Year: 1865

] THE VALUE OF RELIGIOUS ANEbU
ENCE.


1t is hardly possible to duly appreciate
the beneficial influence which religion has
upon the interests of every civilized people.


A nation possessed of a well regulated code,
aud rulers determined to carry out all the
| functions of their office, may force a strict
| observance TO law and order but it cannot
| do away with that harsher spirit of the peo-
pie, which always follows in the pathway of
vice and irreligion Every nation needs
! religious influence to give it refinement and
dignity. Wherever there is no such infu-
ence we find a recklessness and want of con-
| fidence displayed which destroys all prosper


ity and social happiness


Religion has very strong influence In the


government of people. Law operates by
force, but religion influences the will. There
is not SO much compulsion in the govern
| ment of a religious people. There is a gem
eral adherence to the principles of right and
| of justice and a submissive spirit ready to
yield to whatever these principles may die
tate. But people without religion is guild
cd by no influence except the fear of the
law And in such an instance it is not hard
to see how that they will each, with a total


disregard for principle and for justice, strug-
gle alone for the accomplishment of their


own selfish ends and purposes. And where
such Is the case, and it cannot be otherwise
where there is no religious influence, how


can there be any happiness or prosperity 2
Men will take advantage of the law whenev
er the least opportunity affords itself, and if
happily they meet with success and escape
its penalties, they win feel just as well salts
fed as if they had been guided by the dlcta-
tions of true religious conscience Ava
rice among such people must become fruit
| ful of great deal of injury and hatred; an
evil which, when left uprestrained, will turn
the most prosperous nations back towards


anarchy and barbarism.


a people cannot be governed alone by law


and be prosperous and happy. Mankind


has nature which is too impasslonate and
selfish. We need an influence continually


over us which will curb our more evil pro-


pensities and take away that disposition so


natural TO us all of trampling upon the
rights of others whenever we think it prob


able that we will be unobserved by the eye


of the law. And religion is just what af-
fords this influence 1t makes a people eau
tious They are more careful to guard


against the violation of law, for all law we


believe to be founded on justice, and vio-


lation of it is violation of those principles


which Christians advocate.


SO the crime and malice, distrust and en-


Wy, are all prohibited to great extent by


the influence Of religion: evils which breed


the greatest injuries and are the greatest


impediments to a nation success 1t is


commonly thought without consideration,


that religion is an Individual concern. That


it is only conducive to personal interest.


But such is not the case. There never has


been a creed or principle of any kind that


has had so wide a range of influence, or up


on which has depended so much the pros
perity Of our race. Mankind is naturally
social, industrious. and cnterpTising. But
every people needs the golden chain of reli.
glon to bind them together in harmony, and


exclude from them those more discordant ell
ements of vice, which ever result in the in
! fraction Of peace and all moral and social
concord


To cherish religion, then, is to cherish an
object most worthy of our regard if we
consider it, as we have done, exclusive Of


every other benefit aside from those which


we now enjoy in the world as individuals
and as nations. Even then we find It an OBJ.


iect worthy of our highest respect, to which


we owe the origin and safe preservation Sf


all the rights and privileges which we enjoy.
Let the infidel, then, amy who may delight
in the dcnunciation or scora of religion,


pause and reflect that they are endeayoriug


to destroy the very ground work upon which


ever has rested and still must rest, all his
own personal hopes and interests, and it


may be that feeling of shame viii crush


out that spirit of opposition which, with


very premature consideration, they cherish


against religion and its supporters. -Eraa-
1eIsst.