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

sparkle with zeal. Faith cometh by
hearing. But hearing what? Not
merely the cries and groans of the ag-
onized and pepitent, not by the shouts
OF the hopeful and exulta t, not by
the songs OF the believing and jubilant.
These measurably are needful and
good, provided there is a basis of
truth for them laid in every heart
But there are sometimes the frenzied
cries OF blind devotees, the gesticula-
tory appeals of bewilderei supplianls,
the vociferous manipulation of excited
" brethren" priestly or lay, which on
lv tend to perplex, mislead and ulti-
mately injure rather than benefit.
II there really be such thing as
Truth, and if this be, with the Spirit
declared to follow it, the originator
of faith, the only foundation of true
religious life, then what men chiefly
and greatly need 10 such revival times
is Truth truth clearly, fully, forcibly
set forth, not in wild harangues and
exhortations, but In strong arguments
and by pointed illustrations which
speak to the reason and understand
ing, which appeal to the conscience,
and which then and only then will
rightly affect the heart.
Doubtless, some under strong ex-
ternal excitement, and amid great de-
monstrations, yet retain and consider
the truths which they have once heard,
and which, having been planted with
in, now grow up and ripen into fruit.
But for the most part, many who have
heard, have never reflected. never re-
membered, never retained a single re-
ligious idea or clear conception of
what is termed "the plan of saliva
ton" Others have been a way :
strangers to the mere hearing Of Truth
and then by the faithlulness of Chris
tians, when they are drawn within the
circles of those religious Influences,
| they begin to feel something they
know not what, to need something of
which they have no definite idea, and
i'll most cases they either cease from
| dlscouragement, Or pass through all
the phases of an excited condition, Till
the climax comes and the reaction fol.
lows, when they are miSled to think
that their succeeding passive state Is
one Of active love, OF peace and hope.
Does not this account for SO many
backsliders in the church? We are
treating of this subject as a rational
and philosophical inquirer. G o d
made the reason as well as the afec
tion. Must not that be employed p
Let audible, protracted prayer be Of
fered to whatever exteLt Christians
| please, let the necessity of the Holy
Ghost be urged with all earnestness
if they will, but let not feeling only
be sought and found without thought
preceding Il; let truth-that which i,
said to make men wise unto salvation
be daily fully unfolded. This i:
what we do in political campaigns
We do not take it for granted tha
men know everything and strive only
to stir them up to action. We rather
presume that they know nothing, anC
by facts, arguments and document;
again aud again presented, endeavOl
to convince them of what we think t
be right, and then they will according
thereto act.
| One more thing in addition vii
give US more confidence in these revi
walls and make them purer and more
permanent. This is a diSiuiercsted
ness of effort which in the spirit o.
love, leads to unity.
| In this age for the first time in tn,
history of reviyaIS, this has charac
terizcd these recent movements
Presbyterians, ,Congregationalists, Ne
thodists, BaptiSts, EpiScopalians, for
getting their distinctive shibboleths
have labored together in love, not 81
much to build up their respectlv,
churches, as to redeem men. Let thi
spirit be still manifest in this village
let such effort be put forth here, mel
and women of all denominations, from
whatever social position, whether higl
or low, meeting and praying together
and we shall see a thorough reform
in our population. We shall then b,
convinced that it is a genuine reyiva
that its effects will be beneficial
and permanent. Christian men aut
women will you forget your Church
isms, your Conventionalisms aud you
Catechisms and band together for th,
conversion of all.