Views Meriting Consideration.
By A. Worth
THE present age is remarkable for its moral, physical and intellectual activity. And to the looker on, it seems as though the world was rising to a higher point of moral power, than has ever yet been marked on the chart of time. Thousands are rejoicing over this success, and are predicting a happier day for our world; yet many are stopping to inquire, whether the great religious movements of the present day, are likely to secure a permanent elevation of our race. To this latter class, I confess I belong. The present religious interest has been compared to the "great awakening," though doubtless its foundations are broader, reaching a vastly greater number of people, spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific shore. For years past, the religious press, has reported revivals in nearly every quarter of the Republic; and one would suppose that the nation was steadily increasing in moral power; but the facts in the case will not sustain the conclusion. Many have often inquired into the reason why the revivals of past years have resulted in so little permanent success. My opinion is, their instability has resulted from a settled determination on the part of time-serving ministers, not to mingle any reformatory truth, with the preaching under which these revivals take place. I will not dispute the fact of their conversion; but their religious teachers point out a course of moral apathy to them after they are converted, which leads them back to the world. The cry of, "keep politics out of the pulpit," is heard from desk to desk; and he is regarded most pious, who gives the earliest and loudest blast,—one who teaches his converts, like priest and Levite, to pass by on the other side. The great want of the world is, to learn that duty is ours, and that consequences belong to God. Facts that are every day elicited, sustain the above named positions. A revival of religion was going on in a town, a short distance from here, and it was said to be one of the best they had ever seen. An anti-slavery minister came along and delivered a single discourse, and for speaking a word for the oppressed millions of our land, the revival was spoiled, and the brethren went about the next day saying their feelings were hurt. A short time ago I was called upon to preach in a Methodist congregation where a great work of grace was said to be going on; and just before I entered the desk, the class-leader desired to speak with me. He said he did not want any thing said on the subject of slavery, because he wanted the revival to go on; and the cowardly spirit manifested in the above instances, doubtless exerts more or less influence in many of the great revivals of the present day. Now Mr. Editor, I enter my protest against all such revivals. If preaching the simple gospel truth, that "God hath made of one blood, all nations of men," will kill a revival, let it be killed, and buried a thousand miles under the ground, rather than curse the world with a religion which sanctions villainy, the vilest that ever saw the sun. The history of the past, demonstrates the fact, that a nation is never better than its religion; and unless we can get ministers of the gospel to take an advance position, we may as well give up the struggle in despair. But I desire to call attention to a point I have already named, and that is, we may seriously question whether the great revivals of the present day, will result in a permanent elevation of our race. In support of the above position, it may be said that whatever a nation's religion sanctions, it is impossible to overthrow,—until you bring that nation to see its guilt. That the religion of this nation sanctions slavery, is plain. Slaveholders, and their soulless apologists, are elevated to the highest offices99in the people's power to bestow, and Reverend Clergymen defend slavery from the Bible, and prove it to be a heaven-ordained institution from the golden rule, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." And when individuals, led on by the higher instincts of humanity and religion, seek to proclaim the whole gospel,—churches roll across their path, and block up the way. And when some bold and fearless minister proclaims the gospel command,—"break every yoke and let the oppressed go free," christian America responds with the united voice of a thousand pulpits, that two hundred years of legislation has sanctioned and sanctified the right of property in man! But it may be said, that anti-slavery churches have shared largely in these revivals; but the same may be said of pro-slavery churches, as well as those who profess to occupy neutral ground on the subject; and these being in the majority, the chances are against success. Another serious objection to such revivals is, the religious teachers who control them, point out a course of duty, made up of apathy, and indifference to the real interests of humanity, which if followed out, will ruin the young convert's usefulness, in trying to build up the interests of true religion. They are told to keep religion out of politics,—to obey the laws of the land,—and not to disturb the peace and harmony of the State, or of Church either. Such teaching is to all intents and purposes infidelity; for it is a settled principle of the divine administration, that religious prosperity shall be in proportion to the efforts we make for the salvation of the world. If a class of young converts were before me for instruction, as to the duties God requires at their hands, and the best course to pursue to guard against instability, I would point them to the unredressed woes of humanity. The sacred forms of four millions of enslaved beings, as well as the dark and damning evils which gush from the fiery fountains of intemperance! And I would bid them rush to the rescue. In doing this, a thousand noble impulses would leap into existence in their hearts, and under their united efforts, the triple wailing, rising from slavery, war, and intemperance, would die away, and they would realize that hurling despots from thrones of power, and wiping away humanity's scalding tears, would give permanency and stability to their principles and profession. A feeling of melancholy and gloom steals over me, as I think that a revival of the religion of this nation, is only deepening the death-wail of humanity, and enabling demons to feed on the virtue, life, hopes, and blood, of the crushed millions that slavery plunges in the dark starless night of oppression, and binds with unrelenting chains. Let us gird on the armor afresh, in the anti-slavery enterprise, and pray that heaven may quickly send the jubilee. A. WORTH.
Economy, Indiana.