The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-05-08
For the Lancaster Gazette.
The ChuTch---Its Influence.

may hereafter say. and therefore state
two convictions that are indelbly fxed in
my mind. First, that the pr,cspts taught
by Christ. are tie purest the world ever
heard; and that ifthey governed the con.
duet of men they would Larwonize al!
moral and social discort, and make OF
earth heaven. And secondly, that the
teachings of sec,arian organizations, un.
der the name Of tie church Of God, not
only do not efiicienily discriminate the
purity OF the most holy religion they pro
fess. but rather lerd to impair its au,hori.
ty, and to germinate lhe seeds Of skepti.
cism. When | say s"ctarian organiza
tions. mean all societies claiming to he
"Me church," whether protesting to be
"Catholic," or "Protestant."
Before taking up las | shall show them
10 be } tie misteachings of the churches,
will state in what conceive tue
religion 10 consist: and if afterwards |
shall succeed in showing heir failure to
exhibit rational aud comprehensi' le un.
derstanding OF the great wants OF the hu.
man soul, | shall have accomplished my
task.
In the work before me, l expect 20 cross
the track OF the "orthodox," and NAV
elicit some unpleasant feelings. But |
love truth and honest dealings, and will
not be satisfied without il: and no matter
what sacriIicGs it requires on my part,
am ready 10 make ,hem and l slall not
be ashamed OI any professions may
make, If my conscience is satisfied. and
tho right appe rs, Honest reader, 20 will
me through what have to say: and may
! ask you to be as charitable toward me,
as propose 10 be towards you. We may
both gain something by slight diver
genCe from the ruls in which we Lave
been accus omed to Iun. deprica,e any
necessity for disturbing the popular mind,
unless good results; but cherish the be-
lef, that public sentiment has attained 10
state VI developmen, in Which it will
not be RESTRAINED from reaching out after
moro light. The conclusions which
shall publish, are the result Of large OBJ
servation, both in the interior and exterior
temples Of the church; and while have
no disposition to fnc fault with human
nature as it is, ] must be allow ed to say,
that have no confidence in the existing
ecclesiastical rule, to make i, better, or to
improve the moral and religious condi-
tion of the race of man.
Religion is an essential element in mans
nature, part Of his very being Man
will be religions. and he cannot help it
any more thao he can avoid bis own be.
ing: and no matter under what varied
phases religion manifests itself, it wells
out from the sams fountain. Love. Re.
ligiun is love; pure, unsplfsh universal
love. L. embraces all nations, kindreds,
tongues. 1t knows no sect, no form, no
prescribed creed no conventional GER mo-
nies. Jesus was the embodiment of re.
ligion: martyrs and philanthropisls have
illustrated ii. Religion does good for
goodness sake: loves truth and virtue for
their own sake; is not perverted by creeds,
or limited boundaries; it has no time,
space or limit, it is as broad as the uni.
verse; and holds in its embrace, as we'll
the erring and vile, as the pure. 1t even
clings closer to the fallen, wretched sons
of men, than to the upright. Ii is an in.
ale conception Of the mind, bond of un-
ior that uniles man to Deity. Deity can
not come down to individual suffcrines
and caprices, but mtn aspires 10 Deity.
the source Of his life. TO worship God
truly, is to emulate the example of Jesus
Jesus repIoved the folies of the world,
and commanded obedience to the temporal
authorities. His life was one Of love aud
good deeds. t
The cardinal c0ctrne Of the churches.
on the dcpravily Of man, is, that he lost
the image and favor of God by disobedi
ence oil his first arentS, and that 10 res
tore to him that which was lost, vicar
ious atonement, or one to su fer for him
a the penalty Of the violated law, became
, necessary. To this is added require
a ment, that each individual offender MT
withshndilg tie satisfaction made by
Christi shall make personal application
for pardon and restoration TO favor, and
n as an earnest Of his acceptance, must be
/ made conscious Of spiritual regenera'
. lion; of new heart, so that he knows his
4 whole nature transformers he must really
= and truly love the things he used to hate,
! and hate things he used to love, he must
r despise all worldly things. and love his
. neighbor as himself: must return good for
), evil; turn tho left cheek, if the right is
smilten; and to him who asks coat, give
- cloak also. Now all this is in palpabIe
:. violation of mans nature, as also in viola
% ton OF universal experience; and never
n WAS required by the author Of his being
- =, 1t is crude misconcep'ion Of the divine
:, economy, and ia fast oosing its claims on
{ the enlightened intelligent mind. But
"a more on this subject at another time.
At The above predicate OF mans chanoes
70 for salvation has resulted in the organi-
of cation of the various ecclesiastical asSoci'
a. tions, known as The "Chureh." Meets
TO and bounds have been laid; pickets plac
a ed ,creeds and articles of faith prescribed;
n and interpretations given to the Divine
Va will, all Of whichtho applicant is required
nt to subscribe to, and from which he viii
O. n OF be allowed todiverge, under pain ol
a, the imputauon cfheresy, and excommu
go nication, no matter what his sense otrigh
o and truth in the light Of reason might be