The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-30
Doctrine in ReYiyalS.

Doctrine in ReviyalS.
The Rev. Willirm Arnot IN speaking
of the relation between doctrine and
life said "a common street cry of the
day is, Give US plenty of charity, but
none of your dogmas;" in other
words; Give us plenty of sweet fruit,
but don't bother us with your hidden
mysteries about roots and ingrafting.
For our part, we join heartily in the
cry for more fruit, but we are not con-
tent to tie oranges with tape on dead
branches lighted with small tapers,
and dance around them on winter
evening. This may serve to amuse
children but we are grown men, and
life is earnest. We, too, desire plenty
of good fruit, and therefore we busy
ourselves in making the tree good
and then cherish then its roots with
all our might"
The application of Mr.. Arnot's
homely but forcible illustration to our
own times may be easily made. Re-
vivalsts in their eagerness to show
sinners the blessings of salvation
sometimes lay too lite stress upon
doctrine, especially upon that which
relates to sin and repentace. Sinners
who have been, as yet, only partially
awakened to a sense of their guilt, are
exhorted to love that Savior who has
died to save them to think of His
wonderful ability to join in singing
His praises, and to promise Him a
loyal, willing service. They some
times are prematurely invited to enter
the open door in the church, and, in
some instances, we fear, are made to
feel content without genuine change
of heart. Are we not in danger of
looking for fruits Of faith and love on
trees whose roots are not properly
nourished by sound doctrine
1t often costs something for Gods
ministers and spiritual leaders to main-
tain during a revival the proper bal
ance Cf instruction as to doctrine and
its fruits. The happy songs are then
popular; emotional natures are then
fully absorbed in that which is pleas
urable; the calm consideration Of
fundamental truths requires more fix
edness of thought than is usual under
such circumstances the prevailing
delights of religious fervor at such a
time would almost compel one to post
pone sound doctriral teaching.
We have known conscientious ef-
forts to enlighten inexperienced COLI
verts or partially awakened sinners as
to doctrine to be met with disaproval
on the part of the church. This
should not be so. Doctrinal instruc-
.l> ;,looI ha o1u.ox,c ,yicol1
conducted should pertain to essen
tial, fundamental truth should be Civ
en- in a loving, tender spirit, and, es-
pecially in seasons of revival, should
be conveyed in the simplest words
possible. There is 10 room at any
time for scholastic doctrinal phrases,
least of all in periods of religious
awakening. But, nevertheless, bring
forth sound doctrine, and in the right
manner; do this earnestly, constantly.
Souls have little to fear IN onr day
from exaggerated statements of sin and
its direfu1 effects of repentance and
it's fruits and Of the judgments with
which God will visit the finally i'm
penitent.
But we have to guard against dry
lOTuldllSiu JuSV ASlC' ~ HuoiShSt uaS
historian, says that Haldane, after
having reasoned with him upon hu-
man depravity, forced him to exclaim-
tNow l see that doctrine in the Bi-
ble.n ayes" replied Haldane, "but
do you see it in your heart" D'Au-
bigne declares that it was this question
that led to his conversion. We need
to urge this question in respect to ev-
cry doctrine. Even in times Of spirit
ual refreshing it is possible to rest sat-
isfied with mere orthodox statement,
without yielding a warm place for
the truth in the heart. Do / see in my
very heart that I am a lost sinner
that there is no help in me? that l de-
serve nothing at. the hands of God ?
Do see in my deepest heart that my
proper place is that of the sorrow
stricken penitent? Do see all re-
vealed doctrine in this way? That is,
do give it full reception, without
any desire to have it less rigorous than
God would make it? All this in sea-
sons of revivals, as well as at all other
times. would only fulfill the apostles
word ; "Sanctify the Lord God IN your
hearts, and be reafy always to give
an answer TO every man that asketh
you q reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear"