The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-23

lut WOiu lfAiElNl UANuAo DtA a ANN
times in the authorized version of the
Scriptures; and it is found still less FREE
quently in the original. IL does not
exist in the Old Testament. In the New.
where the authorized version speaks Of
"the Jews religion" ,Gal. l.. 13. 49,
the original Greek has simply "Juda-
ism =; and when ST. Luke speaks OF the
religious pro5elytes who followed
Paul Acts xiii. 43l the Greek word for
religious is the same which Is else
where rendered "devout."
Devotion and religion are not the
same in New Testament usage. DevO-
ton always means humble and rev
erent submission of the heart and life
to God. Religion as used by the Apos-
tie Paul is a matter of external wOr-
ship. Thus in one place Col. d. lSl ID
is actually translated by worship:
"let no man beguile you OF your re-
ward in wOrshiping of angels. So
st. Paul speaks Acts XVI. 81 Of his
belonging 10 THE straitest sect of our
religion. " meaning thereby that sect
which was Most punctlliOus i'm per
forming external religious rites. Forms
of worship are indispensable TO men 30
their present state of existence. II a
form without "a substance is an empty
sha low, it is certain that no real thing
known to man ever existed or can eX-
ist without a form. The neglect Of
proper forms tends to destroy that
which they ought to represent. The
habltual neglect Of forms Of courtesy
would make men first uncOurteous,
then discourteous, and at last b0orish.
The habitual neglect of forms of wor-
ship would in like manner tend 10
make men first unreligious, then unde-
vout, and at last profane.
But. after all. forms of worship are
Of two sorts, because devotion Dis of two
sorts. Devotion Is not only a submls
sion Of on s self to the divine majesty:
IL is also supreme love of that which
God is. which is Love. and of that 10
which he delights, which is holiness.
The former is expressed by worship of
God s Person IN forms which may be as
simple as the thought of man can frame,
out which can never be too grand on
noble to express the alteration which
we owe to God. The ritual OF the lat
ter. st. James says, is conduct conform
ed to the love and holiness which we
adore.
III any man among you, he says,
"seemeth to be religious, as he easily
may by assiduity IN external acts of
alteration, land bridleth not his tongue.
but deceiveth his own heart, this man 5
religion is vain. An unbridled tongue
is the ritual of uncharitable heart, and
when that evil ritual is practised, any
ritual Of alteration must be empty of
that love of God which alone can make
it acceptable to HIM.
The ritual of love consists of deeds Of
love that is what is meant when ST.
James goes on to say. Pure religion
is 10 visit the fatherless and widows in
their affection. That is malt of 10 !;
the other half is personal purity, ITO
keep himself unspOlted from the
world.
Thus true religion, in its external as
pects. consists not Of one thing. but of
three things, because there are three
things TO DO religiously represented.
First, there is ad0ring reverence for
God. represented in solemn acts of ado
ration: second. there is love of God s
love. exhibited in acts of love; and
third, there is love Of Gods holiness.
exhibited in a holy behavior and the
upbuilding Of holy character With
such sacrifices God is well pleased. IL
IS idle to ask which OF three indispensa-
bic things is most important; but II
must not be forgotten that while love
and holiness will surely be accompa-
MED by alteration of Him who is per
feet love and alone has perfect hoh-
ness. nothing is more common than for
men to dream that external acts OF
alteration may be substituted for the
love and purity, without which the
most worshipful religion "is vain. w.
The Churchman.