Watson Refuted: Being an Answer to the Apology for the Bible, in a Series of Letters to the Bishop Of LlandaffFrancis, Samuel W. (Samuel Ward)
Religion
Watson Refuted: Being an Answer to the Apology for the Bible, in a Series of Letters to the Bishop Of Llandaff
Francis, Samuel W. (Samuel Ward)
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809. Age of reason; Rationalism; Watson, Richard, 1737-1816. Apology for the Bible
Produced by David Widger
WATSON REFUTED
BEING AN ANSWER TO THE APOLOGY FOR THE BIBLE.
IN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO THE BISHOP OF LLANDAFF.
By Samuel Francis, M.D.
Pudet me humani generis, cujus mentes et aures talia fern
potuerunt.
--Div. Augustin.
LONDON:
PRINTED and PUBLISHED BY R. CARLILE, 55, FLEET STREET
ADVERTISEMENT.
I had written a considerable part of another work, containing strictures
on religion. The appearance of the Bishop of Llandaff's pamphlet, and
the number of editions that have been published for the purpose of
encouraging its sale among the poorer classes, induced me to take up the
pen expressly in answer to this publication, that I might undeceive
the multitude, and show that, under the imposing title of a Bishop,
Dr. Watson has been guilty of the most gross misrepresentations, and,
whether intentionally or from ignorance, has deceived his readers,
while, under the pretence of meekness, he triumphs in the detection of a
few errors, committed by a man who does not pretend to be a Theologian,
or to be possessed of any great learning. He has uniformly passed
over the weighty arguments of the Age of Reason, and stopped at a few
immaterial inaccuracies. I hope, in the following sheets, to show, that
the learned Professor of Divinity has committed errors in the Natural
Sciences and History, which would be inexcusable in any author; but,
when coming from a dignified Clergyman, who wishes to dictate to the
nation, their detection cannot fail to show to the public, how necessary
it is for men to employ their faculty of reason, and not to yield it to
those whose profession is to teach things they acknowledge to be above
reason, and incomprehensible. I shall, as soon as my other avocations
permit, give the world a tract upon religion in general, with strictures
on the Jewish and Christian systems. For this reason, I shall not, in
the present pamphlet, enter deeply into any abstract reasoning, but
confine myself chiefly to the detection of the errors contained in the
Apology for the Bible.
S. F.
London, Aug. 15,
1790,
WATSON REFUTED
LETTER I.
MY LORD,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account