sk, Why not
judge the effect of religion from these as well as from better and more
pleasing cases? My reply is: What you see and judge may not be
religion at all. In the repulsive it may be only the coarse, rough
natural character; with the melancholy it may be dyspepsia. You do not
form your estimate of what the glorious light of the sun does in
gladdening and beautifying the earth, by its vain struggles with mists
and fogs; it may fail to make a potato patch sublime or grand, and yet
be in itself both sublime and grand. No, you judge of it by objects in
themselves calculated to reflect its excellence, by the life and joy it
diffuses on all animated nature, and especially by the exquisite beauty
it imparts to some lovely valley, or to grand old mountains whose snow
summits it drenches in light until they glitter and radiate like the
gates of heaven. So, precisely, in fairness, you should judge
religion. Hence I insist that men like Mr. Charless are examples by
which religion should be judged. Nature did much for him, made him
generous and kind, gave him a large heart and noble impulses. Grace
elevated, strengthened, purified all these natural qualities, and
brought him in harmony and fellowship with God; set before him, as an
object of love, confidence, and imitation, the blessed Saviour; gave
him a hope which earthly losses could not dim, and a peace which they
only know who have felt it. Why should it not have added to his
happiness? Had he lived he would have told you himself that what real
happiness he had in this life came more from his religion than all
other sources. My young friends if you still stand in doubt on this
point I can only say make the experiment yourselves, and if you find
what I have said not true, judge me a false witness.

There is a special promise made by Christ, to those who enter
their closet and shut the door and pray to their Father which is in
secret. How often Mr. Charless brought those words to my mind; and as
I used to see him coming from home, with such a cheerful, happy face,
as I saw how good men and wicked men respected and honored him, I have
said to myself over and often: His Father who seeth in secret is
rewarding him openly. In truth this passage was so associated with Mr.
Charless in my mind, that I do not know that I have read these words
for a number of years before his death and since without thinking of
him as a striking illustration of its truth and beauty.