Godliness is Profitable for All Things

Godliness is Profitable for All Things by Isaac Barrow. In all places and in all societies, piety—or godliness—produces, advances, and establishes order, peace, safety, prosperity, all that is good, all that is lovely and agreeable, and all that is convenient and pleasant for human society and ordinary life. Piety is the special interest of all who are involved in governing and education. Piety is their greatest wisdom and policy; it will both preserve their outward state here in this world, and it will satisfy their consciences and save their souls. All the Machiavellian arts and tricks amount to nothing in comparison to this one plain and easy way of securing and furthering the interests of men. Piety is not moved to needless change. Piety cherishes worth and encourages industry, whereupon virtue flourishes and wealth is increased and, as a result, the occasions and means of disorder are stopped and the pretences for sedition and faction are cut off. If every governor would have the people honest and diligent, if every parent would have his children obliging and grateful, if every man would have his friend faithful and kind, if we would have others act in a just and sincere manner, then we must each strive to further piety from which all good dispositions and practices proceed. Piety is a fence protecting each individual—rendering each man civil, condescending, kind, and helpful to others. Piety is the only and right ballast of society.

Isaac Barrow, D. D., 1630-1677, was Master of Trinity College at Cambridge from 1672 until his death in 1677. Prior to his being appointed to this position by Charles II, he held a Greek Professorship and the Lucasian Chair of Mathematics at Cambridge. It was his friend and former pupil, Isaac Newton, who succeeded to this chair after he chose to devote himself entirely to divinity. The works of Isaac Barrow, were, upon his death, presented by his father, Thomas Barrow, to Heneage, the Earl of Nottingham, Lord High Chancellor of England and member of the King's Privy Council, for the imparting of such works and sermons to the public. Isaac Barrow is entombed in Westminster Abbey, London.