The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-10-13

IL, Will not De dDle W w III, 81 luuCu-
mite and indistinct are their views
respecting it.
1t is desirable to ascertain what
idea or thought lies at the basis of re-
ligion; what is the kernel or germ of
it. One thing may be made the basis
of religion by one people, and another
by another people. The Greek word
for religion is by some derived from
word which means Thracian, because
the Thracians were said to be devoted
worshipers of the gods. Others de-
rive religion from word which
means to tremble with awe. This in
dicates what conceptions were formed
of God, the character which was as
cribed to him, and the feeling with
which he was contemplated. He must
have been regarded as an awful be-
ing, destitute Of clemency and mercy
and ready to smite in wrath all who
failed to obey his commands. All
who appeared before such a being
might we'll tremble with awe.
Another meaning of religion is to
cry earnestly, beseechingly. The peo-
pie felt themselves to be frail and de-
pendent, exposed to danger and
harm. In their distress and fear
they cried earnestly unto God, who
was supposed to be far away, busy
with his own work or pleasure, and
so Indifferent to the children of men
that vociferous entreaty is necessary
to attract his notice and secure his
aid. Thus religion is reduced to a
piteous cry, raised by the sons OF men
who are feeble and dependent, anx-
ious to call the unwilling attention of
God to their suffering and perilous
condition,
Our word religion comes directly
from a Latin word which Cicero, the
eminent philosopher and orator, says
means to read again. According to
this, the basis of religion seems to be
knowledge,-the knowledge of God
gained by reading, reading with at
tention and care, what the philoso-
pliers have written. But this knowl
edge must be speculative at best, and
can never be satisfactory to the in
curing mind, and can never supply
the deep wants of the soul. Lactan-
thus and others think the word relig-
ion means to bind back, implying
that the fundamental idea of religion
is binding Of the heart to God. It
is not trembling with awe before him /;
it is not crying unto him with vocif-
erous entreaty to arrest his attention
and incline him to show favor; it is
not knowledge of God gained by
philosophic Investigation and specu-
lation; but it is a binding of the
heart to him. This we regard as the
fundamental idea Of religion, but we
would put it in different form of
words SO as to give clearer view of
it. We would call religion loyalty to
God; and this may be compared with
loyalty to government or patriotism.
One is loyal to the government under
which he lives, when he cheerfully,
zealously obeys the laws, and per-
forms all the duties required of him
as good citizen; when he makes
sacrifices, if necessary, in the defense
Of his country, and does all in his
power to promote it's interests and
prosperity.
The truly loyal man is proud of
his country, and rejoices when it be-
comes more powerful and secures the
blessings of liberty to its people, and
when its flag is honored the world
over. So, he who is religious, or loyal
to God, delights in seeing the name of
God honored, and all his laws obeyed.
With cheerful zeal he COMPLIES
with the requirements of the Gospel,
and orders his life in accordance with
the precepts of Jesus. He not only
yields an outward obedience but he
obeys from the heart and delights in
the service. He is diligent in his eff
forts to secure obedience to the divine
law as widely as possible, and never
is more happy than when the name
of God is honored among men, and
the law of love and humanity obeyed
with willing aIacrity. But it is not
necessary to dwell at length on this
matter, for all must know what it is to
be loyal to God. He who is at heart
loyal to God, is religious; and he who
is not thus loyal is not religious,
whatever professions Or pretensions
he may make. This loyalty finds
suitable expression in the words of
the Psalmist: "If | forget thee, o
Jerusalem, let my right hand forget
her cunning. If l do not remember