In a letter to George Whitefield, a leader of the Great Awakening, Benjamin Franklin wrote: “I can only show my gratitude for those mercies from God, by a readiness to help His other children and my brethren. For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator.
That kind of faith has its use in the world. We do not desire to see it diminished, nor should we endeavour to lessen it in any man. Rather, it should be more productive of good works than we have generally seen it. Real good works involve works of kindness, charity, mercy and acts of public service.
In aiming to declare that salvation is by grace and not works, never forget that saving faith always produces good works! Faith is the root of salvation, but deeds of generousity and kindness are the fruit of salvation and a tree is best known by its fruit.”
