Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833 edition. Excerpt: ...least do their best to produce that stupor which they so gravely prognosticate. Nor can it be matter of surprise, that they deter some, who would otherwise be disposed to labour for God, and repress the ardour of others who are actually engaged in the work. To snatch sinners as brands from the fire, is of itself sufficiently laborious, without meeting the cold and repulsive conduct of those, to whom from their situation and character, we are naturally disposed to look for encouragement. But can any thing be more unfair and disingenuous, than for these individuals to employ that very state of dulness, in the production of which they themselves so materially assist, --as an argument against revivals? Indeed they are not qualified to form an opinion on the subject; for even supposing that the cause of their dismal forebodings relative to the work of God, is nothing worse than the weakness of their faith, --that alone, in this case, is sufficient to render their judgment of no real weight. The soldier who struck no blow in the fight, and who, in the moment of victory, could find no better employment than the anticiI pation of defeat and dishonour to the banners under which he served, would not be esteemed any competent military authority. But there is sometimes a more serious cause of the waul of permanence in the fruits of revivals, as well as of tin state of barrenness which often succeeds them;--a cause which lies deeper than either of the foregoing. It is to he found in a decay of the personal piety of some of the prominent members of the church. There is perhaps no device of the devil more subtle, than that which would lead men to neglect the engagements of the closet, on the plea of public duty; and there is certainly no temptation so.
