"Religion is as necessary to reason as reason is to religion." "Religion
is a necessary, an indispensable element in any great human character,"
says Daniel Webster. "Nothing," says Gladstone, "can be hostile to
religion which is agreeable to justice." "It is the property of the
religious spirit," admits Emerson, "to be the most refining of all
influences. The writers against religion," says Edmund Burke, "whilst
they oppose every system, are wisely careful never to set up any of
their own." "I fear God," says Saadi, "and next to God, I chiefly fear
him who fears him not." "Space is the statue of God," cries Joubert.
"Truth is his body and light his shadow," says Plato.
There is almost a revelation of God in the cries upward to Him, of some
of his human souls. Says Wordsworth:
Thou who didst wrap the cloud
Of infancy around us, that Thyself,
Therein with our simplicity awhile
Mightst hold on earth communion undisturbed;
Who from the anarchy of dreaming sleep,
Or from its deathlike void, with punctual care,
And touch as gentle as the morning light,
Restor'st us daily--
Thou, Thou alone.
Art everlasting!
The poet Young, driven by sorrow to God's foot-stool, addresses his
Creator in the same nobility of language:
Thou, who didst put to flight
Primeval silence, when the morning stars,
Exulting, shouted o'er the rising ball;
O Thou! whose word from solid darkness struck
That spark the sun, strike wisdom from my soul;
My soul which flies to Thee, her trust, her treasure,
As misers to their gold, while others rest.
"Come unto me, ye that are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you
rest." Therefore, accept this boon. Take your own child by the hand, and
pray, and pray:
The way is long, my Father! and my soul
Longs for the rest and quiet of the goal;
While yet I journey through this weary land,
Keep me from wandering, Father, take my hand.