Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-03-31
Remutfatit] t]Norttmesi.
Views ON Religion.

MA EDITOR 1t Is almost AulNtl-
sally acknowledged that true religion
is of vast importance, and vet there Is
= multiplicity OF opinions in relation 70
what constitutes true religion. ! will
not attempt TO enumeratc the number
of the different sects that claim to have
a knowledge of what constitutes a true
religion, but suffice it to say that there
are Il great many. But in these brief
remarks | DO not design to wage war
on some in contrast with any princl-
Piles differing from my own. | have
due respect for all honest thinkers, and
very great respect for all honest doers.
think that every rational man or
woman will readily concede that the
true principles of religion can be
summed up in very few words.
When enquiry was made of the Lord
by young man, the reply was: thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heor;, soul, might, mind and
strength, and thy neighbor as thvself.
But again. thou shalt deal justly, love
mercy and walk humbly before thy
God. st. James says that pure and
undefiled religion is this: to visit the
widows in their affection, and keep
yourselves unspotted from the world
But to the subject. | believe that a
mans love is his life. and if this love
consists of goodness and truth, God
and the neighbor, it constitutes heaven;
and hence the kingdom of heaven is
within you, The opposite love is that
of falslty and evil, self and the world,
which constitutes hell. The question
might arise, how are we to Judge in
these matters? | answer, Judge right
Gus jud yment do men gather grapes
of thorns or figs of thistles? If
should hire man to work in my gar
den for certain sum per day, and he
should be tardy in the morning, half
or three fourths of an hour and should
slight his work, and should enquire of
every person passing by what time of
the day it was, and should come to the
house every half houl after drink is
it not righteous judgment that .such,a
man is not worthy OF his hire?
But again. If you have dealings
with man and you discover that ne is
trying to deceive by fraudulent pre-
tentions, think you would not hest
tate to say that such a man was not
worthy Of your confidence. But | see
| am wandering. firmly believe that
religion at the present day consists
mainly of an educated religion; for as
your fathers did, so do ye To shun
sin because il Is sin, is one thing, and
to shuu it for fear of reputation or the
law, is another thing. An external
appearance is one thing and an intern
al quite another thing. Mouth talk is
one thing and the disposition OF the
heart quite another
l think it very important that the
true principles of religion should be
based upon true doctrine. think al
so that that doctrine is based upon the
principle OF God given nationality,
and seen in truths inherent light. What
more pernlcious doctrine could have
been devised, or what more cruel no.
tion IN regard to God could have been
conceived, than that any of the human
race are damned by positive prede-
terlnined decree. How cruel is faith
which maintains that the Lord, who is
love itself, and mercy itself, can cause
multitude of men to be born and de-
voted to hell; or that thousands and
tens of thousands are brought into the
world with an inevitable curse on their
heads, being in fact, born devils and
satans; and that in His infinite divine
wisdom he never did provide some
method of deiverance for those who
lead good lives and acknowledge the
being of God, that they might es-
cape everlasting fire and punishment
Is not the Lord the Creator of all, and
the Savior of all? And does not he
alone guide and govern all his crea-
tures, not desiring the death of any ?
What then can be believed or con-
ceived more inhuman than that whole
tribes of nations and people should, un,
der his auspices and intention, be de-
livered up by positive predetermined
decree as q prey to the devil, and to
glut his voracious appetite? How is it
possible that any one possessing any
share Of sound reason, should conclude
in favor of predestlnation? Must not
that doctrine necessarily give rise to
cruel notions respecting God, and to
the most shocking opinions respecting
religion? j. w. H.
--S-%-S---
ChOked TO Death by an Oyster.