JULY 10
Believing is the act of man, but it is the gift of God.
to T. Lessey, 7th January, 1787
Gaining knowledge is a good thing; but saving souls is better. … You will have abundant time for gaining other knowledge if you spend all your mornings therein. Only sleep not more than you need; talk not more than you need; and never be idle, nor triflingly [sic] employed. But if you can do but one, either following your studies or by instructing the ignorant, let your studies alone. I would throw all the libraries in the world rather than be guilty of the perdition of one soul.
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True, it is far easier to preach a good sermon than to instruct the ignorant in the principles of religion.
Minutes of Conversations, 1744
