- acter in this world, pretend to some religion. [Jan.
8, 1750.]
Moral Character.—Your moral character
must be not only pure, but, like Cæsar's wife, unsuspected.
The least speck or blemish upon it is fatal.
Nothing degrades and vilifies more, for it excites
and unites detestation and contempt. There are,
however, wretches in the world profligate enough to
explode all notions of moral good and evil; to maintain
that they are merely local, and depend entirely
upon the customs and fashions of different countries:
nay, there are still, if possible, more unaccountable
wretches; I mean, those who affect to
preach and propagate such absurd and infamous
notions, without believing them themselves. These
are the Devil's hypocrites. Avoid, as much as possible,
the company of such people; who reflect a
degree of discredit and infamy upon all who converse
with them. But as you may, sometimes, by
accident, fall into such company, take great care
that no complaisance, no good-humor, no warmth
of festal mirth, ever make you seem even to acquiesce,
much less to approve or applaud, such infamous
doctrines. On the other hand, do not debate, nor
enter into serious argument, upon a subject so much
below it: but content yourself with telling these
