ingeniously pieced them with the view of reading it once more. I
sat down, placed them on my great Bible, and examined the whole. I
then got up, walked about, read, and thought, "If I do not answer,"
said I, "he will think he has terrified me at the mere appearance of
such a philosophical hero, a very Hercules in his own estimation.
Let us show him, with all due courtesy, that we fear not to confront
him and his vicious doctrines, any more than to brave the risk of a
correspondence, more dangerous to others than to ourselves. I will
teach him that true courage does not consist in ridiculing
CONSCIENCE, and that real dignity does not consist in arrogance and
pride. He shall be taught the reasonableness of Christianity, and
the nothingness of disbelief. Moreover, if this mock Julian start
opinions so directly opposite to my own, if he spare not the most
biting sarcasm, if he attack me thus uncourteously; is it not all a
proof that he can be no spy? Yet, might not this be a mere
stratagem, to draw me into a discussion by wounding my self-love?
Yet no! I am unjust--I smart under his bitter irreligious jests,
and conclude at once that he must be the most infamous of men. Base
suspicion, which I have so often decried in others! he may be what
he appears--a presumptuous infidel, but not a spy. Have I even a
right to call by the name of INSOLENCE, what he considers SINCERITY.
Is this, I continued, thy humility, oh, hypocrite? If any one
presume to maintain his own opinions, and to question your faith, he
is forthwith to be met with contempt and abuse. Is not this worse
in a Christian, than the bold sincerity of the unbeliever? Yes, and
perhaps he only requires one ray of Divine grace, to employ his
noble energetic love of truth in the cause of true religion, with
far greater success than yourself. Were it not, then, more becoming
in me to pray for, than to irritate him? Who knows, but while
employed in destroying his letter with every mark of ignominy, he