thus did they acquire unprecedentea dominion over every Species of literature, over the minds of all ranks of people, and over the education of youth, without giving any alarm to the world. The lovers of wit and polite literature were caught by Voltaire; the men of science were perverted, and children corrupted in the first rudiments of learning, by D'Alembert and Diderot ; ftronger appetites were fed by the secret club of Baron Holbach; the imaginations of the higher orders were fet dangerously afloat by Montefquieu; and the multitude of all ranks was surprised, confounded, and hurried away by Rouffeau ." But the most powerful engine of their schemes, and what I conceived to have been particularly designated as one of the horns of the beaft, was the fecret force dispersed over all France by means of certain new orders, which they engrafted upon Free-Mafonry. In thefe the customary words and signs were all explained to contain a hidden meaning, which accorded with their fyftem. The elect were led by the most impious ceremonies and instructions to the moft abfolute Atheifm, and the moft perfect hatred of every

fpecies of Government; and 'they were bound by the fear of inevitable punishment, and an enthusiastic attachment to the caufe, to inviolable fecrecy, and unlimited obedience, to the commands of the fuperiors, though who these fuperiors were, the generality of thefe deluded fanatics knew not, Out of

289 lodges in France, there were in 1784 only 23 which kept to the fimplicity of their original institution; the other 266 had been re-modelled, and were united under the name of the Grand Orient, the name of the principal Lodge, of which the Duke of Orleans was Grand Mafter.

First Effects produced by the Syftem of
Voltaire.

Before we fearch the caverns of Illuminism, I must beg to recal the Reader's attention to the effects which Voltaire's philosophy had produced in Europe before Weishaupt founded his order. The latest of the dates of the letters from which the following paffages are taken, is 1773.

"

"In Ruffia the new philofophy was protected by the Emprefs," and the defenders of religion were." at their last gafp in Poland, thanks to the King Poniatowski." They were already overthrown in Pruffia through the care of Frederick; "and in the north of Germany the fect of Philofophifts daily gained ground, thanks to the Landgraves, Margraves, Dukes, and Princes, Adepts and Protectors."" In Spain it was 'undermining the Inquifition, and a great revolution was operating in ideas there, as well as in Italy." Frederic writes, "philofophy is beginning to penetrate into. fuperftitious Bohemia, and into Austria, the former abode of fuperftition. In our Proteftant countries, we

goon much

brifker." In Paris, many Philofophers

are to be found behind the counters. D'Almbert writes, "I fee every thing in the brightest colours: I foresee the Janfenifts naturally dying off the next year, after having ftrangled the Jesuits this-toleration eftablished-the Proteftants recalled-the priests married-confeffion abolished, and fanaticifm (their term for Religion) crushed. And all this without its being perceived." And he expressly attributes this grand. triumph to the Encyclopedia. He fmiles at

the blinded Parliaments, who "think they
are ferving Religion, while they are for-
warding Reafon, without the leaft fufpi-
cion f. They are the public executioners,
who take their orders from Philofophy with-
out knowing it." He boasts that “in Cal-
vin's own town, (Geneva) there are but a
few beggarly fellows, who believe in
Chrift."
And particularly exults in the
approaching fall of the Church of Eng-
land, when he extols the English truths,”
by which he means the impieties of Hume.
Voltaire writes with exceffive joy, that

England and Switzerland were overrun with men who hated and despised Chriftianity, as Julian hated and despised it— and that from Geneva to

Chriftian was to be found."

Berne, not a
The means by

which this wonderful change in the European world was effected, were adapted to the circumftances of the various states.

In this country, the refuge of Liberty, when expelled from every other, and the feat of pure Religion, the doctrines of mo

The wisdom of the British Parliament in refufing to repeal the Test Act in the year 1789, is here difplayed in a very striking manner.

dern Socinianifm were found to be the most effectual means of propagating Infidelity; efpecially among the Diffenters. The religious knowledge diffufed among all claffes of people in England, required more management than the ignorance and fuperftition of Popish countries; and the nature of our Government was far lefs favourable to their revolutionary projects, than either absolute monarchy, or republics. "Socinianifm is in its principles friendly to Republicanism, and has been fo found in its history, as indeed has been the case with its near ally, Deifm :" for the general habit of fcepticisin inevitably produces a restless discontent, and a diflike to establishments of every description. Idolizing their Conftitution, and zealous for their Religion, the people of England would not at that period have tolerated writings, which were read with avidity upon the continent.

The attacks on Chriftianity did not therefore rife to Deifm, which openly dif avows the Religion of Jefus, but were carried on by the fap of Socinianifm, which, profeffing to believe in Chrift, degrades his character, denies him as the Saviour of the world, as the atonement of the fins of mankind, and thus would deftroy the purpofes