Religion may be blinded,
Or if she give a random sting,
'Tis oft but little minded.
"But when on life we're tempest driv'n,
A conscience's but a canker;
A correspondence fix'd with heaven,
Is sure a noble anchor."
The time is now at hand that Franklin must die. When that time approaches, or when only the chilling thought of it strikes the heart, how happy is he who in looking on the withered face or snowy locks of a dear friend, can enjoy the exulting hope that he is prepared for the awful change. This leads us to speak of doctor Franklin on a much higher subject than has yet engaged our attention. I mean his religion.
I have met with nothing in the life of any great man in our country about which there has been such universal inquiry, as about the Religion of Dr. Franklin.
Some, who in despite of Christ and all his apostles, will "judge their brother;" and judge him too by the letter which killeth, will not allow that Dr. Franklin had any religion at all, because, forsooth, he did not believe and "confess Christ before men," in the manner they did. But others, construing the Gospel, as Christ himself commands, by "the spirit;" which teaches that, "with the heart man believeth unto salvation, through love and good works;" and that the right way of "confessing Christ before men" is by a good life.—These gentlemen tell us, that Dr. Franklin not only had religion, but had it in an eminent degree.