The Tupelo journal., 1903-10-30
PURE RELIGION.
Commands the Homage of All Who
Recognize It's Real Nature
rs Defined by james.

Religion is a general term, indicating
Divine worship in a vague way, while
much that passes under that designation
is anything but pure or true or good.
The world was full Of religion that was
corrupt, degrading and destroying, so
that there was occasion for the use of the
qualifying word, pure" says the North
western Christian Advocate. The apos-
tie had found a religion that was pure,
elevating, saving; that was worthy of
this high distinction; and he gladly and
lovingly commended it as the wisdom of
God coming down from above. 1t was
the religion of Jesus Christ, the religion
of humanity, the religion the world
needed to lift 1t to the knowledge of God
and to clothe men with power to meet
their highest obligations and fit them for
their eternal destiny. A religion that
does this for men must be Divine. 1t is
religion" because it rebinds men to God
and holds them in right relation to God
and to all that belong to God, and it is
pure" because it is true and righteous
altogether and because it tends to purity,
requires purity and is free from all ad-
mixture of wrong.
Pure religion has its origin in God, its
influence upon the inner life. it's dwell
ing-place in the heart, is spiritual and in
visible, seen only in it's manifestations;
yet where it truly exists it is seen and felt
and known. 1t becomes a tangible real
ity, a potent factor in life, moving and
controlling the most vital elements in
personal character and in the social
fabric of community and state. 1t in
spires. cheers, comforts and builds up its
possessor in all spiritual graces, but its
revelation to the world, and therefore
its power for good, is in what it does for
the outward life. Where it abides good
works abound. Widows in their attic
lions are visited, the fatherless are cared
for, poverty is relieved, the oppressed are
rescued from burdens too heavy for their
strength, and manifold forms of distress
and suffering are m%itigated by the kindly
ministrations of charity. So certain and
inevitable are these fruits of pure relig-
ion that no other definition or description
of it as a system of doctrine or ethics
appeared to the apostolic conception to
be necessary or proper. Before God and
the Father" who sees both form and sub
stance, these results are the essentials,
not the incidents of pure religion. They
form the rays of the Divine light it sheds
and are the aroma of it's presence, the
holy incense, the sweet-smelling SAVIOR
which ascends to God with the prayers
of the saints. and in them are found the
strength and joy of faith. According to
the philosophy of this |epistle, which
breathes pure religion in every line, the
doer Of the work is blessed in his deed.
James, the servant Of God, embodied 1t
in his life as in his writing. This made
him great and gave him leadership in the
church and honor with his brethren. 1t
is the only policy of the good man, the
true goal of his ambition, as it is at once
his armor, his defense, his joy and his
crown of rejoicing. Toamost wonderful
degree pure religion is its own reward.
1t commends itself to the approval of all
men and commands the homage of all
who recognize it's real nature.