CHAPTER II. -DEFINITION.-FALSE RELIGION.ABOR. FUNDAMENTAL AD HARMLESS. HOW DISTINGUISHED.-FUNDA MENTAL ERROR ONLY, MAY CREATE A BREACH OF CHRYSitad FELLOWSHIP. "True religica Is always mild, propitious, and humble, Plays not the tyrant, plants no faith in blood; MILLER'S MAHOME "Religious lustre is, by native innocence, ROWE'S TAMERLANE. No word is more common than religion,-ne ideas more familiar than those which imply moral obligation. This term, religion, and the ideas suggested by it, belong exclusively to no age or country, are peculiar to no nation or tribe of humanity, and depend for their existence, upon no particular stage of civilization or refinement. A conception of the mysterious, spiritual, divine and infinite, more or less true, consistent, and perfect, is coextensive with the human race, and doubtless forms an element of thought and feeling with all intelligent beings. And yet the views of subject, are so vague most men relative to this and indeterminate, so irrelevant to any common centre, so destitute of point or aim, that the great design of religion is lost,—the heart and life remain unimproved, or seem formed on the principles of atheism. All men acknowledge religion, yet few seem prepared to say what it is, describe the relations they sustain to it, or understand how its exalted purposes relative to men are to be achieved, and the objects of its faith and hope made blissful and eternal realities. No moral advantages of high value, do, or can flow from belief in God, unless the ideas formed of him be true and just. And in like manner, religion is little better than none, often worse, unless it be genuine in its source, correct and concentrative in its aims, and unless its elements are clearly perceived and rightly applied. In the department of religion, the questions most important are these:-What is true religion? Do I embrace it, in its doctrines, experience, and practice? The first question being correctly answered, it will be easy to determine our relation to the second. The term religion, is from the Latin word "religio," for which various etymologies have been proposed. The most probable appears to be "religando," from "religo," a verb which signifies to bind, to make fast. The moral idea conveyed is that of obligation to some power, or being above us, and to whom we are responsible; and this is the ruling principle of all true religion. Any word selected to express just views of religion, must be adapted to describe the obligations involved in the subject, and which bind the whole intelligent creation to God, and man to man. Neither the word religion, nor the thoughts expressed or suggested by it, are the fruit of Christianity, except in the sense that Christianity is "as old as the creation." Since intelligent moral beings were first produced by the power of God, the idea of moral obligation has been present to the mind; nor will it ever be wholly lost while the mind is capable of retaining a conception of a divine creator and governor. And since language has been employed as the signs of ideas, the term religion, and others equivalent to it, have been used to indicate the nature of the subject, and convey from mind to mind its glowing thoughts. Religion, as in common usage, and in the general sense in which we now employ the term, acknowledges God, describes his character and relations to his creatures, expresses our bond or obligation to the Creator, and prescribes to us the path of obedience and duty. It also enjoins piety, holiness, reverence, and a strict attention to our relative engagements, as fellow-creatures, or creatures of the same God. To be more systematic, as well as more specific, we may define religion First, as to its theology. This includes generally, all moral truth; but especially whatever is essential as a doctrinal basis, the being and perfections of God,—the revelation of his will to men,—human responsibility,—a future state—and future retribution. Considered in respect to a fallen race, it would also include depravity, ana redemption. Secondly, as to its morality and devotion. It implies moral rectitude and union with God; piety and purity of heart; an assimilation of character to the moral likeness of God, and the exhibition of godliness and benevolence in the life. Thirdly, the term religion is also sometimes applied to the rites and ceremonies of religious worship. In this use of it, it designates the manner and form in which men outwardly express their religious feelings, and claim the recognition of the Deity. As there is only one true God, and religion is founded on the being and nature of God, there can be only one true religion as derived from him. But as there are many false gods, and false views of the true God, so, there may be, and are, many false religions, and false views of true religion. We do not say that every misconception of God changes him into a false God, or deprives us of the salutary moral influence arising from faith in his existence and an acknowledgment of his authority; nor is it true that every error in respect to religion, necessarily vitiates the whole system, and renders it to us, no better than a false religion. Though all error has the same intrinsic character, in the sense of being opposed to truth, yet all kinds and degrees of error are not the same in their power to counteract and subvert truth, and vitiate the mind and heart. Some errors are simply mistakes of honest minds; while others are imbibed through pride of intellect or opinion, |