goes against his conscience,⸺always believe he means exactly the same thing, as when
Thou hast read the sermon extremely well, Trim , quoth my father.—If he had spared his comments, replied Dr. Slop ,⸺he would have read it much better. I should have read it ten times better, Sir, answered Trim , but that my heart was so full.—That was the very reason, Trim , replied my father, which has made thee read the sermon as well as thou hast done; and if the clergy of our church, continued my father, addressing himself to Dr. Slop , would take part in what they deliver as deeply as this poor fellow has done,—as their compositions are fine;—[I deny it, quoth Dr. Slop ]—I maintain it,—that the eloquence of our pulpits, with such subjects to enflame it, would be a model for the whole world:⸺But alas! continued my father, and I own it, Sir, with sorrow, that, like French politicians in this respect, what they gain in the cabinet they lose in the field.⸺’Twere a pity, quoth my uncle, that this should be lost. I like the sermon well, replied my father,⸺’tis dramatick,—and there is something in that way of writing, when skilfully managed, which catches the attention.⸺We preach much in that way with us, said Dr. Slop .—I know that very well, said my father,⸺but in a tone and manner which disgusted Dr. Slop , full as much as his assent, simply, could have pleased him.⸺But in this, added Dr. Slop , a little piqued,—our sermons have greatly the advantage, that we never introduce any character into them below a patriarch or a patriarch’s wife, or a martyr or a saint.—There are some very bad characters in this, however, said my father, and I do not think the sermon a jot the worse for ’em.⸺But pray, quoth my uncle Toby ,—who’s can this be?—How could it get into my Stevinus ? A man must be as great a conjurer as Stevinus , said my father, to resolve the second question:—The first, I think, is not so difficult;—for unless my judgment greatly deceives me,⸺I know the author, for ’tis wrote, certainly, by the parson of the parish.