The Christian Religion then, alone, affords indisputable assurance that the world was created by the power, and is preserved by the Providence of an Almighty God, who, in justice has appointed a future life for the punishment of the vicious and the remuneration of the virtuous. Now, O Theosophus, I call upon you to decide between Atheism and Christianity; to declare whether you will pursue your principles to the destruction of the bonds of civilized society, or wear the easy yoke of that religion which proclaims “peace upon earth, good-will to all men.” Theosophus. I am not prepared at present, I confess, to reply clearly to your unexpected arguments. I assure you that no considerations, however specious, should seduce me to deny the existence of my Creator. I am willing to promise that if, after mature deliberation, the arguments which you have advanced in favour of Atheism should appear incontrovertible, I will endeavour to adopt so much of the Christian scheme as is consistent with my persuasion of the goodness, unity, and majesty of God. FOOTNOTES: [13] _Judæi, impulsore Chresto, turbantes, facile comprimuntur._--_Suet. in Tib._ _Affecti suppliciis Christiani, genus hominum superstitionis novæ et maleficæ._--_Id. in Nerone._ [14] _Multi omnis ætatis utriusque sexus etiam; neque enim civitates tantum, sed vicos etiam et agros superstitionis istius contagio pervagata est._--_Plin. Epist._ [15] Tacit. Annal L. xv., Sect. xlv. [16] See the _Internal Evidence of Christianity_; see also Paley’s Evidences, Vol. II., p 27. [17] Paley’s Evidences, Vol. I., p. 3. [18] Plin. Nat. His. Cap. de Deo., Euripides, Bellerophon, Frag. xxv. _Hunc igitur terrorem animi, tenebrasque necesse est_ _Non radii solis, neque lucida tela diei_ _Discutient, sed naturæ species ratioque:_ _Principium hinc cujus nobis exordia sumet_, Nullam rem nihilo gigni divinitus unquam. Luc. de Rer. Nat. Lib. 1 [_v._ 147-151]. [19] See Cicero de Natura Deorum. [20] Hobbes. [21] See Preface to Le Bon Sens. [22] See Hosea, chap. i., chap. ix. Ezekiel, chap. iv., chap. xvi., chap. xxiii. Heyne, speaking of the opinions entertained of the Jews by ancient poets and philosophers, says:--_Meminit quidem superstitionis Judaicæ Horatius, verum ut eam risu exploderet._--_Heyn. ad Virg. Poll. in Arg._ [23] I. Sam. chap. v., 8. [24] Wordsworth’s Lyrical Ballads. [25] Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, _Thus saith the Lord God of Israel_, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, _and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour_. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people on that day twenty-three thousand men.--_Exodus_ xxxii., 26.