quote, he writes,

"O Creator! O Father! I believe that thou art good; and that
thou art pleased with the pleasure of thy children. Praised
be thy name forever. By thy power thou hast made the
glorious sun with his attending worlds. By thy wisdom thou
hast formed all things. Thy wisdom, thy power, and thy
goodness are everywhere clearly seen. Thou abhorrest in thy
creatures treachery and deceit, malice, revenge,
intemperance, and every other hurtful vice. But thou art a
lover of justice and sincerity, of friendship and
benevolence, and every virtue. Thou art my friend, my
father, and my benefactor. Praised be thy name; O God,
forever. Amen."

The prayer which followed, doubtless giving utterance to his most
inward feelings, is beautiful.

"Inasmuch," he wrote, "as by reason of our ignorance, we
cannot be certain that many things, which we often hear
mentioned in the petitions of men to the Deity, would prove
real goods if they were in our possession, and as I have
reason to hope and believe that the goodness of my Heavenly
Father will not withhold from me a suitable share of temporal
blessings, if by a virtuous and holy life I conciliate his
favor and kindness; therefore I presume not to ask such
things; but rather humbly and with a sincere heart, express
my earnest desire that he would graciously assist my
continual endeavors and resolutions of eschewing vice and
embracing virtue, which kind of supplication will at the same
time remind me in a solemn manner of my extensive duty."

He then added the supplication that he might be preserved from
atheism, impiety and profaneness; that he might be loyal to his
prince; that he might be gracious to those below him; that he might
refrain from calumny and detraction; that he might be sincere in
friendship, just in his dealings, grateful to his benefactors, patient
in affliction; that he might have tenderness for the weak, and that,
rejoicing in the good of others, he might become truly virtuous and
magnanimous.

It is very evident that some unexplained circumstances had called the
attention of Franklin very earnestly to the subject of religion. He
wrote very much upon that theme, and published a new version of the
Lord's Prayer, and a lecture upon Providence and Predestination. He,
however, admits that he very seldom attended any public worship,