- ably as it has exhibited our "religion" to the eyes
of "heathen" nations, has now come to an end. It has worked no change,—it has strengthened no weak places,—it has helped no struggling effort towards good. The Soul of the Nation has not been moved thereby, and it is the Soul of the Nation—that great, silent patient and labouring Soul with which all religion has to do,—that Soul, which the Christian Creed, ever since it was first preached in Britain, has raised to such a height of supremacy and power, that it needs all its reserve of sober courage and devout humility to help it bear its honours greatly. For has it not been said—"Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall!"
One may look upon the innate spirit of Revivalism, exemplified in the hysteric wave of preaching, praying and psalm-singing that has recently spread over Wales and other districts, as so much instinctive and natural popular rebellion against the insidious flood of atheism which has for the past ten years been striving to poison all the channels of man's better health and saner condition,—rebellion too against the apathetic coldness and shameless indifference of the ordained clergy to the clamorous needs of those neglected "flocks" which they are elected to serve. "Enough," say the People, "of shams and shows!—enough of ministers who only minister to themselves and their own convenience!—enough of the preaching of the Gospel by men who do not and will not fulfil a single one of its commands in their own lives and actions! Let us have something forcible and earnest,—let us be permitted to feel, even though we shout and sing ourselves
