The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine

8/2/2019 The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine

1/118

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

THEWRITINGS

OF

THOMASPAINE

COLLECTEDANDEDITEDBY

MONCUREDANIELCONWAY

VOLUMEIV.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

TheAgeofReason

byThomasPaine%2p(1796)

%r0%2pe20%r0Contents

Editor'sIntroduction

PartOneChapterI-TheAuthor'sProfessionOfFaithChapterII-OfMissionsAndRevelationsChapterIII-ConcerningTheCharacterofJesusChrist,AndHisHistoryChapterIV-OfTheBasesOfChristianityChapterV-ExaminationInDetailOfThePrecedingBasesChapterVI-OfTheTrueTheologyChapterVII-ExaminationOfTheOldTestamentChapterVIII-OfTheNewTestament

ChapterIX-InWhatTheTrueRevelationConsistsChapterX-ConcerningGod,AndTheLightsCastOnHisExistenceAndAttributesByTheBibleChapterXI-OfTheTheologyOfTheChristians;AndTheTrueTheologyChapterXII%2p-TheEffectsOfChristianismOnEducation;ProposedReformsChapterXIII-ComparisonOfChristianismWithTheReligiousIdeas%r0%2pInspiredByNatureChapterXIV-SystemOfTheUniverseChapterXV-AdvantagesOfTheExistenceOfManyWorldsInEachSolarSystemChapterXVI-ApplicationsOfThePrecedingToTheSystemOfTheChristiansChapterXVII-OfTheMeansEmployedInAllTime,AndAlmost

Universally,ToDeceiveThePeoplesRecapitulation

PartTwoPrefaceChapterI-TheOldTestamentChapterII-TheNewTestamentChapterIII-Conclusion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


2/118

EDITOR'SINTRODUCTIONWITHSOMERESULTSOFRECENTRESEARCHES.

INtheopeningyear,1793,whenrevolutionaryFrancehadbeheadeditsking,thewrathturnednextupontheKingofkings,bywhosegraceeverytyrantclaimedtoreign.ButeventualitieshadbroughtamongthemagreatEnglishandAmericanheart--ThomasPaine.HehadpleadedforLouisCaper--"Killthekingbutsparetheman."Nowhepleaded,--"DisbelieveintheKingofkings,butdonotconfusewiththatidoltheFatherofMankind!"

InPaine'sPrefacetotheSecondPartof"TheAgeofReason"hedescribeshimselfaswritingtheFirstPartnearthecloseoftheyear1793."Ihadnotfinisheditmorethansixhours,inthestateithassinceappeared,beforeaguardcameaboutthreeinthemorning,withanordersignedbythetwoCommitteesofPublicSafetyandSuretyGeneral,forputtingmeinarrestation."ThiswasonthemorningofDecember28.Butitisnecessarytoweighthewordsjustquoted--"inthestateithassinceappeared."ForonAugust5,1794,FrancoisLanthenas,inanappealforPaine'sliberation,wroteasfollows:"IdelivertoMerlindeThionvilleacopyofthelastworkofT.Payne[TheAgeofReason],formerlyourcolleague,andin

custodysincethedecreeexcludingforeignersfromthenationalrepresentation.Thisbookwaswrittenbytheauthorinthebeginningoftheyear'93(oldstyle).Iundertookitstranslationbeforetherevolutionagainstpriests,anditwaspublishedinFrenchaboutthesametime.Couthon,towhomIsentit,seemedoffendedwithmeforhavingtranslatedthiswork."

UnderthefrownofCouthon,oneofthemostatrociouscolleaguesofRobespierre,thisearlypublicationseemstohavebeensoeffectuallysuppressedthatnocopybearingthatdate,1793,canbefoundinFranceorelsewhere.InPaine'slettertoSamuelAdams,printedinthepresentvolume,hesaysthathehadittranslatedintoFrench,tostaytheprogressofatheism,andthatheendangeredhislife"by

opposingatheism."ThetimeindicatedbyLanthenasasthatinwhichhesubmittedtheworktoCouthonwouldappeartobethelatterpartofMarch,1793,thefuryagainstthepriesthoodhavingreacheditsclimaxinthedecreesagainstthemofMarch19and26.IfthemoraldeformityofCouthon,evengreaterthanthatofhisbody,beremembered,andthereadinesswithwhichdeathwasinflictedforthemosttheoreticalopinionnotapprovedbythe"Mountain,"itwillappearprobablethattheoffencegivenCouthonbyPaine'sbookinvolveddangertohimandhistranslator.OnMay31,whentheGirondinswereaccused,thenameofLanthenaswasincluded,andhebarelyescaped;andonthesamedayDantonpersuadedPainenottoappearintheConvention,ashislifemightbeindanger.Whetherthiswasbecauseofthe"AgeofReason,"withitsflingatthe

"GoddessNature"ornot,thestatementsofauthorandtranslatorareharmonizedbythefactthatPainepreparedthemanuscript,withconsiderableadditionsandchanges,forpublicationinEnglish,ashehasstatedinthePrefacetoPartII.

AcomparisonoftheFrenchandEnglishversions,sentencebysentence,provedtomethatthetranslationsentbyLanthenastoMerlindeThionvillein1794isthesameasthathesenttoCouthonin1793.Thisdiscoverywasthemeansofrecoveringseveralinterestingsentencesoftheoriginalwork.Ihavegivenasfootnotes


3/118

translationsofsuchclausesandphrasesoftheFrenchworkasappearedtobeimportant.ThosefamiliarwiththetranslationsofLanthenasneednotberemindedthathewastoomuchofaliteralisttodepartfromthemanuscriptbeforehim,andindeedhedidnotevenventuretoalteritinaninstance(presentlyconsidered)whereitwasobviouslyneeded.NorwouldLanthenashaveomittedanyoftheparagraphslackinginhistranslation.Thisoriginalworkwasdividedintoseventeenchapters,andtheseIhaverestored,translatingtheirheadingsintoEnglish.The"AgeofReason"isthusforthefirsttimegiventotheworldwithnearlyitsoriginalcompleteness.

ItshouldberememberedthatPainecouldnothavereadtheproofofhis"AgeofReason"(PartI.)whichwentthroughthepresswhilehewasinprison.Tothismustbeascribedthepermanenceofsomesentencesasabbreviatedinthehastehehasdescribed.AnotableinstanceisthedroppingoutofhisestimateofJesusthewordsrenderedbyLanthenas"troppeuimite,tropoublie,tropmeconnu."TheadditionofthesewordstoPaine'stributemakesitthemorenotablethatalmosttheonlyrecognitionofthehumancharacterandlifeofJesusbyanytheologicalwriterofthatgenerationcamefromonelongbrandedasaninfidel.

Totheinabilityoftheprisonertogivehisworkanyrevisionmustbeattributedthepreservationinitofthesingularerroralready

alludedto,asonethatLanthenas,butforhisextremefidelity,wouldhavecorrected.ThisisPaine'srepeatedmentionofsixplanets,andenumerationofthem,twelveyearsafterthediscoveryofUranus.Painewasadevotedstudentofastronomy,anditcannotforamomentbesupposedthathehadnotparticipatedintheuniversalwelcomeofHerschel'sdiscovery.Theomissionofanyallusiontoitconvincesmethattheastronomicalepisodewasprintedfromamanuscriptwrittenbefore1781,whenUranuswasdiscovered.UnfamiliarwithFrenchin1793,PainemightnothavediscoveredtheerratuminLanthenas'translation,and,havingnotimeforcopying,hewouldnaturallyuseasmuchaspossibleofthesamemanuscriptinpreparinghisworkforEnglishreaders.Buthehadnoopportunityofrevision,andthereremainsanerratumwhich,ifmyconjecturebe

correct,castsasignificantlightontheparagraphsinwhichhealludestothepreparationofthework.Hestatesthatsoonafterhispublicationof"CommonSense"(1776),he"sawtheexceedingprobabilitythatarevolutioninthesystemofgovernmentwouldbefollowedbyarevolutioninthesystemofreligion,"andthat"manwouldreturntothepure,unmixed,andunadulteratedbeliefofoneGodandnomore."HetellsSamuelAdamsthatithadlongbeenhisintentiontopublishhisthoughtsuponreligion,andhehadmadeasimilarremarktoJohnAdamsin1776.LiketheQuakersamongwhomhewasrearedPainecouldthenreadilyusethephrase"wordofGod"foranythingintheBiblewhichapproveditselftohis"innerlight,"andashehaddrawnfromthefirstBookofSamueladivinecondemnationofmonarchy,JohnAdams,aUnitarian,askedhimifhebelievedinthe

inspirationoftheOldTestament.Painerepliedthathedidnot,andatalaterperiodmeanttopublishhisviewsonthesubject.Thereislittledoubtthathewrotefromtimetotimeonreligiouspoints,duringtheAmericanwar,withoutpublishinghisthoughts,justasheworkedontheproblemofsteamnavigation,inwhichhehadinventedapracticablemethod(tenyearsbeforeJohnFitchmadehisdiscovery)withoutpublishingit.Atanyrateitappearstomecertainthatthepartof"TheAgeofReason"connectedwithPaine'sfavoritescience,astronomy,waswrittenbefore1781,whenUranuswasdiscovered.


4/118

Paine'stheism,howeverinvestedwithbiblicalandChristianphraseology,wasabirthright.Itappearsclearfromseveralallusionsin"TheAgeofReason"totheQuakersthatinhisearlylife,orbeforethemiddleoftheeighteenthcentury,thepeoplesocalledweresubstantiallyDeists.AninterestingconfirmationofPaine'sstatementsconcerningthemappearsasIwriteinanaccountsentbyCountLeoTolstoitotheLondon'Times'oftheRussiansectcalledDukhobortsy(TheTimes,October23,1895).Thissectsprangupinthelastcentury,andthenarrativesays:

"Thefirstseedsoftheteachingcalledafterwards'Dukhoborcheskaya'weresownbyaforeigner,aQuaker,whocametoRussia.ThefundamentalideaofhisQuakerteachingwasthatinthesoulofmandwellsGodhimself,andthatHehimselfguidesmanbyHisinnerword.Godlivesinnaturephysicallyandinman'ssoulspiritually.ToChrist,astoanhistoricalpersonage,theDukhobortsydonotascribegreatimportance...ChristwasGod'sson,butonlyinthesenseinwhichwecall,ourselves'sonsofGod.'ThepurposeofChrist'ssufferingswasnootherthantoshowusanexampleofsufferingfortruth.TheQuakerswho,in1818,visitedtheDukhobortsy,couldnotagreewiththemuponthesereligioussubjects;andwhentheyheardfromthemtheiropinionaboutJesusChrist(thathewasaman),exclaimed'Darkness!'FromtheOldandNewTestaments,'theysay,'wetakeonlywhatisuseful,'mostlythemoralteaching....Themoral

ideasoftheDukhobortsyarethefollowing:--Allmenare,bynature,equal;externaldistinctions,whatsoevertheymaybe,areworthnothing.Thisideaofmen'sequalitytheDukhobortshavedirectedfurther,againsttheStateauthority....Amongstthemselvestheyholdsubordination,andmuchmore,amonarchicalGovernment,tobecontrarytotheirideas."

HereisanearlyHicksiteQuakerismcarriedtoRussialongbeforethebirthofEliasHicks,whorecovereditfromPaine,towhomtheAmericanQuakersrefusedburialamongthem.AlthoughPainearraignedtheunionofChurchandState,hisidealRepublicwasreligious;itwasbasedonaconceptionofequalitybasedonthedivineson-shipofeveryman.Thisfaith

underlayequallyhisburdenagainstclaimstodivinepartialitybya"ChosenPeople,"aPriesthood,aMonarch"bythegraceofGod,"oranAristocracy.Paine's"Reason"isonlyanexpansionoftheQuaker's"innerlight";andthegreaterimpression,ascomparedwithpreviousrepublicananddeisticwritingsmadebyhis"RightsofMan"and"AgeofReason"(reallyvolumesofonework),ispartlyexplainedbytheapostolicfervorwhichmadehimaspiritual,successorofGeorgeFox.

Paine'smindwasbynomeansskeptical,itwaseminentlyinstructive.Thatheshouldhavewaiteduntilhisfifty-seventhyearbeforepublishinghisreligiousconvictionswasduetoadesiretoworkoutsomepositiveandpracticablesystemtotaketheplaceofthatwhichhebelievedwascrumbling.TheEnglishengineerHall,whoassisted

Paineinmakingthemodelofhisironbridge,wrotetohisfriendsinEngland,in1786:"MyemployerhasCommonSenseenoughtodisbelievemostofthecommonsystematictheoriesofDivinity,butdoesnotseemtoestablishanyforhimself."ButfiveyearslaterPainewasabletolaythecorner-stoneofhistemple:"Withrespecttoreligionitself,withoutregardtonames,andasdirectingitselffromtheuniversalfamilyofmankindtothe'Divineobjectofalladoration,itismanbringingtohisMakerthefruitsofhisheart;andthoughthosefruitsmaydifferfromeachotherlikethefruitsoftheearth,thegratefultributeofeveryone,isaccepted."("RightsofMan."Seemy


5/118

editionofPaine'sWritings,ii.,p.326.)HerewehaveareappearanceofGeorgeFoxconfutingthedoctorinAmericawho"deniedthelightandSpiritofGodtobeineveryone;andaffirmedthatitwasnotintheIndians.WhereuponIcalledanIndiantous,andaskedhim'whetherornot,whenhelied,ordidwrongtoanyone,therewasnotsomethinginhimthatreprovedhimforit?'Hesaid,'Therewassuchathinginhimthatdidsoreprovehim;andhewasashamedwhenhehaddonewrong,orspokenwrong.'Soweshamedthedoctorbeforethegovernorandthepeople."(JournalofGeorgeFox,September1672.)

