Lackington's Confessions, Rendered Into Narrative; To Which Are Added Observations on the Bad Consequences of Educating Daughters at Boarding-Schools - Tapa blanda

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1804. Excerpt: ... given more mildness to Christian manners. This change is not the work of letters; for wherever they have flourished, humanity has not been more respected on their account: of which the cruelties of the Athenians, of the Egyptians, of the Roman emperors, and of the Chinese, are so many proofs. What acts of clemency are the works of the Gospel! What restitutions and reparations does not confession produce among the Catholics! Were philosophers in a situation to discover truth, who among them would interest himself in its behalf? Each of them well knows that his system is not better founded than those of others; but he supports it because it is his. There is not one of them, who, having found truth and falsehood, would not prefer the lie he had adopted, to truth discovered by another. Where is the philosopher who, for bis own glory, would not deceive mankind....The essential point is to think differently from others. With believers, he is an atheist; with atheists he would be a believer....Avoid those who, under the pretence of explaining nature, sow desolating doctrines in the hearts of men; and whose apparent scepticism is a hundred times more affirmative and dogmatical than the decided tone of their adversaries. Under the haughty pretence, that they only are enlightened, true, and sincere,. they imperiously subject us to their opposite decisions; and pretend to give us, for real principles of things, the unintelligible systemsof their own imaginations. Moreover, by overturning, destroying, and treading under foot, every thing respected by men, they deprive the afflicted of the last consolation of their misery, and take from the rich and powerful the only bridle of their passions; they snatch from the heart both the remorse of crime and hope of virtue; and...