Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-05-02
WALHALLA, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1878


his works by the wisest sage in tho longest
life time,
One of tho elementary factors in religion
is the knowledge of God as he is revealed
to US in the Scriptures. FROM the Scrip
lures @c learn all that wo know about God.
We. have no means of acquiring any
knowledge Of the divine being beyond what
is revealed to us in his word. Henoe, we
conclude that true religion consists in hav.
ing correct Scriptural knowledge of God
This knowledge underlies all feelings Of
obligation to God, either as Creator, as
Prcscrver, as a Redoemer. Unless wo
know God, wo can not feel under obIiga.
tions to him; aud unless we have correct
knowledge Of him, our feelings of obllga-
tion will necessarily be incorrect.
In ginning knowledge of God from the
Bible, wo acquire correct knowledge Of
ourselves. He that would know himself,
must first know God. During the process
Of learning God and ourselves, spring up
spontaneously. tho feelings of obligation.
We at onco acknowledge our obligations to
God for our being, for our preservation in
being, and since we arc sinners we aoknoHl-
edge our dependence upon him for rcdemp-
ton. Such is religion, as it exists in tho
heart of man. Practical religion consists
ID serving God in the way appointed in his
word
In the Bible, God has not only revealed
himself to US, but he has pointed out to us
the way in which we are to give expression
to our feelings of obligation. We are not
left TO vague conjecture as to how we arc
to serve God, or with what we arc to wor-
ship him; but, on the contrary, God, in his
word, hos given de6uite instructions on
this subject. Our worship is to have q
form, but it must not be formal.
What we have said seems to be in per-
fect consistenoo with tho instructions given
by the Saviour whom no sont his disciples
out to preach tho gospel to call nations"
"Go, yo, therefore," suid he, Sand teach all
natioos.. Matthew, xxvii;lo. Here we
have, in ono sentence, tho duty Of gospel
minister. lie is to teach. What is he to
teach? Wcanswor, what the Bible teaches.
Nothing else and nothing more. We also
learn from this command of tho Saviour
what sinners are to learn in order to their
salvation. It is simply what the Bible
teaches The Bible is the text book, both
to the preacher and his congregation. Tho
formor has right, nay, it is his boundcn
duty, to teach all nations whatever he finds
taught in tho Scriptures; and all nations
are bound to loarn what tho Scriptures
teach, and,praotico in thoir livos tho prooepts
of the Biblo.
If what We have said be correct, and ne
think it is, then the service which tho
Pagan nations render to their gods is not
religious worship, nor are they religious
men. It may be said that they are sincere.
This no believe. Still, sincerity is ono
thing, while right is another. In other
words, because decd is performed in sim
oerity, it does not follow that the deed is
right. The same remark may be made
concerning much that goes by the name Of
religion amongst professed Christians,
There arc some mcu--we hope tho number
is not great-who, although born ond
edGcsted 10 Christian land-men of good
,nind6 and fair education--some of them
office bearers in the church, who know as
little about tho Bible as if it were looked
up in Egyptian hicrglyphics. In plain
English, they have heard of the Bible, and
1t may be, read little about it, Is it not,
wo would modcstly enquire, stretch Of
charity to call such individuals religious
men2 Are they not afraid they will be cut
off for lack Of knowledge7 Do they
not trombo when God says, "Beoause thou
hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject
yo."