New-York tribune., 1873-04-18
RELIGIOUS AWAKENINGS.
LECTURE BY THE REV. II. W. BEECHER


students of Yale College, at NewHayen, yesterday,
continuing his treatment of the subject of ReviYals
of Religion Referring TO a remark of Albert
Barnes on the subject Of reyiyas to the effect that
." the phenomenon itself we regrad the work of
the Holy Ghost alike beyond human power to pro-
duce it. and 90 control it," Mr. Beecher said:
suppose Mr. Barnes would have snd that all nature,
meaning by that the physical universe is governed by
Laws. and by the study OF them may understand and
control them but Gods work In the human soul
secret. mysterious without law known men.
studiabe." and that therefore. spiritual phenomena
stand outside Of mental philosophy If by mental phios
ophy we the exposition OF the great natural
laws which regulate human thought and human feeling
This. know, the feeling in my childhood. know
that such DIR. Humphrey and Prof. Edward
Hitchcock-men certainly who, for moral completeness
for sturdy and rugged understanding tho most
prominent OF their me-were not to De despised but
were men looked up to; yet recolect going down
10 DR.. Humphreys study under a prodigious
state of mental excitement in my own be-
half and asking for some instruction that 1 might
ease myself Of my burden and be brought to a
saving knowledge OF Christ and he said to me: Ny
young friend you manifestly under the styngs Of
Gods spirit and dare not touch tho ark with prOfane
hand. When the spirit OF God strives with man, he is
his own interpreter" And he turned of again
the work OF the Spirit In my case whereas, II had
only very little clear instruction, II would have
saved me years anxiety and, times OF positive
anguish. Tho impression OF Dr.. Humphrey
that the work Of the Spirit was of
kind 50 secret and so apart from all law
and exposition, that it was not safe for a
TO undertake 10 interpret it. Prof Hitchcock
entertained the view, but cannot help but think
that whole point OF view Of feeling respect 20 the
work Of the Spirit not only as II respects
truthfuness but utterly inconsistent with the admins
traton bot Of Prof Hitchcock and Dr. Humphrey them
In their departments, for they perpetuay
laying foundations OF procedure matters that be-
Ionged, according their definition and showing.
to the province Of spiritual enlightenment They did
prepare with great skill They did lay out paths where
walking might expect certain results 10 follow.
They did hold that the foundation OF knowledge the
study of methods OF Divine economy, that
men might cooperate with God. and study
by Implication requires that should believe that the
methods by which God acts stated. denite not
that there is not Divine spirit working according 70 its
own free will So also do work according to my free
viii in my household you, turning tins way
or that way or the other always when acting freest
along the lire OF definite mental peculartes in
myself according the law Of construction in my mind,
always producing impressions upon you according 70
the of the laws in your mind and yet am free.
am free TO reason appeal. persuade, to pour one
another by sympathy upon the congregation.
Freedom does imply that does not move along
Travelled roads does not imply caprice, hckleness, per
petua unlikeness Of method 10 method. The freedom
Of Gods will does not require that should never do
twice alike
SPIRITUAL AND MENTAL ExPRRIESCEs
remember that in the revivals OF my childhood God
was represented Jealous God, sensitive Spirit and
felt as though I ike a walking IN the midst
of torpedOes. I didn't know where they were, but
might any moment step and away would 20.
II produced an intense moral nervousness. Spiritual
experiences are Il analogy with mental experiences.
Not that they identical, not That they on the
same level, but mean that the administration OF God
over the human mind Is IN analogy with the workings
OF the lower, the physical elements In The moral
clements are be developed by education. just
every other part OF the mind TO be developed by edu
cation. once this would nave been very audaci0us
avOwa don't know but IL Is yet but u boy should
lind IL hard 70 learn algebra, We should rather
laugh the father who would tell him he didn't pray
enough That is about the way people used pray for
spiritual manifestations thinking that they kept free
from sn and opened their minds sufficiently humility
would creep II. 1 would be very unwilling that you
should understand setting aside in any whit the
reality OF the faith the Church in the existence Of
Divine spirit in It's universally IN ts speciality, in is
personality mean In the OF acting upon indyid
ual persona believe it heartily. regard laws as so
many lanes through this Opaque material world In the
unexpOred world they many lAnes through which
TO look up and see God.
HUMAN AGENCIES N RKYIyALs.
II there is such a thing conceivable man brood
ing over another resting upon another believe such %
be- at by figure, the in which tie Divine mind
wakes up and stimulates the human mind. All men
think that when you educate a person physically, you
arc TO educate him not without belief that God helps
al things and every where. and everywhere is oper
ative nevertheless teach 70 stand, 20 walk.
throw their bodies into pOstures OF grace cultivate
strength read and write we teach the hand ma
nipulations OF skill, and feel that there IS no
irreverence in saying we do this by natural
law. Now, when we come TO religious emotions,
VIC hy the track Men 20 feel that here
vaguenes, here is realm too sacred 70 suppose that
law operates and It just there that in respect TO
the universal Christian experience and IN respect 20
vvals OF religion they cOnfOrmable TO law and that
the foundation education knowledge in the pro-
duction OF emotion the production or conduct Of
revvals religion. You will see then that the ridicue
altogether without foundation which men heap upon
.he efforts made for the promotion Of revvals. Men
say Does it not dshonOr God Does 1t not take from
Him His prerogativesl Is II not a vain assumption
the part OF that he can do what It Is
the province Of the Divine Spirit 20 do :
Can man convert himself Is not conver-
sion the work OF God directly Admit thar it is-which
don't admit-admit that it is the sole work OF the
Divine spirit II would st touch the ground Of moral
education and IL would not stu touch the ground on
which place reviyas Of religion. Although Of the
specific parts OF any general system be mme
datey personal aud absolutely Divine in their causatOn
this does not affect the fact that the system may itself
he mixture OF Divine and human voltion II seems to
me that every element that goes to the constitution Of
revvals Will day be soluble, come within the circle
OF human knowledge and we shall proat just much
by this knowledge as we have in other questions
But the teaching that all moral and spiritual results
are under the study and general control Of mendoes il
not weaken OF dependence upon Cod IL may
be- but it ought What Is our sense OF depend
ence upon Cod 1 depend God for the continuation
Of my reason, but don't feel at liberty 10 depend
God and then sit up all night To depend God for