’DoesitsuitthegreatnessofGod，’saystheeloquentandphilosophicalbishopofClermont，withthatpassionateandexaggeratingforceofimagination，whichseemssometimestoexceedtheboundsofdecorum；’doesitsuitthegreatnessofGod，toleavetheworldwhichhehascreatedinsouniversaladisorder？Toseethewickedprevailalmostalwaysoverthejust；
theinnocentdethronedbytheusurper；thefatherbecomethevictimoftheambitionofanunnaturalson；thehusbandexpiringunderthestrokeofabarbarousandfaithlesswife？FromtheheightofhisgreatnessoughtGodtobeholdthosemelancholyeventsasafantasticalamusement，withouttakinganyshareinthem？Becauseheisgreat，shouldhebeweak，orunjust，orbarbarous？Becausemenarelittle，oughttheytobeallowedeithertobedissolutewithoutpunishment，orvirtuouswithoutreward？OGod！ifthisisthecharacterofyourSupremeBeing；ifitisyouwhomweadoreundersuchdreadfulideas；Icannolongeracknowledgeyouformyfather，formyprotector，forthecomforterofmysorrow，thesupportofmyweakness，therewarderofmyfidelity。Youwouldthenbenomorethananindolentandfantasticaltyrant，whosacrificesmankindtohisinsolentvanity，andwhohasbroughtthemoutofnothing，onlytomakethemserveforthesportofhisleisureandofhiscaprice。’
Whenthegeneralruleswhichdeterminethemeritanddemeritofactions，comethustoberegardedasthelawsofanAll-powerfulBeing，whowatchesoverourconduct，andwho，inalifetocome，willrewardtheobservance，andpunishthebreachofthem；theynecessarilyacquireanewsacrednessfromthisconsideration。ThatourregardtothewilloftheDeityoughttobethesupremeruleofourconduct，canbedoubtedofbynobodywhobelieveshisexistence。Theverythoughtofdisobedienceappearstoinvolveinitthemostshockingimpropriety。Howvain，howabsurdwoulditbeforman，eithertoopposeortoneglectthecommandsthatwerelaiduponhimbyInfiniteWisdom，andInfinitePower。Howunnatural，howimpiouslyungratefulnottoreverencethepreceptsthatwereprescribedtohimbytheinfinitegoodnessofhisCreator，eventhoughnopunishmentwastofollowtheirviolation。Thesenseofproprietytooisherewellsupportedbythestrongestmotivesofself-interest。Theideathat，howeverwemayescapetheobservationofman，orbeplacedabovethereachofhumanpunishment，yetwearealwaysactingundertheeye，andexposedtothepunishmentofGod，thegreatavengerofinjustice，isamotivecapableofrestrainingthemostheadstrongpassions，withthoseatleastwho，byconstantreflection，haverendereditfamiliartothem。
Itisinthismannerthatreligionenforcesthenaturalsenseofduty:andhenceitis，thatmankindaregenerallydisposedtoplacegreatconfidenceintheprobityofthosewhoseemdeeplyimpressedwithreligioussentiments。Suchpersons，theyimagine，actunderanadditionaltie，besidesthosewhichregulatetheconductofothermen。Theregardtotheproprietyofaction，aswellastoreputation，theregardtotheapplauseofhisownbreast，aswellastothatofothers，aremotiveswhichtheysupposehavethesameinfluenceoverthereligiousman，asoverthemanoftheworld。Buttheformerliesunderanotherrestraint，andneveractsdeliberatelybutasinthepresenceofthatGreatSuperiorwhoisfinallytorecompensehimaccordingtohisdeeds。Agreatertrustisreposed，uponthisaccount，intheregularityandexactnessofhisconduct。Andwhereverthenaturalprinciplesofreligionarenotcorruptedbythefactiousandpartyzealofsomeworthlesscabal；whereverthefirstdutywhichitrequires，istofulfilalltheobligationsofmorality；
wherevermenarenottaughttoregardfrivolousobservances，asmoreimmediatedutiesofreligion，thanactsofjusticeandbeneficence；andtoimagine，thatbysacrifices，andceremonies，andvainsupplications，theycanbargainwiththeDeityforfraud，andperfidy，andviolence，theworldundoubtedlyjudgesrightinthisrespect，andjustlyplacesadoubleconfidenceintherectitudeofthereligiousman’sbehaviour。