He was now trying it, and as yet the trial had cost him no effort: he seemed to himself to be doing very well indeed.

And why should he not do as well as the thousands, who counting themselves religious people, get through the business of the hour, the day, the week, the year, without one reference in any thing they do or abstain from doing, to the will of God, or the words of Christ?
If he was more helpful to his fellows than they, he fared better; for actions in themselves good, however imperfect the motives that give rise to them, react blissfully upon character and nature.

It is better to be an atheist who does the will of God, than a so-called Christian who does not.

The atheist will not be dismissed because he said _Lord, Lord,_ and did not obey.

The thing that God loves is the only lovely thing, and he who does it, does well, and is upon the way to discover that he does it very badly.