Paine,whocoinedthephrase"ReligionofHumanity"(TheCrisis,vii.,1778),didbutlogicallydefenditin"TheAgeofReason,"bydenyingaspecialrevelationtoanyparticulartribe,ordivineauthorityinanyparticularcreedofchurch;andthecentenaryofthismuch-abusedpublicationhasbeencelebratedbyagreatconservativechampionofChurchandState,Mr.Balfour,who,inhis"FoundationsofBelief,"affirmsthat"inspiration"cannotbedeniedtothegreatOrientalteachers,unlessgrapesmaybegatheredfromthorns.

Thecentenaryofthecompletepublicationof"TheAgeofReason,"(October25,1795),wasalsocelebratedattheChurchCongress,Norwich,onOctober10,1895,whenProfessorBonney,F.R.S.,CanonofManchester,readapaperinwhichhesaid:"Icannotdenythatthe

increaseofscientificknowledgehasdeprivedpartsoftheearlierbooksoftheBibleofthehistoricalvaluewhichwasgenerallyattributedtothembyourforefathers.ThestoryofCreationintheBookofGenesis,unlessweplayfastandlooseeitherwithwordsorwithscience,cannotbebroughtintoharmonywithwhatwehavelearntfromgeology.Itsethnologicalstatementsareimperfect,ifnotsometimesinaccurate.ThestoriesoftheFall,oftheFlood,andoftheTowerofBabel,areincredibleintheirpresentform.Somehistoricalelementmayunderliemanyofthetraditionsinthefirstelevenchaptersinthatbook,butthiswecannothopetorecover."CanonBonneyproceededtosayoftheNewTestamentalso,that"theGospelsarenotsofarasweknow,strictlycontemporaneousrecords,sowemustadmitthepossibilityofvariationsandeveninaccuracies

indetailsbeingintroducedbyoraltradition."TheCanonthinkstheintervaltooshortfortheseimportationstobeserious,butthatanyquestionofthiskindisleftopenprovestheAgeofReasonfullyuponus.Reasonalonecandeterminehowmanytextsareasspuriousasthethreeheavenlywitnesses(iJohnv.7),andlikeit"serious"enoughtohavecostgoodmentheirlives,andpersecutorstheircharities.Whenmeninterpolate,itisbecausetheybelievetheirinterpolationseriouslyneeded.ItwillbeseenbyanoteinPartII.ofthework,thatPainecallsattentiontoaninterpolationintroducedintothefirstAmericaneditionwithoutindicationofitsbeinganeditorialfootnote.Thisfootnotewas:"ThebookofLukewascarriedbyamajorityofoneonly.VideMoshelm'sEcc.History."Dr.Priestley,theninAmerica,answeredPaine'swork,andinquoting

lessthanapagefromthe"AgeofReason"hemadethreealterations,--oneofwhichchanged"churchmythologists"into"Christianmythologists,"--andalsoraisedtheeditorialfootnoteintothetext,omittingthereferencetoMosheim.Havingdonethis,Priestleywrites:"AstothegospelofLukebeingcarriedbyamajorityofoneonly,itisalegend,ifnotofMr.Paine'sowninvention,ofnobetterauthoritywhatever."Andsoonwithfurthercastigationoftheauthorforwhatheneverwrote,andwhichhehimself(Priestley)wastheunconsciousmeansofintroducingintothetextwithintheyearofPaine'spublication.


6/118

Ifthiscouldbedone,unintentionallybyaconscientiousandexactman,andonenotunfriendlytoPaine,ifsuchawriterasPriestleycouldmakefourmistakesincitinghalfapage,itwillappearnotverywonderfulwhenIstatethatinamodernpopulareditionof"TheAgeofReason,"includingbothparts,Ihavenotedaboutfivehundreddeviationsfromtheoriginal.TheseweremainlytheaccumulatedeffortsoffriendlyeditorstoimprovePaine'sgrammarorspelling;someweremisprints,ordevelopedoutofsuch;andsomeresultedfromthesaleinLondonofacopyofPartSecondsurreptitiouslymadefromthemanuscript.ThesefactsaddsignificancetoPaine'sfootnote(itselfalteredinsomeeditions!),inwhichhesays:"Ifthishashappenedwithinsuchashortspaceoftime,notwithstandingtheaidofprinting,whichpreventsthealterationofcopiesindividually;whatmaynothavehappenedinamuchgreaterlengthoftime,whentherewasnoprinting,andwhenanymanwhocouldwrite,couldmakeawrittencopy,andcallitanoriginal,byMatthew,Mark,Luke,orJohn."

Nothingappearstomemorestriking,asanillustrationofthefar-reachingeffectsoftraditionalprejudice,thantheerrorsintowhichsomeofourablestcontemporaryscholarshavefallenbyreasonoftheirnothavingstudiedPaine.ProfessorHuxley,forinstance,speakingofthefreethinkersoftheeighteenthcentury,admiresthe

acuteness,commonsense,wit,andthebroadhumanityofthebestofthem,butsays"thereisrarelymuchtobesaidfortheirworkasanexampleoftheadequatetreatmentofagraveanddifficultinvestigation,"andthattheysharedwiththeiradversaries"tothefullthefatalweaknessofaprioriphilosophizing."[NOTE:ScienceandChristianTradition,p.18(Lon.ed.,1894).]ProfessorHuxleydoesnotnamePaine,evidentlybecauseheknowsnothingabouthim.YetPainerepresentstheturning-pointofthehistoricalfreethinkingmovement;herenouncedthe'apriori'method,refusedtopronounceanythingimpossibleoutsidepuremathematics,restedeverythingonevidence,andreallyfoundedtheHuxleyanschool.Heplagiarizedbyanticipationmanythingsfromtherationalisticleadersofourtime,fromStraussandBaur(beingthefirsttoexpatiateon"Christian

Mythology"),fromRenan(beingthefirsttoattemptrecoveryofthehumanJesus),andnotablyfromHuxley,whohasrepeatedPaine'sargumentsontheuntrustworthinessofthebiblicalmanuscriptsandcanon,ontheinconsistenciesofthenarrativesofChrist'sresurrection,andvariousotherpoints.NonecanbemoreloyaltothememoryofHuxleythanthepresentwriter,anditisevenbecauseofmysenseofhisgrandleadershipthatheisherementionedasatypicalinstanceoftheextenttowhichtheveryelectoffree-thoughtmaybeunconsciouslyvictimizedbythephantasmwithwhichtheyarecontending.HesaysthatButleroverthrewfreethinkersoftheeighteenthcenturytype,butPainewasofthenineteenthcenturytype;anditwaspreciselybecauseofhiscriticalmethodthatheexcitedmoreanimositythanhisdeisticalpredecessors.He

compelledtheapologiststodefendthebiblicalnarrativesindetail,andthusimplicitlyacknowledgethetribunalofreasonandknowledgetowhichtheyweresummoned.Theultimateanswerbypolicewasaconfessionofjudgment.AhundredyearsagoEnglandwassuppressingPaine'sworks,andmanyanhonestEnglishmanhasgonetoprisonforprintingandcirculatinghis"AgeofReason."Thesameviewsarenowfreelyexpressed;theyareheardintheseatsoflearning,andevenintheChurchCongress;butthesuppressionofPaine,begunbybigotryandignorance,iscontinuedinthelongindifferenceoftherepresentativesofourAgeofReasontotheirpioneerandfounder.It


7/118

isagrievouslosstothemandtotheircause.ItisimpossibletounderstandthereligioushistoryofEngland,andofAmerica,withoutstudyingthephasesoftheirevolutionrepresentedinthewritingsofThomasPaine,inthecontroversiesthatgrewoutofthemwithsuchpracticalaccompanimentsasthefoundationoftheTheophilanthropistChurchinParisandNewYork,andofthegreatrationalistwingofQuakerisminAmerica.

Whatevermaybethecasewithscholarsinourtime,thoseofPaine'stimetookthe"AgeofReason"veryseriouslyindeed.BeginningwiththelearnedDr.RichardWatson,BishopofLlandaff,alargenumberoflearnedmenrepliedtoPaine'swork,anditbecameasignalforthecommencementofthoseconcessions,onthepartoftheology,whichhavecontinuedtoourtime;andindeedtheso-called"BroadChurch"istosomeextentanoutcomeof"TheAgeofReason."ItwouldtoomuchenlargethisIntroductiontociteheretherepliesmadetoPaine(thirty-sixarecataloguedintheBritishMuseum),butitmayberemarkedthattheywerenotablyfree,asarule,fromthepersonalitiesthatragedinthepulpits.Imustventuretoquoteonepassagefromhisverylearnedantagonist,theRev.GilbertWakefield,B.A.,"lateFellowofJesusCollege,Cambridge."Wakefield,whohadresidedinLondonduringallthePainepanic,andwaswellacquaintedwiththeslandersutteredagainsttheauthorof"RightsofMan,"indirectlybrandstheminansweringPaine'sargumentthatthe

originalandtraditionalunbeliefoftheJews,amongwhomtheallegedmiracleswerewrought,isanimportantevidenceagainstthem.Thelearneddivinewrites:

"ButthesubjectbeforeusadmitsoffurtherillustrationfromtheexampleofMr.Painehimself.Inthiscountry,wherehisoppositiontothecorruptionsofgovernmenthasraisedhimsomanyadversaries,andsuchaswarmofunprincipledhirelingshaveexertedthemselvesinblackeninghischaracterandinmisrepresentingallthetransactionsandincidentsofhislife,willitnotbeamostdifficult,nayanimpossibletask,forposterity,afteralapseof1700years,ifsuchawreckofmodernliteratureasthatoftheancient,shouldintervene,toidentifytherealcircumstances,moralandcivil,of

theman?Andwillatruehistorian,suchastheEvangelists,becreditedatthatfutureperiodagainstsuchapredominantincredulity,withoutlargeandmightyaccessionsofcollateralattestation?Andhowtranscendentlyextraordinary,Ihadalmostsaidmiraculous,willitbeestimatedbycandidandreasonableminds,thatawriterwhoseobjectwasameliorationofconditiontothecommonpeople,andtheirdeliverancefromoppression,poverty,wretchedness,tothenumberlessblessingsofuprightandequalgovernment,shouldbereviled,persecuted,andburnedineffigy,witheverycircumstanceofinsultandexecration,bytheseveryobjectsofhisbenevolentintentions,ineverycornerofthekingdom?"AftertheexecutionofLouisXVI.,forwhoselifePainepleadedsoearnestly,--whileinEnglandhewasdenouncedasanaccompliceinthedeed,--hedevoted

himselftothepreparationofaConstitution,andalsotogatheringuphisreligiouscompositionsandaddingtothem.ThismanuscriptIsupposetohavebeenpreparedinwhatwasvariouslyknownasWhite'sHotelorPhiladelphiaHouse,inParis,No.7PassagedesPetitsPeres.Thiscompilationofearlyandfreshmanuscripts(ifmytheorybecorrect)waslabelled,"TheAgeofReason,"andgivenfortranslationtoFrancoisLanthenasinMarch1793.Itisentered,inQudrard(LaFranceLiteraire)undertheyear1793,butwiththetitle"L'AgedelaRaison"insteadofthatwhichitborein1794,"LeSiecledelaRaison."Thelatter,printed"AuBurcaudel'imprimerie,


8/118

rueduTheatre-Francais,No.4,"issaidtobeby"ThomasPaine,CitoyenetcultivateurdeI'Ameriqueseptentrionale,secretaireduCongresdudepartementdesaffairesetrangerespendantlaguerred'Amerique,etauteurdesouvragesintitules:LASENSCOMMUNetLESDROITSDEL'HOMME."

WhentheRevolutionwasadvancingtoincreasingterrors,Paine,unwillingtoparticipateinthedecreesofaConventionwhosesolelegalfunctionwastoframeaConstitution,retiredtoanoldmansionandgardenintheFaubourgSt.Denis,No.63.Mr.J.G.Alger,whoseresearchesinpersonaldetailsconnectedwiththeRevolutionareoriginalanduseful,recentlyshowedmeintheNationalArchivesatParis,somepapersconnectedwiththetrialofGeorgeit,Paine'slandlord,bywhichitappearsthatthepresentNo.63isnot,asIhadsupposed,thehouseinwhichPaineresided.Mr.Algeraccompaniedmetotheneighborhood,butwewerenotabletoidentifythehouse.ThearrestofGeorgeitismentionedbyPaineinhisessayon"Forgetfulness"(Writings,iii.,319).Whenhistrialcameononeofthechargeswasthathehadkeptinhishouse"PaineandotherEnglishmen,"--Painebeingtheninprison,--buthe(Georgeit)wasacquittedofthepaltryaccusationsbroughtagainsthimbyhisSection,the"FaubourgduNord."ThisSectiontookinthewholeeastsideoftheFaubourgSt.Denis,whereasthepresentNo.63isonthewestside.AfterGeorgeit(orGeorger)hadbeenarrested,Painewas

leftaloneinthelargemansion(saidbyRickmantohavebeenoncethehotelofMadamedePompadour),anditwouldappear,byhisaccount,thatitwasaftertheexecution(October31,1793)OfhisfriendstheGirondins,andpoliticalcomrades,thathefelthisendathand,andsetabouthislastliterarybequesttotheworld,--"TheAgeofReason,"--inthestateinwhichithassinceappeared,asheiscarefultosay.Therewaseveryprobability,duringthemonthsinwhichhewrote(NovemberandDecember1793)thathewouldbeexecuted.Hisreligioustestamentwaspreparedwiththebladeoftheguillotinesuspendedoverhim,--afactwhichdidnotdeterpiousmythologistsfromportrayinghisdeath-bedremorseforhavingwrittenthebook.

