on
Sundays, and follow my work in the week, I must say I think that is
being good.

_Stock._ I agree with you, that he who does both, gives the best
outward signs that he is good, as you call it. But our going to
church, and even reading the Bible, are no proofs that we are as
good as we need be, but rather that we do both these in order to
make us better than we are. We do both on Sundays, as means, by
God's blessing, to make us better all the week. We are to bring the
fruits of that chapter or of that sermon into our daily life, and
try to get our inmost heart and secret thoughts, as well as our
daily conduct, amended by them.

_Will._ Why, sure, master, you won't be so unreasonable as to want a
body to be religious always? I can't do that, neither. I'm not such
a hypocrite as to pretend to it.

_Stock._ Yes, you can be so in every action of your life.

_Will._ What, master! always to be thinking about religion?

_Stock._ No, far from it, Will; much less to be always talking about
it. But you must be always under its power and spirit.

_Will._ But surely 'tis pretty well if I do this when I go to
church; or while I am saying my prayers. Even you, master, as strict
as you are, would not have me always on my knees, nor always at
church, I suppose: for then how would your work be carried on? and
how would our town be supplied with shoes?

_Stock._ Very true, Will. 'Twould be no proof of our religion to let
our customers go barefoot; but 'twould be a proof of our laziness,
and we should starve, as we ought to do. The business of the world
must not only be carried on, but carried on with spirit and
activity. We have the same authority for not being _slothful in
business_, as we have for being _fervent in spirit_. Religion has
put godliness and laziness as wide asunder as any two things in the
world; and what God has separated let no man pretend to join.
Indeed, the spirit of religion can have no fellowship with sloth,
indolence, and self-indulgence. But still, a Christian does not
carry on his common trade quite like another man, neither; for
something of the spirit which he labors to attain at church, he
carries with him into his worldly concerns. While there are some
that set up for Sunday Christians, who have no notion that they are
bound to be week-day Christians too.

_Will._ Why, master, I do think, if God Almighty is contented with
one day in seven, he won't thank you for throwing him the other six
into