Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-02-12

i, Is thofe who have choien the ruler when they
curfe. As to the hfft part of the verfe, that Of
sof rrvilisg nr gadf, il makes no part of my
icriptuH. have bot one God.
Since began this letter, for write il by
piece meals, az have leifore, have feen the
four letters that psfIed between you and John
Adams. In your frft letter yon FAY, let di-
vines aad philoiophers, aatefmen and patriots,
unite their cndeavon TO yessyafe fbs age by
inculcating in the minds of youth fbr fear and
isve Of fbe Deity, and nnivrylai bbilanfbfeey."
Why, my dear friend, this is exadly my religion,
and is the whole of il. That you may have
az idea that the Agr Of ,sajSn (for believe you
have not read it) iuculcstes this reveren,isl fear
and love of the Deity, ! will give you para
graph from il:
8" Do we want to contemplate his power ?
We fee It in the immenGty of the creation.
Do wc want to contemplate his wildom We
Zee it 10 the unchsngable order by which the
incomprhuhble whole is governed. De we
want to contemplate his muni6cence We
lee II in the abundance with which he fills the
earth. Do we want 10 contemplate his mercy
We fee il ip his no, Withholding that abun-
dance even from the unthsnkful."
As / am fully with you in your fri part,
that refpeeting the Deity, 70 am in our iecond
that of xrivsy(ai philanthropy by which do
not mean merely the len,imentsl beuevolence of
wifhing we'll, but the practical benevolenee Of
doing good. We cannot ferve the Deity in the
manner we ferve thoie who cannot do without
that leryicc. He needs no feryice from us.
We can add no,hiog TO eternity. But it is in
our power to render fervice oe6etfabk to him,
and that is not by praying, but by endeavouring
70 make his creatures happy. A man does not
ierye God when he prays, for il is himiclf he is
trying TO ferve, and as to hiring or paying men
to pray, az il the Deity needed inaruttioo, it is
in my opinion 40 abomination. One good
School Matter is Of more ufe and more vaIue than
a load OF fuch perlons as DR.. Emmons and fome
Others.
Yon, my dear and much refpetted friend,
are nov far 10 the vale of years; have yet,
believe. fone years in fore for l have good
fate Of health and happy mind, ard take
care OF both, by nourlhing the frf with tenn
perance and The latter with abundance.
This believe, you will allow TO be the
true philoiophy of life. You will fee by my
third letter TO the ci,ixens of the United States.
that have been expoied to. and pre!erved thro'
many dangers, but iniesd of bufetting The
Deity with prayers, as If diAruaed him or mutt
dictate to him, repoied my felf on his protection
and you, my friend, will find, even in your laft
moments, more confoation in the hlence OF
rehgnssion than in the murmuring win of prayer.
In every thing which you FAY in your ie-
cond letter to ohm Adams reipeeting our rights
as men and citizens in this world, am perfectly
with you. On. other points we have TO anfwer
TO our creator and not TO each other. The key
Of heaven is not in the keeping OF any ieet, nor
ough, the road to il TO 5e obarutfed by any.
Our relation each other in this world is as men,
and the man who is friend to man and TO his
rights. let his religious opinions be what they
may. is good citizen, to whom can give. a.
| ooght to do, and as every other ought, the
right hand of frllowfhip, and to none.with more
hearty good will. my dear friend. than to you.
~ THOMAS PAINE.
FEDERAL City, Jan. I. 1903.