts that I might receive an annointing from the Holy Spirit ; and there arose a great hunger in my soul. I did not know what it was. I began to cry as never before. The hunger increased. I was crying all the time that God would fill me with his Spirit. Well, one day in the city of New York, Oh! what a day! I cannot describe it. I seldom refer to it. It is almost too sacred

an experience to name. Paul had an experience of which he never spoke for fourteen years. I can only say that God there revealed himself to me, and I had such an experience of his love, that I had to ask him to stay his hand. I went to preaching again. The sermons were not different. I did not present any new truths. And yet hundreds were converted. I would not now be placed back where I was before that blessed experience, if you would give me all of Glasgow. would be but the small dust of the balance."

It

On another occasion Mr. Moody said, refering to this experience, "The blessing came upon me suddenly like a flash of lightning. For months I had been hungering for this power of service, I had come to a point where I think I should have died if I had not got it. Since then I have never lost the assurance that I am walking in communion with God, and I have a joy in his service which makes it easy work." This experience has a bearing on the questions-Should this baptism be definitely sought, and does it sometimes come suddenly, and does it abide now, as in the days of Peter and Paul?

REV. B. FAY MILLS.

This distinguished Evangelist, whom the Holy Spirit is leading from State to State, and from city to city, and through whom he is working with wonderful power, is also one who like Moody, and Finney, and Wesley, and Whitfield, and Peter and Paul, believes in a Special Baptism of the Holy Spirit. He is one, too, who like them sought it, and as he believes received it, and hence mighty works do show forth themselves in his labors. In a letter to the Author, he thus alludes to his experience "You are right in thinking I have