Thomas Curtis Clarke

“ How wonderful the contrast religion presents!! But without adverting to the fruits of Christian love and enterprize, witness throughout the civilized world, the noon-daylight of Christianity, every where abounding in proportion as the human race rises in the scale of intelligence and civilization; and without denying the evils of bigotry, or the hypocrisy of pretenders, alike inimical to true religion–without appealing to the long line of heroes, statesmen, and philosophers; and the host of great intellects, who have made religion the study of their lives, and sealed it with their deaths ”

“ It has been truly observed that the Christian is the only religion which will bear the test of a rational investigation; that it is the only system which can pretend to a divine origin, and the only one to which mankind can look for a remedy against the various moral evils which prevail over the world. ”

“ In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity.
“’Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. ”