AtthesametimeAdamSmithresentsstronglythedoctrinethatreligiousprinciplesaretheonlylaudablemotivesofaction，thedoctrine，\"thatweoughtneithertorewardfromgratitudenorpunishfromresentment，thatweoughtneithertoprotectthehelplessnessofourchildren，noraffordsupporttotheinfirmitiesofourparents，fromnaturalaffection；butthatweoughttodoallthingsfromtheloveoftheDeity，andfromadesireonlytorenderourselvesagreeabletoHim，andtodirectourconductaccordingtoHiswill。\"ItshouldnotbethesolemotiveandprincipleofourconductintheperformanceofourvariousdutiesthatGodhascommandedustoperformthem，thoughthatitshouldbeourrulingandgoverningprincipleisthepreceptofphilosophyandcommonsensenolessthanitisofChristianity。
InthesamewaythatAdamSmithregardsreligionasanadditionalsanctiontothenaturalrulesofmorality，doesheregarditastheonlyeffectualconsolationinthecaseofamanunjustlycondemnedbytheworldforacrimeofwhichheisinnocent。Tosuchanone，thathumblephilosophywhichconfinesitsviewtothislifecanaffordbutlittlecom-fort。Deprivedofeverythingthatcouldmakeeitherlifeordeathrespectable，condemnedtodeathandtoeverlastinginfamy，theviewofanotherworld，wherehisinnocencewillbedeclaredandhisvirtuerewarded，canalonecompensatehimforthemiseryofhissituation。
\"Ourhappinessinthislifeisthus，uponmanyoccasions，dependentuponthehumblehopeandexpectationofalifetocomeahopeandexpectationdeeplyrootedinhumannature，whichcanalonesupportitsloftyideasofitsowndignity，canaloneilluminethedrearyprospectofitscontinuallyapproachingmortality，andmaintainitscheerfulnessunderalltheheaviestcalamitiestowhich，fromthedisordersofthislife，itmaysometimesbeexposed。Thatthereisaworldtocome，whereexactjusticewillbedonetoeveryman……isadoctrine，ineveryrespectsovenerable，socomfortabletotheweakness，soflatteringtothegrandeurofhumannature，thatthevirtuousmanwhohasthemisfortunetodoubtofitcan-notpossiblyavoidwishingmostearnestlyandanxiouslytobelieveit。\"
Thisdoctrine，AdamSmiththinks，couldneverhavefallenintodisrepute，hadnotadoctrinebeenassertedofafuturedistributionofrewardsandpunishments，attotalvariancewithallourmoralsentiments。Thepreferenceofassiduousflatterytomeritorservice，whichisregardedasthegreatestreproacheventotheweaknessofearthlysovereigns，isoftenascribedtodivineperfection；\"andthedutiesofdevotion，thepublicandprivateworshipoftheDeity，havebeenrepresented，evenbymenofvirtueandabilities，asthesolevirtueswhichcaneitherentitletoreward，orexemptfrompunishment，inthelifetocome。\"
Thereisthesameabsurdityinthenotion，whichhadevenitsadvocateinaphilosopherlikeMassillon，thatonehourordayspentinthemortificationsofamonasteryhasmoremeritintheeyeofGodthanawholelifespenthonourablyintheprofessionofasoldier。Suchadoctrineissurelycontrarytoallourmoralsentiments，andtheprinciplesbywhichwehavebeentaughtbynaturetoregulateouradmirationorcontempt。\"Itisthisspirit，however，which，whileithasreservedthecelestialregionsformonksandfriars，orforthosewhoseconductorconversationresembledthoseofmonksandfriars，hascondemnedtotheinfernalalltheheroes，allthestatesmenandlawyers，allthepoetsandphilosophersofformerages；allthosewhohaveinvented，improved，orexcelledintheartswhichcontributetothesubsistence，totheconveniency，ortotheornamentoflife；allthegreatprotectors，instructors，andbenefactorsofmankind；allthosetowhomournaturalsenseofpraiseworthinessforcesustoascribethehighestmeritandthemostexaltedvirtue。Canwewonderthatsostrangeanapplicationofthismostrespectabledoctrineshouldsometimeshaveexposedittoderisionandcontempt？\"