of
reason, the life of the heart, and the strength of the will.--PIERRE.

Since its introduction, human nature has made great progress, and
society experienced great changes; and in this advanced condition of
the world, Christianity, instead of losing its application and
importance, is found to be more and more congenial and adapted to
man's nature and wants. Men have outgrown the other institutions of
that period when Christianity appeared, its philosophy, its modes of
warfare, its policy, its public and private economy; but Christianity
has never shrunk as intellect has opened, but has always kept in
advance of men's faculties, and unfolded nobler views in proportion as
they have ascended. The highest powers and affections which our nature
has developed, find more than adequate objects in this religion.
Christianity is indeed peculiarly fitted to the more improved stages
of society, to the more delicate sensibilities of refined minds, and
especially to that dissatisfaction with the present state, which
always grows with the growth of our moral powers and affections.
--CHANNING.

It is a refiner as well as a purifier of the heart; it imparts
correctness of perception, delicacy of sentiment, and all those nicer
shades of thought and feeling which constitute elegance of mind.
--MRS. JOHN SANFORD.

I desire no other evidence of the truth of Christianity than the
Lord's Prayer.--MADAME DE STAEL.

Had it been published by a voice from heaven, that twelve poor men,
taken out of boats and creeks, without any help of learning, should
conquer the world to the cross, it might have been thought an illusion
against all reason of men; yet we know it was undertaken and
accomplished by them.--STEPHEN CHARNOCK.

A few persons of an odious and despised country could not have filled
the world with believers, had they not shown undoubted credentials
from the divine person who sent them on such a message.--ADDISON.

COMPANY.--Nature has left every man a capacity of being agreeable,
though not of shining in company; and there are a hundred men
sufficiently qualified for both who, by a very few faults, that they
might correct in half an hour, are not so much as tolerable.--SWIFT.

It is certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught
as men take diseases one of another; therefore, let men take heed of
their company.--SHAKESPEARE.

The most agreeable of all companions is a simple, frank man, without
any high pre