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despair that the wildest Jacobins themselves had to renounce
their system。 Nothing survived of their theories except a few
principles which cannot be verified by experience； such as the
universal happiness which equality should bestow upon humanity。
2。 The beginnings of the Reformation and its first disciples。
The Reformation was finally to exercise a profound influence upon
the sentiments and moral ideas of a great proportion of mankind。
Modest in its beginnings； it was at first a simple struggle
against the abuses of the clergy； and； from a practical point of
view； a return to the prescriptions of the Gospel。 It never
constituted； as has been claimed； an aspiration towards freedom
of thought。 Calvin was as intolerant as Robespierre； and all the
theorists of the age considered that the religion of subjects
must be that of the prince who governed them。 Indeed in every
country where the Reformation was established the sovereign
replaced the Pope of Rome； with the same rights and the same
powers。
In France； in default of publicity and means of communication；
the new faith spread slowly enough at first。 It was about 1520
that Luther recruited a few adepts； and only towards 1535 was the
new belief sufficiently widespread for men to consider it
necessary to burn its disciples。
In conformity with a well…known psychological law； these
executions merely favoured the propagation of the Reformation。
Its first followers included priests and magistrates； but were
principally obscure artisans。 Their conversion was effected
almost exclusively by mental contagion and suggestion。
As soon as a new belief extends itself； we see grouped round it
many persons who are indifferent to the belief； but who find in
it a pretext or opportunity for gratifying their passions or
their greed。 This phenomenon was observed at the time of the
Reformation in many countries； notably in Germany and in England。
Luther having taught that the clergy had no need of wealth； the
German lords found many merits in a faith which enabled them to
seize upon the goods of the Church。 Henry VIII。 enriched
himself by a similar operation。 Sovereigns who were often
molested by the Pope could as a rule only look favourably upon a
doctrine which added religious powers to their political powers
and made each of them a Pope。 Far from diminishing the
absolutism of rulers； the Reformation only exaggerated it。
3。 Rational value of the doctrines of the Reformation。
The Reformation overturned all Europe； and came near to ruining
France； of which it made a battle…field for a period of fifty
years。 Never did a cause so insignificant from the rational
point of view produce such great results。
Here is one of the innumerable proofs of the fact that beliefs
are propagated independently of all reason。 The theological
doctrines which aroused men's passions so violently； and notably
those of Calvin； are not even worthy of examination in the light
of rational logic。
Greatly concerned about his salvation； having an excessive fear
of the devil； which his confessor was unable to allay； Luther
sought the surest means of pleasing God that he might avoid Hell。
Having commenced by denying the Pope the right to sell
indulgences； he presently entirely denied his authority； and that
of the Church； condemned religious ceremonies； confession； and
the worship of the saints； and declared that Christians should
have no rules of conduct other than the Bible。 He also
considered that no one could be saved without the grace of God。
This last theory； known as that of predestination； was in Luther
rather uncertain； but was stated precisely by Calvin； who made it
the very foundation of a doctrine to which the majority of
Protestants are still subservient。 According to him： ‘‘From
all eternity God has predestined certain men to be burned and
others to be saved。'' Why this monstrous iniquity？ Simply
because ‘‘it is the will of God。''
Thus according to Calvin； who for that matter merely developed
certain assertions of St。 Augustine； an all…powerful God would
amuse Himself by creating living beings simply in order to burn
them during all eternity； without paying any heed to their acts
or merits。 It is marvellous that such revolting insanity could
for such a length of time subjugate so many mindsmarvellous
that it does so still。＇1＇
＇1＇ The doctrine of predestination is still taught in Protestant
catechisms； as is proved by the following passage extracted from
the last edition of an official catechism for which I sent to
Edinburgh：
‘‘By the decree of God； for the manifestation of His glory； some
men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life； and
others foreordained to everlasting death。
‘‘These angels and men； thus predestinated and foreordained； are
particularly and unchangeably designed； and their number is so
certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or
diminished。
‘‘Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life； God； before
the foundation of the world was laid； according to His eternal
and immutable purpose； and the secret counsel and good pleasure
of His will； hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory； out of
His mere free grace and love； without any foresight of faith or
good works； or perseverance in either of them； or any other thing
in the creature； as conditions； or causes moving him thereunto；
and all to the praise of his glorious grace。
‘‘As God hath appointed the elect unto glory； so hath He； by the
eternal and most free purpose of His will； foreordained all the
means thereunto。 Wherefore they who are elected being fallen in
Adam； are redeemed by Christ； are effectually called unto faith
in Christ by His spirit working in due season； are justified；
adopted； sanctified； and kept by His power through faith unto
salvation。 Neither are any other redeemed by Christ； effectually
called； justified； adopted； sanctified； and saved； but the elect
only。''
The psychology of Calvin is not without affinity with that of
Robespierre。 Like the latter； the master of the pure truth； he
sent to death those who would not accept his doctrines。 God； he
stated； wishes ‘‘that one should put aside all humanity when it
is a question of striving for his glory。''
The case of Calvin and his disciples shows that matters which
rationally are the most contradictory become perfectly reconciled
in minds which are hypnotised by a belief。 In the eyes of
rational logic； it seems impossible to base a morality upon the
theory of predestination； since whatever they do men are sure of
being either saved or damned。 However； Calvin had no difficulty
in erecting a most severe morality upon this totally illogical
basis。 Considering themselves the elect of God； his disciples
were so swollen by pride and the sense of their own dignity that
they felt obliged