The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-13

address this to those who believe that
regeneration is a moral and not physi-
cal change; that it is voluntary, intelli-
gent, and Ineligible change: that it is a
change In the moral attitude of the soul
toward Gods radical change CT moral
character. address these who believe
that regeneration is I'M uced by the Holy
Spirit IN the use of appropriate truth
that truth which reveals the nature and
guilt of sin, the character, the law, and
Gospel OF God. address those who be.
lieve that there are appropriate means of
regeneration ald sanctification.
Some hindrances of revivals amount to
preventives, others retard the progress of
revivals, while others still bring them to
close. AS revivals are induced by the
Holy Spirit, in the use of appropriate
truth, it follows that whatever so grieves
and offends the Holy Spirit as to necessi-
tate His withholding His divine illumi-
nation, will prevent revival. Among
the preventives are such as the follow
ing:
/. A belligerent, seotarian pulpit.
Preaching which is of this character al
ways begets in church spirit of big
Otry, fanaticism, and observation-disclosures.
These are the opposite of true religion.
a church fed with such food will not be
In state with which the Holy Spirit can
have any sympathy. 1t is not in accord
ancc with the character and revealed de-
signs OF the Holy Spirit to convert souls
60 such spirit and temper as that By
such pulpit teaching, illustrated by
such spirit, and by such lives ms will
result from it, the outside world will not
come to an understanding of what. true
religion is; and, hence, no revival can aa.
expected under such circumstances. I
believe the history of the church wifi
Justify this conclusion.
:. The habitnal inculcation from the
pulpit of what are called the hyper CAL
vanistic doctri mes. will prevent n revival.
Some men who have occasionally preach
ed those doctrines, and at other times
have laid them aside and poured forth the
doctrines OF free salvation, have been
blessed with powerful revtvals under their
ministry. But the revivals occur not in
connection with their dwelling upon
those abstract, hyper Calvinistic doc
trines. but rs result of their practical
preaching Of practical Gospel. In my
younger days l often heard it admitted
that 1T would not do to preach the ssdoc-
trnes" in revivals of religion.
3. The habitual ignoring or withhold
ing of any truth, the belief of which is
essential to and implied in sound con-
version, will prevent II revival such, for
example. as the doctrine of moral deprav-
ity, the divinity and atonement of the
Lord Jesus Christ, the necessity of re gen.
Grafton, the divine authority of the Bible,
the spirituality and binding nature of the
moral law justification by Christ through
faith; and In short, whatever must be be-
lieved as condition and means of our
specification and preparedness for
Heaven.
d. Diverting excitements, If strong and
permanent, will prevent q revival. Hence,
1t has always been the policy of Satan to
keep the church, and il. possible the min
istry, in state Of worldly exc, tement
1T is not very material what particular
form these eXcitements take on, whether
pressure OF business, of politics, of
worldly amusements, of balls, or parties,
or theatres, or games, or clubs. What
ever strongly eXcites the masses to the
extent of diverting their attention, will
prevent revival of religion. A revival
of religion necessarily occupies the atten-
ton OF those who are the subjects of it,
whether they are In the church or out of
it. The Holy Spirit converts people by
teaching them; hence He must have their
attention. He does not gain or hold their
attention by force; hence, whatever excit-
ing topic comes TO absorb public attention
and divert it from the great truths of SAL
Walton will preve mt u revival.
IL Is astonishing to see how careless