Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-04-18
miscellaneous Artiflfs.
Fru1 the Vermont Christian Aesseni
POSITIVE RELIGION.

anu POSITIVE 4SEnuAa
christians are accustomed to express their
purposss. and the same determination Is
implied, If not expressed, in every act OF
religion. conservation, BY whonsOeyer
made. The mighty import Of this Ian
guage uttered under circumstances so
solemn, is in strong contrast with the
somewhat formal and apparently incon-
sideraie manner in which it Is frequently
spoken. It Is as often the mechanical
uuerance Of the half dread baekslider as
of the working christian; and with tens
Of thousands who so frequently speak II,
nothing more is meant by the cross
than vocany confessing ChristOr offering
PRAYER in the social meeting.
Necessary. We had almost said essen
tial, SIS these exercises are TO promote a
healthy and vigorous growth in the chris
tian graees, they constitute but very
small, and the easiest, part Of christian
work. They are 10 the christian what
respiration IS to the living body, the means
/ Of kte, but respiration viii not build cities
and earn daily bread.
| Il is not surprising that there should
be constant tendency in the human
heart to make distinction between re-
Egion and business, and such distinction
SIS practically confines religion TO the few
hours given to devotion and the perusal
of good books, and excludes it from work
shops and the business mart. To talk Of
religion and 10 pray in public, may be,
even to the religious heart, at times Sc
we're task, but it is done In the midst Of
sympathizers and with the encouragement
of example. While to lice religiously, TO
buy and sell, 10 talk and walk in harmony
with the letter and spirit of the divine
commands compels the good man to resist
the most formidable influences. Avarice,
whose voice is not heard In the worship
ing assembly pleads for the best side Of
the bargain. The passion Of jealousy
hatred and revenge, which in the religion:
convocations, are asleep, for the want o
stimulants, are aroused 10 activity by tn,
wrongs, expressions and conflicts tina
come in the intercourse of the world
And, finally, the hour Of pious devotion
knows nothing Of the almost omnipoten
force Of the all-prevalept customs an
maxims Of society. Without a larg
measure Of divine grace, it seems quit
impossiblenott to live in the same practice
and walk by the same rules that the ma
ijOrity observe.
Thus the heavy crosses, which no ma
can bear alone, are not found in the Gloss
and the vestry. The severe conflicts wit
the Adversary, which We meet there al
fought under circumstances favorable I
victory. The world with It's distraction
is shut ont, while God and the prayin
host are shut In. How much easier 10 b
religious here, than where our fidelity I
principle viii bring pecuniary loss an
opposition, not only from the world, tn
flesh, and the devil, but from the partner
Of our blood.
The idea, then, that there is any ne
essary distinction, conflict or unfriendl
ness between the christians religion, an
his business, should be every where con
batted By ministers, and discarded by di
ciples. Abandon the unscriptural though
50 fatal TO practical godliness, that reli
ion consists principally in prayer al
praise, and holy ordinances, but beIier
rather, in the language of late Engli,
writer, that it is "glorifying God am
the duties and trials Of the world" al
Inanfully and courageously guiding o.
bark amid the adverse winds and curren
Of ecery days temptations, by the cor
pass Of Divine truth. And BY tempt
tons" We do notmean merely an infuen
upon the mind to neglect prayer and hui
Die trust, but the inclination 10 make i
measure too small, the weight too Hgi
the bargain TOO close, the tokens Of b
ne6cence TOO meager. With some, it
heavier cross to give full weight Al
measure, and with others to refrain fro
propagating SANDER, than it is to pr,
and eIhort by the hour.
81 am determined to go to heaven |
the way Of the cross" Glorious Diet.
mination! God speed you, Brother,
the toilsome achievement, and open 70
eyes to the full import of that declaratic
Let US throw away cant, and weigh W
our promises TO the Most High. He Il
keeps well bis pledges viii not need
repeat them often.
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