Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-03-26
WHAT IS TRUE RELIGION {

When Brought to You It Sheds a Lurid Light Across Your Path.
 It is not time to lose faith in the gerities of religion. It is not a time 10 doubt that God is in the world, ruI- Sng the nations, and preparing them for the acceptance of 3 religion whose foundations were laid once and for all eime. Religion never had greater re- suits 10 show; religion never had mora beautiful characters to illustrate the saving and purifying power of the Cos pei religion never produced q broader and more philanthropie spirit; it never commanded the loving assent and the anxious endeayors of so many people,
 'sFhat which has done so much in the Hong centuries of the past, is doing so much in the enlightened present, and aas so large and prosperous an out look, must rest on an enduring basis. n must be the word of the Lord en- dureth forever"
 But as long as you are looking upon religion as q series of preeepts which goa feel you ought to obey, the more 1sin you feel a reluctance to have any ghing to de with it; when it is brought Go you you will feel that it sheds rath- CT a lurid light across your path; you wfIl fight against it. As long as that IS the case, you have not entered into ahe spirit of Christ. you have not un- lefstood the power of an indissolubIe Eifes When you look at what real relig- zdn Is, you see it should be 3 living Thing. l see it in Christ my Master. All that He does i3 simply the out acme of what lis very nature is. The life is within Him and He lives accord ing to it. It is His joy to do the Fath- T's will He applies Himself fer the wcl1-being of mankind The very Yir- aure of the sacrifice of Christ lay in 4his, Chat 1t Is by His will that He of- 4ers Himself unto God, it is the love in II. the willingness in it. And this is what religion ought to be-a joy; it ought to be our nature; il ought to be aUr freedom, delight to Us. If you say 4Oh some day I will turn over new leaf, will bring my life in har- nony with the Deealogue and begin to act in the way in which the minister says 1 ought to act, according to the preeepts of the Ten Commandments" " as long as that sort of spirit exists, you look through a dim glass. you do not see the real significance of faith and religion
 Religion is a life. and ought to work out from you es 3 life, and therefore should be your very nature.
 The religion of the Bible is posi- aiye religion. It deals with eertainties. It tells what is, and what shall be It rests upon fixed and definite prinei- ples. 1t has to do with what is true. If has an undertaking standard of right. II presceihas rules of conduct as well as articles of faith, It has promise for "the life that now is and that which is to eoTle. It proclaims a God, and sets forth with elearness His character, His will, His requirements, His promises, His curses and His bless 2ngs. It presents the nature of sin and ats consequences. It insists on per- sonal holiness, and pictures the result ant benefit It provides Saviour for sinners, and requires faith in Him in order to the enjoyment of His redemp- Eion.
 It tells of His person, life, death and work It reveals the Holy spirit and the offices which He performs; It dis closes 9 Heaven to be won, and a hell % be stunned.
 h it there is a divine Will to be fol- lowed--a revelation to be received and needed. He who accepts 1t in its en- Eirety is assured and responsive. He has faith which prompts Him to ae- aion.
 EEe has love which gathers about a living Lord and Redeemer. He has 8 cause to uphold, and a work to engage His sympathies and activities. He has 3 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- Iigion, rightly and fully apprehendee, never fails to develop positive charae- zer.
 Adelaide Ngay Thompson.
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