I will leave them, and turn to that portion of my fellow-citizens by far, I hope and
trust, the most numerous and respectable, who believe that the fear of the Lord exalteth a
nation. I implore their attention, as I write with candor let me be judged with candor; and if
then the decision be against me, let no other apology soften the rigor of my condemnation, except
that which may be desired from the fairness with which this investigation is pursued. I shall
lay before my readers such proofs as have produced a conviction in my own mind.
trust, the most numerous and respectable, who believe that the fear of the Lord exalteth a
nation. I implore their attention, as I write with candor let me be judged with candor; and if
then the decision be against me, let no other apology soften the rigor of my condemnation, except
that which may be desired from the fairness with which this investigation is pursued. I shall
lay before my readers such proofs as have produced a conviction in my own mind.
First – That Mr. Jefferson is an infidel. And
Secondly – That he would be pleased with a subversion of Christianity in this country.
Before I proceed I hope to be indulged in one or two remarks. When those engaged in the gospel mi-
nistry have warned the people on this subject, their motives have been condemned, because they
interfered in political matters. When another, not a minister, has proclaimed the danger, then
he too has been condemned because he has used religion as weapon in a political contest. And thus
has it been attempted to silence the tongue of piety; to smother the voice of truth. No man is so perfect
in his conduct as to be always free from reproach. No man is so circumspect as to be always
able to escape detraction and slander. We are imperfect beings. It is a delicate task therefore
for any man to call the purity and religion of others in question – and it is particularly disagree-
able, because the malicious will say, and many of the credulous may believe, that it is all hypocrisy.
I confess that I have been perplexed with this difficulty. But at length I am resolved. And let
it be remembered, I write not to exalt my own piety – I know that I am frail – but I can lay my
hand on my heart, and declare that I am performing a duty which I owe to my country – I feel that
I am advocating the cause of truth. Let malice, then, indulge in secret whispers, or open calumny.
Let the unsparing spirit of party come forth with all its venom. I shall have great, powerful con-
solation. I shall convince many even of those whom I may enrage. I shall receive the thanks
of the sincere supporters of truth and religion. In support of the first position, it will be considered that
Mr. Jefferson’s own words may be fairly and safely relied on. His "Notes on Virginia,"
it may be remarked, were not, like Paine’s Age of Reason, written with a professed intention of
subverting Christianity. Still, however, they contain sufficient for our purpose.
On page 43 of his work, he notices the petrified shells which are found at the foot
of the North Mountain in Virginia. These shells have also been found in our own mountains,
and by those who believe in scriptures have been considered as evidence of the flood. Mr. Jefferson
enquiring into the cause of these shells being on such high ground, says that it "is considered
by many, both of the learned and unlearned, as proof of an universal deluge. To the many
considerations (he adds) opposing this opinion, the following may be added" - He then pro-
ceeds to adduce proofs from nature (opposing nature to scripture) that an universal deluge
could never have happened – because, as he says, the seas can "be raised only 52½ feet above
their present level and of course would overflow the lands to that height only. In Virginia this
would be a very small proportion even of the champain (or low) country. Deluges beyond this
extent, then, as for instance to the North Mountain or Kentucky, seem out of the Laws
of Nature." He therefore rejects the common opinion that these shells have been produced by the flood, and after
adverting to two other solutions, concludes with this remarkable expression: "We must be con-
tented to acknowledge that this great phenomenon is as yet unsolved. Ignorance is preferable
to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is
wrong." From his own work then it appears that Mr. Jefferson does not believe that the whole
world was covered with water. And the reason he gives is, that it seems out of the Laws
of Nature. Now it will be granted that the flood never was supposed to have been a mere opera-
tion of nature, but that it was produced by the special exertion of omnipotent power. To one,
therefore, who believed the scriptures, it would be no argument to say that an universal flood
was against the ordinary laws of nature. He would point to his Bible, as the rule of his faith,
and leave those to nature’s laws who disbelieved Divine revelation. (And the waters
prevailed exceedingly upon the earth, and all the high hills that were under the whole Heaven
were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail and the mountains were covered.
