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in despair。 Your enemies seem so many； your besetting sins so strong；
your friends so few； the way so steep and narrow； you hardly know what
to do。 But still I say； persevere and press on。
The time is very short。 A few more years of watching and praying； a few
more tossings on the sea of this world； a few more deaths and changes；
a few more winters and summers； and all will be over。 We shall have
fought our last battle； and shall need to fight no more。
The presence and pany of Christ will make amends for all we suffer
here below。 When we see as we have been seen； and look back on the
journey of life； we shall wonder at our own faintness of heart。 We
shall marvel that we made so much of our cross； and thought so little
of our crown。 We shall marvel that in 〃counting the cost〃 we could ever
doubt on which side the balance of profit lay。 Let us take courage。 We
are not far from home。 IT MAY COST MUCH TO BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN AND A
CONSISTENT BELIEVER； BUT IT PAYS。
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＇9＇ I should be very sorry indeed if the language I have used above
about revivals was misunderstood。 To prevent this I will offer a few
remarks by way of explanation。 For true revivals of religion no one can
be more deeply thankful than I am。 Wherever they may take place； and by
whatever agents they may be effected； I desire to bless God for them；
with all my heart。 〃If Christ is preached；〃 I rejoice； whoever may be
the preacher。 If souls are saved； I rejoice； by whatever section of the
Church the word of life has been ministered。 But it is a melancholy
fact that； in a world like this； you cannot have good without evil。 I
have no hesitation in saying； that one consequence of the revival
movement has been the rise of a theological system which I feel obliged
to call defective and mischievous in the extreme。 The leading feature
of the theological system I refer to； is this： an extravagant and
disproportionate magnifying of three points in religion；viz。；
instantaneous conversionthe invitation of unconverted sinners to e
to Christ；and the possession of inward joy and peace as a test of
conversion。 I repeat that these three grand truths （for truths they
are） are so incessantly and exclusively brought forward； in some
quarters； that great harm is done。 Instantaneous conversion； no doubt；
ought to be pressed on people。 But surely they ought not to be led to
suppose that there is no other sort of conversion； and that unless they
are suddenly and powerfully converted to God； they are not converted at
all。 The duty of ing to Christ at once； 〃just as we are；〃 should be
pressed on all hearers。 It is the very corner…stone of Gospel
preaching。 But surely men ought to be told to repent as well as to
believe。 They should be told why they are to e to Christ； and what
they are to e for； and whence their need arises。 The nearness of
peace and fort in Christ should be proclaimed to men。 But surely
they should be taught that the possession of strong inward joys and
high frames of mind is not essential to justification； and that there
may be true faith and true peace without such very triumphant feelings。
Joy alone is no certain evidence of grace。 The defects of the
theological system I have in view appear to me to be these： （1） The
work of the Holy Ghost in converting sinners is far too much narrowed
and confined to one single way。 Not all true converts are converted
instantaneously； like Saul and the Philippian jailor。 （2） Sinners are
not sufficiently instructed about the holiness of God's law； the depth
of their sinfulness； and the real guilt of sin。 To be incessantly
telling a sinner to 〃e to Christ〃 is of little use； unless you tell
him why he needs to e； and show him fully his sins。 （3） Faith is not
properly explained。 In some cases people are taught that mere feeling
is faith。 In others they are taught that if they believe that Christ
died for sinners they have faith！ At this rate the very devils are
believers！ （4） The possession of inward joy and assurance is made
essential to believing。 Yet assurance is certainly not of the essence
of saving faith。 There may be faith when there is no assurance。 To
insist on all believers at once 〃rejoicing；〃 as soon as they believe；
is most unsafe。 Some； I am quite sure； will rejoice without believing；
while others will believe who cannot at once rejoice。 （5） Last； but not
least； the sovereignty of God in saving sinners； and the absolute
necessity of preventing grace； are far too much overlooked。 Many talk
as if conversions could be manufactured at man's pleasure； and as if
there were no such text as this； 〃It is not of him that willeth； nor of
him that runneth； but of God that showeth mercy。〃 （Rom。 ix。 16。） The
mischief done by the theological system I refer to is； I am persuaded；
very great。 On the one hand； many humble…minded Christians are totally
discouraged and daunted。 They fancy they have no grace because they
cannot reach up to the high frames and feelings which are pressed on
their attention。 On the other side； many graceless people are deluded
into thinking they are 〃converted；〃 because under the pressure or
animal excitement and temporary feelings they arc led to profess
themselves Christians。 And all this time the thoughtless and ungodly
look on with contempt； and rind fresh reasons for neglecting religion
altogether。 The antidotes to the state of things I deplore are plain
and few。 （1） Let 〃all the counsel of God be taught〃 in Scriptural
proportion； and let not two or three precious doctrines of the Gospel
be allowed to overshadow all other truths。 （2） Let repentance be taught
fully as well as faith； and not thrust pletely into the background。
Our Lord Jesus Christ and St。 Paul always taught both。 （3） Let the
variety of the Holy Ghost's works be honestly stated and admitted； and
while instantaneous conversion is pressed on men； let it not be taught
as a necessity。 （4） Let those who profess to have found immediate
sensible peace be plainly warned to try themselves well； and to
remember that feeling is not faith； and that 〃patient continuance in
well…doing〃 is the great proof that faith is true。 （John viii。 31。） （5）
Let the great duty of 〃counting the cost〃 be constantly urged on all
who are disposed to make a religious profession； and let them be
honestly and fairly told that there is warfare as well as peace； a
cross as well as a crown； in Christ's service。 I am sure that unhealthy
excitement is above all things to be dreaded In religion； because it
often ends in fatal； soul…ruining reaction and utter deadness。 And when
multitudes are suddenly brought under the power of religious
impressions； unhealthy excitement is almost sure to follow。 I have not
much faith in the soundness of conversions when they are said to take
places in masses and wholesale。 It does not seem to me