Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-08-25
Trna Ralicion.

ITuS IoiiSAOu.
A striking story in the Talmud showing
its broad conception of what constitutes re-
ligiousness, is that Of the Sage, who, walk
ing in a market place crowded with people.
suddenly encountered the prophet Elijah,
and asked him, who out of that vast multi
tude would be saved? Whereupon the
prophet first pointed out strange looking
creature, iailor, because he was merciful
to his prisoners. And next, two common
looking tradesmen, who came walking thro'
the crowd, pleasantly chatting. The sage
instantly rushed toward them and asked
them what..were their saving works. But
they, much puzzled. replied: ''We are but
poor workmen who live by our trade. All
that can be said of us is that we are all good
natured. When we meet anybody who
seems sad, we join him, aud We talk to him
SO that he will forget his grief. And if we
know Of two persons who have quarrelled,
We talk to them, and pursuade them, until
we have made them friends again. This is
our whole life.
Elm fact, there is in the human heart an
instructive sense of the difference between
protesting and doing, between sentimental
piety and practical religion, between seem
ing and being. This is not affirming that
one mans prayer, or hymn, or exhortation
may not as truly, altogether perhaps to the
same extent, help the world as another
mans deed of practical benevolence. But
L !. L Il,
ercises, as they are called-attendance at
church and prayer meetlngs-constitute the
chief side of religion or that man who is
conscientious in the performance of these
things thereby covers multitude of sins.
The vital point is, whether what a man
thinks about religion, or what he does is
religion
What drives men apart is their theories
Or speculations concerning religion, and not
the thing itself. And, on the other hand,
what brings men together is the oprortuni-
fy to engage in some practical, humane,
Christian work. When word came from
our armies, in the early period Of the rebel
lion, that our gallant and patriotic soldiers
were 1 need of mediciues. supplies and SER
vices the Government had not engaged to
furnish, with what marvellous rapidity de-
noninational lines faded out, with what alac-
rity the scattered units crystallizcd into one
glowing mass, fred with common zeal and
purpose.
Was not ''pure and undcfled religion"
more beautifully and effectively illustrated
in the history of the Sanitary Commission
than in all the learned debates of church
councils in all the ages of the Christian era?
There was something more than extrava-
CANT sarcasm in the reply of sick soldier in
a hospital, who was pressed by an evangeli-
cal colporteur to tell him to what church he
belonged Sir, said he, Il belong to the
Sanitary Commission"
1t is impossible to unite men religiously
upon distractions. Now and then philoso
piers may devise bond of Union that viii
promise TO level all differences on the subject
of religion, but the philosophical mind is
needed to comprehend the scheme and the
masses are not versed in philosophy. But
show men real need, let them hear genu
ine cry of distress, convince them that they
have an opportunity and the ability to re-
leve human suffering in any of its ever
prese NJ forms, and al. .helrts are enlisted
and all hands pledged to do the blessed
work.
In vivid picture in one Of his discourses,
Jesus represents certain people as much as
tonished to discover that they had been re-
ligious all their lives without knowing it.
They little dreamed that the faithful per
formance of common, every day duties, the
loving devoted service of humanity, was the
religion of Him who went about doing
good-not lifting His voice in the streets,
avoiding public demonstrations, and doing
the Fathers will quietly aad unobtrusively
If the old theory of church is true, then We
are sure that there are saints outside of it,
and if the old notion of heaven be correct,
even heaven cannot hold them all.-LiJeral
Christian.
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