“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 remain in a calm imperturbable state:  or when the despairing sinner comes to a knowledge of that Saviour who made Atonement for him, to help being excited with joy.  Noble or peasant, gentle or uneducated, I am sure there will be excitement, and overflowing joy and gladness.

“A man who never felt himself a lost sinner, and never knew his need of the Saviour, may reason gravely 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 undiscriminating as the joyous mirth of children.  But it becomes more subdued as the child grows on to ’the conquering young man,’ and more chastened still when the ‘young man’ 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 Him that is from the beginning.  I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the Wicked One.”—­1 John 2:12, 13. ________________________________________

“We are at foundation work; and you rebuke us for an unfinished temple!  Your rebuke is not undeserved in one sense:  we ought to have attained to great advancements, and to have begun long ago; 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 means we use.  It is not long since I could reason a against ‘excitement,’ and thought as many do now, that in connection With religion it is irreverent, and unbecoming.

“Oh, what a snare is this unfeeling ‘propriety!’ It is really a dislike of being aroused from sleep; a fearful hugging 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 from the sleep of death!  I would glory in the censure and rejoice in the blame.  Would that I could reach your heart and the hearts of many of my other brethren; that we might unite together and raise a louder call!  There should be a more excited blast, as from a trumpet, to stir the masses of those who come duly and regularly ‘to hear us every Sunday,’ a louder, stronger, and more urgent and thrilling cry, Repent!  Repent!  We want more fearless plain speaking, more personal