Alas the Church of England! What with Popery on one hand, and schismatics on the other, how has she been crucified between two thieves!

These reflections made me very sensible of the goodness of Providence to me, and very thankful for my present condition, with all its hardships and misfortunes ; and this part also I cannot but recommend to the reflection of those who are apt, in their misery, to say, Is any affliction like mine? Let them consider how much worse the cases of some people are, and their case might have been, if Providence had thought fit.

I had dropped a good design, which I had once bent my thoughts upon, and that was to try if I could not make some of my barley into malt, and then try to brew myself some beer.

Tis very strange men should be so fond of being wickeder than they are.

[The Devil's] laws are easy, and his gentle sway, Makes it exceeding pleasant to obey .

In the course of our lives, the evil which in itself we seek most to shun, and which, when we are fallen into, is the most dreadful to us, is oftentimes the very means or door of our deliverance, by which alone we can be raised again from the affliction we are fallen into.

I had been tricked once by that Cheat called love, but the Game was over.