Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-06-30
2Relisio,ts Department.
THE RELIGION OF WORKS.

A religion whose leading idea is to
atone for the sins of the soul by the suf-
ferings of the body is as old as human
nature. There are two degrees of it.
The highest degree is where the relig-
ionists devote themselves to life of en-
tire solitude and seclusion, and make
penace, under various forms of self de-
NAL and suffering, the constant rule of
life. These are the saints. The second
degree Is that which is adapted to hu-
man life in general. Here the pursuits
of men, whether of business or pleasure,
are not laid aside; but only certain sea.
sons are devoted to works of penace.
Here the world and sin have one portion
of life; and then hours and days of suf-
fering, gifts to religious houses and in
stitutions. self humiliation, the observ-
ance of religious rites, and pilgrimages,
settle the souls account with heaven
The invention of purgatory in another
world enables the religionist to complete
there the amount of suffering which he
may have failed to pay here.
There is no trace of this religion to be
found in the Bible. 1t is the religion
neither of the Old nor of the New Test
ament. The Old Testament announces
the Divine law, and in all its teachings,
its examples, its moral influences, holds
up the worship of the true God in spirit
and in truth, and tends to form a char
acter of truth and integrity. There was
no asceticism, no penance. no reverence
of saints and relics, no pilgrimages,
among the Jews. Says the prophet Mi
cab, "He hath shown thee, o man what
is good and what doth the Lord require
of thee, but to love mercy, to do justly,
and to walk humbly with thy God %
This is the spirit of the religion of the
Old Testament. The religious ceremo-
MES of the Jews were impressive and ra-
tional. Repentance, humiliation, and
prayer, and trust in God, were inculca.
ted. The sacrifices were joyful feasts,
and solemn types of prospective atone.
ment. But nowhere are religious OBJ.
servances, bodily suferings, or any mere
works of asceticism and devotion held ur
as making expiration for the sins of the
soul. On the contrary, the Old Tesla
ment is full of passages reprobating any
substitution of outward ceremonies fo
spiritual affections. Samuel tells Sau
that the Lord prefers obedience to sacri
fee. David affirms that the sacrifice
acceptable to God are a broken spiri
and contrite heart. Isaiah represent
true fast to be not merely bowling dow
the head as bulrush, but to unbin,
the heavy burdens, to let the oppresse
go free, and to feed the hungry.
The Old Testament was introductor
to the New. Here the law of God,
spiritual worship, truth and righteous
ness, come forth in brighter effulgenc'
The ceremonial and the sacrifices a,
now laid aside, because their end is al
swered, and the great sacrifice of IL
Messiah abrogates all typical sacrifice
Jesus Christ was no ascetic. He at
drank, and lived as other men, so tn;
he was reproached as ''gluttonous mai
a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans ar
sinners" His apostles were no ascetic
They adopted no peculiar costume, ma
ners, or mode of life. The whole effo
of Christ and his apostles was to incu
cate and exemplify life of faith,
nevolence, and holiness To reconci
man to God, to make man good al
happy being, was the end of their labor
Hence the religion of the Bible is
most cheerful and happy religion.
calls for repentance, and not penance
for faith, and not ceremonial observa
ces-for works of love, and not works
bodily modification.