St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-03-14
Revivals Of Religion.

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AS We have taken issue with large
portion of the religious community on this
subject, We want distinctly to. say, that We
have never thought that all those who diff.
fer with us on this point are hypocrites,
atheists or in6dels. On the contrary, we
spoke in our first article, of the Greatly
good people who are hoping for revival
here" We have never thought otherwise
than that really good people labor. for re-
vivals, and believe in their good effects.
We even admit that people mag have
been made better in these excitements !;
but we never knew an instance. We simply
say, that with very unusual facilities for
studying their effects, and after many years
Of the most careful and dispassionate at
tention we We're able to give the subject,
we should feel obliged to say on oath, that,
to the best Of our knowledge and belief,
the effect is evil, only evil, and that con-
tinually. We do not see any new reason
for changing this old opinion in the fact
that it now subjects us to public and re-
peated charges Of atheism, and awakens
bitterness of personal enmity, unknown
to the excitement Of political campaign.
Protcstants are profuse in charging the
Catholics with intolerance; but we do not
believe that, as a body, they are so intol-
Grant to dissentcrs, as are the advocates of
revivals to those who differ with them.
We, at least, have not found them so.>
For advocating the doctrines of a church
which stands second to none in the worlds
history for her labors in the cause Of the
Protestant reformation, we are publicly
pointed out as second Voltairc, whose
sarcasm is to deprive the humble christian
of his hope in Christ.
| Well, even at the risk of being VOL
taire, Hume and Paine combined, we re-
peat, simply as historical fact, that there
IS a church, which processes to be christ
ian, whose rules do not permit its preach
ers to talk about themselves in the pulpit.
A church which requires her ministers to
preach Christ and him Crucifcd-not
John Smith and him converted. She has
this rule in view Of the known fact, that
Paul wrote Of his own conversion and
sometimes spoke of it. PauPs conversion
was an exceptional case. It was attended
by miracles perceptible to the natural
senses, and witnessed by others beside
Paul. There were physical phenomena in
that case, such phenomena as could be
baough under the rule of hhman testimo-
ny. The men who were with Paul saw
the light, exceeding the brightness Of the
sun! They heard the voice from Heaven !;
saw the effect upon him, and could testify
that his account was true. In an ordinary
conversion, there are no manifestations
which can bring it under the rules of hu-
man testimony, showing that it is a matter
which is not to be submitted to human
adjudication. When man says II was
converted at such time," he testi6es on
his own behalf, in matter of which no
man can possibly know anything; and of
a matter which is nobody's business but
his own. Even Christ himself did not ask
the world to believe his own account of
himself, without such corroberative evil
dence as could be successfully subjected to
the test Of the natural senses. He says,
John 9Th 31st, eff bear witness of my
self my witness is not true" 1t was by
the miraculous uorks which he performed
that he challenged the faith of the world.
Now we insist that making up ugly faces,
talking ones own graces, going to church
and saying prayers are. not works meet for
repentance.
PauPs conversion was one of the mira
cles by which Christ attested his mission.
It was written out by inspiration Of the
Holy Ghost, as a part Of Revelation, as
was his after experience Tut we are not
taught to expect any addition to that rev.
elation. "his finished" And those who
now talk Of the inner workings of their
own minds; and charge those with athc-
ism who dare to dispute theie own account
themselves, because we receive Paurs &C.
count Of himself, do in reality, claim for
their words the authority Of Inspirations
Other remarkable facts in PauPs CONVEX
sion-it was in daylsght-it was not in q