National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-22

lei and principles nave great lnnuCnye III ioln
ng their characters and directing their conduct
rue mischief that false principles has done
caches us that the true principles OF piety anu
'irtue ought surely to produce much greater
fleets. Although error, In some respects, may
gree with the sinful heart Of man, yet truth u
Mighty and will prevail. II must and viii nll
he whole earth with peace and true happiness;
21 II Is proper also, to consider religion IN the
light OF consolation, and rs bringing relief to man
mid the dlsttess incident to thls life. Here re-
lgion triumphs over every rival. us happy ELECTS
'nrpish to every benevolent mind q strong afgu-
nent for lie diffusion throughout the world.
Destitute of the belief and the hope OF tue Cos
pei, mans condition Ia wretchcd III the extreme.
Iie Is placed as stranger ~ aNss, anyetse,
very iinperfectly known; where the beginning |
as well as the termination OF THUGS are often
clothed IN myse ana snes s ,pam Snnr
came, for what purpose he was brought into ex.
stenCc, or whittier he goes at death. THIS, to
IN inqulring mind, y al exceedingly dlscon:
,olate situation. And the greater the amount OF
sirtue It possesses the deeper will Its sensiblllty
Je oppressed by these troublesome thoughts,
We're y possible to Danish all seriousness and
,ass life away In continued succession OF vaic
Imusements, 1t would still appear a triniDg
iffair. But this Is not the position man occupies
n this world. Although conscious that he Is q
,an. aud ieenLe being surrounded WIN many
prehenslons from the evils that he must Gu
counter before the close OF life, yet Jesus
Christ has brought to him the snoylcdge OF life
father and friend watching over him with the
tenderest sollcltudc. lie who was previously =
destitute orphan, wandering in an lnhospitaolo
desert, has now found protector, a. well as q
shelter, from every storm. lie now knows TO
whom to pray, and In whom TO trust; where 10
unbosom his sorrows, and frUm what hand TO
expect relief. Nothing possesses equal efficacy
with religious comfort, when the heart Is agon:
lied with recent afilcti0ns. The belief OF
divine favor, aud the prospect OF happy i'm.
mortality possesses sufficient power to AssuAge
tho hepnp4t uTicf. and illuminate the darkest
hour. When bercayed OF earthly friends the
mind comforts itself with the thought OF one
friend that viii never forsake; whose strength
speculatlons concerning the nature OF the
human condition, and the improvement rhlloso-
ply teaches US to make OF every event, may en-
terrain the mind wnen at ease, and may perhaps
soothe 1t when slightly touched with sorrow.
But when II Is overwhelmed with deep aficti0n
they are p0werless and cold compared with u
direct promise from the Word OF God. THIS Is
can anchor to the soul, both sure aud steadfast."
This has given rest to many troubled hearts,
when oil human reason was utterly unavalng.
As death approaches the anxiety respecting the
future naturally increases, while at this period
religious consolation abounds more and more.
Tue gospel then appears above all price. II not
only brings to view life and Immortality, but II
also proclaims pardon and free forgiveness TO
every penitent sinner. II assures MIN that when
he passes through "the valley aud shadow Of
death" Jehovah will be with him, so that no evil
can befail him. lie Is further assured that he
| shall be brought TO Heaven, where for his per.
manent abode q mansion OF unfading felicity Ia
prepared. This Is the reason that he can leave
| The world with JOY and peace. Bat II ir that
| trying hour he has no Saviour TO uphold and
| comfort him where shall he obtain support
Conscious that he has not acted at all times "a
| he should have done the sins OF his past life a.
him with sad and painful remcmbrances. nc
desires TO exist after death, and yet trembles nj
| the thought OF that existence. lie fears that
majesty ne has so often de1ed, and before
whom now he must appear. 10 the mids
| OF endless doubts aud perpleNties hi.
reluctant soul Is forced away TO eternity. III
sun sets In a dark cloud, and the night OF death
/ full OF misery closes over his head. Ia view
therefore, OF death and the judgment to come
i does not every one instlnctlvely say, "Let M,
die the death Of the righteous, and let my las
| II. Religious knowledge Is absolutely neces
| sary 10 man as MEMBER OF society. This, IL
part, has been already proved by our preyiou
reasoning, since all the Improvement that mat
as an individual receives must also benefit tn
| society among which he lives. Society receive
the benent OF all the religious anu viFtuous mem
bers Of which 1t Is composed. And Just In pro
portion as each Is made better 50 Will morallt.
| flourish among the whole.
