The Age of Revelation; Or, the Age of Reason Shewn to Be an Age of Infidelity

by Elias Boudinot

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1801. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE OBJECTIONS TO THE OLD TESTAMENT, CONSIDERED. Our author introduces his general observations on the Bible, by endeavouring to prejudice the unwary in favour of his objections, by assuring them, " That although the boldnese of his investigations would alarm many, yet it would be paying too great a compliment to credulity, to forbear them on that account--that the times and the subject demand it to be done--that the suspicion, that the theory of what is called the Christian church is fabulous, is becoming very extensive in all countries; and that it will be a consolation to such persons, to see the subject freely investigated." IT must be evident by this time, to every candid and sincere inquirer after truth, that if the facts already treated of in this answer be true, there can be little necessity of further argument, to show the weakness as well as wickedness of the other observations of the Age of Reason, on the Christian i i system; yet, for the sake of those who have not time or inclination to search into these things, we will proceed, by taking previous notice of the observations above referred to, which he calls bold investigations. Let me ask this man, who seems so fearful of paying a compliment to credulity, who it is that he supposes will be alarmed by the boldness of his investigations? He must, I conclude, mean the weak and ignorant alone. What has he done to give this apprehended alarm to those who understand the subject? He has done very little more, than change the style and language of his predecessors, though they have been so fully answered. Indeed it could scarcely have been credited, before sorrowful conviction had prevented a doubt, that, at this day of light and knowledge, a man could have been found, pretending to any character in the learne...

86 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1801

About the author

Elias Boudinot was a lawyer and statesman from Elizabeth, New Jersey who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a U.S. Congressman for New Jersey. He also served as President of the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1783 and Director of the United States Mint from 1795 until 1805.

Reviews

[Samuel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boudinot wrote this response to Thomas Paine's "Age of Reason" disappointed that no one else had done so. Initially, it was written to his daughter to bolster her Christian faith, but he later expanded it for a general readership. For a late seventeenth / early nineteenth century work it is pretty impressive for the amount of research into the history of the Bible and Christianity that Boudinot was able to perform on this side of the pond. While many of his arguments have since been weakened by modern scholarship, many more still form a solid and convincing argument for his cause. Boudinot was an earnest and pious man who held many positions of influence in the early U.S. government. 'Tis a pity that in this benighted era of hope and change no such works issue forth from our political leaders.