“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 will find such a man, through force of this delusion, generally looks down with spiritual pride upon every other man who has less affectation of piety, --though, perhaps, ten times more real honesty than himself. “_This likewise is a sore evil under the sun_; and I believe, there is no one mistaken principle, which, for its time, has wrought more serious mischiefs. ------For a general proof of this, --examine the history of the _Romish_ church;” --[Well, what can you make of that? cried Dr. _Slop_]-- “see what scenes of cruelty, murder, rapine, bloodshed,” ----[They may thank their own obstinacy, cried Dr. _Slop_]---- “have all been sanctified by a religion not strictly governed by morality. “In how many kingdoms of the world” --[Here _Trim_ kept waving his right hand from the sermon to the extent of his arm, returning it backwards and forwards to the conclusion of the paragraph.] “In how many kingdoms of the world has the crusading sword of this misguided saint-errant, spared neither age nor merit, or sex, or condition? --and, as he fought under the banners of a religion which set him loose from justice and humanity, he shewed none; mercilessly trampled upon both, --heard neither the cries of the unfortunate, nor pitied their distresses.” [I have been in many a battle, an’ please your Honour, quoth _Trim_, sighing, but never in so melancholy a one as this, --I would not have drawn a tricker in it against these poor souls, ----to have been made a general officer. ----Why? what do you understand of the affair? said Dr. _Slop_, looking towards _Trim_, with something more of contempt than the Corporal’s honest heart deserved. ----What do you know, friend, about this battle you talk of? --I know, replied _Trim_, that I never refused quarter in my life to any man who cried out for it; ----but to a woman or a child, continued _Trim_, before I would level my musket at them, I would lose my life a thousand times. ----Here’s a crown for thee, _Trim_, to drink with _Obadiah_ to-night, quoth my uncle _Toby_, and I’ll give _Obadiah_ another too. --God bless your Honour, replied _Trim_, ----I had rather these poor women and children had it. ----Thou art an honest fellow, quoth my uncle _Toby_. ----My father nodded his head, as much as to say, --and so he is.---- But prithee, _Trim_, said my father, make an end, --for I see thou hast but a leaf or two left. Corporal _Trim_ read on.]