Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1899-01-16
WHAT is TRUE ReLlGloNi

When Brought to You 1t shed. a Lurid
Light Across Your Path.
1t Is not time to lose faith in the
verities of religion. 1t is not a time
TO doubt that God is in the world, rul-
ing the nations, and preparing them
for the acceptance CT a religion whose
foundations were laid once and for all
time. Religion never had greater re-
suits to show; religion never had more
beautiful characters to illustrate the
saving and purifying power of the Cos
pei; religion never produced a broader
and more philanthropic spirit; it never
commanded the loving assent and the
anxious endeavors of so many people.
That which has done so much in the
long centuries of tie past, is doing so
much in the enlightened present, and
has so large and prosperous an out
look, must rest on an enduring basis.
1t must be the word of the Lord en-
dureth forever"
But as long as you are looking upon
religion as a series of precepts which
you feel you ought to obey the more
will you feel uetahge to have any
thing to do with it; when it is brought
20 you you will feel that it sheds rath-
er a 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 I'M
derstood the power of an indissoiuble
life. When you look at what real relig-
ion is, you see it should be a living
thing. l 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 it. 1t is His JOY to do the Faith
er's will. He applies Himself for the
well-being of mankind. The very vir-
ture of the sacrifice of Christ lay in
this, that it is by His will that He of
fers Himself unto God, it is the love i'll
1t, the willingness in it. And this is
what religion ought to be-a joy, it
ought to be our nature; 1t ought to be
our freedom, a delight to u.s. If you
say "Oh some day 1 will turn over
new leaf. l will bring my life in har.
mony with the Deealogue, and begin to
act in the way in which the minister
says l ought to act, according to the
precepts of the Ten Commandments"
as long as that sort of spirit exists
you look through 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
should be your very nature.
The religion of the Bible L, a posi-
tive religion. 1t deals with certainties.
1t tells what is. and what shall be- 1t
rests upon fixed and definite princi-
Cles- 1t has TO do with what is true
Ii has an undertaking standard OF
right 1t prescribes rules of conduct
as we'll as articles of faith. It has a
promise for 1.-The life that now is and
that which is to cone" 1t proclaims a
sod, and sets forth with clearness His
character, His will, His requirements,
His promises, His curses and His bless
Ings. 1t presents the nature of sin and
It's consequences. 1t insists on per-
sonal 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-
lion.
1t tells OF His person. lite, death and
Nork- Ii reveals the Holy spirit and
he offices which He performs: 1t dis |
closes Heaven to be won, and a hell |
o be summed
In it there is divine Will to be fol- |
owed-a revelation to be received and
Needed. He who accepts it in it's en-
Irety is assured and responsive. He
las faith which prompta Him to ac- |
ion
He has love which gathers about a |
living Lord and Redeemer. He has a
'ause to uphold. and a work to engage
His sympathies and activities. He has |
hope which rises above the present /
md reyels in the future He is ever /
N the move. and presses towards the |
eallZation Of His expectations.
He has sure guide in life, a firm
in death, Al d a guaranteed re-
ward in eternity. The Christian re-
igion, rightly and fully apprehended,
ever fails to devel ID positive charac-
er.
Adeis ide May Thompson
Stepping Stones.
he little worries that We mset each
day
fay lie as stumbling across our