"No Paine, No Gain"

"No Paine, No Gain"

I recently found a book at my library that I have been in search of for a few months. The name of the book is "Common Sense", (my edition has his other writings as well. like "The Crisis" and "The Rights of Man"). It was written by Thomas Paine, who was one of the Founding Fathers.
While I looked in this fascinating book, I saw something that caught my eye. What I read was so true that I must post it.

So, I hope the following paragraph does not cause you any Paine. ;)

Here it is:

These are times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain to cheap, we esteem too lightly: 'Tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not bee highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to GOD."

It made me think of how we take so many things for granted. Such as the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. I think that we sometimes esteem the Lord's sacrifice too lightly. Sad, but true.

So, any Paine?

Until then,
Jon