ledge possessed by any individual, but upon the character of man's moral constitution, which possesses a moral sense and a susceptibility of religious impressions and emotions. However degraded an individual may be, these principles are latent in his nature, and may be developed; but this cannot take place with a mere beast. In fact, they had no word in their limited vocabulary which would convey a proper idea of God. Such, however, could not have been the case with them in the remote past, nor is such the case, happily, with men generally at present. We can sing with greater propriety now than ever "The gospel news is sounding," &c. Increasing light brings with it increasing responsibility. We believe that all men who have ever listened to the word of life have had religious thoughts pressing heavily upon them at some time or other. There are indeed times in the history of the most thoughtless and boisterous, when the mind involuntarily turns in upon itself; when solemn ques. tions start up with an irresistible force; when conscience, so long stifled, asserts itself and speaks in tones of thunder. At such times the need of religion must be felt-the need of that grand chain which alone can link the spirit to the Great Parent Spirit in sympathy and love. But we wish to enforce the blessed power and influence of religion, not merely in times of solitude alone, but in life-busy, active life. Many people seem to regard religion as a fruitful source of gloom and melancholy. To them she only presents a sombre aspect, and is ever clad in the habiliments of mourning. A greater fallacy, however, could not be entertained. The fault is in the jaundiced eye that looks, not in the object. Instead of religion clothing the world in sackcloth, and drying up all its joys, we regard her as an angel sent by God to wipe away the tears and bind up the wounds of sorrowing, bleeding humanity. Instead of pointing to the cypress and drooping willow, we would rather point to the rose in its fragrance, the oak in its strength, and to the lark rising upwards and upwards, filling the air with its melody, till, far above the fogs and clouds of earth, it bathes its wings in the pure light of heaven, as fit emblems of the blessed power and influence of religion in life. But what is religion? By a religious life we mean one of conformity to the revealed will of God. Moses exhorted the Israelites to obey the commands of God in order to secure His blessing, and those who aspire to a religious life in the present day must seek a conformity to the will of their Divine Master. The laws which were to regulate the Jewish nation were such as would conduce to the social harmony and general prosperity of the people. The example and precepts of Jesus, our great Teacher, are such as must produce the highest virtues and greatest happiness in those who are His true followers. "Godliness" has "the promise of the life that now is. It sanctifies and blesses all the relations of domestic life; it cements our bonds of friendship as nothing else can; it enters into all our cares and difficulties, robbing them of more than half their power to depress and trouble us; it enables us to regard the various events of life, however trivial or important they may seem, as under the direct control and guidance of One who is "Too wise to err, too good to be unkind." Moreover, religion engenders a spirit of true philanthropy. If anything will refine the feelings and extend the sympathies of the human heart, it is religion. It is recorded of Jesus that "He went about doing good." O how significant that sentence! How pregnant with meaning! It suggests to us the very life and soul of Christianity. Clothed with the spirit of its Divine Author, Christianity goes forth to the conquest of the world, seeking to subdue men, not by fire and sword, but by the nobler weapons of love and tenderness. It finds man deep sunk in pollution and sin, and raises him into a position of happiness and purity; it finds him in moral slavery, and, bursting asunder his fetters, leads him into the liberty of God's "dear children;" it finds him "dead in trespasses and sins," and with its warm embrace it causes the life current to flow afresh, and raises him into newness of life-into the image and favour of God. Religion teaches us the relations we sustain to our fellow men. We have heard much recently of the impracticable theories, and seen a little of the Utopian efforts, of Chartism and Communism, but, after all, we regard Christianity as the great leveller of society, for it teaches its possessors-disregarding the superficial distinctions which characterize mankind, to see in their fellow-man a brother, of whatever nation, colour, caste, or language he may be! Thus it is the great source of our philanthropic and benevolent institutions. But as regards religion in individual life. We have said that a religious life must be one of conformity to the example and precepts of Christ. Such a life must be holy. O how pure and innocent was that life! How free from moral taint and imperfection. No wonder that such a life, while it raised the malice and envy of Pharasaical contemporaries, has nevertheless become an object of astonishment and admiration to the world. This example shall live through all the ages to come, and then increasing light shall not rob it of its brilliance, but only enable men the better to appreciate its peerless grandeur. To the life of Christ alone can we look with perfect safety for our pattern and guidance. This alone we need, for " He was tempted in all points like unto us, yet without sin." If, then, we would take this life as our model, our thoughts, words, and deeds must be pure; our conduct marked by moral rectitude, our business transactions by equity and justice, and our very lives radiant with goodness and truth. So shall men take knowledge of us, that we have "been with Jesus, and learned of Him." Holiness, as a natural consequence, produces happiness; hence, the holier we are the happier we shall be. The nearer we live to God, the more distinct will be our assurance of His favour and love. The Christian has pleasures which the world knows nothing of. He looks back on the past and blessed memories come crowding up to fill his cup of joy-memories of sweet intercourse with the Deity at a throne of grace; of cheering communion with God's people; and memories of the gracious dealings of God in His providence. He looks forward and finds the promises of God, like a bright bow of hope, spanning the sky of all his future life, promises of help and support in every time of need. "Lo I am with you alway, even to the end." 66 Again, we remark such a life must be useful. No life was ever so useful, so potent for good, as the life