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diff --git a/40983-0.txt b/40983-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9825087 --- /dev/null +++ b/40983-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,913 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40983 *** + +THOUGHTS ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION BY A DEIST + +TO WHICH ARE ADDED, A FEW IDEAS ON MIRACULOUS CONVERSION, AND RELIGION +IN GENERAL. + + +By A Theophilanthropist + +LONDON: + +PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY R. CARLILE, 55, FLEET STREET. + +1819. + + + + +THOUGHTS + + +Religion, in some form or other, seems to have been observed by mankind, +in all ages and all parts of the world; and considered as the most noble +employment, of the most divine nature, and producing the most beneficial +effects to society, of all the objects that ever engaged their +attention: although from casual circumstances, and interested motives +of individuals, there are as many modes and varieties of worship, as +languages or nations on the face of the earth. + +Europeans have in general embraced Christianity, as contained in +the Bible, which _they_ call the Word of God, as the only true and +infallible system on earth, and which only can lead us to eternal +happiness. This Bible, we have been taught to believe, is holy, just, +perfect, and superior to the human understanding; so sacred, that to +doubt or disbelieve it, would entail on us inevitable never-ending +misery. This doctrine, being instilled into children by their nurses, +and enforced by terror at a riper age, has long been assented to by the +_generality of people_, who seldom think or enquire for themselves, but +are always more or less the dupes of designing men. + +But the times are now changing; the privilege of reasoning and believing +for ourselves begins to be exercised--freedom of enquiry abounds; and +the natural inherent right of speaking and acting according to the +dictates of our own conscience (without injuring society) is happily +enjoyed. Consequently, impositions of every kind, superstitious +prejudices, and the long worshipped fabrics of civil and religious +tyranny, are daily growing into contempt, and in all probability will +soon be torn from their foundations, and consigned to that infamous +oblivion which they so highly merit. + +To come more immediately to the point--the Christian religion, as +generally practised, presents itself as one of those monuments of +ignorance and credulity, which the wisdom of the present generation is +probably destined to overthrow, and to substitute a system more simple, +more pure, and more agreeable to the dictates of reason. The Bible, upon +examination, we shall find deficient in many of the virtues that have +been ascribed to it. As a human composition, its merits have been +greatly over-rated: it is exceeded in sentiment, invention, style, and +every other literary qualification. The obscurity, incredibility, and +obscenity, so conspicuous in many parts of it, would justly condemn the +works of a modern writer. It contains a mixture of inconsistency and +contradiction; to call which the _word of God_, is the highest pitch of +extravagance: it is to attribute to the Deity that which any person of +common sense would blush to confess himself the author of. + +How are the rights and dignity of human nature insulted, degraded, and +trampled upon! how are mankind blinded, deceived, and led away by this +system! how is the honour and character of the Almighty affronted by the +absurd and impious doctrines it contains! How is the sacred name of God +abused and prostituted to the vilest and most execrable purposes, by his +pretended worshippers! And all for one simple, evident end, to gratify +the pride and avarice of unprincipled, designing men! + +But something more than declamation is necessary to support these +assertions. I shall therefore give the reasons why I disbelieve the +Christian system, and all the arguments advanced in its favour. + +As to the existing proofs of the divine authority of the Bible, whether +internal or external, whether the evidence we feel in our own minds +on examining it, or the miracles which are said to have attended its +propagation, they are of no avail in convincing us of its divine origin: +and I do not think, that independent of the prejudices of education, and +the power of eloquence, there ever was a reasonable thinking man, who +felt a sufficient internal evidence to convince him of the reality of +the whole of its doctrines. + +With respect to the public proofs exhibited by its founders, we find +them no stronger than those in favour of Mahometanism, or perhaps any +other system. Mahomet is said to have wrought as many miracles, preached +as good doctrine, converted ten times as many followers, and was far +more successful in all his enterprizes, however bold or difficult, than +Jesus Christ. The Christians say, the Mahometan miracles were nothing +but impostures; and the Mahometans say, with as much authority, that the +Christian miracles were the same. + +If the gospel system was so clear, so reasonable, and so powerful, as +its advocates assert, what necessity could there have been for miracles +to support it? If it had any foundation in reason and nature, there +would have been no occasion for mystery, miracle, or revelation, to +confirm it. A doctrine that is reasonable and true, will appear so to +every unprejudiced mind, without the aid of any thing supernatural. +Consequently, that system which requires miraculous assistance to +establish it, and cannot be proved by human means, is neither reasonable +nor true. + +Supposing the Bible to have been written by divine inspiration, at +the times, and by the persons mentioned in it, still it is next to +impossible, that it could have been transmitted down to the present time +pure and uncontaminated, even if there had been but one nation and one +language upon earth. The variety of translations and editions it has +passed through in the course of near 1800 years, if it has existed +so long, (which I am inclined to disbelieve of many parts) and the +continual improvements and alterations in human language, during +that period, amount to a presumptive proof that the sense has been +unavoidably mistaken, or wilfully perverted. A confirmation of this +remark