God's sake. Nothing short of convincing men that the Bible is not a divine revelation, can or will guarantee posterity against a recurrence of those scenes of horror, at the very thought of which, the heart sickens.

From the pulpit, and in religious works, nothing is more common than to exclaim with horror at the unblushing Infidel. Unblushing Infidel! What cause have Infidels to blush? The blush, if any, ought to be on the face of the Christians of every sect. They have never failed to persecute when in power: they have been guilty of cruelties, at which the savage cannibal would weep, and this will ever be the case so long as the Bible is considered as coming from God; because, till all consequence is taken away from faith, and transferred to moral rectitude, persecution is the effect of believing that faith is the sure passport to glory, while unbelief is the broad road to perdition. Men cease to be Christians when they lose this spirit of intolerance, and become Infidels.

Sects are not alike intolerant; but all are in some degree. The Calvinists will not permit the Unitarians to preach in their churches. The Unitarians, or Universalists, will not permit an Infidel lecturer to speak in their churches,—no, not even on moral subjects. Christians, then, will always be more or less of a persecuting disposition, and nothing but giving up the Bible, as a Divine revelation, will destroy that spirit. To show how a profession of Christianity, unfits men to do justice to those who differ from them in religion, I will refer to the treatment of THOMAS PAINE, author of "Common Sense." His services in the glorious struggle that "tried men's souls" have been shamefully forgotten. Yes! the friend of the immortal WASHINGTON, who shared in the toils and dangers with the father of this great republic, -- how have Americans generally treated his name and efforts to erect one of the most noble monuments of human wisdom-the independent republic of North America? For all his faithful devotedness to the independence of America, how is his name and memory spoken of at the present time? From the pulpit, every kind of falsehood and detraction is poured forth concerning him. If he had been a member of a church, the same fanatical priesthood would have lauded him to the skies. Such is the nature of religious bigotry, that the friendship of the ever to be venerated Washington-even that, cannot shield his name from pulpit calumny. Bigotry, she has no head, and cannot think; she has no heart, and cannot feel."

But the name and services of THOMAS PAINE, are not, and never will be, forgotten. Thanks to the Liberals throughout the Union, his birthday is yearly celebrated in most of the cities and towns in the different States. A handsome and durable monument has been erected to his memory at New Rochelle, New York State. The thanks of the Liberals are due to Mr. G. VALE, Editor of the Beacon, published in New York, for his untiring perseverance in urging on the completion of a monument that will, in time, command the respect of posterity. Why are the name

and services of THOMAS PAINE so cautiously omitted by our orators and statesmen, when speaking of the patriotism of a Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Hancock, and others? It would offend the church and priesthood, as well as the whole of the Christian community; because "He that believeth not shall be damned." This is the brightest gem in the Christian's crown of glory. If he nurse this intolerant spirit against Infidels, the Christian considers his " calling and election sure.”

Sincere believers in Divine revelation are not aware what monsters the Bible makes of them; but for which they would be humane, compared to what they are under its influence. I am surprised that they are (the majority of them) so just, humane, and charitable, when I take into consideration the doctrines contained (or believed to be) in what is called the Word of God. In addition to their own evil habits and disregard for virtue in the common concerns of life, they have a Devil to tempt them by a thousand ways in which they are ignorant. Again, they have a Saviour who shed his blood to save them from the just punishment of their deserts; so that with their own evil deeds, and being urged on by the Devil, they become monsters in crime. They then go, as the phrase is, to Christ, be sorry, or profess to be, for what they have done, and are pardoned, and in the sight of Heaven are considered superior to the unconverted whom they have injured. Can you, my readers, wonder at the crimes of God's people? According to this doctrine, a man may steal a horse and cart, by the use of which, another man earned support for his family; the thief sells it, and spends the amount, in connexion with wretches like himself. He then goes to Jesus, repents, is forgiven; and, to follow the plan throughout if the man who lost his horse and cart is an unbeliever, he goes to Hell, while the rogue sits singing and laughing in Glory! This book is sent into society from the best of motives; hoping it will induce Christians to practise moderation, and somewhat abate that raging, fanatical fever, that has been so fatal to human happiness. take from us the Bible, says the Christian, what will you give in its stead? We answer, man requires nothing but what God, or Nature, has given him. All men in common, have reason to consult, by which man will learn the duty he owes to himself, and also to his fellow beings. The error lies in being taught, that reason, when in full exercise, will lead him into error. This has been his misfortune; and his punishment has followed as a consequence. The Bible contains many good moral precepts; but these are, by Christians, thought little of, compared with its doctrines. Faith is all important. By faith, barbarous Calvin caused Servetus to be burnt by a slow fire; and through faith, St. Austin, that drunken debauchee, obtained a good report.

