The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1876-03-03
92lisfrllaneons.
YOUR RELIGION.

What good comes Of it DO you
simply profess its or do you really
possess itg Does it make you more
amiabIe 7 or are you just as harsh,
petulant, and irritable as the unre-
generated +? Does it make you more
kindly, forgiving, and generous, with
a spirit which wishes we'll to all man
kind or are you selfish, narrow
minded, unforgiving? Does it resign
you to the inevitable ? Is it COM
fort in times of affiiction a support
when you meet with losses, reverses
and calamities 7 Can you complete
death with composure and equanimi-
ty? Do you believe "in the promi|
SEES, thst all will be we'll with the
good Are you resigned ? Can you
truly say, "Thy will be donep If
you are a Christian, you will "do as
you would be done by" seek the
good of others rather than personal
qualification be just, hopeful,
forgiviug, cheerful, trusting, chariia
BILE.
A christian will cheerfully regulate
his propensilies, guard against sor
did love Of money, vain pride or
egotism, an acrimonious temper,
fault finding, unjust supsicion, jeal
ously, deception or double dealing,
or doing anything which the great
teacher Christ himself would not have
approved
A truly vital religion elevates and
improves; spurious religion, or hyp-
ocrisy, corrupts and leads downward.
A true Christian worsbips God, sin
sincerity and in TRUTH" and looks
more to the adornment of his mind
then bis body.
A contemporary says: 81 have seen
a woman protesting to love Christ
more than the world clad in a silk
dress costing SO; making up and
trimming the same, 500 bonnet Tor
apology for one), $50 ; velvet mantle
$3.50; diamond ring $500; watch,
chain, pin and other trappiugs $500;
total, l,l00--all hung upon one
frail mortal, / have seen her at a
meeting in behalf of homeless wan
derers, in New York, wipe her eyes
upon an embroidered handkerchief,
costing $40, at the story of their
suffering, and when the contribution
box came round take from a well,
filled wallet of costly Workmanship
twenty-five cents to aid the society
formed to promote their welfare. -
All, thought l, dollars for ribbons
and pennies fer Christ's children y
How is it with men2 What
amount do they spend on their in
diligence in costly dinners, wine,
liquor and tobacco, that should be
used for good purposesG How
much for mere pleasure excursions,
visiting watering-places, and in dis,
sipation and hirtations How much
for fast horses, stylish equipages and
vain display z Are the Iclergy
themselves exempt from all these
things Are vestrymen, deacons
and other church officers all circum
spect and consistent Christians
Are all those who sing praises to
Him in sacred song actuated by an
exalted Christian spirit 7 or are they
ambitious for worldly honors, eager
for wages, or for the praises of flat
tering tongues ? How shocking to
a devout mind is it to witness the
utter want Of reverence in a person
approaching his Maker with mar
ner of Indifference as though he v ere
an auctioneer about to harap rue a
body of tobacco buyers. Sue scenes
may be witnessed not o thousand
miles from New York.
True religion is Iot cloak to
cover up sin, though impostors so
use it. Nor is it the means by
which the purse>prGud, the arrogant
or naughty Pharisee can secure the
happiness here or hereafter True
religion brings blessings to its pos,
SCISSOR, let his worldly circumstances
be what they may. Reader, be not
deceived; see to it that your reig-
ion Is founded ON the truth. With
Christ for your guide, teacher, CONS
panion, you cannot remain in error
or go wrong,