Chapter 5 Preface - about the second part

In the first part of The Age of Reason, I have stated that I had long intended to publish my religious thoughts; but I intended to reserve it for the latter part of my life, as my last work.However, at the end of the year, the situation in France made me decide not to procrastinate.Since philosophy was first dissociated, so have revolutionary principles of justice and benevolence followed.The idea, often harmful to society, and equally destructive to an Almighty God, that monks can forgive sins no longer seems to exist, but confuses the human sense that all sins are possible.The unbearable spirit of persecution on the part of the church has transformed itself into politics, and the courts in the revolutionary form have given a place for the examination of a matter; so the guillotine and the stake have triumphed over the fire and the sticks in the church.

I have seen many of my dearest friends destroyed; others are imprisoned every day; Under these unfavorable circumstances, I began to write the first part of "The Age of Reason"; although I refuted both the "Old Testament" and "New Testament" of the "Bible", I did not have the old and new testaments at hand, and I also unavailable.Notwithstanding this, I have written a book that Bible-believers may write alongside their own books and from the collections of church libraries, and my work cannot be refuted, and at the end of that year it was moved and carried Exclusion of outsiders from the National Assembly.There were only two outcasts, one was Anajaxis Klotz and the other was me.I know that Barton Twoworthy, who spoke at that motion meeting, singled me out.

Afterwards, thinking that I had but a few days of freedom, I sat down and finished my work as quickly as possible.In less than six hours I had written it, and it was known to the world.So at three o'clock in the morning a guard, with an order from the Commission of Public Safety and Security, arrested me as a foreigner and sent me to a Luxembourg prison.On the way to the prison I managed to interview Carl Bairro, and I placed the manuscript in his hands, which was much safer than if I had carried it with me in prison.I do not know the fate of the author and the work in France, so I appeal to the protection of American citizens.

To be fair, the aforementioned guards who carried out the orders and the interpreter of the Security Committee, who followed them to check my ID card, treated me not only politely but respectfully.Benoit, the guard in the Luxembourg prison, is also a kind person.He is friendly to me everywhere within the sphere of power.During his tenure, his family also treated me very well.He was later dismissed, arrested, charged with malicious intent, brought to court for interrogation, and was released. After I was imprisoned in Luxembourg prison for about three weeks, the Americans in Paris at that time collectively applied to the National Assembly to claim that I was their compatriot and friend; The person who issued the order for my arrest said I was born in England.From then on, until the defeat of Robespierre, 9 Thermidor ①-July 27, 1794, I never heard from anyone outside the prison.

About two months before this incident, I developed a fever. During the fever, various symptoms indicated that I was going to die. In terms of the consequences of the disease, I did not improve.At that moment, I remembered with satisfaction that I had congratulated myself for having written the first part of The Age of Reason.At that time I had little hope of living again.People around me had even less hope for me.So I experience by experience a true test of my own principles. At that time, there were three comrades in my room: Joseph Wangel of Bruges, and Rouvain’s Sage. Historically, it refers to November in the French Republican calendar established in 1793, which is equivalent to July 19-19 in the Gregorian calendar. From 20th to August 18th-19th. - translator

Bastiny and Michel Lupin.I feel grateful when I think of these three friends, and feel happy when I mention them, for their constant and deep concern for me day and night.It so happened that a physician, Dr. Graham, and a surgeon, Mr. Bunn, were part of General O'Ala's entourage and were then stationed in the Luxembourg prison.Nor did I ask myself whether it was proper for me to thank them, since they were members of the British Government; but I would be to blame if I did not; and the same was true of Dr Michelski, the doctor in the Luxembourg prison. I have some reason to believe, since I cannot discover any other cause, that it was this disease that saved my life.Among the papers of Robespierre sent to Parliament by a committee of deputies was a short note in Robespierre's own hand, which read as follows:

"In the interest of the United States, as well as of France, a statute for the prosecution of Thomas Paine is demanded." The reason why this intention was not carried out is beyond my knowledge, so I cannot even explain myself, except that it was made impossible by the disease. The National Assembly, doing all it could to remedy the injustice I had suffered, unanimously agreed to openly invite me to return to the National Assembly.I therefore accepted the invitation, showing that I could bear injury without affecting my principles or my temper.Right principles are not abandoned because they are violated.Since my freedom I have seen several publications, some in America and some in England.These publications responded to the first part of my The Age of Reason.If the authors of these articles do so, and can entertain themselves with it, I have no intention of interfering.They are free to criticize my work and myself as they please.

They have been of more help to me than they wished, and I have no objection to them continuing to write.However, when I did not write a second part in reply to them, they felt compelled to reread their work and reweave their "spider webs."Then their first writing was changed by accident. Now they will find that I have got a Bible and a New Testament: and I may also say that I have found them to be much worse books than I had imagined.If I were in "The Age of Reason" What mistakes were made in the first part, it was because I spoke too well of some parts of those books.

I have observed that all my opponents, for the relief of their difficulties, have somewhat invoked what they call the evidence of scriptures and the authority of Scripture.Their knowledge of the subject in question is so rudimentary that they confuse arguments of truth with those of doctrine; though I will correct them that if they are to write any more they may know how to begin. thomas paine