True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-01-14
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WHITFIELD, OR THE GREAT RE.
'.naN = VIVAL OF l746.

Since the dark ages OF thousand years
there are four epochs of revival OF
religion which il is well TO bear in mind
'laThe great Reformation Of the sixteen'h
century III the days OF Luther, who died
.irht pure work of God Of the seven.
teenth century, which gave an evangeli
cal literature to the wurld, in the days
of Owen, leighton, Bunyan, Baxter,
Flayel, The last OF whom died in 1891.
Tie "great Awakening" about l74O,
in the days Of Doddndge, Whitfield,
Wesley, President Edwards, Bramerd,
and the 1'ennenls, bringing hundreds oI
thousands to Christ. g.
ll'he revival Of vital religion about the
year 1900, especially in our own oun
lry, Which perhaps may be said to have
eliminated in 1881. and gave birth 10
the great missionary enterprise, giving US
our Alexander, Griffin, Samuel J. Mlls,
and host Of pillars Of the church now
rapidly passing from our sight.
Each Of these wonderful displays OF
Divine grace was preceded by II long
period Of dar ness ane Journalism, whea
vital gotllihess seemud ready To expire.
Bio. out the grea, work Of God in The
last three o these four epochs, and the
Protestant countries, to all human view,
would now be almost as destitute Of spIr.
itual life as il Romani SIN had continued
lis universal reign. '8' .' '. ~ "
But to return to Whitfield, and the
third of these great epochs. What was
the state Of religion when God brought
him oil the field Of action '." +" ''
I''rhe Act Of Uniformity in 1862 vio'
lently elected from their pulpits two
thousand gcdIy ministers, and eontin-
ued in force about twenty five years till
most Of the burning and shining lights
or tile seventeenth century we're extinct
The divine right Of kings, pliestly domi-
nation, clerical sanction OF sports on the
Lords day, the evil influence OF those
high In rank and power, crushed out The
spirit Of the gospel, and for near half Q
century. ,ill 1899 when Whitfield wa;
ordained, inidelity, proaigacy, and for
malsm lalnentably prevailed. The Rev
Mr. Ryle, Of the church Of E England
says.p tines when Whiltielt
lived was tile darkest age that England
has passed through in the lac. three hun
dred years. Any thing more deplora.
bic than the condition Of the country, as
toFeligion. morality, and high principle
ills very difficult 10 conceive" "As tc
preacRlig tile gospel, the distinguishing
doctrines Of Christianity 1.-The atunelneni
the work and Office of Christ and III,
SpivitAwere comparatively lost sight Of
The vast majority Of sermons were mis-
cradle moral essays. utterly devoid Of any
thing calculated 10 awaken, convert, sane
tlfy,I or save souls '''l' J
Such was The state Of thugs whel
WiiileGeld, III 1882 in his eighteenth
yeat,t9 entered the Oxford University
whgPe were John and Charles Wesley
IhEhatn and little band who determined
toliveio God. whatever might be earth
" sacrifice but for the sin Of quietly
visiting tlIe prisoner, the sick and sor
rowing pointing them to Christ, ant
seeking the salvation ofsouls, they wer,
the subjects Of bitter persecution, ah'
Whitfield returned 20 bis friends il
Gloucester. y slUi g IN. WIKI .s.
NOV il was iha, Whitfield was drivei
tcths throne Of grace, 70 the study of tn
Bibls UPON his knees, where the fire wa
KindlsdiH him which blaSea0 tbrongl
Britain and America. and was rskindle'