Beyond this, however, religious knowledg
has direct tendency to improve the social Ia
tercourse Of men. Il is In TACT the great instru
ment for ciyilizing the multitude and formin
them for union. IL tames the 1erceness Of thei
passions and softcns the rudeness OF their man
ners. There Is In fact great reason to doub
whether regular society could exist ~ the worl
destitute Of all religious belief and principles
The wisest legislators OF old, through the Who'll
progress OF their various systems OF govern
ment, considered religion essential to their civi
poliiy. IL even those Imperfect forms OF re
| ligion, burdened with superstition and full o
| error, were essential 10 the welfare OF society
much more may the reasonable worship of th,
true God, taught In the gospel, be regarded a
| absolutely essential to the formation AMI pre-
the Idea OF proper subjcction, ~ accustominl
mankind TO obedience 10 the superior power o
Jehovah, aud to yeneratlon for his superior wis
Eon AM gooaness; ny is very nature rego
| and sacred bonds Of union among men.
brings them together In large assemblies for re
lisions worship, aud uniiedly to offer homage Il
one God. The sense Of dependence on the SAM
Being for protection OF being mutual sharers o
| the same benefits, aud of the same rewards
must awaken the sentiments OF friendly relation
| and strengthen and confirm our mutual con
nection. The doctrine OF Christianity Ia directl,
| opposed to all tyranny and oppression; while I
upholds and maintains the interests OF good gov
eminent everywhere. II represses the spirit o
| RIGHTEOUSNESS aud INSTRUMENTATION. IL rCqu!rei
men everywhere to render To tod the thing
| that be Gods: while, at the same timc. they ren
der to earthly governments tho things that be
| long to them.
Religious knowledge extends also to all usefu
| and ornamental improvements In society. Eek
perience shows that IN proportion as religion
dinuses Its light, learning nOurishes and llbera
| arts are cultivated and advanced. Correct view
| OF religion promote free and manly spirit
They cause men TO think for themselves, to foru
|
| to resign conscience to the guidance OF any MAJ
| or any class OF men. Hence true religion natu
| rally inspires aversion to tyranny OF any kind
| and promotes taste for liberty IN subordinatiol
TO Just and equal laws. Despotic government
flourish best and take the deepest root where IN
norance, superstition and false religion flourish
In the Christian world, where error and gros
superstition hold their reign undlsturOed, Their
oppression and tyranny follow In their tram; bu
where the true knowledge Of God Is found, free
dom, learning, the arts and appliances Of civil
But the happy effects Of religion upon soclef
extend much beyond effects OF this kind. II no
only tends to the Improvement, but Is absolutel
necessary to the preservation OF civilized soci
ETY.. IL Is, In fact, the very foundation upo
which the whole supefstfuttIrc rests. Religion
principles give men the nrmest holi up N on
another. An oath Is Its last and greatest pledg
OF truth, without which no society could exist
and yet us whole authority Is derived FROM q
established reverence for God, TO whom 1t Is
s son la anpea Destroy religion, principles an
ciety, you overthrow the foundations of mutua
confidence and trust, and In great, measure tn
security arising from obedience to wise an
wholesome laws are made Intellectual and void
There are many cases In which the safety O
mankind Is concerned that human laws and hu
man penalties cannot reach. Were there no be
maintain peace aud good order among men
Were there no belief That God punlshes the b,
and rewards the good, vice and crime would b.
Tar more prevalent than at present.
Religious knowledge Is Of such importance Il
the well-belnR OF society that the most expires
slve description given OF human society In tn
utmost disorder Ia, "theFe Ia no fear OF God
among them. As u general thing, thos
who fear not God have little regar
for the feelings or the rights OF others
The strong arm OF the law may hold them II
check, but they will devise many ways to evad
the law. They care not who suffers aud dies
provided the law cannot reach them. WheI
any community ceases to fear the one living ant
true God, then rapine, violence, peTlly anC
| treachery abound. Men deceive and are de
ceived; they Cypress and are oppressed. Inter
nal dlssenslons break the honda OF union and Sc
every man against hts neighbor. Anarchy ant
confusion, violence and crime prevail, till on
whebe fabric, and erects from Its ruins CON
plete despotism. On tho contrary, do we deslr,
70 see society flourish In its greatest glory
Then we must Imagine q community wher
Christian principles exert their perfect nnlencl
| on the hearts and lives OF all Its members. la
| stantly the most amablc scene would open lie
fore our eyes. The causes OF public dlssensiOI
| would be removed were men animated by tina
| noble spirit OF love and charity which the Gospe
Of Christ lnculcates. Its heavenly influences
| form men for the pursuit Of those higher inter
| ests, which give no OCCASION TO competition ant
| Jealousy. II causes families, neghbOrhoods ant
communities to live In unbroken amlty. II pro
duces sobriety OF manners and simplicity OF life
| and virtuOus industry aud cheerful contentmen
| everywhere. Politicians may lay down VIVA
| rules they please for advancing public prosper
| cples In practical life which constitutes tn,
strength and glory OF any nation. Were thes'
| entirely wanting, human wisdom could not de
wise any means to supply the defect. In pro
portion us they prevail they elevate and human
| lie society, and carry 1t onward towards tina