of superstition and enthusiasm-第2节

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slavery。　We　learn　from　English　history；　that；　during　the　civil

wars；　the　　and　；　though　the　most　opposite

in　their　religious　principles；　yet　were　united　in　their　political

ones；　and　were　alike　passionate　for　a　commonwealth。　And　since　the

origin　of　　and　；　the　leaders　of　the　　have

either　been　　or　profest　　in　their

principles；　that　is；　friends　to　toleration；　and　indifferent　to

any　particular　sect　of　：　While　the　sectaries；　who

have　all　a　strong　tincture　of　enthusiasm；　have　always；　without

exception；　concurred　with　that　party；　in　defence　of　civil

liberty。　The　resemblance　in　their　superstitions　long　united　the

high　church　；　and　the　；　in　support　of

prerogative　and　kingly　power；　though　experience　of　the　tolerating

spirit　of　the　　seems　of　late　to　have　reconciled　the

　to　that　party。

　　　　　The　　and　　in　France　have　a　thousand

unintelligible　disputes；　which　are　not　worthy　the　reflection　of　a

man　of　sense：　But　what　principally　distinguishes　these　two　sects；

and　alone　merits　attention；　is　the　different　spirit　of　their

religion。　The　　conducted　by　the　；　are　great

friends　to　superstition；　rigid　observers　of　external　forms　and

ceremonies；　and　devoted　to　the　authority　of　the　priests；　and　to

tradition。　The　　are　enthusiasts；　and　zealous

promoters　of　the　passionate　devotion；　and　of　the　inward　life；

little　influenced　by　authority；　and；　in　a　word；　but　half

catholics。　The　consequences　are　exactly　conformable　to　the

foregoing　reasoning。　The　　are　the　tyrants　of　the　people；

and　the　slaves　of　the　court：　And　the　　preserve　alive

the　small　sparks　of　the　love　of　liberty；　which　are　to　be　found　in

the　French　nation。