第42章

类别:其他 作者:Baron Charles De Secondat Mont字数:11097更新时间:19/01/07 15:06:43
Whenwithadoctrinethatgivesustheideaofaspiritualsupremebeingwecanstilljointhoseofasensiblenatureandadmitthemintoourworship,wecontractagreaterattachmenttoreligion;becausethosemotiveswhichwehavejustmentionedareaddedtoournaturalinclinationsfortheobjectsofsense。ThustheCatholics,whohavemoreofthiskindofworshipthantheProtestants,aremoreattachedtotheirreligionthantheProtestantsaretotheirs,andmorezealousforitspropagation。 WhenthepeopleofEphesuswereinformedthatthefathersofthecouncilhaddeclaredtheymightcalltheVirginMarytheMotherofGod,theyweretransportedwithjoy,theykissedthehandsofthebishops,theyembracedtheirknees,andthewholecityresoundedwithacclamations。[1] Whenanintellectualreligionsuperaddsachoicemadebythedeity,andapreferenceforthosewhoprofessitoverthosewhodonot,thisgreatlyattachesustoreligion。TheMahometanswouldnotbesuchgoodMussulmansif,ontheonehand,therewerenotidolatrousnationswhomakethemimaginethemselvesthechampionsoftheunityofGod;andontheotherChristians,tomakethembelievethattheyaretheobjectsofhispreference。 Areligionburdenedwithmanyceremonies[2]attachesustoitmorestronglythanthatwhichhasafewernumber。Wehaveanextremepropensitytothingsinwhichwearecontinuallyemployed:witnesstheobstinateprejudicesoftheMahometansandtheJews,[3]andthereadinesswithwhichbarbarousandsavagenationschangetheirreligion,who,astheyareemployedentirelyinhuntingorwar,havebutfewreligiousceremonies。 Menareextremelyinclinedtothepassionsofhopeandfear;areligion,therefore,thathadneitheraheavennorahellcouldhardlypleasethem。ThisisprovedbytheeasewithwhichforeignreligionshavebeenestablishedinJapan,andthezealandfondnesswithwhichtheywerereceived。[4] Inordertoraiseanattachmenttoreligionitisnecessarythatitshouldinculcatepuremorals。Menwhoareknavesbyretailareextremelyhonestinthegross;theylovemorality。AndwereInottreatingofsograveasubjectIshouldsaythatthisappearsremarkablyevidentinourtheatres:wearesureofpleasingthepeoplebysentimentsavowedbymorality;wearesureofshockingthembythoseitdisapproves。 Whenexternalworshipisattendedwithgreatmagnificence,itflattersourmindsandstronglyattachesustoreligion。Therichesoftemplesandthoseoftheclergygreatlyaffectus。Thuseventhemiseryofthepeopleisamotivethatrendersthemfondofareligionwhichhasservedasapretexttothosewhowerethecauseoftheirmisery。 3。OfTemples。Almostallcivilisednationsdwellinhouses;hencenaturallyarosetheideaofbuildingahouseforGodinwhichtheymightadoreandseekhim,amidstalltheirhopesandfears。 And,indeed,nothingismorecomfortabletomankindthanaplaceinwhichtheymayfindthedeitypeculiarlypresent,andwheretheymayassembletogethertoconfesstheirweaknessandtelltheirgriefs。 Butthisnaturalideaneveroccurredtoanybutsuchascultivatedtheland;thosewhohavenohousesforthemselveswereneverknowntobuildtemples。 ThiswasthecausethatmadeJenghizKhandiscoversuchaprodigiouscontemptformosques。[5]ThisprinceexaminedtheMahometans;[6]heapprovedofalltheirdoctrines,exceptthatofthenecessityofgoingtoMecca;hecouldnotcomprehendwhyGodmightnotbeeverywhereadored。AstheTartarsdidnotdwellinhouses,theycouldhavenoideaoftemples。 Thosepeoplewhohavenotempleshavebutasmallattachmenttotheirownreligion。