IneditingPartI.of"TheAgeofReason,"Ifollowcloselythefirstedition,whichwasprintedbyBarroisinParisfromthemanuscript,nodoubtunderthesuperintendenceofJoelBarlow,towhomPaine,onhiswaytotheLuxembourg,hadconfidedit.BarlowwasanAmericanex-clergyman,aspeculatoronwhosecareerFrencharchivescastanunfavorablelight,andonecannotbecertainthatnolibertiesweretakenwithPaine'sproofs.

ImayrepeatherewhatIhavestatedintheoutsetofmyeditorialworkonPainethatmyruleistocorrectobviousmisprints,andalsoanypunctuationwhichseemstorenderthesenselessclear.AndtothatIwillnowaddthatinfollowingPaine'squotationsfromtheBibleIhaveadoptedthePlannowgenerallyusedinplaceofhis

occasionallytooextendedwritingoutofbook,chapter,andverse.

PainewasimprisonedintheLuxembourgonDecember28,1793,andreleasedonNovember4,1794.Hisliberationwassecuredbyhisoldfriend,JamesMonroe(afterwardsPresident),whohadsucceededhis(Paine's)relentlessenemy%rCGouvemeurMorris,asAmericanMinisterinParis.HewasfoundbyMonroemoredeadthanalivefromsemi-starvation,cold,andanabscesscontractedinprison,andtakentotheMinister'sownresidence.Itwasnotsupposedthathecouldsurvive,andheowedhislifetothetendercareofMr.andMrs.


9/118

Monroe.Itwaswhilethusaprisonerinhisroom,withdeathstillhoveringoverhim,thatPainewrotePartSecondof"TheAgeofReason."

TheworkwaspublishedinLondonbyH.D.SymondsonOctober25,1795,andclaimedtobe"fromtheAuthor'smanuscript."Itismarkedas"EnteredatStationersHall,"andprefacedbyanapologeticnoteof"TheBooksellertothePublic,"whosecommonplacesaboutavoidingbothprejudiceandpartiality,andconsidering"bothsides,"neednotbequoted.WhilehisvolumewasgoingthroughthepressinParis,PaineheardofthepublicationinLondon,whichdrewfromhimthefollowinghurriednotetoaLondonpublisher,nodoubtDanielIsaacsEaton:

"SIR,--IhaveseenadvertisedintheLondonpapersthesecondEdition[part]oftheAgeofReason,printed,theadvertisementsays,fromtheAuthor'sManuscript,andenteredatStationersHall.Ihaveneversentanymanuscripttoanyperson.Itisthereforeaforgerytosayitisprintedfromtheauthor'smanuscript;andIsupposeisdonetogivethePublisherapretenceofCopyRight,whichhehasnotitleto.

"Isendyouaprintedcopy,whichistheonlyoneIhavesenttoLondon.Iwishyoutomakeacheapeditionofit.Iknownotbywhat

meansanycopyhasgotovertoLondon.IfanypersonhasmadeamanuscriptcopyIhavenodoubtbutitisfulloferrors.IwishyouwouldtalktoMr.-----uponthissubjectasIwishtoknowbywhatmeansthistrickhasbeenplayed,andfromwhomthepublisherhasgotpossessionofanycopy.

T.PAINE."PARIS,December4,1795,"

Eaton'scheapeditionappearedJanuary1,1796,withtheaboveletteronthereverseofthetitle.Theblankinthenotewasprobably"Symonds"intheoriginal,andpossiblythatpublisherwasimposedupon.Eaton,alreadyintroubleforprintingoneofPaine'spolitical

pamphlets,fledtoAmerica,andaneditionofthe"AgeofReason"wasissuedunderanewtitle;nopublisherappears;itissaidtobe"printedfor,andsoldbyalltheBooksellersinGreatBritainandIreland."Itisalsosaidtobe"ByThomasPaine,authorofseveralremarkableperformances."Ihaveneverfoundanycopyofthisanonymouseditionexcepttheoneinmypossession.ItisevidentlytheeditionwhichwassuppressedbytheprosecutionofWilliamsforsellingacopyofit.

AcomparisonwithPaine'srevisededitionrevealsagoodmanyclericalandverbalerrorsinSymonds,thoughfewthataffectthesense.Theworstareinthepreface,where,insteadof"1793,"themisleadingdate"1790"isgivenastheyearatwhoseclosePaine

completedPartFirst,--anerrorthatspreadfarandwideandwasfastenedonbyhiscalumniousAmerican"biographer,"Cheetham,toprovehisinconsistency.Theeditorshavebeenfairlydemoralizedby,andhavealteredindifferentways,thefollowingsentenceoftheprefaceinSymonds:"Theintolerantspiritofreligiouspersecutionhadtransferreditselfintopolitics;thetribunals,styledRevolutionary,suppliedtheplaceoftheInquisition;andtheGuillotineoftheStateoutdidtheFireandFaggotoftheChurch."TheroguewhocopiedthislittleknewthecarewithwhichPaineweighedwords,andthathewouldnevercallpersecution"religious,"


10/118

norconnecttheguillotinewiththe"State,"norconcedethatwithallitshorrorsithadoutdonethehistoryoffireandfaggot.WhatPainewrotewas:"Theintolerantspiritofchurchpersecutionhadtransferreditselfintopolitics;thetribunals,styledRevolutionary,suppliedtheplaceofanInquisitionandtheGuillotine,oftheStake."

AnoriginalletterofPaine,inthepossessionofJosephCowen,ex-M.P.,whichthatgentlemanpermitsmetobringtolight,besidesbeingoneofgeneralinterestmakesclearthecircumstancesoftheoriginalpublication.Althoughthenameofthecorrespondentdoesnotappearontheletter,itwascertainlywrittentoCol.JohnFellowsofNewYork,whocopyrightedPartI.ofthe"AgeofReason."HepublishedthepamphletsofJoelBarlow,towhomPaineconfidedhismanuscriptonhiswaytoprison.FellowswasafterwardsPaine'sintimatefriendinNewYork,anditwaschieflyduetohimthatsomeportionsoftheauthor'swritings,leftinmanuscripttoMadameBonnevillewhileshewasafreethinkerwererescuedfromherdevoutdestructivenessafterherreturntoCatholicism.TheletterwhichMr.Cowensendsme,isdatedatParis,January20,1797.

"SIR,--YourfriendMr.CaritatbeingonthepointofhisdepartureforAmerica,Imakeittheopportunityofwritingtoyou.Ireceivedtwolettersfromyouwithsomepamphletsaconsiderabletimepast,in

whichyouinformmeofyourenteringacopyrightofthefirstpartoftheAgeofReason:whenIreturntoAmericawewillsettleforthatmatter.

"AsDoctorFranklinhasbeenmyintimatefriendforthirtyyearspastyouwillnaturallyseethereasonofmycontinuingtheconnectionwithhisgrandson.Iprintedhere(Paris)aboutfifteenthousandofthesecondpartoftheAgeofReason,whichIsenttoMr.F[ranklin]Bache.IgavehimnoticeofitinSeptember1795andthecopy-rightbymyowndirectionwasenteredbyhim.ThebooksdidnotarrivetillAprilfollowing,buthehadadvertiseditlongbefore.

"IsenttohiminAugustlastamanuscriptletterofabout70pages,

frommetoMr.Washingtontobeprintedinapamphlet.Mr.BarnesofPhiladelphiacarriedtheletterfrommeovertoLondontobeforwardedtoAmerica.ItwentbytheshipHope,Cap:Harley,whosincehisreturnfromAmericatoldmethatheputitintothepostofficeatNewYorkforBache.Ihaveyetnocertainaccountofitspublication.Imentionthisthatthelettermaybeenquiredafter,incaseithasnotbeenpublishedorhasnotarrivedtoMr.Bache.Barneswrotetome,fromLondon29Augustinformingmethathewasofferedthreehundredpoundssterlingforthemanuscript.TheofferwasrefusedbecauseitwasmyintentionitshouldnotappeartillitappearedinAmerica,asthat,andnotEnglandwastheplaceforitsoperation.

"YouaskmebyyourlettertoMr.Caritatforalistofmyseveralworks,inordertopublishacollectionofthem.ThisisanundertakingIhavealwaysreservedformyself.Itnotonlybelongstomeofright,butnobodybutmyselfcandoit;andaseveryauthorisaccountable(atleastinreputation)forhisworks,heonlyisthepersontodoit.Ifheneglectsitinhislife-timethecaseisaltered.ItismyintentiontoreturntoAmericainthecourseofthepresentyear.Ishallthen[do]itbysubscription,withhistoricalnotes.AsthisworkwillemploymanypersonsindifferentpartsoftheUnion,Iwillconferwithyouuponthesubject,andsuchpartof


11/118

itaswillsuityoutoundertake,willbeatyourchoice.Ihavesustainedsomuchloss,bydisinterestednessandinattentiontomoneymatters,andbyaccidents,thatIamobligedtolookclosertomyaffairsthanIhavedone.Theprinter(anEnglishman)whome20Iemployedheretoprintthesecondpartof'theAgeofReason'madeamanuscriptcopyoftheworkwhilehewasprintingit,whichhesenttoLondonandsold.ItwasbythismeansthataneditionofitcameoutinLondon.

"WearewaitingherefornewsfromAmericaofthestateofthefederalelections.YouwillhaveheardlongbeforethisreachesyouthattheFrenchgovernmenthasrefusedtoreceiveMr.Pinckneyasminister.WhileMr.Monroewasministerhehadtheopportunityofsofteningmatterswiththisgovernment,forhewasingoodcreditwiththemtho'theywereinhighindignationattheinfidelityoftheWashingtonAdministration.ItistimethatMr.Washingtonretire,forhehasplayedoffsomuchprudenthypocrisybetweenFranceandEnglandthatneithergovernmentbelievesanythinghesays.

"Yourfriend,etc.,"THOMASPAINE."

ItwouldappearthatSymonds'stoleneditionmusthavegotaheadofthatsentbyPainetoFranklinBache,forsomeofitserrorscontinue

inallmodernAmericaneditionstothepresentday,aswellasinthoseofEngland.ForinEnglanditwasonlytheshillingedition--thatrevisedbyPaine--whichwassuppressed.Symonds,whoministeredtothehalf-crownfolk,andwhowasalsopublisherofrepliestoPaine,wasleftundisturbedabouthispiratededition,andthenewSocietyforthesuppressionofViceandImmoralityfastenedononeThomasWilliams,whosoldpioustractsbutwasalsoconvicted(June24,1797)ofhavingsoldonecopyofthe"AgeofReason."Erskine,whohaddefendedPaineathistrialforthe"RightsofMan,"conductedtheprosecutionofWilliams.Hegainedthevictoryfromapackedjury,butwasnotmuchelatedbyit,especiallyafteracertainadventureonhiswaytoLincoln'sInn.Hefelthiscoatclutchedandbeheldathisfeetawomanbathedintears.Sheledhim

intothesmallbook-shopofThomasWilliams,notyetcalledupforjudgment,andtherehebeheldhisvictimstitchingtractsinawretchedlittleroom,wheretherewerethreechildren,twosufferingwithSmallpox.Hesawthatitwouldberuinandevenasortofmurdertotakeawaytoprisonthehusband,whowasnotafreethinker,andlamentedhispublicationofthebook,andameetingoftheSocietywhichhadretainedhimwassummoned.Therewasafullmeeting,theBishopofLondon(Porteus)inthechair.ErskineremindedthemthatWilliamswasyettobebroughtupforsentence,describedthescenehehadwitnessed,andWilliams'penitence,and,asthebookwasnowsuppressed,askedpermissiontomoveforanominalsentence.Mercy,heurged,wasapartoftheChristianitytheyweredefending.NotoneoftheSocietytookhisside,--noteven"philanthropic"Wilberforce

--andErskinethrewuphisbrief.ThisactionofErskineledtheJudgetogiveWilliamsonlyayearinprisoninsteadofthethreehesaidhadbeenintended.

WhileWilliamswasinprisontheorthodoxcolporteurswerecirculatingErskine'sspeechonChristianity,butalsoananonymoussermon"OntheExistenceandAttributesoftheDeity,"allofwhichwasfromPaine's"AgeofReason,"exceptabrief"AddresstotheDeity"appended.ThispicturesqueanomalywasrepeatedinthecirculationofPaine's"DiscoursetotheTheophilanthropists"(their


12/118

andtheauthor'snamesremoved)underthetitleof"AtheismRefuted."Bothofthesepamphletsarenowbeforeme,andbesidethemaLondontractofonepagejustsentformyspiritualbenefit.Thisisheaded"AWordofCaution."Itbeginsbymentioningthe"perniciousdoctrinesofPaine,"thefirstbeing"thatthereisNoGOD"(sic,)thenproceedstoadduceevidencesofdivineexistencetakenfromPaine'sworks.Itshouldbeaddedthatthisonedingypageistheonly"survival"oftheancientPaineeffigyinthetractformwhichIhavebeenabletofindinrecentyears,andtothisnoSocietyorPublisher'snameisattached.

