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sinner's hope of salvation; and a plot to fortify guilty men against the fear of future punishment till all should fall headlong into perdition. And the blasphemous watch-word to conceal the incipient stages of this plot to cut off all mankind from the only hope of salvation was “Crush the wretch," who proclaims himself a saviour to those who never sinned, and who neither need nor desire his salvation. "Crush then the wretch with his Bible and religion; blot out his name from books of earth, and let the remembrance of it be annihilated from the world."

Such was the secret import of a watch-word of a secret society who were preparing for the subversion both of the Christian religion and civil government. Voltaire, the master-spirit of this combination, was an adept in volubility and sophistry. Their principles were in perfect accordance with the gratification of all the natural propensities of the carnal mind; and when systematically presented under the specious appellation of Illuminism, by such a philosopher as Voltaire, Papal Europe was prepared to receive them with the rapidity of a fire kindled in a dry stubblefield. Hence crowned heads, Roman Catholic priests of professed infallibility, and millions under the influence of Papal delusions, were easily drawn into the profession of Illuminism, signifying nothing less nor more, than systematic Infidelity, Deism, Atheism, Rationalism.

The following is one of Voltaire's boastful expressions: "From Geneva to Bern, not a Christian was to be found; and if things went at this rate, in twenty years God would be in a pretty plight." One of their noted watch-words was, "Strike deep, but hide the hand that gives the blow." Another watch-word was, The world must be bound by invisible hands." A

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THE FRENCH KING AND QUEEN BEHEADED. 125

popular doctrine of their system was "LIBERTY AND EQUALITY," importing, Liberty from all the restraints of Bible religion; Equality, i. e. no subordination to power above man. Hence their highest secret was, "That there is no God, no future state, death is an eternal sleep, and all restraint on the feelings of man is an abridgment of his rights." Such sentiments were instilled into the public mind, and especially of youth, with cautious subtlety, by every measure that Infidel ingenuity could adopt, until the way was prepared, after the death of several leaders of the faction, that "Deputies of the people, finding themselves supparted by public opinion, proceeded, on the 17th of June, 1789, to assume to themselves the legislative government, under the name of the National Assembly.” "The Assembly continued their sessions two years and four months, and, on the 30th of September, 1791, the Assembly dissolved itself; and, soon after, a new Assembly met under the name of the National Convention. On the midnight preceding the 10th of August, 1792, all the bells of Paris rang an alarm. The citizens flew to arms. The palace of the Royal family was attacked. The national guards were cut to pieces by Jacobin soldiers. The gates of the palace were broken, and about eight hundred men were killed."

"On the 26th of August, 1792, an open profession of Atheism was made by a whole nation, once zealously devoted to Papal superstition. Corresponding societies and Atheistical clubs were everywhere held, fearless and undisguised. On January 21, 1793, Louis XVI., the King of France, was beheaded; and on the 16th of October ensuing, the widowed Queen of France, also, was beheaded. Royalty was abolished by the Convention; a new constitution was formed and pub

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lished; and no further toleration was given to religion or conscience."

Such is an outline of the French Revolution. It originated in the conclave of Infidelity. It resulted in the adoption of Infidelity for its national religion, and the assumed name of "Terrible Republic" for its government. The following well authenticated facts, in connection with others above mentioned, will designate the general character of that national religion and government.

The sentiments following are given in their own language: "All ideas of justice and injustice, virtue and vice, of glory and infamy, are purely arbitrary and dependent on custom. The man who is above law can commit, without remorse, the dishonest act that may serve his purpose. The fear of God is so far from being the beginning of wisdom, that it is the beginning of folly. The Supreme King, the God of Jews and Christians, is but a phantom. Jesus Christ is an impostor. All subordination must be made to vanish from the world. Man, when free, wants no other divinity than himself. Reason dethrones both the kings of the earth and the King of Heaven. No monarchy above, if we wish to preserve our republic below. Volumes have been written to determine whether a republic of Atheists could exist," (said Cloots, a member of their National Convention ;) I maintain that every other republic is a chimera. If you admit the existence of a heavenly Sovereign, you introduce the wooden horse within your walls; what you adore by day, will be your destruction by night.'

6

The above sentiments verbatim, were adopted by the National Convention of the "Terrible Republic."

“ This Infidel power virtually abolished the Christian Sabbath, by substituting in its stead their decades,

INFIDELITY DISPLAYED.

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or the celebration of every tenth day for political or idolatrous purposes. They virtually abolished the covenant of marriage, by rendering the support of it optional with the parties, the result of which was, that eighteen hundred divorces took place in the city of Paris, in the year 1793, the same in which their king and queen were beheaded. They decreed that the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes is no crime. They offered incense to the bones of Voltaire, which were placed upon a high altar, while the people bowed down in silent adoration. A female, fantastically dressed, was worshipped, as personating the goddess of Human Reason. An Infidel priest abjured the Christian faith and Christianity as an imposture. Religious books were burnt, accompanied with dancing round the flames in savage mirth. A copy of the Bible was tied to the tail of an ass, and the beast, in this plight, was driven through the principal streets of Paris for the diversion of the multitude, after which the holy book was burnt in a public square, with acclamations of great joy."

Christian churches were legally shut, and any person requiring the opening of a church or temple was doomed to an arrest.

During the French Revolution, a comedian mounted a rostrum to make comic sport for the thousands in attendance. His over-dress was a white tunic, the sleeves of which were tied at each wrist with a bandage of scarlet; the middle of each arm was tied round also, with the same kind of scarlet bandage; and his body was adorned with a broad silken belt of scarlet-color round the waist. The object of his sportive performance, arrayed in that peculiar habit, was to make an open and bold attack upon Almighty God, by a challenge of personal mortal combat on that

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stage, for the purpose of proving before that audience, to a demonstration, that "there is no God!" All things being in readiness, the farce commenced, and ended in the following words: "No! thou dost not exist. If thou hast power over the thunderbolts, grasp them; aim them at the man who dares set thee at defiance in the face of thy altars. But no, I blaspheme thee, and yet I live. No, thou dost not exist!"

Such was the Revolution of Papal France. She had massacred thousands of Protestant Christians, till the blood of martyrs flowed in crimson rivulets in the streets of her cities. Now she becomes an Atheistical "Terrible Republic," with the Bible, its laws, its religion, its God, and its government all rejected, set at nought, despised, contemned, ridiculed and blasphemed, fearless of consequences. Pamphlets, containing Infidel sentiments artfully arranged; and ballads and pictures of the most obscene character, were hawked, sold, or gratuitously scattered broadcast over the world, to poison the fountains of education, and to convert the nations of earth to the knowledge and belief of downright Atheism, under the specious appellation of Illuminism. But a day of vengeance was then dawning upon them. Horrid massacres, and the sanguinary Reign of Terror succeeded. The torch of war was then lighted up, which eventually set all Europe in a flame. It has been computed, that from two to three millions of the French nation perished by various modes of assassination and the carnage of war, within five years of the Revolution of 1789. And the "Terrible Republic" soon terminated in imperial absolute monarchy, with Napoleon Bonaparte seated majestically on the throne of the French Atheistical Empire. \

The world now began to shake, and quake, and