Yet, in spite of this, all these self-styled seekers after the truth live in peace, in perfect harmony. The nation is so accustomed to liberty that religious eccentricity appears to them a simple and natural thing. But the ministers of all the denominations agree to differ from the Gospel on the matter of meeting together in public to pray. Their unanimity on this point is easy to understand. Indeed, what would become of the priests and the lawyers, if every man were free to plead his own cause before God and men? Besides, so long as man is human, he will always be pleased to have an occasion of advertising his virtue, and he who would make a short prayer in his closet with the door shut, makes a very long one in the temple, before his fellow-creatures whom he edifies with his piety. * * * * * The Vicar, with his head buried in his hands, was absorbed in the deepest reflections, when the door of the library was opened suddenly, and Mrs. Goodman entered hurriedly, a book in her hand. This book was a copy of the New Testament, revised and corrected by the Commission for the revision of the Holy Scriptures. "Well, this is a pretty state of things!" cried that lady breathlessly, as she dropped into an easy chair. ----"What is the matter, my dear?" asked the Vicar. ----"What is the matter! What is the matter indeed! A pretty question to ask! The matter is that we are ruined; that before very long, thanks to the bishops and the rest, whose business it is to look after the interests of our Holy Church, the country will soon be full of materialists and infidels." ----"Come, come; what is all this about, my dear?" said the reverend gentleman quietly. ----"What is it about! Ah! my dear, it is easy to see you are paid by the State, from the way in which you take things. There, read that, and see what you think of it. It's a very pretty state of things truly! What is it coming to? Who is to be trusted? We are betrayed, swindled, lost...." ----"But, my dear, once more, who is it you are so bitter against? I cannot see what can have put you into such a state of mind." ----"Ah! really! You don't see that, instead of keeping that precious phrase that sums up Christianity: 'What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul,' the New Version has: 'What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own life'?" ----"I see it very well; but read the reference: _or his soul_. You have not looked at the foot of the page." ----"That hesitation only makes the matter worse. The translators had much better have said frankly what they mean." ----"The Greek word _psuche_ signifies _soul_ as well as _breath_, _life_."