If you

The Bible is at war with man's reasoning powers; and, like a land pirate, has held up false lights, which instead of conducting man to the haven of happiness and safety, has caused him to make shipwreck on

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the rocks and shoals of religious dogmas. Man is lost in no other sense than that, the loss of his reason. To recover that, and bring it into full exercise, is all the Saviour he needs. His moral path is as clear as light. God, or Nature, has made it a law of man's existence that he must love happiness, ease, and enjoyment; and also, that he must hate pain and trouble in every stage and form. This law is forced upon him independent of his choice. It is ever present to his senses, till he ceases to exist, or to be rational. This is man's stock of moral material furnished by God, or Nature. How clear, then, is his duty! He has but to follow out this law, by the aid of his reasoning, judging, and comparing powers. It will never lead him wrong. He requires no Bible, no Saviour; he is never lost; he has no incomprehensible doctrines to support or defend. Unlike the sectarian, he feels no disposition to persecute others who differ from him in matters of faith; he has no angry God to propel him on to fight for his glory; he can balance up every night his moral account of the day; and if he has followed out the law of his nature, by augmenting his own, and also the happiness of his fellow beings, and lightened the load of human ills around him, he in truth is the good man, be his faith little or much. That the following work may forward moral improvement, and encourage moderation and universal good will among the human family, is the sincere wish of

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

OLD TESTAMENT.

'PREFACE.

PAGE.

Free Discussion; the right to use it in examining the Scriptures; its certainty in destroying error and establishing truth Extract from Dr. Blair's sermon on Candor - Motives of the author in laying his work before the public,

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GENERAL INTRODUCTION.-Object of the book—Intolerance and persecution of Christian sects-Their abuse of Infidels and calumnious treatment of THOMAS PAINE - His name and services appreciated by Liberals - Pernicious influence of the Bible upon morals-Knowledge of the laws of our existence the only sure guide to wisdom, happiness, and virtue,

GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE. Character and situation of the Jews— Their treatment by Jehovah - Why were they chosen, and did they answer the end of their choice? - Probable reasoning of the Jewish God- Account of his visit to Abram and Sarah, and their reception and treatment of him—The consequences to the Jews of considering themselves the chosen people — The five books said to have been written by Moses - Treatment of Hagar and her child-Jehovah and the Jews,

CHAPTER I.-From the Creation to the Deluge, CHAPTER II.-A Review of the Deluge and the confusion of Tongues at the Tower of Babel,

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CHAPTER III. From the Confusion of Tongues to the Birth of Moses,

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CHAPTER IV. From the Birth of Moses to the Death of Joshua, 35 CHAPTER V. - From the Death of Joshua to the Reign of Saul, 52 CHAPTER VI. The Reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon, CHAPTER VII. -The Reign of Jeroboam, and the separation of

Israel from Judah,

CHAPTER VIII. - On Divine Inspiration,

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NEW TESTAMENT.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.-Jehovah's dealings with the
Jews - His failure to make them a pattern to the rest of the human
family- The coming of Christ—The manner of his introduction—
his associates, language, and conduct― Miracles-The Jews had
sufficient reason for rejecting Jesus as the Messiah,

CHAPTER I. Jesus, the pretended Saviour of the world, not
sent from God-Moses wrote the most minute things connected
with the system established by himself, but Jesus left no writings
whatever Vagueness and want of authenticity of the writings of
the Evangelists General ignorance among Christians of what is the
true Gospel No proof of the heavenly origin of Jesus-
His bap
tism by John - His temptation by the Devil - Its absurdity- Abu-
sive language of Jesus to the Jews-His unfitness for his mission,
and failure to prove himself sent from God,

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CHAPTER II. Casting out Devils- The case of Mary Magda-
lene-The doctrine of demoniacal possession, a heathen dogma
Miracles of Jesus no proof of his Divine origin-Evidence from the
New Testament that no miracles ever took place - Inconsistent con-
duct and abusive language of Jesus- The miracle at his baptism
Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus from the clouds Folly of mir-
acles and their injurious consequences,

CHAPTER III. Peter Disingenuous mode adopted by Jesus
to prove his Messiahship-The introduction of his mission to the
Jews - His obscure doctrines, and disrespectful language - Survey
of his teaching, and mode of life — Inutility of his object — His be-
trayal - Judas Iscariot,

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CHAPTER IV. — The Almighty Power that governs the universe
not the author of the Christian Religion Destructive saying of
Jesus The power given to Peter; its disastrous results-Institution
of the Sacrament --Intolerance and persecution of Sectarianism -
Folly of religious teaching-INFIDELITY the only true guide,

CHAPTER V.-Orthodox views of Christianity - Remarks on
the bad effects of believing in the existence of the Devil, and in
witchcraft, doctrines taught in the Bible-Trial and execution of
two women for witchcraft in England, in 1664 - Account of the
witchcraft that prevailed in England and Scotland, in the days of
Elizabeth Anecdote of Cromwell's bargain with the Devil,

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135

144

153