The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-12-07

into the kingdom of God the more use
full they are.
Robert Hall, the prince of Baptis
preachers, was converted at 10 years o
age 1t is supposed he knew what b
was about Matthew Henry, the com
lnentator, who did more than any mai
of his century for increasing the inter
asst in the study of the Scriptures. wa
converted at II years of age; Isabella
Graham, immortal in the Christian
church, was converted at 10 years O
age; DR.. Watts, whose hymns will b.
sung all down the ages, was converted
at 8 years of age; Jonathan Edwards
perhaps the mightiest intellect that thu
American pulpit ever produced, was con
verified at years of age and that father
and mother take an awful responsible
ty when they tell their child at years
of age, "You are too young to be
Christian, 7" or "You are too young tc
connect yourself with the church. y
That is mistake as long as eternity.
Early Conversions.
If during a revival two persons pre-
sent themselves as candidates for the
church, and the one is 10 years OF age,
and the other is 40 years of age, l will
have more confidence in the profession
of religion of the one 10 years Of age
than the one 40 years of age. Why!
The one who processes at 40 years OF
age has 40 years of impulse in the
wrong direction to correct the child has
only 10 years in the wrong direction
to correct. Four times 10 are 40. -Four
times the religious prospect for the lad
that comes into the kingdom of God,
and into the church at 10 years of age
than the man at 40.
am very apt to look upon. revivals
as connected with certain men who fos-
tered them. People who in this day do
not like revivals nevertheless have
not words to express their admiration
for the revivalists Of the past, for they
were NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Edwards,
John Wesley, George Whitefeld, Fletch
er, Griffin, Davies, Osborn, Knapp,
Nettleton and many others whose names
come to my mind. The strength of
their intellect and the holiness Of their
lives make me think they would not
have anything to do with that which
was ephemeral. Oh, it is easy to talk
against revivals.
A man said to Mr.. Dawson: 81 like
your sermons very much, but the after
I despise. When the prayer
meeting begins, always go up into the
gallery and look down, and I am dis
gusted. " WELL" said Mr.. Dawson,
"the reason is you go on the top of
your neighbours house and look down
his chimney to examine his fire, and of
course you only get smoke in your eyes.
Why don't you come in the door and
sit down and warm?"
Oh, l am afraid to say anything
against revivals of religion, or against
anything that looks like them, because
think it may be sin against the Holy
Ghost, and you know the Bible says
that sin against the Holy Ghost shall
never be forgiven neither in this world
nor the world to come. Now, if you are
q painter, and speak against your pic.
lures, do | not speak against you? If
you are an architect, and l speak against
a building you put up, do not speak
against you? If revival be the work
If the Holy Ghost, and speak against
hat revival, do | not speak against the
Holy Ghost. And whatsoever speaketh
against the Holy Ghost, says the BIZ
Die, he shall never be forgiven, neither
SC in l,n TO
think sometimes people have made a
atal mistake in this direction.
The Beginning of Sin.
Many of you know the history of
Aaron Burr. He was one of the most
brilliant men of his day. suppose this
country never produced stronger in
elect. He was capable of doing any
hing good and great for his country or
or the church of God had he been right
y dic0osed, but his name is associated |
With treason against the United States |
government, which he tried to over
Do you know where Aaron Burr start |
ID on the downward road? 1t was when |
le was in college, and he became anx
GUS about his soul and was about to |
,ut himself under the influences of a
evival, and minister of religion said:
Don't go there, Aaron; don't go there;
hats place of wildfire and great ex-
element; no religion about that; don't
20 there. " He tarried away. His seri-
'us impressions departed He started
N the downward road. And who is re-
ponsible for his ruin? Was it the min
ster who warned him against that re-
'ival?
When 1 am speaking of excitement
n revivals, of course l do not mean
arrangement of the nerves. /
70 not mean the absurd things of which
We have read as transporting sonnet mes
n the church of Christ, but l mean an
Intelligent, intense, all absorbing agi-
alton of body, mind and soul in the
york of spiritual escape and spiritual
escue.
Now come to the real, genuine
ause of objection to revivals. That is
be GOODNESS of the objector. 1t is the
ecret and hidden but unmistakable
ause in every Casa low state of reli-
ion in the heart. Wide awake, conse-
rated, useful Christians are never
fraid of revivals 1t is the spiritually
cad who are afraid of having their sep
lcher molested. The chief agents of