our particular opinions on particular points of religious doctrine upon others.
Learned dissertations on theology and controversies on the subject of religion are useful in their own way, but true religion before the Lord does not consist in them. It consists in a man’s “visiting the fatherless and the widow in their affliction and keeping himself unspotted from the world,” that is, from vice. We are apt to lose sight of the essentials of religion in the distractions of philosophical speculation. If we intend not to satisfy our spiritual thirst with prayer and devotion before ascertaining the foundations of religion, we would act like the fool who resolves not to satisfy his thirst before finding out the springs of a river. We are apt to lose sight of the essentials of religion, in the excitement of religious delight. Some people consider processions, festivals and religious music as the be-all and end-all of religion. They are no doubt useful in their own way, but they are not the be-all and end-all of religion. We are apt to lose sight of the essentials of religion in the engrossment of ceremonial observances. Every church organization, even the most free from forms and ceremonial observances, such as Theistic churches not excepted, must have some forms and ceremonies. Men in general lay undue stress on the observance of these forms and ceremonies. Certain forms are no doubt necessary for every religion and church organization, but we must not consider