TheimprisonmentofWilliamswasthebeginningofathirtyyears'warforreligiouslibertyinEngland,inthecourseofwhichoccurredmanynotableevents,suchasEatonreceivinghomageinhispilloryatChoringCross,andthewholeCarlilefamilyimprisoned,--itsheadimprisonedmorethannineyearsforpublishingthe"AgeofReason."Thislastvictoryofpersecutionwassuicidal.Gentlemenofwealth,notadherentsofPaine,helpedinsettingCarlileupinbusinessinFleetStreet,wherefree-thinkingpublicationshavesincebeensoldwithoutinterruption.ButthoughLibertytriumphedinonesense,the"AgeofReason."remainedtosomeextentsuppressedamongthosewhoseattentionitespeciallymerited.ItsoriginalprosecutionbyaSocietyfortheSuppressionofVice(adeviceto,relievetheCrown)amountedtoalibeluponamorallycleanbook,restrictingits

perusalinfamilies;andthefactthattheshillingbooksoldbyandamonghumblepeoplewasaloneprosecuted,diffusedamongtheeducatedanequallyfalsenotionthatthe"AgeofReason"wasvulgarandilliterate.Thetheologians,aswehaveseen,estimatedmorejustlytheabilityoftheirantagonist,thecollaboratorofFranklin,Rittenhouse,andClymer,onwhomtheUniversityofPennsylvaniahadconferredthedegreeofMasterofArts,--butthegentryconfusedPainewiththeclassdescribedbyBurkeas"theswinishmultitude."Skepticism,oritsfreeutterance,wastemporarilydrivenoutofpolitecirclesbyitscomplicationwiththeout-lawedvindicatorofthe"RightsofMan."Butthatlongcombathasnowpassedaway.Timehasreducedthe"AgeofReason"fromaflagofpopularradicalismtoacomparativelyconservativetreatise,sofarasitsnegationsare

concerned.Anoldfriendtellsmethatinhisyouthheheardasermoninwhichthepreacherdeclaredthat"TomPainewassowickedthathecouldnotbeburied;hisboneswerethrownintoaboxwhichwasbandiedabouttheworldtillitcametoabutton-manufacturer;andnowPaineistravellingroundtheworldintheformofbuttons!"ThisvariantoftheWanderingJewmythmaynowberegardedasunconscioushomagetotheauthorwhosemetaphoricalbonesmayberecognizedinbuttonsnowfashionable,andsomeevenfoundusefulinholdingclericalvestmentstogether.

ButthecarefulreaderwillfindinPaine's"AgeofReason"somethingbeyondnegations,andinconclusionIwillespeciallycallattentiontothenewdepartureinTheismindicatedinapassagecorresponding

toafamousaphorismofKant,indicatedbyanoteinPartII.Thediscoveryalreadymentioned,thatPartI.waswrittenatleastfourteenyearsbeforePartII.,ledmetocomparethetwo;anditisplainthatwhiletheearlierworkisanamplificationofNewtonianDeism,basedonthephenomenaofplanetarymotion,theworkof1795basesbeliefinGodon"theuniversaldisplayofhimselfintheworksofthecreationandbythatrepugnancewefeelinourselvestobadactions,anddispositiontodogoodones."Thisexaltationofthemoralnatureofmantobethefoundationoftheisticreligion,thoughnowfamiliar,wasahundredyearsagoanewaffirmation;ithasled


13/118

onaconceptionofdeitysubversiveoflast-centurydeism,ithassteadilyhumanizedreligion,anditsultimatephilosophicalandethicalresultshavenotyetbeenreached.

CHAPTERI-THEAUTHOR'SPROFESSIONOFFAITH.

IThasbeenmyintention,forseveralyearspast,topublishmythoughtsuponreligion;Iamwellawareofthedifficultiesthatattendthesubject,andfromthatconsideration,hadreservedittoamoreadvancedperiodoflife.IintendedittobethelastofferingIshouldmaketomyfellow-citizensofallnations,andthatatatimewhenthepurityofthemotivethatinducedmetoitcouldnotadmitofaquestion,evenbythosewhomightdisapprovethework.

ThecircumstancethathasnowtakenplaceinFrance,ofthetotalabolitionofthewholenationalorderofpriesthood,andofeverythingappertainingtocompulsivesystemsofreligion,andcompulsivearticlesoffaith,hasnotonlyprecipitatedmyintention,butrenderedaworkofthiskindexceedinglynecessary,lest,inthegeneralwreckofsuperstition,offalsesystemsofgovernment,andfalsetheology,welosesightofmorality,ofhumanity,andofthetheologythatistrue.

Asseveralofmycolleagues,andothersofmyfellow-citizensofFrance,havegivenmetheexampleofmakingtheirvoluntaryandindividualprofessionoffaith,Ialsowillmakemine;andIdothiswithallthatsincerityandfranknesswithwhichthemindofmancommunicateswithitself.

IbelieveinoneGod,andnomore;andIhopeforhappinessbeyondthislife.

Ibelievetheequalityofman,andIbelievethatreligiousdutiesconsistindoingjustice,lovingmercy,andendeavoringtomakeourfellow-creatureshappy.

But,lestitshouldbesupposedthatIbelievemanyotherthingsinadditiontothese,Ishall,intheprogressofthiswork,declarethethingsIdonotbelieve,andmyreasonsfornotbelievingthem.

IdonotbelieveinthecreedprofessedbytheJewishchurch,bytheRomanchurch,bytheGreekchurch,bytheTurkishchurch,bytheProtestantchurch,norbyanychurchthatIknowof.Myownmindismyownchurch.

Allnationalinstitutionsofchurches,whetherJewish,Christian,orTurkish,appeartomenootherthanhumaninventionssetuptoterrifyandenslavemankind,andmonopolizepowerandprofit.

Idonotmeanbythisdeclarationtocondemnthosewhobelieveotherwise;theyhavethesamerighttotheirbeliefasIhavetomine.Butitisnecessarytothehappinessofman,thathebementallyfaithfultohimself.Infidelitydoesnotconsistinbelieving,orindisbelieving;itconsistsinprofessingtobelievewhathedoesnotbelieve.

Itisimpossibletocalculatethemoralmischief,ifImaysoexpressit,thatmentallyinghasproducedinsociety.Whenamanhassofar


14/118

corruptedandprostitutedthechastityofhismind,astosubscribehisprofessionalbelieftothingshedoesnotbelieve,hehaspreparedhimselfforthecommissionofeveryothercrime.Hetakesupthetradeof%2papriestforthesakeofgain,and,inordertoqualifyhimselfforthattrade,hebeginswithaperjury.Canweconceiveanythingmoredestructivetomoralitythanthis?

SoonafterIhadpublishedthepamphletCOMMONSENSE,inAmerica,Isawtheexceedingprobabilitythatarevolutioninthesystemofgovernmentwouldbefollowedbyarevolutioninthesystemofreligion.Theadulterousconnectionofchurchandstate,whereverithadtakenplace,whetherJewish,Christian,orTurkish,hadsoeffectuallyprohibited,bypainsandpenalties,everydiscussionuponestablishedcreeds,anduponfirstprinciplesofreligion,thatuntilthesystemofgovernmentshouldbechanged,thosesubjectscouldnotbebroughtfairlyandopenlybeforetheworld;butthatwheneverthisshouldbedone,arevolutioninthesystemofreligionwouldfollow.Humaninventionsandpriest-craftwouldbedetected;andmanwouldreturntothepure,unmixed,andunadulteratedbeliefofoneGod,andnomore.

CHAPTERII-OFMISSIONSANDREVELATIONS.

EVERYnationalchurchorreligionhasestablisheditselfby

pretendingsomespecialmissionfromGod,communicatedtocertainindividuals.TheJewshavetheirMoses;theChristianstheirJesusChrist,theirapostlesandsaints;andtheTurkstheirMahomet;asifthewaytoGodwasnotopentoeverymanalike.

Eachofthosechurchesshowscertainbooks,whichtheycallrevelation,ortheWordofGod.TheJewssaythattheirWordofGodwasgivenbyGodtoMosesfacetoface;theChristianssay,thattheirWordofGodcamebydivineinspiration;andtheTurkssay,thattheirWordofGod(theKoran)wasbroughtbyanangelfromheaven.Eachofthosechurchesaccusestheotherofunbelief;and,formyownpart,Idisbelievethemall.

Asitisnecessarytoaffixrightideastowords,Iwill,beforeIproceedfurtherintothesubject,offersomeobservationsontheword'revelation.'Revelationwhenappliedtoreligion,meanssomethingcommunicatedimmediatelyfromGodtoman.

NoonewilldenyordisputethepoweroftheAlmightytomakesuchacommunicationifhepleases.Butadmitting,forthesakeofacase,thatsomethinghasbeenrevealedtoacertainperson,andnotrevealedtoanyotherperson,itisrevelationtothatpersononly.Whenhetellsittoasecondperson,asecondtoathird,athirdtoafourth,andsoon,itceasestobearevelationtoallthosepersons.Itisrevelationtothefirstpersononly,andhearsaytoeveryother,and,consequently,theyarenotobligedtobelieveit.

Itisacontradictionintermsandideastocallanythingarevelationthatcomestousatsecondhand,eitherverballyorinwriting.Revelationisnecessarilylimitedtothefirstcommunication.Afterthis,itisonlyanaccountofsomethingwhichthatpersonsayswasarevelationmadetohim;andthoughhemayfindhimselfobligedtobelieveit,itcannotbeincumbentonmetobelieveitinthesamemanner,foritwasnotarevelationmadetome,andIhaveonlyhiswordforitthatitwasmadetohim.


15/118

WhenMosestoldthechildrenofIsraelthathereceivedthetwotablesofthecommandmentsfromthehandofGod,theywerenotobligedtobelievehim,becausetheyhadnootherauthorityforitthanhistellingthemso;andIhavenootherauthorityforitthansomehistoriantellingmeso,thecommandmentscarryingnointernalevidenceofdivinitywiththem.Theycontainsomegoodmoralpreceptssuchasanymanqualifiedtobealawgiveroralegislatorcouldproducehimself,withouthavingrecoursetosupernaturalintervention.[NOTE:Itis,however,necessarytoexceptthedeclamationwhichsaysthatGod'visitsthesinsofthefathersuponthechildren'.Thisiscontrarytoeveryprincipleofmoraljustice.--Author.]

WhenIamtoldthattheKoranwaswritteninHeaven,andbroughttoMahometbyanangel,theaccountcomestonearthesamekindofhearsayevidenceandsecondhandauthorityastheformer.Ididnotseetheangelmyself,andthereforeIhavearightnottobelieveit.

WhenalsoIamtoldthatawoman,calledtheVirginMary,said,orgaveout,thatshewaswithchildwithoutanycohabitationwithaman,andthatherbetrothedhusband,Joseph,saidthatanangeltoldhimso,Ihavearighttobelievethemornot:suchacircumstancerequiredamuchstrongerevidencethantheirbarewordforit:butwehavenoteventhis;forneitherJosephnorMarywroteanysuchmatter

themselves.Itisonlyreportedbyothersthattheysaidso.Itishearsayuponhearsay,andIdonotchosetorestmybeliefuponsuchevidence.

Itis,however,notdifficulttoaccountforthecreditthatwasgiventothestoryofJesusChristbeingtheSonofGod.Hewasbornwhentheheathenmythologyhadstillsomefashionandreputeintheworld,andthatmythologyhadpreparedthepeopleforthebeliefofsuchastory.Almostalltheextraordinarymenthatlivedundertheheathenmythologywerereputedtobethesonsofsomeoftheirgods.Itwasnotanewthingatthattimetobelieveamantohavebeencelestiallybegotten;theintercourseofgodswithwomenwasthenamatteroffamiliaropinion.TheirJupiter,accordingtotheir

accounts,hadcohabitedwithhundreds;thestorythereforehadnothinginiteithernew,wonderful,orobscene;itwasconformabletotheopinionsthatthenprevailedamongthepeoplecalledGentiles,ormythologists,anditwasthosepeopleonlythatbelievedit.TheJews,whohadkeptstrictlytothebeliefofoneGod,andnomore,andwhohadalwaysrejectedtheheathenmythology,nevercreditedthestory.

ItiscurioustoobservehowthetheoryofwhatiscalledtheChristianChurch,sprungoutofthetailoftheheathenmythology.Adirectincorporationtookplaceinthefirstinstance,bymakingthereputedfoundertobecelestiallybegotten.Thetrinityofgodsthatthenfollowedwasnootherthanareductionoftheformerplurality,

whichwasabouttwentyorthirtythousand.ThestatueofMarysucceededthestatueofDianaofEphesus.Thedeificationofheroeschangedintothecanonizationofsaints.TheMythologistshadgodsforeverything;theChristianMythologistshadsaintsforeverything.Thechurchbecameascrowdedwiththeone,asthepantheonhadbeenwiththeother;andRomewastheplaceofboth.TheChristiantheoryislittleelsethantheidolatryoftheancientmythologists,accommodatedtothepurposesofpowerandrevenue;andityetremainstoreasonandphilosophytoabolishtheamphibiousfraud.


16/118

CHAPTERIII-CONCERNINGTHECHARACTEROFJESUSCHRIST,ANDHISHISTORY.

