"been fanctified by a religion not strictly go"verned by morality.

"In how many kingdoms of the world has "the crufading fword of this misguided faint"errant, fpared neither age or merit, or fex, "or condition-and, as he fought under the "banners of a religion which fet him loose

from justice and humanity, he fhewed none; "mercilessly trampled upon both, heard nei"ther the cries of the unfortunate, nor pitied "their diftreffes."

6

[I have been in maffy a battle, an' please your honour, quoth Trim, fighing, but never in fo melancholy a one as this.-I would not have drawn a tricker in it against these poor fouls,to have been made a general officer. Why? what do you understand of the affair faid Dr. Slop, looking towards Trim, with forething more of contempt than the Corporal's honeft heart deferved. What do you know, friend, about this battle you talk of?-I know, replied Trim, that I never refused quarter in my life to any man who cried out for it ;-but to a woman, or a child, continued Trim, before I would level my mufket at them, I would

lofe

lofe my life a thousand times. Here's a crown for thee, Trim, to drink with Obadiah to-night, quoth my uncle Toby,-God bless your honour, replied Trim,—I had rather thefe poor women and children had it.-Thou art an honeft fel-' low, quoth my uncle Toby. My father nodded his head, as much as to fay,-and fo he is.

But prithee, Trim, faid my father, make an end, for I fee thou haft but a leaf or two left.

Corporal Trim read on.]

"If the teftimony of paft centuries in this matter " is not fufficient, confider at this inftant, how "the votaries of that religion are every day "thinking to do service and honour to God, "by actions which are a dishonour and fcandal "to themselves.

"To be convinced of this, go with me for 66 a moment into the prifons of the Inquifition." -[God help my poor brother Tom]" Be"hold Religion, with Mercy and Justice chained "down under her feet,-there fitting ghaftly 66 upon a black tribunal, propped up with racks "and inftruments of torment. Hark!-hark!

"what

"what a piteous groan !"-[Here Trim's face turned as pale as afhés] See the melancholy "wretch who uttered it"-[Here the tears began to trickle down.]" juft brought forth "to undergo the anguifh of a mock trial, and ❝ endure the utmost pains that a studied fyftem "of cruelty has been able to invent.[D] them all, quoth Trim, his colour returning into his face as red as blood.]" Behold this helpless "victim delivered up to his tormentors, his "body fo wafted with forrow and confine"ment."[Oh! 'tis my brother, cried poor Trim in a most paffionate exclamation, dropping the fermon upon the ground, and clapping his hands together-I fear 'tis poor Tom. My father's and my uncle Toby's heart yearned with fympathy for the poor fellow's diftrefs;- even Slop himself acknowledged pity for him.

Why, Trim, faid my father, this is not a hiftory,

'tis a fermon thou art reading; prithee begin the sentence again.] Behold this helpless "victim delivered up to his tormentors, his "body so wasted with forrow and confinement, 66 you will fee every nerve and muscle as it "fuffers.

"Obferve the laft movement of that horrid "engine!"-[I would rather face a cannon, quoth

quoth Trim, ftamping.]

See what convul

"fions it has thrown him into!-Confider the

"nature of the posture in which he now lies "ftretched, what exquifite tortures he en"dures by it!--'tis all nature can bear! "Good God! fee how it keeps his weary foul "hanging upon his trembling lips!" [I would not read another line of it, quoth Trim, for all this world I fear, an' pleafe your honours, all this is in Portugal, where my poor brother Tom is. I tell thee, Trim,. again, quoth my father, 'tis not an historical account,-'tis a defeription'Tis only a defcription, honest man, quoth Slop, there's not a word of truth in it. That's another story, replied my father. However, as Trim reads it with fo much concern,-'tis cruelty to force him to go on with it. Give me hold of the fermon, Trim,-I'll finish it for thee, and thou may'st go. I muft stay and hear it too, replied Trim, if your honour will allow me →though I would not read it myself for a Colonel's pay.Poor Trim! quoth my uncle Toby. My father went on.

"Cofider the nature of the posture in which ❝he now lies ftretched,-what exquifite tor "ture he endures by it !-'Tis all nature can

❝ bear

"bear! Good God! See how it keeps his weary "foul hanging upon his trembling lips,-wil

-ling to take its leave, but not fuffered to "depart!--Behold the unhappy wretch led "back to his cell!

[Then, thank God, however, quoth Trim, they have not killed him.]-

"See him dragged out of it again to meet 4-the flames, and the infults in his laft agonies, "which this principle, this principle, that "there can be religion without mercy, has "prepared for him. The fureft way to try "the merit of any difputed notion is, to trace "down the confequences fuch a notion has "produced, and compare them with the fpirit "of chriftianity;-'tis the fhort and decifive "rule which our Saviour hath left

*

us, for “these and fuch like cafes, and it is worth "a thousand arguments-By their fruits ye "fhall know them.

"I will add no farther to the length of this 66 fermon, than by two or three' fhort and in"dependant rules deducible from it.