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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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OF THE DRUIDS. 61any o<strong>the</strong>r country in <strong>the</strong> world. Girakl, on <strong>the</strong>contrary, (as in his days <strong>the</strong>y were wont to overratemartyrdom, celibacy, and <strong>the</strong> like, muchabove <strong>the</strong> positive duties <strong>of</strong> relii^ion) thinks it a reproachto <strong>the</strong> Irish, That none <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir Saints cemented<strong>the</strong>foundatio7is <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> growing church ivith<strong>the</strong>ir hlood, all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m heing confessors^ (says he,)and not one able to boast <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> croivii <strong>of</strong>martyrdom.But who ^ees not <strong>the</strong> vanity and absurdity <strong>of</strong> thischarge? It is blaming <strong>the</strong> princes and people for<strong>the</strong>irreasonableness, moderation and humanity;as it is taxing <strong>the</strong> <strong>new</strong> converts for not seditiouslyprovoking<strong>the</strong>m to persecute, and for not madlyrunning <strong>the</strong>mselves toa voluntary death, whichwas <strong>the</strong> unjustihable conduct <strong>of</strong> many elsewherein <strong>the</strong> primitive times <strong>of</strong> Christianity. 'Tis onmuch better grounds, tho' with a childish and nauseousjingle, that he accuses <strong>the</strong> Irish clergy <strong>of</strong> hisown time : and so far am I from being an enemy to<strong>the</strong> clergy, that I heartily wish <strong>the</strong> like could notbe said <strong>of</strong> any clergy, whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>re, or here, orelsewhere, from that time to this. Well <strong>the</strong>n:what is it? They are pastors, (says he)*, who seeknot t<strong>of</strong>eed, but to befed: Prelates, icho desire not topr<strong>of</strong>it, but to preside:Sishops, zcho embrace 7iot <strong>the</strong>nature, but <strong>the</strong> name; not <strong>the</strong> burden, but <strong>the</strong> bravery* Su7it enim pastores^ qui non pascere qiicerimt, sed pasci:sunt praiatiy qui non prodesse cupiunt^ sed prteesse: smite pisco~pi, qui non omen, sed noinenjlur.Id. Ibid.non otius^ sed honoretn amplectun^

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