NOTHINGthatisheresaidcanapply,evenwiththemostdistantdisrespect,totherealcharacterofJesusChrist.Hewasavirtuousandanamiableman.Themoralitythathepreachedandpracticedwasofthemostbenevolentkind;andthoughsimilarsystemsofmoralityhadbeenpreachedbyConfucius,andbysomeoftheGreekphilosophers,manyyearsbefore,bytheQuakerssince,andbymanygoodmeninallages,ithasnotbeenexceededbyany.

JesusChristwrotenoaccountofhimself,ofhisbirth,parentage,oranythingelse.NotalineofwhatiscalledtheNewTestamentisofhiswriting.Thehistoryofhimisaltogethertheworkofotherpeople;andastotheaccountgivenofhisresurrectionandascension,itwasthenecessarycounterparttothestoryofhisbirth.Hishistorians,havingbroughthimintotheworldinasupernaturalmanner,wereobligedtotakehimoutagaininthesamemanner,orthefirstpartofthestorymusthavefallentotheground.

Thewretchedcontrivancewithwhichthislatterpartistold,exceedseverythingthatwentbeforeit.Thefirstpart,thatofthemiraculousconception,wasnotathingthatadmittedofpublicity;andthereforethetellersofthispartofthestoryhadthis

advantage,thatthoughtheymightnotbecredited,theycouldnotbedetected.Theycouldnotbeexpectedtoproveit,becauseitwasnotoneofthosethingsthatadmittedofproof,anditwasimpossiblethatthepersonofwhomitwastoldcouldproveithimself.

Buttheresurrectionofadeadpersonfromthegrave,andhisascensionthroughtheair,isathingverydifferent,astotheevidenceitadmitsof,totheinvisibleconceptionofachildinthewomb.Theresurrectionandascension,supposingthemtohavetakenplace,admittedofpublicandoculardemonstration,likethatoftheascensionofaballoon,orthesunatnoonday,toallJerusalematleast.Athingwhicheverybodyisrequiredtobelieve,requiresthattheproofandevidenceofitshouldbeequaltoall,anduniversal;

andasthepublicvisibilityofthislastrelatedactwastheonlyevidencethatcouldgivesanctiontotheformerpart,thewholeofitfallstotheground,becausethatevidenceneverwasgiven.Insteadofthis,asmallnumberofpersons,notmorethaneightornine,areintroducedasproxiesforthewholeworld,tosaytheysawit,andalltherestoftheworldarecalledupontobelieveit.ButitappearsthatThomasdidnotbelievetheresurrection;and,astheysay,wouldnotbelievewithouthavingocularandmanualdemonstrationhimself.SoneitherwillI;andthereasonisequallyasgoodforme,andforeveryotherperson,asforThomas.

Itisinvaintoattempttopalliateordisguisethismatter.Thestory,sofarasrelatestothesupernaturalpart,haseverymarkof

fraudandimpositionstampeduponthefaceofit.Whoweretheauthorsofitisasimpossibleforusnowtoknow,asitisforustobeassuredthatthebooksinwhichtheaccountisrelatedwerewrittenbythepersonswhosenamestheybear.ThebestsurvivingevidencewenowhaverespectingthisaffairistheJews.Theyareregularlydescendedfromthepeoplewholivedinthetimethisresurrectionandascensionissaidtohavehappened,andtheysay'itisnottrue.'IthaslongappearedtomeastrangeinconsistencytocitetheJewsasaproofofthetruthofthestory.Itisjustthesameasifamanweretosay,IwillprovethetruthofwhatIhave


17/118

toldyou,byproducingthepeoplewhosayitisfalse.

ThatsuchapersonasJesusChristexisted,andthathewascrucified,whichwasthemodeofexecutionatthatday,arehistoricalrelationsstrictlywithinthelimitsofprobability.Hepreachedmostexcellentmorality,andtheequalityofman;buthepreachedalsoagainstthecorruptionsandavariceoftheJewishpriests,andthisbroughtuponhimthehatredandvengeanceofthewholeorderofpriest-hood.TheaccusationwhichthosepriestsbroughtagainsthimwasthatofseditionandconspiracyagainsttheRomangovernment,towhichtheJewswerethensubjectandtributary;anditisnotimprobablethattheRomangovernmentmighthavesomesecretapprehensionoftheeffectsofhisdoctrineaswellastheJewishpriests;neitherisitimprobablethatJesusChristhadincontemplationthedeliveryoftheJewishnationfromthebondageoftheRomans.Betweenthetwo,however,thisvirtuousreformerandrevolutionistlosthislife.[NOTE:TheFrenchworkhashere:"Howeverthismaybe,foroneortheotherofthesesuppositionsthisvirtuousreformer,thisrevolutionist,toolittleimitated,toomuchforgotten,toomuchmisunderstood,losthislife."--Editor.(Conway)]

CHAPTERIV-OFTHEBASESOFCHRISTIANITY.

ITisuponthisplainnarrativeoffacts,togetherwithanothercase

Iamgoingtomention,thattheChristianmythologists,callingthemselvestheChristianChurch,haveerectedtheirfable,whichforabsurdityandextravaganceisnotexceededbyanythingthatistobefoundinthemythologyoftheancients.

TheancientmythologiststellusthattheraceofGiantsmadewaragainstJupiter,andthatoneofthemthrewahundredrocksagainsthimatonethrow;thatJupiterdefeatedhimwiththunder,andconfinedhimafterwardsunderMountEtna;andthateverytimetheGiantturnshimself,MountEtnabelchesfire.Itishereeasytoseethatthecircumstanceofthemountain,thatofitsbeingavolcano,suggestedtheideaofthefable;andthatthefableismadetofitandwinditselfupwiththatcircumstance.

TheChristianmythologiststellthattheirSatanmadewaragainsttheAlmighty,whodefeatedhim,andconfinedhimafterwards,notunderamountain,butinapit.Itishereeasytoseethatthefirstfablesuggestedtheideaofthesecond;forthefableofJupiterandtheGiantswastoldmanyhundredyearsbeforethatofSatan.

ThusfartheancientandtheChristianmythologistsdifferverylittlefromeachother.Butthelatterhavecontrivedtocarrythemattermuchfarther.TheyhavecontrivedtoconnectthefabulouspartofthestoryofJesusChristwiththefableoriginatingfromMountEtna;and,inordertomakeallthepartsofthestorytietogether,theyhavetakentotheiraidthetraditionsoftheJews;forthe

Christianmythologyismadeuppartlyfromtheancientmythology,andpartlyfromtheJewishtraditionsn

TheChristianmythologists,afterhavingconfinedSataninapit,wereobligedtolethimoutagaintobringonthesequelofthefable.HeisthenintroducedintothegardenofEdenintheshapeofasnake,oraserpent,andinthatshapeheentersintofamiliarconversationwithEve,whoisnowayssurprisedtohearasnaketalk;andtheissueofthistete-a-tateis,thathepersuadeshertoeatanapple,andtheeatingofthatappledamnsallmankind.


18/118

AftergivingSatanthistriumphoverthewholecreation,onewouldhavesupposedthatthechurchmythologistswouldhavebeenkindenoughtosendhimbackagaintothepit,or,iftheyhadnotdonethis,thattheywouldhaveputamountainuponhim,(fortheysaythattheirfaithcanremoveamountain)orhaveputhimunderamountain,astheformermythologistshaddone,topreventhisgettingagainamongthewomen,anddoingmoremischief.Butinsteadofthis,theyleavehimatlarge,withoutevenobliginghimtogivehisparole.Thesecretofwhichis,thattheycouldnotdowithouthim;andafterbeingatthetroubleofmakinghim,theybribedhimtostay.TheypromisedhimALLtheJews,ALLtheTurksbyanticipation,nine-tenthsoftheworldbeside,andMahometintothebargain.Afterthis,whocandoubtthebountifulnessoftheChristianMythology?

Havingthusmadeaninsurrectionandabattleinheaven,inwhichnoneofthecombatantscouldbeeitherkilledorwounded--putSatanintothepit--lethimoutagain--givenhimatriumphoverthewholecreation--damnedallmankindbytheeatingofanapple,thereChristianmythologistsbringthetwoendsoftheirfabletogether.Theyrepresentthisvirtuousandamiableman,JesusChrist,tobeatoncebothGodandman,andalsotheSonofGod,celestiallybegotten,onpurposetobesacrificed,becausetheysaythatEveinherlonging[NOTE:TheFrenchworkhas:"yieldingtoanunrestrainedappetite."--

Editor.]hadeatenanapple.

CHAPTERV-EXAMINATIONINDETAILOFTHEPRECEDINGBASES.

PUTTINGasideeverythingthatmightexcitelaughterbyitsabsurdity,ordetestationbyitsprofaneness,andconfiningourselvesmerelytoanexaminationoftheparts,itisimpossibletoconceiveastorymorederogatorytotheAlmighty,moreinconsistentwithhiswisdom,morecontradictorytohispower,thanthisstoryis.

Inordertomakeforitafoundationtoriseupon,theinventorswereunderthenecessityofgivingtothebeingwhomtheycallSatanapowerequallyasgreat,ifnotgreater,thantheyattributetothe

Almighty.Theyhavenotonlygivenhimthepowerofliberatinghimselffromthepit,afterwhattheycallhisfall,buttheyhavemadethatpowerincreaseafterwardstoinfinity.Beforethisfalltheyrepresenthimonlyasanangeloflimitedexistence,astheyrepresenttherest.Afterhisfall,hebecomes,bytheiraccount,omnipresent.Heexistseverywhere,andatthesametime.Heoccupiesthewholeimmensityofspace.

NotcontentwiththisdeificationofSatan,theyrepresenthimasdefeatingbystratagem,intheshapeofananimalofthecreation,allthepowerandwisdomoftheAlmighty.TheyrepresenthimashavingcompelledtheAlmightytothedirectnecessityeitherofsurrenderingthewholeofthecreationtothegovernmentand

sovereigntyofthisSatan,orofcapitulatingforitsredemptionbycomingdownuponearth,andexhibitinghimselfuponacrossintheshapeofaman.

Hadtheinventorsofthisstorytolditthecontraryway,thatis,hadtheyrepresentedtheAlmightyascompellingSatantoexhibithimselfonacrossintheshapeofasnake,asapunishmentforhisnewtransgression,thestorywouldhavebeenlessabsurd,lesscontradictory.But,insteadofthistheymakethetransgressortriumph,andtheAlmightyfall.


19/118

Thatmanygoodmenhavebelievedthisstrangefable,andlivedverygoodlivesunderthatbelief(forcredulityisnotacrime)iswhatIhavenodoubtof.Inthefirstplace,theywereeducatedtobelieveit,andtheywouldhavebelievedanythingelseinthesamemanner.TherearealsomanywhohavebeensoenthusiasticallyenrapturedbywhattheyconceivedtobetheinfiniteloveofGodtoman,inmakingasacrificeofhimself,thatthevehemenceoftheideahasforbiddenanddeterredthemfromexaminingintotheabsurdityandprofanenessofthestory.Themoreunnaturalanythingis,themoreisitcapableofbecomingtheobjectofdismaladmiration.[NOTE:TheFrenchworkhas"blindand"precedingdismal.--Editor.]

CHAPTERVI-OFTHETRUETHEOLOGY.

BUTifobjectsforgratitudeandadmirationareourdesire,dotheynotpresentthemselveseveryhourtooureyes?Dowenotseeafaircreationpreparedtoreceiveustheinstantweareborn--aworldfurnishedtoourhands,thatcostusnothing?Isitwethatlightupthesun;thatpourdowntherain;andfilltheearthwithabundance?Whetherwesleeporwake,thevastmachineryoftheuniversestillgoeson.Arethesethings,andtheblessingstheyindicateinfuture,nothingto,us?Canourgrossfeelingsbeexcitedbynoothersubjectsthantragedyandsuicide?Oristhegloomyprideofman

becomesointolerable,thatnothingcanflatteritbutasacrificeoftheCreator?

Iknowthatthisboldinvestigationwillalarmmany,butitwouldbepayingtoogreatacomplimenttotheir,credulitytoforbearitonthataccount.Thetimesandthesubjectdemandittobedone.ThesuspicionthatthetheoryofwhatiscalledtheChristianchurchisfabulous,isbecomingveryextensiveinallcountries;anditwillbeaconsolationtomenstaggeringunderthatsuspicion,anddoubtingwhattobelieveandwhattodisbelieve,toseethesubjectfreelyinvestigated.IthereforepassontoanexaminationofthebookscalledtheOldandtheNewTestament.

CHAPTERVII-EXAMINATIONOFTHEOLDTESTAMENT.

THESEbooks%rCbeginningwithGenesisandendingwithRevelations,(which,bythebye,is%2pabookofriddlesthatrequiresarevelationtoexplainit)are,wearetold,thewordofGod.Itis,therefore,properforustoknowwhotoldusso,thatwemayknowwhatcredittogivetothereport.Theanswertothisquestionis,thatnobodycantell,exceptthatwetelloneanotherso.Thecase,however,historicallyappearstobeasfollows:

Whenthechurchmythologistsestablishedtheirsystem,theycollectedallthewritingstheycouldfind,andmanagedthemastheypleased.Itisamatteraltogetherofuncertaintytouswhethersuchofthe

writingsasnowappearunderthenameoftheOldandtheNewTestament,areinthesamestateinwhichthosecollectorssaytheyfoundthem;orwhethertheyadded,altered,abridged,ordressedthemup.

