第1部分(第3/7 页)

whose　eyes　whatever　is　unusual　is　wrong；　whose　ears　detect　in　each　protest　against　bigotry—that　parent　of　crime—an　insult　to　piety；　that　regent　of　God　on　earth。　I　would　suggest　to　such　doubters　certain　obvious　distinctions；　I　would　remind　them　of　certain　simple　truths。

Conventionality　is　not　morality。　Self…righteousness　is　not　religion。　To　attack　the　first　is　not　to　assail　the　last。　To　pluck　the　mask　from　the　face　of　the　Pharisee；　is　not　to　lift　an　impious　hand　to　the　Crown　of　Thorns。

These　things　and　deeds　are　diametrically　opposed：　they　are　as　distinct　as　is　vice　from　virtue。　Men　too　often　confound　them：　they　should　not　be　confounded：　appearance　should　not　be　mistaken　for　truth；　narrow　human　doctrines；　that　only　tend　to　elate　and　magnify　a　few；　should　not　be　substituted　for　the　world…redeeming　creed　of　Christ。　There　is—I　repeat　it—a　difference；　and　it　is　a　good；　and　not　a　bad　action　to　mark　broadly　and　clearly　the　line　of　separation　between　them。

The　world　may　not　like　to　see　these　ideas　dissevered；　for　it　has　been　accustomed　to　blend　them；　finding　it　convenient　to　make　external　show　pass　for　sterling　worth—to　let　white…washed　walls　vouch　for　clean　shrines。　It　may　hate　him　who　dares　to　scrutinise　and　expose—to　rase　the　gilding；　and　show　base　metal　under　it—to　perate　the　sepulchre；　and　reveal　charnel　relics：　but　hate　as　it　will；　it　is　indebted　to　him。

Ahab　did　not　like　Micaiah；　because　he　never　prophesied　good　concerning　him；　but　evil；　probably　he　liked　the　sycophant　son　of　Chenaannah　better；　yet　might　Ahab　have　escaped　a　bloody　death；　had　he　but　stopped　his　ears　to　flattery；　and　opened　them　to　faithful　counsel。

There　is　a　man　in　our　own　days　whose　words　are　not　framed　to　tickle　delicate　ears：　who；　to　my　thinking；　es　before　the　great