is open to all: let any one take the trouble of comparing +different copies of the Bible, printed in the last and present +centuries, or even in the same year, and he will often find a striking +disagreement. + +Admitting that the Bible contains the only doctrine by which we +can obtain salvation and everlasting life, which of the numberless +professions that have sprung out of it are we to embrace? One sect tells +us that there is no salvation out of the pale of their church. Another +tells us, that unless we believe and practise their doctrines, we shall +surely be damned. Let us believe, therefore, in whatever particular +profession we may, we shall be damned according to the principles of the +others. + +How gracious and beneficent is the Christian system! so perfect and pure +that it creates so many different, distinct, and opposite denominations +of believers; all of them right, infallibly right, in their own +opinions, and proving their doctrine by the clear, in-contestible +authority of divine revelation! + +Many, as an excuse for countenancing a doctrine which they confess may +not be true, say, that if the Christian religion be false, it is still +very hurtful to attempt to overturn it; as we have no better guide, and +no other method to restrain the passions and regulate the conduct of +mankind; as it is the most perfect and beneficial system that could be +devised. To determine this, we must look at its effects. + +That doctrine which has the greatest tendency to secure our present +and future happiness is the best; it proves itself to be so. That the +Christian system does not tend to make us happier, may easily be shewn, +by tracing its natural operations on the human mind. By it we are led +to believe, that we are all miserable and ruined wretches; corrupt and +exceedingly wicked from our very birth; naturally sinful, and opposed to +the will of God in all our actions, words, and thoughts; and so far from +deserving the common blessings of life, that if justice had been +done us, we should long since have been cast into endless punishment. +Tribulation, distress, and sore trials, are the common lot of mankind, +especially the good. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." This world, +it tells us, is a wretched, tiresome, and accursed place; a mere sink of +guilt and misery; and all its enjoyments vanity and vexation of spirit. +Though by the bye, those who are called sincere and pious Christians +seem to be as desirous of continuing in it, and tasting the good thing's +it affords, as the most sensual and worldly-minded sinner. It likewise +instils into its followers such a servile fear, and dread of the wrath +of heaven, that they can neither lie down at night, nor rise in the +morning, without first attempting, by intreaty, flattery, and fair +promises, to appease the Divine anger, and persuade the Almighty to +permit them to exist in peace. Every accident is a judgement, and a +prelude to further punishment. Every misfortune that happens to their +neighbours is a warning to them; and they are liable every moment to be +cut off by an avenging God, and sent to Hell. + +While on the one hand, they represent the Deity as their servant, +to assist them on every occasion, averting every ill they bring upon +themselves, and extricating them from every difficulty and distress +they plunge themselves into; on the other he is supposed to be a fierce, +revengeful tyrant, delighting in cruelty, punishing his creatures for +the very sins which he causes them to commit; and creating numberless +millions of immortal souls, that could never have offended him, for +the express purpose of tormenting them to all eternity. Thus they +are generally miserable through life, in meditating on death and its +supposed consequences. + +The authority of the Bible appears still more doubtful from the +absurdities and contradictions it contains; contradictions which all the +sophistical ingenuity of reverend divines, with their literal meaning +of this text, and spiritual interpretation of that, can never explain or +reconcile. + +In the very first chapter of the whole volume, containing an account of +the creation, we find an inexplicable difficulty. In Genesis i. 27, 28, +we are told, that "God created man, _male and female_, blessed _them_, +and said unto _them&c_". But in ii. 20, we find that "there was not an +help meet for Adam:" therefore, ver. 18, "God said, it is not good that +man should be alone." And, ver. 22, "he made a woman, and brought her +unto the man." + +The Almighty, according to many parts of the Bible, is a perfect, +unchangeable being. In Isaiah, he is said to declare, that he is "not +as a man, that he should repent." But in other places we read of his +repenting very frequently. He repented that he had made man. Having +determined to destroy the Israelites, and having slain seventy thousand +of them, "he repented of the evil," and spared the rest. He told +Hezekiah that "he should surely die, and not live," but immediately +repented, and gave him fifteen years longer. Jonah prophesied, in his +name, that in forty days Nineveh should be overthrown; but the people +believing him (though he did not perform his promise) and forsaking +their sins, he "repented of the evil that he said he would do unto them, +and did it not." + +In one place it says, "Our God is a consuming fire;" and in another, +"God is love." He is said to be Jealous, revengeful, and angry with the +wicked every day; and pleased again as often as they repent: possessing +all the good and evil qualities of man, that unstable, wicked, +miserable, and insignificant worm. Notwithstanding all this, he is +perfectly just, wise, immutable, and can never repent. + +The Christian system, I venture to affirm, has been the cause of +more evil in the world, than any other that ever appeared in it. By +inculcating a belief that the Deity was a terrible God, an inexorable +judge, taking vengeance on all his enemies; its professors, wishing to +conform as much as possible to the character and disposition of _their +God_, have in all ages acted with the same spirit, and upon the same +principles: + + "O let this strong, unerring hand, + Thy bolts for ever throw; + And deal damnation round the land, + On each I judge thy foe." + + +Inspired with the most vindictive hatred to all who do not subscribe to +the principles they profess (who are, according to their faith, enemies; +for they say, there is no medium or neutrality, "all who are not for +us are against us;)" they have never failed, in any country, and at +all times, when they had the power, to exercise the most cruel and +detestable spirit that ever disgraced human nature. Not contented with +insulting, oppressing, enslaving, and butchering the poor heretics here, +but most humanely and charitably condemning them to everlasting torments +hereafter. + +During the first 320 years of its existence, Christianity occasioned +the destruction of many millions of mankind. In the first part of this +period, the Christians were the greatest sufferers; but in the year +312 Maxentius and his army of 200,000, were most of them drowned in the +Tiber, or slain by Constantine, the Christian emperor; who, in three +great battles, in one of which 100,000 were killed, reduced and put to +death Licinus, the deputy emperor of the East; persecuted the Heathens +and destroyed their idols, the symbols of their divinities. + +In the twelfth and subsequent centuries, millions of Waldenses and +Protestants were murdered in the south of France. How many millions lost +their lives in the mad crusades for the recovery of the Holy Land! +In Germany and Flanders, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, in South +America. But I stop, or "I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word +would harrow up the soul," chill the blood with horror, and draw forth +curses from the grave against the very name of a religion which has been +made the pretext for such cruelties. + +Indeed, it is impossible to calculate the mischief that has attended +the Christian system since its commencement. But, say its advocates, all +this was done by Antichrist, or the false church. Which then is the true +church? Not that which persecutes. And what church is that? The +church of Rome? No: for that, after long struggles, no sooner became +established in power, than it persecuted its dissenting sons with all +the zeal and barbarity that it had experienced from its enemies. The +church of England? No: for although that separated from the church of +Rome, and rejected many of the errors and corruptions which had crept +into it; yet no sooner was it fully established in Great Britain, than +it very carefully trod over the steps of the mother church, persecuted +Roman Catholics, and all Dissenters. The Puritans, who fled to this +country for the sake of freedom of conscience and religious liberty, +were no sooner settled, than they discovered the same illiberal +persecuting spirit which drove them hither, and persecuted the Quakers +in their turn; becoming as corrupt as any of the former churches. Each +of them, while they were weak and defenceless, suffered by the murderous +hand of its oppressors; and, when become strong and powerful, persecuted +and martyred its feebler enemies. And I believe there is not a church in +Christendom but would, if it could not convert, most gladly destroy +all its opposers; had it that one essential and only necessary quality, +_power_. For they affirm, that the world, with all its blessings, are +nothing but temptations to draw them away from their true interest; and +that unbelievers of every kind are their natural implacable enemies. + +The carnal mind, say they, is enmity to God and his people, (themselves) +and is in continual opposition to every thing good and heavenly; they +must then of necessity wage an eternal war against all who do not +acknowledge their system, as the only sure, guide to heaven. + +The powerful blow which has been aimed at this system of faith by +Paine's Age of Reason, has created a general and well-founded alarm. +That work, to every bigotted or interested follower of Christianity, +appears in a dreadful light indeed, as it is a direct attack upon their +favourite, their dearly-beloved system of gospel faith, which exalts +them, in their own opinions, so much above the rest of mankind. + +The Christian theology is so favourable to the pride and vanity of man, +that the slightest attempt to overturn it occasions an universal panic +in its supporters, who immediately display all the ensigns of their +cause, the pompous, high-sounding anathemas of Scripture, to frighten +the bold invader of their aërial territories. So far they act +consistently; for where they have no weapons or defence from nature +and reason, fear and hope, though unfounded and delusive, are the only +expedients left. By representing the terrors of their law in the most +horrid colours, the wretched victim of their designs cries out in the +depth of despair, "Lord, what shall I do to be saved?" The work is +then in a certain way of success; the convert gives himself up to the +direction of the church in all things, and is ever after the passive +tool of its power. These converts are seldom or never made by pure +reason and sound argument, for these would never answer the purpose; but +the passions, which may be driven by every gale that blows, the fickle +and inconstant passions, are so influenced by the power of false +eloquence in violent declamations and vehement harangues, that the calm, +even voice of reason is not heard, or is disregarded, amidst the bustle +of jarring emotions; and the poor frightened wretch catches hold of the +first object that is held out to save him from his fancied perishing and +undone condition. Without ever once considering whether the profession +they embrace is founded in nature and reason, they confide wholly in the +piety of their spiritual teacher, leave their faith and hope altogether +in his hands, and trust entirely upon his promises and power. Their +belief he can alter or abolish at pleasure; for what he preaches they +must adhere to; what he allows they must profess; what he approves must +be true. + +In fact, the Christian system has never yet been weighed in the +impartial balance of reason, or received a candid trial in the thinking +world. Force, fraud, and other unfair means have always been necessarily +employed for its establishment. Had it been founded on truth, or +consistent with common sense, its advocates would never have refused to +submit it to reason, and the cool, dispassionate judgement of mankind. +But they well knew that it could never stand the test, and this would +be