God.
Such were the effects that in former years followed seasons of religious
awakening. Judged by their fruits, they were known to be blessed of God in
the salvation of men and the uplifting of humanity.

But many of the revivals of modern times have presented a marked contrast
to those manifestations of divine grace which in earlier days followed the
labors of God's servants. It is true that a wide-spread interest is
kindled, many profess conversion, and there are large accessions to the
churches; nevertheless the results are not such as to warrant the belief
that there has been a corresponding increase of real spiritual life. The
light which 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
to-day, 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, 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 wide-spread 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. A