,,reason ,,& ,,fai?2 ,,_! ,,claims ,,&  
,,conflicts4  by ,h5ry ,rog]s  ,,!      
,,ed9burgh ,,review1  ,,octob]1 #ahdi4  
,volume #ij ,no4 ,,clxxxii4 ,pages      
#bic-cef   ,art4,i--#a4 ,hi/oric ,d\bts 
relative to ,napoleon ,buonap>te ,eigh? 
edition1 pp4 #fj4 #hvo4 ,london4 #b4 ,! 
,nemesis ( ,fai?4 ,by ,j4 ,a4 ,fr\de1   
,m4 ,a41 ,fell[ ( ,exet] ,college1      
,ox=d4 #abmo4 ,london3 pp4 #bbg4 #c4    
,popul> ,*ri/ianity1 its ,transition    
,/ate & ,probable ,developm5t4 ,by ,f4  
,j4 ,foxton1 ,b4 ,a42 =m]ly ( ,pembroke 
,college1 ,ox=d1 & ,p]petual ,curate (  
,/oke ,prior & ,dockl[1 ,h]e=d%ire4     
#abmo4 ,london3 pp4 #bbf4  ',reason &   
,fai?1' says "o ( our old div9es1 ) !   
qua9tness *>act]i/ic ( 8 day1 'resemble 
! two sons ( ! patri>*2 ,reason is !    
fir/born1 b ,fai? inh]its ! bless+4 ,!  
image is +5i\s1 & ! anti!sis /rik+2 b   
nev]!less ! s5tim5t is f> f j4 ,x is    
h>dly "r to repres5t ,fai? z y\ng] ?an  
reason3 ! fact und\bt$ly be+1 t human   
creatures tru/ & believe1 long be=e !y  

reason or "k4 ,b ! tru? is1 t bo? reason
 & ,fai? are coeval ) ! nature ( man1 & 
7 design$ to dwell 9 8 he>t toge!r4 ,9  
tru? !y are1 & 71 &1 9 su* creatures z  
ourselves1 mu/ be1 reciprocally         
complem5t>y--nei!r c exclude ! o!r4 ,x  
is z impossible to ex]cise an acceptable
 fai? )\t reason = s ex]cis+ x1--t is1  
)\t ex]cis+ reason :ile we ex]cise      
fai?991--z x is to appreh5d by our      
reason1 exclusive ( fai?1 all ! tru?s on
 :i* we are daily compell$ to act1 :e!r 
9 relation to ?is _w or ! next4 ,nei!r  
is x "r to repres5t ei!r ( !m z fail+ ( 
! promis$ h]itage1 except z bo? may fail
 alike1 by p]v]sion f _! true end1 &    
depravation ( _! g5u9e nature2 = x to ! 
fai? ( :i* ! ,new ,te/am5t speaks s mu*1
 a peculi> bless+ is promis$1 x is      
evid5t f ! same volume t x is n a 'fai? 
)\t reason' any m ?an a 'fai? )\t       
works1' :i* is approv$ by ! ,au?or (    
,*ri/ianity4 ,& ?is is suffici5tly prov$
 by ! injunction 'to be ready to give a 
reason = ! hope1'--& !re=e = !          

fai?1--':i* is 9 u4'    99 ,let x be    
said t we are "h play+ ^u an ambiguity 9
 ! ^w ,reason2--consid]$ 9 ! fir/ clause
 z an argum5t2 & 9 ! second1 z !        
*>act]i/ic end[m5t ( our species4 ,!    
di/9ction betwe5 ,reason & ,reason+     
7?\gh mo/ important7 does n affect our  
/atem5t2 = ?\gh ,reason may be ex]cis$  
:]e !re is no giv+ ( reasons1 !re c be  
no giv+ ( reasons )\t ! ex]cise (       
,reason4    ,if1 !re=e1 we 7 to imitate 
! qua9tness ( ! old div9e1 on ^: dictum 
we h be5 comm5t+1 we %\ld r comp>e      
,reason & ,fai? to ! two tru/y spies1   
'fai?ful among/ ! 'fai?less1' :o        
confirm$ ea* o!r's report ( 't good l&  
:i* fl[$ ) milk & honey1' & to bo? ( :om
 ! promise ( a ri* inh]itance !re 0     
giv51--&1 9 due "t1 amply r$eem$4 ,or1  
r1 if we might be p]mitt$ to pursue !   
same ve9 a little fur!r1 & ?r[ ov] our  
%\ld]s = a mom5t t mantle ( allegory :i*
 none b ,bunyan c\ld we> long &         
successfully1 we %\ld repres5t ,reason &
 ,fai? z tw9-born be+s1--! "o1 9 =m &   

features ! image ( manly beauty1--! o!r1
 ( fem99e grace & g5tl5ess2 b to ea* (  
:om1 alas6 0 allott$ a sad privation4   
,:ile ! bright eyes ( ,reason are full (
 pi]c+ & re/less intellig5ce1 8 e> is   
clos$ to s\nd2 & :ile ,fai? has an e> ( 
exquisite delicacy1 on h] sightless     
orbs1 z %e lifts !m t[>ds heav51 !      
sunbeam plays 9 va94 ,h& 9 h& ! bro!r & 
si/]1 9 all mutual love1 pursue _! way1 
?r\gh a _w on :i*1 l ours1 day breaks & 
night falls alt]nate2 by day ! eyes (   
,reason are ! guide ( ,fai?1 & by night 
! e> ( ,fai? is ! guide ( ,reason4 ,z is
 wont ) ^? :o lab\r "u ^! privations    
respectively ,reason is apt to be eag]1 
impetu\s1 impati5t ( t in/ruction :i* 8 
infirmity w n p]mit him readily to      
appreh5d2 :ile ,fai?1 g5tle & docile1 is
 ev] will+ to li/5 to ! voice by :i*    
alone tru? & wisdom c effectually rea*  
h]4  ,x has be5 %[n by ,butl] 9 ! f\r? &
 fif? *apt]s 7,"p ,i47 ( 8 great "w1 t !
 entire con/itution & condition ( man1  
view$ 9 relation to ! pres5t _w alone1 &

 consequ5tly all ! analogies d]iv$ f t  
fact 9 relation to a future _w1 sugge/ !
 conclusion t we are "h ! subjects ( a  
probation discipl9e1 or 9 a c\rse (     
education = ano!r /ate ( exi/5ce4 ,b x  
has n1 p]haps1 be5 suffici5tly insi/$   
on1 t if 9 ! actual c\rse ( t education1
 ( :i* enlight5$ ob$i5ce to ! 'law (    
virtue1' z ,butl] expresses x1 or1 :i*  
is ! same ?+1 to ! dictates ( supreme   
wisdom & goodness1 is ! great end1 we   
give an un*eck$ asc5d5cy to ei!r ,reason
 or ,fai?1 we vitiate ! :ole process4 ,!
 *ief in/rum5t by :i* t process is c>ri$
 on is n ,reason alone1 or ,fai? alone1 
b _! well-balanc$ & reciprocal          
int]action4 ,x is a sy/em ( alt]nate    
*ecks & limitations1 9 :i* ,reason does 
n sup]s$e ,fai?1 nor ,fai? encroa* on   
,reason4 ,b our mean+ w be m evid5t :5  
we h made "o or two rem>ks on :at are   
conceiv$ to be _! respective prov9ces4  
,9 ! doma9 ( ,reason m5 g5]ally include1
 #a/1 :at are call$ 'intuitions1' #b;d1 
'necess>y d$uctions' f !m2 & #c;d1      

d$uctions f _! own direct 'exp]i5ce2    
:ile 9 ! doma9 ( ,fai? are rank$ all    
tru?s & propositions :i* are receiv$1 n 
)\t reasons inde$1 b = reasons und]iv$ f
 ! intr9sic evid5ce 7:e!r intuitive or  
d$uctive1 or f our own exp]i5ce7 (      
propositions !mselves2--= reasons 7su* z
 cr$ible te/imony1 = example17 extr9sic 
to ! prop] mean+ & significance ( su*   
propositions3 al?\gh su* reasons1 by    
accumulation & conv]g5cy1 may be capable
 ( subdu+ ! =ce ( any difficulties or   
improbabilities1 :i* _c be demon/rat$ to
 involve absolute contradictions499     
99 ,( ! fir/ k9d ( tru?s1 or ^? receiv$ 
by intuition1 we h examples 9 :at are   
call$ 'self-evid5t axioms1' &           
'fundam5tal laws' or 'conditions (      
?\ght1' :i* no wise man has ev] attempt$
 to prove4 ,( ! second1 we h examples 9 
! :ole fabric ( ma!matical sci5ce1 re>$ 
f its basis ( axioms & def9itions1 z    
well z 9 e o!r necess>y d$uction f      
admitt$ premises4 ,! ?ird virtually     
includes any conclusion 9 sci5ce bas$ on

 direct exp]im5t1 or obs]vation2 ?\gh ! 
belief ( ! tru? ev5 ( ,newton's sy/em ( 
! _w1 :5 receiv$ z ,locke says he       
receiv$ & z ! g5]ality ( m5 receive     
x1--)\t be+ able to foll[ ! /eps by :i* 
! great geomet] proves 8                
conclusions1--may be repres5t$ r z an   
act ( fai? r ?an an act ( ,reason2 z mu*
 s z a belief 9 ! tru? ( ,*ri/ianity1   
f\nd$ on its hi/oric & o!r evid5ces4 ,! 
great] "p ( man's k1 inde$1 ev5 (       
sci5ce1--ev5 ! great] "p ( a sci5tific  
man's k ( sci5ce1 bas$ z x is on        
te/imony alone 7& :i* s (t5 compels him 
to r5\nce to-day :at he ?\ght c]ta9     
ye/]day71--may be n unju/ly consid]$ z m
 alli$ to ,fai? ?an ,reason4 ,x may be  
said1 p]haps1 t ! above classification (
 ! tru?s receiv$ by ,reason & ,fai?     
respectively is arbitr>y2 t ev5 z to "s 
( _! alleg$ s\rces1 !y are n always     
cle>ly di/+ui%able2 t ! evid5ce (       
exp]i5ce may 9 "s sort be r$uc$ to      
te/imony1--t ( s5se1 & te/imony r$uc$ to
 exp]i5ce1--t ( human v]acity "u giv5   

circum/ances2 bo? be+ f\nd$ ^u ! obs]v$ 
uni=mity ( c]ta9 ph5om5a "u simil>      
conditions4 ,we admit ! tru? ( ?is2 & we
 admit x ! m will+ly1 z x %[s t s       
inextricably int]tw9$ are ! roots bo? ( 
,reason & ,fai? 9 our nature1 t no      
def9itions t c be fram$ w completely    
sep>ate !m2 none t w n involve _m       
ph5om5a :i* may be said to fall "u !    
dom9ion ( "o z mu* z ! o!r4 ,we h be5   
cont5t1 = our practical purpose1 )\t any
 too subtle ref9em5t1 to take ! l9e (   
dem>cation :i* is1 p]haps1 z obvi\s z   
any1 & z g5]ally recognis$4 ,few w\ld   
say t a g5]alis$ inf]5ce f direct       
exp]i5ce 0 n matt] ( reason r ?an (     
fai?2 ?\gh an act ( fai? is involv$ 9 ! 
process2 & few w\ld n call confid5ce 9  
te/imony :]e probabilities 7 ne>ly      
balanc$1 by ! "n ( fai? r ?an reason1   
?\gh an act ( reason is involv$ 9 t     
process4 ,we are mu* m anxi\s to %[ _!  
g5]al involution ) "o ano!r ?an ! po9ts 
( discrim9ation betwe5 !m4    ,9 receiv+
 important doctr9es on ! /r5g? ( su*    

evid5ce1 & 9 hold+ to !m aga9/ !        
p]plexities !y involve1 or1 :at is h>d] 
/ill1 aga9/ ! prejudices !y oppose1 e   
ex]cise ( an intellig5t fai? w1 on      
analysis1 be f\nd to consi/2 its only   
necess>y limit w be prov5 contradictions
 9 ! propositions submitt$ to x2 =1 !n1 
no evid5ce c ju/ify belief1 or ev5 r5d] 
x possible4 ,b no o!r difficulties1     
h[ev]1 great1 w ju/ify unbelief1 :]e man
 has all t he c ju/ly dem&1--evid5ce su*
 9 its nature z he c deal )1 & on :i* he
 is accu/om$ to act 9 8 mo/ important   
affairs 9 ?is _w 7?us admitt+ its       
validity71 & su* 9 am\nt z to r5d] x m  
likely t ! doctr9es x sub/antiates are  
true1 ?an1 f m]e ignorance ( ! mode 9   
:i* ^! difficulties c be solv$1 he c    
inf] !m to be false4 ',probabilities1'  
says ,bi%op ,bult]1 'are to u ! v guide 
to life2 & :5 ! probabilities arise out 
( evid5ce :i* we are compet5t to        
pron\nce1 & ! improbabilities m]ely f   
our surmises1 :]e we h no evid5ce to    
deal )1 & p]haps1 f ! limitation ( our  

capacities1 c\ld n deal ) x1 if we _h x1
 x is n difficult to see :at c\rse      
practical wisdom tells man he ought to  
pursue2 & :i* he always does pursue1    
:atev] difficulties beset him1--9 all   
cases except "o6  ,su* is ! /rict       
union--t mutual dep5d5ce ( ,reason &    
,fai?--:i* w\ld seem to be ! great law  
"u :i* ! moral s*ool 9 :i* we are be+   
educat$ is conduct$4 ,?is law is        
equally1 or almo/ equally1 its          
*>act]i/ic1 ,:e!r we reg>d man simply 9 
8 pres5t condition1 or 9 8 pres5t 9     
relation to 8 future condition1--z an   
inhabitant only ( ?is _w1 or a c&idate =
 ano!r2 & to ?is law1 by a s]ies (      
analogies z /rik+ z any ( ^? :i* ,butl] 
has po9t$ out 7& on :i* we he>tily wi% 8
 compreh5sive g5ius _h exp5d$ a *apt] or
 two71 ,*ri/ianity1 9 ! dem&s x makes on
 bo? pr9ciples conjo9tly1 is evid5tly   
adapt$4  ,m5 (t5 speak1 inde$1 z if !   
ex]cise ( fai? 0 exclud$ f _! condition 
z inhabitants ( ! pres5t _w4 ,b x       
requires b a v slight consid]ation to %[

 t ! boa/$ pr]ogative ( reason is "h    
also t ( a limit$ mon>*2 & t its        
attempts to make itself absolute c only 
end 9 its own de?ronem5t1 &1 aft]       
successive revolutions1 9 all ! an>*y ( 
absolute pyrrhonism4  ,= 9 !            
intellectual & moral education ( man1   
consid]$ m]ely z a citiz5 ( ! pres5t _w1
 we see ! con/ant & insep>able union ( !
 two pr9ciples1 & provision made = _!   
p]petual ex]cise4 ,he _c advance a /ep1 
inde$ )\t bo?4 ,we see fai? dem&$ n only
 amid/ ! dep5d5ce & ignorance 9 :i*     
*ildhood & y\? are pass$2 n only 9 !    
:ole process by :i* we acquire !        
imp]fect k :i* is to fit u = be+ m52 b  
to ! v la/ we may be truly said to      
believe f> m ?an we "k4 ',inde$1' said  
,butl]1 '! unsatisfactory nature ( !    
evid5ce ) :i* we are oblig$ to take up 9
 ! daily c\rse ( life1 is sc>ce to be   
expect$4' ,nay1 9 an intelligible s5se1 
ev5 ! 'prim>y tru?s1' or 'fir/          
pr9ciples1' or 'fundam5tal laws (       
?\ght1' or 'self-evid5t maxims1' or     

'intuitions1' or by :atev] o!r names    
philosoph]s h be5 pleas$ to designate   
!m1 :i*1 9 a special s5se1 are ! v      
prov9ce ( reason1 z contra-di/+ui%$ f   
'reason+' or logical d$uction1 may be   
said almo/ z truly to dep5d on fai? z on
 reason = _! reception499 ,= ! only     
gr\nd = believ+ !m true is t man _c help
 s believ+ !m6 ,! same may be said ( t  
great fact1 )\t :i* ! :ole _w w\ld be at
 a /&-/ill--a belief 9 ! uni=mity ( !   
ph5om5a ( ext]nal nature2 t ! same sun1 
= example1 :i* rose ye/]day & to-day1 w 
rise aga9 tomorr[4 ,t ?is _c be         
demon/rat$1 is admitt$ on all h&s2 & t x
 is n absolutely prov$ f exp]i5ce is    
evid5t1 bo? f ! fact t ! uni=mity       
suppos$ is only accept$ z p>tially &    
transi5tly true2 ! great bulk ( mank9d1 
ev5 :ile !y s confid5tly act ^u t       
uni=mity1 reject+ ! idea ( its be+ an   
et]nal uni=mity4 ,e !i/ believes t !    
ord] ( ! univ]se once began to be2 & e  
,*ri/ian & mo/ o!r m51 believe t x w    
also "o day cease to be4    99 ,common  

language seems to indicate ?is3 ,s9ce we
 call t disposition ( m9d :i* leads "s  
m5 to d5y ! above fundam5tal tru?s 7or  
affect to d5y !m71 n by a ^w :i*        
indicates ! opposite ( reason1 b !      
opposite ( fai?1--,scepticism1          
,unbelief1 ,incr$ulity4   ,b p]haps !   
mo/ /rik+ example ( ! helplessness to   
:i* man is soon r$uc$ if he relies ^u 8 
reason alone1 is ,! spectacle ( ! issue 
( 8 inve/igations into t :i* "o w\ld    
imag9e he mu/ "k mo/ intimately1 if he  
kn[s any?+2 & t is1 8 own nature--8 own 
m9d4 ,!re is some?+1 to "o :o reflects  
long en\gh ^u x1 inexpressibly :imsical 
9 ! que/ions :i* ! m9d is = ev] putt+ to
 itself respect+ itself2 & to :i* ! said
 m9d returns f its d>k cav]ns only an   
e*o4 ,we are apt1 :5 we speculate ab\t !
 m9d1 to =get = ! mom5t1 t x is at once 
! qu]i/ & ! oracle3 & to reg>d x z      
some?+ out ( itself1 l a m9]al 9 ! h&s (
 ! analytic *emi/4 ,we _c fully ent]    
into ! absurdities ( its condition1     
except by rememb]+ t x is our own wise  

selves :o s grotesquely bewild] u4 ,!   
m9d1 on su* occasions1 takes itself 7if 
we may s speak7 into its own h&s1 turns 
itself ab\t itself1 li/5s to ! e*o ( its
 own voice1 & is oblig$1 aft] all1 to   
lay itself d[n aga9 ) a v puzzl$        
expression--& ackn[l$ge t ( its v self1 
itself kn[s little or no?+6 ',i am      
mat]ial1' exclaims "o ( ^? :imsical     
be+s1 to :om ! heav5-desc5d$ ',"k       
?yself' w\ld seem to h be5 ironically   
address$4 ',no6--immat]ial1' says ano!r4
 ',i am bo? mat]ial & immat]ial1'       
exclaims1 p]haps1 ! v same m9d at       
diff]5t times4 ',?\ght itself may be    
matt] modifi$1' says "o4 ',r1' says     
ano!r ( ! same p]plex$ species1 'matt]  
is ?\ght modifi$2 = :at y call matt] is 
b a ph5om5on4' ,b are indep5d5t &       
totally di/9ct sub/ances1 my/]i\sly1    
inexplicably conjo9$1' says a ?ird4 ',h[
 !y are conjo9$ we "k no m ?an ! dead4  
,n s mu*1 p]haps4' ',d ,i ev] cease to  
?9k1' says ! m9d to itself1 'ev5 9      
sleep8 ,is n my ess5ce ?\ght8' ',y ought

 to "k y\r own ess5ce be/1' all creation
 w reply4 ',i am confid5t1' says "o1 't 
,i nev] d cease to ?9k1--n ev5 9 !      
s\nde/ sleep4' ',y d1 = a long "t1 e    
night ( y\r life1' exclaims ano!r1      
equally confid5t & equally ignorant4    
',:]e d ,i exi/8' x goes on4 ',am ,i 9 !
 bra98 ,am ,i 9 ! :ole body8 ',am ,i    
any:]e8 ,am ,i n[h]e8' ',i _c h any     
local exi/5ce1 = ,i "k ,i am immat]ial1'
 says "o4 ',i h a local exi/5ce1 because
 ,i am mat]ial1' says ano!r4 ',i h a    
local exi/5ce1 ?\gh ,i am n mat]ial1'   
says a ?ird4 ',are my habitual actions  
volunt>y1' x exclaims1 'h[ev] rapid !y  
become2 ?\gh ,i am unconsci\s ( ^!      
volitions :5 !y h atta9$ a c]ta9        
rapidity2 or d ,i become a m]e automaton
 z respects su* actions8 & !re=e an     
automaton n9e times out ( t51 :5 ,i act 
at all8' ,to ?is qu]y two opposite      
answ]s are giv5 by diff]5t m9ds2 & by   
o!rs1 p]haps wis]1 none at all2 :ile1   
(t51 opposite answ]s are giv5 by ! same 
m9d at diff]5t times4 ,9 l mann] has e  

action1 e op]ation1 e emotion ( ! m9d   
be5 made ! subject ( endless d\bt &     
disputation4 ,surely if1 z ,soame ,j5yns
 imag9$1 ! infirmities ( man1 & ev5     
grav] evils1 7 p]mitt$ 9 ord] to af=d   
amusem5t to sup]ior intellig5ces1 & make
 ! angels laugh1 few ?+s c\ld af=d !m   
bett] sport ?an ! p]plexities ( ?is *ild
 ( clay engag$ 9 ! /udy ( himself4      
',alas1' exclaims at la/ ! baffl$ _s (  
?is babe 9 intellect1 z he surveys 8    
%att]$ toys--8 brok5 !ories (           
metaphysics1 ',i "k t ,i am2 b :at ,i   
am--:]e ,i am--ev5 h[ ,i act--n only :at
 is my ess5ce1 b :at ev5 my mode (      
op]ation1--( all ?is ,i "k no?+2 &1 boa/
 ( reason z ,i may1 all t ,i ?9k on ^!  
po9ts is matt] ( op9ion--or is matt] (  
fai?6' ,he resembles1 9 fact1 no?+ s mu*
 z a kitt5 fir/ introduc$ to its own    
image 9 a mirror3 %e runs to ! back ( x1
 %e leaps ov] x1 %e turns & twi/s1 &    
jumps & frisks1 9 all directions1 9 !   
va9 attempt to rea* ! fair illusion2 &1 
at l5g?1 turns away 9 we>9ess f t       

incompreh5sible enigma--! image (       
h]self4  ,"o w\ld imag9e--p]haps n      
untruly--t ! ,div9e ,creator _h subject$
 u to ^! difficulties--& especially t   
incompreh5sible trilemma1--t !re is an  
union & int]action ( two totally di/9ct 
sub/ances1 or t matt] is b ?\ght1 or t  
?\ght is b matt]1--"o ( :i* mu/ be true1
 & all ( :i* approa* z ne> to ! mutual  
contradictions z c well be conceiv$1--= 
! v purpose ( rebuk+ ! presumption (    
man1 & ( tea*+ him humility2 t ,he _h   
left ^! obscurities at ! v ?re%old--nay1
 )9 ! v mansion ( ! m9d itself1--= !    
express purpose ( det]r+ man f play+ !  
dogmatis+ fool :5 he look$ abroad4 ,yet1
 9 spite ( 8 ragg$ness & pov]ty at home1
 no soon] does man look out ( 8 dusky   
dwell+1 ?an1 l ,goldsmi?'s little ,beau1
 :o1 9 8 g>ret up five pair ( /airs1    
boa/s ( 8 fri5d%ip ) lords1 he is apt to
 assume airs ( magnific5ce1 &1 glanc+ at
 ! inf9ite ?r\gh 8 little eye-glass1 to 
affect an intimate acqua9tance ) ! mo/  
respectable secrets ( ! univ]se6  ,x is 

und5iable1 !n1 t ! p]plexities :i*      
uni=mly puzzle man 9 ! physical _w1 &   
ev5 9 ! little _w ( 8 own m9d1 :5 he    
passes a c]ta9 limit1 are j z           
unmanageable z ^? f\nd 9 ! moral        
con/itution & gov]nm5t ( ! univ]se1 or 9
 ! disclosures ( ! volume ,revelation4  
,9 bo? we f9d abundance ( inexplicable  
difficulties sometimes aris+ f our      
absolute ignorance1 & p]haps q z (t5 f  
our p>tial k4 ,^! difficulties are      
probably left on ! pages ( bo? volumes =
 "s ( ! same reasons2 _m ( !m1 x may be1
 because ev5 ! comm5t>y ( ! ,creator    
himself c\ld n r5d] !m pla9 to f9ite    
und]/&+1 ?\gh a necess>y & salut>y      
ex]cise ( our humility may be involv$ 9 
_! reception2 o!rs1 if n purely 7:i*    
seems n probable7 yet p>tly = ! sake (  
ex]cis+ & tra9+ t humility1 z an        
ess5tial "p ( ! education ( a *ild2     
o!rs1 surm\ntable1 inde$1 9 ! progress (
 k & by prolong$ ef=t ( ! human         
intellect1 may be design$ to /imulate t 
intellect to /r5u\s action & heal?y     

ef=t--z well z to supply1 9 _! solution1
 z "t rolls on1 an ev]-accumulat+ mass (
 pro(s ( ! pr(undity ( ! wisdom :i* has 
s f> anticipat$ all ! wisdom ( man2 & ( 
! div9e orig9 ( bo? ! great books :i* he
 is privileg$ to /udy z a pupil1 & ev5  
to illu/rate z a comm5tator1--b ! text (
 :i* he _c alt]4  ,b1 = submitt+ to u _m
 pr(\nd & insoluble problems1 ! second (
 ! above reasons--! tra9+ ( ! intellect 
& he>t ( man to submission to ! ,supreme
 ,intellig5ce alone be suffici5t4 ,= x2 
z is indicat$ by e ?+ 9 human nature1 & 
by ! repres5tations ( ,scripture1 :i*   
are 9 analogy ) bo?1 ! pres5t _w is b ! 
s*ool ( man 9 ?is ! *ildhood ( 8 be+1 to
 prep>e him = ! enjoym5t ( an immortal  
manhood 9 ano!r1 ev]y?+ might be expect$
 to be subord9at$ to ?is great end2 & z 
! end ( t education1 c be no o!r ?an an 
enlight5$ ob$i5ce to ,god1 ! h>moni\s & 
concurr5t ex]cise ( reason & fai?       
becomes absolutely necess>y--n ( reason 
to ! exclusion ( fai?1 = o!rwise !re    
w\ld be no adequate te/ ( man's docility