Gen. ch. VII ver. 19. 20.) - But the proof of Mr. Jefferson's infidelity must be considered
conclusive, not only because he declares his utter disbelief in a great and important fact,
established by sacred history, but because the reason which he gives for this disbelief may
easily and with equal propriety be used to justify a disbelief of all the facts which form the
ground-work of Christian doctrine. For once admit that we ought to believe nothing
but what seems within the laws of nature – or in other words, that nothing can be true
nistry have warned the people on this subject, their motives have been condemned, because they
interfered in political matters. When another, not a minister, has proclaimed the danger, then
he too has been condemned because he has used religion as weapon in a political contest. And thus
has it been attempted to silence the tongue of piety; to smother the voice of truth. No man is so perfect
in his conduct as to be always free from reproach. No man is so circumspect as to be always
able to escape detraction and slander. We are imperfect beings. It is a delicate task therefore
for any man to call the purity and religion of others in question – and it is particularly disagree-
able, because the malicious will say, and many of the credulous may believe, that it is all hypocrisy.
I confess that I have been perplexed with this difficulty. But at length I am resolved. And let
it be remembered, I write not to exalt my own piety – I know that I am frail – but I can lay my
hand on my heart, and declare that I am performing a duty which I owe to my country – I feel that
I am advocating the cause of truth. Let malice, then, indulge in secret whispers, or open calumny.
Let the unsparing spirit of party come forth with all its venom. I shall have great, powerful con-
solation. I shall convince many even of those whom I may enrage. I shall receive the thanks
of the sincere supporters of truth and religion. In support of the first position, it will be considered that
Mr. Jefferson’s own words may be fairly and safely relied on. His "Notes on Virginia,"
it may be remarked, were not, like Paine’s Age of Reason, written with a professed intention of
subverting Christianity. Still, however, they contain sufficient for our purpose.
On page 43 of his work, he notices the petrified shells which are found at the foot
of the North Mountain in Virginia. These shells have also been found in our own mountains,
and by those who believe in scriptures have been considered as evidence of the flood. Mr. Jefferson
enquiring into the cause of these shells being on such high ground, says that it "is considered
by many, both of the learned and unlearned, as proof of an universal deluge. To the many
considerations (he adds) opposing this opinion, the following may be added" - He then pro-
ceeds to adduce proofs from nature (opposing nature to scripture) that an universal deluge
could never have happened – because, as he says, the seas can "be raised only 52½ feet above
their present level and of course would overflow the lands to that height only. In Virginia this
would be a very small proportion even of the champain (or low) country. Deluges beyond this
extent, then, as for instance to the North Mountain or Kentucky, seem out of the Laws
of Nature." He therefore rejects the common opinion that these shells have been produced by the flood, and after
adverting to two other solutions, concludes with this remarkable expression: "We must be con-
tented to acknowledge that this great phenomenon is as yet unsolved. Ignorance is preferable
to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is
wrong." From his own work then it appears that Mr. Jefferson does not believe that the whole
world was covered with water. And the reason he gives is, that it seems out of the Laws
of Nature. Now it will be granted that the flood never was supposed to have been a mere opera-
tion of nature, but that it was produced by the special exertion of omnipotent power. To one,
therefore, who believed the scriptures, it would be no argument to say that an universal flood
was against the ordinary laws of nature. He would point to his Bible, as the rule of his faith,
and leave those to nature’s laws who disbelieved Divine revelation. (And the waters
prevailed exceedingly upon the earth, and all the high hills that were under the whole Heaven
were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail and the mountains were covered.
Gen. ch. VII ver. 19. 20.) - But the proof of Mr. Jefferson's infidelity must be considered
conclusive, not only because he declares his utter disbelief in a great and important fact,
established by sacred history, but because the reason which he gives for this disbelief may
easily and with equal propriety be used to justify a disbelief of all the facts which form the
ground-work of Christian doctrine. For once admit that we ought to believe nothing
but what seems within the laws of nature – or in other words, that nothing can be true