New-York tribune., 1875-08-09
CAUSES OF RELIGIOUS APATHY.

TIE Rr. Dr. Hasteli at tie TAird Unisssaliss Church.
The Rev. DR.. Haskell OF Lowell, Mass. con-
ducted religious services yesterday the Third Uiver
salis Church at Blocker and Downngts. He selected
Lis text nom John vi, CT, 6s "Then Jesus said unto
the twelve. VIII ye also go await Then Simon Peter
answered Him, Lord TO whom shall go Thou hast the
words Of eternal life"
Tie teaching of jesus, said he had been contrary
any of the Ia which he lived. rather It
beyond IT, Whenever any progress of thought know
edge has been made ii has been made always by one
man. In all branches of learning thought arts we have
had grand masters, who have pushed knowledge far
In advance OF the ago in which they lived In
poetry we hal Homer; in painting had Raphael :;
IN literature We have had great writeFa; in
theology Luther and Calvin and in religion we have
H. Tca sSd ooed ar IN & advance OF ne ate IN men
sook Him becausc lie declared Himself the bread OF life
ana sad e was an example for all men To follow sep
arae theology from religion although they ere closely
cohiected and place cih, al the head OF religion,
cofl9 20 inc words o 81 Peter: Lord, tn whom SHAH
we go; Thou ast tie words OF eternal fe" Bn is this
,he sentiment o. to people OF Newloki More than
lo Hes IN the very nature of man. II the soul Of
e,n,o.e @ not ,,d losses religious asptcns do yo9
wonld be erected, that give at least external
show Of religion DO you think that men like Moody ana
Sankcy won!d liyei nidelity Is only spc liking evil
dence OF lho religious sentiment in man. 1t is hostile
not 10 religion Itself hut to certain religion which It
supi0Scs u hc false He who aims TO show that a
tam ton Is wrong, claims 30 he able dc,iros to make
iht M acton ilsht and man happy So the rcor huska Of
NIc dtiac rs clc, are evidences Of the religious Se
lne implanted "a TIE breast oi man. and Of tc craving
III Ms heart 10 satisfy that defire III examined
10 be safisiiei and that IL love SonctInes throneh
visible human agency, sometimes other ways, We are
led 20 the loys ~ sweet human friendship falling In
fhiH, IL man carries with him burden OF hope
that Of possessing this riCIylsiip and
his affections on some subject neyond this sphere. And
sIa there he no bic jig this holy scltn.cnt OF man
II Is only That hclic 0f ~ holy caua,i9S mat la-
tests itsrf To the child OF panhGt si0Ops and says
hi, love Thee. And there li 10 rest IN the heart OF
man its Ncaun n"vcr pTaticd until the right
comes. ~ Is religious love We never ind rest ti
W. i.y understand and c0a4l lctey sfsp the Leader,
after whom uuT souls yCarn.
Religious love would 4ssucatc Itself with the presence
ofGoi Ia Ciristcud Jesus Would he iiic leader dnI
yet nO all are ted Dr HIM. IL IL because Leaders
- nO Justly vested "a Jesus, or do they NOS uncstsUd.
or Is II hcclTsc viii not hc led by Cr Jesus ~
serts is leJdcr,p by His tend love man. ard The
why many win rot follow Him j. pain-tLcy
dO nOt tn".s and Him n look arOUd shall
sec hp" ,itle ttUc religion l. observed Faithful
ness to tie cort..ncs or theories ~ one sect
another Is CticO loyalty - religion. The real
Church Is that whore c-ci Gdiyll. builds Christ.
each one for hirn elf Brt the world, instead Of coming
nearer To Jesus i going back like those disciples,
come evil WIN good NJ Ttes'nti Arc we iorgyinsi
NJ; crush, tialnpio destroy, are tie words to-day.
Christians ~ 0-day would rather argue theory
with Paul thtl Oey n" commandments Of Christ. 10
trrist question % , Nil " also go' what sAa We
aN5WCrY snail we take The EiShs Ot religion tor the
cs-ence No; lcs answer with with Peter, " Lord to
whom snail Taou hast the words Cf eternal life"
How shall moi believe ~ Him VINO lia. shown me the
Eat or IN tue hsiGU sermon on The Ilcs ana ,tass
In tlc lie biu see ilp MESSENGER
?nG tine Author. 1ir God who Il TO for Us is the
y n0 cares for a. The Heaven which Is 10 be
in not tan ilr Heaven which and the life 10
come i - true the c which UN IS. BE- en 10 know
-" when, through His words, he leads me to high
duty.