Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-04-05

awakened by appeals to the patriotic
devotional sentiment, moved men in
masses with an electric force.
Sympathies growing out Of associ-
alton, and interests mutual and depen-
dent, convictions wrought in the con-
science producing hope or fear, and
affections based on self-love, all these
were the agencies which powerfully
outworked with men, greater or less
er according to the numbers gathered
and influenced.
These agencies thus employed
merely for national ends or selfish in
terests, for temporal advantages OF
for spiritual results by improper or
unhallowed means, perverted and cor
rupted the religious principle. Cru
sading knights then. contending for
the Holy City and adventurous Span
iards fighting under the oanner Of
the Cross could be reckless sensua-
lists and base plunderers. Bishops
and Priests, the legates and delegates
of God could be treacherous spies and
inquiSitOrial torturerS. Princes and
Kings as defenders of the faith were
murdererS of their fellows. In all the
warlike revivals instead of inwrought
! principle and eternal truth operating
as the motive power, there was only
aa ideal figment, a transien, and su-
perfcial sentiment of religim.
Really a divine inhuene, aud a
truthful force were needed in such
religious movements to direct, control
and sanctify the enthusiasm and de-
votion OF men, who otherwise were
only fierce fanatics and savage zeal
OTIS. Hence all their efforts we're spas
modic, irregular and ultimately if not
Immediately, destructive.
Here, then, we discover the diff.
erence between reviyals which are
spurious, and those which tre genu-
inc. The former spring only from
mere sentiment, an enthusiastic feel
ing, an enkindled passion, Or a party,
denominational interest. They are
initiated by outward influence, such
as the speech Of eloquent men, the
shouts of cOngregated masses, or the
rush ofhostile forces. Ther are not
the free, spontaneous, regular, and
progressive growth Of freligDuS truth
striking its strong roots down into
the soul, developing upward in a full,
vigorous trunk. and bearing periodi-
caIly and consecutively their logiti-
mate fruits.
Snch religious reviyals as the for
mer have their deepest basis IN the
selhshness Of man, which, when fully
aroused aud developed enists every
principle and passion Of the soul, per
yerting them to the accomplishment
Of its baser ends. They are mani,
tested by physical effects equally in
bloody encounters or corporeal dis
tOrtions, without any subsequent per-
manent effects of moral good. Ra-
ther otherwise, a terrible reaction en-
sues, so that those who were before
the most intensely Jealous aud reli-
gious become abandoned and repro
bate.
If this must needs be the ultimate
effect of all revivals, then we say the
sooner the world is rid Of them all
the better. We cannot conceive of
any greater evil than the enlistment
of the devotional element under excl
ting influences oaly to end in immor
ality and spiritual desolation. Such
a perversion and abuse Of mans NOR
al nature must be worse than if he
were left wholly without any religious
teaching or development whatever.
But have there heen no reyivals. re-
sulting in real and permanent good,
at least those from which the good
has predominated over the Incidental
evil? Certainly we cannot deny the
fact. The labors of John Wesley and
I George Whitefeld among the coliers
and other workingmen of England
produced a marked effect of good up,
on their lives, changing hundreds and
thousands of them from low and gro.
yelling sots and sensualists, into up
right and worthy men. To this day
the preaching Of those revival men has
left its strong influence among the
coal districts aud herded quarters OF
the British Isle.
Before the great revival commenced
in New England under Jonathan Ed
wards, which was helpe d on by
Whitefeld in different parts OF our
land, and especially by the Tennents
in New Jersey, great loosenesS of
morals prevailed. The forms of reli
, gion, indeed, were strictly observed
f but the life and power were gone
, This grew out Of the fact especially
that in New England the old union of
Church and State was kept up by the
Puritans, so that no man could hold
civil Office unless he were a member o
the church. Selfish and ambitious
> men therefore, crushing down mora
sense, sitting conscience, and hypo
critically perjuring themselves before
God, vowed that they believed anC
experienced what to them was moi
: true, and thus through the doors Of
; civil government deep corruption
walked into tie Temple of God. L
: can scarcely be conceived or believed
: how much irreligion and immortality
.. were rampant in New England before
! the so-called great revival. This may
: be presumed even if it were not his
torically proved, when we consider
that, under the calm, plain, unexciteC
' preaching of Edwards, who never
made a gesture or scarcely lifted hi!
eyes from his manuscript, that hun
: dreds, in the agony of their convic
tion, and from the sense Of their guilt
mess, wept, and sobbed out so loud
that he was obliged to request thei
self control or necessitate him to de
sist from preaching. The spiritua
results Of that great revival were deeE
< and marked; in a large measure alst
y permanent. Men became better citi
zens, truer Christians, more faithful
in all life's relations. True enough
: toward the close of that century an(
in the next there followed spiritua
j. death and coldness. But this result
: ed not so much from reacting inhuen
I ces, as from other causes superinduced