FRANCIS ATTERBURY

Affliction is a school of virtue; it corrects levity, and interrupts the confidence of sinning.

They who are not induced to believe and live as they ought by those discoveries which God hath made in Scriptures would stand out against any evidence whatever, even that of a messenger sent express from the other world.

The greater absurdities are, the more strongly they evince the falsity of that supposition from whence they flow.

I desire to be buried as far from kings and politicians as may be

A very prosperous people, flushed with great victories and successes, are seldom so pious, so humble, so just, or so provident, as to perpetuate their happiness.

Should we grieve over a little misplaced charity, when an all knowing, all wise Being showers down every day his benefits on the unthankful and undeserving?

A sturdy, hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety, with less reluctance than he took the first step while his conscience was yet vigilant and tender.

It is little the sign of a wise or good man, to suffer temperance to be transgressed in order to purchase the repute of a generous entertainer.

The things of another world being distant, operate but faintly upon us: to remedy this inconvenience, we must frequently revolve their certainty and importance.

What we employ in charitable uses during our lives is given away from ourselves; what we bequeath at our death is given from others only, as our nearest relations.

Few consider how much we are indebted to government, because few can represent how wretched mankind would be without it.

It is impossible to have a lively hope in another life, and yet be deeply immersed in the enjoyments of this.

Hospitality sometimes degenerates into profuseness, and ends in madness and folly.

A good character when established should not be rested in as an end, but only employed as a means of doing still further good.

Those good men who take such pleasure in relieving the miserable for Christ's sake, would not have been less forward to minister onto Christ Himself.

From mere success nothing can be concluded in favor of any nation upon whom it is bestowed.

The smallest act of charity shall stand us in great stead.

There is a variety in tempers of good men.

Nothing can be reckoned good or bad to us in this life, any further than it indisposes us for the enjoyment of another.

It is the duty of every one to strive to gain and deserve a good reputation.

A good man not only forbears those gratifications which are forbidden by reason and religion, but even restrains himself in unforbidden instances.

Even the wisdom of God hath not suggested more pressing motives, more powerful incentives to charity, than these, that we shall be judged by it at the last dreadful day.

The temptations of prosperity insinuate themselves after a gentle, but very powerful manner; so that we are but little aware of them and less able to withstand them.

A just and wise magistrate is a blessing as extensive as the community to which he belongs; a blessing which includes all other blessings whatsoever that relate to this life.

He who performs his duty in a station of great power must needs incur the utter enmity of many, and the high displeasure of more.