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to believe, although they could not answer every objection which was brought against them. The works and ways of au infinite God, must be, in numberless instances, infinitely beyond the comprehension of a finite being like man. To think otherwise, would be, in fact, to suppose that man is equal to God in intelligence, and therefore capable of sitting in judgment on the proceedings of the Almighty Omniscient God, who governs the Universe.

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There is nothing more certain than eternity; but it is impossible for man to form a distinct idea of it. The immensity of the Supreme Being is beyond all doubt; but the human mind cannot explain it Great wisdom and design are manifested in the frame of the Universe; and yet there are many things in the works of God, for which man cannot possibly account. goodness of God is established by the strongest proofs; but there are many appearances which, from our limited views of the plan of the divine administration, we cannot reconcile with goodness. It is, however an admitted principle in philosophy, that when a fact is proved by proper evidence, it ought not to be rejected because it may be attended with difficulties which we know not how to solve. And why should not this principle be admitted in christianity?

But do not men reject the gospel, because they have an aversion to the purity of heart and life which its doctrines require? This is the condemnation, says Christ, that light is come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.

Great pains have been taken by some persons, to banish the fear of God from amongst us-to confound the moral differences of things-to deprive good men of the blessed hope of immortality, and to free bad men from the fears of future punishment. This preposterous zeal for Infidelity is a very singular phenomenon. It is absolutely unaccountable, on the principles of good sense, or sound policy, that any man should cooly take pains to set other men loose from the restrainsts of religion and conscience. This is, as far as is in his power, to encourage men to gratify their passions without control, and to introduce universal confusion and misery into the world.

The open attacks which have been made on religion, by men who pretend to be very sagacious, have greatly increased profaneness among the lower ranks of society. A sober and industrious populace, is the strength, the riches, and the glory of a nation: But when those who should be the labouring class in society, sink into irreligion and vice, they are prepared for every kind of wickedness and disorder. From their rank and education, they have but little regard to the appearances of honour and

decency, and if they have cast off the ties of religion, and are abandoned to their own unrestrained passions, they are capable of every enormity.

This is a matter in which the interests of the community are very nearly concerned. When once the corruptions of Deism, or Atheism have spread through the community, public order is perverted, and the very foundation of public happiness is destroyed. In proportion as dissoluteness of manners prevails, honest industry is neglected, trade consequently decays, fraud and violence increase, and all the bands that hold society together are in danger of being dissolved. Machiavel himself has decided, that a free government cannot long be maintained, when once a people are become generally corrupt. All the true friends, therefore, to public order and liberty, must wish that virtue may flourish, and that the vicious appetites of meu may be restrained. But the Christian Religion only can effect this. If the influence of religion be removed from the minds of men, civil laws will be found utterly ineffectual for the preservation of order in society, and universal anarchy must ensue.

Infidelity has already overthrown one of the greatest kingdoms in Europe, and in many inferior states, both Protestant and Catholic, have been involved in the spreading ruin. "Princes hold their dominions by the influence of the Christianity which is left amongst us; and if Christianity be destroyed, their governments must fall like houses which are built on the sand.” Christianity is the foundation and strength of all the good governments in the world. It is the source of individual and social happiness in time, and the ground of all our hopes of happiness in eternity.

Cumberland, gives us a most mournful tale concerning a gentleman of infidel principles. "I remember him in the height of his fame, the hero of his party; no man so caressed, followed and applauded: he was a little loose, his friends would own, in his moral character, but then he was the honestest fellow in the world; it was not to be denied, that he was rather free in his notions, but then he was the best creature living. I have seen men of the gravest characters wink at his sallies; because he was so pleasant and so well bred, it was impossible to be angry with him. Every thing went well with him, and Antitheus seemed to be at the summit of human prosperity, when he was suddenly seized with the most alarming symptoms: he was at his country house, and which had rarely happened to him, at that time alone wife or family he had none, and out of the multitude of his friends no one happened to be near him at the moment of his attack. A neighbouring physician was called out of bed in the night to come to him with all haste in this extremity: he

