Biblical Extracts.

by Robert Cooper.

PREFACE.

The distinguishing characteristic of the present age, is the freedom of inquiry and discussion which prevails upon all subjects; and most particularly upon religious subjects. Intelligent and thinking men of every cla.s.s, are beginning to investigate and discuss questions of the latter kind with considerable closeness, fearlessness and determination.

They are now resolved no longer to be hoodwinked with the veil of prejudice, enchained with the trammels of superst.i.tion, or deluded by the Hosted by or intimidated by the denunciations of a crafty and intolerant priesthood; but to examine for themselves--"to prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." And long have the priesthood dreaded, and anxiously have they endeavored to procrastinate, the arrival of this period. Long have they been apprehensive of the development of intellect, and the enlightenment of mind. Long have they feared the advent of that era which will hail the dawn of rationality and advancement. And why? Because they knew full well, ignorant and superst.i.tious as many of them may appear, that when intellect and rationality become the main-springs of society--when men begin dispa.s.sionately and philosophically to examine into the mysteries and workings of religion, that all their impositions will be discovered, all their craftiness detected, and all their designs and practices fully exposed. And, when once this is done, they are conscious that their influence over the people, would immediately decline, and ultimately fall. This has already in some measure proved true. For by the many bold and daring innovations, which have been made by a Paine, a Voltaire, a Mirabaud, a Volney, a Taylor, a Howitt, and an Owen, upon what is arrogantly called the consecrated ground of religion, their influence has materially declined, and has every prospect of still continuing to do so. And this they know--_this they feel_. Hence, the terrific thunderbolts of indignation and anathema which they have hurled at the characters of those distinguished men. And hence, that malicious and vindictive spirit which they have manifested toward all those who have had the integrity or boldness to acknowledge themselves their disciples.

Hence, too, their present discreditable opposition to every educational, political and social measure, which would conduce to the elevation and improvement of society. But poor deluded mortals! how vain will they find all their attempts to impede the mighty progress of truth--the glorious advancement of thought and enlightenment! As well, indeed, might they attempt to overthrow the pyramids of Egypt with the waft of a feather, as to endeavor to demolish the temple of reason and intellect which is now erecting in society; a temple which, while it will be a glorious emblem of the progression of man, will be a lasting monument of their final downfall! So considerably, in fact, is the power of the priesthood already diminished, that they are now beginning to be looked upon by the leading minds of all cla.s.ses, with feelings of indifference and compa.s.sion, rather than those of reverence and admiration.

It was the desire to endeavor to hasten the annihilation of the influence of these men that induced me to publish the following work---a work which, I trust, will serve somewhat to expose one of the greatest impositions ever palmed upon mankind in any age, or in any country. I allude, as may be supposed? to the Bible. Yes, the Christian priesthood dare so outrageously to blaspheme the character of the Supreme Governor of the Universe as to say, that book is his word; that he either wrote or inspired men to write it. O shame, shame upon such blasphemy! What!

a munificent and omniscient Deity the author of a book replete with more contradictions, containing more immoralities, and inculcating more absurdities, than any book extant; contradictions, too, of the grossest character, immoralities of the most pernicious tendency, and absurdities of the most extravagant nature! Audacious impiety! Such an opinion perhaps might be entertained in the dark ages of ignorance and superst.i.tion, but in this the boasted era of reason and science, it must be repudiated by all who dare openly and frankly avow their sentiments, This may be deemed by those who have always read the Bible with their eyes closed, or who are interested in teaching its doctrines and mysteries, as very bold and presumptuous; but let the reader refer to the extracts contained in this little book, (and which are only a few to what may be adduced) and I am persuaded that he will at once acknowledge that I am perfectly justified in making these statements, Indeed, so extremely immoral and disgustingly obscene, are many pa.s.sages in this book, that I feel almost ashamed to publish them, and I am sure that any one who has the least sense of delicacy or chast.i.ty, will blush to read them. A book which had really originated from an Omniscient and Munificent Divinity---a book which was the word, or organ of such a being, must inculcate in every chapter and in every verse, the strictest, the purest, and most exalted morality; must constantly exhort mankind to every thing that was just, rational and charitable; and must contain no language but that which was exquisitely beautiful and elevating; and no expressions but those which were irresistibly persuasive and convincing. But the Bible is a book, as may be seen on a reference to these extracts, quite the reverse of this. We are compelled, therefore, to conclude against the established opinions of society, that it cannot be of Divine origin, and that consequently it cannot be the word of G.o.d.

