Lewisburg Chronicle

Christianity has doctrines and duties which relate particularly to our fellow beings, which form its moral and social side; and it has doctrines and duties which relate particularly to God, which form its spiritual side, and comprehend directly whatever relates to our personal salvation. These together form its completeness.

It can not be truly embraced without embracing both. It is possible, however, to embrace its social and moral side alone, and to exhibit herein great beauty of character; like the young ruler who propounded to our Savior the important question, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" It is possible, also, to embrace its spiritual side alone, as far as the profession of a creed is concerned.

Now there are many men, who, owing to the fortunate circumstances of their education, are the stern believers in an orthodox creed, while violating every beautiful charity of life. And these men claim to themselves great merit for their dogmatic faith, although it be a "faith without works."

There are other men, who, owing, perhaps, to the equally unfortunate circumstances of their education, are building on a false foundation their hopes of eternal life, while distinguished for amiable tempers, and a generous and efficient morality in the ordinary walks of life.

It would be an unwise preference which should attach us in kinder bonds to the former than to the latter. The one has faith without virtue. The other has virtue without faith. The one professes to believe according to the most orthodox standard, but breathes no atmosphere of holiness. The other believes at least in social virtue, and is true to his belief. The last is the finer and nobler character. Both are essentially deficient.
Christian Charity will estimate their defects impartially; and will neither allow herself to be imposed upon by the proud assumption of unproductive orthodoxy, nor to be led away from the just proportion and momentous value of the spiritual side of religion, by those kindly virtues which she prizes, but which, nevertheless, when they stand lone, show that one thing still is wanting.—[N.Y. Evangelist.