"But if objects for gratitude and admiration are our desire, do they not present themselves every hour to our eyes? Do we not see a fair creation prepared to receive us the instant we are born — a world furnished to our hands, that cost us nothing? Is it we that light up the sun, that pour down the rain, and fill the earth with abundance? Whether we sleep or wake, the vast machinery of the universe still goes on. Are these things, and the blessings they indicate in future, nothing to us? Can our gross feelings be excited by no other subjects than tragedy and suicide? Or is the gloomy pride of man become so intolerable, that nothing can flatter it but a sacrifice of the Creator?
I know that this bold investigation will alarm many, but it would be paying too great a compliment to their credulity to forbear it on their account; the times and the subject demand it to be done. The suspicion that the theory of what is called the Christian Church is fabulous is becoming very extensive in all countries; and it will be a consolation to men staggering under that suspicion, and doubting what to believe and what to disbelieve, to see the object freely investigated." - Thomas Paine (The Age of Reason)
Mr. Paine points us to creation as a revelation of who God is, and it is true that creation does reveal certain aspects of God. To Mr. Paine's credit he recognizes the immense blessing that await us the moment we are born. He rightly suggest these things should move us to gratitude. He then briefly acknowledges these great blessings are interrupted by tragedy and suicide. He then seems to pass over the query why such a prepared creation is so broken. Instead of investigating the obvious question he instead turns upon the Church in an attempt to dismantle its influence. The creation has brought Mr. Paine to the conviction of the existence of God, but it will take the Gospel to bring him to salvation.
Romans 1:19-20 ESV
(19) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
(20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
CONSCIENCE, n. [L., to know, to be privy to.]
1. Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of right and wrong; or the faculty, power or principle within us, which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our own actions and affections, and instantly approves or condemns them. Conscience is called by some writers the moral sense, and considered as an original faculty of our nature. Others question the propriety of considering conscience as a distinct faculty or principle. The consider it rather as the general principle of moral approbation or disapprobation, applied to ones own conduct and affections; alledging that our notions of right and wrong are not to be deduced from a single principle or faculty, but from various powers of the understanding and will.
Mr. Paine's so called bold investigation is truly an investigation in fables, for he continues to demonstrate he knows nothing of the Gospel.
Romans 5:1 ESV
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Peace with God, meaning we are at war with Him by nature. We will not have Him rule over us, we will not acknowledge Him or submit to His law.
(Romans 3:18 ESV (18) “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”)
In the Gospel, God takes such men and so works in their consciences to bring them to faith and set them at peace with Him.
(Romans 15:13 ESV (13) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.)
It is strange that Mr. Paine would rail so fiercely against that which set men's conscience at peace.
( Romans 2:15-16 ESV (15) They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them (16) on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.)
(Hebrews 9:14 ESV (14) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.)
Mr. Paine seems in this work to have lamented that men with troubled consciences find such peace and freedom of mind in this world. His life was truly a troubled life, yet he rejected and condemned the very hope he had for peace and attempted to drive other men away as well. Mr. Paine looks at religion with disdain, especially Christianity, yet somehow embraces a religion of his own mind, trusting in a god who passes over sin, does not communicate his will, and cannot be known or understood, unless one could somehow have seen into the mind of Mr. Paine. This is not surprising, the scripture anticipates mans hostility and speaks of his various forms of objections.
Romans 2:3-5 ESV
(3) Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?
(4) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
(5) But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV
(18) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV
(14) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
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