A soap manufacturer, not a Christian, was walking with a minister. Said the soap-maker,
"The gospel you preach hasn't done much good, for there is still a lot of wickedness and wicked people."
The preacher made no immediate reply, but they soon passed a child making mud pies. She was exceedingly dirty. It was then the preacher's turn, and he said,
"Soap hasn't done much good in the world, I see; for there is still much dirt and many dirty people."
"O, well," answered the manufacturer, "soap is useful only when it is applied."
"Exactly," was the minister’s reply; "so it is with the gospel."