34.

MODERN INFIDELITY.

PREVIOUS to the French Revolution, Voltaire and some others formed a set design to destroy the Christian Religion. For this purpose, they engaged at different periods, a number of men · of distinguished talents, power, and influence e; all deadly enemies to the Gospel; men of profligate principles, and profligate lives.

These men distinguished themselves with diligence, courage, activity, and perseverance, in the propagation of their sentiments.-Books were written, and published in innumerable multitudes, in which Infidelity was brought down to the level of peasants and even of children and poured into the cottage and school. Others of a superior kind, crept into the shop, and the farm-house; and others of a still higher class, found their way to the drawing room, the university, and the palace. By these and other ef forts, Infidelity was spread with astonishing rapidity in many parts of Europe, particularly in France.

In the year 1776, Dr. Adam Weishaupt, Pro-fessor of the Canon Law in the University of In

goldstadt, in Bavaria, established the society of
the Illuminati. This society was distinguished
beyond all others, for cunning, mischief, an ab-
solute destitution of conscience, an absolute dis-
regard of all the interests of man, and a torpid
insensibility to all moral obligation. Their doc
trines were, that God is nothing; that govern-
ment is a curse, that the possession of property
is robbery; that chastity and natural affection,
are mere prejudices, and that adultery, assassına-
tion, poisoning, and other crimes of a similar na-
ture, are lawful, and even virtuous.

The disciples of Voltaire finding this system
a system of more perfect corruption than their
own, immediately united in its interests, and
eagerly entered into all its plans and purposes.
These legions of infidelity united, went forward
with astonishing success, till their abominable
doctrines infected all classes of the French
peo-
ple. The bloody storm of the French Revolu
tion commenced.-Then it was, that Infidelity
obtained a complete triumph--the dagger of the
assassin--the axe of the executioner--the infu-
riated mob was now let loose, and thousands
and tens of thousands, perished-and the Na-
fional Assembly, in a public decree declared,

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that "there is no God, and that death is an eter

nal sleep."

Voltaire laboured through a long life to diffuse the poison of Infidelity. In life he had been pre-eminent in guilt, and at death in misery. He had for years been accustomed to call the adorable Saviour--" The wretch," and to vow that he would crush him. He closed many of his letters to his infidel friend with these words-"Crush the wretch." This Apostle of Infidelity being laid upon his death-bed was in the utmost horror of mind-in the first days of his illness, he showed some signs of wishing to return to that God whom he had so often blasphemed. He made a declaration, he in fact renounced his infidelity, but in vain-despair and rage succeeded in such a manner, that the physicians who were called in to administer relief, retired, declaring the death of the impious man too terrible to be sustained.

In one of his last visits the doctor found him in the greatest agonies, exclaiming, with the utmost horror, "I am abandoned by God and man." He then said, "Doctor, I will give you half of what I am worth, if you will give me six months life." The doctor answered, "Sir, you