Ti. I believe you have nothing of that to be afraid of:  She’s one of the best-humour’d Women in the World.

Eu. She is such a one indeed, that I should be loath to change her if I might; and I look upon myself to be very happy upon that Account.  Nor do I like their Opinion, who think a Man happy, because he never had a Wife; I approve rather what the Hebrew Sage said, He that has a good Wife has a good Lot.

Ti. It is commonly our own Fault, if our Wives be bad, either for loving such as are bad, or making them so; or else for not teaching them better.

Eu. You say very right, but all this While I want to hear the third Verse expounded:  And methinks the divine Theophilus looks as if he had a Mind to do it.

Theo. Truly my Mind was upon my Belly; but however, I’ll speak my Mind, since I may do it without Offence.

Eu. Nay, it will be a Favour to us if you should happen to be in any Error, because by that Means you will give us Occasion of finding the Truth.

Th. The Sentence seems to be of the same Importance with that the Lord expresses by the Prophet Hosea, Chap. vi. I desire Mercy and not Sacrifice, and the Knowledge of God more than Burnt-Offerings.  This is fully explain’d, and to the Life, by the Lord Jesus, in St. Matthew, Chap. ix. who being at Table in the House of Levi the Publican, with several others of the same Stamp and Profession, the Pharisees, who were puff’d up with their external Observance of the Law, without any Regard to the Precepts of it, whereupon the whole Law and Prophets depend, (with a Design to alienate the Affections of his Disciples from him) ask’d them, why their Master sat at the Table of Publicans and Sinners.  From whose Conversation those Jews, that would be accounted the more holy, abstain’d; to that Degree, that if any of the stricter Sort had met any of them by Chance, as soon as they came Home they would wash themselves.  And when the Disciples, being yet but raw, could give no Answer; the Lord answer’d both for himself and them:  They (says he) who are whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick; but go you and learn what that meaneth, I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice; for I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners.

Eu. Indeed you have very handsomely explain’d the Matter, by the comparing of Texts, which is the best Way of expounding Scripture.  But I would fain know what it is he calls Sacrifice, and what Mercy.  For how can we reconcile it, that God should be against Sacrifices, who had commanded so many to be offered?