Bethisasitmay,theydecidedbyvotewhichofthebooksoutofthecollectiontheyhadmade,shouldbetheWORDOFGOD,andwhichshouldnot.Theyrejectedseveral;theyvotedotherstobedoubtful,suchasthebookscalledtheApocrypha;andthosebookswhichhadamajorityofvotes,werevotedtobethewordofGod.Hadtheyvotedotherwise,


20/118

allthepeoplesincecallingthemselvesChristianshadbelievedotherwise%sBforthebeliefoftheonecomesfromthevoteoftheother.Whothepeoplewerethatdidallthis,weknownothingof.TheycallthemselvesbythegeneralnameoftheChurch;andthisisallweknowofthematter.

AswehavenootherexternalevidenceorauthorityforbelievingthesebookstobethewordofGod,thanwhatIhavementioned,whichisnoevidenceorauthorityatall,Icome,inthenextplace,toexaminetheinternalevidencecontainedinthebooksthemselves.

Intheformerpartofthisessay,Ihavespokenofrevelation.Inowproceedfurtherwiththatsubject,forthepurposeofapplyingittothebooksinquestion.

Revelationisacommunicationofsomething,whichtheperson,towhomthatthingisrevealed,didnotknowbefore.ForifIhavedoneathing,orseenitdone,itneedsnorevelationtotellmeIhavedoneit,orseenit,nortoenablemetotellit,ortowriteit.

Revelation,therefore,cannotbeappliedtoanythingdoneuponearthofwhichmanishimselftheactororthewitness;andconsequentlyallthehistoricalandanecdotalpartoftheBible,whichisalmostthewholeofit,isnotwithinthemeaningandcompassoftheword

revelation,and,therefore,isnotthewordofGod.

WhenSamsonranoffwiththegate-postsofGaza,ifheeverdidso,(andwhetherhedidornotisnothingtous,)orwhenhevisitedhisDelilah,orcaughthisfoxes,ordidanythingelse,whathasrevelationtodowiththesethings?Iftheywerefacts,hecouldtellthemhimself;orhissecretary,ifhekeptone,couldwritethem,iftheywerewortheithertellingorwriting;andiftheywerefictions,revelationcouldnotmakethemtrue;andwhethertrueornot,weareneitherthebetternorthewiserforknowingthem.WhenwecontemplatetheimmensityofthatBeing,whodirectsandgovernstheincomprehensibleWHOLE,ofwhichtheutmostkenofhumansightcandiscoverbutapart,weoughttofeelshameatcallingsuchpaltry

storiesthewordofGod.

Astotheaccountofthecreation,withwhichthebookofGenesisopens,ithasalltheappearanceofbeingatraditionwhichtheIsraeliteshadamongthembeforetheycameintoEgypt;andaftertheirdeparturefromthatcountry,theyputitattheheadoftheirhistory,withouttelling,asitismostprobablethattheydidnotknow,howtheycamebyit.Themannerinwhichtheaccountopens,showsittobetraditionary.Itbeginsabruptly.Itisnobodythatspeaks.Itisnobodythathears.Itisaddressedtonobody.Ithasneitherfirst,second,northirdperson.Ithaseverycriterionofbeingatradition.Ithasnovoucher.Mosesdoesnottakeituponhimselfbyintroducingitwiththeformalitythatheusesonother

occasions,suchasthatofsaying,"TheLordsspakeuntoMoses,saying."

WhyithasbeencalledtheMosaicaccountofthecreation,Iamatalosstoconceive.Moses,Ibelieve,wastoogoodajudgeofsuchsubjectstoputhisnametothataccount.HehadbeeneducatedamongtheEgyptians,whowereapeopleaswellskilledinscience,andparticularlyinastronomy,asanypeopleoftheirday;andthesilenceandcautionthatMosesobserves,innotauthenticatingtheaccount,isagoodnegativeevidencethatheneithertolditnor


21/118

believedit.--Thecaseis,thateverynationofpeoplehasbeenworld-makers,andtheIsraeliteshadasmuchrighttosetupthetradeofworld-makingasanyoftherest;andasMoseswasnotanIsraelite,hemightnotchosetocontradictthetradition.Theaccount,however,isharmless;andthisismorethancanbesaidformanyotherpartsoftheBible.

Wheneverwereadtheobscenestories,thevoluptuousdebaucheries,thecruelandtorturousexecutions,theunrelentingvindictiveness,withwhichmorethanhalftheBible[NOTE:Itmustbeborneinmindthatbythe"Bible"PainealwaysmeanstheOldTestamentalone.--Editor.]isfilled,itwouldbemoreconsistentthatwecalleditthewordofademon,thantheWordofGod.Itisahistoryofwickedness,thathasservedtocorruptandbrutalizemankind;and,formyownpart,Isincerelydetestit,asIdetesteverythingthatiscruel.

Wescarcelymeetwithanything,afewphrasesexcepted,butwhatdeserveseitherourabhorrenceorourcontempt,tillwecometothemiscellaneouspartsoftheBible.Intheanonymouspublications,thePsalms,andtheBookofJob,moreparticularlyinthelatter,wefindagreatdealofelevatedsentimentreverentiallyexpressedofthepowerandbenignityoftheAlmighty;buttheystandonnohigherrankthanmanyothercompositionsonsimilarsubjects,aswellbeforethattimeassince.

TheProverbswhicharesaidtobeSolomon's,thoughmostprobablyacollection,(becausetheydiscoveraknowledgeoflife,whichhissituationexcludedhimfromknowing)areaninstructivetableofethics.TheyareinferiorinkeennesstotheproverbsoftheSpaniards,andnotmorewiseandoeconomicalthanthoseoftheAmericanFranklin.

AlltheremainingpartsoftheBible,generallyknownbythenameoftheProphets,aretheworksoftheJewishpoetsanditinerantpreachers,whomixedpoetry,anecdote,anddevotiontogether--andthoseworksstillretaintheairandstyleofpoetry,thoughintranslation.[NOTE:Astherearemanyreaderswhodonotseethata

compositionispoetry,unlessitbeinrhyme,itisfortheirinformationthatIaddthisnote.

Poetryconsistsprincipallyintwothings--imageryandcomposition.Thecompositionofpoetrydiffersfromthatofproseinthemannerofmixinglongandshortsyllablestogether.Takealongsyllableoutofalineofpoetry,andputashortoneintheroomofit,orputalongsyllablewhereashortoneshouldbe,andthatlinewillloseitspoeticalharmony.Itwillhaveaneffectuponthelinelikethatofmisplacinganoteinasong.

TheimageryinthosebookscalledtheProphetsappertainsaltogethertopoetry.Itisfictitious,andoftenextravagant,andnot

admissibleinanyotherkindofwritingthanpoetry.

Toshowthatthesewritingsarecomposedinpoeticalnumbers,Iwilltaketensyllables,astheystandinthebook,andmakealineofthesamenumberofsyllables,(heroicmeasure)thatshallrhymewiththelastword.Itwillthenbeseenthatthecompositionofthosebooksispoeticalmeasure.TheinstanceIshallfirstproduceisfromIsaiah:--

"Hear,Oyeheavens,andgiveear,Oearth


22/118

'TisGodhimselfthatcallsattentionforth.

AnotherinstanceIshallquoteisfromthemournfulJeremiah,towhichIshalladdtwootherlines,forthepurposeofcarryingoutthefigure,andshowingtheintentionofthepoet.

"O,thatmineheadwerewatersandmineeyesWerefountainsflowingliketheliquidskies;ThenwouldIgivethemightyfloodreleaseAndweepadelugeforthehumanrace."--Author.]

Thereisnot,throughoutthewholebookcalledtheBible,anywordthatdescribestouswhatwecallapoet,noranywordthatdescribeswhatwecallpoetry.Thecaseis,thatthewordprophet,towhichalatertimeshaveaffixedanewidea,wastheBiblewordforpoet,andtheword'propesytng'meanttheartofmakingpoetry.Italsomeanttheartofplayingpoetrytoatuneuponanyinstrumentofmusic.

Wereadofprophesyingwithpipes,tabrets,andhorns--ofprophesyingwithharps,withpsalteries,withcymbals,andwitheveryotherinstrumentofmusictheninfashion.Werewenowtospeakofprophesyingwithafiddle,orwithapipeandtabor,theexpressionwouldhavenomeaning,orwouldappearridiculous,andtosomepeoplecontemptuous,becausewehavechangedthemeaningoftheword.

WearetoldofSaulbeingamongtheprophets,andalsothatheprophesied;butwearenottoldwhattheyprophesied,norwhatheprophesied.Thecaseis,therewasnothingtotell;fortheseprophetswereacompanyofmusiciansandpoets,andSauljoinedintheconcert,andthiswascalledprophesying.

TheaccountgivenofthisaffairinthebookcalledSamuel,is,thatSaulmetacompanyofprophets;awholecompanyofthem!comingdownwithapsaltery,atabret,apipe,andaharp,andthattheyprophesied,andthatheprophesiedwiththem.Butitappearsafterwards,thatSaulprophesiedbadly,thatis,heperformedhispartbadly;foritissaidthatan"evilspiritfromGod[NOTE:As

thos;menwhocallthemselvesdivinesandcommentatorsareveryfondofpuzzlingoneanother,Ileavethemtocontestthemeaningofthefirstpartofthephrase,thatofanevilspiritofGod.Ikeeptomytext.Ikeeptothemeaningofthewordprophesy.--Author.]cameuponSaul,andheprophesied."

Now,weretherenootherpassageinthebookcalledtheBible,thanthis,todemonstratetousthatwehavelosttheoriginalmeaningofthewordprophesy,andsubstitutedanothermeaninginitsplace,thisalonewouldbesufficient;foritisimpossibletouseandapplythewordprophesy,intheplaceitishereusedandapplied,ifwegivetoitthesensewhichlatertimeshaveaffixedtoit.Themannerinwhichitishereusedstripsitofallreligiousmeaning,andshews

thatamanmightthenbeaprophet,orhemightProphesy,ashemaynowbeapoetoramusician,withoutanyregardtothemoralityortheimmoralityofhischaracter.Thewordwasoriginallyatermofscience,promiscuouslyappliedtopoetryandtomusic,andnotrestrictedtoanysubjectuponwhichpoetryandmusicmightbeexercised.

DeborahandBarakarecalledprophets,notbecausetheypredictedanything,butbecausetheycomposedthepoemorsongthatbearstheirname,incelebrationofanactalreadydone.Davidisrankedamong


23/118

theprophets,forhewasamusician,andwasalsoreputedtobe(thoughperhapsveryerroneously)theauthorofthePsalms.ButAbraham,Isaac,andJacobarenotcalledprophets;itdoesnotappearfromanyaccountswehave,thattheycouldeithersing,playmusic,ormakepoetry.

Wearetoldofthegreaterandthelesserprophets.TheymightaswelltellusofthegreaterandthelesserGod;fortherecannotbedegreesinprophesyingconsistentlywithitsmodernsense.Buttherearedegreesinpoetry,andthere-forethephraseisreconcilabletothecase,whenweunderstandbyitthegreaterandthelesserpoets.

Itisaltogetherunnecessary,afterthis,toofferanyobservationsuponwhatthosemen,styledprophets,havewritten.Theaxegoesatoncetotheroot,byshowingthattheoriginalmeaningofthewordhasbeenmistaken,andconsequentlyalltheinferencesthathavebeendrawnfromthosebooks,thedevotionalrespectthathasbeenpaidtothem,andthelabouredcommentariesthathavebeenwrittenuponthem,underthatmistakenmeaning,arenotworthdisputingabout.--Inmanythings,however,thewritingsoftheJewishpoetsdeserveabetterfatethanthatofbeingboundup,astheynoware,withthetrashthataccompaniesthem,undertheabusednameoftheWordofGod.

Ifwepermitourselvestoconceiverightideasofthings,wemust

necessarilyaffixtheidea,notonlyofunchangeableness,butoftheutterimpossibilityofanychangetakingplace,byanymeansoraccidentwhatever,inthatwhichwewouldhonourwiththenameoftheWordofGod;andthereforetheWordofGodcannotexistinanywrittenorhumanlanguage.

Thecontinuallyprogressivechangetowhichthemeaningofwordsissubject,thewantofanuniversallanguagewhichrenderstranslationnecessary,theerrorstowhichtranslationsareagainsubject,themistakesofcopyistsandprinters,togetherwiththepossibilityofwilfulalteration,areofthemselvesevidencesthathumanlanguage,whetherinspeechorinprint,cannotbethevehicleoftheWordofGod.--TheWordofGodexistsinsomethingelse.

DidthebookcalledtheBibleexcelinpurityofideasandexpressionallthebooksnowextantintheworld,Iwouldnottakeitformyruleoffaith,asbeingtheWordofGod;becausethepossibilitywouldneverthelessexistofmybeingimposedupon.ButwhenIseethroughoutthegreatestpartofthisbookscarcelyanythingbutahistoryofthegrossestvices,andacollectionofthemostpaltryandcontemptibletales,IcannotdishonourmyCreatorbycallingitbyhisname.

CHAPTERVIII-OFTHENEWTESTAMENT.

THUSmuchfortheBible;InowgoontothebookcalledtheNew

Testament.ThenewTestament!thatis,the'new'Will,asiftherecouldbetwowillsoftheCreator.

HaditbeentheobjectortheintentionofJesusChristtoestablishanewreligion,hewouldundoubtedlyhavewrittenthesystemhimself,orprocuredittobewritteninhislifetime.Butthereisnopublicationextantauthenticatedwithhisname.AllthebookscalledtheNewTestamentwerewrittenafterhisdeath.HewasaJewbybirthandbyprofession;andhewasthesonofGodinlikemannerthateveryotherpersonis;fortheCreatoristheFatherofAll.


