"17. Wednesday. A fine morning. Proceeded on my journey towards Braintree. Stopped to see Mr. Haven, of Dedham, who told me, very civilly, he supposed I took my faith on trust from Dr. Mayhew, and added, that he believed the doctrine of satisfaction of Jesus Christ to be essential to Christianity, and that he would not believe this satisfaction unless he believed the Divinity of Christ. Mr. Balch was there too, and observed, he would not be a Christian if he did not believe mysteries of the gospel; that he could bear with an Arminian, but when, Dr. Mayhew they denied the Divinity and satisfaction of Christ, he had no more to do with them; that he knew to make of Dr. Mayhew's two discourses upon the expected of all things. They gave him an idea of a cart whose wanted greasing; it rumbled on in a hoarse, rough manner; there was a good deal of ingenious talk in them, but it was thrown together in a jumbled, confused order. He believed the Doctor wrote them in a great panic. He added further that Arminians, however stiffly they maintain their opinions in health, always, he takes notice, retract when they come to die, and choose to die Calvinists. Set out for Braintree, and arrived about sunset."
React to this quote
More by John Adams
See allResonant Thoughts
"So little care they of beasts to make them men, that by their sorcerous doctrine of formalities, they take the way to transform them out of Christian men into judaizing beasts. Had they but taught the…"
"There is a point at which material things offer less than do some nonmaterial things. We ought to be able to live on a reasonable level and at the same time have others live on a reasonable level. The…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"Trust is a precious quality. An essential quality. Once lost it is not quick or easy to rebuild."
— Alex Salmond"I have met Rossini, Cherubini, Baillot, etc.—also Kalkbrenner. You would not believe how curious I was abou…"
— Frédéric Chopin"There is a species of person called a 'Modern Churchman' who draws the full salary of a beneficed clergyman…"
— Evelyn Waugh"I do not believe in using women in combat, because females are too fierce."
— Margaret Mead"There’s no need for your pretty lies now. It makes no difference to an old woman the things a young girl be…"
— Roger Zelazny"Make not Christ a liar in distrusting His promise."
— Samuel Rutherford