the certain means of its destruction. They therefore boldly and +presumptuously tell the world, that it is beyond the reach of human +reason, which is not competent to judge rightly of it. They confess that +we cannot comprehend a great part of it; but at the same time command us +to believe it, though we cannot understand it. + +It has been the peculiarly honourable lot of Thomas Paine, the firm +advocate of truth, the undaunted champion of reason, and the resolute +and unconquerable enemy of tyranny, bigotry, and prejudice, to open +the door to free and impartial enquiry. He has boldly entered the +field himself, and taught the world, that no true system of principles, +however sacred they may be held in the public opinion, and however +strongly protected and enforced by the terrors of man's vengeance +here, and eternal punishment hereafter, is too awful to be canvassed by +reason, or too sublime to be comprehended by common sense. + +The Christian system, as it is not consistent with reason, is declared +to be above it; and should be received even if it does not appear clear +and intelligible to our human capacities. + +This by prohibiting enquiry, effectually prevents detection of falsehood +and confirmation of truth. The doctrine is received upon trust, upon the +credit of our forefathers; because, they taught, or rather said so, +we must implicitly believe so, all the remonstrances of reason and +experience to the contrary notwithstanding. + +This is certainly a very great absurdity. For there once was a beginning +to every system or theory in being; and at that beginning it was +necessary to exercise reason as the unerring guide to direct in the +choice or rejection thereof. If mankind were not only allowed, but +necessitated to weigh every doctrine in the infallible balance of +reason, at any time, why are we not entitled to the same privilege +at present? Is our reason degenerated? Are our faculties impaired? +Or rather, are we not far more wise and enlightened than mankind were +centuries ago, and much more competent to understand and judge of things +than they were? By the practice before mentioned, by that tyranny over +the minds of men, which has ever been exercised in despotic states, the +grossest falsehoods have been forced upon the world for realities, and +the most detestable impositions established and maintained in all the +strength and vigour of immutable truth. + +But these arts, how long soever they may prosper, and by whatever +authority they may be supported; though they may call to their aid all +the powers of superstition and prejudices of education, and be assisted +by the pride and deceit of hypocritical bigots and mercenary tyrants; +still must they finally fall, and sink into contemptuous oblivion. The +present state of society seems peculiarly adapted to the advancement +of truth, and destruction of error. The sun of reason has begun to +appear, dispelling the thick and almost impenetrable mists of ignorance +and superstition, illuminating the most secret recesses of the mind, +and will continue to increase in splendour, till it shine forth in one +clear, unclouded, and eternal day. + +The writings of modern philosophers have served greatly to illuminate +the minds of the present generation. I will here, quote Pope's beautiful +description of that _sublime and heavenly_ religion, which mankind in +a state of nature professed, contrasted with that distorted, gloomy +religion which has been imposed on mankind by power and fraud. + + "Man, like his Maker, saw that all was right, + To virtue, in the paths of pleasure, trod, + And own'd a father when he own'd a God. + Love all the faith, and all th' allegiance then; + For Nature knew no light divine in men, + No ill could fear in God; and understood + A sov'reign being but a sov'reign good." + + + "Superstition taught the tyrant awe, + Then shar'd the tyranny, then lent it aid, + And Gods of conq'rors, slaves of subjects made: + She, 'midst the lightning's blaze and thunder's sound, + When rock'd the mountains, and when groan'd the ground, + She taught the weak to bend, the proud to pray, + To pow'r unseen, and mightier far than they: + She, from the rending earth and bursting skies, + Saw Gods descend and fiends infernal rise: + Here fix'd the dreadful, there the blest abodes; + Fear made her devils, and weak hope her gods; + Gods partial, changeful, passionate, unjust, + Whose attributes were rage, revenge, or lust; + Such as the souls of cowards might conceive, + And, form'd like tyrants, tyrants would believe. + Zeal, then, not charity, became the guide, + And hell was built on spite, and heav'n on pride. + Then sacred seeneth ethereal vault no more; + Altars grew marble then, and reek'd with gore: + Then first the Flamen tasted living food; + Next his grim idol smear'd with human blood; + With heav'n's own thunders shook the world below; + And play'd the god an engine on his foe." + +From an attentive perusal of such liberal, enlightened writers as +Pope, Locke, Hume, &c. who were not interested in forcing any unnatural +systems upon mankind, whose only aim was the happiness of the human +race, and from my own reflections, I have adopted the following _creed_, +which I here submit to the impartial consideration of my fellow-citizens +of all denominations. + +1. I believe in one God, or first cause, wise, powerful, and good; and +too far above the influence of human actions to be affected by any thing +that can be done on earth. + +2. I believe in the equality of men by nature (though so different by +accident) the universal power of conscience, and the unerring authority +of natural reason. + +3. I believe the whole duty of man is comprised in this one great +republican principle--Do just as you would be done unto.