Benjamin Franklin on works and faith
Some great quotes from Benjamin Franklin in his letter to George Whitefield: "the only thanks I should desire is, that you would always be equally ready to serve any other person that may need your assistance, and so let good offices go round; for mankind are all of a family." "I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help his other children, and my brethren" "He that for giving a draught of water to a thirsty person, should expect to be paid with a good plantation, would be modest in his demands, compared with those who think they deserve heaven for the little good they do on earth." "For my part I have not the vanity to think I deserve it, the folly to expect it, nor the ambition to desire it; but content myself in submitting to the will and disposal of that God who made me"
"The faith you mention... I wish it were more productive of good works than I have generally seen it: I mean real good works; ..." "if men rest in hearing and praying, as many do, it is as if a tree should value itself on being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produces any fruit."
and my favorite:
"now-a-days we have scarce a little parson that does not think it the duty of every man within his reach to sit under his petty ministrations;"
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin at books.google.com
BTW, this is really the first time I've used Google Books. Very nice.
