It is only common prejudice that induces us to believe that atheism is a fearful state.

So that, were it the purpose of God to produce comets as signs of his wrath it would be true to say that he is quickening a false devotion almost all over the world, increasing the number of pilgrims to Mecca, multiplying the offerings to the most famous impostors, inducing men to build mosques for Mohammedan worship, causing the invention of new superstitions among the dervishes - in a word, stimulating many abominable things which otherwise might not have been.

No nations are more warlike than those which profess Christianity.

In matters of religion, it is very easy to deceive a man and very hard to undeceive him.

The antiquity and general acceptance of an opinion is not assurance of its truth.

The furnace of affliction refines us from earthly drossiness, and softens us for the impression of God's own stamp.

Compulsion in the literal Sense is maliciously misrepresented, by supposing it authorizes Violences committed against the Truth. The Answer to this; by which it is prov'd, that the literal Sense does in reality authorize the stirring up Persecutions against the Cause of Truth, and that an erroneous Conscience has the same Rights as an enlighten'd Conscience.