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"that I fhould not devote the time, if I "had it, to that best purpose, makes me "work on though often, when I am "balancing my accounts, I tremble, left "I fhould neglect to balance the grand But ftill, fince, like you,

account.

I

"am a man of no education, I am more "afraid of the temptations of leifure, than "of thofe of bufinefs. I never was bred "to read more than a chapter in the Bible, "or fome other good book, or the Maga"zine and Newspaper; and all that I can "do now, after fhop is fhut, and take a "walk with my children in the fields be"fides. But if I had nothing to do from "morning to night, I might be in danger "of turning politician or philofopher. "No, neighbour Fantom, depend upon it, "that where there is no learning, next to "God's grace, the best prefervative of "human virtue is bufinefs. As to our "political focieties, like the armies in the "Cave of Adullam, "every man that is in "distress, and every man that is in debt,

" and

"and every man that is discontented, will always join themselves unto them."

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Fantom. You have narrow views, Trueman. What can be more delightful, than to fee a paper of one's own in print against tyranny and fuperftition, contrived with so much ingenuity that, though the law is on the look-out for treafon and blafphemy, a little change of name defeats its fcrutiny. For inftance; you may ftigmatize England under the name of Rome, and Christianity under that of Popery. The true way is to attack whatever you have a mind to injure, under another name, and the best means to deftroy the use of a thing, is to produce a few incontrovertible facts against the abuses of it. Our late travellers have inconceiv ably helped on the cause of the new Philofophy, in their ludicrous narratives of credulity, miracles, indulgences, and proceffions, in popifh countries, all which they ridicule under the broad and general name of Religion, Chriftianity, and the Church.

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"And are not you ashamed to defend fuch knavery?" faid Mr. Trueman. "Thofe "who have a great object to accomplish," replied Mr. Fantom, "must not be nice "about the means. But to return to

"yourself, Trueman ; in your little con"fined fituation you can be of no use.""That I deny," interrupted Trueman; "I "have filled all the parish offices with "fome credit. I never took a bribe at "an election, no not fo much as a treat; "I take care of my apprentices, and do "not fet them a bad example by running to σε plays and Sadler's Wells in the week, "or jaunting about in a gig all day on

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Sundays; for I look upon it that the

country jaunt of the mafter on Sundays "exposes his fervants to more danger than "their whole week's temptations in trade put together."

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Fantom. I once had the fame vulgar prejudices about the Church and the Sabbath, and all that antiquated stuff. But even on your own narrow principles, how

can

can a thinking being spend his Sunday better (if he must lofe one day in seven by having any Sunday at all) than by going into the country to admire the works of nature?

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Trueman. I suppose you mean the works of God: for I never read in the Bible that nature made any thing. I should rather think that she herself was made by Him who made all things; by Him, who, when he said "thou shalt not murder,” faid also, "thou fhalt keep holy the Sabbath-day." But now do you really think that all that multitude of coaches, chariots, chaifes, vis-a-vis, booby-hutches, fulkies, fociables, phaetons, gigs, curricles, cabrioles, chairs, ftages, pleasure carts, and horfes, which crowd our roads; all those country houses within reach, to which the London friends pour in to the gorgeous Sunday feast, which the fervants are kept from church to drefs; all those public houses under the figns of which you read thefe alluring words, AN ORDINARY ON

SUNDAYS;

"

SUNDAYS; I fay, do you really believe that all thofe houfes and carriages are crammed with philofophers, who go on Sundays into the country to admire the works of nature as you call it? Indeed, from the reeling gait of fome of them when they go back at night, one might take them for a certain fect called the tippling philofophers. Then in answer to your charge, that a little tradesman can do no good, it is not true; I must tell you that I belong to the fick man's friend, and to the fociety for relieving prisoners for fmall debts.

Fantom. I have no attention to fpare to that business, though I would pledge myself to produce a plan by which the national debt might be paid off in fix months: but all yours are petty occupations.

Trueman. Then they are better fuited to petty men of petty fortune. I had ra ther have an ounce of real good done with my own hands, and feen with my own eyes, than fpeculate about doing a ton in

VOL. IV.

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a wild

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