_Timotheus._ Such deductions have been drawn indeed from our Master's doctrine: but the saner part of us receive it metaphorically, and would only set men free from the bonds of sin. For if domestic slaves were manumitted, we should neither have a dinner dressed nor a bed made, unless by our own children: and as to labour in the fields, who would cultivate them in this hot climate? We must import slaves from Ethiopia and elsewhere, wheresoever they can be procured: but the hardship lies not on them; it lies on us, and bears heavily; for we must first buy them with our money, and then feed them; and not only must we maintain them while they are hale and hearty and can serve us, but likewise in sickness and (unless we can sell them for a trifle) in decrepitude. Do not imagine, my cousin, that we are no better than enthusiasts, visionaries, subverters of order, and ready to roll society down into one flat surface. _Lucian._ I thought you were maligned: I said so. _Timotheus._ When the subject was discussed in our congregation, the meaner part of the people were much in favour of the abolition: but the chief priests and ministers absented themselves, and gave no vote at all, deeming it secular, and saying that in such matters the laws and customs of the country ought to be observed. _Lucian._ Several of these chief priests and ministers are robed in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every day. _Timotheus._ I have hopes of you now. _Lucian._ Why so suddenly? _Timotheus._ Because you have repeated those blessed words, which are only to be found in our Scriptures. _Lucian._ There indeed I found them. But I also found in the same volume words of the same speaker, declaring that the rich shall never see His face in heaven. _Timotheus._ He does not always mean what you think He does. _Lucian._ How is this? Did He then direct His discourses to none but men more intelligent than I am? _Timotheus._ Unless He gave you understanding for the occasion, they might mislead you. _Lucian._ Indeed! _Timotheus._ Unquestionably. For instance, He tells us to take no heed of to-morrow: He tells us to share equally all our worldly goods: but we know that we cannot be respected unless we bestow due care on our possessions, and that not only the vulgar but the well-educated esteem us in proportion to the gifts of fortune. _Lucian._ The eclectic philosophy is most flourishing among you Christians. You take whatever suits your appetites, and reject the rest. _Timotheus._ We are not half so rich as the priests of Isis. Give us their possessions; and we will not sit idle as they do, but be able and ready to do incalculable good to our fellow-creatures. _Lucian._ I have never seen great possessions excite to great alacrity. Usually they enfeeble the sympathies, and often overlie and smother them. _Timotheus._ Our religion is founded less on sympathies than on miracles. Cousin! you smile most when you ought to be most serious.