We shall conclude by observing, that atheism has often been punished by the civil power as a crime of the most atrocious malignity. Justice and expediency equally demand, that penal laws relating to religion should be very sparingly enacted. It is certain, that no crime can be more malignant than the attempt to propagate a belief which is so unfavourable to the well-being of human society, the happiness of life, and the hopes of futurity. Yet we cannot subscribe to the opinion, that none write so well against atheists as those who sign the warrant for their execution. is always dangerous to punish men for sentiments which may be construed by others into a tendency to atheism. Whoever reflects on the condemnation of Anaxagoras, and the martyrdom of Socrates, will tremble at the prospect of having such a power lod ged in the hands either of magistrates or churchmen, except when the impiety has been 60 audacious and unreserved, that there can be no room for hesitating concerning its reality. In such a case as this, when the denial of a God is openly avowed, we believe the most suitable punishment would be to devote the of fender, as a dangerous maniac, to solitary confine ment. Nothing but insanity of understanding, or still greater insanity of heart, can prompt any man to the atrocity of saying deliberately, there is no God ; thus endeavouring to dissolve the firmest ties of morality, to abolish the strongest bonds of social order, and to rob the pious mind of its sweetest solace under the vexations of life, and of the animating pro spect into the world to come.
We have purposely omitted taking notice of the objections which have been urged by some late scep tical writers against the argument for a Deity. They will come under our review with greater propriety, when we give an account of the lives and opinions of these authors. We have also passed over a number of particulars which we intended to adduce in sup port of the opinion we have advanced with regard to the doctrines of the persons whom we have named as atheists. We have even shortened the list consider ably, that the article might not swell beyond the bounds we had prescribed to it.
We subjoin a short list of authors, whose writings are calculated to act as an antidote to the poison of atheism.
Galen de Usu Partium. Derham Physico-Theo logy. Ray, Wisdom of God. Clarke's Demonstra tion. Boyle of Final Causes. Bentley and others Sermons at Boyle's Lectures. Foster on Nat. Reli gion. Abernethy on the Attributes. Paley's Na tural 7'heology. (A)