of nothing, and may say to the soul, Take thine ease. While enjoying the fellowship of those who have been born of God, we lose sight of the far greater number who are still without God and without hope. We feel not the power of temptation, and fondly flatter ourselves that the old serpent's head is crushed beneath our feet. We feel it so good to be on the mount, that we sometimes incline to slumber there.

Think it not strange, my friends, if I tell you, that many a veteran has dropped asleep on this ground, and many a warm-hearted recruit has slumbered by his side. The latter is in peculiar danger. Unacquainted with the trials of the Christian life, and the dangers of the Christian warfare, it is not very surprising, that after he has fought his way to the cross, under the pressure of a heavy burden, and through hosts of opposing foes, and found peace in believing, and joy in the Holy Ghost, he should fondly imagine that all his trials are over, and that he shall accomplish the remainder of the journey without toil or trouble. Whereas, in fact, the warfare commences at this point. Strange, that the very fullness of our table should be made a snare to us, and the exuberance of the divine goodness cause us to forget our most important duties!

These things ought not so to be. On the contrary, the manifestations of the divine goodness should make us more zealous and more active in the Lord's service. But alas, it may be recorded of others beside Hezekiah, He rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him." 5. Want of faith in the divine promises, is another cause why revivals decline. We are afraid to give that full scope to the divine promises which the language in which they are couched will warrant. When a number have been brought out of nature's darkness into God's marvelous light, we seem to think that all has been done that we may hope for. This sentiment, has a natural tendency to contract our desires, cool our ardor, and restrain our prayers and exertions; and as a natural consequence,to limit the blessing which might be expected on perseverving and well directed efforts. But here, again, we are not straitened in the Lord, but in our own souls. Why should we limit the Holy One of Israel? Why should we circumscribe his promises? Will any one say, Because heretofore the work of conversion has stopped at a given point? Was the work ever known to stop while faith was in exercise? Did the Holy Spirit ever withdraw his influences till he was grieved by unbelief and sin?

How do we know that it is not the will of God that every sinner within the bounds of a congregation, a village, a city, a state or a continent should be converted to him? Why should we suppose that the time has not come? Not only are all things possible with God, but he warrants our strongst faith with his exceedingly great and precious promises. We may lay hold on his omnipotence. What did the Savior mean, when he said, "All things are possible to him that believeth?" Now what does God say to his people? "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." And what are the Lord's designs concerning our world? That his gospel shall be preached to every creature under heaven; that he will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh; that the Lord Jesus Christ shall receive the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession. Why are not these blessed promises fulfilled? Can you give me a better reason than that his church is still full of that unbelief which freezes the hearts, restrains the prayers and

paralizes the arms of his people? Banish this unbelief from the church, and revivals will never cease. "The word of the Lord will have free course and be glorified." The circle of divine influence will be so extended that it shall embrace the whole earth. God says continually, "Stretch thy desires abroad."

6. Want of concert in desire, in prayer, and in effort, is another reason why revivals do not continue longer and spread wider. Says the Savior, 'If two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." Why does not this promise apply in all its force, to revivals of religion? Do they not concern the divine glory? Do they not harmonize with the purposes of divine love and mercy, as declared in the Scriptures? A contrary supposition would be a libel on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples, waiting for "the promise of the Father," were of one heart and one mind, and continued instant in prayer. There is more in this than we are apt to imagine. An insulated individual may be able to accomplish comparatively little-yet, under God, he can do something. Associate one with him, of the same heart and mind, and you more than double his strength, as well as increase his courage. Elijah alone, is a very different man from Elijah associated with seven thousand in Israel, who had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. O, how verdant and beautiful would the church appear in the midst of this barren wilderness, if each of her members, in harmony and concert with his fellows, were found cultivating the little spot assigned him with care and assiduity, and when occasion required it, all uniting their strength and efforts! Soon would the cheering voice be heard, "Lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes." The streams of grace from the wells of salvation would flow forth with a deeper and more rapid current. The verdant spot would become enlarged, until it should embrace the whole earth-and "trees of righteousness" would every where spring up, and "the fruit thereof should shake like Lebanon," and "the leaves thereof should be for the healing of the nations."