found him sitting up in his bed supported by pillows, his countenance full of horror, his breath struggling as in the article of death, his pulse intermitting, and at times beating with such rapidity as could hardly be counted. Antitheus dismissed the attendants he had about him, and eagerly demanded of the physician, if he thought him in danger: the physician answered that he must fairly tell him he was in imminent danger. How so! how so! do you think me dying?-He was sorry to say, the symptoms indicated death.-Impossible! you must not let me die; I dare not die: O doctor! save me if you can.—Your situation, sir, is such, that it is not in mine, or any other man's art, to save you; and I think I should not do my duty, if I gave you any false hopes in these moments, which, if I am not mistaken, will not more than suffice for any worldly or other concerns, which you may have upon your mind to settle.—My mind is full of horror, and I am incapable of preparing it for death.— He now fell into an agony, accompanied with a shower of tears; a cordial was administered, and he revived in a degree; when turning to the physician, who had his fingers upon his pulse, he eagerly demanded of him if he did not see that blood upon the feet-curtain of his bed. There was none to be seen, the physician assured him; it was nothing but a vapour of his fancy.I see it plainly, in the shape of a human hand: I have been visited with a tremendous apparition. As I was lying sleepless in my bed this night, I took up a letter of a deceased friend, to dissipate certain thoughts that made me uneasy: I believed him to be a great philosopher, and was converted to his opinions: persuaded by his arguments and my own experience, that the disorderly offairs of this evil world would not be administered by any wise, just or provident being. I had brought myself to think that no such being could exist, and that a life produced by chance, must terminate in annihilation: this is the reasoning of that letter, and such were the thoughts I was revolving in my mind, when the apparition of my dear friend presented itself before me; and unfolding the curtains of my bed, stood at my feet, looking earnestly upon me for a considerable space of time. My heart sunk within me; for his face was ghastly, full of horror, with an expression of such an anguish as I can never describe; his eyes were fixed upon me, and at length with a mournful motion of his headAlas, alas! he cried, we are in a fatal error !—and taking hold of the curtains with his hand shook them violently and disappeared.-This I protest to you, I both saw and heard; and look! where the print of his hand is left in blood upon the curtains!" Antitheus survived the relation of this vision very few hours, and died delirious in great agonies.

What a forsaken and disconcolate creature is man without his God and Saviour!

THOMAS PAINE.

THIS unhappy man is well known to have been one of the most malignant enemies of Christianity. He was an avowed infidel in principle, and an open profligate in practice. He lived despised by the wise and good, and, like many other infidels, died apparently full of dread of the future; a stranger to that repentance which is unto life.

The following account of the concluding scenes of his life, is from the pen of Dr. Manley, a respectable physician, who attended him in his last illness.

"During the latter part of his life, though his conversation was equivocal, his conduct was singular. He would not be left alone night or day; he not only required to have some person with him; but he must see that he or she was there, and would not allow his curtains to be closed at any time; and if, as it would sometimes unavoidably happen, that he was left alone, he would scream and halloo until some person came to him. When relief from pain would admit, he would seem thoughtful and contemplative, his eyes generally closed, and his hands folded on his breast, although he never sleep without the assistance of an anodyne. There was something remarkable in his conduct at this time, which comprises about two weeks before his death, particularly when we reflect that Thomas Paine was the author of the Age of Reason. He would call out during his paroxism of distress, without intermission, 'O Lord help me,' God help me !-Jesus Christ help me !-O Lord help me,' &c. repeating the same expressions without the least variation, in a tone that would alarm the house. It was this conduct, that induced me to think that he had abandoned his former opinions; and I was more inclined to that belief when I understood from his nurse, who is a very serious, and I believe a pious woman, that he would occasionally inquire, on seeing her engaged with a book, what she was reading; and being answered, and at the same time being asked whether she should read aloud, he assented, and would appear to give particular attention. I took occasion during the night of the 5th and 6th of June, to test the strength of his opinions respecting revelation. I purposely made him a very late visit; it was a time which seemed to suit my errand, it was midnight. He was in great distress, constantly exclaiming in the words above-mentioned; when I addressed him in the following manner, the nurse being present-' Mr. Paine, your opinions, by a large portion of the community, have been treated with deference. You must be sensible that we are acquainted with your religious opinions, as they are giv

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