The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-07
Pure Religion.

G0a n the FdtneF.-JduueS, il.J ~.
Every right minded and sound
hearted man or woman believes in re-
ligion. That is, that man has faculties
fitting him for God, relations that bind
him to God, duties owing to God. .Bnt
what is pure religion? There are SO
many counterfeits. "How shall I tell
the genuine article" Is what perplexes
many a person who would like to be
really religious.
First, there is the religion OF, inter-
est. Some persons treat it as a matter
of shrewd calculation. They think
that it is prudent and safe to be re-
ligious. 1t is q good prop for the Statek
and makes good citizens. 1t is a GER
tifcate of character. Religious stand-
ing in the community is looked upon
as a valuable asset. much the sans
as a bank account. 1t may also
be q passport into Heaven! Hence,
such persons are regular observers OF
church services and perhaps, large
givers. But this religion of interest is
a hollow counterfeit. 1t reduces piety
to the level Of q mere business It has
the "form of goodness, but denies the
fervor thereof" And it does frrepara-
BILE harm to pure religion. Many take
these Journalists as true types of re-
ligion and they think that all piety is
but hollow show, empty ceremony,
sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.
There, again, is the religion Of law.
This regards God as a law giver who
must be feared and served. 1t thinks
Of Him with trembling and awe.
Hence with it penance, rigor and self
denial are the chief graceA 1t isAa
religion Of the conscience, and thor
oughly sincere. But its defect is tnat
it only sees one side of God. 1T Is
narrow, harsh aud austere. It makes
religion q matter Of gloom and robs IT.
Of all sunshine. 1t tends, too, to SELF
righteousness. 1t manufactures Phari-
sees. Its votaries become censors OF
others. They judge all by their own
hard egotism, and whoever does net.
SQUARE with their narrow, severe stand
ard they look disdainfully upon as pub
licans and sinners.
The third type is the religion OF love.
This does not indeed forget that God
is law and justice, but it recognizes
that supremacy "God Is love-" It looks
upon Him as a father, only desiring
the highest well being Of His creatures,
It worships Him not with fear, but
with rejoicing. 1t serves Him not In
the bondage Of a slave, but with the
freedom Of q SON.. It Is not hampered
by the chains If the letter, but lives
in the liberty Of the spirit. 1t is the
religion Of the heart. 1t is the religion
of Joy. 1t is the ideal religion OF the
soul. This is the pure religion" OF our
text. '.undefled before God and the
Father
pure religion again is a life, And
none the less is it a faith. 1t Is q ire
quent mistake to conceive of these 8
distinct from or opposed to zone another.
But normally they are mutually inter
dependent, as fountain to stream, root
to tree, seed to fruit. There is indeed
a dead or merely creedal, but there Is
also q living faith. A mans life is
none the better for being an atheist
or even q hereto. Negatons are not
sources of life or power. All great
ages" wrote Emerson, "have been ages
of belief" The purer and stronger and
diviner our faith the richer and more
beautiful and fruitful will be our life.
And so we reach the last and fullest
outcome of religion, as defined IN the
latter clause of u text. Pure religion
is this. to visit the fatherless and
widows in their affection. The religion
of faith and love, Of freedom and JOY,
starts in the soul the streams OF CHAR
ity and good will. He who has 1t
wishes all the world to share In lts
blessed sunshine.
In one of Tissot's masterpieces Jesas
is portrayed IS moving through a null
titude of sick, diseased and crippled.
As He passes by the pallfd cheeks
glow with health, the enfeebled limbs
grow elastic, and the whole sorrowing
scene is changed into beauty, JOY u
gladness. So the final test OF pure re
ligion is that it touches the soul with
the spirit Of kindness and that as lts
possessor moves through the world ne
has a heart for sympathy, a word OF
g~entleness and q hand Of help for every
Struggling brother. And thus every
where a trail Of light and q song OF
gratitude follow upon his gracious
steps,. B. Remensnyder, Pastor OF
ST. James Lutheran Church, New
York, in the Sunday Herald.
Faiths Noblest Fruits.
We shall find some Of the sublimest
fruits of faith among what are COM
monty called passive virtues"
in the transformations heroisms of h
household, amid the daily ~drippings or
small cares; in the noiseless conquests
of q love too reverential to complain;