--My reasons for +believing thus are, in the first place, that this first 'cause is wise +and powerful beyond our conception, is clearly evinced in the wonderful +formation and disposition of nature, exhibited in every thing that we +have any perception of. That he is good, the whole creation proves: for +we find nothing made but what is useful, beneficial, and conducive to +the happiness of the whole. And that he is too far above the reach of +human actions to be affected by any thing that can be done on earth, is +inferred from nature, reason, and experience: for the only idea that we +can form of the Deity is, that he is a perfect, unchangeable being; and +if we suppose that he so particularly notices the conduct of mankind +as to be differently affected by their different actions, we must allow +that he is an imperfect, changeable being, liable to be pleased or vexed +at the mere will and pleasure of his creatures, and dependent upon the +whim and caprice of _man_. + +In the second place, it appears from the experience of mankind in all +ages, that Nature, in the creation of man, acts impartially and equally; +but leaves his talents, disposition, &c. to be regulated by mere +accidental circumstances. That conscience has an universal power, is +evident from the dislike and abhorrence, with which all mankind look +upon actions that tend to the injury of society. And not to believe in +the unerring authority of natural reason, would be to accuse the Deity +of injustice for not creating us capable of distinguishing good from +evil, and then punishing us for the evil we commit. + +In the third place, that the whole duty of man is comprised in this one +great republican principle, "Do as you would be done unto," has appeared +so notorious to the world in all ages, that it has been universally +agreed upon, as the unerring rule of action, and the basis of happiness: +by the observing of which there can be neither oppression, deceit, or +injustice of any kind. The duty of man is his interest; his interest is +to make himself happy; and the surest and best way of doing this is to +promote the prosperity of the whole. + +Finally, that system of religion which contradicts itself, cannot be +wholly true.--That which is not consistent with reason, or agreeable to +the order of nature, must be false, as different from the will of the +Deity, displayed in all his works:--And, that which tends to promote +discord, pride, and deceit, is prejudicial to society, and ought to be +discountenanced and opposed by every good man. + + + + +ON MIRACULOUS CONVERSIONS. + + +It appears to be the general opinion among the learned, that all matter +is, more or less, in a continual state of transmutation; that there is a +perpetual repulsion and attraction in nature. It is also the opinion of +many philosophers, that the human mind is never quite stationary. + +That locality, early habits, examples, affections, and associations have +the greatest effect in forming the characters and opinions of men, is +evident to our senses; and that after the character may be considered +to be formed, a contrary course of habits, &c. of equally long or longer +continuance will generally produce a contrary character. + +Every attentive observer must perceive, that we sometimes dislike and +entertain an unfavourable opinion of what we at another time approve and +cordially agree to. To a cursory examiner these alterations may appear +to take place arbitrarily: but to one acquainted with the philosophy +of the human mind, accustomed minutely to trace the different links and +associations which bias our ideas, they will appear, so far from being +arbitrary or supernatural, to be perfectly natural and agreeable to +the wise order of things. It would seem that most parties agree to the +reasons given by the learned for such alterations, &c., except they be +in matters of religion; here each party abandons the usual methods of +philosophising, and has recourse to the supernatural interference of +divine agency. + +That extraordinary instances of conversion from vice to virtue, from +error to truth, sometimes take place, for which the most profound and +subtle reasoners fail to give satisfactory causes, is most readily +granted; but still it may be said, that our not being able to trace a +natural cause is no proof of there being none; for past experience has +abundantly proved to the world the folly of such kind of inferences. +Many things in science and philosophy are now even demonstrable, that +formerly were, with equally good reason, considered to be miraculous or +supernatural. + +There are many reasons for considering the religious conversions not +supernatural. There are no human criteria to determine when they are +from God and when they are not. So many and so frequent impositions and +deceptions take place, that there is no distinguishing the false from +the true. + +These enlightenments are equally claimed by every sect, however +different in opinion. Now, supposing them to be from God, we are under +the necessity of believing that there can be only one sect which can +really have them; for it would be absurd to suppose the Immutable +Creator of all things would inspire his creatures to believe, as true, +opposite and different doctrines; and the confining of the divine +influence to one sect only, certainly appears to be partial and +arbitrary, and contrary to the saying, that "God is no respecter of +persons." + +People professing to be converted can never give a satisfactory +explanation of their state, either to others or themselves, so as to do +away all apprehension that they may not be actuated by impulse, fear, +affections, &c., with a variety of other natural causes which every day +make astonishing alterations in the minds of men. + +We sometimes meet with individuals who at one time considered themselves +to be inspired, and shewed every outward sign, and afterwards declare +they conceive they never were. + +Sudden and extraordinary changes frequently take place for the +worse; but these are never accounted as supernatural. It appears that +conversions most frequently take place after some circumstances which +naturally have a tendency to fix the attention, soften the affections, +affect the passions, and subdue the will; such as attending religious +discourses, the deathbed of a friend, extreme pain, poverty, and +distress, &c. Now, may not these be said to account for the first +natural link? Then why should the rest of the chain be miraculous? If +these observations were untrue, we might expect to find conversions +occur as frequently among one sort of society as among another; but that +is not the case. + +It is observable in religious as well as in other operations of the +mind, that those alterations which are the most sudden and vehement, are +generally more transient than those which take place more gradually and +after accountable associations. + +We might naturally expect that those