The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-04-12
"rure Religion,


"Iure Religion"
The apostle James says: "Pure relig-
ion, and undetiled, before God and the
Father is this-to visit the fatherleSs and
widows in their afflicion, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world" This
is very popular text with moralists.
who like the Scribes and Pharisees III the
'Savior's day, care only TO 'make clean
the outside Of the cup and platter, while
within they are full OF extorlion and ex-
cess and ignore Tie necessity Of that
spiritual renovation which is the source
Of outward purity; and good works, Tho
apostle James never thought of building
the fabric above proposed upon the rotten
foundation of our fallen nature. 1t was
the outward expression of the innerman,
the pure stream Of a pure fountain within
which it was his Object here to depict.
In subsequent language he presents the
same idea BY inculcating the duty OF prov.
ing our faith by our works-"Snow me
thy faith without thy works, and l will
show thee my faith By my works The
truth is, those who rest upon their moral
ity as their passport to the favor Of God,
it will generally be found have very little
of the thing they boast Of 10 rest upon.
1t were well lfth-y even did make clean
the outsdr OF tie cup and platter" and
their failure to do so only gives emphasis
10 the Savior's 'eachng-"Ye must be
born again" While. on the contrary,
just in proportion as men are disposed to
ignore their own peisonal morality, rs any
part of the price Of their redemption. will
they be found bringing forth the fruits
of righteousness God lookelh at the
heart, ana not at the outward appearance
only"-"Hc requirelh truth in the in
ward parts" And the apostle, by pure
ielgion, mean. simply to describe sin
cere, inward piety, and to s'ate what 1t
would lead its posscssor to do and thai
without the disposition to do which his
religion is vain.
EnEy Is NAN RICH ENoUGH?-
When lad, all old man took the troub-
le TO teach me some little knowledge OF
the world. With This view. | remember
he one day asked me, "When is a man
,ich enough?" I replied, "WLen he has
thousand plunds." lie said "No. u
1.-TWO thousandW mo" Ten thousand?
"No.' "A hundrnd lhousand?' which
thought would sette the business; but
he still continued TO say mo" l gave il
i up, and confessed that cou d not tell
but begged hat he would inform me. HI
gravely said. when he has little mor'
: than he has, and that is nsverl Ii he &C
quires one thousand, he wishes 10 hav'
two thousand, then FIVE, then twenty
then fftyj from that his riches wou {
mount 10 one hundred thousand, and 81
on till he had grasped the whole world, at
ter whirh lie would look about him, lik'
| Alexander, for other worlds to possess
Many proof have had of the old gen
tlemen's remarks since he made them t
; me, and l am happy 10 say have dis
covered ,he reason. Iull enjoyment
0 full satisfaction to the mind of man. ca
only be found in possessing God, with a
His infinite perfections. 1t IS only III
Creator, and not creature that can salts
g.
q We SHALL RE CHANGED. II. Cor IL
y 5l.-Some men went to China once, an
because they were forbidden to carry tn
4 sllkworm out of the country, they hi
some of the little creature 8 eggs in III
~ top Of their stavesj and so out Of thos
II TWO dry slaves came all the silkworn
: and all the silks in Europe since. Wins
h wonder! A poor rag.picker takes
short stick in his hand, and goes into ii
dirty cutters of the streets Of the ci,,
and picks up little bits of rags and papo
g These he puts into his dirty bag b.
!, these are washed and made over, and con
n out, the pure. white sheet Of paper, bea,
= tiful enough to have Queen write on !
D." Who can doubt that God can take the!
poor bodies and out Of them raise up
ne and better body2 Out Of the voI
darkness and bones Of the grave he ca
10 make something that will be brighter ,ho
l. the sun forever,
l. A few more smiles, a few more tear
some pleasure, rhuoh pain. a liule long
W hurrying and worrying through the worl
y some hasly greetings, and abrupt farewell
. and our play will be "played out" AT
% the injuror and the injured will be Il
10 away, and ere long forgotten. Is it wor
d, while to hate each other?-New Yo
rs Evangelist. st. .s.
There is dew in one flower, and not
another, because one opens its cups NJ
takes It in, while the other closes itse
s. and the drop runs off. God rains goo
D. ness and mercy as wide as the dew, and
we hack them, ii is because We will n
open our hearts TO receive them.
'e There are may faces which have smilC
t. lovingly upon us. but We see them
a more they are numbered with those wi
B. have gone hence, in this life, no moie
10 bsam:upon us but as wejoin them in the
P. bright home on high, they will bea
" brightly witha heavenly radiance, an
Q will never again pass away.
= Christians, the highway to comfort is
% mind comfort less and duty more.
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