who forsakes or neglects his religion — practically says: " Away with God! I will none of Him! I am independent even of Him — absolutely self-sufficient." The foundling renounces his generous benefactor; the son disowns the most loving of fathers! In some this rebellious spirit takes the form of contempt for everything sacred; in others, it is the bitter opposition to some particular creed; in the majority, it is downright indifference. And though the cases of the scoffer and the religious fanatic are, God knows, deplorable enough, still, there is in them an activity, an interest — a partial belief, if you will — which may, God willing, lead to something better. But the case of the indifferent is the most hopeless of all. He is neither hot nor cold, and, therefore, disgusting to God. " I would," says the Holy Spirit, speaking to the indifferent, " I would thou wert cold or hot; but because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will begin to vomit thee out of My mouth."
Brethren, the causes of irreligion are, it seems to me, threefold. First of all is "ignorant pride;" sometimes a little pride and great ignorance; sometimes less ignorance and greater pride; but invariably "ignorant pride." How many men there are, not knowing even how to read or write, who will sneer at those eternal truths of religion, in the presence of which the world's greatest minds have bowed in humble assent! How many men there are with a stock of learning, little enough to be dangerous, but large enough to fill them with infinite con-