 & submission2 nor ( a fai? t w\ld ass]t
 itself1 n only indep5d5t ( reason1 b 9 
contradiction to x1--:i* w\ld n be :at  
,god requires1 & :at alone c quadrate ) 
t intellig5t nature ,he has impress$ on 
,8 (fspr+--a reasonable ob$i5ce4        
,implicit ob$i5ce1 !n1 to ! dictates (  
an all-p]fect wisdom1 ex]cis$ amid/ _m  
difficulties & p]plexities1 z s _m te/s 
( s9c]ity1 & yet su/a9$ by evid5ces :i* 
ju/ify ! conclusions :i* involve !m1    
w\ld seem to be ! great object ( man's  
moral education "h2 & to ju/ify bo? !   
p>tial evid5ce address$ to 8 reason1 & !
 abundant difficulties :i* x leaves to 8
 fai?4 ',! evid5ce ( religion1' says    
,butl]1 'is fully suffici5t = all !     
purposes ( probation1 h[ f> soev] x is f
 be+ satisfactory z to ! purposes (     
curiosity1 or any o!r3 &1 inde$1 x      
answ]s ! purposes ( ! =m] 9 sev]al      
respects :i* x w\ld n d if x 7 z        
ov]-be>+ z is requir$4'99 ,or z ,pascal 
beautifully puts x3--',!re is light     
en\gh = ^? ^: s9c]e wi% is to see1--&   

d>kness en\gh to conf\nd ^? ( an        
opposite disposition4'    99 ,analogy1  
"p #b4 *ap4 viii4  ,p5sees4 ,faug]e's   
edition1 tom4 ii4 p4 #aea4 ,! views "h  
develop$ w be f\nd an expansion ( "s    
brief h9ts at ! close ( ! article on    
,pascal's ',life & ,g5ius' 7,ed4        
,review1 ,jan4 #ahdg71 ?\gh our space !n
 prev5t$ u f m ?an t\*+ ^! topics4 ,we  
may add t we gladly take ?is opportunity
 ( po9t+ ! att5tion ( our read]s to a   
tract ( ,ar*bi%op ,:ately's1 entitl$ ',!
 example ( *ildr5 z propos$ to          
,*ri/ians1' :i* 8 ,grace1 hav+ be5 /ruck
 ) a co9cid5ce betwe5 "s ( ! ?\ghts 9 ! 
tract & ^? express$ 9 ! ',review1' did u
 ! fav\r to transmit to u4 ,_h we se5 ! 
tract be=e1 we %\ld h be5 glad to       
illu/rate & confirm our own views by ^? 
( ?is highly gift$ prelate4 ,we e>ne/ly 
recomm5d ! tract 9 "q 7z well z ! :ole (
 ! rem>kable volume 9 :i* x is n[       
incorporat$1 ',essays on "s ( !         
,peculi>ities ( ! ,*ri/ian ,religion'7  
to ! p]usal ( our read]s1 & at ! same "t

 v5ture to express our conviction 7hav+ 
be5 l$ by ! circum/ances above m5tion$  
to a full] acqua9tance ) 8 ,grace's     
!ological writ+s ?an we _h previ\sly    
possess$7 t1 ?\gh ?is lucid & eloqu5t   
writ] may1 = obvi\s reasons1 be mo/     
widely kn[n by 8 ',logic & ',rhetoric1' 
! "t w come :5 8 ,!ological works w be1 
if n m widely read1 /ill m highly priz$4
 ,to great p[]s ( argum5t & illu/ration1
 & delightful transp>5cy ( diction &    
/yle1 he adds a high] quality /ill--& a 
v r>e quality x is--an evid5t & int5se  
hone/y ( purpose1 an absorb+ desire to  
arrive at ! exact tru?1 & to /ate x )   
p]fect fairness & ) ! j limitations4    
,)\t pret5d+ to agree ) all t ,ar*bi%op 
,:ately has writt5 on ! subject ( !ology
 7?\gh be c>ries 8 read]s ) him z       
frequ5tly z any writ] ) :om we are      
acqua9t$7 we may rem>k t 9 relation to t
 :ole class ( subjects1 to :i* ! pres5t 
essay has ref]5ce1 we "k ( no writ] ( ! 
pres5t day ^: contributions are m num]\s
 or m valuable4 ,! highly +5i\s ironical

 bro*ure1 entitl$ ',hi/oric ,d\bts      
relative to ,napoleon ,buonap>te2' !    
,essays above m5tion$1 ',on "s ( !      
,peculi>ities ( ! ,*ri/ian ,religion2'  
^? ',on "s ( ! ,dang]s to ,*ri/ian      
,fai?1' & on ! ',errors ( ,romanism2' ! 
"w on ! ',k+dom ( ,*ri/1' n to m5tion   
o!rs1 are well wor?y ( univ]sal p]usal4 
,!y ab\nd 9 views bo? orig9al & j1 /at$ 
) all ! au?or's aptness ( illu/ration & 
transp>5cy ( language4 ,we may rem>k1   
too1 t 9 _m ( 8 occasional s]mons1 he   
has incid5tally add$ _m mo/ beautiful   
fragm5ts to t ev] accumulat+ mass (     
int]nal evid5ce :i* ! ,scriptures       
!mselves supply 9 _! v /ructure1 & :i*  
is evolv$ by dilig5t inve/igation ( !   
relation & coh]5ce ( "o "p ( !m ) ano!r4
 ,we are also rejoic$ to see t a small &
 unpret5d+1 b v p[]ful1 little tract1 by
 ! same writ]1 entitl$ ',introductory   
,lessons on ,*ri/ian ,evid5ces4' has    
pass$ ?r\gh _m editions1 has be5        
translat$ into mo/ ( ! ,european        
languages1 &1 among/ ! re/1 v rec5tly   

into ,g]man1 ) an appropriate preface1  
by pr(essor ,abeltzhaus]1 ( ! ,univ]sity
 ( ,dubl94 ,x %[s to demon/ration t z   
mu* ( ! evid5ce ( ,*ri/ianity z is      
necess>y = conviction may be made       
p]fectly cle> to ! meane/ capacity' & t1
 9 spite ( ! ass]tions ( ,rome & ( ,ox=d
 to ! contr>y1 ! apo/olic injunction to 
e ,*ri/ian to be ready to r5d] a reason 
'= ! hope t is 9 him1'--some:at bett]   
?an t no reason ( ! ,h9doo or !         
,hott5tot1 t he believes :at he is told1
 )\t any reason except t he is told     
x1--is an injunction possible to obey4  
,z ,he ':o spake z nev] man spake' is   
pleas$ (t5 to illu/rate ! conduct ( !   
,fa!r ( ,spirits to 8 intellig5t (fspr+ 
by a ref]5ce to ! conduct :i* fl[s f !  
relations ( ! human p>5t to 8 *ildr51 s 
! pres5t subject admits ( simil>        
illu/ration4 ,:at ,god does ) u 9 t     
process ( moral education to :i* we h j 
adv]t$1 is exactly :at e wise p>5t      
endeav\rs to d ) 8 *ildr51--?\gh by     
me?ods1 z we may well judge1            

proportionably less p]fect4 ,man too    
in/9ctively1 or by reflection1 adapts   
himself to ! nature ( 8 *ildr52 & see+ t
 only s f> z x is ju/ly tra9$ c !y be   
happy1 makes ! h>moni\s & concurr5t     
developm5t ( _! reason & _! fai? 8      
object2 he too endeav\rs to tea* !m t   
)\t :i* !y _c be happy1--ob$i5ce1 b a   
reasonable ob$i5ce ,he gives !m1 9 8    
g5]al proc$ure & conduct1 suffici5t pro(
 ( 8 sup]ior k1 sup]ior wisdom1 &       
un*ang+ love2 & secure 9 ! g5]al effect 
( ?is1 he leaves !m to receive by fai?  
_m ?+s :i* he _c expla9 to !m if he     
w\ld1 till !y get old]2 _m ?+s :i* he c 
only p>tially expla92 & o!rs :i* he     
might m p]fectly expla91 b w n1 p>tly z 
a te/ ( _! docility & p>tly to invite & 
necessitate ! heal?y & en]getic ex]cise 
( _! reason 9 f9d+ out ! explanation =  
!mselves4 ,confid+ 9 ! same g5]al effect
 ( 8 proc$ure & conduct1 he does n      
hesitate1 :5 ! =esight ( _! ultimate    
welf>e ju/ifies x1 to draw /ill m l>gely
 on _! fai?1 9 acts ( app>5t h>%ness &  

sev]ity4 ,"t1 he kn[s1 w %[1 ?\gh p]haps
 n till 8 ye>n+ he>t has ceas$ to beat =
 _! welf>e1 t all t all he did1 he did 9
 love4 ,he kn[s1 too1 t if 8 lessons are
 tak5 aright1 & 8 *ildr5 become ! good &
 happy m5 he wi%es !m to be1 !y w say1 z
 !y visit 8 sepul*re1 & recall ) sorr[ !
 once unappreciat$ love :i* animat$     
him1--& p]haps ) a sorr[1 deep] /ill1   
rememb] ! transi5t res5tm5ts caus$ by a 
solit>y sev]ity3 ',he 0 inde$ a fri5d2  
he correct$ u n = 8 pleasure1 b = our   
pr(it2 & :at we once ?\ght 0 caprice or 
passion1 we n[ "k 0 love4'  ,^!         
analogies af=d a true1 ?\gh mo/         
imp]fect1 repres5tation ( ! moral       
discipl9e to :i* ,supreme ,wisdom is    
subject+ u2 & z we are accu/om$ to      
despair ( any *ild ) :om p>5tal exp]i5ce
 & au?ority g = no?+1 unless he c fully 
und]/& ! intr9sic reasons = e special   
act ( duty :i* t exp]i5ce & au?ority    
dictate2 z we are sure t he :o has n    
le>n$ to obey :5 "y w nev]1 :5 ( age1 "k
 h[ to gov]n ei!r himself or o!rs3 s a  

s+ul> conduct 9 all ! *ildr5 ( du/ t[>ds
 ! ,fa!r ( ,spirits ju/ifies a /ill m   
gloomy augury2 inasmu* z ! diff]5ce     
betwe5 ! k ( man & ! ignorance ( a *ild1
 absolutely vani%es1 9 comp>ison ) t    
int]val :i* mu/ ev] subsi/ betwe5 ! k ( 
! ,et]nal & ! ignorance ( man4  ,!      
rem>ks t h be5 made are n uncall$ = 9 ! 
pres5t day4 ,= un=tunately1 x is n[ easy
 to detect 9 _m classes ( m9ds a t5d5cy 
to divorce ,reason f ,fai?1 or ,fai? f  
reason2 & to proclaim t ':at ,god ha?   
jo9$ toge!r' %all h5ce=? exi/ 9         
ali5ation4 ,we see ?is t5d5cy manife/$ 9
 relation bo? to ,natural ,!ology1 & to 
,reveal$ ,religion4 ,! old conflict     
betwe5 ! claims ( ^! two guid+ pr9ciples
 ( man 79 no age :olly suppress$7 is    
visibly r5ew$ 9 our day4 ,9 relation to 
,*ri/ianity especially1 !re are l>ge    
classes among/ u :o press ! claims (    
fai? s f>1 t x w\ld become1 if !y _h _! 
w1 an utt]ly unreasonable fai?2 "s ( :om
 d n scruple to speak slight+ly ( !     
evid5ces :i* sub/antiate ,*ri/ianity2 to

 decry & depreciate ! /udy ( !m2 to     
pron\nce t /udy unnecess>y2 & ev5 9 _m  
cases to ins9uate _! insuffici5cy4 ,!y  
are l\d 9 ! mean "t 9 extoll+ a fai?    
:i*1 z ,:ately truly obs]ves1 is no :it 
bett] ?an ! fai? ( a hea!n2 :o has no   
o!r or bett] reason to (f] = 8 religion 
?an t 8 fa!r told him x 0 true6 ,b ?is  
pla9ly is n ! intellig5t fai? :i*1 z we 
h se51 is ev]y:]e inculcat$ & applaud$ 9
 ! ,scriptures2 x is n 't fai? by :i*   
,*ri/ianity1 appeal+ ,9 ! mid/ ( a      
multitude ( su* traditional religions1  
to palpable evid5ce address$ to man's   
s5ses & und]/&+s 79 a way no o!r        
religion ev] did7 ev]y:]e de/roy$ !     
sy/ems = :i* _! vot>ies c\ld only say t 
_! fa!rs told !m !y 7 true4 ,& yet ?is  
bl9d belief 9 su* tradition1 _m         
advocates ( ,*ri/ianity w\ld n[ enjo9 u 
to imitate6 ,x might h occurr$ to !m1 "o
 w\ld ?9k1 t1 on _! pr9ciples1          
,*ri/ianity nev] c\ld h succe$$2 = e m9d
 mu/ h be5 hopelessly pre-occupi$ aga9/ 
all exam9ation ( its claims4 ,x is1     

inde$1 incomp>ably bett] t a man %\ld be
 a s9c]e ,*ri/ian ev5 by an utt]ly      
unreason+ & passive fai? 7if t be       
possible71 ?an no ,*ri/ian at all2 b at 
! be/1 su* a man is a possessor ( ! tru?
 only by accid5t3 he ought to h1 &1 if  
he be a s9c]e disciple ( tru?1 w seek1  
"s m solid gr\nds = hold+ x4 ,b x is b  
too obvi\s1 we fe>1 t ! disposition to  
enjo9 ?is obsequi\s mood ( m9d is       
prompt$ by a /rong desire to revive !   
anci5t empire ( prie/craft & !          
pret5sions ( ecclesia/ical despotism2 to
 secure readmission to ! human m9d (    
extravagant & prepo/]\s claims1 :i* _!  
advocates are sadly consci\s re/ on no  
solid f\ndation4 ,!y feel t reason is n 
) !m1 x mu/ be aga9/ !m3 & reason !re=e 
!y are det]m9$ to exclude4  ,b !        
exp]i5ce ( ! pres5t 'developm5ts' (     
,ox=d tea*+ may s]ve to %[ u h[         
inf9itely p]il\s is ?is c\rse2 & h[     
fe>fully1 bo? outrag$ reason & outrag$  
fai? w av5ge ! wrongs done !m by _!     
ali5ation & disjunction4 ,^? results1   

inde$1 we pr$ict$ 9 #ahdc2 be=e a s+le  
lead] ( ! ,ox=d s*ool _h gone ov] to    
,rome1 & be=e any t5d5cies to ! opposite
 extreme ( ,scepticism _h manife/$      
!mselves4 ,we !n affirm$ t1 on ! "o h&1 
^? :o 7 cont5d+ = ! corruptions ( ! f\r?
 c5tury c\ld n possibly f9d foot+ !re1 b
 mu/ inevitably seek _! ultimate re/+   
place 9 ,rome--a pr$iction :i* has be5  
too amply fulfill$2 & t1 on ! o!r1 !    
extravagant pret5sions put =? on behalf 
( an un9quir+ fai?1 & ! desp]ate        
ass]tion t ! 'evid5ce = ,*ri/ianity' 0  
no /rong] ?an t = ',*ur* ,pr9ciples1'   
mu/1 by reaction1 lead on to an outbreak
 ( infidelity4 ,t prophecy1 too1 has be5
 to ! lett] accompli%$4 ,we !n said1--  
,we h se5 x rec5tly ass]t$ by "s ( !    
,ox=d s*ool t !re is z mu* reason =     
reject+ ! mo/ ess5tial doctr9es (       
,*ri/ianity--nay ,*ri/ianity itself--z =
 reject+ _! *ur* pr9ciples4 ,t1 9 %ort1 
we h z mu* reason = be+ infidels z =    
reject+ ! doctr9e ( ,apo/olical         
succession6 ,:at o!r effect su* reason+ 

c h ?an t ( compell+ m5 to believe t !re
 is no?+ betwe5 infidelity & pop]y1 & ( 
urg+ !m to make a selection betwe5 !    
two1 we "k n 4444 ,inde$1 we fully      
expect t1 z a reaction ( ! pres5t       
extravagancies1 ( ! revival ( obsolete  
sup]/ition1 we %all h ere long to fight 
ov] aga9 ! battle ) a modifi$ =m (      
infidelity1 z n[ ) a modifi$ =m ( pop]y4
 ,?us1 probably1 = "s "t to come1 w !   
human m9d cont9ue to oscillate betwe5 ! 
extremes ( error2 b ) a dim9i%$ are at  
ea* vibration2 until tru? %all at la/   
prevail1 & compel x to repose 9 !       
c5tre499    99 ,ox=d ,tract ,s*ool1 ,ed4
 ,rev41 ,april1 #ahdc4    ,! (f5sive    
displays ( self-suffici5cy & flippancy1 
( ignorance & presumption1 f\nd 9 !     
productions ( ! apo/les ( ! new         
infidelity ( ,ox=d1 7( :i* we %all h a  
few words to say by-&-by7 are ! natural 
& in/ructive1 ?\gh mo/ pa9ful1 result ( 
attempt+ to give pr$om9ance to "o       
pr9ciple ( our nature1 :]e two or m are 
design$ reciprocally to gu>d & *eck ea* 

o!r2 & su* results mu/ ev] foll[ su*    
attempts4 ,! excell5ce ( man--s         
complexly con/itut$ is 8 nature--mu/    
consi/ 9 ! h>moni\s action & prop]      
balance ( all ! con/itu5ts ( t nature2 !
 equilibrium he sighs = mu/ be ! result 
( ! comb9$ action ( =ces op]at+ 9       
diff]5t directions2 ( 8 reason1 8 fai?1 
8 appetites1 8 affections1 8 emotions2  
:5 ^! op]ate ea* 9 due proportion1 !n1 &
 !n only1 c he be at re/4 ,x may1 inde$1
 transc5d any calculus ( man to e/imate 
exactly ! sev]al elem5ts 9 ?is          
complicat$ polygon ( =ces2 b we are at  
lea/ sure t1 if any "o pr9ciple be s    
develop$ z to sup]s$e ano!r1 no safe    
equipoise w be atta9$4 ,we all "k       
famili>ly en\gh t ?is is ! case :5 !    
affections or ! appetites are m p[]ful  
?an ! reason & ! consci5ce1 in/ead ( be+
 9 subjection to !m3 b x is n less !    
case1 ?\gh ! result is n s palpable1 :5 
reason & fai? ei!r exclude "o ano!r1 or 
tr5* on ea* o!r's doma92 :5 "o is pamp]$
 & ! o!r />v$499 ,h5ce ! p]ils att5dant 

^u _! attempt$ sep>ation1 & ! ru9 :i*   
results f _! actual ali5ation &         
ho/ility4 ,!re is no dep? ( dre>y       
sup]/ition into :i* m5 may n s9k 9 ! "o 
case1 & no extravagance ( ignorant      
presumption to :i* !y may n so> 9 ! o!r4
 ,x is only by ! mutual & alt]nate      
action ( ^! diff]5t =ces t man c safely 
navigate 8 little b>k ?r\gh ! n>r[      
/raits & by ! dang]\s rocks :i* imp$e 8 
c\rse2 & if ,fai? spread n ! sail to !  
breeze1 or if ,reason des]t ! helm1 we  
are 9 equal p]il4   99 ,x has be5 our   
lot to meet ) disciples ( ! ,ox=d ,tract
 ,s*ool1 :o h1 by a fatal indulg5ce ( an
 appetite ( belief2 br\ght !mselves to  
believe any m$iaeval miracle1 nay1 any  
gho/ /ory1 )\t exam9ation1 say+1 ) a    
solemn face1 ',x is bett] to believe t  
to reason4' ,!y believe z !y w to       
believe2 & ?us is reason av5g$4 ,reason1
 simil>ly indulg$1 believes1 ) ,mr4     
,foxton & ,mr4 ,fr\de1 t a miracle is   
ev5 an impossibility2 & ?is is !        
',nemesis' ( fai?4   ,if x be said t ?is

 is a disconsolate & dre>y doctr9e2 t   
man seeks & ne$s a simpl] navigation ?an
 ?is tr\blesome & intricate c\rse1 by />
 & *>t1 compass & lead l9e2 & t ?is     
responsibility1 ( ev]  ',s\nd+ on 8 dim 
& p]il\s way1'  is too grave = s feeble 
a nature2 we answ] t su* is 8 actual    
condition4 ,?is is a pla9 matt] ( fact  
:i* _c be d5i$4 ,! v>i\s pr9ciples ( 8  
con/itution1 & 8 position 9 relation to 
! ext]nal _w1 obvi\sly & absolutely     
subject him to ?is v responsibility     
?r\gh\t 8 :ole c\rse 9 ?is life4 ,x is  
nev] remitt$ or abat$3 resolves are     
necessitat$ ^u imp]fect evid5ce2 &      
action imp]atively dem&$ amid/ d\bts &  
difficulties 9 :i* reason is n satisfi$1
 & fai? is requir$4 ,to argue !re=e1 t  
,god _c h left man to su* unc]ta9ty1 is 
to argue1 z ! p]t9aci\s lawy] did1 :o1  
on see+ a man 9 ! /ocks1 ask$ him :at he
 0 !re =2 & on be+ told1 said1 ',!y _c  
put y !re = t4' ',b ,i am "h1' 0 !      
laconic answ]4  ,! analogy1 !n1 ( man's 
:ole condition 9 ?is life might lead u  

to expect ! same sy/em ( proc$ure       
?r\gh\t2 t ! evid5ce :i* sub/antiates   
religi\s tru?1 & claims religi\s action1
 w\ld involve ?is responsibility z well 
z t :i* sub/antiates o!r k9ds ( tru?1 & 
dem&s o!r k9ds ( action4 ,& aft] all1   
:at else1 9 ei!r case1 c\ld answ] !     
purpose1 if 7z already said7 ?is _w be !
 s*ool ( tra9+ ( man's moral nature8 ,h[
 else c\ld ! discipl9e ( 8 faculties1 ! 
ex]cise ( pati5ce1 humility1 & =titude1 
be secur$8 ,h[1 except amid/ a /ate (   
?+s less ?an c]ta9ty--:e!r "u ! =m ( t  
passive fai? :i* mimics ! possession (  
absolute c]ta9ty1 or absolute c]ta9ty   
itself--c\ld man's nature be tra9$ to   
comb9$ self-reliance & self-di/ru/1     
circumspection & resolution1 &1 above   
all1 to confid5ce 9 ,god8 ,man _c be    
nurs$ & d&l$ into ! manhood ( 8 nature1 
by t un?9k+ fai? :i* leaves no d\bts to 
be felt1 & no objections to be weigh$2  
,nor c 8 docility ev] be te/$1 if he is 
nev] call$ ^u to believe any ?+ :i* x   
w\ld n be an absurdity & contradiction  

to d5y4 ,?is species ( responsibility1  
!n1 n only _c be disp5s$ )1 b is        
absolutely necess>y2 &1 consequ5tly1    
h[ev] desirable x may appe> t we %\ld h 
furni%$ to u t %ort pa? to c]ta9ty :i* a
 pret5d$ infallibility99 promises to    
man1 or t equally %ort pa? :i* leads to 
! same t]m9ation1 by tell+ u t we are to
 believe no?+ :i* we _c demon/rate to be
 true1 or :i*1 a priori1 we may presume 
to be false1 mu/ be a pa? :i* leads     
a/ray4 ,9 ! "o case1 h[ c ! 'reasonable 
s]vice' :i* ,scripture dem&s--!         
enlight5$ love & consci5ti\s            
inve/igation ( tru?--its reception1 n   
)\t d\bts1 b aga9/ d\bts--h[ c\ld all   
?is co-exi/ ) a fai? :i* pres5ts ! :ole 
sum ( religion 9 ! =mul>y1 ',i am to    
believe )\t a d\bt1 & p]=m )\t          
hesitation4 :atev] my guide1 ,p>son ,a4 
tells me8' ,n t1 ev5 9 t case 7z has (t5
 be5 %[n71 ! man w\ld be reliev$ =m !   
necessity ( absolutely dep5d+ on !      
dread$ ex]cise ( 8 private judgm5t2 = he
 mu/ at lea/ h ex]cis$ x once = all     

7unless ea* man is to remit 8 religion  
:olly to ! accid5t ( 8 bir?71 & t on two
 ( ! mo/ ardu\s ( all que/ions3 fir/1   
:i* ( sev]al *ur*es1 pret5d+ to         
infallibility1 is truly infallible8 ,&  
next1 :e!r ! man may infallibly reg>d 8 
wor?y ,p>son ,a4 z an infallible exp\nd]
 ( ! infallibility4 ,b1 suppos+ ?is     
/up5d\s difficulty surm\nt$1 ?\gh !n1 x 
is true1 all may seem g5u9e fai?1 9     
reality !re is none3 :]e absolute       
infallibility is suppos$ to h be5 atta9$
 7ev5 ?\gh errone\sly71 fai?1 9 /rict   
propriety--c]ta9ly t fai? :i* is alone (
 any value z an in/rum5t ( man's moral  
tra9+--:i* recognises & intellig5tly    
/ruggles ) objections & difficulties--is
 impossible4 ,m5 may be said1 9 su*     
case1 to "k1 b c h>dly be said to       
believe4 ,be=e ,columbus _h se5 ,am]ica1
 he believ$ 9 its exi/5ce2 b :5 he _h   
se5 x1 8 fai? became k4 ,equally        
impossible1 & = ! same reason1 is any   
place = fai? on ! opposite hypo!sis2 =  
if man is to believe no?+ b :at 8 reason

 c compreh5d1 & to act only ^u evid5ce  
:i* am\nts to c]ta9ly1 ! same p>adox is 
true2 = :5 !re is no reason to d\bt1 !re
 c be none to believe4 ,fai? ev] /&s    
betwe5 conflict+ probabilities2 b h]    
position is 7if we may use ! metaphor7 !
 c5tre ( gravity betwe5 !m1 & w be      
proportionally ne>] ! great] mass4   99 
,see ,ar*bi%op ,:ately's admirable      
disc\rse1 entitl$ ',! ,se>* aft]        
,infallibility1 consid]$ 9 ref]5ce to ! 
,dang] ( ,religi\s ,errors aris+ )9 !   
,*ur*1 9 ! primitive z well z 9 all lat]
 ,ages4' ,he "h makes excell5t use ( !  
fruitful pr9ciple ( ,butl]'s great "w1  
by %[+ t1 h[ev] desirable1 a priori1 an 
infallible guide w\ld seem to fallible  
man1 ,god 9 fact has e :]e d5i$ x2 & t1 
9 d5y+ x 9 relation to religion1 he has 
act$ only z he always acts4   ,9 ! mean 
"t1 t ardu\s responsibility :i* atta*es 
to man1 & :i* is obviat$ nei!r by an    
implicit fai? 9 a human infallibility1  
nor an exclusive ref]5ce ( t fai? to    
cases 9 :i* reason is synonym\s )       

demon/ration1 t is1 to cases :i* leave  
no room = x1 is at once reliev$1 &      
effectually reliev$1 by ! maxim--!      
key-/one ( all e?ical tru?--t only      
volunt>y error condemns u2--t all we are
 really responsible =1 is a fai?ful1    
hone/1 pati5t1 inve/igation & weigh+ (  
evid5ce1 z f> z our abilities &         
opportunities admit1 & a consci5ti\s    
pursuit ( :at we hone/ly deem tru?1     
:]ev] x may lead u4 ,we conc$e t a      
really dispassionate & pati5t conduct 9 
?is respect is :at man is too ready to  
assume he has practis$1--& ?is fallacy  
_c be too s$ul\sly gu>d$ aga9/4 ,b t    
guilty liability to selfdeception1 does 
n militate aga9/ ! tru? ( !             
repres5tation n[ made4 ,x is 8 duty to  
see t he does n abuse ! maxim1--t he    
does n ra%ly acquiesce 9 any conclusion 
t he wi%es to be true1 or :i* he is too 
lazy to exam9e4 ,if all possible        
dilig5ce & hone/y h be5 ex]t$ 9 ! se>*1 
! /atem5t ( ,*ill+wor?1 bold z x is1 we 
%\ld n hesitate to adopt1 9 all ! rig\r 

