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most cowardly and cruel onslaught。 The king of France； urged on by Romish
priests and prelates； lent his sanction to the dreadful work。 A bell；
tolling at dead of night； was a signal for the slaughter。 Protestants by
thousands； sleeping quietly in their homes； trusting to the plighted honor
of their king； were dragged forth without a warning and murdered in cold
blood。
As Christ was the invisible leader of His people from Egyptian bondage； so
was Satan the unseen leader of his subjects in this horrible work of
multiplying martyrs。 For seven days the massacre was continued in Paris； the
first three with inconceivable fury。 And it was not confined to the city
itself； but by special order of the king was extended to all the provinces
and towns where Protestants were found。 Neither age nor sex was respected。
Neither the innocent babe nor the man of gray hairs was spared。 Noble and
peasant； old and young； mother and child； were cut down together。 Throughout
France the butchery continued for two months。 Seventy thousand of the very
flower of the nation perished。
〃When the news of the massacre reached Rome； the
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exultation among the clergy knew no bounds。 The cardinal of Lorraine
rewarded the messenger with a thousand crowns； the cannon of St。 Angelo
thundered forth a joyous salute； and bells rang out from every steeple；
bonfires turned night into day； and Gregory XIII； attended by the cardinals
and other ecclesiastical dignitaries； went in long procession to the church
of St。 Louis； where the cardinal of Lorraine chanted a Te Deum。 。 。 。 A
medal was struck to commemorate the massacre； and in the Vatican may still
be seen three frescoes of Vasari； describing the attack upon the admiral；
the king in council plotting the massacre； and the massacre itself。 Gregory
sent Charles the Golden Rose； and four months after the massacre； 。 。 。 he
listened complacently to the sermon of a French priest； 。 。 。 who spoke of
'that day so full of happiness and joy； when the most holy father received
the news； and went in solemn state to render thanks to God and St。
Louis。'〃Henry White； The Massacre of St。 Bartholomew； ch。 14； par。 34。
The same master spirit that urged on the St。 Bartholomew Massacre led also
in the scenes of the Revolution。 Jesus Christ was declared to be an
impostor； and the rallying cry of the French infidels was； 〃Crush the
Wretch；〃 meaning Christ。 Heaven…daring blasphemy and abominable wickedness
went hand in hand； and the basest of men； the most abandoned monsters of
cruelty and vice； were most highly exalted。 In all this； supreme homage was
paid to Satan； while Christ； in His characteristics of truth； purity； and
unselfish love； was crucified。
〃The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against
them； and shall overcome them； and kill them。〃 The atheistical power that
ruled in France during the Revolution and the Reign of Terror； did wage such
a war against God and His holy word as the world had never witnessed。 The
worship of the Deity was abolished by the National Assembly。 Bibles were
collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn。
The law of God
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was trampled underfoot。 The institutions of the Bible were abolished。 The
weekly rest day was set aside； and in its stead every tenth day was devoted
to reveling and blasphemy。 Baptism and the Communion were prohibited。 And
announcements posted conspicuously over the burial places declared death to
be an eternal sleep。
The fear of God was said to be so far from the beginning of wisdom that it
was the beginning of folly。 All religious worship was prohibited； except
that of liberty and the country。 The 〃constitutional bishop of Paris was
brought forward to play the principal part in the most impudent and
scandalous farce ever acted in the face of a national representation。 。 。 。
He was brought forward in full procession； to declare to the Convention that
the religion which he had taught so many years was； in every respect； a
piece of priestcraft； which had no foundation either in history or sacred
truth。 He disowned； in solemn and explicit terms； the existence of the Deity
to whose worship he had been consecrated； and devoted himself in future to
the homage of liberty； equality； virtue； and morality。 He then laid on the
table his episcopal decorations； and received a fraternal embrace from the
president of the Convention。 Several apostate priests followed the example
of this prelate。〃Scott； vol。 1； ch。 17。
〃And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them； and make merry；
and shall send gifts one to another； because these two prophets tormented
them that dwelt on the earth。〃 Infidel France had silenced the reproving
voice of God's two witnesses。 The word of truth lay dead in her streets； and
those who hated the restrictions and requirements of God's law were
jubilant。 Men publicly defied the King of heaven。 Like the sinners of old；
they cried： 〃How doth God know？ and is there knowledge in the Most High？〃
Psalm 73：11。
With blasphemous boldness almost beyond belief； one of the priests of the
new order said： 〃God； if You exist； avenge Your injured name。 I bid You
defiance！ You remain silent； You dare not launch Your thunders。 Who after
this will
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believe in Your existence？〃Lacretelle； History； vol。 11； p。
309； in Sir Archibald Alison； History of Europe； vol。 1；
ch。 10。 What an echo is this of the Pharaoh's demand： 〃Who is Jehovah； that
I should obey His voice？〃 〃I know not Jehovah！〃
〃The fool hath said in his heart； There is no God。〃 Psalm 14：1。 And the Lord
declares concerning the perverters of the truth： 〃Their folly shall be
manifest unto all。〃 2 Timothy 3：9。 After France had renounced the worship of
the living God； 〃the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity；〃 it was
only a little time till she descended to degrading idolatry； by the worship
of the Goddess of Reason； in the person of a profligate woman。 And this in
the representative assembly of the nation； and by its highest civil and
legislative authorities！ Says the historian： 〃One of the ceremonies of this
insane time stands unrivaled for absurdity combined with impiety。 The doors
of the Convention were thrown open to a band of musicians； preceded by whom；
the members of the municipal body entered in solemn procession； singing a
hymn in praise of liberty； and escorting； as the object of their future
worship； a veiled female； whom they termed the Goddess of Reason。 Being
brought within the bar； she was unveiled with great form； and placed on the
right of the president； when she was generally recognized as a dancing girl
of the opera。 。 。 。 To this person； as the fittest representative of that
reason whom they worshiped； the National Convention of France rendered
public homage。
〃This impious and ridiculous mummery had a certain fashion； and the
installation of the Goddess of Reason was renewed and imitated throughout
the nation； in such places where the inhabitants desired to show themselves
equ