judged. The'end of the world it compared to omit harvest (Matt. xiii. 30); and you know, men at harvest regard nothing but fruit. Not that anything can be accepted that is not of faith; but I speak this to show you how insignificant the profession of Talkative will he at that day.
Faith. This brings to my mind that of Moses, by which he describeth the beast that is clean. (Lev. xi. Deut. xiv.) He is such a one that parteth the hoof and cheweth? the cud, but not that parteth the hoof only, or that cheweth the cud only. The have cheweth the cud, but yet it unclean, because he parteth not the hoof. And this truly resembles Talkative: he cheweth the cud he seeketh knowledge; he cheweth upon the word, but he divideth not the hoof. He parteth not with the way of sinners; as the hare, he retaineth the foot of a dog or bear, and therefore he is unclean.
Chr. You have spoken, for aught I know, the true gospel sense of these texts; and I will add another thing: Paul calleth some men, yea, and those great talkers too, sounding brass and tinkling cymbals; that it, as he expounds them in another place, things without life, giving sound (1. Cor. xiii: 1–3; xiv. 7.) Things without life, that is without the true faith and, grace at the gospel; and consequently, things that shall never be placed in the kingdom off heaven among those that are the of the children of life; though their sound by their talk, be it were the tongue or voice of an angel.
Faith. I was not so fond of his company at first but I am sick of it now. What shall we do to be rid of him?
Chr. Take my advice, and do as I bid you, and you shall find that he will soon be sick of your company too, except God shall tooth his heart and turn it.
Faith. What would you have me to do?
Chr. Why, go to him, and enter into some serious discourse about the power of religion; and ask him plainly (when he has approved of it, (for that he will) whether this thing be set up in his heart, house, or conversation.
