Chancellor Wythe's Opinion Respecting Religion

Document Text, July, 1898

CHANCELLOR WYTHE'S OPINION RESPECTING RELIGION,

DELIVERED BY HIMSELF.

(From Massie Papers, Va. Hist. Soc. MSS. Collection.)

Why Sir, as to religion, I have ever considered it as Our best and greatest Friend, those glorious views which it gives of our relation to God, and of our destination to Heaven, on the easy terms of a good life, unquestionably furnish the best of all motives to virtue; the strongest dissuasives from vice; and the richest cordial under trouble, thus far I suppose We are all agreed; but not perhaps, so entirely in another opinion which is, that in the sight of God, moral character is the main point. This opinion very clearly taught by reason, is as fully * * by * * which every * * That the Tree will be valued only for its good fruit; and, that in the last clay, according to Our works of love or of hatred, of mercy, or of cruelty, We shall sing with angels, or weep with devils: in short, the Christian religion (the sweetest and sublimest in the World), labours throughout to infix in Our hearts this great truth, that God is love-and that in exact proportion as we grow in love, We grow in his likeness, and consequently shall ·partake of his friendship and felicity forever, while others therefore have been beating their heads, or embittering their hearts with disputes about forms of baptism and modes of faith, it has always, thank God, struck me as my great duty, constantly to think of this-God is love; and he that walketh in love, walketh in God and God in Him.