REFUTATION OF EVERY ARGUMENT BROUGHT AGAINST THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY, AND REVEALED RELIGION, BY THOMAS PAINE, IN THE FIRST PART OF HIS WORK, CALLED 'The Age of Keason.” "Let no man deceive you with vain words." BY W. GRISENTHWAITE. WELLS: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NEVILLE. MATCHETT AND STEVENSON, BURKS AND KINNEBROOK, NOR- 1892. TO William Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. Sir, As there is no person to whom the following Work could, with more propriety, be dedicated than to you; so there is no one more competent to judge of the utility of its design, or the merits of its execution. It is because you have ever been conspicuous among the Champions of Christianity, not only with your eloquence but your example; not only with your pen, but your purse also, that I have taken the liberty of presenting this Volume to the public in connexion with your name. I am well aware of the hazard attendant upon such a step; they who have been accustomed to follow you in your exertions in the cause of Religion and Humanity, will discover in this Work the heartiness of zeal only which animated your conduct. Here let me pause; for although I think sufficiently highly of your character as a Christian, as a Statesman, a Philanthropist, and a Man, to pay you every compliment within the powers of my pen, yet I do not think sufficiently servilely of myself to do it on so equivocal an occasion as this. I am too well assured, that your labours have aimed at a higher reward than the praises of man, to offend you in this place with any perishing panegyric of mine. Whilst Virtue and Christianity shall have a record in Europe; or Humanity be a theme of gratitude with the tribes of Africa, your name will be remembered with admiration and esteem. Honos, Nomenq: tuum Laudesq: manebunt." Semper That you may long live to pursue your truly Christian labours, is the sincere wish of him who has the honour to subscribe himself, Sir, Your most obedient, Very humble Servant, W. GRISENTHWAITE. WELLS, NOrfolk, April, 1822. PREFACE. IF the errors of Mr. Paine had not been industriously revived by wicked men, with an evident design to overthrow the temples of Religion, and, thereby, to weaken the obligation of law; if they were not calculated to destroy the bonds of social and civil life, and annihilate all that is sacred and dear to us; it is probable that I should not have obtruded this volume upon the notice of the public. They might have slept with the false philosophy of Hume, the sophistry of Bolingbroke, the prophane sarcasms of Voltaire, the splendid fallacies of Rousseau, the specious declamation of Volney, and the horrid blasphemies of Toland, Tindal, and Spinosa: not but their very slumbers, like the rotting carcases of the tomb, have long and silently, been generating a poisonous principle, which has infected the very atmosphere of Society, and, insidiously undermined the moral health of individuals, and the state. It is in vain that the arm of the law is raised against the Hydra of infidelity. Even if with the wish of the Roman Emperor, it were possible to separate all its monstrous heads at a blow, still the poison they have emitted, is abroad; it has penetrated into our closets and nurseries; it has got beyond the reach of Justice; it is accomplishing its ends unseen. You may consign to the cell a daring offender, but you cannot thereby correct the evil he has done; you can |