Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-11-24
WHAT is TRUE REIIGIONi


Light Across Your Path.
II Is not a time to lose faith In the
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 a broader
and more philanthropic spirit; II never
commanded the loving assent and tho
anxious endeavors of so many people.
That which has done so much in the
long centuries OF tine past, is doing so
much in the enlightened present, and
has 30 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 moro
will you feel a reluctance to have any,
thing TO do with It; when 1t is brought
to you you will feel that 1t sheds rath-
er lurid light across your path; you
VIII hight against II. 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 it. 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
this. that 1t is by His will that He Of
'ers Himself unto God, it Is the love in
It, the willingness in il. And this is
what religion ought to be-a Joy; it
ought to be our nature; it ought to be
our freedom, delight to us. If you
say oh some day / will turn over a
new leaf, l Will bring my life in har-
nony with the Decalogue, and begin to
act In the way in which the minister
says l ought TO act, according to the
orecepts OF the Ten Commandments"
Is long as that sort OF spirit exists.
you look through a dim glass, you do
aot see the real significance Of faith
and religion.
Religion is life. and ought to work
out from you as a life, and therefore
should be your very nature.
The religion OF the Bible Is z posi-
i've religion. 1t deals with certainties.
1t tells what is. and what shall be. It
-ests upon fixed and definite princi-
pies. 1t has to do with what Is true.
1t has an undertaking standard of
tight. It prescribes rules of conduct
as we'll as articles OF faith. It has a
promise for the life that now Is and
hat which is to come" 1t proclaims q
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
is consequences. 1t insists on a per-
'onal holiness, and pictures the result
ant benefit. 1t provides Saviour for
sinners, and requires faith in Him In
order to the enjoyment of His redemp-
lion.
~ wills VI his SlSOll, llIe, Qcdll ana
work. 1t reveals the Holy spirit and
he Offices which He performs: It dis
closes Heaven to be won, and q hell
20 be summed
In 1t there is a divine will to be fol-
Iowed-a revelation to be received and
needed. He who accepts 1t In its en-
irety is assured and responsive. He
nas faith which prompts Him to ac-
lion.
He has a 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 firm
support in death, and a guaranteed re-
ward in eternity. The Christian re-
hgion, rightly and fully apprehended.
never fails to develop positive charac-
ter.
Adelaide May Thompson.
Stepplng-Stonea.