This Is Perhaps One Reason Why The
Reformation Did Not Succeed In France, Among A Volatile, Giddy,
Unthinking People, Shocked At The Mortified Appearances Of The
Calvinists; And Accounts For Its Rapid Progress Among Nations Of
A More Melancholy Turn Of Character And Complexion:
For, in the
conversion of the multitude, reason is generally out of the
question.
Even the penance imposed upon the catholics is little
more than mock mortification: a murderer is often quit with his
confessor for saying three prayers extraordinary; and these easy
terms, on which absolution is obtained, certainly encourage the
repetition of the most enormous crimes. The pomp and ceremonies
of this religion, together with the great number of holidays they
observe, howsoever they may keep up the spirits of the
commonalty, and help to diminish the sense of their own misery,
must certainly, at the same time, produce a frivolous taste for
frippery and shew, and encourage a habit of idleness, to which I,
in a great measure, ascribe the extreme poverty of the lower
people. Very near half of their time, which might he profitably
employed in the exercise of industry, is lost to themselves and
the community, in attendance upon the different exhibitions of
religious mummery.
But as this letter has already run to an unconscionable length, I
shall defer, till another occasion, what I have further to say on
the people of this place, and in the mean time assure you, that I
am always - Yours affectionately.
LETTER V
BOULOGNE, September 12, 1763.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 111 of 535
Words from 29856 to 30108
of 143308
