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 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."
"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.
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grace
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