"Why, father, we read in the Bible that soon as Adam had lost that true image of the Deity, his Moral Goodness, instead of striving to recover it again, he went and sewed fig-leaves together to cover himself with."
"Stick to the point, child."
"I am to the point, father. I mean to say that as Adam sought a vain fig-leaf covering, rather than the imitation of the Deity in moral goodness, so his posterity have ever since been fond of running after fig-leaf substitutes."
"Aye! well I should be glad to hear you explain a little on that head, Ben."
"Father, I don't pretend to explain a subject I don't understand, but I find in Plutarch's Lives and the Heathen Antiquities, which I read in your old divinity library, and which no doubt give a true account of religion among the ancients, that when they were troubled on account of their crimes, they do not seem once to have thought of conciliating the Deity by reformation, and by acts of benevolence and goodness to be like him. No, they appear to have been too much enamoured of lust, and pride, and revenge, to relish moral goodness; such lessons were too much against the grain. But still something must be done to appease the Deity. Well then, since they could not sum up courage enough to attempt it by imitating his goodness, they would try it by coaxing his vanity—they would build him grand temples; and make him mighty sacrifices; and rich offerings. This I am told, father, was their fig-leaf."
"Why this, I fear, Ben, is a true bill against the poor Heathens."
"Well, I am sure, father, the Jews were equally fond of the fig-leaf; as their own countrymen, the Prophets, are constantly charging them. Justice, Mercy, and Truth had, it seems, no charms for them. They must have fig-leaf substitutes, such as tythings of mint, anise, and cummmin, and making 'long prayers in the streets,' and deep groanings with 'disfigured faces in the synagogues.' If they but did all this, then surely they must be Abraham's children even though they devoured widows' houses."
Here good old Josias groaned.
"Yes, father," continued Ben, "and it were well if the rage for the fig-leaf stopped with the Jews and Heathens; but the Christians are just as fond of substitutes that may save them the labour of imitating the Deity in his moral goodness. It is true, the old Jewish hobbies, mint, anise, and cummin, are not the hobbies of Christians; but still, father, you are not to suppose that they are to be disheartened for all that. Oh no. They have got a hobby worth all of them put together—they have got Faith."
Here good old Josias began to darken; and looking at Ben with great solemnity, said, "I am afraid, my son, you do not treat this great article of our holy religion with sufficient reverence."