Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-03-11

efforts by the laymen are relied upon &c
accomplish the work. The consequence
Is that reVivals are more quiet and theil
influence more deep and lasting.
No thinking mao, whether he calls him.
sell a christian or not, cau speak Of q re-
ligtous revival with contempt. As a means
OF promoting general aud personal interest
In religion its importance aud value cannot
be questioned. Even the Deist cannot
ignore the facts of human nature and life,
aud must confess shat most men have
wrong acts 10 repent Of and wrong habits
to amend. and this is the fundamental
thing IN religious reViVals and conversion.
The call for repentance and amendment OF
life always and everywhere meets with a
response from the coincidence. This is the
essential thing 10 ChristiSnity, and this u
the secret of its power wherever IL il
preached. Men may differ upon a thou .
sand questions as TO the methods by which
the IdiVine connects itself with the human
in this world, may quarrel about the exact
ature'aads 'posiIio8 OF Jesus Of Nazareth,
may start endless dificulIies In the meta.
physis of religion, but as to the simple
duties of love and worship towards God
and justice and good will toward men
there is no diversity of opinion; there can
DO nonei and of course there can be none
as to the necessity of penitence and refor.
nation 10 those who are neRlectinR these
obvious duties. Nor can It be denied that
attempts 70 build up moral character with.
out religious basis do not succeed. The
two things go together naturally and me-
cessariiy, and DR.. ChAnnipg did not utter
hyPerbOle when he said of rcligioulaud mo.
raltty, "as much as you have of this you
nave OF that, and no more" Morality
ulhhnff REIf "a i
log it is but "ths whited sepuIchre." A
genuine revival Of religion is therefore a
divine benetaction, not only TO the church
where it prevails, and to the persons in-
terested In it aud reclaimed by it, but to
the whole community.
There is one fact that ChrisIiaHs should
especially consider at time like this. Il
IS the continually increasing separation
between the church going population aud
the rest of the community. A quarter of
century ago nearly all the people heard
preaching regularly; all respectable people
at least were church goers. Il IL not SO
now. II not the majority, at least very
large minority, in every city and village,
habilually neglect the church. There are
various causes for this unpleasant fact, for
some OF which the churches themselves are
responsible. The Increased cost, extrava-
h1uSe anu e1cluslVeness OF the churches
have contributed not little to the evil
But the fact itself is what We are now con.
cerned with, not its causes. The great
current Of society sweeps on in its pursuit
Of wealth and pleasure, and knORs nothing
Of what is going on inside the churches.
How many thousands in this city do not
hear sermon or a prayer, except at
wedding or funeral. from the beginning
10 the end of the YEAR Have the chnrchpa
no duties 70 this classi IL isIrns that the
meeting houses are open to. them. and II |
hey do not hear the gospel IL is their own |
Knit: Bat should the church put itself on |
ts dignity and say, Let thsso outcasts
come TO US If they want re igtous instruc.
ion and help2 Is it not the CHRISTIANS
mission 10 ''g1 out into the highways and
hedges and compel them TO come iu7"-
Iot till Christianity becomes thus ageres-
i've eau it reuCh those who most need It's
etUrming aud saving influence.