( 8 own language4 ,x is to ! effect1 t  
if '9 him alone !re 7 a conflu5ce ( all 
! errors :i* h befall5 ! s9c]e pr(essors
 ( ,*ri/ianity1 he %\ld n be s mu*      
afraid ( !m1 z to ask ,god's p>don =    
!m2' absolutely involunt>y error be+    
ju/ly reg>d$ by him z blameless4  ,on ! 
o!r h&1 we firmly believe1 f ! natural  
relations ( tru? ) ! con/itution ( ! m9d
 ( man1 t1 ) ! exception ( a v few cases
 ( obliquity ( intellect1 :i* may safely
 be left to ! m]ciful int]pretations &  
apologies ( ,him :o creat$ su*          
intellects1 ^? :o ?us hone/ly &         
indu/ri\sly 'seek' %all 'f9d2'--n all   
tru?1 inde$1 b en\gh to secure _!       
safety2 & t :atev] rema9+ errors may    
infe/ & disfigure ! tru? !y h atta9$1 !y
 %all n be imput$ to !m = s94 ,accord+  
to ! image :i* apo/olic eloqu5ce has    
employ$1 ! ,bas] mat]ials :i*           
unavoidable ha/e1 prejudice1 & ignorance
 may h incorporat$ ) ! gold ( ! edifice1
 w be consum$ by ! fire :i* 'w try e    
man's "w ( :at sort x is1' b he himself 

w be sav$ amid/ ^? purify+ flames4 ,l ! 
b>k :i* conta9$ ! ,apo/le & ! =tunes ( !
 ,gospel1 ! frail vessel may g to pieces
 on ! rocks1 'b by boat or plank' !     
voyag] himself %all 'get safe to %ore4' 
,x is amply suffici5t1 !n1 to light5 our
 responsibility1 t we are answ]able only
 = our hone/ endeav\rs to discov] & to  
practise ! tru?2 &1 9 fact1 !           
responsibility is pr9cipally felt to be 
irksome1 & man is s prompt by devices ( 
8 own1 to release himself f x1 n on     
acc\nt ( any intr9sic difficulty :i*    
rema9s aft] ! above limitations are     
admitt$1 b because he wi%es to be exempt
 f t v necessity ( pati5t & hone/       
inve/igation4 ,x is n s mu* ! difficulty
 ( f9d+1 z ! tr\ble ( seek+ ! tru?1 f   
:i* he %r9ks2 a necessity1 h[ev]1 f :i*1
 z x is an ess5tial in/rum5t ( 8 moral  
education & discipl9e1 he c nev] be     
releas$4  ,if ! previ\s repres5tations  
be true1 ! conditions ( t intellig5t    
fai? :i* ,god requires f 8 intellig5t   
(fspr+1 may be fairly inf]r$ to be su* z

 we h already /at$2--t ! evid5ce = !    
tru?s we are to believe %all be1 fir/1  
su* z our faculties are compet5t to     
appreciate1 & aga9/ :i*1 !re=e1 ! m]e   
negative argum5t aris+ f our ignorance (
 ! true solution ( su* difficulties1 z  
are1 p]haps1 insoluble because we are   
f9ite1 c be no reply2 &1 secondly1 su*  
an am\nt ( ?is evid5ce z %all fairly    
ov]balance all ! objections :i* we c    
appreciate4 ,?is is ! condition to :i*  
,god has obvi\sly subject$ u z          
inhabitants ( ?is _w2 & x is on su*     
evid5ce we are "h p]petually act+4 ,we  
n[ believe a ?\s& ?+s we _c fully       
compreh5d4 ,we may n see ! intr9sic     
evid5ce ( _! tru?1 b _! extr9sic evid5ce
 is suffici5t to induce u unhesitat+ly  
to believe1 & to act ^u !m4 ,:5 t       
evid5ce is suffici5t 9 am\nt1 we all[ x 
to ov]be> all ! individual difficulties 
& p]plexities :i* hang r\nd ! tru?s to  
:i* x is appli$1 unless1 inde$1 su*     
difficulties c be prov$ to involve      
absolute contradictions2 = ^!1 ( c\rse1 

no evid5ce c sub/antiate4 ,= example1 9 
a ?\s& cases1 a c]ta9 comb9ation ( m]ely
 circum/antial evid5ce 9 fav\r ( a c]ta9
 judicial decision1 is famili>ly all[$  
to vanqui% all app>5t discrepancy on    
p>ticul> & subord9ate po9ts2--! want (  
concurr5ce 9 ! evid5ce ( ! witnesses on 
su* po9ts %all n cause a %ad[ ( a d\bt z
 to ! conclusion4 ,= we feel t x is f> m
 improbable t ! conclusion %\ld be      
untrue1 ?an t ! difficulty we _c solve  
is truly incapable ( a solution2 & :5 ! 
evid5ce rea*es ?is po9t ! objection no  
long] tr\bles u4  ,x is ! same ) hi/oric
 inve/igations4 ,!re are t5 ?\s& facts 9
 hi/ory :i* no "o d\bts1 ?\gh ! n>rators
 ( !m may mat]ially v>y 9 _! v]sion1 &  
?\gh "s ( ! circum/ances alleg$ may be 9
 appe>ance inexplicable1 b ! la/ ?+ a   
man w\ld ?9k ( do+1 9 su* cases1 w\ld be
 to neglect ! prepond]ant evid5ce on    
acc\nt ( ! residuum ( insoluble         
objections4 ,he does n1 9 %ort1 all[ 8  
ignorance to control 8 k1 nor ! evid5ce 
:i* he has n got to de/roy :at he has2 &

 ! less s1 t exp]i5ce has taught him t 9
 _m cases su* app>5t difficulties h be5 
cle>$ up1 9 ! c\rse ( "t1 & by !        
progress ( k1 & prov$ to be             
contradictions 9 appe>ance only4  ,x is 
! same ) ! conclusions ( natural        
philosophy1 :5 well prov$ by exp]im5t1  
h[ev] unacc\ntable = a:ile may be !     
discrepancy ) app>5tly oppos+ ph5om5a4  
,no "o disbelieves ! ,cop]nican !ory n[2
 ?\gh ?\s&s did = a:ile1 on :at !y      
believ$ ! irrefragable evid5ce ( _!     
s5ses4 ,n[1 let u only suppose !        
,cop]nican !ory n to h be5 discov]$ by  
human reason1 b made kn[n by revelation1
 & its reception enjo9$ on fai?1 leav+ !
 app>5t inconsi/5cy ) ! evid5ce ( !     
s5ses j z x 04 ,?\s&s1 no d\bt1 w\ld h  
said1 t no su* evid5ce c\ld ju/ify !m 9 
disbeliev+ _! own eyes1 & t su* an      
insoluble objection 0 suffici5t to      
ov]turn ! evid5ce4 ,yet we n[ see1 9    
po9t ( fact1 t x is n only possible1 b  
true1 t ! objection 0 app>5t only1 &    
admits ( a complete solution4 ,?\s&s    

accord+ly receive philosophy--?is v     
philosophy--on te/imony :i* app>5tly    
contradicts _! s5ses1 )\t ev5 yet kn[+ m
 ( x ?an if x 7 reveal$ f heav54 ,?is   
gives too mu* reason to suspect1 t 9 o!r
 & high] cases1 ! w has mu* to d ) human
 scepticism4 ,nor d we well "k :at ?\s&s
 :o neglect religion on acc\nt ( !      
alleg$ unc]ta9ty ( its evid5ce c\ld     
reply1 if ,god 7 to say to !m1  ',& yet 
on su* evid5ce1 & t f> inf]ior 9 degree1
 y h nev] hesitat$ to act1 :5 y\r own   
temporal int]e/s 7 conc]n$4 ,y nev] fe>$
 to commit ! b>k ( y\r worldly =tunes to
 t fluctuat+ elem5t4 ,9 _m cases y      
believ$ on ! te/imony ( o!rs :at seem$  
ev5 to contradict y\r own s5ses4 ,:y 7 y
 s mu* m scrupul\s 9 relation to ,,me8' 
,! above examples are fair illu/rations1
 we v5ture to ?9k1 ( ! conditions "u :i*
 we are requir$ to believe ! f> high]   
tru?s1 att5d$ no d\bt ) great           
difficulties1 :i* are au!nticat$ 9 !    
pages ( ! two volumes 7,nature &        
,scripture7 :i* ,god has put into our   

h&s to /udy2 ( ! conditions to :i* ,he  
subjects u 9 tra9+ u = a future /ate1 & 
develop+ 9 u ! tw(old p]fection involv$ 
9 ! words 'a reasonable fai?4' ,if !    
consid]ations j urg$ 7 duly borne 9 m9d1
 we _c help ?9k+ t !y w\ld af=d 7:]e any
 mode/y rema9$7 all answ] to mo/ ( ^?   
=ms ( unbelief :i*1 f "t to "t1 rise up 
9 ! _w1 & n lea/ 9 our own day4 ,^! are 
usually f\nd$ on "o or m suppos$        
insoluble objections1 aris+ out ( our   
ignorance4 ,! probability t !y are      
incapable ( solution is ra%ly assum$1 & 
made to ov]be> ! f> /rong] probability  
aris+ f ! positive & appreciable evid5ce
 :i* sub/antiates ! tru?s involv$ 9 ^?  
difficulties3 a c\rse ! m unreasonable  
inasmu* z--fir/1 _m su* difficulties    
might be expect$2 &1 secondly1 9        
analog\s cases1 we see t _m su*         
difficulties h 9 "t disappe>$4 ,on ! o!r
 h&1 x is1 no d\bt mu* m easy to insi/  
on individual objections1 :i* no man c  
effectually answ]1 ?an x is to          
appreciate at once ! total effect ( _m  

l9es ( argum5t1 & _m s\rces ( evid5ce1  
all be>+ on "o po9t4 ,t difficulty 0    
long ago beautifully /at$ by ,butl]991 9
 a passage well wor?y ( ! read]'s       
p]usal2 & z ,pascal _h obs]v$ be=e him1 
n only is x difficult1 b impossible1 = !
 human m9d to reta9 ! impression ( a    
l>ge comb9ation ( evid5ce1 ev5 if x c\ld
 = a mom5t fully realise ! collective   
effect ( ! :ole4 ,b x _c d ev5 ?is1 any 
m ?an ! eye c take 9 at once1 9 mass &  
detail1 ! objects ( an ext5sive l&scape4
   99 ',! tru? ( our religion1 l ! tru? 
( common matt]s1 is to be judg$ ( by all
 ! evid5ce tak5 toge!r4 ,&1 unless !    
:ole s]ies ( ?+s :i* may be alleg$ 9 ?is
 argum5t1 & e p>ticul> ?+ 9 x1 c        
reasonably be suppos+ to h be5 by       
accid5t 7= "h ! /ress ( ! argum5t (     
,*ri/ianity lies71 !n is ! tru? ( x     
prov$4 4 4 4 ,x is obvi\s h[ mu*        
advantage ! nature ( ?is evid5ce gives  
to ^? p]sons :o attack ,*ri/ianity1     
especially 9 conv]sation4 ,= x is easy  
to %[ 9 a %ort & lively mann] t su* &   

su* ?+s are liable to objection1 b      
impossible to %[1 9 l mann]1 ! unit$ =ce
 ( ! :ole argum5t 9 "o view4'--,analogy1
 "p ,,ii4 *ap4 vii4   ,let u n[ be      
p]mitt$ briefly to apply ! prec$+       
pr9ciples to two ( ! greate/            
controv]sies :i* h ex]cis$ ! m9ds ( m52 
t :i* relates to ! exi/5ce ( ,god1 & t  
:i* relates to ! tru? ( ,*ri/ianity2 9  
bo? ( :i*1 if we mi/ake n1 man's        
position is precisely simil>--plac$1 t  
is1 amid/ evid5ce abundantly suffici5t  
to ju/ify 8 reasonable fai?1 & yet      
att5d$ ) difficulties abundantly        
suffici5t to baffle an indocile reason4 
,)\t ent]+ into ! _m diff]5t s\rces (   
argum5t = ! exi/5ce ( a ,supreme        
,intellig5ce1 we %all only ref] to t    
pro( on :i* all !i/s1 savage & civilis$1
 9 "s =m or o!r1 rely--! traces ( an    
'et]nal p[] & godhead' 9 ! visible      
creation4 ,! argum5t dep5ds on a        
pr9ciple :i*1 :atev] may be its         
metaphysical hi/ory or orig91 is "o :i* 
man p]petually recognises1 :i* e act ( 8

 own consci\sness v]ifies1 :i* he       
applies fe>lessly to e ph5om5on1 kn[n or
 unkn[n2 & x is ?is1--,t e effect has a 
cause 7?\gh he kn[s no?+ ( _!           
connexion71 & t effects :i* be> m>ks (  
design h a design+ cause4 ,?is pr9ciple 
is s famili> t if he 7 to affect to d\bt
 x 9 any practical case 9 human life1 he
 w\ld only be laugh$ at z a fool1 or    
piti$ z insane4 ,! evid5ce1 !n1 :i*     
sub/antiates ! greate/ & fir/ ( tru?s   
ma9ly dep5ds on a pr9ciple p]fectly     
famili> & p]fectly recognis$4 ,man c    
e/imate ! nature ( t evid5ce2 & ! am\nt 
( x1 9 ?is in/ance1 he sees to be z va/ 
z ! sum ( creat$ objects2--nay1 f> m1 = 
x is z va/ z ! sum ( _! relations4 ,s t 
if 7z is apt to be ! case7 !            
difficulties ( realis+ ?is trem5d\s tru?
 are 9 proportion to ! ext5t ( k & !    
p[]s ( reflection1 ! evid5ce we c       
p]fectly appreciate is cumulative 9 an  
equal or /ill high] proportion4 ,obvi\s 
z are ! m>ks ( design 9 ea* individual  
object1 ! sum ( pro( is n m]ely ! sum ( 

su* indications1 b t sum inf9itely      
multipli$ by ! relations e/abli%$ &     
pres]v$ among/ all ^! objects2 by !     
adju/m5t :i* h>monises !m all into "o   
sy/em1 & impresses on all ! p>ts ( !    
univ]se a palpable ord] & subord9ation4 
,:ile ev5 9 a s+le "p ( an organis$ be+ 
7z a h& or an eye7 ! traces ( design are
 n to be mi/ak51 ^! are indef9itely     
multipli$ by simil> pro(s ( contrivance 
9 ! _m individual organs ( "o su* be+--z
 ( an entire animal or vegetable4 ,^!   
are yet to be multipli$ by ! h>moni\s   
relations :i* are e/abli%$ ( mutual     
proportion & subs]vi5cy among/ all !    
organs ( any "o su* be+3 ,& z _m be+s   
ev5 ( t "o species or class z !re are1 s
 _m multiples are !re ( ! same pro(s4   
,simil> indications yield simil> pro(s (
 design 9 ea* individual "p1 & 9 ! :ole 
individual ( all ! individuals ( e o!r  
class ( be+s2 & ?is sum ( pro( is aga9  
to be multipli$ by ! pro(s ( design 9 ! 
adju/m5t & mutual dep5d5ce &            
subord9ation ( ea* ( ^! classes (       

organis$ be+s to e o!r1 & to all2 ( !   
vegetable to ! animal---( ! l[] animal  
to ! high]4 ,_! magnitudes1 numb]s1     
physical =ce1 faculties1 functions1     
duration ( life1 rates ( multiplication 
& developm5t1 s\rces ( subsi/5ce1 mu/   
all h be5 det]m9$ 9 exact ratios1 & c\ld
 n transgress c]ta9 limits )\t involv+ !
 :ole univ]se 9 confusion4 ,?is amaz+   
sum ( probabilities is yet to be fur!r  
augm5t$ by ! fact t all ^! classes (    
organis$ sub/ances are intimately relat$
 to ^? great elem5ts ( ! mat]ial _w 9   
:i* !y live1 to :i* !y are adapt$1 & :i*
 are adapt$ to !m2 t all ( !m are       
subject to ! influ5ce ( c]ta9 mighty &  
subtle ag5cies :i* p]vade all nature1--&
 :i* are ( su* trem5d\s pot5cy t any    
*ance error 9 _! proportions ( activity 
w\ld be suffici5t to de/roy all1 & :i*  
yet axe exquisitely balanc$ &           
inscrutably h>monis$4  ,! pro(s (       
design1 aris+ f ! relations ?us ma9ta9$ 
betwe5 all ! p>ts1 f ! mo/ m9ute to !   
mo/ va/1 ( our own _w1 are /ill to be   

fur!r multipli$ by ! inconceivably      
mom5t\s relations subsi/+ betwe5 our own
 & o!r planets & _! common c5tre2 amid/ 
^: sublime & solemn ph5om5a sci5ce has  
mo/ cle>ly discov]$ t ev]y?+ is         
accurately adju/$ by geometrical        
precision ( =ce & movem5t2 :]e ! *ances 
( error are inf9ite1 & ! pro(s (        
intellig5ce1 !re=e1 equal4 ,^! pro(s (  
design 9 ea* fragm5t ( ! univ]se1 & 9   
all comb9$1 are cont9ually fur!r        
multipli$ by e fre% discov]y1 :e!r 9 !  
m9ute or ! va/--by ! microscope or !    
telescope2 = e fre% law t is discov]$1  
be+ 9 h>mony ) all t has previ\sly be5  
discov]$1 n only yields its own pro( (  
design1 b inf9itely m1 by all !         
relations 9 :i* x /&s to o!r laws3 x    
yields1 9 fact1 z _m z !re are adju/m5ts
 :i* h be5 effect$ betwe5 itself & all  
besides4 ,ea* new pro( ( design1 !re=e1 
is n a solit>y fact2 b "o :i* ent]+ z   
ano!r elem5t into a mo/ complex ma*9]y1 
indef9itely multiplies ! comb9ations1 9 
any "o ( :i* *ance might h gone a/ray4  

,f ?is inf9ite array ( pro(s ( design1 x
 seems to man's reason1 9 ord9>y moods1 
/>k madness to acc\nt = ! ph5om5a ( !   
univ]se ^u any o!r supposition ?an t :i*
 docs acc\nt1 & c alone acc\nt1 = !m    
all1--! supposition ( a ,presid+        
,intellig5ce1 illimitable alike 9 p[] & 
9 wisdom4  ,! only difficulty is ju/ly  
to appreciate su* an argum5t to obta9 a 
suffici5tly vivid impression ( su* an   
accumulation ( probabilities4 ,?is v    
difficulty1 inde$1 9 "s moods1 may m9i/]
 to a tempor>y d\bt4 ,= let u cat* man 9
 ^? moods1--p]haps aft] long m$itation  
on ! metaphysical gr\nds ( human        
belief1--& he beg9s to d\bt1 ) unusual  
mode/y1 :e!r ! *ild ( du/ is w>rant$ to 
conclude any?+ on a subject :i* loses   
itself 9 ! inf9ite1 & :i* s f> transc5ds
 all 8 p[]s ( appreh5sion2 he beg9s half
 to d\bt1 ) ,hume1 :e!r he c reason     
analogically f ! petty specim5s ( human 
+5uity to ph5om5a s va/ & s unique2 a   
misgiv+ :i* is /r5g!n$ by reflect+ on   
all ^? to him incompreh5sible inf]5ces  

to :i* ! admission ( ! argum5t leads    
him1 & :i* seem almo/ to involve        
contradictions4 ,let him pond] = a:ile !
 ideas involv$ 9 ! notion (             
,selfsubsi/5ce1 ,et]nity1 ,creation2    
,p[]1 ,wisdom1 & ,k1 s unlimit$ z to    
embrace at once all ?+s1 & all _!       
relations1 actual & possible1--?is      
'unlimit$' exp&+ into a dim appreh5sion 
( ! 'inf9ite'2--( inf9itude (           
attributes1 omnipres5t 9 e po9t ( space1
 & yet b "o & n _m inf9itudes2--let him 
once humbly pond] su* incompreh5sible   
difficulties z ^!1 & he w soon feel t   
?\gh 9 ! argum5t f design1 !re seem$ b  
"o va/ sc5e ( triumph = 8 reason1 !re is
 z l>ge a sc5e ( ex]tion left = 8 fai?4 
,t fai? he ord9>ily yields2 he sees x is
 ju/ifi$ by ^? pro(s ( ! great tru? he c
 appreciate1 & :i* he w n all[ to be    
controll$ by ! difficulties 8 consci\s  
feebl5ess _c solve2 & ! r1 t he sees t  
if he does n accept t evid5ce1 he has   
equally incompreh5sible difficulties to 
enc\nt]1 & two or ?ree />k              

contradictions into ! b>ga94 ,8 reason1 
!re=e1 triumphs 9 ! pro(s1 & 8 fai?     
triumphs ov] ! difficulties4  ,x is !   
same ) ! doctr9e ( ! ,div9e gov]nm5t ( !
 _w4 ,9 ord9>y /ates ( m9d man c\nts x  
an absurdity to suppose t ! ,deity w\ld 
h creat$ a _w to ab&on x2 t1 hav+       
employ$ wisdom & p[] s va/ 9 its        
con/ruction1 he w\ld leave x to be !    
sport ( *ance4 ,he feels t ! intuitions 
( "r & wrong2 ! voice ( consci5ce2      
satisfaction 9 well-do+2 remorse =      
crime2 ! pres5t t5d5cy1 at lea/1 ( !    
laws ( ! univ]se1--all po9t to ! same   
conclusion1 :ile _! imp]fect fulfilm5t  
equally po9ts to a future & m accurate  
adju/m5t4 ,yet let ! man look           
exclusively = a:ile on ! opposite side (
 ! tape/ry2 let him brood ov] any ( !   
facts :i* seem at w> ) ! above          
conclusion2 on "s signal triumph (      
bas5ess & malignity2 on oppress$ virtue1
 on triumphant vice2 on '! wick$ spread+
 himself l a gre5 bay tree2' &          
especially on ! m\rnfull & inscrutable  

my/]y ( ! ',orig9 ( ,evil1' & he feels t
 'cl\ds & d>kness' envelope !           
adm9i/ration ( ! ,moral ,gov]nor1 ?\gh  
'ju/ice & judgm5t are ! habitation ( 8  
?rone4' ,! evid5ces above m5tion$ = !   
la/ conclusion are direct & positive1 & 
su* z man c appreciate2 ! difficulties  
spr+ f 8 limit$ capacity1 or imp]fect   
glimpses ( a v small segm5t ( ! univ]sal
 plan4 ,nor are ^? difficulties less ^u 
! opposite hypo!sis3 & !y are !re fur!r 
burd5$ ) two or ?ree additional         
absurdities4 ,! prepond]ant evid5ce1 f> 
f remov+ ! difficulties1 sc>cely t\*es  
!m1--yet x is felt to be suffici5t to   
ju/ify fai?1 ?\gh mo/ abundant fai? is  
requir$ /ill4  ,are ! evid5ces1 !n1 9   
behalf ( ,*ri/ianity less ( a nature :i*
 man c appreciate8 or c ! difficulties  
involv$ 9 its reception be great] ?an 9 
! prec$+ cases8 ,if n1 & if1 moreov]1   
:ile ! evid5ce turns z be=e on pr9ciples
 ) :i* we are famili>1 ! m =midable     
objections1 z be=e1 are su* t we are n  
compet5t to decide ^u _! absolute       

insolubility1 we see h[ man ought to    
act2 t is1 n to let 8 ignorance control 
8 k1 b to let 8 reason accept ! pro(s   
:i* ju/ify 8 fai?1 9 accept+ !          
difficulties4 ,9 no case is he1 x       
appe>s1 w>rant$ to look = ! c]ta9ty :i* 
%all exclude 7:atev] ! triumphs ( 8     
reason7 a gigantic ex]cise ( 8 fai?4    
,let u briefly consid] a few ( !        
evid5ces4 ,& 9 ord] to give ! /atem5t a 
little novelty1 we %all indicate !      
pr9cipal topics ( evid5ce1 n by enum]at+
 :at ! advocate ( ,*ri/ianity believes 9
 believ+ x to be true1 b :at ! infidel  
mu/ believe 9 believ+ x to be false4 ,! 
a priori objection to ,miracles we %all 
briefly t\* aft]w>ds4  ,fir/1 !n1 9     
relation to ! ,miracles ( ! ,new        
,te/am5t1 :e!r !y be suppos$ ma/]ly     
frauds on m5's s5ses committ$ at ! "t & 
by ! p>ties suppos$ 9 ! records1 or     
fictions 7design$ or accid5tal7         
subsequ5tly fabricat$--b /ill1 9 ei!r   
case1 und5iably successful & triumphant 
beyond all else 9 ! hi/ory :e!r ( fraud 

or fiction--! infidel mu/ believe z     
foll[s3 ,on ! fir/ hypo!sis1 he mu/     
believe t a va/ numb] ( app>5t          
miracles--involv+ ! mo/ a/\nd+          
ph5om5a--su* z ! in/ant re/oration ( !  
sick1 bl9d1 deaf1 & lame1 & !           
resurrection ( ! dead--p]=m$ 9 op5 day1 
amid/ multitudes ( malignant            
enemies--impos$ alike on all1 & triumph$
 at once ov] ! /ronge/ prejudices & !   
deepe/ enmity3--^? :o receiv$ !m & ^? :o
 reject$ !m diff]+ only 9 ! c]ta9ly n v 
trifl+ p>ticul>--z to :e!r !y came f    
heav5 or f hell4 ,he mu/ believe t ^? :o
 7 ?us successful 9 ?is extraord9>y     
conspiracy aga9/ m5's s5ses & aga9/     
common s5se1 7 ,galilaean ,jews1 su* z  
all hi/ory ( ! p]iod repres5ts !m2      
ignorant1 obscure1 illit]ate2 &1 above  
all1 previ\sly bigot$1 l all _!         
c\ntrym51 to ! v sy/em1 ( :i*1 toge!r ) 
all o!r religions on ! e>?1 !y mode/ly  
m$itat$ ! abrogation2 he mu/ believe t1 
appeal+ to ^! a/\nd+ frauds 9 ! face bo?
 ( ,jews & ,g5tiles z an op5 evid5ce ( !

