A little learning may incline men to atheifm but depth in it brings, them about to religion again.

A due fenfe of religion is the most powerful motive to direct man's conduct for the happiness of his fellow-creatures.

A pious zeal may be active, and yet not pernicious, and may shine without burning. Intemperate zeal is like the SIRIUS in HOMER.

Most men adapt religion to their interefts, instead of adapting their interests to religion.

A due contemplation of Divine Providence, is a certain cure of all misfortunes.

The foul is in heaven, even whilst it is in the flesh, if it be purged of natural corruptions, and taken up with divine thoughts.

The belief of a GOD is the best foundation of all pleasures, and an entire dependance on him never fuffers a man to be without fatisfaction in profperity, nor comfort in adversity: So that if he errs in it, he errs with pleasure.

The cares of the world, the heat of youth, or the allurements of vice, may, for a while fupprefs an early tincture of devotion impreffed on the mind, but it will not fail to break out again, when difcretion, age, or misfortunes have brought the man to himself.-The fpark may be covered and hid, but cannot be entirely extinguished.

Bigotry, instead of promoting the cause of religion, is but too apt to inspire an averfion of it in others.

A firm truft in the affillance and protection of heaven, produces patience, cheerfulness, and all

other

other difpofitions of mind, that alleviate thofe calamities which we are not able to remove, and which human nature in itfelf could never obtain.

Hopes and cares, anger and fears, divide our life would you be free from thefe anxieties ?-think every day will be your laft, and the fucceeding hours will be the more welcome, because unexpected.

Fear GOD, and thou art fecure from every one else..

The fear of GOD brighteneth the heart.

The favour of GOD is the nearest of all ends to be obtained.

He that hath no courage, hath no religion.

The ftrength of the heart, is from the foundness of the faith.

The WORD OF GOD, is the medicine of the heart.

He that omitteth the practice of religion, doth not fufficiently believe the reward that is annexed to it.

Refignation to the Providence of GOD, makes the greatest afflictions easy.

Truft in GoD, is a caftle of defence to him that Alieth to it.

A ftate of temperance, fobriety and juftice, without devotion, is but a cold, lifelefs, infipid condition of virtue; and is rather to be ftiled philosophy than religion.

The pleasures of the religious man are easy and portable, fuch as he carries about him in his bofom, without alarming either the eye or the envy of the world.

Philofophy teaches us to forgive our enemies, Religion to do good to them.

Philofophy teaches us to endure afflictions, Religion to enjoy them, by turning them into bleffings.

Philosophy and Religion fhew themselves in no one inftance fo much, as in the preserving our minds firm and steady.

Rectitude of will is a greater ornament and perfection, than brightness of understanding; and to be divinely good, more valuable than any other wisdom and knowledge.

Religion is the foundation and crown of all vir

tues.

No man can fubfift long out of fociety, nor fociety without religion.

Religion, if it has taken proper hold of the heart, is the most cheerful countenance-maker in the world.

It is a principal part of our religion, to do good to our fellow-creatures.

Religion without Piety, hath done more mifchief in the world, than all other things put together.

Let our prayers be as frequent as our wants, and our thanksgivings as our bleflings.

In the morning, think what you have to do, for which, afk GoD's direction and bleffing; at night, what you have done, for which you muft afk his pardon.

Take an exact account of your life, nor fear to Took upon the score, but be fearful of encreasing it':

to

to despair, because a man is finful, is to be worse because he hath been bad.

Fear to do any thing against that God whom thou lovest, and thou wilt avoid doing any thing against that GOD whom thou fearest.

It is a great injuftice to religion, to conceive that it is an enemy to mirth and cheerfulness: Its true fpirit exhilarates as well as compofes the foul.

They who would be wife and good, must study the written precepts of their great CREATOR; for without his inftructions, we are as little qualified to know our duty, as we are to perform it, without his affiftance.

He that confiders how foon he must close his life, will find nothing of fo much importance as to close it well; and will not, therefore, with too much zeal pursue what is useless to that purpose.

A man of true piety, that has no defigns to carry on, like one of an established fortune, always makes the leaft noife. One never pulls out his money, the other never talks of religion, but when there is occafion for it.

Should the religious man be mistaken, he lofes nothing; whereas, if the unbeliever be fo, he is undone for ever: But even here, the first has the advantage, if health and quietifm be objects of value.

REPARTE E.

See RAILLERY.

REPENT

REPENTANCE.

As

S every fin is a degree of danger, fo every well employed opportunity is a degree of return to hope and pardon.

Repentance without amendment, is like continual pumping in a fhip, without mending the leak.

Our repentance fhould ever be a remorfe for the ill we have done, and not a fear only of the ill which may happen to us.

Happy is the man who leaves his vices before the power of committing them leaves him.

Make an even account with repentance at the end of every day; so shall you have but one day to repent of before your death.

We cannot fet about our repentance too foon, as we know not how foon it may be too late.

A difpofition to a ready conviction, and a quick repentance is a greater proof of wisdom, than never to have erred; becaufe repentance is always a virtue, whereas not to have erred, may often be no other but luck.

REPROACH.

Sea CENSURE, &c.

REPROOF.