Part 12 (1/2)
A special y was convened by the Rural Dean, to take into consideration as, my defection, and to decide what public notice should be taken on the subject of this great scandal I also attended this ry and excited state One after another got up and s in my church and parish The burden of their distress, however, seemed to be noise and excite inandin a most fanatical manner
They had not witnessed these scenes themselves, but they were credibly inforood authority, that I preached a very different doctrine to that which was authorized by the Church I had declared that there was no salvation by the Church and Sacraments, but by simple faith in Christ; that any man--it did not matter what his previous life had been--if he only ca, and did as I told hies, were made and supported by shouts of ”Hear! hear!” and cries of ”Shalad Mr Haslam was present to answer for himself; he had observed that I had sat very quietly to hear others; and he now hoped that a patient hearing would be given to me
I rose, and said I was very thankful to be there, and to have this opportunity of testifying before them all that the Lord had converted my soul!
There was a little interruption here, but after a tio on I said that before I was converted, I was even reatly prejudiced against it
I actually flogged a big boy into be converted; this I did before all the children, and he promised that he would ”never be converted any more” I could, therefore, well understand their present feelings, and said that I was not angry with theht, in their turn, be enabled to see these things as I no thereat disturbance The Rural Dean gave ht I ainst my brethren; however, he had said before, and would repeat it, that I had listened quietly' to what others had said, and that noas entitled to a patient hearing a little longer
But this could not be, for I was stopped at every Fresh stateed for only one at a tiround cales in order as they were brought out To all appearances, I had to stand quite alone in that tumultuous party We had met at twelve o'clock, and after four hours were still in the heat of conflict
At last, to conclude this extraordinary y rose and said that he felt it was his painful yet necessary duty to propose that ”a vote of censure be passed on Mr Haslaround Whereupon, another rose '”to record a protest against revival e of the Church” This also failed; and as no one else had anything to say, the conclave of divines broke up What they would have said or done, if I had not attended to be torn to pieces by them, I know not; all I can say is, that they separated without eating me up Some of them caround so good-naturedly, and thought that I had had a great badgering
The opposition did not stop there--ser churches, and people earnestly warned against attending certain services, and told not to countenance them by their presence
The newspapers also took up the eration
I give here an extract froht it necessary to write at this time, on ”RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT”:
”My Dear Sir,--I have been seriously considering, for so the work of God in this place; with a view partly of drawing attention to an all-ilected subject; and partly with a view of giving some definite and authoritative form to the various and varied reports which are in circulation It is vain to pretend to know nothing about them, and it is equally vain to suppose that reports about our proceedings are likely to lose less by repetition, than those on other subjects of less moment
”I embrace, therefore, the opportunity which your Sermon on RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT offers, to ainst your publishi+ng to the world a serhbouring church;' and that instead of encouragement, counsel, and cooperation in what I know is the work of God, I receive this public rebuke I make this remonstrance the more earnestly, because several of the opinions you have expressed, are not, as I believe, consistent with the teaching of our Church; and lastly, I venture to be the remonstrant, because I am the person, and mine the church, which are the objects of your ani us in respect of rank and estee the iance, I cannot, I ht in which I walk, by the grace of God; and therefore I do siainst the supposition that Excite, or an end I have in view; secondly, against the supposition that conversion is a gradual work, which is to be worked out by Sacra which supposes and actually declares that a Person may believe, may be pardoned, may be cleansed from sin, yet not know it”
”In the sense in which you censure Religious Excitement, namely, as a means to 'force, as it were, the Spirit of the Lord,' and 'for the purpose of strongly working on the anis, etc,' it may be justly censurable Those who make exciteious movement, must soon find the emptiness of it; they throw dust into their own eyes, and will ever verify your words that 'exciteain,' and that 'like drae in it weaker than before'
”Those who really are engaged in the work of God, and especially conversion work, must meet with 'excitement' It is impossible for a sinner, under connection of sin, to re sinner coe of that Saviour whoexcited with joy
noble or peasant, gentle or uneducated, I aladness
”A man who never felt himself a lost sinner, and never knew his need of the Saviour, ravely of the impropriety of 'excitement,' and the man who has never experienced the liberty of deliverance from the 'horrible pit, and the mire and clay,' may seem to be wise on the subject of Christian joy; but he knows it not The outburst of joy in the newly born child of God, is as undiscri as the joyous rows on to 'the conquering youngman'
attains to that state which St John terms 'father' This I have no doubt is the kind of Christian joy you expect to see, and without which you are not satisfied But, dear friend, remember the perfect Temple was not built in one, but three days
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”I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Hi men, because ye have overcome the Wicked One”--1 John 2:12, 13
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”We are at foundation work; and you rebuke us for an unfinished teht to have attained to great advanceo; but God has had patience with us In this beginning' there seems to be confusion to superficial observers, and there must be 'excitement;' but this, as I said, is not the end in view, or the ainst 'exciteht as ion it is irreverent, and unbeco 'propriety!' It is really a dislike of being aroused fro of oneself into apathetic security, and lying down in the arms of the Wicked One for a fatal slumber Oh that I could 'excite' such persons! that I could arouse them! that by any means I could awaken these souls frolory in the censure and rejoice in the blame Would that I could reach your heart and the hearts of ether and raise a louder call! There should be a more excited blast, as from a truularly 'to hear us every Sunday,' a louder, stronger, andcry, Repent! Repent! We want , rave and death, judg:' but nevertheless let us 'rant;' let us be faithful; let us tell the sinner that he must die; and that he will die in his sins and perish for ever, except he repent and be converted that his sins may be blotted out Let us tell him that he 'is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Naotten Son of God' (John 3:18): that 'the wrath of God abideth on hiainst 'exciteainst sin and frivolity wherever it is There is exciteainst 'exciteainst indifference, and neglect of religion”
Many of the proceedings in our parish were, I confess,than I thought needful; but I could not control the people If they had been educated to ideas of propriety and self-control, the iht have found expression in a s therefore, though they were considered so obnoxious, would have been to withstand the Spirit of God
As the people had not been taught better, I could not interfere with them; I would rather bear the obloquy of e, I had a y who sympathized with its object