Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-11-24
WHAT is TRUE RELIGION,
When brought to You 1t Sheds q Lurid
Light Across Your Path,

When brought to You 1t Sheds q Lurid
Light Across Your Path.
1t is not q time to lose faith in tho
verities OF religion. 1t is not q time
to doubt that God is In the world, rul-
Ing the nations, and preparing them
for the acceptance of a religion whose
foundations were laid once and for all
time. Religion never had greater re-
suits to show; religion never had moro
beautiful characters to illustrate the
saving and purifying power OF the Cos
pei, religion never produced q broader
and more philanthropic spirit; 1t never
commanded the loving assent and tho
anxious endeavors of so many people.
That which has done so much in the
long centuries of the past, is doing so
much in the enlightened present, and
has 80 large and prosperous an out
look, must rest on an enduring basis.
1t must be the word OF tho Lord en-
dureth forever"
But as long as you are looking upon
religion rs series of precepts which
you feel you ought to obey, the moro
Will you feel reluctance to have any
thing TO do with 1t; when 1t Is brought
to you you will feel that it sheds rath-
er lurid light across your path; you
Will fight against it. AS long as that
is the case, you have not entered into
the spirit OF Christ. you have not un-
derstood the power OF an indissoluble
life. When you look at what real relig-
ION Is. you see it should be a living
thing. | see it in Christ my Master.
All that He does is simply the out
come of what His very nature is. The
life Is within Him and He lives accord.
ing to ii. 1t is His Joy to do the Faith
ar's will He applies Himself for the
well-being Of mankind. The very vir-
:ure of the sacrifice of Christ lay in
ihis. that 1t is by His will that He Of
ters Himself unto God, IL Is the love in
1t, the Willingness in it. And this Is
what religion ought to be-a Joy; 1t
ought to be our nature; it ought to be
'ur freedom, a delight to us. If you
say "Oh some day 1 will turn over a
new leaf. l will bring my life in har-
mony with the Decalogue, and begin to
act In the way in which the minister
says | ought to act, according to the
precepts OF the Ten Commandments"
Is long as that sort of spirit exists.
Tou look through n dim glass, you do
not see the real significance of faith
and religion.
Religion is life. and ought to work
out from you as life, and therefore
'hould be your very nature.
The religion OF the Bible is a posi-
I've religion. 1t deals with certainties.
II tells what is. and what shall be. It
'ests upon fixed and definite prlnci-
ples. 1t has to do with what Is true.
1t has an undertaking standard OF
light. It prescribes rules of conduct
rs well as articles OF faith. It has a
promise for the life that now Is and
that which is to come" It proclaims a
Sod and sets forth with clearness His
character, His will, His requirements,
Ills promises, His curses and His bless
'ngs. 1t presents the nature OF sin and
rs consequences. 1t insists on a per-
'onal holiness, and pictures the result
ant benefit. 1t provides a Saviour for
sinners, and requires faith in Him In
order to the enjoyment OF His redemp-
ton.
1t tells of His person, life, death and
work. 1t reveals the Holy spirit and
The Offices which He performs: It dis
closes Heaven to be won, and a hell
20 be summed
In 1t there is divine will to be fol-
Iowed-a revelation to be received and
needed. He who accepts it In its en-
irety is assured and responsive. He
nas faith which prompts Him to ac-
lion.
He has love which gathers about a
living Lord and Redeemer. He has a
cause to uphold. and work to engage
His sympathies and activities. He has
hope which rises above the present
and revels in the future. He Is ever
On the move. and presses towards the
realization Of His expectations.
He has a sure guide in life, a Arm
support in death, and a guaranteed re-
ward in eternity. The Christian re-
ligion, rightly and fully apprehended,
never fails to develop positive charac-
ter.
Adelaide May Thompson.