Law, l'auteur du célèbre livre A Serious Call, disait de même à Wesley: «Religion is the most plain simple thing in the world; It is only: we love him, because he first loved us.»
[287]: The fire is kindled in the country.... He saw the white gutters made by the tears which plentifully fell down from their black cheeks, black as they came out from their coal-pits. (Life by Southey.)
[288]: Some shrieking, some roaring aloud.... The most general was a loud breathing, like that of people half strangled and gasping for life. And indeed almost all the cries were like those of human creatures dying in bitter anguish. Great number wept without any noise; others fell down as dead. I stood upon the pew-seat, as did a young man in the opposite pew, an able-bodied fresh and healthy countryman. But in a moment when he seemed to think of nothing else down he dropt with a violence inconceivable.... I heard the stamping of his feet, ready to break the boards, as he lay in strong convulsions at the bottom of the pew.—I saw a sturdy boy, about eight years old, who roared above his fellows.... his face was red as scarlet, and almost all those on whom God laid his hand turned either very red or almost black.
[289]: The Wisdom of being religious.
[290]: Those words consist of two propositions, which are not distinct in sense... so that they differ only as cause and effect, which by a metonymy used in all sorts of authors are frequently put one for other.
[291]: Having thus explained the words, I come now to consider the proposition contained in them, which is this:
That religion in the best knowledge and wisdom. This I shall endeavour to make good these three ways.
1o By a direct proof of it.
2o By shewing on the contrary the folly and ignorance of irreligion and wickedness.
3o By vindicating religion from those common imputations which seem to charge it with ignorance or imprudence. I begin with the direct proof of it....