Gibbon, the renowned historian, was not a great man according to God's standard. He was endowed with great intellectual powers, that he might make known to his fellow-men the knowledge of God. But Satan prepared his snares for this man, and he became entangled in the meshes of skepticism. His works breathe insinuations against God and against the world's Redeemer. He improved every opportunity to destroy confidence in the Bible and the Christian religion. Eternity alone can reveal the amount of harm wrought by his writings. The world pronounces Gibbon a literary success. God pronounces him a failure.

Gibbon, den navnkundige historiker, var ikke en stor mand efter Guds standard. Han var begavet med stor intellektuel magt, så han kunne gøre gudskundskaben kendt for sine medmennesker. Men Satan har udbredt sine snarer for dette menneske, og han blev indviklet i skepticismens netværk. Han indgyder insinuationer imod Gud og imod verdens Forløser. Han har brugt enhver anledning til at udslette tillid mod bibelen og den kristne religion. Evigheden alene kan åbenbare den store skade hans skrifter har udrettet. Verden erklærer Gibbon til at være en litterær succes. Gud udråber ham til en fiasko.