ThisisthereasonwhytheTartarshaveinalltimesgivensogreatatoleration;[7]whythebarbarousnations,whoconqueredtheRomanempiredidnothesitateamomenttoembraceChristianity;whythesavagesofAmericahavesolittlefondnessfortheirownreligion;why,sinceourmissionarieshavebuiltchurchesinParaguay,thenativesofthatcountryhavebecomesozealousforours。 Asthedeityistherefugeoftheunhappy,andnonearemoreunhappythancriminals,menhavebeennaturallyledtothinktemplesanasylumforthosewretches。ThisideaappearedstillmorenaturaltotheGreeks,wheremurderers,chasedfromtheircityandthepresenceofmen,seemedtohavenohousesbutthetemples,norotherprotectorsthanthegods。 Atfirstthesewereonlydesignedforinvoluntaryhomicides;butwhenthepeoplemadethemasanctuaryforthosewhohadcommittedgreatcrimestheyfellintoagrosscontradiction。Iftheyhadoffendedmen,theyhadmuchgreaterreasontobelievetheyhadoffendedthegods。 TheseasylumsmultipliedinGreece。Thetemples,saysTacitus,[8]werefilledwithinsolventdebtorsandwickedslaves;themagistratefounditdifficulttoexercisehisoffice;thepeopleprotectedthecrimesofmenastheceremoniesofthegods;atlengththesenatewasobligedtoretrenchagreatnumberofthem。 ThelawsofMoseswereperfectlywise。Themanwhoinvoluntarilykilledanotherwasinnocent;buthewasobligedtobetakenawayfrombeforetheeyesoftherelativesofthedeceased。Mosesthereforeappointedanasylumforsuchunfortunatepeople。[9]Theperpetratorsofgreatcrimesdeservednotaplaceofsafety,andtheyhadnone:[10]theJewshadonlyaportabletabernacle,whichcontinuallychangeditsplace;thisexcludedtheideaofasanctuary。Itistruethattheyhadafterwardsatemple;butthecriminalswhowouldresortthitherfromallpartsmightdisturbthedivineservice。Ifpersonswhohadcommittedmanslaughterhadbeendrivenoutofthecountry,aswascustomaryamongtheGreeks,theyhadreasontofearthattheywouldworshipstrangegods。Alltheseconsiderationsmadethemestablishcitiesofsafety,wheretheymightstaytillthedeathofthehigh—priest。 4。OftheMinistersofReligion。Thefirstmen,saysPorphyry,[11] sacrificedonlyvegetables。Inaworshipsosimple,everyonemightbepriestinhisownfamily。 Thenaturaldesireofpleasingthedeitymultipliedceremonies。Henceitfollowed,thatmenemployedinagriculturebecameincapableofobservingthemallandoffillingupthenumber。 Particularplaceswereconsecratedtothegods;itthenbecamenecessarythattheyshouldhaveministerstotakecareofthem;inthesamemanneraseverycitizentookcareofhishouseanddomesticaffairs。Hencethepeoplewhohavenopriestsarecommonlybarbarians;suchwereformerlythePedalians,[12]andsucharestilltheWolgusky。[13] Menconsecratedtothedeityoughttobehonoured,especiallyamongpeoplewhohaveformedanideaofapersonalpuritynecessarytoapproachtheplacesmostagreeabletothegods,andfortheperformanceofparticularceremonies。 Theworshipofthegodsrequiringacontinualapplication,mostnationswereledtoconsidertheclergyasaseparatebody。Thus,amongtheEgyptians,theJews,andthePersians,[14]theyconsecratedtothedeitycertainfamilieswhoperformedandperpetuatedtheservice。Therehavebeenevenreligionswhichhavenotonlyestrangedecclesiasticsfrombusiness,buthavealsotakenawaytheembarrassmentsofafamily;andthisisthepracticeoftheprincipalbranchofChristianity。 