Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1858-04-29
Characteristics of the Present Revival.

Themost prominent feature Of our day, is
an aroasing of the public mind to tie subject
| OF religion and We have reason to believe
that as the effect thereof, vital, purifying
! force will be felt in society, permanently affect
ing circumstances, hearts, pockets, and de-
pertinent of mutitudes, and causing conse.
crationaof time, gifts, and labor, to Christ
and Els cause
s. T0grhing this Great Awakening, as it is
apfr5 Prsately termed, several things are re,
markah1e.
neis-that it commenced in single local
ity-ass sometimes clouds are collected and
formed above an inland sea aud then are
driven of by the wind to empty their treas
ures in different places. The human source OF
this great awakening, was the North Dutch
Church. in Fulton street, New York-there-
with few lowly, believing, importunatc sup.
plants, did this amazing work originates
A second feature of it is, its generality 1t
is widespread Comparatively few of the
churches from Maine to Florida. are not
not reached by it. Some, indeed more remark
ably SO than Others but few are there through
out this large extent of territory which do not
sympathize more or less in the pervading
movement. On the ocean, too, its influence is
felt, aud many bold, impious mariner, visited
by an invisible, gracious influence from Oh
high, submits to Him who rules the winds and
theWaves Converts are numbered by tens OF
| thousands
a third noticeable thing touching it is, the
/ absance Of special Ecclesiastical machinery
There are no Evangelists heralded as chosen
instruments moving to and fro, the ccnters OF
revival impulses-uo protracted meetings--na
anxious seats only the ordinary means Of
grace. Pastors preach, and pray, and Chris
tians pray, aud invite unconverted sinners to
the place of prayer, and 10 the precious bles-
sihg richly descends
Moreover, there is but little opposition to
the work. Those who have stoutly opposed
otter revivals, oppose not this one II they
stand aloof, and do but look on, they behold,
and wonder in silence They seem impressed
with the conviction that it is the finger Of
God" They cannot account for it. on any
theery OF their own, or reasonably attribute it
TO any agencies which involve not the nterpo.
sitiou and might of the. Divine Being.
Earthcr-the hardest and most lppromising
Edsasrsrs hold Of aasswr1nrht upon
successfully. Not children merely are new.
born, but men, fun grown stubborn men, bias.
phenlers, inGdels, pugilsts and: stage-actors
The kingdom of heaven suFereth violence
aud the violent take it by force" There is nc
room for the crowd who throng the churches
"no, not SO much as about the door :" and
ears and hearts are open. "The publicans
and haflots go into the kingdom of God >
I The aged sinner goes" there. Nor is the
secular press unreached-nor the electric tele.
crap {; the types Of the one, promptly and OF
choice, proclaim what the Lord is DOUG and
over the wires of the other flashes the glad
intelligence that " the word of the Lord is
having free course" and that Zion is "length-
ening her cords, and strengthening her stakes
These noticeable facts pertaining to the
present outpouring of the Spirit while they
stamp it as the unquestionable production OF
heaven, encourage the belief that there will
be no Injurious reaction and that the conse
qucnces thereof will be lasting and glorious
Oh, that every family and every individual in
the land might be regenerated, and the whole
nation be seen showing forth Gods praise
?" Let all the people praise Thee, o God let
all the people praise Thee!'--Rehgious Herald