I cannot but take notice of the wonderful love of God to mankind, who, in order to encourage obedience to His laws, has annexed a present as well as a future reward to a good life; and has so interwoven our duty and our happiness together that, while we are discharging our obligations to the one, we are at the same time making the best provision for the other.

The Great Importance of a Religious Life Considered... The Nineteenth Edition, Corrected. [By William Melmoth.] (ed. 1764)