nor guilty of sacrilege.  And, if you are guilty of theft, you make some atonement by suffering for it, which many others do not.  Happy is it indeed for those few who are detected in their sins, and brought to exemplary punishment for them in this world.  So far, therefore, from repining at your fate when you come to the tree, you should exult and rejoice in it; and, to say the truth, I question whether, to a wise man, the catastrophe of many of those who die by a halter is not more to be envied than pitied.  Nothing is so sinful as sin, and murder is the greatest of all sins.  It follows, that whoever commits murder is happy in suffering for it.  If, therefore, a man who commits murder is so happy in dying for it, how much better must it be for you, who have committed a less crime!

Jonathan.  All this is very true; but let us take a bottle of wine to cheer our spirits.

Ordinary.  Why wine?  Let me tell you, Mr. Wild, there is nothing so deceitful as the spirits given us by wine.  If you must drink, let us have a bowl of punch—­a liquor I the rather prefer, as it is nowhere spoken against in Scripture, and as it is more wholesome for the gravel, a distemper with which I am grievously afflicted.

Jonathan (having called for a bowl).  I ask your pardon, doctor; I should have remembered that punch was your favourite liquor.  I think you never taste wine while there is any punch remaining on the table.

Ordinary.  I confess I look on punch to be the more eligible liquor, as well for the reasons I before mentioned as likewise for one other cause, viz., it is the properest for a draught.  I own I took it a little unkind of you to mention wine, thinking you knew my palate.

Jonathan.  You are in the right; and I will take a swinging cup to your being made a bishop.

Ordinary.  And I will wish you a reprieve in as large a draught.  Come, don’t despair; it is yet time enough to think of dying; you have good friends, who very probably may prevail for you.  I have known many a man reprieved who had less reason to expect it.

Jonathan.  But if I should flatter myself with such hopes, and be deceived—­what then would become of my soul?

Ordinary.  Pugh!  Never mind your soul—­leave that to me; I will render a good account of it, I warrant you.  I have a sermon in my pocket which may be of some use to you to hear.  I do not value myself on the talent of preaching, since no man ought to value himself for any gift in this world.  But perhaps there are not many such sermons.  But to proceed, since we have nothing else to do till the punch comes.  My text is the latter part of a verse only: 

—–­To the Greeks foolishness.

The occasion of these words was principally that philosophy of the Greeks which at that time had overrun great part of the heathen world, had poisoned, and, as it were, puffed up their minds with pride, so that they disregarded all kinds of doctrine in comparison of their own; and, however safe and however sound the learning of the others might be, yet, if it anywise contradicted their own laws, customs, and received opinions, away with it—­it is not for us.  It was to the Greeks foolishness.