M. I have said, I hope to be justified, when I stand before God, in the judgment.
W. Why dost thou hope, then, for justification?
M. Because I believe.
W. Does thy belief justify thee now?
M. Thou wilt not receive the true faith.
W. Thou wilt not answer, neither wilt thou show how thou canst be justified hereafter, by thy faith, when thy faith doth not now justify thee.
M. How, then, am I to be saved?
W. Thou wilt be saved by repentance. When thou shalt turn from the error of thy ways; when thou shalt no longer excuse thyself for thy neglect to do thy whole duty; when thou shalt see no mind neglected, because of thy indifference, but shalt do unto thy neighbor good, as his mind may need, without letting thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth; when thou shalt no more publish thy own worthiness, nor detract thy neighbor’s; when thou shalt have compassion on the poor, and the stranger within thy gates; when thou shalt no more oppress the weak, nor extort from the needy; when thou shalt love all mind, and curse not; when thou shalt know the truth, and have courage to acknowledge it; when thou shalt teach and practice the wisdom of God; then wilt thou find justification through faith, because thy faith will work by love for the good of all mind; and thou wilt stand before God justified, and saved from the ignorance and wrong, from which thou hast long expected deliverance, but found it not.
Then all the circle said, “Amen;” and we departed to the temple, not made with hands.