The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-23
The Religious Revival-The Churches Conn
Ing to the Point at Last.
From the New York Observer, April %, 1858


WHAT FRUITS TIx REVIVAL SHOULD YIELD
We are apt to estimate the power and value of a
revival OF religion merely by the number Of sinners
converted to Christ. This is the great first fruit.
The soul is above all price. IL profteth nothing to
gain the whole world and lose it. There is joy in
heaven over one repenting sinner, and greater joy
when thousands turn to God Who can count the
value Of the souls that this revival has brought into
the kingdoml Who can estimate the woe escaped,
the glory won the saved souls good, the Saviour
praise This is the first great fruit.
But there are other fruits which the revival ought
to yield less noticed by the world aud perhaps less
appreciated by the church ITSELF but of infinite value
to the people of God. If the revival il genuine
work oil grace in the SOUL quickening the faith and
subdung the pride and increasing the zeal of the
Christian in the service OF his lord and Master,
there will speedily appear marked and precious
fruits. Great and extensive as thin revival has
been, and though in this city alone we may mum.
Der the converts by thousands, and in the coun.
try by tens Of thousands, we know that the
numbers are small compared with the
vast multitudes remaining unchanged, that
We have no right TO expect any perceptble improve
meDt in the masses OF the community. What are
these among 20 manyY Crime is not likely TO be
checked because here and there a criminal has be-
come an honest man. The rest are hardened. Per.
haps they will be holder and more reckless than ever.
Men will pursue the world in haste TO be rich and
fall into the OF the devil. Wall street will be as
rife with fraud and the stock board az full of gam.
bling as IL has been and the whole world around US
will move on as IL the Providence and Spirit of God
had not combined 10 arrest men in their mad career
and by convincing them of the vanity of all earthly
things, had not turned their thoughts by force for
time heavenward.
Yet If the world is TO move on as II nothing new
or extraordinary had occurred the church will dis
cover by her fruits the depth and strength of the
work Of grace she has experienced.
The church will be more humble, spiritual and
prayerful than before. Brought down into the dust
Of repentance, chastened on account Of past world
Illness and lead to earnest and believing prayer she
will not Immediately relapse into her former state
and suddenly lose all the high vantage
see her persistent in prayer for yet greater things
than these. We may believe that she will be dis
posed TO live above the world TO renounce the things
Of dishonesty 20 keep clean the beautiful garments
in which she has been clothed, and live in close
communion with her glorious Head.
The church will he more united than ever in her
works Of love. The Spirit has brought Christians
of different names into sweet accord in this revival
that the spectacle has been more impressive TO
the outside behoder than anything previously seen
in these awakenings. And II the conversion Of sim
ners does not 90 from year to year II has done
for few months past, we may hope that the union
of hearts will be continued and increased till the end
of time. when the union is consummated of all who
love Christ in the church above.
They will be more charitable, loving aud forbear-
ing: less DISPOSED TO magnify the points on which
they differ and more the things in which they agree.
Drawn more closely 90 Christ, they will all be more
closely drawn TO each other and thus fulfil the pray
er Of the Saviour that they may all he one such
fruits are not borne, the revival il not "a deep and
wide and pure as we have represented II to the
world
And the church ought 90 he more jealous than
ever in every good work. She has come up 90 the
help of the Lord against the mighty: she has been
reused by mighty impulse 90 engage actively IN
the work of saving souls. II now she falls back
aud becomes cold and lelcss, when so many are yet
psfishing and so much remains TO be done, we may
well suspect her sincerity. The quckening impulse
of this revival ought 20 he felt and seen for many
years In the increased energy with which schemes
Of benevolcnce are pushed onward, by the vastly
enlarged benefactons that will flow into the trea-
sury Of the Lord from church that has made new
dedication Of itself and all ts resources TO the ser
vice Of God. Prayer and aims will go together ana
secure the blessing promised the sails OF our pc
nevoent institutions filed with the gales OF grace
and borne along 10 the salvation OF world IN SIN;
Hundreds of Young men converted in this revival
will devote themselves to the holy ministry am
thus fresh forces will be brought into tne ne,u.
PRAYER zeal faith money and men-more OF al the
means. with the Spirit 20 crown them win tne az.
vine blessing will disclose fruits worthy OF tne WORK
vrn are erioyng and fruits that will honor Him who
v enuticd w all the gIory " the work