Middletown transcript., 1871-05-13
THE RELIGION or BUSINESS.


thing essentially distinct ard sepcrase from
lifc's everyday pursuits. although scarce
y now declared or taught, still maintains
a strong hold upon The minds Of many
Il is commonly felt that while il is possi-
bic to attain yirtnous character. and
live religious life in the midst nf life.
tolls and pleasures. il must be rather 10
spite Of them than By means of them ;
TIM, they have nothing in thcir owa ma
turc calculated 10 inspsrc the hear. to
spiritual good, bu, that their tendency on
the contrary leads rather in an opposite
direction. |, is assumed that daily oc.
equations, excepting q very few. such as
those OF the religious teacher or author.
must bring into exercise sot Of powers
and faculties wholly distinct from those
by which We cultivate the religious prin-
eiples; and that We thus live, as it were,
two lives, one OF business and one Of re-
ligun, each Of which prospers bes, by be-
Ing kept apart from the other. Il is al
United that the practical pursuits of life
nrc not only ..ccess.ry aud useful, bn. are
tie natural results of the laws BY which
the world is governed. and set with su-
sular Inconsistency they ARE though. to
haze no bearing upon the noblcst designs
If Providence.
Ta ruth y, that every pursuit which
i righiiul aud honest Is also calculated 10
deyolape the best human qualities. and
its tendency is rather to strengthen AM
axpand the spirit Of religion than to weak
en- OF contract It Tiist this is not always
the ease is due not to tho nature of the
tasks ,hemse,yes but to the violation Of
the laws which should govern ,htir cxer-
else. and the spirit which should enter
them All toll has iis grand meaning.
though il may be hidden below the sur
tucr We sra the labordus effort. the
monotonnus process, the weary frame but
We cannot see the spiri, Of 1--we thn: ami,
mates the tnilfr. a. he think # the wift
glafldcncd by the result of his ralicut la
bor we cannot discern those sweet home
ati ciinns wairh, though ihey mny b.
mingled wi'., much impcrfcctipn, are ypt
sacred un'l dear to rvttS heart, ;@a are
II euec ihr main,prinr mil iht reward of
mitch thai might otAegHi.e he unmaann4
dtuiHfy
0tbar occupations, United with ihi~ cls-
meai, adj additional sanrses pl improve
ment t. the higher nature af man fhe
scientific iseaferar. who /. e4siahile x.
Fiafies Nv san lsfs u Il az. The hafsi.
eim @ha sta ths iatfi#s 4 tie hu.
msa ffaGe. In philosopher VII deal.
with tn r fianl.st depths Of ha minl
= aul GIlaY athsr,. it3a III 81 aial
mt. = tiisir cmpla}Waais. a tar as
thcs appreciate AL olRy the true sririt>
of tteir vacations. will be lel b. them L.
the cultivation Of ta.e principles which
Ii, 1T fhe foundation ef isisbs rharae.
ter Ih5 lu-ibey. afthe laWsnf Is often
considered .Pe4lly ealeal4lel T. dull
his mafal sauss. anil + mar fbe purity If
his mini nai rieal5 considered. the
great duiY ei ii legal profession Is the
establishment Of justice IN the worll. aud
the maintenance uf righi between Gan AMI
man II ihe la@fer laes lhis. h. i .aiz
irii iihting n the righteousness II ai4ukia1
ane leFtlapiag Is omn. aul Will il,4e
evidence anl aiiins In Inv 10 larm just
conclusions. il his heart b. IN tha siie Il
e4aity anl truth, he i. . far lealiag n
religion. life AZ surely II Justice aaa ls...
titode afe p3fi # liliea fht sam
i. ttas Of politics Ta4t au} batef.
auA many rai8i inn aaale corrupt. IS
nat H. anl u tHzir ins. ta' H..
eapst tt.s3 fiji e aasa.5s 4. f..h anil
uahle lutits ati d i positions feInfe
and flll tulaW tha tfas risit # til II H..
tofs l. IS lligy wh1 is9=aie theif dall.
inrs, MT their callHgs thai lcha.e lham
Literature and aft the eh9nnels tliraneh
which much Of tn eenins 4 ,ha warli i.
revealed. nre in their MN natnrs pnre MD
enabling Tn highest spiritual ilea Of
excellence TIM my agr possesses is cm-
haliefl in IL paintings. is sculpture. is
hooks Even in their lighter fnrm<.
wherp enly innocent recreation is sought
there Is nothing irrliginus, but much
that draws mea ass. from anasse pleas
nres II thase Aere tnre ahl refining =
r, motnl defects Il i wr lament are tef-
| It Il alsmenis iatf1aleel, MT native IL
ihr III. " hatetef teaehe- the heaniy Of
eaoaHsss, II touches the heart with rure
emotion. il religious in iis tendency. and
anly needs embracing in its true spirit to
be religious in its results
Snch views will not lead ns 10 revere
religion less, hut rather 10 appreciate its
cxransivcncss, und 10 welcome agencies in
its development perhaps hitherto unknown
Whatever in nny pursuit We find hostile
to religion. that let us purge out and thus
| purify and ennoble it, but there is SO
much ,hnt is good and inspiring aud ele.
vn,ing in every honest calling. TINT il is
our own fault II We do not find it out, and
let it improve and develop our characters
It matters less the employment We ire en-
gagged in than the spirit We carry into it
II We eaeh study our own vocation Nc
shall find in it elements Of moral good o.
spiritual benefit. Of religions tendency,
which. il we hut recognize and arc loya
to, will cnnoble our own characters, ant
enable US to benefit othe.s But no en-
reer, however noble or exalted it mn,
1