 tru? ( a new revelation1 & dem&+ on !  
/r5g? ( !m t _! c\ntrym5 %\ld surr5d] a 
religion :i* !y ackn[l$g$ to be div9e1 &
 t all o!r nations %\ld ab&on _! sc>cely
 less v5]able sy/ems ( sup]/ition1 !y   
rapidly succe$$ 9 bo? ^! v probable     
adv5tures2 & 9 a few ye>s1 ?\gh )\t     
arms1 p[]1 weal?1 or sci5ce1 7 to an    
enorm\s ext5t victori\s ov] all         
prejudice1 philosophy1 & p]secution2 & 9
 ?ree c5turies took ne>ly undisput$     
possession1 among/ _m nations1 ( !      
temples ( ! eject$ deities4 ,he mu/ f>!r
 believe t ! orig9al p]=m]s1 9 ^!       
prodigi\s frauds on ! _w1 act$ n only   
)\t any assignable motive1 b aga9/ all  
assignable motive2 t !y ma9ta9$ ?is     
uni=m con/ancy 9 unpr(itable falsehoods1
 n only toge!r1 b sep>ately1 9 diff]5t  
c\ntries1 be=e diff]5t tribunals1 "u all
 sorts ( exam9ations &                  
cross-exam9ations1 & 9 defiance ( !     
gyves1 ! sc\rge1 ! axe1 ! cross1 ! /ake2
 t ^! :om !y p]suad$ to jo9 _!          
ent]prise1 p]si/$ l !mselves 9 ! same   

ob/9ate belief ( ! same 'cunn+ly devis$'
 frauds2 & ?\gh !y _h _m accomplices 9  
_! s+ul> conspiracy1 _h ! equally s+ul> 
=tune to free !mselves & _! coadjutors  
fl\t all transi5t weakness t[>ds _!     
cause & trea*]y t[>ds "o ano!r2 &1      
la/ly1 t ^! m51 hav+1 amid/ all _!      
ignorance1 orig9ality en\gh to inv5t !  
mo/ pure & sublime sy/em ( morality :i* 
! _w has ev] li/5$ to1 _h1 amid/ all _! 
consci\s villany1 ! effront]y to prea*  
x1 &1 :i* is m extraord9>y1 !           
inconsi/5cy to practise x699   99 ,s f> 
z we h any k f hi/ory1 ?is mu/ h be5 !  
case2 & ,gibbon fully admits & insi/s ^u
 x4 ,inde$1 no infidel hypo!sis c af=d  
to d )\t ! virtues ( ! e>ly ,*ri/ians 9 
acc\nt+ = ! success ( ! falsehoods (    
,*ri/ianity4 ,h>d alt]natives ( a wayw>d
 hypo!sis6   ,on ! second ( !           
above-m5tion$ hypo!sis1 t ^! miracles 7 
ei!r a cong]ies ( deeply contriv$       
fictions1 or accid5tal my?s1 subsequ5tly
 inv5t$1 ! infidel mu/ believe1 on ! =m]
 supposition1 t1 ?\gh ev5 transi5t      

success 9 lit]>y =g]y1 :5 !re are any   
prejudices to resi/1 is among ! r>e/ (  
occurr5ces2 yet t ^! =g]ies--! haz>d\s  
"w ( _m m9ds1 mak+ ! mo/ outrage\s      
pret5sions1 & necess>ily *all5g+ !      
opposition ( ,jew & ,g5tile 7 successful
 beyond all imag9ation1 ov] ! he>ts (   
mank9d2 & h cont9u$ to impose1 by an    
exquisite appe>ance ( artless tru?1 & a 
mo/ elaborate mosaic ( feign$ ev5ts     
artfully cem5t$ into ! gr\nd ( true     
hi/ory1 on ! acute/ m9ds ( diff]5t races
 & diff]5t ages2 :ile1 on ! second      
supposition1 he mu/ believe t accid5t & 
*ance h giv5 to ^! leg5ds _! exquisite  
appe>ance ( hi/oric plausibility2 & on  
ei!r supposition1 he mu/ believe 7:at is
 /ill m wond]ful7 t ! _w1 :ile !        
fictions 7 be+ publi%$1 & 9 ! kn[n      
abs5ce ( ! facts !y ass]t$ to be true1  
suff]$ itself to be befool$ into !      
belief ( _! tru?1 & out ( its belief (  
all ! sy/ems x did previ\sly believe to 
be true2 & t x act$ ?us not)/&+         
p]secution f )\t1 z well z prejudice    

front )92 t /range to say ! /ricte/     
hi/oric inve/igation br+ ?is compilation
 ( fictions or my?s-ev5 by ! admission (
 ,/rauss himself--)9 ?irty or =ty ye>s (
 ! v "t 9 :i* all ! alleg$ wond]s !y    
relate are said to h occurr$2 wond]s :i*
 ! p]v]se _w knew x _h n se51 b :i* x 0 
det]m9$ to believe 9 spite ( evid5ce1   
prejudice1 & p]secution6 ,9 addition to 
all ?is1 ! infidel mu/ believe t ! m5 :o
 7 engag$ 9 ! compilation ( ^! mon/r\s  
fictions1 *ose !m z ! vehicle ( ! pure/ 
morality2 &1 ?\gh ! mo/ p]nici\s        
deceiv]s ( mank9d 7 yet ! mo/ scrupul\s 
prea*]s ( v]acity & b5evol5ce6 ,surely (
 him1 :o c receive all ^! p>adoxes--& !y
 =m b a small "p ( :at might be         
m5tion$--we may say1 ',o infidel1 great 
is ?y ,fai?6'  ,on ! supposition t nei!r
 ( ^! !ories1 :e!r ( fraud or fiction1 w
 acc\nt1 if tak5 by itself1 = ! :ole ( !
 sup]natural ph5om5a1 :i* /rew ! pages (
 ! ,new ,te/am5t1 !n ! objector1 :o     
relies on bo?1 mu/ believe1 9 turn1 bo? 
sets ( ! above p>adoxes2 & !n1 ) /ill m 

reason ?an be=e1 may we exclaim1 ',o    
infidel1 great is ?y ,fai?6'  ,aga92 he 
mu/ believe t till ^? app>5t co9cid5ces1
 :i* seem to connect ,prophecy ) ! facts
 ( ! orig9 & hi/ory ( ,*ri/ianity1--"s1 
embrac+ ev5ts too va/ = haz>d\s         
speculations & o!rs1 incid5ts too m9ute 
= x1--are purely =tuit\s2 t all ! cases 
9 :i* ! ev5t seems to tally ) !         
pr$iction1 are m]e *ance co9cid5ces3 &  
he mu/ believe ?is1 among/ o!r ev5ts1 ( 
two ( ! mo/ unlikely to :i* human       
sagacity 0 likely to pl$ge itself1 & yet
 :i* h z und5iably occurr$1 7& aft] !   
pr$ictions7 z !y 7 a priori improbable &
 anomal\s 9 ! _w's hi/ory2 ! "o is t !  
,jews %\ld exi/ z a di/9ct nation 9 ! v 
bosom ( all o!r nations1 )\t ext9ction1 
& )\t amalgamation1--o!r nations & ev5  
races hav+ s readily melt$ away "u less 
?an half ! influ5ce :i* h be5 at "w ^u  
!m992 ! o!r1 & opposite p>adox1--t a    
religion1 propagat$ by ignorant1        
obscure1 & p5niless vagabonds1 %\ld     
diffuse itself among/ ! mo/ div]se      

nations 9 spite ( all opposition1--x be+
 ! r>e/ ( ph5om5a to f9d any religion   
:i* is capable ( transc5d+ ! limits (   
race1 clime1 & ! sc5e ( its hi/oric     
orig92 a religion :i*1 if transplant$1 w
 n die1 a religion :i* is m ?an a local 
or national gr[? ( sup]/ition6 ,t su* a 
religion z ,*ri/ianity %\ld s easily    
break ^! b>ri]s1 & ?\gh suppos$ to be   
cradl$ 9 ignorance1 fanaticism1 & fraud1
 %\ld1 )\t =ce ( arms1 & 9 ! face (     
p]secution1 'ride =? conqu]+ & to       
conqu]1' ?r\gh a long c>e] ( victories1 
defy+ ! p[] ( k+s & empty+ ! temples (  
deities1--:o1 b an infidel1 has fai?    
en\gh to believe8    99 ,! case ( !     
,gipsies1 (t5 alleg$ z a p>allel1 is a  
ludicr\s evasion ( ! argum5t4 ,^! few & 
scatt]$ vagabonds1 ^: v safety has be5  
obscurity & contempt1 h nev] attract$   
t[>ds !m a ?\s&? "p ( ! att5tion1 or !  
hundr$ ?\s&? "p ( ! cruelties1 :i* h be5
 direct$ aga9/ ! ,jews4 ,_h x be5       
o!rwise1 !y w\ld long s9ce h melt$ away 
f e c\ntry 9 ,europe4 ,we repeat t !    

exi/5ce ( a nation = #ahjj ye>s 9 !     
bosom ( all nations1 conqu]$ & p]secut$1
 yet nev] ext+ui%$1 & ! propagation ( a 
religion among/ diff]5t races )\t =ce1 &
 ev5 aga9/ x1--are bo?1 s f> z kn[n1    
p>adoxes 9 hi/ory4  ',!y may say1' says 
,butl]1 't ! con=mity betwe5 !          
prophecies & ! ev5t is by accid5t2 b !re
 are _m in/ances 9 :i* su* con=mity     
itself _c be d5i$4' ,8 :ole rem>ks on ! 
subject1 & especially ^? on ! impression
 to be d]iv$ f ! multitude ( app>5t     
co9cid5ces1 9 a long s]ies ( prophecies1
 "s va/1 "s m9ute2 & ! improbability (  
_! all be+ accid5tal are wor?y ( 8      
compreh5sive g5ius4 ,x is on ! effect ( 
! :ole1 n on s+le co9cid5ces1 t !       
argum5t dep5ds4   ,once m !n2 if1 f !   
ext]nal evid5ces ( ?is religion1 we pass
 to ^? :i* ! only records by :i* we "k  
any ?+ ( its nature & orig9 supplies1 ! 
infidel mu/ believe1 among/ o!r         
p>adoxes1 t x is probable t a knot (    
obscure & despis$ plebeians--reg>d$ z ! 
scum ( a nation :i* 0 itself reg>d$ z ! 

scum ( all o!r nations--orig9at$ !      
pure/1 mo/ elevat$1 & mo/ influ5tial    
!ory ( e?ics ! _w has ev] se52 t a sy/em
 ( sublime/ tru?1 express$ ) unp>allel$ 
simplicity1 sprang f ignorance2 t       
precepts enjo9+ ! mo/ ref9$ sanctity 7  
inculcat$ by impo/ure2 t ! fir/         
injunctions to univ]sal love broke f !  
lips ( bigotry6 ,he mu/ fur!r believe t 
^! m5 exemplifi$ ! ideal p]fection ( t  
beautiful sy/em 9 ! mo/ unique1 orig9al1
 & faultless picture ( virtue ev]       
conceiv$--a picture :i* has extort$ !   
admiration ev5 ( ^? :o c\ld n believe x 
to be a portrait1 & :o h yet confess$   
!mselves unable to acc\nt = x except z  
su*499 ,he mu/ believe1 too1 t ^!       
ignorant & fraudul5t ,galileans         
volunt>ily aggravat$ ! difficulty ( _!  
task1 by exhibit+ _! propos$ ideal1 n by
 b>e enum]ation & description (         
qualities1 b by ! mo/ ardu\s ( all      
me?ods ( repres5tation--t ( dramatic    
action2 &1 :at is m1 t !y succe$$2 t 9 t
 repres5tation !y und]took to make him  

act ) sublime consi/5cy 9 sc5es ( ! mo/ 
extraord9>y "* & ! mo/ t\*+ pa?os1 &    
utt] moral tru? 9 ! mo/ exquisite       
fictions 9 :i* su* tru? 0 ev] embodi$2 &
 t aga9 !y succe$$2 t s ineffably ri* 9 
g5ius 7 ^! obscure wret*es1 t no less   
?an f\r ( !m 7 f\nd equal to ?is        
intellectual a*ievem5t2 & :ile ea* has  
told _m ev5ts1 & giv5 _m traits :i* !   
o!rs h omitt$1 t !y h all p]=m$ _! task 
9 ! same unique /yle ( inv5tion & ! same
 une>?ly tone ( art2 t "o & all1 :ile   
pres]v+ ea* 8 own individuality1 has1   
nev]!less1 atta9$ a c]ta9 maje/ic       
simplicity ( /yle unlike any tir+ else  
7n only 9 any writ+s ( _! own nation1 _!
 alleg$ sacr$ writ+s1 & inf9itely       
sup]ior to any ?+ :i* _! successors1    
,jews or ,*ri/ians1 ?\gh ) ! advantage (
 ^! models1 c\ld ev] atta917 b1 unlike  
any ackn[l$g$ human writ+s 9 ! _w1 &    
possess+ ! s+ul> prop]ty ( be+ capable (
 ready transfusion1 )\t ! loss ( a ?\ght
 or a grace1 into e language spok5 by   
man3 he mu/ believe t ^! fabricators (  

fiction1 9 common ) ! _m o!r            
contributors to ! ,new ,te/am5t1 mo/    
insanely add$ to ! difficulty ( _! task 
by deliv]+ ! :ole 9 fragm5ts & 9 ! mo/  
v>i\s k9ds ( composition1--9 biography1 
hi/ory1 travels1 & famili> lett]s2      
incorporat+ & int]fus+ ) ! :ole an amaz+
 numb] ( m9ute facts1 hi/oric allusions1
 & specific ref]5ces to p]sons1 places1 
& dates1 z if = ! v purpose ( supply+   
po/]ity ) ! easy means ( detect+ _!     
impositions3 he mu/ believe t1 9 spite (
 _! ?us enc\nt]+ :at ,paley calls !     
'dang] ( scatt]+ names & circum/ances 9 
writ+s :]e no?+ b tru? c pres]ve        
consi/5cy1' !y s happy succe$$1 t :ole  
volumes h be5 employ$ po9t+ out _! lat5t
 & (t5 mo/ recondite congruities2 _m (  
!m ly+ s deep1 & com+ out aft] su*      
comp>ison ( v>i\s passages & collat]al  
lights1 t !y c\ld nev] h answ]$ !       
purposes ( fraud1 ev5 if ! mo/ prodigi\s
 g5ius = fraud _h be5 equal to !        
fabrication2 congruities :i*1 9 fact1 7 
nev] suspect$ to exi/ till !y 7         

expressly elicit$ by ! attacks (        
,infidelity1 & 7 evid5tly nev] ?\ght (  
by ! writ]s2 he mu/ believe t !y 7      
pr(\ndly sagaci\s en\gh to con/ruct su* 
a fabric ( artful h>monies1 & yet su*   
simpletons z1 by do+ inf9itely m ?an 0  
necess>y1 to enc\nt] inf9ite risks (    
detection1 to no purpose2 sagaci\s en\gh
 to out-d all t sagacity has ev] done1 z
 %[n by ! effects1 & yet n sagaci\s     
en\gh to be m]ely speci\s3 & f9ally1 he 
mu/ believe t ^! illit]ate impo/ors _h !
 art 9 all _! v>i\s writ+s1 :i* evid5tly
 proce$ f diff]5t m9ds1 to pres]ve !    
same inimitable m>ks ( reality1 tru?1 & 
nature 9 _! n>rations--! miracul\s & !  
ord9>y alike--& to assume & pres]ve1 )  
inf9ite case1 amid/ _! inf9ite          
impo/ures1 ! tone & air ( undissembl$   
e>ne/ness4   99 ,to ,*ri/ alone1 ( all !
 *>act]s ev] portray$ to man1 belongs t 
assemblage ( qualities :i* equally      
attract love & v5]ation2 to him alone   
belong 9 p]fection ^? r>e traits :i* !  
,roman hi/orian1 ) affectionate flatt]y1

 attributes too absolutely to ! m]ely   
mortal object ( 8 eulogy3 ',nec illi1   
quod e/ r>issimum aut facilitas         
auctoritatem1 aut sev]itas amorem1      
dem9uit4' ,/ill m beautiful is !        
,apo/les description ( sup]iority to all
 ,human fail+s1 ) ineffable pity = human
 sorr[s3 ',he c be t\*$ ) ! feel+s ( our
 infirmities1 ?\gh )\t s94'  ,0 !re ev] 
9 tru? a man :o c\ld read ! appeals (   
,paul to 8 conv]ts1 & d\bt ei!r t !     
lett]s 7 real or t ! man 0 9 e>ne/8 ,we 
sc>cely v5ture to ?9k x4   ,if1 on ! o!r
 h&1 he supposes t all ! congruities (  
:i* we h spok51 7 ! effect n ( fraudul5t
 design1 b ( happy accid5t1--t !y       
arrang$ !mselves 9 spontane\s h>mony--he
 mu/ believe t *ance has done :at ev5 ! 
mo/ prodigi\s p[]s ( inv5tion c\ld n d4 
,& la/ly1 he mu/ believe t ^! same      
illit]ate m51 :o 7 capable ( s mu*1 7   
also capable ( project+ a sy/em (       
doctr9e s+ul>ly remote f all ord9>y &   
previ\s speculation2 ( disc]n+ !        
necessity ( tak+ "u _! special patronage

 ^? passive virtues :i* man lea/ lov$1 &
 f\nd x mu/ difficult to cultivate2 & ( 
exhibit+1 9 _! pref]5ce ( ! spiritual to
 ! c]emonial1 & _! treatm5t ( _m ( ! mo/
 delicate que/ions ( practical e?ics &  
casui/ry1 a ju/ness & elevation (       
s5tim5t z ali5 z possible f ! sup]/ition
 & fanaticism ( _! pr$ecessors :o _h    
corrupt$ ! ,law--& ! sup]/ition &       
fanaticism ( _! foll[]s v soon corrupt$ 
! ,gospel2 & t !y1 & !y alone1 rose     
above ! /rong t5d5cies to !             
extravagances :i* _h be5 s conspicu\s   
dur+ ! pa/1 & 7 soon to be z conspicu\s 
9 ! future4--,^! & a ?\s& o!r p>adoxes  
7aris+ out ( ! supposition t ,*ri/ianity
 is ! fraudul5t or fictiti\s product (  
su* an age1 c\ntry1 &1 above all1 su* m5
 z ! problem limits u to71 mu/ ! infidel
 receive1 & receive all at once2 & ( him
 :o c receive !m we c b once m decl>e t 
s f> 'f hav+ no fai?'1 he r possesses ! 
'fai?' :i* removes 'm\nta9s6'--only x   
appe>s t 8 fai?1 l t ( ,rome or ( ,ox=d1
 is a fai? :i* excludes reason4  ,on !  

o!r h&1 to him :o accepts ,*ri/ianity1  
none ( ^! p>adoxes pres5t !mselves4 ,on 
! supposition ( ! tru? ( ! miracles & ! 
prophecies1 he does n wond] at its orig9
 or success3 & z little does he wond] at
 all ! lit]>y & intellectual a*ievem5ts 
( its e>ly *ronicl]s--if _! elevation ( 
s5tim5t 0 f a div9e s\rce1 & if !       
artless h>mony1 & reality ( _! n>ratives
 0 ! simple effect ( ! consi/5cy ( tru?1
 & ( transcription f ! life4  ,n[1 on ! 
o!r h&1 :at are ! *ief objections :i*   
,reconcile ! infidel to 8 enorm\s burd5 
( p>adoxes1 & :i* appe> to ! ,*ri/ian f>
 less inv9cible ?an ! p>adoxes !mselves8
 ,!y are1 especially ) all mod]n        
infidelity1 objections to ! a priori    
improbability ( ! doctr9es reveal$1 & ( 
! miracles :i* su/a9 !m4 ,n[1 "h we come
 to ! v di/9ction on :i* we h already   
insi/$1 & :i* is s mu* insi/$ on by     
,butl]4 ,! evid5ce :i* su/a9s           
,*ri/ianity is all su* z man is compet5t
 to consid]2 & is precisely ( ! same    
nature z t :i* ent]s into 8 e-day       

calculations ( probability2 ,:ile !     
objections are f\nd$ entirely on our    
ignorance & presumption4 ,!y suppose t  
we "k m ( ! modes ( ! div9e             
adm9i/ration--( :at ,god may h p]mitt$1 
( :at is possible & impossible to !     
ultimate developm5t ( an imp]fectly     
develop$ sy/em1 & its relations to !    
entire univ]se1--?an we d or c "k499    
99 ,! possible implications (           
,*ri/ianity ) di/ant regions ( !        
univ]se1 & ! dim h9ts :i* h9ts :i*      
,scripture seems to ?r[ out z to su*    
implication1 are beautifully treat$ 9 ! 
#d?1 #e?1 & #f? ( ,*alm]'s ',a/ronomical
 ,disc\rses2' & we ne$ n tell ! read (  
,butl] h[ mu* he insi/s ^u simil>       
consid]ations4   ,( ^! objections ! mo/ 
widely felt & ! mo/ speci\s1 especially 
9 our day1 is ! assumption t miracles   
are an impossibility2 & yet we w v5ture 
to say t !re is none m truly            
unphilosophical4 ,t miracles are        
improbable view$ 9 relation to !        
exp]i5ce ( ! individual or ( ! mass (   

m51 is grant$2 = if !y 7 n1 !y w\ld1 z  
,paley says1 be no miracles2 an e-day   
miracle is none4 ,b t !y are ei!r       
impossible or s improbable t1 if !y 7   
wr\ght1 no evid5ce c\ld e/abli% !m1 is  
ano!r matt]4 ,! fir/ allegation involves
 a curi\s limitation ( omnipot5ce2 & !  
second affirms 9 effect1 t1 if ,god 7 to
 "w a miracle1 x w\ld be our duty to    
disbelieve him6    ,x is1 z we %all see1
 ! av[$ axiom ( ,/rauss2 he ev5         
ackn[l$ges1 t if x be n true1 he w\ld n 
?9k x wor? :ile to discr$it ! hi/ory ( !
 ,evangeli/s2 t is1 ! hi/ory mu/ be     
discr$it$1 because he has resolv$ t a   
miracle is an impossibility6   ,we      
repeat our firm conviction t ?is a      
priori assumption aga9/ miracles is b a 
vulg> illusion ( "o ( ,bacon's idola    
tribus4 ,s f> f be+ dispos$ to admit !  
pr9ciple t a 'miracle is an             
impossibility1' we %all v5ture on :at   
may seem to "s a p>adox1 b :i* we are   
conv9c$ is a tru?1--t "t w come1 & is   
com+1 :5 ev5 ^? :o %all object to !     

evid5ce :i* su/a9s ! ,*ri/ian miracles w
 ackn[l$ge t philosophy requires !m to  
admit t m5 h no gr\nd :atev] to         
dogmatise on ! antec$5t impossibility ( 
miracles 9 g5]al2 & t n m]ely because if
 !i/s at all1 !y w see ! absurdity ( !  
ass]tion1 :ile !y admit t ! pres5t ord] 
( ?+s _h a beg9n+2 &1 if ,*ri/ians at   
all1 ! equal absurdity ( ! ass]tion1    
:ile !y admit t x w h an end2--n only   
because ! geologi/ w h famili>is$ ! _w )
 ! idea ( successive int]v5tions1 &1 9  
fact1 di/9ct creative acts1 hav+ all !  
nature ( miracles2--n only1 we say1 = ^!
 special reasons1 b = a m g5]al "o4 ,!  
true philosoph] w see t1 ) 8 limit$     
exp]i5ce & t ( all 8 contempor>ies1 he  
has no "r to dogmatise ab\t all t may h 
be5 p]mitt$ or w be p]mitt$ 9 ! ,div9e  
adm9i/ration ( ! univ]se2 he w see t ^? 
:o ) "o voice d5i$1 ab\t half a c5tury  
ago1 ! exi/5ce ( a]olites1 & summ>ily   
dismiss$ all ! alleg$ facts z a silly   
fable1 because x contradict$ _!         
exp]i5ce1--t ^? :o refus$ to admit !    

,cop]nican !ory because1 z !y said1 x   
manife/ly contradict$ _! exp]i5ce1--t ! 
s*oolboy :o refuses to admit ! fir/ law 
( motion because1 z he says1 x gives !  
lie to all 8 exp]i5ce1--t ! ,ori5tal    
pr9ce 7^: scepticism ,hume va9ly        
attempts1 on 8 pr9ciple1 to meet7 :o    
d5i$ ! possibility ( ice because x      
contradict$ 8 exp]i5ce1--&1 9 ! same    
mann]1 t ! m5 :o1 ) ,dr4 ,/rauss1 lay   
d[n ! dictum t a miracle is impossible &
 a contradiction because x contradicts  
_! exp]i5ce1--h all be5 alike contrav5+ 
! fir/ pr9ciples ( ! mode/ philosophy ( 
,bacon1 & h fall5 into "o ( ! mo/ ord9>y
 illusions aga9/ :i* he has w>n$ u      
namely1 t t _c be true :i* seems 9      
contradiction to our own exp]i5ce4 ,we  
confid5tly pr$ict t ! day w come :5 !   
fav\rite argum5t ( _m s call$ philosoph]
 9 ?is matt] w be felt to be !          
philosophy ( ! vulg> only2 & t ?\gh _m  
may1 ev5 !n1 d5y t ! te/imony :i*       
supports ! ,scripture miracles is equal 
to ! task1 !y w all alike ab&on ! axiom 

:i* sup]s$es ! necessity ( at all exam9+
 su* evid5ce1 by ass]t+ t no evid5ce c  
e/abli% !m4  ,:ile on ?is subject1 we   
may notice a c]ta9 fanta/ical tone (    
depreciation ( miracles z an evid5ce (  
,*ri/ianity1 :i* is occasionally adopt$ 
ev5 by "s :o d n d5y ! possibility or   
probability1 or ev5 ! fact1 ( _!        
occurr5ce4 ,!y affirm !m to be ( little 
mom5t1 & repres5t !m--) an exquisite    
affectation ( metaphysical propriety--z 
totally incapable ( conv9c+ m5 ( any    
moral tru?2 ^u ! gr\nd t !re is no      
natural relation betwe5 any displays (  
physical p[] & any su* tru?4 ,n[ )\t    
d5y+ t ! nature ( ! doctr9e is a        
crit]ion1 & mu/ be tak5 into acc\nt 9   
judg+ ( ! reality ( any alleg$ miracle1 
we h b two ?+s to reply to ?is3 fir/1 t1
 z ,paley says 9 relation to ! "q :e!r  
any accumulation ( te/imony c e/abli% a 
miracul\s fact1 we are cont5t 'to try ! 
!orem ^u a simple case1' & affirm t man 
is s con/itut$ t if he himself sees !   
bl9d re/or$ to sight & ! dead rais$1 "u 

su* circum/ances z exclude all d\bt (   
fraud on ! "p ( o!rs & all mi/ake on 8  
own1 he w uni=mly associate au?ority )  
su* displays ( sup]human p[]2 &1        
secondly1 t ! notion 9 "q is 9 direct   
contrav5tion ( ! language & _s ( ,*ri/  
himself1 :o expressly susp5ds 8 claims  
to m5's belief & ! au?ority ( 8 doctr9e 
on ! fact ( 8 miracles4 ',! works t ,i d
 9 my ,fa!r's "n1 !y be> witness ( me4' 
',if ye believe n me1 believe my works4'
 ',if ,i _h n come among !m1 & done !   
works t none o!r man did1 !y _h n _h s92
 b n[ !y h no cloak = _! s94'  ,we h    
enum]at$ "s ( ! p>adoxes :i* infidelity 
is requir$ to believe2 & ! old-fa%ion$1 
op51 intelligible infidelity ( ! la/    
c5tury accept$ !m1 & reject$ ,*ri/ianity
 accord+ly4 ,t 0 a self-consi/5t1       
simple1 ,+5u\s ?+1 comp>$ ) ^? mon/r\s  
=ms ( cr$ul\s reason1 incr$ul\s fai?1   
metaphysical my/icism1 ev5 ,*ri/ian     
,pan!ism--s _m v>ieties ( :i* h sprung  
out ( ! incubation ( ,g]man rationalism 
& ,g]man philosophy ^u ! ,new ,te/am5t4 

