"Not only do spiritual affections become languid and require to be
freshened with new life, but even the very ideas and impressions of a
spiritual and eternal world wax dim upon the soul through the lapse of
time, and the influence of the world and something extraordinary is
required to renew these--some fresh testimony that there is a God and an
eternity.
"It must be familiar to all, how events and appearances, however
stupendous in themselves, lose their impressions by such regular
recurrence as renders them familiar to our minds. What, for instance,
can present a more magnificent spectacle than the passage of the sun
through the heavens on a clear summer day? Yet so familiar are we with
the spectacle that we scarcely think of it. It is a part of the regular
operations of nature and passes unobserved.
"But suppose some day that the sun should appear of double size, or that
another sun of equal brilliancy were to traverse the heavens from north
to south, then all would be struck and filled with amazement--it may be
with alarm--for then it would appear that there is some power superior
to nature that can interfere with its regular course when he will. God
would thus be brought near.
"So it is in spiritual things; however mightily the work of God might be
carried on, men would soon begin to forget God in it, and to attribute
the deep and earnest religious feelings prevailing to natural causes,
and so something higher still would be needed to prove that the work was
of God. Much more is this needed in a time of comparative indifference
to bring palpably before men's minds that there is a God and a spiritual
world. Men require something uncommon to stir them up from to time. Our
private devotions would be more ready to sink into coldness and apathy
were they not quickened by the public services of the sanctuary, and the
Sabbath services would also degenerate, were we not stirred up by the
occasional occurrence of Sacramental services. So God's ordinary
dealings require the aid of these seasons of revival."
SOME DROPS DESCEND.
The meetings, as conducted by the evangelist in Kildonan church, were
attended with good. There was much in the manner of the professional
evangelist that did not commend itself to the more staid religious
customs of Kildonan, but Dr. Black and his session, being in earnest in
the cure of souls, overlooked the defects and sought to make the most of
the efforts of the messenger of God sent amongst them. A considerable
quickening took place among the young people, and the older people were
helped as well. This was a great joy to the pastor. The strain upon the
faithful minister in his person was, however, very great. The frequency
of the services and the feeling of responsibility told upon his deeply
moved nature, and by the time the meetings were ended the godly man was
prostrated in body. Rest was tried, and a visit to the Province of
Ontario was undertaken, but without very much permanent benefit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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