Page:Rousseau - Profession of Faith of a Savoyard Vicar, 1889.djvu/100

 head, and see how they will express themselves in the language generally made use of on such occasions.

.—Your reason tells you that the whole is greater than a part, but I tell you from God, that a part is greater than the whole.

.—And who are you, that dare to tell me God contradicts himself? In whom shall I rather believe; in him who instructs me in the knowledge of eternal truths by means of reason, or in you who in his name would impose on me the greatest absurdities?

.—In me, for my instructions are more positive, and I will prove to you incontestably that he hath sent me.

.—How! will you prove that God hath sent you to depose against himself? What sort of proofs can you bring to convince me it is more certain that God speaks by your mouth, than by the understanding he hath given me?

.—The understanding he hath given you! Ridiculous and contemptible man! You talk as if you were the first infidel who was ever misled by an understanding depraved by sin.

.—Nor may you, man of God! be the first knave whose impudence has been the only proof he could give of his divine mission.

.—How! can Philosophers be thus abusive?

.—Sometimes, when Saints set them the example.

.—Oh! but I am authorized to abuse you. I speak on the part of God Almighty.

.—It would not be improper, however,