SERMON VIII.--THE END OF RELIGION
EPHESIANS iv. 23, 24.
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and put ye on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
This text is exceedingly valuable to us for it tells us the end and
aim of all religion. It tells us why we are to pray, whether at home
or in church; why we are to read our Bibles and good books; why we
are to be what is commonly called religious.
It tells us, I say, the end and aim of all religion; namely, that we
may put on 'the new man, which after God'--according to the likeness
of God--'is created in righteousness and true holiness.' So says St.
Paul in another place: 'Be ye therefore followers'--literally,
copiers, imitators--'of God, as dear children.'
Now this is not what you will be told from too many pulpits, and in
too many books, now-a-days, is the end of religion. You will be told
that the end of religion is to save your soul, and go to heaven.
But experience shows, my friends, in all religions and in all ages,
that those who make it their first object in life to save their
souls, are but too likely to lose them; as our Lord says, He that
saveth his soul, or life--for the words are the same in Scripture--
shall lose it.
And experience shows that in all religions, and in all ages, those
who make it their first object in life to get to heaven, are but too
likely never to get there: because in their haste, they forget what
heaven is, and what is the only way of arriving at it.
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