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, they have not killed him.]⁠—“See him dragged out of it again to meet the flames, and the insults in his last agonies, which this principle,⁠—this principle, that there can be religion without mercy, has prepared for him.”⁠⸺[Then, thank God,⁠⸺⁠he is dead, quoth Trim ,⁠—he is out of his pain,⁠—and they have done their worst at him.⁠—O Sirs!⁠—Hold your peace, Trim , said my father, going on with the sermon, lest Trim should incense Dr. Slop ,⁠—we shall never have done at this rate.] > > “The surest way to try the merit of any disputed notion is, to trace down the consequences such a notion has produced, and compare them with the spirit of Christianity;⁠⸺’tis the short and decisive rule which our Saviour hath left us, for these and suchlike cases, and it is worth a thousand arguments⁠⸺⁠ By their fruits ye shall know them. > > “I will add no farther to the length of this sermon, than by two or three short and independent rules deducible from it. > > “ First , Whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his Creed . A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbours, and where they separate, depend upon it, ’tis for no other cause but quietness’ sake. > > “ Secondly , When a man, thus represented, tells you in any particular instance,⁠⸺⁠That such a thing