Let it be supposed that, in order to obtain happiness in this world, a man combats his instinct on all occasions and deliberately calculates every action of his life; that, instead of yielding blindly to the impetuosity of first desires, he has learned the art of resisting them, and that he has accustomed himself to sacrifice without an effort the pleasure of a moment to the lasting interest of his whole life.

If such a man believes in the religion which he professes, it will cost him but little to submit to the restrictions it may impose.

Reason herself counsels him to obey, and habit has prepared him to endure them.

If he should have conceived any doubts as to the object of his hopes, still he will not easily allow himself to be stopped by them; and he will decide that it is wise to risk some of the advantages of this world, in order to preserve his rights to the great inheritance promised him in another.

"To be mistaken in believing that the Christian religion is true," says Pascal, "is no great loss to anyone; but how dreadful to be mistaken in believing it to be false!" The Americans do not affect a brutal indifference to a future state; they affect no puerile pride in despising perils which they hope to escape from.