按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
flower of the nation perished。
〃When the news of the massacre reached Rome； the
273
exultation among the clergy knew no bounds。 The cardinal of Lorraine
rewarded the messenger with a thousand crowns； the cannon of St。 Angelo
thundered forth a joyous salute； and bells rang out from every steeple；
bonfires turned night into day； and Gregory XIII； attended by the cardinals
and other ecclesiastical dignitaries； went in long procession to the church
of St。 Louis； where the cardinal of Lorraine chanted a Te Deum。 。 。 。 A
medal was struck to commemorate the massacre； and in the Vatican may still
be seen three frescoes of Vasari； describing the attack upon the admiral；
the king in council plotting the massacre； and the massacre itself。 Gregory
sent Charles the Golden Rose； and four months after the massacre； 。 。 。 he
listened complacently to the sermon of a French priest； 。 。 。 who spoke of
'that day so full of happiness and joy； when the most holy father received
the news； and went in solemn state to render thanks to God and St。
Louis。'〃Henry White； The Massacre of St。 Bartholomew； ch。 14； par。 34。
The same master spirit that urged on the St。 Bartholomew Massacre led also
in the scenes of the Revolution。 Jesus Christ was declared to be an
impostor； and the rallying cry of the French infidels was； 〃Crush the
Wretch；〃 meaning Christ。 Heaven…daring blasphemy and abominable wickedness
went hand in hand； and the basest of men； the most abandoned monsters of
cruelty and vice； were most highly exalted。 In all this； supreme homage was
paid to Satan； while Christ； in His characteristics of truth； purity； and
unselfish love； was crucified。
〃The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against
them； and shall overcome them； and kill them。〃 The atheistical power that
ruled in France during the Revolution and the Reign of Terror； did wage such
a war against God and His holy word as the world had never witnessed。 The
worship of the Deity was abolished by the National Assembly。 Bibles were
collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn。
The law of God
274
was trampled underfoot。 The institutions of the Bible were abolished。 The
weekly rest day was set aside； and in its stead every tenth day was devoted
to reveling and blasphemy。 Baptism and the Communion were prohibited。 And
announcements posted conspicuously over the burial places declared death to
be an eternal sleep。
The fear of God was said to be so far from the beginning of wisdom that it
was the beginning of folly。 All religious worship was prohibited； except
that of liberty and the country。 The 〃constitutional bishop of Paris was
brought forward to play the principal part in the most impudent and
scandalous farce ever acted in the face of a national representation。 。 。 。
He was brought forward in full procession； to declare to the Convention that
the religion which he had taught so many years was； in every respect； a
piece of priestcraft； which had no foundation either in history or sacred
truth。 He disowned； in solemn and explicit terms； the existence of the Deity
to whose worship he had been consecrated； and devoted himself in future to
the homage of liberty； equality； virtue； and morality。 He then laid on the
table his episcopal decorations； and received a fraternal embrace from the
president of the Convention。 Several apostate priests followed the example
of this prelate。〃Scott； vol。 1； ch。 17。
〃And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them； and make merry；
and shall send gifts one to another； because these two prophets tormented
them that dwelt on the earth。〃 Infidel France had silenced the reproving
voice of God's two witnesses。 The word of truth lay dead in her streets； and
those who hated the restrictions and requirements of God's law were
jubilant。 Men publicly defied the King of heaven。 Like the sinners of old；
they cried： 〃How doth God know？ and is there knowledge in the Most High？〃
Psalm 73：11。
With blasphemous boldness almost beyond belief； one of the priests of the
new order said： 〃God； if You exist； avenge Your injured name。 I bid You
defiance！ You remain silent； You dare not launch Your thunders。 Who after
this will
275
believe in Your existence？〃Lacretelle； History； vol。 11； p。
309； in Sir Archibald Alison； History of Europe； vol。 1；
ch。 10。 What an echo is this of the Pharaoh's demand： 〃Who is Jehovah； that
I should obey His voice？〃 〃I know not Jehovah！〃