24/118

Thefirstfourbooks,calledMatthew,Mark,Luke,andJohn,donotgiveahistoryofthelifeofJesusChrist,butonlydetachedanecdotesofhim.Itappearsfromthesebooks,thatthewholetimeofhisbeingapreacherwasnotmorethaneighteenmonths;anditwasonlyduringthisshorttimethatthosemenbecameacquaintedwithhim.Theymakementionofhimattheageoftwelveyears,sitting,theysay,amongtheJewishdoctors,askingandansweringthemquestions.Asthiswasseveralyearsbeforetheiracquaintancewithhimbegan,itismostprobabletheyhadthisanecdotefromhisparents.Fromthistimethereisnoaccountofhimforaboutsixteenyears.Wherehelived,orhowheemployedhimselfduringthisinterval,isnotknown.Mostprobablyhewasworkingathisfather'strade,whichwasthatofacarpenter.Itdoesnotappearthathehadanyschooleducation,andtheprobabilityis,thathecouldnotwrite,forhisparentswereextremelypoor,asappearsfromtheirnotbeingabletopayforabedwhenhewasborn.[NOTE:OneofthefewerrorstraceabletoPaine'snothavingaBibleathandwhilewritingPartI.Thereisnoindicationthatthefamilywaspoor,butthereversemayinfactbeinferred.--Editor.]

Itissomewhatcuriousthatthethreepersonswhosenamesarethemostuniversallyrecordedwereofveryobscureparentage.Moseswasafoundling;JesusChristwasborninastable;andMahometwasamule

driver.Thefirstandthelastofthesemenwerefoundersofdifferentsystemsofreligion;butJesusChristfoundednonewsystem.Hecalledmentothepracticeofmoralvirtues,andthebeliefofoneGod.Thegreattraitinhischaracterisphilanthropy.

Themannerinwhichhewasapprehendedshowsthathewasnotmuchknown,atthattime;anditshowsalsothatthemeetingshethenheldwithhisfollowerswereinsecret;andthathehadgivenoverorsuspendedpreachingpublicly.Judascouldnootherwaysbetrayhimthanbygivinginformationwherehewas,andpointinghimouttotheofficersthatwenttoarresthim;andthereasonforemployingandpayingJudastodothiscouldariseonlyfromthecausesalreadymentioned,thatofhisnotbeingmuchknown,andlivingconcealed.

Theideaofhisconcealment,notonlyagreesveryillwithhisreputeddivinity,butassociateswithitsomethingofpusillanimity;andhisbeingbetrayed,orinotherwords,hisbeingapprehended,ontheinformationofoneofhisfollowers,showsthathedidnotintendtobeapprehended,andconsequentlythathedidnotintendtobecrucified.

TheChristianmythologiststellusthatChristdiedforthesinsoftheworld,andthathecameonPurposetodie.Woulditnotthenhavebeenthesameifhehaddiedofafeverorofthesmallpox,ofoldage,orofanythingelse?

Thedeclaratorysentencewhich%rCtheysay%rCwaspasseduponAdam%rCincaseheateoftheapple%rCwasnot,thatthoushaltsurelybecrucified,but,thoushalesurelydie.Thesentencewasdeath,andnotthemannerofdying.Crucifixion,therefore,oranyotherparticularmannerofdying,madenopartofthesentencethatAdamwastosuffer,andconsequently,evenupontheirowntactic,itcouldmakenopartofthesentencethatChristwastosufferintheroomofAdam.Afeverwouldhavedoneaswellasacross,iftherewasanyoccasionforeither.


25/118

Thissentenceofdeath,which,theytellus,wasthuspasseduponAdam,musteitherhavemeantdyingnaturally,thatis,ceasingtolive,orhavemeantwhatthesemythologistscalldamnation;andconsequently,theactofdyingonthepartofJesusChrist,must,accordingtotheirsystem,applyasapreventiontooneorotherofthesetwothingshappeningtoAdamandtous.

Thatitdoesnotpreventourdyingisevident,becausewealldie;andiftheiraccountsoflongevitybetrue,mendiefastersincethecrucifixionthanbefore:andwithrespecttothesecondexplanation,(includingwithitthenaturaldeathofJesusChristasasubstitutefortheeternaldeathordamnationofallmankind,)itisimpertinentlyrepresentingtheCreatorascomingoff,orrevokingthesentence,byapunoraquibbleupontheworddeath.Thatmanufacturerof,quibbles,St.Paul,ifhewrotethebooksthatbearhisname,hashelpedthisquibbleonbymakinganotherquibbleuponthewordAdam.HemakestheretobetwoAdams;theonewhosinsinfact,andsuffersbyproxy;theotherwhosinsbyproxy,andsuffersinfact.Areligionthusinterlardedwithquibble,subterfuge,andpun,hasatendencytoinstructitsprofessorsinthepracticeofthesearts.Theyacquirethehabitwithoutbeingawareofthecause.

IfJesusChristwasthebeingwhichthosemythologiststellushewas,andthathecameintothisworldtosuffer,whichisawordthey

sometimesuseinsteadof'todie,'theonlyrealsufferinghecouldhaveenduredwouldhavebeen'tolive.'Hisexistenceherewasastateofexilementortransportationfromheaven,andthewaybacktohisoriginalcountrywastodie.--Infine,everythinginthisstrangesystemisthereverseofwhatitpretendstobe.Itisthereverseoftruth,andIbecomesotiredofexaminingintoitsinconsistenciesandabsurdities,thatIhastentotheconclusionofit,inordertoproceedtosomethingbetter.

Howmuch,orwhatpartsofthebookscalledtheNewTestament,werewrittenbythepersonswhosenamestheybear,iswhatwecanknownothingof,neitherarewecertaininwhatlanguagetheywereoriginallywritten.Thematterstheynowcontainmaybeclassedunder

twoheads:anecdote,andepistolarycorrespondence.

Thefourbooksalreadymentioned,Matthew,Mark,Luke,andJohn,arealtogetheranecdotal.Theyrelateeventsaftertheyhadtakenplace.TheytellwhatJesusChristdidandsaid,andwhatothersdidandsaidtohim;andinseveralinstancestheyrelatethesameeventdifferently.Revelationisnecessarilyoutofthequestionwithrespecttothosebooks;notonlybecauseofthedisagreementofthewriters,butbecauserevelationcannotbeappliedtotherelatingoffactsbythepersonswhosawthemdone,nortotherelatingorrecordingofanydiscourseorconversationbythosewhoheardit.ThebookcalledtheActsoftheApostles(ananonymouswork)belongsalsototheanecdotalpart.

AlltheotherpartsoftheNewTestament,exceptthebookofenigmas,calledtheRevelations,areacollectionoflettersunderthenameofepistles;andtheforgeryoflettershasbeensuchacommonpracticeintheworld,thattheprobabilityisatleastequal,whethertheyaregenuineorforged.Onething,however,ismuchlessequivocal,whichis,thatoutofthematterscontainedinthosebooks,togetherwiththeassistanceofsomeoldstories,thechurchhassetupasystemofreligionverycontradictorytothecharacterofthepersonwhosenameitbears.Ithassetupareligionofpompandofrevenue


26/118

inpretendedimitationofapersonwhoselifewashumilityandpoverty.

Theinventionofapurgatory,andofthereleasingofsoulstherefrom,byprayers,boughtofthechurchwithmoney%sBthesellingofpardons,dispensations,andindulgences,arerevenuelaws,withoutbearingthatnameorcarryingthatappearance.Butthecaseneverthelessis,thatthosethingsderivetheiroriginfromtheproxysmofthecrucifixion,andthetheorydeducedtherefrom,whichwas,thatonepersoncouldstandintheplaceofanother,andcouldperformmeritoriousservicesforhim.Theprobability,therefore,is,thatthewholetheoryordoctrineofwhatiscalledtheredemption(whichissaidtohavebeenaccomplishedbytheactofonepersonintheroomofanother)wasoriginallyfabricatedonpurposetobringforwardandbuildallthosesecondaryandpecuniaryredemptionsupon;andthatthepassagesinthebooksuponwhichtheideaoftheoryofredemptionisbuilt,havebeenmanufacturedandfabricatedforthatpurpose.Whyarewetogivethischurchcredit,whenshetellsusthatthosebooksaregenuineineverypart,anymorethanwegivehercreditforeverythingelseshehastoldus;orforthemiraclesshesaysshehasperformed?Thatshecouldfabricatewritingsiscertain,becauseshecouldwrite;andthecompositionofthewritingsinquestion,isofthatkindthatanybodymightdoit;andthatshedidfabricatethemisnotmoreinconsistentwithprobability,thanthat

sheshouldtellus,asshehasdone,thatshecouldanddidworkmiracles.

Since,then,noexternalevidencecan,atthislongdistanceoftime,beproducedtoprovewhetherthechurchfabricatedthedoctrinecalledredemptionornot,(forsuchevidence,whetherfororagainst,wouldbesubjecttothesamesuspicionofbeingfabricated,)thecasecanonlybereferredtotheinternalevidencewhichthethingcarriesofitself;andthisaffordsaverystrongpresumptionofitsbeingafabrication.Fortheinternalevidenceis,thatthetheoryordoctrineofredemptionhasforitsbasisanideaofpecuniaryjustice,andnotthatofmoraljustice.

IfIoweapersonmoney,andcannotpayhim,andhethreatenstoputmeinprison,anotherpersoncantakethedebtuponhimself,andpayitforme.ButifIhavecommittedacrime,everycircumstanceofthecaseischanged.Moraljusticecannottaketheinnocentfortheguiltyeveniftheinnocentwouldofferitself.Tosupposejusticetodothis,istodestroytheprincipleofitsexistence,whichisthethingitself.Itisthennolongerjustice.Itisindiscriminaterevenge.

Thissinglereflectionwillshowthatthedoctrineofredemptionisfoundedonamerepecuniaryideacorrespondingtothatofadebtwhichanotherpersonmightpay;andasthispecuniaryideacorrespondsagainwiththesystemofsecondredemptions,obtained

throughthemeansofmoneygiventothechurchforpardons,theprobabilityisthatthesamepersonsfabricatedboththeoneandtheotherofthosetheories;andthat,intruth,thereisnosuchthingasredemption;thatitisfabulous;andthatmanstandsinthesamerelativeconditionwithhisMakerheeverdidstand,sincemanexisted;andthatitishisgreatestconsolationtothinkso.

Lethimbelievethis,andhewilllivemoreconsistentlyandmorally,thanbyanyothersystem.Itisbyhisbeingtaughttocontemplatehimselfasanout-law,asanout-cast,asabeggar,asamumper,as


27/118

onethrownasitwereonadunghill,atanimmensedistancefromhisCreator,andwhomustmakehisapproachesbycreeping,andcringingtointermediatebeings,thatheconceiveseitheracontemptuousdisregardforeverythingunderthenameofreligion,orbecomesindifferent,orturnswhathecallsdevout.Inthelattercase,heconsumeshislifeingrief,ortheaffectationofit.Hisprayersarereproaches.Hishumilityisingratitude.Hecallshimselfaworm,andthefertileearthadunghill;andalltheblessingsoflifebythethanklessnameofvanities.HedespisesthechoicestgiftofGodtoman,theGIFTOFREASON;andhavingendeavouredtoforceuponhimselfthebeliefofasystemagainstwhichreasonrevolts,heungratefullycallsithumanreason,asifmancouldgivereasontohimself.

Yet,withallthisstrangeappearanceofhumility,andthiscontemptforhumanreason,heventuresintotheboldestpresumptions.Hefindsfaultwitheverything.Hisselfishnessisneversatisfied;hisingratitudeisneveratanend.HetakesonhimselftodirecttheAlmightywhattodo,eveninthegovemmentoftheuniverse.Hepraysdictatorially.Whenitissunshine,hepraysforrain,andwhenitisrain,hepraysforsunshine.Hefollowsthesameideaineverythingthathepraysfor;forwhatistheamountofallhisprayers,butanattempttomaketheAlmightychangehismind,andactotherwisethanhedoes?Itisasifheweretosay--thouknowestnotsowellasI.

CHAPTERIX-INWHATTHETRUEREVELATIONCONSISTS.

BUTsomeperhapswillsay--ArewetohavenowordofGod--norevelation?Iansweryes.ThereisaWordofGod;thereisarevelation.

THEWORDOFGODISTHECREATIONWEBEHOLD:Anditisinthisword,whichnohumaninventioncancounterfeitoralter,thatGodspeakethuniversallytoman.

Humanlanguageislocalandchangeable,andisthereforeincapableofbeingusedasthemeansofunchangeableanduniversalinformation.TheideathatGodsentJesusChristtopublish,astheysay,theglad

tidingstoallnations,fromoneendoftheearthuntotheother,isconsistentonlywiththeignoranceofthosewhoknownothingoftheextentoftheworld,andwhobelieved,asthoseworld-savioursbelieved,andcontinuedtobelieveforseveralcenturies,(andthatincontradictiontothediscoveriesofphilosophersandtheexperienceofnavigators,)thattheearthwasflatlikeatrencher;andthatamanmightwalktotheendofit.