divinely inspired would be superior +to the weaknesses of passion and imperfections of nature incidental to +others; but our converts appear not to be. These supernatural affections +are unattended with any discernibly supernatural effects; the possessors +of them never perform miracles! + +From these observations it is presumed, that there is abundant reason +for apprehending that those conversions termed supernatural are nothing +more than nature acting upon the mind of man, agreeably to those wise +and immutable laws laid down by the adorable Maker of all things; and +the reason of our terming them miraculous is, because we are unable with +our weak faculties to trace the wonderful concatenations, and view the +infinite variety of shades of which the intellectual part of man is +susceptible. At the same time it is confessed, that it being a matter of +internal feeling, and what cannot perhaps be demonstrated either way, no +arguments on the subject can be hoped of any material benefit, either to +the person who supposes himself to have it, but cannot explain it, or to +him that has it not, and cannot conceive it. + +Bristol, + +THEOPHILANTHROPIST. + +Feb. 18,1819. + + + + + +A FEW IDEAS ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. + + +It appears, that at least 99 persons in 100 take their religious +opinions from their parents, and according to education, &c. without +ever afterwards examining for themselves. Now, as this belief arises +from causes that are variable and quite independent of the believers, +it follows, that there is no security whatever for its being true, the +chance being always against it: consequently, such persons' opinions are +of no weight in the dispute. + +A due attention to this consideration will, it is presumed, render the +number of real believers and unbelievers in Christian countries much +less unequal than at first we may be inclined to suppose. + +The evidence for Christianity is founded on probabilities by a process +of reasoning, not being intuitive or self-evident. The contrary of its +being true can easily be conceived and does not imply a contradiction. + +Owing to the different constitutions of the human mind, there always +is, more or less, a certain difference of opinion upon all subjects in +proportion to their want of self-evident proof. Then, when a subject +confessedly has it not, ought we to expect from it those universal +results which it could only produce by having it? + +That there should be many who are not satisfied with the evidence of +the Christian religion is not to be wondered at, since it is not of +that nature to produce universal acquiescence. Where then can be the +propriety of inveighing so bitterly against some for rejecting what, +according to the nature of things, all cannot be expected to receive? +Assuredly, the sin of doubting must be proportional to the evidence; +then why should we attach the same punishment for disbelieving things +that are not self-evident as we do for things that are? + +With regard to the assertions, that "'tis their pride prevents their +belief, that they make a Deity of their reason, and put themselves +in opposition to Heaven," &c. it may be seriously asked, Are these +assertors sincere in what they say, or is it merely spleen they, or any +one, for an instant conceive it to be possible for a man in his +senses, who has any idea of his Maker, or of himself, and is so deeply +interested in the subject, to act in such a way? + +There may be some reason for considering that doctrine to be false which +might cause us to think existence a curse, rather than a blessing, and +to entertain views inconsistent with the Divine Nature. + +If the orthodox opinions be correct, how few among professors really +profess! How small a proportion of mankind profess at all! It follows, +according to even probability, that the number of the saved will be +extremely small in proportion to that which is lost. Then, when a child +is born, according to the laws of chances, there are very great odds +against its being saved. Query, Whether it be a blessing to be born, to +run any risk at all of endless misery, even were they very contrary of +what they appear to be, greatly in favour of everlasting bliss? + +Bristol, + +THEOPHILANTHROPIST. + +Feb. 18,1810. + + + + +DEISM EXAMINED + +By A Christian + + +It has often been said, that if Christianity is not competent to +withstand the test of reason, it ought to fall. + +To this opinion I willingly subscribe; and so confident am I of our +succeeding against our adversaries, the Deists, that I am for truly +putting Christianity to this trial. That is, I would that there should +be allowed as perfectly free discussion in all theological matters, +that the "Age of Reason," and other works of a similar nature, should be +allowed to be published. Let the enemies of our religion bring forward +their objections as fast as they like; have we not, or our part, a ready +refutation for every one of them? + +The Deists, I know, have strongly contended, that many actions recorded +in the Bible, said to have been done by the express command of God, are +shocking to humanity, and in contradiction to all our ideas of moral +justice. Such as putting whole nations to the sword; sparing neither age +nor infancy; utterly destroying men, women, and children; leaving not a +soul to breathe, &c. &c. But does not the Bishop of Llandaff reconcile +this seeming incongruity, and vindicate the morality of the sacred +writings by explaining, that, as the Almighty constantly superintends +all the actions of nature, and in so doing permits, or rather causes +smiling infants so to be swallowed up by earthquakes, or destroyed by +other natural means; it is evident that these shocking transactions (as +they are called) recorded in the Bible, do not militate in the least +against the character of the Deity. The unbelievers certainly may bring +a puerile argument against this profound assertion of the Bishop's; +but the Christian who truly appreciates the real value of an unwavering +_faith_, will have for such argument a thorough contempt, even before he +reads it. They may tell us, if they choose, that nature being actuated +by general and unvarying laws, it is not to be supposed the Almighty, in +order to save a human creature, will perform a miracle. Or (to state +the case more particularly) if a society of human beings will be so +unthinking and imprudent, as to make their residence at the bottom of +Mount Vesuvius, or Etna, that the Creator will partially suspend the +laws of nature, in order that the burning lavas may not overwhelm them +in destruction; or, that if mortals will be so presumptuous as to +build their dwellings on the site of former desolations, as Lisbon for +instance, that the Almighty will interpose, in order to prevent the +recurrence of another earthquake; or that God will in any case partially +suspend the eternal laws of the universe, in order to preserve a mortal +that may be accidentally liable to be destroyed by their effects. They +may tell us all this if they choose, and likewise, that this is quite +another thing, to an express command from God himself to one set of +human beings to annihilate another.