of a politician,
you know. We _must_ have bits, and bridles, and restraints for the
vulgar.

_Worthy._ Your opinion is very just, as far as it goes; but it does
not go far enough, since it does not go to the root of the evil; for
while you value yourself on the soundness of this principle as a
politician, I wish you also to see the reason of it as a Christian;
depend upon it, if religion be good for the community at large, it
is equally good for every family; and what is right for a family is
equally right for each individual in it. You have therefore yourself
brought the most unanswerable argument why you ought to be religious
yourself, by asking how we shall keep others in order without
religion. For, believe me, Mr. Bragwell, there is no particular
clause to except _you_ in the gospel. There are no exceptions there
in favor of any one class of men. The same restraints which are
necessary for the people at large, are equally necessary for men of
every order, high and low, rich and poor, bond and free, learned and
ignorant. If Jesus Christ died for no one particular rank, class, or
community, then there is no one rank, class, or community, exempt
from the obedience to his laws enjoined by the gospel. May I ask
you, Mr. Bragwell, what is your reason for going to church?

_Bragwell._ Sir, I am shocked at your question. How can I avoid
doing a thing so customary and so creditable? Not go to church,
indeed! What do you take me for, Mr. Worthy? I am afraid you suspect
me to be a papist, or a heathen, or of some religion or other that
is not Christian.

_Worthy._ If a foreigner were to hear how violently one set of
Christians in this country often speak against another, how earnest
would he suppose us all to be in religious matters: and how
astonished to discover that many a man has perhaps little other
proof to give of the sincerity of his own religion, except the
violence with which he hates the religion of another party. It is
not _irreligion_ which such men hate; but the religion of the man,
or the party, whom we are set against; now hatred is certainly no
part of the religion of the gospel. Well, you have told me why you
go to church; now pray tell me, why do you confess there on your
bended knees, every Sunday, that "you have erred and strayed from
God's ways?" "that there is no health in you? that you have done
what you ought not to do? and that you are a miserable sinner?"

_Bragwell._ Because it is in the Comm