Religion Never Dormant.
By Michigan Advocate
EVERY attribute of true Christian character is alive. Every spark of real religion is an exercise of the soul in benevolence and purity toward God and Heaven. Religion which is not in operation is a repulsive carcass. It is death, decay, and poison to the soul. Persons deceived by it are living on selfish frames and feelings, which they mistake for genuine love, that is, disinterested benevolence. They are governed by their feelings. They have no vigorous, stalwart, manly faith. They never venture out upon daring undertakings for God. They appreciate only such things in the church and in the labors of the ministry as excite their emotions. Preaching must make them happy, or it is no preaching. They are what somebody has denominated a kind of "religious epicures." They do not thrive on homely sermons which lay bare the roots of selfishness and expose its secret workings. This is not gospel food to them. They relish only that class of truths which fan their emotions into a flame. It is all right to be happy, but happiness is not always religion. Happiness is a state of the sensibilities, and is of course involuntary; while religion is benevolence, and therefore powerful action. Every impulse of the religious soul is a bound forward along the lines of holy endeavor. The hour of prayer and meditation is but a season for renewing strength in view of toil and conflict. Hence our hours of self-examination should be devoted to inquiries, not as to how we feel and how happy we are, but as to what end we are living for, and how we can best gain qualifications for usefulness. Brother, arise! Resolve on doing something. Throw yourself into the harness, find a place somewhere in the field, and perform a work that shall live. What better are you for living in the world, if the world is no better for your living? Your mission may not be a great one, but it is a good one, and goodness is always great enough. Encourage some soul to pray, some heart to believe. Induce your acquaintances to read their Bibles more. Make the social meetings of your church a living power. You will find enough to do if only you first gain the willing mind.