Excerpt from A Letter to an Orthodox Minister, on Revivals of Religion

In the first place, what is the origin of modern revivals? They originated with John Wesley and George Whitefield, the founders of the Methodist de nomination. These distinguished men began their min istry in England at a period of great moral apathy, and religious indifference, and even gross immorality. They adopted an, earnest, direct, familiar, pungent and im passioned style of preaching. They usually addressed the less informed and more depraved classes of society. Their intelligible, powerful and heart-rending appeals produced a most astonishing and wonderful excitement of the passions and feelings. They were at first greatly pleased with the striking results of their labors, and readily ascribed them to the special operations ofthe holy spirit. But more experience convinced them of the deceptive character of such promising appearances, and led them to doubt the expediency of such commotions. Forthey early discovered that it was much easier for their converts to relate marvellous experiences, than to ex bibit christian dispositions and characters.

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