Longman, imploring them to suppress these books of Mr.Rogers, persons who despise _all_ religion (with whom Mr.
Rogers pertinaciously confounds me under the term infidel), may one of these days imitate his sprightly example against his creed and church.
He himself seems to me at present incurable.

I do not appeal to _him_, I appeal to his co-religionists, how they would like the publication of a dialogue, in which his free and easy sceptic "Mr.Harrington" might reason on the _opposite_ side to that pliable and candid man of straw "Mr.Fellowes ?" I here subjoin for their consideration, an imaginary extract of the sort which, by their eager patronage of the "Eclipse of Faith," they are inviting against themselves.
_Extract._ I say, Fellowes! (said Harrington), what was that, that Parker and Rogers said about the Spirit of God?
Excuse me (said Fellowes), Theodore Parker and Henry Rogers hold very different views, Mr.Rogers would be much hurt to bear you class him with Parker.
I know (replied he), but they both hold that God inspires people; and that is a great point in common, as I view it.

Does not Mr.Rogers believe the Old Testament inspired and all of it true?
Certainly (said Fellowes): at least he was much shocked with Mr.
Newman for trying to discriminate its chaff from its wheat.
Well then, he believes, does not he, that Jehovah filled men _with the spirit of wisdom_ to help them make a suit of clothes for Aaron! Fellowes, after a pause, replied:--That is certainly written in the 28th chapter of Exodus.
Now, my fine fellow! (said Harrington), here is a question to _rile_ Mr.Rogers.If Aaron's toggery needed one portion of the spirit of wisdom from Jehovah, how many portions does the Empress Eugenie's best crinoline need?
Really (said Fellowes, somewhat offended), such ridicule seems to me profane.
Forgive me, dear friend (replied Harrington, with a sweet smile).
_Your_ views I never will ridicule; for I know you have imbibed somewhat of Francis Newman's fancy, that one ought to feel tenderly towards other men's piety.

But Henry Rogers is made of stouter stuff; he manfully avows that a religion, if it is true, ought to stand the test of ridicule, and he deliberately approves this weapon of attack.
I cannot deny that (said Fellowes, lifting his eyebrows).
But I was going to ask (continued Harrington) whether Mr.Rogers does not believe that Jehovah filled Bezaleel with the Spirit of God, for the work of jeweller, coppersmith, and mason?
Of course he does (answered Fellowes), the text is perfectly clear, in the 31st of Exodus; Bezaleel and Aholiab were both inspired to become cunning workmen.
By the Goose (said Harrington)--forgive a Socratic oath--I really do not see that Mr.Rogers differs much from Theodore Parker.

If a man cannot hack a bit of stone or timber without the Spirit of God, Mr.
Rogers will have hard work to convince me, that any one can make a rifled cannon without the Spirit of God.
There is something in that (said Fellowes).