BIBLE AWAKENING

     There are two kinds of sinners, the awakened and the unawakened, the penitent and the impenitent. The thing that will condemn men in the day of judgment will not simply be the fact that they have been sinners, but that they have been impenitent sinners.

     The unawakened sinner is blind, to his eternal danger, deaf to the wooings of the Spirit from above and the rumblings of hell from beneath. "Through the pride of his countenance, he will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." He not only refuses to think of God, but banishes the thought of death, judgment and eternity. He dreads to think on these things and when he does, in order to quiet his fears, he justifies himself by hiding behind some inconsistent professor, and imagines he will stand about as good a show as the generality of men.

     Now it is the work of the Holy Spirit to "sweep away the refuge of lies" behind which he is hiding, and bring him face to face with the fact that sooner or later he must look squarely at his past record and finally stand for himself "before the judgment seat of Christ." He "comes to himself" and begins to consider. Now for the first time he realizes that there is no possible way of escape, hence is made to exclaim:

     "O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me. Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou are there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee" (Psa. 139:1-12).

     Thus he realizes himself surrounded on every side by Omnipotence, death and the judgment. He quakes and trembles and for the time being hardly knows what course to pursue. In front of him is a yawning hell, behind him a black mountain of unrepented sins, and overhead the frowns of an offended God. There are three things he can do -- confess and forsake every sin and thus find mercy; or reform enough to ease his conscience and thus try to satisfy himself with a superficial religion; or lastly, smother conviction, dive into sin deeper than ever, and seal unto himself damnation.

     We know of no better description of Bible awakening than what Wesley wrote and what Methodism everywhere has adopted as "General Rules." Notice them briefly:

     "All who desire admission into these societies (churches) must evidence their desire of salvation, by avoiding evil of every kind. Such as, quarreling, brother going to law with brother, the using many words in buying or selling.

     "Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation, particularly speaking evil of ministers.

     "Doing to others as we would not they should do to us.

     "Doing what we know is not for the glory of God; as putting on of gold, or costly apparel. Singing those songs, or reading those books which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God.

     "Laying up treasures on earth, or on the other hand, borrowing without the probability of paying.

     "It is also expected of them to attend upon all the ordinances of God: such are,

     "The public worship of God; the supper of the Lord; family and private prayer. Searching the Scriptures; and, fasting or abstinence. These are some of the General Rules, all of which every soul is taught by the Holy Spirit and written Word to observe. For all these things we know His Spirit writes on converted hearts? No! On sanctified hearts? No! But on 'TRULY AWAKENED HEARTS."