Proving Things from the Bible: The Case of the Anti- Atheists

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 15; p. 75
• Main Author: Pooley, Roger
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Bible; British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); English literature
• ISSN: 0954-0970

The importance of Romans 1 in anti-atheist polemic is also seen in Henne Smith's Gods Arrow against Atheists (1611) where a text from it is the first biblical quotation.20 The word 'atheist' doesn't appear in the Bible; but as with the Trinity, that doesn't mean it isn't there. [...]it is not men of moral and civil Religion and Righteousness, who will do this work, and execute this vengeance; for the Inchauntments of the Universities are too strong and mighty for all Humane Spirits: But the called, chosen, and faithfull Ones of Christ, when he shall summon mem, and call mem to his foot, they shall not stand on Complements, Formalities and Niceties; nor regard friendship or enmity; but through the Power of Faith, shall break through all that can be said and objected by the Wisdom, Policy, Prudence, and Religion of man, and shall execute me righteous Judgements of the Lord, on these Mothers of Harlots, and Fornications of the Nations.25 His argument for the reformation of learning is more constructive than this, arguing for universities in the major cities of England, for example, and for the teaching of practical knowledge. Which that the Reader may not misinterpret, and accuse of want of judgement, seeing my pretences are against the Atheist, who believes not Scripture; he is to know, that there are Reasons for the Atheist, which though to make them more perspicuous, and convincing, I have backed with the verdicts of the gravest Philosophers, and to shew them to be also Scriptural, I have confirmed from the Scriptures; yet I insist not on them with the Atheist, as they are Scriptural, but as they are Reasons, Scriptural Reasons.32 Burthogge's argument is pointing in two directions - to Christians, to reassure them that he knows what he's doing when he's talking to atheists, and that he's being faithful to the Scriptures while doing so, and also (of course) to atheists, to appeal to the authority of nature, reason and the philosophers that they would recognize, while reminding them that Scripture, too, has reasons, even if they don't acknowledge them in the way a Christian would. In this short catechetical piece Sailer begins with the arguments for God from creation, but then spends longer arguing for the inspiration and authority of Scripture, before heading into the business of what true religion is.34 Sailer, like so many anti-atheists, is apt to merge the 'papistical' with the atheist as the argument proceeds.