As sure as there is a God, so sure it is that a religion from God has only reasonable commands for reasonable creatures. No tempers can be imposed on us by way of test, and advance in godliness, which we might as reasonably be without, if not required of us. God can only will that reasonable creatures should be more reasonable, more perfect, and more like Himself, and consequently will enjoin us no duties or tempers of mind, but such as have this tendency and object. All His commandments are for our sake, and are so many instructions to be more happy than we could be without them. A truly Christian man is offended at the conduct of those who live without religion, not only for other reasons, but because they are opposing God who is goodness itself, in the desire and endeavour to correct the madness and folly of fallen man. Religion is our cure: God's merciful communication of such rules and discipline of life, as may serve to deliver us from the infatuation and ignorance of our fallen state. It is to teach us the knowledge of ourselves and all things about us, that we may know the true value of things, may discern our good and evil, and not be as idiots in our choice. For this reason God presses His instructions upon us with threatenings and terrors, and makes oar acceptance of His salvation, of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, and His graces, and of all that is for the good and cure of our souls, such duties to Himself as He will punish our neglect of. It is not without evident reason that Solomon says: The wisdom of a discreet man is to understand his way, and the imprudence of fool's erreth. A fool will laugh at sin; but among the just grace shall abide. Consider this well for daily guidance, that if even the reason of man abhors such things as are in themselves abhorrent, how contrary to the Divine nature must be all sin!
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp