y full of suggestive thought, and
that he did more than any man to convince the people of American
not only that they ought to separate from Great Britain, but that
they ought to found a representative government. He has been
despised simply because he did not believe the Bible. I wish to
do what I can to rescue his name from theological defamation. I
think the day has come when Thomas Paine will be remembered with
Washington, Franklin and Jefferson, and that the American people
will wonder that their fathers could have been guilty of such base
ingratitude.

--_Chicago Times_, February 8, 1880.

REPLY TO CHICAGO CRITICS.

_Question_. Have you read the replies of the clergy to your recent
lecture in this city on "What Must we do to be Saved?" and if so
what do you think of them?

_Answer_. I think they dodge the point. The real point is this:
If salvation by faith is the real doctrine of Christianity, I asked
on Sunday before last, and I still ask, why didn't Matthew tell
it? I still insist that Mark should have remembered it, and I
shall always believe that Luke ought, at least, to have noticed
it. I was endeavoring to show that modern Christianity has for
its basis an interpolation. I think I showed it. The only gospel
on the orthodox side is that of John, and that was certainly not
written, or did not appear in its present form, until long after
the others were written.

I know very well that the Catholic Church claimed during the Dark
Ages, and still claims, that references had been made to the gospels
by persons living in the first, second, and third centuries; but
I believe such manuscripts were manufactured by the Catholic Church.
For many years in Europe there was not one person in twenty thousand
who could read and write. During that time the church had in its
keeping the literature of our world. They interpolated as they
pleased. They created. They destroyed. In other words, they did
whatever in their opinion was necessary to substantiate the faith.

The gentlemen who saw fit to reply did not answer the question,
and I again call upon the clergy to explain to the people why, if
salvation depends upon belief on the Lord Jesus Christ, Matthew
didn't mention it. Some one has said that Christ didn't make known
this doctrine of salvation by belief or faith until after his
resurrection. Certainly none of the gospels were written until
after his resurrection; and if he made that doctrine kn