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A REPLY

Thou tell'st me from the wrath to come to flee, "'Tis safest to believe" thy coward's plea: What! dost thou think my spirit's poor as thine? Such doctrines are for bond-slaves, not the free.
What's true is true, what's false is false, and I Refuse for gain to palter with a lie: The truth in scorn of consequence I seek, And dare to ask of God or Devil Why?
Such Truth as will to reach it may attain, Such certitude as studious toil may gain, This do I seek, and having found hold fast, Though it bring bitter sorrow in its train.
The creeds are many, there is but one Truth: Art sure thou hast discovered it in sooth? Thou that hast taken thy beliefs on trust, And putt'st thy faith in Merry-Andrew Booth!
Though Truth's clear face may not be manifest, 'Tis easy to bring Falsehood to the test; Easy its vain pretensions to expose When in the scales of reason 'tis assessed.

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