The Hickman courier., 1878-07-19
Ties air is full o. farewells to the dying,
a Nd n. -...- I. -. - l.. tL.n .l..,.ll
Hopeful Religion.

Ii our old religious opinions were some
what too narrow, there is at least a posi-
bihty that in the reaction our present
opinions may become too broad. If we for
merly y erred in condemning all pagan reli
gious as monstrositieso of cruelty, ignorance
and superstition there is tendency to-day
to Overpraise them as the peers of Chris
tianity itself. 1t certainly is true that
the same aspirations and desires which
find expression in the religious litera-
ture of other lands. 1t is certainly true
that the ethical rules of the best Pagan
writers correspond with those of the
new testament. And if the religion of
Jesus Christ were, what many of the
apostles of comparative religion regard
/ it, simply a spiritual desire, or code of
morals. there would be some ground for
finding in the best Paganism hint of
! Christianity.
But at least in one respecc the religion
of the bibIe il e~.ay distinguishable
S-.,.ss an ssII1rs. 1t is the only hopeful
religion it is the only one which over
against every aspiration sets an antlclpa-
tion of its fulfiilment, and over against
every law divine influence potent to
seeule obedience to it. A broad charity
would reasonably expect 10 find in the
longings of the human heart everywhere
a certain veIi-similitude. A profound
philosophy would expect to find in the
pIOnunciamentos of the human con-
science everywhere a certain verisimili-
tude. 1t is in what the divine offers to
the human that the religion of the bible
transcends that of all other sacred writ
ers.
The burden of sin is as heavy in India
as it ever was in Palestine, as it is in
- u Il
Christianity is the only religion that
even so much as offers to lift that bur
den from the soul, and give in its place
an unfathomable peace. The plant of
David is worldwide: "Oh that had
wings like dove that 1 might fly away
and be at rest" The promise of Christ
is unique: .'Come unto me, all We that
labor and are heavy-laden, and will
give you rest" The longing of the
warrior soul for victory over sin and
the frHitfulness of righteousness is ex-
pressed in the religious hymnology of
India with scarcely less pathos than in
/ that of Christendom. But the seng of
/ triumph, that resounds alike in the
great cathedral and choir, and from the
unframed voices of a negro congrega-
! tion IN the southern meeting house,
has no prototype in Pagan experience.
| have sinned against Heaven and in
( Thy sight, and am no more worthy to
. be called Thy son." is a cry that came
( up from the far country. Now are
/ we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
/ appear what we shall be ; but we know
/ that when He shall appear we shall be
Ike Him" is an assurance never found
1 except under the shadow of the Fathers
house. The longing for God is univer-
sal experience. Rest in God is charac-
teristically Christian experience. As
/ the heart panteth after the water brooks
50 panteth my soul after Thee, o God"
IS not the solitary cry of single SOUL
The Only begotten Son who is in the
bosom of the Father, He hath declared
Him" is the solitary declaration of a sim
gle Messiah.
Take concordance see how the bible
abonnds in hope; and then look in the
ethics of Coniucius, the sacred poems of
the Brahmas or the teaching of Buddha
for parallels.
''In Thee, o Lord, do 1 hope"
"Hope in God, for [ shall yet praise
Him who is the health of my countenance
aud my God"
"Thou art my hope, God"
"Let Israel hope in the Lord"
Happy is be that hath the God of
Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the
Lord his God"
There is more hope in the single
psaImist than in all the Pagan sacred
writings put together. There is more
hope in the Christian experience en-
bodied in single hynn>book like the
" Gospel-Hymns" than in all heather
hymnology. The voice of Paganism is
the plaintive or the passionate outcry
of the prisoner. The voice of Christianity
is the assurance of the Dsliverer or the
triumphant song OF the Deliverer.--
I TChIistian Union.