through fiery trials. This day, he writes before all eyes, especially before ours, who, as a people, have on this point, I fear, grievously sinned, the peril and the folly of presuming too much on our own wisdom, of imagining that our life consisteth in the abundance of the things that we possess, of resolving that we will be rich, and that speedily, though the care of our souls and the proper training of our children be neglected, and though our business, stained too much with craft and speculation, be wanting in the three grand requisites of justice, mercy, and the fear of the Lord. No religion will meet our social necessities but one that is simple, hearty, and unworldly; one that seeks first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, nothing doubting that if we labor, and are upright, frugal, and discreet, the Providence that feeds the fowls and clothes the lilies of the field will not leave us destitute. No religion of pretences will stand us in stead. Christ, when on earth, courted not the society of ostentatious Pharisees, looked not for support to the self-complacent but hypocritical religionists of the day. Let us bethink ourselves whether, were he to come again among us, he might not still find too many who draw near him with the lips, while their hearts are far from him. To think of that august Presence in some of our places of business, presiding at some of their transactions too, who claim to be foremost among his followers, looking into hearts that are ready to grace every proposition with a text, and back every argument with a prayer, and are yet cold, grasping, merciless, measuring the so-called munificent offerings of the rich to the Lord's treasury against the poor widow's two mites! Who that imagines this, does not feel that our piety should be of a higher, holier type? that we need more of the humble, self-condemning spirit of the publican in the temple, more of the open-handed, high-souled liberality of Zaccheus? Religious faith is a vast power in almost every nation's history. Imbedded in the deepest instincts and intuitions of the soul, it must, in some form, blend itself with the life of the people. But to be at once a conservative and an impelling force, guaranteeing to the social system all the good we have, and helping to develop whatever good we need, it must ally itself with morality and with humility before a sin-hating God. Its hopes must promise nothing to the unrelenting love or practice of sin. A self-indulgent, self-complacent religionism, loose in its notions of what we owe to others, exacting in what we think due to ourselves, striving to embrace at once the promises of heaven and the lying plausibilities or debasing sensualities of earth, such a religion has for nations no power to save, but only to destroy. It may have its open Bible, its Protestant and orthodox creed, its tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but where are the weightier matters, judgment, mercy and truth? "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." Churches without humility and all-embracing love, Christians without the life of God in their souls, followers of Jesus who seem to know little of the blessedness which he affirms only of the poor in spirit, the pure in heart, the meek and merciful, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Such Christians, such churches, such creeds save and exalt a nation? Never! never! The appointed regenerators of the world are "And Faith, Hope, and Charity, not faith without charity, not hope without faith, but all three as one. here abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three, but the greatest of these is Charity." Have I spoken of our future with distrust and doubt? It is not that I despair. It is not that I am unable or unwilling to discern how much there is in our condition to excite to hope, to inspire confidence. I see it with exulting pride. Yes, "I can see," to borrow the strain of Milton, the great republican of England, when speaking of his own land under the Commonwealth, "I can see, methinks, in my mind's eye a noble and puissant nation, rousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks. Methinks I see her as an eagle, nursing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam; purging and unsealing her sight at the fountain itself of heavenly radiance, while the whole noise of timorous and flocking birds, with those also that love the twilight, flutter about amazed at what she means. "I see her a city of refuge, the mansion-house of liberty, encompassed and surrounded with Divine protection, where there are not more instruments for the defence of justice or beleagured truth, than there be pens and heads sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, and revolving new notions and ideas wherewith to present, as with their homage and their fealty, the approaching future, and others as fast reading, trying all things, assenting to the force of reason and convincement." Glorious vision of a day, however, that may be overcast-that in England's case was overcast speedily. It was painted by the great poet and patriot but a very few years. before that land fell back, under Charles II, into the lowest depth of the lowest despotism. Prosperity, always dangerous, is specially dangerous in free states. All these mighty energies in which we so exult may, in our case, as in hers, be turned on the citadel of our own national life, and spend themselves in the work of self-destruction. "Let us not then be high-minded, but fear." The grand secret of a nation's enduring and advancing greatness is to combine with a consciousness of her gifts, a proper sense of her dangers, and difficulties, and responsibilities. "Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God. On them which fell, severity; toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." |