My humble, but decided opinion is, as I have previously observed, that it was nothing more than a mere imposition; an imposition which was palmed upon mankind by the Christian priesthood, for the purpose of deluding or enslaving them; for the purpose of leading them from the open and cheering paths of knowledge and improvement, into the nauseous and gloomy quagmires of ignorance and superst.i.tion. The priesthood of every sect of religion, in every country of the habitable globe, have inst.i.tuted and perpetuated certain impositions, by means of which they have conceived they would be enabled to maintain and increase their influence over the minds of their followers; so that thereby they might still continue to luxuriate in ease and enjoyment, while their poor deluded victims repined in ignorance and woe. And this is such an imposition now established and supported by the Christian priesthood--an imposition which is the corner stone of all their power, the fountain of all their influence. It has been the tool which they have invariably used in the accomplishment of their objects, however selfish; and in the consummation of their machinations, however odious. Whenever they have ma.s.sacred, immolated, or incarcerated those who have dared to dispute their vicegerency, or who have presumed to expose their doctrines, or denounce their practices, they have quoted this imposition as their authority. Whenever they have defended, or connived at the extortions of the tyrants who have flattered or supported them, they have quoted this imposition as their authority. Whenever they have opposed any system or any measure, which they considered would be inimical to their interests, or subversive of their power, they have quoted this imposition as their authority. And the sooner this imposition is removed--the sooner the few good seeds which it may contain are extracted from it, and the immense ma.s.s of chaff is cast into oblivion, the better will it be for the amelioration and progression of man. Perhaps the expression of such opinions as these may be painful to the feelings of many excellent individuals. For this I am truly sorry, as my object is, not to cause pain or uneasiness, but to expose error and imposture. The time has now arrived when truth must come out, when truth must be spoken, "without mystery, mixture of error, or fear of man." Too long, indeed, has this precious jewel been sacrificed to the paltry predilections of interest and prejudice. Too long have we been tossed in the dark and unfathomable gulf of bigotry and intolerance; we must now make our way to the expansive and unruffled ocean of reason and inquiry, and there, free from the storms of persecution, and the squalls of denunciation, proceed, on our onward course, in security and felicity. R. C.

IMMATERIALITY.

"G.o.d is a spirit." John iv. 24..

1. So G.o.d created man _in his own image_, in the _image of G.o.d_ created he him; male and female-created he them. Gen. i. 27.

2. The _eyes_ of the lord are in everyplace, beholding the evil and the good. Prov. xv. 3.

3. So shall my word be that goeth from out of my _mouth_; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah lv. 11.

4. Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me for I am holier than thou; these are a smoke in my _nose_, a fire that burneth all the day.

Isaiah lxv. 5.

5. Behold the name of the Lord cometh from afar burning with his anger and the burden thereof is heavy: his _lips_ are full of indignation, and his _tongue_ as a devouring fire. Isaiah x.x.xth, 27.

6. And when we cried unto the Lord G.o.d of our fathers, the Lord _heard_ our voice and _looked_ on our affliction, and our labor and our oppression. Deut. xxvi. 7.

7. Lord, bow down thine _ear_ and hear, open thine eyes and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living G.o.d. 2 Kings xix. 16.

8. And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the _soles_ of my _feet_, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they nor their kings, by their wh.o.r.edom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. Ezek. xliii. 7.

9. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand, and with a strong _arm_ even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. Jer.

xxi. 5.

10. The Lord hath made bare his _holy arm_, in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our G.o.d. Isaiah lii. 10.

11. When I consider the heavens, the work of thy _fingers_, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained. Psalms viii. 3.

12. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the _finger_ of G.o.d. Exod. x.x.xi. 18.

13. And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his _loins_ even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about it. Ezek. i. 27.

14. And it repenteth the Lord that he had made man upon the earth, and it grieved him at his _heart_, Gen. vi. 6.

15. My _bowels, my bowels_, I am pained at my very _heart_, my heart maketh a noise in me: I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Jer. iv. 19.

16. And with the blast of thy _nostrils_ the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. Exod. xv. 8.

17. And it shall come to pa.s.s while my glory pa.s.seth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my _hand_ while I pa.s.s by. And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my _back parts_, but my _face_ shall not be seen. Exod. x.x.xiii. 22, 23.

18. Then the Lord put forth his _hand_ and _touched_ my _mouth_, and the Lord said unto me, Behold I have put my words in thy mouth. Jer. i. 9.

19. Behold the Lord's _hand_ is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his _ear_ heavy, that it cannot hear. Isaiah lix. 1.

20. Mine _hand_ also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my _right hand_ hath spanned the heavens,--when I call unto them they stand up together. Isaiah xlviii. 13.

21. I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest; I the Lord have said it. Ezekiel xxi. 17.

22. And the Lord _spake_ unto Moses, saying. Num. xxv. 16.

23. And G.o.d _spake_ unto Noah, saying. Genesis viii. 15.

24. And the Lord _spake_ unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. Jonah ii. 10.

25. And Abraham fell on his face; and G.o.d _talked_ with him saying.

Genesis xvii. 3.

26. And the Lord _smelled_ a sweet savour, and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done. Genesis viii.

21.

27. And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul. Genesis ii. 7.

28. By the _breath_ of G.o.d frost is given and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Job x.x.xvii. 10.

29. And the Lord said unto him, this is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying I will give it unto thy seed; I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died therein the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And _he_ buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor; but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. Deut. x.x.xiv. 4-6.

Also notes 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 44; 46, 637 64, 65, 72, 114, 130, 133.

OMNIPRESENCE.

One G.o.d and father of all, who is, above all, through all, and in you all. Ephesians iv. 6.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in h.e.l.l, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Psalms cx.x.xix. 7---10.

30. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who _being in the form of G.o.d_ thought it not robbery to be equal with G.o.d. Phil.

ii. 5, 6.