We have had nineteen centuries of ecclesiastical teaching and preaching, and what do we see in our midst? Tens of thousands of hon...est and industrious poor begging--not for bread, but for labour; thousands of malicious loafers looking evilly aslant at wealth; myriads of fallen women pacing the streets and alleys of our towns that they may degrade for temporary hire, to men more debased than themselves, those frail bodies which should be "temples of the living God." We see millions toiling early and late for the mere necessaries of life. We see an inordinate desire for wealth and luxury, to the exclusion of duty and of pity and consideration for others. We see the wealthy and gifted too often abandoned to sensuality and frivolity.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The doctrine of blind obedience and unqualified submission to any human power, whether civil or ecclesiastical, is the doctrine of... despotism, and ought to have no place 'mong Republicans and Christians.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Union of Religious Sentiments begets a surprising confidence and Ecclesiastical Establishments tend to great ignorance and corrupt...ion, all of which facilitate the Execution of Mischievous Projects.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Is America a land of God where saints abide for ever? Where golden fields spread fair and broad, where flows the crystal river? Ce...rtainly not flush with saints, and a good thing, too, for the saints sent buzzing into man's ken now are but poor- mouthed ecclesiastical film stars and cliché-shouting publicity agents. Their little knowledge bringing them nearer to their ignorance, Ignorance bringing them nearer to death, But nearness to death no nearer to God.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The ecclesiastical history of this town interested us somewhat. It appears that ... "in 1662, the town agreed that a part of every... whale cast on shore be appropriated for the support of the ministry." No doubt there seemed to be some propriety in thus leaving the support of the ministers to Providence, whose servants they are, and who alone rules the storms; for, when few whales were cast up, they might suspect that their worship was not acceptable. The ministers must have sat upon the cliffs in every storm, and watched the shore with anxiety. And, for my part, if I were a minister, I would rather trust to the bowels of the billows, on the back side of Cape Cod, to cast up a whale for me, than to the generosity of many a country parish I know.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
He that goeth about to persuade a multitude that they are not so well governed as they ought to be shall never want attentive and ...favourable hearers.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »