Mary Wollstonecraft

“ There is in fact a constant intercourse kept up with the Creator, when we learn to consider Him as the fountain of truth, which our understanding naturally thirsts after. But His Goodness brings Him still more on a level with our bounded capacities, for we trace it in every work of mercy, and feel, in sorrow particularly, His fatherly care. Every blessing is doubled when we suppose it comes from Him, and afflictions almost lose their name when we believe they are sent to correct, not crush us. Whilst we are alive to gratitude and admiration, we must adore God. ”

“ But we who serve a long-suffering God should pity the weakness of our fellow-creatures; we must not beg for mercy and not shew it; we must not acknowledge that we have offended, without trying to avoid doing so in future. We are to deal with our fellow-creatures as we expect to be dealt with. This is practical prayer!—Those who practise it feel frequently sublime pleasures, and lively hopes animate them in this vale of tears; that seem a foretaste of the felicity they will enjoy, when the understanding is more enlightened, and the affections properly regulated. ”

“ To attain any thing great, a model must be held up to exercise our understanding, and engage our affections. A view of the disinterested goodness of God is therefore calculated to touch us more than can be conceived by a depraved mind. When the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, true courage will animate our conduct; for nothing can hurt those who trust in Him. If the desire of acting right is ever present with us, if admiration of goodness fills our souls, we may be said to pray constantly. And if we try to do justice to all our fellow-creatures, and even to the brute creation ”