these pretty words mean?

_Will._ That we must make ourselves merry because life is short.

_Stock._ Will! Of what religion are you?

_Will._ You are always asking one such odd questions, master; why a
Christian, to be sure.

_Stock._ If I often ask you or others this question, it is only
because I like to know what grounds I am to go upon when I am
talking with you or them. I conceive that there are in this country
two sorts of people, Christians and no Christians. Now, if people
profess to be of this first description, I expect one kind of
notions, opinions, and behavior from them; if they say they are of
the latter, then I look for another set of notions and actions from
them. I compel no man to think with me. I take every man at his
word. I only expect him to think and believe according to the
character he takes upon himself, and to act on the principles of
that character which he professes to maintain.

_Will._ That's fair enough--I can't say but it is--to take a man at
his own word, and on his own grounds.

_Stock._ Well then. Of whom does the Scripture speak when it says,
_Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die_?

_Will._ Why of heathens, to be sure, not of Christians.

_Stock._ And of whom when it says, _Let us crown ourselves with
rosebuds before they are withered_?

_Will._ O, that is Solomon's worldly fool.

_Stock._ You disapprove of both, then.

_Will._ To be sure I do. I should not be a Christian if I did not.

_Stock._ And yet, though a Christian, you are admiring the very same
thought in the song you were singing. How do you reconcile this?

_Will._ O, there is no comparison between them. These several texts
are designed to describe loose, wicked heathens. Now I learn texts
as part of my religion. But religion, you know, has nothing to do
with a song. I sing a song for my pleasure.

_Stock._ In our last night's talk, Will, I endeavored to prove to
you that religion was to be brought into our _business_. I wish now
to let you see that it is to be brought into our _pleasure_ also.
And that he who is really a Christian, must be a Christian in his
very diversions.

_Will._ Now you are too strict again, master; as you last night
declared, that in our business you would not have us always praying,
so I hope that in our pleasure you would not have us always
psalm-singing. I hope you would not have all one's singing to be
about good things.

_Stock._ Not so, Will; but I would not have an