15. The Bible And The French Revolution. 283
religion which he had taught so many years was, in every respect, a piece of priestcraft, which had no foundation either in history or sacred truth. He disowned, in solemn and explicit terms, the existence of the Deity to whose worship he had been consecrated, and devoted himself in future to the homage of liberty, equality, virtue, and morality. He then laid on the table his episcopal decorations, and received a fraternal embrace from the president of the Convention. Several apostate priests followed the example of this prelate.” 399
“ And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.” Infidel France had silenced the reproving voice of God ' s two witnesses. The Word of truth lay dead in her streets, and those who hated the restrictions and requirements of God ' s law were jubilant. Men publicly defied the King of heaven. Like the sinners of old, they cried,“ How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?” 400
With blasphemous boldness almost beyond belief, one of the priests of the new order said:“ God, if You exist, avenge Your injured name. I bid You defiance! You remain silent; You dare not launch Your thunders. Who after this will believe in Your [ 275 ] existence?” 401 What an echo is this of the Pharaoh ' s demand:“ Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His voice?”“ I know not Jehovah!”
“ The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” 402 And the Lord declares concerning the perverters of the truth,“ Their folly shall be manifest unto all.” 403 After France had renounced the
399 Scott, Vol. I, ch. 17. 400 Ps. 73:11. 401 Lacretelle ' s“ History,” Vol. XI, p. 309; in Alison ' s“ History of Europe,”
Vol. I, ch. 10. 402 Ps. 14:1. 403 2 Tim. 3:9.