第 61 节
作者:闪啊闪      更新:2021-02-21 14:05      字数:9322
  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