Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-18
OLD-TIME RELIGION
A. GAMBLER

restored power and prosperity. In like man
ner Christian nations decline or advance ac-
cording as the Christian religion among them
languishes or flourishes. Their eras of great
est prosperity are marked by the reyivals OF
vital piety among them
Hence it has been said by great Ameri-
can essayist and theolOgian, Scarcely can a
more memorable exhibition Of God be found
than that presented by revival Of religion.
Historians seldom make note of so obscure an
event. yet if the secret connection of
vivals with the destiny OF nations could be
disclosed, they would appear to be more
critical eyolutiOns of history than Gothic in
vasions. A volume has been compiled mar
rating the decisive battles Of the world. But
more significant than this, and probing deep
err the divine government Of the world would
be the history Of reyivas."
He does not overstate the facts of the his
tory of revivals. They have saved nations
from ruin and revolution, and changed the
life of continents.
The revival under Luther changed the face
of continental Europe. The revival under
John Knox made Scotland what it has been
from his time until the present day.
To the vast Importance of the Wesleyan
Revival, the scepticaI historian, Leckey, bears
this strong testimony in his great work
titled England in the Eighteenth Century,"
"Although the career of the elder Pitt, and
the splendid victories by land and sea that
were during his ministry, form unques-
tionabIy the most dazzling episodes in the
reign Of George H. they must yield, I think,
in real Importance to that religious revolu-
tion which shortly before had been begun in
England by the preaching of the Wesleys
and Whitfield. The creation of a large, pow
erful and active sect extending over both
hemispheres and numbering many millions
of souls was but one of its consequences. 1t
also exercised a profound and lasting influ.
ence on the spirit. Of the Established Church,
upon the amount and distribution of the
moral forces of the nation, and even upon the
course of its political history" To the same
purpose testifies John Richard Green in his
"History of the English People" He says
the Wesleyan Revival changed the whole
tone of English society, the Church was re-
stored to life and activity. Religion carried
to, the hearts of the people a fresh spirit of
moral ZEAL while it purified our literature
and manners"
Kindred and consequent revivals in Amer
lea nightly affected the birth and progress
of the United States.
From the period of "The Great Awaken
ing" which began under the ministry of
Jonathan Edwards at Northampton in 1884,
until the present time our country has been
refreshed and reinvigorated by great re-
vivals such as the "Great Revival Of 1900"
and 1.-THE Revival of 1853" Without these
blessed visitations of grace it could not have
attained its great power and prosperity. The
facts are set forth in detail in a book en-
tltl6Q 'Gr6dC ReVlValS ana the Gr6dI NepuD-
lie" and published by Lamar & Barton
Nashville Tenn, to which the reader is re-
ferred for fuller information upon the sub
iect.
1t must not be overlooked that revivals in
Great Britain during the last hundred years
have been quickly communicated to America,
and reViyals in our country have run rapidly
to Great Britain, so that these great nations
have become distinctly evangelical in the
prevailing type of Christianity among their
peoples
But Germany has not had in the last four
hundred years a revival Of regenerating pow
er and national extent
Hence Christianity in Germany has be-
come paralytc through widespread ration
alism together with an enfeeblng rltuallsm
For the want of vital and vitalizing
Christianity the moral life of the nation as "A
whole has steadily declined, until in 1914 it
was totally obscured by the ethical midnight
darkness in which all moral distinctions be-
came invisible and benighted souls cried out
might Makes Right" Here and there
among the German people have been groups
of holy men, like Tholuck and Sitter and Lut-
hardt, and others, who have lamented the
spiritual dearth in their fatherland, without
being able to relieve the situation But they
have borne their testimony and their faithful
witness has not been fruitless.
Now it appears that company of devoted
souls is calling for revival of religion in
Germany. 1t is a good sign. 1t will be u
gOdsend to Germany if their call is needed.
great revival in Germany would do more
than anything else possible to heal the
wounds of the nations OF Continental Europe
and restore to them peace and prosperity.
Germany has tried the poison of rational
ism, and the results known and read Of
all mankind.
Let Germany now return to God in cody
| repentance and simple faith in Jesus Christ
our Lord.