--Thus we refute it all: such +arguments are built on _human reason_, which it behoves every pious +Christian to distrust! + +Let them assert, that Jesus Christ himself, (if there was such a +person) has proved the delusion he laboured under, since he actually and +distinctly predicted, in more places than one, that his second coming +would be in the days of the last surviving apostles, and that the +apostles themselves sufficiently shew by their writings, that such was +their opinion. Let them descant upon the description of his coming in +the clouds (as related in the gospel) with the trumpets sounding before +him, and call it a mere representation of human pageantry, and unworthy +of being imputed to the Almighty Creator, who has millions of millions +of worlds at his command! We thus refute the first part of this +misrepresentation. Jesus, after predicting the destruction of Jerusalem, +as we find it now related, speaks of his second coming, and gives a +description how he will appear in the clouds, with the angels sounding +their trumpets before him, &c. &c. and then continues thus: "Verily +I say unto you, _this generation shall not pass away, till all these +things be fulfilled._" Now it is evident, that this last verse can +only allude to the destruction of Jerusalem, and that the passage is +misplaced by many sentences. It is true, we have no vouchers for this, +nor can we perceive what instance there could have been for any one +to have made the alteration; but as more than seventeen centuries have +revolved since the death of Christ, and no second coming yet taken +place, we are fully justified in maintaining the passage to be +misplaced. + +The Deists accuse us of all along suppressing their works, and +certainly, in this respect, I must acknowledge we have acted unfairly. +They say that most of the ancient productions on their side the +question are lost; while the answers to them are still extant. From this +circumstance they infer, designing and superstitious monks and priests, +in order to remove every thing out of the way that might militate +against their doctrine, destroyed all the writings of their opponents, +while they carefully preserved those of their own party. It is likewise +affirmed, the book entitled the Age of Reason, is a more formidable +enemy to Christianity than any work ever before published, and +threatens, should it become popular, to shake its flimsy fabric (for +thus they speak of our religion) to its very foundation; that the charge +of blasphemy is brought against it to suppress it, solely from fear of +this consequence, and that our oft repeated assertion, "if Christianity +cannot withstand the test of reason it ought to fall," is a mere +mockery, for, in fact, we fully prove our intention is, never to bring +our doctrine to such a tribunal. I am very sorry that this last charge +against us is not altogether unfounded. Why should not the arguments of +our opponents be allowed to be published? their authors would very +soon, I am fully persuaded, meet with a total discomfiture, and find our +Polemics more than competent to justify their own cause. + +Every one knows that Mr. Paine was illiterate, that is, he only knew his +own language perfectly, and had a smattering of French. Now, have we +not bishops, deacons, lecturers, curates, &c. who are acquainted with +Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Arabic, Latin, and several other tongues, living +as well as dead; and surely, it would be strange, if, with all +this various learning, aided by their laborious researches into the +antiquated writings of the primitive Christians, (those credible +attesters of _miracles and witchcraft_,) that they should not be able to +overturn such a paltry antagonist as Thomas Paine; who, alas! made use +of no other weapon but _human reason_; who ridiculed _Faith_ as a mere +_chimera_; and maintained, that a strict observance of _moral virtue_ +constituted the only worship that was in _reality_ pleasing to the +Deity. Physiologists have asserted, I know, that the human brain is only +capable of a certain degree of active energy, and that every additional +talent we may acquire must be gained at the expence of all the other +powers; and that, consequently, he who is familiar with a variety of +languages cannot possibly think very profoundly in any, the whole of +his intellect being absorbed, and the pure ideal part of it absolutely +extinguished, in the complicated matter of grammatical construction, and +the endless labour of committing to memory the various characters and +innumerable quantity of words necessary for obtaining such knowledge. On +the other hand, it is boldly averred, that he who knows his own language +perfectly, and no other, may become, as it were, in his very essence, +a compound of thought and reflection, capable of drawing, from the +luminous stores of his own understanding alone, arguments that shall put +to flight all the scholastic quibbling of the mere Christian linguist, +causing the gloom engendered by his subtilties to vanish like mist +before the sun. + +The Deists accuse us of disturbing the last moments of the virtuous, and +terrifying their imaginations with the prospect of eternal damnation. +They say, that when such infatuated persons (whose bodily weakness +renders them more than childish) become overwhelmed with the dreadful +picture, and give way to the weakness of humanity, that we then infer, +they had a proper sense of the enormity of their guilt before they