American clergyman and author (1771-1852)
Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed with a little adversity.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
Suspicion is far more apt to be wrong than right; oftener unjust than just. It is no friend to virtue, and always an enemy to happiness.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
Theories are very thin and unsubstantial; experience only is tangible.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
A mother's love, in a degree, sanctifies the most worthless offspring.
HOSEA BALLOU
Edge-Tools of Speech
But after all that has been said and done against this doctrine of universal benevolence and grace, its progress confounds its enemies, encourages its friends, and calls to mind the parable of the mustard seed. Suppose for a century to come it should continue its advances according to what it has gained for the twenty-five years above mentioned, is it not evident that the knowledge of God would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea? But would any body then, being acquainted with the history of these times, think of making use of the superstition of our clergy to oppose the evidences of this doctrine? Would such a one say, it is probable that in those times of superstition, the clergy who had great influence with the common people, might alter many passages of scripture, and in room of using the word elect, interpolate the words all men? If I understand your argument, this is the use you make of superstition. But, sir, I am satisfied that the superstition of our times will be sufficient proof to future ages, that the scriptures which so abundantly prove the doctrine of universal salvation, were not the production of a superstitious clergy who were known to oppose this doctrine with all their learning and influence.
HOSEA BALLOU
A Series of Letters in Defense of Divine Revelation
In no instance do the evangelists betray the least anxiety for fear what they relate will not be credited. Even when they pen the astonishing miracles of which they pretend to be eye witnesses, they make no pause to clear up any thing; but tell the whole as if the whole was publicly known. In a word, this history, this sacred testimony, carries its own competent evidence within itself.
HOSEA BALLOU
A Series of Letters in Defense of Divine Revelation
It is very questionable in my mind, how far we have the right to judge one of another, since there is born within every man the germs of both virtue and vice. The development of one or the other is contingent upon circumstances.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
It should be kept in mind that when the gospels were written and for more than two hundred years afterwards, Christianity was hated and persecuted beyond what we can easily conceive, by the emperors of Rome and their wicked governors, who being authorized by special edicts for that purpose put to the most cruel tortures and horrid deaths the followers of Jesus. The superstitious priests of heathen idols, were constantly active with all possible inventions calculated to excite jealousies and sharpen the edge of persecution against a doctrine that was calculated to subvert their order and demolish their temples. It was not until A. D. 311, that Maximin Galerius, who had been the author of the heaviest calamities on the Christians, published a solemn edict, ordering the persecution to cease, which his indescribable horrors and painful sickness compelled him to do. The next year Constantine, and his colleague Licinius granted to the Christians a full power of living according to their own laws and institutions.
HOSEA BALLOU
A Series of Letters in Defense of Divine Revelation
O sin, how you paint your face! How you flatter us poor mortals on to death! You never appear to the sinner in your true character; you make fair promises, but you never fulfil one; your tongue is smoother than oil, but the poison of asps is under your lip!
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
Embark on no enterprise which you cannot submit to the test of prayer.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
Energy, even like the biblical grain of mustard-seed, will remove mountains.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
Faith, in order to be genuine and of any real value, must be the offspring of that divine love which Jesus manifested when he prayed for his enemies on the cross.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
History makes haste to record great deeds, but often neglects good ones.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
How quickly a truly benevolent act is repaid by the consciousness of having done it.
HOSEA BALLOU
Edge-Tools of Speech
The heavens and the earth, the woods and the wayside, teem with instruction and knowledge to the curious and thoughtful.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
I have many reasons for not believing in the general sentiment that supposes the revelation contained in the scriptures was designed to prepare men in this world for happiness in another, and that a want of a correct knowledge of this revelation here, would subject the ignorant to inconveniences in a future state. Such a sentiment is an impeachment of the wisdom and goodness of God. For if this were the case, why was the gospel not early published to all people? Why were ages after ages suffered to pass away, and generations after generations permitted to sink into eternity without a ray of that light which was indispensable to their everlasting happiness? Was it not as easy for the eternal to send his son at the dawn of time as after so many ages had passed away? Was it not as easy for him to communicate to all nations as to one? But divine wisdom has seen fit to manifest itself by degrees in the system of the gospel as well as in the knowledge of science; and we have no more evidence to believe, that those who go from this state to another ignorant of the gospel of Christ, will, on that account, be rejected of God from his favor, than we have to believe that those who have died ignorant of the sciences, will, on that account be so rejected.
HOSEA BALLOU
A Series of Letters in Defense of Divine Revelation
It being well known, nor ever doubted by the friends or enemies of Christianity, that its founder and his apostles proved the divinity of their missions by miracles alone, it was nothing more than might be rationally expected, that impostors would rise up under those sacred pretensions, with a view to establish themselves. But if this religion of Jesus Christ, had not at first been built upon this foundation, impostors would never have thought of imposing on people with such pretensions. Impostors, therefore, together with all their deceptions, cannot, as I humbly conceive, be admitted as evidence against the genuineness of the gospel, but in favor of it.
HOSEA BALLOU
A Series of Letters in Defense of Divine Revelation
Remember, when incited to slander, that it is only he among you who is without sin that may cast the first stone.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul; and the heart of man knoweth none more fragrant. While its opponent, ingratitude, is a deadly weed; not only poisonous in itself but impregnating the very atmosphere in which it grows, with fetid vapors.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought
I ask no truer image of my Heavenly Father than I find reflected in my own heart -- all loving, all forgiving.
HOSEA BALLOU
Treasury of Thought