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+An Anecdote.+
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Among words which in their present acceptation are remote from their
original and rigid meaning, none perhaps are more striking than Deism
and Freethinking. The former, which in its strict import signifies
nothing more than a belief in the existence of the Deity, in opposition
to Atheism (and in this sense every christian is a Deist) is now
universally understood of all persons who reject the christian
revelation; and the word Freethinking, which should convey the idea of a
man of liberal and ingenuous disposition, free from vulgar prejudice and
unmanly bigotry, and investigating truth with virtuous view, and a deep
veneration of the Supreme Being, is now commonly appropriated to those
persons, who from a love of singularity, an affectation of superior
understanding, or innate malignity of mind, would combat truths the most
universally received and revered in all ages and in all countries, and
would dissolve those sacred ties by which society is united, and destroy
those hopes of immortality which God hath given as incentives to virtue,
and the best security of our happiness here and hereafter.
The conduct of the Freethinker, whether actuated by such motives or not,
is replete with extreme folly, to give it no harsher appellation. An
anecdote of the late Mr. Mallet affords a remarkable instance of the
truth of this observation, and cannot fail to convey some useful advice.
This gentleman was a great Freethinker, and a very free speaker of his
free thoughts. He made no scruple to disseminate his opinions wherever
he could introduce them. At his own table, the lady of the house (who
was a staunch advocate for her husband’s opinions) would often in the
warmth of argument, say, ‘Sir, we Deists.’ The lecture upon the non
credenda of the Freethinkers was repeated so often, and urged with so
much earnestness, that the inferior domestics became soon as able
disputants as the heads of the family. The fellow who waited at the
table being thoroughly convinced, that for any of his misdeeds he should
have no after account to make, was resolved to profit by the doctrine,
and made off with many things of value, particularly the plate. Luckily
he was so closely pursued, that he was brought back with his prey to his
master’s house, who examined him before some select friends. At first,
the man was sullen, and would answer no questions; but, being urged to
give a reason for his infamous behaviour he resolutely said, ‘Sir, I had
heard you so often talk of the impossibility of a future state, and that
after death there was no reward for virtue, or punishment for vice, that
I was tempted to commit the robbery.’ ‘Well; but you rascal,’ replied
Mallet, ‘had you no fear of the gallows?’ ‘Sir,’ said the fellow,
looking sternly at his master, ‘what is that to you, if I had a mind to
venture that? You had removed my greatest terror; why should I fear the
least?’
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_NEW-YORK._
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