Ishallnotheretreatoftheconsequencesofthelawofcelibacy:itisevidentthatitmaybecomehurtfulinproportionasthebodyoftheclergymaybetoonumerous;and,inconsequenceofthis,thatofthelaitytoosmall。 Bythenatureofthehumanunderstandingweloveinreligioneverythingwhichcarriestheideaofdifficulty;asinpointofmoralitywehaveaspeculativefondnessforeverythingwhichbearsthecharacterofseverity。Celibacyhasbeenmostagreeabletothosenationstowhomitseemedleastadapted,andwithwhomitmightbeattendedwiththemostfatalconsequences。InthesoutherncountriesofEurope,where,bythenatureoftheclimate,thelawofcelibacyismoredifficulttoobserve,ithasbeenretained;inthoseofthenorth,wherethepassionsarelesslively,ithasbeenbanished。Further,incountrieswheretherearebutfewinhabitantsithasbeenadmitted;inthosethatarevastlypopulousithasbeenrejected。Itisobviousthatthesereflectionsrelateonlytothetoogreatextensionofcelibacy,andnottocelibacyitself。 5。OftheBoundswhichtheLawsoughttoprescribetotheRichesoftheClergy。Asparticularfamiliesmaybeextinct,theirwealthcannotbeaperpetualinheritance。Theclergyisafamilywhichcannotbeextinct; wealthisthereforefixedtoitforever,andcannotgooutofit。 Particularfamiliesmayincrease;itisnecessarythenthattheirwealthshouldalsoincrease。Theclergyisafamilywhichoughtnottoincrease;theirwealthoughtthentobelimited。 WehaveretainedtheregulationsoftheLeviticallawsastothepossessionsoftheclergy,exceptthoserelatingtotheboundsofthesepossessions;indeed,amonguswemusteverbeignorantofthelimitbeyondwhichanyreligiouscommunitycannolongerbepermittedtoacquire。 Theseendlessacquisitionsappeartothepeoplesounreasonablethathewhoshouldspeakintheirdefencewouldberegardedasanidiot。 Thecivillawsfindsometimesmanydifficultiesinalteringestablishedabuses,becausetheyareconnectedwiththingsworthyofrespect;inthiscaseanindirectproceedingwouldbeagreaterproofofthewisdomofthelegislatorthananotherwhichstruckdirectlyatthethingitself。Insteadofprohibitingtheacquisitionsoftheclergy,weshouldseektogivethemadistasteforthem;toleavethemtherightandtotakeawaythedeed。 InsomecountriesofEurope,arespectfortheprivilegesofthenobilityhasestablishedintheirfavourarightofindemnityoverimmovablegoodsacquiredinmortmain。Theinterestoftheprincehasinthesamecasemadehimexactarightofamortisation。InCastile,wherenosuchrightprevails,theclergyhaveseizeduponeverything。InAragon,wherethereissomerightofamortisation,theyhaveobtainedless;inFrance,wherethisrightandthatofindemnityareestablished,theyhaveacquiredlessstill;anditmaybesaidthattheprosperityofthiskingdomisinagreatmeasureowingtotheexerciseofthesetworights。Ifpossible,then,increasetheserights,andputastoptothemortmain。 Rendertheancientandnecessarypatrimonyoftheclergysacredandinviolable,letitbefixedandeternallikethatbodyitself,butletnewinheritancesbeoutoftheirpower。 Permitthemtobreaktherulewhentherulehasbecomeanabuse;suffertheabusewhenitentersintotherule。 TheystillrememberinRomeacertainmemorialsentthitheronsomedisputeswiththeclergy,inwhichwasthismaxim:\"Theclergyoughttocontributetotheexpensesofthestate,lettheOldTestamentsaywhatitwill。\"Theyconcludedfromthispassagethattheauthorofthismemorialwasbetterversedinthelanguageofthetax—gatherersthaninthatofreligion。 6。OfMonasteries。