Worthy. Which punch being made of fmuggled brandy, and drunk on the Lord's day, in very vain, as well as profane and worldly company, you are enabled to break both the law of God, and that of your country at a stroke: and I fuppofe when you are got together, you speak of your cattle, or of your crops, after which perhaps you talk over a few of your neighbours' faults, and then you brag a little of your own wealth or your own atchieve

ments.

Bragwell. Why you feem to know us fo well, that any one would think you had been fitting behind the curtain; and yet you are a little mistaken too; for I think we have hardly faid a word for several of our laft Sundays on any thing but politics. Worthy. And do you find that you much improve your Chriftian charity by that fubject?

Bragwell. Why to be fure we do quarrel till we are very near fighting, that is the worst on't.

Worthy

you

Worthy. And then fwear a little I suppose.

call names, and

Bragwell. Why when one is contradicted and put in a paffion you know, and when people, especially if they are one's inferiors, won't adopt all one's opi nions, flesh and blood can't bear it.

Worthy. And when all your friends are gone home, what becomes of the rest of the evening?

Bragwell. That is just as it happens, fometimes I read the newspaper; and as one is generally most tired on the days one does nothing, I go to bed earlier on Sundays than on other days, that I may be more fit to get up to my business the next morning.

Worthy. So you fhorten Sunday as much as you can, by cutting off a bit at both ends, I fuppofe; for I take it for granted, you lie a little later in the morning.

Bragwell. Come, come. We fhan't get through the whole ten to-night, if

you stand fnubbing one at this rate. You may pass over the fifth; for my father and mother have been dead ever fince I was a boy; fo I am clear of that scrape.

Worthy. There are, however, many relative duties included in that commandment; unkindnefs to all kindred is forbidden.

Bragwell. O, if you mean my turning off my nephew Tom, the plowboy, you must not blame me for that, it was all my wife's fault. He was as good a lad as ever lived to be fure, and my own brother's fon; but my wife could not bear that a boy in a carter's frock fhould be about the house, calling her aunt. We quarrelled like dog and cat about it; and when he was turned away fhe and I did not speak for a week.

Worthy. Which was a fresh breach of the commandment; a worthy nephew turned out of doors, and a wife not spoken to for a week, are no very convincing proof

proofs of your obfervance of the fifth commandment.

Bragwell. Well, I long to come to the fixth; for you don't think I commit murder I hope.

Worthy. I am not fure of that.

Bragwell. Murder! What, I kill any body?

Worthy. Why, the laws of the land indeed, and the difgrace attending it, are almoft enough to keep any man from actual murder; let me afk, however, do you never give way to unjuft anger, and paffion, and revenge? as for inftance, do you never feel your refentment kindle against fome of the politicians who contradict you on a Sunday night? and do you never push your animofity against fomebody that has affronted you, further than the occafion can justify?

Bragwell. Hark'ee, Mr. Worthy, I am a man of fubftance, and no man fhall offend me without my being even with him. So as to injuring a man, if he affronts me

first,

first, there's nothing but good reason in that.

Worthy. Very well! only bear in mind that you wilfully break this commandment, whether you abuse your servant, are angry at your wife, watch for a moment to revenge an injury on your neighbour, or even wreak your passion on a harmless beaft; for you have then the feeds of murder working in your breast; and if there were no law, no gibbet to check you, and no fear of disgrace neither, I am not sure where you would ftop.

Bragwell. Why, Mr. Worthy, you have a ftrange way of explaining the commandments: fo you fet me down for a murderer, merely because I bear hatred to a man who has done me a hurt, and am glad to do him a like injury in my turn.— I am fure I fhould want spirit if I did not.

Worthy. I go by the Scripture rule, which fays," he that hateth his brother " is a murderer ;" and again, "love your "enemies, blefs them that curfe

you, and

cc pray