"[I demand Fort Ticonderoga] In the name
of the great Jehovah, and the Continental Congress." --Ethan Allen in A
Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen's Captivity * in 1779
Excerpts from Reason: The Only Oracle of Man
* * (1784)
I have generally been denominated a Deist,
the reality of which I never disputed, being conscious I am no Christian,
except mere infant baptism make me one; and as to being a Deist, I know not,
strictly speaking, whether I am one or not, for I have never read their
writings; mine will therefore determine the matter...
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The idea of a revengeful God... is offensive
to reason and common sense, and subversive of moral rectitude in general.
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Those who invalidate reason, ought seriously
to consider, 'whether they argue against reason, with or without reason; if
with reason, then they establish the principle, that they are laboring to
dethrone;' but if they argue without reason, (which, in order to be consistent
with themselves, they must do,) they are out of the reach of rational
conviction, nor do they deserve a rational argument.
We are told that the knowledge of the
depravity of reason, was first communicated to mankind by the immediate
inspiration of God. But inasmuch as reason is supposed to be depraved, what
principle could there be in the human irrational soul, which could receive or
understand the inspiration, or on which it could operate so as to represent to
those whom it may be supposed were inspired, the knowledge of the depravity of
(their own and mankind's) reason (in general:) for a rational inspiration must
consist of rational ideas, which pre-supposes that the minds of those who were
inspired, were rational previous to such inspiration, which would be a
downright contradiction to the inspiration itself; the import of which was to
teach the knowledge of the depravity of human reason, which without reason
could not be understood, and with reason it would be understood, that the
inspiration was false.
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THERE is not anything which has contributed
so much to delude mankind in religious matters, as mistaken apprehensions
concerning supernatural inspiration or revelation; not considering that all
true religion originates from reason, and can not otherwise be understood but
by the exercise and improvement of it; therefore they are apt to confuse their
minds with such inconsistencies. In the subsequent reasonings on this subject,
we shall argue against supernatural revelation in general...
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In those parts of the world where learning
and science have prevailed, miracles have ceased; but in those parts of it as
are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue.
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... while we are under the power and tyranny
of priests, since as it ever has, it ever will be their interest, to invalidate
the law of nature and reason, in order to establish systems incompatible
therewith.
"General Ethan Allen of Vermont died and
went to Hell this day." --Rev. Ezra Stiles in his diary on 13 February
1789 * *
"Arrived at Onion-river falls [Winooski]
& passed by Ethan Allyn's grave. An awful Infidel, one of ye wickedest men
yet ever walked this guilty globe. I stopped & looked at his grave with a
pious horror." --Rev. Nathan Perkins in his Narrative Of A Tour Through
The State Of Vermont * on 25 May 1789
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