Show vs leor ifor eor voc for uhe the NE NEWS ws ay iy Y BY charnes ES IV STAYNER clapier IX confirm Con alint flint the kristence of the duty duly their logic against He revelation yules tom eames fames inconsistencies notwithstanding the continual denunciations of the scriptures and religion of every kind by the tile infidels of the day ft it is evident even to the skeptical world that a supreme preer power ellets tom paine the great cha champion maion of unbelief writing on this thia point ues the following language gt the existence exis exia tence of an almighty power ia Is sufficiently demonstrated to usi ua though we can not conceive as it la is impossible we should the nature and manner ot of its existence we cannot conceive how we came hero ourselves and jet yet we know for fora a fact that we are here we must know also that the power that called ua us into being can if he please and when he h pleases pie call cali us to account for foi tb the manner in which we have lived heye heie and therefore without beeking seeding any other motive for the belief benefit it la is rational to be lieve that he will for wo know beforehand that he ilan lian can uthe zhe probability that we may be called to account hereafter will to a reflecting mind baire have the influence of belief for it is not our belief or disbelief dIs beller bellef that cn cair make mako e or unmake the fact As this is the state we are in and which it is proper we should be in as free agents it is the fool only and not the philo philosopher opher or even the prudent man that would live as if there were no god p p 1915 would the reader not naturally suppose that as great a reasoner as Rs mr paine who in other othe r matters himself an able logician would certainly in accepting rig the existence of delty deity as a nixed fixed fact regard with some respect at least the sayings of those claiming to be divinely inspired but nol not no lie he lauds the goodness and justice of the creator on one page and denounces in severest language the scriptures and thein their authors on an another other othen now where is the consistency si sis bis teney tency in this if it on the one hand the omnipotent creator is shown to be a personage of power wisdom vast ness and munificence as stated in the age of reason neason p and that he has the power cower to call us to ac count and doubtless will do so what can be more reasonable to bup sup suppose pose or believe than that such a being would by some means communicate muni cate to man the laws and requirements quire ments for which we are to bs be held accountable he says the doctrines of the bible brings god into contempt but ia Is this not completely the case caie 1 I in n 0 mr paine himself b bime hime eld elf and this is J entirely the case cale cas cate e with h his ise hollow ollow ers era who retail his ideas to their admiring audiences to suppose that a being universal power would id callus call us to a future account and this implies and involves a reward or and yet keel keep his heip belp helpless ies les creatures in complete and woeful ignorance of his hia wishes and of the laws taws themselves for the violation v to lation of which we are ar a to io be pun punished hed and then call such a be just merciful munificent alavi or even evens rational would be branding a satire upon de deity delty ity itself and would certainly be the most successful mauder mauner bf him into lato contempt where there the re is bisno lio ilo law there can be no transgression aid ald ald even oen earthly lubera would in civilized countries at least scorn to con COD demo a person for the corm corn mission of an act hot not craren la in cne one cue t f 6 statute and in relation to which the lawmaking law jaw babio making powers were silent lff iff ir I 1 to be reasonable this course is followed by finite beings in the midst of their weaknesses who dares to accuse god in hla hia perfection of being mor unjust exact t ing inconsistent and unreasonable than ourselves if then we admit that to be consistent with his hid nature god must mu t communicate lais laj laws S IP p jjr li children en on the earth before calling them to account by what rnett inett method iod lod would w bult bull it appear the most reasonable that t h at these thee the e communications should be m mad ade adt does it not heem teem at least plau piau plausible ibie ible that god would either como come himself or send some out and yet set it ia Is not declary that this burst of glory to the entire that should convulse all sublunary kub unary lunary things and 11 terrify the inhabitants of tho the earth before they could be taught but it would scein seem right tight that gowe gome person or oc persons persona be selected as mess messengers engerg prophets apostles or preachers preacher either on account ott oft of their 11 air or correctness reet ness nesb of life being sueh such as to e en suke ue a degree of confidence in t their thein h ein eln words now wo we find on reading the scriptures that god came cam e himself and visited his children and gave them his commands in person until some began to violate hla hia jaws laws then he chose certain men who were righteous to be and ministers to the remainder these he be ca c caled led al prophets and required them to teach each the people and exhort them to repentance we also find that these special messengers were endowed through their anict observance of heavenly law with great power powers with many gifts wih wonderful perception with kreit krett faith falth all resulting from their righteous live and a direct com corn with heavenly beings were these because GA gei wished to be partial to them and them alone no I 1 moses said would to god that all the deop people le were td P they could all be favored with inspiration if il t ry ey would baas beas be as faithful to princ prino principle ipke ipie as prayerful ai ag humble and as desir to bless their fel fei fello feilo wuen but many men became I carnal carnul and devilish they them were 2 arrogant unkind abusive bisbon est adult adulterous erot is intolerant and wick wicked so much h c 0 o that the very lives of gods servants were in continual danger they actually slew siew them for testifying that god wished all to repent and tur turn n unto righteousness they preferred to live without the knowledge of god without any heavenly restraint upon their their lives it Is not very strange however that the wicked should do this but how astonishing that such a cobrae of unbelief should be pursued or endorsed by per persons ons claiming to be good citizens exemplary father fathers 9 noble patriots and worthy people in every respect if then it is established that god exists exist that he has the power to call us to account and that to be consistent he must before requiring obedience com corn muni cate his divine will to man mail the only thing left to be proved is that the men professing to be cail eail ed of god and to have received communication from him are truthful and honest in their state slate mante and to show this thia will be the subject of the next chapter |