476 Dr. Barnes on the Poiver 



that heroifm and valour, which are the foldiei'*; 

 higheft charaftei s on the field of battle ? 



Let us behold a Spanidi Devotee, upon 

 fome folemn occafion, lafliing his bare back 

 through the ftreets with a feverity, which 

 almoft covers him with blood; and, when 

 in the prefence of his miftrefs, redoubling his 

 ftrokes with aftonilhing fury, feeming to feel 

 a glow of confcious triumph in proportion to 

 the number of his ftripes, and the violence of 

 his pain. Or, let us turn our eye to the dread- 

 ful penances, incredible fallings, and unmerciful 

 aufterities, which enthufiafbs of all ages, coun- 

 tries, and religions, have voluntarily endured, 

 and which, thus fanftified and fweetened by 

 folly, they have feemed hardly to feel. Who can 

 deny, that fome power refides in the will, of 

 tempering and diminifhing corporeal fenfibility ? 



If fuch is the power o( faife religion, we (hall 

 juflly expedl: a ftill ftronger and nobler influence 

 from that which is true: nor fhall we be dif- 

 appointed. Hiftory teems with inftances of 

 thofe, who, in the caule of heaven, have mani- 

 fefted a firmnefs, a fublimity, a heroifm of foul 

 - — I had almoft faid, worthy of their caufe. What 

 glorious and animating fpeclacies have been 

 fccn, of men, of women, even of young perfons, 

 meeting agony and death, in every form of 

 horror which cruel fuperftition could invent, 

 with a fcrenity, yea, even with a chearfulnefs 

 / of 



