The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-05-15

Ii summer has its mosquitoes, it is vet
better than the greenhouses. There NAV
| be spurious conversions, but they can be
guarded against with even ordinary care.
The judgment of men is not so far lost
in times of excitement as you think. When
you wish to weld together two pieces of
oppugnant iron, if you try them cold, you
will become worm yourself before YOU
accomplish it. But heat them and the
thing is easily done.
But it is asked if some persons are not
made crazy by revivals. Yes, in the
cases of a few peculiarly constituted in
dividuals. But none ever went crazy in
my church from this cause, and | have
talked with thousands in the highest state
of religious feeling. Twenty persons in
my own neighborhood have gone crazy
tor other reasons, and men in business
are constantly becoming insane by soften
ing OF the brain or hlrdening of the heart,
and you never say anything about them.
But will not the masses become unman-
ageable in the church In some circum-
stances; but not when the feeling is
genuine and the church is alive The
membership is raised, not lowered. When
an iceberg breaks off in the far north.
and floats southwark. it cools lhe air and
water all around. But when the Gulf
Stream sends northward its southern
waters, they carry to the shores of Nor
way, Sweden and England something OF
the tropic summer. Those who come
into the church in il revival are net ice
bergs, but they kindle a warm and kindly
feeling. Revivals aid individuals, raise
the church, and help outlying the people
Men engrossed in business would never
come into the kingdom up stream, never
unless the community was aroused. and
We're aided by others.
DR.. Bacon enquired what Mr.. Beecher's
observation of revivals had led him to in
fer in reference to their promotion If re-
ligious knowledge and intellectual pro-
gress in the community2
The reply was that the result was pretty
much what the minister chose The re-
vlval leaves the burrows open and you
can SOW in them what seed You wish.
Nothing so due to causes Us rcviyals. |
always found those who came in hungry.
and they have had Il good effect on the
old stock, The old trees ave begun to
bear.
IN regard 10 the relapse after revivals,
ityou bring them inby purgatoral preach
ing, by horrible preaching, you viii have
a relapse and deserve it. 1t will he like
the kick of one Of Sharps' rifles, which are
more dangerous at the butt than the muzzle.
In reference TO the way Of approaching
educated men, would say that man is
not educated until he is a Christian; not
until all his faculties are developed. Many
intellectually wise are proper subjects of
revivals | have seen men vastly my
superior in all intellectual matters, who
became as little children in revivals
had such men in my churches in Indiana
who had come from New England. and if
a man has attended church in New Eng
land forty years and is not converted, he
must be as tough as 4 side Of sole leather
in Il tan vat.
In reply to u question as to why re-
vivals are more effective among Anglo
SaXons than Germtns, Mr.. Beecher said.
because the Anglo-Saxon race il more
than the German everywav. The Anglo
Saxon is like a bombshel el-very safe until
he goes off
In college revivals might be expected
II the idea OF their awfuncSS could be cot
rid of. They are only religious feeling
in its intense social lom and euntagious
My experience rs college professor is
So recent that am unable to state why
revivals are less frequent ut Yale, Am
herSt and Williams than formerly. 1t is
probably on account oi the doubts now
excited, and an the transitional state of
public opinion In such circumstances
there can be no revival, for men have got
to believe like thunder
Most reyivalistS have big bellies bic
chests, bic undcrhcad, great magnetism
and that SENSUAL magnetism. They often
employ heIl-tire and damnation. and IT
may be necessary III addressing Arkansas
boatmen, gamblers, the ritf-rail' those
who live in the cellar Of their heads. They
preach with all the imagery of the
medieval ages. have heard DR. Firnev
make statements in my pulpit which. ii
believed them, wonld make me abandon
my profession, decent society, and would
almost make me forswear my race. |
was with him atterward, and he Showed
no compunction. He was preaching
about the development Of all the faculties
through all eternity. He said that men
before him We're sure to 90 to he'll, and
there their capacity for suffering would
90 on increasing until in one moment
they would suffer more than can be con-
this mass of misery and really enjoy it. |
have great respect for Professor Finney,
and am only speaking of one OF his faults
Such preaching will reach the children,
and reach them hideously. | can re-
member Il man coming to my house when
| was q child, and exciting my brother
Charles and myself by telling us stories
about the devil. 1t is wonder that |
did not go into commissions, II he had
put me on q gridiron for ten minutes. |
could have got over that, but this soul
broling Why, the man was heather,
only he htd a Christian coat Oh
An evangelist should never take charge
of a revival in my church, but what
would you do if the man were stronger
than you? Go out and look at the white
oaks, and you will find the leaves on
them as they have been all winter, but as
soon as it becomes warm and the sap
moves they will fall off SO when a
church begins to be alive the minister
often has to 90. 4 revival or a new
church often brings 4 change in ministers.
Speculation deadens faith. 1t is Il kind
of mephitic gas. If yon speculate don't
get into little eddy and 90 around and
around, for, it so, you will hardly be
worth bnrying. Keep close to the people
to avoid these evil effects. | am as sub
ject to sceptirism as any man can be, but
| avoid it b" keeping up my faith by con
tact with the people. Acting on your
people is a better way of keeping your
heart warm than was the plan of David
taking a virgin to his bosom to gam
warmth Take a living heart into your
bosom.
Fear OF itself never wrought love. |
remember when there was u revival in
the old Hanover church. Boston, in my
fathers time, that lie had some Andover
students down to help him who held
Ilopkinsonian views. In the course OF u
prayer meeting one of these students
asked a penitent Young woman if she
would be willing TO be damned Tor the
glory of God My father heard him. and
turned quickly to him and said: "Would
you be willing to be damned for the glory
of God ?" Il hope | would, sir" replied
the student. Then you ought to be
damned,' was the reioinder.
AS some lady visitors were going
through penitentary under the escort of
Sunprintpn1ppt th.y ca,,,a tn a roo, in