The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-08-28

ner of unrighteousncss. Charity
love for thy ncighbor and the sub,
lime lessons of the golden rule, are
forgotten in the chase otter a shadow
! True religion enlargcs all the no.
bic faculties of mind and heart and
soul, but this tinsclcd imitation make cs
hypOcritcs and infidcls, and drags the
holy name of God through the jecr
ing dust of ostcntatious prctcnse. 1t
is constant protest against the di-
vine sacrifice, and it hangs upon the
cross of Calvary the Internal en-
blcms of bigctry and sclf-,lcceit
whereby its followers seek to win the
love of God by hating and dcspising
everybody else, and only loving him
because they deem it best in bust
ness way. Such followers of Christ
are following form and not liv-
ing, breathing soul so divine that its
light shines over all the world, and
so precious that men and women
gladly give up all else for it, and
die with smiling faces, SO that tho
great and eternal God be glorifcd
in their death.
Austere and selfish religion Is of
the earth earthly, and is not of God.
1t has no part in the great love that
gave its only begotten son to die for
a world of sin and shame. 1t loves
only itself, where as Christ loved
everybody above himself, and went
down gladly into tho murk and gloom
of death that thereafter there should |
be nc death, only mere passing
away into a newer and grandcr life.
Wrapped up in the gloomy selfish
ness of what they are pleased to call
religion, many persons would make
the world hell if they had the pow
er, and would eagerly cruelty those
whom God impelled to differ with
th~"., Thnir n~- - - ~.-s.---h
by che prospective torture Of the de-
mand in hell, while the true Chsistian
embraces all the world in his love
and is sorrowful unto death when ho
sees the shadows of unrepcntei sin
encompassing those about him.
No Christian who desires TO sec
others punished for all eternity has
any part or parcel in the true rclig.
ion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ,
True religion fills the soal with
such divine JOY That it is continually |
running over into the souls Of others.
1t is not satisfied unless it can spread |
happiness all sround it. 1t is like
the gentle dew from heaven that does
not seek out particular places upon
which to fall, but drops upon the en-
tire landscape. refreshing and resen
Grating everything upon which it
rests. 1t is like the rain that docs
not devote all its energies TO any one
particular tree, or plant, or acre of
ground. but falls upon all alike, and
does good to all alike. 1t is like the
song Of a bird that is not sung to the
bird itself alone or to the frail twis
i upon which it is pcrched, but that
scars up to the sky and upon the
myriad winged winds is carried to
the remotcst bounds Of sound, cheer
% all upoa whom its silvcry melody
falls. 1t is like the flower that does
not tr; to conceal in it's own heart
the perfume bestowed upon it By the
giver Of every good and pcrftc, gill,
but casts it out upon the air ~ free
as the air itself, reaching and bcauN-
| fyin, other lives and making them
sweet for Immortality.
| AuStcre and selfish religion walks
in false Path; a path that is lrod
den by devils and not hy the Son Of
Eo1 NJ, r,l,r,,>, ,I,. l.,,.r1 :.