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    keeping , sermon-reading , or hearing ; performing churdh ceremonies , or making long prayers , filled with flatteries and compliments , despised even by wise men , and much less capable of pleasing the Deity . The worship

    of God is a duty ; the hearing and reading of serrnons may be useful ; but if men rest in hearing and praying , as too many do , it is as if a tree should value itself on being watered and putting forth leaves , though it never produced any fruit .

    Your great master thought much less of these outward appearances and professions , than many of his n $ odern disciples . He preferred the doers of the word to the mere hearers : the son

    that seemingly refused to obey his father , and yet performed his commands , to- him that professed his readiness but neglected the work ; the heretical but charitable Samaritan ,

    to the uncharitable though orthodox priest , and sanctified Levite ; and those who gave food to the hungry , drink to the thirsty , raiment to the naked , entertainment to the stranger , and relief to the sick , though they never heard of his name * he declares

    shall in the last day be accepted ; when those who cry Lord 1 Lord ! who value themselves upon their faith , though great enough to perform miracles , but have neglected good works , shall be rejected . He professed that he came not to call the

    righteous , but sinners to repentance ; which implied his modest opinion that there were some in his time who thought themselves so good that they need not hear even him for improvement ; but now-a ~ days we have scarce a JUttW parson that does not think it

    tjae duty of every man within his reach to sit under his petty ministratrations ; and that whoever omits them , offends God . I wish to such more humility , and to you health and happiness ; being Your friend and servant , B . FRANKLIN ,

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    To D » . PRIBSTLEY . London , September 19 , 1772 « Dear Sir , , IN-. the affair , of so , tnuch impoirt ^ nfee to you , wlicrein ,. you ask ray advice ; I cannot for wont of sufficieat premises , counsel you what to determine ; but if you please , » L will toll you how . When those difficult cases

    t *» ^ c ^<^ rU ^ . ^ J& ^ & ^ ^> -

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    occur , they are difficult chiefly because , while we have them under consideration , all the reasons pro and con , are not present to the mind at the same time ; but sometimes one

    set present themselves ; and at other times another , the first being Out of sight . Hence the various purposes or inclinations that alternately prevail , and the uncertainty that perplexes us . To get over this , vny way is , to divide half a sheet of paper by a line

    mto two columns ; writing over the one pro , and over the other con : then daring three or four days consideration , 1 put down under the different heads , short hints of the different motives that at different times occur

    to me , jor or against the measure . When 1 have thus got them all together in one view , I endeavour to estimate their respective weights , and where I find two , ( one on each side ) that seem equal , I strike them both out . If I fii * d a reason pro equal no some two reasons con , I strike out the three . If I judge some two reasotis

    con 9 equal to Some tltree reasons pto , * I ^ strifce out the jive ; and thus proceeding I find at length where the balance lifes ; and if after a day or two of farther consideration , nothing new that is of importance occurs on either side , 1 come to a determination accordingly . And though the weight of reasons cannot be taken with the

    precisian df algebraic quantities ; yet , when each is thus considered separately and comparatively , and the whole lies before me , I think I can judge better , and am less liable to make a rash step ; and in fact I have found great advantage from this kind of equation , in w * hat may be called moral or prudential algebra .

    Wishing sincerely that you may determine for the best , I am ever , my dear friend , Yoar ' s most affectionately , B . FRANKLIN .

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    To Dr . Price , London . Passy , February 6 , 1780 . Dear Sir , I RECEIVED btrt very lately your k ? rRl fav 6 tir of October 14 th .

    " ' I L fa Dr . PngenhouBK , who brought it , having staitt long in Holland . sent the enclosed directly to Mr . . It gave fne , gjreiit pleasure to understand that yoti continue wall . Vpjur wri * tings , after all the abuse you and they

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    Extracts Jrom New ^ Publications * # 13

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1817, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2460/page/13/