Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-12-18
tnr REauEsr.
From the Banner und fioncer.
Excitement.
WuAT DO YOU THINK or RELiGIous Ex.
CtTEaENff

CiTEMENTt
The bible presents many cases OF
excitement, and the history of the
Church, MS well as the experience of
every Christian will show that religion
is an exciting subject. lf there is no
contest, no struggle, no difficulty, no
excitement, why did the Saviour say,
Strive TO enter in at the strait gate; for
| say unto you many will seek to enter
in, and shall not be able 7 Why are we
required to forsake all, father and mos
ther, brother and sister, houses ana
lands, and TO take up the cross and fol-
low Christ. Can all this be done with>
out excitement 81 speak as TO wise
men-judge ye what say" To let
90 all, to give up our carnal reasonings,
10 come out from the world and to en-
brace the Saviour requires sacrifices
too great, and change too wonderful
to be effected without intense feeling.
Can the heart be pierced with deep an
guish at its own ingratitude and depra>
witty! Can the sinner see and feel that
he is working out his own destruction
with grcedincsS, and yet feel no excite>
ment for his undone condition. Will
he not, with the deep emotions Of the
publican smite upon his bosom, and in
the anguish of his heart, cry out, "God
he merciful to me sinner !" When
like the jailor they see themselves lost,
will they not cry out, "What shall do
to be saved - or can all these things
exist without any excitement OF mind
Those who discard all feeling and eX-
element on the subject, will find it
difficulty 10 reason themselves into rcli-
gion and heaven; sooner or later they
will reap the fruit of their doings. While
you look on and pass through revivals
with Indifference, we would eXhort with
the apostle TO "beware, therefore, lest
that come upon you, which is spoken
of in the prophets, behold, We despisers,
and wonder and perish for ] work a
work in your days. work which ye
shall in no wise believe, though a man
declare it unto you"
Religion. in its very nature, is excl
ting; its declaration of our immortality,
its denunciations against the wicked, its
exhibition of mercy through the peace
speaking blood of Christ, its invitations,
its consultations, its joys and lis pros
poets beyond the grave are all spirit
stirring and exciting truths, well calcu>
lated TO strike the sinners heart with
CONSERVATION to fill the Christians
heart with great JOY, and to woo an
angels love and admiration. We are
opposed To all morbid excitement, to
exhibitions of mere animal feeling; we
regard these rs the etlervcsscnce of an
ardent and excitable temperament, that
is injurious to religion; but we are the
friends of that excitement which is pro-
duced by the influence of the true and
undeflcd religion upon the heart. which
humbeS the heart, eXalts the Saviour
and brings the soul into state of union
and communion with the Redeemcr
We can then truly say, "Did not our
hearts burn within us, while he talked
with us by the way, and while he open,
ed to us the Scriptures"
We fear that the opposition of many
TO all religious excitement has lis origin
in the deep depravity of the human
heart. They do not oppose the excite
ment of the chase, of the social circle
the cotillion party, the theatre and Other
amuSements which are kept alive solely
by excitement; they like to hear OF
read spirit, stirring adventure, anc
throw aside that matter of fact book cal
led the Bible, for the plays of Shaks
peare, the works of Scott, or some o
ther novelist f; they love not only the
excitement produced by the realities o
life and intellect; but even that which
is ina aginary and solely the work of fic
ton; they admit that life would be dni
and dreary without something 10 ex
cite and invigorate the mental faculties
Yet in religion, the spirit>stlrr,ng truth
of the Gospel must not excite their kin
drcd emotions in the soul.
Look at the practical influence O
your reason; cool reflection and oppo
sitlon to excitement, has il made us o
any of our friends Christians thin
not, and if no other influence is eXerle
; upon our hearts, we shall reason am
reflect until we are lost-forever lost
: On the other hand, look at the inhuenc
u OF The ardent and devoted Christian
: their hearts are excited with love t
g God and their fellow men, and as tn
1t fruit of their zeal, their prayers, an
N their labors Of love, God has brougl
their children and friends to know tn