The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-02-05
have talked the matter over With friends and

n have talked the matter over With friends anc
o acquaintance.
When friends deeply interested in similar
literary pursuits come together, there is no
lack of conversation. We can scarcely think
g of Charles Lamb and his companions coming
r to halt in those brillisDt talks which made
the nights on which they met "noctes am
brOsiaa@
How people talked during the late war !!
E Every change in the aspect of affairs, battles,
victories, defeats, this or that policy were
discussed with alterations of hope and fear
in thousand of households.
In these, as in most similar cases, people
talked because it was pleasant to talk; and
it was pleasant to talk because of a profound
and moving interest in the subject under dis
cussion. There were thoughts and feelings
which must fnd an outlet. The interest
might be, in some cases, of very painful
kind; but this made it none the less intense.
The words spoken might be sad words; but
the speaker would have been ssddsr badthey
not been spoken. The pleasure of talking,
whether of positive kind, or in the negative
form of mere relief, arises alike in both cases
from the intensity of the interest felt.
Now l think we have come to the great
reason why there is 80 little religious cOnver-
sstiOn among Christians and that reason is
not of nature to raise our opinion Of the
prevailing type of piety in cur day. 1t is to
be feared that the indisposition to talk on
religious subjects is due, in great measure,
to the general lack of profound aud moving
interest in them.
There seems to be something about all
subjects relating to personal religion especi
ally, which has tendency to check the flow
of conversation. People very generally seem
somewhat startled whenever anything is said,
in conversation, bearing upon the subject of
vital godliness, and there is usually no dis
position to pursue the theme. The explsna-
ton Of this is to be found, in part at least,
in the character of the age. Ours is time
of action rather than meditstion-a practical
execution rather than of profound thinking.
The religion of the time has taken its hue,
in some degree, from this tendency in other
departments. In some respects this has been
great advantage. The progress of mis-
siOns to the heather, Bible distribution, evan
gelistic labor, Sunday School work and other
benevolent enterprises is, in part, result of
lit. In other aspects, this tendency has
wrought great harm. While it may have in
creased, SO to speak, the quantity of piety, it
has greatly lowered its quality. 1t is to be
feared that, while more attention is given to
active work, and work is done on q larger
scale than in former times, there is not 80
much given to the cultivation of personal
holiness. Many an active Christian whose
Sabbaths are occupied, in great part, in work
for the benefit of others, has occasion in his
few thoughtful moments, to lament, mine
own vineyard have l not kept" While
there is vast army of noble Christian "work.
ers," land no one who wishes we'll to human
ity could desire that there should be one less)
there is not, perhaps, 50 large proportion
of Christians who hsbituslly seek those fOun-
tains of purest joy which are unSealed, only
in season of sdoring meditation. There is
as much, perhaps more, Bible reading, and
even Bible study, than ever before; and yet
it seems as if the aim in such study is gen
orally rather to instruct others in public min
istrations, than to have our own souls sane
titled through the truth.
Altogether, the pendulum has made long
swing from Thomas KempiS to Dwight L.
Moody. This very tendency and habit Of
the time which makes it so easy to speak
from the platform or the pulpit, is one of
the things which make it difficult for Chris
tians to speak often zone to another"-a
man to his neighbor. The failure to com
mune with our own hearts and With our God,
makes the communion of Christian converse
an unfelt need, Were We more in the habit
of that kind of musing which makes the fire
burn within, We could scarcely refrain from
speaking often one to another. There would
then be thoughts and feelings which must be
expressed, and we would take that great de-
light in Christian conversation which can
only spring from intense interest.
If Christians could be brought to delight
in speaking often one to another there would
be many advantages gained. Besides bene-
fitting ourselves, We would in the most eff
cient way help others. 1t would be one of
the safest, and most practical ways of In
oreasing each others knowledge Of divine
things. While the way of life is, in its es
sential features, the same to all, there are
almost iufuite varieties in the experience Of
individual Christians 80 that the most
learned may sometimes gain light from the
mosi ignorant, and the strongest be helped
By the weakest. We would often give need
ed warning of danger We might see the
precipice to the verge of which our fellow
pilgrim was approaching, and By some timely
word, save him from imminent disaster. He
might forget many Sermon but he would
never forget that faithful word which eaved
him from falling.
b. speaking one to another, We shou d
often give much needed comfort. Oar great
Exeuplar had given Him "the tongue of the