T. Thy wrongs are the wrongs of others. When thou wouldst forsake thy wrongs, because thou hast seen them, thy brethren offer thee a bribe to refuse a reform. They say to thee, “What good will this new doctrine do? what will those gain who embrace it? and what will they lose that defend it?” Thou hast been warned by awful penalties not to forsake the wrongs thou hast cherished from thy childhood.
D. I acknowledge that I have my fears.
T. Thou wilt acknowledge that thy fears do thee no good, when they make thee miserable.
D. They sometimes make me unhappy.
T. When they make thee unhappy, they are unprofitable. No good thing ever made thee so. That which makes thee unhappy, is a wrong to thee; and when thou shalt put away that wrong, thy unhappiness will cease; but so long as thou shalt cherish the wrong, thy mind will be disturbed by it. This is the law of God in nature. Wouldst thou obey that law?
D. I would obey God.
T. Thou wouldst obey God by obeying his law?
D. I would not disobey his law.
T. Dost thou not see, that it is the law of God, which works thy unhappiness? Dost thou not know, that nothing can be true and right which makes thee unhappy?
D. I see, that when I do wrong, I want what I have not got. I want something which will make me more happy. But it is not wrong to want what I have not got.