were founded on the demonstrated truths of science, there would
be no mystery, no supernaturalism, no miracles, no skepticism,
no false religion. We would have only verified truths and
demonstrated facts for the basis of our belief. But this simple
foundation does not satisfy the unreasoning multitude. They
demand signs, portents, mysteries, wonders and miracles for
their faith and the supply of prophets, knaves and impostors has
always been found ample to satisfy this abnormal demand of
credulity.

Designing men, even at the present day, find little difficulty
in establishing new systems of faith and belief. Joseph Smith,
who invented the Mormon religion, had more followers and
influence in this country at his death, than the Carpenter's Son
obtained centuries ago from the unlettered inhabitants of
Palestine; and yet Smith achieved his success among educated
people in this so-called enlightened age, while Jesus taught in
an age of semi-barbarism and faith, when both Jews and Pagans
asserted and believed that beasts, birds, reptiles and even
fishes understood human language, were often gifted with human
speech, and sometimes seemed to possess even more than ordinary
human intelligence.

They taught that the serpent, using the language of sophistry,
beguiled Eve in Eden, who in turn corrupted Adam, her first and
only husband. At the baptism of Jesus by John in the river
Jordan, the voice of a dove resounded in the heavens, saying,
quite audibly and distinctly, "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee
I am well pleased." Balaam disputed with his patient beast of
burden, on their celebrated journey in the land of Moab, and the