,! advocates ( ^! sy/ems1 aft] adopt+ ! 
mo/ =midable ( ! above p>adoxes (       
infidelity1 & 7not)/&+ ! frequ5t boa/ ( 
orig9ality7 dep5d+ ma9ly on ! same      
objections1 & def5d+ !m by ! v same     
critical argum5ts991 delude !mselves ) !
 idea t !y h b purifi$ & embalm$        
,*ri/ianity2 n aw>e t !y h fir/ made a  
mummy ( x4 ,!y are s gre$y ( p>adox1 t  
!y1 9 fact1 aspire to be ,*ri/ians &    
infidels at ! same "t4 ,proclaim+ !     
miracles ( ,*ri/ianity to be illusions (
 imag9ation or my?ical leg5ds1--!       
inspiration ( its records no o!r or     
great] ?an t ( ,hom]'s ',iliad1' or ev5 
',aesop's ,fables2'--reject+ ! :ole ( t 
sup]natural clem5t ) :i* ! only records 
:i* c tell u any ?+ ab\t ! matt] are    
full2 decl>+ its :ole hi/ory s unc]ta9 t
 ! ratio ( tru? to error mu/ be a vani%+
 fraction2--! advocates ( ^! sy/ems yet 
proce$ to rant & rave--!y are really !  
only words we "k :i* c express our s5se 
( _! absurdity--9 a mo/ edify+ ve9 ab\t 
! div9ity ( ,*ri/ianity1 & to reveal to 

u its true glories4 ',*ri/1' says       
,/rauss1 'is n an individual1 b an idea2
 t is to say1 humanity4 ,9 ! human race 
behold ! ,god-made-man6 behold ! *ild ( 
! visible virg9 & ! invisible ,fa!r6--t 
is1 ( matt] & ( m9d2 behold ! ,savi\r1 !
 ,r$eem]1 ! ,s9less ,"o2 behold him :o  
dies1 :o is rais$ aga91 :o m\nts into ! 
heav5s ,i ,believe 9 ?is ,*ri/6 ,9 8    
dea?1 8 resurrection1 man is ju/ifi$    
be=e ,god6'    99 ,! ma9 objection1 bo? 
) ! old & ! new =ms ( infidelity1 is1 t 
aga9/ ! miracles2 ! ma9 argum5t ) bo?1  
^? :i* attempt to %[ _! antec$5t        
impossibility2 & criticism direct$ aga9/
 ! cr$ulity ( ! records :i* conta9 !m4  
,! pr9cipal diff]5ce is1 t mod]n        
infidelity %r9ks f ! co>se imputation ( 
fraud & impo/ure on ! f\nd]s (          
,*ri/ianity2 & pref]s ! !ory ( illusion 
or my? to t ( delib]ate fraud4 ,b ) ?is 
exception1 :i* t\*es only ! p]sonal "* (
 ! f\nd]s ( ,*ri/ianity1 ! case rema9s !
 same4 ,! same po/ulates & ! same       
argum5ts are made to yield sub/antially 

! same conclusion4 ,=1 all t is         
sup]natural 9 ,*ri/ianity & all         
cr$ibility 9 its records1 vani% equally 
on ei!r assumption4 ,nor is ev5 ! mod]n 
mode ( int]pret+ _m ( ! miracles 7z     
illusions or leg5ds7 unkn[n to ! old]   
infidelity2 only x m consi/5tly felt t  
nei!r ! "o !ory nor ! o!r1 c\ld be tru/$
 to alone4 ,velis et remis 0 its motto4 
,su* is ,qu9et's brief /atem5t (        
,/rauss's my/ico-my?ical ,*ri/iantity1  
f\nd$ on ! ,hegelian philosophy4 ,= a   
full]1 we d>e n say a m intelligible1   
acc\nt ( x 9 ,/rauss's own words1 & !   
metaphysical my/]ies on :i* x dep5ds1 ! 
read] may consult ,dr4 ,be>d's          
translation2--pp4 #dd1 #de4 ( 8 ,essay  
entitl$ ',/rauss1 ,hegel1 & _! ,op9ions4
   ,:e!r x be ! ,rationalism ( ,paulus1 
or ! ,rationalism ( ,/rauss--:e!r t :i* 
decl>es all t is sup]natural 9          
,*ri/ianity 7=m+ ! bulk ( its hi/ory7 to
 be illusion1 or t :i* decl>es x my?1--!
 conclusions c be made out only by a    
sy/em ( int]pretation :i* c be comp>$ to

 no?+ b ! wilde/ dreams & allegorical   
sy/ems ( "s ( ! e>ly ,fa!rs2 :ile !     
results !mselves are ei!r ^? elem5t>y   
pr9ciples ( e?ics = :i* !re 0 no ne$ to 
invoke a revelation at all1 or "s       
my/ico-metaphysical philosophy1 express$
 9 language z un9telligible z ! v]ie/   
gibb]i% ( ! ,alex&rian ,platoni/s4 ,9   
fact1 by su* exegesis & by su*          
philosophy1 any ?+ may be made out ( any
 ?+2 & ! mo/ fanta/ical data be compell$
 to yield equally fanta/ical            
conclusions4    ,( ! mode ( acc\nt+ = ! 
sup]natural occurr5ces 9 ! ,scriptures  
by ! illusion produc$ by mi/ak5 natural 
ph5om5a1 7p]haps ! mo/ /upidly jejune ( 
all ! !ories ev] project$ by man71      
,qu9et eloqu5tly says1 ',! p5 :i* wrote 
! ,prov9cial ,lett]s w\ld be necess>y to
 lay b>e ! /range consequ5ces ( ?is     
!ology4 ,accord+ to its conclusion1 !   
tree ( good & evil 0 no?+ b a v5om\s    
plant1 probably a man*9eal tree1 "u :i* 
our fir/ p>5ts fell asleep4 ,! %9+ face 
( ,moses on ! heights ( ,m\nt ,s9ai 0 ! 

natural result ( electricity2 ! vision (
 ,za*>iah 0 effect$ by ! smoke ( !      
*&eli]s 9 ! temple2 ! ,magian k+s1 ) _! 
(f]+s ( myrrh1 ( gold1 & ( inc5se1 7    
?ree w&]+ m]*ants1 :o br\ght "s glitt]+ 
t9sel to ! ,*ild ( ,be?lehem2 ! /> :i*  
w5t be=e !m a s]vant be>+ a flambeau2 ! 
angels 9 ! sc5e ( ! temptation1 a c>avan
 trav]s+ ! des]t1 lad5 ) provisions2 !  
two angels 9 ! tomb1 clo!d 9 :ite l951  
an illusion caus$ by a l95 g>m5t2 !     
,transfiguration1 a /orm4' ,:o w\ld n   
soon] be an old-fa%ion$ infidel ?an su* 
a dot+ & maund]+ rationali/8   ,b ! fir/
 & mo/ natural "q to ask is obvi\sly    
?is3 h[ any mortal c pret5d to extract  
any ?+ c]ta91 mu* m div9e1 f records1 ! 
great bulk ( :i* he has r$uc$ to pure   
frauds1 illusions1 or leg5ds1--& ! great
 bulk ( ! rema9d] to an absolute        
unc]ta9ty ( h[ little is true & h[ mu*  
false899 ,surely x w\ld ne$ no?+ less   
?an a new revelation to reveal ?is      
sweep+ re/riction ( ! old2 & we %\ld !n 
be left 9 an ec/asy ( a/oni%m5t-fir/1 t 

! :ole significance ( x %\ld h be5 veil$
 9 frauds1 illusions1 or fictions2      
secondly1 t its true mean+ %\ld h be5   
hidd5 f ! _w = eighte5 hundr$ ye>s aft] 
its div9e promulgation2 ?irdly1 t x %\ld
 be reveal$ at la/1 ei!r 9 results :i*  
ne$$ no revelation to reveal !m1 or 9 ! 
,egyptian d>kness ( !                   
allegorieo-metaphysico-my/ico-logico-tra
ns5d5tal1 '=mulae' ( ! mo/ obscure &    
cont5ti\s philosophy ev] devis$ by man2 
& la/ly1 t all ?is sup]flu\s tr\ble is  
to give u1 aft] all1 only ! my/]ies ( a 
mo/ enigmatical philosophy3 ,= ( ,hegel1
 9 p>ticul>1 we ?9k x may ) tru? be said
 t ! read] is seldom =tunate en\gh to "k
 t he kn[s 8 mean+1 or ev5 to "k t      
,hegel knew 8 own4   99 ,daub naively   
en\gh decl>es t1 if y except all t      
relates to angels1 demons1 & miracle1   
!re is sc>cely any my?ology 9 !         
,gospel4' ,an exception :i* rem9ds "o ( 
! ,iri% prelate :o1 on read+ ',gulliv]'s
 ,travels1' rem>k$ t !re 7 "s ?+s 9 t   
book :i* he c\ld n ?9k true4   ,:e!r1   

!n1 we reg>d ! orig9al compil]s ( !     
evangelic records z inv5t+ all t ,paulus
 or ,/rauss rejects1 or s9c]ely believ+ 
_! own delusions1 or t _! /atem5ts h be5
 artfully corrupt$ or unconsci\sly      
disguis$1 till ,*ri/ & 8 ,apo/les are z 
effectually trans=m$ & trave/i$ z ^!    
dream]s are pleas$ to imag9e1 ) :at     
consi/5cy c we believe any ?+ c]ta9     
amid/ s _m ackn[l$g$ fictions insep>ably
 incorporat$ ) !m8 ,if ,a has told ,b   
tru? once & falsehood fifty times1      
7witt+ly or unwitt+ly17 :at c induce ,b 
to believe t he has any reason to       
believe ,a 9 t only "t 9 :i* he does    
believe him1 unless he kn[s ! same tru? 
by evid5ce q indep5d5t ( ,a1 & = :i* he 
is n indebt$ to him at all8 ,%\ld we n1 
!n1 at once ackn[l$ge ! futility (      
attempt+ to educe any c]ta9 hi/oric     
fact1 h[ev] meagre1 or any doctr9e1 :e!r
 intelligible or obscure1 f docum5ts n9e
 t5?s ( :i* are to be reject$ z a tissue
 ( absurd fictions8 ,or :y %\ld we n    
fairly confess t1 = aught we c tell1 !  

:ole is a fiction8 ,= c]ta9ly1 z to !   
am\nt ( hi/oric fact :i* ^! m5 affect to
 leave1 x is obvi\sly a matt] ( ! mo/   
trivial importance :e!r we reg>d ! :ole 
,bible z absolute fiction or n4 ,:e!r an
 obscure ,galilean tea*]1 :o taught a   
moral sy/em :i* may h be5 z good 7we c  
nev] "k f su* corrupt docum5ts t x 0 z  
good7 z t ( ,confucius1 or ,zoroa/]1 ev]
 liv$ or n2 & :e!r we are to add ano!r  
"n to ^? :o h enunciat$ ! elem5t>y tru?s
 ( e?ics1 is really ( v little mom5t4   
,^u _! pr9ciples we c cle>ly "k no?+    
ab\t him except t he is ! c5tre ( a va/ 
mass ( fictions1 ! invisible nucleus ( a
 huge conglom]ate ( my?s4 ,a ?\s& times 
m1 !re=e1 d we respect ^?1 z bo? m hone/
 & m logical1 :o1 on simil> gr\nds1     
op5ly reject ,*ri/ianity altoge!r2 &    
reg>d ! ,new ,te/am5t1 & speak ( x1     
exactly z !y w\ld ( ,hom]'s ',iliad1' or
 ,virgil's ',a5eid4' ,su* m51 consi/5tly
 en\gh1 tr\ble !mselves n at all 9      
asc]ta9+ :at residuum ( tru?1 hi/orical 
or critical1 may rema9 9 a book :i*     

c]ta9ly gives t5 falsehoods = "o tru?1 &
 welds bo? toge!r 9 inextricable        
confusion4 ,! ,g]man infidels1 on ! o!r 
h&1 ) inf9ite lab\r1 & amid/ inf9ite    
unc]ta9ties1 extract ei!r tru? 'z old z 
! creation1' & z univ]sal z human       
reason1--or tru? :i*1 aft] be+ hidd5 f !
 _w = eighte5 hundr$ ye>s 9 my?ical     
obscurity1 is unhappily lo/ aga9 ! mom5t
 x is discov]$1 9 ! inf9itely deep]     
d>kness ( ! philosophy ( ,hegel &       
,/rauss2 :o 9 va9 endeav\r to gasp out1 
9 articulate language1 ! /ill lat5t     
my/]y ( ! ,gospel6 ,hegel1 9 8 la/ h\rs1
 is said to h said1--& if he did n say1 
he ought to h said1--',alas6 !re is b "o
 man 9 all ,g]many :o und]/&s my        
doctr9e1--& he does n und]/& x6' ,& yet1
 by 8 acc\nt1 ,hegelianism &            
,*ri/ianity1 '9 _! highe/ results1'     
language1 z usual1 felicit\sly obscure  
'are "o4' ,bo?1 !re=e1 are1 alas6 n[ =  
ev] lo/4  ,t great problem--to acc\nt = 
! orig9 & e/abli%m5t ,( ,*ri/ianity 9 ! 
_w1 ) a d5ial at ! same "t ( its        

miracul\s pret5sions--a problem1 ! fair 
solution ( :i* is obvi\sly incumb5t on  
infidelity--has necessitat$ ! mo/       
gratuit\s & ev5 contradictory hypo!ses1 
& may safely be said /ill to pres5t z   
h>d a knot z ev]4 ,! fav\rite hypo!sis1 
rec5tly1 has be5 t ( ,/rauss--frequ5tly 
re-modifi$ & re-adju/$ inde$ by         
himself--t ,*ri/ianity is a my?1 or     
collection ( my?s--t is1 a conglom]ate  
7z geologi/s w\ld say7 ( a v sl5d]      
portion ( facts & tru?1 ) an enorm\s    
accretion ( undesign$ fiction1 fable1 & 
sup]/itions2 gradually fram$ & ins5sibly
 receiv$1 l ! my?ologies ( ,greece &    
,rome1 or ! anci5t sy/ems ( ,h9doo      
!ology4 ,x is true1 inde$1 t ! p>ticul> 
critical argum5ts1 ! alleg$ hi/oric     
discrepancies & s =?1 on :i* ?is au?or  
f\nds 8 conclusion--are = ! mo/ "p1 n   
orig9al2 mo/ ( !m hav+ be5 insi/$ on    
be=e1 bo? 9 ,g]many1 & especially 9 our 
own c\ntry dur+ ! ,dei/ical controv]sies
 ( ! prec$+ c5tury4 ,8 idea ( my?s1     
h[ev]1 may be suppos$ orig9al2 & he is v

 welcome to x4 ,= ( all ! attempt$      
solutions ( ! great problem1 ?is w be   
h]eaft] reg>d$ z1 p]haps1 ! mo/         
unt5able4 ,gibbon1 9 solv+ ! same       
problem1 & />t+ 9 fact f ! same         
axioms1--= he too endeav\r$ to acc\nt = 
! intractable ph5om5on--on natural      
causes alone1--assign$1 z "o cause1 !   
reputation ( work+ miracles1 ! reality (
 :i* he d5i$2 b he 0 f> too cauti\s to  
decide :e!r ! orig9al ?und]s (          
,*ri/ianity _h pret5d$ to "w miracles1 &
 _h be5 enabl$ to *eat ! _w into !      
belief ( !m1 or :e!r ! _w _h be5 pleas$ 
univ]sally to *eat itself into t belief4
 ,he 0 f> too wise to tie himself to !  
pro( t 9 ! mo/ enlight5$ p]iod ( ! _w's 
hi/ory--amid/ ! /ronge/ contr>ieties (  
national & religi\s feel+--amid/ !      
bitt]e/ bigotry ( millions 9 behalf (   
:at 0 old1 & ! bitt]e/ contempt (       
millions ( all t 0 new--amid/ ! oppos+  
=ces ( ignorance & prejudice on ! "o h& 
& philosophy & scepticism on !          
o!r--amid/ all ! p]secutions :i* atte/$ 

& prov$ ^? ho/ile feel+s on ! "p ( !    
bulk ( mank9d--& above all1 9 ! %ort    
space ( ?irty ye>s 7:i* is all t ,dr4   
,/auss all[s himself71--,*ri/ianity c\ld
 be ?us deposit$1 l ! my?ology ( ,greece
 & ,rome6 ,^!1 he knew1 7 v gradual &   
sil5t =mations2 orig9at+ 9 ! mid/ ( a   
remote antiquity & an unhi/oric age1    
dur+ ! v infancy & b>b>ism ( ! races :i*
 adopt$ !m1 conf9$1 be x rememb]$1 to ^?
 races alone2 & display+1 in/ead ( !    
exquisite & symmetrical beauty (        
,*ri/ianity1 ^? manife/ signs ( gradual 
accretion :i* 7 fairly to be expect$2 9 
! v>ieties ( ! deposit$ or irrupt$      
sub/ances--9 ! diffract$ appe>ance (    
v>i\s p>ts--9 ! v wea!r /a9s1 s to      
speak1 :i* m>k ! :ole mass4  ,t !       
prodigi\s aggregate ( miracles :i* !    
,new ,te/am5t ass]ts1 w\ld1 if fabul\s1 
pass un*all5g$1 elude all detection1 &  
baffle all scepticism4--collect 9 !     
c\rse ( a few ye>s en]getic & zeal\s    
ass]tors ( _! reality1 9 ! he>t ( e     
civilis$ & almo/ e b>b>\s community1 & 9

 ! c\rse ( ?ree c5turies1 *ange ! face (
 ! _w & de/roy e o!r my? :i* fairly came
 9 contact ) x1--:o b ,dr4 ,/rauss c    
believe8 ,0 !re no ,dr4 ,/rauss 9 ^?    
days8 ,none to "q & detect1 z ! process 
w5t on1 ! utt] baselessness ( ^! leg5ds8
 ,0 all ! _w dot+--0 ev5 ! p]secut+ _w  
asleep8 ,7 all mank9d resolv$ on befool+
 !mselves8 ,are m5 wont ?us quietly to  
admit miracul\s pret5sions1 :e!r !y be  
prejudic$ vot>ies ( ano!r sy/em or      
sceptics z to all8 ,no3 :e!r we consid] 
! age1 ! c\ntry1 ! m5 assign$ = ! orig9 
( ^! my?s1 we see ! futility ( ! !ory4  
,x does n acc\nt ev5 = _! inv5tion1 mu* 
less = _! success4 ,we see t if any     
my?ology c\ld 9 su* an age h g]m9at$ at 
all1 x mu/ h be5 "o v diff]5t f         
,*ri/ianity2 :e!r we consid] ! sort (   
,messiah ! ,jews expect$1 or ! hatr$ (  
all ,jewi% ,messiahs1 :i* ! ,g5tiles    
c\ld n b h felt4 ,! ,*ri/ (f]$ !m s f> f
 be+ welcome1 0 to ! "o a '/umbl+ block'
 & to ! o!r 'fooli%ness'2 & yet he      
conqu]$ ! prejudices ( bo?4  ,let u     

suppose a p>allel my?--if we may abuse !
 "n4 ,let u suppose ! son ( "s ,canadian
 c>p5t] aspir+ to be a moral tea*]1 b   
nei!r work+ nor pret5d+ to "w miracles2 
z mu* hat$ by 8 c\ntrym5 z ,jesus ,*ri/ 
0 hat$ by 81 & bo? he & 8 c\ntrym5 z mu*
 hat$ by all ! civilis$ _w beside1 z 7  
,jesus ,*ri/ & ! ,jews3 let u fur!r     
suppose him =bidd+ 8 foll[]s ! use ( all
 =ce 9 propagat+ 8 doctr9e's1 & !n let u
 calculate ! probability ( an unnotic$ &
 accid5tal deposit1 9 ?irty %ort ye>s1 (
 a prodigi\s accumulation ab\t ^! simple
 facts4 ( sup]natural b univ]sally      
accr$it$ fables1 ^! leg5ds escap+       
detection or suspicion z !y accumulat$1 
& sudd5ly lay+ hold 9 a few ye>s (      
myriads ( vot>ies 9 all p>ts ( bo?      
worlds1 & 9 ?ree c5turies uproot+ &     
de/roy+ ,*ri/ianity & all oppos+ sy/ems6
 ,h[ long w x be be=e ! ,sw$5borgian1 or
 ! ,mormonite1 or any su* pret5d]s1 w h 
simil> success8 ,h !re n be5 a ?\s& su*1
 & has any "o ( !m _h ! slighte/ *ance  
aga9/ sy/ems 9 possession1--aga9/ !     

/rongly root$ prejudices ( ignorance & !
 ,argus-ey$ inve/igations ( scepticism8 
,b all ^! 7 oppos$ to ! pret5sions (    
,*ri/ianity2 nor c any "o example ( at  
all simil> sudd5 success be alleg$1     
except 9 ! case ( ,mahomet2 & to t !    
answ] is brief4 ,! hi/ory ( ,mahomet is 
! hi/ory ( a conqu]or--& 8 logic 0 !    
logic ( ! sword4  ,9 spite ( ! !ory (   
,/rauss1 !re=e1 n less ?an t ( ,gibbon1 
! old & ev] recurr+ difficulty ( giv+ a 
rational acc\nt ( ! orig9 & e/abli%m5t (
 ,*ri/ianity /ill pres5ts itself =      
solution to ! infidel1 z x always has   
done1 &1 we v5ture to say1 always w d4  
,x is an insoluble ph5om5on1 except by !
 admission ( ! facts ( !--,new ,te/am5t4
 ',! miracles1' says ,butl]1 'are a     
satisfactory acc\nt ( ! ev5ts1 ( :i* no 
o!r satisfactory acc\nt c be giv52 nor  
any acc\nt at all1 b :at is imag9>y     
m]ely & inv5t$4'  ,9 ! meantime1 !      
diff]5t !ories ( unbelief mutually      
refute "o ano!r2 & we may plead !       
au?ority ( "o aga9/ ! au?ority ( ano!r4 

,^? :o believe ,/rauss believe bo? !    
!ory ( impo/ure & ! !ory ( illusion     
improbable2 & ^? :o believe 9 ! !ory (  
impo/ure believe ! !ory ( my?s          
improbable4 ,& bo? p>ties1 we are glad  
to ?9k1 are q "r 9 ! judgm5t !y =m ( "o 
ano!r4  ,b :at mu/ /rike e "o :o        
reflects z ! mo/ surpris+ ?+ 9 ,dr4     
,/rauss1 is1 t ) ! po/ulatum ) :i* he   
sets out1 & :i* he mode/ly takes =      
grant$ z too evid5t to ne$ pro(1 he %\ld
 h ?\ght x wor? :ile to write two bulky 
volumes ( m9ute criticism on ! subject4 
,a miracle he decl>es to be an          
absurdity1 an contradiction1 an         
impossibility4 ,if we believ$ ?is1 we   
%\ld deem a v concise en?ym5e 7aft] hav+
 prov$ t po/ulatum ?\gh7 all t x 0      
necess>y to con/ruct on ! subject4 ,a   
miracle _c be true2 ergo1 ,*ri/ianity1  
:i* 9 ! only records by :i* we "k any?+ 
ab\t x1 av[s its absolute dep5d5ce ^u   
miracles1 mu/ be false4  ,x is a        
modification ( "o or o!r ( ^! mon/r\s   
=ms ( unbeliev+ belief & ,*ri/ian       

infidelity1 t ,mr4 ,foxton1 late (      
,ox=d1 has adopt$ 9 8 ',popul>          
,*ri/ianity2' z p]haps also ,mr4 ,fr\de 
9 8 ',nemesis4' ,x is n v easy1 inde$1  
to say :at ,mr4 ,foxton positively      
believes2 hav+1 l 8 ,g]man prototypes1 a
 great] facility ( tell+ :at he does    
believe1 & ( wrapp+ up :at he does      
believe 9 a mo/ impregnable my/icism4   
,he c]ta9ly rejects1 h[ev]1 all t :i*1  
:5 reject$ a c5tury ago1 left1 9 !      
e/imate ( e "o1 an infidel 9 puris      
naturalibus4 ,l 8 ,g]man acqua9tances1  
he accepts ! infidel p>adoxes--only1 l  
!m1 he w /ill be a ,*ri/ian4 ,he        
believes1 ) ,/rauss1 t a miracle is an  
impossibility &                         
contradiction--'incr$ible p] se4' ,z to 
! inspiration ( ,*ri/--he reg>ds x z1 9 
its nature1 ! same z t ( ,zora/]1       
,confucius1 ,mahomet1 ,plato1 ,lu!r1 &  
,wickliffe--a curi\s assortm5t ( 'h]oic 
s\ls4'7,pp4 #fb1 #fc47 ,) a happy art ( 
confus+ ! 'gifts ( g5ius' no matt] :e!r 
display$ 9 intellectual or moral p[]1 & 

( =gett+ t o!r m5 are n likely to       
ov]look ! diff]5ce1 he complac5tly      
decl>es '! wisdom ( ,solomon & ! poetry 
( ,isaiah ! fruit ( ! same inspiration  
:i* is popul>ly attribut$ to ,milton or 
,%akspe>e1 or ev5 to ! homely wisdom (  
,b5jam9 ,frankl9' 7,p4 #gb47 9 ! same   
pleasant confusion ( m9d1 he ?9ks t !   
'p5s ( ,plato1 ( ,paul & ( ,dante1 !    
p5cils ( ,raphael & ( ,claude1 ! ,*isels
 ( ,canova & ( ,*antrey1 no less ?an !  
voices ( ,knox ( ,wickliffe1 & ( ,lu!r  
are m9i/]+ in/rum5ts1 9 diff]5t degrees1
 ( ! same _s4' 7,p4 #gg47 ,he ?9ks t 'we
 f9d1 bo? 9 ! writ]s & ! records (      
,scripture1 e evid5ce ( human infirmity 
t c possibly be conceiv$2 & yet we are  
to believe t ,god himself specially     
inspir$ !m ) false philosophy1 vici\s   
logic1 & bad gramm>4'7,p4 #gd47 ,he     
d5ies ! orig9ality bo? ( ! ,*ri/ian e?ic
 7:i* he says are a gross plagi>ism f   
,plato7 z also 9 great "p ( ! sy/em (   
,*ri/ian doctr9e499 ,nev]!less1 x w\ld  
be q a mi/ake1 x seems1 to suppose t    

,mr4 ,foxton is no ,*ri/ian6 ,he is1 on 
! contr>y1 ( ! v few :o c tell u :at    
,*ri/ianity really is2 & :o c sep>ate ! 
falsehoods & ! my?s :i* h s long        
disguis$ x4 ,he ev5 talks mo/           
spiritually & ) an edify+ onction4 ,he  
tells u ,god 01 inde$1 9 ,*ri/1         
reconcil+ ! _w unto himself4 ,& b little
 d$uction ne$ be made f ! raptur\s      
language ( ,paul1 :o tells u t 9 him    
dwelt all ! fullness ( ! ,godhead bodily
 7,p4 #fe72 ,i conc$e to ,*ri/' 7g5]\s  
admission67 '! highe/ inspiration hi!rto
 grant$ to ! prophets ( ,god' 7,p4      
#adc71--,mahomet1 x appe>s1 & ,zoroa/] &
 ,confucius1 hav+ also /atues 9 8 truly 
,ca?olic ,pan!on4 ',! position ( ,*ri/1'
 he tells u 9 ano!r place1 is 'simply t 
( ! =emo/ man 9 all ! _w1' ?\gh he 'so>s
 f> above all pr9cipalities &           
p[]s--above all philosophies hi!rto     
kn[n--above all cre$s hi!rto propagat$ 9
 8 "n'--! true ,*ri/ian doctr9e1 aft]   
hav+ be5 hid f ages & g5]ations1 be+    
res]v$ to be disclos$1 we presume1 by   