〃The fool hath said in his heart； There is no God。〃 Psalm 14：1。 And the Lord
declares concerning the perverters of the truth： 〃Their folly shall be
manifest unto all。〃 2 Timothy 3：9。 After France had renounced the worship of
the living God； 〃the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity；〃 it was
only a little time till she descended to degrading idolatry； by the worship
of the Goddess of Reason； in the person of a profligate woman。 And this in
the representative assembly of the nation； and by its highest civil and
legislative authorities！ Says the historian： 〃One of the ceremonies of this
insane time stands unrivaled for absurdity combined with impiety。 The doors
of the Convention were thrown open to a band of musicians； preceded by whom；
the members of the municipal body entered in solemn procession； singing a
hymn in praise of liberty； and escorting； as the object of their future
worship； a veiled female； whom they termed the Goddess of Reason。 Being
brought within the bar； she was unveiled with great form； and placed on the
right of the president； when she was generally recognized as a dancing girl
of the opera。 。 。 。 To this person； as the fittest representative of that
reason whom they worshiped； the National Convention of France rendered
public homage。
〃This impious and ridiculous mummery had a certain fashion； and the
installation of the Goddess of Reason was renewed and imitated throughout
the nation； in such places where the inhabitants desired to show themselves
equal to all the heights of the Revolution。〃Scott； vol。 1； ch。 17。
Said the orator who introduced the worship of Reason： 〃Legislators！
Fanaticism has given way to reason。 Its bleared eyes could not endure the
brilliancy of the light。 This day an immense concourse has assembled beneath
those gothic vaults； which； for the first time； re…echoed the truth。 There
276
the French have celebrated the only true worship；that of Liberty； that of
Reason。 There we have formed wishes for the prosperity of the arms of the
Republic。 There we have abandoned inanimate idols for Reason； for that
animated image； the masterpiece of nature。〃M。 A。 Thiers； History of the
French Revolution； vol。 2； pp。 370； 371。
When the goddess was brought into the Convention； the orator took her by the
hand； and turning to the assembly said： 〃Mortals； cease to tremble before
the powerless thunders of a God whom your fears have created。 Henceforth
acknowledge no divinity but Reason。 I offer you its noblest and purest
image； if you must have idols； sacrifice only to such as this。 。 。 。 Fall
before the august Senate of Freedom； oh！ Veil of Reason！〃
〃The goddess； after being embraced by the president； was mounted on a
magnificent car； and conducted； amid an immense crowd； to the cathedral of
Notre Dame； to take the place of the Deity。 There she was elevated on the
high altar； and received the adoration of all present。〃Alison； vol。 1； ch。
10。
This was followed； not long afterward； by the public burning of the Bible。
On one occasion 〃the Popular Society of the Museum〃 entered the hall of the
municipality； exclaiming； 〃Vive la Raison！〃 and carrying on the top of a
pole the half…burned remains of several books； among others breviaries；
missals； and the Old and New Testaments； which 〃expiated in a great fire；〃
said the president； 〃all the fooleries which they have made the human race
commit。〃Journal of Paris； 1793； No。 318。 Quoted in Buchez…Roux； Collection
of Parliamentary History； vol。 30； pp。 200； 201。
It was popery that had begun the work which atheism was completing。 The
policy of Rome had wrought out those conditions； social； political； and
religious； that were hurrying France on to ruin。 Writers； in referring to
the horrors of the Revolution； say that these excesses are to be charged
upon the throne and the church。 （See Appendix。） In strict justice they are
to be charged upon the church。 Popery had poisoned the
277
minds of kings against the Reformation； as an enemy to the crown； an element
of discord that would be fatal to the peace and harmony of the nation。 It
was the genius of Rome that by this means inspired the direst cruelty and
the most galling oppression which proceeded from the throne。
The spirit of liberty went with the Bible。 Wherever the gospel was received；
the minds of the people were awakened。 They began to cast off the shackles
that had held them bondslaves of ignorance； vice； and superstition。 They
began to think and act as men。 Monarchs saw it a