The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-09-28
[For the Central Presbyterian.l
Practical Religion.

and large usefulness be yours. May your
shadow never grow less.
A friend asks me to write an article for
YOU on Practical Religion That is queer,
isn't it? Various thoughts suggested them
selves when began to ponder my friends
request The first was somewhat to this
effect " That is wide subject so wide, in
deed, that one would scarcely know where to
begin, 1t includes, of course, all the actiyi-
ties of the Christian life; and, looking back
to the basis and root of these, all doctrlnal
truth as well for is not doctrine IN order to
practice ?"
After further reflection, my thoughts took
a different turn, to wit: "Practical religion !!
Write about that? What other kind Of reli
giou is there to. write about? BIahomedan-
ism is practical; Paganism, in all its varied
phases, is practical; and is not Christianity
practical as well l@'
Surely, The bible represents Il IN tnat
light From beginning to end of those sa-
cred teachings, we find no trace of anything
else That which transforms the nature, sub
dues and directs the will, purifes and elevates
the affections, plays upon the emotions of
sorrow, hope, fear, and every other as upon
the strings of an instrument-that which
imparts new motives, and inspires life with
new and infinitely nobler euds,-to talk of
religion such as this as anything else than
practical religion, would seem to be about the
most absurd idea that could be conceived.
He who fails to perceive that it is the most
practical, all subordinating, all-absorbiDg, all
all-controlling thing in the world,
must belong to that class who, having eyes,
see not
The apostles evidently regarded Christian
ity in this light With them 1t was no mere
sentiment, no speculative theory, no idle form
of words, no empty profession 1t was a tre-
mendous reality. Denouncing, demanding,
persuading, threatening, claiming everything,
and sparing nothing, the religion taught by
their Divine Master, and accepted by them
selves, stamped their whole characters and
lives with the impress of such self-sacriGce
and heroiSm as the world had never seen be-
fore, nor has seen since They took its words
literally. They left their all to follow Christ.
They shrauk from no priyation, nor hardship,
nor danger. However severe the sacrifice
must sometimes have seemed, it was never
theless involved in what they had undertaken;
and they must go through with it. No pleas
of having no turn for such things" family
affairs, business claims, delicate health, the
i'll effects of night air, having "alroady done
their share, and the like, were heard from
that heroic band. Having put on the soldiers
garb, they expected to do the soldiers work
to avoid no difficulty or danger, and never to
ask for rest or release, until the last victory
was won.
Ttis, therefore, b7iug apostolic Christian
isy. ROW 80 ,,in pe pfs ~ av.a
Tossing 10 be Guided BY apostolic teachings-
shopld take up with a Christianity so unprac-
tical, that newspaper articles must be written
to remind them that the religion they profess
to have espoused is a practical thing. l
strongly suspect that with that sort of "Chris-
tiaus," the Bible is not tie only rule of faith
and practice.
If religion is not practical, what's the use
of it? A religion which does not enable us
aud prompt US to renounce the world, the
flesh and the devil; which does not lead us
to cultivate purity Of heart and love toward
man and God which does not bring US, not
only to rest on Christ for our justification,
but to take him as our example, which does
no. make us better husbands, wives, parents,
children, members of society, and members of
the great human family ia religion which
does none of these, what is it worth P? As it
neither stimulates, nor Strengthens, nor COM
forts, nor renovates, nor difiuses life and
health and peace around [ think it must be
an unnecessary incumbrance, and the sooner
it is got rid of the better
And can it be, that in our own beloved
South, there are still those in the Church
who need to be reminded that the Christian
religion is a practical thing? In that hard
school through which they have been passing,
have they not yet learned that nothing can
suffice to uphold and comfort, but that pract-
cal religion taught by our Saviour, and lived
by his apostles? That old proverb, " Misery
loves company" seems selfish and hard but
properly understood, it embodies great and
solemn truth, to wit: that man cannot bear
his sufFerings and somoy alone; that he must
have sympathy and companionship. Now,
to our suffering, sorrowing people Of the
South, what sympathy, what companionship
would be secured them by notwithstanding,
life-controling practical religion-since in
every sacrifice and trial, they would be able
to see how those apostolic Christians bore
themselves in their greater trials, and how
Jesus himself bore his life of sorrows. Ira
dlional, educational, professional or theoreti-
cal religion may do to keep up appearances,
when all goes well with US; but when the
rains descend, and the winds blow, aud the
storm beats, we must have something more
substantial and real.
And what will our blessed Lord say to the
impractical Christians at the meeting on that
"day for which all other days were made ?'
viii he change his formula of welcome to
suit their case? "Inasmuch as ye did"
this, that and the other service, would not be
appropriate to those who had been doing no.
thing. 1t would sound like awful irony
But don't think the reader will varyit; and
therefore conclude that those who wish to
secure the welcome on that all-eventful occa-
sion. had better be up aud doing, working
whilst the day lasts; and not waiting for
newspaper articles to convince them that the
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