--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tho' I seldom attended any public…" description: "\"“Tho' I seldom attended any public worship, I had still an opinion of its propriety, and of its utility when rightly conducted, and I regularly paid my..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/benjamin-franklin-65_bible_tho-i-seldom-attended-any-public-worship_2770077.png" --- # Tho' I seldom attended any public worship, I had still an… ![“Tho' I seldom attended any public worship, I had still an opinion of its propriety, and of its utility when rightly conducted, and I regularly paid my annual subscription for the support of the only Presbyterian minister or meeting we had in Philadelphia. He us'd to visit me sometimes as a friend…” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/benjamin-franklin-65_bible_tho-i-seldom-attended-any-public-worship_2770077.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/benjamin-franklin-65_bible_tho-i-seldom-attended-any-public-worship_2770077.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/benjamin-franklin-65_bible_tho-i-seldom-attended-any-public-worship_2770077.png) > ““Tho' I seldom attended any public worship, I had still an opinion of its propriety, and of its utility when rightly conducted, and I regularly paid my annual subscription for the support of the only Presbyterian minister or meeting we had in Philadelphia. He us'd to visit me sometimes as a friend, and admonished me to attend his administrations, and I was now and then prevail'd on to do so, once for five Sundays successively. Had he been in my opinion a good preacher, perhaps I might have continued, \[65\] notwithstanding the occasion I had for the Sunday's leisure in my course of study; but his discourses were chiefly either polemic arguments, or explications of the peculiar doctrines of our sect, and were all to me very dry, uninteresting, and unedifying, since not a single moral principle was inculcated or enforc'd, their aim seeming to be rather to make us Presbyterians than good citizens. At length he took for his text that verse of the fourth chapter of Philippians, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, or of good report, if there be any virtue, or any praise, think on these things." And I imagin'd, in a sermon on such a text, we could not miss of having some morality. But he confin'd himself to five points only, as meant by the apostle, viz.: 1. Keeping holy the Sabbath day. 2. Being diligent in reading the holy Scriptures. 3. Attending duly the publick worship. 4. Partaking of the Sacrament. 5. Paying a due respect to God's ministers. These might be all good things; but, as they were not the kind of good things that I expected from that text, I despaired of ever meeting with them from any other, was disgusted, and attended his preaching no more.”” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Franklin critiques a church service that focused on doctrine over moral instruction, leaving him uninspired and disengaged. **In simple terms:** He found the preaching dry and lacking moral guidance. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that teach practical virtue. Themes religion morality education personal growth Mood disappointed reflective Type critical personal narrative When to use this quote - college studies - personal reflection - community involvement - seeking moral mentors Key Concepts didacticism institutional critique secularism Questions to Reflect On - How can religious gatherings balance doctrine with moral relevance? - What alternatives provide meaningful moral instruction? A Different Perspective The sermon’s limited focus may have ignored broader ethical teachings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Holy scriptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-scriptures/) [Sabbath day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sabbath-day/) ## Related quotes > [“but his discourses were chiefly either polemic arguments, or explications of the peculiar doctrines of our sect, and were all to me very dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-his-discourses-were-chiefly-either-polemic-arguments-or/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Unless your daily life from Monday to Saturday is a life of worship, there will not be much reality in your public worship on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-l-barclay/unless-your-daily-life-from-monday-to-saturday-is-a-life-of-worship/) [Florence L. Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-l-barclay/) > [In the conduct of our public worship where is the authority of Christ to be found? The truth is that today the Lord rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/in-the-conduct-of-our-public-worship-where-is-the-authority-of-christ/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If there is one characteristic more than others that contemporary public worship needs to recapture it is this awe before the surpassingly great and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sloane-coffin/if-there-is-one-characteristic-more-than-others-that-contemporary/) Henry Sloane Coffin > [Public worship occurs when the people of God assemble for the express purpose of giving to the Lord the glory due His name and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ligon-duncan/public-worship-occurs-when-the-people-of-god-assemble-for-the-express/) [Ligon Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ligon-duncan/) > [I believe that in public worship we should do well to be bound by no human rules, and constrained by no stereotyped order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-believe-that-in-public-worship-we-should-do-well-to-be-bound-by-no/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Most members of our community are genuinely dear souls who love the Lord Jesus with their whole heart and honor in pious conduct. Also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/most-members-of-our-community-are-genuinely-dear-souls-who-love-the/) [Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/) > [It yet remains a problem to be solved in human affairs, whether any free government can be permanent, where the public worship of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-story/it-yet-remains-a-problem-to-be-solved-in-human-affairs-whether-any/) [Joseph Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-story/) > [“Prop. I. Heaven is God’s house. An house of public worship is an house where God’s people meet from time to time to attend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/prop-i-heaven-is-god-s-house-an-house-of-public-worship-is-an-house/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“Ministers and their people, while their relation continues, often meet together in this world. They are wont to meet from Sabbath to Sabbath, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/ministers-and-their-people-while-their-relation-continues-often-meet/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Wherever public worship has been established and regularly aintained, idolatry has vanished from the face of the earth. There is not now a temple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/wherever-public-worship-has-been-established-and-regularly-aintained/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [In public worship all should join. 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Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“They attended prayers “evening and morning regularly,” their officers setting the example, the paper noted. “On Lord’s day they attend public worship twice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/they-attended-prayers-evening-and-morning-regularly-their-officers/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. 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Had he been in my opinion a good preacher, perhaps I might have continued, [65] notwithstanding the occasion I had for the Sunday's leisure in my course of study; but his discourses were chiefly either polemic arguments, or explications of the peculiar doctrines of our sect, and were all to me very dry, uninteresting, and unedifying, since not a single moral principle was inculcated or enforc'd, their aim seeming to be rather to make us Presbyterians than good citizens. At length he took for his text that verse of the fourth chapter of Philippians, \"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, or of good report, if there be any virtue, or any praise, think on these things.\" And I imagin'd, in a sermon on such a text, we could not miss of having some morality. But he confin'd himself to five points only, as meant by the apostle, viz.: 1. Keeping holy the Sabbath day. 2. Being diligent in reading the holy Scriptures. 3. Attending duly the publick worship. 4. Partaking of the Sacrament. 5. Paying a due respect to God's ministers. 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