John B. Boles The Great Revival, Beginnings of the Bible Belt (1996)

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.Wesley, in his Journal, seems to think that the cause of the hindrance of the work of God is wholly and entirely inman.But may we not ask, with reverence, hath not God sometimes, for his own purposes, withheld his power, thatno flesh might glory in his sight, but feel that he is all in all?"9 According to this view, God was looking after man'sinterest by encouraging him to place his total reliance in the hands of Providence.The circular letter written by Silas Mercer in 1795 for the Georgia Baptist Association contains one of the mostcomplete attempts to unravel just what God was doing.Mercer portrayed the distressing state of religion, theindifference, the coldness of the times which made Christians apprehensive.But why are these things so? To which we answer.The great Governor of the Universe does not alwayswork by miracles, neither offers violence to the human will.It cannot be thought, but that he could havemade his people perfect in soul, body and spirit, at the same time when he converted their souls.But itappears to us, that Jehovah, in his wise providence, saw proper to continue them in connection with an oldcorrupt nature, in order to properly discipline them, that by the various combats between flesh and spirit,they may be weaned from sensual delight, and learn to trust their all in him.But again: in a lively time ofreligion, hypocrites and formalists are apt to creep into the Church, therefore, a time of trial is necessary topurge these, as dross from the pure gold or real Christians.And further: the Lord intends, it may be, by thisway to prove that salvation is by grace alone; for in a time of declension no man or set of men, no, not allthe people in the world, can make a stir of religion.So this proves that religion is of the Lord.108 Semple, History of the Baptists in Virginia, p.238.9 Asbury, Journal and Letters, February 22, 1795, 2 : 43.10 Mercer, History of the Georgia Baptist Association, pp.14546.Page 30As David Barrow wrote to his fellow minister Richard Furman, God was showing how mistaken man was to trusthuman power, and thus rob God of his "divine Prerogative."11In his great love for man, God had let his creatures sink into dissipation and irreligion so that they would experiencethe futility, the absence of fellowship, that always accompanied separation from God.Frustration, mentaldepression, contention would be the immediate result of this alienation, but out of this experience men wouldachieve a renewed awareness of the importance of God and of godliness in their lives.Drury Lacy, a Presbyterianminister of Virginia, explained to a former student how God used hardship to produce better Christians: "You knowthe Love a Parent has for a child.Now if the child be sick & requires Physic, the parent will force it down howeverdisagreeable it may be to Taste.God loves his children with a Love infinitely more tender than any Parent does hischild, and he will take care of the Health of the Soul, whatever sufferings it may cost the Body.O that we might beconverted & become as little children to take what is given without resistance."12 Out of disappointment and paincame patience and strengthlessons long taught by Christianity.This assurance was the basis for the clergymen's expectations that religion would be revived.The falling awaywhich God had permitted for larger purposes presented a tangible human failing against which the clergy couldremonstrate.Since God determined the background and future of the decline, men's deliverance would be assured ifthey would only recognize their mistakes, repent of their sins, then turn to and call upon God.The duty of the clergynow was to exhort men to repent and reform; God, if entreated by sincere prayer, would remove the coldness ofheart and effect a resurgence of vital piety.The path to revivalism was clear.An omnipotent Creator manipulatingthe entire mechanics of the decline would surelyif only certain conditions were meteffect an overwhelming revival [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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