V. Is there not a low state of piety among professing Christians?
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We must answer the question in the affirmative. It cannot be called a distorted view of things to say that piety is in a low state generally, and that in many places truth is fallen in the streets. Among the causes of this state of things, we may notice,
1. The commotions among the nations. "Wars and rumors of wars" mightily distract public attention from all the concerns of eternity. Piety must have time for contemplation. We cannot profitably wait upon God unless we can do so without distraction.
2. Politics. Andrew Fuller says that many "have sacrificed their souls, to take an eager and deep interest in political disputes." He speaks of some whose "whole heart has been engaged in this pursuit. It has been their food and their drink; and this being the case, it is not surprising that they have become indifferent to piety; for these things cannot consist with each other." This is sound speech that cannot be condemned.
3. Love of money. This root has struck very deep into many hearts. Nor are its evil consequences even yet fully seen. The worst is probably yet to come. Without checking any sober, lawful endeavor to secure competence and independence, it must yet be said that a people eagerly pursuing wealth cannot be a very pious people. "If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." "You cannot serve God and mammon."
4. Fanaticism. Nothing is more opposed to true piety than a wild, heated, ignorant, and furious zeal. It has brought vast discredit on true religion, and has driven many into infidelity and practical atheism. It is like a flame driven by fierce winds through a forest. It consumes whatever it meets. Its unhappy effects are seen and felt for half a century. It brings true religion into disrepute. It awakens distrust of experimental piety. It clothes with suspicion every extraordinary endeavor to promote the knowledge and love of God. It creates a necessity for most painful acts of church discipline, and its whole tendency is to disorder and impiety. To be zealously affected always in a good thing is a great attainment; but a fanatical, fiery, bitter zeal is always followed by evil consequences.
5. The attention of pastors and churches has been unduly withdrawn from their chief work. Pastors are often overworked. Consequently they come not to their work with joyous elasticity of mind. And churches sometimes meddle with things quite out of their line; so that a minister who labors in word and doctrine, who gives himself entirely to prayer and the ministry of the word, is regarded as not up to the times.
6. A low standard of evidence of Christian character. It is our duty to "feed the lambs" and to "comfort the feeble-minded." But the lambs should grow to be sheep. A word to the weary is excellent, if it be in season; but the church should never be so addressed as to make her rest satisfied with low attainments. If the babes are fed on milk all their days and never get a taste of strong meat, they will never be strong men, full of vigor. Scriptural marks of a change of heart should be clearly stated.
7. The neglect of social prayer and godly conference. Have not Christians too much forsaken the assembling of themselves together, that they might speak often one to another?
8. But our greatest lack is in fervent, importunate, united prayer. Oh for a spirit of strong crying unto God! Would the heavens in so many places be as brass if they were pierced by the hearty cries of God's people? There is no substitute for fervent prayer. Let that cease—and religion must decline.
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