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flames up for a time soon dies out； leaving the darkness more dense than
before。
Popular revivals are too often carried by appeals to the imagination； by
exciting the emotions； by gratifying the love for what is new and startling。
Converts thus gained have little desire to listen to Bible truth； little
interest in the testimony of prophets and apostles。 Unless a religious
service has something of a sensational character； it has no attractions for
them。 A message which appeals to unimpassioned reason awakens no response。
The plain warnings of God's word； relating directly to their eternal
interests； are unheeded。
With every truly converted soul the relation to God and to eternal things
will be the great topic of life。 But where； in the popular churches of
today； is the spirit of consecration to God？ The converts do not renounce
their pride and love of the world。 They are no more willing to deny self； to
take up the cross； and follow the meek and lowly Jesus； than before their
conversion。 Religion has become the sport of infidels and skeptics because
so many who bear its name are ignorant of its principles。 The power of
godliness has well…nigh departed from many of the churches。 Picnics； church
theatricals；
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church fairs； fine houses； personal display； have banished thoughts of God。
Lands and goods and worldly occupations engross the mind； and things of
eternal interest receive hardly a passing notice。
Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety； there are true
followers of Christ in these churches。 Before the final visitation of God's
judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a
revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic
times。 The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children。 At
that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the
love of this world has supplanted love for God and His word。 Many； both of
ministers and people； will gladly accept those great truths which God has
caused to be proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for the Lord's
second coming。 The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work； and before
the time for such a movement shall come； he will endeavor to prevent it by
introducing a counterfeit。 In those churches which he can bring under his
deceptive power he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured
out； there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest。
Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them； when the
work is that of another spirit。 Under a religious guise； Satan will seek to
extend his influence over the Christian world。
In many of the revivals which have occurred during the last half century；
the same influences have been at work； to a greater or less degree； that
will be manifest in the more extensive movements of the future。 There is an
emotional excitement； a mingling of the true with the false； that is well
adapted to mislead。 Yet none need be deceived。 In the light of God's word it
is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements。 Wherever men
neglect the testimony of the Bible； turning away from those plain；
soul…testing truths which require self…denial and renunciation of the world；
there we may be sure that God's blessing is not bestowed。
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And by the rule which Christ Himself has given； 〃Ye shall know them by their
fruits〃 （Matthew 7：16）； it is evident that these movements are not the work
of the Spirit of God。
In the truths of His word； God has given to men a revelation of Himself； and
to all who accept them they are a shield against the deceptions of Satan。 It
is a neglect of these truths that has opened the door to the evils which are
now becoming so widespread in the religious world。 The nature and the
importance of the law of God have been； to a great extent； lost sight of。 A
wrong conception of the character； the perpetuity； and the obligation of the
divine law has led to errors in relation to conversion and sanctification；
and has resulted in lowering the standard of piety in the church。 Here is to
be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit and power of God in the
revivals of our time。
There are； in the various denominations； men eminent for their piety； by
whom this fact is acknowledged and deplored。 Professor Edwards A。 Park； in
setting forth the current religious perils； ably says： 〃One source of danger
is the neglect of the pulpit to enforce the divine law。 In former days the
pulpit was an echo of the voice of conscience。 。 。 。 Our most illustrious
preachers gave a wonderful majesty to their discourses by following the
example of the Master； and giving prominence to the law； its precepts； and
its threatenings。 They repeated the two great maxims； that the law is a
transcript of the divine perfections； and that a man who does not love the
law does not love the gospel； for the law； as well as the gospel； is a
mirror reflecting the true character of God。 This peril leads to another；
that of underrating the evil of sin； the extent of it； the demerit of it。 In
proportion to the rightfulness of the commandment is the wrongfulness of
disobeying it。 。 。 。
〃Affiliated to the dangers already named is the danger of underestimating
the justice of God。 The tendency of the modern pulpit is to strain out the
divine justice from the divine benevolence； to sink benevolence into a
sentiment rather
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than exalt it into a principle。 The new theological prism puts asunder what
God has joined together。 Is the divine law a good or an evil？ It is a good。
Then justice is good； for it is a disposition to execute the law。 From the
habit of underrating the divine law and justice； the extent and demerit of
human disobedience； men easily slide into the habit of underestimating the
grace which has provided an atonement for sin。〃 Thus the gospel loses its
value and importance in the minds of men； and soon they are ready
practically to cast aside the Bible itself。
Many religious teachers assert that Christ by His death abolished the law；
and men are henceforth free from its requirements。 There are some who
represent it as a grievous yoke； and in contrast to the bondage of the law
they present the liberty to be enjoyed under the gospel。
But not so did prophets and apostles regard the holy law of God。 Said David：
〃I will walk at liberty： for I seek Thy precepts。〃 Psalm 119：45。 The apostle
James； who wrote after the death of Christ； refers to the Decalogue as 〃the
royal law〃 and 〃the perfect law of liberty。〃 James 2：8； 1：25。 And the
revelator； half a century after the crucifixion； pronounces a blessing upon
them 〃that do His commandments； that they may have right to the tree of
life； and may enter in through the gates into the city。〃 Revelation 22：14。
The claim that Christ by His death abolished His Father's law is without
foundation。 Had it been possible for the law to be changed or set aside；
then Christ need not have died to save man from the penalty of sin。 The
death of Christ； so far from abolishing the law； proves that