,mr4 ,foxton4 ,8 spiritualism1 z usual )
 ! :ole s*ool ( our new ,*ri/ian        
infidels1 is1 ( c\rse1 exquisitely      
ref9$1--b1 unhappily1 v vague4 ,he is   
full ( talk ( 'a deeep insight1'--( a   
'fai? n 9 dead hi/ories1 b liv+         
realities--a revelation to our inn]mo/  
nature4' ',! true se]1' he says1 'look+ 
deep into causes1 c>ries 9 8 he>t !     
simple wisdom ( ,god4 ,! secret h>monies
 ( ,nature vibrate on 8 e>1 & h] fair   
proportions reveal !mselves to 8 eye4   
,he has a deep fai? 9 ! tru? ( ,god4'   
7,p4 #adf47 ',! inspir$ man is "o ^:    
outw>d life d]ives all its radiance f ! 
light )9 him4 ,he walks ?r\gh /ony      
places by ! light ( 8 own s\l1 & /umbles
 n4 ,no human motive is pres5t to su* a 
m9d 9 its highe/ exultation--no love (  
praise--no desire ( fame--no affection1 
no passion m+les ) ! div9e afflatus1 :i*
 passes ov] )\t ruffl+ ! s\l4' 7,p4     
#dd47 ,& a great _m f9e phrases ( ! same
 k9d1 equally innoc5t ( all mean+4   99 
7,pp4 #ea--fj47 ,we are h>dly likely to 

yield to ,mr4 ,foxton 9 our love (      
,plato1 = :om we h express$1 & t v      
rec5tly1 7,april1 #ahdh17 no /9t$       
admiration3 & :at we h !re affirm$ we   
are by no means dispos$ to retract1--t  
no anci5t au?or has approa*$1 9 !       
expression ( e?ical tru?1 s ne> to !    
maxims & sometimes ! v expressions1 ( ! 
,gospel4 ,nev]!less1 we z /rongly       
affirm1 t he :o contra/s 7:atev] !      
occasional sublimity ( expression7 !    
falt]+ & (t5 sceptical tone ( ,plato on 
religi\s subjects1 ) ! uni=mity &       
decision ( ! ,evangelical sy/em1--8 d>k 
notions 9 relation to ,god 7c&idly      
confess$7 ) ! glori\s recognition ( ,him
 9 ! ,gospel z 'our ,fa!r1'--8 utt]ly   
absurd application ( 8 g5]al pr9ciples (
 morals1 9 8 mo/ ,utopian ( all         
,republics1 ) ! broad1 pla9 social e?ics
 ( ,*ri/ianity1--! tone ( m\rnful       
famili>ity 7:atev] 8 p]sonal immunity7 9
 :i* he too (t5 speaks ( ! sadde/       
pollutions t ev] degrad$ humanity1 ) !  
spotless purity ( ! ,*ri/ian rule (     

life1--! hesitat+1 speculative tone ( ! 
,ma/] ( ! ,academy ) ! decision & maje/y
 ( ,him :o 'spake ) au?ority1 & n z !   
,scribes1' :e!r ,greek or ,jewi%4--!    
metaphysical & ab/ract "* ( ,plato's    
reason+s ) ! sev]ely practical "* (     
,*ri/'s1--! feebl5ess ( ! motives       
suppli$ by ! ab/ractions ( ! "o1 & !    
int5sity ( ^? suppli$ by ! o!r1--!      
adaptation ( ! "o to ! intellig5t only1 
& ! adaptation ( ! o!r to univ]sal      
humanity1--! v mann] ( ,plato1 8 gorge\s
 /yle1 ) ! /ill m impressive simplicity 
( ! ,great ,tea*]1--mu/ surely see 9 !  
contra/ e indication1 to say no?+ ( !   
utt] gratuit\sness 7hi/orically7 ( !    
contr>y hypo!sis1 t ! sublime e?ics ( ! 
,gospel1 :e!r we reg>d sub/ance1 or     
mann]1 or1 tone1 or /yle1 are no        
plagi>ism f ,plato4 ,z = ! man :o c hold
 su* a notion1 he mu/ c]ta9ly be v      
ignorant ei!r ( ,plate or ( ,*ri/4 ,z ! 
be/ apology = ,mr4 ,foxton's (f5sive    
folly we may1 p]haps1 *>itably hope t he
 is ne>ly ignorant ( bo?4--,equally     

absurd is ! attempt to id5tify !        
metaphysical dreams ( ,plato ) !        
doctr9al sy/em ( ! ,gospel1 ?\gh x is q 
true1 t long subsequ5t to ,*ri/ !       
,platonis+ ,*ri/ians tri$ to accommodate
 ! speculations ( ! sage !y lov$1 to !  
doctr9es ( a /ill great] ma/]4 ,b ,plato
 nev] extort$ f 8 fri5ds /rong] eulogies
 ?an ,*ri/ has (t5 extort$ f 8 enemies4 
,x is amaz+ & amus+ to see ) :at case   
,mr4 ,foxton decides po9ts :i* h fill$  
folios ( controv]sy4 ',9 ! tea*+ ( ,*ri/
 himself1 !re is n ! slighte/ allusion  
to ! mod]n evangelical notion ( an      
atonem5t4' ',! div]sities ( gifts to :i*
 ,paul alludes1 ,cor4 i4 #ab4 are no?+ m
 ?an ^? diff]5t gifts :i*1 9 common     
p>lance1 we attribute to ! v>i\s temp]s 
& tal5ts ( m54' 7,p4 #fg47 ',x is1      
h[ev]1 aft] all1 absurd to suppose t !  
miracles ( ! ,scriptures are subjects ( 
actual belief2 ei!r to ! vulg> or !     
le>n$4' 7,p4 #ajd47 ,:at an easy "t ( x 
mu/ su* an all-suffici5t controv]ti/ h6 
,he ?9ks x possible2 too1 t ,*ri/1 ?\gh 

no?+ m ?an an ord9>y man1 may really h  
'?\ght himself ,div9e1' )\t be+ liable  
to ! *>ge ( a vision>y self-idolatry or 
( blasphemy1--z suppos$ by e body1      
,tr9it>ian or ,unit>ian1 except ,mr4    
,foxton4 ,he acc\nts = x by ! 'wild     
sublimity ( human emotion1 :5 ! rapt _s 
fir/ feels ! ?robb+s ( ! div9e          
afflatus1' c4 c4 ,a s+ul> afflatus :i*  
tea*es a man to usurp ! "n & pr]ogatives
 ( ,deity1 & a /range 'inspiration' :i* 
inspires him ) s pr(\nd an ignorance ( 8
 own nature6 ,?is int]pretation1 we     
believe1 is peculi>ly ,mr4 ,foxton's    
owe4  ,! way 9 :i* he disposes ( !      
miracles1 is ess5tially t ( a vulg>1    
undiscrim9at+1 unphilosophic m9d4 ,!re h
 be51 he tells u 9 effect1 s _m false   
miracles1 sup]/iti\s /ories ( wit*es1   
conjurors1 gho/s1 hobgobl9s1 ( cures by 
royal t\*1 & ! l1--& !re=e ! ,scripture 
miracles are false6 ,:y1 :o d5ies t !re 
h be5 pl5ty ( false miracles8 ,& !re h  
be5 z _m false religions4 ,is !re1      
!re=e1 none true8 ,! prop] bus9ess 9 e  

su* case is to exam9e fairly ! evid5ce1 
& n to g5]alise aft] ?is absurd fa%ion4 
,o!rwise we %all nev] believe any ?+2 = 
!re is h>dly "o tru? t has n its half   
score ( audaci\s c\nt]feits4  ,/ill he  
is amus+ly p]plex$1 l all ! re/ ( !     
infidel _w1 h[ to get rid ( !           
miracles--:e!r on ! pr9ciple ( fraud1 or
 fiction1 or illusion4 ,he ?9ks !re w\ld
 be 'a great accession to ! ranks (     
reason & common s5se by disprov+ !      
reality ( ! miracles1 )\t damag+ !      
v]acity or hone/ly ( ! simple1 e>ne/1 & 
en?usia/ic writ]s by :om !y are         
record$2' & compla9s ( ! co>se &        
undiscrim9at+ criticism ( mo/ ( ! ,fr5* 
& ,engli% ,dei/s1 :o expla9 ! miracles  
'on ! supposition ( ! grosse/ fraud act+
 on ! grosse/ cr$ulity4' ,b he soon f9ds
 t ! mat]ials = su* a compromise are    
utt]ly intractable4 ,he ?9ks t ! ,g]man 
,rationali/s h dep5d$ too mu* on "s     
's+le hypo!sis1 :i* (t5 proves to be    
insuffici5t to meet ! great v>iety (    
conditions & circum/ances ) :i* !       

miracles h be5 h&$ d[n to u4' ,v true2 b
 :at rem$y8 ',we f9d "o ,g]man writ]    
endeav\r+ to expla9 away ! miracles on !
 my/ical 7my?ical7 !ory2 & ano!r rid+   
into ! ar5a ( controv]sy on ! mis]able  
hobby-horse ( clairvoyance or mesm]ism2 
ea* ( ^!1 & a ho/ ( o!rs ( ! same class1
 reject+ :atev] light is ?r[n on ! "q by
 all ! !ories toge!r4' ,he !re=e        
proposes1 ) great & gratuit\s lib]ality1
 to heap all ^! !ories toge!r1 & to take
 !m z !y are want$2 n )hold+ any ( !    
wond]s ( mod]n sci5ce--ev51 z w\ld seem1
 ! possible k ( '*lor(orm' 7,,pp4 #ajd44
 #hf1 #hg47--;f ! propagators (         
,*ri/ianity6  ,b1 alas6 ! ph5om5a are   
/ill intractable4 ,! /ubborn ',book' w  
/ill baffle all su* ef=ts to expla9 x   
away2 x is will+ to be reject$1 if x s  
pleases m51 b x gu>ds itself f be+ ?us  
made a fool (4 ,= :o c fail to see t    
nei!r all or any consid]able "p ( !     
multif>i\s miracles ( ! ,new ,te/am5t c 
be expla9$ by any su* gratuit\s ext5sion
 ( +5i\s fancies2 & t if !y c\ld be s   

expla9$1 x w\ld be /ill impossible to   
exculpate ! m5 :o ne$ su* explanations f
 ! *>ge ( p]petuat+ ! grosse/ frauds6   
,yet ?is logical o/ri*1 :o am dige/ all 
^! /ones1 presumptu\sly decl>es a       
miracle an impossibility & ! v notion ( 
x a contradiction499 ,b en\gh ( ,mr4    
,foxton4    99 ,mr4 ,foxton d5ies t m51 
9 ,paley's 's+le case 9 :i* he tries !  
g5]al !orem1' w\ld believe ! miracle2 b 
he f9ds x conv5i5t to leave out ! mo/   
significant circum/ances on :i* ,paley  
makes ! validity ( ! te/imony to dep5d1 
in/ead ( /at+ !m fairly 9 ,paley's own  
words4 ,yet t ! sceptics 7if su* !re    
c\ld be7 mu/ be ! m]e/ fraction ( !     
species1 ,mr4 ,foxton himself imm$iately
 proce$s to prove by %[+ :at is         
und5iably ! case7 t almo/ all mank9d    
readily receive miracul\s occurr5ces on 
f> l[] evid5ce ?an ,paley's common s5se 
w\ld require !m to dem&4 ,surely he mu/ 
be relat$ to ! ,iri%man :o plac$ 8 ladd]
 aga9/ ! b\gh he 0 cutt+ (f4 ,i     ,!re
 are no d\bt "s m9ds among/ u1 ^: p[] we

 admit1 & ^: p]v]sion ( p[] we lam5t1 :o
 h bewild]$ !mselves by really deep     
m$itation on inexplicable my/]ies2 :o   
dem& c]ta9ty :]e c]ta9ty is n giv5 to   
man1 or dem& = tru?s :i* are e/abli%$ by
 suffici5t evid5ce1 o!r evid5ce ?an ^?  
tru?s w admit4 ,we c ev5 pa9fully       
sympa?ise 9 t ordeal ( d\bt :i* su*     
p[]ful m9ds are peculi>ly expos$--) _!  
,titanic /ruggles aga9/ ! /ill mighti]  
p[] ( ,him :o has said to ! turbul5t    
intellect ( man1 z well z to ! /ormy    
ocean ',hi!rto %alt ?\ come1 b no       
f>!r1--& "h %all ?y pr\d waves be /aid4'
 ,we _c wi% bett] to any su* agitat$ m9d
 ?an t x may li/5 to ^? pot5t & maje/ic 
words3 ',peace--be /ill6' utt]$ by !    
voice ( ,him :o s sudd5ly hu%$ ! bill[s 
( ! ,galilean lake4  ,b we are at ! same
 "t fully conv9c$ t 9 our day !re are   
?\s&s ( y\?s :o are fall+ into ! same   
errors & p]ils f %e] vanity &           
affectation2 :o admire mo/ :at !y lea/  
und]/&1 & adopt all ! obscurities &     
p>adoxes !y /umble ^u1 z a *eap pa? to a

 reputation = pr(undity2 :o awkw>dly    
imitate ! mann] & retail ! phrases ( !  
writ]s !y /udy2 &1 z usual1 exagg]ate to
 c>icature _! lea/ agreeable            
ecc5tricities4 ,we %\ld ?9k t "s ( ^! m 
p[]ful m9ds mu/ be by ?is "t a%am$ ( t  
ragg$ regim5t ( %all[ ?9k]s1 & obscure  
writ]s & talk]s :o at pres5t infe/ our  
lit]ature1 & ^: p>rot-l repetition ( _! 
own /]eotyp$ phraseology1 m+l$ ) "s     
b>b>\s infusion ( half ,anglicis$       
,g]man1 ?reat5s to =m z odi\s a cant z  
ev] pollut$ ! /ream ( ?\ght or disfigur$
 ! purity ( language4 ,happily x is n   
likely to be m ?an a pass+ fa%ion2 b    
/ill x is a v unpleasant fa%ion :ile x  
la/s4 ,z 9 ,johnson's day1 e "y writ]   
imitat$ z well z he c\ld ! pond]\s      
diction & ev]la/+ anti!ses ( ! great    
dictator z 9 ,byron's day1 !re 7 ?\s&s  
to :om ! _w '0 a blank' at tw5ty or     
!reab\ts1 & ( ^: d>k imag9+s1' z        
,macaulay says1 ! wa/e 0 prodigi\s2 s n[
 !re are hundr$s ( dilettanti pan!i/s'1 
my/ics & sceptics to :om ev]y?+ is a    

'%am1' an 'unreality'2 ,:o tell u t ! _w
 /&s 9 ne$ ( a great 'prophet1' a se]1' 
a 'true prophet'1 a l>ge s\l1' a god-l  
s\l1'99--:o %all dive into '! dep?s ( ! 
human consci\sness1' & ^: 'utt]ances'   
%all r\se ! human m9d f ! '*eats &      
frauds' :i* h hi!rto ev]y:]e practis$ on
 its simplicity4 ,! tell u1 9 relation  
to philosophy1 religion1 & especially 9 
relation to ,*ri/ianity1 t all t has be5
 believ$ by mank9d has be5 believ$ only 
on 'empirical' gr\nds2 & t ! old answ]s 
to difficulties w d no long]4 ,!y %ake  
_! sage heads at su* m5 z ,cl>ke1       
,paley1 ,butl]1 & decl>e t su* argum5ts 
z !irs w n satisfy !m41--,we are glad to
 admit t all ?is vague pret5sion is n[ b
 r>ely display$ ) ! scurril\s _s ( t    
eld] unbelief aga9/ :i* ! long s]ies (  
,briti% apologi/s = ,*ri/ianity arose   
betwe5 #agjj & #agej2 ,b !re is (t5 9 x 
an arrogance z real1 ?\gh n 9 s (f5sive 
a =m4 ,sometimes ! _s ( unbelief ev5    
assumes an air ( s5tim5tal regret at its
 own inconv5i5t pr(undity4 ,_m a wor?y  

y\? tells u he almo/ wi%es he c\ld      
believe4 ,he admires1 ( all ?+s1 !      
'moral gr&eur'--! 'e?ical beauty' ( _m  
p>ts ( ,*ri/ianity2 he condesc5ds to    
patronize ,jesus ,*ri/1 ?\gh he believes
 t ! great mass ( words & actions by :i*
 alone we "k any?+ ab\t him1 are %e]    
fictions or leg5ds2 he                  
believes--gratuit\sly en\gh 9 ?is       
in/ance1 = he has no gr\nd = x--t ,jesus
 ,*ri/ 0 a v 'great man' wor?y (        
comp>ison at lea/ ) ,mahomet1 ,lu!r1    
,napoleon1 & 'o!r h]oes'2 he ev5 admits 
t happ9ess ( a simple1 *ild-l fai?1 9 ! 
pu]ilities ( ,*ri/ianity--x produces su*
 cont5t ( m9d6 ,b alas6 he _c believe--8
 intellect is n satisfi$--he has revolv$
 ! matt] too pr(\ndly to be ?us tak5 92 
he mu/1 he supposes1 7& our be>dless    
philosoph] sighs z he says x7 be> !     
p5alty ( a too re/less intellect1 & a   
too speculative g5ius2 he kn[s all !    
usual argum5ts :i* satisfi$ ,pascal1    
,butl]1 ,bacon1 ,leibnitz2 b !y w d no  
long]3 m radical1 m trem5d\s            

difficulties h sugge/$ !mselves1 'f !   
'dep?s ( philosophy1' & f> diff]5t      
answ]s are requir$ n[6    99 ,foxton's  
la/ *apt]1 passim1 f "s expressions "o  
w\ld almo/ imag9e t our au?or himself   
aspir$ to be1 if n ! ,messiah1 at lea/ !
 ,elias1 ( ?is new disp5sation4 ,we fe>1
 h[ev]1 t ?is 'vox clamantis' w\ld      
rev]se ! ,bapti/'s proclamation1 & w\ld 
cry1 ',! /raight %all be made crook$4 & 
! pla9 places r\gh4'  ,we fe> t _m "y   
m9ds 9 our day are expos$ to ! dang] (  
fall+ into "o or o!r ( ! prevail+ =ms ( 
unbelief1 & especially into t ( pan!i/ic
 my/icism--f ra%ly m$itat+ 9 ! cl\dy    
regions ( ,g]man philosophy--on         
difficulties :i* w\ld seem beyond !     
limits ( human reason1 b :i* t          
philosophy too (t5 promises to solve--) 
:at success we may see f ! rapid        
succession & imp5etrable obscurities (  
its v>i\s sy/ems4 ,alas6 :5 w m5 le>n t 
"o ( ! highe/ a*ievem5ts ( philosophy is
 to "k :5 x is va9 to philosophise4 ,:5 
! obscure pr9ciples ( ^! mo/ unc\?      

philosophies1 express$1 we v]ily        
believe1 9 ! d>ke/ language ev] us$ by  
civilis$ man1 are appli$ to ! solution (
 ! problems ( !ology & e?ics1 no wond] t
 ! natural consequ5ce1 z well z j       
retribution1 ( su* tem]ity is a plunge  
into t5fold night4 ,sy/ems ( ,g]man     
philosophy may p]haps be advantage\sly  
/udi$ by ^? :o are mature en\gh to /udy 
!m2 b t !y h an incomp>able p[] (       
intoxicat+ ! intellect ( ! "y aspirant  
to _! my/]ies1 is1 we ?9k1 und5iable4   
,!y are produc+ ! effect j n[ 9 a       
multitude ( our juv5iles1 :o are becl\d+
 !mselves 9 ! va9 attempt to compreh5d  
ill-translat$ fragm5ts ( ill-und]/ood   
philosophies1 7execut$ 9 a sort (       
,anglicis$-,g]man1 or ,g]manis$-,engli%1
 we "k n :i* to call x1 b c]ta9ly nei!r 
,g]man nor ,engli%17 f ! p]usal ( :i* !y
 c>ry away no?+ b "s v obscure t]ms1 on 
:i* !y !mselves h sup]9duc$ a v vague   
mean+4 ,^! t]ms y 9 va9 implore !m to   
def9e2 or1 if !y def9e !m1 !y def9e !m 9
 t]ms :i* z mu* ne$ def9ition4 ,he>tily 

d we wi% t ,socrates w\ld reappe> among/
 u1 to ex]cise 8 acc\*eur's art on ^!   
hapless ,!aetetuses & ,m5os ( our day6  
,_m su* y\?s might no d\bt reply at fir/
 to ! s>ca/ic ,qu]i/1 7:o might g5tly   
compla9 ( a slight cl\d9ess 9 _!        
speculations47 t ! tru?s !y utt]$ 7 too 
pr(\nd = ord9>y reason]s4 ,we may easily
 imag9e h[ ,socrates w\ld h dealt ) su* 
assumptions4 ,8 reply w\ld be r m sev]e 
?an t ( ,mack9to% to ,col]idge 9 a      
some:at simil> case2 namely1 t if a     
notion _c be made cle> to p]sons :o h   
sp5t ! bett] "p ( _! days 9 resolv+ !   
difficulties ( metaphysics & philosophy1
 & :o are consci\s t !y are n de/itute (
 pati5ce = ! ef=t requisite to und]/&   
!m1 x may sugge/ a d\bt :e!r ! tru? be n
 9 ! m$ium ( communication r ?an        
else:]e2 &1 inde$1 :e!r ! philosoph] be 
n aim+ to communicate ?\ghts on subjects
 on :i* man c h no ?\ghts to            
communicate4 ,socrates w\ld add1 p]haps1
 t language 0 giv5 u to express1 n to   
conceal our ?\ghts2 & t1 if !y _c be    

communicat$1 invaluable z !y d\btless   
are1 we _h bett] keep !m to ourselves2  
"o ?+ x is cle> he w\ld d1--he w\ld     
insi/ on precise def9tions4 ,b 9 tru? x 
may be m ?an surmis$ t ! obscurities (  
:i* all compla91 except ^? 7& 9 our day 
!y are n a few7 to :om obscurity is a   
recomm5dation1 result f suff]+ !        
intellect to speculate 9 realms =bidd5  
to its access2 into cav]ns ( trem5d\s   
dep? & d>kness1 ) no?+ bett] ?an our own
 ru%light4 ,surely we h reason to       
suspect z mu* :5 "s le>n$ pr(essor1 aft]
 mutt]+ 8 logical incantations1 &       
conjur+ ) 8 logical =mulae1 surprises y 
by say+1 t he has dispos$ ( ! great     
my/]ies ( exi/5ce & ! univ]se1 & solv$  
to y\r entire satisfaction1 9 8 own curt
 way1 ! problems ( ! ,,absolute & !     
,,inf9ite6 ,if ! c>d9al tru?s (         
philosophy & religion hi!rto receiv$ are
 doom$ to be imp]ill$ by su*            
speculations1 "o feels /rongly incl9$ to
 pray ) ! old ,hom]ic h]o1--'t if !y mu/
 p]i%1 x may be at lea/ 9 daylight4' ,we

 e>ne/ly c\nsel ! y\?ful read] to def] !
 /udy ( ,g]man philosophy1 at lea/ till 
he has matur$ & discipl9$ 8 m9d1 &      
famili>is$ himself ) ! be/ models ( :at 
us$ to be our boa/--,engli% cle>ness (  
?\ght & expression4 ,he w !n le>n to ask
 rigidly = def9itions1 & n re/ satisfi$ 
) half-mean+s--or no mean+4 ,to !       
naturally v5tur\s p]t9acity ( "y        
metaphysicians1 few w\ld be dispos$ to  
be m indulg5t ?an ourselves4 ,f ! "t (  
,plato d[nw>ds--:o tells u t no soon] d 
!y 'ta/e' ( dialectics ?an !y are ready 
to dispute ) e body--'sp>+ nei!r fa!r   
nor "m1 sc>cely ev5 ! l[] animals1' if  
!y _h b a voice to reply4 ,!y h always  
expect$ m f metaphysics ?an 7except z a 
discipl9e7 !y w ev] yield4 ,he else:]e1 
/ill m humor\sly describes ! same trait4
 ,he comp>es !n1 to "y dogs :o are      
p]petually snapp+ at e ?+ ab\t          
!m3--,hoimai g> se ou lel!nai1 hoti hoi 
meirakiskoi1 hotan to prton logn        
geuntai1 s paidia autois kata*rntai1 aei
 eis antilogian *rm5oi kai mim\m5oi t\s 

exel5*ontas autoi all\s el5*\si1        
*airontes sp] skulakia te kai sp>atte9  
t\s plsion aei4 ,b we hope we %all n see
 our metaphysical 'puppies' amus+       
!mselves--z s _m 'old dogs' among/      
neighb\rs 7:o ought to h kn[n bett]7 h  
done1--by te>+ into tatt]s ! sacr$      
leaves ( t volume1 :i* conta9s :at is   
bett] ?an all _! philosophy4     ,?is is
 easily said1 & we "k is (t5 said1 &    
l\dly4 ,b ! ju/ice ) :i* x is said is   
ano!r matt]2 = :5 we c get ^! cl\dy     
objectors to put d[n1 n _! vague        
ass]tions ( pr(\nd difficulties1 utt]$ 9
 ! obscure language !y love1 b a precise
 /atem5t ( _! objections1 we f9d !m ei!r
 ! v same ) ^? :i* 7 q z p[]fully urg$ 9
 ! c\rse ( ! dei/ical controv]sies ( !  
la/ c5tury 7! case ) f> ! great] "p71 or
 else su* z are ( simil> "*1 &          
susceptible ( simil> answ]s4 ,we say n t
 ! answ]s 7 always satisfactory1 nor are
 n[ inquir+ :e!r any ( !m 7 s2 we m]ely 
ma9ta9 t ! objections 9 "q are n !      
novelties !y affect to be4 ,we say ?is  

to obviate an advantage :i* ! v vagu5ess
 ( mu* mod]n opposition to ,*ri/ianity  
w\ld obta91 f ! notion t "s prodigi\s   
argum5ts h be5 discov]$ :i* ! intellect 
( a ,pascal or a ,butl] 0 n compreh5sive
 en\gh to anticipate1 & :i* no ,cl>ke or
 ,paley w\ld h be5 logician en\gh to    
refute4 ,we affirm1 )\t hesitation1 t :5
 ! new advocates ( infidelity desc5d f  
_! airy elevation1 & /ate _! objections 
9 intelligible t]ms1 !y are f\nd1 = !   
mo/ "p1 :at we h repres5t$ !m4 ,:5 we   
read _m ( ! speculations ( ,g]man       
infidelity1 we seem to be re-p]us+ _m ( 
our own au?ors ( ! la/ c5tury4 ,x is z  
if our neighb\rs _h import$ our         
manufactures2 &1 aft] re-pack+ !m1 9 new
 =ms & ) "s additions1 _h re-%ipp$ & s5t
 !m back to u z new commodities4 ,h>dly 
an in/ance ( discrepancy is m5tion$ 9 ! 
',wolf5butt$ ,fragm5ts1' :i* w n be f\nd
 9 ! pages ( our own dei/s a c5tury ago2
 &1 z already h9t$1 ( ,dr4 ,/rauss's    
elaborate /rictures1 ! va/ majority w be
 f\nd 9 ! same s\rces4 ,9 fact1 ?\gh f> 

f ?9k+ x to our national cr$it1 none b  
^? :o w dive a little deep] ?an mo/ d   
into a happily =gott5 portion ( our     
lit]ature1 7:i* made noise en\gh 9 its  
day1 & creat$ v sup]flu\s t]rors = !    
fate ( ,*ri/ianity17 c h any idea ( !   
ext5t to :i* ! mod]n =ms ( unbelief 9   
,g]many--s f> z f\nd$ on any positive   
gr\nds1 :e!r ( reason or (              
criticism1--are indebt$ to our ,engli%  
,dei/s4 ,?oluck1 h[ev]1 & o!rs ( 8      
c\ntrym51 seem ?or\ghly aw>e ( x4  ,!   
objections to ! tru? ( ,*ri/ianity are  
direct$ ei!r aga9/ ! evid5ce itself2 or 
t :i* x sub/antiates4 ,aga9/ ! latt]1 z 
,bi%op ,butl] says1 unless ! objections 
be truly su* z prove contradictions 9 x1
 !y are 'p]fectly frivol\s2' s9ce we _c 
be compet5t judges ei!r z to :at x is   
wor?y ( ! ,supreme ,m9d to reveal1 or h[
 f> a portion ( an imp]fectly-develop$  
sy/em may h>monise ) ! :ole2 &1 p]haps1 
on _m po9ts1 we nev] c be compet5t      
judges1 unless we c cease to be f9ite4  
,! objections to ! evid5ce itself are1 z

