In order, then, to comprehend thoroughly the nature of the conspiracy
I speak of, it will be necessary to go back to the opening of the
last century and contemplate the rise and advance of the Atheism and
Anti-Christianity which it now spreads rapidly through the earth. As that
century opened it disclosed a world suffering from a multitude of evils.
The so-called Reformation, which arose and continued to progress during
the two preceding centuries had well nigh run its course. It had ceased
to be a persecuting force on the Continent, and only for reasons of
plunder continued to use the weapons of oppression in Ireland. Scarcely
a shred of the original doctrines of Luther remained as he had left
them; yet no signs of return to the Church were to be observed amongst
his followers. Malignant hatred of the Spouse of Christ continued, when
the reasons alleged for the malignity had departed. Amidst the multitude
at that time calling themselves Protestants, little remained certain in
Christian belief.
The principle of private judgment introduced in apparent zeal for the
pure worship and doctrine of Christ, had ended in leaving no part of the
teaching of Christ unchallenged. It had rendered His Divinity disbelieved
in, and His very existence doubted, by many who yet called themselves His
followers. Socinus and his nephew had succeeded in binding the various
groups of Polish and German Protestants in a league where nothing was
required but undying hatred and opposition to the Catholic Church. Bayle
threw doubt upon everything, and Spinosa destroyed the little respect
left for the Deity in the system of Socinus, by introducing Pantheism to
the world. In effect, both the Deists and the Pantheists of that period
were Atheists. Whether they held that everything was God, or that God was
not such a God as Christians hold Him to be, they did away with belief in
the true God, and raised up an impossible being of their own imagination
in His stead. In life, in conduct, and in adoration of God, they were
practical Atheists, and soon manifested that hatred for the truth which
the Atheist is sure to possess. Their theories made headway early in the
century throughout Central Europe and England. Bolingbroke, Shaftesbury,
and the _élite_ amongst the statesmen and literary aristocracy of the
reign of Queen Anne were Infidels. Tindal, Collins, Wolston, Toland,
and Chubbs were as advanced as Tom Payne was, later on, in the way
of Atheism. But however much England and Germany had advanced their
Protestantism to what was called Free-thinking, both were soon destined
to be eclipsed in that sad progress by Catholic and monarchical France.
France owes this evil pre-eminence to one individual, who, though largely
assisted in his road to ruin by Bayle, and subsequently by association
with English Infidels, had yet enough of innate wickedness in himself to
outstrip them all. That individual was—