These questions imply what, to the author of this Apology, appears an ample justification of Atheism.  That they flowed from the pen of a Bishop, is one of many extraordinary facts which have grown out of theological controversy.  They are questions strongly suggestive of another.  Is it possible to have experience of, or even to imagine a Being with attributes so strange, anomalous, and contradictory?  To that question reason prompts an answer in the negative—­It is plain that Bishop Watson was convinced ‘no man by searching can find out God.’  The case is, that he, in the hope of converting Deists, ventured to insinuate arguments highly favourable to Atheism, whose professors consider an admission of utter ignorance of God, tantamount to a denial of His existence.  Many Christians, with more candour, perhaps, than prudence, have avowed the same opinion.  Minutius Felix, for example, said to the Heathen, ’Not one of you reflects that you ought to know your gods before you worship them.’ [20:2] As if he felt the absurdity of pretending to love and honour an unknown ‘Perhaps.’  That he did himself what he ridiculed in them proves nothing but his own inconsistency.  To the Author of this Apology it seems certain, a God whose being is not as our being, whose thoughts are not as our thoughts, and whose ways are not as our ways, is neither more nor less than the merest figment of ill-regulated imagination.  He is sure a Being, above nature, can only be conceived of by itself; it being obviously true that the natural cannot attain to the supernatural.

The Christian, equally with the Heathen, is open to the reproach of worshipping he knows not what.  Yes, to idol-hating, enlightened Christians, may fairly be applied the severe sarcasm Minutius Felix so triumphantly levelled at idol-loving ‘benighted Heathens.’  Will any one say the Christian absolutely knows more about Jehovah than the Heathen did about Jupiter?  The Author believes that few, if any, who have attentively considered Bishop Watson’s queries, will say the ’dim Unknown,’ they so darkly shadow forth, is conceivable by any effort, either of sense or imagination.

Under cover, then, of what reason Christians can escape the imputation of pretending to adore what they have no conception of, the Author of this Apology is unable to divine.  The very ‘book of books,’ to which they so boldly appeal, is conclusive against them.  In its pages they stand convicted of idolatry.  Without doubt a God is revealed by revelation; but not their God; not a supernatural Being, infinite in power, in wisdom, and in goodness.  The Bible Deity is superhuman in nothing; all that His adorers have ascribed to Him being mere amplification of human powers, human ideas, and human passions.  The Bible Deity ’has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth;’ is ‘jealous,’ especially of other Gods; changeful, vindictive, partial, cruel, unjust, ‘angry with the wicked every day;’