In the opening year, 1793, when revolutionary France had beheaded its king, thewrath turned next upon the King of kings, by whose grace every tyrant claimedto reign. But eventualities had brought among them a great English and Americanheart—Thomas Paine. He had pleaded for Louis Capet—“Kill theking but spare the man.” Now he pleaded,—“Disbelieve in theKing of kings, but do not confuse with that idol the Father of Mankind!”
In Paine’s Preface to the Second Part of “The Age of Reason”he describes himself as writing the First Part near the close of the year 1793.“I had not finished it more than six hours, in the state it has sinceappeare