gate them, and to stifle wickedness in the embryo." That is to fay, as it may be understood in future, you will foon be able to ftifle every principle of law, of government, of civil or political fociety, whofe very inftitution in the eyes of an Illuminée is the germ of all the vices and misfortunes of human nature. "The mode of diffusing univer"fal light is, not to proclaim it at once to the "whole world, but to begin with yourself; then "turn toward your next neighbour; you two can

enlighten a third and fourth; let these in the fame "manner extend and multiply the number of the children of light, until numbers and force fall throw σε power into our bands *"

I obferve in the ritual of this degree, that should the Hierophant be fatigued by the length of this discourse, he may take breath, and let one of the adepts continue the inftruction of the profelyte tOur readers alfo may avail themselves of this permiffion, and they have copious matter for reflection in what they have hitherto read. They may perhaps be inclined to afk, to what degree the

See Difcourfe on the leffer Mysteries of Illuminism. + This Difcourfe actually requires at least two hours to read it. That part from which I have made extracts extends in Vol. II. of the Original Writings, from Page 44 to 93, and in the last works of Philo and Spartacus, (which are in much fmaller print) from Page 10 to 48. I mean to abridge the remaining part ftill more; but fhall be fcrupulously exact in the tranflation of all remarkable paffages.

people

people muft diminish their wants not to stand in need of laws? They will perceive that bread itself must be denied them; for as long as fields are cultivated, laws will be necessary to protect the crops and to restrain men from reaping that which they have not fown; and if on the first view the Sophism appears wicked, the reader will foon perceive that it is but folly in the garb of Sophiftry.

The better to form their judgments on the leffons of the Hierophant, they will have to compare that Revolution, which is to be the effect of inAruction alone, and which is infenfibly to take place without the leaft fhock or rebellion, with that period when the adepts shall have acquired numbers, force, and power, enabling them to bind the bands of their opponents, and to fubjugate all who may still fhow any affection for their laws, or for that civil order in fociety which the Sect wishes to fupprefs.

CHAP. X.

Continuation of the Difcourfe on the leffer Myfleries.

IN that part of the difcourfe which remains to be laid before the reader, the Hierophant, insisting on the neceffity of enlightening the people to operate the grand revolution, feems to fear that the candidate has not clearly conceived the real plan of this revolution, which is in future to be the fole object of all his inftructions. "Let your "inftructions and lights be universally diffused; "fo fhall you render mutual fecurity univerfal; "and fecurity and inftruction will enable us to live "without prince or government. If that were "not the cafe, why fhould we go in quest of "either? "

Here then the candidate is clearly informed of the grand object towards which he is to direct all his future inftructions. To teach the people to live without princes or governments, without laws or even civil fociety, is to be the general tendency of all his leffons. But of what nature must

* Und allgemeine aufklärung und ficherheit machen fürften und ftaaten entbehrlich. Oder wo zu braucht man fie fodann.

thefe

thefe leffons be to attain the defired object?They are to treat of morality, and of morality alone. "For (continues the Hierophant) if light be the "work of morality, light and fecurity will gain

strength as morality expands itself. Nor is true "morality any other than the art of teaching men "to fbake off their wardship, to attain the age of "manbood, and thus to need neither princes nor go"vernments *."

When we shall fee the fect enthusiastically pronouncing the word morality, let us recollect the definition which it has juft given us of it. Without it, we could not have understood the real fenfe of the terms boneft men, virtue, good or wicked men. We fee that, according to this definition, the honest man is he who labours at the overthrow of civil fociety, its laws, and its chiefs: for these are the only crimes or virtues mentioned in the whole code. Pre-fuppofing that the candidate may object that it would be impoffible to bring mankind to adopt fuch doctrines, the Hierophant anticipates the objection, and exclaims, " He is little ac"quainted with the powers of reafon and the "attractions of virtue; he is a very novice in the

regions of light, who fhall harbour fuch mean "ideas as to his own effence, or the nature of

* Die moral ift alfo die kunft welche menfchen lehrt volljährig zu werden, der vormundfchaft los zu werden, in ihr männliches alter zu tretten, and die fürften zu entbehren.

"mankind. . . . If either he or I can attain this

point, why should not another attain it alfo? "What! when men can be led to despise the "horrors of death, when they may be inflamed

with the enthusiasm of religious and political follies, fhall they be deaf to that very doctrine "which can alone lead them to happiness? No, « no; man is not fo wicked as an arbitrary morality "would make him appear. He is wicked, because "Religion, the State, and bad example, perverts "him. It would be of advantage to thofe who "wish to make him better, were there fewer "perfons whose interest it is to render him wicked

in order that they may fupport their power by his wickednefs."

"Let us form a more liberal opinion of human "nature. We will labour indefatigably, nor fhall difficulties affright us. May our principles become the foundation of all morals! Let reafon "at length be the religion of men, and the problem « is folved *.

This preffing exhortation will enable the reader to folve the problem of the altars, the worship, and the festivals of Reason, in the French Revolution ; nor will they be any longer at a loss to know from what loathfome den their fhameless Goddefs rofe.

• Undenlich macht die vernunft zur religion der menfchen, fo it die aufgabe aufgelofst.

"The