Theleastdegreeofcommonsensewillletusseethatbodiesdesignedforaperpetualcontinuanceshouldnotbeallowedtoselltheirfundsforlife,nortoborrowforlife;unlesswewantthemtobeheirstoallthosewhohavenorelativesandtothosewhodonotchoosetohaveany。Thesemenplayagainstthepeople,buttheyholdthebankthemselves。 7。OftheLuxuryofSuperstition。\"Thoseareguiltyofimpietytowardsthegods,\"saysPlato,[15]\"whodenytheirexistence;orwho,whiletheybelieveit,maintainthattheydonotinterferewithwhatisdonebelow; or,infine,whothinkthattheycaneasilyappeasethembysacrifices: threeopinionsequallypernicious。\"Platohasheresaidallthattheclearestlightofnaturehaseverbeenabletosayinpointofreligion。 Themagnificenceofexternalworshiphasaprincipalconnectionwiththeinstitutionofthestate。Ingoodrepublics,theyhavecurbednotonlytheluxuryofvanity,buteventhatofsuperstition。Theyhaveintroducedfrugallawsintoreligion。OfthisnumberaremanyofthelawsofSolon;manyofthoseofPlatoonfunerals,adoptedbyCicero; and,infine,someofthelawsofNumaonsacrifices。[16] Birds,saysCicero,[17]andpaintingsbegunandfinishedinadayaregiftsthemostdivine。Weoffercommonthings,saysaSpartan,thatwemayalwayshaveitinourpowertohonourthegods。 Thedesireofmantopayhisworshiptothedeityisverydifferentfromthemagnificenceofthisworship。Letusnotofferourtreasurestohimifwearenotproudofshowingthatweesteemwhathewouldhaveusdespise。 \"Whatmustthegodsthinkofthegiftsoftheimpious,\"saidtheadmirablePlato,\"whenagoodmanwouldblushtoreceivepresentsfromavillain?\" Religionoughtnot,underthepretenceofgifts,todrawfromthepeoplewhatthenecessityofthestatehasleftthem;butasPlatosays,[18] \"Thechasteandthepiousoughttooffergiftswhichresemblethemselves。\" Norisitproperforreligiontoencourageexpensivefunerals。Whatistheremorenaturalthantotakeawaythedifferenceoffortuneinacircumstanceandintheverymomentwhichequalsallfortunes? 8。OfthePontificate。Whenreligionhasmanyministersitisnaturalforthemtohaveachiefandforasovereignpontifftobeestablished。 Inmonarchies,wheretheseveralordersofthestatecannotbekepttoodistinct,andwhereallpowersoughtnottobelodgedinthesameperson,itisproperthatthepontificatebedistinctfromtheempire。 Thesamenecessityisnottobemetwithinadespoticgovernment,thenatureofwhichistouniteallthedifferentpowersinthesameperson。 Butinthiscaseitmayhappenthattheprincemayregardreligionashedoesthelawsthemselves,asdependentonhisownwill。Topreventthisinconvenience,thereoughttobemonumentsofreligion,forinstance,sacredbookswhichfixandestablishit。TheKingofPersiaisthechiefofthereligion;butthisreligionisregulatedbytheKoran。TheEmperorofChinaisthesovereignpontiff;buttherearebooksinthehandsofeverybodytowhichhehimselfmustconform。Invainacertainemperorattemptedtoabolishthem;theytriumphedovertyranny。 9。OfTolerationinpointofReligion。Weareherepoliticians,andnotdivines;butthedivinesthemselvesmustallow,thatthereisagreatdifferencebetweentoleratingandapprovingareligion。 Whenthelegislatorhasbelieveditadutytopermittheexerciseofmanyreligions,itisnecessarythatheshouldenforcealsoatolerationamongthesereligionsthemselves。Itisaprinciplethateveryreligionwhichispersecutedbecomesitselfpersecuting;forassoonasbysomeaccidentalturnitarisesfrompersecution,itattacksthereligionwhichpersecutedit;notasreligion,butastyranny。 