APOLOGY FOR THE BIBLE, IN A : SERIES OF LETTERS, ADDRESSED TO THOMAS PAINE, AUTHOR OF A BOOK ENTITLED, THE AGE OF REASON, TRUE AND OF FABULOUS THEOLOGY. By R. WATSON, D. D. F. R. s. LORD BISHOP OF LANDAFF, AND REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY DUBLIN: PRINTED FOR MESSRS. P. WOGAN, P. BYRNE, W. JONES, G. FOLINGSBY. 1796. LETTER I SIR, I HAVE lately met with a book of your's, entitled THE AGE OF REASON, part the fecond, being an investigation of true and of fabulous theology;and I think it not inconfiftent with my ftation, and the duty I owe to fociety, to trouble you and the world with fome obfervations on fo extraordinary a performance. Extraordinary I efteem it; not from any novelty in the objections which you have produced against revealed religion, (for I find little or no novelty in them,) but from the zeal with which you labour to diffeminate your opinions, and from the confidence with which you efteem them true. You perceive, by this, that I give you credit for your fincerity, how much foever I may question your wifdom, in writing in fuch a manner on fuch a fubject and I have no reluctance in acknowledg ing, that you poffefs a confiderable share of energy of language, and acutenefs of investigation; though I must be allowed to lament, that these talents have not been applied in a manner more useful to human kind, and more creditable to yourself. I begin with your preface. You therein ftatethat you long had an intention of publishing your thoughts B |