Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-08-24

Life seems to open In every direction
except toward the Holy City. Few of
us probably open our windows as regu-
larly as did Daniel to the influence of
God. II we did we should find that
like sunshine, peace and strength and
aspiration and courage would flow in
upon our souls.
Let us keep our hearts and minds
always open to the best influences from
God, from nature and from good men.
THE LARGER LIFE OF RELIGION.
By Henry F. Cope.
II am come that they might have life
and that they might have 1t more abun-
dantly.'-John 10: 10.
Religion is more than restriction,
more than weary round Of negations,
heavy load of commandments con-
corning things to be avoided. No won
der the youth turns with dread from
the church which prescribes his doings
by chalk line drawn by those in whom
the fires have all died or who may
ii.
Such a church says to men, Come thou
with us and we will show you how to
empty your life of all the things
you would like to have in 1t.
Such a church is praying, "Oh,
to be nothing, nothing" and is
getting its prayers pretty thoroughly
answered. The religion that has for its
precepts only so many Thou shalt nots,
for duties only so many Must nots, for
privileges only so much giving up and
going without, can end only in death.
A living religion cries out for more
life, not less; less life leads at last to
the grave.
1t is no use fighting for a faith out
worn; 1t Is no use fighting for any kind
of faith that can be worn at all. For
faith Is not garment. So long as we
strait-jacket, something to crush the
life. Such religion makes the Sun
day prison, the church charnel.
The worth while, the heaven born re-
|
tude Of its restrictions, not by the bur-
dens it lays on life, not by its prohi-
bitiOns or even its definitions but by
it's invitations, the blessings it confers,
the multitude of its means of enlarging
life In itself it is ever life; it leads
to larger life. Religion means not to
live less; 1t is not a cramping of the
life within certain rules, but crowding
out of the life; 1t Is like the growing
tree that pushes up the earth and
breaks up the wall into which it grows.
Religion calls for room, more room,
room to realize the best and holiest
possibilities of life, room to climb I'D
and look out on life, room to serve our
fellows and lift them to larger living,
room to be made by the sweeping away
of old limitations, ancient prejudices,
hoary wrongs. And because it is vital,
not formal, it demands an ever larger
place in our lives.
Do not think, my friend. that you are
plous because you succeed in stripping
your life Of all beauty, in cutting off all
pleasure. Nothing may be more Grim
inal than thus to shrink your soul, to
crush yourself beneath burdens Of mega
tions and prohibitions. Instead of bind
ing your feet, as some do, you are
binding your heart; you will go lame
in the land where hearts rule. The
Almighty can best be served with the
best life, not with less but with more
Sin is not so much in doing the things
} you ought not to do as 1t is In missing
the glorious thing you ought to be; II
! Is missing the mark Of Gods glorious
purpose and plan for your life. Holi
, ness is not so much in abstinence from
evil as in perfect realization of the
| good. The way to keep from sin is moi
so much by the study of the dictionary
Of don'ts as by entering into the good
the worthy. letting out your life tc
larger, higher things, by entering into
/ the things that are true, honest, lust
( pure, lovely and Of good report. Right
3 eousness Is positive, not negative
There Is more righteousness in bat
| man than there is in fiawless statue