Itisnecessary,then,thatthelawsrequirefromtheseveralreligions,notonlythattheyshallnotembroilthestate,butthattheyshallnotraisedisturbancesamongthemselves。Acitizendoesnotfulfilthelawsbynotdisturbingthegovernment;itisrequisitethatheshouldnottroubleanycitizenwhomsoever。 10。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Astherearescarcelyanybutpersecutingreligionsthathaveanextraordinaryzealforbeingestablishedinotherplaces(becauseareligionthatcantolerateothersseldomthinksofitsownpropagation),itmustthereforebeaverygoodcivillaw,whenthestateisalreadysatisfiedwiththeestablishedreligion,nottosuffertheestablishmentofanother。[19] Thisisthenafundamentalprincipleofthepoliticallawsinregardtoreligion;thatwhenthestateisatlibertytoreceiveortorejectanewreligionitoughttoberejected;whenitisreceiveditoughttobetolerated。 11。OfchangingaReligion。Aprincewhoundertakestodestroyortochangetheestablishedreligionofhiskingdommustgreatlyexposehimself。Ifhisgovernmentbedespotic,herunsamuchgreaterriskofseeingarevolutionarisefromsuchaproceeding,thanfromanytyrannywhatsoever,andarevolutionisnotanuncommonthinginsuchstates。 Thereasonofthisisthatastatecannotchangeitsreligion,mannersandcustomsinaninstant,andwiththesamerapidityastheprincepublishestheordinancewhichestablishesanewreligion。 Besides,theancientreligionisconnectedwiththeconstitutionofthekingdomandthenewoneisnot;theformeragreeswiththeclimateandveryoftenthenewoneisopposedtoit。Moreover,thecitizensbecomedisgustedwiththeirlaws,andlookuponthegovernmentalreadyestablishedwithcontempt;theyconceiveajealousyagainstthetworeligions,insteadofafirmbeliefinone;inaword,theseinnovationsgivetothestate,atleastforsometime,bothbadcitizensandbadbelievers。 12。OfpenalLaws。Penallawsoughttobeavoidedinrespecttoreligion:theyimprintfear,itistrue;butasreligionhasalsopenallawswhichinspirethesamepassion,theoneiseffacedbytheother,andbetweenthesetwodifferentkindsoffearthemindbecomeshardened。 Thethreateningsofreligionaresoterrible,anditspromisessogreat,thatwhentheyactuatethemind,whatevereffortsthemagistratemayusetoobligeustorenounceit,heseemstoleaveusnothingwhenhedeprivesusoftheexerciseofourreligion,andtobereaveusofnothingwhenweareallowedtoprofessit。 Itisnot,therefore,byfillingthesoulwiththeideaofthisgreatobject,byhasteningherapproachtothatcriticalmomentinwhichitoughttobeofthehighestimportance,thatreligioncanbemostsuccessfullyattacked:amorecertainwayistotemptherbyfavours,bytheconveniencesoflife,byhopesoffortune;notbythatwhichrevives,butbythatwhichextinguishesthesenseofherduty;notbythatwhichshocksher,butbythatwhichthrowsherintoindifferenceatthetimewhenotherpassionsactuatethemind,andthosewhichreligioninspiresarehushedintosilence。Asageneralruleinchangingareligiontheinvitationsshouldbemuchstrongerthanthepenalties。 Thetemperofthehumanmindhasappearedeveninthenatureofpunishments。IfwetakeasurveyofthepersecutionsinJapan,[20]weshallfindthattheyweremoreshockedatcrueltormentsthanatlongsufferings,whichratherwearythanaffright,whicharethemoredifficulttosurmount,fromtheirappearinglessdifficult。 Inaword,historysufficientlyinformsusthatpenallawshaveneverhadanyothereffectthantodestroy。 13。AmosthumbleRemonstrancetotheInquisitorsofSpainandPortugal。 