_Question_. Why? _Answer_. Because the Koran was written by an impostor. _Question_. How do you know? _Answer_. My reason tells me so. _Question_. Have you the right to be guided by your reason? 437 _Answer_. I must be. _Question_. Have you the same right to follow your reason after reading the Bible? _Answer_. No. The Bible is the standard of reason. The Bible is not to be judged or corrected by your reason. Your reason is to be weighed and measured by the Bible. The Bible is different from other books and must not be read in the same critical spirit, nor judged by the same standard. _Question_. What did God give us reason for? _Answer_. So that we might investigate other religions, and examine other so-called sacred books. _Question_. If a man honestly thinks that the Bible is not inspired, what should he say? _Answer_. He should admit that he is mistaken. _Question_. When he thinks he is right? _Answer_. Yes. The Bible is different from other books. It is the master of reason. You read the Bible, not to see if that is wrong, but to see whether your reason is right. It is the only book about which a man has no right to reason. He must believe. The Bible is addressed, not to the reason, but to the ears: "He that hath ears to hear, let "him hear." _Question_. Do you think we have the right to tell 438 what the Bible means--what ideas God intended to convey, or has conveyed to us, through the medium of the Bible? _Answer_. Well, I suppose you have that right. Yes, that must be your duty. You certainly ought to tell others what God has said to you. _Question_. Do all men get the same ideas from the Bible? _Answer_. No. _Question_. How do you account for that? _Answer_. Because all men are not alike; they differ in intellect, in education, and in experience. _Question_. Who has the right to decide as to the real ideas that God intended to convey? _Answer_. I am a Protestant, and believe in the right of private judgment. Whoever does not is a Catholic. Each man must be his own judge, but God will hold him responsible. _Question_. Does God believe in the right of private judgment? _Answer_. Of course he does. _Question_. Is he willing that I should exercise my judgment in deciding whether the Bible is inspired or not? _Answer_. No. He believes in the exercise of 439 private judgment only in the examination and rejec- tion of other books than the Bible. _Question_. Is he a Catholic? _Answer_. I cannot answer blasphemy! Let me tell you that God will "laugh at your calamity, and "will mock when your fear cometh." You will be accursed. _Question_. Why do you curse infidels? _Answer_. Because I am a Christian. _Question_. Did not Christ say that we ought to "bless those who curse us," and that we should "love our enemies"? _Answer_. Yes, but he cursed the Pharisees and called them "hypocrites" and "vipers." _Question_. How do you account for that?