A hard and unfeeling manner of denouncing the threatenings of the Word of God is not only barbarous and inhuman, but calculated, by inspiring disgust, to rob them of all their efficacy.
A religion without its mysteries is a temple without a God.
All attempts to urge men forward, even in the right path, beyond the measure of their light, are impracticable; and unlawful, if they were practicable; augment their light, conciliate their affections, and they will follow of their own accord.
Be what it may, let the first whisper of the internal monitor be listened to as an oracle, as the still small voice which Elijah heard when he wrapped his face in his mantle, recognizing it to be the voice of God.
Beware of fixing habits in a child.
By great and sublime virtues are meant those which are called into action on great and trying occasions, which demand the sacrifice of the dearests interests and prospects of human life, and sometimes of life itself; the virtues, in a word, which, by their rarity and splendor, draw admiration, and have rendered illustrious the character of patriots, martyrs, and confessors.
Call things by their right names . . . Glass of brandy and water! That is the current, but not the appropriate name; ask for a glass of liquid fire and distilled damnation.
Enthusiasm is an evil much less to be dreaded than superstition. Superstition is the disease of nations; enthusiasm that of individuals: the former grows inveterate by time; the latter is cured by it.
Faith is a practical habit, which like every other, is strengthened and increased by continual exercise. It is nourished by meditation, by prayer, and the devout perusal of the Scriptures; and the light which it diffuses becomes stronger and clearer by an uninterrupted converse with its object, and a faithful compliance with its dictates.
Fame must necessarily be the portion of but few.
Fanaticism is an inflamed state of the passions; and nothing that is violent will last long. The vicissitudes of the world and the business of life are admirably adapted to abate the excesses of religious enthusiasm.
Fanaticism is such an overwhelming impression of the ideas relating to the future world as disqualifies for the duties of life.
Few sects have derived their sentiments purely from sacred oracles, but are the emanations of distinguished leaders.
Genius may dazzle, eloquence may persuade, reason may convince; but to render popular cold and comfortless sophistry, unaided by these powers, is a hopeless attempt.
Heaven is attracting to itself whatever is congenial to its nature, is Enriching itself by the spoils of earth, and collecting within its capacious bosom whatever is pure, permanent and divine.
However some may affect to dislike controversy, it can never be of ultimate disadvantage to the interests of truth or the happiness of mankind.
If an uninterested spectator, after a careful perusal of the New Testament, were asked what he conceived to be its distinguishing characteristic, he would reply without hesitation, "That wonderful spirit of philanthropy by which it is distinguished." It is a perpetual commentary on that sublime aphorism, "God is love."
If knowledge, is power, patience is powerful.
If we look back upon the usual course of our feelings, we shall find that we are more influenced by the frequent recurrence of objects than by their weight and importance; and that habit has more force in forming our characters than our opinions have. The mind naturally takes its tone and complexion from what it habitually contemplates.
In all our reasonings concerning men we must lay it down as a maxim that the greater part are moulded by circumstances.