Forty thousand sermons against IDLE CURIOSITY could hardly have driven it so effectually out of New England as did this little squib of ridicule. The following jeu d'esprit is peculiarly in character with Dr. Franklin. It proves that his wit and his benevolence were equal to every emergence, and that if he carried the Old Testament language in his head, he carried the New Testament spirit in his heart. WIT AND PERSECUTION. The conversation turning, one day, on _persecution_, a doctor of divinity, distinguished for his wit, but, unfortunately, a little too much infected with that acrimony which is caught by reading books of religious controversy, took the part of persecution and contended that it was _sometimes_ right to employ it. Franklin said, he could not think of any case wherein _persecution_ was _admissible_ among rational creatures. It might be very excusable in _error_ to persecute, whose nature it was to see things wrong, and to get angry; but that for such a "_divinity as_ TRUTH," to persecute, was, in his opinion, a sin against the _Holy Ghost, never to be forgiven_. After using, in his facetious manner, a variety of arguments honourable to wit and philanthropy, and the clergyman still remaining unconvinced, Franklin called out to him with an air of great surprise, "Why, my dear sir, I am astonished that you plead thus for persecution when it is so diametrically opposite to your _Bible_." The clergyman replied, that he did not know what doctor Franklin meant. He thought, he said, he knew something of his _Bible_, but he did not recollect any chapter in point. "_No, sir!_" answered Franklin, still with the look and voice of surprise, "_not that memorable chapter concerning Abraham and the poor man! Pray, sir, favour us with your Bible a minute or two._" "With all my heart," replied the clergyman, "I should like to see that _memorable chapter_." The company manifested a solicitude for the issue of the pending controversy--the family Bible was brought and laid on the table by the side of doctor Franklin. "Well, reverend sir," said he, looking at the preacher, as he took up the Bible, "shall I read this chapter?" "Certainly," replied the divine, settling himself in his chair to listen.--The eyes of all were fixed on Franklin; when, opening the Bible and turning back the leaves as to find the place, he thus audibly began:-- The twenty-seventh chapter of the first book of Moses, commonly called the book of Genesis. 1. And it came to pass, after these things, that Abraham sat in the door of his tent, about the going down of the sun. 2. And behold a man, bowed with age, coming from the way of the wilderness, leaning on a staff. 3. And Abraham arose, and met him, and said unto him, turn in, I pray thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry all night, and thou shalt arise early in the morning and go on thy way. 4. But the man said, nay, for I will abide under this tree.