nderstand, that if, after
three days, I did not get back out of this state, I must no more enter
the church. At other times, he wished me to swear by the eucharist and
by the gospel, that my faith was like the faith of the Roman catholic
church. He asked me if I was a Bible man; I replied, "I do not follow
the opinions of the Bible men; but if you think me a Bible man on
account of the opinions I have advanced, very well."

The sum of what I said was, that without evidence I could not believe
what the Romish church believes. From that time, after three days, I did
not enter the church for a space. Some time passed again, and the
patriarch inquired of me my faith. I then explained to him what I
believed respecting the unity and trinity of God, and that the Messiah
was one person with two natures, and that the Holy Spirit proceeds from
the Father and Son. Then arose a disputation about, who is the Vicar
that Christ has appointed to explain his law. I answered in substance as
I afterwards did in writing, that by reason, and learning, and prayer to
God, with purity of motive, we may know, from the holy scriptures, every
thing necessary to our salvation. This was the purport of my reply,
which perhaps was not expressed with sufficient clearness, or perhaps I
was not able to say it in the manner that was appropriate, for such a
tumult and storm were excited in the company that they seemed to me to
be intent on overcoming me by dint of vociferation, rather than by
argument, and to drown my voice, rather than to understand my opinions.

When, after some days, came bishop Abdalla Blabul and Padre Bernardus of
Gzir, the patriarch one day called me to them in his chamber, and asked
me what I wished, whether money or office, or whatever it might be,
promising to gratify me, speaking of his love to me and of his great
interest in my welfare. These professions I know to be sincere, but
they are according to the world, and not according to the Gospel. I
assured him that I wanted nothing of the things he had mentioned; that I
was submissive and obedient to him; and that if he thought of me, that I
had taken money of the English, he was welcome to shut me up in my
chamber as to a prison, and take from me every thing that I possessed;
that I wished from them merely my necessary food and clothing, and that
I would give them this assurance in writing. The bishop and priest then
begged me, in presence of the patriarch, to say that my faith