“If any beings higher than men had composed the writings and made the selections then all questions of mankind would be idle. Or if the writers and selectors were proved to have been of a superior class, above the weakness and limitation of ordinary men, then there might be great hesitation about expressing any doubt, and no desire to investigate or criticise. But as they all were only men, sinful, weak men, all of them, why should any one hesitate to think or act for himself as to what they wrote? They have given no authority or proof of any superiority, or power delegated to them to dominate the beliefs and actions of mankind. God is our God, just as much as he was the God of the Jews, and He is just as near to us as He was to them, and we cannot admit that He is not as willing to reveal Himself unto us as He would do to them, nor can we allow that He selected a certain number of men, several thousand years ago, from an obscure and inferior race, and made them the depositories of all His truth and laws to suffice for all the rest of the world, for all ages, and that He then retired from the spiritual vision of mankind. This is so inconsistent with His constant watchful care over every other interest of the world that such a thought cannot be entertained for a moment. “If one supernatural revelation, why not another, and many? Or why restrict it to one people, or to one period of the world’s history? “The conclusion is, mine at least, that the writers of the Bible, and those who selected it and interpolated the different parts, were men, and did the best they could, according to their ability and the light they had, and being only men, they and their works are to be estimated and judged by men, as all other things are judged. We read the works of ancient or modern authors, we criticise the style, admire the knowledge and truth, expose the errors, and value the books for what they are worth according to our best honest judgments. Why then should we not pursue the same course with the books of the Bible, written also by men? “I know that it is claimed that the writers of the Bible were inspired. How do we know this? There is not a particle of proof of this except their own say so; that God favored them any more than other men, or that they had any more knowledge of the secret councils or purposes of God than other seekers after truth and lovers of righteousness. All truth is hidden for our search, as are the precious things of earth, of science, art, philosophy, and those who seek most diligently attain their rewards in finding the best things that God has provided for those who strive and search. “You asked me questions and I have given you my best answers. They are my sincere convictions and honest beliefs.” “Well, I must go,” he said very sadly. “I think you are an honest man, but badly deceived, and hope you will pray for light on these great subjects.”