Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-12-25

element, there should appear the differ.
ence in thedivine life, colnness, illiberality
and covelousness Is it surprising, thai
ministers should fall under the temptation
of being feeling. rather than faithful, an,
structipe, rditying Preachers Of the gospel!
May they not he led to neglect the pro-
found truths Of Gods word, by which
christians should be fed, that they may
grow in grace and the knowledge Of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and 10 ad
dress themselves on lighter subjects 10 the
feelings of their hearers, that good meet
ing may be gotten up! May NOT chris.
tians, loo, cultivate taste for such preach.
ing, and lose their spiritual relish for the
plain. self denying, heart-searching prin-
ciples of sound doctrine, by which they
should be established, and reach The full
stature of men in Jesus Christ? Now il
from the manner i'll which our protracted
meetings are conducted, such a state OF
things. as l have just mentioned, should
result, would it not be, that an influence
would go forth from them unfavorable to
the general interests Of religion in the
churches? Aud that such an influence has
gone forth, very much fear, my Brother.
said in my last, that 5y the law of our
nature, excitement is male necessary 10
our existence and well.being; and lha
health is the result of a proper adjustment
of excitement in the eXcitabilily Of our
nature. Too much excitement, therefore,
as well as TOO little, will be injurious To
the constitution. as either will produce the
same effect, viz: debility, lassilude, aud
indifference. Thatif from any cause de
bilty is produced in the system, excitement.
and sometimes, very high degree nf it,
may be necessary 10 restore the system TO
its usual health, and when the desired ef-
feet is produced, the excitement beyond
the proper amount required for health, is
Withdrawn, and the system left to its usual
course Of action. remarked, also, that
the principles, laid down in relation 10 The
physical system, are applicable TO The in
teleclual and moral constitution.
Let US now consider these principles, as
they apply TO our moral constitution in
these protraced meetings. The sinner, ii
istrue, is in state of apathy, in relation
TO the salvation Of his soul. and needs ex
element 10 wake up the moral excitabiliIy
Of bis nature on this deeply interesting SUBJ
ject. But it is mol animal excitement, it
is not the mere rousing of his passions
but the excitement truth, of argument,
Of persuasion. that shall lead him 10 en-:
ouire, "what shall do to he saved o.
Inspired men contenled themselves with
these means, when addressing their hear
ers. We add. in our proraced meetings.
various other exercises 10 these means.
The excitement rises higher and higher.
II goes OH with accelerated motion. The
sympathies Of our nature are all enlisted.
The very atmosphere seems impregnated
with religious influence, and becomes con
tagious. The mind is wrought up 10 a
point Of enthusiasm, which prepares it for
the power Of reality or delusion. And
Satan, The Old Impostor. is at hand to
WELD it for delusion.
In such state of things the sinful pro-
pensities of our nature are still, aud the
siGner is alarmed. Distress seizes upon
him, aud he goes up TO be prayed for
His distress increases, but ultimately it
leaves him. He is happy. and can join
others in praisins the Lord Christians
rejoice and he is numbered with The saved.
This may all be the genuine operation Of
grace upon the heart. But on the other
hand it may not be so. We have had 100
many proofs to the contrary 10 believe lha,
il is SO in all cases. And that it is proba-
BILE, that there are many such cases in these
meetings, facts will warrant Us in believ-
ing. IL is law Of our nature, that after
great excitement, it must subside Now
the subsidence Of distress in The soul, al
these meetings; may be mistaken for par
doned sin, aud the comfort felt will arise
from belief that it is SO.
ln enquiring of applicants for Baptism,
during these neetings, the reason OF the
hope that is in them, we often find it ex.
tremely difficult 20 obtain satisfactory
answers, touching their faith in Christ. Ii
they are not truly regeneraled. This is not
surprising. And unfortunately the juds
ment Of christians being taken captive by
their feelings at such times, they too redi
ly aL:nit many TO Baptism and member
ship, who know nothing of the grace of
God in truth. If the order of things. in
these meetings, has atendency to bring
about such cases, then may il mol be justly
feared that there does go out from our
protracted meetings an influence, un(avor-
able to the general interests Of religion in
the churches? =
Whenthe meetings close, the mind mus
descend from the height 10 which il had
been raised, and will fall as low as it had
been elevated. Debility is the consequence.
Lassitude comes on, and indifference is
not unlrequer,ly felt to those very exer-
cises, which had afforded SO much delight.
Hence follow 1.-THE descent Of the mind
from lis elevations, the colduess, conior,nii-
ty to the world. and leyity. with the other
evils which come in; The intervals ofthess
annual excilements, that mark the young
converts (anu sometimes older ones.)
whose profession had promised better fruit.
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