AJewessoftenyearsofage,whowasburnedatLisbonatthelastauto—da—fé,gaveoccasiontothefollowinglittlepiece,themostidle,Ibelieve,thateverwaswritten。Whenweattempttoprovethingssoevidentwearesurenevertoconvince。 Theauthordeclares,thatthoughaJewhehasarespectfortheChristianreligion;andthatheshouldbegladtotakeawayfromtheprinceswhoarenotChristians,aplausiblepretenceforpersecutingthisreligion。 \"Youcomplain,\"sayshetotheInquisitors,\"thattheEmperorofJapancausedalltheChristiansinhisdominionstobeburnedbyaslowfire。 Buthewillanswer,wetreatyouwhodonotbelievelikeus,asyouyourselvestreatthosewhodonotbelievelikeyou;youcanonlycomplainofyourweakness,whichhashinderedyoufromexterminatingus,andwhichhasenabledustoexterminateyou。 \"Butitmustbeconfessedthatyouaremuchmorecruelthanthisemperor。Youputustodeathwhobelieveonlywhatyoubelieve,becausewedonotbelieveallthatyoubelieve。WefollowareligionwhichyouyourselvesknowtohavebeenformerlydeartoGod。WethinkthatGodlovesitstill,andyouthinkthathelovesitnomore:andbecauseyoujudgethus,youmakethosesufferbyswordandfirewhoholdanerrorsopardonableastobelievethatGodstillloveswhatheonceloved。[21] \"Ifyouarecrueltous,youaremuchmoresotoourchildren;youcausethemtobeburnedbecausetheyfollowtheinspirationsgiventhembythosewhomthelawofnatureandthelawsofallnationsteachthemtoregardasgods。 \"YoudepriveyourselvesoftheadvantageyouhaveovertheMahometans,withrespecttothemannerinwhichtheirreligionwasestablished。Whentheyboastofthenumberoftheirbelievers,youtellthemthattheyhaveobtainedthembyviolence,andthattheyhaveextendedtheirreligionbythesword;whythendoyouestablishyoursbyfire? \"Whenyouwouldbringusovertoyou,weobjecttoasourcefromwhichyouglorytohavedescended。Youreplytous,thatthoughyourreligionisnew,itisdivine;andyouproveitfromitsgrowingamidstthepersecutionsofPagans,andwhenwateredbythebloodofyourmartyrs; butatpresentyouplaythepartoftheDiocletians,andmakeustakeyours。 \"Weconjureyou,notbythemightyGodwhombothyouandweserve,butbythatChrist,who,youtellus,tookuponhimahumanform,toproposehimselfasanexampleforyoutofollow;weconjureyoutobehavetousashehimselfwouldbehavewereheuponearth。YouwouldhaveusbecomeChristians,andyouwillnotbesoyourselves。 \"ButifyouwillnotbeChristians,beatleastmen;treatusasyouwould,ifhavingonlytheweaklightofjusticewhichnaturebestows,youhadnotareligiontoconduct,andarevelationtoenlightenyou。 \"Ifheavenhashadsogreataloveforyouastomakeyouseethetruth,youhavereceivedasingularfavour;butisitforchildrenwhohavereceivedtheinheritanceoftheirfather,tohatethosewhohavenot? \"Ifyouhavethistruth,hideitnotfromusbythemannerinwhichyouproposeit。Thecharacteristicoftruthisitstriumphoverheartsandminds,andnotthatimpotencywhichyouconfesswhenyouwouldforceustoreceiveitbytortures。 \"Ifyouwerewise,youwouldnotputustodeathfornootherreasonthanbecauseweareunwillingtodeceiveyou。IfyourChrististhesonofGod,wehopehewillrewardusforbeingsounwillingtoprofanehismysteries;andwebelievethattheGodwhombothyouandweservewillnotpunishusforhavingsuffereddeathforareligionwhichheformerlygaveus,onlybecausewebelievethathestillcontinuestogiveit。 \"Youliveinanageinwhichthelightofnatureshinesmorebrightlythanithaseverdone;inwhichphilosophyhasenlightenedhumanunderstanding;inwhichthemoralityofyourgospelhasbeenbetterknown;inwhichtherespectiverightsofmankindwithregardtoeachotherandtheempirewhichoneconsciencehasoveranotherarebestunderstood。Ifyoudonotthereforeshakeoffyourancientprejudices,which,whilstunregarded,minglewithyourpassions,itmustbeconfessedthatyouareincorrigible,incapableofanydegreeoflightorinstruction;andanationmustbeveryunhappythatgivesauthoritytosuchmen。 \"Wouldyouhaveusfranklytellyouourthoughts?Youconsiderusratherasyourenemiesthanastheenemiesofyourreligion;forifyoulovedyourreligionyouwouldnotsufferittobecorruptedbysuchgrossignorance。 \"Itisnecessarythatweshouldwarnyouofonething;thatis,ifanyoneintimestocomeshalldaretoassertthatintheageinwhichwelive,thepeopleofEuropewerecivilised,youwillbecitedtoprovethattheywerebarbarians;andtheideatheywillhaveofyouwillbesuchaswilldishonouryourageandspreadhatredoverallyourcontemporaries。\" 14。WhytheChristianReligionissoodiousinJapan。WehavealreadymentionedtheperversetemperofthepeopleofJapan。[22]ThemagistratesconsideredthefirmnesswhichChristianityinspires,whentheyattemptedtomakethepeoplerenouncetheirfaith,asinitselfmostdangerous;theyfanciedthatitincreasedtheirobstinacy。ThelawofJapanpunishesseverelytheleastdisobedience。ThepeoplewereorderedtorenouncetheChristianreligion;theydidnotrenounceit; thiswasdisobedience;themagistratespunishedthiscrime;andthecontinuanceindisobedienceseemedtodeserveanotherpunishment。 PunishmentsamongtheJapaneseareconsideredastherevengeofaninsultdonetotheprince;thesongsoftriumphsungbyourmartyrsappearedasanoutrageagainsthim:thetitleofmartyrprovokedthemagistrates;intheiropinionitsignifiedrebel;theydidallintheirpowertopreventtheirobtainingit。Thenitwasthattheirmindswereexasperated,andahorridstrugglewasseenbetweenthetribunalsthatcondemnedandtheaccusedwhosuffered;betweenthecivillawsandthoseofreligion。 15。OfthePropagationofReligion。AllthepeopleoftheEast,excepttheMahometans,believeallreligionsinthemselvesindifferent。Theyfeartheestablishmentofanotherreligionnootherwisethanasachangeingovernment。AmongtheJapanese,wheretherearemanysects,andwherethestatehashadforsolongatimeanecclesiasticalsuperior,theyneverdisputeonreligion。[23]ItisthesamewiththepeopleofSiam。[24]TheCalmucks[25]domore;theymakeitapointofconsciencetotolerateeveryspeciesofreligion;atCalicutitisamaximofthestatethateveryreligionisgood。[26] Butitdoesnotfollowhence,thatareligionbroughtfromafardistantcountry,andquitedifferentinclimate,laws,manners,andcustoms,willhaveallthesuccesstowhichitsholinessmightentitleit。Thisismoreparticularlytrueingreatdespoticempires:herestrangersaretoleratedatfirst,becausethereisnoattentiongiventowhatdoesnotseemtostrikeattheauthorityoftheprince。Astheyareextremelyignorant,aEuropeanmayrenderhimselfagreeablebytheknowledgehecommunicates:thisisverywellinthebeginning。Butassoonashehasanysuccess,whendisputesariseandwhenmenwhohavesomeinterestbecomeinformedofit,astheirempire,byitsverynature,aboveallthingsrequirestranquillity,andastheleastdisturbancemayoverturnit,theyproscribethenewreligionandthosewhopreach,it:disputesbetweenthepreachersbreakingout,theybegintoentertainadistasteforareligiononwhicheventhosewhoproposeitarenotagreed。