thing less than representing civil society as founded in atheism. For there can be no religion without God. And if it does me or my neighbour no injury, to subvert the very foundation of religion by denying the being of God, then religion is not one of the constituent principles of society, and consequently society is perfect without it; that is, is perfect in atheism. Christians! what think you of this doctrine? Have you so learned Christ or truth? Is Atheism indeed no injury to society? Is it no injury to untie all the cords which bind you to the God of Heaven, and -your deeds to his throne of judgment; which form the strength of personal virtue, give energy to the duties, and infuse sweetnefs into the charities, of human life? Is it indeed no injury to you, or to those around you, that your neighbour buries his conscience and all his sense of moral obligation in the gulph of atheism? Is it no injury to you, that the oath ceases to be sacred? That the eye of the Omniscient no more pervades the abode of crime That you have no hold on your dearest friend, farther than the law is able to reach his person? Have you yet to learn that peace and happiness of society depend upon things which the laws of men can never embrace? And whence, I pray you, are righte

the

ous laws to emanate, if rulers, by adopting atheism, be freed from the coercion of future retribution? Would you not rather be scourged with sword and famine and pestilence, than see your country converted into a den of atheism? Yet, says Mr. Jefferson, it is a harmless thing. "It does me.mo injury; it "neither picks my pocket, nor breaks. my leg." This is perfectly of a piece with his favourite wish to see a government administered without any religious principle among either rulers or ruled. Pardon me, Christian: this is the morality of devils, which would break in an instant every link in the chain of human friendship, and transform the globe into one equal scene of desolation and horror, where fiend would prowl with fiend for plunder and bloodyet atheism "neither picks my pocket nor

breaks my leg." I will not abuse you by asking, whether the author of such an opinion can be a Christian? or whether he has any regard for the Scriptures which confines all wisdom and blefsednefs and glory, both personal and social, to the fear and favour of God?

The reader will observe, that in his sentiments on these four points, the deluge; the origin of nations; the chosen people of God; and Atheism, Mr. Jefferson has comprized the

radical principles of infidelity in its utmost latitude. Accede to his positions on these, and he will compel you to grant the rest. There is hardly a single truth of revelation which would not fall before one or other of them. If the deluge be abandoned, you can defend neither the miracles, nor inspiration of the scripture. If men are not descendants of one common stock, the doctrine of salvation is convicted of efsential error. If God never had any chosen people but the cultivators of the soil, the fabric of the New Testament falls to the ground; for its foundation in the choice of Israel to be his peculiar people, is swept And if the Atheism of one man be away. not injurious to another, society could easily dispense not only with his word but with his worship.

Conformable with the infidelity of his book, is an exprefsion of Mr. Jefferson contained in a paragraph which I transcribe from the pamphlet entitled, "Serious Considerations,' &c."

"When the late Rev. Dr. John B. Smith "resided in Virginia, the famous MAZZEI "happened one night to be his guest. Dr. "Smith having, as usual, afsembled his fa

mily for their evening devotions, the cir "cumstance occasioned some discourse on re

66

ligion, in which the Italian made no secret "of his infidel principles. In the course of "conversation, he remarked to Dr. Smith, "Why your great philosopher and statesman, "Mr. Jefferson, is rather farther gone in infidelity than I am;' and related, in con"firmation, the following anecdote: That as “he was once riding with Mr. Jefferson, he "exprefsed his surprise that the people of this "country take no better care of their public "buildings. What buildings?' exclaimed

"Mr. Jefferson.

Is not that a church?'

replied he, pointing to a decayed edifice. 'Yes,' answered Mr. Jefferson.

"tonished,' said the other,

I am as

that they per

"mit it to be in so ruinous a condition.'

• It

"is good enough,' rejoined Mr. Jefferson, for "him that was born in a manger!!

Such a contemptuous fling at the blefsed Jesus, "could ifsue from the lips of no other than a "deadly foe to his name and his cause*."

Some of Mr. Jefferson's friends have been desperate enough to challenge this anecdote as a calumny fabricated for electioneering purposes. But whatever they pretend, it is incontestibly true, that the story was told, as here repeated, by Dr. Smith. I, as well as the au

* Serious Considerations, p. 16, 17.

B b

thor of "Serious Considerations," and several others, heard it from the lips of Dr. Smith years ago, and more than once. The ca

lumny, if any, lies either with those who impeach the veracity of a number of respectable witnefses, or with MAZZEI himself. And there are not wanting, among the followers of Mr. Jefferson, advocates for this latter opinion. He must have been a wretch indeed, to blacken his brother philosopher, by trumping up a deliberate lie in order to excuse his own impiety in the presence of a minister of Christ! If such was MAZZEI the philosopher, it is our wisdom to think, and think again, before we heap our largest honours upon the head of his bosom friend.

Christian reader, The facts and reasonings which I have laid before you, produce in my mind an irresistible conviction, that Mr. Jefferson is a confirmed infidel; and I cannot see how they should have a lefs effect on your's. But when to these you add his solicitude for wresting the bible from the hands of your children-his notoriously unchristian character-his disregard to all the ordinances of divine worship-his utter and open contempt of the Lord's day, insomuch as to receive on it a public entertainment *; every trace of doubt

* At Fredericksburgh, in Virginia, in 1798.