he bottom of things;
this command checks the first rising of sin in the heart; teaches us
to strangle it in the birth, as it were, before it breaks out in
those acts which are forbidden: as, for instance, every man covets
before he proceeds to steal; nay, many covet, knowing they can do it
with impunity, who dare not steal, lest they should suffer for it.

_Bragwell._ Why, look'ee, Mr. Worthy, I don't understand these new
fashioned explanations; one should not have a grain of sheer
goodness left, if every thing one does is to be fritted away at this
rate. I am not, I own, quite so good as I thought, but if what you
say were true, I should be so miserable, I should not know what to
do with myself. Why, I tell you all the world may be said to break
the commandments at this rate.

_Worthy._ Very true. All the world, and I myself also, are but too
apt to break them, if not in the letter, at least in the spirit of
them. Why, then, all the world are (as the Scripture expresses it)
"guilty before God." And if guilty, they should own they are guilty,
and not stand up and justify themselves, as you do, Mr. Bragwell.

_Bragwell._ Well, according to my notion, I am a very honest man,
and honesty is the sum and substance of all religion, say I.

_Worthy._ All truth, honesty, justice, order, and obedience grow out
of the Christian religion. The true Christian acts at all times, and
on all occasions, from the pure and spiritual principle of love to
God and Christ. On this principle he is upright in his dealings,
true to his word, kind to the poor, helpful to the oppressed. In
short, if he truly loves God, he _must_ do justice, and _can't_ help
loving mercy. Christianity is a uniform consistent thing. It does
not allow us to make up for the breach of one part of God's law, by
our strictness in observing another. There is no sponge in one duty,
that can wipe out the spot of another sin.

_Bragwell._ Well, but at this rate, I should be always puzzling and
blundering, and should never know for certain whether I was right or
not; whereas I am now quite satisfied with myself, and have no
doubts to torment me.

_Worthy._ One way of knowing whether we really desire to obey the
whole law of God is this; when we find we have as great a regard to
that part of it, the breach of which does not touch our own
interest, as to that part which does. For instance, a man robs me; I
am in a violent passion with him, and when it is said to me, does