of mind to examine the truth of the assertions of a learned divine page by page. As Pope said to Atterbury, I always find the last author convince me. EDWARD. On the contrary, I feel myself generally so much inclined to spend too much time in balancing probabilities, making nice distinctions, and examining all conceivable objections, that in many cases I quite lose the thread of the discourse, and forget the real force of the principal argument. MR. B. It is well for you that you have found out these tendencies to error in your minds. BEATRICE. Most probably we should not, had we not conversed together on the subject, when we found we differed so widely in opinion on many points, that we were led the more closely to examine ourselves, and each readily detected the faults of the other. EDWARD. It is on this account also that we should prefer continuing the consideration of the subject in conversations. In many cases we have perplexed ourselves needlessly, I am convinced, by losing sight of the great object we ought to have had in view, viz. the simple truth: and by dipping into many books I have only made the matter worse; for as fast as one difficulty was cleared, another started up, of which the author perhaps took no notice; and the habit of doubting I found much more easily acquired than discarded. BEATRICE. Do you not think, sir, that conversation has its advantages in enabling one to obtain much information not usually met with in books, or dispersed in so great a number as to be almost out of reach, as well as in securing the thorough examination of each portion of the subject? MR. B. It undoubtedly has; but perhaps its principal advantage will be found in its being the plan yourselves have suggested. My own knowledge of the subject has been acquired in a manner so very different, that I hardly know how far I shall be enabled to bring it before you in so clear and convincing a form as the importance of the subject demands. Much, however, depends upon yourselves; and as I shall take care to give you references to authors whose opinions are of far greater weight than mine, you must be careful not to attach any weakness to the argument as developed by me, till you have first examined the original works, and seen how far the apparent deficiency may be inherent in the nature of the subject, or only the consequence of my inefficiency. I should by no means consider myself justified in proceeding in this undertaking if I thought you would depend solely on my statements, and did not search whether these things be so or not. I shall give you a fair statement to the best of my power, remembering well the danger incurred by those through whom an offence cometh; but as the subject is of so grave a nature, and so much depends upon it, I must entreat you well to watch over both yourselves and me, in which case I trust our conversations will prove a mutual benefit. But you BEATRICE. will not make our understanding the subject depend upon our reading the authors you refer to? MR. B. I hope to be able to give you a clear and correct idea of it, without your having occasion to refer to any work; but I can only give you an outline, which you must yourselves fill up at your leisure, and according to your own peculiar wants and difficulties. EDWARD. But if the arguments you adduce are in themselves satisfactory, where will be the need of further inquiry? If not, it appears to me hardly probable that the perusal of many volumes in detail would strike more forcibly than their condensed force delivered at once. MR. B. In the course of the inquiry it will, however, be necessary to consider various objections: now many of these, though found to be flimsy and worthless when examined, are yet specious, and not easily overthrown in few words. There is no objection of consequence which has not been fully considered, and, in my opinion, satisfactorily answered; but it is impossible for me, in many cases, to convey to your minds the force of the reasoning which has been employed in these answers, and mere assertions are of no value. It is easy to produce the effect on the one side, but difficult on the other not because truth is with the former, and not with the latter, but because truth has, in such cases, to be searched for diligently before it is apparent; and, till that is done, we cannot altogether reject the pretensions of falsehood, dressed in the garb of truth. It is in cases like these that full conviction can only be produced by full investigation, and from my anxiety not to injure the cause, which I cannot but believe to be divine, that I earnestly press upon you the necessity of inquiring fully in every case where you see reason to doubt the accuracy my statements, or the correctness of my conclusions. of BEATRICE. It would be unjust both to you, sir, and to the cause you advocate, not to follow your directions in this respect but I trust you will, however, allow us the utmost latitude of personal inquiry which time will permit. EDWARD. And you will permit us to state, not only the objections which really have weight in our own minds, but also those which we have heard, and which, though they do not so much affect us, we yet find it difficult to answer properly. MR. B. Certainly; but I would not have you waste your time in searching out difficulties, or in bringing objections which you are conscious do not deserve an answer. Inquire boldly and diligently as to what is the truth; but remember that the inquiry is of too much importance to permit trifling and sophistry. EDWARD. There is then an objection which is somewhat connected with the observations you just now made, which seems to deserve some consideration. From what you there stated, it would appear, that no full conviction of the truth of Christianity, |