Jenks' Portland gazette. Maine advertiser. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1802-1803, 1803-02-21
for this Gazette.
Mr.. 9ENKs.

Mr.. 1ENKs.
MANY Of our citizens are proba-
bly, of opinion, that too much notice
has already been taken of Tb5mas Pane
and his writings. But when man
iDtrudrs himielf upon the public, and
with irlinuating plaufbility or bold ef
fron'erY advances and repeats danger.
Gus errors, think it highly improper
to !et them pats without anmadverGon
and correction. This is my apology for
calling the attention of your readers TO
Iome remark. relpeeting the late letters
OF the Hofori0u5 lb9,7aS Paine.
Il is not 70 much bis political, as his
religious errors, which ] propole to no
tice.-1he former, indeed, are extreme
Iy palpable and eccentric. The only
good iuch mans political opinions can
promote, is the deItruaon Of an arb
trary lyRem. They rult not regular
and permanent government. He is al
70 entirely incorrect, in fuppohng that
religion has nothing to do with politics.
For it is impollible to maintain civil
government without the aid of religious
opinions, And here NUT be permit.
ted 10 obierve, that human reafon and
Pli66bby have never been able 10 dif
cover all The great truth Of natural rsH-
Si5n-and thar idolatry, polythe;Gm and
The mot ihameful and psrnicious vices
have always prevailed where the light
of rsvsl7,ioa has rot ihone-Yes, even in
countries highly celebrated for litera-
ture and the arts.
ihall lay little of his "Ags ofRsaI5a J"
for L Is without much legitimate ar2u
nent. Ridicule. grofs psrverGon Of
The genuine doa'ines Of chriliAni,y and
The abutcs Of religion fuppy The plau-
fible objections to our boly taii5, which
The isf-aauthor 70 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Il IS however, 10 nay Durpoie 70 remark
reipe9ing this work, that itiliiis much
upon the brsfeEAsd ablurdty Of The ID
time of providence directing and over
ruling the afFlirs 1t men which IS fu.
ly taught in the s5,ifiqg Icrie:ur-s and
which IS coalonant 10 the mott rational
philoloPhy-vhich neceGarily follows
from the idea Of Gods being the righ-
teous. m5r1l g-varrer of the world and
which i ~ full ~ ccuf1latian and W ~
the viEtuou5 IN every period Of life
But tho this idea is ridieuled IL "t5s 4gs
cfRegl5u," Mr.Paine is obliged, il ieems,
IN Tome moments 10 admit It or more
probably trstsnd to acknowledge {,
with a view 10 rellore, ii poGille, IBIS
ruined chara4er with al people of piet7
and religion. He owes the prelervetiOn
Of his lie, he fays. 70 the continued
care and protection Of Providence. We
90 indeed, Rrongly fuips6 the faesrity
OF this declaration Especially, as IN the
fame breath he expreaes his contempt
q al! prayer, and of ali Pisty, hy uinE
the latter anonymously with ly6olriJ.
Bot I was induces 10 animadvert on
Mr.. Pane II this time, after Peruhng
his reply TO Hen. S. AAam5--in which |
perceive much dangerous error advan-
eed With great plauubiiity and there.
tore likely q % mich:e..
| ihali fr0 and particularly notice bis
ah-ruon that th- books c4Ilsd the
word of God are thus denominated
merely becau.e il w4e 70 determined by
the Nioenc Cou0cil-and this only by
the majority OF ore vote" He repeats
tie tAlie Affection, and iIys the fad can
not be tcniel Now FAY il the face
oF hr P1iac md Al oJher trflsL il the
woTIj, that Ills is g5g,j nd nal.sioH'
r7yrrp-s afati.1. Nol.iuy Is further
from 'hs frs!i y tl7. There 4 ic'rcely
the E111 OF ! t4ct % fubllnuaie this
bold ar inP1teo, declaration. hall