The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-05-27
A POINT TO RE GUARDED.

greatest difficulty which he found in con
ducting revival of religion was to keep
his own heart right. This reveal. two
things by whicl, all may profit the secret
of his success, and the jcalously which he
had Of himself. 1t is the key which un-
locks and lays open the spring Of his life
and the power Of his ministry.
y season Of revival is cmincntly Il DAY of
Gods glory. Then, especially, oar own
importance should stand aside, and the
Lord alone should be exalted. There is
often Il self conccit, and boldncss, and even
arrogance which is far removed from Chris.
tain humility and tenderness, and Which is
very offensive to both God and man. a
person Of this temper has good opinion
of himself; he claims the right Of freely
addressing all around him, of whatever
Office, age, or rank, and, even to deal out
his censures with an unsparing hand. lie
is one that has his critical eye more upon
others than himself He watches lis neigh
boris more than his own heart He is con-
tilent, ta!kative and loud. lie has more
forwarlness than reverence. H., prays
more in public than in secret. lie fails in
weIking humble with God. L. has more
zeal than knowledge; more sense Of his
own elevation than Of Gods presence.
1t is not to be denied that charges of
this nature are sometimes uni ustly brought
against the best men for their Zeal and act
tivitv in religion, by such rs are coll an,l
indifferent, or perhaps wholly unacquain.cl
with the power of go,llincss. Bat thi,
should not be made IN apology f,r spritua!
pride, nor should i: emho:,lcn any to as
sumo position and Jemean"r which are
rs untecoming rs injurious. 1t should
rather make us the more watcltul over
ourselves and to give rs little occasion rs
possible that oar good should be evil spoken
of, We need to. be wise rs serpcnts, and
harmless as doves.
To make an ovcrcstimate Of ourselves,
is the bcsc!tng sin Of all. 1t naturally
springs up secretly within us ere We are
aware, and it is the most subtle snare by
which the great deceiver gains advantage
over rs. 1t is the strongest cord bv which
the unconverted are bound-and it is the
last fragment Of corruption which the
Christian escapes Great spiritual dis
coveries and enjoyments, such as are often
experienced i'll revival, with all the good
they bring US, may yet lay lis open on this
side to the assaults OF the adversary. Even
in the case of the Apostle Paul, lest the
abundance Of the revelation with which he
was favored should exalt him above measure
he was subjected to thorn In the flesh to
Keep him humble. e Cor. xii. ~ In one
direction, indeed, divine manifestations are
calculated to make MS sink in our own eyes
Gob xiii. 5, 6 J but in another direction, if
not carefully watched, they may raise our
heads, and lead us to magnify our own
gifts and services and achievements. Very
good men sometimes have the weakness to
be vain; bat fur more frequently does this
weakness operate in such as are not quite
SO good and wise and useful and important
rs they think themselves. Such spirit
spots revival it mars the beauty of the
christian character and it is n great
hin,lrnncc to the conversion Of. sinners.
Let us then learn to be humble, to avoid
sclfseekiug, to live near to God, to cherish
sense Of his presence, to magnify his
grace, and labor for the promotion of gen
uine e!iyion without Il desire 10 advance
our own praise. e.-Inteziyencer.