TERRORISM AND THREATS. 141 



material atom that was, and is, and is to be. Take note of 

 that molecular mechanism called man, which is supposed 

 by some to possess a mysterious fictitious entity called soul, 

 which can neither be measured, nor weighed, nor demon- 

 strated. But give up believing in such nonsense ; be en- 

 lightened, and confess that man can only be matter so 

 arranged as to constitute a machine which acts by physics 

 and is a product of physical law." 



Now if, as generation succeeded generation, instead of try- 

 ing to destroy the influence of the teachers of old religions, 

 and the respect always felt by the " weak-minded " for that 

 which has gone before, the active followers of Epicurus had 

 steadily endeavoured to persuade the people that the philo- 

 sophy they preached was true, and that perpetual change in 

 doctrine was the only true test of infallibility, and the proof 

 of truth, it is possible that by this time their converts might 

 have been innumerable and their power insuperable. But 

 in every age they have pursued a different course, and have 

 excited hostility by the bitterness of their attacks upon reli- 

 gion, and by the unphilosophical hatred they have displayed 

 towards the actual teachers of the people. Nor are similar 

 disqualifications wanting in some of the most energetic pro- 

 pagandists of the day. Instead of instructing us, and en- 

 deavouring to persuade us to look and see whether things 

 are not as they affirm them to be and declare they must be 

 and ought to be, they talk vehemently, and express them- 

 selves in very strong language. Instead of explaining to us 

 the nature of things, they endeavour to make us believe that 

 our fathers were fools misled by appearances, and were in- 

 capable of judging concerning truth. Instead of showing 

 us with patience the things that they affirm ha\e brought 



