Actual Words of an Atheist One Hundred Years Ago

If I firmly believed, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences the eternal destiny of others, then religion would mean everything to me. I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as folly, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I would labor in its cause alone. I would only take thought for tomorrow about eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences would never stop my hand nor seal my lips. Earth and its joys and griefs would occupy no moments of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon eternity alone and on the immortal souls around me who are soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable. I would go forth to the world and preach in season and out of season, and my text would be, ‘What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul’?