, 1874-05-18
a, JOYOUS RELIGION.

Tho Rev. Il. N. Powers, D. D., Rector Of ST..
Johns Episcopal Church, yesterday morning
prcAclod tho following sermon, entitled: ~
Joyous Religion ~
Bill. let the righteous bs glad let thom rejoice bo-
fore God; yea let fhon exceedingly re}otce.-fsat,A
These things hayo spoken unto you, that my Joy
might remain IN you al that your Joy might ba full.
st. john, 1v., 2.
Tho explanation Of tile existence of any re-
ligion Is found iu the nakuro of man. Animals
can havo no religion, bocauae they have no CO.
pacity for it. AIan has such o capacity,
but q capacity that varies accoraing
to his spiritual aud intellectual advancement.
lilo loves he aspres he looks out on world
Of mystery lie wants happiness doath Ia be-
foro him. lie ia conscious Of his limitations
and intirmities, and the noed Of suporhuman u.s.
distance. 30 religion of some kind ia inevita-
ble The beat roligion will be one that supplies
his highest want, that puts his whole nnturo to
its right and intended uso. Puro Christianity
does th1s. But there arc porversions of Chris
tianity. Let thero bn misconceptions Of tho
divine character, and Aence Of tho government
OF til universe, and tho object Of our existence.
and religion will show the error.
Now assume TINT true religion ought to bo
promotiyo of human happiness. Lot tho
righteous be glad,' aays tho pBatmist. And
disciples, "Thase things have I spoken unto
you that my joy might remai1, in YOU, and that
your joy might be Full but joyfulucss cannot bo
secured by the suppression, or diHlso, or por-
version, Of the natural faculties. Truo religion
gives harmonious plAy to these, and sauctifos
their uses. 1t is ono Of tho features of man's
dignity in tho acalo Of boiuS that le has ra-
tionai soul. Tho faculty Of reason was bestowed
for high aud noblo enda. It il to bo used OIL al
subjects that Gun concern our human interestB
10 dopreclate It's employment aud its power, ia
to depreciate it's great achievements, tic monu-
monts of mechanical invention, the discoveries
OF Hcienoo the ehoiceBts fruits Of industry and
learning, I'LL the splculid utilities that tako s
out Of barbarissu, and make history iIlustrious.
Tho faculty Of reason is to be employed as we'll
in religion ns anywhere elso. To Boy that It is
right III God to do what il wrong In man; that 1t
Is good i'll God to DO what is evil in man, is an
dowol us, and q debasement OF it. When God
is represented rs inconsistent, unjust, cruel,
aud vindictivo, 1t is just aB proper to resent il
and dony It nH to deny that two and tvo are ton,
ment to The Almighty to use tho logical fau,ilty
III affairs Of duly buslncss,-ln plnnting and
reaping, iu buying aud budlng,-and to rop,l-
dsate it when we come To thnk mud net with ref
croaco to Him aud Ills blessed Word. Thore arc
matters, of courao, above reason in nll tho con-
cerus OF life; 30, too, in IN infinite measure, in
tho nature and why's Of God; but to acknowledge
this fact, and act i'll accordance with it, docs not
dlspa'ago reason or pour contempt upon it. uod
does not require us to accept what We have no
worry nasura:. we nre absolutely incapable Of por-
forming. We aro to employ the logical faculty
IN its legitimate Way i'll esory direction that in
yites useful inyehtgation and II the heart is tho
orclsas. Used la their proper sphere, oyery fac-
uty Of man becomes an Instrument OF his hnppi-
ncks, and hcnco of tue Diyine Glory, Tuke tho
douiro Of knowledge, for inatauco. We are in tho
nocessttioa pressing us. Thsro is a curioaity to
find out tue nses OF things, to trace results to
cauBcs to uncover the obacuritieH OF history anl
tho plan OF croatton, to get the equipments
there is pensure In tile worry act Of learning, ID
mastering dlsticuttios III acquiring knowledge,
Tint snbHorvos human comfort al.d prosperity.
and at the samo time royoals the ii,!lnfto wiz
doui; It III our duty to uae This noblo tuoulty OF
Intelligence in oroty direction whoro It ean DO |
adyantageonsly employed, and tho doctrine that |
it ilnat ba restrained lost some notion onco hold
to DO sacgel-so'no error OF doctrine OF practice
should he osorshrown, is pernlcioua. haye |
known pornonH mysolf who stood in fear OF lcnrn-
iug and discouraged it OIL tho ground that it was
hostile to rolINion. 1t only kills thu orrora and
HupnrsttttonB TINT ignorance ongentlera. ua who |
deor'ea actual scientific knowadgo, virtually DO |
eros tho wisdom Of God In giving min Ills yast
Tho.i, as to tho estAGllo tasoY. the loyo OF tho
beautiful, lha same principle IL true, Man Ia Oh.
aowod with feeling for order, symmetry, alep-
tatlon, harmony. beauty III its manifold fou,s. |
mako the material world 10 glorious, it il woro
not to 1o admired ana onjoyod2 What PURPOSE |
soryeB tho losolinesH R fowor, and star, aa1 ra-
tliant i landacapo, and glowing Ornament, tic !
tho. earth, II no oyea behold tic miruclo md hi
10 llcart enjoys IT? Il you say God enjoys It, |
thon truly it IL right that lila uhlidron
apreo,at9 what lilo iqTcs, aud laa made 10 fair.
uno IL allowing ona side OF His nature, and
tive by snpprossing thia faculty Of tasto. Yot
such yiewa Of religion are ta,ight AZ nuke iii
r@eEsrd @ FOR t,o beautiful simply frivolous aud
Sinful, o. II y u9a was fiispleabel With tho pleas
Elorlea of Nla hAn4lfQEA, Uut to raitdf thn