, 1876-05-21


10 not reason, they only feel; but because
they do not reason is that, therefore,
the best and truest sort OF education
which works through the emotions only? :?
Many writer's have expatiated on the evils OF an
unlimited Indulgence Of the Imagination; Some
have compared 1t to a horse without rider; ;
otters to devastating torrent; all luve agreed
70 co1demn It; yet, reviyaifst preachers, aud the
sacredotalists who would fain graft an antiouat-
co ceremonial upon the simplicity Of the apos-
toic faith, rely for their success on such a::ea,-
cies alonc. Pathetic descriptions of the sur
rows OF humanity; narrowing narratives of sin
and It's eternal punisilments; voiuptuous exra-
tiattons on the material rewards and the hapIoi-
ness OF tfle blest; sensual accomplishments Of
lights, music, and perfumes, the whole subtle
influence Of which the brain is scarcely as vet
fully recognized; the aids Of fasting, priyations
and castIgation6-a1l combine to swell the long
string Of imaginative aids, and form the strains
such people delight to harp on.
An undue use Of the emotions blunts the fine
edge Of the reasoning and intellectual powers,
yet this Is precisely the object aimed at. Never
mind what reason says; only feel that you are
sayed,' is the dictun1 of the Evangelicals. "E:y
all means restore church disciplinc,'' Is the
watcllword Of the Ritualists. These latter ain
indeed at very real power, yet the effect on
their worshipers is but phase Of the emotions
nothing morc-a sensational experience like
any other .intcllectuM dram-drinking," as the
9A
Those who have seen the evils Of revivals-
the languor succeeding on such exhaustive
sensations, the dullncss and desponlency.
as the glitter and glamour faded away; peo-
pie discovering they are in pretty much the
same condition rs before, only few minds In
hinged, few families broken up from mistaken
Mcas Of duty, as some Of the Shining converted
lights hnye followed the preachers fortnnes,
otherwise the body Of the population lying in
the same state OF ignorance and darkness as be-
fore, except for the additional effects Of the re-
action consequent on excitement; thcse who
have seen all this may well be tempted to share
IN the elder Mills hatred Of everything that
sayorcd Of enthusiasm. No doubt the enthrsi-
ergy to the dissemination Of VI hat he believes to
be tht truth Is line aud stirring sigaat, but the
enthusiasm Of crowd is mere bubble and froth.
Our Lord to-day, Barabbas Tomorrow, are
equally the cry and the idol Of the hour. The
sensation is passing aud the effects uf it arc not
less transitory.
The most poor and unlcarncd occasionally
feel within them . longing for, something
batter-a yearning for enjoyment superior to
e The pc as is q this
luxury, demand that even religion should be
highly spiced; and many amongst educated
women 60 out Of their minds from a 8 stimulating
course Of religion, just as the Turk q es from an
will tell you that almost all their fem ale patients
are crazed on the subject Of love OF religion, the
preponderancc being on the side At tile latter,
Surely, If religion Is indeed Il valuable
and sasrea hthg it Gaaght not to be used s
mind, and leave the little gray matter-thut
sourre OF wonder even to Plato and the pEilos-
ophe16 OF old-to perform no better functions
than q rabbits braina But, theli, those re1igi-
GUS enthusiasts, Of whom there have been plcil-
ty since the world began, say men must be
awakened from the sleep OF death at any price.
What! is religious lunacy 2 more admirable
thing than reason and sanitEt Minds perpetu-
ally worked on by particular train Of thought,
stimulated and, perpetuaIiy at high
pressure, trying constantly to feel degree Of
emotion Of which our imperfect faculties are
not capable, must lose tie equilibrium which
constitutes well-regulated mind. Our Lords
teachings we're Of very different order. When
people made to him violent demonstrations Of
attachment or unworldltness, he quietly tested
them by such sayings as, "Scll all that thou
hast and give to tho poor" His own cnthusi-
asm was the perfect serenitypf faith and good
life.
70 sum up, no religion cantbe good that leads
to Iunacy-reason being the sole interlude be-
tween ourselves and the brute beasts Fur too
much stress is laid In the present day upon
mans feelings. Jeremy Taylor eays: "A good
life is the best way to understand wisdom and
religion" Religion being the science Of God,
what we feel is.not the important part, but What
is the truth # religion is q science, it must be
governed by the laws OF progress and cnlight.n-
lnent, ana sustained oy aoS n lundanehtM aI psan-
Gples o. tFuln ano orues' ine aace as .rue re-
Mglon o1 SO snutlc 1d oseats nasuae LII
tne oron5 suga !; ~ ~ sa.h3. ~
aa1 eiu5 Mn. a.. afantnsion
gr9Venng ininu ane- Hs n1onsespan so1hesssn s
aau IL so4es''niS snaI W
thus, ae VIE t'1a daGs aor 1ee' ' s.s'
1na I. WIS nee ~ tot"s ss usea ~ "s tsa
hnas, naauy - tai nnS ~,
Ia; ge a o. .a!n ao,1,1 W. a. sxL -.
rcng'ous ecs, Lave ,b;in It;s, ~
auu ~ - a,4 ~. - snS ~
a;c go ann artn,,is rsi;%;ans " eot ,r.;sd
bmH e. ~ ta;- ,1.asro eSac+fv ~ tbeu
Lns'E W.; uuss D. SnSm pTnds 90
u,I pc1ores s ~ faa,n'o ~ noeeas,t. s,oo
PULSES y, es:t.sH a,,srt ;.,ta ,da nontont ;tb to
TIE w dI ~ baSdshine ~ I,nnan erste,ce.
ssns u Is .ue ara ~ o r1ansa into sheer ne
noaess snaus LINZ ie5o,,t a1S 11ho1aa ~
m ,.a,,aa. ~ ea,,tir-,ont. nrhirb tha;r
.15, IgIan ~ -, aadas - ~ c,Io nue Tbs
.aI Ie ~ sno ~ 49, ra,im;o, f. n gire mn ~.
s;nof ~ Ea;ng batte,s sa,d 1;gher thar
L.oaal ooJecs o. 3 ~ ,,o1t . ~, tha hst
neae ea. ~ t2 s 5,hat n.0 ob;p+ TSa ,.oto-
NY y. ~ a1anE;ona1 ' enthusiasts care gn6t t.
% ~. ~ a"}.'1e thar ,,s.,ai,,s s17r-oni,or
.naD ttar a,t,5t: and ths;r .frriil
tncmselVes, lnet5 tu9ugass, ny smea .,a,' -
70 some sptna ~m9 WY ~ ~ hnss pr 5;ntatos tnta -.
stect u'9 ~ 1870 1 tcv ~ nnomestionah1y