Were we to examine our churches with a reference to this point, we should be equally astonished and grieved. Even in our seasons of deepest and holiest interest, most fervent prayer, strongest exertion, and richest blessing, we should not perhaps find one half of the church, perhaps in many cases not even a tenth, to have entered fully into the spirit of the work. Many would be found to have been entirely unmoved. Some in the ranks of opposition. And many who appeared most active, would be found influenced by mere temporary feeling, excited by sympathy. While the real "working men" in the Lord's vineyard, the men of spiritual "bone and muscle," the men who faint not in prayer, but "bear the heat and burden of the day," "the sacramental host" who "stand shoulder to shoulder," and steadily follow "the Captain of salvation," would be found a little flock." Such a survey would do away our surprise that revivals so soon cease-that so little is accomplished. Nay, it is matter of wonder that even so much is done by such feeble means.

7. The indulgence of a sectarian, or party spirit, has an unhappy influence on revivals of religion. Many a hopeful prospect has been blasted by it. It is among the arrangements of Providence, that various sects should exist in his church; though they have doubtless been occasioned by the obliquity of man, and if good arises out of them, it is because they are overruled by Jehovah; according to that

declaration, "the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." It is a revealed truth, that "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." So long as our differences are maintained in a Christian spirit, provoking us to godly jealousy and good works, they may answer useful purposes. when they put on the form of selfishness, envy, and strife, the Spirit of God cannot abide them, nor will he dwell with them.

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This spirit is not very apt to manifest itself in the freshness of a new revival, where the worth and salvation of souls swallows up, for a season, all other considerations. But when the fruits of the work begin to exhibit themselves, we are easily led to calculate our sectional interests in its results and to pursue them as a primary object. This is sometimes done by discussing the points which separate the sects, in the public ministrations; sometimes by making them frequent subjects of conversation; and sometimes by the application of motives addressed to the individual.

When such a spirit gets into operation, we lose sight of the state and danger of sinners, their conversion becomes a secondary object. We cease to follow them up with those arguments and persuasions which the gospel furnishes. Our prayers lose their fervency and importunity, and a dispu tatious and angry spirit is engendered, which grieves the blessed Comforter, and causes him to depart. He cannot dwell in such a scene. will not bless our selfish efforts. Men thus seek their own, when they should be seeking the things of Christ. Thus souls are ruined, and the Savior is dishonored, and hell rejoices. It may be that offences must come, but wo to them by whom they come. There is a fearful responsibility

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attached to such a course, in which all should be afraid to involve themselves. Let it be remembered that the highest object at which we can aim is the glory of God in the salvation of sinners, and let us be careful how we hinder this great work.

8. The last particular to which I would direct your attention, as injurious to the progress of revivals is, an undue excitement of the mere animal part of our nature. I say, undue excitement, because it is impossible to affect the mind to any great extent, and not influence our bodily sensations by it. The connection between mind and body is very intimate. Nor is it surprising that the body should deeply feel the influence of the mind, when employed upon subjects of such high and tremendons import, as those which religion presents. Nor is religion irrespective of the body. God requires the service of the body as well as of the mind. And it is right that it should be so, for man is not a purely intellectual being. It is, however, to the soul that God addresses himself, and from the impressions which he makes on the soul,does religion arise. And just so far as mere bodily sensations predominate, do they lower the character of our religion. The apostle Paul makes an admirable distinction when, in writing to Timothy he says, "Bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." The impressions which truth, when rightly presented to the mind, produces, do not, generally, to any very great extent, affect the body. I say, when rightly presented, for truth may be so presented, as to have its principal effect on the imagination or the nerves, leaving the understanding without much light or conviction, and the heart without any emotions of genuine love to God or sorrow for sin.

Do you ask, In what way does high excitement operate unhappily on revivals of religion, particularly with respect to their continuance? Let it be observed, that high excitement cannot be long maintained without a miracle. The human body cannot bear it. Health would soon decline, and the nerves would become a wreck. If it were originally a purely mental excitement, long continued, it would inevitably wear out the body. And whatever exercise the soul, in a disembodied state, might endure, it admits of no dispute, that, connected as it is with the body, after intense application, it sighs for relaxation, and if it be not relieved, it breaks down under the pressure. If then, high excitement be necessary to revivals of religion, the very laws which govern our nature render it absolutely necessary that they be short-lived, in proportion to the height of the excitement. It would then be a mercy that they are not of long continuance. The necessity, however, is not admitted.

