An Enquiry into an Origin of Honour; and the Usefulness of Christianity in War by Bernard Mandeville
page 81 of 173 (46%)
page 81 of 173 (46%)
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are display'd, the fine Painting and Sculpture that are expos'd at
that Time, the Variety of good Voices and Musical Instruments that are heard, the Profusion of Wax-Candles, the Magnificence which the Whole is perform'd with, and the vast Concourse of People, that is occasion'd by those Solemnities, are all such, that it is impossible to describe them. Hor. It is astonishing, I own; but what would you infer from them? Cleo. I would desire you to observe, how vastly different some of the Ends and Purposes are, that Canonizations may be made to serve at the same Time. It is pretended, in the First Place, that they are perform'd to do Justice and pay Veneration to the Memory of those Holy Persons: Secondly, that by Men's worshiping them, they may be induced, among the Rest of the Saints, to intercede with God for the the Sins of their Votaries: And lastly, because it is to be hoped, that among such Numbers as assist at those Solemnities, there are many who will be affected by them, and endeavour to imitate, in their Lives, the holy Examples that are set before them: For there is no Time more seasonable to stir Men up to Devotion and Sentiments of Piety, than when Rapture and high Admiration have been rais'd in them first. Hor. Besides Canonizations keep up the Reputation of the _Roman_ Catholick Faith; for the new Saints, that are made from Time to Time, are always fresh Witnesses, that Miracles are not ceas'd, and consequently that the Church of _Rome_ continues to be the same Church which Christ and his Apostles first establish'd. Cleo. You are in the Right; and whilst we consider and give Credit to those Pretences, the Design must seem to be religious; and every _Roman_ |
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