ANTIDOTE TO DEISM. THE DEIST UNMASKED; O R AN AMPLE REFUTATION OF ALL THE OBJECTIONS of THOMAS PAINE, Against the CHRISTIAN RELIGION; as contained in a Pamphlet, intitled, The AGE of REASON; addressed to the CITIZENS of thefe STATES. By the Reverend UZAL OGDEN, RECTOR Of TRINITY CHURCH, at NEWARK, in the STATE of NEW-JERSEY. To which is prefixed, REMARKS on BOULANGER'S CHRISTIANITY UNVEILED. And to the DEIST UNMASKED, is annexed a SHORT METHOD with the DEISTS. By the Reverend CHARLES LESLIE If this age be fingularly productive of INFIDELS, I fhall not, therefore, conclude it to be more knowing, but only more prefuming than former ages; and their conceit, I doubt, is not the effect of the exercife of the powers of reafon. MINUTE PHILOSOPHER. In Two VOLUMES-VOL. I. NEWARK, PRINTED BY JOHN WOODS. M,DCC,XCV. (Copy Right fecured, according to Law.) 130. g. 2. TO GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq. PRESIDENT Of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA; The PATRON of SCIENCE; The real PATRIOT; The FATHER of his COUNTRY, And the fincere CHRISTIAN; This DEFENCE of DIVINE REVELATION, As a TESTIMONY Of ESTEEM and RESPECT, Is INSCRIBED by THE AUTHOR. ADVERTISEMENT. ITA TALY and FRANCE, may juftly be regarded as the parents of DEISM. And as infidelity, at the prefent moment, predominates, in a confiderable degree, in France, (though it is believed, notwithstanding the wife and virtuous decrees of the national convention againft CHRISTIANITY,' * * It is noticed here, with pleasure, that fince writing the above, the author hath been informed, the unjuftifiable malignity and rage of the national convention against chriftianity, have very confiderably abated. This is manifeft from their decree (the reading of the report of which, was "frequently interrupted by warm applaufes") "for affuring the freedom of religious opinions and worship, paffed Feb. 21, 1795. The Xth article of which, is in the following words. "Whoever fhall disturb by violence, the ceremonies of any worship, or infult the objects of it, fhall be punished according to the law of correctional police." The convention, indeed, decree, that they will not afford any pecuniary aid for the support of religion; and certain it is, that chriftianity demands not fuch affiftance; nor does its existence, or profperity require it. Its ftate was more profperous when discountenanced, and even perfecuted by earthly powers, than in fucceeding ages; and, perhaps, a greater evil could not have happened to the chriftian church, than the bonors and emoluments which were lavished on it, by Conftantine the great!t † See Mofheim's ecclefiaftical history, vol. I. |