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Letters on Revival
Revival swept throught the churches of New England and other parts of the United States between 1798 and 1808. These letters of Ebenezer Porter, an eyewitness of the revivals, display two characteristics not always found warm zeal to see the church revived, and wise moderation in resisting tendencies to fanaticism.
Porter outlines the characteristics of the revivals he had witnessed, the means used for the conversion of sinners, hindrances to revivals, the exercises of those hopefully converted, and the longer-term effects of the revivals on the churches. He also deals helpfully with new theories that were appearing on the subject of divine influence in the conversion of sinners.
The result is a permanently valuable guide to the nature and effects of revivals of religion.
Porter outlines the characteristics of the revivals he had witnessed, the means used for the conversion of sinners, hindrances to revivals, the exercises of those hopefully converted, and the longer-term effects of the revivals on the churches. He also deals helpfully with new theories that were appearing on the subject of divine influence in the conversion of sinners.
The result is a permanently valuable guide to the nature and effects of revivals of religion.
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1992
8 people want to read
About the author
Ebenezer Porter
55 books2 followersEbenezer Porter, D.D., was an American minister and writer.
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February 15, 2018
The first 2/3 of this book are lectures/letters from Ebenezer Porter, a minister who lived through the 2nd Great Awakening and later became president of Andover Seminary (where Adoniram Judson studied).
The letters are tremendous examples of pastoral care and thoughtfulness. Porter argues that we should expect revival (which he defines as movements of many people making dramatic spiritual growth at the same time--including conversion) in our churches, only if there is a long season of investing and tilling the soil beforehand. He pushed me in the way I think about revival.
Particularly helpful are his comments on the value of parents teaching their children as preparation for revival, the importance of preachers being attached to local congregations, the importance of having revival preachers who support and respect the established leadership of the church, the wisdom of being humble when evaluating the number of conversions (calling them 'hopeful conversions', and recognizing that time will tell the truth of that evaluation), and the importance of biblically grounded beliefs as the foundation of revival.
The last third are a collection of excerpts from other revival preachers, ranging from Martyn Lloyd-Jones to Billy Graham to Charles Finney, that are all helpful and thought-provoking.
The story behind the book makes it even better. Kurt Linde was a New York subway platform supervisor who loved the Lord, loved books, and wanted to publish Porter's lectures in order to equip and prepare pastors today for how to think about revival. So encouraging that this man who wasn't a 'theological professional' worked hard to serve and build up the church for future generations in this way.
The letters are tremendous examples of pastoral care and thoughtfulness. Porter argues that we should expect revival (which he defines as movements of many people making dramatic spiritual growth at the same time--including conversion) in our churches, only if there is a long season of investing and tilling the soil beforehand. He pushed me in the way I think about revival.
Particularly helpful are his comments on the value of parents teaching their children as preparation for revival, the importance of preachers being attached to local congregations, the importance of having revival preachers who support and respect the established leadership of the church, the wisdom of being humble when evaluating the number of conversions (calling them 'hopeful conversions', and recognizing that time will tell the truth of that evaluation), and the importance of biblically grounded beliefs as the foundation of revival.
The last third are a collection of excerpts from other revival preachers, ranging from Martyn Lloyd-Jones to Billy Graham to Charles Finney, that are all helpful and thought-provoking.
The story behind the book makes it even better. Kurt Linde was a New York subway platform supervisor who loved the Lord, loved books, and wanted to publish Porter's lectures in order to equip and prepare pastors today for how to think about revival. So encouraging that this man who wasn't a 'theological professional' worked hard to serve and build up the church for future generations in this way.
Displaying 1 of 1 review