But quickly recovering all his strength, Maître Frantz responded—
“Oh! impostors and unbelievers, dare you really deny that Justice should be the law of the world? Were not all beings equal before some had advanced by merit? If they had not existed before being born, why all the differences among them? Why should one be born as a plant, another as a man, or an animal? Why should one be born rich, another poor, stupid or intelligent? Where would be the justice of God, if all these differences did not come from merit or demerit in anterior existences?”
The Anabaptist, far from allowing himself to be vanquished by this invincible argument, once again raised his long skinny finger, and said—
“Flee from impertinent and puerile fables, and exercise yourself in piety; for piety is of use to all, since to it have been promised the means of present and future life. What I say to you is a certain truth, and worthy to be received with entire submission; for that which enables us to bear ills and outrages is that we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, but principally of the faithful.”
At these words the persons assembled appeared greatly disturbed, and Mathéus saw afresh threatening looks turned towards him. The illustrious philosopher, in this critical position, raised his eyes towards heaven, and cried—
“Being of Beings! O Great Demiourgos! Thou whose powerful will and immutable justice govern all souls, deign—deign to enlighten this mind, obscured by the veil of error and of prejudice!”
But the Anabaptist Pelsly, furious at this, cried—
“Is it not you, Spirit of Darkness, who seeks to obscure our intelligence? Is it not written: ‘If any one teach a doctrine different to this, and embrace not the doctrine according to piety, he is puffed up with pride, and he knows nothing; he is possessed of an evil mind, which carries him into questions and combats of words, which give birth to envy, contestation, scandal, and evil suspicions?’”
The illustrious Doctor knew no more what to answer, when Coucou Peter plunged into the dispute; for he had sold Bibles and almanacs, and knew as much about the Scriptures as the Anabaptist.