the first impression of an attack always confers an advantage, you
have some ground for expecting you may obtain the apostolic crown;
unfortunately for your purpose I entertain no disposition to that of
martrydom: and however glorious it might be to me to fall under the arm
of him who has overcome Hume, Gibbon, Voltaire and even Frederick II., I
find myself under the necessity of declining your theological challenge,
for a number of substantial reasons.

1. Because, to religious quarrels there is no end, since the prejudices
of infancy and education almost unavoidably exclude impartial reasoning,
and besides, the vanity of the champions becomes committed by the very
publicity of the contest, never to give up a first assertion, whence
result a spirit of sectarism and faction.

2. Because no one has a right to ask of me an account of my religious
opinions. Every inquisition of this kind is a pretension to sovereignty,
a first step towards persecution; and the tolerant spirit of this
country, which you invoke, has much less in view to engage men to speak,
than to invite them to be silent.

3. Because, supposing I do hold the opinions you attribute to me, I wish
not to engage my vanity so as never to retract, nor to deprive myself
of the resource of a conversion on some future day after more ample
information.

4. And because, reverend sir, if, in the support of your own thesis, you
should happen to be discomfited before the Christian audience, it would
be a dreadful scandal; and I will not be a cause for scandal, even for
the sake of good.

5. Because in this metaphysical contest our arms are too unequal; you
speaking in your mother tongue, which I scarcely lisp, might bring forth
huge volumes, while I could hardly oppose pages; and the public, who
would read neither production, might take the weight of the books for
that of reasoning.

6. And because, being endowed with the gift of faith in a pretty
sufficient quantity, you might swallow in a quarter of an hour more
articles than my logic would digest in a week.

7. Because again, if you were to oblige me to attend your sermons, as
you have compelled me to read your pamphlet, the congregation would
never believe that a man powdered and adorned like any worldling, could
be in the right against a man dressed out in a large hat, with straight
hair,* and a mortified countenance, although the gospel, speaking of the
pharisees of other times, who were unpowdered, says