of Christ. How untiring and earnest was He in His efforts to bless and save men. If life is to be measured by deeds, rather than years, we are at a loss to comprehend the life of Christ, in all its grandeur and all its power. So varied were His labours, and so stupendous the works he accomplished. In the words of an eloquent and well-known writer, "His feet were ever active on errands of kindness, and His hands ever open dispensing blessings." To do good was the object and element of His being. Not content with doing good by proxy, His spmpathising bosom enjoyed the luxury of doing it in person." The Christian is invariably a useful man. He catches the benignant spirit of his Master, and finds a "luxury" in doing good." It is true that in labouring in the cause of Christ we may sometimes meet with very little apparent success; still, we may be assured, if we work with God's glory as our object, that He, in His own good time, will cause the seed we sow to produce a rich and plentiful harvest. Are you, dear reader, working for God? If so, your life is the happiest that can be enjoyed. Grander conquests await you than any that ever enraptured an Alexander or Cæsar-conquests unmarred by carnage and suffering. Instead of the curse of the ruined and desolate, spoiling the brilliance of your triumphs, the "blessing" of those that are "ready to perish" shall gladden your hearts; for you are helping to spread the Saviour's influence, and the more the blessed spirit of Christ is diffused, the more happy and free will the world become, till at length our common humanity shall be raised to an altitude in which the Laureate's wish shall be more than realized "When all men's good shall Be each man's rule, and universal peace And like a lane of beams athwart the sea!" Our mortal life, however, must soon terminate. Our work on earth will soon be ended. Still, the aspirations of our nature, and the clearer teachings of revelation assure us, that the grave is not our final goal, but rather that the present life is but an introductory state to a more important life beyond. We observe then, very briefly, II. That religion ensures to us the future life. Come with us for a moment, in imagination, to yonder sick-chamber. There is a young man lying on that bed, in whom the seeds of consumption have rapidly developed themselves, till now he seems on the very brink of the grave. His hopeful spirit and glowing imagination had painted on the canvas of his life many pleasant scenes of future happiness and enjoyment! but alas! the ruthless brush of disease has swept them all away, leaving nothing behind but a terrible blank, dark and dismal as the grave itself! What, we ask, would you bring to cheer and console such a one? It were idle to think of the delights of music, the charms of nature, the mysteries of philosophy or the discoveries of science. These would all be as nothing, and worse than nothing, to him. Tell him, however, that " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life," and you touch a spring in his moral nature that nothing else could. Tell him that by faith in the "precious blood" of Jesus he may have forgiveness of sin, and be admitted into a blessed place, where "Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, are felt and feared no more." And this kindles such a smile on his features, and such a joy in his heart, as nothing else could produce. It is an important fact that religion alone ensures to us the "future life." Where philosophy stumbles, where science loses her brilliance, where man's best natural efforts are but mere guesses and speculations, there revelation takes the lead, and, with a lamp lit by the breath of God himself, illumes the mysterious future, opening up to our delighted vision a state of inconceivable happiness and eternal joy, where those who believe in Christ on earth shall dwell secure for ever! Have you this religion, dear reader? If so, hold it fast! Prize it. "For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life." If you points like unto us, yet without sin." If, then, we would take this life as our model, our thoughts, words, and deeds must be pure; our conduct marked by moral rectitude, our business transactions by equity and justice, and our very lives radiant with goodness and truth. So shall men take knowledge of us, that we have "been with Jesus, and learned of Him." Holiness, as a natural consequence, produces happiness; hence, the holier we are the happier we shall be. The nearer we live to God, the more distinct will be our assurance of His favour and love. The Christian has pleasures which the world knows nothing of. He looks back on the past and blessed memories come crowding up to fill his cup of joy-memories of sweet intercourse with the Deity at a throne of grace; of cheering communion with God's people; and memories of the gracious dealings of God in His providence. He looks forward and finds the promises of God, like a bright bow of hope, spanning the sky of all his future life, promises of help and support in every time of need. "Lo I am with you alway, even to the end." Again, we remark such a life must be useful. No life was ever so useful, so potent for good, as the life of Christ. How untiring and earnest was He in His efforts to bless and save men. If life is to be measured by deeds, rather than years, we are at a loss to comprehend the life of Christ, in all its grandeur and all its power. So varied were His labours, and so stupendous the works he accomplished. In the words of an eloquent and well-known writer, "His feet were ever active on errands of kindness, and His hands ever open dispensing blessings." To do good was the object and element of His being. Not content with doing good by proxy, His spmpathising bosom enjoyed the luxury of doing it in person." The Christian is invariably a useful man. He catches the benignant spirit of his Master, and finds a "luxury" in "doing good." It is true that in labouring in the cause of Christ we may sometimes meet with very little apparent success; still, we may be assured, if we work with God's glory as our object, that He, in His own good time, will cause the seed we sow to produce a rich and plentiful harvest. Are you, dear reader, working for God? If so, your life is the happiest that can be enjoyed. Grander conquests await you than any that ever enraptured an Alexander or Cæsar-conquests unmarred by carnage and suffering. Instead of the curse of the ruined and desolate, spoiling the brilliance of your triumphs, the "blessing" of those that are "ready to perish" shall gladden your hearts; for you are helping to spread the Saviour's influence, and the more the blessed spirit of Christ is diffused, the more happy and free will the world become, |