Quotes from Francis Atterbury

There is a variety in tempers of good men.

If God be infinitely holy, just, and good, He must take delight in those creatures that resemble Him most in these perfections.

It is the duty of every one to strive to gain and deserve a good reputation.

A good man not only forbears those gratifications which are forbidden by reason and religion, but even restrains himself in unforbidden instances.

What we employ in charitable uses during our lives is given away from ourselves; what we bequeath at our death is given from others only, as our nearest relations.

It is impossible to have a lively hope in another life, and yet be deeply immersed in the enjoyments of this.

Nothing can be reckoned good or bad to us in this life, any further than it indisposes us for the enjoyment of another.

A just and wise magistrate is a blessing as extensive as the community to which he belongs; a blessing which includes all other blessings whatsoever that relate to this life.

Even the wisdom of God hath not suggested more pressing motives, more powerful incentives to charity, than these, that we shall be judged by it at the last dreadful day.

It is little the sign of a wise or good man, to suffer temperance to be transgressed in order to purchase the repute of a generous entertainer.

Those good men who take such pleasure in relieving the miserable for Christ's sake, would not have been less forward to minister onto Christ Himself.

Affliction is a school of virtue; it corrects levity, and interrupts the confidence of sinning.

The things of another world being distant, operate but faintly upon us: to remedy this inconvenience, we must frequently revolve their certainty and importance.