HUME. 251 



of one person involve the Ruin of Millions, even in their 

 spiritual and eternal Welfare. The execution of it was 

 artificially calculated to strike the senses in the highest 

 with irresistable force 



degree, and to operate * on the superstitious minds. The 

 Nation was of a sudden deprivd of all exterior exercise of 

 its religion. The altars were despoild of A- their orna- 

 ments. The crosses, the relicts, the images, the statues of 

 the saints were laid on the ground, and as if the air itself 

 were profan'd and might pollute them by its contact, the 

 priests carefully cover'd them up, even from their own 

 approach and veneration. The use of bells entirely ceas'd 

 in all the churches. The bells themselves were removd 

 from the steeples and laid on the ground with the other 



* EesPI churches 



sacred utensils. Mass was celebrated in tho church with 



admitted to 

 shut doors, and none but the priests were allow 'd to attend 



The laity partook of no religious rite 

 their holy institution. -No rite of religion wae practicd 



except baptism to new born infants, and the communion to 

 the dying. The dead were not allowed to be interred in 

 consecrated ground. They were thrown into ditches, and 

 bury'd in common fields : and the obsequies were not attended 

 with prayers or any hallow'd ceremony. Marriage was cele - 



> the 

 brated in A churchyards, and that o- every action in life 



might bear marks of this" dreadful situation, the people were 



prohibited 



forbid the use of meat, as in lent or tke- times of the highest 



penance, were debarrd from all pleasures and entertainments, 

 and were forbid even to salute each other, or so much as to 

 shave their beards and give any decent attention to their 



carryd the symptoms 

 person and apparel. Every circumstance bore the marks of 



immediate 

 the deepest distress, and of the most dreadfa 



apprehensions of divine vengeance and indignation." 



* Illegible. 



