"I admit that the majority are wicked, and that they require the strong arm of the law to keep them in subjection; but I cannot admit that _all_ are corrupted by the evil principle. What models of perfection may we select from the circle of our acquaintance!--men of honour, of integrity, of benevolence--men in whose character all the virtues are concentrated, and who live amidst the contagion of the world without being injured by it--men who would scorn an act of meanness or duplicity; who would sacrifice their ease and their wealth to promote the general good; _who are religious without ostentation_; and who know how to enjoy the felicity of social life without being entangled by its snares. Are we to suppose that such men are corrupted by evil principles, and that they are under some fatally evil inclination?" "You will admit, my dear father, that a community of rebels may cultivate the social virtues among themselves, even while they live in a state of revolt against their sovereign, and in hostility against all who retain their loyalty?" "Yes, my dear, certainly they may." "Do we not read in the Scripture, that _all_ have sinned against God--that _all_ are gone astray from their subjection to his authority--that _all_ are become corrupt? And do we not know that the sentence of death has passed upon _all men, because all have sinned_? Now if, as you suppose, some have escaped the general contagion, and are absolutely pure and virtuous, how is it that they are involved in the same sentence of condemnation with the openly depraved and wicked? Where is the equity of such a decision? And are we not accustomed to say, when kneeling before the Lord our Judge, 'We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep; we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts; we have offended against thy holy laws; we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us; but thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders?'" "Yes, my dear Sophia; but you must remember that our excellent Liturgy was composed to suit the moral condition of the great majority of the people; and therefore it became necessary that such strong language should be employed; but you cannot suppose that it is strictly applicable to the virtuous part of the community." "Then why do they adopt it? Why do they acknowledge, on their knees before God, what they deny to man? Is not this a resistless proof of the evil propensity of human nature?" "I think not. I think it is a proof of the generous amiability of human nature, as the virtuous part of society consent to employ language which is not strictly applicable to themselves, out of compassion to the more degenerated and worthless, who ought to make such concessions, and pray in such strong terms of humiliation."