Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-05-17
PIIARIsE EIsDI.


a writer in Kuickerbocker has some wcllti-
med remarks on the Pha rsceism OF the age.
This is a subject which most publications, and
most writer's, out of fpusllaninous fear Of reign
ing interests, are afraid to handle, but it never.
thaless lie one for man to think and to speak of.
This Pharisaicsl heresy, this divorce Of rel;-
gion and morals" is much TO be deporcd in lie
effects on the morals and manners Of The people
uho are under its influence. Pride, hardness
81 character, .ourness o. disposition. inonkiam
eni ofdoors, five may 60 call it, arc its effects
On this suhjec, we have already observed an
excellent article in the same magazine. entitled,
n few candid observations" Our liberal Ii
,erarv men would do well to dilste upon it.
Nso need the just mean of cheerful, human.re.
iitious feeling broad catholic sentiment, con-
nected with joy. gaiety, hsrlty, and sn appre.
e,ation Of the beauties OF nature. and par,icu.
lary ofari, as exhibited in all it's resources and
developments.
The following passage from the Knickerbock
sr are significant PHI Ledger.
"'rhe Christian Religion is great moral
creed. The second of those two great com.
,aends in which the Saviour Of mankind con-
,;rnsed all the law and the prophets, is, Thou
thilt love thy neighbor az thysef;' meaning,
without doubt that we should accord TO all those
ath whom We sustain any social relations
vhotever all those acts Of justice, or Of kindness
and courtesy, we would in like circumstances
wi,h them to accord to US. Now what is this
hut an injunction to the practice of good works!
What boots it to love our neighbor unlcss we
ANnonstrae it by deeds whenever occasion re-.
qiires! This sort Of refnrmers then are those
uho denounce all acts Of justice, kindness, for.
rlveness and charity as filthy ragsr Nay, |
nave on more than one occasion heard these
their hearers that the virtues and good deeds Of
an ungenerate man are an insult TO his Maker.
Thus we are likely to have a religion consist.
'ng entirely of abstract principles Of fni,h, and
Invested of all its rich regala of Christian vr.
tues; oil its justice all its brnevolence all
its charity all its morality. These nre set a.
drift, denounced, prescribed to give place to pi-
.ty without substance, and biso,ry without re.
!igion.
Religion is but another name for love. I, is
neither compounded of fear, hatred, pride, pre-.
sumption or persecution. 1t lie all love. Thou
shalt loue the LORD thy Con with all thy heart
and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself
On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets There is nothing to fear
nothing Of sectarianism nothing OF bishops or
presbyters; nothing of the real presence, or a.
ny OF those outward forms and ceremonies, those
,ne,aphy sica subteties, which have no more to
DO with the fundamental principles OF the Chris.
tion religion, than the color of mans coat ha,
with his opinions. All these ere omitted by
the Author of Christianity when condensng in
Two great comprehensive precepis the whole de-
~ Of man TO GoD and his fellow-crestnres the
entire sum and substance of that sublime sys.
TEN OF morals which it was one great object OF
his divine mission TO PROFOUND aud to lnculcals