The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-11-29
AMUSING MISCELLANY.
Original Letters, from an .fmerican Traveller
ia Enrohe, 70 .his J1iends in this country.
LETTER TWENTY-SECOND.
rConcyuf{ed1

One uiyht forgive this splendour, this peversion
of the first principles of christianity, If It was not
accompanied with the impous claims OF exclusive
saneity. But what you say Of 1t, when you per-
Give its effects in society In order to maintain
system attering to pride, so gratifying to human
ambition, yet 80 repugnant to reason aud the correct
principles of christianity, men must be made dupcs
Such expenses may be betrayed only from the trea.
sury of tyranny II must be tyranny over the pur-
ses and the bodies, or over the minds Of men, over
the purses at any rate This can be affected only by
making men superstitious, and they can be made
only BY rendering them ignorant. Sec then, in
two words. the great secret Of Caholick influence,
Ignorance and its sister, superstition
hut this you will say is common place you arc
repeating the fne sayings Of voltaire, and thous-
at all. I came into Italy free from prejudces. My
ideas, feelings, wishes are all against the New.
school, ali avcrsc to innovation. was and still am
disposed to overlook, To pardon the of papa
cy; but I cannot, In my conscience, refrain from
ccnsuring the proud luxury of these. Roman lords.
or the miserable blindness Of their tools.
When see men believe, because they are told
they must. the most absurd legends, infinitely more
ridiculous tan the doctrine Of witchcra, when see
indulgenccs daily offered for sale, when observe
even the talents Of men Of genius employed in pc-
lures to represent modern saints Capucins Francis
cans and others, as curing the blind and even raising
the dead, Wien see the Catholck doctrine Of pur
gatory represented with all the coqucnce Of thepcn
c md perceive souis raised by prayers, after punish
mcnt, from hell to heaven, (or such representations
have secn.) how can one help feeling degree Of
indignation At men, who can eountenance, or who do
not condemn errs9s fatal to the gsnuine practice
Of the gospel principles What people will ever be
willing to mortfy their unruly passions, to live
life OF sclfdeniaI, to wage perpetual warfare with
sin, who believe, thata few masses, dcath-bed re-
pcntence, and an absolution BY priest, who knows
nothing of their state of mind, can wipe away every
transgression - - fkse
DO you need other arguments in proof of the dam
gcrous security, in which the catholicks Of Italy find
themselves You viii sec Il in their habits and man
ncrs. The Sunday 10 with them day of gaiety and
festivity even At Rome. There arc no sermons, to
cnlghten instruct cxhortations at most Of the
churches no ccnvcuences for the worshippers. The
p;icsts conceived to do aH The people enter at
cH periods Of worship, stay as long ~ they please
pray when they please, and depart with joyous aud
Happy faces convinced that kiss Of St. Peters
foot and the holy wAter, has expiated al the sins of
the week. Such never yas, ava never csu be the de-
sign Of the xospc n the Prssrssanss do NOT. prac-
tce better, the greater will be their condemnation,
becsuse they certainly think more correctly.
11sy know that our holy religion is Of the heart,
an4 Not of cercmoAiah only. ferhaps ought to
eH6sp< s6nc Of oerovn sects, who place A. little
fetance on good works, and as much On unntelligi.
DSsxhystery, asthe Papists I have been puzzled II
Know, how the Cashclicks get rid of the Command.
men; which fosbids them 70 worship {" sny craven