Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-21

work than heart-work, and have subst-
tuted logic and reasoning for faith and
love: as IL cold rigor were proof against
everlasting burning.
Human reason, perverted and inspired
by evil passions, is accountable for all
the controversies. prosecutions, and wars
that have disgraced humanity. Only
the Spirit of God. working through the
underground of society. has made ad-
vancing civilization.
But even intelligent people are In danger
of regarding religion as thing alto
gether emotional and out Of the sphere
of reason. Indeed, there are those who
sneak of religion as one thing, or reason
as quite another. Reason In Its highest
development is wisdom. And wisdom, In
frs largest sense, Is religion. And so
religion is the perfection and full ma
turity of reason--reason at mans estate.
Love to God and man is the. soul
of religion. It is the universal all-em-
bracing law Of the moral and spiritual
world. All reason Is answered and sat
Isfed under its control. in its light.
Gravity is physical affinity. 1t Is love
in the natural world. And the discovery
of the law Of gravity solved the problem
OF the spheres. Mathematics, reasons
very self, triumphed with that law.
Reason triumphs, and all law Is salts
fed when the prayer OF the religious man
is answered: Thy kingdom come my
will be done on earth, as 1t Is in heaven.
Law reigns, and love is the fulfiiment OF
law. And God is love. Righteousness
or rightness is the sovereignty Oh law
and the work of righteousness Is peace,
and the effect Of 1t quietness and assur-
ance forever. The married calm OF
States is the end Of religion.
All the works OF nature are peautitul
and emotional. The sun, mooh' ana
stars. the clouds, the mountains. and
valleys. oceans and rivers, the trees and
flowers. and all the glories OF earth i'm
nress us through our senses: excite our
admiration: delight us: fill US with love
and wonder and awe. They bespeak de-
siqn and call and impel US to worship.
They all praise God, their Creator A
Oivine reason governs the whole system
of things-our souls, our nature, and our
surroundings. And how religious is IL all;
how full of God! The ligatures, the bind
ings. the mysterious chains and FORCES
that connect all causes and enects,
draw us Heavenward; they knit our
hearts to the great God, they draw ana
compel us to worship and devotion Their
cords cannot be cast away with impunity.
How wonderfully are things bound to-
gether-made religious! Is not this the
nerfection of reason and the glory OF de-
sIgnY An arrangement, ordered In all
things, and sure?
Reason deals with causes and effects
law and order-and design Is glorified
In harmonies. Reason Is honored In the
world of emotion: but emotion rises far
above reason. and rules. The service OF
cod Is most reasonable; devout emotions
nrostrate reasoning man before the
throne of God. Emotions are the vital
principles Of human nature. They are
the arousing, moving, and controlling
mowers of our souls. And the Divine
mind Infinite reason, the Spirit of God,
rnust nervads and control them, to con-,
tyoI man. Reason demands II, and that
90 tho highest business of reason-to make
man love and worship God. and glorify
Him in His work. which men behold-to
make him religious.
Rut how soon Is human reason swallow
ed up. lost and bewildered, as 1t reaches
toward the works Of God and the opera
lions OF the human soul. and thinks TO
comnrehend the Infinite in it's little space.
r-ba ocean I'm O watch-glass! The ant,
measured by his own hand. Is seven
snans long. Man, measured by his own
measured. comparing himself with him
self. is not wise. He Is. in his own
ewes. a great god. And his reason is
the Divine attribute that he brags Of.
that he sets over against the wisdom of
Almighty God. Only when human rea-
son is reverent and worzhips Is II reason
able. Disioyai It 10 mad-most unreason-
able. Following the ways and works OF
God with most unequal steps, trusting
in Him. and leaning least on his own un-
derstanding, man Is most wise. Reason
Is perfected In religion. which IL its ele-
ment and supplies all its deficiencies.
The testimonies Of the Lord are sure
making wise the simple. In His light
we see light. Unsanctified reason is q
fond and foolish mother, spelling her
child. II Is the matron or patron Of all
oar bride. our possion. and our lusts.