Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-12-13
RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF THE PRESENT AGE.
From tie Pitt>burg Christian Herald

The religious spirit Of the times is farther
characterized, by darh: ard confused con-
captions of the nature Of m0rM huih gene
ralLy. Thus results the prepondcrating in
teress which the outward world has come
TO have with the age almost universally, as
we have already seen. The physical car
rics it over the spritual;an tic consequence
is, that the very sense OF the spiritual has,
in MANY cases, given way almost entirely
to notions of another n%..rc al ogether.--
Even in religion, where the things Of the
spirit are of right all in all, IDEAS belonging
to the sphere Of sense and matter only, have
too generally claimed and secured for them
selves the principe place.
Inc true nature OF religion seems to be
not generally well understood. With all
the rca,lng and talking which there is on
the subj ct, it is very evident t:at the COM
mon way ofthinking with regard to i, has
come 20 be very superficial. The terms OF
the old evangelical pic;y still continue to 4
considerable extent. and VIC seem 10 be at
frs; sight in the way Of taking them in the
s;ronc,.st sense. Feeling, carncstncSs and
zeal. are much insiS ed upon. indeed, as ihc
proper features OF the modern system, III
opposition to the cold and sluggish tormality
OF other times. Bu: when VIC cone TO look
at he thing more narroN y. We cannot lai!
to be struck with certain something in the
whole exhibition. that shows q want Of power
and depth after all. The spiritually that is
c!ai!ncI ior the Svscn. in such s'r"ag terms.
as II tie church had rc"rr til late!E begun
to ocn:er in .hc true char;r'crufC Christianity
in this respect, is spirituality that appears
10 b" always r'aJy 10 run itself ont, always
in danger Of losing i;Scii in the ordinary
spirit of the world, even rs he natural result
oi is own free and uuoJs.ructcd COURSE
1t is spirituality that gIorcs strangely in
the hcsh. plays strangely on TIC surface Of
the inward life. draws strangely on the rc-
sources of fmcrC na'urc, refers itself range
II to worldly principles and mayims, Gna OPP
craics III strange correspondence ssM the
ruIag course Of this aorid,s trisdom gencr-
ally. There is q defcct here, wajch many
have felt, though it may not always have
ben undcrs ood. Who that has ever scri-
ously communed with the mind of Howe, or
Leighton, or Flavcl, has no; felt himself
coming ino another atmosphere altogether,
when brought into the society Of what is
frequently lauded rs the first s:yIe rcli-
cion in thesc days? The spiritually Of
tncsc old practical writer's, as it still lives in
their works, is very different thing from
the spirituality of the nc"-mcasure school
OF our time, as well as from thc religion Of
our churches generally. 1t resembles q
calm, clear deep fountain, always sending
forth the same r;;-h!, r;-h streams Of living water;
while the other finds its i:naro rather IN ".c .,
shallow, but noisy and troubled torrent, tna
draws its strength only from uncertain rains.
and swells and falls with TIC changes Of the
weather. 1t is no uncommon thing 10 find
modern zeal for God combined with great
worjlincss. 1t cannot enter mo close
agreement with the covctousncSs, and pride
and fashion Of the present life. Only let
people give in 10 its particular s'ylc Of talk
ing and acting, which they may very well
do without renouncing 4 single carnal az
fiction, and it will suffer them 10 DC as much
immersed as ever in the life Of sense. 1t
can mix itself with the ordinary stream Of
worldly interests, as readily as ifit were only
some active opinion in politics. 1t can
conc into easy intercourse with the habits
of the rich and self.indulgent, only shaping
the face Of things little 10 lis own complex
ion, as though it were but fever about
some new rail road, or some glorious land
speculation away of among the prairies Of
Missouri. But prayerfulnesS, and serious
holiness, and heaveniness OF mind, are rot
its characteristics. Such, | say, has been !
too frequently /. e t,mpcr Of modern rcll- !,
gious zeal. And though VIC have much |!
no doubt that is more sold and deep; yet |
there is reason to believe that as o general
thing the true nature ofreligion IS not as
well understood among US, as it has been
in the church in former periods.
This brings confusion INTO the view th:t |
is taken generally of the ends that should
be eaimed at, in seeking to advance the cause
of righteousness. Ends that fall in most !
readily with the common secular ideas on
the subject Of The Improvement Of society,
too often usurp the chief place; either throw
ing out OF view entirely those that are strict
ly spiritual, Or thrus,ng them mo q sccon- !
Diary and subordinate situation. The sane.
tifca,on Of the church is nearly lost sight !
OF, frequently, in the desire Of its enlarge
mont. Knowledge, righteousness, peace
and JOY in the Holy Ghos:, the things in
which the kingdom Of God mainly consists,
ire made to give way to the claims Of 9th
er objects, which after all are in comparison
but the ou.works Of Christianity.
Ofcourse, there must be like want Of
clear and correct sentiment, with regard to !
the way in which the ends of Christiani y !
should be pursued. Agencies of Il purely
spiritual character are well comprchendcd. !
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