ButhowwasJesusChristtomakeanythingknowntoallnations?Hecouldspeakbutonelanguage,whichwasHebrew;andthereareintheworldseveralhundredlanguages.Scarcelyanytwonationsspeakthesamelanguage,orunderstandeachother;andastotranslations,everymanwhoknowsanythingoflanguages,knowsthatitis

impossibletotranslatefromonelanguageintoanother,notonlywithoutlosingagreatpartoftheoriginal,butfrequentlyofmistakingthesense;andbesidesallthis,theartofprintingwaswhollyunknownatthetimeChristlived.

Itisalwaysnecessarythatthemeansthataretoaccomplishanyendbeequaltotheaccomplishmentofthatend,ortheendcannotbeaccomplished.Itisinthisthatthedifferencebetweenfiniteandinfinitepowerandwisdomdiscoversitself.Manfrequentlyfailsinaccomplishinghisend,fromanaturalinabilityofthepowertothe


28/118

purpose;andfrequentlyfromthewantofwisdomtoapplypowerproperly.Butitisimpossibleforinfinitepowerandwisdomtofailasmanfaileth.Themeansitusetharealwaysequaltotheend:buthumanlanguage,moreespeciallyasthereisnotanuniversallanguage,isincapableofbeingusedasanuniversalmeansofunchangeableanduniforminformation;andthereforeitisnotthemeansthatGodusethinmanifestinghimselfuniversallytoman.

ItisonlyintheCREATIONthatallourideasandconceptionsofawordofGodcanunite.TheCreationspeakethanuniversallanguage,independentlyofhumanspeechorhumanlanguage,multipliedandvariousastheybe.Itisaneverexistingoriginal,whicheverymancanread.Itcannotbeforged;itcannotbecounterfeited;itcannotbelost;itcannotbealtered;itcannotbesuppressed.Itdoesnotdependuponthewillofmanwhetheritshallbepublishedornot;itpublishesitselffromoneendoftheearthtotheother.Itpreachestoallnationsandtoallworlds;andthiswordofGodrevealstomanallthatisnecessaryformantoknowofGod.

Dowewanttocontemplatehispower?Weseeitintheimmensityofthecreation.Dowewanttocontemplatehiswisdom?WeseeitintheunchangeableorderbywhichtheincomprehensibleWholeisgoverned.Dowewanttocontemplatehismunificence?Weseeitintheabundancewithwhichhefillstheearth.Dowewanttocontemplatehismercy?

Weseeitinhisnotwithholdingthatabundanceevenfromtheunthankful.Infine,dowewanttoknowwhatGodis?Searchnotthebookcalledthescripture,whichanyhumanhandmightmake,butthescripturecalledtheCreation.

CHAPTERX-CONCERNINGGOD,ANDTHELIGHTSCASTONHISEXISTENCEANDATTRIBUTESBYTHEBIBLE.

THEonlyideamancanaffixtothenameofGod,isthatofafirstcause,thecauseofallthings.And,incomprehensiblydifficultasitisforamantoconceivewhatafirstcauseis,hearrivesatthebeliefofit,fromthetenfoldgreaterdifficultyofdisbelievingit.Itisdifficultbeyonddescriptiontoconceivethatspacecanhaveno

end;butitismoredifficulttoconceiveanend.Itisdifficultbeyondthepowerofmantoconceiveaneternaldurationofwhatwecalltime;butitismoreimpossibletoconceiveatimewhenthereshallbenotime.

Inlikemannerofreasoning,everythingwebeholdcarriesinitselftheinternalevidencethatitdidnotmakeitself.Everymanisanevidencetohimself,thathedidnotmakehimself;neithercouldhisfathermakehimself,norhisgrandfather,noranyofhisrace;neithercouldanytree,plant,oranimalmakeitself;anditistheconvictionarisingfromthisevidence,thatcarriesuson,asitwere,bynecessity,tothebeliefofafirstcauseeternallyexisting,ofanaturetotallydifferenttoanymaterialexistencewe

knowof,andbythepowerofwhichallthingsexist;andthisfirstcause,mancallsGod.

Itisonlybytheexerciseofreason,thatmancandiscoverGod.Takeawaythatreason,andhewouldbeincapableofunderstandinganything;andinthiscaseitwouldbejustasconsistenttoreadeventhebookcalledtheBibletoahorseastoaman.Howthenisitthatthosepeoplepretendtorejectreason?

AlmosttheonlypartsinthebookcalledtheBible,thatconveytous


29/118

anyideaofGod,aresomechaptersinJob,andthe19thPsalm;Irecollectnoother.Thosepartsaretruedeisticalcompositions;fortheytreatoftheDeitythroughhisworks.TheytakethebookofCreationasthewordofGod;theyrefertonootherbook;andalltheinferencestheymakearedrawnfromthatvolume.

Iinsertinthisplacethe19thPsalm,asparaphrasedintoEnglishversebyAddison.Irecollectnottheprose,andwhereIwritethisIhavenottheopportunityofseeingit:

Thespaciousfirmamentonhigh,Withalltheblueetherialsky,Andspangledheavens,ashiningframe,Theirgreatoriginalproclaim.Theunweariedsun,fromdaytoday,DoeshisCreator'spowerdisplay,AndpublishestoeverylandTheworkofanAlmightyhand.Soonastheeveningshadesprevail,Themoontakesupthewondroustale,Andnightlytothelist'ningearthRepeatsthestoryofherbirth;Whilstallthestarsthatroundherburn,Andalltheplanets,intheirturn,

Confirmthetidingsastheyroll,Andspreadthetruthfrompoletopole.WhatthoughinsolemnsilenceallMoveroundthisdarkterrestrialballWhatthoughnorealvoice,norsound,Amidsttheirradiantorbsbefound,Inreason'seartheyallrejoice,Andutterforthagloriousvoice,Foreversingingastheyshine,THEHANDTHATMADEUSISDIVINE.

Whatmoredoesmanwanttoknow,thanthatthehandorpowerthatmadethesethingsisdivine,isomnipotent?Lethimbelievethis,

withtheforceitisimpossibletorepelifhepermitshisreasontoact,andhisruleofmorallifewillfollowofcourse.

TheallusionsinjobhaveallofthemthesametendencywiththisPsalm;thatofdeducingorprovingatruththatwouldbeotherwiseunknown,fromtruthsalreadyknown.

IrecollectnotenoughofthepassagesinJobtoinsertthemcorrectly;butthereisonethatoccurstomethatisapplicabletothesubjectIamspeakingupon."CanstthoubysearchingfindoutGod;canstthoufindouttheAlmightytoperfection?"

Iknownothowtheprintershavepointedthispassage,forIkeepno

Bible;butitcontainstwodistinctquestionsthatadmitofdistinctanswers.

First,CanstthoubysearchingfindoutGod?Yes.Because,inthefirstplace,IknowIdidnotmakemyself,andyetIhaveexistence;andbysearchingintothenatureofotherthings,Ifindthatnootherthingcouldmakeitself;andyetmillionsofotherthingsexist;thereforeitis,thatIknow,bypositiveconclusionresultingfromthissearch,thatthereisapowersuperiortoallthosethings,andthatpowerisGod.


30/118

Secondly,CanstthoufindouttheAlmightytoperfection?No.NotonlybecausethepowerandwisdomHehasmanifestedinthestructureoftheCreationthatIbeholdistomeincomprehensible;butbecauseeventhismanifestation,greatasitisisprobablybutasmalldisplayofthatimmensityofpowerandwisdom,bywhichmillionsofotherworlds,tomeinvisiblebytheirdistance,werecreatedandcontinuetoexist.

Itisevidentthatbothofthesequestionswereputtothereasonofthepersontowhomtheyaresupposedtohavebeenaddressed;anditisonlybyadmittingthefirstquestiontobeansweredaffirmatively,thatthesecondcouldfollow.Itwouldhavebeenunnecessary,andevenabsurd,tohaveputasecondquestion,moredifficultthanthefirst,ifthefirstquestionhadbeenanswerednegatively.Thetwoquestionshavedifferentobjects;thefirstreferstotheexistenceofGod,thesecondtohisattributes.Reasoncandiscovertheone,butitfallsinfinitelyshortindiscoveringthewholeoftheothern

Irecollectnote20asinglepassageinallthewritingsascribedtothemencalledapostles,thatconveysanyideaofwhatGodis.Thosewritingsarechieflycontroversial;andthegloominessofthesubjecttheydwellupon,thatofamandyinginagonyonacross,isbettersuitedtothegloomygeniusofamonkinacell,bywhomitisnot

impossibletheywerewritten,thantoanymanbreathingtheopenairoftheCreation.Theonlypassagethatoccurstome,thathasanyreferencetotheworksofGod,bywhichonlyhispowerandwisdomcanbeknown,isrelatedtohavebeenspokenbyJesusChrist,asaremedyagainstdistrustfulcare."Beholdtheliliesofthefield,theytoilnot,neitherdotheyspin."This,however,isfarinferiortotheallusionsinJobandinthe19thPsalm;butitissimilarinidea,andthemodestyoftheimageryiscorrespondenttothemodestyoftheman.

CHAPTERXI-OFTHETHEOLOGYOFTHECHRISTIANS;ANDTHETRUETHEOLOGY.

AstotheChristiansystemoffaith,itappearstomeasaspeciesof

atheism;asortofreligiousdenialofGod.ItprofessestobelieveinamanratherthaninGod.Itisacompoundmadeupchieflyofman-ismwithbutlittledeism,andisasneartoatheismastwilightistodarkness.ItintroducesbetweenmanandhisMakeranopaquebody,whichitcallsaredeemer,asthemoonintroducesheropaqueselfbetweentheearthandthesun,anditproducesbythismeansareligiousoranirreligiouseclipseoflight.Ithasputthewholeorbitofreasonintoshade.

Theeffectofthisobscurityhasbeenthatofturningeverythingupsidedown,andrepresentingitinreverse;andamongtherevolutionsithasthusmagicallyproduced,ithasmadearevolutioninTheology.

Thatwhichisnowcallednaturalphilosophy,embracingthewholecircleofscience,ofwhichastronomyoccupiesthechiefplace,isthestudyoftheworksofGod,andofthepowerandwisdomofGodinhisworks,andisthetruetheology.

Astothetheologythatisnowstudiedinitsplace,itisthestudyofhumanopinionsandofhumanfanciesconcerningGod.ItisnotthestudyofGodhimselfintheworksthathehasmade,butintheworksorwritingsthatmanhasmade;anditisnotamongtheleastofthe


31/118

mischiefsthattheChristiansystemhasdonetotheworld,thatithasabandonedtheoriginalandbeautifulsystemoftheology,likeabeautifulinnocent,todistressandreproach,tomakeroomforthehagofsuperstition.

TheBookofJobandthe19thPsalm,whicheventhechurchadmitstobemoreancientthanthechronologicalorderinwhichtheystandinthebookcalledtheBible,aretheologicalorationsconformabletotheoriginalsystemoftheology.Theinternalevidenceofthoseorationsprovestoademonstrationthatthestudyandcontemplationoftheworksofcreation,andofthepowerandwisdomofGodrevealedandmanifestedinthoseworks,madeagreatpartofthereligiousdevotionofthetimesinwhichtheywerewritten;anditwasthisdevotionalstudyandcontemplationthatledtothediscoveryoftheprinciplesuponwhichwhatarenowcalledSciencesareestablished;anditistothediscoveryoftheseprinciplesthatalmostalltheArtsthatcontributetotheconvenienceofhumanlifeowetheirexistence.Everyprincipalarthassomescienceforitsparent,thoughthepersonwhomechanicallyperformstheworkdoesnotalways,andbutveryseldom,perceivetheconnection.

ItisafraudoftheChristiansystemtocallthesciences'humaninventions;'itisonlytheapplicationofthemthatishuman.Everysciencehasforitsbasisasystemofprinciplesasfixedand

unalterableasthosebywhichtheuniverseisregulatedandgoverned.Mancannotmakeprinciples,hecanonlydiscoverthem.

Forexample:Everypersonwholooksatanalmanackseesanaccountwhenaneclipsewilltakeplace,andheseesalsothatitneverfailstotakeplaceaccordingtotheaccounttheregiven.Thisshowsthatmanisacquaintedwiththelawsbywhichtheheavenlybodiesmove.Butitwouldbesomethingworsethanignorance,wereanychurchonearthtosaythatthoselawsareanhumaninvention.

Itwouldalsobeignorance,orsomethingworse,tosaythatthescientificprinciples,bytheaidofwhichmanisenabledtocalculateandforeknowwhenaneclipsewilltakeplace,areanhuman

invention.Mancannotinventanythingthatiseternalandimmutable;andthescientificprinciplesheemploysforthispurposemust,andare,ofnecessity,aseternalandimmutableasthelawsbywhichtheheavenlybodiesmove,ortheycouldnotbeusedastheyaretoascertainthetimewhen,andthemannerhow,aneclipsewilltakeplace.

Thescientificprinciplesthatmanemploystoobtaintheforeknowledgeofaneclipse,orofanythingelserelatingtothemotionoftheheavenlybodies,arecontainedchieflyinthatpartofsciencethatiscalledtrigonometry,orthepropertiesofatriangle,which,whenappliedtothestudyoftheheavenlybodies,iscalledastronomy;whenappliedtodirectthecourseofashipontheocean,

itiscallednavigation;whenappliedtotheconstructionoffiguresdrawnbyaruleandcompass,itiscalledgeometry;whenappliedtotheconstructionofplansofedifices,itiscalledarchitecture;whenappliedtothemeasurementofanyportionofthesurfaceoftheearth,itiscalledland-surveying.Infine,itisthesoulofscience.Itisaneternaltruth:itcon

The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine

Documents

Transcript of The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine