The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-04-22
From tie Boston Couricr, Apra 5.
Theodore Parker on the Revival.

announcement that the Rev. Theodore
Parker would preach upon the Revival.
After the usual exercises of singing and
prayer, the text was read as follows:
But when he saw the mutitudes, he was
moved with compassion on them, because
they flinted, and were scattered abroad. as
sheep having no shepherd. Matthew, chap.
9, verse SO.
Mr.. Parker said he should endeavor to
give some thoughts on a false AID a true
revival of religion; but the object was q
great one, and as he could not dispose of
it in single sermon,h he should preach on
this occasion mainly Of the false, reserv-
ing the discussion of the true for next
Sunday. If. a person would 60 into an
apoth, cary's shop he would find an end
less number of vials and jars and boxes,
labeled with strange names, but all con-
tanning medicine, for making sick men
sound. He would also find many kind
of surgical instruments, for the healing Of
wounds. and riding men of the ills to
which their flesh is heir. But if he should
say to the unwholesome looking young
man, prematurely bald and spectacled,
but still wearing benevolent face, who
is in attendance. Il will have some of
the best of your medicinc-enough.to DO
my business" he would be answered,
ave have all kinds of medicine; you
must discriminate and select that which
fits your case, for most of these medicines
would kill we'll man; you must coDsid-
cr what kind you need, and then use it
with the greatest discretion
1t is with ministers stuff as with doc.
tors stuff. Men are told that they must
have religion or they will perish cvcrlast-
ingly. and they seize any of the things la
belled religion" which may be within
their reach. Oatmeal and strychuine
arc both medicines; and there is no less
difference in the various things called re-
ligiou. There is the bread of life and
the poison of death.
If We 60 back into the history of the
past, we find that all sorts of things have
been held sacred as religion. Abraham
would have sacrificed his son to his rcli-
gion. Stephen was stoned to death be-
cause be gathered frewood on the sew
enth day. in the name of religion. Josh
VA slew the Canaanites. men, women and
in the most barbarous manner,
because his religion commanded it. 1S-
81 years ago last Thursday band of
Roman soldiers surrounded a man whom
they had nailed to the cross, not because
be was a murderer, or a kidnapper, or a
deceitful politician, or a hypocritical
priest who thought one thing in his study
and said another in bis paIpit, but be-
cause be had taught a religion of love, By
which msn could be saved without the (
blood of bulls; because he was esteemed
a blaspbemer of the priests, who did not I
believe in religion of love and charity,
but "passed by on the other side''-per-
maps because they were in hurry to at /
end prayer meeting at Jerusaiem.--
Christ was crucitied as an act of religion
and the high priest who directed it, lifted
~ his robes, on the phyla ctcries Of which
we're inscribed the whole of the l 9th
chapter of Deuteronomy, and shouted
Glory to God!
Just now there is revival of religion.
The newspapers are full of it. There are
crowds of men and women at the meet
ngs, and they cannot get enough of
preaching. The poorer the article, the
nore they want of it. Wonderful con-
ersions are told Of The inerulost Sc
rets of tbs heart arc displayed to the
yes of the gossipcr and to the pen of the
eporter The whole thing has been
got up, aud with the greatest
aims. 1t is well known that ecclesiasti.
al institutions in England and America
ecay. The number Of church members
q America is about three million and a
uarter. There are thirteen negro slaves
D sixteen church members. The slaves
ncrease and the church members do not.
he number Of births increase rapidly
he number of baptiSms falls off. The
ol;cf in ecclesiastical authority is fading.
len begin to think that God is not SO ug-
: and develi,h as ministers paint him. 4
hey are applying their common sense to
cligion, as well as to their business af-
airs. This state of things the ministers
eek to change. They cannot manufac-
IRE ecclesiastical doctrines to suit the ;
eople, for the day when the best talent
ought the pulpit has passed. Now there
re hundred men in every congregation !
ho are superior in talent and learning
, their pastor, and can beat him in ar {
ument or reasoning. SO the minister {
lies to scare his men into belief of his {
octrine and membership of bis Church. c
Attempts at reyivals are no new thing. '
wo Winters ago the Unitarans tried t
nd got nothing-onIy few sprats and !
Iinnows, which ran out through the net b
efore they could be hauled into the fish L
'g-boat. 1t was not an attempt to make t
rieks without straw, but with nothing C
Sc. As we'll might we expect to pro-
IRE fire by friction of ice blocks as to ex- #
ect revival among the Unitarians.-- v
othing came of their attempt, and their a
anity in the beginning of the Winter t
lrned into vexation of spirit in the C
nrino There was apothar LOST vear