[The Writings of Thomas Paine<br> Volume IV. by Thomas Paine]@TWC D-Link book
The Writings of Thomas Paine
Volume IV.

CHAPTER X - CONCERNING GOD, AND THE LIGHTS CAST ON HIS EXISTENCE
2/4

Take away that reason, and he would be incapable of understanding anything; and in this case it would be just as consistent to read even the book called the Bible to a horse as to a man.

How then is it that those people pretend to reject reason?
Almost the only parts in the book called the Bible, that convey to us any idea of God, are some chapters in Job, and the 19th Psalm; I recollect no other.

Those parts are true deistical compositions; for they treat of the Deity through his works.

They take the book of Creation as the word of God; they refer to no other book; and all the inferences they make are drawn from that volume.
I insert in this place the 19th Psalm, as paraphrased into English verse by Addison.

I recollect not the prose, and where I write this I have not the opportunity of seeing it: The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue etherial sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great original proclaim.
The unwearied sun, from day to day, Does his Creator's power display, And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the list'ning earth Repeats the story of her birth; Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets, in their turn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though in solemn silence all Move round this dark terrestrial ball What though no real voice, nor sound, Amidst their radiant orbs be found, In reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice, Forever singing as they shine, THE HAND THAT MADE US IS DIVINE.
What more does man want to know, than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent?
Let him believe this, with the force it is impossible to repel if he permits his reason to act, and his rule of moral life will follow of course.
The allusions in job have all of them the same tendency with this Psalm; that of deducing or proving a truth that would be otherwise unknown, from truths already known.
I recollect not enough of the passages in Job to insert them correctly; but there is one that occurs to me that is applicable to the subject I am speaking upon.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books