Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-06-12

PHARIsEEIsM.-A writer in the Knickerbocker has
some well-timed remarks Oh the Pharlsecism of the
age. This is a subject which most publications, and
most writer's, out of a pusi%llanimous fear of reignlng
interests, are afraid to handle, bat it nevertheless is
one for men to think and to speak Of. This Pharisa-
ical leresy, this divorce of religion and morals" is
much to be deplored in its effects on the morals and
manners of the people who are Utider its influence.
Pride, hardness of character, souIness of disposition,
monkism out of doors, if we may so call it, are its
effects. On this subject we have already observed an
excellent article In the same magazine, entitled, "a
few candid observations" Our liberal literary men
would do well TO dilate upon it. We need now the
just men Of cheerful, human-religious feeling; a broad
Catholic sentiment, connected with joy, gaiety, hilari-
ty, and an appreciation of the beauties of nature, and
particularly of art, as exhibited in al Its resources
and developments. ~
The following passages from the Knickerbocer are
significant
"The Christian Religion is a great moral creed.
The second of those two great commands in which
the Saviour of mankind condensed all the law and the
prophets, is, Thou shalt love thy neighbOr es thyselfi
meaning, without doubt, that we should accord to all
those with whom we sustain any social relations what
ever, all those acts of Justice, or of kindness and cour-
tesy, weswould in, like circumstances wish them to
accord to Us. \ ow what is this but an injunction to
the practice of good works ! What boots it to love
our neighbor unless we demonstrate 1t by deeds when
ever occasion requires! What sort of reformers then
are lnOse VINO Oe0Ounce ali acts OF justice, klnQneS>.
forgiveness and charity as I" filthy ragsi Nay,
have on more than,one occasion heard these preachers
of practical religion s~olemnly assure their hearers
that the virtues and good deeds of an unregenerate
man arc an insult to his Maker. Thus We are likely
to have a religion consisting entirely of abstract prin-
ciples of faith, and Invested of all its rich regalia of
Christian virtues all It's morality. These are set
adrift, denounced, prescribed, TO give place to piety
without substance, and bigotry without religion.
Religion is but another name for love. 1t is nei-
Their compounded fear, hatred. pride, presumption or
persecution. 1t is all lore. thou shalt lore the LORD
thy COP with all thy heart; : and Thou shalt lore thy
~neighbor as myself. On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets There is nothing
to fear nothing of sectarianism nothing of bishops
or preSbyters; notring of the real presence, or any Of
those outward forms and ceremonies, those metaphys-
ical subiieties, which have no more TO do with the fun
damcntal PRINCIPLES of the Christian religion, than
the color of a mans coat has with his opinions. All
these are omitted by the Author of Christianity when
condens ng in two great comprehensive precepts the
whole duty OF man to Con and his fellow creatures E;
the entire sum and substance of that sublime system
of morals which it was one great object of his divine
mission TO PROFOUND and to inculcate."