. Well; - notwithstanding this, I put my fortune into the hands of the one;
- and, what is dearer still to me, I trust my life to the honest skill of the
other.
    Now, let me examine what is my reason for this great confidence. -- Why, in
the first place, I believe there is no probability that either of them will
employ the power I put into their hands to my disadvantage; - I consider that
honesty serves the purposes of this life: - I know their success in the world
depends upon the fairness of their characters. -- In a word, - I'm persuaded
that they cannot hurt me, without hurting themselves more.
    But put it otherwise, namely, that interest lay, for once, on the other
side; that a case should happen, wherein the one, without stain to his
reputation, could secrete my fortune, and leave me naked in the world; - or that
the other could send me out of it, and enjoy an estate by my death, without
dishonour to himself or his art: - In this case, what hold have I of either of
them? - Religion, the strongest of all motives, is out of the question: -
Interest, the next most powerful motive in the world, is strongly against me: -
What have I left to cast into the opposite scale to balance this temptation? -
Alas! I have nothing, - nothing but what is lighter than a bubble. - I must lay
at the mercy of HONOUR, or some such capricious principle. - Strait security for
two of my most valuable blessings! - my property and my life.
    As, therefore, we can have no dependence upon morality without religion; -
so, on the other hand, there is nothing better to be expected from religion
without morality; - nevertheless, 'tis no prodigy to see a man whose real moral
character stands very low, who yet entertains the highest notion of himself, in
the light of a religious man.
    He shall not only be covetous, revengeful, implacable, -- but even wanting
in points of common honesty; yet, inasmuch as he talks aloud against the
infidelity of the age, -- is zealous for some points of religion, -- goes twice
a day to church, -- attends the sacraments, -- and amuses himself with a few
instrumental parts of religion, -- shall cheat his conscience into a judgment
that, for this, he is a religious man, and has discharged truly his duty to God:
And you
