Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-04-24

Agitation Is q Moral Law.

hSs1dSIVu IL WVTdA Lave
Truth advances by beating down the
battlements Of error. Its signal tri.
umphs are made when it combats error
face 10 face. The Scriptures present
"truth progressive" only as The result Of
Agitation. The parable Of "1he Leaven"
teaches the marvellous diffusion Of the
gospel, spreading from land to land un.
til "Me whole is leauened." As leaven
produces fermentation by coming in
contact with particle after particle Of
the mass 10 be renovated, so the purify.
ing process Of the gospel necessarily ad.
vonces by moro or less commotion in
the world to be redeemed. The principal
idea Of the parable may be stated thus |;
AoIrATIox-THE SECRET OF Moral
PRoGREss. In like manner the waters
Of Bethesda are represented as being
destitute Of healing power, until troubled
by the descending angel. The plain truth
taught US by the incident, is, AGITATION
NECESSARY TO Moral PRooREss. The
motaphorical descriptions OF the Chris
tian course which we read in the New
Testament, representing the faithful saint
as a WRESTLER, RACER, and WARRIOR,
embrace in substance TO the same idea.
These figures ofspeech teach earnestness,
enthusiasm, agitation. Also, the Scrip
lures describe the believer ascending
through "much tfibulation" TO his heav.
emily inheritance, there to swell his CRATE.
full halleluahs for deliverance from the
tumult and agitation Of earthly con.
licts.
The progress Of Christianity, as j,
"stands revealed 10 our admiring eyes"
at the present day, verifes the above
teachings Of the Bible. No marked
moral achievment was ever made with.
out great commotion, exciting incidents
and hard conflicts. From the time our
Saviour preached amid the intense ex'
element Of Ju,lea to the present age,
truth has forced its way through ranks Of
bold opposers, and set up the walls Of
Zion upon the ruins Of wasted govern.
ment and fallen thrones. What tumult
and over,urnings were incident 10 the
development and vindication Of Lulhef's
cherished doctrine - justification by
Faith What long years of discussion,
strife and commotion followed How
Europe ,rembled and shook with the
mighty contest! From the King in his
palace to the peasant in his cot, what
iorebodings and agitation Even now
the world has not ceased to feel the
shocks Of that moral revolution.
In general, the gospel still advances
by $, ch stirring agencies as the press
and pulpit; discussion and controversy
continually appealing to the popular
mind, with the most exciting and mo
mentous topics that can claim attention
The missionary of the cross lands OF
some benish,ed shore. He sca,ters thu
printed page, gathers schools, preache
Christ, in opposition to all the customs
habits, and institutions Of a superstition
people. Excitement sweeps in feariu
gusts over the country, persecution array
its horrid ensinery, and life is periIed
Shall he cease 10 agitate? Not he 70
all this was forelold by the ancient seer
as incidental to the Law Of Moral Pro
gress. So he labors on, not KNOWING
whether he shall toll peacefully, or b.
arrested y-persecution, and sent Il
heaven, as was the immortal Huss, in
chariot Of fire.
The student Of Providence contemp
lutes the present commotion OF tn
European States such scene OF strife
tumult, disorder, and dreadful persecu
ton as the world has seldom witnessed
apd thinks he perceives the evidence
the "Creator's footsteps" descending
asitate the waters, as the precursor Of
spiritual and universal regeneration
He has seen the portentous cloud gathe
in the sky of summer, and from its hca'
ing bosom rush before its blasts, SWEEP
! ing over hills and valley, as if con
missioned 10 destroy every living thing
> and yet the clouds parted their dar
. folds, the sun burst forth in increasir
$ splendor, the sultry air was purified, ar
> the bright bow Of promise gilded ii
, brow of the receling storm. So he an
r cipates that the political tempest no
. sweeping over the countries Of EuroP
will eventually break away. and i
Sun Of Righteousness beam forth am
the charms Of clear moral atmosphe
, and serener sky. The view which
en,ertains Of Divine Providence, in re
pect to the present convulsed state
the world, is but another expression
. the truth-the Law Of Human Prosre
advances by Agitation.
Such is the proof that Agitation is
law Of the universe. OF course, it
y supposed that Agitation has its prop
. : limits. While ii is legitimate, it is al
= restricted, though at some seasons mo
4 violent than others. 1t is not alwa
y the rushing whirlwind, nor the "f'
n stiff Breeze" nor yet al times another
), ), these forces. Each fills its appropria
). sphere, and altogether occupy an il
O portant place in the plan Of ln6n
: wisdom. Neither can be dispensed wi
and the Office Of each is 10 agitate.
81 The extremes on either side Of Il