hop of Beyroot wished to dispute
with me, I expressed the hope that the discussion might be in meekness,
and without anger. It was concluded that the discussion should be in
writing, that no one afterwards should be able to alter what he had once
said. They then commenced by asking me questions; the first question
was, in amount, this, "Has the Messiah given us a new law?" At first, I
did not grant that he had, strictly speaking, given us a new law, and
quoted the words of John, that "the law was given by Moses, but grace
and truth came by Jesus Christ;" but when I afterwards saw that by "_a
new law_," they meant merely the gospel, or the New Testament, I
answered in the affirmative. They then asked me if there was not to be
found in this new law some obscurities. I answered, "Yes." They then
asked me, Suppose any difference of sentiment should arise between the
teachers of Christianity, how are we to distinguish the truth from the
error? I answered thus;--"We have no other means of arriving at the
truth, than searching the word of God, with learning, and reason, and
inquiry of learned spiritual teachers, with purity of motive, and with
disinterestedness of inclination. If the obscurities of the word of God
cannot be understood by these means, our ignorance is excusable, and
will not prevent our salvation. If the passages, which still remain
obscure, concern faith, it is sufficient for a man to say, I believe
according as the truth is in itself before God, or I believe in the
thing as God inspired it to the writer. And if the obscurity respects
our practice, after making use of the means above mentioned, if that
branch of our practice be forbidden, or under a doubt, desist from it,
but if it is not forbidden, do it, and _Blessed is he that condemneth
not himself in the thing which he alloweth._"

After I had given them this answer, they brought no evidence to prove
any error in it, and moreover afterwards never put to me any question to
writing.

Once, as I was walking with the bishop of Beyroot, he began to tell me
how much they all felt for me; and how unwilling they should be to put
me in chains to die a lingering death; and that were it not for the
sympathy and their love towards me, there were people who had conversed
with them, who were ready to take my life. Some further conversation
passed, and I began to introduce the subject of religion, and to ask how
we could believe in the pope that he was infallible. He q