, 1866-01-23
C8RIETT4N UEVIVAL Is.

1n our country, where no religion Ia aus-
tatucd or protected by the Government, but
where all denominations Of worahippera ara
equally free to labor and pray for the spread
Of their doctrines and practices among men,
1t is natu1h that there should be seasons Of
special attention to religious subjects. For
here the mind Is free, and it is peculiarly
necessary that the mind should work freely
If you would have II work rcligious'y. In no
department Of thought are men so easy to be
persuaded, If right means arc employed, and
60 hard 10 be coereed, as in matters OF re-
ltgion. The very nature OF religion, which is
In all men the most exalted and enthusiastic
devotion Of the soul to It's supreme ideal o:
cxcellouee-implies that It must be free will
offering and that all attempts to govern,
limit, or force Its growth are rs futile as the
effort to guide the wind Or prescribe tho pat
tern for flower. But It is because
religion Is free here, that seasons Of
special interest and widespread con-
vcrsion are natural; for revival, labor and re-
pose In religion, correspond to enterprise,
toll, and rest In The business OF lie, and to
growth, power and decay In nature. 1t Is a
Law of the soul as Of the body, tha! 1t cannot
continue long In any one sphere of action or
cn99o5 meo' out .aat as rcst snceeeos laooft
70 eolonese enal1 ensne upon passton' and
emotion. If moderate, shall give plncc to con-
1enpialioa' or immooeEate and LOO long
sustained, 10 1ndlherence, or even slun1ber'
1hls Is specially true OF rens1ous emotion
ana thought. Seasons o' Indifference to re-
lieion involve consequences which in them
selves ntosd the strongest argument Tor
Christian feFtFaa. Under tue power Of these
arguments, rs tbeY hare been brought home
by preachers like Edwards, Wesley. WhItefe1d.
or spi1rcon. who were insnlred by an mn.
doubling fifth in The truth of all they uttered
the tide Of thoueht has been at times Turned
80 exclusively to matters Of religious concern
| thnt the business of this life became snhord,.
nate 10 that of the eternal life. and the whole
tonic and burden of mems tbourhts we're tte
CONCERNS of the' soui, Dut this condition nj
rcllrious cxultatjoo must necessarily be- 11Ieh.
II emotional in It's character. and like nj, emo.
tlcrn1 s,a atcs II must In TRANSIENT II, ;ts ,lnrn,
| tim ,hourb permanent In many Of its effects,
Sotbinr is morn scnh,ble than That ,ncn and
communities should nj times NEGLECT their
ordinary busincss and pleasures. to devote
tlc1r soul,s best eucrrfes 10 the consideration
Of Interests which arc 50 vastly mose lmpor.
1ant and enduring, Nor Is ANYTHING tnore in
harmony with the laws Of God than that Inv.
Ing compiled with this outreachiuc of the SOU,
nfter the Infinite Ono, they should return to
the humble2dutics Of lille, rs did The dis
Gples from the Mount OF TRANSPORTATION
bringing with them not the 1npt glory Of the
vision, bu1 those subdued and permanent cf:
/ fects, which shall be
Mot too good
| tof nIman ha'Die aals 'ooo,
arg Ninsa tney ean cas9y Win mem in1o es'
e15 "alk ot NC because ea1isl'an fes1'aa
arc seasons o1 enouont IAea cmot1onal per1
ods, Ike the sorrow OF bereavement the JOY
oftbe bridal, the enthusiasm ofa great success
or the shame Of Sore defeat, or whatever
| moves rs to tears or deeply stirs the fountaln
ot the sonl, they must like all these, By tn
limit Of the souls capacities be both transient
In their immeaiate duration and permanent il
their softepcd, subdued, and secondary effects
Extravnsances have attended the mos
| powerful reviyals In past times, and ar
doubtless incident to Ill emotional seasons
which extend to an classes OF minds. Bn
these argue nothing against reviyals which th
The ecceut1icities Of emotion would not argue