54- 



even aifenic and barytes, when judicioufly exhibited, may become fafe 

 and efficacious medicines. 



It is to be lamented, however, that the credulity of men has been 

 more frequently direfted to deftroy, than to fave ; and has too com- 

 monly been produftive of fanguinary rage, and cruel perfecution. The 

 deftruftion of a party, the extinftion of a feft, the downfal of a minifler 

 or favourite, the accomplifliment of a revolution, fuch are the objefts to 

 which it is generally direfted, and thefe objefts it cannot obtain, but 

 through the medium of the paffions and feelings, which too frequently 

 prompt men to deeds of atrocity. At different periods, there have unhap- 

 pily been peculiar objefts of popular odium and popular credulity. Under 

 the firfl Roma7i emperors, the primitive Chrijlians were the fubjefts of 

 general hatred and obloquy ; the moft heinous crimes, and abominable 

 practices were imputed to them, and the imputation was received, as 

 faft, by popular credulity, during the earlier ages of Chriftianity. Under 

 the Greek emperors, this principle took i new direftion, but was uni- 

 form, in its tendency, to excite fanguinary rage and cruelty ; and the 

 Sorcerers became objefts of univerfal fear and abhorrence. Sorcery was 

 exalted into a ftate crime, a mofl cruel and general perfecution was 

 excited, and multitudes perifhed under the imputation of this imaginary 

 delinquency. At an a?ra fomcwhat more advanced, the Jews became 

 objefts of hatred and perfecution ; and popular invention and popular 

 credulity were bufy, to forge and diifeminate a thoufand horrid and 

 improbable tales, calculated to provoke or juftify the exceffes, which were 

 praftifed againft thofe wretched people.* Thus, every age has had its 

 own peculiar bugbears, its objefts of credulous fafcination, of horrible 

 and monftrous fiftion, and of blind antipathy ; and perhaps, were it 

 neceflary to refort to more modern periods, it would appear, that they 

 have not been, nor arc they even now devoid of their phantafms and 



fpeftres 



* It was generally believed, among other things, that tliey ufed to entice away 

 Chriftian children, and facrifice them. 



