Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-01-29
Fox rxE RHODE ISL IND REPUBLICAN.

FOR THR kHODE-ISL4ND kEPOBIICHN.
MIR. FARNswoRTH,
TTi, ever with relue,ance that intrude n.y.
L felf on the attention Of the public. There
are but few occaion, thar will junify il at any
time, in a0y ooe. He who sddreacs the peo-
pie at large, on a fpecuIatiye fnbjeSt, ought TO
ipeak with lncerity, and on folemn conviction
that what he offer, is true, and conducive to the
improvement, and welfare of foeiety. have
obieryed in the Newport Mercary for icgetal
months psR, one continued yell OF execrstioa
sgaina 9bonas Pains. Indeed, well remem-
Der having Counted fvr diitntt articles. 10 ,ns
Of thoic papers, all breathing againa him the
cfIence of bitterness and affedcd rrproach. Well
towards t~o columns in the laR number were
made up on the fame fubjeet, and with the fame
d.grce of maleyolent, and vindietivc afperity.
The queliions occnr. and they merit ferrous
coniideTation-A Are tl,eic vocif:rou, ana,hema,
well founded in truth l--Are they uttered 10
Gnce,ity i--Through the favor OF. Heaven We
yer enjoy free Country; in which each indi-
vidasi iss The privilege Of thinking, enqaring.
and judging for himieif. ihall therefore, uo-
dertake to csnVais the iabjeet and fubmir the re-
lult of my reflections. il j, no, that / approve
OF the ieIigou'. or If they pieafe the irgelisi.
ous) len,imenu of Paine i, is not ,h,, mean
to jufify hii work which contains his creed !:
No. Though rs an Ingenious phi!ofopAsr, and
faithful patriot, / eaeem the man, at the
fame time lament the imprudcnce, to FAY the
mofl OF il, which he has unfortunately fallen in
to, in divuleips his religious faith. fay ua-
fortunately, for he has thereby put himfelf in
the power of his political enemies, uho, by the
| L.,- .ta.. - l...
for hope to warpit into an engine TO play up
on the prejudices Of the credulo0s, and to ops-
rate fome f0Ltica! benefit, or advantage to ,hea-
lelves. TIhefe perions care not for religion.
They sre as much above it, 80 they are above
the hcrcd precepn Of the meek, and lorly Jefus.
They arc as mach above il as they sfe in alb.
horrence of popular government. While they
kypoc ri,ically conform to its out ward -ceremo-
| nies, they would barter j, for King. AS they
profitute il, name. 70 they would laugh il to
fcorn. or wink it out of hph, TO fe~e ,hcir po.
litical projects. Aware with how much zeal
and tinceri,y many good men p,otcls /, and
watchful of means TO iac,incc their political
opponents, they impiouAy employ is ia thin
way, to execute their darling projca.
There are 70 many itrong lights in which
the aoiottiiy OF their repreienta,ions might be
made 70 appear, that it is difficult to chufe a
| mong them. Ii would really fecn, TO thofe
| who are not acquainted with the fubjsd, in all
| It's parts, that ChriR was now on earth, and
that Paioe was the Lc1rio, who had betrayed
| him into the hands OF Plate. ~
The bock which they fc frequently men
tion, as exhibiting the evidence ot P0As's ON
| nipo,en,, and impious depravity, con,,n, the
| following psil,ge for have taken pains n
! obtain the book, in order 80 fa,isfy nyielf OF
the csndor and juAice of their ceniurc. As
/" is,eral of my colleagues. and oihen OF my
" iellow-oi,zens "! France have given me the
" exanp!e Of making their voluntary. and in-
" "dividual prcitiFon Of iaih. alto vii make
" mine and DO IBIS zvh5 oil fbaf Ere,,ity
SO 0r6 trarkatG qvnk rubitb tie misd Of ,s0n
" Communicates sVifb njtLE believe in one
E" Con, and no more ard hqte tSr bsptir1j,
61yerd tbb life. believe in the equsisy of
"m man, and ] believe that religious duties esconGa
4" in doing juiice, loving mercy. and eDdca.
voring 10 make our fellow. creatures happy"
I" do not mean by this declaration to condemn
,hoie who believe otherwile : They have the
fame right TO their belief as have TO mine.
" But j, IS necsiiary to the happinefs of man
that he be mentally faithful to himfelf. In.
fidelity does not eocGa in believing, or in
diibelieving IL conGas in f,JiITsg 70 be-
I" lieve what he does no, believe" And for this.
with Ere and fury," they charge him with
f,s0ebery 10 biz tsp-t,y, With iuts!erce q, Htaprx.
with dimiaJexs ,be xofivy 10 pi,tasHr esxSxa,
and relaxing 'bs 0tLgafio.i of JaciaI day, with
trsm0fisg immo,atiy, srd Sveakr-iss he re-
f,aisn 10 Vies! Can any real chritisn join
with, snd approve OF ;t,cfc charges Are they
founded in truth and juaice Do they partake
Of charity. or humanity The ieptiUsents of
Paine, as to religion. aud religion, duties, may
differ fram theirs they are different from mine.
Bur fhall we. therefore, rife up and fay ysa kave
Errsa egaiyS He0Gen, ard ia sHr kstf era nrr
no ,,s,s q,V,,ty Of az a5sdt anarg r,es I! We
mould diicover more Of the temper If chrif
,iap. were ~e hra to ak. has he fpokcr with fn.
cerity, az fbe rnd eonxRaicafs, quab nfifs
Has he ipoken the fentimenss Of his heart I IL
he has, we may FAY that he is deluded, and pity