 ! same great au?or obs]ves1 'well wor?y
 ( ! fulle/ att5tion4' ,! a priori      
objection to miracles we h already      
briefly t\*$4 ,if t objection be valid1 
x is va9 to argue fur!r2 b if n1 !      
rema9+ objections mu/ be p[]ful en\gh to
 neutralise ! entire mass ( ! evid5ce1  
&1 9 fact1 to m\nt to a pro( (          
contradictions2 'n on ?is or t m9ute    
po9t ( hi/oric detail1--b on su* z %ake 
! f\ndations ( ! :ole edifice ( evid5ce4
 ,x w n d to say1 ',"h is a m9ute       
discrepancy 9 ! hi/ory ( ,mat!w or ,luke
 z comp>$ ) t ( ',m>k or ,john2' =1     
fir/1 su* discrepancies are (t5 f\nd1 9 
o!r au?ors1 to be app>5t1 & n           
real1--f\nd$ on our tak+ = grant$ t !re 
is no circum/ance unm5tion$ by two      
writ]s :i*1 if kn[n1 w\ld h be5 se5 to  
h>monise _! /atem5ts4 ,we admit ?is     
possible reconciliation readily en\gh 9 
! case ( _m seem+ discrepancies ( o!r   
hi/orians2 b x is a b5efit :i* m5 are   
sl[ to admit 9 ! case ( ! sacr$         
n>ratives4 ,!re ! objector is always apt

 to take x = grant$ t ! discrepancy is  
real2 ?\gh x may be easy to suppose a   
case 7a possible case is q suffici5t = !
 purpose7 :i* w\ld neutralise !         
objection4 ,( ?is p]v]s5ess 7we c call x
 by no o!r "n7 ! examples are p]petual 9
 ! critical tortures :i* ,/rauss has    
subject$ ! sacr$ hi/orians499--  ,x may 
be object$1 p]haps1 t ! gratuit\s       
supposition ( "s unm5tion$ fact--:i*1 if
 m5tion$1 w\ld h>monise ! app>5tly      
c\nt]-/atem5ts ( two hi/orians--_c be   
admitt$1 & is1 9 fact1 a surr5d] ( !    
argum5t4 ,b to say s1 is only to betray 
an utt] ignorance ( :at ! argum5t is4   
,if an objection be f\nd$ on ! alleg$   
absolute contradiction ( two /atem5ts1 x
 is q suffici5t to %[ any 7n ! real1 b  
only a hypo!tical & possible7 m$ium (   
reconcil+ !m2 & ! objection is1 9 all   
fairness1 dissolv$4 ,& ?is w\ld be felt 
by ! hone/ logician1 ev5 if we did n "k 
( any su* in/ances 9 po9t ( fact4 ,we d 
"k h[ev]1 ( _m4 ,no?+ is m common ?an to
 f9d1 9 ! n>ration ( two p]fectly hone/ 

hi/orians1--ref]r+ to ! same ev5ts f    
diff]5t po9ts ( view1 or = a diff]5t    
purpose1--! omission a fact :i* gives a 
seem+ contr>iety to _! /atem5ts2 a      
contr>iety :i* ! m5tion ( ! omitt$ fact 
by a ?ird writ] in/antly cle>s up4    99
 ,! read] may see "s /rik+ in/ances ( 8 
disposition to take ! worse s5se1 9     
,be>d's ',voices ( ! ,*ur*4' ,?oluck    
truly obs]ves1 too1 9 8 /rictures on    
,/rauss1 ',we "k h[ frequ5tly ! loss ( a
 few words 9 "o anci5t au?or w\ld be    
suffici5t to ca/ an inexplicable        
obscurity ov] ano!r4' ,! same writ] well
 obs]ves1 t !re nev] 0 a hi/orian :o1 if
 treat$ on ! pr9ciples ( criticism :i* 8
 c\ntryman has appli$ to ! ,evangeli/s1 
might n be prov$ a m]e my?olograph] 444 
',x is pla9'1 he says1 't if absolute   
among hi/orians'--& /ill m absolute     
app>5t agreem5t--is necess>y to assure u
 t we possess 9 _! writ+s cr$ible       
hi/ory1 we mu/ r5\nce all pret5ce to any
 su* possession4' ,! translations f     
,qu9et1 ,coqu]el1 & ,?oluck are all1 9  

diff]5t ways1 well wor? read+4 ,! la/   
truly says1 ',/rauss came to ! /udy ( ! 
,evangelical hi/ory ) ! =gone conclusion
 t miracles are impossible2 & :]e an    
inve/igator br+s ) him an absolute      
conviction ( ! guilt ( ! accus$ to !    
exam9ation ( 8 case1 we "k h[ ev5 ! mo/ 
innoc5t may be implicat$ & condemn$ out 
( 8 own m\?4' ,9 fact1 s /rong & v>i\s  
are ! pro(s ( tru? & reality 9 ! hi/ory 
( ! ,new ,te/am5t1 t none w\ld ev] h    
suspect$ ! v]acity ( ! writ]s1 or tri$  
to disprove x1 except = ! above =gone   
conclusion--'t miracles are impossible4'
 ,we also recomm5d to ! read] an +5i\s  
bro*ure includ$ 9 ! ',voices ( ! ,*ur*1 
9 reply to ,/rauss1' con/ruct$ on ! same
 pr9ciple ) ,:ately's admirable         
',hi/oric ,d\bts1' namely2 ',! ,fallacy 
( ! ,my?ical ,!ory ( ,dr4 ,/rauss1      
illu/rat$ f ! ,hi/ory ( ,m>t9 ,lu!r1 & f
 ! actual ,mohamm$an ,my?s ( ! ,life (  
,jesus4' ,:at a subject = ! same play ( 
+5uity w\ld be ,dean ,swift6 ,! date1 & 
place ( 8 bir? disput$--:e!r he 0 an    

,engli%man or an ,iri%man--8            
incompreh5sible relations to ,/ella &   
,vanessa1 utt]ly incompreh5sible on any 
hypo!sis--8 alleg$ s$uction ( "o ( "o1 (
 bo?1 ( nei!r--8 m>riage ) ,/ella       
affirm$1 disput$1 & /ill :olly          
unsettl$--! numb]less o!r incid5ts 9 8  
life full ( contradiction & my/]y--&1 n 
lea/1 ! ecc5tricities & inconsi/5cies ( 
8 :ole "* & conduct6 ,:y1 ) a ?\s&? "p (
 ,dr4 ,/rauss's assumptions1 x w\ld be  
easy to r$uce ,swift to z fabul\s a     
p]sonage z 8 own ,lemuel ,gulliv]4 ,any 
app>5t discrepancy ) ei!r !mselves or   
pr(ane hi/orians is usually suffici5t to
 satisfy ,dr4 ,/rauss4 ,he is ev] ready 
to conclude t ! discrepancy is real1 & t
 ! pr(ane hi/orians are "r4 ,9 adduc+ "s
 /rik+ in/ances ( ! m9ute accuracy (    
,luke1 only reveal$ by obscure collat]al
 evid5ce 7hi/oric or numismatic7        
discov]$ s9ce1 ,?oluck rem>ks1 ',:at an 
outcry w\ld h be5 made _h n ! speci\s   
appe>ance ( error be5 ?us obviat$4 ,luke
 calls ,gallio proconsul ( ,a*aia3 we   

%\ld n h expect$ x1 s9ce ?\gh ,a*aia 0  
orig9ally to s5atorial prov9ce4 ,tib]ius
 _h *ang$ x into an imp]ial "o1 & !     
title ( its gov]nor1 !re=e1 0           
procurator2 n[ a passage 9 ,suetonius   
in=ms u1 t ,claudius _h re/or$ ! prov9ce
 to ! s5ate4' ,! same ,evangeli/ calls  
,s]gius ,paulus gov]nor ( ,cyprus2 yet  
we might h expect$ to f9d only a        
praetor1 s9ce ,cyprus 0 an imp]ial      
prov9ce4 ,9 ?is case1 aga93 says        
,?oluck1 ! correctness ( ! hi/orian has 
be5 rem>kable atte/$4 ,co9s & lat] /ill 
a passage 9 ,dion ,cassius1 h be5 f\nd1 
giv+ pro( t ,augu/us re/or$ ! prov9ce to
 ! s5ate2 & ?us1 z if to v9dicate !     
,evangeli/1 ! ,roman hi/orian adds1     
',?us1 proconsuls began to be s5t into t
 isl& also4' ,trans4 ,f ,?oluck1 pp4    
#ba1 #bb4 ,9 ! same mann] co9s h be5    
f\nd prov+ he is correct 9 "s o!r once  
disput$ in/ances4 ,is x n fair to       
suppose t _m app>5t discrepancies ( !   
same ord] may be ev5tually remov$ by    
simil> evid5ce8     ,v =getful ( ?is h !

 advocates ( infidelity usually be53    
nay1 7z if !y w\ld make up 9 ! numb] (  
objections :at !y want 9 weight17 !y h  
frequ5tly avail$ !mselves n only (      
app>5t contr>ieties1 b ( m]e            
incomplet5ess 9 ! /atem5ts ( two diff]5t
 writ]s1 on :i* to f\nd a *>ge (        
contradiction4 ,?us1 if "o writ] says t 
a c]ta9 p]son 0 pres5t at a giv5 "t or  
place1 :5 ano!r says t he & two m 7 !re2
 or t "o man 0 cur$ ( bl9dness1 :5 ano!r
 says t two 71-- su* a ?+ is (t5 alleg$ 
z a contradiction2 :]eas1 9 tru?1 x     
res5ts n ev5 a difficulty--unless "o    
hi/orian be b\nd to say n only all t    
ano!r says b j s mu*1 & no m4 ,let su*  
objections be :at !y w1 unless !y prove 
absolute contradictions 9 ! n>rative1 !y
 are z m]e du/ 9 ! balance1 comp>$ ) !  
/up5d\s mass & v>iety ( t evid5ce :i*   
confirms ! sub/antial tru? (            
,*ri/ianity4 ,& ev5 if !y e/abli% real  
contradictions1 !y /ill am\nt1 = reasons
 we are ab\t to /ate1 to du/ 9 !        
balance1 unless !y e/abli%              

contradictions n 9 immat]ial b 9 vital  
po9ts4 ,! objections mu/ be su* z1 if   
prov$1 leave ! :ole fabric ( evid5ce 9  
ru9s4 ,=1 secondly1 we are fully dispos$
 to conc$e to ! objector t !re are1 9 ! 
books ( ,scripture1 n only app>5t b real
 discrepancies1--a po9t :i* _m ( !      
advocates ( ,*ri/ianity are1 inde$1     
reluctant to admit b :i* we ?9k1 no c&id
 advocate w feel to be ! less true4     
,nev]!less1 ev5 su* an advocate ( !     
,scriptures may ju/ly cont5d t ! v      
reasons :i* necessitate ?is admission ( 
discrepancies also r$uce !m to su* a    
limit t !y d n affect1 9 ! slighte/     
degree1 ! sub/antial cr$ibility ( !     
sacr$ records2 &1 9 our judgm5t1        
,*ri/ians h unwisely damag$ _! cause1 & 
giv5 a ne$less advantage to ! infidel1  
by d5y+ t any discrepancies exi/1 or by 
endeav\r+ to prove t !y d n4 ,!         
discrepancies to :i* we ref] are j ^?   
:i*1 9 ! c\rse ( ! transcription (      
anci5t books1 div9e or human1 ?r\gh _m  
ages1--_! con/ant transcription by      

diff]5t h&s1--_! translation into v>i\s 
languages1--may n only be expect$ to    
occur1 b :i* mu/ occur1 unless !re be a 
p]petual s]ies ( mo/ m9ute & ludicr\s   
miracles--c]ta9ly nev] promis$1 & z     
c]ta9ly nev] p]=m$--to c\nt]act all !   
effects ( neglig5ce & inadv]t5ce1 to    
guide ! p5 ( e transcrib] to infallible 
accuracy1 & to prev5t 8 ev] deviat+ into
 any casual error6 ,su* miracul\s       
int]v5tion1 we ne$ n say1 has nev] be5  
plead$ = by any apologi/ ( ,*ri/ianity2 
has c]ta9ly nev] be5 promis$2 &1 if x   
_h1--s9ce we see1 z a matt] ( fact1 t ! 
promise has nev] be5 fulfill$1--! :ole (
 ,*ri/ianity w\ld fall to ! gr\nd4 ,b   
!n1 f a l>ge induction1 we "k t ! limits
 )9 :i* discrepancies & errors f su*    
causes w occur1 mu/ be v mod]ate2 we "k1
 f numb]less examples ( o!r writ+s1 :at 
! maximum is1--& t x leaves _!          
sub/antial au!nticity unt\*$ &          
unimpea*$4 ,no "o supposes ! writ+s (   
,plato & ,cic]o1 ( ,?ucydides &         
,tacitus1 ( ,bacon or ,%akspe>e1        

fundam5tally vitiat$ by ! l             
discrepancies1 errors1 & absurdities :i*
 "t & inadv]t5ce h occasion$4  ,!       
corruptions 9 ! ,scriptures f ^! causes 
are likely to be ev5 less ?an 9 ! case (
 any o!r writ+s2 f _! v /ructure1--!    
v>i$ & reit]at$ =ms 9 :i* all ! great   
tru?s are express$2 f ! great] v5]ation 
!y inspir$2 ! great] c>e ) :i* !y w\ld  
be transcrib$2 ! great] numb] ( copies  
:i* w\ld be diffus$ ?r\gh ! _w1--& :i*1 
?\gh t v circum/ance w\ld multiply !    
numb] ( v>iations1 w\ld also af=d1 9 _! 
collation1 ! means ( reciprocal         
correction2--a correction :i* we h se5  
appli$ 9 our day1 ) admirable success1  
to s _m anci5t writ]s1 "u a sy/em (     
canons :i* h n[ rais$ ?is species (     
criticism to ! rank ( an inductive      
sci5ce4 ,?is criticism1 appli$ to !     
,scriptures1 has 9 _m in/ances re/or$ ! 
true r5d+1 & dissolv$ ! objections :i*  
might h be5 f\nd$ on ! uncorrect$       
v>iations2 &1 z "t rolls on1 may lead1  
by yet fre% discov]ies & m compreh5sive 

rec5sions1 to a yet fur!r cl>ify+ ( !   
/ream ( ,div9e tru?1 till '! riv] ( !   
wat] ( life' %all fl[ ne>ly 9 its       
orig9al limpid purity4 ,)9 su* limits z 
^!1 ! mo/ consi/5t advocate (           
,*ri/ianity n only mu/ admit--n only may
 safely admit--! exi/5ce (              
discrepancies1 b may d s ev5 ) advantage
 to 8 cause4 he mu/ admit !m1 s9ce su*  
v>iations mu/ be ! result ( ! mann] 9   
:i* ! records h be5 transmitt$1 unless  
we suppose a sup]natural int]v5tion1    
nei!r promis$ by ,god nor plead$ = by   
man3 he may safely admit !m1 because--f 
a g5]al induction f ! hi/ory ( all      
lit]ature--we see t1 :]e copies ( writ+s
 h be5 suffici5tly multipli$1 &         
suffici5t motives = c>e h exi/$ 9 !     
transcription1 ! limits ( error are v   
n>r[1 & leave ! sub/antial id5tity      
unt\*$3 & he may admit !m ) advantage2 =
 ! admission is a reply to _m objections
 r\nd$ on ! assumption t he mu/ cont5d t
 !re are no v>iations1 :5 he ne$ only   
cont5d t !re are none t c be mat]ial4   

,b x may be said1 ',may n we be p]mitt$1
 :ile conc$+ ! miracul\s & o!r evid5ces 
( ,*ri/ianity1 & ! g5]al au?ority ( !   
records :i* conta9 x1 to g a /ep fur!r1 
& to reject "s ?+s :i* seem palpably    
ill-reason$1 di/a/eful1 inconsi/5t1 or  
immoral8' ',let e man be fully p]suad$ 9
 8 own m9d4' ,= ourselves1 we hone/ly   
confess we _c see ! logical consi/5cy ( 
su* a position2 any m ?an !             
reasonabl5ess1 aft] hav+ admitt$ !      
prepond]ant evid5ce = ! great tru? (    
,!ism1 ( except+ "s ph5om5a z app>5tly  
at v>iance ) ! ,div9e p]fections2 & ?us 
virtually adopt+ a ,mani*aean hypo!sis4 
,we mu/ recollect t we "k no?+ (        
,*ri/ianity except f its records2 & z   
^!1 once fairly asc]ta9$ to be au!ntic &
 g5u9e1 are all1 z reg>ds _! cont5ts1   
support$ precisely by ! same miracul\s &
 o!r evid5ce2 z !y be> ^u !m precisely !
 same int]nal m>ks ( artlessness1 tru?1 
& s9c]ity2 &1 hi/orically & 9 o!r       
respects1 are inextricably int]wov5 ) "o
 ano!r2 we see n on :at pr9ciples we c  

safely reject portions z improbable1    
di/a/eful1 n quadrat+ ) ! dictates (    
reason2' our 'intuitional consci\sness1'
 & :at n4 ,?is assum$ lib]ty1 h[ev] is1 
z we appreh5d1 ( ! v ess5ce (           
,rationalism2 & x may be call$ !        
,mani*aeism ( int]pretation4 ,s long z !
 canonicity ( any ( ! records1 or any   
portion ( !m1 or _! true int]pretation1 
is 9 dispute1 we may fairly d\bt2 b t   
po9t once decid$ by hone/ criticism1 to 
say we receive su* & su* portions1 on   
acc\nt ( ! weight ( ! g5]al evid5ce1 &  
yet reject o!r portions1 ?\gh su/a9$ by 
! same evid5ce1 because we ?9k !re is   
some?+ unreasonable or revolt+ 9 _!     
sub/ance1 is pla9ly to accept evid5ce   
only :]e x pleases u1 & to reject x :]e 
x pleases u n4 ,! only "q fairly at     
issue mu/ ev] be :e!r ! g5]al evid5ce = 
,*ri/ianity w ov]be> ! difficulty :i* we
 _c sep>ate f ! tru?s4 ,if x w n1 we mu/
 reject x :olly2 & if x w1 we mu/       
receive x :olly4 ,!re is pla9ly no      
t5able position betwe5 absolute         

infidelity & absolute belief4 ,& ?is is 
prov$ by ! inf9itely v>i\s & ,protean "*
 ( ,rationalism1 & ! p]fectly           
indet]m9ate1 b always arbitr>y1 limits x
 imposes on itself4 ,x exi/s 9 all =ms &
 degrees1 f a mod]ation :i* accepts     
ne>ly ! entire sy/em ( ,*ri/ianity1 &   
:i* c]ta9ly rejects no?+ t c be said to 
con/itute its di/9ctive tru?1 to an     
audacity ( unbelief1 :i*1 pr(ess+ /ill  
vaguely to rev]5ce ,*ri/ianity z 'some?+
 div9e1' sponges out n9e t5?s ( ! :ole2 
or1 aft] r$uc+ ! mass ( x to a caput    
mortuum ( lies1 fiction1 & sup]/itions1 
reta9s only a few drops ( fact &        
doctr9e1--s few z c]ta9ly n to pay = !  
exp5ses ( ! critical di/illation499     
99 ,x may be z well to rem>k1 t we h    
frequ5tly obs]v$ a disposition to       
repres5t ! v g5]al ab&onm5t ( ! !ory (  
'v]bal inspiration' z a concession to   
,rationalism2 z if x necess>ily foll[$ f
 admitt+ t inspiration is n v]bal1 t    
!re=e an indet]m9ate portion ( !        
sub/ance or doctr9e is purely human4 ,x 

is pla91 h[ev]1 t ?is is no necess>y    
consequ5ce3 an advocate ( pl5>y         
inspiration may cont5d1 t1 ?\gh he does 
n believe t ! v words ( ,scripture 7    
dictat$1 yet t ! ?\ghts 7 ei!r s        
sugge/$1 7if ! matt] 0 su* z c\ld be    
kn[n only by revelation17 or s          
controll$1 7if ! matt] 7 su* z 0        
previ\sly kn[n17 t 7exclud+ errors      
introduc$ into ! text s9ce7 !           
,scriptures z fir/ compos$ 7--:at no    
book ( man ev] 01 or c be1 ev5 9 !      
pla9e/ n>rative ( ! simple/ ev5ts--a    
p]fectly accurate expression ( tru?4 ,we
 ent] n "h1 h[ev]1 into ! "q :e!r su* a 
view ( inspiration is bett] or worse ?an
 ano!r4 ,we are simply anxi\s to correct
 a fallacy :i* has1 judg+ f :at we h    
rec5tly read1 op]at$ r ext5sively4      
,inspiration may be v]bal1 or ! contr>y2
 b1 :e!r "o or ! o!r1 he :o takes !     
affirmative or negative ( t "q may /ill 
consi/5tly cont5d t x may /ill be pl5>y4
 ,! "q ( ! inspiration ( ! :ole or !    
inspiration ( a "p1 is widely diff]5t f 

t z to ! sugge/ion ( ! words or !       
sugge/ion ( ! ?\ghts4 ,b ^! que/ions we 
leave to pr(ess$ !ologians4 ,we m]ely   
ent] our prote/ aga9/ a prevail+        
fallacy4     ,nor w ! !ory ( :at "s call
 ! 'intuitional consci\sness avail u "h4
 ,x is true1 z !y ass]t1 t ! con/itution
 ( human nature is su* t1 be=e its      
actual developm5t1 x has a capacity (   
develop+ to c]ta9 effects only1--j z !  
fl[] 9 ! g]m1 z x exp&s to ! sun1 w h   
c]ta9 col\rs & a c]ta9 fragrance1 & no  
o!r2--all :i*1 inde$1 ?\gh n v new or   
pr(\nd1 is v important4 ,b x is n s de> 
t x w give u any help on ! pres5t       
occasion4 ,we h an orig9al              
susceptibility ( music1 ( beauty1 (     
religion1 x is said4 ,grant$2 b z !     
actual developm5t ( ?is susceptibility  
exhibits all ! div]sities betwe5 ,h&el's
 notions ( h>mony & ^? ( an ,am]ican    
,indian--betwe5 ,raphael's notions (    
beauty & ^? ( a ,hott5tot--betwe5 ,/4   
,paul's notions ( a ,god & ^? ( a ,new  
,zeal&]--x w\ld appe> t ! education (   

?is susceptibility is at lea/ z         
important z ! susceptibility itself1 if 
n m s2 = )\t ! susceptibility itself1 we
 %\ld simply h no notion ( music1       
beauty1 or religion2 & betwe5 su*       
negation & t notion ( all ^! :i* ,new   
,zeal&]s & ,hott5tots possess1 n a few (
 our species w\ld probably pref] ! =m]4 
,x is 9 va9 !n to tell u to look into ! 
'dep?s ( our own nature' 7z "s vaguely  
say71 & to judge !nce :at1 9 a pr(ess$  
revelation1 is suitable to u1 or wor?y (
 our acceptance & rejection             
respectively4 ,?is crit]ion is1 z we see
 by ! utt]ly diff]5t judgm5ts =m$ by    
diff]5t classes ( ,rationali/s z to ! h[
 mu* !y %all receive ( ! revelation !y  
might g5]ally admit1 a v %ift+ "o--a    
measure :i* has no l9e> unit2 x is to   
employ1 z ma!maticians say1 a v>iable z 
if x 7 a con/ant quantity2 or1 r1 x is  
to attempt to f9d ! value ( an unkn[n   
quantity by ano!r equally unkn[n4  ,we  
_c b judge1 !n1 ! pr9ciples (           
,rationalism to be logically unt5able4  

,& we d s1 n m]ely or pr9cipally on     
acc\nt ( ! absurdity x involves1--t ,god
 has expressly supplem5t$ human reason  
by a revelation conta9+ an indet]m9ate b
 l>ge portion ( falsities1 errors1 &    
absurdities & :i* we are to commit to   
our little alembic1 & di/il z we may2 n 
only f ! absurdity ( suppos+ t ,god has 
dem&$ our fai?1 = /atem5ts :i* are to be
 receiv$ only z !y appe> p]fectly       
compreh5sible by our reason2--or1 9 o!r 
words1 only = :at x is impossible t we  
%\ld d\bt or d5y2 n m]ely because !     
pr9ciple inevitably leaves man to       
con/ruct ! s-call$ revelation entirely =
 himself2 s t :at "o man receives z     
g5u9e communication f heav51 ano!r1 f   
hav+ a diff]5t developm5t ( '8          
intuitional consci\sness1' rejects z an 
absurdity too gross = human belief3--,n 
:olly1 we say1 nor ev5 pr9cipally1 = ^! 
reasons2 b = ! /ill /rong] reason1 t su*
 a sy/em ( objections is an egregi\s    
trifl+ ) t great complex mass ( evid5ce 
:i*1 z we h said1 applies to ! :ole (   

,*ri/ianity or to none ( x4 ,z if to    
baffle ! ef=ts ( man consi/5tly to      
dis5gage ^! elem5ts ( our belief1 ! :ole
 are inextricably bl5d$ toge!r4 ,!      
sup]natural elem5t1 especially1 is s    
diffus$ ?r\gh all ! records1 t x is m & 
m felt1 at e /ep1 to be impossible to   
oblit]ate x )\t oblit]at+ ! entire sy/em
 9 :i* x circulates4 ,! /a91 if /a9 x   
be1 is f> too deep = any sc\r+ fluids ( 
,rationalism to wa% x out1 )\t de/roy+ !
 :ole texture ( our cre$3 &1 9 our      
judgm5t1 ! only consi/5t ,rationalism is
 ! ,rationalism :i* rejects x all4  ,at 
:atev] po9t ! ,rationali/ we h attempt$ 
to describe may take 8 /&1 we d n ?9k x 
difficult to prove t 8 conduct is       
em95tly irrational4 ,if1 = example1 he  
be "o ( ^? mod]ate ,rationali/s :o admit
 7z ?\s&s d7 ! miracul\s & o!r evid5ce (
 ! sup]natural orig9 ( ! ,gospel1 &     
!re=e also admit su* & su* doctr9es to  
be true1--:at c he reply1 if fur!r ask$ 
:at reason he c h = accept+ ^! tru?s &  
reject+ o!rs :i* are support$ by ! v    

same evid5ce8 ,h[ c he be sure t ! tru?s
 he receives are e/abli%$ by evid5ce    
:i*1 to all appe>ance1 equally          
au!nticates ! falsehoods he rejects8    
,surely1 z already said1 ?is is to      
reject & accept evid5ce z he pleases4   
,if1 on ! o!r h&1 he says t he receives 
! miracles only to au!nticate :at he    
kn[s v well )\t !m1 & believes true on !
 in=mation ( reason alone1 :y tr\ble    
miracles & revelation at all8 ,is n ?is1
 accord+ to ! old prov]b to 'take a     
hat*et to break an egg'899     99 ,if   
su* a man says t he rejects c]ta9       
doctr9es1 n on rationali/ic gr\nds1 b   
because he d5ies ! canonical au?ority1  
or ! int]pretation ( portions ( !       
records 9 :i* !y are f\nd1 & is will+ to
 abide by ! issue if ! evid5ce on ^?    
po9ts--evid5ce ) :i* ! human m9d is q   
compet5t to deal1--we answ]1 t he is n !
 man ) :om we are n[ argu+4 ,! po9ts 9  
dispute w be det]m9$ by ! hone/ use (   
hi/ory1 criticism1 & philology4 ,b      
betwe5 su* a man & "o :o rejects        

