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cathedral of Notre Dame, to take the place of the Deity. Then she was
elevated on the high altar, and received the adoration of all present.”
This was followed, not long afterward, by the public burning of
the Bible. And “the popular society of the museum entered the hall
of the municipality, exclaiming, Vive la Raison! and carrying on the
top of a pole the half-burned remains of several books, among others
the breviaries of the Old and New Testaments, which ‘expiated in a
great fire,’ said the president, ‘all the fooleries which they have made
the human race commit.’”
It was popery that had begun the work which atheism was com-
pleting. The policy of Rome had wrought out those conditions, social,
political, and religious, that were hurrying France on to ruin. A writer,
speaking of the horrors of the Revolution, says: “Those excesses are
in truth to be charged upon the throne and the church.” In strict justice
they are to be charged upon the church. Popery had poisoned the
minds of kings against the Reformation, as an enemy to the crown, an
element of discord that would be fatal to the peace and harmony of
the nation. It was the genius of Rome that by this means inspired the
direst cruelty and the most galling oppression which proceeded from
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the throne.
The spirit of liberty went with the Bible. Wherever the gospel was
received, the minds of the people were awakened. They began to cast
off the shackles that had held them bondslaves of ignorance, vice, and
superstition. They began to think and act as men. Monarchs saw it,
and trembled for their despotism.
Rome was not slow to inflame their jealous fears. Said the pope
to the regent of France in 1523: “This mania [Protestantism] will not
only destroy religion, but all principalities, nobilities, laws, orders,
and ranks besides.” A few years later a papist dignitary warned the
king, “If you wish to preserve your sovereign rights intact; if you wish
to keep the nations submitted to you in tranquillity, manfully defend
the Catholic faith, and subdue all its enemies by your arms.” And
theologians appealed to the prejudices of the people by declaring that
the Protestant doctrine “entices men away to novelties and folly; it
robs the king of the devoted affection of his subjects, and devastates
both Church and State.” Thus Rome succeeded in arraying France
against the Reformation. “It was to uphold the throne, preserve the