IV.

AN

APOLOGY FOR THE BIBLE;

ABRIDGED FROM

BISHOP WATSON'S ANSWER

TO THE

SECOND PART OF PAINE's age of reason.

"Let all the nations be gathered together, and all the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth."-Isai. xliii. 9.

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE

OF

THOMAS PAINE.

AMONG the individuals actively employed in stemming the tide of blasphemy and impiety, is one who has spent a long life in such exertions. The subjoined statement is said, I know not however upon what authority, to be the production of her pen.

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF
MR THOMAS PAINE.

"The life of this unhappy man affords a striking example of the effect of such principles as he professed, upon the moral conduct. He began his career in life with defrauding a public office in London, in which he had been employed, and from which he was consequently obliged to fly.

"It is no less a fact, that his next employer was under the necessity of dismissing him from his house, for loose and immoral conduct with his wife. After his escape from France, he took up his residence in America, where he is thus described by Mrs Dean, with whom he lodged : "He never failed to get drunk daily; and, even in his sober moments, constantly disturbed the peace, and destroyed the comfort of the family, by his brutal violence and detestable filthiness." On leaving her, he engaged

in a farm, hiring an old black woman to attend him, who lived with him only three weeks. Like her master, she was every day intoxicated; and often would they lie prostrate on the same floor, swearing and threatening to fight, though incapable (from extreme intoxication) of approaching each other. His next servant, a poor old woman, was obliged to prosecute him for the amount of her wages.

"During the whole of the week preceding his death, he never failed to get drunk twice a day. It appears likewise, from a reproachful letter of a brother Jacobin and infidel, who had loaded him with favours which he repaid with the vilest ingratitude, and who had lent him money which he would never repay at all-that he had seduced a French woman from her husband, and afterwards refused to discharge the debt contracted for her board and lodging, and exulted in having been the ruin of the man, who vainly sued him for it. The letter subsequently describes the nauseous and disgusting situation from which its writer had relieved him; in doing which, he witnessed scenes too detestable to be exposed to public view.

"How far PAINE maintained his principles to the end of his days, and what effect they produced upon him at the near approach of death, we shall gather from the following account given by Dr Manly, who attended him in his last illness:-During the latter part of his life, he would not allow his curtain to be closed at any time; and when it unavoidably happened, that he was left alone by day or by night, he would scream and halloo till some person came to him. There was something remarkable in his conduct about this period (which comprises the fortnight immediately before his death), when we reflect that Thomas Paine was author of several books denying our Lord Jesus Christ, and deriding every part of Revealed Religion. He would call out during his paroxysms of distress, without intermission, O Lord, help me! God help me! Jesus Christ, help

LIFE AND DEATH OF THOMAS PAINE.

107

me!' &c. repeating the same expressions without the least variation, and in a tone of voice that would alarm the house. Two or three days before his death, when he was constantly uttering the words above mentioned, Dr Manly said to him, What must we think of your present conduct! Why do you call upon Jesus Christ to help you? Do you believe that he can help you? Do you believe in the Divinity of Christ? Give me an answer, as from the lips of a dying man.' Paine made no reply: but to a lady, who constantly visited and relieved him on his deathbed, after asking her If she had read one of his works? and being answered, that she thought it one of the most wicked books she had ever seen, and had therefore burnt it; he replied, that he wished all who had read it had been equally wise,' adding, ' If ever the Devil had an agent upon earth, I am that man!'

"On June 8, 1809, at the age of seventy-two, died this miserable reprobate, who, at the close of the eighteenth century, had endeavoured to persuade the common people of England that all was wrong in that government and that religion, which had been transmitted to them by their forefathers. For the sake of England and humanity, it is to be wished that his impostures and his memory may perish together."

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