Religion the Only Source of True Happiness
(addressed to youth.)
Happy is the man thatfindtth wisdom. — Proverbs iii: 13.
All mankind desire and seek happiness. The great inquiry is, “Who will show us any good?” But happiness keeps at a distance, and they are subject to continual disappointment. My young friends, if you have not yet found happiness in the enjoyment of the world, you are too late — you have lost your chance — you may give up the pursuit.
But try once more, and in another way
“I tried each earthly charm,
In pleasure’s haunts I stray’d,
I sought its soothing balm,
I asked the world its aid.
But ah! no balm it had,
To heal a wounded breast,
And I forlorn and sad.
Must seek another rest:
My days of happiness are gone,
And I am left to weep alone.”
There is one source of true happiness. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.”
True religion is denominated wisdom. And why? Because mankind despise it. The proud and haughty sinner looks down upon it with contempt, as a thing beneath his notice. But God regards it as the height of wisdom; and he would rescue it from this degradation by pronouncing it wisdom.
It is also called wisdom, because it is the highest wisdom of man to attend to the concerns of the soul. Wisdom in a wCrldly sense, consists in selecting the most important object, and adopting the best means to secure — in laying a plan for time, which there will be no reason to regret. But wisdom in the text, is, laying a plan for eternity which will never be regretted. Sin is called folly, because although sinners affect to be wise, they will hereafter be constrained to alter their opinion, and to curse their folly to all eternity. The time will never come, when those who secure an interest in Christ, will regret it. They will not regret it on a dying bed. They will not regret it at the day of judgment. They will not regret it to all eternity. No one was ever heard to say, and no one ever will be heard to say, at the close of life, I am sorry that I have attended to the subject of religion. Let me die the death of the sinner, and let my last end be like his. This was never said. But directly the reverse has always been matter of fact. The sinner who now despises the subject of religion, will on a dying bed, and at the judgment day, curse his own folly for having neglected the concerns of his soul; and thus the sober judgment and conscience of all in heaven, and all in hell, will declare that sin is the greatest folly, and that religion is the highest wisdom. Hence it is calling things by their right names.
Or if, in the text, wisdom means Chiist, as some suppose, it amounts to the same thing. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom; and happy is the man that findeth Christ. One cannot be found without the other.
“Happy the man who wisdom gains.
In whose obedient heart she reigns;
He owns, and will forever own,
Wisdom and Christ, and heaven are one.”
I have selected this topic because the young often regard religion as a gloomy subject. But the reverse is true. Religion is not gloomy; but it is gloomy to be without it. This subject may be presented to advantage by contrast.
How gloomy must be the state of those who delight in nothing but what God forbids. All their pleasures are foi bidden pleasures. With what stings of remorse, they must be accompanied. What a miserable portion this. And how gloomy the condition of those who have no other.
Sickness, and sorrow, and pain are the common lot of all, and no feeling heart could wish to interrupt the little joys of the present life, if there were no other.
How gloomy the state of those whose sins are all unpardoned. They are like prisoners under sentence of death, and every moment liable to be called forth to execution. “He that believeth not is condemned already, and the wnath of God abideth on him.” ‘^ Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil.” 0 what miserable sport. They know not but the next moment they shall be hurried into eternity.
How gloomy the state of those who receive all their good things in this life. They have no title to heaven — no Saviour to go to. How gloomy the state of such an one on a dying bod. He has spent all his life in sin, and the day of salvation is now drawing to a close.
“The work, the mighty work
Of life, so long delayed.
Repentance yet to be begun.
Upon a dying bed.”
On the other hand, how happy the man who delights in those things which God commands — who can say, “O how love I thy holy law.” Religion is his amusement. ^’Her ways arc v;ays of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” He is pleased with the Bible — with its doctrines and precepts. He is pleased with the people of God. They are the excellent of the earth. He is pleased with the Sabbath, and w’lih the ordinances of God’s house. “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”
How happy the state of those whose sins are pardoned. “Blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is covered.”
How happy the man who has God for his friend. Let all the world be against him, if God be for him, it is enough.
How happy the man who suffers all his c[ things in this life. A few more pains, and his sullerings will be over. He may say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, hiMJceforlh there is laid up for me a crown of righltousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give moat tlmtday.”
“What matter whether pain or pleasures fill The swelling heart one little moment here;
From both alike how vain is every thrill,
While an untried eternity is near.
Think not of rest, fond man, in life’s career. The joys and griefs that meet thee, dash aside
Like bubbles; and thy bark right onward steer, Through calm and tempest, till it cross the tide, Shoot into port in triumph, or serenely glide.”
The last enemy is about to be slain. ‘’O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory V
“E’en now before we rise
To that immortal state,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
Should constant joys create.
The men of grace have found
Glory begun below.
Celestial fruits on earthly ground,
From faith and hope may grow.
Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry,
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high.”
We come then to the conclusion that religion is not a gloomy subject, and that the reason why it appears gloomy to you, is a consciousness that you do not possess it; and that if you were to die in this state, you must be lost forever. This is proved from the experience of all under conviction of sin. The distress of those who were pricked in the heart on the day of Pentecofct, was not owing to their religion, but to the fact that they had no religion. But when their hearts were changed, and they found the Saviour, O how happy they were. They gladly received the word.
And so it was with the trembling jailor. He rejoiced in God. And so when Philip preached in Samaria, ‘Uhere was great joy in that city.” And so it is in our day. We have the testimony of thousands of youth, that religion is not a gloomy subject, but that it is awfully gloomy to be without it.
But suppose it were not so. It is absolutely necessary to the salvation of the soul and what are the trials of a short life compared with a miserable eternity?