,*ri/ianity altoge!r1 we c imag9e no    
consi/5t position4     ,nor c we        
disguise f ourselves1 inde$1 t consi/5cy
 9 ! application ( ! ess5tial pr9ciple (
 ,rationalism w\ld compel u to g a few  
/eps fur!r2 = s9ce1 z ,bi%op ,butl] has 
%[n1 no great] difficulties 7if s great7
 atta* to ! page ( ,revelation ?an to ! 
volume ( ,nature itself1--especially ^? 
:i* are involv$ 9 t dread enigma1 '!    
orig9 ( evil1' comp>$ ) :i* all o!r     
enigmas are trifles1--t abyss into :i* s
 _m ( ! difficulties ( all !ology1      
natural & reveal$1 at la/ disembogue    
!mselves1--we feel t ! admission ( !    
pr9ciple ( ,rationalism w\ld ultimately 
drive u1 n only to reject ,*ri/ianity1 b
 to reject ,!ism 9 all its =ms1 :e!r    
,mono!ism1 or ,pan!ism1 & ev5 positive  
or dogmatic ,a!ism itself4 ,nor c\ld we 
/op1 inde$1 till we _h arriv$ at t      
absolute pyrrhonism :i* consi/s1 if su* 
a ?+ be possible1 9 ! negation ( all    
belief1--ev5 to ! belief t we d n       
believe6  ,b ?\gh ! objections to !     

reception ( ,*ri/ianity are num]\s1 & "s
 insoluble1 ! "q always returns1 :e!r !y
 ov] balance ! mass ( ! evid5ce 9 its   
fav\r8 nor is x to be =gott5 t !y are   
susceptible ( indef9ite alleviation z "t
 rolls on2 & ) a few obs]vations on ?is 
po9t we w close ! pres5t article4  ,a   
ref9em5t ( mod]n philosophy (t5 leads   
our rationali/ to speak depreciat+ly1 if
 n contemptu\sly1 ( :at he calls a      
/]eotyp$ revelation--revelation 9 a     
book4 ,x ties d[n1 he is fond ( say+1 ! 
_s to ! lett]2 & limits ! 'progress' &  
'developm5t' ( ! human m9d 9 its 'free' 
pursuit ( tru?4 ,! answ] we %\ld be     
dispos$ to make is1 fir/1 t if a book   
does conta9 tru?1 ! soon] t tru? is     
/]eotyp$ ! bett]2 secondly1 t if su*    
book1 l ! book ( ,nature1 or1 z we deem1
 ! book ( ,revelation1 really conta9s   
tru?1 its /udy1 s f> f be+ incompatible 
) ! _s ( free inquiry1 w invite & repay 
cont9ual ef=ts m completely to und]/& x4
 ,?\gh ! great & fundam5tal tru?s       
conta9$ 9 ei!r volume w be obvi\s 9     

proportion to _! importance & necessity1
 !re is no limit to be plac$ on ! degree
 ( accuracy ) :i* ! tru?s !y sev]ally   
conta9 may be deciph]$1 /at$1 adju/$--or
 ev5 on ! p]iod 9 :i* fragm5ts ( new    
tru? %all cease to be elicit$4 ,x is    
true inde$ t !ology _c be said to admit 
( unlimit$ progress1 9 ! same s5se z    
*emi/ry--:i* may1 = aught we "k1 treble 
or quadruple its pres5t accumulations1  
va/ z !y are1 bo? 9 bulk & importance4  
,b1 ev5 9 !ology z d$uc$ f ! ,scripture1
 m9ute fragm5ts ( new tru?1 or m exact  
adju/m5ts ( old tru?1 may be p]petually 
expect$4 ,la/ly1 we %all reply1 t !     
objection to a revelation's be+ consign$
 to a 'book' is s+ul>ly inapposite1     
consid]+ t by ! con/itution ( ! _w & (  
human nature1 man1 )\t books1--)\t ! p[]
 ( record+1 transmitt+1 & p]petuat+     
?\ght1 ( r5d]+ x p]man5t & diffusive1   
ev] is1 ev] has be51 & ev] mu/ be little
 bett] ?an a savage2 & !re=e1 if !re 0  
to be a revelation at all1 x might      
fairly be expect$ t x w\ld be           

communicat$ 9 ?is =m2 ?us af=d+ u "o m  
analogy1 9 addition to ! _m :i* ,butl]  
has /at$1 & :i* may 9 "t be multipli$   
)\t end1 betwe5 ',reveal$ ,religion & ! 
,con/itution & ,c\rse ( ,nature4'  ,&   
?is leads u to notice a say+ ( t        
compreh5sive g5ius1 :i* we d n recollect
 hav+ se5 quot$ 9 connexion ) rec5t     
controv]sies1 b :i* is well wor?y ( be+ 
borne 9 m9d1 z tea*+ u to bew>e ( ha/ily
 assum+ t objections to ,revelation1    
:e!r sugge/$ by ! progress ( sci5ce1 or 
f ! suppos$ incongruity ( its own       
cont5ts1 are unansw]able4 ,we are n1 he 
says1 ra%ly to suppose t we h arriv$ at 
! true mean+ ( ! :ole ( t book4 ',x is n
 at all incr$ible t a book :i* has be5 s
 long 9 ! possession ( mank9d1 %\ld     
conta9 _m tru?s z yet undisc]n$4 ,= all 
! same ph5om5a & ! same faculties (     
inve/igation1 f :i* su* great discov]ies
 9 natural k h be5 made 9 ! pres5t & la/
 age1 7 equally 9 ! possession ( mank9d 
sev]al ?\s& ye>'s be=e4' ,^! words are  
wor?y ( ,butl]3 & z _m illu/rations ( _!

 tru? h be5 suppli$ s9ce 8 day1 s _m    
o!rs may fairly be anticipat$ 9 ! c\rse 
( "t4 ,sev]al di/9ct species ( argum5t =
 ! tru? ( ,*ri/ianity f ! v /ructure &  
cont5ts ( ! books conta9+ x h be5       
inv5t$--( :i* ,paley's ',horae ,paul9ae'
 is a memorable example4 ,! dilig5t     
collation ( ! text1 too1 has remov$ _m  
difficulties2 ! dilig5t /udy ( ! orig9al
 languages ( anci5t hi/ory1 mann]s &    
cu/oms1 has cle>$ up _m m2 & by supply+ 
pro( ( accuracy :]e error ( falsehood _h
 be5 *>g$1 has suppli$ important        
additions to ! evid5ce :i* sub/antiates 
! tru? ( ,revelation4 ,aga9/ ! alleg$   
absurdity ( ! laws ( ,moses1 aga91 su*  
works z t ( ,mi*olis h disclos$ mu* ( t 
relative wisdom :i* aims n at !         
ab/ract$ly be/1 b ! be/ :i* a giv5      
condition ( humanity1 a giv5 p]iod ( !  
_w's hi/ory1 & a giv5 purpose c\ld      
dictate4 ,9 pond]+ su* difficulties z   
/ill rema9 9 ^? laws1 we may rememb] !  
answ] ( ,solon to ! "q1 :e!r he _h giv5 
! ,a!nians ! be/ laws2 viz4 t he _h giv5

 !m ! be/ ( :i* !y 7 capable3 or !      
judgm5t ( ! illu/ri\s ,montesquieu1 :o  
rem>ks1 ',:5 ,div9e ,wisdom said to !   
,jews1 ,i h giv5 y precepts :i* are n   
good1 ?is signifies t !y _h only a      
relative goodness3 & ?is is ! sponge :i*
 wipes out all ! difficulties :i* are to
 be f\nd 9 ! laws ( ,moses4' ,?is is a  
tru? :i* we are p]suad$ a pr(\nd        
philosophy w und]/& ! bett] ! m deeply x
 is revolv$2 & only ^? legislative      
p$ants w refuse weight to x1 :o w\ld    
v5tur\sly propose to give ,new ,zeal&]s 
& ,hott5tots1 9 ! />kness ( _! savage   
ignorance1 ! complex =ms ( ! ,briti%    
con/itution4 ,9 simil> mann]1 _m ( ! old
 objections ( our dei/ical writ]s h     
ceas$ to be he>d ( 9 our day1 unless x  
be f ! lips ( ! v]ie/ sciolism2 !       
objections1 = in/ance1 ( t truly p$antic
 philosophy :i* once argu$ t e?ical &   
religi\s tru? are n giv5 9 ! ,scripture 
9 a sy/em su* z a s*oolman might h      
dige/$ x into2 z if ! brief it]ation &  
v>i$ illu/ration ( pregnant tru?1       

int]m+l$ ) n>rative1 p>able1 & example1 
7 n inf9itely bett] adapt$ to !         
condition ( ! human intellect 9 g5]al6  
,= simil> reasons1 ! old objection1 t   
/atem5ts ( ,*ri/ian morality are giv5   
)\t ! requisite limitations1 & _c be    
lit]ally act$ ^u1 has be5 long s9ce     
ab&on$ z an absurdity4 ,x is grant$ t a 
hundr$ folios c\ld n conta9 ! hundr$? "p
 ( all ! limitations ( human actions1 & 
all ! possible cases ( a cont5ti\s      
casui/ry2 & x is also grant$ t human    
nature is n s inept z to be incapable ( 
int]pret+ & limit+ = itself su* rules z 
',:atsoev] ye w\ld t m5 %\ld d to y1 d  
ye ev5 s to !m4'  ,9 ! same mann] h _m (
 ! objections sugge/$ at diff]5t p]iods 
by ! progress ( sci5ce be5 dissolv$2 &1 
among/ ! re/1 ^? alleg$ f ! remote      
hi/oric antiquity ( c]ta9 nations on :i*
 infidels1 l ,volney & ,voltaire1 once s
 confid5tly reli$4 ,& x is wor?y (      
rem>k1 t "s ( ! old objections (        
philosoph]s h disappe>$ by ! aid ( t v  
sci5ce--geology--:i* has l$1 z e new    

bran* ( sci5ce probably w1 to new ones4 
,geology has1 h[ev]1 9 our judgm5t1 done
 at lea/ z mu* already to remove        
difficulties z to occasion !m2 & x is n 
illogical1 or p]haps unfair1 to surmise 
t1 we w only h pati5ce1 its own         
difficulties1 z ^? ( s _m o!r bran*es ( 
sci5ce1 w be ev5tually solv$4 ,"o ?+ is 
cle>1--t1 if ! ,bible be true & geology 
be true1 t _c be geologically true :i*  
is scripturally false1 or vice v]sa2 &  
we may !re=e laugh at ! polite          
compromise :i* is sometimes affect$ by  
le>n$ pr(essors ( !ology & geology      
respectively4 ,all we dem& ( ei!r--all t
 is ne$$--is1 t !y refra9 f a too ha/y  
conclusion ( absolute contradictions    
betwe5 _! respective sci5ces1 & reta9   
quiet remembrance ( ! imp]fection ( our 
pres5t k bo? ( geology &1 z ,butl] says1
 ( ! ,bible4 ,! rec5t int]pretation ( ! 
comm5cem5t ( ,g5esis--by :i* ! fir/ v]se
 is simply suppos$ to affirm ! orig9al  
creation ( all ?+s1 :ile ! second       
imm$iately ref]s to ! comm5cem5t ( !    

human economy2 pass+ by ^? prodigi\s    
cycles :i* geology dem&s1 ) a sil5ce    
wor?y ( a true revelation1 :i* does n   
pret5d to gratify our curiosity z to !  
previ\s condition ( our globe any m ?an 
our curiosity z to ! hi/ory ( o!r       
worlds--0 fir/ sugge/$ by geology1 ?\gh 
suspect$ & inde$ anticipat$ by "s ( !   
e>ly *ur* ,fa!rs4 ,b x is n[ felt by    
multitudes to be ! m reasonable         
int]pretation1--! second v]se c]ta9ly m 
naturally sugge/+ previ\s revolutions 9 
! hi/ory ( ! e>? ?an its !n in/ant      
creation3 & ?\gh we frankly conc$e t we 
h n yet se5 any acc\nt ( ! :ole fir/    
*apt] ( ,g5esis :i* quadrates ) !       
doctr9es ( geology1 x does n become u   
ha/ily to conclude t !re c be none4 ,if 
a fur!r adju/m5t ( ^? doctr9es1 & a m   
dilig5t inve/igation ( ! ,scripture     
toge!r1 %\ld h]eaft] sugge/ any possible
 h>mony1--?\gh n ! true "o b "o ev] s   
gratuit\sly assum$1--x w be suffici5t to
 neutralise ! objection4 ,?is1 x w be   
obs]v$1 is 9 accordance ) :at has be5   

already %[n1--t :]ev] an objection is   
f\nd$ on an app>5t contradiction betwe5 
two /atem5ts1 x is suffici5t to %[ any  
possible way 9 :i* ! /atem5ts may be    
reconcil$1 :e!r ! true "o or n4 ,!      
objection1 9 t case1 to ! supposition t 
! facts are gratuit\sly assum$1 ?\gh (t5
 urg$1 is1 9 reality1 no?+ to !         
purpose499 ,if x %\ld ev] be %[n1 =     
example1 t suppos+ z _m geological eras 
z ! philosoph] requires to h pass$ 9 !  
*asm betwe5 ! fir/ v]se1 :i* ass]ts !   
orig9al dep5d5ce ( all ?+s on ! fiat ( !
 ,creator1 & ! second1 :i* is suppos$ to
 comm5ce ! human era1 any imag9able     
condition ( our sy/em--at ! close1 s to 
speak1 ( a giv5 geological p]iod--w\ld  
h>monise ) a fair int]pretation ( ! fir/
 *apt] or ,g5esis1 ! objection w be     
neutralis$4    99 ,"s admirable rem>ks 9
 relation to ! answ]s we are b\nd to    
give to objections to reveal$ religion h
 be5 made by ,leibnitz 79 reply to      
,bayle7 9 ! little tract prefix$ to 8   
,!odicee1 entitl$ ',de la ,con=mite de  

la ,foi avec la ,raison4' ,he !re %[s t 
! utmo/ t c fairly be ask$ is1 to prove 
t ! affirm$ tru?s involve no necess>y   
contradiction4     ,we h little d\bt 9  
our own m9ds t ! ultimately conv]g+     
?\gh1 x may be1 transi5tly discrepant   
conclusions ( ! sci5ces ( philology1    
e?nology1 & geology 79 all ( :i* we may 
re/ assur$ great discov]ies are yet to  
be made7 w t5d to h>monise ) ! ultimate 
results ( a m ?or\gh /udy ( ! records ( 
! race z conta9$ 9 ! book ( ,revelation4
 ,let u be p]mitt$ to imag9e "o example 
( su* possible h>mony4 ,we ?9k t !      
philologi/ may engage to make out1 on ! 
/ricte/ pr9ciples ( induction1 f !      
t5acity ) :i* all communities cl+ to _! 
language1 & ! sl[ obs]v$ rate ( *ange by
 :i* !y alt]2 by :i* ,anglo-,saxon1 =   
example has become ,engli%991 ,lat9     
,italian1 & anci5t ,greek mod]n 7?\gh ^!
 languages h be5 affect$ by e           
conceivable cause ( v>iation &          
depravation72 t x w\ld require hundr$s (
 ?\s&s1 nay millions1 ( ye>s to acc\nt =

 ! production1 by kn[n natural causes1 (
 ! va/ multitude ( totally di/9ct       
languages1 & t5s ( ?\s&s ( dialects1 :i*
 man n[ utt]s4 ,on ! o!r h&1 ! geologi/ 
is m & m p]suad$ ( comp>atively rec5t   
orig9 ( ! human race4 ,:at1 !n1 is to   
h>monise ^! conflict+ /atem5ts8 ,w x n  
be curi\s if x %\ld turn out t no?+ c   
possibly h>monise !m b ! /atem5t (      
,g5esis1 t 9 ord] to prev5t ! natural   
t5d5cy ( ! race to accumulate on "o spot
 & facilitate _! disp]sion & de/9$      
occupancy ( ! globe1 a pret]natural     
int]v5tion exp$it$ ! op]ation ( ! causes
 :i* w\ld gradually h giv5 bir? to      
di/9ct languages8 ,( ! probability ( ?is
 int]v5tion1 "s pr(\nd philologi/ h1 on 
sci5tific gr\nds alone1 express$ _!     
conviction4 ,b 9 all su* matt]s1 :at we 
plead = is only--pati5ce2 we wi% n to   
dogmatise2 all we ask is1 a philosophic 
ab/95ce f dogmatism4 ,9 relation to _m  
difficulties1 :at is n[ a reasonable    
ex]cise ( fai? may "o day be rew>d$ by a
 k :i* on ^? p>ticul> po9ts may t]m9ate 

x4 ,&1 9 su* ways1 x is surely          
conceivable t a great "p ( ! objections 
aga9/ ,revelation may1 9 "t1 disappe>2  
&1 ?\gh o!r objections may be ! result (
 ! progress ( ! o!r sci5ces or !        
orig9ation ( new1 ! solution ( previ\s  
objections1 toge!r ) ! additions to !   
evid5ces ( ,*ri/ianity1 ext]nal &       
int]nal1 :i* ! /udy ( hi/ory & ( !      
,scriptures may supply1 & ! /ill bright]
 light ca/ by ! progress ( ,*ri/ianity &
 ! fulfilm5t ( its prophecies1 may      
inspire increas+ confid5ce t ! new      
objections are also de/9$ to yield to   
simil> solv5ts4 ,mean:ile1 su* new      
difficulties1 & ^? m awful & gigantic   
%ad[s :i* we h no reason to believe w   
ev] be *as$ f ! sacr$ page1--my/]ies :i*
 probably c\ld n be expla9$ f ! necess>y
 limitation ( our faculties1 & are1 at  
all ev5ts1 submitt$ to u z a salut>y    
discipl9e ( our humility1--w cont9ue to 
=m t ex]cise ( fai? :i* is probably     
ne>ly equal 9 e age--& necess>y 9 all   
ages1 if we w\ld be made 'little        

*ildr51' qualifi$ 'to ent] ! k+dom (    
,god4'     ,x conta9s1 let u recollect1 
7aft] all causes ( *anges1 includ+ a    
conque/1 h be5 at "w ^u x17 a va/       
majority ( ! ,saxon words spok5 9 ! "t (
 ,alfr$--ne>ly a ?\s& ye>s ago6     ,9  
conclusion we may rem>k1 t :ile _m are  
proclaim+ t ,*ri/ianity is effete1 & t1 
9 ! language ( ,mr4 ,pr\dhon 7:o        
complac5tly says x amid/ ! ignom9i\s    
failure ( a ?\s& social panaceas or 8   
own age & c\ntry71 x w c]ta9ly 'die out 
9 ab\t ?ree hundr$ ye>s2' & :ile _m m   
proclaim t1 z a religion ( sup]natural  
orig9 & sup]natural evid5ce1 x is       
already dy+1 if n dead2 we mu/ beg leave
 to rem9d !m t1 ev5 if ',*ri/ianity be  
false1 z !y allege1 !y are utt]ly =gett+
 ! maxims ( a cauti\s induction 9 say+ t
 x w !re=e cease to ex]t dom9ion ov]    
mank9d4 ,:at pro( is !re ( ?is8 ,:e!r   
true or false1 x has already surviv$    
numb]less revolutions ( human op9ions1 &
 all sorts ( *anges & assaults4 ,x is n 
conf9$1 l o!r religions1 to any "o      

race--to any "o clime--or any "o =m (   
political con/itution4 ,:ile x          
transmigrates freely f race to race1 &  
clime to clime1 its *ief home2 too1 is  
/ill 9 ! bosom ( ent]prise1 weal?1      
sci5ce1 & civilisation2 & x is at ?is   
mom5t mo/ p[]ful among/ ! nations t h   
mo/ ( ^!4 ,if n true1 x has su* an      
appe>ance ( tru? z to h satisfi$ _m ( ! 
acute/ & mo/ p[]ful intellects ( !      
species2--a ,bacon1 a ,pascal1 a        
,leibnitz1 a ,locke1 a ,newton1 a       
,butl]2--su* an appe>ance ( tru? z to h 
enli/$ 9 its support an imm5se army (   
g5ius & le>n+3 g5ius & le>n+1 n only 9  
"s s5se pr(essional1 & (t5 wrongfully   
repres5t$ z !re=e int]e/$1 b mu* ( bo?1 
/rictly extra-pr(essional2 animat$ to   
its def5ce by no?+ b a conviction ( !   
=ce ( ! argum5ts by :i* its tru? is     
su/a9$1 & t 'hope full ( immortality'   
:i* its promises h inspir$4 ,"u su*     
circum/ances x mu/ appe> equally ra% &  
gratuit\s to suppose1 ev5 if x be a     
delusion1 t an in/itute1 :i* has ?us    

enli/$ ! sympa?ies ( s _m ( ! greate/   
m9ds ( all races & ( all ages--:i* is   
alone /able & progressive amid/         
in/ability & fluctuation1--w soon come  
to an end4 ,/ill m absurdly premature is
 x to raise a paean ov] its fall1 ^u e  
new attack ^u x1 :5 x has already       
surviv$ s _m4 ,?is1 9 fact1 is a tone   
:i*1 ?\gh e age r5ews x1 %\ld long s9ce 
h be5 rebuk$ by ! con/ant falsification 
( simil> prophecies1 f ! "t ( ,julian to
 ! "t ( ,bol+broke1 & f ! "t (          
,bol+broke to ! "t ( ,/rauss4 ,z        
,addison1 we ?9k1 humor\sly tells !     
,a!i/1 t he is ha/y 9 8 logic :5 he     
inf]s t if !re be no ,god1 immortality  
mu/ be a delusion1 s9ce1 if *ance has   
actually f\nd him a place 9 ?is bad _w1 
x may1 p]*ance1 h]eaft] f9d him ano!r   
place 9 a worse1---s we say1 t if       
,*ri/ianity be a delusion1 s9ce x is a  
delusion :i* has be5 pro( aga9/ s mu* ( 
bitt] opposition1 & has impos$ ^u su*   
ho/s ( mighty intellects1 ^! is no?+ to 
%[ t x w n d s /ill1 9 spite ( ! ef=ts  

ei!r ( ,pr\dhon or a ,/rauss4 ,su* a    
tone 01 p]haps1 nev] s triumphant z dur+
 ! heat ( ! ,dei/ical controv]sy 9 our  
own c\ntry1 & to :i* ,butl] alludes ) s 
mu* *>act]i/ic b deeply satirical       
simplicity1 9 ! preface to 8 great      
"w3--',x is come1' says he1 ',i "k n h[1
 to be tak5 = grant$ by _m p]sons t     
,*ri/ianity is n s mu* a subject (      
inquiry1 b t x is n[ at l5g? discov]$ to
 be fictiti\s 4444 ,on ! contr>y1 ?us   
mu* at lea/ w "h be f\nd1 n tak5 =      
grant$1 b prov$1 t any reasonable man1  
:o w ?or\ghly consid] ! matt]1 may be z 
mu* assur$ z he is ( 8 own be+1 t x is  
n1 h[ev]1 s cle> t !re is no?+ 9 x4' ,! 
,*ri/ian1 we conceive1 may n[ say ! same
 to ! ,fr\des1 & ,foxtons1 & to mu* m   
=midable adv]s>ies ( ! pres5t day4      
,*ri/ianity1 we d\bt n1 w /ill live1 :5 
!y & _! works1 & ! refutations ( _!     
works1 are alike =gott52 & a new s]ies (
 attacks & def5ces %all h occupi$ = a   
:ile 7z s _m o!rs h done7 ! att5tion ( !
 _w4 ,*ri/ianity1 l ,rome1 has _h bo? ! 

,gaul & ,hannibal at h] gates3 ,b z !   
',et]nal ,city' 9 ! latt] case calmly   
(f]$ = sale1 & sold1 at an undepreciat$ 
price1 ! v gr\nd on :i* ! ,c>?ag9ian _h 
fix$ 8 camp1 ) equal calmness may       
,*ri/ianity imitate h] example (        
magnanimity4 ,%e may feel assur$ t1 z 9 
s _m pa/ in/ances ( premature triumph on
 ! "p ( h] enemies1 ! gr\nd !y occupy w 
"o day be its own2 t ! v discov]ies1    
app>5tly ho/ile1 ( sci5ce & philosophy1 
w be a great ext5t ) ! discov]ies 9     
*ronology & hi/ory2 & ?us w x be1 we are
 confid5t1 7& to a c]ta9 ext5t has be5  
already71 ) ^? 9 geology4 ,t sci5ce has 
done mu*1 n only to r5d] ! old !ories ( 
,a!ism unt5able & to famili>ise ! m9ds (
 m5 to ! idea ( miracles1 by t (        
successive creations1 b to confirm !    
,scriptural /atem5t ( ! comp>atively    
rec5t orig9 ( our ,race4 ,only ! m5 (   
sci5ce & ! m5 ( !ology mu/ alike ,gu>d  
aga9/ ! besett+ fallacy ( _! k9d1--t (  
too ha/ily tak+ = grant$ t !y already "k
 ! :ole ( _! respective sci5ces1 & (    

=gett+ ! decl>ation ( ! ,apo/le1 equally
 true ( all man's atta9m5ts1 :e!r 9 "o  
dep>tm5t ( sci5ce or ano!r1--',we "k b 9
 "p1 & we prophesy 9 "p4'  ,?\gh        
,socrates p]haps express$ himself too   
absolutely :5 he said t 'he only knew   
no?+1' yet a t+e ( ! same _s1--a deep   
conviction ( ! pr(\nd ignorance ( !     
human m9d1 ev5 at its be/--has ev] be5 a
 *>act]i/ic ( ! mo/ compreh5sive g5ius4 
,x has be5 a topic on :i* x has be5 fond
 ( m\rnfully dilat+4 ,x is ?us )        
,socrates1 ) ,plato1 ) ,bacon 7ev5 amid/
 all 8 magnific5t aspirations & bold    
pr$ictions71 ) ,newton1 ) ,pascal1 &    
especially ) ,butl]1 9 :om1 if 9 any1 ! 
s5tim5t is c>ri$ to excess4 ,we ne$ n   
say t x is seldom f\nd 9 ! writ+s ( ^?  
mod]n speculators :o ru%1 9 ! h>dihood (
 _! adv5tur\s logic1 on a solution ( !  
problems ( ! ,absolute & ! ,inf9ite1 &  
resolve 9 delightfully brief            
demon/rations ! mightie/ problems ( !   
univ]se--^? great enigmas1 f :i* true   
philosophy %r9ks1 n because x has nev]  

v5tur$ to ?9k ( !m1 b because x has     
?\ght ( !m en\gh to "k t x is 9 va9 to  
attempt _! solution4 ,to "k ! limits (  
human philosophy is ! 'bett] "p' ( all  
philosophy2 & ?\gh ! conviction ( our   
ignorance is humiliat+1 x is1 l e true  
conviction1 salut>y4 ,amid/ ?is night ( 
! s\l1 bright />s--f> di/ant f\nta9s (  
illum9ation--are wont to /eal out1 :i*  
%9e n :ile ! imag9$ ,sun ( reason is    
above ! horizon6 & x is 9 t night1 z 9 !
 d>kness ( outw>d nature1 t we ga9 our  
only true ideas ( ! illimitable         
dim5sions ( ! univ]se1 & ( our true     
position 9 x4  ,mean:ile we conclude t  
,god has creat$ 'two great lights1'--!  
great] light to rule man's busy day--& t
 is ,reason1 & ! less] to rule 8        
contemplative night--& t is ,fai?4  ,b  
fai? itself %9es only s long z %e       
reflects "s fa9t ,illum9ation f !       
bright] orb4