turn　from　it；　if　he　do　not　turn　from　his　way；　he　shall　die　in　his　iniquity；
  but　thou　hast　delivered　thy　soul。〃　Ezekiel　33：7…9。
  The　great　obstacle　both　to　the　acceptance　and　to　the　promulgation　of　truth
  is　the　fact　that　it　involves　inconvenience　and　reproach。　This　is　the　only
  argument　against　the　truth　which　its　advocates　have　never　been　able　to
  refute。　But　this　does　not　deter　the　true　followers　of　Christ。　These　do　not
  wait　for　truth　to　become　popular。　Being　convinced　of　their　duty；　they
  deliberately　accept　the　cross；　with　the　apostle　Paul　counting　that　〃our
  light　affliction；　which　is　but　for　a　moment；　worketh　for　us　a　far　more
  exceeding　and　eternal　weight　of　glory；〃　with　one　of　old；　〃esteeming　the
  reproach　of　Christ　greater　riches　than　the　treasures　in　Egypt。〃　2
  Corinthians　4：17；　Hebrews　11：26。
  Whatever　may　be　their　profession；　it　is　only　those　who　are　world　servers　at
  heart　that　act　from　policy　rather　than　principle　in　religious　things。　We
  should　choose　the　right　because　it　is　right；　and　leave　consequences　with
  God。　To　men　of　principle；　faith；　and　daring；　the　world　is　indebted　for　its
  great　reforms。　By　such　men　the　work　of　reform　for　this　time　must　be　carried
  forward。
  Thus　saith　the　Lord：　〃Hearken　unto　Me；　ye　that　know　righteousness；　the
  people　in　whose　heart　is　My　law；　fear　ye　not　the　reproach　of　men；　neither　be
  ye　afraid　of　their　revilings。　For　the　moth　shall　eat　them　up　like　a　garment；
  and　the　worm　shall　eat　them　like　wool：　but　My　righteousness　shall　be
  forever；　and　My　salvation　from　generation　to　generation。〃　Isaiah　51：7；　8。
  （461）
  Chapter　27
  Modern　Revivals
  Wherever　the　word　of　God　has　been　faithfully　preached；　results　have　followed
  that　attested　its　divine　origin。　The　Spirit　of　God　accompanied　the　message
  of　His　servants；　and　the　word　was　with　power。　Sinners　felt　their　consciences
  quickened。　The　〃light　which　lighteth　every　man　that　cometh　into　the　world〃
  illumined　the　secret　chambers　of　their　souls；　and　the　hidden　things　of
  darkness　were　made　manifest。　Deep　conviction　took　hold　upon　their　minds　and
  hearts。　They　were　convinced　of　sin　and　of　righteousness　and　of　judgment　to
  come。　They　had　a　sense　of　the　righteousness　of　Jehovah　and　felt　the　terror
  of　appearing；　in　their　guilt　and　uncleanness；　before　the　Searcher　of　hearts。
  In　anguish　they　cried　out：　〃Who　shall　deliver　me　from　the　body　of　this
  death？〃　As　the　cross　of　Calvary；　with　its　infinite　sacrifice　for　the　sins　of
  men；　was　revealed；　they　saw　that　nothing　but　the　merits　of　Christ　could
  suffice　to　atone　for　their　transgressions；　this　alone　could　reconcile　man　to
  God。　With　faith　and　humility　they　accepted　the　Lamb　of　God；　that　taketh　away
  the　sin　of　the　world。　Through　the　blood　of　Jesus　they　had　〃remission　of　sins
  that　are　past。〃
  These　souls　brought　forth　fruit　meet　for　repentance。　They　believed　and　were
  baptized；　and　rose　to　walk　in　newness　of　lifenew　creatures　in　Christ
  Jesus；　not　to　fashion　themselves　according　to　the　former　lusts；　but　by　the
  faith　of　the　Son　of
  462
  God　to　follow　in　His　steps；　to　reflect　His　character；　and　to　purify
  themselves　even　as　He　is　pure。　The　things　they　once　hated　they　now　loved；
  and　the　things　they　once　loved　they　hated。　The　proud　and　self…assertive
  became　meek　and　lowly　of　heart。　The　vain　and　supercilious　became　serious　and
  unobtrusive。　The　profane　became　reverent；　the　drunken　sober；　and　the
  profligate　pure。　The　vain　fashions　of　the　world　were　laid　aside。　Christians
  sought　not　the　〃outward　adorning　of　plaiting　the　hair；　and　of　wearing　of
  gold；　or　of　putting　on　of　apparel；　but　。　。　。　the　hidden　man　of　the　heart；　in
  that　which　is　not　corruptible；　even　the　ornament　of　a　meek　and　quiet　spirit；
  which　is　in　the　sight　of　God　of　great　price。〃　1　Peter　3：3；　4。
  Revivals　brought　deep　heart…searching　and　humility。　They　were　characterized
  by　solemn；　earnest　appeals　to　the　sinner；　by　yearning　compassion　for　the
  purchase　of　the　blood　of　Christ。　Men　and　women　prayed　and　wrestled　with　God
  for　the　salvation　of　souls。　The　fruits　of　such　revivals　were　seen　in　souls
  who　shrank　not　at　self…denial　and　sacrifice；　but　rejoiced　that　they　were
  counted　worthy　to　suffer　reproach　and　trial　for　the　sake　of　Christ。　Men
  beheld　a　transformation　in　the　lives　of　those　who　had　professed　the　name　of
  Jesus。　The　community　was　benefited　by　their　influence。　They　gathered　with
  Christ；　and　sowed　to　the　Spirit；　to　reap　life　everlasting。
  It　could　be　said　of　them：　〃Ye　sorrowed　to　repentance。〃　〃For　godly　sorrow
  worketh　repentance　to　salvation　not　to　be　repented　of：　but　the　sorrow　of　the
  world　worketh　death。　For　behold　this　selfsame　thing；　that　ye　sorrowed　after
  a　godly　sort；　what　carefulness　it　wrought　in　you；　yea；　what　clearing　of
  yourselves；　yea；　what　indignation；　yea；　what　fear；　yea；　what　vehement
  desire；　yea；　what　zeal；　yea；　what　revenge！　In　all　things　ye　have　approved
  yourselves　to　be　clear　in　this　matter。〃
  2　Corinthians　7：9…11。
  This　is　the　result　of　the　work　of　the　Spirit　of　God。　There　is　no　evidence　of
  genuine　repentance　unless　it　works　reformation。
  463
  If　he　restore　the　pledge；　give　again　that　he　had　robbed；　confess　his　sins；
  and　love　God　and　his　fellow　men；　the　sinner　may　be　sure　that　he　has　found
  peace　with　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　widespread　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
  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；
  464
  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