RELIGION! WHAT IS IT? by Sel.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 7, 1874

RELIGION! WHAT IS IT?

By Sel.

'T is not to go to church to-day, To look devout, and seem to pray; And ere to-morrow's sun goes down Be dealing scandal through the town.

Not every sanctimonious face Denotes the certain reign of grace; A phiz that seems to scowl at sin, Oft veils hypocrisy within.

'T is not to mark our daily walk, Or of our own good deeds to talk, And then to practice secret crime, And so misspend and waste our time.

'T is not for sects or creeds to fight, And call our zeal the rule of right, When all we wish is, at the best, To see our church excel the rest.

'T is not to wear the Christian's dress, And love to all mankind profess; Then treat with scorn the suffering poor And fast against them close our door.

Ah, no; religion means not this; Its fruit far sweeter—fairer is; In heavenly soil alone it thrives, And more than blossoms where it lives.

Religion! 'tis the rule of life, The bond of love, the bane of strife, Its precept this, "to others do As you would have them do to you."

It grieves to hear an ill report, And scorns with human woes to sport; Of others' deeds to speak no ill, But tell of good, or else be still.

And does RELIGION this import! Oh, may our souls its influence court! Haste, haste, the bright, the blissful day, When earth shall know no other sway. —Sel.