The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-13
AlhDRAnCES TO REVEALS.
continued from frat page

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G revival of religion deliberately planning
"ii.' CARRYING Into execution Mt those sea
suns OF the year most favorable to revi-
Tu.s che very means of preventing them.
ney VIII commit themselves to attend
/ seru Oh lectures on purely worldly sub
Seces, OF. engage in round OF parties, per-
aps oances, and any number of worldly
a.llusements and entertainments, which
are calculated, IL not deliberately design
Gu, 10 Keep the people In a giddy whirl
untii the opening business season de-
ihanas the attention Of business men,
am leaves the pleasure seeker in u state
OF mind which Is anything but favorable
20 a revival of religion.
am sorry to say that ministers are
sometimes drawn into this snare, and
Z give their influence to course OF action
which they ought to know will divert
.neir people from the promotion of the
revival of religion SO much needed. Such
ministers may render themselves popular
Tor time with worldly professors and
ungodly sinners; but the day of Judgment
VIII undoubtedly show that they were d
nuisance in the community where they
exercised their influence. Such cases are,
trust, comparatively rare.
ta 1t IS generally true that such worldly
movements originate with the worldly
spirits In the church, combining their in
nuei!ce with worldly, pleasure. loving out
slders. They plan and lead off in the eX-
ecution of those diverting and exciting
paitimes to the great grief of their pas
tor, in spite of what he Is able, or rather,
uares to do to prevent it. IIe has looked
forward to the period when the excur-
sionists should return to their homes, the
business world get relief from its great
pressure, and long evenings be favorable
70 occupying the attention of the whole
people with the great question of saliva
zion. Then he has promised himself that
he will lead of, and persuade his church
70 'ow, and gather IL harvest of souls
for Christ. This has been his hope and
his comfort. But 10, before he Is aware
OF 1t, the leading members of his church
are committed, with the leaders of the
( outside world to 20 in for a course CT
pleasure-seeking, that will effectually
| prevent n revival. Thus his hopes are
dashed. his hands are tied, and it is
charged upon him that his labors are not
4 blessed. Sinners are left unconverted;
! the mass of church members become a
stumbling block to the world; Christ's
I religion is misrepresented. He is Greved
and dishonored, the masses are unsaved
and lost, and their blood is required at
the hand of those who have stood in the
way of IL revival.
D. A spirit of division aud controversy
In the church and community will effect
ually prevent IL revival of religion. Much
has been said, and justly said, Of the evil
influence of balls and dancing parties
These are bad enough, and il persisted
In, will no doubt effectually prevent re-
vivals. But they are not half so sinful
or SO dangerous, or SO sure to prevent
revival, as a quarrel. There are men, and
| women too, who would he horror stricken
II ball were to be gotten up In their
ne.ghborhood, who will not hesitate to
originate and perpetuate neighborhood
and church chickering's and quarrels
They would consider 1t mortal sin to
dance; and are yet the still rers up of
strife, Jealousies, animosities and bad
feeling, as far as their influence extends.
They will not dance; but they will do
much worse.
OF all the mischief makers in church.
of all the nuisances In u society. of ali
the anti Christian influences that OBJ
struct and prevent revivals .of religion,
dvisive spirit and bitter tongue are the
most to be dreaded Sometimes single
self-willed, influential man or woman
may for years effectually prevent revival
of religion. Two or three such men OF
women may counteract ..all the influence
of most faithful pastor, keep n church
in state of bitterness and turmoil, pre-
vent II revival of religion, and ruin gen
Grafton of souls.
q. Church pride and ambition viii
som etimes effectually prevent "a revival
proud, ambitious people will build and
furnish eXtravagant churches, lay them
selves out to exceed all their neighbors in
this respect. get up everything on an ex-
travaSant and worldly scale, endeavor
to draw in the wealthy and aristocratic
classes, and make congregation of the
elite OF the town. They must have
minister that will fatter their vanity, in.
dulge them in their pride and ambition,
without rebuke, apologize for their ex-
travagance. justify their grasping after
wealth, and, IL short. polite, meet their
wishes. What comes of all this but spir.
itual death and the absence of Ieyiyals of
religion?
z. A penurious church will prevent
revival of religion. A penurious spirit is
an abomination to God. 1t is dishonest,
selfish, n misrepresentation of Christ's
religion, the opposite of His spirit
Where church is niggardly and parsi-
monious in their treatment of minister,
inattentive to his wants, tardy in paying
his salary, planning to avoid all expense
close. listed in regard to supporting the
Sunday school, missionary societies. and
the cause of Christ generally, they may
expect that God will withhold from them
His sympathy; that He will do nothing
to manifest His appreciation of such n
course; that, since they teuaciously with
hold from Him, He is constrained to
withhold from Them. beseech those
churches that arc not favored with revi-
walls of religion, to inquire into the rea.
sons. They may rest assured that the
fault is at their own door. God never
withholds His spirit when He can honor
ably bestow it.
8. Opposition to, or neglect of, needed
reforms will often prevent 'revivals of re