Let it be farther observed, that action and reaction are equal. Undue excitement will consequently be followed by a proportionate depression. It might therefore be anticipated, that a revival which has been accompanied by a highly excited state of feeling, would be soon succeeded by coldness and inactivity.

My dear friends, this is not mere fancy, an idle speculation. I would it were nothing more. It is mournful history of mournful facts. It is one of the instruments with which the enemy destroys the carved work of the sanctuary-one of the clogs which he fastens to the wheels of the chariot of salvation to retard its progress through the earth.

It has thus been attempted, to exhibit some of the causes which retard the progress of revivals of religion, and disappoint the hopes entertained of their continuance and extended results. The views which have been taken are now affectionately submitted to your serious and prayerful consideration. The preacher rejoices in having been a friend, an old friend, to revivals. His public life was commenced under the sunshine of Jehovah's favor, amid the gentle and long continued, but refreshing rain of divine grace, and he has lived to record his gratitude to God, for repeated visitations of his mercy, extending through near a quarter of a century. He has endeavored to make you acquainted with the fruit of his experience in relation to the particular point which has engaged our attention.

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It has not been designed, in any wise, to disparage efforts for the promotion of revivals, but to show how they may be rendered more pure, come of longer continuance, and be productive of greater blessings.

It is firmly believed, and fondly expected, that a more glorious day for the church is near at hand. And that day will be accelerated, as well as characterized, by revivals of religion. But revivals so purely scriptural as to throw the devices of men into the shade, and exhibit in Pentecostal relief the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. O, when that day comes, the subjection of the world to Christ will no longer be a problem.

But before that day, the church herself has much to learn on the subject of revivals. She must study them diligently and prayerfully by the light of God's holy oracles, and then shall she know her own state and duty. In this every Christian has a deep and a direct interest. They are all called into the Lord's vineyard to labor there. And the Lord seems to be renewing the exhortation, " Cast ye up, cast ye up: prepare the way, take up the stumbling-blocks out of the way of my people."

Of these stumbling-blocks, there are not a few which require to be removed. To point them out has been the object of this discourse. I ask you my brethren, is there not a lamentable deficiency of well-directed and persevering exertion? Is there nothing of self-sufficiency when men talk, perhaps loudly, of "getting up revivals ?" Is there that entire dependence on God to which our utter impotence calls us? Do not some sit down to enjoy the blessing, instead of prosecuting their labors with new zeal and diligence? Are they not afraid to exercise that enlarged and strong faith which the promises of God not only allow, but require? Is there no lack of concert in desire, in prayer, and in effort? Is the peculiar spirit of sects dead? Is not mere excitement often sought after, and relied on, i , instead of the deep, and holy, and transforming influences of the Divine Spirit? In a word; Are not revivals too much like a morning cloud, and the early dew? And yet there is nothing in their nature, nor in the word of God, which forbids their continuance and spread, till every saint shall be thoroughly revived and sanctified, and every sinner converted.

If there are hindrances in the way, let them be sought out, and removed, and let each one lay hold of that hindrance which lies the nearest to his own door, and see to it that it be removed. Let each one be sure that his own spirit and conduct is in harmony with the will of God and the influences of the Holy Spirit. Ah! the church, in its various branches, has yet much to mourn over, much to repent of.

Let each of us labor to bring this subject home to our bosoms, and as certain our own responsibilities. Let us ask ourselves, does no sin lie at my door? Have I never grieved away the Holy Spirit by my sloth, my lack of faith and prayer and confidence in God, my sectarian selfishness, my presumption, denominated by an apostle, "faith without works," my reliance on excited feelings without grace? Let us not be afraid to come to the law and the testimony to learn our faults and our duties. We have much to learn, and if we will sit down to the study of the holy oracles with an humble, teachable and prayerful spirit, we shall lack none of that wisdom which is profitable to direct. We shall then be found fellowworkers with God in building up his holy kingdom, and be happily instrumental in hastening on "the latter day glory."

And now let it be remembered, let it be impressed upon our hearts, that every denomination, every church, every Christian, every human being, has a deep interest in revivals of religion-in their existence, their purity, and their results. They are the peculiar displays of the power and grace of God, for the good of souls. They have no enemies but the enemies of God and human happiness. Let it then be our prayer, and labor too, that they may gloriously prevail, and spread, and fill the whole earth. And let God, through Christ, have all the glory. Amen.