There is no better test of true religion both as it is
preached and practised than just to ask for and to grant forgiveness, and
to offer and accept restitution. Now, does your public and private life
defend and adorn your minister's pulpit in these two so practical
matters? Could your minister point to you as a proof of the ethics of
evangelical teaching? Can any one in this city speak up in defence of
your church and thus protest: 'Say what you like about that church and
its ministers, all I can say is, that its members know how to make an
apology; as, also, how to pay back with interest what they at one time
damaged or defrauded'? Can any old creditor's widow or orphan stand up
for our doctrine and defend our discipline pointing to you? If you go on
to be a Puritan, said Shame to Faithful, you will have to ask your
neighbour's forgiveness even for petty faults, and you will have to make
restitution with usury where you have taken anything from any one, and
how will you like that?
And what did you say to all this, my brother? Say? I could not tell
what to say at the first.
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