perform them because they are commanded in
his word, and conformable to his will?"

"I can't say I do," said Mr. Flam, "but if the thing be right in itself,
that appears to me to be all in all. It seems hard to encumber a man of
business like me with the action and the motive too. Surely if I serve a
man, it can make no difference to him, _why_ I serve him."

"To yourself, my dear sir," said the Doctor, "it makes all the
difference in the world. Besides, good actions performed on any other
principle than obedience, are not only spurious as to their birth, but
they are defective in themselves; they commonly want something in weight
and measure."

"Why, Doctor," said Mr. Flam, "I have often heard you say in the pulpit
that the best are not perfect. Now as this is the case, I will tell you
how I manage. I think it a safe way to average one's good qualities, to
throw a bad one against a good one, and if the balance sinks on the
right side the man is safe."

Dr. Barlow shook his head, and was beginning to express his regret at
such delusive casuistry, when Mr. Flam interrupted him by saying, "Well,
Doctor, my great care in life has been to avoid all suspicion of
hypocrisy."

"You can not do better," replied Dr. Barlow, "than to avoid its
_reality_. But, for my own part, I believe religious hypocrisy to be
rather a rare vice among persons of your station in life. Among the
vulgar, indeed, I fear it is not so rare. In neighborhoods where there
is much real piety, there is no small danger of some false profession.
But among the higher classes of society, serious religion confers so
little credit on him who professes it, that a gentleman is not likely to
put on appearances from which he knows he is far more likely to lose
reputation than to acquire it. When such a man, therefore, assumes the
character of piety, I own I always feel disposed to give him full credit
for possessing it. His religion may indeed be mistaken; it may be
defective; it may even be unsound; but the chances are very much in
favor of its not being insincere. Where piety is genuine it can not be
altogether concealed. Where 'the fruits of the Spirit abound, they will
appear.'"

"Now, my dear Doctor," replied Mr. Flam, "is not that cant? What do you
mean by the fruits of the Spirit? Would it not have been more worthy of
your good sense to have said morality or virtue? Would not these terms
have been more simple and intelligible?"

"They might be so," re