p. 133 | Religion by R. F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 26, 1885

Religion.

By R. F. Cottrell

"Religion! What treasures untold Reside in that heavenly word! More precious than silver or gold, Or all that this earth can afford."

To THESE words of the poet we heartily respond, Amen! But what faculty, propensity, or sentiment of humanity has been more abused and perverted than the religious? That part of our nature which was intended to be the greatest blessing to man by allying him to his Maker, by being turned from the channel of truth has been turned to a curse, degrading him below the level of the beasts that perish; for beasts never thought of offering their own kind in sacrifice to appease the wrath of an offended, tyrannical deity.

Attracted by the sound of music, I entered a Catholic church building, just in time to witness the closing scene. There, before a splendid altar, made radiant by lighted candles, stood the priest arrayed in costly, though clumsy, regalia, attended by a considerable number of lads in white livery, to attend his nod, and bend the supple knee as they passed his august presence, or as he passed them. But the scene soon closed; and the devout worshipers, bowing the knee as they passed out of their seats, and dipping their fingers in the fonts of holy water near the door, and making the sign of the cross upon themselves, while they cast a farewell glance back to the altar, left the house.

"And this," said I to myself, as I walked away, "is religion! These dupes of a blind superstition without any doubt feel that all is well with them. They have attended the confessional, paid the priest, and heard mass; and what more do they need?"

The ancient pagans, from whom the Roman Church derived their doctrines and rites, were ostensibly pious and very devoted. They had "a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." Their blind credulity and devotion led them to the most barbarous and inhuman acts, even to the sacrificing of the life of their own children. Such was their religion. Were they lacking in religious zeal? Witness their tremendous shrieks and cries as they call aloud to their gods, till very hoarseness forbids the utterance of articulate sounds. See them leap upon the altar, and cut their flesh with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out and trickled down their persons to the earth. Zeal is not the ingredient that is wanting. It is lack of knowledge. It is the lack of a faith, calm and reasonable, based upon facts, such facts as are revealed in the glorious gospel of the Son of God.

The religion of the Bible consists in a calm and steadfast faith in clearly revealed and proven facts, a firm reliance on the promises of God, and obedience to his commandments. Those who are in the exercise of such a religion as this have a right to be zealous; they have a right to shout the high praises of God. But their zeal will be tempered with reason. "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." All things are to be done "decently and in order." Order implies a regular arrangement and succession of things. All may prophesy "one by one," that all may learn; not all at once, for that would tend to confusion and not to edification; and in case "there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?" The Lord would not have his people give the impression to outsiders that they are madmen. Christians are the most sane and reasonable persons in the world. They are the light of the world.

R. F. COTTRELL.