And Now a Few Words

"It is manifest that the church is sunk down into a low and backslidden state, when you see Christians conform to the world in dress, equipage, parties, seeking worldly amusements, reading novels, and other books such as the world read."

"The Quakers are the only people who retain a fondness for their own mode of worship; for be they ever so far separated from each other, they hold a sort of communion with the society, and seldom depart from its rules, at least in this country.  Thus all sects are mixed as well as all nations; thus religious indifference is imperceptible disseminated from one end of the continent to the other; which is at present one of the strongest characteristics of the Americans."

"Unfortunately, there were men in the new world, of a sterner faith than these May-Pole worshippers. Not far from Merry Mount was a settlement of Puritans, most dismal wretches, who said their prayers before daylight, and then wrought in the forest or the cornfield, till evening made it prayer time again. Their weapons were always at hand, to shoot down the straggling savage. When they met in conclave, it was never to keep up the old English mirth, but to hear sermons three hours long, or to proclaim bounties on the heads of wolves and the scalps of Indians. Their festivals were fast-days, and their chief pastime the singing of psalms. Woe to the youth or maiden, who did but dream of a dance! The selectman nodded to the constable; and there sat the light-heeled reprobate in the stocks; or if he danced, it was round the whipping-post, which might be termed the Puritan May-Pole."

"...Mr. Cotton Mather dined with us, and was with me in the new Kitchen when this was; He had just been mentioning that more Minister Houses that others proportionably had been smitten with Lightening; enquiring what the meaning of God should be in it."

This is His honor, not Dishonor; nay,
     No Habeas-Corpus against His Clients came.
For all their Fines His Purse doth make down pay.
     He Non-Suits Satan's Suit or Casts the Same.
     He'll plead thy Case, and not accept a Fee.
     He'll plead Sub Forma Pauperis for thee.

I kenning through Astronomy Divine
     The World's bright Battlement, wherein I spy
A Golden Path my Pencil cannot line,
     From that bright Throne onto my Threshold lie.
     And while mt puzzled thought about it pour,
     I find the bread of Life in't at my door.

"God is unity, for He is the truth, which is one. The world is many, because it is in error. We should turn away from all the sights of nature, even those which appear the most innocent. Their diversity renders them pleasant, which is a sign that they are evil."