died; +and that we then exclaim, in the gloomy pomposity of the fanatic Young, + + "Men may live fools, but fools they cannot die!" + +This quotation, when applied to the case in question, the Deists +maintain to be unjust, and are for making a new reading, as being rather +more applicable, viz. + + "Men may live wisely, but fools they often die!" + +"Shame!" the Deists cry, "forbear to disturb the departing moralist with +your strange dogmas! His sole trust is in his Creator, therefore let his +last hours be spent in peace! Your interference is useless, and as it +adds to the sufferings of expiring humanity, may well be termed impious +and cruel. And further, what conviction can be gained from making public +the imbecile and terror-extorted confessions made by the dying; for as +Rousseau rightly observes, it is 'our reason that determines our +belief, and when, through sickness, that faintly becomes impaired, what +dependence can be placed on any opinion we may then adopt?'" All this +seems at the first glance very striking and imposing, but is easily +refuted. I shall confine myself, however, to only answering the latter +part of the above. I maintain, then, that even shouting our dogmas in +the ears of the dying,1 and thereby disturbing their last moments, is +a mere trifle, when put in competition with the eternal advantages +that may by this means accrue to their souls. It is well known, that +Christians formerly, more generally than at present, did not scruple +to compel men to become converts; and when the heretics, as they were +termed, obstinately held out, they actually burnt them for _the love +of Christ!_ This manner of proceeding Dr. Paley has, in some measure, +justified, 2 by affirming, that as the salvation of the soul is a matter +of infinitely more importance than the well-being of the body, so these +_converters_, who actually believed salvation to exclusively depend on +the reception of their dogmas, may be said to be in some sort excusable, +for endeavouring by all the means within their power to save a man's +soul, though his body, in consequence, might be devoted to the flames. + + 1 Vide Life of M. de Voltaire. + + 2 Vide Haley's Evidences of Christianity, Part III. Chap. + vii. + + +Some, I know, would go further, and urge, that even the burning of +those who _were_ converted by the threats of the holy fathers, was +not impolitic, since it may be justified as the above principle, of +preferring the welfare of the soul to that of the body. For might not +a new-made convert, made so against the evidence of his own reason, +recant, and thus render all the pious zeal of those _soul-preservers_ +quite abortive? Nothing more likely, and therefore to make sure of his +eternal felicity, they were equally excusable in committing him to +the flames. A similar principle influenced the pious Monk towards the +unfortunate Jew, as related in a well-known but somewhat ancient story, +concluding with these lines: + + "Drag, drag me out--I freeze--I die." + "Your peace, my friend, is made on high; + Full absolution here I give; + Saint Peter will your soul receive: + Wash'd clean from sin, and duly shriven, + New converts always go to heaven; + No hour for death so fit as this; + Thus, thus I launch you into bliss!" + So said--the Father in a trice + His convert launch'd beneath the ice. + + +But enough of this bringing forward accusations and objections of the +Deists, and answering them myself. Let them be brought against us in +the regular way, and we will readily refute them. In fact, there will +be some novelty in such an occupation to many of our divines, who +have passed many years in the continued sameness of preaching to +congregations who are much too passive and obedient ever to dissent a +single syllable from the doctrine laid down. It is now several years +since our Doctors of Divinity really exerted their talents, viz. +ever since the first publicacation of the Age of Reason. I think it +downright inconsistency for our authorities to prosecute those who +publish works of this kind, seeing those works absolutely benefit +Christianity. For did not the above production give rise to innumerable +answers, each of which was sufficient in itself, to prove the divine +origin and infalibillity of the sacred Scriptures! Read Bishop Watson's +Apology for the Bible, for instance, a work _replete with genius_; +a work which will confer lasting honour on its reverend author; and +wherein we cannot perceive the _least traces_ of what our adversaries +term _priestcraft_, and not a _single sentence_ which may be called _a +quibble_. Another answer to the Age of Reason, by a _wit_, named Robert +Thompson, also deserves to be made honourable mention of, as being +neither _scurrilous nor contemptible_; as does likewise an answer, by a +layman of the name of Padman, a work of vast _profundity_, and in which +there is not to be found any _perversion or pitiful misrepresentation of +passages_ in Mr. Paine's book. Should these two last gentlemen be +still in existence, and chance to peruse this, they will be extremely +grateful, I am sure, for my thus noticing them; but they may reserve all +thanks, for the encomiums I have passed upon them are nothing more than +their real deserts. 1 But to conclude. Seeing, I say, that deistical +works are beneficial to our holy and only true religion, by making +its ministers exert their talents, let them be printed and freely +circulated, and in so doing we shall no longer lay under the vile odium +of being oppressors and persecutors for righteousness sake. + +A firm Believer in the only true God, and a future state of Retribution. + +London, + +Jan. 30, 1819. + + 1 There is also a Mr. S. Thompson, a member of the sect + called "Free Thinking Christians," who in a work entitled + "Evidences of Revealed Religion on a new Plan," has + attempted to answer some of the objections of Mr. Paine; but + as his arguments, though said to be quite inconclusive, have + too much the appearance of human reason, I have not thought + proper to mention him as a person who has much benefited our + cause; and especially as I understand that "implicit faith" + forms no part of the creed of the above sect. + + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Thoughts on the Christian Religion by +a Deist, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40983 *** |